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| May 17, 2006 | Wednesday | Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Family of UAE diplomat kidnapped in Iraq appeals for his release DUBAI, May 17 (AP) _ A UAE diplomat was kidnapped in Baghdad late Tuesday night. His brother said Wednesday the family was ready to pay ransom to bring the diplomat home, while his mother issued a tearful plea on TV asking abductors to release her son. The diplomat, 28-year-old Naji Rashid al-Nuaimi, who hails from the emirate of Fujeirah was kidnapped by gunmen Tuesday night while leaving the home of the Emirates' cultural affairs attache in Baghdad's Mansour district, Iraqi police Col. Ali Rashid said. Gunmen in three cars shot al-Nuaimi's Sudanese bodyguard, Bedawi Ahmed Ibrahim, who later died at a Baghdad hospital, Rashid said. ``Who would do this? If they want money, we can pay it,'' said Mohammed al-Nuaimi, the diplomat's 29-year-old brother. ``We don't know who is behind it. No one has called us.'' Mohammed al-Nuaimi said his brother joined the diplomatic service just two years ago and had helped diplomats from other countries gain the release of their abducted countrymen in Iraq. He said it was ironic that his brother has suffered the same fate.(Posted @ 21:24 PST)
Indo-Pak talks on Siachen and Sir Creek next week - NEW DELHI, May 17 (APP): Two-day Indo-Pak talks on Siachen will be held in New Delhi on May 23-24. Defence Secretary Lt Gen (Retd) Tariq W Ghazi will lead the Pakistani side while Indian delegation will be headed by his counterpart Shekhar Dutt. The talks will be followed by parleys on Sir Creek, on May 25-26, said a Press release of the Indian External Affairs ministry. Maj. Gen. M. Gopal Rao, Surveyor General of India, would lead the Indian side, and the Pakistani side would be led by Admiral Ahsan-ul-Haq Chaudhri, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence. The Home Secretary level talks on Terrorism and Drug-Trafficking are scheduled for May 30-31 in Islamabad, followed by secretary-level talks on Promotion of Friendly Exchanges on June 1-2 June in New Delhi, added the release.(Posted @ 19:46 PST)
Pakistani soldier killed in tribal area ambush MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, May 17 (AFP) - A Pakistani soldier was killed and four others were wounded Wednesday when suspected pro-Taliban rebels ambushed a convoy in a troubled tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said. The convoy, including a number of water tankers, came under attack close to Mizer military base near the town of Tatta Khel in North Waziristan region, a security official said. The troops retaliated and captured eight insurgents, three of whom were wounded, the official said on condition of anonymity. Tatta Khel, 50 kilometers west of Miranshah, borders eastern Afghanistan's troubled province of Paktika.(Posted @ 20:58 PST)
Gas pipeline blast kills young girl; two policemen slain in Balochistan QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) A bomb blew up a gas pipeline Wednesday in Balochistan province, killing a 7-year-old girl, while gunmen killed two policemen elsewhere in the same region. Mah Noor was going to school with her mother in the town of Sui when a gas pipeline that runs through the town exploded killing the girl, and wounding her mother and another passer-by, a government official said. Also Wednesday, gunmen stormed a police post in Kot Nasrullah, a village about 300 kilometres southeast of Quetta, killing two policemen before fleeing, said the area police chief.(First Posted @ 10:30 PST Updated @ 11:55 PST)
Senior judge killed as suspected Islamist gunman attacks Turkish high court ANKARA, May 17(AFP) - A senior judge was killed and four other judges were wounded Wednesday when a gunman stormed into Turkey's highest administrative court and sprayed bullets during a legal session, officials said. Members of the court, the Council of State, linked the attack on the body's 2nd Chamber to its rulings confirming a ban on Islamic headscarves in public insititutions and universities in Turkey. Judge Mustafa Yucel Ozbilgin, who was hit in the head, died in intensive care after brain surgery, doctors said. Chamber President judge Mustafa Birden was also seriously hurt but his life was not in danger, and the three other judges' injuries were relatively lighter, they said. The gunman, identified as 29-year-old Alpaslan Aslan, a lawyer, was arrested immediately after the attack. "He came in shouting: 'We are the emissaries, the soldiers of Allah'," said Tansel Colasan, deputy head of the Council of State. (First Posted @ 13:45 PST Updated @ 20:46 PST)
Nine of a family dies in road accident in Swat: Police PESHAWAR, May 17 (APP): As many as nine persons of a family died and three injured when a truck carrying nomad family to Kalam valley fell in deep ravine near Gabral area Wednesday, police said. The ill fated persons had boarded the truck from village Katlang in Mardan District to Kalam when it reached Gabral area the driver lost control over steering after failure of its break and fell in deep ditch.(Posted @ 23:55 PST)
Canadian female soldier killed in Afghanistan OTTAWA, May 17, 2006 (AFP) - A female Canadian soldier was killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday, becoming possibly the first Canadian woman to die in combat overseas, Canada's prime minister said Wednesday.(Posted @ 23:45 PST)
China vows to promote military cooperation with Pakistan BEIJING, May 17 (PPI): Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan Wednesday said Chinese armed forces were ready to further deepen military cooperation with Pakistan. Cao, also vice-chairman of Central Military Commission and state councilor, made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Pakistan Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, Xinhua news agency reported. Cao said friendship between the two governments, two peoples and two armed forces have always developed steadily despite great changes in international situation. Pakistan recently concluded an agreement with China for co-production of four F-22P frigates. It includes upgrading of Karachi Shipyard and providing training and technical assistance to Pakistan during construction of fourth F-22P frigate. China will also transfer required technology to Pakistan to manufacture F-22P frigates.(Posted @ 21:56 PST)
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia agree to coordinate responses to challenges to regional peace, security ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): Chairman, Majlis Al-Shura of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Imam of Khana Kaba, Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad Bin Humain, accompanied by a seven-member delegation comprising prominent members of Majlis-e-Shura met Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri on Wednesday and discussed bilateral relations and regional and international issues including the situation in Iraq, progress of Indo-Pakistan peace process with India and the situation in Afghanistan.(Posted @ 21:52 PST)
Pakistan, Libya discuss trade, export of labour TRIPOLI (Libya), May 17 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Wednesday held detailed discussions with his Libyan counterpart Dr Al Baghdadi Al Mahmudi, with the two sides vowing to boost their multifaceted ties with a focus on trade, defence and security ties and the energy sector. The two leaders had one on one talks for about an hour and were later joined by members of their respective delegations for detailed discussion on a broad spectrum of issues.(Posted @ 21:45 PST)
Madaris not involved in fanning extremism: Ejaz KARACHI, May 17 (APP): Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Ejaz-ul-Haq Wednesday said seminaries (Madaris) are not involved in fanning extremism. They have been bound to submit an undertaking along with the registration form declaring that no written material would be published nor any religious controversy initiated which provokes or offends people, he told newsmen after presiding over a meeting of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI). Replying to a question he said that Hajj policy would be made public within the next few days, and added that the Government was negotiating with the Saudi authorities to increase the number of pilgrims by ten thousand.(Posted @ 21:40 PST)
Iran offers EU its own nuclear deal TEHRAN, May 17 (AFP) - Iran on Wednesday offered greater European access to its economy if its nuclear programme was accepted, the exact opposite of a deal currently being put together by the European Union. "The incentives raised by the Europeans will not replace our rights. They have to recognise our rights," foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi was quoted as saying by the IRNA news agency. "We are ready to propose economic incentives to the Europeans to obtain our rights, and the market of 70 million Iranians is a part of this," Asefi added.(Posted @ 21:38 PST)
Japanese, 70, oldest person to climb Everest TOKYO, May 17, 2006 (AFP) - A 70-year-old Japanese climber scaled Mount Everest on Wednesday, making him the oldest person in the world to achieve the feat, an organizer told Japan's Kyodo news agency. Takao Arayama, aged 70 years, 7 months and 13 days, is a corporate management consultant from Kamakura, south of Tokyo, the report said. The previous holder was fellow Japanese climber Yuichiro Miura who reached the summit of Mount Everest aged 70 years and 222 days on May 22, 2003.(Posted @ 21:22 PST)
Syria rejects UN call for Lebanon normalization DAMASCUS, May 17 (AFP) - Syria rejected as "interference" Wednesday a UN Security Council resolution calling on it to establish diplomatic relations and demarcate its common border with Lebanon.(Posted @ 21:18 PST)
Security Council urges formal Syria-Lebanon diplomatic ties UNITED NATIONS, May 17 (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution that "strongly encourages" Syria to establish formal diplomatic ties with Beirut and demarcate their common border. Thirteen of the council's 15 members voted in favor of the resolution, which was co-sponsored by France, the United States, Britain, Denmark and Slovakia. Russia and China abstained.(Posted @ 21:16 PST)
Prodi sworn in as Italy prime minister ROME, May 17 (AFP) - Centre-left leader Romano Prodi was sworn in as Italy's new prime minister Wednesday, by President Giorgio Napolitano, followed by each of his 25-member government, which includes six women. The cabinet features former prime minister Massimo D'Alema as foreign minister and former European Central Bank board member Tomasso Padoa-Schioppa as economy minister.(Posted @ 20:34 PST)
India: No decision at present to pull out troops from Siachen New Delhi, May 17 (PPI): There is no decision at present to pull out Indian troops from Siachen Glacier, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee informed Rajya Sabha Wednesday. A ceasefire has been in force on Actual Ground Position Line in Siachen, Mukherjee said in a written reply.(Posted @ 20:24 PST)
PM arrives in Libya TRIPOLI (Libya), May 17 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz arrived here Wednesday on a two-day visit and was received at the Matika airport by Libyan Prime Minister Dr Bghdadi Ali al Mahmudi. Talking to newsmen he said the two countries have a similarity of views on global issues. "Libya has stood by Pakistan in challenging times," he said and added that he will discuss matters of bilateral and global interest with Col. Muammar Al-Qaddafi.(Posted @ 20:14 PST)
Visit to Greece achieved objectives; PM ON BOARD SPECIAL AIRCRAFT, May 17 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Wednesday said his visit to Greece has achieved objectives and has helped change perceptions about Pakistan with a mutual desire to expand ties in all areas. "It is a turning point and will strengthen relations between the two countries," he told newsmen while flying over the Mediterranean at the end of his visit to Greece.(Posted @ 20:12 PST)
President says education must equip younger generation with tools of progress RAWALPINDI, May 17 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Wednesday chaired a meeting of the National Committee for Scheme of Studies, which in consultation with all stakeholders and provincial governments is finalizing proposals for improving curricula and standard of examination.(Posted @ 19:55 PST)
Kashmiris' struggle in decisive phase: Shabbir ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, the President of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, has said that Kashmiris' liberation struggle has entered a decisive stage and urged greater unity among Kashmiris. Addressing a meeting at the Martyrs Graveyard in Srinagar, he said the liberation movement has been strengthened by uncountable sacrifices of the people and it was need of the hour to take it to its logical conclusion.(Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Situation in occupied Kashmir volcanic ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): Veteran Kashmiri Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Gilani has appealed the world community to take cognizance of the fact that stepped-up Indian state-terrorism has made the situation in occupied Kashmir volcanic. Addressing a meeting of Kashmiri leaders and activists in Srinagar he emphasized that Kashmiris were not averse to resolution of the Kashmir dispute through talks but maintained that talks without sincerity and seriousness could yield no result, PTV reported. Quran Khwani and Fateha was oganised at host of places in Srinagar today to commemorate the martyrdom of leading Hurriyat leaders, Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammad Farooq and Khawaja Abdul Ghani Lone.(Posted @ 19:35 PST)
Fifteen injured in Doda grenade blast, Troops martyr three more Kashmiri youth ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, at least fifteen people were injured when a grenade blast ripped through a gathering in Doda town Wednesday, while Indian troops, in their fresh acts of state-terrorism, martyred three more Kashmiri youth, at different places, PTV reported. Dead bodies of two youth were retrieved from the ruins of a house at Yaripora in Kulgam which was destroyed by heavy shelling of the Indian troops. The third youth was shot dead in Keran area of Kupwara district. An Indian army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was killed in an attack in Kulgam area. The personnel of Central Reserve Police Force ruthlessly beat up and injured one civilian in Srinagar. The troops took into custody nine persons, including two brothers, from Rajouri, Shopian, Bandipora and Kupwara areas. (First Posted @ 18: 28 PST Updated @ 19:26 PST)
Thousands evacuated as typhoon targets China HONG KONG, May 17 (Reuters) - China evacuated as many as 320,000 people as the strongest typhoon on record to enter the South China Sea in May bore down on the south coast on Wednesday, causing flight and shipping delays around the region. Typhoon Chanchu, packing winds up to 170 kmh was forecast to make landfall northeast of Hong Kong in Guangdong province later on Wednesday after killing 37 people as it swept across the Philippines last weekend. Xinhua quoted provincial rescue officials as saying that by Tuesday night 25,219 ships had been called back to port. In China, rescue ships and helicopters were standing by, and all sea transport to the Chinese island province of Hainan had been halted, the China Daily reported.(Posted @ 19:05 PST)
Mourners among 35 killed in Ghana bus collision ACCRA, May 17 (Reuters) - Thirty-five people were killed in a collision involving two buses in central Ghana, one of them carrying mourners to the funeral of another traffic accident victim, police said on Wednesday. One of the buses involved was carrying 65 people, while the other vehicle was a local bus carrying mourners to the funeral of a parish priest who had been killed in an earlier traffic accident. "So far, 35 people are dead. Thirty-four died at the spot and last night one of two people in intensive care died," James Sarfo Petrah, deputy superintendent of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit said.(Posted @ 18:54 PST)
4 Afghans killed, 13 hurt after drinking mouse poison KABUL, May 17 (AP) _ Authorities in northern Afghanistan raided shops selling mouse poison after four people died, having apparently mistaken it for a type of cold medicine, a health official said Wednesday. Thirteen other people were sickened by the poison over the last two months in Baghlan province. The most recent case was reported on Monday, when a 24-year-old man died, said Khalil Narmgo, the provincial health director. Authorities on Tuesday temporarily closed down seven shops and confiscated all the mouse poison, which came in small tablets that people mixed with water and drank, thinking it was a common cold medicine, Narmgo said.(Posted @ 18:50 PST)
Six Pakistanis return home after being freed from jails in India WAGAH, Pakistan, May 17 (AP) _ Six Pakistanis, including four teenage boys, returned home on Wednesday after being released from Indian jails where they were held between seven months to 15 years for illegal border crossing, an army official said.(Posted @ 18:36 PST)
World record amended for Gatlin PARIS, May 17 (AFP) - Justin Gatlin's world record time in the men's 100m has been amended from 9.76secs to 9.77secs equalling but not bettering the previous mark, the IAAF announced on Wednesday.(Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Saddam trial adjourned until Monday BAGHDAD, May 17, 2006 (AFP) - The trial of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on charges of crimes against humanity adjourned Wednesday with the next session scheduled for Monday.The court session ended after hearing from nine defense witnesses speaking on behalf of minor Baathist officials accused of helping Saddam's regime in a massacre of 148 Shiite villagers in the 1980s.(First Posted @ 13:30 PST Updated @ 17:54 PST)
World must 'engage' with Iran: Russia MOSCOW, May 17 (AFP) - The world must engage with Iran and not give up on finding a negotiated solution to international concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday. "It's necessary to concentrate on solutions that would engage Iran in dialogue," Lavrov told journalists when asked whether Moscow would support UN sanctions against the Islamic republic. "Attempts to create a negative scenario will not lead to success," he added.(Posted @ 17:46 PST)
Indian chief minister survives assassination attempt GUWAHATI, India, May 17, 2006 (AFP) - The chief minister of the Indian state of Manipur survived an assassination attempt Wednesday by separatist rebels that left one militant dead and a security officer injured, police said. Okram Ibobi Singh escaped injury when his convony was attacked outside the village of Lamjao near the Manipur capital Imphal, police officer L. Haokip said. The rebels lobbed a grenade and fired indiscriminately on the security patrol accompanying Singh and a firefight ensued, he said. "The commandos retaliated and in the encounter one militant was killed and one security personnel received bullet injuries." There are some 19-odd rebel groups active in Manipur with demands ranging from secession to autonomy and the right to self-determination. More than 10,000 people have died during decades of insurgency in Manipur, which borders Myanmar to the east.(Posted @ 17:44 PST)
Iraqi PM to present government Saturday BAGHDAD, May 17 (AFP) - Iraqi prime minister designate Nuri al-Maliki will present his cabinet line-up for parliamentary approval on Saturday, deputy parliamentary speaker Sheikh Khalid al-Attiya said on Wednesday.(Posted @ 17:38 PST)
OIC envoys to check on Philippine peace pact with separatists MANILA, May 17(AFP) - A group of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) diplomats arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday to check on a decade-old peace treaty between Manila and Muslim separatists. The envoys said they would meet jailed rebel chief Nur Misuari and members of Muslim rebel groups to check on the 1996 peace pact between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the government. "We are going to see everybody who is involved in this peace process," said Sayed Kassem El-Masry, adviser to the OIC secretary and head of the delegation, adding that they would visit the southern region of Mindanao where Muslim rebellions have raged for more than three decades. Sayed said the mission would try to find ways to "fully implement the peace agreement," which grants limited autonomy to Muslims in Mindanao. "We want to see what makes the progress a little (slow), not at the pace that we all hope for," he added.(Posted @ 17:33 PST)
Car bombing kills 7 in southern Russia ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia May 17 (AP) A car packed with powerful explosives blew up on a road in southern Russia on Wednesday,killing seven people including a high-level regional police officialin what authorities said may have been a suicide bombing. Ingushetia's Deputy Interior Minister Dzhabrail Kostoyev, two bodyguards and four civilians were killed when a hatchback exploded on a roadside on the outskirts of the region's main city of Nazran, regional police officials and an Interior Ministry spokesman in southern Russia said.(Posted @ 16:35 PST)
Suicide attack on car of U.N. Afghan mine agency KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, May 17 (Reuters) A suicide attacker in Kandahar rammed a car packed with explosives into a vehicle of a U.N. mine-clearing agency on Wednesday, killing himself and wounding the agency driver, police said.(Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Four killed in fresh Sri Lanka violence COLOMBO, May 17, 2006 (AFP) At least three policemen were killed in mine attacks in Sri Lanka on Wednesday while unidentified gunmen shot dead a Tamil civilian, military officials said. Two of the policemen were killed in a Claymore fragmentation mine attack in Welikanda in the northeast while the third policeman died in a similar blast at Thirukkovil in the east, a military officer said.(First Posted @ 09:50 PST Updated @ 12:20 PST)
Suicide bomber kills seven in Russia's south MOSCOW, May 17 (Reuters) A suicide bomber killed seven people including a top Russian policeman on Wednesday when he drove his car into a police convoy in the southern Russian region of Ingushetia, local media reported. Russian news agencies reported that among the dead was Dzhabrail Kostoyev, deputy head of the Ingushetia interior ministry, two of his guards, and four civilians. It was not clear if the suicide bomber was included in the total.(First Posted @ 10:35 PST Updated @ 12:00 PST)
Iran will reject EU nuclear deal: Ahmadinejad TEHRAN, May 17, 2006 (AFP) President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday Iran would reject a European Union offer of incentives in exchange for his country agreeing to halt sensitive nuclear work. "They say that they want to give us incentives. They think that they can take away our gold and give us some nuts and chocolate in exchange," the president told a rally in the town of Arak. "We don't need incentives. There is no need to give us incentives, just don't try to wrong us," he said in a speech carried live on state-run television.(Posted @ 12:00 PST)
Bush poll hits new low: poll WASHINGTON, May 17, 2006 (AFP) The number of Americans who approve of the job President George W. Bush is doing continues to fall, said a new poll on Tuesday, blaming the Iraq war. Bush holds a 33 percent approval rating, the lowest of any US president in 25 years ABC News and the Washington Post have been publishing such polls. Some 65 percent of those polled disapprove of Bush's performance, the highest level in those 25 years, the two news organizations said. According to the poll, 62 percent of Americans said that the Iraq war was not worth the sacrifices made and 59 percent said the war was a mistake. More broadly, those polled said the United States was on the wrong track.(Posted @ 10:58 PST)
Gunmen kill Hamas member in Gaza GAZA, May 17 (Reuters) Gunmen shot dead a Hamas activist in a drive-by shooting on Wednesday in a Gaza refugee camp, medics and Hamas sources said. Hamas sources confirmed the death. There were no claims of responsibility for the shooting.(Posted @ 10:45 PST)
Israel to open main Gaza crossing in both directions JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz decided Wednesday to reopen the main crossing with the Gaza Strip later in the day, military officials said. The Karni crossing has been closed for much of the year, which is the main outlet to the world for Palestinian importers and exporters.(Posted @ 10:40 PST)
Palestinian FM to visit China for Arab summit BEIJING, May 17, 2006 (AFP) Palestinian foreign minister Mahmud al-Zahar will visit Beijing at the end of the month to attend a China-Arab forum, a Chinese foreign ministry official said Wednesday. "We have extended the invitation to all the Arab countries. Foreign minister Zahar of Palestine will attend the meeting," Zhai Jun, the director general of the foreign ministry's West Asian and North African division, told reporters.(Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Israeli troops kill two Palestinians NABLUS, West Bank May 17 (Reuters) Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinians during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, Palestinian security sources and medics said. They said the two men were killed during an alleged exchange of gunfire with Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Nablus. A third man was injured in the clash and was arrested by Israeli forces, the sources said. The Israeli source declined comment on the identity of the alleged militants.(Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 387.72 points: KARACHI, May 17: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 11094.68 , up 387.72 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, May 17: 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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