11 April 2004 Sunday 20 Safar 1425 Rally calls for Japan's pullout from Iraq TOKYO, April 10: Hundreds of people rallied outside Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's office on Saturday, demanding the withdrawal of Japanese troops from Iraq to save the lives of three Japanese kidnapped by insurgents there. ... Hurd blasts US policy on Iraq LONDON, April 10: Former British foreign secretary Douglas Hurd on Saturday blasted Washington's policy in Iraq saying the United States was mistaken in believing it could impose democracy in the war-shattered country through the use of force. ... Neo-cons ask: who is behind Shia uprising? WASHINGTON: Neo-conservatives close to the administration of President George W Bush are pushing for retribution against Iran for, they say, sponsoring this week's Shia uprising in Iraq led by radical leader Moqtada al-Sadr. ... Osama-linked family arrives in Canada TORONTO, April 10: Two members of a Canadian family who once lived in a compound run by Osama bin Laden and are accused of links to Al Qaeda, arrived in Toronto on Friday from Pakistan. ... Tribal area faces its moment of truth ISLAMABAD: Awash with guns, opium, bands of armed militants, mediaeval laws, smugglers, rugged tribesmen and breathtaking mountains, the Pakistan-Afghan border is one of the wildest places on earth. ... Dostum's forces leave Faryab town KABUL, April 10: Forces of a renegade adviser to President Hamid Karzai have withdrawn from the centre of remote provincial capital they had overrun, leaving it in control of the national army, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday. ... Bush was told of attacks before 9/11: paper WASHINGTON, April 10: US President George Bush was told more than a month before the Sept 11 attacks that supporters of Osama bin Laden planned a strike within the United States with explosives and wanted to hijack airplanes ... 11,000 flee as Tamil Tigers launch offensive TRINCOMALEE, April 10: Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels on Saturday consolidated gains over vast territory taken from renegade rebels, but at least 11,000 civilians fled their homes fearing more fighting. ... 10,000 protest Dutch plan to expel refugees AMSTERDAM, April 10: Thousands of people gathered in Amsterdam on Saturday to protest the Dutch government's plans to expel 26,000 failed asylum seekers, many of whom have lived in the country for years. ... Anti-war marchers take to the streets in 50 US cities WASHINGTON, April 10: Organizers of an anti-war protest in Washington said on Saturday that the occupation of Iraq was bringing back the images of another war, in Vietnam, 30 years ago. ... Plot to hit US interests foiled, says Amman AMMAN, April 10: Jordanian authorities said on Saturday they had found cars carrying explosives that an underground group had planned to use to attack American interests, a senior security source said. ... 20 guerillas break jail in Philippines ISABELA, April 10: Eight escapees were killed after at least 53 prisoners including about 20 suspected Abu Sayyaf Muslim guerillas broke out of jail in the southern Philippines on Saturday, officials said. ... Taiwan foreign minister quits over US spat TAIPEI, April 10: Taiwan appointed former county magistrate Chen Tang-shan as foreign minister on Saturday after his predecessor quit. ... The oppressed becomes oppressor LONDON: In Iraq we say: "Choose the companion first, then the road." We believe it very important to know who one is travelling with. On June 30 the US-led occupation forces will hand power to an Iraqi government. ... Abductions upset Tokyo's focus TOKYO: Just as Japan has focused its foreign policy on its involvement in the reconstruction of Iraq, this week's abduction of three of its volunteers there has jarred a largely pacifist population ... Muslims' gas stations targeted HOUSTON: Three Muslim-owned gas stations in San Antonio have been set on fire by one or more arsonists in the past three weeks, raising the spectre of hate crimes in a city that prides itself on diversity. ...

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