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| May 22, 2006 | Monday | Rabi-us-Sani 23, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Coalition airstrike kills up to 80 rebels and 16 civilians in Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) U.S.-led coalition aircraft killed up to 80 suspected Taliban militants in a night airstrike on a rebel stronghold in southern Afghanistan, the coalition said Monday. The local governor said 16 civilians also died. A coalition statement said it had confirmed 20 Taliban killed in the attack on the village of Azizi in Kandahar province late Sunday and early Monday, while there were ``an unconfirmed 60 additional Taliban casualties.'' U.S. commander Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry said that the military was ``looking into'' whether some civilians had also died. The Kandahar governor said beside the 16 civilians killed in the airstrike, another 16 had been wounded and brought to hospitals in Kandahar city. ``Helicopters bombed the madrassa and some of the Taliban ran from there and into people's homes. Then those homes were bombed,'' a survivor said. Another survivor from the village, Zurmina Bibi, who was cradling her wounded 8-month-old baby, said about 10 people were killed in her home, including three or four children. It was not possible for reporters to reach Azizi village because police and foreign troops had blocked off the area. Meanwhile in other violence, Mohammed Ali Jalali, the former governor of eastern Paktika province, was found dead after being kidnapped Sunday, police said. ( First Posted @ 11:40 PST Updated @ 19:08 PST)
Kabul should not blame Pakistan for violence: Pakistan’s FO ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) Pakistan said Monday it shouldn't be blamed for Afghanistan's own failure to stop violence in its country. ``The Afghan government's failure to deal with the situation cannot be placed at Pakistan's door,'' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said at a weekly news in Islamabad. Aslam also dismissed the allegations of Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta in which he accused Pakistan of harbouring Taliban leaders. ``These accusations only show frustration at not being able to address the internal security situation'' in Afghanistan, she said. Apart from the Taliban, warlords continue to have influence in Afghanistan and the ``problems of drugs and gun-running remain acute causing problems for neighbours,'' she said. ``Elements hostile to Pakistan are using Afghan territory with impunity to carry out terrorist acts on our territory,'' Aslam said without naming anyone or giving evidence. Aslam said that Pakistan and Afghanistan can better fight militants jointly by increasing coordination and ``prompt intelligence sharing.'' She also suggested that Pakistan and Afghan foreign ministers should hold regular meetings to discuss bilateral issues.(Posted @ 19:04 PST)
Iraqi prisoner abuse trial begins for U.S. soldier FORT MEADE, May 22 (Reuters) - A U.S. Army sergeant went on trial on Monday on charges of abusing Iraqi inmates with his dog in the military's latest prosecution of low-ranking soldiers in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. The court martial of Sgt. Santos Cardona, 32, could be more significant than those of the 10 American soldiers previously convicted of abuse of Iraqi prisoners because testimony is expected from Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, who helped shape policies at Abu Ghraib.(Posted @ 23:46 PST)
Two killed, several injured in storm related incidents in Lahore LAHORE, May 22 (APP): Two persons including a woman were killed while several others injured in dust storm and rain related incidents here on Monday evening. Police said, the first incident took place at Begum Kot, Shahdara locality where a woman Shamim died and his other family members were injured when a roof of their house collapsed due to wind storm and rain. The injured were admitted to a hospital for medical treatment. An unidentified man was killed when a bill-board collapsed over him due to heavy dust storm at Liberty market. Some vehicles were also damaged.(Posted @ 23:32 PST)
New Iraqi government will help US military move toward support role: Bush CHICAGO, May 22, 2006 (AFP) President George W. Bush declared Monday that the new unity government in Iraq represents a major "victory" for democracy and would also allow the US military to assume more of a support role in the country. "The new Iraqi government does not change our objectives or our commitment. But it will change how we achieve those objectives and how we honour our commitment," the US president said in a speech in Chicago. Bush said the national unity government led by Prime Minister Nur al-Maliki "opens a new chapter" for Iraq.(Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Iran, Pakistan, India to build joint gas pipeline despite U.S. opposition ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) Energy officials from Pakistan, Iran and India said Monday that they will build a pipeline to deliver Iranian gas to the South Asian nations, despite U.S. opposition to the proposed project because of Tehran's nuclear program. The senior government officials opened a two-day meeting in the Pakistani capital to review progress so far made about implementing the project and they ``expressed satisfaction over its pace,'' a Pakistan government statement said after Monday's talks. ``The working group reiterated the desire of their leaderships to implement the project as soon as possible for the mutual benefit,'' the statement said.(Posted @ 22:08 PST)
Marble industry to be fully promoted: President Musharraf GADANI, (Balochistan), May 22 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday laid the platform of a marble city in Gadani. Speaking at the ceremony, he said about 300 marble manufacturing units would be established here and some 600 acres of land for the purpose has already been allocated. He also assured the government’s full assistance to the marble industry. He stated that he himself would devise a strategy for efficient mining of marble in the region and would streamline investment in this sector. He also promised to provide equipment used for mining through government's exchequer. He also announced that the project to provide gas to Winder has been approved and a sum of Rs 70 million would soon be allocated for it. The project would be extended to Uthal and Bela, and Rs 421 million more would be spent for taking the pipeline there. He announced that desalination plants would be established in Gadani, Sibi and Jiwani, and that the federal government would allocate Rs 100 million to provide potable water to the people. He further declared that the ship-breaking industry at Gadani would be revived and streamlined.(Posted @ 22:06 PST)
MMA to oppose screening of Hollywood movie the ‘Da Vinci Code’ KARACHI, May 22, 2006 (AFP) Pakistan’s religious parties Monday vowed to launch a protest campaign against the Hollywood movie The Da Vinci Code, calling it an attempt to secularise world culture "in the garb of art". "We would hold demonstrations in different cities on the coming Friday to protest against the defamatory film," senior leader of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) alliance, Liaqat Baloch, said. "This movie has hurt the sentiments of Muslims alike as we regard Hazrat Esa (Jesus) with the same reverence as the Christians do," he said. "We see the film as a continuation of the caricatures, which hurt the Muslims of the world," Baloch said.(Posted @ 21:44 PST)
Pakistan suspends two private airlines KARACHI, May 22, 2006 (AFP) Pakistani aviation authorities Monday suspended domestic and international flights of two cash-strapped airlines after they failed to pay airport charges, an official spokesman said. Aero Asia and Shaheen Air International, two privately held airlines, were asked to halt their operations after they fell behind in paying airport and landing charges for the past several months, a Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said. Aero Asia owes 88 million rupees (1.46 million dollars) and Shaheen Air needs to pay 56 million rupees (0.93 million dollars) for the past two months, he said. "The authority would allow their routine operation once they clear their current payment," the CAA spokesman added. An Aero Asia spokesman said: "We will deposit their dues on Tuesday." Shaheen Air was not immediately available for comment.(Posted @ 21:40 PST)
ECC allows duty free import of 300 "Black cabs" to be used as taxis ISLAMABAD, May 22 (APP): The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) here on Monday allowed duty free import of 300 "Black cabs" on certain conditions to boost the local automobile industry in the country. The ECC meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Later briefing newsmen, Advisor Finance Ministry, Dr.Ashfaq Hassan Khan said that these cars would be allowed on Completely Build Unit (CBU) basis and exempted from custom duties and other taxes. Ashfaq said that ECC has also imposed a 15 percent regulatory duty on the export of sugar. The ECC also announced a LPG policy and concessions to new auto manufacturing sector in the country. He added that the ECC has also exempted taxes and duties on the import of equipments and machinery plants to be used for reconstruction in earthquake hit areas. (Posted @ 20:08 PST)
Iraqis to take over security in two provinces: Iraqi PM BAGHDAD, May 22, 2006 (AFP) Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Monday that US-led troops will hand over security responsibility to local forces in two provinces from next month. "There is an agreement for the transfer of security under a timetable which starts in June when Iraqi forces will take control of the provinces of Samawa and Amara," he said at a joint press conference with visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "The other provinces will be transferred gradually and by the end of this year most of them will (be under Iraqi security control), with the exception of Baghdad and perhaps Al-Anbar," he said. Maliki insisted that the country was "not in a civil war," but reiterated his intention to disarm militias.(Posted @ 19:34 PST)
Pakistan, Iran make progress in pipeline talks: official TEHRAN, May 22, 2006 (AFP) Talks between Iran and Pakistan on a planned multi-billion gas pipeline have resulted in an agreement on construction terms, an Iranian official said Monday. "The structure of the pipeline has been decided on. It was agreed that each country is responsible for the part of the pipeline which is on its own soil," Deputy Oil Minister Mohammad Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian told state television. The official is currently in Pakistan for talks on the plan to pipe Iranian gas to India via Pakistan.(Posted @ 19:10 PST)
Pakistani officials arrive in India for talks on Siachen Glacier dispute NEW DELHI (AP) Senior Pakistani defense officials arrived in India on Monday for talks that both sides hope will lead to the two nations pulling back troops from Siachen Glacier, known as the world's highest battlefield, a Pakistani official said. Pakistani Defense Secretary Tariq Waseem Ghazi, who will lead the Pakistani side at the two-day talks, told reporters that he had ``come with an open and positive mind.'' Tuesday's talks are part of efforts begun by the two countries more than two and a half years ago to settle Kashmir and other bilateral disputes.(Posted @ 19:02 PST)
Grenade attacks injure 25 in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, May 22, 2006 (AFP) Seven policemen and 18 civilians were injured Monday in two grenade attacks in Srinagar, police said. "Both grenades were hurled at policemen patrolling the areas but also wounded civilian pedestrians," police said, adding that three of the injured were in critical condition. (First Posted @ 15:20 PST Updated @ 16:54 PST)
Landmines kill one Turkish soldier, wound another DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, May 22, 2006 (AFP) A Turkish soldier was killed and another wounded Monday in separate landmine explosions blamed on Kurdish rebels in the east and southeast of the country, local security sources said.(Posted @ 16:36 PST)
Australian soldier wounded in mine blast in Afghanistan SYDNEY, May 22, 2006 (AFP) An Australian special forces soldier has suffered shrapnel wounds after his patrol vehicle ran over a mine in southern Afghanistan, the military said Monday. Australian Defence Force chief Angus Houston said there were no serious injuries among the Special Forces troops aboard the vehicle which was badly damaged in Sunday's incident. Further details on the location of the incident, the type of vehicle and the soldiers involved were not given.(Posted @ 16:34 PST)
Blair pledges to work with new Iraq government BAGHDAD, May 22, 2006 (AFP) British Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged on a surprise visit to Baghdad on Monday to work with the new government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Britain will work with him "to make the hopes and expectations of the Iraqi people for the future a reality", Blair said at a joint press conference with Maliki. Blair said peace in Iraq would pave the way for the withdrawal of foreign troops. Maliki said Iraq now was better off than it was under the regime of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, despite the rampant violence, saying the people of Iraq had produced a "full democratic regime and defeated the enemies of democracy." (First Posted @ 12:02 PST Updated @16:32 PST)
Mild intensity quake jolts Muzaffarabad PESHAWAR, May 22 (APP): An earthquake of mild intensity jolted Muzaffarabad on Monday at 13:31 hours, a report of the Meteorological Station Peshawar said. According to preliminary analysis, the magnitude of the earthquake was measured at 4.3 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was located at about 250 kilometres east of Peshawar in Azad Kashmir region. An earlier report from the station had said that a quake of mild intensity measuring 4.1 was felt early Monday morning at 6:26 Hours PST in Mansehra. No loss of life or property was reported from any of those areas till the filing of this report.(Posted @ 16:20 PST)
Kashmiri leaders reject Indian PM's roundtable conference invitation SRINAGAR, India, May 22 (Reuters) Kashmir's main political alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), on Monday rejected an invitation by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to attend a "roundtable" peace conference on Kashmir. APHC said it would not be a part of the "crowd". "The Hurriyat considers that the crowd comprising political hypocrites and Ikhwanis (former militants), with no agenda, can hardly produce a result in terms of the permanent settlement of the Kashmir problem," Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told a news conference.(Posted @ 15:40 PST)
India on alert for suicides after stocks slide MUMBAI, May 22 (Reuters) Indian police are watching out for possible suicides by brokers and investors after a steep market slide wiped out billions of dollars in share values, officials said on Monday. Policemen were keeping a watch near lakes and canals, possible places where people in distress could head to kill themselves. They said rescue teams were on alert. India's Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd., which had a market value of $657 billion last week after falling 10 percent in the previous two sessions, slid as much as another 10 percent in early trade on Monday following sales of stocks held by brokers as security on behalf of their clients.(Posted @ 15:40 PST)
Doctors strike in India AHMEDABAD, India, May 22 ( Reuters) Medical services were crippled in India's Gujarat state on Monday as thousands of doctors went on strike to protest the federal government's decision to increase college quotas for lower castes. As junior doctors and interns stopped work at state hospitals in Gujarat, hundreds of patients desperately sought treatment, many waiting in searing heat. Fistfights broke out at hospitals as senior doctors found it difficult to cope with angry patients and their relatives. In New Delhi, medical students continued their hunger strike into a second week.(Posted @ 15:35 PST)
WHO chief dies GENEVA, May 22 (Reuters) The head of the World Health Organisation, Lee Jong-wook of South Korea, died on Monday after suffering a blood clot on the brain, the United Nations agency said.(Posted @ 15:32 PST)
Saddam trial reopens with defence witness testimony BAGHDAD, May 22 (AFP) - The trial of deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants resumed Monday with defence testimony on the behalf of the former judge who sentenced 148 Shiites to death.(Posted @ 12:35 PST)
Bombs blast Baghdad market-police BAGHDAD, May 22 (Reuters) - Two bombs blasted a Baghdad market on Monday causing an as yet unknown number of casualties, police sources said. A car bomb and another bomb, apparently planted close to the street, struck the crowded area in the New Baghdad district. According to one policeman at least 10 people were wounded.(Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Security forces kill two militants in southern Russia KHASAVYURT, Russia, May 22 (AP) Security forces killed two militants in a gun fight in the province of Dagestan, officials said Monday. Police battled the gunmen on Sunday, who were holed up in a two-story building in Khasavyurt, a city in western Dagestan. Three police officers were also injured.(Posted @ 12:08 PST)
Former Afghan governor and police chief kidnapped in Afghanistan KABUL, May 22, 2006 (AFP) - A former governor and an ex-police chief of the same province have been abducted in Afghanistan, police said Monday. Armed men kidnapped Paktia province's ex-governor and former head of police on Sunday while they were offering funeral prayers for a person who had recently died, police said.The men were kidnapped in neighbouring Ghazni province, said Ghazni chief of police, Abdul Rehman Sarjang. The host was also kidnapped, he said.(Posted @ 12:05 PST)
Eight dead in Russia military housing fire MOSCOW, May 22(AFP) - Eight people including military personnel and members of their families were killed Monday in a fire that broke out in a military housing facility northeast of Moscow, the emergency situations ministry said. Two children were among the victims, the spokesman said, adding that the cause of the blaze was under investigation.(Posted @ 11:30 PST)
Thailand closes 100 schools after teacher hostage crisis BANGKOK, May 22 (AFP) - Thailand temporarily closed some 100 schools in its restive Muslim-majority southern provinces Monday after a hostage crisis in an elementary school last week left a teacher critically injured. Phairat Sangthong, the education chief in Narathiwat province, said the schools would remain closed all week.(Posted @ 11:20 PST)
US moves to establish anti-missile site in Europe: report WASHINGTON, May 22 (AFP) - The United States is moving to establish a new anti-missile site in Europe designed to stop attacks by Iran against the US and its European allies, The New York Times reported Monday. The newspaper said the administration's proposal calls for installing 10 missile interceptors at a European site by 2011. Poland and the Czech Republic are among the nations under consideration as possible sites, the report said. A recommendation on a European site is expected to be made this summer to Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, said the paper citing unnamed Pentagon officials.(Posted @ 11:15 PST)
France, Germany and Italy paid ransoms for Iraq hostages: report LONDON, May 22 (APP/AFP) - France, Germany and Italy paid some 45 million dollars to obtain the release of hostages kidnapped in Iraq, despite denying it in public, The Times reported Monday, basing its report on "documents seen by The Times". Several other governments, including Jordan, Romania, Sweden and Turkey, were also said to have paid for their hostages to be freed, along with some US companies with lucrative reconstruction contracts in Iraq. While Britain has never paid to free its citizens, it is understood to have paid intermediaries 'expenses' for their efforts to make contact with the kidnappers, the newspaper reported. "According to the documents, sums from 2.5 million dollars to 10 million dollars per person have been paid over the past 21 months," it added.(Posted @ 10:00 PST)
China to lend Nigeria $1 billion to fix railways BEIJING, May 22 (Reuters) - China will give Nigeria a $1billion loan to fix its dilapidated railways, Xinhua news agency said on Monday. The money will be used to fix old lines and buy new rolling stock and equipment.(Posted @ 09:40 PST)
US shooter kills four inside church: police NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, May 22 (AFP) - A man shot dead four worshipers in a Louisiana church on Sunday, kidnapped his three children and his wife and later killed her, police said. It appears to be (a) domestic" dispute, Police Department Sergeant Charles Armstrong said.(Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Taliban more aggressive and more numerous: French admiral ON BOARD THE CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRCRAFT CARRIER, May 22 (AFP) - Taliban in southern Afghanistan have become much more aggressive as their numbers and confidence have increased, the officer heading French forces providing support to coalition forces in the country said Sunday. "We can clearly see, now that we're in the area... that they are a lot more aggressive", Rear Admiral Xavier Magne said at a news conference on board the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. Magne cited the very heavy toll (200 rebels) from fighting since Wednesday as evidence. He also noted that the Taliban were using different techniques. They initially limited their activity to suicide bombings and explosions of makeshift devices, but in recent weeks relatively large groups of rebel forces had been engaging in open combat.He said he expected the rebels would try to overcome the coalition "by wearing it out".(Posted @ 09:20 PST)
Germany, China agree Iran should not have nuclear bomb: Merkel BEIJING, May 22 (AFP) - Germany and China agree that Iran should not be allowed to build nuclear weapons, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said here Monday after meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. "We talked about Iran and both (of us) agreed Iran should not have the capability to make nuclear weapons and shouldn't proliferate weapons of mass destruction," Merkel told a joint press conference with Wen.(Posted @ 09:15 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 68.69 points: KARACHI, May 22:At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 10930.00 , up 68.69 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, May 22: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.55 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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