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| July 29, 2005 | Friday | Jumadi-us-Sani 21, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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Pakistan to expell foreign students from seminaries: Musharraf ISLAMABAD, July 29 (AFP) - President Pervez Musharraf on Friday said all the estimated 1,400 foreign nationals studying in the country's over 10,000 madrassahs would have to leave the seminaries. No new visas would be issued to non-Pakistanis wishing to study in the seminaries and mosque schools, he told newsmen. The ban would also apply to holders of dual nationality. "An ordinance to this effect will be adopted in the next coming days," General Musharraf said. He also reiterated that all mosque schools in the country would have to register with the government by the end of the year.Musharraf last week ordered a crackdown on extremists. By Friday security forces had rounded up more than 600 suspected militants and clerics.(Posted @ 19:52 PST)
Suicide bomber kills 25 in northern Iraq MOSUL, Iraq, July 29 (AFP) - A suicide bomber blew himself up outside an army recruitment centre in the northern Iraqi town of Rabia, near the Syrian border, killing 25 people and wounding 35, police general Said al-Juburi said from Mosul. The victims were young men waiting to sign up to join the army, he said. Some 1,000 to 1,400 recruits are joining the new army every month, US officials said. On Thursday, two US marines were killed in fighting near the town of Haditha, also close to the Syrian border, when their unit "came under attack by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades".(Posted @ 17:48 PST)
Negative statements not to affect Pakistan-India peace process: RAWALPINDI, July 28 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Friday said peace process between Pakistan and India was on track but asked to avoid statements that could harm it. "The peace process stands exactly where it was, I have no doubt in my mind (that) it will continue," he said in his two- hour interaction with foreign media. The President said at the government level, the two countries were on track vis-a-vis moving on the confidence building measures and resolution of outstanding disputes. However there was a need to take corrective action on making rhetoric statements, he said. "We should not get involved in issues that create gulf and harm the peace process, " headed.(Posted @ 21:40 PST)
Two policemen killed, seven people wounded in two Kashmir attacks SRINAGAR, July 29 (AFP) - Seven people were wounded, including four news cameramen and a photographer, during an attack Friday by suspected militants in the heart of Srinagar , while two policemen died in a separate ambush in Doda district, police said. Militants attacked a paramilitary bunker with AK rifle fire and a single grenade. "The fire was returned and in the exchange of fire seven people were injured," the officer told AFP. He said four cameramen working for various Indian television networks and a a local Urdu newspaper photographer were among the injured."A police vehicle was also hit by bullets that caused it to catch fire, damaging it considerably," he said, adding that the shooting at the main commercial hub of Lal Chowk sparked panic among the people. Fifteen minutes later fresh shots were heard from the area but it was not immediately clear who had fired them. Police, meanwhile, said two policemen were killed in an ambush by militants from a hilltop in the southern district of Doda on Friday.(Posted @ 18:25 PST)
London rail station evacuated as armed police make arrests LONDON, July 29 (AFP) - One of London's busiest mainline rail and subway stations was evacuated on Friday as armed police made arrests, a spokesman for the British Transport Police told AFP. Police also found some suspect packages. The station was subsequently re-opened, transport police said. Keith Hagan, a 63-year-old museum worker who was passing through the station at the time of the alert said he saw what appeared to be plain-clothes police arrest a woman in Islamic dress. "She was very small, she was wearing a veil and they just jumped on her. They put her on the floor," he told AFP. Another passenger, who would give his name only as Michael, said he saw police bringing out a young man. "It was someone with their hands tied behind their back. I saw a lot of police, at least three or four of them were keeping him down," he said.(Posted @ 20:15 PST)
London police confirm three arrests in raids LONDON, July 29 (AFP) - London's Metropolitan Police said Friday it had arrested three men during two raids in the west of the capital, while refusing to confirm that among them were suspected bombers who targeted the city last week. "Police have arrested two men at one address and a third man has been arrested at the second address. They are being taken to a central London police station for further questioning," a police statement said.(Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Hill hints US willing to allow North Korea peaceful nuke power BEIJING, July 29 (AFP) - The chief US envoy to six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons drive hinted Friday that Washington could be willing to allow Pyongyang the peaceful use of atomic power if it rejoined the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). "We don't challenge the fact that they have the rights to this under the treaty, but we challenge whether they should be exercising these rights," US delegate Christopher Hill told reporters. "The question is how that will work and when that will work and frankly how it will work with other parties," Hill said, adding that it was a "very contentious" issue.(Posted @ 20:05 PST)
Discovery crew on edge over debris fallout HOUSTON, Texas, July 29 (AFP) - Discovery's commander said Friday that the shuttle's crew had been surprised and disappointed to find that NASA had not ended the foam debris problem that caused the Columbia disaster two years earlier. While the US space agency said it would only be able to give the shuttle the all-clear this weekend, it has expressed confidence that Discovery did not suffer serious damage. The crew on Friday pursued an operation to move 15 tonnes of equipment and supplies onto the International Space Station.(Posted @ 19:58 PST)
Indian monsoon deaths near 900; Musharraf conveys condolences MUMBAI, July 29 (AFP) Deaths from India's record monsoon climbed to near 900 Friday as rescuers unearthed more bodies from landslides, police said. The number of dead in Mumbai reached 370 whereas at least 513 people were killed elsewhere in Maharashtra state according to state police, taking the total number of confirmed deaths to 883. President Pervez Musharraf expressed his condolences over the loss of life, the official news agency APP reported. "The loss of precious lives and property caused due to this calamity is irreparable," Musharraf said in a message to Indian President Abdul Kalam late Thursday. "We pray for the departed souls. Our hearts go out in sympathy to the families of the victims." (Posted @ 13:05 PST)
Two Turkish soldiers killed in car bomb blast TUNCELI, Turkey, July 29 (Reuters) - Two Turkish soldiers were killed on Friday after a bomb planted in their car detonated in town of Hakkari in southeastern Turkey, officials said. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack which also wounded three civilians, a local official said adding that a large amount of plastic explosives was used in the attack which destroyed several vehicles.(Posted @ 19:10 PST)
Lincou (France) wins Pakistan Open squash final KARACHI, July 29 (AFP) - Pakistan Open squash title was annexed by top seed Thierry Lincou of France who defeated David Palmer (Australia) 11-9, 8-11, 11-1, 4-11, 11-7 here today.(Posted @ 18:43 PST)
Two UN workers kidnapped in Gaza GAZA CITY, July 29 (AFP) - An Australian and a Palestinian working for the United Nations were kidnapped by masked men outside a hotel in Gaza City on Friday, witnesses and a UN official said. Witnesses described the kidnap victims as a man and a woman.(Posted @ 18:05 PST)
President directs coordinated approach to achieve development goals RAWALPINDI, July 29 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf has directed on Friday a coordinated approach towards provision of clean drinking water, healthcare, education and electricity across the country by year 2007. At a presentation by the National Commission for Human Development at which Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was also present, the President said the benefits of economic gains should be visible in the form of basic health and education facilities at grass roots level.In his remarks, the Prime Minister said the Government has taken steps to ensure that the benefits of economic achievements are passed on to the common man and added that required funds would be made available to achieve the said goals.(Posted @ 17:00 PST)
Journalist-bail Bench allows pre-arrest interim bail to news reporter KARACHI, July 29 (APP)- Justice Musheer Alam of High Court of Sindh (SHC) on Friday admitted Rasheed Channa , reporter of the English eveninger The “STAR’ to pre-arrest interim bail till August 8 against a surety of Rs 0.1 million in a case of alleged attempt to kill. Abdul Hafeez Lakho advocate appearing for Rasheed Channa submitted a number of documents including news clippings about alleged illegal activities of complainant Abdul Ghafoor Chisti including land grabbing, car lifting.He also submitted a report by DIG, Karachi police submitted to IG Sindh in which Abdul Ghafoor Chisti, complainant of case against Rasheed Channa was stated to be habitual of lodging false complaints and cases against innocent citizens. According to case FIR registered at PS Sachal, the complainant was called to attend a meeting to settle family dispute involving him (Chisti) with his in-laws. The complainant stated before police that he was fired upon near Kiran Hospital by accused Rasheed Channa and co-accused Perviaz but bullets missed him.(Posted @ 16:58 PST)
Badin receives first spell of monsoon rain BADIN July 29 (APP)- District Badin received the first spell of monsoon rain which started from Thursday night. The towns which received rains included Golarchi, Kadhan, Khoski, Talhar and coastal areas. The Met office also forecast heavy rains with thunderstorm in the coastal belt of district.(Posted @ 16:52 PST)
SC suspends Balochistan High Court decision, allows Hamadullah to continue as provincial minister ISLAMABAD, Jul 29 (APP): A three-member bench of the Supreme Court Friday suspended the operation of a decision of the Balochistan High Court and allowed Hafiz Hamadullah, a member of provincial cabinet, to continue in his post pending a decision on his petition. The next hearing of the case will be fixed in the last week of October. However, both the parties will be allowed to file supporting documents if any till the fixation of the case.(Posted @ 16:48 PST)
Indian premier says nuclear weapons program not harmed by deal with US NEW DELHI, July 29 (AFP) - Indian Premier Manmohan Singh told parliament Friday that a deal for access to civilian nuclear technology reached with the United States earlier this month would not limit the country's nuclear weapons program."Our strategic assets are a source of national security and will continue to be so and remain outside the scope of our discussions with any external interlocutors," he said. In the July accord, Singh had agreed to separate India's civilian and military nuclear programmes, open its facilities to International Atomic Energy Agency scrutiny and work to prevent nuclear proliferation. On Friday, Singh said India's commitments were conditional on Washington fulfilling its promises on access to technology.Reciprocity is key to implementation of all steps in the joint statement," he said. "Before voluntarily placing civilian facilities under international safeguards we will ensure all restrictions on India have been lifted," he said.(Posted @ 16:43 PST)
Pakistan agrees to work with 10 Southeast Asia nations against terrorism VIENTIANE, July 29 (AFP) - Pakistan agreed Friday to cooperate with 10 Southeast Asian nations to fight terrorism, saying it needed the help of all countries to root out the menace. Pakistan signed an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) anti-terror cooperation agreement as meetings of Asia's top security body, the ASEAN Regional Forum, wound up in the Lao capital Vientiane. New Zealand also signed the agreement, which South Korea put its name to on Wednesday. Other signatories are Australia, China, the European Union, India, Japan, Russia and the United States. The agreement "means we will be having a more cooperative exchange of information and intelligence-sharing between Pakistan and the ASEAN community," a Pakistani diplomat told AFP. "Pakistan requires the help of all the countries within and without the region in helping to eliminate this menace of terrorism ... and ASEAN needs Pakistan as well," he said.ARF links the 10 ASEAN countries with 14 other Asia-Pacific states and the European Union.(Posted @ 16:38PST)
One killed in west Pakistan raid on tribal seminary, arms cache seized MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, July 29 (AFP) - Pakistani troops killed a suspected militant, arrested three more and seized arms and explosives from a seminary in a tribal region near the Afghan border, security officials said Friday. "Troops recovered a large number of explosives and other devices which are used in terrorism," military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told AFP in Islamabad."Children's toys fitted with explosives and booby traps were also recovered from the madrassa (Islamic seminary)." Pakistani troops late Thursday came under fire and retaliated when they surrounded Dargamandi village in North Waziristan tribal region following a tip-off that Afghan militants were staying there, said officials. The soldiers killed a suspected militant in the gunfight, then raided a madrassa and searched nearby houses, where they made the three arrests. Waziristan borders Afghanistan's insurgency-plagued Khost province.(Posted @ 16:35PST)
US-Afghan forces kill six militants, capture 10 in southeast KABUL, July 29 (AFP) - US-Afghan forces on Friday killed six insurgents and captured 10 more after coming under fire in southeast Afghanistan, the US military said. The clash took place near Shinkay in Zabul province, about 330 kilometres (200 miles) from Kabul, the military said in a statement, which added that one militant was wounded. It said coalition forces had suffered no casualties. "In the last five days, Afghan and US forces have killed approximately 20 enemy forces and detained 33 others in operations in Uruzgan and Zabul provinces," said the US military. The statement contradicted earlier reports by Afghan government officials that US-led coalition forces killed 40 to 50 Taliban fighters in the province of Uruzgan this week.(Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Philippines withdraws diplomats from Iraq to Jordan MANILA, July 29 (AFP) - Philippine diplomats in Iraq have left their Baghdad mission indefinitely and pulled back to Jordan due to a rash of kidnappings of foreign diplomats, Foreign Undersecretary Jose Brillantes said Friday. The three-member mission, led by charge d'affaires Eric Endaya, had arrived at the embassy in Amman where they would be posted "for an indefinite period of time," Brillantes said in a written statement.(Posted @ 16:25 PST)
Suspected militants kill five in occupied Kashmir JAMMU, July 29 (AFP) Suspected militants killed five persons Friday by slitting their throats in the remote Darsekri village of Rajouri district in occupied Kashmir, Indian security forces said. (Posted @ 12:22 PST)
Five suspected Syrian rebels killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, July 29 (Reuters) U.S. and Iraqi forces killed nine guerrillas, five of whom were reported to be Syrians, in a village northwest of Baghdad, the U.S. military said Friday. (Posted @ 10:54 PST)
Stampede kills 18 in flooded Bombay BOMBAY, July 29 (Reuters) At least 18 people, including seven children, were killed in a stampede in India's rain-ravaged financial hub of Bombay that was set off by rumours that a city lake had burst its banks, police said Friday. (Posted @ 10:01 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 36.51 points: KARACHI, July 29: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 7178.93, down 36.51 points from Thursday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:50 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, July 29: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.5 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:50 PST)
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