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| January 10, 2006 | Tuesday | Zilhaj 9, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Seven Pakistani soldiers, 14 militants killed in clash MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Jan 10, 2006 (AFP) - Militants clashed with Pakistani forces in a troubled tribal zone bordering Afghanistan early Tuesday, leaving seven paramilitary troops and 14 suspected insurgents dead, officials said. The firefight was one of the biggest for months in the rugged area, where soldiers are trying to flush out Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters who fled Afghanistan after the US-led invasion in late 2001. It started when "miscreants" launched rockets at a checkpoint in Sarbandji village near Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan region, shortly after midnight, a security official said. Seven soldiers died but their colleagues immediately returned fire, sparking a gunbattle that lasted for 90 minutes, the official said on condition of anonymity. Fourteen militants were killed in the exchange of fire including a local Taliban commander called Bilal, a military official based in Peshawar said later. "Some are locals and some are foreigners. We are trying to find out their nationalities and identities," the army official said. The situation in North Waziristan remained tense later Tuesday and gunship helicopters hovered in search of militants, the official and witnesses said.(First Posted @ 12:30 PST Updated @ 18:15 PST)
120 Indonesian pilgrims die during Hajj pilgrimage JAKARTA, Jan 10 (AFP) At least 120 Indonesians have died, mostly of illness, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, the state Antara news agency said Tuesday. Eleven died while performing the central rite of the Hajj on the plains of Arafat on Monday, Antara said, citing data from the religious affairs ministry. Most of the dead were elderly pilgrims. Three Indonesians were among at least 76 people killed when a hostel housing pilgrims in the holy city of Mecca collapsed last Thursday. It is not clear whether the religious ministry's data includes the three. (Posted @ 10:35 PST)
PM Erdogan says bird flu under control in Turkey ANKARA, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday the bird flu crisis was under control. "The situation is under control and we will continue to monitor it closely. Those who have tested positive (for bird flu) are not at an advanced stage and so for the time being any danger is out of the question," he told a joint news conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.(Posted @ 22:55 PST)
Sharon out of immediate danger JERUSALEM, Jan 10, 2006 (AFP) - Doctors bringing Ariel Sharon out of a medically induced coma declared Tuesday that the Israeli premier's life was no longer in danger and that there were increased signs of activity in his brain. The 77-year-old Sharon, whose fate is crucial to Israel and the wider Middle East, remains in the intensive care unit at Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital after suffering a massive brain haemorrhage six days ago, but medics indicated that his condition was no longer life-threatening. "The prime minister's condition is serious but there is no immediate danger to the prime minister's life," said Sharon's anaesthetist Yoram Weiss.(Posted @ 22:26 PST)
Iran plans 'small scale' nuclear fuel work-IAEA LONDON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, informed his agency's governing board on Tuesday that Iran intends to begin "small-scale" uranium enrichment work, contradicting previous statements by Tehran. "Iran plans to install a small-scale gas ultracentrifuge cascade in its pilot fuel enrichment plant at Natanz," a Western diplomat said, reading from ElBaradei's report to the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Citing the report, the diplomat said that during its research work on centrifuges -- machines that purify uranium for use in nuclear power plants or weapons -- Iran planned to feed a small amount of uranium hexafluoride into the centrifuges. A senior Iranian official had earlier denied any suggestion that Iran was resuming the production of nuclear fuel at the Natanz facility in central Iran.(Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Govt. committed to early rehabilitation of affected children HATTIAN (Ghazi Barotha), Jan 10 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday said the government was committed to the early rehabilitation and education of children orphaned in the Oct 8 earthquake. He was addressing a gathering at camp "Aashiana" which houses about 500 orphans besides destitute women and is jointly run by Khubaib Foundation, IHH of Turkey and Ministry of Social Welfare. The camp provides school, vocational training, medical facilities and free meals. "We will fully support the children and women, who need assistance in recovering from their wounds and have been left alone by the worst ever natural calamity that hit the country," the prime minister said. He said the government was rebuilding homes in the affected areas of AJK and NWFP and would ensure that these are quake resistant. He was highly appreciative of the generous support extended by the people and government of Turkey for relief activities. Mr Shaukat Aziz distributed Eid gifts among the children(Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Prime Minister invites Sajjad Lone for talks on Kashmir issue NEW DELHI, Jan 10 (APP): Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invited People's Conference Chief Sajjad Lone for talks on Kashmir dispute on Saturday (January 14). Sajjad Lone, younger son of late Kashmiri leader Abdul Gani Lone, said at a Press conference that the party’s working committee had decided to send a five-member delegation for the talks.(Posted @ 19:30 PST)
Return to war at high cost, US warns Sri Lanka's Tigers COLOMBO, Jan 10, 2006 (AFP) - The United States Tuesday warned Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels that a return to war would cost them dearly. US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Lunstead, told a meeting of businessmen here that Washington wanted LTTE to stop its "violent activities" and return to peace talks with Colombo."If the LTTE chooses to abandon peace, however, we want it to be clear, they will face a stronger, more capable and more determined Sri Lankan military," Lunstead said. "We want the cost of a return to war to be high." "Through our military training and assistance programs, including efforts to help with counter-terrorism initiatives and block illegal financial transactions, we are helping to shape the ability of the Sri Lankan government to protect its people and defend its interest," he said.(Posted @ 19:16 PST)
Two suspects killed, Polish soldier wounded in Iraq raid WARSAW, Jan 10, 2006 (AFP) - Two supected "terrorists" were killed and a Polish soldier wounded during a raid carried out by Iraqi, American and Polish troops near the town of Hamza, south of Baghdad, Poland's PAP news agency reported Tuesday. Coalition forces surrounded "a group of terrorists suspected of murders, kidnappings and drug trafficking" overnight between Monday and Tuesday. In a firefight that followed, "two terrorists were killed and a Polish soldier wounded in the leg and shoulder," the news agency said. Iraqi soldiers captured four suspects wanted over the killing of a Spanish officer in 2004.(Posted @ 19:12 PST)
PM reiterates government's resolve to build major reservoirs FATEHJANG, Jan 10 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday reiterated government's resolve to build major water reservoirs, in consultation with all the stakeholders. "We do not have the option to do nothing, any more," the Prime Minister told a large gathering at the Tent Village set up for the survivors of the Oct 8 earthquake. "The country is going barren and unless we have major water reservoirs, we would not be able to meet our agriculture needs," he said. The Prime Minister said the government would soon start work on water reservoirs. However, consultation was under way to decide the priority in which these would be built, he added. The Prime Minister earlier visited the tent village about 45 km southwest of Islamabad and which houses around 2800 people. There he attended the marriage ceremony of 16 couples. It was arranged and financed by Saiban Welfare Trust which inter-alia provided clothing, sewing machine,jewellery, complete bed sets, cooking utensils,kitchen wares etc to the couples.(Posted @ 18:55 PST)
China, India agree to meet in Feb for border talks BEIJING, Jan 10 (Reuters) - China and India agreed on Tuesday to meet in India at the end of next month for negotiations on their disputed border, wrapping up two days of talks China described as "friendly and practical".(Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Spain arrests 20 suspected of al Qaeda links MADRID, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Spanish police on Tuesday arrested 20 people suspected of recruiting militants to fight in Iraq, Interior Minister Jose Antonio Alonso said. Those arrested in predawn raids are alleged to belong to two cells linked to al Qaeda, Alonso told a news conference.(Posted @ 18:28 PST)
Twenty-three people killed in Morocco coach crash RABAT, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Twenty-three people were killed and 63 injured when two coaches collided on a road in southern Morocco on Tuesday, state news agency MAP reported. The accident, took place 20 km (12 miles) from the tourist city of Marrakesh.(Posted @ 18:25 PST)
Kashmir. Asiya Andrabi rejects self rule proposal Srinagar, Jan 10 (PPI) Dukhtaran-e-Millat chairperson Syeda Asiya Andrabi has outrightly rejected the self-governance proposal, terming it as a farce. She told reporters here after her release that when Kashmir movement has entered a decisive phase efforts are being made to project Kashmir as a trilateral issue by involving some politicians from Kashmir who are willing for a sellout. "By its involvement in self rule proposal the government of Pakistan is not only providing an opportunity for the sell-off but it is badly damaging the position of Kashmir at international fora,” she said. Terming the proposal of self-governance as an illusion, Asiya remarked that neither President Musharaf nor Mirwaiz is describing what the self-governance formula is. "Only India has a clear- cut stand on Kashmir: that it is its integral part and it does not seem that it has agreed to leave an inch of Kashmir," she added. Questioning the status of Mirwaiz in the ongoing talks, Asiya said, "It can be asked with what criteria India has accepted Mirwaiz as a party to the talks. Advising the government of Pakistan that if it is not in a position to support the Kashmir movement, then it should not take any step that may damage the stated international position of Kashmir, she added. “ Kashmir movement is self-reliant and has withstood all odds since the Dogra rule and will be able to sustain in future also against the illegal occupation of India. It is better for Pakistan to remain a well-wisher of Kashmiris but not prove itself as an oppressor in the process."(Posted @ 17:36 PST)
HRCP apprehends escalation in Balochistan conflict LAHORE Jan 10-(PPI): The HRCP mission, headed by chaierperson Ms Asma Jahangir and including former chairperson Mr. Afrasiab Khattak and The vice chairperson of Balochistan Mr. Zahoor Ahmed Shawani, has completed Its visit to Dera Bugti. The mission expressed serious concern over the rapidly deteriorating situation in and around Dera Bugti and reiterated its demand that all armed conflict should ceased immediately and a process of dialogue should begin. The HRCP mission observed “heavy presence” of security forces in Dera Bugti. HRCP will issue a detailed report based on its findings in Balochistan within the next few days. The HRCP noted with surprise that the police have not registered the FIR of the firing incident on the HRCP vehicle on Sunday last.(Posted @ 17:18 PST)
Relief. Kuwait Red Crescent to construct mobile hospitals in NWFP, AJK Islamabad , Jan 10 (PPI) Red Crescent Society of Kuwait will Set up two modern mobile hospitals of forty beds each in AJK and NWFP, Ambassador Faisal A. Al-Mulaifi of Kuwait and Chairman ERRA Lt. General Muhammad Zubair announced after a meeting here. The hospitals will be operational by the end of May this year. The hospitals will be outside the aid package pledged earlier by the Kuwaiti authorities.(Posted @ 17:15 PST)
UK donations $10 m for relief operation ISLAMABAD, Jan 10 (APP): UK has donated 10 million dollars for relief operation continued in Azad Jammu Kashmir, the United Nations said The donation by UK would help to continue to airlift food and other material until the end of winter in affected areas of AJK, the UN said on its Web site. "Thanks to the helicopters, the World Food Program was able to preposition food in high altitude areas, which are no longer accessible due to the snowfall,:the UN said. "That food will assist hundreds of thousands of people in the affected areas." The UN and international aid organizations are operating at 37 camps sheltering 57,742 people, the UN said on December 23. There are 335 other camps where 126,718 people are housed, it said. The US Disaster Assistance Center in Pakistan said two days ago it has doubled its supplies of food aid brought by its Chinook helicopters to mountain villages. (Posted @ 17:02 PST)
Indian troops martyr four more Kashmiris in IHK ISLAMABAD, Jan 10 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred four more Kashmiris at various places. Two were gunned down at Gandho area of Doda district and one at Achabal in Islamabad district, Kashmir Media Service reported. Another person, Muhammad Ramzan Magray, who had received injures in a grenade blast caused by Indian agents at Tangmarg in November 15 last year, succumbed to his injuries in a Srinagar Hospital, while unidentified gunmen killed a shopkeeper in Awantipora area. Frustrated Indian army Lance Naik Abdesh Kumar of 55 Rashtriya Rifles shot dead two of his colleague's, namely, Sepoys Gurmail Singh and Kukander Singh inside their camp at Kakapora in Pulwama district.(First Posted @ 16:40 PST Updated @ 16:58 PST)
Mehbooba Mufti Supports Demilitarisation SRINAGAR, Jan 10 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, the President of pro-India Peoples Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti has supported the demilitarization proposal. In an interview in Srinagar she said, ultimately there must be demilitarization, if Kashmir issue is to be resolved. She maintained that it would mark big Confidence Building Measures, if the Indian government agreed to demilitarization. She added, that it would be a dream come true, if troops leave the cities.(Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Pilgrims start devil-stoning rite at climax of haj MENA, Saudi Arabia, Jan 10 (Reuters) - More than two million Muslim pilgrims began the ritual stoning of the devil on Tuesday, the climax of the annual haj pilgrimage and an occasion that has led to deadly stampedes in the past. King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, in a message marking Tuesday's Eid al-Adha , said: "We ask God to make this Eid one of peace and stability for Muslims and the whole world and unite Muslims in goodness and inspire them to do what is right." Pilgrims will stay in Jamarat until Thursday, the end of the five-day haj whose rules were laid out by the Prophet Mohammad 1,400 years ago. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Doordarshan drops plans to telecast Pakistan cricket series NEW DELHI, Jan 10, 2006 (AFP) - Doordarshan has dropped plans to telecast the upcoming Pakistan-India cricket series live and will instead give 90 minutes of highlights daily. Doordashan told the Supreme Court it could not afford the 1.4 billion rupees (31.69 million dollars) that Dubai-based Ten Sports, which holds the television rights to the series, is claiming in compensation for sharing its live feed, the Press Trust of India news agency said. Ten Sports went to court to challenge a government decree that forces pay stations to provide terrestrial feeds of their national and international sports coverage to Doordarshan. Satellite channels say they are willing to provide feeds in rural areas where they have no presence but not in major cities where their hugely expensive cricket rights would be diluted. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Four Indian tourists die, 16 hurt as bus overturns in Nepal KATHMANDU, Jan 10, 2006 (AFP) – Four women died and 16 people were hurt, 13 seriously, Tuesday when a bus carrying 60 Indian tourists from Rajasthan state overturned in dense fog in eastern Nepal, police said. "The bus was heading towards Janakpur from Kathmandu. (Posted @ 16:13 PST)
Police recover grenades from India's holiest Sikh shrine AMRITSAR, India, Jan 10, 2006 (AFP) - More than 100 hand grenades were recovered from Sikhism's holiest shrine, the Golden Temple complex, here Tuesday, causing a brief security scare before police realised the cache was probably hidden by militants supporting an insurgency two decades ago. The cache of 114 grenades -- packed in two cement bags -- were found by construction workers digging the foundation for a new office block within the complex, police said adding that "it seems the grenades have been lying for many years" and dated back to the Sikh insurgency that began in 1983. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Sunnis protest raid on mosque in hunt for US reporter BAGHDAD, Jan 11, 2006 (AFP) - Angry Sunni Arabs protested Tuesday at a raid on a Baghdad mosque by US and Iraqi soldiers looking for Carroll, kidnapped US woman freelance journalist working for the Christian Science Monitor. Waving banners and chanting anti-US slogans, about 700 people rallied in the gardens of the Umm al-Qura mosque to denounce the Saturday night raid. Carroll’s interpreter, Allan Enwiyah, 32, was shot dead and his body abandoned nearby by the kidnappers, while her driver got away. The Sunni Committee of Muslim Scholars which is based at the mosque, confirmed that one of its members, Yunis Aikali, and five mosque guards were arrested in the raid. In a statement, the committee also accused US soldiers of desecrating the mosque and carrying away files containing the names of members. Ashraf Qazi, the UN special representative in Iraq, also deplored the raid. "This again underlines the importance of all parties respecting the sanctity of holy sites and places of worship," he said in a statement. (Posted @ 15:55 PST)
Briton held in Pakistan since May deported ISLAMABAD, Jan 10 (Reuters) Pakistani authorities have deported a Briton held since May after he was cleared of links to terrorism and charges of fraud, fining him 500 rupees ($8.30) for overstaying his visa, his lawyer said on Tuesday. Zeeshan Siddiqui, a 25-year-old Briton of Pakistani descent, was arrested in Peshawar on May 15 after going to the police to report the loss of his passport. According to his lawyer, Siddiqui was interrogated about links to al Qaeda and so badly beaten in custody that he lost the sight of one eye and the partial sight of the other. The lawyer said that after police failed to link Siddiqui to militants, they charged him with having a false identity card but a court found him not guilty. "We got his deportation order from the court on Saturday and he was freed from jail on Sunday," the lawyer added. (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Government committed to speedy rehabilitation of quake affectees: PM ISLAMABAD, Jan 10 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Tuesday the government remains committed to the speedy rehabilitation of earthquake affected people. He said a record amount of Rs. 22 billion has been spent so far in the NWFP and AJK areas for carrying out the relief work. He was talking to the leader of the opposition in NWFP Assembly, Shahzada Muhammad Gustasip Khan, who called on him here at the Prime Minister House and discussed various earthquake relief measures in the province and the ongoing development projects there. (Posted @ 14:19 PST)
U.S. plans Philippine war games MANILA, Jan 10 (Reuters) The United States will send 250 soldiers to Jolo island, an alleged stronghold of al Qaeda-linked militants in the southern Philippines, for two weeks of joint military exercises next month, officials said on Tuesday.A U.S. embassy spokesman, said about 5,500 American soldiers were expected to participate in the exercises, starting on Feb. 20 and ending on Mar. 5 in three areas across the Philippines. (Posted @ 14:19 PST)
Iran removes seals to resume atomic research TEHRAN, Jan 10 (Reuters) Seals have been removed from some nuclear fuel research facilities in Iran and work will resume there later on Tuesday, a Iranian official said. "Some seals have been removed at nuclear fuel research facilities," Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, told a news conference. He said work at the research facilities would resume on Tuesday under the supervision of the U.N. nuclear watchdog. The U.N. nuclear watchdog also confirmed on Tuesday that Iran has broken U.N. seals at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, setting the stage for a showdown between the Islamic republic and the West. (Posted @ 13:35 PST)
More than 200 dead as South Asia gripped by icy weather NEW DELHI, Jan 10, 2006 (AFP) South Asia was Tuesday in the grip of the iciest weather in decades, with at least 204 people killed and doctors fearing for the lives of survivors of October's massive earthquake in Kashmir. More deaths were reported from India's northern Uttar Pradesh state, bringing the toll in the state to 124 and the countrywide toll to 160, according to a tally based on figures released by police and officials. In Pakistan, major cities as well the country's earthquake-battered areas have been gripped by one of the most severe cold snaps in the last 30 years, meteorological officials said. More than 30 people were reported to have died from cold-related diseases in the northern Himalayan regions outside the quake zone during the past week, UN and health officials said. Temperatures in Pakistan's mountain town of Skardu plummeted to minus 13 Celsius overnight, Muhammad Saeed, deputy director of Pakistan's Meteorological department said. Across the country temperatures are three or four degrees lower than average, he added. Srinagar recorded minus three degrees Celsius Tuesday, while Amritsar recorded zero degrees Celsius. A doctor in Uri, one of the towns in Occupied Kashmir, warned that survivors living in makeshift shelters were showing signs of hypothermia and frostbite. Earthquake-hit areas in Azad Kashmir and North West Frontier Province, meanwhile, were likely to receive more snowfall between January 14 and 19, a weather official said. (Posted @ 13:12 PST)
Spain arrests 17 suspected of helping Iraqi militants MADRID, Jan 10 (Reuters) Spanish police arrested 17 people on Tuesday suspected of helping recruit militants to carry out attacks in Iraq, Spanish state radio reported. The early-morning arrests were carried out in Madrid and Barcelona and in the Basque country in northern Spain, it said. A spokesman for the Civil Guard confirmed that an operation was going on, but would not give details. The radio said those arrested included the imam of a mosque and a suspect who may be linked to an attack on Italian police in Iraq.(First Posted @ 12:10 PST Updated @ 13:07 PST)
Sharon still critical but stable JERUSALEM, Jan 10 (AFP) There has been no change in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's condition overnight and he is still "critical but stable", a hospital spokesman said Tuesday, a day after medics began the process of awakening him from a coma. (Posted @ 10:43 PST)
Cost of Iraq war could top $2 trillion BOSTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) The cost of the Iraq war could top $2 trillion, far above the White House's pre-war projections, when long-term costs such as lifetime health care for thousands of wounded U.S. soldiers are included, a study said on Monday. Columbia University economist Joseph E. Stiglitz and Harvard lecturer Linda Bilmes included in their study disability payments for the 16,000 wounded U.S. soldiers, about 20 percent of whom suffer serious brain or spinal injuries. They said U.S. taxpayers will be burdened with costs that linger long after U.S. troops withdraw. A Pentagon spokeswoman said on Monday that the Iraq war was costing the United States $4.5 billion monthly in military "operating costs" not including procurement of new weapons and equipment. She added that the war in Iraq had cost $173 billion to date. (Posted @ 10:22 PST)
North Korea's Kim Jong-Il visits China: reports SEOUL, Jan 10 (AFP) North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il travelled to China on Tuesday by special train on a rare visit to the isolated country's key ally, according to media reports here. The train carrying the reclusive North Korean leader passed through the Chinese border town of Dandong amid tight security before dawn on Tuesday, reports quoted unidentified sources as saying. South Korea's National Intelligence Agency said it was checking the report while the defence ministry, quoting military intelligence, said it had no information on the matter. (Posted @ 10:06 PST)
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