Buyoya on Saturday dismissed its threat of an arms embargo against Burundi and flatly ruled out talks with Hutu rebels .

<response> <person>Buyoya</person> on Saturday dismissed its threat of an arms embargo against <location>Burundi</location> and flatly ruled out talks with <misc>Hutu</misc> rebels . </response>


Some 150,000 people -- mostly civilians -- have died in Burundi since 1993 when the country 's first democratically elected Hutu president was killed in an attempted army coup .

<response> Some 150,000 people -- mostly civilians -- have died in <location>Burundi</location> since 1993 when the country 's first democratically elected <misc>Hutu</misc> president was killed in an attempted army coup . </response>


Nato declines comment on fighting in Iraq .

<response> Nato declines comment on fighting in <location>Iraq</location> . </response>


BRUSSELS 1996-08-31

<response> <location>BRUSSELS</location> 1996-08-31 </response>


The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 's spokesman on Saturday declined all comment on reports of armed conflict in northern Iraq .

<response> The <organization>North Atlantic Treaty Organisation</organization> 's spokesman on Saturday declined all comment on reports of armed conflict in northern <location>Iraq</location> . </response>


But a NATO official told Reuters : " We are watching the situation closely . "

<response> But a <organization>NATO</organization> official told <organization>Reuters</organization> : " We are watching the situation closely . " </response>


Earlier on Saturday , an Iraqi Kurd leader said both Iraqi troops and Kurdistan Democratic Party ( KDP ) forces were attacking the city of Arbil in northern Iraq .

<response> Earlier on Saturday , an <misc>Iraqi Kurd</misc> leader said both <misc>Iraqi</misc> troops and <organization>Kurdistan Democratic Party</organization> ( <organization>KDP</organization> ) forces were attacking the city of <location>Arbil</location> in northern <location>Iraq</location> . </response>


More automatic weapons stolen in Belgium .

<response> More automatic weapons stolen in <location>Belgium</location> . </response>


BRUSSELS 1996-08-31


More than 10 weapons , including automatic Kalashnikov rifles , were stolen from an arms store in Belgium , police said on Saturday .

<response> More than 10 weapons , including automatic <misc>Kalashnikov</misc> rifles , were stolen from an arms store in <location>Belgium</location> , police said on Saturday . </response>


A policeman in the southern Belgian town of Chatelet told Reuters that thieves used a car to ram the window of an arms store in neighbouring Chatelineaux last night .

<response> A policeman in the southern <misc>Belgian</misc> town of <location>Chatelet</location> told <organization>Reuters</organization> that thieves used a car to ram the window of an arms store in neighbouring <location>Chatelineaux</location> last night . </response>


<response> It was the second arms robbery this week . </response>


On Tuesday , thieves stole about 40 forearms from a shooting range in southern Belgium , including Kalashnikov , Uzi and Fal automatic weapons .

<response> On Tuesday , thieves stole about 40 forearms from a shooting range in southern <location>Belgium</location> , including <misc>Kalashnikov</misc> , <misc>Uzi</misc> and <misc>Fal</misc> automatic weapons . </response>


No trace of two missing teenagers in Belgium .

<response> No trace of two missing teenagers in <location>Belgium</location> . </response>


Belgian police said on Saturday they had found no trace of two teenage girls reported missing during a shopping trip three days ago .

<response> <misc>Belgian</misc> police said on Saturday they had found no trace of two teenage girls reported missing during a shopping trip three days ago . </response>


" There is no trace so far , the enquiry is continuing , " a Liege police official told Reuters .

<response> " There is no trace so far , the enquiry is continuing , " a <location>Liege</location> police official told <organization>Reuters</organization> . </response>


Late on Friday , Liege police said in a statement that on Thursday , Rachel Legeard , 18 , and Severine Potty , 19 , had gone shopping to the eastern town of Liege on Thursday , where Legeard 's wallet had been stolen .

<response> Late on Friday , <location>Liege</location> police said in a statement that on Thursday , <person>Rachel Legeard</person> , 18 , and <person>Severine Potty</person> , 19 , had gone shopping to the eastern town of <location>Liege</location> on Thursday , where <person>Legeard</person> 's wallet had been stolen . </response>


After reporting the theft to the police , they took a bus home and reportedly got off the bus before arriving in their home village of Nandrin .

<response> After reporting the theft to the police , they took a bus home and reportedly got off the bus before arriving in their home village of <location>Nandrin</location> . </response>


They have not been seen since .

<response> They have not been seen since . </response>


Police declined to comment on whether it suspected a link with the Marc Dutroux case , the paedophile kidnap , sex abuse and murder scandal which has rocked Belgium in the past two weeks .

<response> Police declined to comment on whether it suspected a link with the <person>Marc Dutroux</person> case , the paedophile kidnap , sex abuse and murder scandal which has rocked <location>Belgium</location> in the past two weeks . </response>


Controversial IRA film screened at Venice festival .

<response> Controversial <organization>IRA</organization> film screened at <location>Venice</location> festival . </response>


Vera Haller

<response> <person>Vera Haller</person> </response>


VENICE , Italy 1996-08-31

<response> VENICE , <location>Italy</location> 1996-08-31 </response>


Dublin-born director Neil Jordan says he never lost more sleep over a film than over " Michael Collins " , his controversial epic about the IRA which has its premiere on Saturday at the Venice Film Festival .

<response> Dublin-born director <person>Neil Jordan</person> says he never lost more sleep over a film than over " <misc>Michael Collins</misc> " , his controversial epic about the <organization>IRA</organization> which has its premiere on Saturday at the <misc>Venice Film Festival</misc> . </response>


The film , starring Liam Neeson and Julia Roberts , recounts the life of Michael Collins , the Irish Republican Army 's Director of Intelligence who fought for Irish independence from 1919 to 1921 .

<response> The film , starring <person>Liam Neeson</person> and <person>Julia Roberts</person> , recounts the life of <person>Michael Collins</person> , the <organization>Irish Republican Army</organization> 's Director of Intelligence who fought for <misc>Irish</misc> independence from 1919 to 1921 . </response>


Although not due for release in Britain until early next year , some politicians have already said they feared it would fan sectarian tensions in British-ruled Northern Ireland .

<response> Although not due for release in <location>Britain</location> until early next year , some politicians have already said they feared it would fan sectarian tensions in <misc>British-ruled</misc> <location>Northern Ireland</location> . </response>


Jordan defends his decision to make the film , whose screenplay he wrote himself after years of research , saying it was " more about history than any political statement " .

<response> <person>Jordan</person> defends his decision to make the film , whose screenplay he wrote himself after years of research , saying it was " more about history than any political statement " . </response>


" The film spares neither the Irish nor the British in its depiction of the savagery of the time , " Jordan said in a statement released by Warner Bros . "

<response> " The film spares neither the <misc>Irish</misc> nor the <misc>British</misc> in its depiction of the savagery of the time , " <person>Jordan</person> said in a statement released by <organization>Warner Bros</organization> . " </response>


<response> How often has independence been achieved without bloodshed ? </response>


Very rarely . "


Jordan , whose 1992 film " The Crying Game " also came under fire for what was perceived as a sympathetic portrayal of the IRA , said Collins was more than just a revolutionary .

<response> <person>Jordan</person> , whose 1992 film " <misc>The Crying Game</misc> " also came under fire for what was perceived as a sympathetic portrayal of the <organization>IRA</organization> , said <person>Collins</person> was more than just a revolutionary . </response>


" He developed techniques of guerilla warfare later copied by independence movements around the world , from Mao Tse-Tung in China to Yitzak Shamir in Israel , " Jordan said .

<response> " He developed techniques of guerilla warfare later copied by independence movements around the world , from <person>Mao Tse-Tung</person> in <location>China</location> to <person>Yitzak Shamir</person> in <location>Israel</location> , " <person>Jordan</person> said . </response>


" Collins would never be a proponent of contemporary terrorism as practised today .

<response> " <person>Collins</person> would never be a proponent of contemporary terrorism as practised today . </response>


<response> He was a soldier and a statesman and , over time , a man of peace . " </response>


Leeson , the Northern Ireland-born actor who was nominated for an Oscar for best actor for his performance in " Schindler 's List " , plays the lead role in Jordan 's film .

<response> <person>Leeson</person> , the <misc>Northern Ireland-born</misc> actor who was nominated for an <person>Oscar</person> for best actor for his performance in " <misc>Schindler 's List</misc> " , plays the lead role in <person>Jordan</person> 's film . </response>


Aidan Quinn portrays Harry Boland , Collins ' best friend , and rival for the love of Kitty Kiernan , played by Roberts .

<response> <person>Aidan Quinn</person> portrays <person>Harry Boland</person> , <person>Collins</person> ' best friend , and rival for the love of <person>Kitty Kiernan</person> , played by <person>Roberts</person> . </response>


Much of the film was shot on location in Dublin with Jordan using thousands of its citizens as unpaid extras .

<response> Much of the film was shot on location in <location>Dublin</location> with <person>Jordan</person> using thousands of its citizens as unpaid extras . </response>


<response> A set , however , was used for the fighting scenes . </response>


Noting that information about Collins was " as mysterious as the existence he maintained " , Jordan said he made some historical assumptions in the film .

<response> Noting that information about <person>Collins</person> was " as mysterious as the existence he maintained " , <person>Jordan</person> said he made some historical assumptions in the film . </response>


<response> " I have made choices about certain events based on my own extensive research into his letters and reported speeches , " he said . " </response>


<response> I wanted to make this a story as accurate as possible without killing it dramatically and I think I have . </response>


It is a very true film . "

<response> It is a very true film . " </response>


One of the assumptions is his interpretation of the murky circumstances surrounding the shooting death of Collins , who had broken with his comrades when he sought a negotiated settlement with Britain , in an ambush in 1922 .

<response> One of the assumptions is his interpretation of the murky circumstances surrounding the shooting death of <person>Collins</person> , who had broken with his comrades when he sought a negotiated settlement with <location>Britain</location> , in an ambush in 1922 . </response>


" I have never lost more sleep over the making of a film than I have over ' Michael Collins ' , but I 'll never make a more important one , " Jordan said .

<response> " I have never lost more sleep over the making of a film than I have over ' <misc>Michael Collins</misc> ' , but I 'll never make a more important one , " <person>Jordan</person> said . </response>


" In the life of one person you can tell the events that formed the north and south of Ireland as they are today . "

<response> " In the life of one person you can tell the events that formed the north and south of <location>Ireland</location> as they are today . " </response>


Dhaka stocks seen steady in absence of big players .

<response> <location>Dhaka</location> stocks seen steady in absence of big players . </response>


DHAKA 1996-08-31

<response> <location>DHAKA</location> 1996-08-31 </response>


Shares on the Dhaka Stock Exchange ( DSE ) may remain steady as small investors are expected to target mainly blue chips while overseas investors will prefer to keep to the sidelines when the market reopens after Moslem Friday weekend , brokers said .

<response> Shares on the <organization>Dhaka Stock Exchange</organization> ( <organization>DSE</organization> ) may remain steady as small investors are expected to target mainly blue chips while overseas investors will prefer to keep to the sidelines when the market reopens after <misc>Moslem</misc> Friday weekend , brokers said . </response>


<response> " The market is expected to remain steady . </response>


There will be both buying and selling pressure , " said broker Shakil Rizvi .

<response> There will be both buying and selling pressure , " said broker <person>Shakil Rizvi</person> . </response>


Broker Khurshid Alam said : " The market sentiment will remain strong .

<response> Broker <person>Khurshid Alam</person> said : " The market sentiment will remain strong . </response>


<response> But the prices may move in a close range following a continued market uptrend . " </response>


Brokers said blue chips like IDLC , Bangladesh Lamps , Chittagong Cement and Atlas Bangladesh were expected to rise .

<response> Brokers said blue chips like <organization>IDLC</organization> , <organization>Bangladesh Lamps</organization> , <organization>Chittagong Cement</organization> and <organization>Atlas Bangladesh</organization> were expected to rise . </response>


<response> They said there was still demand for blue chips in engineering sector despite their persistent rise over the past several sessions . </response>


The DSE all share price index closed 2.73 points or 0.22 percent up at 1,196.35 on a turnover of 133.7 million taka on Thursday .

<response> The <organization>DSE</organization> all share price index closed 2.73 points or 0.22 percent up at 1,196.35 on a turnover of 133.7 million taka on Thursday . </response>


-- Dhaka Newsroom 880-2-506363

<response> -- <organization>Dhaka Newsroom</organization> 880-2-506363 </response>