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1 May 2005 Sunday 21 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. Iraq expects foreign troops to pull out mid-2006 WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - U.S. and other foreign troops in Iraq will likely start pulling out in large numbers by the middle of next year, Iraq's national security advisor said on Sunday. "I will be very surprised if they (U.S. and other foreign troops) don't think very seriously of starting pulling out probably by the end of the first half of next year," said Iraqi national security adviser Mowaffak Al-Rubaie in an interview with CNN's "Late Edition."(Posted @ 00:20 PST) India to complete Tsunami warning system in two years ISLAMABAD, May 1 (APP): India will complete Tsunami warning system within the next two years. According to the Department of Science and Technology, DST Secretary, Dr. D.S. Rama Mourti, DST and the Department of Ocean Development and Department of Space are working closely to achieve this goal, AIR reported.(Posted @ 00:20 PST) Denial of political rights undermined stability of Pakistan: Benazir Karachi, May 01 (PPI): Former prime minister and chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Benazir Bhutto, has said that the denial of political rights undermined the stability of Pakistan. Addressing the students, faculty and a large number of guests at the Harvard University in the United States on Sunday. (Posted @ 22:00 PST) Militant tape shows Australian kidnapped in Iraq BAGHDAD, May 1 (Reuters): An Australian citizen has been taken hostage in Iraq, according to a video tape delivered by militants to news agencies on Sunday. (Posted @ 21:00 PST) PM- Flexibility needed for Kashmir settlement, PM ISLAMABAD, May 01 (PPI): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that Pakistan desires peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue in line with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Talking to the visiting Indian Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishna here at the PM's House. (Posted @ 20:15 PST) Conspiracy being hatched to kill me - Ali Shah Geelani NEW DELHI, May 1 (APP): Chairman, All Parties Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Sunday said that a conspiracy was being hatched to eliminate him."I have information that plans have been made to eliminate me physically" (Posted @ 19:30 PST) Maleeha calls for new approach to investment treaties LONDON May 1 (APP) Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi has urged a new approach to invesetment agreements between developing and developed countries that struck a balance between investors protection and public good. (Posted @ 18:45 PST) Pakistan police seize two tonnes of hashish KARACHI, May 1 (AFP) - Police on Sunday seized 2.1 tonnes (2,100 kilograms) of hashish concealed in an oil tanker which were brought into Pakistan from Afghanistan via southwestern Baluchistan province in this southern port city of Karachi and arrested three men, authorities said. (Posted @ 18:00 PST) Railway line damaged, repaired QUETTA May 1 (PPI):An explosion occurred between Damboli and Bakhtiarabad stations along Sibi-Jacobabad section of Pakistan Railways last night and cause small damage to railway line, As a result incoming Bolan Mail was detained at a station away from damaged track railway officials said. (Posted @ 17:00 PST) Seven promoted to General rank in Afghanistan ISLAMABAD, May 1 (APP): The Afghan President and Supreme Commander of the armed forces, Hamid Karzai has promoted seven officials of the Defence Ministry to the rank of General.According to Radio Tehran. (Posted @ 16:20 PST) North Korea fires short-range missile into Sea of Japan: reports TOKYO, May 1 (APP/AFP) - North Korea is believed to have fired a short-range missile Sunday into the Sea of Japan, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said the missile was fired from the east coast of North Korea and flew about 100 kilometers (62 miles) until it fell into the sea. (Posted @ 16:00 PST) Another 31 bodies from Afghan plane crash identified through DNA tests KABUL, Afghanistan May 1 (APP/AP) Italian forensic experts have identified the bodies of another 31 Afghan victims from the February crash of a domestic airliner which killed all 104 people on board, officials says. (Posted @ 15:30 PST) Golf-Els closes in on title at storm-hit Asian Open SHANGHAI, May 1 (Reuters) - Ernie Els edged closer to the Asian Open title on Sunday as he surged to 22 under par but the world number three must wait until Monday to finish the job. Heavy storms halted play for over three hours on Sunday morning (Posted @ 14:50 PST) Davis Cup Tennis results: Pakistan 3 Taiwan 2 LAHORE, Pakistan, May 1 (AFP) - Results from the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group I second round tie between Pakistan and Taiwan after Sunday's reverse singles:Sunday Aisamul Haq (PAK) bt Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE). Aqeel Khan (PAK) bt Chen Ti (TPE) Saturday Aisamul Haq/Aqeel Khan (PAK) bt Yen-Hsun Lu/Yeu-Tzuoo Wang (TPE) Friday, Aisamul Haq (PAK) bt Yeu-Tzuoo Wang (TPE). (Posted @ 14:40 PST) Lightning strikes 20 dead in Indian storms New Delhi (dpa) - Torrential rains lashed coastal areas of southern Andhra Pradesh state, damaging homes and uprooting trees At least 20 people were struck dead by lightning late Saturday. (Posted @ 14:20 PST) Egypt-blast: police detain 200 after tourist terror attacks Cairo (dpa) - Egyptian police have detained around 200 people in a roundup of suspects following Saturday's terrorist attacks in Cairo targeting tourists, security sources said Sunday (Posted @ 14:10 PST) Security environment of India improves : Manmohan Singh NEW DELHI, May 1 (APP): "The security environment of India has improved because of the steps taken by the UPA government with United States, Russia, China, Pakistan and the neighbouring countries," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a meeting of Congress party workers in Raipur on Saturday. India's relations with other nations have strengthened and the ties with Pakistan have also improved, the Prime Minister added. (Posted @ 13:45 PST) TEACHER AMONG 3 KASHMIRIS MISSING SRINAGAR, May 1 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, three persons including a teacher of a welfare institute have gone missing, reports Kashmir Media Service. Falah-e-Aam trust teacher, Firdous Ahmad Ganai, son of Ali Mohammad of Sangrama, Baramulla, alongwith a student of the school, Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, son of Mohammad Ramzan, have gone missing in mysterious circumstances. Another youth, identified as Ghulam Ahmad Nadu, son of Abdul Khaliq of Pattan, Baramulla, has gone missing from April 24. Nadu had gone to a medical shop but never returned (Posted @ 13:45 PST) TROOPS ARREST 7 MORE KASHMIRIS ON FAKE CHARGES SRINAGAR, May 1 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops arrested seven Kashmiris, on fake charges, during siege and search operations, at various places, reports Kashmir Media Service. Two persons were picked from Kangan area of Srinagar, two from Handwara area of Kupwara, one from Chirman, Shopian, while one from Beerwah, Budgam, during the so-called siege and search operations by the troops. Indian troops took another Kashmiri under custody from Ludna area of Doda district on charges of being a liberation activist. Later, the troops demanded ransom for his release. (Posted @ 13:45 PST) Military probe finds prisoners abused at Guantanamo -NYT NEW YORK, May l (Reuters) - A high-level U.S. military investigation into accusations of detainee abuse at Guantanamo Bay has concluded that several prisoners were mistreated or humiliated, The New York Times reported in Sunday editions. Citing senior military and Pentagon officials, the Times said a report, still a few weeks away from being completed and released, had found that prisoners were abused, perhaps illegally, as a result of efforts to devise innovative methods to gain information. The report is partly based on accounts by FBI agents who complained after witnessing detainees subjected to several forms of harsh treatment, the Times said. (Posted @Q 13:30 PST) Locusts plague Bangladesh highway, blinding drivers CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, May 1 (Reuters) - Swarms of locusts blinded drivers, halting traffic along a 40 km (25 mile) stretch of a highway linking Dhaka to the southern port of Chittagong, police said on Sunday. Masses of insects started hitting windscreens around midnight on Saturday (1800 GMT), forcing dozens of trucks and buses to stop on the highway for up to four hours, a Chittagong police officer said. "They came flying by millions, all on a sudden, apparently from nowhere, causing panic among passengers," the officer said. (Posted @ 13:30 PST) Bollywood 'Oscars' honor Baywatch star Hasselhoff ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., May 1 (Reuters) - India's version of the Oscars were handed out at the glittering Bollywood movie award ceremony on Saturday that saw a veteran director sweep the top honors and U.S. actor David Hasselhoff named international star of the year. Veteran Yash Chopra was named best director for his film "Veer-Zaara," which also picked up the award for best film and best actor for its star Shah Rukh Kahn. Rani Mukherjee won the best actress award for her role "HumTum. (Posted @ 13:00 PST) KASHMIR: Puppet govt. wants to construct stadium at the site (Srinagar, May 01 PPI)The puppet regime in occupied Kashmir is planning to construct a police stadium at the site in Srinagar owned by a religious party and which the latter had acquired and developed for building an Islamic university. According to Kashmir Media Service, President, Jamiat Ahli Hadees, Shaukat Ahmad Shah, addressing a press conference here said that the land belonged to Jamiat and the municipality had passed allotment orders in favour of Jamiat. The land measuring 193 kanals is located at Mominabadan and Jamiat had spent more than Rs 50 lakhs to develop the submerged land (Posted @ 13:00 PST) Five Iraqi policemen shot to death at checkpoint on Baghdad outskirts BAGHDAD, May 1 (APP/AFP) - Five Iraqi policemen were shot to death early Sunday when some 30 insurgents attacked their checkpoint, on a main road leading south out of Baghdad, an interior ministry official said. "The policemen were taken by surprise at their checkpoint some 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Baghdad by armed men who shot them and took their weapons," the official told AFP. The policemen might have been sleeping, he added. (Posted @ 12:05 PST) Private sector of Pakistan "dynamic and resilient:" says WB official WASHINGTON, May 1 (APP)- Tanwir Ali Agha, alternate executive director, World Bank, Sunday said Pakistan's private sector is both "dynamic and resilient." "It is fast in adjusting, and ready to vigoriously update, improve and compete," he said adding thatPakistan is seen as third in line after China and India in textiles, which speaks volumes of our private sector's exhuberance, excellence and capability. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) Japanese PM leaves after two- day visit to Pakistan ISLAMABAD, May 1 (APP): Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi left here for Luxembourg on Sunday morning after completing two-day visit to Pakistan.Koizumi held talks with President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and announced the resumption of Yen Loan Programme for Pakistan which was discontinued in 1998. The leaders of the two countries also declared to enter into a new era towards a renewed, enhanced and robust relations andthe two countries signed a Joint Declaration to further expand their strong collaboration at all levels. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) Benazir Bhutto arrives in Boston WASHINGTON, April 30 (APP): Ms. Benazir Bhutto, chairperson PPPP, arrived in Boston Friday evening from UAE, on a four-day visit.She is scheduled to give lectures at different institutes, including at the Harvard, besides meeting partymen, according to party sources. (Posted @ 11:05 PST) Muslims, once Labour loyalists, poised to punish Blair over Iraq LUTON, England, May 1 (AFP) - Two years after the Iraq war, Britain's Muslims are using their once-loyal Labour vote as a sharp reminder to Tony Blair that they are still angry."Because of the British involvement in the Iraq war, we're not happy with Labour," said Mubin Quraichi, the head of Luton's central mosque.In Luton, a working-class town north of London, one quarter of the population is Muslim, and primarily of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin.Their vote was crucial in handing Luton's two parliamentary seats to Labour candidates in the previous election. (Posted @ 9:50 PST) Taiwan president to send personal envoy to China TAIPEI, May 1 (AFP) - Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said Sunday he would send his personal envoy next week to Beijing for talks with Chinese leaders -the first time a Taiwanese leader has openly announced such a mission. (Posted @ 9:50 PST) Cricket- Kallis bolsters South Africa ANTIGUA, April 30 (Reuters) - Jacques Kallis guided South Africa to a commanding position on the second day of the fourth test against West Indies on Saturday. Kallis scored an undefeated 127 as South Africa reached the close on 525 for four. Ashwell Prince was 114 not out, his second century, in an unbroken stand of 230 AB de Villiers' 114 and Graeme Smith's 126 also meant it washe first time four South Africans had scored centuries in one test innings. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) Guerrillas kill three Iraqis in attack on Falluja BAGHDAD, April 30 (Reuters) - Guerrillas fired at least seven rockets into the city of Falluja on Saturday, killing three Iraqi civilians and wounding another, the U.S. military said. Two mortar bombs were also fired into Falluja, about 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, but caused no casualties, the military said in a statement.A U.S. soldier was killed by small arms fire on Saturday in the town of Khaladiyah, about 130 km (80 miles) west of Baghdad. (Posted @ 09:30 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. Phone:+92 (21) 111-444-777   Fax: +92 (21) 569-3995 webmaster@dawn.com Note: Make sure to reload these pages so you're viewing the current version.

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