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| March 10, 2006 | Friday | Safar 9, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Musharraf calls for timely response to his proposals on Kashmir resolution ISLAMABAD, March 10 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf said Friday that Pakistan's proposals of demilitarization, self-governance and joint management offers a tenable solution to the long-standing Kashmir dispute and urged the Indian leadership to come forward with a timely response in order to realize the opportunity for durable peace in South Asia. Addressing the participants of Pugwash conference at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, he said "I strongly believe that an environment exists at the moment, both regionally and internationally, for an ultimate solution to Kashmir – the environment has never been so conducive". He said he was prepared to discuss the proposals for the pullout of troops from Kashmir and renewed his call to India to start discussions on withdrawal of troops from defined territories of Kashmir by both sides. He described the presence of Kashmiris of all shades of opinion at the meeting as a good omen and said he would be willing to attend such a conference in Srinagar or New Delhi alongside Prime Minister Singh, if invited by him. Senior APHC leader Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat, Barrister Majeed Tirimbo, Executive Director Kashmir Centre, Brussels, Sajjad Lone of Peoples League, Khalid Ibrahim of AJK PPP, Maulvie Iftikhar Hussain, Sheikh Omar Abdullah, President of National Conference and other Kashmiri representatives were present in the meeting.(Posted @ 20:22 PST)
Pakistan landmine blast kills 28 of a wedding party QUETTA, Pakistan, March 10, 2006 (AFP) A vehicle carrying a wedding party hit an anti-tank mine on a remote mountain trail near the town of Rakhni, around 300 kilometres east of Quetta, Balochistan province Friday, killing 28 people, officials said. Seven people were also wounded in the blast. A provincial government spokesman Raziq Bugti said at least 20 of the dead were women and children, adding: "it is difficult to get the exact toll because many of the bodies were blown to pieces." Bugti said "there are still some bodies lying under the water but we are facing problems in retrieving them because they are traditional people who do not want unknown males to touch the bodies of their women". Military helicopters airlifted the seven injured people, including the 19-year-old bridegroom, to a hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan city, Punjab province. "The mine was apparently planted near the bank of the stream. Many people drowned, mostly women and children who could not swim," a survivor said. Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said "terrorist elements" were behind the blast. "The heavy loss of life including women and children in a landmine explosion in Balochistan is highly condemnable," Sherpao said in a statement.( First Posted@ 11:10 PST Updated @ 21:45 PST)
Pakistan ends house arrest of top cleric Qazi Husain Ahmad ISLAMABAD, March 10 (AP) Qazi Hussain Ahmed, a senator and head of the six-party Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal, who organised a series of anti-cartoon rallies has been freed from house arrest, a government statement said Friday. He was put under house arrest in Lahore last week after the protests turned violent. His coalition challenged the detention orders, but a court validated it after authorities argued that his release could disrupt law and order. Qazi Husain’s detention ended late Thursday when police were withdrawn from his home, said the statement but gave no reasons for his release. He was expected to travel to Islamabad on Friday to attend a session of the Senate. (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Bush says diplomacy way to tackle Iran atom threat WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) President George W. Bush on Friday called Iran a "grave national security concern", but said he sought a diplomatic way to cap its nuclear goals. Bush said U.S. concerns were the result of Iran's stated desire to destroy Israel and Washington's belief that Tehran wants to build nuclear bombs. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana spoke for the first time publicly of possible sanctions against Iran. "I do not rule out sanctions, but it depends on what kind of sanctions they are," Austria's Der Standard daily quoted him as saying. However, asked if EU foreign ministers meeting in Salzburg would discuss the issue, he told reporters: "No. We are talking about a gradual approach to give some room still for diplomacy." British Prime Minister Tony Blair vowed to pursue Iran's case through the Security Council, saying a failure by Tehran to meet its global obligations would lead to "a serious situation". The International Energy Agency said it would be able to plug the gap in global oil supply for several months if Iran halted oil exports. President Claude Mandil said: "according to my knowledge, OPEC would not be able to compensate in totality." (First Posted@ 16:28 PST Updated @ 23:04 PST)
At least 10 police killed in Chechnya - source GROZNY, Russia, March 10 (Reuters) At least 10 policemen loyal to the Moscow-backed government have been killed in recent days in clashes with freedom fighters in the foothills of the Chechen mountains, a source in the local security forces said on Friday. Witnesses said explosions in the battles in the Vedeno region were so loud they were audible in Grozny, 50 km to the north. A spokesman for the local government's Anti-Terrorist Centre declined to confirm the losses, saying official figures showed three policemen had been killed and one injured. He said four fighters had been killed.(Posted @ 22:58 PST)
Hamas delegation arrives in Saudi Arabia to seek aid RIYADH, March 10 (Reuters) Leaders of Hamas arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday on a visit they hoped will ensure political and financial backing from the key Islamic country, a Hamas official said. A member of the delegation, headed by top Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, said after arriving in Riyadh that a meeting was expected with King Abdullah late on Friday or on Saturday. It is the first official visit by a Hamas delegation to the kingdom since 1998.(Posted @ 22:55 PST)
Hamas gives vision for governing to Abbas GAZA, March 10 (Reuters) Hamas's prime minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh said on Friday that the group has set out its vision for running a Palestinian government in a letter to President Mahmoud Abbas. Speaking to reporters in the Gaza Strip after handing a formal response to Abbas, Haniyeh gave few concrete details but said "we in the Palestinian government also have a vision and this we have explained in the response letter. We hope that this will represent the grounds for understanding between us and President Abbas".(Posted @ 22:52 PST)
Soomro calls on Aziz ISLAMABAD, Mar 10 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday congratulated Muhammadmian Soomro on his nomination as the next Chairman of Senate. During a call-on by Soomro at the Parliament House, the Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction on the completion of election process for new Senators.(Posted @ 22:48 PST)
Guantanamo force-feeding to continue despite protests: Pentagon WASHINGTON, March 10, 2006 (AFP) The US military will continue force-feeding hunger-striking prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba despite protests by doctors who say the practise violates medical ethics, a Pentagon spokesman said Friday. "There is no change in policy, and we will continue implementing the policy," said the Pentagon spokesman. Six prisoners are currently on hunger strike at Guantanamo, and three of them are being force-fed, he said.(Posted @ 22:32 PST)
Ex-guerrilla commander elected Kosovo PM PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro, March 10, 2006 (AFP) Kosovo's parliament on Friday elected Agim Ceku, a former guerrilla commander whom Serbia accuses of war crimes, as the province's prime minister. Parliamentary deputies in the 120-seat assembly endorsed Ceku's candidacy and his new government by 65 votes for, while 33 were against the decision. Five deputies abstained.(Posted @ 22:20 PST)
Bush worried about Dubai ports defeat WASHINGTON, March 10, 2006 (AFP) President George W. Bush said Friday he was worried about the impact that the forced withdrawal of a Dubai government-owned company from controlling six US ports would have on US allies. "I'm concerned about a broader message this issue could send to our friends and allies in the world particularly in the Middle East," Bush said one day after Dubai Ports World (DP World) said control of the six US ports would be transferred to a US "entity". He said "in order to win the 'war on terror' we have got to strengthen our relationships and friendships with moderate Arab countries in the Middle East." Meanwhile also on Friday a US administration official announced that US and UAE have postponed their free-trade talks but added that they remain "committed to making progress" on an agreement.(Posted @ 22:15 PST)
Rumseld: Military sanctions against two Muslim countries costly WASHINGTON, March 10 (AP) Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Thursday the United States ``lost a generation of relationships'' with the Indonesian and Pakistani militaries because of sanctions that were imposed against both over the years. Based on that experience, Rumsfeld said it's important that the United States ``not complicate efforts to build useful relationships with nations that can aid in our defence.'' Most military ties with Pakistan were severed during the 1980's because of its nuclear weapons program. The action against Indonesia was the product of military abuses in East Timor. The result, Rumsfeld said, was the loss of ``friendships, contacts, relationships and understanding between the U.S. military and their militaries.'' He said the U.S. military had to renew the ties with these large predominantly Muslim countries ``almost from scratch'' following September 11. Rumsfeld said he understands the reason why the sanctions were imposed. But, he added, ``I think it's something that we need to think very carefully because as a result of some of those actions the United States is looked at as a less than perfectly reliable friend and ally.'' (Posted @ 10:40 PST)
India, Pakistan to discuss gas price with Iran NEW DELHI, March 10, 2006 (AFP) India and Pakistan will discuss the price of gas they plan to import from Iran through a proposed pipeline when the three nations meet to discuss the seven-billion-dollar project next week. "We will discuss gas pricing, project structure and the tripartite government-to-government framework agreement," Petroleum Secretary M.S. Srinivasan told reporters here, the Press Trust of India reported. "This is the first time we will be discussing the price," Srinivasan added. The meeting will be held in Tehran from March 13-15.(Posted @ 21:48 PST)
Indian police point finger at Pakistan over blasts VARANASI, India, March 10, 2006 (AFP) Indian investigators pointed a finger Friday at one of the two militant groups, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), for the triple bombings that killed 23 people in Varanasi. Police dismissed a claim of responsibility for Tuesday's blasts by a previously unknown group called Lashkar-e-Kahar(LeK) as a smokescreen, saying they suspected either JeM or LeT to be behind the explosions. A caller to a news agency in Occupied Kashmir had claimed responsibility on behalf of LeK, but the Times of India reported that the call was traced back to Abdul Jabbar, the alleged deputy chief of Jaish (JeM) in Pakistan. Meanwhile a police official said the suspect Salar, who was shot dead on suspicion of involvement in the Varanasi attacks, was "directly linked" to the blasts.(Posted @ 21:42 PST)
APHC urges India to respond positively to Musharraf's Kashmir initiatives ISLAMABAD, Mar 10 (APP): The All Parties Hurryiat Conference (APHC) leadership in Occupied Kashmir on Friday urged the Indian government to respond positively to President Pervez Musharraf's initiatives for the resolution of Kashmir dispute. The plea was made by APHC Chairaman Mir Waiz Ummer Farooq while addressing a congregation at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar on Friday, a local television channel said in its report. APHC leader Aga Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi in his address at Budgram also emphasised that the settlement of Kashmir issue could prove durable only if it reflected the aspirations of Kashmiris. In Srinagar various Kashmiri leaders and activists were subjected to heavy Lathi charge who had assembled at Lal Chowk to protest against human rights abuses in Occupied Kashmir, the report added.(Posted @ 21:25 PST)
Javid Mir, 12 JKLF activists detained in Occupied Kashmir NEW DELHI, Mar 10 (APP): Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Nanaji group) convenor Javid Ahmad Mir and 12 other activists of the party were Friday taken into police custody when they tried to stage a demonstration against human rights violations at Regal Chowk in Occupied Kashmir. The protestors had banners calling for the demilitarisation of Kashmir and the unconditional release of Kashmiri detainees.(Posted @ 20:30 PST)
Tremor kills man, injures 16 in Azad Kashmir ISLAMABAD, March 10 (Reuters) An aftershock measuring 5.2 killed one man and injured 16 other people in Azad Kashmir on Friday, five months after a huge earthquake devastated northern Pakistan, officials said. Friday's aftershock was felt in North West Frontier Province, Punjab and Kashmir, according to the Meteorological Department. One man was killed when a wall collapsed on top of him in Mirpur, a southern district in Azad Kashmir that was largely unaffected by the original quake. "Many people tried to jump out of their homes and got hurt," a police official in Mirpur said, adding that several houses were damaged by the tremor. More than 1,750 aftershocks have been recorded since Oct. 8 and meteorological officials expect more shocks will be felt until May.(First Posted@15:35 PST Updated @ 20:15 PST)
India urged to return troops to barracks in Occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD, March 10 (Reuters) India should order its troops in Occupied Kashmir back to barracks as a confidence-building move and secure peace with Pakistan, a leading pro-India Kashmiri politician said on Friday. Omar Abdullah, head of the pro-India National Conference party, met President Pervez Musharraf earlier on Friday, while in Pakistan to attend a peace conference organised by a European non-governmental organisation. "Troops can be removed from civilian areas and kept at their garrison camps," Abdullah told reporters after meeting Musharraf. Abdullah also said Pakistan and India should withdraw troops from the Siachen Glacier. Abdullah said he had discussed his party's proposal for granting more autonomy to Kashmir region in talks with Musharraf as well as Pakistan's suggestion for some sort of self-governance for the divided region with oversight by Pakistan and India. "I think there is very little difference in these proposals ... we can upgrade our proposal for autonomy if needed," he said without elaborating.(Posted @ 20:06 PST)
Iraq's president to convene parliament on March 19 BAGHDAD, March 10 (Reuters) Iraq's president on Friday invited parliament to convene on March 19, a day after the powerful Shi'ite Alliance asked for more time to negotiate a national unity government. "The presidency council decided to call on the parliament to convene on Sunday morning of March 19," said the statement from the presidential office. Iraq's political leaders are deadlocked over who should be prime minister in the new government.(Posted @ 19:12 PST)
Suicide bomber in Iraq's Falluja kills at least 11 FALLUJA, Iraq, March 10 (Reuters) A suicide truck bomb struck a checkpoint manned by U.S. soldiers and Iraqi security forces in the former Sunni stronghold of Falluja on Friday, killing at least 11, including five police, police said. There was no immediate word from the U.S. military on the blast. Police said six civilians were killed as the bomb ripped through a line of vehicles.(First Posted@16:32 PST Updated @ 18:52 PST)
Another UAE company provides services to US Navy: report WASHINGTON, March 10, 2006 (AFP) While Dubai Ports World(DPW) bowed out of running six US port facilities to quell an outcry over security concerns, another Dubai-owned company has since January provided services in 12 US ports and to the US Navy, Time magazine said on its website. The British company Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) was sold in January to a "Dubai government investment vehicle for 285 million dollars," Time said. As a husbanding agent, ISS is responsible for arranging everything from fuel to spare parts to fresh vegetables for vessels at ports of call. "More critically," said Time.com, "they often provide security, like erecting concrete barriers and what the military calls force protection." An ISS spokesman contacted by Time refused to comment on the report. The Washington Post said Friday the ISS was purchased by a Dubai company whose executive, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, also heads DPW.(Posted @ 17:20 PST)
Tribesmen returning home as Pakistani forces relax curfew MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, March 10, 2006 (AFP) Troops relaxed curfew restrictions and reopened key roads in the troubled tribal region near the Afghan border Friday after deadly clashes last week, officials said. Residents said tribesmen who had fled their homes amid heavy fighting were seen returning to Miranshah and nearby towns after the army opened the main road in the rugged North Waziristan region. The authorities also lifted a curfew imposed on Monday to allow the population to attend Friday prayers. Shops were opened and people were seen buying consumer goods, they said. Officials said the curfew would be re-imposed later in the evening.(Posted @ 17:18 PST)
First Pakistani quake survivors leave relief camp MUZAFFARABAD, Azad Kashmir, March 10, 2006 (AFP) More than 250 quake survivors left a tent camp to return to their village homes Friday, the first major batch to do so since October's disaster, officials said. Some 29 families who had been living for months in Bela Noor Shah camp in Muzaffarabad set off for the Neelum valley, a camp management commissioner said. "We have provided them with transport facilities so they can carry items provided by the government and by non-governmental organizations for rebuilding their respective areas," an official added. "We are leaving voluntarily so that we can rehabilitate our home towns once again," a survivor Syed Bilal Shah, 45, said before heading for the remote village of Serli Sacha. But some survivors said they still faced an uncertain future. Bibi Nusrat, 42, said she lacked the necessary construction materials to rebuild her family home in Bandi Sacha village.(Posted @ 17:14 PST)
Two Turks killed in fighting with Kurdish rebels VAN, Turkey, March 10 (Reuters) Two members of Turkey's security forces were killed on Friday in fighting with Kurdish rebels in southeastern Turkey, security officials said. "The fighting is still going on. The security forces' operation is also being supported from the air (by military helicopters)," one official said. CNN Turk television said five people soldiers were also wounded in the fighting, in a remote rural area of Sirnak province near the Iraqi border.(Posted @ 16:35 PST)
Israeli plan to finalise borders is act of war: Hamas chief DAMASCUS, March 10, 2006 (AFP) Hamas's supremo Khaled Meshaal slammed Friday the Israeli government's plan to fix its permanent borders by 2010 through unilateral withdrawals from the West Bank as a "declaration of war". Meshaal said in an interview "this is not a peace plan, but a war declaration, which will permit Israel to stay in the largest section of the West Bank, to maintain their wall and settlements, to refuse all concessions on Jerusalem and to reject the Palestinians' right of return." He added that "Olmert is in the process of committing the same errors toward the Palestinians that (Ariel) Sharon did."(Posted @ 16:30 PST)
US announces military drills with South Korean troops SEOUL, March 10 (Reuters) U.S. and South Korean troops will stage a major joint exercise later this month on March 25-31, the U.S. military said on Friday. South Korean and U.S. troops will hold field exercises called Foal Eagle along with another joint drill designed to coordinate defences of the southern half of the peninsula. About 25,00 U.S. troops will participate, a U.S. Forces Korea spokesman said. North Korea has said the joint military drills were one reason it refused to return to the table of talks. (Posted @ 16:10 PST)
ICRC wants access to inmates after Abu Ghraib closes GENEVA, March 10 (Reuters) Prisoners at the U.S. military prison at Abu Ghraib should be moved to a location where the International Committee of the Red Cross can visit them once the jail closes, the ICRC said on Friday. An ICRC spokesperson said experts had not been able to see prisoners at Abu Ghraib since January 2005 because the Baghdad area was so dangerous. "It's not so much the place as the treatment," the spokesperson said, adding that "what is important for the ICRC is the treatment and the question of access to detainees." (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Cricket-PCB names 17 players for one-day series during Sri Lanka tour ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Agencies) Pakistani cricket selectors on Friday chose two uncapped spinners for this month's three-match limited-overs series in Sri Lanka. Offspinner Tahir Khan and left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman were named in the 17-man squad as the selectors dropped fast bowler Mohammad Sami. ``We have included two new spinners as part of our build-up for next year's World Cup in the West Indies,'' chief selector Wasim Bari told reporters. Bari said a separate squad will be named later for the two test matches at Colombo and Kandy, which will be played after the three one-dayers. The Pakistani team will leave for Sri Lanka on March 13 while the first limited-overs international will be played on March 17. Pakistan squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Younis Khan, Salman Butt, Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, Kamran Akmal, Rao Iftikhar, Rana Naved, Danish Kaneria, Umar Gul, Tahir Khan and Abdul Rehman. (Posted @ 15:55 PST)
Three killed as Afghan police clash with suspected Taliban KABUL, March 10, 2006 (AFP) Two suspected Taliban rebels and one policeman were killed in a three hour clash between insurgents and security forces in restive southern Afghanistan Friday, police said. Three police and an unknown number of Taliban fighters were also wounded in the fierce exchange of fire in Dishu district of Helmand province, which shares a long border with Pakistan, provincial police chief Abdul Rehman Khan said. "One policeman and two Taliban were killed in the three-hour clash with police in Dishu district," Khan told AFP. The fighting started when a group of Taliban attacked a police post shortly after midnight, he said. A purported Taliban spokesman, Mohammad Hanif, claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call from an undisclosed location but said they had killed at least 10 police in the attack. (Posted @ 15:40 PST)
Pakistan court frees two doctor brothers convicted of treating militants KARACHI, March 10 (AP) A Pakistani court Friday freed two doctor brothers Akmal and Arshad Waheed who had each been sentenced to seven years in prison last year for giving money and medical treatment to militants, their lawyer said. The brothers were found guilty of harbouring members of a militant group called Jundallah, blamed by authorities for a series of terrorist attacks in the country. They were also convicted of providing members with medical treatment covertly, providing them financial assistance and sending them for terrorism training. On Friday, a two-judge panel of the Sindh High Court in Karachi quashed the convictions and ruled that the physicians be freed, said their lawyer, Ilayas Khan. Iqtidar Hashmi, a prosecution lawyer, said he would make a decision on whether to appeal the court's decision after seeking instructions from the government. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Prime Minister returns home ISLAMABAD, March 10 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz arrived here Friday morning after his four-day official visit to the United Kingdom and Jordan. During the visit, he held extensive talks with British leaders on trade, terrorism and Kashmir, while three agreements were inked with Jordanian government to boost tourism, cut taxation and enhanced interaction between the foreign ministries of the two countries. (Posted @ 11:10 PST)
Khalilizad wants Iraqis to meet away from Baghdad WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad will try to persuade the country's main political players to take part in a conference, possibly outside Iraq, where they might get the long-stalled political process back on track, Time magazine said on Thursday. Creation of a government is necessary for U.S. plans to draw down its 130,000-strong force in Iraq, he told the magazine in an interview. Khalilzad told Time he would advocate a new initiative: lock the bickering officials up in a room outside of Baghdad and maybe outside of the country, and don't let them out until they have sorted out their differences. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Myanmar, India sign gas supply agreement YANGON, March 10 (Reuters) India has signed a preliminary agreement with Myanmar on buying natural gas. The MoU envisages building a pipeline from Myanmar to northeast India, Shyam Saren, Indian Foreign Ministry's top civil servant, told reporters but gave no further details. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Forbes list of world's 10 richest people NEW YORK, March 10 (AFP) The following are world's ten richest people, according to the annual Forbes magazine ranking (tabulate under ranking, name, age, nationality, net worth in billions of dollars, business and change from 2005 position): 1. Bill Gates, 50( US )50.0 (Microsoft)(-); 2. Warren Buffett, 75(US) 42.0 (investments) (-); 3. Carlos Slim, 66 (Mexico) 30.0 (telecom) (+1); 4. Ingvar Kamprad, 79 Sweden 28.0 (Ikea) (+2) 5. Lakshmi Mittal, 55 India 23.5 (steel) (-2) 6. Paul Allen, 53 US 22.0 (Microsoft) (+1) 7. Bernard Arnault, 57 France 21.5 (LVMH) (+10) 8. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, 49 Saudi Arabia 20.0 (investments) (-3) 9. Kenneth Thomson and family, 82 Canada 19.6 (publishing) (+6) 10. Li Ka-Shing, 77 Hong Kong 18,8 (diversified) (+12) (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 329.79 points: KARACHI, March 10: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10474.20, down 329.79 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:10 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, March 10: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.07 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:10 PST)
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