27 July 2004 Tuesday 09 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 British MPs seek ICJ ruling on Iraq LONDON, July 26: Forty British parliamentarians have asked UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to seek the opinion of the UN's International Court of Justice on the legality of the Iraq invasion, the Daily Mirror newspaper said on Monday. ... Gardening, poetry top Saddam's pastimes LONDON, July 26: Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein spends his time in prison gardening, writing poetry and snacking on American muffins and cookies, Britain's Guardian newspaper said on Monday. ... From redemption to amnesty: Iraqi detainees ABU GHRAIB: A young Iraqi prisoner in yellow overalls stands in a cage at the Abu Ghraib jail with other inmates waiting to meet with their families. "So what has happened to the amnesty?" he asks. ... Baghdad commuters face Russian roulette BAGHDAD: A heavy sense of dread hangs over the morning rush hour in Baghdad as Iraqis brace for the near daily explosion in a deadly game of Russian roulette, but most refuse to let the violence keep them at home. ... AL urges US, UN to help protect mosque CAIRO, July 26: The Arab League appealed on Monday to the United States and the United Nations to help prevent alleged plots by extremist Jewish groups to attack the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Al Quds. ... Wall collapses in Kabul KABUL, July 26: Several people, including Chinese engineers, were feared to have been killed or wounded in the Afghan capital on Monday after a wall of a hospital collapsed, officials said. ... Darfur cuts short US-Sudan thaw CAIRO: The crisis in western Sudan has dealt a blow to improving ties between Washington and Khartoum, which now faces a new set of sanctions if the government cannot stop Arab militia attacks on African villagers. ... US N-arms research industry grinds to halt amid data scandal WASHINGTON, July 26: Most of the US nuclear weapons research industry ground to a halt on Monday in an unprecedented move prompted by a burgeoning scandal at Los Alamos National Laboratory ... Democrats curb Bush bashing NEW YORK, July 26: Democratic Party delegates have gathered in Boston for a four-day convention that will see John Kerry endorsed as presidential candidate to run against incumbent George Bush in the November elections. ... Whistleblower Vanunu loses bid to leave Israel TEL AVIV, July 26: Israel's top court rejected an appeal by Mordechai Vanunu on Monday to be allowed to leave the country, saying the nuclear whistleblower freed in April after 18 years in jail was still a threat to national security. ... Pakistan asked to collect Kargil bodies NEW DELHI, July 26: India wants to hand over the bodies of more than 100 Pakistani soldiers who died in the May 1999 conflict in Kargil, Indian occupied Kashmir, it was reported Monday. ... 13 killed in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, July 26: Suspected Muslim militants killed eight people, three by beheading, and injured 30 others, while Indian troops gunned down five militants in Indian Kashmir, police said on Monday. ... Kashmir fence buoys Indian army; militants undeterred GWALTA POST: Tushar Patil, an Indian soldier posted on the frontline in occupied Kashmir, has been sleeping better over the last few months. ... Web worm slows Internet sites SAN FRANCISCO, July 26: A fast-spreading computer worm that uses Web search sites to find victims made a broad assault on computers worldwide on Monday, causing problems for Google Inc. on the day it offered new details about its initial public offering, security experts said. ... Jagan Nath Azad dies in Delhi JAMMU, July 26: Prof Jagan Nath Azad, Urdu poet, scholar and an eminent authority on Allama Iqbal, died in New Delhi last week. He is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters. ... Green tea keeps blood pressure down: study CHICAGO, July 26: Drinkers of green and oolong tea are less likely to develop high blood pressure than nondrinkers, a Taiwanese study said on Monday. ... 19 Asians held in Poland WARSAW, July 26: Polish border guards said on Monday they had arrested 19 illegal immigrants from Asia hidden in a lorry at Poland's frontier with Germany. ... Britain is too bored to notice European affairs BRUSSELS: It was one of those moments that seem to sum everything up: I was in Brussels and on the phone to my native Sheffield, ordering a gift. The chatty bloke with the familiar accent asked me what I did over there. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004