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| March 1, 2006 | Wednesday | Muharram 30, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
40 suspected Al-Qaeda killed by Pakistani forces MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, March 1, 2006 (AFP/AP) - Around 40 suspected Al-Qaeda militants, including a Chechen commander, were killed Wednesday when Pakistani troops backed by helicopter gunships struck their hideout near the Afghan border, officials said. One soldier was killed and 15 wounded in fierce fighting after the army surrounded the sprawling compound in Saidgai village in North Waziristan, a few kilometers from the border, a security official said."We have reports that up to 40 militants, mainly foreigners, were killed in the raid on the compound where there was a big gathering of foreign militants," the official, who could not be identified, told AFP.A local official identified the Chechen as Imam and said he was killed when he tried to escape during the raid.He said 20 militants were also wounded in the operation which lasted several hours. Security officials said the military action prompted retaliatory attacks by heavily armed militants on security forces positions in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, and according to Associated Press the militants took eight paramilitary troops prisoner. After capturing the troops the armed men ordered over loudspeakers to close down all shops in the area.(Posted @ 16:45 PST)
Attackers kill politician, damage gas pipeline in southwest Pakistan QUETTA, Pakistan, March 1, 2006 (AFP) Unidentified gunmen Wednesday shot dead a politician and other attackers damaged a natural gas pipeline in Baluchistan province, officials said. Nasrullah Kakar, head of Pakistan Workers Party, came under attack as he left his home in Bostan district near Quetta, police said. His companion was also killed in a hail of bullets fired at their car. In the other attack at Sui, attackers blew up a portion of a gas pipeline and temporarily disrupted supplies to Quetta. Officials said the shortage was overcome by augmenting gas flows in another pipeline feeding the provincial capital. Also on Wednesday a paramilitary soldier was killed in an explosion in Dera Bugti while clearing a landmine, police said.( First Posted @ 13:00 PST Updated @ 14:40 PST)
US President Bush arrives in New Delhi on first visit to India NEW DELHI, March 1 (AFP) - US President George Bush arrived in New Delhi Wednesday on his first visit to India which will include talks on a landmark deal on civilian nuclear trade, a US official said.(Posted @ 19:30 PST)
Tens of thousands rally in New Delhi to protests Bush visit to India NEW DELHI (AP) Tens of thousands of Indians waving black and white flags and chanting ``Death to Bush!'' rallied Wednesday in New Delhi to protest a visit by U.S. President George W. Bush. Crowd estimates varied, but one police officer said as many as 100,000 people, had gathered in a fairground in central New Delhi. Among the speakers was Raj Babbar, a Hindu politician and actor, who said: ``Whether Hindu or Muslim, the people of India have gathered here to show our anger. We have only one message: killer Bush go home.'' Bush was to arrive later Wednesday in India. Meanwhile, members of the leftist Students Federation of India and the Communist Party of India burned effigies of Bush at three intersections in Hyderabad. (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
President Musharraf seeks Bush role in Kashmir London, March 01(PPI): President Pervez Musharraf has said he expects pressure from President George Bush for a solution of Kashmir dispute. Talking to BBC correspondent Barbara Plett in Islamabad ahead of a visit by the US President he said he was not expecting an imminent breakthrough. "All that I expect is his weight, his voice pressurising all three groups - me, Indians and Kashmiris - to resolve the dispute now because now is the ideal time, ideal environment to resolve it," he said. Replying to a question Musharraf said the army was taking all possible measures to try to stop militants from crossing Pakistan's border to carry out attacks in Afghanistan. The President also dismissed recent street protests against his government. In Pakistan the military bolsters democracy by ensuring stability, he said.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Bangladesh security forces fire tear gas into militant hideout, SYLHET, Bangladesh, March 1(AP) Bangladesh security forces on Wednesday detained nine people after surrounding the hideout of the leader of a banned Islamic militant group blamed for a series of deadly bombings, officials and witnesses said. About 500 agents took part in the operation targeting Shaikh Abdur Rahman, leader of Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh, which has been accused of carrying out bomb attacks that killed 26 people nationwide, a security official said. Rahman and three others were believed to still be inside the house in Sylhet, about 190 kilometers northeast of Dhaka, he said. Agents pumped water inside the compound to try and force them out, the security official said on condition of anonymity. Rahman's wife, four grown children and a daughter-in-law were arrested when they tried to flee after police fired tear gas, local government administrator Faisal Alam said. Three children who were with their parents were also taken into custody but were not considered suspects. Security forces had no immediate plans to storm the house, Alam said. On Tuesday, two courts in Bangladesh sentenced 22 Islamic militants to death for carrying out bomb attacks last year.(Posted @ 20:35 PST)
At least 29 killed in Iraq amid sectarian tension BAGHDAD, March 1 (AFP) - At least 29 people were killed Wednesday, most of them in a Baghdad car bomb attack, a day after multiple bombings in Iraq left 64 dead. Bombers struck again in Baghdad's southeastern neighbourhood of Jadid at about midday, killing 23 and wounding 58 by blowing up a car on the main road which also housed a market. Six others were killed in separate bombings and shootings across Iraq Wednesday, leaving a total of 29 dead by afternoon. At least 78 were wounded in all these attacks. The new violence jolted feverish US and Iraqi efforts to restore stability to Iraq after lifting a curfew and traffic ban Monday, meant to quell the sectarian tensions.(First Posted @ 17:25 Updated 20:15 PST)
Kashmir avalanche kills four road workers SRINAGAR, March 1 (AFP) - An avalanche killed four road workers in occupied Kashmir, the army said Wednesday. The four were travelling in a truck late Tuesday in the snow-bound Kargil district when an avalanche hit it. All four died on the spot. Their bodies have been recovered.(Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Saddam accepts responsibility for Dujail orchards reprisal BAGHDAD, March 1, 2006 (AFP) - Deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on Wednesday accepted sole responsibility for destroying orchards in Dujail. In the last few minutes of the day's proceedings in his trial, which has now been adjourned till March 12, Saddam said: "Of course I did not sit on the bulldozer that destroyed the orders, but I signed the order that did it." Explaining the reason for ordering the destruction of the orchards Saddam said: "It's the right of the Iraqi state to nationalize any land for the public interest by paying a symbolic compensation. I changed the law to subtantial compensation." He also said that he escaped an assassination bid in the village. "I came under machine gun fire from 50 metres away", he said, speaking of the ambush on his motorcade.He said it was he who ordered the suspects involved in the assassination bid to be tried in co-accused Awad Ahmad Al-Bander's court. Bander is a former chief judge of the revolutionary court and deputy head of Saddam's office. "I asked the suspects responsible for the assassination bid to be transferred to the court in Baghdad," he told the judge Rauf Rasheed Abdel Rahman. "You put Bander as a defendant here just because he was heading the court at that time.. It was I who asked the suspects to be judged as you are doing here today." "I am responsible, why are you putting others in jail," a rather subdued Saddam said.(Posted @ 19:45 PST)
At least 29 killed in Maoist clash in Nepal: army KATHMANDU, March 1(AFP) - At least 29 Maoist rebels, police and soldiers have been killed in a clash in western Nepal, the army said Wednesday. "Security personnel have so far recovered at least 18 bodies of Maoists from the clash site. During the clash 10 soldiers and one police officer were also killed," an army statement said. The rebels said in a separate statement that 28 people had been killed, including 20 troops or police, in the battle on Tuesday near Palpa, 280 kilometres west of Kathmandu.(Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Riot over at Kabul jail, says Afghan official< KABUL, Afghanistan, March 1 (AP) _ Authorities have regained control of Kabul's main prison after four days of rioting that left at least six people dead, a senior Afghan official said Wednesday. Mohammed Qasim Hashimzai, the deputy justice minister, said more than 1,300 unruly prisoners, including 350 Taliban and al-Qaida inmates accused of fomenting the unrest, had been transferred to another block of the prison under official guard. He said one more dead body had been found as the prisoners were cleared out, bringing the death toll to six. At least 40 others have been injured. Afghan army soldiers were escorting reporters to look inside the Pul-i-Charkhi prison. There was a fresh outbreak of violence on Tuesday, when police opened fire on inmates trying to push down a gate, killing one and injuring three. But early Wednesday, authorities reported progress in resolving the standoff. Hashimzai said the transfers were complete by early Wednesday evening. The inmates had been complaining of poor prison conditions and unfair convictions.(Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Kashmir: Indian troops martyr 56 in February, critically injure 204 Srinagar,March 01 (PPI) In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops, in their continued acts of state-terrorism, martyred 56 Kashmiris including five kids and two women, and tortured and critically injured 204 civilians during the month of February, Kashmir Media Service reported.(Posted @ 18:50 PST)
President says Pakistan in forefront of efforts to ban publication of blasphemous material ISLAMABAD, March 1 (APP) : President General Pervez Musharraf Wednesday said Pakistan is in the forefront of efforts to ban publication of blasphemous material against any religion through international legislation. He stated this in his opening remarks at a meeting of the National Security Council of which he is the Chairman. "We are working at the OIC and the United Nations to get the necessary legislation passed to ensure that the freedom of the Press is not misused to hurt sentiments and revered values of followers of any religion," he stated. The meeting discussed the single-point agenda about the situation arising from the publication of blasphemous cartoons. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly, Chief Ministers of the four provinces, Chairman Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee ,Chiefs of Naval and Air Staff, besides ministers for Foreign Affairs, Interior and Religious Affairs who attended the meeting by special invitation.(Posted @ 19:45 PST)
200 schools, 140 Health facilities to be rebuilt by USAID in quake hit areas. MUZAFFARABAD, March 1 (APP) United State Agency for International Development (USAID) will spend $ 200 million for the reconstruction of infrastructure in the Health and Education sectors in the quake ravaged areas of AJK and NWFP, agency’s Regional Director Ms Lisa Chiles said Wednesday. She told APP that 200 schools and 140 health facilities would be reconstructed under the programme. She said $100 million was earmarked for relief and $200 million for reconstruction while nearly $ 70 million had already been provided in humanitarian assistance like shelter, logistics, water and sanitation, and livelihood support.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
At least 16 die in Chinese bus inferno BEIJING, March 1, 2006 (AFP) - At least 16 people died many others were injured Wednesday when a long-distance bus caught fire in the Guangxi region of southern China, state media reported. The bus, which was carrying more than 40 passengers, burst into flames early in the afternoon as it was passing through Guangxi's Heng county, the Xinhua news agency said. It said the cause of the incident was being investigated.(Posted @ 17:55 PST)
Saddam's ex-interior minister refuses to testify BAGHDAD, March 1, 2006 (AFP) - Former Iraqi interior minister Saadun Shaker, who was to have been a witness for the prosecution in the Saddam Hussein trial, on Wednesday refused to testify against his former boss. The chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Mussawi told the court that Shaker would himself now face charges as he headed the police force in 1982 at the time of massacre of up to 148 Shiites from the village of Dujail. Mussawi said the police at that time had carried out some of the arrests in Dujail. Shaker was interior minister in 1982 at the time of the Dujail events.(Posted @ 17:55 PST)
Iran, Russia gather for high-stakes nuclear talks MOSCOW, March 1, 2006 (AFP) - A delegation led by Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, flew into Moscow Wednesday to meet with Russia's security council head, Igor Ivanov. The talks are being held behind closed doors. Top of the agenda was a Russian proposal to create a Russo-Iranian venture to carry out uranium enrichment on Russian territory before sending it to Iran to be used exclusively as nuclear fuel.Sticking points on the Russian compromise are Moscow's insistence that Iran must reinstate a voluntary suspension of uranium enrichment work and that it not be given any access to uranium enrichment technology -- both demands which Tehran rejects.In addition to the establishment of the joint venture, the Russian proposal also includes discussion of a range of issues linked to the nuclear impasse, including sales by Russia of sophisticated conventional weapons to Iran and other deals to develop Iran's energy sector.(Posted @ 17:55 PST)
Palestinian militant chief killed in Gaza GAZA CITY, March 1, 2006 (AFP) - The military leader of Islamic Jihad was killed in an explosion in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Khaled al-Dahduh, also known as Abu al-Walid, was killed instantly when the vehicle in which he was travelling exploded in a ball of flames in Gaza City, medics said. Witnesses said Dahduh was killed as a result of an Israel air strike carried out by an unmanned drone but the Israeli army insisted it was not behind the blast. Dahduh was the overall leader of the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad. News of his death came as an Israeli working at a service station near a Jewish settlement in the northern West Bank was fatally wounded in a drive-by Palestinian shooting. The radical Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed the attack.(Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Kashmir militants kill three SRINAGAR, March 1, 2006 (AFP) - Suspected freedom fighters dead two members of a police counter-insurgency unit Wednesday and a suspected informer the previous day in revolt-hit occupied Kashmir, police said. The two policemen were killed in a busy market in Sopore town, 50 kilometers north of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir where I Kashmiris have been fighting since 1989 against New Delhi's rule. Suspected militants also shot dead an alleged informer in southern Doda district late Tuesday, police said.(Posted @ 17:15 PST)
Iranian president visits Malaysia amid nuclear furore KUALA LUMPUR, March 1, 2006 (AFP) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Malaysia Wednesday on a three-day visit. Malaysian officials insist Ahmadinejad's visit was scheduled well before the nuclear issue flared, but observers say it will undoubtedly dominate his time here. Malaysia is the current leader of both the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a bloc of more than 100 mainly developing nations.(Posted @ 17:15 PST)
Bush says Iran must not have nuclear weapons KABUL, March 1, 2006 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said during his first visit to Afghanistan Wednesday that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. "Iran must not have a nuclear weapon. The most destabilizing thing that can happen in this region and in the world is for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon," Bush said during a news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Bush however said the United States supported diplomatic efforts by Russia to resolve the issue, which involve Moscow providing enriched uranium for Iran's civilian nuclear power plant and collecting the used uranium.(Posted @ 17:10 PST)
Bush hails Afghanistan's progress under Karzai KABUL, March 1, 2006 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush Wednesday hailed Afghanistan's progress under President Hamid Karzai since the fall of the Taliban, saying the fledgling democracy was inspiring others around the world."We are impressed by the progress that your country is making Mr President, a lot of it has to do with your leadership," Bush told Karzai at a joint conference during the US leader's surprise first visit to the country. Bush said the US embassy in Kabul, which he was officially opening during his visit, was a "clear statement" to the people of Afghanistan that the United States was dedicated to helping the country. Karzai said: "We owe a great, great deal in this country's rebuilding peace, democracy -- strong steps towards the future -- to your support, to your leadership, to the American people."(Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Police fire warning shots, teargas to quell Kashmir protest SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, March 1, 2006 (AFP) - Five people were injured Wednesday when police fired teargas and baton-charged a crowd of Muslims in occupied Kashmir protesting a picture in India Today magazine showing Mekkah‘s grand mosque printed on a playing card, police and witnesses said. Four men and one woman suffered injuries in the incident at Singhpora village on the main highway connecting Srinagar with Baramulla town, witnesses said. Before firing teargas and charging the several hundred protestors with bamboo truncheons, police had fired shots in the air, witnesses said. Police said similar protest demonstrations were reported from different parts of occupied Kashmir on Wednesday, some of which were also broken up with teargas and batons. Around 10 protestors were detained at Lasjan, on the outskirts of Srinagar, a police officer said. Police have registered a case against the weekly 'India Today' and have confiscated all copies of the issue.(Posted @ 16:35 PST)
Blast hits Russia security office MOSCOW, March 1 (Reuters) Two officers with Russia's state security service (FSB) were wounded on Wednesday when a stun grenade was triggered accidentally in their office, Interfax news agency quoted officials as saying. The lives of those wounded were not in danger. (Posted @ 14:25 PST)
Indonesian president makes state visit to Myanmar YANGON, Myanmar (AP) President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived Wednesday in Myanmar. The Indonesian leader was expected to raise the junta's pledge to restore democracy in talks with Senior Gen. Than Shwe, according to an Indonesian presidential spokesman. Yudhoyono's trip to Myanmar was the last stop on a three-nation tour that included Brunei and Cambodia. (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Troops clash with prisoners in Jordan AMMAN, March 1 (Reuters) Jordanian troops clashed with prisoners on Wednesday in three major prisons when they stormed them to try to move top detainees, security sources and activists said on Wednesday. They said several hundred special forces used teargas and plastic bullets to force their way into cells of militants in the Swaqa, Jweida and Qafqafa prisons. A police spokesman was not immediately available to comment on the violence. Security experts said the clashes were the most serious in recent years, and caused at least eight injures in Jweida while four prisoners were hurt in Swaqa. (Posted @ 12:50 PST)
Nepalese troops recover explosives being smuggled from India KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) Soldiers found thousands of kilograms of explosives and detonators hidden under bags of coal in a truck they stopped for a routine security check after it entered Nepal from neighbouring India, officials said Wednesday. Troops recovered 2,500 kilograms of gelatine, 475 kilograms of Emulsion Explosive, 7,500 meters of safety fuse and 39,700 detonators, which were hidden under bags of coal, the statement said. The ministry said one person was arrested, but did not say to whom the material belonged. (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 17.72 points: KARACHI, March 01: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11473.99, up 17.72 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, March 01: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.07 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 10:00 PST)
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