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| September 5, 2005 | Monday | Rajab 30, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Washing of the Holy Kaaba performed ISLAMABAD, Sep 5 (APP): An impressive washing ceremony of the Holy Kaaba Sharif was held in Makkah-tul-Mukarrama on Monday. Governor Makkah Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdul Aziz got the honour of Kaaba wash on behalf of the custodian of the two holy mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, according to a PTV report. The washing the walls of the Holy Kaaba was performed with Aab-e-Zam Zam mixed with rose water. Ambassadors of Islamic countries, Saudi Ministers and other notables including Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Ejaz- ul-Haq and Sindh Chief Minister Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim were present on the occasion and participated in the ceremony. On the occasion, special prayers were offered for the progress, prosperity and stability of Pakistan. The washing ceremony of the Holy Ka'ba is held twice in a year. First ceremony is held on first of the Sha'ban (Ninth month of the Islamic Calendar), while second ceremony on first of the Zil- Hajj (12th month of the Islamic calendar).(Posted @ 23:55 PST)
Indian Hockey Team arrives in Karachi Karachi Sept 05 PPI: Indian Hockey team arrived in Karachi on Monday to participate in Super Hockey League 2005 being held from Sep 08, 2005 at Hockey Stadium in Karachi. Sindh Sports Minister Qamar Mansoor welcomed the hockey team at Karachi Airport. Pakistan Hockey Federation, Karachi Hockey Association, Police Hockey, National Bank, Pakistan Railways and sports representatives were also present on the occasion.(Posted @ 23:48 PST)
Talks process should be consolidated : Mirwaiz ISLAMABAD, Sep 5 (APP): Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mir Waiz Umer Farooq has said that Hurriyat Conference wanted to contribute towards solution of Kashmir dispute. Talking to PTV he said, present environment is conducive and better development was taking place between the two countries. To a question he said, ongoing talks process should be consolidated and further strengthened, so that the process could move ahead. Mirwaiz said, human rights situation in occupied Kashmir should be improved which is need of the hour. He said, detained Kashmiris who were wrongly imprisoned in jails since long years should be freed.(Posted @ 23:48 PST)
Manmohan, Hurriyat agree to carry the dialogue process forward NEW DELHI, Sept 5 (APP): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Hurriyat leaders Monday night agreed to carry the dialogue process forward in which time-bound review of all arrests made under POTA and Public Safety Action would be made. At the maiden interaction between the Congress-led UPA government and the Hurriyat leaders, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh welcomed the resumption of dialogue. The Prime Minister told the Hurriyat delegation that he was committed to peace, self respect and dignity of the people of Held Kashmir. The Government and Hurriyat agreed that only way to end violence is through dialogue. Five-member team of Hurriyat Conference was led by its chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq during the talks with Dr Manmohan Singh at Prime Ministers's residence The Prime Minister welcomed the resumption of the dialogue between the Central Government and Hurriyat Conference, PM Media Advisor Sanjay Baru told the newsmen after the meeting.(Posted @ 23:35 PST)
India to cut troop levels in Kashmir if violence stops: PM NEW DELHI, Sept 5 (AFP) - India will cut troop levels in Kashmir if separatist violence and militant infiltration from Pakistan stops, the prime minister's office said Monday after a landmark meeting with moderate Kashmiri separatist leaders. "The prime minister said that if there is a cessation of violence and end to infiltration, conditions will be created for the reduction of armed forces" (in Kashmir), a statement from the prime minister's office said. The statement came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held the first-ever official talks between an Indian leader and Kashmiri separatists since an anti-Indian rebellion erupted in 1989. The three-hour meeting included formal talks and dinner. "He agreed to review all cases of those held in detention and ensure that violation of human dignity would not be tolerated and the government would take all necessary measures to safeguard against human rights violations," the statement from the prime minister's office said.(Posted @ 23:15 PST)
Pakistan reinforces border to help Afghan election ISLAMABAD, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Pakistan has sent thousands of troop reinforcements to its western border to help choke off a Taliban-led insurgency in the weeks running up to Afghanistan's Sept. 18 parliamentary elections, a military spokesman said. Around 5,000 extra troops have been sent to North West Frontier Province and 4,500 more to Baluchistan province, taking the total deployed in the border areas to almost 80,000, Major General Shaukat Sultan said. "The step has been taken to enhance security measures on the border before the Afghan elections," Sultan told Reuters, though he added that given the length of the border and rugged terrain it was impossible to completely seal the frontier.(Posted @ 21:55 PST)
Blair says strong EU-China relations 'immensely important' at summit BEIJING, Sept 5 (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Monday that strong relations between the EU and China were "immensely important" as the two sides held an annual summit boosted by the settlement of a textiles row. "The strategic partnership between China and the European Union is of immense importance, not just in terms of trade and the economy, but also in terms of our cooperation in all the major political issues the world faces," he said in a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Despite disagreements on issues including Europe's embargo on arms sales to China and its refusal to grant Beijing market economy status, Hu agreed that building understanding was crucial.Aside from the summit, Blair will hold separate talks with Hu and other Chinese leaders on Tuesday before heading to New Delhi for an EU-India summit. The summit was boosted by the settlement of a trade row that has left 80 million Chinese-made garments piled up in European ports, unable to be delivered to shops under a quota pact agreed in June. As well as textiles the summit discussed or inked deals on economic and energy cooperation, China's participation in the Galileo space project and environmental protection.(Posted @ 21:12 PST)
Saudi police besiege militants after deadly clashes RIYADH, Sept 5 (AFP) - Saudi security forces exchanged sporadic fire with suspected Al-Qaeda militants holed up in the eastern oil city of Dammam Monday after deadly clashes in a busy street where many Western firms have offices. A security source said the authorities had no immediate plans to storm the militants' redoubt in the city's Al-Hamra district but would instead lay siege to the buildings in a bid to capture the gunmen alive. Explosions were heard in the area and ambulances rushed to the scene to evacuate an unknown number of casualties, witnesses told AFP, where local press reports said six to 10 militants were still holed up. Saudi Internet site Al-Wifaq said one policeman had been killed and six wounded on Monday, although police were unable to confirm the toll. "Sporadic gunfire is continuing around the buildings where the members of the deviant group are holed up," the source said. "Security forces have reinforced their positions and are bringing in bulldozers and additional heavy equipment. "We're in no rush to storm the buildings as we're hoping to capture them alive and obtain information." Residents reported hearing heavy gunfire as they were evacuated from nearby homes .The besieged militants were holding off security forces with improvised grenade launchers, the security source said.(Posted @ 20:58 PST)
British troops accused of murdering Iraqi go on trial LONDON, Sept 5 (AFP) - Seven British soldiers accused of murdering an Iraqi civilian teenager shortly after the 2003 invasion went on trial Monday in a British military court. The men were charged following the death of Nadhem Abdullah on May 11, 2003 in Al U'Zayra. They allegedly entered a small southern Iraqi village and killed an 18-year-old man during a "gratuitous", "unjustified" and "unprovoked" attack on a group of local civilians. The court was told the men allegedly used rifle butts, helmets and fists during the attack.(Posted @ 20:46 PST)
At least 143 dead as Indonesia passenger jet ploughs into city MEDAN, Indonesia, Sept 5 (AFP) - A Boeing 737-200 jetliner crashed Monday into a densely populated suburb of the city of Medan moments after take-off and burst into flames, killing at least 143 people. The jetliner bound for Jakarta slammed into buildings just outside the perimeter of Medan's Polonia airport early in the morning, killing 104 of its 117 passengers and crew and 39 people on the ground. There were 17 injured. Many of the dead on the ground were minibus passengers hit by debris. Some 30 houses were damaged and gutted by fire. Wreckage of the plane, at least five burned vehicles, crumpled vehicles, bicycles and destroyed houses littered the area.(First Posted @ 16:58 Updated @ 20:40 PST)
Kashmiri separatists hold first meeting with Indian PM Singh NEW DELHI, Sept 5 (AFP) - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh late Monday began the first talks between an Indian leader and Kashmiri separatists since the start of a bloody rebellion in Kashmir in 1989. The talks were in progress when last reports came in. The five-strong team of moderate separatists, headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq comprised Abdul Gani Bhat, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Fazal Haque Qureshi and Bilal Lone. The five had also held two rounds of talks last year with then deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani of India's previous Hindu nationalist government and was also part of a Hurriyat team which visited Islamabad in June and held talks with Pakistani leaders."Hopefully the environment is better than before. India and Pakistan are positively engaged," Farooq had told AFP earlier. The talks come ahead of a meeting between Singh and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in mid-September in New York, where Kashmir will be a key topic. Pakistan has expressed growing frustration at what it sees as New Delhi's failure to act speedily to resolve the issue of Kashmir(First Posted @ 17:02 Updated @ 20:28 PST)
Eleven dead in DR Congo plane crash KINSHASA, Sept 5 (AFP) - Eleven people were killed on Monday when an Antonov 26 freight aircraft struck a tree near Isiro airport in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aviation offials said."The accident has caused 11 deaths -- seven passengers, three Russian crew members and an escort, a member of the company that owned the aircraft," they said. "The weather was very bad at Isiro and that may be one of the reasons for the crash just 1.5 kilometres short of the runway after flying from Beni, a town in eastern Nord-Kivu province, Okapi radio reported.(First Posted @ 17:38 Updated @ 20:18 PST)
PM urges opposition to shun politics of point scoring LAHORE, Sept 5 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Monday that opposition parties must keep national interest supreme and do away with politics of scoring political points through negative tactics. About the strike call given by opposition parties for September 9, the prime minister talking to newsmen after inaugurating the Freight Express Train said if opposition have any problem , it should raise the same at the forum of National Assembly instead of going to the streets. "Strikes hurt the poor the most especially daily wagers, rickshaw and taxi drivers; politics must not be done at the cost of poor people." Replying to another question he expressed concern at the serious violation of human rights in occupied Kashmir and reiterated that "we want resolution of Kashmir issue through dialogue according to the aspirations of the Kashmiri people."(Posted @ 19:18 PST)
Pakistan offers assistance to US for Katrina victims ISLAMABAD, Sept 5 (APP): Pakistan Monday offered assistance to the United States for the victims affected by Hurricane Katrina and said it was ready to send a team of medical doctors and paramedics to support the relief efforts. Foreign Office spokesman Naeem Khan told the weekly briefing that President Bush and the US government have expressed their appreciation for the offer of relief. We have received from the US government a list containing forms of assistance that is required for the Hurricane Katrina relief operations.(Posted @ 19:18 PST)
Edhi announces $100,000 aid for Katrina affectees LAHORE, Sept 5 (APP)- Edhi Foundation has announced an aid of US dollars one lakh ( $100,000) for the affectees of Katrina hurricane that struck the South coastal state of Mississippi, killing thousands in New Orleans last week. Maulana Abdus Sattar Edhi has directed his sons and wife who are already in the United States to gear up relief operations in the hurricane ravaged area.(Posted @ 18:58 PST)
PM inaugurates 1st freight express train LAHORE, Sept 5, (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday inaugurated the first high-speed, larger container freight train between Lahore and Karachi, saying railway is the backbone of the country's economy and the government would provide all financial assistance for its improvement and modernization. He said the Railways would be made capable of meeting challenges both in freight and passenger sectors.(Posted @ 18:54 PST)
Two Sri Lankan troops killed in fresh violence COLOMBO, Sept 5 (APP/AFP) - Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels killed two government troops in separate incidents in the island's northeast, a defence ministry spokesman said Monday. The rebels opened fire and then lobbed a grenade at troops at Chenkaladi in the Batticaloa district Monday, killing a soldier. Another soldier was killed on Sunday night on his scooter by and a civilian and a soldier were injured in two other incidents in the same region. There was no immediate reaction from the rebels.(Posted @ 18:50 PST)
At least 45 Africans drown in crossing to Yemen SANAA, Sept 5 (Reuters) - At least 45 Africans drowned and many more were feared dead after armed smugglers forced them overboard during an illegal crossing to Yemen, officials said on Monday. Yemeni coastguards and residents of the town of Ruddum told Reuters some 50 people had managed to swim ashore after they were dumped in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday.They said two boats had been carrying about 360 Ethiopians and Somalis and that the crew had forced them off, fearing capture by the Yemeni authorities.(Posted @ 18:35 PST)
Nepal protesters clash with police, 100 held KATHMANDU, Sept 5 (Reuters) - More than a dozen demonstrators were hurt in violent clashes with police on Monday, the third day of protests against King Gyanendra's seizure of power seven months ago, witnesses and party officials said.About 100 protesters were hauled into waiting police vans as thousands of activists from seven main political parties tried to enter the heart of Kathmandu where protests have been banned . Witnesses said police burst tear gas shells and used canes to break up the rally as activists emerged from a maze of alleys shouting "Long live democracy" and other slogans. Witnesses said more than a dozen protesters had been hurt in the baton charge and at least two had been rushed to hospital.(Posted @ 18:32 PST)
Nine dead in Austrian cable car plunge -police VIENNA, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Nine people were killed when two cable cars plunged down a mountain side near the tourist destination of Soelden, in the west Austrian state of Tyrol, police said on Monday. A police spokesman said details had not been confirmed but it appeared a helicopter was involved in the incident.Austrian Red Cross said up to 10 more people had been seriously injured in the accident, which occurred near a popular Alpine ski area.Austrian broadcaster ORF reported that a helicopter flying construction material to the top of the lift had dropped a piece of concrete on the cables, knocking at least one car off its wires and causing others to swing violently.(Posted @ 18:28 PST)
Casualties in Iraq, Sept 5 BAGHDAD, Sept 5 (Reuters) An Iraqi government statement said 8 civilians, 3 Iraqi soldiers and 3 insurgents were killed, and 16 Iraqi soldiers wounded, by a suicide car bomb targeting a Multi- National Forces military base in the town of Hit, west of the capital. Two British soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in Basra, and two policemen were killed and another five wounded when up to 30 gunmen in 10 cars opened fire on Iraq's Interior Ministry at around 6.15 a.m. In Khalis, police said a mortar bomb fell on a residential area killing one civilian and wounding four. Four U.S. soldiers and three civilians were wounded when a suicide car bomb targeted a U.S. convoy in the southern al-Saydiya district of Baghdad, police and the U.S. military said. Seven insurgents were killed on Sunday after they engaged Iraqi and U.S.-led troops with heavy machine guns and rocket propelled grenades in the Sarai District of Tal Afar, north of Baghdad. A U.S. military statement said Monday that "terrorists operating from within a mosque were killed." There were no reported U.S. casualties. In the same district, two civilians were killed and another nine wounded on Sunday night during combat operations(Posted @ 18:24 PST)
Egyptian bus drives into canal, killing seven CAIRO, Sept 5 (Reuters) - At least seven people were killed and 20 are missing believed drowned after a bus drove into an irrigation canal in Egypt on Monday, police sources said. Thirteen others were injured in the accident in the town of Minya, on the Nile 220 km (135 miles) south of Cairo, they said. No other vehicles were involved.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
First Muslim political party applies for registration in Australia SYDNEY, Sept 5 (AFP) - An Islamic political group called the Best Party of Allah in Australia applied to register Monday as the country's first Muslim political party, the national broadcaster ABC reported.The group's founder, Muslim convert Kurt Kennedy, said he had applied Monday for official registration of his political party in the Australian Capital Territory, inspired by recent successes of Christian-based parties in the country. It currently claims more than 100 members and hopes to recruit up to 500 members so it can register nationally.(Posted @ 18:10 PST)
Malaysia says it's responsible for Muslims after Thais flee violence KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (AFP) - Malaysia said Monday that as chairman of OIC it has a responsibility to protect Muslims, after 131 Thai Muslims fled to the country amid violence in their homeland. “ One of the OIC's duties is to determine the guaranteed status and safety of Muslim minorities in non-Muslim countries," Syed Hamid told a news conference."Whatever happens in southern Thailand has a direct effect on us," he added. "Surely we are not going to stay silent. As a friend and as a fellow ASEAN country, of course we will express our opinion without interfering in Thailand's internal affairs." But Thailand must be "sensitive to their neighbours and their neighbours' fears."(Posted @ 18:02 PST)
Bangladesh and India fail to reach agreement on tri-nation gas pipeline DHAKA, Sept 5 (AFP) - India and Bangladesh Monday failed to reach agreement on a proposed tri-nation natural gas pipeline to meet New Delhi's growing energy demands, Bangladeshi officials said. Mahmudur Rahman, Bangladesh's deputy minister for energy and mineral resources, said a deal had not emerged because India would not agree to link the pipeline to three trade-related concessions sought by Dhaka.(Posted @ 17:52 PST)
Iranian nuclear negotiator postpones Pakistan visit ISLAMABAD, Sept 5 (AFP) - Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani has delayed a planned visit to Pakistan, Islamabad said Monday. "The visit has been rescheduled and he is expected to visit shortly," foreign ministry spokesman Naeem Khan told a weekly briefing. Khan said Iranian officials wished to inform Pakistan about their discussions with the IAEA and with Britain, France and Germany and dismissed speculation that Larijani postponed his visit to express anger over a meeting between the Pakistani and Israeli foreign ministers in Istanbul last week.(Posted @ 17:48 PST)
Bush taps Roberts as chief justice WASHINGTON, Sept 5 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Monday nominated conservative Judge John Roberts, whom he had already tapped for a seat on the Supreme Court, to replace the late chief justice William Rehnquist. "I'm confident that the Senate can complete hearings and confirm him as chief justice within a month," when the court resumes work, Bush said in a hastily called public appearance in the White House Oval Office.(Posted @ 17:38 PST)
Suspected militants kill six, injure 16 in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, Sept 5 (AFP) - Suspected militants killed six people and injured sixteen in occupied Kashmir on Monday. Three brothers were shot dead at point-blank range in the district of Doda early Monday, police said adding that two of them were policemen working with counter-insurgency forces. In the same district a Muslim girl was shot dead while a middle-aged Muslim woman had her throat slit in the neighbouring district of Poonch late Sunday. Police Reported for killing of another Muslim policeman in district Budgam late Sunday But no one claimed responsibility . Sixteen people including two women were injured in a grenade attack by suspected militants near Shopian , a spokesman said adding that the grenade missed an army patrol and exploded among pedestrians.There were no army casualties.Tens of thousands of people have died in Kashmir since an insurgency against Indian rule began in 1989.(Posted @ 17:28 PST)
Four killed in eastern Afghanistan flash floods JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Sept 5 (AFP) - Flash floods caused by torrential rains in eastern Afghanistan have left at least four people dead, officials said Monday.The deluge on Sunday in Nazan, a district in the province of Nangarhar, washed away farms, homes and about 300 head of livestock, said Shukrullah Khan, a manager at Afghanistan's natural disaster agency. "Three women and a young boy were killed in the floods," he said.(Posted @ 17:08 PST)
Three Pakistani officials shot dead near Afghan border MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Sept 5 (AFP) - Three people died and three were wounded Monday when a Pakistani tribesman fired on officials trying to confiscate his Kalashnikov rifle in Miranshah town near the Afghan border, government sources said. The local administrators had confronted the unidentified man because he was defying a ban on carrying weapons in the marketplace in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal agency, they said. Two officials were killed instantly and one died later in hospital, while the fourth was injured along with two passers-by. The gunman fled after the incident .(Posted @ 16:56 PST)
Blast in occupied Kashmir wounds 12, ahead of talks SRINAGAR, Sept 5 (Reuters) Suspected militants hurled a grenade on a busy road in Shopian town, south of Srinagar, in occupied Kashmir on Monday, wounding about a dozen people, police said, hours before the start of talks between Kashmiri leaders and the Indian prime minister. No militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, which police said was aimed at an army patrol but exploded on the street instead. (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Afghan, U.S. forces kill 13 Taliban KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept 5 (Reuters) Afghan and U.S. forces have launched a sweep for Taliban insurgents, killing 13 and capturing 44 suspected militants in Kandahar, an Afghan official said on Monday. "It was launched yesterday and is still going on," Kandahar governor Assadullah Khalid said. (Posted @ 15:20 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 60.75 points: KARACHI, September 05: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 7850.51, up 60.75 points from Friday’s close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:40 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, September 05: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 59.9 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:40 PST)
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