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| 30 January 2005 | Sunday | 19 Zilhaj 1425 |
Welcome to DAWN, Pakistan's most widely circulated English language newspaper.
Updated round-the-clock, with a major update before 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT).
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Welcome to DAWN, Pakistan's most widely circulated English language newspaper. Updated round-the-clock, with a major update before 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT).
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Government pressing Iran to compromise on nuclear dispute: DAVOS, Jan 30: Government is exerting behind the scenes pressure on Iran to compromise in its acrimonious dispute with Europe and the United States over its nuclear programme, diplomatic sources say. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri passed on their concerns during a meeting at the weekend with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi. Kasuri, for his part, said Pakistan supported negotiations led by Britain, France and Germany, to reach a lasting deal that would allay US charges that Iran is covertly developing nuclear weapons. "We feel the role the (EU three) are playing is positive, because we feel that a peaceful resolution to this dispute is highly desirable," Kasuri told AFP on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "Being their neighbours, and already with the Iraq situation being what it is, we wouldn't want another turmoil on our border," he said. "We paid a big price" in Afghanistan "We don't want a similar destabilisation on our border again, so we have a vested interest in a peaceful resolution of this dispute." Pakistani officials say that Tehran has been warned "bluntly, bordering on rudeness," of their concerns and urged "not to make the mistake" of ignoring the Europeans. "We have not minced our words," a diplomatic source said. (AFP) (Posted @ 13:15 PST) 
Kasuri laments lack of progress on talks with India: DAVOS, Jan 30: Sensitive talks between India and Pakistan are not making enough progress and need to be tackled "with greater seriousness," Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri has said. In an interview with AFP, he called for a "confidence-building measure" on Kashmir and highlighted increasing business contacts between the two countries. "The fact that we're talking is progress, but in concrete terms we are not making much progress, not just on Kashmir but even on other issues," he added on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "The leadership in both countries should be mindful of this fact," and must not disappoint strong peace lobbies. (AFP) (Posted @ 13:35 PST)
Tribesmen bomb electricity towers in Baluchistan: QUETTA, Jan 30: Tribesmen seeking regional autonomy set off bombs in Baluchistan on yesterday and today, destroying electricity towers but causing no casualties, officials said. Two bombs went off early today in the suburbs of Quetta but only shattered window panes in nearby buildings, police said. Yesterday three power towers were blown up in Nasirabad district suspending electricity supply to parts of the province, said Jibrail Khan, a power utility spokesman. But he said authorities had restored electricity to most of area by using an alternate distribution system while a special team had been called from Lahore to repair the damage. The top local official of the district, Sayed Jamali, told Reuters that three towers were razed to the ground and a fourth partially damaged by the explosions. "The bombs were detonated at the base of the towers," he said by telephone from the town of Dera Murad Jamali. A person identifying himself as a member of the Baluch Liberation Army made a telephone call to the Quetta Press Club later to claim responsibility for all the bombings. (Reuters) (Posted @ 17:35 PST)
CRICKET: Pakistan find their pace to beat Australia - PERTH, Jan 30: A jubilant Pakistan finally found the form which had deserted them throughout their tour of Australia, defeating Australia by three wickets in their tri-series limited overs match at the Western Australian Cricket Association Ground. Pakistan, beaten 3-0 in the Test series against Australia and losers in three of their four previous tri-series matches, chased down the 266 runs needed for victory, losing only seven wickets and with almost three overs to spare today. Man of the Match Abdul Razzaq and his partner Rana Naved-ul-Hasan punched the air with joy as the winning runs came up off four leg byes. In the end it was decisive knocks from Yousuf Youhana, Razzaq and Shahid Afridi which set up the win, Pakistan's first against Australia on tour. Yousuf Youhana was the keystone of the innings, making a decisive 72 before being caught by Simon Katich trying to blast an Andrew Symonds delivery over mid-off. He and Inzamam-ul-Haq came together with Pakistan struggling at 49 for 3 forming a comfortable 74-run partnership until Inzamam was trapped lbw to spinner Brad Hogg for 29. Shoaib Malik was the next to arrive at the crease but he departed almost immediately after for just one, run out by a direct hit from Symonds with the score at 125 for 5. Yousuf continued to flourish with allrounder Abdul Razzaq, hitting seven fours and one six before being dismissed. It was then that Razzaq, who had earlier taken 4-53 while bowling, became the rock for the team. Together with Shahid Afridi they took Pakistan from 170 for 6 midway through the 34th over to 200 for 6 after the 18th over with Afridi hitting a massive six to bring up the double century. (AFP) (Updated @ 21:25 PST)
Two Sunnis killed in sectarian attack in Karachi: KARACHI, Jan 30: Two gunmen riding a motorbike shot dead a leading Sunni Muslim scholar and his bodyguard in Karachi, police said. "Maulana Haroon Al-Qasmi and his guard have been killed in an ambush," city police chief Tariq Jamil told AFP today, describing the victim as a noted scholar. Dozens of angry youths went on the rampage after hearing the news. The rioters attacked a police post, ransacked several shops and burnt tyres on roads, witnesses said. "We have reports of a few violent incidents after the murder. The situation is under control now," Jamil said. Paramilitary rangers had been called in to control the violence. Witnesses said Qasmi and his guard were sitting in their car after leaving a mosque where he used to lead prayers in the downtown Tariq Road area when the two men sprayed them with bullets before fleeing. They died on the way to hospital, Jamil said. The outlawed Sunni militant outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) said Qasmi was one of their activists. "He was a good lawyer and chief of our legal team, which is fighting cases of our workers in the courts," said SSP spokesman Qari Mohammad Shafiq. The murder of a Sunni cleric before the holy Islamic month of Muharram has raised fear of sectarian clashes. "It is a conspiracy to ignite sectarian clashes in the city," said Allama Hasan Turabi, a Shiite cleric. (AFP) (Posted @ 21:30 PST)
Government may hand over arrested Taliban suspects to Afghanistan: QUETTA, Jan 30: Senior former Taliban officials arrested in Pakistan and suspected of links to Al-Qaeda will be handed over to Afghanistan if nothing can be proved against them, police said. "If nothing is proved against them except living without any legal documents in Pakistan, they will be handed over to the Afghan government for being Afghan nationals," Quetta police chief Pervez Rafi Bhatti told AFP today. The 17 Afghan suspects were picked up by police in a swoop Thursday on hideouts in Quetta, capital of Baluchistan province which borders Afghanistan and Iran. "The suspects are being questioned about their links to the Al-Qaeda network," Bhatti said. Investigators have identified one detainee as Mullah Abdur Razzak but till today still could not confirm whether he is the former Afghan interior minister of the same name during the Taliban's rule. The former deputy governor of southern Helmand province, Mullah Khush Dil, and ex-Kabul police chief Mullah Ibrahim were also among the arrested group. (AFP) (Posted @ 17:45 PST)
Iraqis Start Historic Vote Amid Attacks : BAGHDAD, Jan 30: Iraqis voted today in their country's first free election in a half-century and insurgents made good on threats of violence, launching three deadly suicide bombings and mortar strikes at polling stations across Iraq. At least 14 people were killed, including five policemen. Casting his vote, Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi called it "the first time the Iraqis will determine their destiny." The country's mostly ceremonial president, Ghazi al-Yawer, said it was Iraq's first step "toward joining the free world." Security was tight. About 300,000 Iraqi and American troops were on the streets and on standby to protect voters, who entered polling stations under loops of razor wire and after being searched. Despite the heavy attacks, turnout was brisk in some Shiite Muslim and mixed Shiite-Sunni neighborhoods. Even in the small town of Askan in the so-called "triangle of death" south of Baghdad - a mixed Sunni-Shiite area - 20 people waited in line at each of several polling centers. More walked toward the polls. In a potentially troublesome sign, however, the polls were deserted in heavily Sunni cities like Fallujah, Ramadi and Samarra west and north of Baghdad. Sunni extremists, fearing victory by the Shiites, have called for a boycott, claiming no vote held under U.S. military occupation is legitimate. Suicide bombers attacked at least three voting centers in western Baghdad, killing eight people, including three bombers, police and witnesses said. One policeman was killed and nine people were injured in the first attack, which occurred in the Dawoudi neighborhood. Another bomber struck the al-Quds school, killing three policeman and one civilian, officials said. Six others were wounded. The third bomber attacked the Mutamaizen Secondary School in the Mansour district, injuring three policemen, officials said. Three people were killed when mortars landed near a polling station in Sadr City, the heart of Baghdad's Shiite Muslim community. Seven to eight others were wounded, police said. (AP/AFP) (Posted @ 13:45 PST)
Israel to Conduct West Bank Hand Over : JERUSALEM, Jan 30: Israel will hand several West Bank towns to Palestinian control in coming days, Israel's defense minister said. Palestinian officials said the first towns to be handed over would be Jericho and either Ramallah or Bethlehem. Security commanders of both sides are to meet Monday to work out the details. The handover of security control to the Palestinians is part of a growing momentum toward a cease-fire and a resumption of peace talks. Over the weekend, Palestinian forces completed their deployment in the Gaza Strip, and few violent incidents were reported. Army Radio said today's military strikes against Palestinian militants in the West Bank would cease this week, except for cases of "immediate operational needs" approved personally by the army chief of staff. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas last week told his security chiefs to get ready for assuming control of the West Bank towns of Ramallah, Tulkarem, Qalqiliya, Jericho and Bethlehem. (AP/AFP) (Posted @ 13:05 PST)
3 Die in Shootout in Kuwait's Capital : KUWAIT CITY, Jan 30: Kuwaiti security forces stormed a building in a residential part of the capital and exchanged gunfire with suspected terrorists today, killing one in a battle that also left a security officer and a bystander dead, the government said. The clash was the third battle this month between security forces and suspected militants.State-owned Kuwaiti Television reported that three suspects had died, but the Interior Ministry said later today that only one was killed, along with a police officer and a Bahraini man who lived in the building. Another suspect was injured and a third was arrested, the ministry said in a statement. Four police officers were wounded in the shootout, according to the statement. The clash happened in Kuwait City's Salmiyah neighborhood, where many foreign residents live. Residents heard gunfire for several minutes and saw police cordon off the area. (Guardian) (Posted @ 17:10 PST)
Earthquake strikes eastern Mediterranean off Turkey: no damage reported - ANKARA, Jan 30: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale struck the Mediterranean sea today some 50 kilometres south of Turkey's southern port city of Kas, the Anatolia news agency said. There were no reports of damage or injuries in Kas, which was hit by a 5.5 magnitude quake on Monday that also caused no damage but caused panic among residents. (AFP) (Posted @ 23:55 PST)
  Editor: Tahir Mirza The DAWN Group of Newspapers Haroon House, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Karachi 74200, Pakistan. Phone:+92 (21) 111-444-777 Fax: +92 (21) 568-3188 webmaster@dawn.com Make sure to reload these pages so you're viewing the current version. |
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