Wikinews Shorts: June 23, 2007

European council reaches compromise over reform treaty
European leaders meeting in Brussels reached a compromise on new rules for the European Union after a full night of negotiation.

The controversial points of the discussion included the double-majority voting system that would lessen the weight of Poland and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which was objected by United Kingdom.

In the compromise, Polish President Lech Kaczyński had to back a change in EU policy that he had criticised for giving unfair weight to larger countries such as Germany.

Sources

Myanmar democracy party formally asks to see Suu Kyi
Myanmar's National League for Democracy has sent a letter to the State Peace and Development Council, formally asking the junta for a meeting with detained party leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

A letter was sent to the junta on Wednesday, a party spokesman told Agence France-Presse today. Suu Kyi, who has been kept under house arrest by the junta for most of the past 17 years, has not met with anyone from her party since 2004. Party officials said they wanted to discuss a possible appeal of her detention.

On Friday, the U.S. Senate has passed a resolution, condemning the junta for detaining Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

Sources

Thailand justice minister threatens Thaksin with extradition
Thailand will seek extradition of Thaksin Shinawatra and Potjaman Shinawatra if the deposed prime minister and his wife fail to return to obey a Royal Thai Police summons, asking them to appear on stock-fraud charges, Justice Minister Chanchai Likhitjitta said today.

In a national broadcast today, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont also appealed to Thaksin, saying he would personally assure the ousted premier's safety if he were to return to Thailand.

Thaksin, who has been living in self-imposed exile since being ousted in a coup last year, is in the United Kingdom, where he has lodged a bid to purchase the Manchester City football club. Yesterday, he told the Manchester Evening News that his legal troubles in Thailand would not affect his proposed purchase of the football team.

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Sources