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| February 24, 2006 | Friday | Muharram 25, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
President describes China visit 'very important', to boost multi-faceted ties Feb 24 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday described his visit to China as very important and said his 'substantive and positive' interaction with the Chinese leadership would boost ties in political, economic and defence fields. "The visit is very important in terms of timings and substance in the wake of changing strategic situation in the world," he told reporters while flying back home after a five-day state visit to China. Musharraf said he had substantive interaction with the Chinese leadership that covered all areas including political, economic, diplomatic, defence, continuing cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and regional and international issues. "There was a complete understanding on all issues we discussed and there has been a very positive response," he said while referring to his one-on-one meeting with President Hu Jintao. Responding to a question, the President said that Pakistan and China had always been collaborating in the defence field. "Defence relations have been the bedrock of Sino-Pak relations." China, he added, had been giving a lot of transfer of technology "because of which collaboration has been going on for decades". The President said the Chinese government also showed their hi-tech F-10 that is comparable with any modern aircraft. 'We are very favourably disposed toward this aircraft," he added. Answering another question he said Chinese investors have shown interest in various sectors including automobile, energy, textile etc. adding that in the automobile sector, several world renowned companies were heading to Pakistan in a big way. Referring to the cartoon controversy the President rejected the excuse of freedom of press for the publication of these blasphemous images which, he added, would encourage notion of clash of civilizations. "It has taken the freedom of press to its worst limit," he added. About the unresolved political disputes including Palestine and Kashmir, he said these were the root cause of extremism and terrorism and must be addressed. (Posted @ 10:10 PST)
Holy tomb attacked with rockets southeast of Baghdad BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) _ Gunmen fired two rockets at a tomb sacred for Shiites south of Baghdad causing damage but no casualties, an official said. The tomb of Salman Pak, also known as Salman al-Farisi, was attacked after sunset with two rockets, an official said(Posted @ 23:50 PST)
Mirwaiz seeks complete withdrawal of troops from IHK Srinagar, Feb 24 (PPI) Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday demanded that in accordance with the demilitarization proposal of the President Musharraf, India should withdraw its troops from occupied Kashmir. Condemning killing of four youths, Mirwaiz stressed that for peaceful resolution of Kashmir and lasting peace in the region it is imperative to ensure complete withdrawal of troops from Jammu and Kashmir. Hurriyat leader termed the killing of youths by the security forces at Doodipora as an "eye-opener" for the international community.(Posted @ 23:36 PST)
South Asian countries need to work harder for peace: Aziz ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday said South Asian countries need to work harder for sustainable peace to leverage the true potential of the region. Talking to Admiral Daya Sandagiri, Chief of Defence Staff Sri Lankan Armed Forces, who called on him along with a delegation, Aziz said, "Pakistan due to its geo-strategic location is playing a stabilizing role in the region and only a minimum credible defense capability will enable it continue playing this role." Admiral Sandagiri thanked Pakistan for providing professional training to his armed forces personnel.(Posted @ 22:25 PST)
India, U.S. make progress over nuclear deal NEW DELHI, Feb 24 (Reuters) India and United States on Friday said they had made some progress towards a landmark nuclear deal but more work was needed to try and clinch it in time for President George W. Bush's visit to New Delhi next week. "The two sides had detailed and productive discussions. There was greater clarity on the issues under discussion. Progress has been made in the talks," a statement from the Indian Foreign Ministry said. "It would take several days. We have made some progress, further progress still has to be made," Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said after two days of talks with Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran. (First Posted@ 20:05 PST Updated @ 22:20 PST)
Bush says Iraq faces "moment of choosing" WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) President George W. Bush said on Friday Iraq faces a "moment of choosing" in the aftermath of the bombing of a holy shrine and urged Iraqis to stay on the path of democracy. In a speech to an American Legion gathering, Bush hailed Iraq's Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani for working to urge restraint and calm after the bombing."We can expect the coming days will be intense. Iraq remains a serious situation, but I'm optimistic, because the Iraqi people have spoken" for their desire to have democracy through elections, he said.(Posted @ 22:15 PST)
Suicide bombers attack Saudi oil facility DUBAI, Feb 24 (Reuters) An explosion rocked Saudi Arabia's huge Abqaiq oil facility in the east of the kingdom on Friday and an official said Saudi forces had thwarted suicide bomb attacks against the world's biggest oil exporter. Oil jumped more than $2 a barrel. A security source said suicide bombers had tried to storm the facility in Baqiq. Dubai-based television station Al-Arabiya said Saudi forces killed the attackers. Al Arabiya said a fire at a pipeline from the blast was now under control.(Posted @ 20:02 PST)
Finn, Indians and rock stars vie for 2006 Nobel Peace Prize OSLO, Feb 24, 2006 (AFP) A total of 191 candidates have been nominated this year for the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Institute said on Friday, with former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari seen as the early favourite. Among the other candidates known to be in the running are Irish rock stars Bono and Bob Geldof for their fight to eradicate poverty, and two Indians, Kailash Satyarthi, head of the Global March Against Child Labour, and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.(Posted @ 19:50 PST)
MMA’s Qazi Hussain detained in Lahore; demonstrations held LAHORE, Pakistan, Feb 24 (Reuters) Authorities detained Qazi Hussain Ahmed, leader of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, on Friday in Lahore ahead of planned countrywide protests. "He cannot go out of his party office," provincial spokesman Taimur Azmat Usman said. MMA officials said around 50 activists had been detained in overnight raids in Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Police put the number detained at about a dozen. Speaking to up to 500 demonstrators in Islamabad, Fazal-ur-Rehman, the secretary-general of MMA, said "our movement will continue until Europe tenders an apology and gives assurance that such acts will not be repeated". Demonstrations against the blasphemous cartoons were held in several other cities and towns across Pakistan. But the number of participants was small and there were no reports of violence. In the largest protest, up to five thousand people rallied in the Bajaur tribal region near the Afghan border. Around 1,500 people gathered Multan. Another 1,200 people took part in a protest in Peshawar while small protests were held in Karachi and other cities. (First Posted @ 12:30 PST Updated @ 19:45 PST)
Prime Minister Aziz condemns violence in Iraq ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday said the people of Pakistan and government are in deep shock and sorrow on the bombing of the holy shrines in Iraq. Expressing solidarity with the people of Iraq and praying for those who lost their lives in these recent incidents, Aziz offered cooperation and assistance from Pakistan in the repair of the holy shrines. "We sincerely hope that the spiralling tension and hostility is soon brought under control and calm is restored," he said.(Posted @ 19:36 PST)
Greece arrests 69 illegal migrants ATHENS, Feb 24 (Reuters) Greek police arrested on Friday 69 illegal immigrants, mostly from Somalia and Pakistan, hiding in a refrigerated truck in the border town of Orestiada near Turkey. Police officials added that the immigrants were men and women aged between 20 to 40.(Posted @ 17:40 PST)
Hockey- Match result: India 2, Pakistan 1 FAISALABAD, Pakistan, Feb 24, 2006 (AFP) Result from the fifth field hockey Test match between Pakistan and India played here on Friday: India 2 (Rajpal Singh 55, Kanwal Preet Singh 61), Pakistan 1 (Imran Warsi 28). Pakistan lead six-match series 3-1.(Posted @ 17:15 PST)
Thai lower house dissolved: Thai PM BANGKOK, Feb 24, 2006 (AFP) Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra dissolved the lower house of parliament late Friday, opening the way for a snap election amid demands he resign. "The house is already dissolved," Thaksin told his party members following a meeting with King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thaksin will hold a rare public address at 8:00 pm (1300 GMT) where he is expected to announce a date for the new polls, which must be held within 60 days. "The election date is not yet set," said Pimuk Simarot, deputy spokesman of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party.(Posted @ 17:15 PST)
Abbas pushes for UN meeting over Mideast violence RAMALLAH, West Bank, Feb 24, 2006 (AFP) Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas called Friday for international pressure to rein in Israel following the killing of five Palestinian stone throwers during an Israeli army operation in the West Bank city of Nablus on Thursday; troops shot dead two more Palestinians overnight in the Gaza Strip. "Abu Mazen (Abbas) has begun urgent contacts to ask the Security Council to meet as soon as possible to discuss the Israeli escalations and assassinations," a presidential office spokesman said. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Bus fall kills 23 in southwest China BEIJING, Feb 24 (Reuters) A bus fell into a valley in mountainous southwest China before dawn on Friday, killing 23 people and injuring more than 20, state media said. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Five Kurdish rebels killed in southeast Turkey DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Feb 24 (Reuters) Turkish security forces have killed five Kurdish guerrillas in the country's troubled southeast, security sources said on Friday. They said the rebels, members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), were killed during a gun battle in the province of Mardin near the Syrian border on Thursday night. (Posted @ 15:30 PST)
15 dead, 12 missing after China mine blast BEIJING, Feb 24, 2006 (AFP) A mine explosion in east China's Shandong province has killed 15 workers and injured another 12, state media said Friday. The explosion occurred Thursday evening when 27 miners were working in the pit, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting provincial work safety officials. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
At least 51 dead in Bangladesh factory fire CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, Feb 24, 2006 (AFP) At least 51 people were killed and more than 100 injured when a fire swept through a textile factory in the port city of Chittagong, officials said Friday. 41 bodies had been pulled out of the gutted factory till Friday morning, taking the death toll to at least 51. Several platoons of army troops took over the rescue operation after the fire fighters struggled to contain the fire with their limited equipment. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
Occupied Kashmir: shops, offices shut to protest army killings SRINAGAR, Feb 24(AP) Shops and businesses closed Friday in Srinagar after separatist groups called a general strike to protest the killings of four boys during an army manhunt for militants. Buses and cars stayed off the roads and angry crowds pelted vehicles with stones that defied the strike call. The protest was sparked by a Sunday shooting in the village of Dodipora, about 90 kilometers north of Srinagar, where security forces cordoned off a playground and fired indiscriminately during a hunt for a militant suspect. Four boys between the ages of 6 and 18 and playing cricket died in the shooting. The strike call was given among others by All Party Hurriyat Conference whose chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said: ``Our demand for demilitarizing Jammu-Kashmir should be viewed in the context of such incidents which continue to happen despite repeated pledges from the government that they won't recur. Authorities were bracing for more protests after Friday’s congregation prayers. (Posted @ 11:15 PST)
Moderate quake hits southeast Bangladesh DHAKA, Bangladesh, Feb 24 (AP) A 4.88 magnitude moderate earthquake rocked Chittagong in southeastern Bangladesh early Friday, but no damage or casualties were reported, the Meteorological Department said. The tremor occurred around 2:06 a.m.(2006 GMT) and lasted 43 seconds. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Nine Hindus convicted of Gujarat Muslim massacre in India MUMBAI, Feb 24, 2006 (AFP) Nine Hindus were Friday convicted of killing 14 people in an arson attack on a bakery during anti-Muslim riots in India's western Gujarat state in 2002. All nine were sentenced to life in prison by Judge Abhay Tipsay after being found guilty of setting fire to the Muslim-owned Best Bakery in Gujarat's Baroda town, burning 14 people alive. The incident came amid a wave of bloody reprisals for the deaths of 59 Hindus in a train coach allegedly torched by Muslims in February 2002. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Bush asked to raise human rights concerns in India WASHINGTON, Feb 24, 2006 (AFP) US President George W. Bush has been asked by Amnesty International to raise a long list of human rights concerns in India during his visit to the country next week. In a letter to the US leader on Wednesday AI said in India "there remain disturbing human rights abuses, including extrajudicial executions, deaths in police and military custody, rape, torture and arbitrary arrests." In the letter, T. Kumar, Amnesty's Asia-Pacific advocacy director in Washington, also urged Bush to seek, among others, the abolition of a law preventing prosecution of military personnel who allegedly committed abuses in occupied Kashmir and northeastern Indian states. "The abolition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 is vital and those held under such laws should be released," Kumar said. "Thousands have disappeared in Kashmir and the total casualties since 1989 are believed to be around 38,000." Amnesty also urged Bush to press for those involved in the killing of more than 2,000 Muslims in Gujarat in 2002 to be brought to justice. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Hostage situation in Phoenix defused PHOENIX, Arizona, Feb 24, 2006 (AFP) A gunman who took nine people hostage in a high-rise building in the southwestern US city of Phoenix released the captives and peacefully surrendered to authorities late Thursday, police said. Officials declined to say what triggered the drama inside an 18th-floor courtroom of the National Labor Relations Board but media reports indicated a family dispute was the most likely cause. Police refused to discuss the reasons for the crisis. "There are several issues," Sergeant Andy Hill told reporters. "I don't want to discuss those." (First Posted @ 09:45 PST Updated @ 11:50 PST)
Rice, GCC voice fears over nuclear proliferation in Gulf ABU DHABI, Feb 24(AFP) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) voiced fears over nuclear proliferation in the Gulf region, but fell short of criticising Iran. Both parties reaffirmed "the necessity of keeping the Gulf area free from weapons of mass destruction," a joint statement issued following their meeting late Thursday in Abu Dhabi said. Rice had stopped overnight in Abu Dhabi on the final leg of her Middle East tour which had taken her to Cairo, Riyadh, and Beirut. She departed early Friday. (Posted @ 11:50 PST)
Aussie Muslims rally against cartoons MELBOURNE, Feb 24 (AP) Several hundred Muslims staged a peaceful demonstration Friday outside the Danish consulate in Melbourne in protest over blasphemous cartoons. Organizers said they had called the protest also to express solidarity with Muslims around the world offended by the cartoons. (Posted @ 11:30 PST)
Gunmen storm house and kill five in south of Baghdad BAGHDAD, Feb 24 (AP) Gunmen stormed a house south of Baghdad early Friday and shot dead five men, an Iraqi army officer said. The attack occurred at about 4 a.m. in the town of Latifiyah, about 30 kilometers south of Baghdad, despite a curfew, Capt. Ibrahim Abdullah said. About two dozen Shiites lived in the targeted home. The gunmen separated men from women, then gunned down five of them, Abdullah said. Iraqi state television announced an unusual extension of the night time curfew until 4 p.m. Friday in Baghdad and three nearby flashpoint provinces, including the one around Latifiyah. (Posted @ 11:25 PST)
Israeli air force fires missiles in Gaza Strip GAZA CITY, Feb 24 AP) Israel's air force fired missiles Friday at a group of Palestinians allegedly firing rockets at Israeli targets, Israel's Army Radio reported. Palestinian witnesses reported a car was partially destroyed in the Israeli attack, but could not immediately confirm if the strike was carried out from the air. Two people were injured in the attack. (Posted @ 11:20 PST)
Four Afghan soldiers die in Taliban ambush KANDAHAR, Feb 24 (AP) Suspected Taliban militants ambushed an Afghan army convoy in Helmand province, killing four soldiers and wounding two by firing a rocket that destroyed one vehicle, an official said. The attack was made around 8 p.m. Thursday as four vehicles of the Afghan Army travelled the road between Sangin and Greishk districts, said corps commander Gen. Rehmatullah Raufi. Army soldiers returned fire but the assailants escaped, he said. Earlier Thursday, U.S.-led coalition forces shot dead a suicide attacker who rammed a car loaded with explosives into a convoy of U.S. and Afghan troops in neighbouring Kandahar province. The bomb failed to explode. One Afghan soldier was wounded in an exchange of fire before the attacker was killed. Meanwhile, a roadside bomb hit a civilian car Thursday in Barmal district of Paktika province, killing two Afghans, said Murad Ali, the deputy corps commander for the region. He said a coalition vehicle was also damaged in the blast, butnone of the occupants were hurt. (First Posted @ 10:35 PST Updated @ 11:00 PST)
Proposal for new U.N. Human Rights Council UNITED NATIONS, Feb 24 (AP) The UN General Assembly president called for a vote next week on a proposal to replace the discredited U.N. Human Rights Commission with a new Human Rights Council and won support from key rights groups _ but not the United States. After four months of difficult and contentious negotiations, JanEliasson told the 191-member world body Thursday that the draft resolution would strengthen human rights and toughen the criteria for membership on the council _ but U.S. Ambassador John Bolton questioned whether it would keep rights abusers off. Eliasson told the General Assembly that ``no member state has got everything it argued for'' but he called the new text ``balanced, strong and workable.'' Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Human Rights First in separate statements urged all governments to approve the resolution, calling it a positive step forward to strengthen the U.N.'s human rights system while expressing disappointment that it didn't go further. Eliasson's proposal would replace the 53-member commission with a 47-member council that would be elected by an absolute majority of the 191-member General Assembly _ 96 members _ not the two-thirds majority; toughens the membership criteria; empowers the General Assembly to suspend a member for ``gross and systematic violations of human rights'' by a two-thirds majority of those voting; and calls for the council to meet at least three times a year for no less than 10 weeks _( up from the commission's present single six-week session}. (First Posted @ 09:55 PST Updated @ 10:50 PST)
Earthquake measuring 5.7 hits India's northeast GAUHATI, Feb 24 (AP) An earthquake measuring 5.7 in magnitude shook theborder region in India's northeast on Thursday, the meteorology department said. There were no immediate reports of any damage or casualties from the quake, the epicenter of which was traced to the border between Arunachal Pradesh state and Bhutan. Tremors were felt in neighbouring states of Assam and Meghalaya. In Gauhati, Assam's capital, people living in high-rise apartments rushed out of homes and spent several hours outside after the quake that came around 2 a.m. (2030GMT). (Posted @ 10:25PST)
Dubai company agrees to delay U.S. ports takeover WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (AP) A United Arab Emirates company has offered to delay its takeover of most operations at six U.S. ports to give the Bush administration more time to convince skeptical lawmakers the deal poses no security risks. Dubai Ports World said it will agree not to exercise control or influence the management over U.S. ports pending further talks with the Bush administration, Congress and local port authorities. It did not indicate how long it will wait for these discussions to take place. (Posted @ 10:20 PST)
Lawyers demand disqualification of Saddam Hussein judge WASHINGTON, Feb 24(AFP) Lawyers for Saddam Hussein on Thursday demanded the disqualification of a judge presiding over the former Iraqi leader's trial, saying he was biased and prejudiced. Ramsey Clark, the former US attorney general who is helping defend Saddam, handed out an English-language version of a motion against Judge Rauf Abdel Rahman at a news conference in Washington D.C. The motion, which Clark said was submitted to the court on Wednesday, claims the judge "is not impartial and has a manifested bias against defendant" and had "repeatedly violated standards of fair trial, human rights and basic due process in the courtroom. It claims Abdel Rahman is biased because he opposed Saddam Hussein's government and becaue he is a native of the Iraqi Kurdish village of Halabja, the target of a 1988 chemical attack by Iraqi warplanes. The document also states Abdel Rahman went on to become president of the "Halabja victims society." (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
Gunman takes nine hostage in US building: report WASHINGTON, Feb 24(AFP) A gunman took nine people hostage Thursday in a high rise building in the southwestern US city of Phoenix, US television reported. The man took the people hostage inside a courtroom of the National Labour Relations Board in the building's 18th floor, according to CNN. Police were negotiating with the hostage taker, the news network said. His wife was at the scene and had spoken with him. The hostage taking occurred during a hearing for a labour dispute to which the gunman might be connected, CNN said. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Canadians stunned by Olympic defeat OTTAWA, Feb 24(AFP) The country that invented ice hockey was dumbfounded Thursday after the swift defeat of Canada's star men's Olympic team in Turin and their worst performance in the tournament in decades. The defending champions were knocked out 2-0 by Russia in the quarter-finals after losing twice in the preliminary round and scoring just 15 times in six games. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Philippines arrests senior military officer for anti-Arroyo activities MANILA, Feb 24, 2006 (AFP) A brigadier general was detained early Friday for allegedly engaging in political actions against President Gloria Arroyo, armed forces chief of staff General Generoso Senga said. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Philippine leader declares state of national emergency MANILA, Philippines, Feb 24, 2006 (AFP) - Philippine President Gloria Arroyo on Friday proclaimed a state of national emergency after arresting key military officers for an alleged plot to topple her government. Arroyo declared in a televised address that she had crushed a coup attempt. "The government has crushed this illegal action," she said. "As commander-in-chief, I control the situation," Arroyo added. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 62.58 points: KARACHI, Feb 24: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11546.79, down 62.58 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Feb 24: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.15 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 10:05 PST)
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