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| June 27, 2006 | Tuesday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Rice presses Pakistan and Afghanistan on anti-terror roles ISLAMABAD, June 27, 2006 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Tuesday sought to shore up relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, two of Washington's key allies in the fight against terrorism and the Taliban. Rice met President Pervez Musharraf for talks in Islamabad aimed at strengthening cooperation between the neighbouring Islamic republics. She will visit Kabul on Wednesday to meet Afghan leader Hamid Karzai. "Pakistan is a friend of the United States and a fierce fighter in the war on terrorism. Afghanistan also is a friend of the United States and a fierce fighter in the war on terror," Rice said at a press conference with her Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri. "We are going to emphasize what we have in common" in the battle against Taliban and other extremists operating along the rugged Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier, she added.(Posted @ 23:42 PST)
Rice praises Pakistan's Musharraf, pushes for elections PRESTWICK, Scotland, June 27 (AP) _ U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered an unstinting endorsement of Pakistan's military leader, a key ally in the fight against terrorism, and said the world expects to see Pakistan hold democratic elections next year. `There has to be, the world expects there to be, democratic, free and fair elections in Pakistan in 2007,'' Rice said Monday, en route to a meeting Tuesday with President Pervez Musharraf. ``Pakistan has come an enormously long way in a period of four years, an enormously long way,'' Rice said during a news conference aboard her plane. ``We are fortunate there too that you have a leadership that is committed to putting Pakistan on a course toward moderation rather than a course toward extremism.'' Rice had even stronger praise for Afghan President Hamid Karzai.``This is an extraordinary leader and we're going to back him and back him fully,'' Rice said. ``When he has problems we're going to sit with him and we're going to find ways to resolve those problems. But any implication that anybody thinks that he is somehow not up to the job or not living up to his responsibilities is simply false.'' (Posted @ 13:45 PST)
Talks on recovering Israeli hostage fail JERUSALEM, June 27 (Reuters) - Egyptian- and French-led efforts to negotiate for the release of an Israeli soldier abducted by Palestinian gunmen in the Gaza Strip have failed, Israeli television reported on Tuesday.(Posted @ 23:48 PST)
Tamil Tigers seek Indian role in Sri Lanka strife NEW DELHI, June 27 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels urged India on Tuesday to put aside years of distrust and once again try to bring peace to the island. "The only role which she (India) can play is diplomatically and politically persuading the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to seek a negotiated settlement rather than involving in a military confrontation," Chief rebel negotiator Anton Balasingham told an Indian TV channel in an interview. He said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were not seeking military intervention by India. Balasingham said the LTTE had pledged to the Indian government that the rebels would under no circumstance act against New Delhi's interests. There was no immediate reaction from the Indian Foreign Ministry to his comments.(Posted @ 23:10 PST)
Eight Maoists shot dead in southern India HYDERABAD, India, June 27 (Reuters) Eight Maoist rebels, including six women, were killed by security forces in a shootout on Tuesday in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, police said. "The shootout is still continuing," police added.(Posted @ 21:36 PST)
Arab League chief warns of arms race in Middle East region HOUSTON, Texas, June 27, 2006 (AFP) The United States cannot denounce Iran's nuclear program while accepting Israel's possession of nuclear bombs, the head of the Arab League said Tuesday. "This will ultimately bring the Middle East to further instability and there will be an inevitable arms race," Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa told the US Arab Economic Forum in Houston, Texas. "We do not believe there is a good and bad nuclear program. There is no moral and legal ground to distinguish them. Both are bad and all military nuclear programs or programs of weapons of mass destruction should not be allowed."(Posted @ 21:34 PST)
Israel still committed to Palestinian talks: Israeli PM JERUSALEM, June 27, 2006 (AFP) Israel is still committed to negotiations with the Palestinians despite the "difficult circumstances" posed by militants that have captured an Israeli soldier, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday. "Even in the difficult circumstances of recent days I declare that we will do everything in our power to hold negotiations with the Palestinians," Olmert told parliament on the third day of a hostage crisis. Regarding the abduction, Olmert said Israel was preparing for a "extensive and aggressive" operation using all means at its disposal. Olmert also said "I am convinced that the State of Israel will realign in the coming years to new borders which will require us to redeploy".(Posted @ 21:32 PST)
Palestinian killed in Gaza car blast GAZA, June 27 (Reuters) A car exploded in Gaza City on Tuesday, killing a Palestinian man, witnesses said. A Hamas spokesman identified the dead man as Hamza Muhareb, a member of the group, and said reports indicated he was killed by an Israeli air strike. But the Israeli military denied involvement in the incident.(Posted @ 21:26 PST)
Iraqi rebels demand US troop pullout plan before arms handover BAGHDAD, June 27 (AFP) Armed groups fighting US-led forces in Iraq have demanded a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops as a condition for laying down their arms, a Kurdish lawmaker said Tuesday. At least seven armed groups have been holding indirect dialogue with President Jalal Talabani, said lawmaker Mahmud Othman. Another lawmaker with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Dawa party told The New York Times that insurgents have approached the government with offers to start negotiations on the basis of the reconciliation plan. But leading MP Jalaluddin al-Saghir from Iraq's dominant United Iraqi Alliance expressed ignorance about any results from the dialogue.(Posted @ 21:24 PST)
Europe should be 'ashamed' of terror transfers: rights groups STRASBOURG, June 27, 2006 (AFP) European countries which colluded in the secret CIA transfer of terror suspects should be "ashamed" of themselves and stop such practices immediately, four human rights groups said Tuesday. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and two other organisations set out a 12-point list of recommendations to coincide with a report Tuesday to the Council of Europe rights body on the so-called extraordinary renditions. "They should also press the United States to end these practices immediately," a Human Rights Watch spokesperson said.(Posted @ 21:22 PST)
President, PM express concern over slow progress in power projects RAWALPINDI, Jun 27 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz expressed concerns over the slow movement in setting up of power projects in the country to meet the growing domestic and industrial needs of Pakistan. The two leaders made this observation while attending a meeting that reviewed progress of the power projects initiated in the country. "If we do not move fast on establishing new power projects to meet the ever-growing demands of energy, there is a likelihood that in the next few years, the country would face power shortages, which is not acceptable," Musharraf remarked. The President stated that he would regularly review progress in this respect and stressed bridging the gap between policy formulation and implementation. There is a need for all concerned to further streamline the existing mechanism for resolving issues related to setting up of power projects in the country so that there are no delays, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz added.(Posted @ 21:02 PST)
Pakistan, US discuss defence ties RAWALPINDI, June 27 (APP): Pakistan and the United States of America (USA) reiterated the desire to further strengthen their defence relationship. This was discussed during a meeting between Ryan Henry, Principal Deputy for the US Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, and Pakistan's Secretary Defence, Lt. Gen (Retd) Tariq Waseem Ghazi here on Tuesday. Both sides emphasized the need for maintaining long term strategic engagements essential to maintaining peace and stability in the region. The meeting was followed by a presentation on policy formulation initiatives, the defence review on processes and force structures for future needs.(Posted @ 20:56 PST)
Hamas agrees on deal with Abbas GAZA, June 27 (Reuters) The governing Hamas movement reached a political agreement on Tuesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas but rejected any suggestion that the deal could imply recognition of Israel. "The document included a clear clause referring to the non-recognition of the legitimacy of the Occupation," a Hamas spokesman said. "All the obstacles were removed and an agreement was reached on all the points of the prisoners' document," Rawhi Fattouh, a senior aide to Abbas, said after a factions meeting in Gaza initialled the accord. Hamas legislator Salah al-Bardaweel clarified: "We said we accept a state (in territory occupied) in 1967 -- but we did not say we accept two states."(Posted @ 20:34 PST)
Pakistani tribes hold talks to quell militancy MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, June 27 (Reuters) Hundreds of tribesmen flocked to Waziristan's main town Miranshah close to Pakistan's border with Afghanistan on Tuesday for talks aimed at halting violence between security forces and al Qaeda and pro-Taliban militants. At a tribal jirga, or council, the federal government's top administrator for the region appealed to some 500 elders and clerics for their support, and welcomed the ceasefire despite the attack. "I hope that we'll succeed in bringing peace through this jirga and, especially, with the support of tribesmen," Political Agent Fakhur-e-Alam Irfan told the meeting. "Previous incidents happened because of misunderstandings but we have to go forward and forget the past," Maulana Nek Zaman, a cleric and lawmaker, told the jirga.(Posted @ 20:30 PST)
India, Pakistan peace boosting narcotics trade: U.N. NEW DELHI, June 27 (Reuters) Peace on the India-Pakistan border has kept the guns silent for years now, but it has also led to a surge in the illegal drugs trade in a region called the "golden crescent", the United Nations said on Tuesday. "Three to four years ago, when there was tension on the border, the average seizure of opium routed from Afghanistan into India, was about 50 kg (110 lb) per year," Gary Lewis, regional representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said. "Today, the seizure is about 300 kg a year. That's enough to say the confidence-building measures have led to an increased flow of drugs. But this is also because of increased opium production in Afghanistan, which is a country addicted to its own opium." The official said both India and Pakistan realised the drugs problem. Officials on both sides have held talks in recent months on how to control the narcotics trade.(Posted @ 20:28 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan opposed to third umpire appeals scheme KARACHI, June 27 (Reuters) Pakistan are set to counter a proposal that will allow players to appeal decisions to the third umpire if the move is ratified at next week's International Cricket Council (ICC) annual meeting. Last month, the ICC cricket committee put forward a plan that would allow sides to make three appeals to the third official per inning over decisions they doubted. "We conducted a survey of 35 of our players and umpires and 33 of them are opposed to this law," PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said Tuesday. Khan added that Pakistan will also push the ICC to allow the country to host six-day test matches during winter to offset the loss of playing time due to poor light and weather conditions.(Posted @ 18:48 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan board to help 55 bowlers with suspect actions KARACHI, June 27 (Reuters) The Pakistan Cricket Board has started remedial work on 55 bowlers who were reported for suspect bowling actions during the last domestic season, PCB Director Abbas Zaidi said on Tuesday. Zaidi said that in the next domestic season, every first class and under-19 match would be videotaped so the board could spot suspect actions and help improve umpiring standards. He also announced captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi had been given category A central contracts with a monthly retainer of 250,000 rupees ($8,800). Fourteen other players have been given contracts in two other categories worth Rs 156,000 and 93,000.(Posted @ 18:22 PST)
Oil rises above US$72 a barrel SINGAPORE, June 27 (AP) Oil prices rose above US$72 a barrel Tuesday as the suspension of some refinery production along the U.S. Gulf Coast due to a shipping snag reignited concerns that gasoline supplies would not be able to meet demand during the summer. Also, rising demand from China and worries about the ongoing tension between Iran and the West have lifted oil prices in recent weeks. Light, sweet crude for August delivery rose 40 cents to US$72.20 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Europe. Gasoline futures were up a cent at US$2.1898 a gallon.(Posted @ 18:18 PST)
Six killed in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, June 27 (AFP) Six people were shot dead, including a soldier and a policeman, in separate attacks overnight in occupied Kashmir, police said Tuesday. The soldier and his relative were killed when unknown gunmen barged into his house at Kangan, 40 kilometres from Srinagar, and opened fire, a police spokesman said. In another attack in Nowpora-Bandipora, 60 kilometres from Srinagar, militants stormed the house of a suspected army informer and shot him and another man dead, he said. Two bodies, including that of a policeman, were recovered from Pulwama district, 35 kilometres south of Srinagar, he said. In Sopore town, a youth was critically wounded after being shot, he added. (Posted @ 15:40 PST)
450 detainees released in Iraq under amnesty ABU GHRAIB, Iraq, June 27, 2006 (AFP) About 450 detainees held in US and Iraqi prisons were freed Tuesday under an amnesty as part of a national reconciliation plan aimed at ending the bloodshed. "Your release today is part of the prime minister's national reconciliation plan," Iraq's national security advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie told them. "This is not a political game, it is a sincere attempt of reconciliation and to unite Iraq," he added. (Posted @ 14:50 PST)
Russia will not join ultimatums over nuclear issue: Putin MOSCOW, June 27, 2006 (AFP) Russia will not join any ultimatums over the problem of nuclear proliferation, President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday. "We do not intend to join any sort of ultimatum, which only pushes the situation into a dead end, striking a blow against the authority of the UN Security Council," Putin told Russian diplomats in Moscow, Interfax and state-run RIA Novosti news agencies reported. (Posted @ 14:50 PST)
Ethiopia kills 111 rebels ADDIS ABABA, June 27 (Reuters) - Ethiopian forces have killed 111 rebels and taken 107 others who crossed over from Eritrea in recent days, the state news agency said on Tuesday. Another 18 of the Ethiopian rebels were injured during a major military sweep in the remote north, Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) said, quoting the defence ministry. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Car bomb explodes in Iraq's Kirkuk, one dead KIRKUK, Iraq, June 27 (Reuters) - A car bomb exploded in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Tuesday, killing at least one person and wounding nine, police said. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Roadside bomb wounds one Pakistani soldier in tribal region near Afghan border MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan, June 27 (AP) _ A roadside bomb blast wounded a Pakistani soldier Tuesday near Miran Shah in North Waziristan tribal region . Ghafoor Shah, an area government official, said the blast damaged a military vehicle and wounded one Pakistan soldier. Security forces and tribal elders are trying to capture those responsible for Tuesday's attack and a Monday suicide car bombing in the same region that killed at least five Pakistani soldiers, Shah said. Maulvi Sadiq Noor, a top leader of the militants in North Waziristan, said he had called on his supporters to back a one- month cease-fire against attacks on Pakistani soldiers. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Two British soldiers killed in Afghan attack LONDON, June 27 (AFP) - Two British soldiers have been killed in an attack in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence in London said Tuesday. (Posted @ 13:20 PST)
Twenty Taliban, four soldiers killed in Afghan violence KANDAHAR, June 27 (AFP) - Four Afghan soldiers and 20 Taliban were killed in three separate attacks in insurgency-hit southern Afghanistan, military officials said Tuesday. In one attack, Taliban rebels attacked an Afghan army convoy in Zabul province late Monday killing two soldiers, General Rahmatullah Raufi, the military commander for the south, said. In the army operation that followed near the provincial capital of Qalat, 11 Taliban were killed, he said. In a separate incident Monday, insurgents attacked the Afghan army in Musa Qala district of Helmand province and killed two soldiers, a spokesman for the US-led coalition said. Coalition troops killed eight insurgents, spokesman Major Quentin Innes said. The third operation was in Ghazni province when Taliban attacked an army vehicle on Monday, sparking an exchange of fire that left one Taliban dead, provincial governor Shir Alam said adding that there were no army casualties. (Posted @ 13:20 PST)
Soldier killed, gas pipelines blown up in southwest Pakistan QUETTA, Pakistan, June 27 (AFP) - A paramilitary soldier was killed when he stepped on a landmine in Dera Bugti district Tuesday while rebels blew up two gas pipelines in the southwestern province of Baluchistan, officials said. The insurgents bombed also two pipelines leading to the Pirkoh natural gas plant. Separately around one dozen suspects were arrested in connection with rocket attacks on Quetta, the provincial capital, senior police official Wazir Nasir said. (Posted @ 13:10 PST)
Israel masses tanks on Gaza border NAHAL OZ, Israel, June 27 (AFP) - Scores of Israeli tanks and hundreds of troops were deployed Tuesday close to the border with the Gaza Strip amid warnings of an offensive to free a kidnapped soldier. Israeli army radio reported that two infantry regiments and two armoured battalions were on the border. (Posted @ 13:05 PST)
Two arrested in fresh British terror raids LONDON, June 27(AFP) - Two people were arrested Tuesday during a series of early morning raids by anti-terrorist police in Manchester, police said. A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said the raids, at a number of addresses, "were targeting individuals suspected of possession of information that could be used for a terrorism purpose" and were not linked to any other recent anti-terrorism operation, and that no armed police officers were involved in the arrests. (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Bike bomb kills 22 Iraqis watching World Cup BAQUBA, Iraq, June 27 (AFP) - Twenty-two Iraqis, including children, were killed when a motorbike bomb exploded in a market square where villagers were watching a World Cup football match Monday, according to a new toll Tuesday. The booby-trapped motorcycle exploded in the midst of a crowd of youngsters packed into the square in the Shiite village of Khairnabat near Baquba to watch the Italy-Australia clash. "Many young men and children were among the dead," a security source said. About 40 people were also injured in the blast, he added. At almost the same time as the Khairnabat attack, a home-made bomb exploded in the main market in Hilla, 100 kilometres south of Baghdad, killing 10 people and wounding at least 79, according to the latest toll provided by the hospital Tuesday. (Posted @ 12:50 PST)
Travel, tourism between India, Pakistan scaling new heights NEW DELHI, June 27 (AFP) - Travel and tourism between India and Pakistan is growing, with some 170,000 people crossing their frontiers since January, using various modes of transport including air, train, bus and on foot," India's foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said. "Clearly, air is the most widely used mode of transport, while train is a close second," Sarna said adding some 84,000 people had travelled by air. "Our High Commission (Indian embassy in Islamabad) has issued in these past five months nearly 33,000 visas." (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 363.08 points: KARACHI, June 27: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 9041.62, down 363.08 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, June 27: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.75 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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