Kyrgyz vice president resigns: Vice President of Kyrgyzstan Felks Kulov offered to resign for ethical reasons Xinhua reports from Moscow.

He voiced his decision at a [rarliamentary session and submitted his resignation to Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev after lawmakers accused the government of illegal gold deals.'

Meanwhile, he demanded the government also resign. After a series of discussions on the country's gold reserves Wednesday, Kyrgyz Parliament, on December 9 threatened to raise a motion of confidence against Prime Minister Tursunbek Chyngyshev for his alleged involvement in "shady dealings with the Infamous concern Seabeco " ।

Typhoon claims 31 Filipinos:

Typhoon Manny slammed Into the eastern Philippines, killing 31 people, barely a week after the-r*0on was left devastated by typhoon Lola, relief agencies said yesterday. AFP reports from Manila. . ,

Preliminary reports said that 31 were killed in Camarlnes Sur Province, east of Manila, largely from floods and landslides spawned by Manny However, relief agencies said they were still awaiting reports from-many of their other stations.

Camarlnes Sur and other provinces already suffered at least 130 deaths after typhoon Lola slammed into the country last weekend.

Indonesian edn officials meet:

A total of 6 million Indonesian school-age children will benefit from the government's nine-year compulsory education programme. Xinhua reports from Jakarta.

Director General for Elementary and Secondary Education ZA Achmady told the participants of a coordinating meeting of government education officials held in Kuta. Ball, since Thursday that it was necessary to Implement the nine-year compulsory education programme as soon as possible in order to Improve the quality of Indonesia's human resource.

Malaysia blasts developed states: Visiting Malaysian Forestry Minister Um Kong Yoik blasted developed countries for criticising forest use policies of developing countries, the Antara news agency said Saturday, reports AFP.

They continue to comer developing countries on forestry Issues without giving them a chance, while only 10 per cent of their own forests have been left." Um said while attending three-day bilateral forestry talks In East Java provincial capital Surbaya.

Officials of the two countries shared views on forestry issues tn preparation for the world forestry meeting In March, the news agency said. *

Haitian HR group honoured: a Haitian human rights coalition Friday received the 1993 International Freedom Award from the International Center for Human Rights and Democratic Development. Reuter reports from Montreal.

The platform of Haitian human rights defence groups received the award, which honours an individual or organisation for an "exceptional contribution made in the defence and promotion of human rights and democratic development in a developing country."

The platform group is made up of nine human rights organisations and was founded in Port-au-Prince In the spring of 1991.