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| December 11, 2005 | Sunday | Ziqa’ad 8, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Musharraf assures constitutional guarantee on construction of water reservoirs KARACHI, Dec 11 (APP): President Pervez Musharraf Sunday held out a firm assurance of giving constitutional or any other kind of guarantee that may help build up confidence on addressing any reservation vis-à-vis construction of water reservoirs. He was speaking to editors and senior journalists of national and regional newspapers of all languages here at the Governor House. "Constitutional or any other guarantee, the Sindh will ask for, we will certainly provide 200 percent", the President said.(Posted @ 20:30 PST)
At least 38 killed when firecrackers explode on bus LAHORE, Pakistan, Dec 11 (AFP) - At least 38 passengers returning from a wedding party in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore were killed Sunday when firecrackers being carried on their crowded bus exploded, police said."Thirty-eight people have died and 19 were injured in the bus fire," Nayab Haider Naqvi, a police spokesman told AFP. "Twelve people are seriously injured while seven have been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for their wounds," he added. Pakistan's private GEO television said that about 50 people were feared dead, but police could not confirm the toll. "We think the blast was caused by fireworks going off in the bus," Amir Zulfiqar, a senior police officer, told reporters at the scene of accident. Local residents said the explosion occurred just after a young boy was seen throwing firecrackers out of a rear window of the bus. "I saw a boy throwing a firecracker from the window of the bus and some sparks from it dropped inside the bus. Then there was an explosion and fire," Ashiq Ali, 33, a local resident told AFP. "I saw three to four young boys jumping out of the burning bus from the rear door," he added. Muhammad Wazir Khan, the 57-year-old father of the bridegroom who was in the bus, said there was a sudden explosion following which he managed to scramble out of the vehicle with his clothes on fire. He was not badly injured. "We do not know who is dead and who has survived. The tragedy has shattered us. Several bodies are completely charred and cannot be identified," he told AFP. "The entire family is in shock and there is much crying and wailing punctuated by long, deep silences," Khan said, adding that the bride and groom were unhurt as they were travelling in a separate vehicle. Rescue workers and police faced delays in reaching the scene of the accident in the congested Ghazi Abad neighbourhood of the city due to traffic jams. But once there, they began removing badly charred bodies from the burnt out wreckage of the bus, witnesses said.(First Posted @ 21:55 PST Updated @ 23:55 PST)
Security incidents in Iraq, Dec 11 Dec 11 (Reuters) BAGHDAD U.S. and Iraqi forces are battling a Sunni Arab-led insurgency against the Shi'ite and Kurdish-led government in Baghdad. - Gunmen opened fire at the headquarters of the Turkmen Front on Sunday, killing a passerby and an infant, and wounding two members of the group, police said. - Gunmen fired on workers putting up election posters for the National Salvation Front on Sunday, killing one and wounding three others, police said. - A U.S. soldier was killed when his patrol hit a roadside bomb in west Baghdad on Sunday, the U.S. military said. - One Iraqi soldier was killed and another wounded when gunmen attacked a checkpoint near Riyadh, a small town 60 km (40 miles) southwest of the northern city of Kirkuk, police said. - Two members of the Iraqi army were killed and one wounded when gunmen attacked them as they drove in an unmarked car in Baiji, 180 km (112 miles) north of Baghdad, police said. - Iraqi police found a charred body on Saturday in the city of Tikrit, 175 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad, the body had gunshot wounds, police said. - Fighting broke out between a joint Iraqi-U.S patrol and gunmen in the city of Samarra, 100 km (62 miles) north of Baghdad on Saturday. One Iraqi soldier was killed and two suspects were arrested, the Iraqi and U.S. military said.(Posted @ 22:50 PST)
President says Nazims can help overcome opposition to dams KARACHI, Dec 11 (APP) : President General Pervez Musharraf Sunday said the Government plans a big project of barrage at Sehwan, in interior Sindh, along with two canals to bring the arid land under cultivation. Addressing the nazims from all over Sindh province, the Presient, however, stressed that this would only be possible when water is made available for the two canals, which, in turn, would possible after construction of new dams. The President said the Nazims, being elected representatives can help build up public opinion in favour of water reservoirs and dispel misplaced apprrehensions of the negative forces, opposed to construction of dams and resultant prosperity in Sindh. Highlighting the importance of construction of dams in Pakistan, he said building two to three dams has become imperative to overcome the paucity of water. (Posted @ 22:05 PST)
Pakistan beat Holland; March into last-8 stage ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (APP): Pakistan swept past the Netherlands 3-0 to move in to the quarter-finals of 20th 'Big-Time' World Men's Team Squash Championship at Mushaf Squash Complex on Sunday. In the pre-quarter final tie against the Netherlands, left-hander Mansoor Zaman took a mere 35 minutes to put down Dylon Bennet 9-5, 9-6, 9-1 while his teammate Shahid Zaman was stretched to five games before disposing of Laurens Jan Anjema 9-6, 2-9, 0-9, 9-4, 9-5 in 53 minutes. Lastly, another left-hander Farhan Mehboob exited Tom Hoevenaars 9-0, 9 -3 before the latter gave up after 12 minutes. Reaching the last-8 stage for the first time since 1997, the 7th seed Pakistan will now clash against the tournaments seed No. 3 France at 4.00 p.m. on Monday.(First Posted @ 20:25 PST Updated @ 21:25 PST)
Amritsar-Lahore trial bus arrives LAHORE, Dec 11 (APP): The Amritsar-Lahore trial bus carrying nine officials and technical experts of the relevant departments of Indian Punjab arrived here Sunday. Since Pakistan and India opened dialogue, Pakistan has taken a number of steps to relax visa restrictions and enhance people-to-people contacts between the two countries, and the Amritsar-Lahore bus service is also another step towards these endeavours. The delegates were accorded a very warm welcome and Hashim Khan, MD Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), received them here at Wagaha Border. The members of the delegation were Secretary Transport Indian Punjab A.R. Talwar, Director Transport Narinderjit Singh, Commissioner Transport Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner Amritsar Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, Station Supervisor Punjab Roadways Amritsar-I Shrikant, Inspector Sarjit Kumar, and the bus drivers Amrit Singh and Karnail Singh.(Posted @ 21:10 PST)
Severe quake off PNG coast HONG KONG, Dec 11 (AFP) - A severe earthquake estimated at 6.8 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of eastern Papua New Guinea Sunday, the Hong Kong observatory said.(Posted @ 21:08 PST)
Cricket-Sri Lanka 198-6 v India (290) second test - close NEW DELHI, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka were 198 for six wickets in reply to India's first innings 290 all out at stumps on day two of the second test on Sunday. Scores: India 290 all out (V.Laxman 69, S.Tendulkar 109, M.Muralitharan 7-100); Sri Lanka 198-6 (M.Atapattu 88, M.Jayawardene 60, A.Kumble 4-54).(Posted @ 21:05 PST)
Australia fight back to beat Spain in Champions Trophy CHENNAI, India, Dec 11 (AFP) - Olympic gold medallists Australia came from behind to defeat title holders Spain 4-2 in the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament here on Sunday. Australia, trailing 1-2 at half-time, pumped in three goals in a breathtaking second-half resurgence to record their second consecutive win in the elite six-nation annual event.(Posted @ 20:35 PST)
Turkish PM stays at Karachi airport during way to Ankara Karachi, December 11, (PPI): The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Eridogan along with his wife and delegation arrived here on Sunday from Australia/ New Zealand and stayed at Karachi Airport for an hour. On his arrival, the Turkish Prime Minister was received by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim. Later, the Turkish Prime Minister left for Ankara. He was seen off by the Sindh chief minister.(Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Bootleg liquor kills 11 in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Dec 11 (APP/AFP) - At least 11 people have died and 55 became seriously ill in southern Sri Lanka after drinking bootleg liquor, police said Sunday. The man who made the illegal brew has been arrested together with a woman who sold it to residents of the town of Matara, 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of the capital, police said. Among those hospitalised was an excise department official entrusted with cracking down on illegal distilleries, police said.(Posted @ 19:20 PST)
36 people hurt in explosions at oil depot in England LONDON, Dec 11 (AFP) - A total of 36 people were hurt, the vast majority of them with minor injuries, in a series of apparently accidental explosions which struck an oil depot before dawn Sunday near London. Police said about four of the 36 appeared to have been seriously hurt, but Howard Borkett-Jones, medical director of the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said only two required further medical treatment. Borkett-Jones said 34 of the casualties from the blasts at the Buncefield oil terminal, northwest of London, had minor cuts and bruises and all had been treated and discharged from the accident and emergency department.(First Posted @ 13:15 PST Updated @ 18:40 PST)
Suicide blast near US-led troops, one Afghan hurt KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A suicide attacker blew up his car near a convoy of U.S.-led troops in the Afghan city of Kandahar on Sunday but no soldiers were hurt, police said. A passerby was seriously wounded, police and witnesses said. The attack happened during the morning rush hour not far from the office of Kandahar's governor in the heart of the city. Sunday is a working day in Afghanistan. "The attack happened just after the convoy passed," Kandahar city police chief Mohammad Hakim told reporters near the scene. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Blast kills 2 in central Philippine coal mine MANILA (Reuters) - At least two people were killed and six feared trapped after an explosion and cave-in at a coal mine in the central Philippines, officials said on Sunday. Toxic fumes were keeping rescuers away a day after two bodies were pulled out after the accident at the coal mine in Dalaguete town on the central Philippine island of Cebu, Ronald Allan Cesante, the town mayor, told Reuters. He said a loud explosion was heard before one of seven tunnels, operated by Ibalon Resources and Development Corp., collapsed. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Saudis formally join WTO GENEVA, Dec 11 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia formally joined the World Trade Organisation on Sunday, bringing the global body's membership to 149 just two days before a key summit in Hong Kong. (Posted @ 09:57 PST)
Al Aqsa militant killed by own bomb in West Bank NABLUS, West Bank, Dec 11 (AFP) - A Palestinian militant from the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades was killed in the West Bank town of Nablus early Sunday when an explosive device he was trying to hurl at Israeli soldiers backfired, Palestinian medical sources said. The incident occurred during a heavy gunbattle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants in the Balata refugee camp, sparked after scores of troops pushed into the area to arrest wanted militants. (Posted @ 09:57 PST)
Five Russian fishermen killed, two missing as boat sinks off Kurils MOSCOW, Dec 11 (AFP) - Five Russian fishermen died and two others were missing early Sunday after their boat sank off the Pacific Kuril islands, Russian news agencies reported, quoting officials with the rescue center on nearby Sakhalin island. Eight other fishermen escaped from the sinking vessel on rescue boats, but two of them were in serious condition. (Posted @ 09:56 PST)
Britain's Prince Charles questioned over Diana's death LONDON, Dec 11 (AFP) - Britain's Prince Charles has been interviewed by police investigating the death of his ex-wife Diana in a Paris car crash in 1997, The Sunday Times newspaper said. The British weekly said heir-to-the-throne Charles was quizzed last week about the events leading up to her death. Lord John Stevens, the former commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police, saw the prince at his Clarence House residence in central London. Stevens has been investigating speculation that the princess of Wales' death was not the result of a straightforward car accident. The probe was ordered nearly two years ago by the royal coroner, Michael Burgess, amid continuing conspiracy theories. A spokesman for Charles told the newspaper: "Obviously we are not going to comment in any way on the detail. But we dont want to mislead anyone. We have got nothing to hide. We always said he would talk to Lord Stevens and I can confirm that that has now taken place." Diana married Charles in 1981 and the pair separated 11 years later. Diana, 36, her lover Dodi al-Fayed and their chauffeur Henri Paul were killed when they crashed in a Paris tunnel on August 31, 1997. (Posted @ 09:56 PST)
Aga Khan planning and building service awarded $ one million prize for sustainability ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (APP): Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan (AKPBS,P) has been named 2005 winner of US $ one million Alcan Prize for sustainability by the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) for its efforts to improve Pakistan's built environment and water and sanitation facilities. (Posted @ 09:56 PST)
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