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| May 16, 2006 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 17, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Charter of Democracy contains nothing for Pakistani masses: Musharraf RAWALPINDI, May 16 (PPI) President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said Tuesday the Charter of Democracy (CoD) signed by the two former prime ministers, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, in London contains nothing for the welfare of the Pakistani people. He was talking to a group of members of parliament and Nazims from Lahore and Kasur here Tuesday. Musharraf said both former premiers were only interested in getting power. PML President Ch. Shujat Hussain, Secretary General Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and Chief Minister Punjab Ch. Pervez Elahi were also present in the meeting. Farooq Amjad Meer, MNA of the PML Forward Bloc from Lahore, told reporters after the meeting that President Musharraf was confident that the people of Pakistan would not allow both premiers to “cheat and betray” them again. Musharraf also directed Ch. Shujaat Hussain to listen to the complaints of the PML Forward bloc members and directed him to unite the party on strong footings. He said if internal differences of the PML were not removed, he would directly intervene to resolve their disputes. The meeting also discussed development projects of Lahore and Kasur districts, the PML party's homework for general elections, and elimination of differences among party members.(Posted @ 20:20 PST)
Eleven die in clashes in Pakistan's tribal region MIRANSHAH, Pakistan May 16 (Reuters) Eight militants, including three foreigners, and a Pakistani trooper were killed in a clash in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region on Tuesday, security officials said. The clash occurred after the militants ambushed a paramilitary vehicle in the Shawat area, around 12 km southwest of Miranshah. The forces used gunship helicopters in their counter-attacks and besieged two houses where militants were suspected to be hiding, intelligence officials said. Military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan confirmed that three of the militants killed in the clash were foreigners, but gave no other details. Separately, militants shot dead two policemen in Miranshah overnight, a security official in the area said.( First Posted @ 12:05 PST Updated @ 21:28 PST)
Army kills four suspected freedom fighters in occupied Kashmir JAMMU, occupied Kashmir, May 16 (AP) _ The army killed four suspected freedom fighters during a gunbattle Tuesday after cordoning off a mountainous village in occupied Kashmir, an army officer said. The fight erupted after the army began a search following a tip that the suspects were hiding in the village of Khari, the officer said on condition of anonymity. The gunbattle was continuing, but there were no army casualties so far, the officer said. Nearly a dozen separatist groups have been fighting for Kashmir's independence from India or its merger with Pakistan. More than 66,000 people have been killed so far.(Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Bush acknowledges anti-terror phone data base WASHINGTON, May 16, 2006 (AFP) - President George W. Bush appeared to acknowledge Tuesday his government had collected millions of US telephone records in its war on terrorism but insisted the privacy of Americans was not threatened.(Posted @ 23:44 PST)
PM Aziz invites Greek businessmen to invest in Pakistan ATHENS, May 16 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday invited Greek businessmen to invest in Pakistan's growing economy and hoped his visit aimed at improving the bilateral trade would prove to be a turning point in the relations between the two countries. Addressing a luncheon meeting here at the Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Aziz said Pakistan offers lucrative returns in many new sectors including shipping, engineering, construction, agriculture, real estate, agro-business, fisheries and infrastructure development. On the occasion the Chambers of Industry of Lahore and Karachi signed agreements with Thessaloniki and Athens Chamber of Commerce respectively. The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and members of his delegation. The agreements aim at increasing trade between the two countries, exchanging information, removing trade barriers and encouraging investment.(Posted @ 22:30 PST)
Prodi to form new government in Italy ROME, May 16, 2006 (AFP) Italian President Giorgio Napolitano announced Tuesday that he had decided to ask centre-left leader Romano Prodi to form a new government. "I have called a meeting with Romano Prodi at 7:00 pm (1900 GMT) and will ask him to form a government," Napolitano told reporters after completing several hours of consultations with party leaders.(Posted @ 21:58 PST)
Venezuela says US setting conditions for 'attack' CARACAS, May 16, 2006 (AFP) Venezuela accused the United States Tuesday of setting the conditions to "attack" the South American country by banning arms sales to Caracas. The US government is seeking to "isolate Venezuela, destabilize its democratic government and prepare the political conditions for an attack", the foreign ministry said in a statement. It said the arms ban was seeking to stop Venezuela from being able to defend itself.(Posted @ 21:55 PST)
Baghdad bombing, shooting attack kills 19 BAGHDAD, May 16 (Reuters) Nineteen people were killed in a shooting and bombing attack at a bus garage in eastern Baghdad on Tuesday, police said. Gunmen at first shot five men. When a crowd gathered at the scene, a car bomb detonated killing 14 people and wounding 33.(Posted @ 21:44 PST)
Denmark's ex-foreign minister blasts newspaper for printing blasphemous cartoons COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Denmark's former foreign minister on Tuesday criticized the newspaper that printed blasphemous cartoons last year and said the global crisis that ensued showed Danes had not grasped the effects of globalization. The decision to print the 12 cartoons was ``a pubescent act,'' said Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, who was the Scandinavian country's foreign minister between 1982-1993. ``In Denmark ... many have not realized that globalization has become reality,'' Ellemann-Jensen said at a news conference. ``I still believe that this is only the beginning of a process which means we have to improve our communication skills and knowledge about others,'' he said.(Posted @ 21:12 PST)
Lightning kills two boys in north-western Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) Lightning struck two boys playing soccer in north-western Pakistan on Tuesday, killing them instantly, an official said. Saddam Hussain, 12, and Zain ul-Abideen, 10, died in Khar, the main town in Bajur tribal region, about 90 kilometers north of Peshawar, said a local official.(Posted @ 21:10 PST)
US to release eight Pakistanis from Guantanamo Bay shortly ISLAMABAD, May 16, 2006 (AFP) Eight out of 29 Pakistanis still held at the US Guantanamo Bay detention centre will be released soon, the government said Tuesday. Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao disclosed the figure at a news briefing, saying that Pakistan had sought consular access to the detainees. "Eight are being released and they are expected shortly," the minister said.(Posted @ 21:08 PST)
President Musharraf renews commitment for socio-economic development of FATA RAWALPINDI, May 16 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday renewed the government's commitment to bring about socio-economic development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). He was talking to a delegation of senators belonging to FATA, which included Hameed ullah Jan, Maulana Abdul Malik, Engineer Rashid and Abdul Raziq. Musharraf also expressed a resolve to flush out any foreign elements hiding in the tribal regions.(Posted @ 20:46 PST)
Pakistan does not believe in arms race: Aziz Athens, May 16 (PPI) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday addressed a think-tank on globalization in Athens. He said Pakistan is strategically located at the cross roads of South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia with which a network of roads, rail and air links is being developed. He stressed that the Kashmir dispute should be solved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Aziz said Pakistan does not want to engage in an arms race with any country. “Our defence doctrine is based on minimum credible deterrence. We are also in favour of a regional Strategic Restraint Regime in strategic and conventional weapons' he added.(Posted @ 19:52 PST)
Aziz discusses expansion of trade, culture, sports and people-to-people contacts ATHENS, Greece, May 16 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday held a series of meetings with Greek ministers and opposition leaders. The series of meetings at the Prime Minister's hotel focused on economy and trade, security, sports, culture and tourism besides discussions on ways to strengthen people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Greece. In his meeting with Minister for Culture Giorgos Voulgarakis, Aziz said the common heritage shared by Pakistan and Greece date back to 700 BC. However, he said that this knowledge was confined only to scholars and archaeologists. He emphasized the need for Greek assistance in excavation works in Pakistan, their preservation and display for people of both the countries. President of the Greek Olympic Association Minos X. Kyriakou in his meeting with Prime Minister Aziz discussed prospects for setting up a branch of international Olympic Academy in Pakistan.(Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Saddam trial adjourns until Wednesday BAGHDAD, May 16, 2006 (AFP) The trial of Saddam Hussein has been adjourned until Wednesday after the court heard seven witnesses and two defendants give testimony, an AFP correspondent said Tuesday. The main defendant Saddam was not present during Tuesday's session but a US official close to the court said the former dictator was likely to attend Wednesday's hearing.(First Posted @ 15:25 PST Updated @ 19:42 PST)
China to invite leaders from Iran, Pakistan, India to security summit BEIJING, May 16, 2006 (AFP) China said Tuesday it would invite the leaders of Iran, Pakistan, India and Mongolia to a Central Asian security summit in Shanghai next month. "According to a consensus of members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization... leaders of observer nations will be invited to attend the summit meeting," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told journalists. Plans to allow the observer countries and Afghanistan to join the organization are being considered, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday following a meeting between the group’s foreign ministers in Shanghai. "Other countries show great interest in our organization. Five countries have applied to become members. We are in the process of negotiating with them," Lavrov told reporters. The summit is to be held on June 15.(Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Three killed in gun battle in Russia's Dagestan MAKHACHKALA, Russia, May 16 (Reuters) A policeman and two gunmen were killed on Tuesday in the southern Russian region of Dagestan, police said. At least nine other people were injured, including a civilian, they said. The gunmen had blockaded themselves in an apartment in Kizilyurt, a town northwest of the local capital, Makhachkala. Special forces then surrounded the block of flats and stormed the building.(First Posted @ 10:36 PST Updated @ 15:55 PST)
Russia says force not the answer on Iran; Egypt urges peaceful solution BEIJING, May 16 (Reuters) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said negotiation was the key to solving the Iran nuclear stand-off with the West and said neither Moscow nor Beijing would support a U.N. resolution that is an "excuse" for force. "Russia has always advocated using political and diplomatic efforts to solve the nuclear issues of Iran and the Korean peninsula," Lavrov said in Beijing after meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. Also on Tuesday, the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Iran has the right to peaceful use of atomic energy as a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), but it should not be allowed to have nuclear arms. Speaking during a visit to Japan, Aboul Gheit reiterated Egypt's opposition to nuclear weapons in the Middle East and called for a peaceful solution to the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme.(Posted @ 15:30 PST)
Saudi king warns newspapers over pictures of women RIYADH, May 16 (Reuters) Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has warned local media against showing pictures of Saudi women, local newspapers reported on Tuesday. Newspapers had only recently begun printing photographs of Saudi women beside stories, usually with hair covered but faces showing. They have also printed debate about other issues concerning women, such as whether bans on women driving and working in some retail stores could be reversed. "There are photographs published in some newspapers ... and one needs to think if he would want his daughter, sister or wife to appear like that. Of course, no one would," the king was quoted as saying at a meeting with newspaper editors late on Monday. The king also warned the media against "hurting the country" in comments that appeared to refer to a stock market crash that began earlier this year.(Posted @ 15:30 PST)
Government officials from Pakistan, China open talks on free trade accord ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) Senior government officials from Pakistan and China began talks Tuesday on a proposed free trade agreement that the long-time allies hope to conclude by the end of the year, an official said. Technical experts from the two sides will discuss various issues related to the agreement over the next three days, an official at Pakistan's Ministry of Commerce said. The two countries already have a preferential trade agreement but now they want to sign the free trade agreement ``as soon as possible,'' he said. No date has been set for signing of the proposed agreement but both sides hope it will be finalized by end of the year, he said.(Posted @ 15:20 PST)
Pakistan rights commissioner demands complete access to detainees at Guantanamo Bay ISLAMABAD, May 16 (AP) _ The United States should follow its disclosure of the names of all Guantanamo Bay detainees by allowing U.N. rights investigators complete access to the prison, the chairwoman of Pakistan's independent human rights commission said Tuesday. Asma Jehangir, who has served on a U.N. panel that recently issued a scathing report on Guantanamo, also demanded compensation for freed detainees and accused Pakistani intelligence of intimidating Pakistani inmates who had been released from the facility in Cuba and repatriated. She said that despite the Pentagon's release of 759 detainee names _ as a result of lawsuits filed by The Associated Press _ the lack of information about parentage, addresses or where they were arrested made it very difficult to trace their relatives.``We want full information. We don't want bits and pieces, and we don't want this game that is played between the U.S. and its so-called allies in the war on terrorism,'' Jehangir told The Associated Press.(Posted @ 13:45 PST)
Iraq arrests Zarqawi aide BAGHDAD, May 16 (AFP) - Iraq has apprehended an aide to the country's most-wanted man, Iraq Al-Qaeda chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in the city of Ramadi, the interior ministry said on Tuesday. It said the suspected insurgent, Salah Hussein Abdel Razak, had a mobile telephone with a picture of himself and Zarqawi together but a statement did not specify when the arrest took place.(Posted @ 13:00 PST)
New Zealand double amputee conquers Mount Everest WELLINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - A New Zealand mountain climber who lost both his legs to frostbite has become the first double amputee to conquer Mount Everest, despite breaking one of his artificial limbs during the ascent. Separately, a South Korean, who also has a New Zealand passport and a home in Auckland, climbed the mountain from one side and descended from another, the third such climb in history, authorities in Nepal said. The amputee, Mark Inglis, 47, called his wife, Anne, on Monday night to tell her he was standing on the summit of the 29,035 foot peak, the New Zealand Herald reported. In 1982, Inglis lost both his legs from below the knees due to severe frostbite suffered after a blizzard trapped him and a fellow party member in a cave in New Zealand's Mount Cook for 14 days.(Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Fighting in eastern Afghan mountains kills 4 and wounds 7 KABUL, May 16 (AP) Militants attacked a police post and a government office near Afghanistan's rugged eastern border with Pakistan on Tuesday and a gunbattle killed four people and wounded seven, police said. The attack occurred in mountains in Khost province's Bak district before dawn, said Wazir Badshah, a local police commander. Two of the dead were police, while the other two were insurgents, Badshah said. The body of one of the slain militants was found to have explosives strapped to it.(First Updated @ 10:00 PST Updated @ 12:35 PST)
U.S. soldier killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, May 16 (AP) _ A roadside bomb killed a U.S. Army soldier who was on a foot patrol in Baghdad on Tuesday, the military said. The attack raised to at least 2,446 the number of members of the U.S. military who have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.(Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Bush bans from U.S. Belarus' president, political or business associates and spouses WASHINGTON, May 16 (AP) _ President George W. Bush is banning entry to the United States of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and his political or business associates who participated in or profited from anti-democratic practices in the former Soviet republic. In a proclamation released Monday, Bush accused Lukashenko and the others of electoral fraud, human rights abuses and corruption`` that undermine or injure democratic institutions or impede the transition to democracy in Belarus. ''Bush's proclamation said the exclusion order was ``to help the Belarusian people achieve their aspirations for democracy and to help complete the transformation to a Europe whole, free, and at peace.'' Lukashenko, who has been described as ``Europe's last dictator,'' has been in power since 1994.(Posted @ 10:50 PST)
Two Koreas open road and rail talks SEOUL, May 16 (AFP) - South and North Korea on Tuesday opened high-level military talks focussing on opening up inter-Korean roads and railways, the south's unification ministry said. The meeting of generals, the fourth since a 2000 summit, will run for three days and look at how to draft an agreement for cross-border trains, a ministry official said. Though the roads have been opened to restricted traffic, the railway opening has been repeatedly delayed. Last week the two Koreas finally agreed to test the lines on May 25.(Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Bush orders up to 6,000 troops to US-Mexico border WASHINGTON, May 16 (AFP) - President George W. Bush on Monday ordered up to 6,000 troops to the US-Mexico border in a bid to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States. "The need to secure our border is urgent," Bush said in a nationally broadcast speech, underscoring the importance of the issue. He said up to 6,000 National Guard could be deployed on the southern border for up to one year beginning next month.(Posted @ 10:30 PST)
US forces release 151 Iraqis from detention facilities BAGHDAD, May 16 (AFP) - US forces Monday released 151 Iraqi detainees from their detention facilities following a combined US-Iraqi review of their cases, the military said Tuesday. Since its inception the board has reviewed the cases of more than 38,500 detainees and recommended the release of 19,400 of them. Approximately 14,000 Iraqis remain in coalition-run facilities.(Posted @ 10:17 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 389.30 points: KARACHI, May 16: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 10707.56 , down 389.30 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, May 16: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.43 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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