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| January 5, 2006 | Thursday | Zilhaj 4, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
At least 18 dead in Mecca building collapse: Saudi TV MECCA, Saudi Arabia, Jan 5 (Agencies) At least 18 people were killed on Thursday after a building collapsed in the holy city of Mecca as pilgrims gathered for Haj, Saudi state television said. The television said at least 39 people were injured and that rescue teams were still searching for more people beneath the rubble. Earlier, the United Arab Emirates said four of its citizens had died in the incident. However there was no Pakistani among the dead or injured in Mecca building collapse, the Director Hajj Behrullah Hazarvi said Thursday. "It has been confirmed from the Saudi authorities that not a single Pakistani pilgrim was among the dead or injured in the Mecca building collapse in Saudi Arabia," he told a local television. (First Posted@16:56 PST Updated @ 21:48 PST)
Musharraf meets APHC delegation including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday expressed the hope that India would respond positively to Pakistan's proposals of demilitarization and self-governance in Kashmir to facilitate a lasting solution to the dispute. He observed during a meeting with APHC leaders including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Abdul Ghani Bhat and Bilal Ghani Lone, that Pakistan and India had moved forward on confidence building measures but called for substantive progress on conflict resolution. "For any solution to Kashmir to be durable it has to be in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people", he said during a meeting with the All Parties Hurriyet Conference leaders at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. Later, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Chairman APHC, told newsmen that "these proposals should be discussed and taken forward formally, beginning with the next round of Pakistan-India dialogue at foreign secretaries' level". He added that "Pakistan has shown flexibility, the Kashmiris are willing to move forward-so India will have to come forward". He cautioned that "these ideas are at an initial stage, still being discussed, still are developing; we have to see how we can move forward, we cannot say that everything is finalized; it will take sometime but I am confident that this is the way forward."(Posted @ 18:55 PST)
Some 120 killed in one of Iraq's bloodiest days KERBALA/RAMADI, Iraq, Jan 5 (Reuters) Two suicide bombers killed 120 people and wounded more than 200 in the Iraqi cities of Kerbala and Ramadi on Thursday in Iraq's bloodiest day for four months. Seven U.S. soldiers were also blown up in two separate attacks; another three bombs exploded in Baghdad, two of them detonated by suicide bombers; and insurgents sabotaged an oil pipeline near the northern city of Kirkuk, causing a huge fire. The Kerbala bomber detonated an explosive belt laced with ball bearings and a grenade, killing 50 and wounding 138 at a market within sight of the Imam Hussein shrine. Around an hour after the blast, another bomber blew himself up near a group of police and army recruits in the western city of Ramadi, killing 70 and wounding 65, hospital sources said. The U.S. military said the blast ripped through a line of around 1,000 recruits as they waited to be security-screened at a temporary recruiting centre. After the debris and body parts had been cleared away, hundreds of Iraqis returned to the queue, they said. (First Posted@13:40 PST Updated @ 21:58 PST)
Pakistan, Japan sign US 100 million agreement for rehabilitation of quake areas ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 (APP): Pakistan and Japan Thursday signed two agreements formalizing a 100 million dollar loan for earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction, and human resource development. The agreements for the two projects, an extension of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA), were signed by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri and his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso. The loan is being extended on concessionary terms with an interest rate of 1.3 percent and repayment period of 30 years, including a grace period of 10 years. Japan has also agreed to provide an initial grant of 230,000 dollars for enhancing the training capabilities of the Construction Machinery Training Institute (CMTI). The project would benefit the road construction workforce in mastering new technologies. Later addressing a joint press conference, Taro Aso said the two sides have agreed to hold bilateral talks on disarmament and proliferation issues in the context of security dialogue. They also agreed to extend the scope of existing bilateral security dialogue to include two senior expert level working groups. To a question on the ongoing Pakistan-India composite dialogue, Aso said "we believe it is important to sort these issues through dialogue and negotiations." About Dr A Q Khan network, Taro Aso said his country appreciated the fact that Pakistan shared information with Japan on the issue. Provision of post graduate scholarships for Pakistani students, Japanese funds for the completion of the Indus Highway, revival of the Karachi Circular Railway project and promotion of tourism were also discussed. Aso promised to consider these projects very seriously.(Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Pakistan for peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute: PM ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday called for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute through flexibility, commitment and magnanimity, to achieve a durable peace in South Asia. "Pakistan, India and the Kashmiri people, all the three stakeholders, will have to show flexibility, commitment and magnanimity, so that this longstanding dispute is resolved according to wishes of Kashmiris," he maintained. Prime Minister Aziz flanked by APHC leaders was talking to newsmen here after a meeting with the visiting APHC delegation including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Abdul Ghani Bhat and Bilal Ghani Lone.(Posted @ 23:50 PST)
Indian cricket team arrives in Pakistan for third series in two years LAHORE, Pakistan, Jan 5 (AFP) - The Indian cricket team flew into Pakistan late Thursday amid tight security at the airport in this eastern city, officials said. India, led by Rahul Dravid, will play three Tests and five one-day internationals on their seven-week tour, their second across the border in two years.(Posted @ 23:40 PST)
Bangladesh opposition rally demands government to quit DHAKA, Jan 5 (Reuters) Thousands of opposition supporters held a noisy protest in the capital Dhaka on Thursday to demand the resignation of the government for failing to arrest those behind a series of bomb attacks since August. "The alliance government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her ally Matiur Rahman Nizami, has no right to stay in power as it failed to arrest top leaders of two banned Islamic groups, which are out to destroy democracy and independence," Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil told protesters. Under the watch of hundreds of riot police, opposition activists chanted "down with Khaleda, down with Nizami".(Posted @ 21:30 PST)
Straw speaks to Greek FM on detained Pakistanis LONDON, Jan 5 (AFP) Britain confirmed Thursday that Foreign Secretary Jack Straw spoke with his Greek counterpart this week about the detention of Pakistani immigrants in Athens. A Foreign Office spokesman in London said Straw spoke with Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis on Tuesday, but denied a report in the Daily Mail newspaper that he had changed his version of events. The Daily Mail quoted Greek foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos as claiming that Straw had given Molyviatis "a somewhat modified account". It added that Straw was understood to have admitted that British intelligence services requested the Pakistanis' detention but did not participate in their interrogation. In Athens, the leader of Greece's Left Coalition parliamentary party, Alekos Alavanos, accused the government Thursday of attempting to cover up the case. (First Posted@ 17:34 PST Updated @ 20:42 PST)
UN warns of new disease threat to Pakistani quake survivors ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 (AFP) Survivors of last year's huge earthquake in Pakistan are at increased risk of pneumonia after recent snow and rain caused the aid effort's first crisis of the winter, the United Nations said Thursday. Officials said the disease had already claimed up to 19 lives in Azad Kashmir and North West Frontier Province in the past six weeks, five of them during the last week. "The temperatures are falling, they are dropping fast and the cold spell will bring the spectre of increased pneumonia," UN humanitarian coordinator in Pakistan Jan Vandemoortele told reporters in Islamabad. World Health Organisation representative Mohamud Khalif Bile said aid workers had already managed to prevent around 45 separate outbreaks of measles in the quake zone after individual cases were detected. He said health officials were stepping up a vaccination campaign for women and children; setting up monitoring systems so they were aware of possible outbreaks; and getting extra medicines to the area.(Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Afghan president makes landmark visit to Turkey ANKARA, Turkey, Jan 5 (APP/AP) Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Thursday promised his country's continued assistance to impoverished Afghanistan's development and security during a landmark visit by Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Karzai is in Turkey, one of Afghanistan's biggest private investors, to boost historic ties and discuss rebuilding the country where Turkish firms have invested about US$130 million. The visit is the first by an Afghan head of state in 48 years.(Posted @ 18:16 PST)
India holding talks with Pakistan to establish peace: Mukherjee NEW DELHI, Jan 5 (APP): Indian defence minister, Pranab Mukherjee, said Thursday that New Delhi was holding talks with Islamabad to achieve peace. "We do not have any territorial ambitions at the cost of others. That is why we are talking to friends in Pakistan to engage in dialogue," he said while launching 'Destination India', a multi-media campaign in Chennai to highlight the policies pursued by the Congress-led UPA government. Referring to the earthquake tragedy, Mukherjee said the armed forces were extending all possible help to the people who had suffered on the other side of the LoC.(Posted @ 18:14 PST)
Iran won't back down on atomic research: Ahmadinejad TEHRAN, Jan 5 (Reuters) President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted on Thursday that Iran would resume atomic research, despite warnings from the West that it would endanger efforts to find a diplomatic compromise over its nuclear ambitions. Ahmadinejad also defended his proposal that Israel be moved to Europe on the grounds that the Palestinians should not suffer as a result of Europeans' killing of Jews during World War II. "Why should the Palestinian nation pay the price for your crimes?" he said. "Give a piece of your country to them (Israelis), and let it be finished. There is no need for meetings, conferences, peace treaties and so on.” He added that "and if it (the Holocaust) is not true and it is a big historical lie, why are you imposing such a corrupt and brutal regime on the nations in this region?”(Posted @ 18:04 PST)
Blizzards force evacuation of 97,000 people in China BEIJING, Jan 5 (AFP) Violent blizzards have forced the evacuation of 97,000 people in a largely Muslim region of western China, a top official said Thursday, as the nation braced for its worst winter in 20 years. Two feet of snow covered large parts of Xinjiang, a vast desert territory near China's border with Central Asia, a disaster relief official with the civil affairs ministry said. He warned that the crisis was far from over, saying: "It's still snowing."(Posted @ 18:02 PST)
France to develop fourth-generation nuclear reactor: Chirac PARIS, Jan 5 (AFP) French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday announced plans to build a prototype fourth-generation nuclear reactor to go into service in 2020, as he outlined elements of the country's long-term energy strategy. "We need to stay ahead in nuclear energy," said the president, who also announced the creation in France of an independent nuclear safety agency. "What is at stake (through the seven-country International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project) is the ability to harness the energy of the sun by the end of the century," he said. "Until then, we need to take new initiatives," Chirac said, adding that the fourth generation of reactors, "those of the 2030s and 2040s, will produce less waste and make better use of resources."(Posted @ 17:58 PST)
Court orders continued food aid for quake-hit Occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, Occupied Kashmir, Jan 5 (AFP) Occupied Kashmir state officials have been ordered by a court to supply food and kerosene for another month to survivors of October's deadly earthquake, an official said Thursday. "The orders were passed by the region's Chief Justice Bashir Khan and senior Justice Bashir Kirmani on Wednesday," a court official said. He said a group of lawyers had filed a suit to force the state to continue providing food for January in the worst-hit northern sectors of Uri and Tangdhar, and to increase kerosene allotments to 10 litres from six litres at subsidised rates. "The government has decided to comply with the court order and the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has directed officials to supply free rations to the survivors for January too," his spokesman said.(Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Two dozen Taliban, other militants surrender in Afghanistan GARDEZ, Afghanistan, Jan 5 (AFP) Two dozen Taliban fighters Thursday surrendered to the Afghan government under a US-backed amnesty scheme and renounced violence, officials said. They gave themselves up in the eastern city of Gardez, capital of Paktia province, a government official said. Four of the militants belonged to the ousted Taliban regime and the rest from the Hezb-e-Islami extremist faction led by wanted warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and another anti-government commander Jalaluddin Haqqani. Mawlawi Abdul Hodod, representing the former militants, said they would now take part in rebuilding the war-shattered country.(Posted @ 17:26 PST)
Sharon to be on respirator for at least next 24 hours JERUSALEM, Jan 5 (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was still in critical condition and will remain sedated and on a respirator for at least the next 24 hours, the chief of the hospital where he was being treated said on Thursday. "The prime minister's condition is…still critical but stable," the director of Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital, where Sharon underwent surgery to stem a brain haemorrhage, told reporters. He said Sharon would remain in "deep sedation and on a respirator at least for the next 24 hours".(First Posted@10:12 PST Updated @ 17:23 PST)
Arab leaders, thousands attend funeral of emir of Dubai DUBAI, United Arab Emirates,Jan 5 (APP/AP) Arab leaders, dignitaries and thousands of citizens attended Thursday the funeral of Sheik Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the emir of Dubai and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. The normally bustling city was eerily quiet as about 4,500 white-robed Emiratis stood and prayed. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also arrived here Thursday to participate in the funeral. The cause of death was not given, but Australian Broadcasting Corp. said he died of a heart attack. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum was appointed on Thursday as the ruler of Dubai as its prime minister and vice president, succeeding his elder brother. The official WAM news agency said Sheikh Mohammed was also asked to form a new cabinet. Officials said they did not expect a major reshuffle. It was not immediately clear if Sheikh Mohammed would retain the defence portfolio. (First Posted @ 14:40 PST Updated @ 17:07 PST)
Opening schools in quake-hit areas to help restore normalcy: Aziz LONDON, Jan 5 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the opening of schools in earthquake-ravaged areas will help restore a sense of normalcy. According to the British daily Financial Times (FT) on Thursday, Aziz will visit the quake- devastated areas today to open a school in Battagram. "Once children return to school, their parents would feel motivated to start rebuilding their lives," Aziz was quoted as saying by the FT. (Posted @ 16:55 PST)
Palestinian election commission quits RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan 5 (Reuters) The Palestinian Elections Commission (CEC) said on Thursday it had resigned in protest at what it called government interference, in a move that could obstruct a Jan. 25 parliamentary election. "We've submitted our resignation due to the insistence of the prime minister's office that members of the security forces vote in their own barracks instead of going to vote in their districts," Hanna Nasser, the commission's president, said. He said the commission would only withdraw its resignation if the Palestinian cabinet led by Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie's rescinded the decision to allow 60,000 members of the security forces to vote in their barracks. (Posted @ 16:14 PST)
Suicide attack kills 10 in Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan 5 (Reuters) A suicide bomber drove a car into a crowd of Afghan policemen in central Afghanistan on Thursday, killing 10 people, a provincial spokesman said. About 10 people were wounded in the incident in Tirin Kot, capital of Uruzgan province, a spokesman for the provincial governor said. "It was a suicide attack and we are not sure how many of the 10 people killed in the attack are civilians and how many are policemen," he said. (Posted @ 16:12 PST)
Fourteen killed, 16 injured in Occupied Kashmir truck accident SRINAGAR, Occupied Kashmir, Jan 5 (AFP) Fourteen labourers were killed and 16 injured late Wednesday when a truck slid off an icy road and overturned on the outskirts of Leh, 430 kilometres northeast of Srinagar, police said Thursday. (First Posted @ 14:40 PST Updated @ 15:35 PST)
Kuwait to establish two fixed-cum-mobile hospitals in quake zone ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 (APP): Kuwait will establish two 40-bed state-of-the-art fixed hospitals apart from providing mobile services in the earthquake-stricken areas of NWFP and Azad Kashmir. Chairman Kuwait Red Crescent Society, Bergez Hamoud Al-Barges, informed President General Pervez Musharraf in a meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr that the hospitals would be equipped with all medical facilities including surgical treatment. "We stand by Pakistan shoulder to shoulder in the aftermath of the tragedy and will continue to assist the country in its reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts until it accomplishes the gigantic tasks ahead," Bargez said. Kuwait has already pledged US dollars 100 million assistance in reconstruction efforts to Pakistan and has provided relief goods worth millions of dollars. (Posted @ 15:26 PST)
Pakistan, Thailand ties to grow in future: Musharraf ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 (APP) Pakistan and Thailand enjoy excellent bilateral relations, which would be further strengthened through increased commerce and trade cooperation, President General Pervez Musharraf said Thursday. Expressing gratitude to the Thai Crown Prince for his country's relief assistance to the earthquake survivors, he said "Pakistan and Thailand stand very close to each other in political, economic and diplomatic fields - and this gesture of His Majesty further cements our bonds of friendship". Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorm and Princes Srirasm handed over relief supplies to Musharraf at a ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr. Vajiralongkorm also delivered a message from the Thai King, expressing sympathies and condolences over the October 8 tragedy. (Posted @ 15:23 PST)
PM for closer Pak-Japan economic collaboration ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday called for a closer collaboration of Pakistani and Japanese private sectors to further boost the economic ties between the two countries. Talking to the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister he said Pakistan provided a conducive atmosphere for investment and various new sectors were now offered lucrative returns to foreign investors. The Prime Minister gave an overview of country's economic scene to the Japanese FM, who appreciated the reforms undertaken by the government and the resultant turnaround. (Posted @ 12:50 PST)
India and Pakistan begin talks on second rail link NEW DELHI, Jan 5 (AFP) - India and Pakistan began talks Thursday to finalise a second rail link connecting the two countries as part of confidence building measures for an ongoing peace process, an Indian foreign ministry official said. Railway officials from the two countries were to discuss visas, fares and passenger security for the train link between Munnabao in India's western state of Rajasthan and Khokhrapar in Pakistan's Sindh province, the official said. Ahead of the talks, Pakistani officials said they were hopeful for a final agreement to begin the rail services. "We hope to finalise the agreement. We have come with an open mind. This is another confidence building measure and we will be discussing the draft proposal for the movement of passengers," Saleem-ur-Rehman Akhoond, general manager of operations at Pakistan Railways, was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Rain hits SAfrica's hopes of beating Aussies in third Test SYDNEY, Jan 5 (AFP) - Rain hit South Africa's hopes of squaring their series with Australia after only 20 overs of play were possible on the fourth day of the third cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday. The Proteas advanced from an overnight four for one to 94 for three when rain washed out play after tea. When play was abandoned for the day Jacques Kallis (14) and Ashwell Prince (0) were at the wicket. The Proteas lost the wickets of skipper Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs on Thursday. Gibbs threw away his wicket when he was run out for 67 in a mix-up with Kallis over a quick single. He was beaten back to the non-striker's end by a direct throw from Brad Hodge. (Posted @ 12:20 PST)
Netherlands reach Hopman Cup final after Kiefer pulls out PERTH, Australia, Jan 5 (AFP) - The Netherlands was gifted a berth in the final of the Hopman Cup mixed teams tennis tournament on Thursday after German star Nicolas Kiefer pulled out of their Group B tie here with back spasms. The Netherlands had already taken a 1-0 lead in the tie thanks to Michaella Krajicek, a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) winner over Anna-Lena Groenefeld, and were handed a 3-0 sweep with the men's singles and mixed doubles both declared walkovers. (Posted @ 11:10 PST)
Pakistan says interested in buying nuclear reactors ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Pakistan said Thursday it was interested in buying nuclear reactors from China and elsewhere to meet its growing energy needs, but denied a report that it was engaged in talks with Beijing to buy up to eight reactors. "We are interested in purchasing nuclear power reactors because our economy is growing and so is the energy requirement," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam. "We are not only interested in purchasing them from China, but also from the West," she said, adding that any nuclear facility established would be run within the safeguards of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency. In September, Pakistan called on the United States and other Western countries to help it develop civilian nuclear technology that would meet its expanding energy needs. (Posted @ 11:02 PST)
Seven tribesmen shot dead in Pakistani tribal area WANA, Pakistan, Jan 5 (AFP) - Gunmen shot dead seven tribesmen Thursday in a restive tribal region along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border where the military is hunting Al-Qaeda-linked militants, officials said. "All seven men of the Kari Khel Wazir tribe were shot dead near a paramilitary camp in the town of Wana," a security official said. The victims were travelling in a vehicle when the attackers in another vehicle opened fire on them, he said on condition of anonymity. "It is too early to say anything about the motive of killings and the identity of the attackers," the official said. But local residents said the deceased tribesmen belonged to a group of bandits and could be the victims of a campaign launched by the Taliban against criminals in the area. Militants in neighbouring North Waziristan last month hanged the bodies of local bandits in the street after clashes in which up to 15 people were killed. (Posted @ 10:46 PST)
ADB approves 75 million dollar irrigation loan, grant to Afghanistan MANILA, Jan 5 (AFP) - Afghanistan is to get a 75 million dollar aid package from the Asian Development Bank to upgrade ancient irrigation systems and steer farmers away from the illegal drugs trade, the Philippines-based lender said Thursday. The project focuses on up to 65,000 hectares (160,550 acres) of traditional irrigation systems in the Hari Rud and Murghab river basins in the west, where the limited water supply has cut yields of wheat, the area's most important crop. The ADB package comprises a 60.5 million dollar soft loan payable over 40 years and a 14.5 million dollar grant. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
US embassy in Malaysia reopens after security scare KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (AFP) - The United States embassy in the Malaysian capital reopened Thursday after being shut down last week in a security scare over suspicions it was under surveillance. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Two Egyptian guards killed on Gaza border-MENA CAIRO, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Two Egyptian guards were shot dead at the border with Gaza on Wednesday after armed Palestinians made a hole in the border wall, Egypt's official Middle East News Agency (MENA) quoted witnesses as saying.The MENA report quoted a hospital official as saying 18 people, including three members of the Palestinian security forces, had been taken to a hospital in Rafah. An earlier report said more than 10 Egyptian guards had been injured. The trouble started when Palestinian gunmen bulldozed a barricade with the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt. Egyptian police fired into the air to disperse the crowd. "The Palestinians responded with rocks and gunfire”. About had 300 Palestinians had tried to come through the border hole, MENA and the Egyptian security source said. Egyptian Interior Ministry officials could not immediately be reached for comment. (Posted @ 09:38 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 54.98 points: KARACHI, Jan 5: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 9908.29, up 54.98 points from Wenesday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 5: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 59.85 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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