02 February 2005 Wednesday 22 Zilhaj 1425 Karzai hints at postponing parliament election KABUL, Feb 1: Afghan President Hamid Karzai's spokesman admitted on Tuesday that parliamentary elections which are scheduled to be held before the end of May be delayed. ... Body of Kabul's Jew flown to Tashkent KABUL, Feb 1: The remains of one of the only two Jews thought to be living in Afghanistan were flown to Uzbekistan on Tuesday to be handed over to Israeli representatives, the International Committee of the Red Cross said. ... Silent shrieks in Afghanistan KABUL: Battered taxis ply the streets, shops are open for trade, people go about their business. But despite the apparent normality of the Afghan capital, no one can forget the horrors of nearly a quarter century of war, and all want justice. ... US ignoring Turkey's concerns, says PM: Iraq's Kurdish region ANKARA, Feb 1: Turkey slammed the United States on Tuesday for failing to rein in Kurdish moves in Iraq at the risk of fanning regional turmoil ... Shia to lead new govt: president BAGHDAD, Feb 1: Interim President Ghazi al Yawar said on Tuesday a Shia would almost certainly head Iraq's next government but said he was opposed to any permanent division of top posts between rival ethnic groups. ... US troops kill four in Iraqi prison riot BAGHDAD, Feb 1: US troops opened fire to quell a riot at a military run prison in southern Iraq on Monday, killing four inmates and wounding six, military authorities said. ... Kuwaiti police get vast powers to tackle militants KUWAIT, Feb 1: Kuwait's parliament passed a law on Tuesday giving police wide powers to search for and seize illegal weapons to tackle a wave of Al Qaeda-linked violence. ... Israel puts W.Bank pullback on hold JERUSALEM, Feb 1: Israel will slow a planned pullback from West Bank cities because of Gaza violence that has frayed a de facto cease fire and raised doubts Palestinians can keep militants in check, officials said on Tuesday. ... Israel grabbing Palestinian territory bit by bit BETHLEHEM: The Israeli government has quietly seized thousands of acres of Palestinian-owned land in and around eastern part of Al Quds after a secret cabinet decision to use a 55-year-old law against Arabs separated from farms ... Kurdish group set to win in Kirkuk SULEIMANIYAH, Feb 1: The main Kurdish alliance is set to win two-thirds of the vote in Iraq's tense northern oil centre of Kirkuk, officials said on Tuesday. ... Iran ready to sign N-deal with Russia MOSCOW, Feb 1: Iran said on Tuesday it would sign a key deal with Russia on the return of spent fuel that will finally let Moscow launch Tehran's first nuclear power plant, despite new sabre-rattling from Washington. ... Rice to make major speech in Paris WASHINGTON, Feb 1: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will make a major speech on transatlantic relations next week in Paris, the heart of European opposition to the invasion of Iraq, officials said on Monday. ... Egypt troops clash with bombing suspects CAIRO, Feb 1: Egyptian security forces were involved in a fierce gun battle on Tuesday with a group of Bedouin suspected of links to last year's deadly bombings of Sinai resorts, one of whom was killed, security sources said. ... Saarc summit to go ahead: BD DHAKA, Feb 1: Bangladeshi officials said on Tuesday they expected a summit of South Asian leaders to go ahead here this week despite the change in Nepal. ... Jury selection starts in Jackson trial SANTA MARIA, Feb 1: After months of delays and intense pretrial publicity, Michael Jackson took his seat in court on Monday as the task of selecting a jury began in the child molestation case that has put his career, reputation and freedom at risk. ... UK urges US to help avert climate disaster EXETER, Feb 1: Britain appealed to the United States on Tuesday to sign up to climate-saving cuts in greenhouse gas emissions as environmentalists warned of approaching Armageddon. ... Chinese in Taiwan on landmark visit TAIPEI, Feb 1: Two senior Chinese officials arrived in Taipei on Tuesday to attend the funeral of the island's top negotiator with the mainland, Koo Chen-fu, amid signs that tension is easing between the longtime foes. ... Turnout in Vietnam was also good: US claims on Iraq polls examined On Sept 4, 1967, the New York Times published an upbeat story on presidential elections held by the South Vietnamese puppet regime at the height of the Vietnam war. ... US outrages humanity at Guantanamo The US military admitted last week that 23 prisoners at its Guantanamo jail had attempted a collective suicide by trying to hang or strangle themselves between August 18 and 26, 2003. ... India voices 'grave concern' at Nepal crisis NEW DELHI, Feb 1: The Indian government voiced "grave concern" Tuesday after King Gyanendra sacked the government and declared a state of emergency in neighbouring Nepal. ... Gyanendra returns to limelight KATHMANDU, Feb 1: His supporters say Nepal's King Gyanendra is a no-nonsense man who never shies away from taking tough decisions. Critics say the poetry-loving monarch, who sacked his prime minister and government on Tuesday, is nothing but an autocrat ... BBC newsman dies of cancer LONDON, Feb 1: Ivan Noble, a BBC journalist who wrote a 'tumour diary' on the Internet about his two-year battle with brain cancer, died shortly after his last entry was posted, the BBC reported on Tuesday. ...

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