|
| October 7, 2005 | Friday | Ramazan 2, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Eight dead in Pakistan’s Ahmadi community’s worship place attack ISLAMABAD, Oct 7 (AFP) Masked gunmen with Kalashnikov rifles stormed into a place of worship belonging to the Ahmadi community in Pakistan on Friday, shooting dead eight people and wounding 14, the Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao and police said. Members of the Ahmadi community offering morning prayers in Mong, a suburb of Mandi Bahauddin town, 100 kilometres south of Islamabad, were attacked by three men on a motorbike and two on foot, reports said. “The floor of the one-room place of worship was littered with blood," said Mohammad Sajid, who lives nearby. He said around 25 people were praying when the attack was made at around 4:45 am (2345 GMT)."Two masked men entered the place of worship and sprayed bullets at people standing in two rows for morning prayers," area police chief Ziaullah Niazi told AFP. "One witness said he could hear the sound of a motorbike with its engine running outside throughout the attack." Police said one of the injured was in a critical condition. President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday condemned the incident. They directed the concerned authorities to promptly investigate the matter and bring the culprits to justice so that exemplary punishment can be awarded. They also offered their condolences to the bereaved families.(First posted 10:15 PST Updated @) 23:00 PST)
LB polls held in free, fair, impartial manner: PM ISLAMABAD, Oct 7 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday said that the third phase of the local bodies polls was conducted in a free, fair and impartial manner with the people voting in favour of progressive and moderate candidates. Talking to newsmen here at the PM house he said the people have elected those who can take the country forward on the path of progress and prosperity. When asked about the allegations of rigging by the opposition, he said "if they have any specific complaints, they may take the legal course of action through the courts." Aziz said the candidates of the Khushal Pakistan Group mostly succeeded in all the four provinces. To a question about reports of any re-shuffle in the cabinet, Aziz dismissed them as mere kite-flying. (Posted @ 23:00 PST)
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to UN nuclear watchdog; Musharraf greets ElBaradei OSLO, Oct 7, 2005 (AFP) The 2005 Nobel Peace Prize was on Friday awarded to the UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, and its Egyptian Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei, for their efforts against nuclear weapons proliferation, the Nobel committee said in Oslo. The organization and its chief were honoured "for their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used in the safest possible way," it said in its citation. They each get half of the 10 million Swedish kronor (1.1 million euros, 1.3 million dollars) prize money. President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday congratulated ElBaradei. "This is a well deserved recognition of your singular contribution to international peace and security, through your able leadership of the International Atomic Energy Agency," he said in a message. Musharraf added that with his stewardship of the IAEA in a difficult period, he contributed to a climate of understanding and cooperation, earning him the confidence and trust of the international community. (First Posted @ 14:35 PST Updated@ 23:00 PST)
Israelis, Palestinians plan dateless Abbas-Sharon summit GAZA CITY, Oct 7 (AFP) Top officials met Friday to sort out details of a summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas. Sharon advisers Dov Weisglass and Shalom Turjman held talks with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat and planning minister Ghassan Khatib that broke up without agreement on a summit date. "We discussed the agenda," Erakat said. "Ways to implement the roadmap and the Sharm el-Sheikh agreements" will be discussed by Abbas and Sharon, he said. An official in Sharon's office characterised Friday's meeting as "positive and fruitful" saying that follow-up talks would take place next week. (Posted @ 22:55 PST)
Infiltration declines after Indo-Pak dialogue: Indian Army Chief JAIPUR, Oct.07 (PPI): Infiltration across the border and terror attacks declined in Indian held Jammu and Kashmir after the start of the Indo-Pak dialogue, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General J.J. Singh, said here on Friday. "The decline in infiltration has lessened internal disturbances in Indian held Jammu and Kashmir, boosting tourism. The Amarnath Yatra passed off peacefully and the state is heading towards peace and prosperity," the General told reporters. When asked if the number of army personnel could be reduced in the state,he said it was to be "evaluated by those concerned but we are ready for any exigency anywhere in the country." (Posted @ 22:55 PST)
Al Qaeda's Zarqawi backs killing civilian 'infidels' DUBAI, Oct 7 (Reuters) Iraq's al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said militants were justified under Islam in killing civilians as long as they are infidels, according to an audio tape attributed to him on Friday. "Muslim blood must be spared but it is permissible to spill infidel blood," said a speaker on a tape posted on the Internet. The comments appeared a day after the Pentagon said it had obtained a letter to Zarqawi from al Qaeda's second in command, Ayman al-Zawahri, saying tactics being used such as bombing mosques and killing hostages might alienate the Muslim masses. (Posted @ 22:55 PST)
Security incidents in Iraq, Oct 7 Oct 7 (Reuters) The bodies of 22 people, bound and shot, were found in Badra, 110 km southeast of Baghdad, police said.British troops seized 12 men, including members of the Iraqi police force, during overnight raids in Basra. They were being held on suspicion of carrying out attacks on foreign troops, the British military said. U.S. military said four Marines were killed by a roadside bomb near the city of Gharma, west of Baghdad, on Thursday. Two Marines were killed by a roadside bomb in Qaim, 320 km (200 miles) west of Baghdad, on Thursday, the U.S military added. (Posted @ 22:55 PST)
Tennis-Clijsters blows chance to clinch number one spot FILDERSTADT, Germany, Oct 7 (Reuters) Kim Clijsters blew her chance to take the world number one ranking away from Maria Sharapova this week after losing 6-3 3-6 6-2 to Elena Dementieva in the Filderstadt Grand Prix quarter-finals on Friday. (Posted @ 23:00 PST)
Kuwaiti newspapers propose normal ties with Israel KUWAIT, Oct 7 (Reuters) Some Kuwaiti newspapers have taken the unpopular step of calling for normalisation of relations with Israel, following similar moves by other Arab countries. "After a long time, we have finally decided to leave the Palestinian cause to Palestinians, because it is they who are really concerned with this issue," an editorial in the English-language Arab Times said. A Saudi columnist in Kuwait's al-Seyassah Arabic daily also called on Gulf countries to normalise relations with Israel citing the example of Pakistan, whose foreign minister held ground-breaking talks with his Israeli counterpart last month after the Gaza withdrawal. (Posted @ 23:00 PST)
Serbia charges five for Srebrenica killing BELGRADE, Oct 7 (Reuters) Serbia charged five members of a paramilitary group on Friday with the murder of six Bosnian Muslims from Srebrenica, the first time Serbs have faced war crimes charges at home for the 1995 massacre in Bosnia. The indictment against the five, former members of a paramilitary unit called the "Scorpions" says the murders took place on July 17, 1995 near Trnovo in Bosnia. Three of the victims have been identified so far. (Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Three killed in occupied Kashmir gunbattle SRINAGAR, Oct 7 (AFP) Indian soldiers torched a house to flush out two militants who killed one paramilitary trooper and badly wounded another in a grenade attack in occupied Kashmir on Friday, officials said. It was unclear if the militants were burnt or shot to death after they holed up in a private house during a battle in Sopore town. Hundreds of angry Sopore residents took to the streets to protest, shouting anti-Indian slogans, witnesses said. Shopkeepers closed down and the streets were deserted. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Iranians demonstrate en masse to back nuclear program TEHRAN, Oct 7 (AFP) Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran Friday to back the Islamic republic's atomic energy program. "Nuclear science is our right, and the world has accepted that," chanted demonstrators as they gathered in the center of the capital after Friday prayers. Meanwhile Shimon Peres, an Israeli Nobel Peace Prize winner, said that bestowing this year's Nobel Peace Prize on the International Atomic Energy Agency and its chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, was a warning to Iran's nuclear ambitions. (Posted @ 19:25 PST)
US-led patrol kills four Afghan policemen KABUL, Oct 7 (AFP) A US-led patrol mistakenly opened fire on an Afghan police car, killing four plainclothes policemen and wounding at least one other, the coalition and Afghan officials said Friday. The soldiers shot at the policemen late Thursday near Gereshk in the restive southern province of Helmand, they said. Coalition forces were investigating the incident, a statement from the US army said. (Posted @ 17:25 PST)
Cricket-Australia beat World XI by 55 runs, clinch series MELBOURNE, Oct 7 (Reuters) Australia wrapped up their one-day series against the World XI with a 55-run victory on Friday after Adam Gilchrist scored a century to guide them to a massive 328 for four in their 50 overs. Australia captain Ricky Ponting scored 66 and shared a 103-run partnership with Damien Martyn (54) after Gilchrist and Simon Katich (47) had shared a 110-run opening partnership. The third and final match is on Sunday. (Posted @ 17:15 PST)
New Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir takes command of Pakistan Navy Karachi, October 07 (PPI): Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir today assumed the command of the Pakistan Navy as its new Chief of the Naval Staff. At the change of command ceremony held at the Naval Complex here on Friday, he bid farewell to the outgoing naval chief, Admiral Shahid Karimullah, and paid tributes to his four decades of service to the Pakistan Navy. (Posted @ 16:45 PST)
Encephalitis death toll in northern India tops 1,000 LUCKNOW, India, Oct 7 (AFP) The death toll from Japanese encephalitis in northern India crossed the 1,000 mark, making it the most fatal outbreak of the illness in nearly two decades, an official said Friday. Nearly all the dead were children. (Posted @ 16:25 PST)
Iraqi officials hand out draft constitution BAGHDAD, Oct 7 (AFP) Iraqi authorities Friday were handing out millions of copies of the draft constitution ahead of next week's referendum on the post Saddam Hussein charter as US forces hunted rebels in the west of the country. Many households received their copy along with subsidised foodstuffs distributed in exchange for government-issued ration tickets, but the text was also being made available in public buildings, hospitals, universities and even prisons. (Posted @ 16:20 PST)
Pakistan slams State forces' drive against people seeking self-determination UNITED NATIONS, Oct 7 (APP)-In an obvious reference to Kashmir, Pakistan's UN Ambassador has denounced the violent campaign being conducted by State forces "in our region" against innocent civilians striving for their right to self-determination. "This form of terrorism has not yet ended," Ambassador Munir Akram told the General Assembly's legal committee Thursday as he underscored the need to address the underlying causes of the menace."The killing of innocent civilians is abhorrent whether committed by individuals , groups or States," he said as the committee opened a debate on "Measures to eliminate international terrorism"(Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Mirza reaches semis, Paradorn knocked out of Japan Open TOKYO, Oct 7 (AFP) - India's Sania Mirza upset top-seeded Vera Zvonareva to reach the semi-finals of the Japan Open tennis tournament, while Asia's number one Paradorn Srichaphan was knocked out of the men's draw Friday.The 18-year-old Mirza, the first Indian woman ever to win a WTA title, powered her way to a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 quarter-final win over the Russian in two hours 28 minutes.In the rain-postponed men's third round, Thailand's Paradorn, the ninth seed, was sent packing by seventh seed Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-5.(Posted @ 12:20 PST)
US increases to 152,000 troops for Iraq referendum WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. military has increased its force in Iraq to 152,000 troops, about 14,000 above its usual level, to provide extra security for the Oct.15 constitutional referendum, the Pentagon said on Thursday.(Posted @ 10:00 PST)
New York steps up security after subway terror threat NEW YORK, Oct 6 (Reuters) - New York authorities stepped up security across the city on Thursday after what officials described as a specific and credible threat of a terrorist attack on the subway system in the coming days. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the FBI had alerted him to "a specific threat to our subway system," which had come from overseas but had already been partially thwarted, while some officials cast doubt on the credibility of the threat. In Washington, one U.S. government official said the New York threat information was of "undetermined credibility."(Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, October 7 : The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.15 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 12:10 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 |