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| July 12, 2006 | Wednesday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 15, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
India slams Pakistan for linking Mumbai blasts to Kashmir dispute NEW DELHI, July 12 (AFP) India on Wednesday slammed Pakistan for linking their decades-old disputes over Kashmir to the wave of bomb attacks on rush-hour trains that killed 183 in the country's financial hub Mumbai. "We find it appalling that Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri should seek to link this act of terror to the lack of resolution of the dispute between India and Pakistan," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said. "We would hope that the government of Pakistan rejects any such linkage and joins hands with India," Sarna told reporters. Sarna said militants continued to operate from Pakistan despite Islamabad's promise that it will not allow its soil to be used as a springboard for attacks against India. "We urge Pakistan to take urgent steps to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism," the Indian spokesman added.(Posted @ 18:16 PST)
Pakistan rejects Indian allegations ISLAMABAD, Jul 12 (APP): Pakistan on Wednesday rejected as "baseless" the Indian allegations of Pakistan having an infrastructure of terrorism on its soil. "Pakistan does not tolerate terrorism and is in the forefront of international efforts to fight this menace," a statement released by the Foreign Office said. The Foreign Office also rejected the Indian assertion that Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri had drawn any linkage between the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and the Mumbai blasts. Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said "the foreign minister’s remarks have been misreported" and pointed out that he had emphatically and unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack in Mumbai yesterday. The spokesperson said Kasuri had spoken about the peace process between Pakistan and India in another context, and stated that a number of confidence building measures were in place and the atmosphere between the two countries had improved. In this regard he had mentioned that "the time, therefore, was right to address all outstanding issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute."(Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Mumbai blasts will not affect India-Pakistan ties: New Delhi NEW DELHI, July 12, 2006 (AFP) India said Wednesday that ties between India and Pakistan would not be affected by the Mumbai bombings in which more than 180 people were killed. "Anything done to disturb peace should be stopped. It is our responsibility to see that such activities are put to an end," India's home minister Shivraj Patil told a news conference in New Delhi. The bombings were meant to upset the peace process, a top home ministry official told the press conference. "It will take time to take on forces trying to derail the ongoing peace process," said home secretary V.K. Duggal. "The confidence-building measures (between India and Pakistan) will continue. The peace process will not be slowed down." Duggal said the government would come down hard on those involved in "terrorist activities". The official said the police investigations had not thrown up any leads. The official did not say whether there was a connection between the Mumbai bombings and a series of grenade attacks in Srinagar.(Posted @ 18:45 PST)
Indian PM calls for unity after Mumbai blasts NEW DELHI, July 12, 2006 (AFP) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said India stood united and would never be beaten by terrorists, a day after the Mumbai blasts on commuter trains left 200 people dead. Singh said the return to work in the financial capital on Wednesday showed the determination of the country to fight terrorism. "They have not yet understood that we will never let them win," he said in a nationally televised address. Urging the people to remain calm, he said "do not be provoked by rumours. Do not let anyone divide us.” "My heart goes out to those who have lost their loved ones. We will do all that is possible to help each of the families in distress", he said. Singh also offered condolences for the victims in a series of grenade attacks killed in Srinagar Tuesday.(Posted @ 21:40 PST)
Unofficial results show pro-Pakistan ruling party winning reduced majority in Azad Kashmir MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan, July 12 (AP) _ Unofficial results indicate the ruling party in Azad Kashmir won most seats in Tuesday’slegislative elections, but several Cabinet ministers were defeated, officials said Wednesday. The ruling Muslim Conference won 20 of the 41 contested constituencies, said Mohammed Naseem Sheikh, the chief election commissioner, citing unofficial results from polling stations. ( Muslim Conference currently has 33 seats in the legislature.) Pakistan People's Party (Azad Kashmir) was trailing with seven seats, the People's Muslim League was set to win four seats, independent candidates six seats, the Mutahida Qami Movement two andthe Jammu-Kashmir People's Party one seat, Sheikh said. He said voting in one constituency was postponed because of allegations of vote rigging and would be held later. The newly elected lawmakers will vote later to fill eight other seats _ five of them reserved for women _ in the 49-member legislature. Eleven Cabinet members from the ruling party appear set to lose their seats, mostly in quake-hit areas, according to Sheikh and party officials. They include ministers responsible for power, forestry, tourism, transport, agriculture, charity, as well as the minister for food, who has been hurt by allegations he diverted quake relief to his own constituency. (Posted @ 14:05 PST)
Pakistan won't use Fokker planes for passengers ISLAMABAD, July 12 (Reuters) Pakistan said on Wednesday it would not use Fokker planes for passenger flights after one of them crashed, killing all 45 people on board. "Fokkers will not be used for commercial flights. They will be used for cargo and other purposes," Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani told reporters after a cabinet meeting. "The cabinet agreed that a sense of insecurity and fear had developed among the people about travelling in Fokkers after the crash." (First Posted @ 18:01 PST Updated @ 20:00 PST)
EU fines Microsoft 281 million euros for defiance BRUSSELS, July 12 (Reuters) European Union regulators fined Microsoft an extra 280.5 million euros ($357.3 million) on Wednesday for defying a 2004 antitrust ruling, and warned the company to comply or face bigger fines in future. The tough new penalty is the first of its kind and comes on top of a record 497 million euro fine the Commission imposed in its landmark antitrust decision against the U.S. software giant in March 2004.(Posted @ 22:00 PST)
Cricket-Asif out from Pakistan camp LONDON, July 12, 2006 (AFP) Mohammad Asif on Wednesday became the latest Pakistan player to be ruled out of the first Test against England at Lord's.The fast bowler sustained a right elbow injury during the team's warm-up match against England A at Canterbury last week and, after the side had practised at Lord's here Wednesday, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said Asif had failed to make it into the side for Thursday's series opener. "He unfortunately hasn't responded to the injection he's had and will be out of the first Test match," Woolmer told reporters. Meanwhile opening batsman Shoaib Malik is also struggling to be fit for the first Test because of an elbow injury. "He's looking pretty doubtful," former England batsman Woolmer said. But Woolmer added there was no point complaining about injuries, saying the likes of Mohammad Sami, fit after a knee problem, Umar Gul and Abdul Razzaq would have to take wickets in the absence of the frontline quicks.(Posted @ 21:23 PST)
US meets 'minimum' required in Geneva Conventions: ICRC GENEVA, July 12, 2006 (AFP) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday reacted to the US decision to comply with the Geneva Conventions prohibiting cruel treatment with its "war on terror" detainees, saying Washington was meeting the "minimum" required. "Article 3 (of the Geneva Conventions) is the minimum that must be applied in all armed conflicts," an ICRC spokeswoman said. She added that the ICRC would analyze the impact of that directive on US detention centres, including the controversial prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.(Posted @ 21:20 PST)
Israel bombards Lebanon TYRE, Lebanon, July 12, 2006 (AFP) Israel bombarded Lebanon from the land, sea and air to retrieve two soldiers captured by Hezbollah in a deadly raid on Wednesday, the first such major offensive against its neighbour in six years.The Hezbollah raid in the volatile border area, which also left seven Israeli soldiers dead, opened a new front in the Middle East after the capture of another soldier by Palestinians two weeks ago plunged the region into chaos.Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held the government in Beirut fully responsible and vowed not to negotiate as aircraft, gunboats and artillery pounded Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. World powers including US Middle East envoy David Welch, UN chief Kofi Annan, issued urgent appeals for the release of the soldiers and for all sides to show restraint. Two Lebanese civilians were killed and 11 people wounded, including a Hezbollah television correspondent and three other television crew members in an Israeli air strike, Lebanese police said. In Beirut, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora also called Annan "in order to make sure that everything is done to avoid an aggressive escalation". (First Posted@ 13:40 PST Updated@ 21:120 PST)
200 dead in Mumbai train blasts MUMBAI, July 12, 2006 (AFP) The death toll from seven coordinated blasts on commuter trains in India's financial capital Mumbai rose to 200 with more than 700 injured, Maharashtra deputy chief minister R.R. Patil told the state assembly Wednesday. Train services for millions of daily train commuters in the city of almost 18 million people were running again Wednesday. (First Posted @ 09:25; Updated @ 20:45 PST)
Mumbai Muslims give blood to Hindu bomb victims MUMBAI, July 12 (Reuters) Indian Muslims queued for hours on Wednesday to give blood to their Hindu neighbours wounded in the Mumbai train bombings, in a rare show of harmony in a city with a long history of rioting between the two communities. "We don't care whether it's a Hindu or a Muslim who gets our blood as long as we can save them," said Abdul Khan, one of dozens of Muslim men waiting in line at the blood bank at Siddarth Hospital, near one blast site at Jogeshwari station. "People are trying to break our harmony but they have failed," Pasha Mian Sheikh, a cleric at the Islamia Arabia Mosque, said of the bombers. Leaders of India's hardline Hindu Shiv Sena party said they had been overwhelmed by the Muslim response. "Hindus and Muslims walked hand in hand yesterday," said Manohar Kargaonkar, a Shiv Sena official. "When you read a newspaper you always find that a Muslim terrorist is behind subversive activity. But these people have shown what brotherhood is."(Posted @ 20:42 PST)
18 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in Gaza GAZA CITY, July 12, 2006 (AFP) At least 18 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza on Wednesday, medics said. Nine Palestinians, seven of them children, died when an Israeli F-16 jet demolished a house north of Gaza City, belonging to a Hamas leader, Nabil Abu Salenyeh, security and medical sources said. More than 30 people were also wounded in the attack. In the central Gaza Strip, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian policeman near Abu el Ajin village, which they had surrounded east of the Deir al-Balah refugee camp, security sources said. A militant from the Popular Resistance Committees was shot dead in clashes in the same area, medics said. Another two Palestinians were killed by Israeli shelling east of Deir al-Balah. A further two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike against their vehicle north of the central town of Khan Yunis, medics said. The bodies of two gunmen, also killed in the same air strike, were later discovered near the vehicle, medical sources said. Furthermore, a Palestinian policeman was killed and two others wounded when an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a police station, in the village of Qarara, east of Khan Yunis, security sources said. (First Posted @ 09:30 PST; Updated @ 20:40 PST)
Hizbollah says Israeli soldiers seized for swap BEIRUT, July 12 (Reuters) Hizbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Wednesday the capture of two Israeli soldiers was aimed at forcing the release of prisoners in Israel. "What we did today... is the only feasible path to free detainees from Israeli jails," Nasrallah told a news conference in Beirut, saying Israeli attacks would not lead to the release of the captured soldiers.He said an Israeli incursion into south Lebanon had been repelled by Hizbollah guerrillas. (First Posted @ 13:20 PST Updated @ 20:20 PST)
Iraq finds bodies of 20 kidnapped bus drivers BAGHDAD, July 12 (Reuters) Iraqi security forces said they had found the bodies of 20 bus drivers who had been kidnapped north of Baghdad earlier on Wednesday.Police had put the number of bus drivers kidnapped in Miqdadiya, 100 km northeast of the capital at 12, but an Iraqi army official said 20 bodies had been found after gunmen snatched a group of drivers from a station. The official added that security forces released three kidnap victims during a search operation. (First Posted @ 16:17 PST Updated @ 20:20 PST)
Five tourists hurt in occupied Kashmir grenade blast SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 12 (Reuters) At least five tourists, all Indian nationals, were wounded on Wednesday when unknown persons threw a grenade at a bus station in occupied Kashmir’s Gulmarg valley, police and witnesses said.(Posted @ 19:50 PST)
Man killed by own hand grenade in South Waziristan DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan, July 12, 2006 (AFP) A man was killed when a grenade he was handling went off at a madrassa in the town of Jandola which borders South Waziristan tribal district, a security official said Wednesday. The man identified as Abdul Rahman died and two companions were wounded when the grenade's pin was accidentally removed, the official said.(Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Musharraf calls for implementation of strategy to raise skilled workforce RAWALPINDI, July 12 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf Wednesday underlined the need for a coordinated approach to efficiently implement the countrywide strategy of vocational training. He was speaking at a presentation ceremony by the National Vocational and Technical Education Commission(NVTEC). Chief Ministers of all four provinces also attended the meeting that reviewed the current status and requirements for training of manpower on modern lines. "We have to keep up the momentum of economic growth and focus on several booming sectors like infrastructure building, housing information technology, tourism services, commercial support, livestock, transport, medical transcription workers--- and at the same time strive for value addition in traditional agricultural sector," he emphasized. Later, Chairman NAVTEC Altaf M Saleem said the government would also encourage training of Pakistani labourers who wish to work on foreign lands.(Posted @ 19:10 PST)
Indian police kill suspect in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 12 (AP) Indian forces killed a gunman in occupied Kashmir’s Dialgam village on Wednesday, police said. A police official said they had traced the suspect after interrogating a man arrested after yesterday’s Srinagar blasts. However, he acknowledged that the killed gunman, identified as Anas, was not directly involved in the attacks.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
Rumsfeld arrives in Baghdad as violence flares BAGHDAD, July 12 (Reuters) U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in Baghdad on Wednesday for an unannounced visit to U.S. commanders, said security in Iraq now depends as much on the Iraqi government's political success as on military success. "We're at a point now when the security situation depends as much on the reconciliation process and on the strengthening of (government) ministries," Rumsfeld told reporters travelling with him. "We haven't gotten to that point," Rumsfeld said on troop cuts, noting that U.S. commanders and Iraqi officials must undertake a comprehensive review of needs on the ground before the United States can consider reducing troop levels. (First Posted @ 11:05 PST Updated @ 16:40 PST)
Iran response to nuclear offer 'disappointing, incomplete': Rice PARIS, July 12, 2006 (AFP) Iran's response to a Western offer aimed at resolving the standoff over its nuclear programme appears "disappointing and incomplete", US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned on Wednesday. "I want to wait, to hear from (EU foreign policy envoy) Javier Solana first hand about how he sees the situation, but certainly the indications are that Iran's response has been disappointing and incomplete," Rice told reporters ahead of a meeting of world powers in Paris. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Suicide attack kills Afghan student KHOST, Afghanistan, July 12, 2006 (AFP) A suicide attacker blew himself up near a US-led coalition supply vehicle in Afghanistan’s Khost province on Wednesday, killing a school student and wounding eight other people, officials said. It only slightly damaged the supply vehicle, police said. The coalition could not immediately confirm the attack in the Yaqubi district. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Iraqi PM vows to challenge insurgent onslaught on west Baghdad BAGHDAD, July 12 (AFP) Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki vowed Tuesday that Iraq's security forces would fend off any attempt by insurgents to take control of west Baghdad. "We heard they intend to occupy Karkh, but our security forces are well equipped to face them off," Maliki told parliament, referring to a main district on the west bank of the Tigris River. He said the main reasons that the security operation launched in Baghdad in mid-June had failed to stem violence were weak intelligence, heightened sectarian rhetoric by MPs, and the negative role of militias linked to political parties. A senior politician Adnan al-Dulaimi reiterated the charges about the influence of militias on police. "Who wants to occupy Karkh? The inhabitants or people from the outside -- there are photos published in the press showing militiamen in police cars," he said. Maliki did concede that Iraqi forces needed to be cleansed of "bad elements". "You are fighting among yourselves and the government is paying the price," he said. (Posted @ 16:25 PST)
Sri Lanka mine ambushes kill three COLOMBO, July 12 (Reuters) Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels killed two Sri Lankan policemen and a soldier in mine ambushes on Wednesday, officials said. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Hizbollah attack kills seven Israeli soldiers: Al Jazeera DUBAI, July 12 (Reuters) Seven Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack by Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbollah on northern Israel on Wednesday, Al Jazeera television said. The television said it had reports that the number of Israeli military casualties in the attack had risen to seven. It gave no further details. (First Posted @ 14:17 PST Updated @ 15:55 PST)
Two Kashmiri groups deny involvement in Bombay train bombings SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 12 (AP) _ Two Kashmiri militant groups Wednesday denied any role in bombings that a day earlier ripped through Bombay's commuter trains, killing 190 people and wounding more than 400.Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Hezb-ul-Mujahedeen said in separate statements Wednesday that they had nothing to do with the Bombay bombings or a series of grenade attacks in Kashmir that killed eight people earlier the same day. (Updated @ 14:10 PST)
Pakistani court acquits suspect in botched attempt on Musharraf's life, lawyers say KARACHI, Pakistan, July 12 (AP) _ An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday acquitted Naveedul Hassan, an alleged member of outlawed Harkatul Mujahedeen al-Alami of involvement in a failed car bombing attack on President Gen. Pervez Musharraf in 2002, lawyers said. Naveedul Hassan was arrested in November 2004. He was accused of buying the car used in the attempt to bomb Musharraf's motorcade in Karachi on April 26, 2002. The remote-controlled bomb malfunctioned and failed to go off. No one was hurt. The court in Karachi acquitted Hassan because of the ``lack of evidence'', said defence lawyer Samiullah Khan. (Posted @ 13:50 PST)
"Big power" behind Mumbai blasts, says anti-terror chief MUMBAI, July 12 (AFP) - The head of the anti-terrorist squad investigating Mumbai's train bombings said Wednesday a "big power" was behind the well-coordinated operation that killed at least 183 people. "It was a well-coordinated and well-planned operation and it seems some big power is behind all this," the police anti-terrorism squad chief K.P. Raghuvanshi told Headlines Today television channel. Forensic experts were examining timers found near the scene of the seven blasts. It seems pencil timers, which are actually mercury fulminators, were used to carry out the blasts one after the other," a top official said. "We have collected some vital clues in this regard and the Central Forensic Laboratory has been requested to examine them without any delay," he added, on condition of anonymity. Senior Mumbai police officer Arup Patnaik said he believed an eighth unexploded device had been found. Police were looking for two men they suspect may have planted explosives on one of the trains, which exploded at Borivili, the Indian Express reported quoting unnamed officials. (Posted @ 13:35 PST)
Seven killed in Baghdad bombings as Rumsfeld flies in BAGHDAD, July 12 (AFP) - At least seven people were killed in two bombings in Baghdad Wednesday as US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived to review the security situation in Iraq, security sources said. A bomb, placed under a parked car close to a restaurant, blew up in the capital's eastern suburb of Baghdad Jadida, killing five people and wounding 15, a defence ministry official said. Two people were killed and two others wounded in a car bomb attack against a police patrol in the neighbourhood of Adhamiyah. Also in Adhamiyah a civilian was wounded in a roadside bombing. In another bomb attack, six policemen were wounded in central Baghdad's Zayuna neighbourhood, police said. (Posted @ 13:20 PST)
Draft UN resolution on North Korea 'unacceptable': Russia MOSCOW, July 12, 2006 (AFP) - A draft UN resolution opening the door to sanctions on North Korea in response to its missile tests is "unacceptable", Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here Wednesday. (Posted @ 13:15 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan climb above England in world test rankings SYDNEY, July 12 (Reuters) - Pakistan have moved above England into second place behind Australia in the world test rankings, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday.Pakistan have 120 points, 10 fewer than Australia and seven more than England, their hosts in a four-test series starting at Lord's on Thursday Australia captain Ricky Ponting tops the individual test batting ratings, ahead of India's Rahul Dravid and South African Jacques Kallis. Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan heads the bowling list from South Africa fast bowler Makhaya Ntini and leg spinner Shane Warne. Australia, world champions in 1999 and 2003, have a huge lead in the one-day rankings, with South Africa in second place and Pakistan third. Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and South Africa seamer Shaun Pollock lead the individual limited-overs ratings. (Posted @ 11:30 PST)
England and Pakistan first Test squads LONDON, July 12 (AFP) - Squads named for the first Test of a four-match series between England and Pakistan starting at Lord's here Thursday are: England: Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Geraint Jones (wkt), Liam Plunkett, Matthew Hoggard, Stephen Harmison, Sajid Mahmood, Monty Panesar, Jon Lewis Pakistan: Shoaib Malik, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Samiullah Niazi, Shahid Nazir, Salman Butt, Faisal Iqbal. Umpires: Steve Bucknor (WIS), Simon Taufel (AUS). TV umpire: Peter Hartley (ENG). Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI) (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 264.71 points: KARACHI, July 12: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 9920.64, up 264.71 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, July 12: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.63 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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