Ash clouds ejected by Kamchatka's Shiveluch rise over 5 km.

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, September 20 (Itar-Tass) - Shiveluch, the
northernmost of active volcanoes on Russia's Kamchatka, has ejected ash
clouds to the height of up to 5.5 kilometres above the sea level. There is
no danger for the local settlements, sources from the Kamchatka branch of
the Russian Academy of Sciences' geophysical service told Tass on Sunday.
About 100 local quakes have been fixed at the volcano over the past 24
hours. Thermal anomalies with temperatures from plus 46 to plus 61 degrees
Celsius are registered in the area of the active dome.
Shiveluch is one of the most active volcanoes on the Kamchatka
peninsula. It has been erupting for already over a year. The giant volcano
is 3,283 meters high. Its eruptions are difficult to forecast, specialists
say. They constantly monitor the volcano.
Its latest eruption, which scientists qualified as catastrophe, was in
1964. The lava dome was destroyed then and the giant emitted into the
atmosphere over one cubic kilometre of volcanic substance.
The current eruption has continued for more than a year. Video and
photographic survey is made from the settlement of Klyuchi, situated 50
kilometers away from the volcano. It poses no danger for local settlements
and communications. However, ash it spews into the atmosphere can pose
danger for aircraft. All concerned services are constantly informed on the
activity of the volcano.
The settlement of Klyuchi with the population of about 5,000 people is
the closest to the volcanoes. It is situated about 50 kilometres away from
Shiveluch. The highway leading to the settlement runs 20 kilometres from
the foot of Shiveluch. However, there is no danger either for the
settlement or for the highway, specialists believe.

.NKorea nuclear problem must be solved at six-party talks - Okada.

TOKYO, September 20 (Itar-Tass) - The nuclear problem of the Korean
peninsula must be settled within the framework of the six-party
negotiation process, Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said in an
interview with the Mainichi newspaper published on Sunday.
The new foreign minister believes the holding of separate
consultations with North Korea can create favourable for North Korea
conditions. Focusing on possible bilateral talks between Washington and
Pyongyang, Katsuya Okada noted that he considered them as part of the
process of negotiations within the six-party format.
He believes U.S.-North Korean contacts of short duration must aim at
looking for the way out of a deadlock in six-party talks.
At six-way talks, which continued till the autumn of 2008, North Korea
agreed to dismantle its nuclear facilities in exchange for supplies of
fuel oil. However, that process stalled. Major differences emerged between
Washington and Pyongyang as concerns methods of controlling North Korean
commitments. In April 2009, North Korea launched a long-range missile,
while in May it conducted the second nuclear test.
The U.N. Security Council condemned that activity, while in response
Pyongyang has repeatedly stated that it has no intention to resume
participation in six-way talks and that it will continue nuclear build-up.

.Muslims of Tatarstan mark end of Holy Month of Ramadan.

MOSCOW, September 20 (Itar-Tass) - Muslims of Russia's republic of
Tatarstan mark on Sunday Uraza Bairam, which ends the Holy Month of
Ramadan.
The holiday is called Eid ul-Fitr, but in Russia where practically all
the Moslem peoples speak Turkic languages, it is mostly known as Uraza
Bairam.
During the 30 days of the fast, the pious believers were expected to
refrain from food and water from dawn and until dusk, but the essence of
the Holy Month is broader than mere fasting.
"The fast reminds us of the existence of poor and needy people and it
urges us to be merciful," President of the Council of Russian Muftis,
Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin said in his address to the Moslem community on the
eve of the Holy Month of Ramadan. "Mercy and peacefulness are the main
features of our blessed religion," he wrote.
"The fast is also a time of good and beneficiary deeds, a time when
people learn how to show sympathy with the ones who need our support and
help," he said.
On the eve of the holiday, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiyev
addressed his fellow countrymen. "Let Uraza Bairam reward Muslims with
peace of mind and self-confidence, give them new energy and inspiration
for creation," he said.
The president also marked the contribution of Muslims to "the
strengthening and development of multi-ethnic Russia".
After prayers at mosques, Muslims visit cemeteries. They congratulate
each other, exchange food, make presents and give alms to poor and orphans.
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