|
|
| July 8, 2006 | Saturday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 11, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Hamas calls for cease-fire as first step toward resolving standoff GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip, July 8 (AP) _ The Hamas government on Saturday called for a cease-fire to end its violent two-week standoff with Israel, but stopped short of offering to release an Israeli soldier. ``If we want to get out of the current crisis, it is necessary to return to calm, on the basis of a mutual halt to all military operations,'' said a statement issued by Cabinet spokesman Ghazi Hamad in Haniyeh's name. Hamas also urged Israel to open negotiations over the fate of the soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Hamas must release the soldier and halt rocket attacks on Israel as a first step. ``Anyone who ignores these two fundamental issues cannot hope to solve this crisis,'' he said. On Saturday morning, dozens of tanks drove toward Gaza City, taking up positions about 500 meters from the outlying neighborhoods of Shajaiyeh and Zeitun. The air force fired missiles at a group of militants gathered at the outskirts of Shajaiyeh. Two Hamas gunmen were killed in the area, hospital officials said. In northern Gaza, troops pulled back from the town of Beit Lahiya on Saturday. Tanks driving through narrow streets had shorn off outer walls of buildings, torn down electricity polls, carved up asphalt. Facades of buildings were marked by bullet holes from exchanges of fire. Bulldozers had torn up fields near homes, knocking down trees and green houses. A U.N. truck arrived with drinking water for the residents. (First Posted @ 13:15 PST Updated @ 17:18 PST)
Shell hits house in Gaza City, witnesses say GAZA, July 8 (Reuters) - A house near Gaza City was hit by a shell on Saturday, causing casualties, Palestinian witnesses said. It was unclear whether anyone was killed in the blast. The Israeli military said it was checking into the report. (Posted @ 23:42 PST)
Five Spanish soldiers injured in Afghan blast MADRID, July 8 (Reuters) - Five Spanish soldiers on peacekeeping duty in Afghanistan were injured in an explosion on Saturday, one of them critically, a Defence Ministry spokeswoman said. "The incident happened when the soldiers were out on patrol. We are trying to find out whether the explosion was a mine or an intentionally detonated device," she said. The injured troops were being transferred to the Spanish-Italian base at Herat. (Posted @ 23:32 PST)
Pakistan 242 all out against England A CANTERBURY, England, July 8, (AFP) - Pakistan were bowled out for 242 in reply to England A's first innings 595 for nine declared, a deficit of 353, on the third day of their four-day tour match here Saturday. Mohammad Sami was 28 not out, the innings ending with Pakistan nine wickets down when last man Mohammad Asif was unable to bat because of a right elbow injury sustained while in the field. (Posted @ 22:50 PST)
Mauresmo beats Henin for Wimbledon title WIMBLEDON, July 8 (AP) _ Mauresmo rallied from a set down and held firm down the stretch to beat Justine Henin-Hardenne, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 Saturday to win the Wimbledon title for her second Grand Slam championship. Mauresmo became the first French women's singles champion at Wimbledon since Suzanne Lenglen won the last of her six titles in 1925. (Posted @ 20:26 PST)
President announces development schemes for Chitral CHITRAL, July 8 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday announced various development schemes for Chitral district and adjoining areas and promised that people of the Northern Areas would get more than their due share. Addressing a large gathering at Chitral Polo Ground he announced Rs.50 million to upgrade Gilgit-Chitral road and another Rs.20 million for the construction of a bridge on Mastooj River. Funds would be provided for hydro-power project on River Chitral, he added. (Posted @ 20:14 PST)
Musharraf says Lowari rail tunnel to be gateway for development of Chitral LOWARI PASS, Pakistan, July 8 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday performed the ground-breaking of the Rs 8 billion Lowari Rail Tunnel project, saying it would serve as a gateway for fast-paced progress of the people of Chitral and also help realize Pakistan's vision of becoming a regional hub of commerce through efficient communication linkages. The 8.6 km-long rail tunnel will provide all-weather communication linkage to the Chitral Valley, which remains cut off with the other parts of the country in winter and also facilitate Pakistan's link with landlocked Central Asian state of Tajikistan via a narrow strip of Afghanistan. Enumerating the economic benefits of the project, President Musharraf particularly mentioned government's commitment to exploit the "mountains of marble" in the area. In this respect, he said, the Government has already set up Pakistan Stone Development Company to harness the potential of precious stones in Chitral and other areas including parts of Sindh and the tribal areas. (Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Germany earmarks Rs.1 billion for education in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, July 8 (APP): Germany has donated Rs.1 billion for promotion of education in NWFP, Voice of Germany reported. The NWFP Education Minister Maulana Fazl-e-Ali Haqqani visited Germany where he apprised experts and officials about problems in promotion of education in the province. The German government, in the first phase, promised Rs.1 billion grant to the NWFP for promotion of education. (Posted @ 19:54 PST)
Another non-stop Karachi-Lahore train from July 24 KARACHI, July 8 (APP): Within a month after the launch of express trains Margalla and Marvi, railways is introducing another non-stop train between Karachi and Lahore from July 24. Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad told a press conference Saturday that the new "Sindh Express" will complete its journey in only 15 hours. He said within two months railways revenue increased by a record Rs 250 million, while campaign against ticketless travel during the last five days yielded Rs 0.4 million a day. He said law will be introduced to award four-day imprisonment for ticketless travel. (Posted @ 19:50 PST)
Moroccans march in support of Palestinians RABAT, July 8 (Reuters) - Thousands of Moroccans massed in Rabat on Saturday to demand Arab governments unite behind the Palestinians after an Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip killed more than 40 people. Organisers claimed 100,000 people turned out (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Sarajevo pays tribute to Srebrenica massacre victims SARAJEVO, July 8 (AFP) - Hundreds of people lined Sarajevo's main street Saturday as a convoy carrying the remains of 505 Bosnian Muslims slaughtered in Srebrenica headed for burial 11 years after the 1995 massacre. The crowd included survivors and relatives of people killed in Europe's worst atrocity since World War II. The victims, aged between 15 and 78, whose remains were found in mass graves and later identified by DNA analysis, will be buried on Tuesday at the eastern Bosnian town's memorial cemetery. More than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were massacred after Serb forces overran the town in July 1995. Their bodies were later found in more than 60 mass graves that have been exhumed around Srebrenica. Some 2,000 victims have already been buried at the memorial cemetery, built in 2003, but thousands of others have yet to be identified as the search for more burial sites continues. Radovan Karadzic and his military chief Ratko Mladic, the two people considered most responsible for the massacre, remain at large. (Posted @ 19:34 PST)
Militants attack kills Pakistani soldier, injures two QUETTA, Pakistan, July 8 (AFP) - Suspected militants attacked a paramilitary checkpost in Sui town in Baluchistan province, killing a soldier and wounding two others, officials said. They attacked the post with rockets and assault rifles, a security official said. Elsewhere, rebels blew up three power pylons, suspending electricity supply to the towns of Dera Bugti and Sui, government official Gibrial Khan said. Suspected militants also fired rockets at paramilitary posts in three locations in Dera Bugti late Friday but there were no reports of any casualities. (Posted @ 19:32 PST)
Discovery astronauts begin first spacewalk HOUSTON, Texas, July 8, 2006 (AFP) - Discovery astronauts Piers Sellers and Mike Fossum stepped out of the International Space Station on Saturday for a spacewalk aimed at testing equipment for possible future repairs on the shuttle. (Posted @ 19:12 PST)
Iran's Ahmadinejad calls for 'removal of Zionist regime' TEHRAN, July 8 (AFP) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejed called on Islamic countries Saturday to mobilise against Israel and "remove" the "Zionist regime". "The basic problem in the Islamic world is the existence of the Zionist regime, and the Islamic world and the region must mobilise to remove this problem," he said in a speech to regional officials at the opening of a two-day conference in Tehran on security in Iraq. "Today there is a strong will... to remove the Zionist regime and implement a legal Palestinian regime all over Palestine. The continued survival of this regime (Israel) means nothing but suffering for the region," Ahmadinejad said. "The biggest threat today for the region is the existence of the fake Zionist regime," he added. (Posted @ 19:08 PST)
Kashmir woman leader survives attack, 5 killed SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 8 (Reuters) - A woman politician and former minister in occupied Kashmir survived a sixth attempt on her life on Saturday when suspected militants threw a grenade, but five of her supporters were killed and 45 wounded in the attack, police said. Sakina Itoo, 36, lawmaker and a leader of the National Conference, was coming out of a shrine in Kulgam, 65 km south of Srinagar, along with her supporters when the grenade was thrown. "Itoo received splinter injuries but she is out of danger". Former state lawmaker, Ghulam Nabi Dar, and four others were killed. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Itoo’s father, a former speaker of the state legislature, was killed by militants in 1995. (First Posted @ 12:25 PST Updated @ 18:48 PST)
Cricket-ICC to investigate players' workloads LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) is to investigate players' workloads after criticism of its international schedule. In a speech to the ICC's annual business forum at Lord's on Friday, chief executive Malcolm Speed said the project was likely to compare player workloads in different eras as well as assessing injury trends. (Posted @ 18:24 PST)
Saudi government TV says 7 terror suspects escape jail RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 8 (AP) _ Seven terror suspects have escaped from a jail in the capital , the Saudi Interior Ministry said Saturday. ``They are extremists, they believe in the takfiri thoughts,'' ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki said. The ministry and state television did not specify when the men had escaped from Malaz, one of the main prisons in Riyadh. (Posted @ 18:14 PST)
Nearly 400 Iraqi prisoners released from U.S. detention facilities, authorities say BAGHDAD, July 8 (AP) _ Iraqi and U.S. authorities released 368 prisoners on Saturday. Deputy Justice Minister Busho Ibrahim said a total of some 2,721 detainees were released between June 7 through June 30, more than the 2,500 that al-Maliki had promised would be freed. He also said 495 inmates were released on July 1, leaving about 11,550 in American custody. (Posted @ 18:08 PST)
6 killed, 7 wounded in attacks in southern Russia ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia, July 8 (AP) _ Suspected militants attacked two vehicles in two troubled southern Russian provinces and blew up a third car, killing six people and injuring seven others, police said Saturday. A car carrying a group of fishermen in Chechnya's northeastern Shelkovsky district came under automatic gunfire on Friday, leaving four people killed and two seriously wounded. Investigators believe they attacked the fishermen because they were wearing camouflage, similar to the ones warn by law enforcement officers. Also on Friday, a minivan carrying police in Chechnya's central Shalinsky district exploded when it hit a remote-controlled roadside bomb, injuring three security officers and a traffic policeman, a spokesman said. In the neighboring province of Ingushetia, another car was riddled with gun fire as it was driving in the central Sunzhensky district, killing the driver and a military serviceman, and leaving another soldier wounded, the spokesman said. Chechnya, a mainly Muslim region in southern Russia, has been wracked by freedom movement for more than a decade, and the violence has spread increasingly to neighboring North Caucasus regions in Russia. (Posted @ 18:00 PST)
Three U.S. soldiers killed in Anbar province, more sectarian violence in Baghdad BAGHDAD, July 8 (AP) _ Three American soldiers were killed Saturday due to ``enemy action'' in the western province of Anbar, the U.S. military said. A U.S. statement said the three were assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. No further details were released. Also Saturday, gunmen in two cars stopped a vehicle in Baghdad's Dora neighborhood, forced the two passengers to disembark and killed them in front of horrified bystanders. Gunmen opened fire on a family trying to move out of Karbala, wounding five of them, police said. Elsewhere, gunmen Saturday killed three salesmen in Baghdad neighborhood of Nahrawan, police said and also reported finding two bodies Saturday in separate locations in eastern Baghdad. Meanwhile, gunmen in two speeding car opened fire Saturday on a mosque in Ghazaliya neighborhood. Mosque guards returned fire and the attackers fled, police Capt. Jamil Hussein said. (First Posted @ 16:34 PST Updated @ 17:52 PST)
Explosion at chemicals factory kills at least 9 people in Nairobi NAIROBI, Kenya, July 8 (AP) _ A faulty electrical circuit triggered an explosion at a chemical factory in Kenya's capital, killing at least nine people early Saturday, police said. At least two people were seriously injured. The death toll could rise because police have not been able to account for all of the 36 people who were in the building when the explosion occurred, said the Nairobi Deputy Provincial Police Officer Francis Munyambu. It is alleged that most of the victims died because factory owners locked them inside the building after the explosion, claiming that they wanted to prevent people from rushing in and stealing valuables. Two of the factory's three owners were killed in the fire. (Posted @ 17:38 PST)
A helicopter crashes off Spain's Canary Islands, 6 dead MADRID, Spain, July 8 (AP) _ A helicopter crashed into the sea off the Canary Island of Tenerife on Saturday, killing all six occupants, Interior Ministry said. The helicopter belonged to a firefighting service stationed on the nearby island of La Palma. Bodies of four, two women and two men, have been recovered, a spokesman said. (Posted @ 17:36 PST)
Bus accident in India kills 26 LUCKNOW, India, July 8 (AP) _ An overcrowded minibus packed with Hindu Pilgrims proceeding to the shrine of Gangotri plunged into a gorge in northern India on Saturday, killing 26 people and wounding eight, police said. The bus was traveling in the mountainous northern state of Uttaranchal when it went off the road, falling some 100 meters into the Bhagirathi River below. The accident took place near the town of Uttarkashi, 400 kilometers northwest of Lucknow. (Posted @ 17:34 PST)
Southern Afghanistan fighting kills 6 suspected militants KANDAHAR, July 8 (AP) _ Multiple attacks in southern Zabul province's Shahjoy district killed six militants and wounded seven coalition troops and an Afghan soldier, the military said Saturday. Heavy fighting broke out Friday night after coalition forces came under attack by small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, said coalition spokeswoman Capt. Julie Roberge. Five coalition soldiers were wounded, Roberge said, declining to disclose their nationalities. A suspected Taliban militant was killed, she said. Afghan police also detained five Taliban fighters Saturday in Zabul and defused two roadside bombs planted by the insurgents, said police chief Mohammed Zarif Khan. In neighboring Kandahar province's Panjwayi district, coalition forces fought off attackers in different locations, killing an estimated five Taliban militants and wounding one, Roberge said. Four suspected Taliban insurgents were detained. Two coalition troops and an Afghan soldier were also wounded, she said. Also Friday night, police in Kandahar city raided several madrassas, rounding up 125 students to check if any were Taliban fighters in hiding, said police chief Azizullah Wardak. About 100 students have since been released after providing valid identification cards, while the rest remained in custody for lacking documents. (First Posted @ 12:25 PST Updated @ 17:15 PST)
US ready to meet NKorea bilaterally in future talks SEOUL, July 8 (AFP) - The United States is ready to meet bilaterally with North Korea despite its missile tests if the communist state returns to multinational talks on its nuclear program, the US negotiator said Saturday. (Posted @ 16:54 PST)
British troops in Afghanistan have 'energised' Taliban: Defence Secretary LONDON, July 8 (AFP) - The deployment of British troops to the restive southern province of Helmand in Afghanistan has "energised" the Taliban, Britain's Defence Secretary Des Browne admitted in an interview published Saturday. "It is certainly the case that the very act of deployment into the south has energised the opposition, and the scale of the opposition and the nature of that opposition became apparent when we were deploying," he told The Guardian. (Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Yemeni court acquits Al-Qaeda suspects SANAA, July 8 (AFP) - A Yemeni court, citing lack of evidence, on Saturday aquitted 19 suspected members of an Al-Qaeda cell accused of planning anti-US attacks in Yemen.The prosecution had charged that they had "taken part in the formation of an armed unit" and "the planning of attacks against Americans in Yemen and Yemenis who deal with them." (Posted @ 16:36 PST)
Hoggard gives England fresh injury scare CANTERBURY, England, July 8 (AFP) - Matthew Hoggard gave England a fresh injury scare just days before the first Test against Pakistan after sustaining a freak hand injury. During the warm-up before play on the third day of the first-class match between England A and Pakistan, Hoggard had his hand trodden on by fellow Yorkshire pace bowler Tim Bresnan. He had to have two stitches inserted in his right, bowling hand and England selector Geoff Miller later told reporters that Hoggard would not be able to bowl during Saturday's third day and possibly not on Sunday either. At Lord's on Thursday England will be without another senior pace bowler in Andrew Flintoff, missing because of an ankle injury. England have several long-term injuries to senior players with captain Michael Vaughan (knee), pace bowlers Simon Jones (knee) and James Anderson (back) as well as left-arm spinner Ashley Giles (hip) all unavailable. England's first Test squad is due to be announced on Sunday. (Posted @ 16:15 PST)
American filmmaker detained for 55 days in Iraq sues Rumsfeld, Casey LOS ANGELES, July 8 (AFP) - A California-based filmmaker has filed a lawsuit here against top military officials over his detention by US forces in Iraq in 2005, court documents filed here show. Cyrus Kar, 45, filed his case in US federal court in Los Angeles on Friday, arguing that his rights and the treatment of prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention were violated when US forces detained him for 55 days between May and July 2005. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and the US military commander in Iraq, General George Casey, are named as defendants in the case. Kar was in Iraq working on a documentary on Persian emperor Cyrus the Great (576-529 BCE) when US soldiers arrested him and his Iranian cameraman at checkpoint northeast of Baghdad on May 17. Soldiers said they found washing machine timers -- often used as key parts for roadside bombs in Iraq -- inside the taxi the two were traveling in. Kar, a US navy veteran of Iranian ancestry, was set free only after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued for his release. Kar became a US citizen in 1966 after immigrating to the United States with his family from Iran. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Ramos-Horta named as East Timor's new prime minister DILI, July 8 (AFP) Jose Ramos-Horta has been named as East Timor's new prime minister, President Xanana Gusmao told a press briefing on Saturday, ending weeks of political uncertainty in the nation. "We have agreed to declare as prime minister Jose Ramos-Horta, first deputy prime minister Estanislau da Silva and second deputy prime minister Rui Araujo," Gusmao told a press conference. (Posted @ 13:10 PST)
Cricket-India to host 2011 World Cup final KARACHI, July 8 (Reuters) India will host the final of the 2011 World Cup with the opening ceremony to be held in Bangladesh, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Saturday. "It has been decided in a meeting of all four boards in London that all four should evenly play a part in hosting major events of the tournament," PCB Director Abbas Zaidi said. "It is decided that India will host the final while the semi-finals would be held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Bangladesh has been given the opening ceremony." India is due to host 22 matches, with Pakistan holding 16, Sri Lanka nine and Bangladesh six. Meanwhile, Zaidi also said former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar had only been given a one-year extension to his position as chairman of the ICC's powerful cricket committee. Pakistan had nominated their former test captain Majid Khan to replace Gavaskar. (Posted @ 12:40 PST)
US marine officers negligent in Haditha investigation: report WASHINGTON, July 8, (AFP) Top US Marine Corps officers in Iraq failed to properly investigate reports of the killings of 24 civilians by marines in the town of Haditha, the New York Times reported Saturday, citing two Pentagon officials. Lieutenant General Peter Chiarelli, currently the second-ranking US commander in Iraq, has found that a division commander, Major General Richard Huck, and the commander of the Second Regimental Combat Team, Colonel Stephen Davis, failed to investigate contradictions and inaccuracies in the initial incident report, the officials told the Times. Chiarelli "concludes that some officers were derelict in their duties," one of the unnamed officials told the Times. Chiarelli's findings now go to the desk of the top US military commander in Iraq, General George Casey. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
18 dead in China landslides BEIJING, July 8, (AFP) Eighteen workers were killed in two separate landslides in China this week, state media said Saturday. Eleven migrant workers were killed when a landslide buried the tent they were sleeping in at an iron mine in northern Shanxi province, the Xinhua news agency said. One person survived. Seven workers at an oilfield in northwest Gansu province were also killed Thursday by a mudslide caused by heavy rain, the Lanzhou Morning Post said. Fifteen other workers were injured and two were missing. (Posted @ 12:28 PST)
Pakistan nabs six militants plotting attacks on polo festival ISLAMABAD, July 8 (AFP) Pakistan has arrested six militants suspected of planning attacks on an elite polo festival in the Hindu Kush foothills attended by Western diplomats, security officials said Saturday. The arrests were made at Shandur in Gilgit district on Thursday, a day before the opening of the three-day festival where Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is also expected to appear. Officials said the militants belong to the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ) group. "Among the arrested militants is LJ's deputy leader Mohammad Shakir and five others," a senior security official said. (Posted @ 12:15 PST)
U.S., Russia to pursue civilian nuclear pact: report WASHINGTON, July 8 (Reuters) President George W. Bush will allow extensive U.S. civilian nuclear cooperation with Russia for the first time, a decision that reverses decades of bipartisan policy, The Washington Post reported on Saturday. The Post said the move could be worth billions of dollars to Russia but possibly stir an uproar in the U.S. Congress. Such an agreement would clear the way for Russia to import and store thousands of tons of spent nuclear fuel from U.S.-supplied reactors around the world. The newspaper, quoting administration officials, said the decision would be announced at Bush's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin next Saturday before the annual summit of the Group of Eight major industrialized nations. The Post added the deal could be used as an incentive to gain more Russian cooperation on Iran. (Posted @ 11:15 PST)
US envoy rejects North Korea’s demand to lift financial measures SEOUL, South Korea (AP) U.S. envoy Christopher Hill on Saturday rejected North Korea's demand that Washington lift financial measures against the regime as a condition for returning to the six-party talks. ``This is not a time for so-called gestures of that kind,'' Hill said when asked by reporters for reaction to the North Korean demand. ``We have a country that has fired off missiles in a truly reckless way that affects ... regional security.'' Hill spoke after a meeting with Chun Young-woo, South Korea's top negotiator in international nuclear talks. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
Editor: Abbas Nasir
The DAWN Group of Newspapers
Haroon House, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Karachi 74200, Pakistan.
Phone:+92 (21) 111-444-777 Fax: +92 (21) 569-3995
webmaster@dawn.com
Make sure to reload these pages so you're viewing the current version.
|
|
|
Contributions |