|
| July 18, 2005 | Monday | Jumadi-us-Sani 10, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)
Iran leader tells Iraq PM US troops harming his country TEHRAN, July 18 (AFP) - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari Monday that US troops were harming his country, in a reminder of Tehran's opposition to the foreign military presence in its former foe. It was the first time that US military support for Jaafari's government had been brought up since his arrival on Saturday amid clear efforts by both Iran and Iraq to turn the page on their devastating 1980-88 war.(Posted @ 21:55 PST)
Pakistan protests Kashmir border violation by Indian troops ISLAMABAD, July 18 (AFP) - The Pakistani military has lodged an official complaint after Indian troops crossed the de facto border of disputed Kashmir and started firing without provocation, the foreign ministry said Monday. "Pakistan today has lodged a strong protest with India over the unprovoked firing by the Indian troops and intrusion of the Line of Control (LoC)," said a ministry statement referring to the ceasefire boundary in Kashmir. Pakistan had also protested the abduction of a civilian from Kundi village in the Kashmiri district of Azad, the ministry said."The Pakistani Director General Military Operations spoke to his Indian counterpart and protested over this violation of ceasefire and intrusion of LoC," said the ministry statement.(Posted @ 21:50 PST)
No apparent progress on U.S. backing India for U.N. Washington (dpa) - India's bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council apparently failed to gain backing from U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday, according to remarks from Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The two leaders met at the White House, but only Singh, in a prepared statement, mentioned the issue, saying his country has "a compelling case" to join the council as a permanent member.Singh said he and Bush agreed that "the contemporary reality must be fully reflected in the central organs and decision-making processes of the U.N.".In other development's Bush said that the U.S. would try to facilitate the dialogue on the future of the Kashmir reason but added that it is up to India and Pakistan to find a solution to the conflict.(Posted @ 21:50 PST)
Egypt presidential poll set for September 7 CAIRO, July 18 (AFP) - Egypt's first pluralist presidential poll will be held on September 7, officials told AFP Monday.(Posted @ 21:30 PST)
Bush sees US-India cooperation on civil nuclear programs WASHINGTON, July 18 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said Monday that he and visiting India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had agreed to increase cooperation on civilian nuclear energy, space, and high-technology issues. "Today, we announce the completion of the next steps in strategic partnership. Completing this partnership will help us further enhance our cooperation in the areas of civil nuclear, civil space and high-technology commerce," Bush said at a joint press conference with Singh.(Posted @ 20:30 PST)
Police arrests 5 terrorists: recovers explosive material KARACHI, July 18 (APP)- Karachi Police Monday arrested five terrorists alongwith explosives, foiling an impending attempt of carrying out explosions at railway track near Kotri, Hyderabad, a gas pipeline and electric transmission line in Dadu. Police Officer Tariq Jamil told a press conference five pistols, 20 kg explosive material, detonators and safety fuses besides terrorism materials was recovered from them.(Posted @ 20:30 PST)
First ever Hurriyat-Kashmiri Pandit meeting tomorrow - NEW DELHI, July 18 (APP): A faction of Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, will hold its first ever meeting with the leaders of the migrant Kashmiri Pandits in Held Srinagar tomorrow to discuss among other issues their safe return to the Valley. A deputation of the displaced Kashmiri pandits had called on Mirwaiz Farooq on July 5 and agreed to meet on July 19. The meeting is expected to be attended by senior leaders of various Kashmiri Pandit organizations. Senior Hurriyat leader Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat said meeting will also discuss the resolution of the Kashmir issue.(Posted @ 20:30 PST)
Pakistan cooperating with Britain over London bombings ISLAMABAD, Jul 18 (APP): Pakistan Monday said it was fully cooperating with the British government over the investigation into the London bombings, which claimed 55 lives. "It is an on-going cooperation ... between the security agencies of the two countries," Foreign Office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said. However he said "it is not prudent to pre-judge, speculate or do anything which could prejudice the result of investigation." He said the British government was satisfied with Pakistan's cooperation and efforts . President Musharraf had also spoken to Prime Minister Tony Blair and reiterated Pakistan's committment in the war against terrorism. When asked about the reports that the alleged suicide bombers had visited Pakistan, he said, "lots of speculation is going on," but added "we have no confirmation of any of their visit." When asked about the allegations by India of cross border terrorism and infiltration, he said "such charges should not be made when Pakistan and India are engaged in a dialogue for resolution of all outstanding disputes.""We are committed to a dialogue process, so is President Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," he added. When asked about his views on the Pakistan-India talks Jilani said :"Personally I am not satisfied with the pace of composite dialogue process." (Posted @ 20:20 PST)
President urges youth to launch movement against extremism ISLAMABAD, July 18 (APP)- Describing extremism as the main hurdle in the way of Pakistan's fast-paced development, President General Prevez Musharraf on Monday called upon the youth to launch a movement against ignorance, parochialism and intolerance for achieving the goals of poverty reduction and progress for all. "The entire nation has to reject extremism - particularly the youth, who are the future leaders - should stand up against the malaise and support the Government's campaign in ridding the society of the malaise therefore, you should launch a movement, a jehad against it," he said. Inaugurating the National Youth Convention 2005, the President asked the young people from around the country to reject the extremists in elections as the country does not need retrogressive thinking but a tolerant, progressive and moderate Pakistan as envisioned by its founders, the Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.(Posted @ 20:00 PST)
U.K. hit by "terror risk" charge as new laws planned London/Brussels (dpa) - The British government Monday prepared to tighten anti-terrorism laws as ministers angrily denied a report by a leading think-tank saying that Britain's support for the military invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan had helped to make the country a terror target. The proposed new legislation is to include the new offences of preparing, training for and inciting terror acts. The opposition Conservative and Liberal parties, while supporting the proposals in principle, have voiced some doubt over their definition and effectiveness.(Posted @ 19:55 PST)
Haitang leaves at least five dead, one missing in Taiwan Taipei (dpa) - Typhoon Haitang slammed Taiwan on Monday, halting land and air traffic, cutting power to one million homes and leaving at least five people dead, one missing and 29 injured. Haitang made landfall in Ilan County on the north-east coast at about 2:50 p.m. (0750 GMT) and charged toward China's southeast coast after crossing Taiwan's northern tip. According to radio and TV reports, at least five people were killed in accidents related to the typhoon. Taiwan closed its airports and Kaohsiung harbour in the south of the island and cancelled railway service, but airports re-opened Monday evening to allow the departure and arrival of some international flights.(Posted @ 19:55 PST)
Pakistani PM to visit Afghanistan to discuss trade and security ISLAMABAD, July 18 (AFP) - Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will visit neighbouring Afghanistan this weekend to discuss trade and security issues, the foreign ministry said Monday. "It is a very significant visit. During the visit all facets of bilateral relations, mainly economic and trade as well as security, will come up for discussion," a spokesman said. Aziz will also lay the foundation stone for the Allama Iqbal faculty block at Kabul University. A Joint Economic Commission grouping the two countries will meet from July 23- 24 in Kabul before the visit. (Posted @ 18:05 PST)
Casualties in Iraq, July 18 BAGHDAD, July 18 (Reuters) - Two policemen were killed and one wounded when gunmen shot at their car in the town of Taji, north of Baghdad, a police source said. Gunmen shot dead a Sunni academic at Basra University Sunday evening, his father said. Professor Alaa' Dawoud was head of the history department.One U.S. soldier was killed and two wounded late Sunday evening by a roadside bomb near Balad in Salah Ad Din Province north of Baghdad, the military said in a statement. A police major was killed by gunmen in the city of Mosul, a hospital source said. (Posted @ 17:59 PST)
Nine killed in Yemen wedding stampede Sana'a (dpa) Fire caused by an electric short circuit at a wedding hall in Yemeni port city of Houdeida sparked a stampede on Sunday evening, leaving six children and three women dead, police said. Panicked guests stampeded through the hall's only entrance after the blaze swept through the building and six children, aged between five and 12 years, and a 55-year-old woman died on the scene, and two young women died later at the hospital. (Posted @ 17:59 PST)
Iran agrees Iraq help but demands Saddam be tried for war TEHRAN, July 18 (AFP) - Iran demanded Monday that ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein be tried over the 1980-88 war, as Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari wrapped up a landmark visit aimed at mending fences between the former foes. Jaafari hailed agreements to improve cooperation in areas ranging from security to Iraq's desperate shortage of refined fuel, as he prepared to board a plane for the northeastern city of Mashhad for closing talks with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei."This visit has consolidated relations between the Islamic republic and the Iraqi government," said Jaafari befere flying out of Tehran. "We have set up five committees covering cooperation in politics, economics, trade, reconstruction and the fight against terrorism." (Posted @ 16:55 PST)
Blair to meet Muslim leaders to build consensus on Islamic extremism LONDON, July 18 (AFP) - Prime Minister Tony Blair will meet leaders of the 1.6 million strong Muslim community in Britain on Tuesday to forge a consensus on confronting Islamic extremism, his spokesman said Monday. Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy, leaders of the opposition Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, will also participate in the Downing Street talks prompted by the July 7 bombings in London. "The whole idea is that collectively, we listen to what Muslim leaders have to say, and they try to reach a consensus on how to move forward, not just in terms of expressions of solidarity but also in practical ways as well," Blair's spokesman said. Besides consulting Muslim community leaders, Blair is to meet Thursday with senior police and intelligence chiefs on the need for any new legal powers to combat terrorism. (Posted @ 16:49 PST)
Pakistan points finger at militants, madrassahs ISLAMABAD, July 18 (Reuters) - Denouncing the London bombings as "unIslamic", Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf accused banned militant groups on Monday of forcing their ideology on others and said some Islamic schools were involved in terrorism. Addressing a national youth conference in Islamabad, Musharraf said nothing in the Holy Quran allowed for the July 7 attacks that killed at least 55 people. "Launching bomb attacks in London in the name of Islam is not Islam," he said. He accused banned militant organisations Jaish-e-Mohammad and Sipah-e-Sahaba of forcing their ideology upon others, although hedid not link them to the London bombing. "Yes, today, some madrassahs are involved in extremism and terrorism," he said adding that the schools should stick to their traditional role of producing scholars, doctors and engineers. (Posted @ 16:49 PST)
Algerian rebels kill 5 politicians, guards - report ALGIERS, July 18 (Reuters) - Algerian militants set fire to forests west of the capital Algiers and then killed two municipal officials and three police guards besides injuring eight others they lured into an ambush, local newspapers reported on Monday. Among the dead was the deputy mayor of Tachta, a town near Ain Defla. (Posted @ 16:48 PST)
Cricket-India squad for Sri Lanka one-day series BANGALORE, India, July 18 (Reuters) - Indian selectors named a 16-player squad on Monday for the triangular one-day series in Sri Lanka, also involving West Indies, starting on July 30. Squad: Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag, VangipurappuLaxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Dhoni(wicketkeeper), Suresh Raina, Jaiprakash Yadav, Venugopal Rao, Zaheer Khan, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Ashish Nehra, Saurav Ganguly. (Posted @ 16:48 PST)
Israeli forces block settler plan to march on Gaza JERUSALEM, July 18 (Reuters) - Security forces across Israel blocked thousands of rightist protesters on Monday from heading toward Gaza's main Jewish settlement bloc for a march aimed at impeding the evacuation of the enclaves set for next month. Israeli officials, citing fears of violent disturbances,deployed more than 10,000 police and soldiers to prevent opponents of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's pullout plan from reaching staging areas in southern Israel. (Posted @ 16:48 PST)
Pakistan says all 17 militants killed in gunbattle were from Kazakhstan ISLAMABAD, July 18 (AFP) - The Pakistani military said Monday that 17 militants gunned down in an isolated complex outside Miranshah near the Afghan border were all from Kazakhstan and included women and teenage youths. "We now believe the entire group was from Kazakhstan," military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told AFP. He said the authorities recovered four passports and some documents and identity cards which indicated they were Kazakhs. The 17, including women and teenagers, were killed as they tried to break the siege and flee the compound in two vehicles after a shoot-out, Sultan said. One vehicle was knocked out and the other was crippled.The general said women and youths also took part in the fighting "These guys were all trained fighters," the general said adding that women and young people received training in explosives. He said local officials and elders had tried for more than two hours to persuade the group to surrender but a gunbattle erupted when they tried to escape in their vehicles. The women hurled grenades when security forces stopped them,Gen Sultan said. Troops recovered arms and ammunition, including detonators, explosives and bomb-making instructions. Sixteen locals who had helped the group were arrested. (Posted @ 16:08 PST)
Afghan woman electoral worker wounded by suspected Taliban KABUL, July 18 (AFP) - Suspected Taliban militants shot and wounded Sunday an Afghan woman registering voters in remote Nuristan province in northeast Afghanistan, officials said Monday.She was in a group of people when three men fired 30 rounds but she was the only one to be wounded. In another incident in eastern Nangarhar province a police investigation officer was wounded in an attack on his residence in Dur Bala district on Sunday. Meanwhile, Afghan troops on Sunday arrested two local Taliban commanders in Shawali Kot district of Kandahar province, defense ministry spokesman General Mohammed Zahir Azimi told AFP. (Posted @ 15:56 PST)
Two more militants die in occupied Kashmir border SRINAGAR, July 18 (AFP) - Indian troops shot dead a suspected militant in northern Uri sector in occupied Kashmir and found the body of a militant, the army said Monday. Indian troops searching for militants in the glacial heights of northern Gurez area recovered the body of another militant on Monday, taking the toll to 12 killed in the sector over the past week, he said. More than 44,000 people have been killed in India occupied Kashmir since the launch of freedom movement in 1989, according to official figures. Separatists say the toll is twice as high. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Iraq war boosted Al-Qaeda, made Britain vulnerable to attack: report LONDON, July 18 (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair came under fresh pressure Monday for supporting the Iraq war after a respected think-tank linked the invasion to Britain's worst terror attack in which at least 55 people died. The Royal Institute of International Affairs, known as Chatham House, concluded in a report that the war in Iraq gave a "boost" to Al-Qaeda and made Britain especially vulnerable to suicide attacks -- a theory that clashed with Blair's belief that there is no link with the July 7 bombings. "There is no doubt that the situation over Iraq has imposed particular difficulties for the UK, and for the wider coalition against terrorism," said the London-based research centre. "It gave a boost to the Al-Qaeda network's propaganda, recruitment and fundraising," Chatham House said, arguing that it also provided an ideal training area for Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists and deflected resources that could have gone to help bring terror mastermind Osama bin Laden to justice. The report, entitled "Riding Pillion for Tackling Terrorism is a High-risk Policy" heavily criticised the British government's anti-terrorism strategy, accusing it of working shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States as a back seat passenger rather than an equal decision maker. As a result, Britain was "at particular risk because it is the closest ally of the United States, has deployed armed forces in the military campaigns to topple the Taleban regime in Afghanistan and in Iraq," and has taken a leading role in the fight against Al-Qaeda, it went on. The government, however, dismissed the report. "The terrorists want to kill anyone who stands in the way of their perverse ideology," said Britain's Defence Secretary John Reid. (Posted @ 15:42 PST)
Pakistan interrogates, clears six of links to London attacks ISLAMABAD, July 18 (AFP) - Pakistani security officials said Monday they had interrogated six people who had contacts with the family of one of the London suicide bombers but cleared them of any links to the attacks. Phone calls had been made to some Pakistanis from the house of one of the bombers. The British government provided names and telephone numbers of some individuals to Pakistan for information following the July 7 attacks, a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.Security officials said they interrogated six people about their links with the family of one of the bombers, Shahzad Tanweer. "We have established that these people had business contacts with the family of Tanweer back in London," a senior security official said. "The six interrogated are all cleared now," he said. "The telephone calls were made only for business purposes and they were not linked in any way to the attacks," he said. Mohammad Sidique Khan, 30, and Tanweer, 22, arrived together at Karachi Airport in November 2004 and returned to Britain in early February, officials have told AFP. Hasib Hussain, 18, the youngest of the three ethnic Pakistani Britons, came separately at an undisclosed time last year, also to Karachi, and went back to Britain shortly afterwards, the officials added. "We have not been able to establish whom they had been meeting here," the officials said about Tanweer and another suspect Siddiq Khan who spent nearly four months in Pakistan between November last year and February this year. "We have not made any arrest in Pakistan in connection with the London bombing." (Posted @ 15:37 PST)
Four killed, six injured in Gilgit firing incident GILGIT, July 18 (APP): Four occupants died on the spot while six others were wounded with bullet injuries when unidentified people opened indiscriminate fire on a Rawalpindi bound Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO) bus at Ganar Farm, 109 KMS east of Gilgit, police said. A case has been registered against the unknown assailants and investigations were underway in the incident that occurred late Sunday night, police added. (Posted @ 12:22 PST)
Palestinians fire five rockets; Israel arrests six Tel Aviv (dpa) Suspected militant Palestinians fired at least five rockets into Israeli settlements and bases in the Gaza Strip overnight to Monday, Israeli media said. No injuries were reported. Meanwhile in the West Bank Israeli soldiers arrested overnight six alleged members of Hamas, the report added. (Posted @ 12:15 PST)
Resistance in Iraq 'legitimate': Moqtada Sadr LONDON, July 18 (AFP) - Violent resistance to foreign troops in Iraq was "legitimate", Shiite radical leader Moqtada Sadr said in an interview with BBC to be broadcast on Monday. Iraqis should not be provoked by the coalition "occupation", but added that "resistance is legitimate at all levels be it religious, intellectual and so on.” (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
North Korea nuclear talks to start July 26 SEOUL, July 18 (Reuters) - Stalled six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programmes will begin on July 26 in Beijing, but no date has been set for when the discussions will end, a South Korean daily reported Monday. Meanwhile United States warned that it planned to pull out of talks if there was a lack of progress in the upcoming negotiations, an AFP report said Monday. (Posted @ 09:49 PST)
UK police arrest six under immigration laws LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) - British police said Monday that six men arrested in northern England were held under immigration laws not anti-terrorism laws as they previously announced. Police said the arrests on Sunday in a suburb of the northern town of Leeds, where two of the July 7 London bombers lived, were not directly linked to the attacks. No more details of those arrested were released. (Posted @ 09:44 PST)
Malaysia says Pakistani workers no threat to national security KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 (AFP) - Malaysia said Monday it is confident that Pakistani workers who began arriving at the weekend to plug a critical labour shortage do not pose a security threat. Home Affairs Ministry Secretary-General Aseh Che Mat said Pakistani authorities had carefully screened the workers to ensure they were not involved in any suspect activities. "We have been assured that elements that might create instability in this country would not be brought in," Aseh said. (Posted @ 09:33 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 97.20 points: KARACHI, July 18: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 7438.61, down 97.20 points from Friday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, July 18: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.5 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 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
Make sure to reload these pages so you're viewing the current version.
|
|
|
Contributions |