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29 April 2005 Friday 19 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. India, Japan hold extensive talks on wide range of issues NEW DELHI, April 29 (APP): India and Japan today held in-depth talks, covering the entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interests. The parleys between the Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Indian Premier Dr Manmohan Singh were held in friendly and constructive atmosphere, said a Joint Statement issued here. (Posted @ 00:20 PST) Govt gives top priority to education; has set targets under MDGs: PM ISLAMABAD, Apr 29 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Friday the present government gives top priority to education and has set targets under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). "Every nation gives special importance to education, as illiterate nations can never achieve progress", he said. He was talking to a delegation of students from the schools and colleges of Islamabad and adjoining areas here at the PM House.(Posted @ 00:20 PST) Time running out for nuclear talks with Europe: Iran says LONDON, April 29 (AFP) - The time for negotiating over Iran's nuclear program is quickly running out, Iranian official Cyrus Nasseri said Friday as talks began with the EU on Tehran's determination to enrich uranium, a fuel for nuclear power plants which can also be used to make atom bombs. "In the absence of an agreement in London, Iran will perhaps be forced to resume part of its enrichment programme," Nasseri told Iran's official IRNA news agency from the talks venue. (Posted @ 00:20 PST) Iran warns may restart nuclear work if EU dallies LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Iran threatened to resume sensitive atomic activities unless France, Britain and Germany agreed at a meeting on Friday to allow it to carry outsmall-scale uranium enrichment.The latest proposal from Tehran suggests it be allowed to build up its uranium enrichment programme in stages, beginning with a small "pilot" enrichment plant and ending with a commercial-scale complex.(Posted @ 20:00 PST) Japanese PM to visit Pakistan from Saturday ISLAMABAD, Apr 29 (APP): Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will pay a two-day official visit to Pakistan from April 30 for talks on bilateral relations, regional and international issues. Japan is a global economic power and the second largest economy in the world. It is also an influential member of G-8,Asia Europe Meeting and APEC. It has been involved in a number of development projects in Pakistan. It gave a US$ 300 million grant assistance to Pakistan in 2001 and subsequently rescheduled Pakistan's debt amounting to US$ 4.5 billion.(Posted @ 19:45 PST) (Posted @ 20:00 PST) India test fires Multi-barrel rocket system NEW DELHI, Apr 29 (APP): India "successfully" test-fired two more rounds of 'Pinaka', the indigenously developed multi-barrel rocket system for the second consecutive day from the Proof and Experimental Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Chandipur, Balasore(Posted @ 19:45: PST) MMA to launch next phase of protest drive from May 4 Islamabad April 29 (PPI) Muttahidda Majlis-e-Amal(MMA)’s deputy parliamentary leader, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed , told PPI that MMA would launch a protest march from May 4th. The protest caravan will start from Chakwal covering Tala Gang, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Layyah, Muzaffargarh and other areas of southern Punjab. MMA President Qazi Hussain Ahmed, JUI Amir and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Allama Sajid Naqvi, Prof. Sajid Mir, and Liaquat Baloch besides other leaders of the MMA would lead the protest rallies in these districts, he said.(Posted @ 17:45 PST) Ministries to be linked through computer network by next Oct ISLAMABAD, Apr 28 (APP): Minister for Information technology, Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, said on Friday that all the ministries under the federal government will be linked through a most efficient computer network by October-November next. The Government will save billions of rupees annually when nearly 38 ministries will switch on to e-government, the minister said while speaking in a PTV programme.(Posted @ 17:45 PST) Thailand charges 8 Muslim teachers with treason BANGKOK, April 29 (Reuters) - Thailand charged eight Muslim male teachers on Friday of treason for masterminding violence which has killed more than 600 people in the restive, predominantly Muslim south since January last year. If found guilty, the men, who were arrested last year and have been described by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as "significant ringleaders", face death by lethal injection. The defendants, aged from the late 30s to early 50s, deny all the charges.(Posted @ 17:45 PST) Palestinians arrest two militants over rocket fire GAZA, April 29 (Reuters) - Palestinian forces have arrested two militants over rocket attacks on Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip following President Mahmoud Abbas's pledge to use an "iron fist" to enforce a truce, security sources said on Friday. These were the first arrests by the Palestinian authorities over ceasefire violations since Abbas won an agreement from armed groups to respect the truce at a meeting in March. The two arrested members belonged to the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which is part of Abbas's ruling Fatah movement.(Posted @ 17:45 PST) Purported Zarqawi tape vows more Iraq attacks DUBAI, April 29 (Reuters) - A purported audio tape from Iraq's Al-Qaeda leader , Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi,called for more suicide attacks on US forces and vowed not to let President George W. Bush enjoy a "peace of mind", according to a Web posting on Friday. Even though the speaker on the tape, which appeared to be recorded last month, identified himself as al-Zarqawi, it was not possible to verify the authenticity of the tape.(Posted @ 17:45 PST) Rafsanjani says Iran will pursue nuclear progamme 'at all costs' TEHRAN, April 29 (AFP) - Iran's powerful former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani insisted Friday ahead of renewed talks with Europe that Tehran would pursue its atomic energy programme including uranium enrichment "at all costs"."Iran wants to possess all the branches of nuclear technology, including enrichment, and it will do so at all costs," he said at the weekly Muslim prayers in Tehran.(Posted !@17:45 PST) Key Taliban commander killed, other arrested in Afghanistan KABUL, April 29 (AFP) - Afghan forces have killed a key commander of Taliban and captured another important militant in south central Afghanistan, the military said Friday. Mullah Besmillah, a key Taliban leader in troubled south-central Uruzgan province, was killed in fighting with Afghan soldiers late Thursday while another militant, Mullah Abdul Manan, was captured, the official said. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Indian army claims breakthrough against militants in Kashmir New Delhi (dpa) - Indian security forces have dealt a major blow to almost all militant groups active in Occupied Kashmir, the Indian army claimed Friday. A total of 152 militants, including 38 top commanders, have been martyred since January, according to statistics compiled by the army, the PTI news agency reported. The Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen groups bore the brunt, losing 24 commanders. The Al Badr militant outfit lost 10 men, including five top commanders.. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Rocket attack on paramilitary checkpoint injures two in Balochistan Islamabad (dpa) - An overnight rocket attack on a paramilitary checkpoint in Balochistan wounded a soldier and a civilian employee, officials said on Friday. At least five rockets were fired in the Kohlu area, some 200 kilometers east of the provincial capital Quetta, in an apparent attack on a camp of the Frontier Constabulary (FC). The attack has been blamed on "the men of Mari tribe in an attempt to challenge the government’s writ," camp commander Colonel Muhammad Iqbal told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) China agrees to start construction of $128 million Jinnah hydropower project BEIJING, Apr 29 (APP): Pan Jishen, Vice President of Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC), said that China will start the construction of 96 megawatt Jinnah Hydropower project in Pakistan within the next few weeks. The project, worth US 128 million dollars, will be constructed on the right side of the existing Jinnah Barrage on the river Indus, five kilometers downstream of Kalabagh in Mianwali district. The company has also agreed to undertake the civil work at Keyal Khwar Hydropower Project in NWFP that is to cost $36 million. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Pakistan single country exhibition in Colombo inaugurated ISLAMABAD, Apr 29 (APP): Pakistan's first ever single country exhibition "Pride of Pakistan" was formally inaugurated by Sri Lanka's Minister of Trade, Commerce and Consumers Affairs, Jeyaraj Fernandopulla, in Colombo Friday. About 30 Pakistani companies have set up stalls displaying a range of products, including fabrics and other items of textile, surgical and dental instruments, cutlery, stationery, furniture and carpets, cosmetic jewelry and handicrafts, fruits and preparations; digital communication equipment and machinery. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Ashfaq sees rapid flow of foreign investment in country ISLAMABAD, Apr 29 (APP): Advisor to Finance Ministry, Dr Ashfaq Hassan, said that foreign investment worth $ 900 million has come into the country during the last nine months. If compared with last year, the amount is 53 percent more, Ashfaq told Voice of America. He also said that the business expansion activity in the private sector is on the pace of rapid boost as the sector got loans worth Rs.700 billion during the past 21 months. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Pakistan's exports need to double in next five years: PM ISLAMABAD, Apr 29 (APP): Today the Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, said that Pakistan was on course to meet the US 14 billion dollars export target, but had the potential of increasing these to US 28 billion dollars annually in the next five years. "Countries with far less resources are way ahead of us. Let’s not rest on our laurels and show that we are a serious player," he told a gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony of an Export Display Centre of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). (Posted @ 16:45 PST) PFUJ, APNEC demand restoration of May Day holiday KARACHI, April 29 (PPI): Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (APNEC) have demanded restoration of "May Day" holiday in the newspaper industry and the implementation of labour laws in the media. President and Chairman of PFUJ and APNEC, Pervaiz Shoukat, Secretary General Mazhar Abbas and Nasir Chishti respectively said in a joint statement on Friday. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) At least 24 killed, 64 hurt in series of blasts around Baghdad BAGHDAD, April 29 (AFP) - At least 24 people were killed and more than 64 wounded in a string of at least seven car bomb attacks targeting security forces in and around Baghdad early Friday, an interior ministry official said..Thirteen people died and 50 were wounded in four apparently coordinated car bomb attacks in two districts of the capital at about 800 am (0400 GMT), the official told AFP. Five died and 14 were wounded when three more car bombs exploded in Madain, a town some 30 kilometres (18 miles) south of the capital Two car bombs in the capital targeted Iraqi police and army in the northern district of Adhamiyah. Adding to the chaos, insurgents fired several mortar shells into the area at the same time and two other car bombs targeted police in the eastern district of Saligh.Half an hour earlier, a bomb exploded just after a US convoy had driven by in the southern Dura district. (Posted @ 13:00 PST) Putin heads to West Bank to meet Abbas RAMALLAH, West Bank, April 29 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin headed for his first visit to the West Bank on Friday for talks with Palestinian leaders meant to help revive Moscow's Cold War-era influence in the Middle East. Putin will discuss ways of helping Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to strengthen security forces, Russian ForeignMinister Sergei Lavrov said adding that Putin will offer 50 armoured vehicles and two transport helicopters for security forces, battered during a 4-1/2 year uprising with Israel. (Posted @ 12:45 PST) Six new jails to be constructed: Minister LAHORE, April 28 (APP): Provincial Minister for Prisons Saeed Akbar Khan has said six new jails would be constructed in the next fiscal year in Hafizabad, Lodharan, Narowal, Khanewal, Pakpattan and Okara, in order to remove over-crowding . He said construction of a new district jail in Lahore is also being considered. (Posted @ 12:15 PST) Al-Qaeda-linked group executes six Sudanese in Iraq: video DUBAI, April 28 (AFP) - An Al-Qaeda-linked group has said it shot dead six abducted Sudanese drivers who worked for a Jordanian firm dealing with US forces in Iraq, according to a video posted Thursday on the Internet. The six men were shown in the footage identifying themselves and saying they regretted their action and had "repented," but a statement by the Army of Ansar al-Sunna, which claimed their execution, said their repentance had come too late. The sound of gunfire can then be heard on the video. (Posted @ 12:15 PST) Eight die as fire breaks out in an apartment in Gulshan-e-Iqbal KARACHI, Apr 29 (APP)- Eight persons lost their lives when a fire broke out in an apartment house in Gulshan-e-Iqbal block- 2 here in the early hours of Friday, fire brigade service and police said. The fire broke out in flat No. 2, B-9, fourth floor, Five-Star Apartments, Block-2, Gulshan -e- Iqabal at about 4.30 a.m. The deceased were named Muhammad Bashir (father), Sarwari Begum(mother), Aftab Alam, Farhan Alam, Sunny, Hamza, Raheel and Rashida Begum. A bedroom and two other rooms were burnt in the incident. Complaint about the incident was made by Muhammad Shamim, who claimed to be an uncle of some of the deceased. Further details were awaited. (Posted @ 12:15 PST) Kyrgyz presidential candidate says wounded in assassination attempt BISHKEK, April 29 (AFP) - A candidate in Kyrgyzstan's upcoming presidential election, Bayaman Erkinbayev, has been injured in an assassination attempt, he told lawmakers in Bishkek's parliament Friday. (Posted @ 12:15 PST) 13 die in Peru after military plane crash LIMA (DPA) - A Peruvian military aircraft crashed Thursday shortly after taking off on a training flight, killing all 13 people on board, authorities said. The two-engine plane took off from the airport in the city of Pisco, 300 kilometres south of Lima. The cause of the crash is unknown. (Posted @ 12:15 PST) Two dead in a series of blasts in Baghdad BAGHDAD, April 29 (AFP) - At least two people were killed and "four to five wounded" Friday morning in a series of four explosions, three of them car bombs, aimed at security forces in the Adamir district of north Baghdad, an interior ministry official told AFP. (Posted 11:30 PST) US House of Representatives passes 2006 budget WASHINGTON, April 29 (AFP) - The US House of Representatives late Thursday passed a federal budget for fiscal 2006, which at 2.56 trillion dollars is tighter than the White House's budget proposal that already called for cuts across the board excluding defense and security. The House budget maintains the tax cuts introduced by the administration of President George W. Bush after 2001 and extends some that are due to expire at the end of this fiscal year, in October. The Senate was expected to vote on the same budget proposal early Friday. (Posted @ 11:30 PST) Tamil journalist shot dead in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, April 29 (AFP) - A Tamil journalist was found shot dead in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo Friday, hours after unidentified men abducted him from a restaurant, police and colleagues said. Sivaram Dharmeratnam, 46, a senior editorial board member of the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website was abducted at around 10:30 pm (1630 GMT) Thursday by a group of unidentified men, colleagues reported. Police said a bullet-riddled body found in the Colombo suburb of Talangama was identified as that of Dharmeratnam by his colleagues. (Posted @ 11:30 PST) Panic as intense earthquake hit Indonesia's Aceh province, Nias island GUNUNG SITOLI, Indonesia, April 29 (AFP) - A strong quake measuring at least 6.0 on the Richter scale has hit Indonesia, causing panic on Nias island, which was hit by a giant earthquake last month, seismologists said Friday. But there were no reports of casualties or damage from the undersea tremor, centred northwest of the island, about 212 kilometres (131 miles) from the coastal Sumatra town of Meulaboh, said Suhardi of Jakarta's meteorology agency. The Hong Kong observatory registered the quake at 6.3 on the Richter scale. Sept 11 hijackers booked airline tickets at library WASHINGTON, April 28 (Reuters) - The Bush administration revealed on Thursday that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers booked their tickets on the Internet using a computer in a college library in New Jersey. The disclosure by Ken Wainstein, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia in testimony to the House of Representatives subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security, was intended to bolster the government's argument that Congress should renew a law allowing it to seize library and bookstore records. (Posted @ 09:10 PST) US agency says N. Korea can mount warhead on missile WASHINGTON, April 28 (Reuters) - North Korea has the ability to mount a nuclear missile on a long-range missile and the communist state could hit U.S. territory, the head of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency said on Thursday. The agency played down the statement by its director, Vice Admiral Lowell Jacoby, which appeared to break new ground, and said he was speaking theoretically, but it prompted expressions of deep concern from Democrats. (Posted @ 09:10 PST) Karachi Stocks down 39.83 points: KARACHI, April 29: At:16:15 PST, the KSE-100 index was at 7104.65, down 39.83 points from Friday's close. (Bureau Report) (Posted @ 16:15 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, April 29: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.05 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Posted @ 16:15 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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