News digest

President pardons 83

President Aliyev decreed Monday to pardon 83 inmates on the occasion of the Republic Day on May 28. The decree frees 73 convicts and halves the imprisonment terms of other 10. Among the pardoned are 17 coup plotters in October of 1994, 41 special police troopers charged with coup attempt in March 1995, 2 jailed for complicity in the formation of the puppet Talysh-Mugan republic, and 5 involved in illegal armed groupings.

Also released was an Iranian national.

Iranian authorities ban Azeri hero's commemoration

The Baku Office of the Movement for National Awakening of South Azerbaijan, Iran has issued a report reading that the executives of the movement are being arrested in Tabriz, Urmiya and other cities of Iran. The cause is preparations to commemorate on July 4-5 at the Bazz castle Babak, an Azeri hero who fought against Arabs for 20 years in the 9th century.

Leader of the movement Dr. Chehraganli said in a statement Azeris in Iran would commemorate the great hero by all means.

London Lord Mayor to visit Baku

A delegation led by London Lord Mayor Michael Oliver is expected to visit Baku in mid-June for a fact-finding mission. The visitors will meet with Baku Mayor and government officials, British ambassador to Azerbaijan Andrew Tucker told AssA-Irada Monday.

The English delegates will become familiar with Baku's infrastructure, operation of production facilities and investment opportunities.

Before the two or three day Baku trip, the delegation will be in the Kazakh capital, Astana.

Mini-soccer tournament starts

An annual Diplomat mini-soccer tournament opened at the Hand Games Palace of Baku Monday. Vying in the contest organized by the Baku Mayoral Office are 10 teams of foreign embassies accredited in Azerbaijan and a Mayoral team. The tournament will close on June 6.

Azercell's gifts for football fans

Azercell is planning to introduce a new service to its subscribers from May 31 to get first-hand information on the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan. One can get information on the games played in a day by dialing 6970 and matches of five days dialing 6971.

Besides, tables of teams, a list of strikers, scores, etc. can be obtained by sending a message to 6970.

The new service will be active till June 30.