Human rights groups say that at least 1,500 people, mainly civilians, have been killed in Aceh since January.. Archaeologists believe they have found the burial site and treasure trove of the Mongolian warrior Genghis Khan. Archaeologists believe they have found the burial site and treasure trove of the Mongolian warrior Genghis Khan. The discovery of a walled burial ground containing at least 60 unopened tombs has increased speculation that an expedition that is under way will succeed in tracking down the elusive conqueror, who was buried amid great secrecy and slaughter in 1227.John Woods, a history professor at the University of Chicago, said: "It is an exciting discovery because it's located near where some other important events occurred in Khan's life." Professor Woods leads the American-Mongolian team that has been scouring the steppes since last year.These locations include Genghis Khan's likely birthplace and the Great Kuriltai, where 20,000 people crowned him Khan of Khans, and ruler of "all who live in felt tents".After his crowning, the warrior let loose one of the most effective fighting forces assembled in the pre-firearms era. More than three million people may have died during the bloody creation of the largest contiguous land empire in history. At their height, the Mongolians simultaneously challenged the Germans and the Japanese.After his death at the age of 65, perhaps from injuries suffered in a fall from his beloved horse, Genghis was buried by generals who went to extraordinary lengths to conceal the grave. Every one of the 2,000 people who attended his funeral was reportedly massacred by 800 soldiers, who in turn were killed to ensure his rest was undisturbed.He has lain undisturbed ever since, despite the hi-tech efforts of Japanese explorers who wasted three years and millions of dollars in the mid-Nineties in a vain attempt to find his grave.The Americans believe luck is on their side this time. As they considered abandoning a search near the town of Batshireet in Khentii Province, 200 miles north-east of the capital Ulan Bator, they heeded a suggestion from an asthmatic Mongolian geographer to climb a nearby hill, which was so steep that it had defeated him.

From the summit, the walled burial ground came into view.Other positive signs include an unexcavated tomb 31 miles away, which may contain 100 of the soldiers who lost their lives to keep the secret.Although Professor Woods has petitioned the Mongolian Prime Minister to allow preliminary excavation to start next April, no archaeological digs have yet been approved. This is perhaps because Mongolian citizens still fear that exhuming bodies destroys the souls of the dead.Professor Woods said: "This whole country is virgin in terms of archaeology – almost no excavation of any kind has been done in Mongolia. There are tantalising references (in folklore) to maidens being sacrificed, and booty. We don't know what to expect."Earlier this week, treasure hunters were given a glimpse of what may lie in store when a Turkish expedition announced the discovery of thousands of gold and silver artefacts near the shrine of a Turkish emperor who ruled Mongolia in the 8th century. While uncovering this jackpot did not involve disturbing tombs, if Professor Woods does locate the man Mongolians consider the Father of the Nation, pressure may grow to bring his legacy to light.Although traditions weigh heavily on Mongolia's people, the financial temptations of creating a tourist attraction to rival the Tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt, or China's Terracotta Army, would be considerable for this poor, aid-dependent nation, with its semi-nomadic population of 2.6 million.However the burial site is developed in future, doubtless every Mongolian would cheer its discovery as a definitive rebuttal to Bejing's claims that the site lies across the border on Chinese territory.. White Zimbabweans shaved their heads yesterday in solidarity with 21 white farmers arrested 12 days ago on charges of inciting public violence.

White Zimbabweans shaved their heads yesterday in solidarity with 21 white farmers arrested 12 days ago on charges of inciting public violence. As a high court judge in the capital, Harare, postponed a ruling on the men's bail application until Monday, dozens – if not hundreds – of white Zimbabweans heeded a call by fax and email to protest by shaving their heads.Charles Drazdik, a 24-year-old farm electrician in Chinhoyi said he shaved his head"as a silent protest for the guys". He said he knew of 15 other men who had been shorn in the past 24 hours.Mr Drazdik said: "My hair is generally quite long – over the ears – and now I'm bald for the first time since I was born. The women are having No 4 cuts but the guys have gone all the way."Reading from an anonymous fax circulating in Chinhoyi – the home area of the 21 arrested men – and beyond, he said: "The farmers have been held for 12 days in poor living conditions. Their heads have been shaved and their personal clothes have been taken away, even though they have not been convicted of any crime.

We would like to suggest that any Zimbabwean living in town or overseas do the same." In Harare yesterday, a lawyer for the 21 men said a high court judge, Rita Makarau, had told him that she needed more time to consider their bail application and that the ruling had been postponed until Monday.The Chinhoyi farmers were arrested on 6 August for allegedly attacking militants acting for President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF). Pro-government mobs staged retaliatory attacks on commercial farms for a week afterwards, looting and destroying property and forcing white owners to flee before police intervened.The farmers' lawyers say state prosecution arguments that releasing the men would trigger more violence in Chinhoyi – where they are detained – were an admission of the breakdown of law and order. The state prosecutor has argued the farmers are likely to interfere with state witnesses – some of whom are farm workers – if released on bail.Nine white farmers and at least 30 black supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have died since February last year when Zanu-PF militants began invading white-owned farms, which represent a mainstay of the economy. The militants are acting in support of President Mugabe who says he intends to redistribute the farms to black Zimbabweans.* Namibia's black farmers have urged President Sam Nujoma to speed up land redistribution or face Zimbabwe-style farm invasions.The Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU) leader, Pintile Davids, said that the government's policy of "willing-seller, willing-buyer" had failed to address land imbalances because white commercial farmers were unwilling to sell."We must shift gears now for the better, we need to take the bull by its horns.