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| July 06, 2006 | Thursday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 9, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
17 Palestinians killed as Israel invades northern Gaza GAZA CITY, July 6 (AFP) Seventeen Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed Thursday as Israel thrust deeper into the Gaza Strip in its largest and deadliest operation in months, reoccupying the settlements Dugit, Elei Sinai and Nissanit that were evacuated only 10 months ago. Israeli troops effectively created a buffer zone in the northern Gaza Strip. One Israeli soldier was shot dead in fighting in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, a killing claimed by a militant group. Over the day, 17 Palestinians were killed and 46 wounded, local medics and security officials said. Troops also entered the Palestinian territory deeper in the south. In the worst incident Thursday, 11 Palestinians were killed, including two Palestinian fighters, and at least 26 wounded in an Israeli bombardment on Beit Lahiya, medics said. Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniya slammed the assault as "collective punishment" on his people and demanded international intervention. In northern Gaza, ground forces, armoured vehicles and sappers advanced around five kilometres into the territory. Further troops massed around the towns of Beit Hanun and moved into two neighbourhoods of Beit Lahiya. Tzahi Hanegbi, chairman of Israeli parliament's defence and foreign affairs committee, did not rule out the possibility of a long-term presence in Gaza, saying "it could also be years" if rocket attacks continued. (Updated @ 00:08 PST)
Bush says one international voice needed on North Korea WASHINGTON, July 6 (Reuters) President George W. Bush said on Thursday it was important for nations to speak with one voice on North Korea in the face of its missile test launches and he emphasized the need for a diplomatic outcome. After speaking in the last two days to the leaders of China, Russia, Japan and South Korea, Bush said his message was that "we want to solve this problem diplomatically" and that all must work together to "send one message" that North Korea must adhere to international norms. At a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Bush expressed annoyance at the way North Korean leader Kim Jong-il conducted the missile tests: "It would have been helpful of course if, you know, he said 'here's what we're going to do, here's our intentions, we want to work with you, we want to explain ... But that's not the way he decided to deal with it. He just decided to start firing, and he fired seven of them, and we take this seriously," Bush said. (Posted @ 23:58 PST)
UN rights experts demand date for Guantanamo closure GENEVA, July 6 (Reuters) Five U.N. human rights experts on Thursday urged the United States to set a date for closing the Guantanamo Bay detention centre where over 450 terrorism suspects are held. "We encourage the United States, in consultation with the international community, to develop a detailed plan of action, with timeframes, for the closure of Guantanamo Bay," they said in a statement. The five envoys are: Leila Zerrougui, who reports on arbitrary detention, fellow Algerian Leandro Despouy, who covers the independence of judges, torture rapporteur Manfred Nowak of Austria, Pakistan's Asma Jahangir, who focuses on religious freedom and New Zealand's Paul Hunt, rapporteur for health. In a statement released in Geneva, the group said those detainees who Washington decided to prosecute should be transferred to the United States for a "fair and expeditious trial, in accordance with international law". The others must be returned to their country of residence or citizenship, providing that they did not face there the risk of being tortured or subject to any other serious rights abuses. (Posted @ 23:56 PST)
England A 268-3 against Pakistan at stumps CANTERBURY, England, July 6, 2006 (AFP) England A, after winning the toss, were 268 for three at stumps on the first day of their four-day match against Pakistan at the St Lawrence Ground here Thursday. England A captain Robert Key was 128 not out and Ravi Bopara seven not out. This match was Pakistan's last first-class fixture before the first Test against England at Lord's starting a week on Thursday. (Posted @ 23:52 PST)
Musharraf discusses decisions on uniform, re-election with PML leaders ISLAMABAD, July 06 (PPI) President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday said he would take the decisions regarding his military uniform and his re-election as President in accordance with the constitution and keeping in view the country’s national interests. Addressing a high-level meeting of the office bearers of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML), district nazims and legislators from the Punjab province, he asked the PML legislators to end their internal differences and instead focus on preparations for the upcoming general elections. He also asked the PML leaders to redress their grievances by directly contacting the party chief Chaudry Shujat Hussain instead of issuing controversial statements. Meanwhile Chaudhry Shujaat in a news conference at the PML central secretariat Thursday said the government would invoke constitutional provisions to counter the opposition’s threats to tender resignations from the parliament. He said the government would extend the term of assemblies by one year and fill the vacated slots of the opposition members though by-elections. (Posted @ 22:26 PST)
Reconstitution of CCI ‘a major development’: Aziz ISLAMABAD, July 6 (APP): Terming the reconstitution of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) as a `major development', Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Thursday that "by constituting the CCI, we have fulfilled a constitutional requirement, which will further strengthen the relations among the federal and provincial government". In a press conference here at the PM House, he said the first meeting of the CCI will be held very soon. He said the CCI would consist of eight members, including the prime minister who would also be the chairman of the council, along with the chief ministers of all the four provinces, the federal ministers for inter-provincial coordination, narcotics control, and the states and frontier region. In response to a question, he said the agenda of the first meeting of CCI was yet to be finalized, adding that matters regarding the privatization process would be taken up if deemed appropriate. To another query, Aziz said the matter of the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award was already covered under the Constitution. He told a questioner that the National Security Council (NSC), an advisory body, has a different role, whereas the CCI was a constitutional institution that deliberates on the issues related to federal and provincial governments. He was critical of the opposition leaders and their speeches from abroad saying that "we are doing serious governance." The negative politics of criticism for the sake of criticism does not serve the interests of country and people, he added. (Posted @ 21:44 PST)
Mirwaiz warns people of Indian conspiracies ISLAMABAD, July 6 (APP): The Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference(APHC), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Thursday warned Kashmiris of fresh Indian conspiracies designed to divert their attention from their basic right to self-determination. Addressing a gathering at Eidgah in Srinagar, he said that Indian agencies were engaged in creating a discord among Kashmiris on different pretexts. He urged people to remain steadfast and not to rest till the goal of their right to self- determination was achieved, Pakistan’s state television reported. (Posted @ 21:20 PST)
Afghan violence must be tackled at source: Karzai KABUL, July 6 (Reuters) Afghan President Hamid Karzai said violence in his country would not be ended by military means alone while Britain said on Thursday it was considering sending more troops to Afghanistan because of heavy fighting. Karzai told an international conference in Tokyo that many Afghans were being killed by terrorists from outside Afghanistan. While not mentioning Pakistan, he repeated a call for terrorism to be tackled at its roots. "We must redouble our efforts on all dimensions of the war against terrorism, go after terrorists and their sources of training, inspiration and financing." Karzai said drug money was fueling the violence. He also urged the international community to help build up the police in areas along the border with Pakistan. In some places, there was one policeman for every 1,500 people, he said. (Posted @ 21:04 PST)
Al Jazeera airs excerpts of Zawahri, London bomber DUBAI, July 6 (Reuters) On the eve of the anniversary of the London bombings, Al Jazeera television aired video footage of al Qaeda deputy Ayman al-Zawahri and one of the 7/7 London bombers, Shehzad Tanweer. "What you have witnessed now is only the beginning of a string of attacks that will continue and become stronger until you pull your forces out of Afghanistan and Iraq," said Tanweer. "And until you stop your financial and military support to America and Israel," he added. British police said they were aware of the tape, which was broadcast on Thursday. Al Jazeera said Zawahri praised Tanweer, saying: "He (Tanweer) studied physical fitness at university and he had a passion for boxing. Even though he was from a well-off family, his clothes and appearance didn't show that." Tanweer and Zawahri did not appear together on the tape and they had different backgrounds when speaking. Al Jazeera said al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden also praised the London attacks. (Posted @ 21:02 PST)
Discovery docks at space station HOUSTON, Texas, July 6, 2006 (AFP) The Discovery shuttle successfully docked to the International Space Station Thursday, bringing critical supplies and a third crew member to the orbiting outpost, NASA said. The vessel and ISS locked into position at around 1452 GMT, two days after Discovery lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Posted @ 21:00 PST)
EU parliament backs tougher money transfer rules STRASBOURG, July 6, 2006 (AFP) The EU parliament gave its backing Thursday to proposals requiring more information about money transfers in order to step up the fight against organized crime and terror funding. Under the proposed rules, money transfers from outside the 25-nation bloc would have to include information about the sender's identity such as name, address and account number. Banks and other money transfer firms such as Western Union will be required to reject any transfer from outside the EU that does not include the information. Currently, a bank that receives a money transfer from outside the EU knows from which bank it was sent, but information about the sender is not always included. All information gathered under the new rules is to be kept for five years, during which competent authorities can gain access for anti-money-laundering and terror financing investigations. (Posted @ 20:58 PST)
Indian, Bangladeshi border troops exchange fire KOLKATA, India, July 6, 2006 (AFP) Indian and Bangladeshi troops Thursday exchanged gunfire in a sign of growing tensions between forces of the two South Asian neighbours along their porous borders, officials said. There were no casualties but some 200 people were evacuated from their homes in the frontier zone of the Indian state of West Bengal during the gunfire, said an officer of India's Border Security Force. He said Bangladeshi soldiers opened fire when Indian guards chased cattle smugglers back from across the border. He said both sides fired some 300 rounds. (Posted @ 20:58 PST)
Somali extremists vow death for non-prayers, reject peacekeepers MOGADISHU, July 6, 2006 (AFP) Extremists vowed to execute Muslims who skip prayers as they tightened their grip on the Somali capital Mogadishu and again Thursday rejected government calls for foreign peacekeepers. Under an edict issued by a leading Mogadishu cleric, the five-times daily prayer will be enforced under penalty of death. The cleric is also a founder and a high-ranking official in the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia (SICS). It was not immediately clear who would enforce the regulation or how, but the courts have well-armed militias that routed a US-backed warlords' alliance in June after four months of bloody battles for control of Mogadishu. (Posted @ 20:46 PST)
Tennis-Wimbledon results LONDON, July 6, 2006 (AFP) Wimbledon tennis results on Thursday, the 10th day of the 2006 championships at the All England Club: Women's singles Semi-finals (Justine Henin-Hardenne beats Kim Clijsters 6-4, 7-6, 7/4); Men's doubles Quarter-finals (Fabrice Santoro/Nenad Zimonjic beat Jonas Bjorkman/Max Mirnyi 6-4, 6-4, 6-4); Women's doubles Quarter-finals (Yan Zi/Zheng Jie beat Liezel Huber/Martina Navratilova 4-6, 6-4, 6-0) (Posted @ 20:44 PST)
Ethnically divided Bosnia to get single army by 2007 SARAJEVO, July 6, 2006 (AFP) Bosnia has decided to merge its separate Croat, Muslim and Serb armies into a single force by the end of 2007, more than a decade after the bitter inter-ethnic war, an official said Thursday. "The (tripartite) presidency decided late Wednesday on the structure and size of the (future unified) army," Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic told journalists. The decision is the last formal step in Bosnia's defence reform initiated last year with the aim of bringing its armed forces into line with NATO standards. The future army would be comprised of three brigades, each having members of all three ethnic groups. (Posted @ 20:36 PST)
India to buy Russian frigates, missiles NEW DELHI, July 6, 2006 (AFP) The Indian government Thursday approved the purchase of three Russian-built warships and multi-role missile systems to strengthen its navy at a cost of 51.14 billion rupees (1.13 billion dollars), Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said. The first ship would be delivered five years after the signing of the contract with its Russian builders while the remaining two would arrive within 12 months of the first delivery, Mukherjee told a news conference in New Delhi. "The security committee also approved the earmarking of another four billion rupees (88 million dollars) for certain other equipment for these stealth warships," he said, without elaborating. Highly-placed defence ministry sources told AFP the funds would be used to arm the three new warships with BraHmos cruise missiles which have been jointly built by Russia and India. The cabinet also gave the green light for the purchase of 28 submarine-launched KLUB land missiles at a cost of 8.4 billion rupees (187 million dollars) for India's Russian-supplied submarines, the defence minister said. (First Posted @ 17:50 PST Updated @ 20:34 PST)
Foreign troop immunity from Iraqi law must be reviewed: Iraqi PM BAGHDAD, July 6, 2006 (AFP) Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Thursday that the blanket immunity enjoyed so far by foreign troops must be reviewed following allegations of rape and murder by US soldiers in Iraq. "A lot of mistakes have been committed before Mahmudiyah that have caused grief and anger in the Iraqi people who cannot tolerate these brutal crimes for very long," he said. US prosecutors last Monday had charged a former soldier with raping and killing an Iraqi woman and gunning down three of her family members, including a five-year-old girl in March in the town of Mahmudiyah south of Baghdad. Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi called Thursday for severe punishment for the US soldiers responsible for the crimes and said the US government must make amends with the conservative tribes of Mahmudiyah. (Posted @ 20:32 PST)
Two policemen arrested in occupied Kashmir over musician's killing SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 6, 2006 (AFP) Two policemen were arrested in occupied Kashmir over the weekend for the gunning down of a musician that sparked a wave of protest, police said Thursday. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said it had opened fire at music composer Inayatullah Bhat late Friday near his home in Srinagar, when he ignored calls to halt. But residents say the 31-year-old musician was on an evening stroll and was unwell at the time. "We have decided to form a cabinet sub-commitee to implement recommendations of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC)," occupied Kashmir’s Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters. (Posted @ 20:30 PST)
PM Aziz directs WAPDA to bridge gap between supply and demand ISLAMABAD, July 6 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday asked the Ministry of Water and Power and WAPDA to immediately put up a comprehensive plan to bridge the gap between demand and supply of electricity in the country. Chairing a meeting at the PM House to review the overall situation in the power sector, he asked WAPDA to explore all possible options to increase the supply of electricity. He said WAPDA should focus on setting up new power projects and increasing the efficiency of its existing system. He also asked the chairman WAPDA to interact with the Alternative Energy Development Board to look into the possibility of setting up hydel projects. (Posted @ 18:42 PST)
UN rights council condemns Israeli military action in Gaza Strip GENEVA, July 6, 2006 (AFP) The United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday voted to condemn Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip and called for the release of Palestinian officials and civilians arrested during the offensive. In a resolution adopted by 29 votes to 11, the 47-member Council demanded a halt to Israel's military operation and decided to "dispatch an urgent fact-finding mission by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory". Five countries abstained in the vote. "While we gather here in this hall, Israeli tanks are moving and shelling Palestinians, the office of our parliament has been besieged by Israeli troops," Palestinian ambassador Mohammad Abu-Koash said before the vote. "What you have in front of you is a very mild and diluted resolution," he told the Council. The special rapporteur, John Dugard, told the Council the military offensive in Gaza was "morally reprehensible", which violated prohibitions on collective punishment, intimidation, while the arrest of Hamas officials appeared to constitute hostage taking that was prohibited by the Geneva Conventions.(Posted @ 18:12 PST)
Iraq warns Turkey against any military incursions ATHENS, July 6 (Reuters) Iraq warned neighbouring Turkey on Thursday to refrain from any military incursions into its northern border region to fight Kurdish guerrillas based there. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, on a visit to Athens, noted no Turkish incursions had taken place so far. "But if this does happen in the future, then our position will be different," he said after meeting Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyanni. (Posted @ 17:55 PST)
UAE-owned ship sinks off Yemen’s coast; six dead SANAA, July 6 (Reuters) Six sailors died when their vessel, owned by a United Arab Emirates company, sank off the coast of Yemen, state news agency Saba reported on Thursday. Rescue services saved 13 sailors and retrieved the bodies of the six victims after the ship went down on Wednesday amid high waves and strong winds about 600 miles from the Yemeni port of Aden. Saba did not give the sailors' nationalities. (Posted @ 17:48 PST)
President Musharraf reconstitutes CCI ISLAMABAD, July 6 (Agencies): President General Pervez Musharraf has reconstituted the Council of Common Interests (CCI) Thursday, a notification issued by the Cabinet Division here said. According to the notification, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will be the chairman of the council, while the chief ministers of all the four provinces along with the Inter-provincial Co-ordination Minister Salim Saifullah, Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Ghous Bux Mahar and Federal Minister for States & Frontier Affairs Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind will be its members. (First Posted @ 15:55 PST Updated @ 16:38 PST)
Indian PM halts plans to sell shares in state-run firms NEW DELHI, July 6 (AP) India's prime minister said Thursday he has halted plans to sell shares of state-run companies because of opposition from political allies. The decision was a major setback to the country's privatization program, which had shown signs of revival after a recent Cabinet decision to sell 10 percent stake in two big state-owned mining companies. But a statement from the office of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said some of the members of the ruling coalition and its allies have expressed concerns and it has been decided ``to keep all disinvestment decisions and proposals on hold.'' (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Former Iraqi minister Tareq Aziz on hunger strike AMMAN, July 6 (AFP) Former Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz has begun a hunger strike to protest the refusal by prison authorities holding him in Iraq to allow him to see a lawyer, his attorney said Thursday. But a spokesman for US detainee operations in Baghdad denied it. Aziz, held by US troops since his surrender in April 2003, needs to sign a legal document authorizing his lawyer to present a case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Aziz's lawyer charged that if Aziz is denied the right to see his lawyer and to sign the required authorization document, "there is no chance of ever holding a fair trial". (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
ElBaradei sees diplomatic solution to Iran nuclear crisis ANKARA, July 6, (AFP) The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said he was "very optimistic" that a diplomatic solution could be found to the Iranian nuclear crisis, in an interview broadcast Thursday on Turkish television. "There is no other option than the diplomatic route," Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said, adding that "…the military solution is not an option.". Asked when Iran could be capable of building a nuclear weapon, he said: "if that's what they want to do, they would need five to 10 years." (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Rickshaws hit the road in Britain LONDON, July 6, (AFP) Britain's first genuine motorised rickshaw service was launched Thursday, bringing a taste of the Orient to the country's congested cities. The three-wheeled mopeds, called tuk-tuks after the sound of the engine, hit the streets of the southern English seaside resort of Brighton, with the service set to spread to London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol. Entrepreneur Dominic Ponniah has imported 12 tuk-tuks from Pune in western India. A ride in the rickshaws costs 2.50 pounds (4.60 dollars, 3.60 euros) for adults and 1.50 for children. They are seen as a possible solution to urban road congestion as they are small and can weave through traffic. (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
TENNIS: Indonesia pulls out of Fed Cup tie in Israel JAKARTA, July 6 (Reuters) - Indonesia has pulled out of a Fed Cup tennis tie with Israel in Tel Aviv on July 15-16 because of Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip, the foreign ministry said on Thursday. (Posted @ 12:50 PST)
Suicide bomber hits Iran pilgrims in Iraq, 13 dead KUFA, Iraq, July 6 (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber blasted two coachloads of Iranian pilgrims outside Maithem al-Tamar shrine in the holy city of Kufa at dawn on Thursday, killing 13 people and wounding 41, police and hospital sources said. The bomber drove his car between the two coaches as they arrived at the shrine on the outskirts of the main holy city of Najaf, police said. The burnt-out wrecks of the vehicles lay in the street. At Najaf's Hakim hospital, and tallies from two other hospitals put the casualty toll at 13 dead and 41 wounded. (First Posted @ 10:30 PST; Updated @ 12:40 PST)
Cricket-ICC rejects player appeal trial LONDON, July 6 (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected on Wednesday a recommendation to allow players to appeal against decisions to the third umpire, ICC president Ehsan Mani said in a statement. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)
India, China reopen historic Silk Road trade route NATHU LA PASS, India, July 6, (AFP) - India and China Thursday reopened the famed Silk Road, allowing direct border trade between the world's two most populous nations for the first time since their frontier war 44 years ago. The opening ceremony was held in driving rain and bitter cold at the 15,000-feet (4,545-metre) Nathu La Pass on the border between India's Sikkim state and China's Tibet region. (Posted @ 10:35 PST)
North Korea calls missile launch 'successful', act of self-defense SEOUL, July 6 (AFP) - North Korea Thursday hailed its missile launches as "successful" exercises aimed at defending itself and warned of "all-out countermeasures" if the international community tries to punish it. In its first official statement following Wednesday's test-firing of seven missiles, the communist regime warned it was ready to launch more. "The successful launch of missiles this time was part of our normal military exercise, which was aimed at reinforcing our self-defense capabilities," said a foreign ministry statement quoted by South Korea's Yonhap news agency. "Our armed forces will continue with missile launching exercises as part of efforts to build up our self-defense deterrence, as was the recent case," it said. "If anyone takes this up with us or applies pressure on us, we would have to retaliate with stronger physical actions," Pyongyang warned. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Asif like 'young McGrath' says Younis Khan LONDON, July 6 (AFP) - Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan has backed Mohammad Asif to fill the gap left by injured pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan in their forthcoming Test series with England. And he offered hefty praise to Asif, saying the 23-year-old fast-medium bowler reminds him of Australia's Glenn McGrath. "I wouldn't be surprised if Asif made a big impression on this England tour. We are obviously missing Shoaib (Akhtar) and also probably Rana Naved for the first Test at least but Asif will make an impression, I'm sure. "He is looking like a young Glenn McGrath at the moment. He is not 'very' fast but he's accurate, knows about line and length and has a good, mature cricket brain for a youngster." (Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Indonesian bus accident kills 14 people: police JAKARTA, July 6 (AFP) - Fourteen Indonesians were killed and 21 injured when a speeding bus lost control on Flores island, police said Thursday. (Posted @ 08:50 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 20.23 points: KARACHI, July 6: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 9916.10, down 20.23 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, July 6: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.55 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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