President Sebastian Pinera of Chile has called for national reconciliation on the 40th anniversary of the coup led by General Augusto Pinochet. Mr. Pinera said that the current generation of Chileans had no right to pass the hatreds of the past down to their children and grandchildren. However, the daughter of the late-deposed president Salvador Allende said she did not believe
in force to reconciliations.
Hundreds of thousands of people in northeastern Spain demanding independence for Catalonia have joined hands to form a human chain across the region. Many Catalans complained that the region which has its own language and its wealthy as many parts of Spain in effect subsidizes the government in Madrid. Tom Burridge reports.
This was another strong show of popular support in Catalonia for the idea of a vote on independence from Spain. A human chain stretched from Catalonia's border with France in the north along motorways and through villages and the Catalan capital of Barcelona eventually reaching the regional border with Valencia in the south. The Catalan President Artur Mas says he wants a referendum on independence next year
but conceded that the Spanish government is unlikely to change its position, Madrid is strongly opposed.
Celebrations have taken place in the Afghan capital Kabul after the national football team won its first international trophy. Fans took to the streets to wave Afghan flags and fire guns into the air to mark the team's 2-0 victory over India in the final of the South Asian Football Federation Championship in Kathmandu.