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| February 12, 2006 | Sunday | Muharram 13, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Tens of thousands of Turks protest blasphemous cartoons ANKARA, Turkey (AP) _ At least 30,000 protesters on Sunday denounced blasphemous cartoons in a peaceful rally in southeast Turkey, while ultra-nationalists,'' pelted the French consulate in Istanbul with eggs. In Turkey's largest rally yet, men and women in head-to-toe veils stood in segregated crowds in the predominantly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir.(Posted @ 23:42 PST)
Alleged U.S. fire kills two nomads, injures four in Pakistan, MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan (AP) _ Cross-border firing from Afghanistan hit the tent of a nomad family on the Pakistani side of the frontier, killing two women and injuring at least four children, Pakistani officials said Sunday. They said four rockets or shells were apparently fired by the U.S. military in fighting with suspected militants in Afghanistan's eastern Khost province late Saturday, and one hit the nomads' tent at Bangi Dar, in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area.(Posted @ 22:30 PST)
Afghan police seize 700 homemade bombs arriving from Pakistan KABUL, Feb 12, 2006 (AFP) - Afghan police seized Sunday about 700 homemade bombs smuggled into Afghanistan, the government said. A range of wires and fuses was also found among the improvised explosive devices discovered in eastern Kunar province on the border with Pakistan, the interior ministry said. One person was arrested, a ministry spokesman said.(Posted @ 21:28 PST)
Bangladeshi prime minister arrives for talks with Pakistani leaders ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) _ The Bangladeshi prime minister arrived Sunday in Pakistan on a three-day visit for talks on agriculture, tourism, and export promotion, the Foreign Ministry said. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was met by her Pakistani counterpart, Shaukat Aziz, on arrival at an air force base near the capital, Islamabad, it said. She will have formal meetings with Aziz and President Gen. Pervez Musharraf on Monday, ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said. Pakistan and Bangladesh were expected to sign at least three agreements on export promotion, agriculture and tourism during Zia's visit, Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin, said on Saturday.(Posted @ 21:04 PST)
One Russian soldier killed, four wounded in rebel attack in southern Russia ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia (AP) _ Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a vehicle transporting Russian troops in southern Russia, killing one serviceman and wounding another four, the Interior Ministry said Sunday. The attack took place Saturday evening in the province of Ingushetia, which borders Russia's war-ravaged separatist region of Chechnya, the ministry said. One of the attackers was killed in the shootout in the town of Troitskaya and security forces on Sunday detained a second suspected assailant, according to the ministry.(Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Footage of troops 'abusing' Iraqis sparks alarm in Britain LONDON, Feb 12, 2006 (AFP) - The British government on Sunday faced fresh controversy over the conduct of its troops in Iraq after a tabloid newspaper published footage purporting to show ruthless abuse of young Iraqis. The ministry of defence had already ordered Saturday an "urgent investigation" into the video, in which a group of teenagers are seen to be attacked by soldiers. "It's awful... it will cause a lot of trouble in Iraq," Labour lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn said in response to the video published in Britain's best-selling Sunday newspaper, the News of the World.(Posted @ 18:40 PST)
Two Nepalese kidnapped in Afghan capital Kabul KABUL, Feb 12, 2006 (AFP) - Two Nepalese nationals have been kidnapped in Afghanistan's capital Kabul and police are working to secure their release, the government said Sunday. The men were snatched in the centre of the city early Saturday, the interior ministry said.(Posted @ 18:05 PST)
Eight killed in landslide in central Philippines MANILA, Feb 12, 2006 (AFP) - Eight people were killed in a landslide triggered by torrential rains in the central Philippines Sunday, disaster relief officials said. Rains over the past four days loosened soil on a hillside near the town of Sugod in Southern Leyte island province, triggering the landslide. Eight people were reported killed and two were missing, officials said, without giving further details.(Posted @ 17:42 PST)
Iraq's ruling Shi'ite party picks Jaafari as PM BAGHDAD, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Iraq's ruling Shi'ite Islamist alliance nominated on Sunday incumbent Ibrahim al-Jaafari as candidate for prime minister in the first full-term government since the fall of Saddam Hussein, an alliance official said. Sami al-Askari told Reuters Jaafari won an United Iraqi Alliance vote after weeks of wrangling that has delayed the start of talks for the formation of a new Iraqi government nearly two months after elections. (Posted @ 14:45 PST)
Pakistani paceman Akhtar ruled out of India one-day series LAHORE, Pakistan, Feb 12, 2006 (AFP) - Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar will be out for four to six weeks and will miss the rest of the one-day series against India due to an ankle injury, captain Inzamam-ul Haq said Sunday. "We were confident that he would recover in time but when he tried to bowl during the practice he aggravated the injury and felt severe pain and that is why he is being ruled out of the one-day series," Inzamam told reporters (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Rockets fired at security post in Pakistan tribal region WANA, Pakistan, Feb 12 (AP) _Suspected militants fired rockets at a military post north of Wana in northwestern Pakistan, but no one was hurt, an intelligence official said Sunday. The three rockets fired in the attack in South Waziristan tribal region late Saturday missed their target, the official said on condition of anonymity. The army post targeted in the attack was north of Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, in Shakai, a mountain valley and a former militant stronghold. Military officials say that Arab, Afghan and Central Asian militants _ allegedly linked with al-Qaida _ are in South and the adjoining North Waziristan tribal regions. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Sudanese military plane crashes, 20 killed KHARTOUM, Feb 12 (Reuters) - A Sudanese military plane crashed at the airport in the southern town of Awil on Saturday killing all seven crew and 13 soldiers on board, officials said. A senior army official said the plane crashed on landing when its front tyre burst. "They couldn't control. The plane hit a building near the airport and then caught fire ". (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Rebels kill kidnapped contractor, doctor shot dead in Iraq BAGHDAD, Feb 12, 2006 (AFP) - Iraqi police late Saturday found the tortured body of a prominent local contractor who was kidnapped in Kirkuk, with a message on his chest, "This is the verdict of Allah", police said. In another incident doctor Khalid Abdullah of Hawija hospital west of Kirkuk, was shot dead late Saturday by masked gunmen who barged into the hospital. Meanwhile, twelve people were wounded early Sunday in two roadside bombings which went off in quick succession on a central street in Baghdad, an interior ministry official said. The bombs, which also damaged a police car, went off near a restaurant on Al-Sadun Street at around 0700 am (0400 GMT). It was not immediately clear whether any policemen were wounded in the attack. In a separate incident, five people were wounded when their car collided with a US armoured vehicle in Baghdad early Sunday, the official added. (First Posted @ 10:35 Updated @ 11:2 PST)
India "deeply concerned" about cartoon fury NEW DELHI, Feb 12, 2006 (AFP) - India is "deeply concerned" about the global rage over the publication of blasphemous cartoons, a government spokesman said, calling for more sensitivity over religious issues. "It is incumbent on all of us to be sensitive to the beliefs and sentiments of others and avoid all actions that cause hurt to them," the official told the PTI news agency. "India's commitment to religious harmony and tolerance is unshakeable and actions that cause hurt to the sentiments of any part of our people are not acceptable," he added. (Posted @ 11:10 PST)
About 1,000 Swiss Muslims protest cartoons BERN, Switzerland, Feb 12 (AP) _ About 1,000 Swiss Muslims protested Saturday against the publication of blasphemous cartoons with banners and speeches on the main square of the capital. There have been several demonstrations around Switzerland, and all have been peaceful. (Posted @ 11:10 PST)
Muslims protest at Paris demonstration PARIS, Feb 12 (AP) _ More than 7,000 Muslims marched through Paris Saturday to protest against blasphemous cartoons. Marchers raised slogans and carried banners and placards in Arabic, saying ``No to Islamophobia'' and ``French Muslims have the right to be respected.'' A similar rally was held in the eastern city of Strasbourg. The demonstration in Paris was organized by Muslim associations from the suburban Seine-Saint-Denis region north of the capital, the impoverished area that was the epicenter of this fall's rioting and arson attacks. Police said there were over 7,000 demonstrators, while organizers put the figure at more than 10,000. M'hammed Henniche, head of the Union of Muslim Associations of Seine-Saint-Denis, said in a closing speech that his group would propose a law against Islamophobia. In the run-up to France's 2007 presidential elections, Henniche promised that his group would support the candidate who backs the proposal. (Posted @ 11:05 PST)
Muslims in Germany hold peaceful demonstrations BERLIN, Feb 12 (AP) _ Hundreds of Muslims peacefully demonstrated across Germany on Saturday against blasphemous cartoons.. Some 2,500 people protested outside the consul general in Duesseldorf, while an estimated 1,250 gathered outside Denmark's embassy in Berlin.``We respect the feelings of others and expect others to respect ours,'' read a banner at the Berlin protest, that attracted mostly young demonstrators. Initiative of Berlin Muslims collected more than 5,000 signatures on a letter of protest against the drawings that it said it had handed over to the Danish ambassador. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)
Muslims protest Philadelphia paper's publishing of cartoon PHILADELPHIA, Feb 12 (AP) _ About 200 protesters carrying placards that read ``Irresponsible Journalism'' gathered outside the offices of The Philadelphia Inquirer to condemn the newspaper's decision to reprint blasphemous cartoons. (Posted @ 10:50 PST)
Muslims demonstrate in Canada against controversial cartoons MONTREAL, Feb 12 (AP) _ Muslims demonstrated peacefully in two principal Canadian cities – Montreal and Toronto -- to condemn the publication of blasphemous cartoons. About 250 protesters gathered Saturday near McGill university in downtown Montreal, a heavy police presence separating them from some 50 counter-protesters holding signs across the street. The protest coincided with another demonstration in Toronto of about 1,500 people who clogged a busy downtown area just outside the Danish consulate. In Montreal, protesters had initially planned to march to the Danish consulate but changed their plans after some 50 Muslim groups appealed to organizers to cancel the demonstration apprehending violence could erupt.``We're here to denounce insults against the Holy Prophet and all prophets and all types of provocation,'' declared Said Jazeri, imamof Montreal’s al-Qods mosque which organized the protest. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Communist rebels abduct government officials in southwest Nepal KATMANDU, Feb 12 (AP) _ Communist rebels abducted three government officials near the village of Parsia, about 300 kilometers southwest of the capital, Katmandu in southwest Nepal, officials said Sunday. Those abducted included Bhawani Parajuli, the deputy chief government official in Kapilbastu district. The abduction came just hours after the rebels freed at least 10 soldiers and nine government officials who were seized in two separate attacks last week. The rebels have been fighting since 1996 for a socialist state. The insurgency has claimed about 12,000 lives. (Posted @ 10:10 PST)
US drawing up plans for Iran attack: Sunday Telegraph LONDON, Feb 12, 2006 (AFP) - US military strategists are drawing up plans for an attack on Iran as a last resort to stop the Islamic republic from developing nuclear weapons, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper in London reported. In a front-page dispatch from Washington, it said Central Command and Strategic Command planners were "identifying targets, assessing weapon-loads and working on logistics for an operation". The planners are reporting to the office of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld with a view to having a military option if diplomatic efforts fail to put the brakes on Iran's suspected quest for nuclear weaponry. "This is more than just the standard military contingency assessment," the Sunday Telegraph quoted a senior Pentagon adviser as saying. "This has taken on much greater urgency in recent months." (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
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