Thesun 2009-06-24 Page09 Quit Aussie Opposition Chief Urged

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| WEDNESDAY JUNE 24 2009

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WORLD FAMOUS MELT IN YOUR MOUTH DOUGHNUTS

Kenyan veterans sue UK over colonial ‘torture’ LONDON: Five elderly Kenyans launched a bid yesterday to win compensation from Britain over claims they were tortured and unlawfully imprisoned during colonial rule half a century ago. The veterans of the Mau Mau revolt, which led to a series of bloody battles between Kenyan nationalists and British forces throughout the 1950s, left Kenya for the first time in their lives to make their claim in person in London. The three men and two women are also hoping to shake off the label of terrorists given them by their British rulers, and want to be seen as freedom fighters who helped liberate

their country from the shackles of colonialism. “Many Mau Mau were beaten and tortured and many were killed. This case is about bringing all those issues before the British courts to say what we did was so wrong back in the 1950s,” said Martyn Day, one of their lawyers. And one of the veterans, Paulo Nzili, told AFP he had been arrested by British forces, who castrated him using pliers in 1954. “I would be very happy if we succeed in this case,” the frail 81-year-old told AFP at a press conference to launch the legal bid. – AFP

Beckham wins damages over topless model slur LONDON: David Beckham won substantial libel damages at the High Court yesterday over a newspaper claim that he “made a play” for Hungarian model Mariann Fogarasy. The 34-year-old England star was awarded the undisclosed settlement in his case against Express Group Newspapers over an article which appeared in The Daily Star in April, the Press Association reported. Beckham’s solicitor, Gerrard Tyrrell, told Justice Eady the

allegations were completely untrue. The article claimed that Beckham had “made a play” for Fogarasy after an AC Milan match in Hungary and that he had been emailing her with private party invitations since they “got close” after the match. Tyrrell said the newspaper now accepted that Beckham did not behave in the manner described and unequivocally retracted the allegations. – Reuters

NOW OPEN ! AT BERJAYA TIMES SQUARE

Quit, Aussie opposition chief urged Turnbull... It was not created or composed by us.

SYDNEY: Australian opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull came under growing pressure to quit yesterday after a fake e-mail destroyed his claims that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd used his influence to help a friend. Turnbull admitted Rudd was off the hook over the “Utegate” affair but denied any blame over the e-mail forgery, which saw his case against the prime minister backfire badly. “It was not created or composed by us,” Turnbull told public radio. “If it is a fake, as is apparently the case, it was a fake that was created in the Treasury.

“Now how on earth can I be responsible for a fake that is created in Treasurer Wayne Swan’s department?” Turnbull admitted Rudd now had no need to answer claims that he helped a car dealer friend who lent him a utility vehicle – or “ute” – for use in his constituency. But he refused to apologise, insisting he had acted “reasonably and responsibly” and instead kept up his attacks on Swan, who he said “unquestionably misled the parliament.” “The evidence against Mr Swan is overwhelming, we must pursue this issue right to the end,” Turnbull said. Police on Monday said the e-mail, which purportedly showed a member of Rudd’s office asking a senior official to help the car dealer, had been concocted by someone in the Treasury. The prime minister, who had come under unprecedented pressure from Turnbull, rounded on the opposition leader, urging him to explain his role in the fiasco and demanding his resignation. “Mr. Turnbull’s integrity I believe has been fundamentally

undermined and it is important therefore that Mr. Turnbull at least today do the right thing and resign,” Rudd told reporters. Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said Turnbull, a millionaire former banker who has led the opposition Liberal Party since last September, had gambled and lost. “He has over-reached. He’s shown a classic character flaw, a judgement flaw and he should resign,” Tanner said. “He was convinced he had a smoking gun and now it’s blown up in his face.” Turnbull was forced to deny that he passed on the e-mail to media, while shadow treasurer Joe Hockey admitted he once employed the Treasury official at the centre of the row – and also tried to call him on Saturday. However, they sought to deflect criticism by promising to pursue Swan “relentlessly” over claims he helped car dealers seeking government financial crisis loans. “The treasurer should come clean with the Australian people and immediately release all correspondence to back up his claims,” Hockey said. The dramatic events represent a significant victory for Rudd, who has been riding high in the polls since ending John Howard’s 11-year premiership in late 2007. – AFP