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23 April 2005 Saturday 13 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426 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)

to return to the regular issue please click here. PTV to pay glorious tribute to national cricket team today: Rashid ISLAMABAD April 23 (PPI): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) has planned a glorious tribute to the national cricket team on their historic victory in Pak-India series through a series of a day long celebrations namely ' Hai Koi Hum Jaisa' on Sunday. The three gold medal winners in the recently held Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia have also been invited to participate in the ceremony. (Posted @ 17:00 PST) Four militants killed in Kashmir NEW DELHI (DPA) - Indian troops killed four suspected Moslem militants after a 14-hour gunbattle early in Jammu And Kashmir State on Saturday, news reports said. A defence official said Indian army troops had foiled an infiltration bid along the line of control that divides India and Pakistan administered regions of Kashmir, PTI news agency reported. (Posted @ 16:30 PST) Suspected Taliban mine wounds four Afghan soldiers KABUL, April 23 (AFP) - Four Afghan soldiers were injured when their vehicle hit a landmine laid by suspected Taliban militants, an official said Saturday, the latest attack in a renewed offensive by the ousted regime. Three suspects were arrested for "links" to the blast in Shinkay, a troubled district in southeastern Zabul province on Friday, Lutfullah Mashal, interior ministry spokesman told AFP. (Posted @ 16:30 PST) North and South Korea hold breakthrough talks on Pyongyang's nuclear crisis JAKARTA, April 23 (AFP) - North and South Korean leaders on Saturday continued their highest-level talks in five years, exploring ways of reopening dialogue to resolve Pyongyang's nuclear crisis on the sidelines of a summit in Jakarta. South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-Chan tried to persuade Kim Yong-nam, North Korea's number two leader, that his country should reopen six-nation dialogue over its atomic ambitions. Talks between Pyongyang and the US, South Korea, China, Russia, and Japan aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear arms ambitions stalled last year after three inconclusive rounds. Efforts to revive the dialogue have taken on a new urgency after the North shut down its only working nuclear reactor and told a visiting US specialist that it planned to use spent nuclear fuel to make weapons-grade plutonium. (Posted @ 16:00 PST) Kashmir's dominant group says it would consider any truce offer by India SRINAGAR, India, April 23 (AFP) - Gazi Misbahudin, chief operational commander of Hizbul Mujahedin, said on Saturday that it would "seriously consider" any ceasefire offer by New Delhi to end the bloodshed in the region. The statement by a top Hizbul Mujahedin leader to a local Kashmir news agency follows the pledge taken this week by India and Pakistan to reach a "final settlement" on Kashmir. So far, India has made no ceasefire proposal. (Posted @ 15:45 PST) ARD delegation meets Qazi LAHORE, April 23-(PPI): A five-member ARD delegation led by PML-N’s Zafar Iqbal Jaghra met President Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Qazi Hussain Ahmad and presented a bouquet to him on behalf of Nawaz Sharif on his recovery. (Posted @ 15:45 PST) UNHCR plans to close more Afghan Refugee Camps in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, April 23 (PPI): The United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is planning to close some of its camps housing Afghan refugees in parts of Balochistan and NWFP. "The exact schedule has yet to be finalised" informed a UNHCR spokesman in Islamabad. At present, the UN refugee agency administers about 130 refugee camps, home to over a million Afghans across the country. The UN refugee agency's voluntary repatriation programme from Pakistan operates under a special tripartite agreement between UNHCR and the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan and will run until March 2006. Nearly 2.3 million Afghans have returned from Pakistan since 2002 under this programme with a further 400,000 expected to return this year. (Posted @ 15:30 PST) Nine Iraqis killed in Saturday violence BAGHDAD (DPA) - Eight Iraqi soldiers were killed when their convoy struck an improvised explosive device in Abu Ghraib west of Baghdad on Saturday, Iraqi police said. Other soldiers opened fire after the incident, killing a civilian driving by the scene. Twenty soldiers were also wounded in the blast. (Posted @ 15:30 PST) No rift with PML-N, says Amin Fahim ISLAMABAD, April 23 (PPI) Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Chairman ARD and PPP leader, met Raja Zafarul Haq, Acting President PML-N, on Friday to discuss the differences that have emerged between their respective parties in the wake of recent statements made by Asif Zardari concerning the military leadership. Mr. Amin Fahim said that both the parties have agreed to resolve their differences. He also questioned the grounds on which the PML leader Choudhary Nisar had earlier said that he would not attend any ARD meetings. Raja Zafarul Haq also expressed confidence after the meeting. Meanwhile in Lahore the PPP leader Asif Zardari said that his party has always admitted in its ARD meetings that it is in contact with the government at different levels. (Posted @ 15:00 PST) 17 more judges being inducted in Sindh courts for speedy justice KARACHI, Apr. 23 (APP) - Sindh Governor, Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad, has said that steps are being taken to raise the number of judges in lower and higher Sindh courts. About 17 more judges are expected to be inducted in the near future. He also announced that S.M. Law College would soon be alleviated to the status of a full fledged law university in public sector. (Updated @ 16:01 PST) National Water Policy seeks all provinces' input, to settle water distribution issue KARACHI, April 23 (PPI): Sindh Minister for Water, Irrigation and Power Sardar Nadir Akmal Khan Leghari, said that one of the most important economic and environmental issues of Pakistan, that of water conservation and management was being addressed to, through a planned National Water Policy (NWP) with all four provinces' input. Speaking at a seminar on "Better management of our water resources for our children and our future", in connection with the April 22, Earth Day,he said that for the Kotri Down-stream issue, a high-powered committee, with the help of World Bank (WB), was conducting a professional study and will submit its report very soon. (Posted @ 14:15 PST) Distt: One child killed, 21injured in road mishaps Thatta, April 23 (PPI): A child was killed and other 21 persons were injured in two different road mishaps on Saturday. A family was going to Thatta from Karachi for pilgrimage in a pickup which. overturned near Gujjo, some 15 km away from Thatta, leaving a 13-year old child killed on the spot .Two others sustained injuries. In another accident, 16 passengers were injured when a pickup overturned at Sakro Mor near Gharo. (Posted @ 14:15 PST) KASHMIR: Killing of liberation movement activists condemned SRINAGAR, April 23 (PPI) The ground situation in Occupied Kashmir belies claims of puppet regime about peace process, APHC leader and Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir National Front (NF), Naeem Ahmad Khan said. Addressing a condolence meeting at Tangmarg in Baramulla district where a pro-movement activist, Abdul Ahad Chak was martyred, he said the pro-movement activists were being killed by the government itself. (Posted @ 14:15 PST) SHAUKAT: P.M. on preventive care ISLAMABAD, April 23 (PPI): High priority and special emphasis is being given to preventive care as it can play a pivotal role in reducing the incidence of diseases and providing a better quality life to the people of Pakistan. This was stated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz wile talking to a group of Doctors based in United States who called on him at the Prime Minister House on Friday. The Prime Minister said that the government was catering to both preventive as well as diagnostic facilities and planned to extend health care to the poorest. He said Overseas Pakistanis were an asset. Overseas doctors presented a Management Information System (MIS) for prevention of communicable disease to the Prime Minister. Minister for health, Mr. Naseer Khan was also present at the meeting. (Posted @ 13:00 PST) Sindh Government decides expansion of Chief Minister's House KARACHI, April 23 (PPI): Sindh government has planned expansion of the Chief Minister's House in Karachi extending its limits to certain old structures and open places adjacent to it. Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim visited on Friday the old CommissionerHouse and other pre-partition buildings adjoining the CM House. It was decided that construction and shifting of chief minister's new office would be linked to expansion plan. The old stone structure of British era would not be demolished and instead its originality would be preserved. Chief Minister directed the DCO to prepare estimates of the expansion plan and for repair and renovation of old Commissioner House and Office. Officials said the expansion plan includes construction of flats for the lower staff of CM House and for this some old residential quarters may have to be demolished. If needed, the CM House limits could be extended up to the old Commissioner House and Office. (Posted @ 13:00 PST) PPP MPAs condemn manhandling of Engr. Bhutto of DCET KARACHI, April 23 (PPI): PPP MPAs Sasui Palijo, Rafiq Engineer, and Nawab Wassan have condemned the manhandling of Engr.Abdul Waheed Bhutto, Assistant Professor at Dawood College of Engineering and Technology, Karachi at the hands of students wing of an ethnic organization and asked the Sindh government to arrest the culprits without any delay.They aked the government to provide foolproof security to the staff of DCET and other educational institutions and give exemplary punishment to the culprits. (Posted @ 12:30 PST) Punchayat forces woman to get divorce and marry a landlord MULTAN, April 23 (PPI): A local jury (punchayat) forced a married woman to get divorce from her husband and marry a landlord because her brother eloped with landlord's wife in Moza Gogran (Lodhran) some 50 miles south of Multan."We have received a complaint from Karam Ali, father of girl and are investigating the case, however no arrest was made," Muhammad Zaman Langarial DPO Lodhran said on phone on Saturday. (Posted @ 12:30 PST) Bangladesh says three wounded in Indian firing DHAKA, April 22 (Reuters) - Indian troops opened fire across the border with Bangladesh wounding three farmers tilling their land, a Bangladeshi official said on Friday, in a fresh row on their troubled frontier. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) India says Kashmir rebels killed in gun battle SRINAGAR, India, April 22 (Reuters) - Indian army soldiers shot dead 11 militants in gunbattles in Indian Kashmir, an army spokesman said on Friday. He said four were killed in a night-time firefight after they tried to cross over to Indian Kashmir from Pakistan west of Srinagar. Another seven were killed in two separate gunbattles innorthern Kashmir, the spokesman said. In another incident, witnesses reported police used teargas to disperse a religious procession in Srinagar.More than 45,000 people have been killed since freedom struggle started in 1989. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) UK university teachers boycott Israel universities LONDON, April 22 (Reuters) - Britain's main university teachers' union said on Friday it had agreed to a Palestinian request to boycott two Israeli universities, angering Jewish students and administrators who said it could fan anti-Semitism. Association of University Teachers (AUT) General Secretary Sally Hunt, announcing the boycott, said members are asked to avoid all academic or cultural cooperation with Haifa University and Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv. The AUT council voted to boycott Bar-Ilan because it runs courses at colleges in the occupied West Bank and "is thus directly involved with the occupation of Palestinian territories contrary to United Nations resolutions". (Posted @ 12:00 PST) China's Hu to meet Koizumi Saturday-China govt JAKARTA, April 23 (Reuters) - Chinese President Hu Jintao will meet Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Saturday after the conclusion of multilateral talks between Asian and African countries in Indonesia, a Chinese official said. "According to my knowledge, he (Hu) has six to seven bilateral meetings today including Japanese Prime Minister Mr Koizumi. It's this afternoon after the (Asia-Africa) meeting is over," Kong Quan, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters in Jakarta. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) Cricket-South African centuries grind West Indies BRIDGETOWN, April 22 (Reuters) - Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers ground out centuries to sap the spirit from the West Indies on the second day of the third test on Friday. Smith scored 104 and De Villiers made an undefeated 122 to anchor South Africa's total of 253 for one, which they reached at stumps in reply to the West Indies' first innings of 296. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) U.S. Army clears key general in Abu Ghraib scandal WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) - The Army has exonerated Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the former top U.S. commander in Iraq, of wrongdoing in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal, but relieved another general of her command amid evidence of dereliction of duty, defense officials said on Friday. An Army investigation by a 10-member investigative team that last October began assessing any wrongdoing by top brass in Iraq found that Sanchez and three other senior officers had not committed dereliction of duty, the officials said. These four will not face criminal or administrative punishment. But the investigation found that "allegations of dereliction of duty were substantiated" in the case of Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, who had commanded the 800th Military Police Brigade at the heart of the Abu Ghraib abuse, said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Karpinski will not face criminal charges but has received an official letter of reprimand and has been relieved of her command, the official said. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) Coal mine explosion kills 17 workers in Turkey ANKARA, April 21 (APP/AFP) - Seventeen workers were killed in a coal mine in western Turkey on Thursday when a gas explosion caused a cave-in and sparked a fire, a local official told AFP. "All 17 bodies were found. There are no survivors," said the official from the sub-governor's office in Gediz, in the province of Kutahya, where the incident ocurred. The workers, 16 miners and an engineer, were trapped in a gallery about 300 meters (985 feet) underground. (Posted @ 11:20 PST) Senate approves 81 billion-dollars for US operations in Iraq, Afghanistan WASHINGTON, April 22 (APP/AFP) - The US Senate on Thursday approved an 81 billion dollar emergency spending bill to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The vote was 99 to 0. President George W. Bush requested the extra funding to over the cost of US military operations, which have spiraled upward as US troops combat burgeoning insurgencies in both countries. The additional money funds are intended to fund US military operations through the end of the 2005 fiscal year 2005, which ends September 30. (Posted @ 11:20 PST) Eleven dead as helicopter downed in Iraq BAGHDAD, April 22 (APP/AFP) - Insurgents in Iraq downed a Bulgarian helicopter with a missile strike, killing all 11 occupants. A US Embassy spokesman said among them were six Americans, three Bulgarians and two Filipinos. However, the Canadian company operating the aircraft, SkyLink, said two of the victims were Fijian security guards, not Filipinos. Another American working for Blackwater was killed near Ramadi when a roadside bomb blew up near his vehicle. Earlier, one employee from the British-based Aegis defence services company was killed and another injured when a bomb exploded as their car headed from the capital towards the airport, company spokeswoman Sarah Pearson said. One Iraqi civilian, travelling in another car, was also hurt by the blast, according to an interior ministry official.(Posted @ 11:20 PST) Israeli army makes West Bank incursion NABLUS, West Bank, April 22 (APP/AFP) - Israeli troops made an overnight incursion into the main northern West Bank city of Nablus on Friday in an unsuccessful bid to arrest two local chiefs of the radical Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a spokesman for the movement said. "Around 30 (army) jeeps entered the Balata refugee camp to try and arrest Alaa Saltah, 26, and Ahmad Abou Saltah, 27," the spokesman told AFP. "Both managed to escape, but Abou Saltah was slightly injured in the leg during an exchange of fire," he added. (Posted @ 11:20 PST) Nineteen feared dead after explosion at China chemical workshop BEIJING, April 22 (APP/AFP) - Nineteen workers are missing and feared dead after an explosion at a chemical workshop in southwest China destroyed the three-story building, state media reported Friday the blast occurred Thursday evening at the Dongxi Chemical Plant in Qijiang county, Chongqing municipality. Ten workers were injured, the Xinhua news agency said The building was razed with debris found up to 80 metres away (260 feet). (Posted @ 11:00 PST) Koizumi voices powerful apology for Japan's wartime record JAKARTA, April 22 (APP/AFP) - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday voiced a powerful apology for Japan's wartime record, speaking at an Asia-Africa summitJapan "squarely" acknowledged the damage and suffering caused by colonial aggression across Asia with "deep remorse", Koizumi told the conference in Jakarta attended by Chinese President Hu Jintao. The apology follows three weeks of rising tensions with China after Tokyo approved a nationalist textbook that downplays Japan's wartime atrocities. (Posted @ 11:00 PST) Asian African Summit starts JAKARTA, April 22 (APP): With 106 countries representing three quarters of world population, the Asian-African Summit 2005 began here Friday with a call for forging a meaningful cooperation among regional countries for the mutual objective of reducing poverty and achieving long-cherished development and peace. President Susilo Bamgbang Yothoyono opened the summit by urging increased cooperation among regional countries for meeting the shared goals of socio-economic development at the summit being staged with the theme "Reinvigorating the Bandung Spirit: Working Towards a New Asian-African Strategic Partnership." President General Pervez Musharraf, who is heading the Pakistani delegation at the Summit, will be among prominent leaders to deliver a keynote address. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in his address to the inaugural session, urged the international community to be imaginative and creative in reforming the world body for the collective well-being of all members states. (Posted @ 11:00 PST) Pakistan Caucus deepening Pak-U.S. relations: Karamat WASHINGTON, Apr 22 (APP) - Ambassador Jehangir Karamat Thursday highlighted Pakistan-U.S. relations saying the establishment of Pakistan Caucus in U.S. Congress is "deepening and strengthening relations between the two countries." The Ambassador observed this at a Congressional breakfast meeting at the Capitol Hill, jointly hosted by the Pakistani American Liaison Center (PALC) and the Congressional Pakistan Caucus. The meeting was chaired by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Co-chair of the Pakistan Caucus, while several members of Congress and their staffers attended. Ambassador Karamat said relations with the United States are "deeper and broader" with large U.S. investments in Pakistan's social sector. He paid tribute to PALC saying that the organization, represented by its Executive Director Faiz Rehman, was "an important partner on Capitol Hill." (Posted @ 10:30 PST) Electoral reforms: India, BD, Lanka to attend dialogue in Islamabad on June 25-26: says PILDAT chief WASHINGTON, Apr 22 (APP) - The Executive Director of Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) Thursday said that a two-day dialogue on free, fair and credible elections will be held in Islamabad on June 25-26, in which delegates from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will participate. The objective of the scheduled dialogue will be to exchange notes for the purpose of seeking improvement in the electoral system, particularly in respect of compiling, announcing and monitoring aspects of results of general polls, Ahmad Bilal Mehboob told APP. Mr. Mehboob was in the city after having attended an international seminar on democracy held in Boston. President urges need for multilateral conflict resolution mechanism as disputes cause instability JAKARTA, April 22 (APP): Emphasizing the need for consistent focus on preferential treatment between Asian and African countries for their fast-paced development, President General Pervez Musharraf Friday called for powerful multilateral conflict resolution mechanisms as festering disputes cause instability in regions around the world. Addressing the Asian-African Summit 2005, the President also observed that while the international community "must optimize bilateral negotiations for conflict resolution, powerful multilateral conflict resolution mechanisms need to be institutionalized for the cause of regional and global peace." Continuing, the President said today Pakistan and India can be jointly proud of showing how sincerity, flexibility and courage can lead to bilateral achievement of peace and harmony. In his widely appreciated address, the President also touched upon political and economic challenges facing the world, effects of globalization, economic disparities between nations and the developed world's role in the achievement of millennium development goals. French September 11 suspect pleads guilty in death penalty case ALEXANDRIA, Virgina, April 22 (AFP) - French Al-Qaeda member Zacarias Moussaoui on Friday pleaded guilty to six conspiracy charges over the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States for which he could face the death penalty. Moussaoui is accused of conspiracy to commit terrorism, commit aircraft piracy, destroy aircraft and use weapons of mass destruction. Moussaoui, who has admitted being an Al-Qaeda member, was detained before the September 11 attacks in which almost 3,000 people died. He had initially denied involvement in the plot. (Posted @ 10:30 PST) 23 killed in road accident in central India NEW DELHI, April 23 (AFP) - At least 23 people were killed and 37 injured on Saturday when a truck they were travelling in overturned in the sprawling central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, a report said. The truck was part of a convoy of about 60 vehicles carrying followers of a Hindu priest and was on its way from the pilgrimage town of Mathura in northern Uttar Pradesh to Ambah in Madhya Pradesh. The devotees were to participate in a religious function at Ambah Saturday. (Posted @ 10:30 PST) Two die in car bomb attack on Baghdad Shiite mosque BAGHDAD, April 22 (APP/AFP) - At least two people were killed and 21 wounded when a car bomb exploded outside a crowded Shiite mosque in Baghdad during Friday prayers, an interior ministry source said. (Posted @ 10:30 PST) Former Taliban official surrenders in Afghanistan KHOST, Afghanistan, April 22 (APP/AFP) - A former senior Taliban official has surrendered to authorities in Afghanistan, the fourth in the past month to give himself up as part of an amnesty offer, an official said Friday.Habib-ur Rehman headed the criminal investigation department at the ministry of interior under the Islamic extremist Taliban regime. He handed himself over to authorities Thursday in southeastern Khost province, the province's intelligence director said. (Posted @ 10:30 PST) China assures help Pakistan connecting Gwadar through rail link BEIJING, April 22 (APP): China is willing to help Pakistan connecting Gwadar seaport with the rest of the country through rail link. This was stated by Chinese Railways Minister Liu Zhijun during his meeting held in Beijing Friday with his Pakistani counterpart Mian Shamim Haider.The two sides reviewed their on-going cooperation in the Railways sector and agreed to take further steps facilitating each other in socio-economic development. Official sources told APP the Chinese Minister reassured his country's financial and technical help for replacing the existing outdated railway tracks and signaling system. China's support is based on transfer of technology, enabling Pakistan to meet all its railways requirements indigenously. (Posted @ 10:30 PST) Karavan heritage mural painting at Quaid-e-Azam House on Saturday KARACHI, Apr 22 (APP)- Karavan - Pakistan is organizing a Karavan Heritage Mural Painting event at the Quaid-e-Azam House Museum on Saturday morning with some 153 children from 11 Karavan Compact Partner schools to participate in the activity. The kids will assembled at the historic site to paint murals depicting this simple but elegant building that is an essential and undeniable part of our history.This will be after a stream of Heritage Mural Painting events held at the State Bank Annexe, Bahawalpur, Taxila and Karavan's Heritage Wall Mural painting event in which children from the Compact Partner Schools painted Karachi's more famous landmarks on the boundary wall of the City Railway Station. (Posted @ 10:30 PST) Tendulkar's flamboyance is history, says Viv Richards NEW DELHI, April 22 (APP/AFP) - The ageing Sachin Tendulkar will never be the flamboyant batsman he was, but he remains vital to India's cricketing ambitions, West Indian great Vivian Richards said on Friday. Richards defended Tendulkar's changed approach. "When you are 21, you are the best, with a perfect sight and good hand-eye co-ordination," the former West Indian captain told reporters during a personal visit here. "At 26, you get a lot wiser. Tendulkar is now a very mature player. "He is now more into a fortifying role and not flamboyant. But you must respect that he has grown older. "He cannot always fulfil the things that are expected of him.”He may be looking to play the way he started his career, but that is not always possible." (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Reports of abuses by US, Afghan forces undermine security: UN expert KABUL, April 22 (APP/AFP) - A United Nations human rights official says he has received reports of torture and other abuses by US-led and Afghan forces which undermine the country's security and stability. Cherif Bassiouni, the UN's independent expert on human rights in Afghanistan, in a new report denounced reports "of sexual abuse, beatings, torture and use of force resulting in death" by the 18,000-strong US-led coalition forces. Bassiouni also pointed to rampant human rights violations, including abuse of women and children and land seizures, by regional warlords who are estimated to command about 80,000 illegally armed men and who are tightly linked with the country's booming drugs trade"If corruption continues to intensify, as is likely with the growing power of drug traffickers and organised crime, it will become virtually impossible to establish and sustain a meaningful commitment to the rule of law in Afghanistan," the report said. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Former Yugoslav top general to surrender to ICTY BELGRADE (DPA) - Former Yugoslav top General Nebojsa Pavkovic on Friday agreed to surrender to The Hague war crimes tribunal. As one of the top security forces operatives in Kosovo, he faces four counts of crimes against humanity and one count of violations of laws or customs of war. Full cooperation with ICTY was one of the three key conditions for Belgrade to start the approach to E.U., along with the harmonization of relations between the estranged Serbia and Montenegro and continued economic and institutional reforms. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Indian BSF delegation, Pak Rangers discuss border related matters KARACHI, Apr 22 (APP)- Inspector General, Punjab Frontier-India, Shri G.S. Gill heading the 17-member delegation of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) had deliberations with his Pakistani counterparts including Maj. Gen. Javed Zia, D.G.Rangers - Sindh and Maj. Gen. Hussein Mehdi, D.G. Rangers - Punjab at Pakistan Rangers Headquarters on Friday.Issues discussed on the occasion ranged from matters related to adjustments of lights installed by India on border between the two countries, besides concerns related to smuggling, drug trafficking and other relevant issues.The Indian delegation would leave for Sukkur, Moenjodaro andother historical sites of Sindh on Saturday. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Leaders begin final day of Asian-African Summit JAKARTA (DPA) - The second day of the two-day Asian-African Summit kicked off Saturday morning in the Indonesian capital, with leaders from nearly 100 countries from mostly Asia and Africa gathered to discuss ways to strengthen a partnership between the two continents. The meeting is also a 50th commemoration of the first summit, called the Bandung Conference. An expected meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao will try to bridge differences that recently have come to a head over a number of historic issues, driving relations between the two countries to their lowest level in three decades. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) President says private sector play vital role in poverty reduction, widespread development JAKARTA, Apr 22 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Friday underlined the important role of the private sector as engine of economic growth, urging the Asian and African countries to take steps for making cooperation between entrepreneurs more dynamic for achieving long-cherished goals of poverty reduction and widespread development. He told the Asian-African Business Summit, taking place concurrently with the main Summit, that key steps like easing of visa regimes and giving preference to intra-South economic cooperation would allow the private sector to be more effective in advancing the cause of development. "Within regional organizations, we need to provide the private sector and business chambers opportunities to interact on the margins of official activities", he said, speaking on "The Role of Private Sector in Achieving Progress and Eradicating Poverty in Asia and Africa." (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Senate approves 81-billion-dollar package for Iraq WASHINGTON (DPA) - The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday in favour of President George W. Bush's 81-billion-dollar bill for Iraq, Afghanistan and other emergency spending. While the bulk of the cash will go to Iraq for U.S. military operations and reconstruction, some of it goes to Afghanistan and for tsunami relief in Southeast Asia. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) U.N. team to verify Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon NEW YORK (DPA) - A United Nations team will travel to Lebanon to verify the complete withdrawal of Syrian military and intelligence personnel from that country, a spokesman said Friday. The Syrian government had pledged to pull out all its personnel by Tuesday. Last September the U.N. had passed a resolution demanding that Syria end its military occupation before Lebanon holds parliamentarian elections in May. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) Manmohan Singh says he is ready to meet Hurriyat leaders New Delhi, April 22 (APP): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday expressed his willingness to meet Hurriyat Conference leaders notwithstanding earlier efforts did not fructify. "I have extended open invitation to Hurriyat earlier also in Held Kashmir," he said responding to a question about government sending invitation to the coglomerate for talks. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) Romanian hostage in Iraq begs for troop withdrawal within four days CAIRO (DPA) - A Romanian journalist taken hostage in Iraq begged her government to withdraw its troops from the country, in a videotape broadcast by Al-Jazeera on Friday. Marie Jeanne Ion asked her country to withdraw its troops within four days saying that otherwise she and her compatriots, Sorin Dumitru Miscoci, and Eduard Ovidiu Ohanesian, would be killed. The Romanians were kidnapped in late March along with their translator. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) Indo-Pak course of action to yield substantive results-Manmohan NEW DELHI, Apr 22 (APP): Noting with satisfaction the outcome of President Musharraf's recent visit to India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the two countries had "charted a course of action which will yield substantive results in coming months and years." "It is my sincere desire to work with President Musharraf to carry forward the peace process," Indian Premier told the newsmen accompanying him on a three-day visit to Jakarta for the Asian-African Summit, according a news report received."If the peace process is allowed to go forward, it will create a situation for a final settlement," of the Kashmir dispute, he added.. "There should be no losers or winners. The only gainers should be people of Held Kashmir," he said India and Pakistan needed to look at Kashmir issue from a "different perspective" the Prime Minister expressed observing "no overnight solution" could be expected. "India and Pakistan have to look at Kashmir issue from a different perspective. Territorial disputes are not solved overnight. They take time", he added. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) Bomb explodes in conflict-torn eastern Indonesian province JAKARTA (DPA) - A bomb exploded on Friday evening in the capital of the eastern Maluku province, about 2,340 kilometres northeast of Jakarta, and caused widespread panic in Ambon, a city that has been plagued by Moslem-Christian violence. The sectarian violence came ahead of the anniversary of a small Christian separatist group in the area, local media reported. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, but sources said the blast could be heard within a three-kilometre radius and had triggered traffic chaos. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) General Pace nominated Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee WASHINGTON, Apr 22 (APP)- President George Bush Friday nominated General Peter Pace to replace Richard Myers as Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) China agrees to finance further deepening of Gwadar seaport JAKARTA, April 22 (APP): Chinese President Hu Jin Tao Friday conveyed Beijing's agreement to President Pervez Musharraf on financing further deepening of Gwadar deepport in Pakistan's southern province of Balochistan. China will finance the project from the remaining preferential buyers' credit of US dollars 500 million extended to Pakistan. Meeting on the sidelines of the Asian-African Summit, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the state of bilateral ties including the outcome of Premier Wen Jiabao's recent visit to Pakistan. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) Amnesty International calls for reform of U.N. rights commission GENEVA (DPA) - The United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) is in urgent need of reform, having kept stubbornly silent in human rights issues in China, Iraq, Russia, Turkmenistan and Zimbabwe, said Amnesty International on Friday. Amnesty supported U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's call for a major shake-up of the human rights organization, and urged governments around the world to back such a move. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) President says Pakistani, Indian leadership should take advantage of improved environment JAKARTA, April 22 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Friday said Pakistan and India should take advantage of improvement in the bilateral environment and resolve all outstanding issues including decades-old Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The President was briefing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan about his talks with the Indian leadership during his last weekend's visit to New Delhi. Kofi Annan welcomed the improvement in relations between the two South Asian nations and briefed the Pakistani leader about his recently released Report on the UN Reforms. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) Locals in North Waziristan warned not to harbour terrorist suspects ISLAMABAD (DPA) - Pakistani authorities have warned inhabitants in the North Waziristan tribal region not to harbour any suspect foreign or local miscreants to prevent a military operation in the area, officials said. Chief military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan did not rule out search operations and action in the areas sheltering suspect miscreants, saying: "We have already warned the residents not to provide shelter to any miscreants." The activity in North Waziristan followed Monday's visit of Lieutenant-General avid Barno, commander of the U.S. joint forces in Afghanistan, to Pakistan. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) Zahid Hamid meets Chairman Foreign Relations Committee of the Dutch Parliament ISLAMABAD, Apr 22 (APP): The Foreign relations committee of the Dutch Parliament would discuss the Kashmir issue for purposes of deciding how best to promote the peace process between India and Pakistan. This assurance was given by the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Henk de Haan in a meeting with Zahid Hamid, Minister of State for Defence, held in The Hague, Netherlands says a message received here Friday. Zahid Hamid is the leader and Senator Rukhsana Zuberi is the member of Delegation of the Special Committee of Parliament on Kashmir which is visiting the Netherlands to apprise the Dutch Parliamentarians, high government officials and civil society organization representatives about the Kashmir issue and the recent related developments in Indo-Pak relations. Zahid Hamid informed the members of the Dutch Foreign Relations Committee that there was appreciable progress on Confidence Building Measures, reflected in the joint statement issued after President General Pervez Musharraf's successful visit to India from April 16 to 18. As regards the core issue of Kashmir, both sides had agreed to discuss it in a "sincere, purposeful and forward-looking manner for a final settlement". Pakistan expected the international community to continue to remain engaged till the issue is resolved in accordance with the hopes, wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people. The rights of the Kashmiri people had to be safeguarded, for which they are to be actively associated with the peace process. The Minister also briefed the Chairman about the serious human rights situation in Indian-held Kashmir and the imperative need to resolve the boundary disputes over Siachin, Glacier and Sir Greek and the issues raised by construction of the Baglihar Dam, Wullar Barrage and Kishanganga projects by India which were in violation of the Indus Water Treaty. Henk de Haan appreciated the efforts made by Pakistan for peace in the region through the CBMs and expressed the hope that the bold initiatives taken by President Musharraf would bear fruit. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) At least nine Moslem extremists killed during clashes in Kashmir New Delhi (DPA) - At least nine militant Moslems were killed in clashes with security forces in the districts of Baramulla and Kupawara in the Indian part of Kashmir, an army spokesman said Friday.At least 27 militants have died during clashes in Kashmir since Wednesday. Four people had meanwhile been wounded, two seriously, in an attack by militant Moslems. (Posted @ 09:00 PST) President offers Jumma prayers JAKARTA, April 22 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf offered Jumma prayers at Hotel Hilton on the first day of the Asian-African Summit 2005. The President had a hectic schedule of events on Friday as he delivered an address at the Summit, spoke at the Asian-African Business Summit and had bilateral meetings with leaders of China, Singapore and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. (Posted @ 09:00 PST) Singapore backs Pakistan's quest for strong ties with ASEAN JAKARTA, April 22 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong discussed bilateral relations on Friday as the Far Eastern leader supported Pakistan's quest for securing full dialogue partnership with the Association of South East Asian Nations. During the three-country visit, the President has also received the Philippine and Indonesian leaders's backing for Pakistan's efforts to develop a robust partnership with the fast-expanding ASEAN economies. (Posted @ 09:00 PST) Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrated with religious fervour across country ISLAMABAD, Apr 22 (APP): Eid Milad-un-Nabi was celebrated across the country including Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas on Friday, with religious and fervour. The day dawned with 31 guns salute in the federal capital and 21 guns salute at the provincial headquarters. Special prayers were offered for the prosperity, integrity and solidarity of the country. A one-day Seerat conference was organized here which was addressed by Prime MinisterShaukat Aziz who said the “ principles of 'Ijethad' and 'Qias' provide an nstitutional framework, allowing Islam to fully adapt to the requirements of the changing times," The authors of best books on Seerat-un-Nabi (PBUH), Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool (PBUH) and outstanding position holders in Seerat articles writing were awarded prizes. Important government and private buildings, mosques and streets were illuminated and bedecked with flags and banners . National flag was hoisted atop all public buildings and newspapers produced special editions. Processions were taken out all over the country. (Posted @ 09:00 PST) 6 killed, 7 injured in road accident RAWALPINDI, Apr 22 (APP): Six persons including a woman were killed and another seven sustained injuries when a wagon collided with a bus near Jangi Syedan U- turn on Peshawar-Islamabad Highway here at 12.30 p.m on Friday. (Posted @ 08:40 PST) Pakistan an attractive investment destination: PM ISLAMABAD, Apr 22 (APP): Pakistan is now an attractive investment destination where investors from all over the world especially Far East and Middle East are coming in because of its conducive economic policies and potential for good returns, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said while talking to Robert Mccuaing, Chairman Advisory Board, and Colliers Australia at the Prime Minister House Friday. He said Pakistan is in the midst of an economic boom and this is a right time to invest in Pakistan. (Posted @ 08:40 PST) Hyderabad gets rain HYDERABAD, Apr 22 (APP) - The people of Hyderabad and its vicinity took sigh of relief after heavy downpour here on Friday. The rain started at 3.30 p.m. and continued for about one hour. (Posted @ 08:40 PST) Strategic Vision conf. of Rising Leaders to be held on April 23 WASHINGTON, Apr 22 (APP)- A daylong Rising Leaders' Strategic Vision Conference on 'Planning for the Future' will be held at the Pakistan Embassy on Saturday. The conference will "set new goals for Rising Leaders." Rising Leaders was founded on the principles of empowering young Pakistani-Americans to be active advocates of issues which affect the community, both in the US and abroad. (Posted @ 08:40 PST) Seventy kashmiri activists detained for taking out Milad procession- New Delhi, April 22 (APP): Chairman, All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani was Friday prevented by police from coming out of his house and was not allowed to lead a procession of Eid Milad un Nabi in Indian Held Kashmir while seventy Kashmiri activists were detained when they tried to take out a 'Milad' procession in Srinagar The detained persons have been lodged at Kothibagh police station, they said. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Forum leader Javid Ahmad Mir and Kashmiri leader Shakeel Bakshi also took out a procession from Maisuma locality to Fatehkadal where they were detained along with a dozen other supporters, sources said. (Posted @ 08:40 PST) Founder: Quaid-I-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah Editor: Tahir Mirza The DAWN Group of Newspapers Haroon House, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Karachi 74200, Pakistan. 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