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| December 21, 2005 | Wednesday | Ziqa’ad 18, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Cricket-England beat Pakistan by six runs in final ODI RAWALPINDI, Dec 21 (Reuters) England beat Pakistan by six runs to win the fifth and final one-day international at the Rawalpindi cricket stadium on Wednesday. Pakistan won the series 3-2 Scores: England 206-9 in 50 overs (Vikram Solanki 49, Andrew Flintoff 39), Pakistan 200-9 in 50 overs (Yasir Hameed 57, Mohammad Yousuf 54; James Anderson 4-48, Ian Blackwell 3-29).(Posted @ 19:05 PST)
Pakistan, India agree on new bus links LAHORE, Pakistan, Dec 21 (Reuters) Pakistan and India agreed on two new bus links on Wednesday, the latest progress in the peace process between the nuclear-armed rivals. The agreement was made in days of talks between technical teams in Lahore, a joint statement issued by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said. On Wednesday, they finalised an earlier agreement to launch a service linking Lahore and Amritsar, with a Pakistani bus to make the first run from Lahore to Amritsar on Jan. 20. The Pakistani bus will travel to Amritsar every Friday and return on Saturday. The first bus from Amritsar to Lahore will run on Jan. 24. The Indian bus will make the journey to Lahore on Tuesdays and return on Wednesdays, the statement said. The two sides also agreed to start a bus service between Amritsar and Nankana Sahib, a place of pilgrimage for Sikhs. Trial runs of that service will be held on Jan. 27, with an Indian bus running from Amritsar to Nankana Sahib, and on Jan. 29, when a Pakistani bus will go the other way. "Regular operation of the bus service would commence within a month from the trial run," the statement said.(Posted @ 15:05 PST)
Indo-Pak talks on Sir Creek conclude with constructive deliberations NEW DELHI, Dec 21 (APP): The two-day parleys of technical experts on formulating modalities for the first-ever joint survey of Sir Creek concluded here on Wednesday with the decision to report to their respective governments on the deliberations. Both sides were, however, unable to gather enough space during the talks for the convergence of views on working out terms of reference and modalities to undertake the joint survey. According to a short joint statement issued this evening, "the two sides held constructive and fruitful discussions. They will report to their respective governments on the discussions". The twelve member Pakistani delegation was led by Major General Jamil-ur-Rehman Afridi, Surveyor General of Pakistan, while the Indian side was headed by Brig. Girish Kumar, Deputy Surveyor General.(Posted @ 21:22 PST)
German Defence Minister arrives ISLAMABAD, Dec 21 (APP): A 50 member German Defence delegation, led by German Defence Minister, Dr. Franz Josef Jung arrived here Wednesday evening. The delegation was received by Senior Federal Minister and Minister for Defence, Rao Sikandar Iqbal at Chaklala Airbase in Rawalpindi. Talking to media men on his arrival at Chaklala Airbase, the German Defence Minister said that Pakistan and Germany enjoyed good relations and Germany wanted to expand its relationship with Pakistan.(Posted @ 23:55 PST)
EU3 to meet Iran again in Jan on nuclear issue-UK LONDON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Britain, Germany and France agreed on Wednesday to meet Iranian officials again in January for more discussions on Iran's disputed nuclear programme, Britain said after a meeting in Vienna. "It was agreed to hold a further round of exploratory talks in January," said a spokesman for Britain's foreign ministry. The West suspects Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear power programme. Iran denies that, saying it wants only to generate electricity.(First Posted @ 15:25 PST Updated @ 23:50 PST)
Saddam trial adjourns for day BAGHDAD, Dec 21 (APP/AFP) - The trial of Saddam Hussein adjourned for the day Wednesday after the ousted Iraqi leader accused Americans of beating and torturing him. Just three of the four prosecution witnesses scheduled to give evidence had time to take the stand before the presiding judge called the adjournment at 8:40 pm (1740 GMT). The court is due to reconvene Thursday.(First Posted @ 15:25 PST Updated @ 23:30 PST)
Iraq election losers unite to contest result BAGHDAD, Dec 21 (Reuters) Sunni Arab and secular political groups in Iraq formed a united front on Wednesday to demand a rerun of last week's election, alleging massive fraud, and said they might otherwise boycott the new parliament to cripple it. "There was a meeting…and we all agreed to contest and reject the results of the election," Thaer al-Naqib, an aide to former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said. "We want the Electoral Commission dissolved and the election rerun across Iraq," he said. "We will take to the streets if necessary. We might even not take up our seats in the new parliament and so any new government would be illegitimate."(Posted @ 21:18 PST)
European rights groups lodge lawsuit over alleged CIA detainee flights PARIS, Dec 21 (AFP) Two European human rights groups said they had lodged a lawsuit Wednesday over alleged CIA flights stopping in France and carrying individuals detained in the US war on terror. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the League of Human Rights (LDH), both based in Paris, said in a joint statement they wanted light shed on at least two instances in which planes believed to be used by the CIA set down at French airports. The statement said the rights groups "intend to underline the responsibility of French authorities, have the incidents investigated and to prosecute those responsible."(Posted @ 21:15 PST)
Bush calls for renewed anti-terrorism powers WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (AFP) US President George W. Bush on Wednesday called on the US Senate to approve funding for military operations, including the war in Iraq, and to renew a controversial package of anti-terrorism laws. "The terrorists want to hit us again," Bush told reporters at the White House. "We must have the tools necessary to protect the American people." He spoke as the US Senate considered the annual defence budget as well as whether to renew parts of the Patriot Act, a series of measures bolstering law enforcement powers passed in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, before they expire at the end of the year.(Posted @ 21:12 PST)
Croatian general to head UN observers in Kashmir ZAGREB, Dec 21 (AFP) Croatian general Dragutin Repinc is to head the United Nations military observers in Kashmir from December 29, officials said Wednesday. He is to take over command of the observer group known as UNMOGIP which has been supervising the ceasefire line agreed between India and Pakistan in Kashmir since 1949. Croatia already has seven military observers in the 42-strong UNMOGIP.(Posted @ 19:46 PST)
U.S., EU pursued own interests at WTO meet: Oxfam GENEVA, Dec 21 (Reuters) The United States and the European Union nearly wrecked the World Trade Organisation's Hong Kong conference last week by pursuing their own interests at the expense of poor countries, Oxfam said on Wednesday. And unless the two trade powers change their ways in the coming months, the WTO's troubled Doha Round, due to end with a new global pact by the end of next year, could drag on into the next decade, the international aid body said. "The WTO Hong Kong ministerial meeting was a lost opportunity to make trade fairer for poor people around the world," Oxfam said in a 20-page report on the gathering.(Posted @ 19:38 PST)
US troop reduction not to affect counter-terrorism drive: Rumsfeld KABUL, Dec 21 (AFP) The US decision to cut its force in Afghanistan by up to 3,000 troops will not change its focus on counter-terrorism in the country, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said here Wednesday. "The United States will still have more forces in Afghanistan and all other coalition countries combined even after the adjustment," Rumsfeld told reporters. President Hamid Karzai said Afghanistan was not concerned the troop cut meant a reduction in the US commitment to the country or would hinder its efforts to round up militants. After meeting Karzai, Rumsfeld travelled to the main US base at Bagram, north of the capital, to visit US troops.(Posted @ 19:35 PST)
Kidnapped foreign teachers freed in Gaza BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip, Dec 21 (AFP) The principal of the prestigious American School and his deputy were released Wednesday, hours after being kidnapped in the Gaza Strip. Dutchman Hendrik Taatgen and his Australian assistant Brian Ambrosio were immediately taken to the Gaza City headquarters of the Palestinian Authority after their release, witnesses and security sources said. An offshoot of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the kidnapping ahead of the pair's release, saying it was to protest against the detention of the PFLP's leader Ahmed Sadat. Sadat was being held under American-British supervision in a prison in the West Bank town of Jericho for the 2001 assassination of Israel's tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi. (First Posted@15:25 PST Updated @ 19:28 PST)
Sri Lanka rejects Oslo venue for peace talks COLOMBO, Dec 21 (AFP) Sri Lanka's president Wednesday rejected a Tamil rebel demand to hold talks in Oslo and welcomed a statement from an international quartet this week that urged the guerrillas to halt killings. President Mahinda Rajapakse said his new government was prepared to travel to any Asian destination for talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on upholding a fragile ceasefire.(Posted @ 19:24 PST)
Top Palestinian judge arrested in Jerusalem JERUSALEM, Dec 21 (Reuters) Israeli police arrested the top Palestinian judge, Sheikh Taysir Tamimi, on Wednesday for entering Jerusalem illegally, a police spokesman said.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Protesters denounce offensive in Balochistan QUETTA, Pakistan, Dec 21 (Reuters) Demonstrators took to the streets of Quetta on Wednesday to protest against military raids in Balochistan, witnesses and officials said. Earlier, about 20 rockets were launched on five military posts but there were no casualties, a military spokesman said. "Stop the military operation!" and "Down with Musharraf" several hundred protesters chanted as they marched through the capital of Balochistan before gathering to listen to speakers who criticised the government. The Wednesday protest in Quetta and other towns in the province was organised by an alliance of four nationalist parties. There were no reports of trouble. "Our action against the absconders continues," the military spokesman said. Unknown gunmen also opened fire on a public baths and a barber shop in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, on Wednesday killing three people, residents said. There was no immediate information about a motive for the attack.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Iraqi election turnout was 70 percent: Commission BAGHDAD, Dec 21 (Reuters) Turnout in Iraq's parliamentary election last week was nearly 70 percent, the Electoral Commission said on Wednesday, citing provisional data. Commission chairman Hussein al-Hindawi told a news conference that 10,893,413 voters took part on Thursday, putting national turnout at 69.97 percent.(Posted @ 18:56 PST)
Israeli troops kill Palestinian JENIN, West Bank, Dec 21 (Reuters) Israeli troops killed a Palestinian allegedly from the Hamas group during a raid in the West Bank on Wednesday, a Palestinian security source said.(Posted @ 18:55 PST)
Cricket-Sri Lanka 235-6 at close AHMEDABAD, India, Dec 21 (Reuters) Sri Lanka, set a target of 509, were 235 for six at the close of play on the fourth day of the third and final test on Wednesday. Scores: India 398 & 316-9 declared (Yuvraj Singh 75, A. Agarkar 48) v Sri Lanka 206 & 235 for six in 85 overs (U. Tharanga 47, M.Jayawardene 57, T.Dilshan 65).(First Posted@18:18 PST Updated @ 18:52 PST)
Second round of Pak-Egypt political consultations starts in Cairo ISLAMABAD, Dec 21 (APP): The second round of Egyptian-Pakistani political consultation started in Cario on Wednesday. The first round took place in Islamabad in July last year. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was hosting the consultations and delegations in the consultations were headed by Additional Secretaries from both sides. The consultations will deal with a host of issues including bilateral and multilateral relations. The establishment of a 'Business Council' for Egyptian and Pakistan businessmen will also be discussed.(Posted @ 18:40 PST)
Indonesian women get jail in Pakistan for drugs GILGIT, Pakistan, Dec 21 (Reuters) A Pakistani court jailed two Indonesian women for seven years each for trying to smuggle heroin into neighbouring China, a court official said on Wednesday. Maryam Afiatin and Christine were arrested in October 2004 at a checkpoint on Pakistan's northern border with China when the former was found carrying 2 kg of heroin and the latter 1.8 kg. "Both the convicts were also fined 100,000 rupees ($1,700) each," said Mohammad Sharif, a prosecutor in the remote northern town of Gilgit. The verdict was handed down on Tuesday and announced in writing on Wednesday.(Posted @ 18:05 PST)
Israel bars Jerusalem voting; Palestinian Authority threatens to cancel elections JERUSALEM, Dec 21 (Agencies) Israel said Wednesday it would not allowing any voting in occupied east Jerusalem. Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz was reported to have told a meeting of his top lieutenants that Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas was losing control and feared that Hamas was likely to resume its campaign of attacks, particularly from the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile the BBC online service reported Wednesday that the Palestinian Authority said it will cancel the 25 January parliamentary elections if Israel did not allow Palestinians in Jerusalem to vote. If there is no voting in Jerusalem, "there will be no elections at all," said Information Minister Nabil Shaath.(Posted @ 18:05 PST)
New York transit strike continues despite million-dollars-a-day fine NEW YORK, Dec 21 (AFP) New Yorkers faced a second freezing day Wednesday fighting to get to work without subways or buses as some 34,000 transit workers continued their strike despite a million-dollars-a-day fine for their union. Negotiations remained in deadlock between the Transport Workers Union and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The New York State Supreme Court judge, basing his ruling on a law prohibiting strikes on key public services, said Tuesday the TWU was in contempt of court for the stoppage and fined it a million dollars for each day its workers remain off the job.(Posted @ 17:55 PST)
U.S. soldier killed by roadside bomb south of Baghdad BAGHDAD, Iraq Dec 21 (APP/AP) A U.S. soldier was killed by a roadside bomb south of Baghdad, the U.S. command said Wednesday. The soldier, who was killed on Monday, had been assigned to Task Force Baghdad, which handles security in the capital and the surrounding area, the military said in a statement.(Posted @ 17:55 PST)
Bethlehem becoming a giant prison: Latin Patriarch JERUSALEM, Dec 21 (AFP) The head of the Roman Catholic church in the Holy Land accused Israel on Wednesday of turning the birthplace of Jesus Christ into a "giant prison" with its West Bank separation barrier. In a pre-Christmas press conference, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah also appealed for leaders on both sides in the Middle East conflict to work harder to put an end to bloodshed. "It is abnormal for people to live in a prison. It is influencing the economic and social life of the people of Bethlehem," he said. "It is necessary to put an end to the suffering that has lasted too long on this land," he added.(Posted @ 15:30 PST)
Bin Laden may be unable to command: Rumsfeld ISLAMABAD, Dec 21 (Reuters) Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden may no longer be able to run the militant network and has not been heard from for nearly a year, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Wednesday. Rumsfeld's visit to Pakistan, an ally in the U.S. war on terrorism, is intended to reinforce America's support and assess U.S. relief operations after an October earthquake which killed 73,000 people. His visit comes a day after a similar trip by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. Rumsfeld also said it was important that the world recognise the U.S. relationships with moderate Muslim countries like Pakistan."I'll leave it to the historians to say what happens, but certainly as a friend and partner in this effort, we are pleased to be working side-by-side with President Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistani military to do whatever can be done to reduce the suffering of so many Pakistanis," he said. Later, after touring the areas devastated by the earthquake, he arrived in Afghanistan on Wednesday for a brief visit that will include talks with President Hamid Karzai, the president's office said.(First Posted@ 09:23 PST Updated@) 15:00 PST)
US judge resigns over Bush's domestic spying authorization: report WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (AFP) - A federal judge on a court that oversees intelligence cases has resigned to protest President George W. Bush's authorization of a domestic spying program, The Washington Post said Wednesday. US District Judge James Robertson resigned late Monday from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA) on which he served for 11 years and which he believes may have been tainted by Bush's 2002 authorization, two associates familiar with his decision told the daily. The resignation is the latest fallout of Bush's weekend public admission that he authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) -- the country's super-secret electronic surveillance arm -- to eavesdrop on international telephone calls and electronic mail of US citizens suspected of having links with terrorist organizations including Al-Qaeda.(Posted @ 13:05 PST)
U.S. congressman seek to oppose India nuclear deal WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Two U.S. lawmakers have proposed a resolution expressing congressional disapproval for President George W. Bush's sweeping nuclear agreement with India, one of the congressmen said on Tuesday. If the resolution is passed, it would signal lawmakers'"disapproval" of the July 18 deal, which has generated strong opposition from non-proliferation advocates because it would give India access to previously banned technology. "The administration's move to launch nuclear cooperation with India has grave security implications for South Asia and the entire world," said Democratic Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, who introduced the resolution with Republican Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan last week. Markey, co-chairman of the Bipartisan Task Force on Non-proliferation, and Upton are members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. (Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Haj pilgrim dies, 40 injure in road accident ISLAMABAD, Dec 21 (APP): A pilgrim died while 40 others were injured when their bus met with an accident near Asian during travel from Madina to Makkah, on Tuesday morning. According to details, Asif Iqbal, Haj Passport No. 429861-2 hailing from Karachi East expired in Al-Zahir Hospital Makkah. Out of 40 injured, 20 pilgrims received multiple injuries and have been admitted at Al-Zahir and Al-Hira general hospitals, Makkah while the remaining 20 have been discharged after treatment,said a message received here on Wednesday. The names of the injured pilgrims are: Azra Bibi, age 43, Karachi South (discharged from hospital), Ms. Yasmin Shazia, age 33, Karachi East (discharged), Nasreen Mahmood, age 52 Karachi East, discharged, Razia Jabeen, year of birth 1959,Karachi South, discharged, Suriya Bibi, year of birth 1956,Karachi South, unstable condition, Muhammad Arif, year of birth 1951 Karachi South, unstable condition, Resham Jhan year of birth 1951, Karachi East, discharged from hospital, Habib Ahmad, year of birth 1927, Karachi East, discharged from hospital, Ishrat Jehan, year of birth 1936, Karachi East, unstable condition, Kanwal Kashif, year of birth 1976, Karachi East, unstable condition, Hassan Ali Mukhtar, year of birth 1945, Karachi East, unstable condition, Mehtab Begum, year of birth 1956, Karachi East, unstable condition, Farzaman, year of birth 1944 Karachi East, discharged after treatment, Gulzar Ahmed, year of birth 1972, Karachi East, unstable condition, Muhammad Nazeef, year of birth 1939, Karachi West, unstable condition, Kashif Rahat, year of birth 1972 Karachi East, unstable condition, Sultana Begum, year of birth 1943, Karachi East, unstable condition, Pervez Khan Awan, year of birth 1972, Karachi South, unstable condition, Salma Bibi, year of birth 1976, Karachi South, discharged from hospital, Ghulam Rasool, year of birth 1937, Karachi South, discharged after treatment, Feroze Ali Shah, year of birth 1945, Karachi East, unstable condition, Syed Athar Hussain, year of birth 1973, Karachi Central, stable condition, Syeda Ayesha Athar, year of birth 1978, Karachi Central, discharged from hospital, Noor Us Sabah, year of birth 1949, Karachi Central, discharged after treatment, Shaheen Arif, year of birth 1951, Karachi South, stable condition, Asif Mehmood Malik, year of birth 1952, Karachi East, discharged from hospital, Safdar Zaman, year of birth 1935,Karachi South, discharged after treatment, Mehmood Ali Chaudhry,year of birth 1954, Karachi East, discharged from hospital, Hukam Din, year of birth 1929, Karachi East, discharged after treatment, Zamurd Shahbaz, year of birth 1977 Karachi Central, stable condition, Shahbaz Ahmed, year of birth 1971, Karachi Central, serious condition, Muhammad Qais Gul Imam, year of birth 1965, Karachi South, discharged after treatment, Sabir Hussain, year of birth 1944, Karachi South, discharged after treatment, Rukhsana Asif, year of birth 1958, Karachi East, discharged from hospital, Ishrat Perveen, year of treatment 1951, Karachi East, discharged Ambreen Bano, year of birth 1981, Karachi East, stable condition, Khursheed Begum, year of birth 1933, Karachi East, discharged after treatment, Jamshad Bibi, year of birth 1960, Karachi South discharged after treatment and Rauf Ahmad, Karachi received head injury and was in serious condition. (Posted @ 13:15 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 22.42 points: KARACHI, Dec 21: At 14:45, At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 9504.43, up 22.42 points from Tuesday's close. (Bureau Report)
Forex update: KARACHI, Dec 21: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.2 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Posted @ 14:45 PST)
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