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| January 16, 2006 | Monday | Zilhaj 15, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Bush Senior calls on President Musharraf ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP): United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy for South Asian Earthquake Disaster and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush called on the President Monday. The Special Envoy assured the President that he would work with the international community to assist the government in ensuring funding for relief and reconstruction work in the earthquake affected areas. The Special Envoy arrived in Islamabad today on a two-day visit to Pakistan. He will visit the earthquake-affected areas before his departure.(Posted @ 23:25 PST)
Balochistan has tremendous potential in natural resources: PM ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday said Balochistan has tremendous potential in natural resources and the government would focus on the development of mining sector there to fully utilize its potential. He was talking to a delegation of Antofagasta, a private sector company of Chille led by its Chairman Mr. Jean Paul Luksic, which called on him here at the Prime Minister House. He assured the delegation of government support to facilitate their business and investments in Pakistan.(Posted @ 21:15 PST)
CNN banned in Iran for translation gaffe TEHRAN, Jan 16 (Reuters) Iran on Monday banned CNN journalists from working there after the broadcaster misquoted President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying Iran wanted nuclear weapons, the ISNA students news agency said. CNN had quoted Ahmadinejad as saying that "the use of nuclear weapons is Iran's right". In fact, what the Iranian president said was that "Iran has the right to nuclear energy," the official IRNA news agency reported. CNN later clarified in an apology on Sunday night.(Posted @ 21:10 PST)
Iraq vote fraud minor, results Friday - official BAGHDAD, Jan 16 (Reuters) Iraq's Electoral Commission annulled results from 227 ballot boxes on Monday, upholding complaints of irregularities in the Dec. 15 election, but said this would have little effect on results already announced. Final results, based on tallies from some 31,000 ballot boxes, will be published on Friday, Electoral Commissioner Adel al-Lamy said, saying these would be in line with partial, provisional counts given some weeks ago. Most of the boxes cancelled were from Baghdad province, while the others came from Diyala, Nineveh and Anbar province. The commission said it received 1,985 complaints in total, with only 27 proving serious.(Posted @ 21:08 PST)
Two feared dead in Pakistan quake-zone landslide BADHIARA, Azad Kashmir, Jan 16 (Reuters) At least two Kashmiri men were feared dead after being swept off a cliff by a landslide triggered by heavy rain in Pakistan's earthquake zone on Monday, witnesses said. A Reuters Television cameraman had been filming a party of villagers, including women and children, trying to traverse a stretch of mountain road covered by earth and rock from an earlier landslide when the next one struck. At least three other people were injured in the accident near the village of Badhiara in Azad Kashmir.(Posted @ 21:05 PST)
U.S. Vice President Cheney starts Mideast tour CAIRO, Jan 16 (Reuters) U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Egypt on Monday at the start of a brief Middle East tour that will include visits to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. His meetings with Arab leaders are expected to focus on counterterrorism, the Palestinian election and energy. Cheney's office and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo gave only the barest details about meetings planned for Tuesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.(Posted @ 20:38 PST)
At least 26 dead in Afghan bombings KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan 16 (Reuters) Bombers killed at least 26 people in two separate attacks in southern Afghanistan on Monday, a day after a Canadian diplomat and two civilians were killed in the area. At least 20 people died when a bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded at a playground where hundreds of people had gathered for a festival in Spin Boldak, bordering Pakistan, a provincial governor said. At least 20 people were also wounded. Earlier, a suicide bomber hurled himself in front of an Afghan army vehicle in the provincial capital, Kandahar, killing three Afghan soldiers and two civilians. A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for that blast. Four Afghan soldiers and 10 civilians were also wounded in the attack.(First Posted@16:25 PST Updated @ 20:38 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan name unchanged squad for second Test LAHORE, Pakistan, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) Pakistan have named an unchanged 15-man squad for the second cricket Test against India starting at Faisalabad on Saturday. The first Test at the Gaddafi stadium here is heading towards a draw after India, replying to Pakistan's 679-7, were 403 without loss at stumps on the fourth day. The team for the third and final Test in Karachi from January 29-February 2 will be named during the Faisalabad Test. Pakistan squad for second Test: Inzamam-ul Haq (capt), Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naved, Danish Kaneria, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif(Posted @ 19:16 PST)
Sirleaf becomes Liberia's sworn-in president MONROVIA, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) Liberia's new President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took the oath of office Monday, becoming Africa's first elected woman head of state. She was sworn in by the country's supreme court chief justice Henry Reed Cooper.(Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Pakistan’s delegation reaches Delhi for Indo-Pak talks NEW DELHI, Jan 16 (APP): Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan on Monday expressed the hope that Indo-Pak talks at the third round of Composite Dialogue would be constructive. He was talking to the media on his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International airport here this evening. He was warmly received by the Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Aziz Ahmad Khan, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Shiv Shankar Menon and other officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and Pakistan High Commission. The talks will start tomorrow at Hyderabad House here. "I am looking forward to these talks and we hope the talks will be constructive. We have to proceed with a certain touch of positive expectations", he added.(Posted @ 19:10 PST)
Indian court asks government to seal bank accounts in Bofors case NEW DELHI, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) India's top court Monday ordered the government to ensure the British bank accounts of an Italian businessman accused of taking kickbacks in a military deal 20 years ago remain frozen. The case against Ottavia Quattrocchi, who is reported to be close to Sonia Gandhi, centres on claims that he took bribes from the Swedish arms firm Bofors in return for brokering a 1986 howitzer sale to India's Congress party government. Also Monday, Quattrocchi urged India to close the probe against him. "I am the victim of a political campaign waged by a political party against the Gandhi family," he alleged.(Posted @ 18:52 PST)
Kashmiris refuse to bury youth's body until soldiers punished SRINAGAR, Occupied Kashmir, Jan 16 (AFP) Angry protestors in an Occupied Kashmir village refused to bury the body of a Kashmiri youth they claimed was tortured to death by soldiers until those responsible went punished, police said Monday. Villagers had been staging demonstrations in Sumbhal village, some 40 kilometers north of Srinagar, a police official said. Abdul Majid and another youth, Fayaz Bhat, were detained by soldiers on Saturday and, according to villagers, were severely tortured. They were later handed over to police in semi-conscious condition and taken to a hospital in Srinagar, where Majid died on Sunday. The army said it was investigating the claims.(Posted @ 18:48 PST)
Government making efforts to improve supply chain service: Aziz ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday said the government was making efforts to improve the distribution and supply chain in Pakistan that bring benefits to consumers and open more export opportunities. "We in Pakistan have an inefficient supply chain and we really want to professionalize the distribution and supply systems here," he told reporters at a press conference organized by the German-based Metro group to announce its plans to start operations in Pakistan. Metro Cash & Carry, an international market leader in self-service wholesale, plans to open 10 outlets in all the major cities with an initial investment of 150 million euros.(Posted @ 18:40 PST)
Israel sends troops to quell 'Jewish intifada' HEBRON, West Bank, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) Israel drafted hundreds of police reinforcements to the West Bank town of Hebron in a bid to quell what the press on Monday dubbed the Jewish Intifada, sparked by plans to evacuate nine families of settlers. Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed no tolerance for hardline Jews resisting eviction from a market in the flashpoint West Bank town. (Posted @ 16:37 PST)
US army sending MPs to help train Iraqi police BAGHDAD, Jan 16 (Reuters) The United States is assigning more than 2,000 military police advisers to Iraqi police in a stepped-up training programme, a spokesman said on Monday. The spokesman said advisers would be deployed in teams that would also include civilian police trainers and international police liaison officers. The teams, which he expected to be active within two to three months, would have oversight of provincial and district police stations in Iraq's 18 provinces. "This is not at all designed as a way to watch our allies. It is a programme to help our allies come to a higher level of capability, not to provide some Coalition over watch to make sure they are not breaking the law," he said. (Posted @ 16:36 PST)
Sharon's Kadima party names Olmert acting leader JERUSALEM, Jan 16 (Reuters) Ariel Sharon's Kadima party named interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as its acting chairman on Monday to lead it into Israel's March 28 election, a party statement said. Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said he regarded Olmert as a man he can do business with as it emerged on Monday that he will not run for re-election. One year on from his election as president of the Palestinian Authority, Abbas said he would use his remaining three years in office to strive towards the creation of a Palestinian state, and restore law and order. (Posted @ 15:30 PST)
Israel will not agree to Iran nuclear capability: President Moshe MADRID, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) Israel will not allow Iran to have a nuclear capability, Israeli President Moshe Katsav said in an interview published Monday. "We don't have a conflict of interest with Iran, we don't have a common border but we cannot allow a totalitarian country which exports international terrorism to have a nuclear capability," he told the ABC newspaper. (Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Rice defends tough anti-terror drive in Pakistan MONROVIA, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday defended harsh US tactics to root out alleged Al-Qaeda militants on Pakistan's border after a deadly air strike on a village sparked a wave of angry street protests. Rice would not comment on the reported deaths of 18 innocent villagers in a raid said to target Osama bin Laden's deputy. She said only, "We'll continue to work with the Pakistanis and we'll try to address their concerns." But speaking to reporters en route to Liberia for the inauguration of president-elect Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Rice made no apologies for US actions. "It's obviously difficult at this time for the Pakistani government," she said of the attack that sent thousands of Pakistanis into the streets in at least five cities and prompted an official protest from Islamabad. "But I think I would just say, to both the Pakistani government and the Pakistani people, we're allies in the war on terror," Rice said. Asked about Friday's strike reportedly carried out by a missile-firing US Predator drone in hopes of killing Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri, Rice said, "I can't speak to the specifics of this particular circumstance." (Posted @ 15:15 PST)
Pakistan hopes for constructive discussion with India :FO ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP): Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said Monday that Pakistan hopes for constructive discussion with India during the third round of composite dialogue in New Delhi. Talking to PTV on telephone from Lahore on way to New Delhi she said Pakistani delegation is going for talks with positive approach and hopefully the discussion would help indicate the direction of dialogue process in the future. The discussion would of course help set the direction of future talks between the two countries, she added. (Posted @ 12:45 PST)
Troops kill militant believed involved in Delhi bombings SRINAGAR, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) - Indian troops and police have killed a militant whose group is believed to be behind bombings in New Delhi that killed 66 people in October, a police spokesman said Monday. Abdullah Bhai, a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba, was killed in a gunbattle in Baramulla, the spokesman said. The fighting erupted in Khour village early Monday after Indian soldiers and the police team from New Delhi ringed a hideout in the snowbound village. "Security forces have killed one militant and continue to ring the hideout as they believe another militant is inside," the spokesman said. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Weather keeps Pakistan quake choppers grounded MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) - Helicopters airlifting vital aid to earthquake-hit areas of Pakistan remained grounded by bad weather for a second day Monday, the United Nations said. Special UN teams were deployed to help survivors put up tents that collapsed due to heavy rain, snow and high winds at the weekend, officials said. But tens of thousands of people had to fend for themselves in isolated villages cut off by landslides and snow on the ground and low clouds. Meteorologists said the cold spell would continue till Wednesday. On Monday landslides again blocked two key roads in the Neelum and Jhelum valleys. Army engineers were trying to clear them. (Posted @ 12:15 PST)
U.S. helicopter shot down in Iraq - witnesses BAGHDAD, Jan 16 (Reuters) - A U.S. helicopter was shot down north of Baghdad on Monday, witnesses said. They said they saw a rocket hit the helicopter in an area near the small town of Mishahda. There was no immediate word on the fate of the crew. U.S. military said it was checking the incident. One witness said smoke was rising from the area. (Posted @ 11:50 PST)
Bomb explosion triggers shooting spree in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) - A bomb exploded near a passing convoy of civilian vehicles in central Baghdad early Monday morning, triggering a shooting spree among nearby US and Iraqi soldiers, an interior ministry official said. US forces opened machine gun fire, triggering a similar response by nearby Iraqi troops who thought themselves under attack, the official said. (Posted @ 11:40 PST)
Cold wave kills 15 in Bangladesh DHAKA, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) - Fourteen children and a jail inmate died in Bangladesh following a cold snap since last week, hospital officials said Monday. Administrator of Chittagong Medical College hospital said more than 100 children had been admitted to the hospital since last week suffering from illnesses linked to the cold weather. At least 11 people were also killed in accidents caused by heavy fog. (Posted @ 11:35 PST)
Pipeline blown up ahead of Indian PM's Assam visit GUWAHATI, India, Jan 16, 2006 (APP/AFP) - Suspected separatists late Sunday blew up an oil pipeline in India's northeastern state of Assam ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's two-day visit to the region Monday, officials said. The blast disrupted supply of crude oil to the refinery. (Posted @ 11:30 PST)
Suspected Tamil rebels attack Sri Lankan air force checkpoint, one airman wounded COLOMBO, Jan 16 (APP/AP) _ In the first ever attack on an air force checkpoint since an upsurge of violence hit Sri Lanka, suspected Tamil Tiger rebels late Sunday lobbed a hand grenade, wounding an airman, military officials said Monday. Military spokesman Brig. Athula Jayawardane said the assailants fled after throwing the grenade. (Posted @ 10:40 PST)
Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah to be invited next month for talks with Manmohan New Delhi, Jan 16 (APP): After the talks held by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh with Sajjad Ghani Lone, Chief of People's Conference last week on Kashmir dispute, the Indian government is now expected to invite other Kashmiri leaders for the parleys. Those likely to be invited for talks next month include Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) chief Shabir Shah and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader Yasin Malik, said a news report carried by Indian Daily "The Tribune". "The Centre is also likely to invite Kashmiri Pandits", added the report. Quoting sources the report further said, talks with the JKDFP and the JKLF will take place before the Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is invited for the second round of talks. Several Congress leaders from Indian Occupied Kashmir have suggested to the government to invite Kashmiri Pandits for talks as it will send right signals to the community, migrated from the valley, the report expressed. (Posted @ 10:35 PST)
UN Security Council permanent members meet on Iran LONDON, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) - Senior officials from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany were to hold closed door talks here Monday regarding Iran's resumption of controversial nuclear activities. They are expected to set a date for an emergency meeting of the IAEA’s 35-nation board of governors, which could refer Iran to the UN Security Council. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Venus Williams out of Australian Open in first round MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan 16 (AFP) - Former world number one Venus Williams was dumped from the Australian Open first round Monday in a marathon three sets by Bulgarian teenager Tszvetana Pironkova. She lost 6-2, 0-6, 9-7 in over two-and-a-half hours in what was her worst Grand Slam performance since she exited the 2001 French Open at the first hurdle. (Posted @ 10:21 PST)
At least eight killed in fareast Russia inferno VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Jan 16, 2006 (AFP) - Eight people died and 15 others were injured when fire engulfed an office building in Russia's Pacific port city Vladivostok early Monday, an official said. The toll "is preliminary, as (firemen) are still in the process of putting the fire out, and, when it is over, new casualties may be discovered," he added. The blaze started at 5:00 am Moscow time (0200 GMT) on the eighth floor of a nine-storey building that houses a bank and numerous offices. It spread rapidly , cutting people off from emergency exits, and many of those who died were killed when they jumped out of windows. (Posted @ 10:20 PST)
Zawahri missed dinner that prompted U.S. strike ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (Reuters) - A dinner invitation to al Qaeda's second-in-command triggered a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan but Ayman al-Zawahri failed to show up, Pakistani intelligence officials said Sunday. "He was invited for the dinner, but we have no evidence he was present," a senior intelligence official told Reuters.Another Pakistani intelligence official said two local Islamist clerics, known for harbouring al Qaeda militants, had attended the dinner but left hours before the airstrike at 3.00 a.m. (2200 GMT). (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Chileans elect their first woman president SANTIAGO, Chile, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Socialist and separated mother Michelle Bachelet won elections on Sunday to become the first female president in traditionally conservative Chile with a victory that underscores the left's growing hold on Latin America. With almost all polling stations tallied, Bachelet, from Chile's ruling center-left coalition, took 53 percent of the vote while opposition candidate Sebastian Pinera had 47 percent, the government Electoral Service said. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 103.29 points: KARACHI, Jan 16: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10093.48, up 103.29 points from Monday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 16: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 59.85 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 PST)
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