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| February 7, 2006 | Tuesday | Muharram 8, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
100,000 protest in Niger against cartoons NIAMEY, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Muslims gathered in Niger's capital Niamey on Tuesday in protest against blasphemous cartoons, as mass demonstrations sweeping the Islamic world spread to sub-Saharan Africa. "God is Greatest" chanted the peaceful crowd which thronged a large square in the east of Niamey to denounce the caricatures. Members of the Niger Association for the Call to Muslim Solidarity, an alliance of 30 Muslim groups which organised the protest, estimated that at least 100,000 people were present. Police figures were not available but a Reuters eyewitness confirmed the organisers' estimate. So far, demonstrations in sub-Saharan Africa's Muslim states have been scarce, although a 14-year-old boy was shot dead by police when a protest in north eastern Somalia turned violent on Monday. In Niamey, thousands of demonstrators broke away from the gathering and snaked their way to the parliament building in the centre of town. A group of youths, waving the Saudi Arabian flag, shouted anti-Western slogans.(Posted @ 22:04 PST)
Thousands protest against cartoon in Bangladesh, burn Danish flag DHAKA, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) - Demonstrators in Bangladesh burned a Danish flag Tuesday during a protest against blasphemous cartoons. Thousands of protestors shouting "hang the cartoonists" and "boycott Danish goods" took part in the otherwise peaceful rally outside a mosque in the capital organised by the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami.(Posted @ 20:48 PST)
Bomb kills Turkish engineer in Afghanistan KABUL, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) - A Turkish engineer was killed in western Afghanistan Tuesday when a bomb struck his vehicle, a provincial governor said.(Posted @ 20:45 PST)
Jaswant returns home with hopes of better ties Umerkot, Feb 07 (PPI): Indian opposition leader in the upper house Jaswant Singh Tuesday returned home via Khokhrapar-Monabao route with hopes that Pakistan-India relationship will continue to prosper. Earlier, he along with 86-member entourage called on PML leaders here and acknowledged the hospitality accorded to them. Talking to newsmen, he said: "Now, I can say it with utmost confidence that the two countries cannot afford another war”. Singh said it was encouraging to note that the present Indian government along with its Pakistani counterpart was taking the peace process forward, initiated by former BJP government.(Posted @ 20:43 PST)
Delhi-Lahore bus passengers safe after accident Chandigarh, Feb 07 (PPI): All 40 passengers of a Lahore-bound bus from New Delhi were safe after it met with an accident with an oil tanker in Haryana Tuesday. The bus was being escorted by Indian security personnel when the accident took place at Gharaunda near Karnal. Police officials said no one was hurt and the bus resumed journey within 15 minutes of the accident.(Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Musharraf invited to attend NAM summit Rawalpindi, Feb 07, (PPI) Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque called on President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday and delivered an official invitation from President Fidel Castro to participate in the NAM summit in Cuba later this year. The visiting foreign minister later called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. On this occasion he offered one thousand scholarships to Pakistan for education in various fields of medicine.(Posted @ 20:38 PST)
Kashmir most important issue at OIC agenda : Ihsangolu JEDDAH, February 7 (APP): The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference, Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has described Kashmir as one of the most important issues on the OIC agenda. Speaking at the Kashmir Solidarity Day function in Jeddah, he said OIC had been pleading the cause of Kashmiris since inception and added that he was personally involved in Kashmir cause.The function was also attended by the senior Kashmiri Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Gilani, who was here to perform Hajj.(Posted @ 20:22 PST)
Government committed to ensure transparency: PM ISLAMABAD, Feb 7 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday said government was committed to ensure transparency in all spheres of activity particularly in the disbursement of funds for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the earthquake affected areas. Opening the two-day international workshop on "Transparent utilization of earthquake reconstruction funds" organised by Transparency International he assured that the funds raised through the donors conference would be utilised in a transparent manner, and added that all the details of the expenditures are available on the website. He said the government also collected Rs. 9 billion domestically through President Earthquake Relief Fund and assured transparent system for spending these funds as well. Besides external audit and scrutiny by the Auditor General of Pakistan these funds would also be monitored by a committee of prominent personalities and a committee of parliamentarians. He said the parliament is supreme and is empowered to check each and every penny being spent on the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in earthquake ravaged areas.(Posted @ 20:20 PST)
US Pakistani doctors adopt village for rehabilitation ISLAMABAD, Feb 7 (APP): The American-Pakistani Physicians of North America has adopted village Kathai Azad Kashmir, and has already provided items of daily use and iron sheets for construction of houses besides medical and other necessary supplies worth ten million dollars, Radio Pakistan reported. A boys school has been established in collaboration with the Read Foundation of Britain, while a school for girls is being set up. A rehabilitation centre with 50 paraplegic women is being supported with 5,000 dollars monthly grant and a rehabilitation centre for amputees and spinal cord injury patients will be set up.(Posted @ 20:04 PST)
President, PM review economic outlook ISLAMABAD, Feb 7 (APP): A top-level meeting on Tuesday reviewed the economic outlook for the current financial year and beyond, which aims at attracting greater foreign investment, sustaining industrial growth, generating 2.5 million new jobs per annum and containing inflation. President General Pervez Musharraf chaired the meeting, which was attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and senior finance and economic managers. The meeting decided to step up efforts for generation of inexpensive hydro power and development of Thar coal reserves. It resolved to explore and finalize energy import options on fast-track basis including the import of natural gas from Iran and Turkmenistan and electricity from Kyrgyzstan. The meeting was informed that consistent strong economic growth and enhanced inflow of investment created five million new jobs over the last two years. "The unemployment rate has registered a decline from 8.3 per cent to 6.9 percent -- whereas, the Consumer Price Index, which hovered around 11 per cent in April last year, has come down to 8 per cent this year." On the other hand, the financial inflows in the form of foreign investment, floating of GDR and Eurobonds and loans from international financial institutions for development programmes, which are to be to the tune of US dollars eight to nine billion during the year, would lead to US dollars two billion addition to the country's forex reserves.(Posted @ 19:52 PST)
Pakistan, Oman to further boost defence cooperation ISLAMABAD, Feb 7 (APP): Pakistan and Oman have reiterated desire to further enhance bilateral cooperation particularly in defence sector. The matter was discussed on Tuesday at a meeting between Minister of State for Defence Zahid Hamid and the visiting Omani Under-Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sayyid Badar Bin Hamad Bin Hamoud Al-Busaid. Zahid Hamid thanked the Sultan of Oman for the assistance in reconstruction and development of Gwadar Port and Gwadar Airport and for the timely assistance provided by Oman for the earthquake victims.(Posted @ 19:44 PST)
Nawab Bugti's fort catches fire due to own fault of miscreants: Col Furqan QUETTA, Feb 7 (APP): Commandant Bhambore Rifle Col. Furqan Tuesday said that Frontier Corps has not fired a single rocket on Nawab Akbar Bugti's fort in Dera Bugti and that the fort caught fire due to own fault of the miscreants. Talking to APP from Sui on telephone, he said the arms dump inside Nawab Bugti's fort caught fire at first due to mistake of the miscreants which later spread to other parts of the fort. Nawab Bugti and his family were not present in the fort as they had left it two months ago. There are only miscreants present in the fort who are continuously targeting the FC fort with 107 missiles, heavy mortars and automatic grenade launchers, he said. There are still 12 camps of fugitives in Dera Bugti. Miscreants in those camps are launching attacks on law enforcement agencies, he said. Meanwhile, he said, Sangsila Road has been freed from the hold of miscreants.(Posted @ 19:14 PST)
Cricket-Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 76 runs SYDNEY, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 76 runs at Hobart on Tuesday to book their place in the triangular one-day series finals with Australia. With everything at stake in the last preliminary match, Sri Lanka scored 257 for nine, and then dismissed the Proteas for 181 in the 44th over to post a comfortable win. Atapattu (80) and Kumar Sangakkara (62) both scored half-centuries for Sri Lanka while South African captain Graeme Smith top-scored with 67 for the Proteas, who lost their last three matches to miss out on the finals. Sri Lankan super-sub Malinga Bandara was named man of the match after taking four wickets for 31 runs from nine overs. Summarised scores: Sri Lanka 257 for 9 (Atapattu 80, Sangakkara( 62). South Africa 181 all out (Smith 67 – Malinga 4 for 31 in 9 overs). The first final will take place in Adelaide on Friday and the second at Sydney on Sunday. A third match, if required, will be held in Brisbane next Tuesday.(Posted @ 19:05 PST)
Eight dead in Nepal clashes ahead of controversial polls KATHMANDU, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) - Nepal's Maoist rebels killed at least seven security force personnel in new clashes, the army said Tuesday on the eve of local polls called by King Gyanendra as part of a pledge to restore democracy. One guerrilla also died in the violence, the army said, amid tight security as a nationwide general strike called by the Maoists entered its third day. Three soldiers and two policemen died when rebels stormed the district headquarters town of Gaighat, 400 kilometers east of Kathmandu late Monday. The body of a guerrilla was also found. A soldier and a policeman were killed during a rebel attack in Panauti, 30 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu, he added.(Posted @ 17:50 PST)
Islamic militant commanders arrested in Bangladesh DHAKA, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) - Bangladesh announced the arrest Tuesday of nine members of a militant Islamic group blamed for a series of deadly blasts. Four regional commanders and five militants belonging to Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were detained in northern Syedpur, spokesman for the anti-terrorist Rapid Action Battalion, Mashuk Ahmed, said. He added that 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of explosives and 84 detonators were seized in the overnight raids.(Posted @ 17:40 PST)
Pakistani legislators lead new cartoon protest PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) - Thousands of Pakistanis shouted "Hang the cartoonists" during a protest rally against the blasphemous cartoons here Tuesday. NWFP chief minister Akram Durrani and his cabinet ministers led the demonstration. "All Islamic countries should suspend their diplomatic ties with Denmark till it offers apologies to every single Muslim for hurting their sentiments," Durrani told the rally. He also called for the International Court of Justice to intervene as the publication of the cartoons threatened to spark off a "clash of civilisations". Separately, in Karachi, some traders went on strike while in Islamabad a journalists union was to hold a rally later Tuesday. Lawyers also went on strike in several central Pakistani districts to protest against the cartoons and hoisted black flags on their offices. Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic bishop of the central city of Multan, Andrew Francis, also condemned the Danish government and media for printing the drawings. Rallies condemning the cartoons have been held almost daily in Pakistan but have thus far been peaceful.(First Posted @ 17:10 PST Updated @ 17:36 PST)
Three killed as militants arms dump explodes in Dera Bugti QUETTA, Pakistan, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) - An ammunition store kept by militant tribesmen in Dera Bugti exploded, killing three suspected militants, an official said Tuesday. The blast occurred late Monday and was caused by "mishandling of the ordnance by militants". It caused a large fire at the site, he said. "We recovered three bodies, all appeared to have been hit by splinters from exploded ammunition," he added. Meanwhile, a pipeline explosion blew up six feet (about two meters) of the pipeline at Chatthar town in Baluchistan, local police officer Khalid Magsi said. It cut supply to the gas-fired Uchh power plant. Militants also fired at another pipeline near Loti gas fields in Dera Bugti but there were no casualties or damage, officials said.(First Posted @ 10:30 PST Updated @ 17:22 PST)
Turkish PM urges Muslims to avoid falling into 'trap' of violence ANKARA, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Muslims around the world Tuesday to show restraint over blasphemous cartoons which he described as a "trap" aimed at portraying Islam as violent. The cartoons are "an open provocation, a trap ... (that aims) to show the world pictures of violence from the Muslim world," Erdogan said in a speech before his parliamentary group. "Neither Turkey nor the Muslim world should fall into this trap," Erdogan said. "The Muslim world must demonstrate that it has the reason, the common sense and the maturity to fend off such provocations."(Posted @ 17:12 PST)
Iranians target Danish embassy TEHRAN, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) - Iranian demonstrators throwing firebombs briefly stormed into the Danish embassy in Tehran on Tuesday in a new protest over controversial cartoons, an AFP photographer said. Between 20 and 30 protestors climbed over the walls into the compound while others in a crowd outside numbering up to 300 people outside hurled objects including Molotov cocktails at the building. They clashed with police who tried to keep the crowds away. Tuesday's violence occurred despite the authorities calling on Iranians not to attack foreign missions.(Posted @ 17:12 PST)
4 Afghans killed as cartoon protesters attack Norwegian troops MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) - 4 persons were killed Tuesday when a mob condemning blasphemous cartoons attacked Norwegian troops, officials said. Thousands of people marched in several key cities, including Kabul. A demonstration by about 700 people in Maymana, the capital of Faryab province, turned violent when protestors threw a petrol bomb and a hand grenade at a camp of Norwegian NATO troops, a provincial official said. Troops fired back with teargas and rubber bullets, the Norwegian military said in Oslo. Two soldiers were slightly wounded by hurled stones and a grenade blast, it said. Faryab governor office and doctors said 4 protestors were killed and more then a dozen were wounded. Protestors also threw stones at the provincial office of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan. Several windows and lights and a security camera were broken, a witness said. Planes from the NATO-led force (ISAF) were patrolling the skies. An ISAF spokeswoman in Kabul said a mob of about 300 people threw stones at the office of the Norwegian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team but she was not aware of any casualties. In Herat, about 5,000 people hurled stones and smashed lamps at the offices of a German firm and at ISAF troops. In Kabul, about 150 men armed with large wooden sticks tried to storm the Danish embassy but were pushed back by police, a witness said. Mobs had reportedly gathered in other parts of the city.(First Posted @ 17:10 PST Updated @ 18:48 PST)
Seven Iraqis, four US marines killed in Iraq attacks BAGHDAD, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) - Four US marines and at least seven Iraqis died in attacks Tuesday amid tight security clampdown ahead of Ashura. The marines were killed in two separate roadside bomb attacks in the restive Al-Anbar province on Monday and Sunday, the US military said. In other violence, three Iraqis were killed while shopping in central Baghdad. Two roadside bombs went off within minutes of each other, and five policemen who had arrived at the scene to investigate the first explosion were also wounded. In a separate attack, two civilians died when their car hit a roadside bomb in the outskirts of Baghdad, while a civilian was killed and four policemen wounded when gunmen fired on them in Baquba, northeast of Baghdad. Unidentified gunmen shot Sheikh Kamal Shakur, head of the city council of Fallujah, and he later died of his wounds in hospital. Meanwhile, US military said Iraqi and US forces carried out a raid including an air raid late Monday near Salam Pak, south of Baghdad and detained around 26 “ suspected rebels," the military said. A raid by Iraqi troops in Ramadi resulted in the arrest of 12 Syrian nationals as well as a weapons cache.(Posted @ 16:48 PST)
Jihad leader killed by Israel NABLUS, West Bank, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) – Ahmed Raddat,leader of Islamic Jihad's military wing in the West Bank, was shot dead by Israeli troops on Tuesday. His body was recovered after a lengthy gunbattle. Riddat became the eighth militant to be killed since Sunday in the worst cycle of violence since Hamas’s shock election victory last month. Jihad's master rocket-maker was also killed in an Israeli air strike on Sunday night.(First Posted @ 11:25 PST Updated @ 16:30 PST)
Blast at Afghan police headquarters kills 12 KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Feb 7 (Reuters) A blast outside the police headquarters in Kandahar on Tuesday killed 12 people and wounded 14, doctors and a government spokesman said. A doctor in Kandahar said most of the casualties were policemen. (Posted @ 13:10 PST)
New Zealanders put at risk by blasphemous cartoon publication: PM Clark WELLINGTON, Feb 7, 2006 (AFP) A decision by several New Zealand media outlets to publish sacrilegious cartoons has put the country's people at risk, Prime Minister Helen Clark said Tuesday. Clark said the country's newspapers had the right to publish what they wanted, but called their decision to reproduce the blasphemous drawings "ill-judged" and "gratuitous". The government warned that about one billion US dollars worth in trade with Muslim countries was at risk now as a result of the publication controversy. "If I were an exporter of primary produce that faced the loss of contracts, I'd be feeling very, very angry," Clark told reporters. (Posted @ 11:25 PST)
Rome bus crash kills 12 Turkish tourists ROME (AP) A bus loaded with tourists from Turkey ran off a road in the Italian capital and dropped about 15 meters into a ravine late Monday, killing 12 people, police said. Authorities said it was still unclear what caused the accident. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Rebels attack government forces in Nepal; kill seven, wound 15 KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) Maoist rebels killed at least seven security forces and wounded 15 others in two overnight attacks ahead of nationwide local elections in Nepal, officials said Tuesday. The situation was now under control by Tuesday morning and soldiers were searching for the attackers, the official added. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 112.26 points: KARACHI, Feb 07: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10914.58, up 112.26 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Feb 07: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 59.88 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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