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| June 30, 2006 | Friday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 3, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan announces revised visa policy for tourists, businessmen ISLAMABAD, Jun 30 (APP): The government has announced a revised and relatively eased up visa policy on Friday with a view to make the country more tourist, trade, business and investor friendly. Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao flanked by Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakthair announced the visa policy in a press conference here on Friday. (For details click here)(Posted @ 23:50 PST)
PM Aziz directs KESC to take immediate steps to solve Karachi’s power problems ISLAMABAD, Jun 30 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday directed the Ministry of Water and Power, and the Karachi Election Supply Company (KESC) to take immediate steps to solve the frequent power breakdown problems faced by the people of Karachi. Aziz also asked KESC to prepare a comprehensive strategy to meet the gap between demand and supply of electricity in Karachi on a long term basis. He was chairing a meeting at the Prime Minister's House today attended by a delegation lead by Muhammad Shamim Siddiqui, Minister for Communication, Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Minister for Water and Power and other senior officials of the government.(Posted @ 23:30 PST)
Pakistan deplores arrest of Palestinian cabinet ministers: FO ISLAMABAD, Jun 30 (APP): Pakistan Friday deplored the arrest of a number of Palestinian cabinet ministers and parliamentarians by Israeli troops. Foreign Office Spokesperson, Ms. Tasnim Aslam in a statement issued here said the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure by Israeli forces has added to the suffering of Palestinian people who were already facing extreme hardship due to the suspension of international economic assistance. The spokesperson said it is a matter of concern that Israel has not heeded the calls to stop military action against Palestinians. She said, "Pakistan hopes that the regional leaders and the international community would take immediate measures to halt the collective punishment Israel is inflicting on Palestinian civilians."(Posted @ 23:28 PST)
Global rich-poor country divide widening: U.N. GENEVA, June 30 (Reuters) Inequality in incomes between rich and poor countries is growing and must be confronted to prevent global destabilisation, a U.N. report said on Friday. In its annual World Economic Survey, the United Nations said the average Ethiopian is 35 times poorer than his U.S. or European counterpart, whereas in 1950 the income differential was a smaller 16 times. "The main reason is that, in the industrialised world, the income level for the last five decades has grown steadily, whereas it has failed to do so in many developing countries." The growing gap -- with a few emerging nations including China and India bucking the trend -- contradicted conventional wisdom that income differences would close as the world economy became more integrated, the report said. The survey appeared to challenge some liberal economic theory that argues that quick market opening and privatization can accelerate countries' prosperity.(Posted @ 23:18 PST)
FIFA to teach football in Pakistan's earthquake areas PESHAWAR, Pakistan, June 30, 2006 (AFP) World football's governing body FIFA on Friday revealed plans to start coaching clinics and open a training academy in Pakistan as part of a scheme to help the earthquake-battered country. FIFA has promised 500,000 dollars while the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will grant 200,000 dollars to promote football in the areas affected by the quake.A FIFA official said Holger Obermann- a sporting ambassador to Afghanistan since 2003 - from Germany will run coaching clinics in all these areas in September this year. German Football Association foreign expert Obermann, 64, has spent 31 globe-trotting years nurturing the game. The official added that FIFA will also set up an academy in Peshawar.(Posted @ 23:16 PST)
Baghdad attacks higher since security crackdown: US commander WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) Insurgent attacks in Baghdad have risen despite a recent security crackdown that added thousands of troops and new checkpoints to the streets of Iraq's capital, a U.S. commander said on Friday. "I think since we have started Operation Together Forward, you'll find that the number of attacks are going up," Army Col. Jeffrey Snow told reporters in a videoconference from Baghdad. He said he was not surprised at the increase in attacks. "As we populated and put additional patrols, both dismounted and mounted, into neighborhoods ... and we increased the number of checkpoints, we expected that there would be an increase in the number of attacks," Snow said.(Posted @ 23:14 PST)
Romania reverses plan to pull all troops from Iraq BUCHAREST, June 30 (Reuters) Romania's Supreme Defence Council on Friday rejected plans backed by the prime minister to pull the country's troops out of Iraq by the end of this year, the president said. President Traian Basescu said, however, that Romania has negotiated with Western allies a reduction of Romania's 890 troops to 628 -- about 30 percent. He did not give a time frame.(Posted @ 21:30 PST)
India, Pakistan argue over swapping prisoners NEW DELHI, June 30 (Reuters) India and Pakistan accused each other of failing to honour pledges to swap hundreds of prisoners on Friday in a rare quarrel since the traditional rivals launched new peace moves three years ago. New Delhi said Pakistan failed to free 240 Indian fishermen in its jails who had been due to be sent home along with 19 other prisoners who were swapped with 38 Pakistanis at the Wagah border crossing on Friday. Islamabad responded there were close to 500 Pakistani prisoners in India that New Delhi refused to release, saying they were yet to complete their sentences. Both had announced they had agreed to free the prisoners as part of a pact reached between their officials last month. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said the May 31 agreement applied equally to both countries and under it only 39 Indians fulfilled the criteria for release. "How can they express disappointment when they are themselves doing the same? Why do they expect that Pakistan would make an exception? We would not," she said. (First Posted @ 18:34 PST Updated @ 21:26 PST)
US soldiers investigated in Iraqi family's killing WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) The U.S. military launched a criminal investigation into whether U.S. soldiers killed a family of four Iraqi civilians in their home south of Baghdad, officials said on Friday. A preliminary military inquiry into the incident found sufficient reason to move to a formal criminal investigation, the military said in a statement released in Baghdad. (Posted @ 21:22 PST)
Russia offers $10 million in Iraq diplomat killers hunt MOSCOW, June 30 (Reuters) Russia has offered a $10 million reward for help finding the killers of four Russian diplomats abducted in Iraq, the head of Russia's FSB federal security service said on Friday.(Posted @ 21:18 PST)
Italy agrees to keep troops in Afghanistan ROME, June 30 (Reuters) Prime Minister Romano Prodi's cabinet agreed on Friday to keep Italian troops in Afghanistan despite opposition from pacifists in his coalition who have threatened to vote against the military mission in parliament. Italy has roughly 1,300 troops operating in Afghanistan under a NATO-led mission.(Posted @ 21:16 PST)
Pakistan to expand trade ties with Qatar: PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, Jun 30 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday said increased economic cooperation between Pakistan and Qatar through enhanced trade and investment will lead to strong and more broad based relations between the two brotherly countries. He exchanged views on bilateral and international relations with Sheikh Hamid Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani, first Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, who called on him at the Prime Minister House today.(Posted @ 21:08 PST)
President Musharraf bestows medals on earthquake volunteer heroes ISLAMABAD, Jun 30 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Friday emphasized the need for an effective international early warning system on natural disasters, while paying rich tributes to the Pakistani nation and expressing gratitude to the world community for their prompt response to the October 8, 2005 earthquake tragedy. He was addressing a special investiture ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr to recognize the contribution of individuals and organizations for their outstanding contribution in rescue and relief efforts in the aftermath of the country's worst natural disaster. He said the devastation caused by the earthquake has taught Pakistan the importance of having an integrated National Disaster Management Plan and a National Disaster Management Authority. He added that government is taking steps to establish viable disaster management institutions with adequate powers, resources and skills to address future contingencies. Later he decorated individuals and organizations with Sitara-e-Eisaar and Tamgha-e-Eisaar for their outstanding contribution in humanitarian efforts.(Posted @ 21:06 PST)
Mirwaiz deplores negative statements of India ISLAMABAD, Jun 30 (APP): In occupied Kashmir Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday deplored the recent statements of Indian government regarding Kashmir dispute. He urged India to reciprocate Pakistan's positive proposals to resolve the Kashmir dispute, Kashmir Media Service reported. Another APHC leader Syed Ali Gilani Friday said Kashmiris have no enmity with India but they want the Indian government to honour the pledges and commitments it made to them. He strongly condemned the continued human rights violations and state-terrorism by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir and appealed to the world community to take cognizance of the grave situation in the held territory.(Posted @ 21:04 PST)
Four Pakistanis acquitted in Iran cultural centre attack case MULTAN, Pakistan, June 30, 2006 (AFP) A Pakistani court has acquitted four militants accused of a 1997 attack on an Iranian cultural centre in central Multan city that killed eight people, an official said Friday. The four belonging to an outlawed militant group Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ) were acquitted after prosecutors failed to prove their role in the attack, a court official said. Witnesses in the case had denied to the court making statements that were apparently earlier given to prosecutors, the official added.(Posted @ 20:58 PST)
Pakistani officials to visit Guantanamo in July ISLAMABAD, June 30 (Reuters) Pakistani officials plan to visit the U.S. detention centre at Guantanamo Bay next month to check how many of their citizens are being held, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said on Friday. Sherpao said Pakistan had asked the U.S. government to provide consular access to its citizens held in Guantanamo Bay and was trying to secure their release. "They (the U.S) have agreed and our team will be going there from 19 to 21st July," the minister told reporters. Sherpao said there was some confusion over the number of Pakistanis held at Guantanamo, as the latest figure of 29 does not tally with earlier figures. The minister said the discrepancy probably meant more Pakistanis were being held at the U.S. airbase at Bagram in Afghanistan, and Pakistani officials would also seek access there.(Posted @ 20:55 PST)
India accuses Pakistan of failing to keep word on prisoner swap NEW DELHI, June 30 (Reuters) India said on Friday Pakistan had failed to honour a commitment to free 240 Indian fishermen in its jails as part of a pact reached to help boost the traditionally acrimonious relationship between the neighbours. "We are disappointed to note that the 240 fishermen whose national status has already been confirmed were not released today despite the understanding," an Indian Foreign Ministry statement said. Islamabad had told New Delhi 20 fishermen were due to reach Wagah on Friday but were delayed by a vehicle breakdown, it said. "While we await their return, we would like to reiterate that all 240 Indian fishermen should be released in accordance with the understanding of 31 May 2006," it said. "India is also awaiting consular access to 118 civilian prisoners and 192 fishermen and it is hoped that Pakistan will facilitate this by 31 July, in keeping with the understanding." There was no immediate comment from Pakistan.(Posted @ 20:48 PST)
U.S. forces kill 14 in Afghan raid KABUL, June 30 (Reuters) U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan killed 14 gunmen on Friday in an attack on a Taliban safe house in eastern Nuristan province, while eight militants were detained in a raid in southern Kandahar province, the U.S. military said in a statement. In another sign of intensified operations, U.S.-led troops handed out leaflets in the town of Spin Boldak on the Pakistani border telling people military operations were going on and they should not cross the border illegally. A shopkeeper in the town, Mohammad Naeem, quoted the troops as also telling residents not to give refuge to Taliban or they risked their houses getting damaged in attacks.(Posted @ 18:36 PST)
Pro-Taliban militants stage public execution in North Waziristan MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, June 30, 2006 (AFP) Pro-Taliban militants Friday held a public execution in North Waziristan’s Ebi village, allowing relatives of two murdered men to shoot the alleged killer with a Kalashnikov, witnesses and officials said. Around 200 villagers watched the blindfolded man being executed, residents said, in one of the first incidents of its kind in Pakistan's restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan. Local residents said the militants took matters into their own hands after two tribesmen were murdered on June 22, kidnapping the accused man, identified as Ehsanullah, from his home. Separately a local cleric named Pir Lala Khan was shot dead and three others were injured in Spinkai Raghzai village in neighbouring South Waziristan tribal district, a security official said. It was not immediately clear who killed Khan.(Posted @ 18:34 PST)
Pakistan, India release over 50 prisoners LAHORE, June 30 (AP) Pakistan and India exchanged more than 50 civilian prisoners Friday, officials said. Thirty-eight Pakistanis walked through the gate at Wagha border, one of the few land crossings between Pakistan and India near Lahore, said an Interior Ministry official Ghulam Mohammed. Another 19 Indians were freed from Pakistani prisons and returned home, Mohammed said. Pakistani officials said another 20 Indians were also scheduled to be released. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry welcomed the exchanges. ``From the humanitarian aspect this is a very important step,'' ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said. But she added that ``It won't have an impact on the overall relations between the two countries, but will help the families concerned.'' Many of those exchanged Friday had been held from five to 20 years on various charges, primarily illegal border crossings, Mohammed said. Mohammed said most of the Pakistanis freed Friday were ``mentally disturbed, had not been treated well'' and didn't remember their names. Indian officials were not immediately available for comment. India is holding 463 Pakistanis, while 528 Indians are in Pakistani custody, Mohammed added.(Posted @ 18:34 PST)
Kosovo status talks must conclude this year: US BRUSSELS, June 30 (Reuters) U.N.-led talks on the final status of Kosovo must conclude this year, U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said on Friday ahead of a meeting of international powers on the Serbian breakaway province. Burns said the U.N. special envoy to Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, would meet on Friday the Contact Group on Kosovo -- made up of European countries, the United States and Russia -- and present his expectations for the talks over coming months. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Israeli army kills two Palestinians in West Bank raid NABLUS, West Bank, June 30 (Reuters) Israeli troops killed two Palestinians during a raid into the West Bank city of Nablus on Friday, the army said. An Israeli army spokeswoman accused Palestinian gunmen of firing at troops operating in Nablus. "During the raid, two Palestinians were killed and two were arrested," the spokeswoman said. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
17 dead, 18 hurt as India bus falls into gorge SHIMLA, India, June 30, 2006 (AFP) At least 17 people died and 18 were injured when a bus plunged into a gorge in India's Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, police said Friday. It was not immediately known how many people were on the bus when it fell into the 150-foot gorge just outside Shimla as the driver was trying to overtake another vehicle on a sharp mountain bend. (Posted @ 16:20 PST)
Palestinian Prime Minister demands end to Israeli Gaza offensive GAZA, June 30 (Reuters) Palestinian Prime Minister and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Friday he was working to end the crisis over a captured Israeli soldier and demanded that Israel stop its offensive. "We are working with the President (Mahmoud Abbas) and with our Egyptian brothers in order to end this case in a suitable and proper way, but the Israeli military escalation complicates the situation," Haniyeh said at Friday prayers. He did not set any condition for the release of the soldier. "There is an unholy alliance against the Palestinian people, which wants to humiliate the Palestinian people and destroy the government. No concessions will be made," Haniyeh said. "We believe the aggression on our people goes beyond the issue of the captured soldier," he added. (Posted @ 16:15 PST)
Indian troops kill at least 13 in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, June 30(AP) Violence surged Friday in occupied Kashmir, with at least 11 suspected militants killed in three separate gunbattles that also left an army officer and a civilian dead, officials said. In the first battle, eight suspected militants were killed in a six-hour-long gunbattle along the Line of Control(LoC), an Indian army spokesman said. In a separate incident, another suspected militant was killed by security forces in Chakura village, located about 45 kilometers south of Srinagar, a police officer said. In the final incident, a fire broke out as security forces battled suspected militants in a house in the town of Bandipora, 65 kilometers north of Srinagar. A fire department official, said the charred bodies of an army officer, two suspected militants and one civilian were brought out of the burning house. Emergency workers rescued three more civilians, he said. (First Posted @ 11:00 PST Updated @ 15:45 PST)
Iraq fight will go on despite Zarqawi death: bin Laden tape PARIS, June 30 (AFP) Osama bin Laden warned that jihad will go on in Iraq despite the death of local Al-Qaeda chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, according to a new message attributed to the fugitive leader of Al-Qaeda Friday. In an audiotape aired on a website, the speaker said to be bin Laden paid a glowing tribute to Zarqawi, who was killed in a US air strike on his hideout three weeks ago. "We will keep up our fight to bleed your money dry, kill your men and so that (your forces) go home defeated, as we defeated you in Somalia," bin Laden said referring to US President George W. Bush. In the 20-minute tape Friday, the speaker also called on Bush to return the Zarqawi's remains to his family and said Jordan's King Abdullah II should allow his repatriation. (Posted @ 15:40 PST)
No women elected to Kuwait's new parliament KUWAIT, June 30 (Reuters) Women failed to win any seat in their first attempt to compete in a Kuwaiti parliamentary election, results showed on Friday. "It's a heavyweight assembly that puts the government in front of some tough choices," said al-Watan daily. Leading newspaper, al-Qabas, termed the outcome "a loss for pro-government candidates". (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Kurd rebels kill two Turkish soldiers DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, June 30 (Reuters) Kurdish rebels killed two Turkish soldiers and injured five others during an attack on a police station in Turkey's troubled southeast region, security officials said on Friday. (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Ex-Taliban ambassador to Pakistan praises Supreme Court ruling on Guantanamo KABUL, June 30 (AP) _ The Taliban's ex-ambassador to Pakistan praised the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Guantanamo Bay, saying Thursday it proved the Bush administration's move to establish the detainee center was ``incorrect.'' Abdul Salam Zaeef, who spent almost four years in Guantanamo before being released last September, described the facility's military tribunals as ``an insult to humanity and human rights.'' ``I hope this leads to a shutdown of Guantanamo Bay,'' he added. Zaeef, the former Taliban envoy, was arrested in January 2002 and handed over to U.S. authorities. He refused to cooperate with the tribunal at Guantanamo, where he said interrogators had accused him of being linked to the 2000 bombing of the destroyer USS Cole in Yemen and the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Israel blitzes Gaza, Egypt reveals Hamas offer GAZA CITY, June 30 (AFP) - Israel blitzed Gaza from the air overnight, setting the interior ministry ablaze and killing a Palestinian fighter in the latest offensive aimed at freeing a soldier held by Palestinian militants. Israel pounded Gaza with 30 air raids, hitting the Hamas-controlled interior ministry, and striking weapons depots, Hamas training camps and access roads, according to the army. The office of interior minister Siad Siam, a senior Hamas leader, was also specifically targeted. The army said it had struck at militants who tried to fire an anti-tank missile at Israeli troops based around the disused Palestinian airport in Dahaniyeh in the southern Gaza Strip. Three members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, linked to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party, were also injured in a shootout with Israeli troops in northern Gaza, Palestinian medical sources said. (Posted @ 12:05 PST)
Iraqi and U.S. troops clash with insurgents BAGHDAD, June 30 (AP) _ Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition forces clashed with insurgents during a raid on a village northeast of Baghdad, killing three terror suspects and wounding three others, the military said Friday. (Posted @ 11:10 PST)
Indian troops kill eight in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, June 30 (AFP) - Indian troops Friday shot dead eight suspected militants during a gunbattle in the early hours of Friday in (northern) Keran sector, an Indian army spokesman said. They were asked to surrender. Instead opened fire which was returned by the troops, sparking a battle that lasted several hours, he said adding that early morning searches in the area led to the recovery of eight bodies. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)
Gaza militant killed by Israeli airstrike GAZA, June 30 (Reuters) - A member of Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad died after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Friday, hospital officials said. He was the first Palestinian killed since Israel launched its offensive in Gaza to try to bring home a captured soldier. (Posted @ 10:25 PST)
Hamas sets conditions for kidnapped Israeli soldier's release: Mubarak CAIRO, June 30 (AFP) - The ruling Palestinian Hamas movement has agreed to secure the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit but only on certain conditions, Egyptian President and Middle East negotiator Hosni Mubarak said in comments published Friday. "Up to now, the Israeli side does not accept," these conditions, he said in an interview to Al-Ahram. His comments gave no details of the Palestinian conditions. "I am personally deploying all possible efforts, late into the night, to avoid a real catastrophe which would scorch the whole region," he said. On Monday three Palestinian groups, including the armed wing of Hamas, called for the release of all Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails in exchange for information on the Israeli soldier. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Israeli planes attack Palestinian ministry as crisis deepens GAZA CITY, June 30 (AFP) - Israel launched air raids in the Gaza Strip overnight, setting the Palestinian interior ministry ablaze, witnesses and security sources said early Friday. On the ground, three members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, linked to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party, were injured in a shootout with Israeli troops near Jabaliya in northern Gaza, while a member of the Islamic Jihad was seriously injured in a pre-dawn helicopter gunship strike in Rafah, in southern Gaza, medical and security sources said. "Israeli planes carried out a dozen raids in the Gaza Strip against the ministry, military training camps, roads and faction offices," a security source said. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Kuwaiti opposition gains parliamentary majority in elections: official KUWAIT, June 30, 2006 (AFP) - Kuwaiti opposition candidates have gained a parliamentary majority following historic elections here in which women participated for the first time but won no seats, according to official results announced Friday. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Hamdan among the last to find out about historic ruling WASHINGTON, June 29, 2006 (AFP) - Salim Ahmed Hamdan and other detainees at the Guantanamo "war on terror" prison camp were not immediately told of the Supreme Court's ruling that tribunals to be used for their cases were illegal, officials said. Several hours after the landmark ruling in the case of the former Osama bin Laden driver, a senior administration official would only say that the US military was making arrangements for a defense lawyer to speak to Hamdan, a Yemeni who has been at Guantanamo since May 2002. The official could not say whether the other 450 detainees at Guantanamo Bay will be told. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Jihad in Iraq continues despite Zarqawi's death: 'Bin Laden' message PARIS, June 30 (AFP) - The "jihad" war in Iraq will continue despite the death of Al-Qaeda's Iraq chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, according to an audio message attributed to Osama bin Laden on Friday. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
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