THE WEEK THAT WAS

by MONITOR l Jack Straw and Condoleezza Rice decided to extend their weekend together in Blackburn, England, Mr Straw's parliamentary seat, with an add-on trip to Baghdad, Iraq. There they stressed the importance and urgency of agreement on a government of national unity four months after elections were held. Later in the week a suicide-bombing attack near a Shia mosque in Baghdad killed more than 80 people and injured many more. New charges of genocide against Iraq's Kurds were laid against Saddam Hussein whose trial on earlier charges continued intermittently. l The Labour Party launched its campaign for the local elections, including London, being held in May. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown appeared together despite earlier rumours that Mr Brown was to be excluded. At its Spring Conference the Conservative Party was told by its new leader, David Cameron, that change in the party must be faster and deeper. l On the eighth anniversary of Northern Ireland's Good Friday agreement the British government told the province's elected politicians that they must co-operate with each other or lose their jobs and salaries in November. Direct rule by Westminser would then be resumed in close co-operation with Dublin, said Peter Hain, minister for Northern Ireland. l In France trade union and student protests continued despite president Chirac's offer to water-down the new job contract for young people which is at the heart of the trouble. l In Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra stood down as prime minister despite winning a general election in recognition of continuing allegations of corruption.