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| July 14, 2006 | Friday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 17, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Suicide bomb attack kills prominent cleric, two others in Karachi KARACHI, Pakistan, July 14 (Agencies) A suicide bomber killed a prominent Shi’ite cleric Allama Hassan Turabi, his 13-year old nephew, and a bodyguard outside his home in Karachi’s residential district Abbas Town (Gulshan-e-Iqbal), police said. He was the leader of the political party, Islami Tehreek Pakistan, and a provincial chief for the Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal(MMA). "Three police bodyguards tried to stop the bomber as he embraced Hassan Turabi, then he blew up the explosives which had hundreds of small nails inside," a senior police official said confirming that "it was a suicide attack." Turabi died in a private hospital about an hour after the attack, a doctor said. The bodyguards were all seriously injured, police said. Eyewitnesses said an unexploded hand grenade was also found at the scene. Namaz-e-janaza of Allama will be held at Shah-e-Khurasan after Zohrain prayers on Saturday, according to APP. Turabi had been attending an anti-Israel rally organised by the MMA in central Karachi after Friday prayers, and was returning to his home when he was murdered. Turabi had escaped an assassination attempt earlier without injury on April 6 when a bomb hidden under a fruit cart had exploded as he climbed into his car outside his home. (First Posted @ 17:04 PST Updated @ 23:00 PST)
Violence in Karachi after cleric killed in suicide attack KARACHI, July 14 (Agencies) Police fired tear gas shells and shots in the air to disperse mobs who threw stones at cars and burned tyres on the streets of Karachi after Allama Hassan Turabi was killed Friday evening in a suicide attack. All major markets in the city were closed. Karachi authorities have put the city on red alert. Police and paramilitary forces were patrolling the city. Some rioters tried to burn down a petrol station before police stopped them, an AFP correspondent said. Earlier a crowd of 300 people had gathered around the private hospital where Turabi was brought injured and began shouting slogans as soon as news of the cleric’s death broke out. Hundreds more massed near Turabi's house. "We have contacted elders and Shiite leaders, who themselves are appealing to their people for restraint and to remain peaceful," Karachi police chief Niaz Siddiqui said. (First Posted @ 21:30 PST Updated @ 22:56 PST)
MMA calls for observing strike on Saturday Karachi, July 14 (PPI): A spokesman for the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Friday appealed to traders and business community, transporters, shopkeepers, labourers and people from all walks of life to observe a peaceful strike on Saturday in protest against the killing of Allama Hassan Turabi. Meanwhile, the All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries, Karachi appealed to its members and traders to keep their businesses closed. Also, the University of Karachi on Friday announced the postponement of M.A (Regular and Private) Annual Examinations, scheduled for Saturday, July 15, 2006 in the wake of suicide bomb attack. A KU official said new date for exams would be announced later. (Posted @ 22:32 PST)
Pakistan derides Indian allegations against ISI ISLAMABAD, July 14 (Reuters) Pakistan said on Friday it regarded Indian allegations that its military spy agency was involved in this week's Mumbai bomb blasts as little more than propaganda or speculation unless New Delhi came up with evidence. "In the past two days, India has not given us anything in writing or talked of any evidence," said Tasnim Aslam, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokeswoman. In the absence of that, we take these accusations against the ISI as propaganda or frivolous speculation." "The accusation that the ISI masterminded the attack is baseless," Aslam added. Musharraf also offered Pakistan's full cooperation after bomb attacks on markets in New Delhi in October that killed more than 60 people, but Aslam said India never responded with requests for information, or shared the findings of its investigations. "This is the second time we have made this offer," Aslam said. "We're saying at least please give it a try." (Posted @ 15:15 PST)
Pakistan dismisses 'frivolous' Mumbai phone probe report KARACHI, July 14, (AFP) Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Friday said reports that Indian police are tracing telephone calls to Pakistan and Bangladesh following the Mumbai train bombings were "frivolous". The Times of India reported Friday that a telephone call traced by intelligence services from Karachi to Bangladeshi capital Dhaka said "congratulations". Another caller contacted his mother in Karachi from a public call box saying he was fine but could not disclose his location -- and swiftly hung up, the newspaper said. A senior police official in Karachi said they were ready to look into the telephone calls if necessary. "If someone has contacted his mother in Karachi from Mumbai after the bomb blast saying he is fine, it's nothing but natural. If there is anything else we are ready to help," he said. (Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Indian PM points finger at Pakistan over Mumbai train bombs MUMBAI, July 14, 2006 (AFP) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned Friday the peace process with Pakistan could be harmed by the Mumbai train bombings and alleged the attackers had support "from across the border". The premier, on his first visit to Mumbai since the blasts that killed 179 and injured nearly 800 said: "the terrorists (responsible for the blasts) were supported by elements across the border without which they cannot hit with such an effect". "I explained to the government of Pakistan ... that if such acts of terrorism are not controlled, it is exceedingly difficult for any government to carry forward what may be called the normalisation of relations and the peace process," he said. (First Posted @ 17:02 PST Updated @ 19:46 PST)
Pakistan says peace process with India must go on ISLAMABAD, July 14 (Reuters) Pakistan said on Friday its eace process with India must continue regardless of this week's bomb attacks in Mumbai that killed 179 people and rejected Indian accusations of Pakistani involvement. Responding to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's warning that the peace process would not progress unless Pakistan fulfilled promises to stop the support of anti-Indian terrorism from its soil, a Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said the accusations against Pakistan were "unsubstantiated". "The peace process between Pakistan and India is a separate matter," spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said. "It is in the interest of both Pakistan and India as well as the region. That is why we believe that the peace process must be continued and carried forward," she added. (Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Hizbollah chief vows to take fight to Israel BEIRUT, July 14 (Reuters) Hizbollah's chief vowed all-out war against Israel on Friday, hinting of attacks deep inside the Jewish state shortly after he survived an air raid that destroyed his home. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a dramatic phone call to Hizbollah's TV station said an Israeli navy vessel was burning off Beirut and would sink. (Posted @ 23:36 PST)
Gunmen kill 12 Iraqi soldiers, blasts hit mosques KIRKUK, Iraq, July 14 (Reuters) Gunmen ambushed an Iraqi army checkpoint in northern Iraq on Friday, killing 12 soldiers and wounding one. Bomb and mortar rounds aimed at mosques killed nine people in and near Baghdad, while in the south gunmen sprayed a minibus with machinegun fire, killing five pilgrims. (First Posted @ 17:06 PST Updated @ 23:20 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan 66-3 v England (528-9 dec) - close LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) Pakistan were 66 for three wickets in reply to England's 528 for nine declared at close of play on the second day of the first test at Lord's on Friday. For match details click here. (Posted @ 23:12 PST)
PM Aziz expresses grief and sorrow on death of Allama Turabi ISLAMABAD, Jul 14 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has expressed his grief and sorrow over the tragic demise of Allama Hasan Turabi in Karachi on Friday. He strongly condemned the incident, and directed the Sindh government to spare no effort in unearthing those who are behind it. (Posted @ 23:10 PST)
Brother, cousin get life for honour killing in Britain LONDON, July 14, 2006 (AFP) The brother and cousin of a Pakistani victim of a so-called honour killing in Britain were given life sentences Friday for her murder. Samaira Nazir, 25, a recruitment consultant, was stabbed to death in April last year after her family was angered by her intention to marry Salman Mohammed, an Afghan asylum seeker. She was stabbed 18 times at the family home in west London by her brother Azhar Nazir, 30, and cousin Imran Mohammed, 17, the two men's trial was told. Nazir was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years, while Mohammed is to remain behind bars indefinitely with a minimum of 10 years. Samaira's father was also arrested in connection with the murder, but he skipped bail and fled to Pakistan where the family said he has since died. (Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Amnesty calls on South Africa to help Pakistani terror suspect JOHANNESBURG, July 14, 2006 (AFP) Amnesty International on Friday called on South Africa to probe the handover last year of a Pakistani terror suspect to his home country and help in securing his release or trial. Khalid Mehmood Rashid was handed over by South Africa to Pakistani officials at a Pretoria air base eight months ago. He has not been seen since. In a letter to South African President Thabo Mbeki, Amnesty said Pakistan has a documented pattern of arbitrary arrests, incommunicado detention, torture and "disappearances", and that the handover was contrary to South Africa’s obligations under the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. (Posted @ 20:56 PST)
Kyrgyzstan agrees to extend US air base lease BISHKEK, July 14, 2006 (AFP) Kyrgyzstan and the United States announced agreement Friday on extending the US lease on an air force base in the strategically placed Central Asian country. Friday's statement did not say how much the United States would pay specifically for the air base, but said that Washington planned to pay 150 million dollars in total assistance to the country over the next year. (Posted @ 20:42 PST)
UN Security Council begins emergency debate on Lebanon UNITED NATIONS, July 14, 2006 (AFP) The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Lebanon here Friday, with Beirut demanding support for an immediate end to the daily Israeli air-strikes on its territory. The meeting was convened at the request of the Lebanese government, which called on the Security Council to "adopt a complete and immediate position for a ceasefire." The team, led by Annan's special political adviser, Vijay Nambiar, will begin its week-long mission in Cairo, meeting with Egyptian officials and Arab League foreign ministers. They are then expected to travel to Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Syria. (Posted @ 20:40 PST)
EU to give 50 million euros in fresh aid to Palestinians BRUSSELS, July 14, 2006 (AFP) The European Commission announced on Friday plans to release an additional 50 million euros (63 million dollars) in humanitarian aid to help the Palestinian Territories. The money was aimed at helping meet the needs of about 1.5 million people in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli occupied West Bank by paying for food, healthcare, water and sanitation. The funds would also cover "protection activities" managed by the International Committee of the Red Cross to help the population cope with "violations of international humanitarian and human rights law", the commission said. (Posted @ 20:38 PST)
Israel PM sets three conditions for ceasefire JERUSALEM, July 14, 2006 (AFP) Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has imposed three conditions for a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel has been waging a deadly three-day assault, a government spokesman said Friday. "The prime minister is prepared to finish our operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah releases our two soldiers, stops its rocket fire and if the Lebanese government decides to implement UN Security Council resolution 1559," the spokesman said. The resolution calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah. "If these conditions are met, we are ready to cooperate with a delegation from the United Nations," the spokeswoman added. (Posted @ 20:38 PST)
Five Lebanese killed in new Israeli raids BEIRUT, July 14, 2006 (AFP) Five civilians were killed and 69 others wounded in Israeli attacks on Lebanon Friday, raising to 62 the death toll since the start of the offensive two days ago, police said. Three were killed in attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs and the fourth in the southern town of Bent Jbail when a missile hit a house. In a series of pre-dawn strikes Friday, Israeli forces bombarded Hezbollah's command headquarters in slum district as well as the main highway to the international airport and a power station. Throughout the day Israeli forces carried out more attacks, on Beirut airport as well as bridges and roads in the south of the country. A woman was killed and six other civilians, including three paramedics, wounded in a strike on a bridge over the river Zahrani bridge, near the main coastal city of Sidon. (First Posted @ 09:40 PST; Updated @ 20:36 PST)
Indian troops kill two ‘militants’ in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 14, 2006 (AFP) Indian soldiers early Friday shot dead two militants during a gun battle in occupied Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the army said in a statement. The statement made the further allegation that both men belonged to the Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit and were residents of Pakistan, adding that two AK-47 rifles and 240 rounds of ammunition were also recovered. (Posted @ 20:06 PST)
Shops, businesses shut in India's northeast to protest killing of rebels GAUHATI, India (AP) Shops and businesses shut down Friday across a troubled north-eastern Indian state to protest the army's killing of four separatist rebels. The strike was called by the Peoples Committee for Peace Initiative, an umbrella group of 21 civil society and rights groups that has held three rounds of talks with the Indian government to try to arrange negotiations between officials and the United Liberation Front of Assom. Known as ULFA, the rebel groups has been fighting for an independent homeland since 1979. The four suspected ULFA militants were killed earlier this week by soldiers along India's border with Bangladesh, where the rebels allegedly have bases. (Posted @ 19:02 PST)
India names new suspect in train bombings Mumbai, India, July 14 (AP) Indian authorities on Friday named a third suspect in this week's train bombings in Mumbai. The Mumbai police commissioner A.N. Roy said a man known only as Rahil was the third person being sought in connection with the blasts. Investigators gave few other details. (Posted @ 18:55 PST)
Cricket-Australia and Pakistan draw at Top End series DARWIN, Australia (AP) Shane Watson made an unbeaten 63 Friday, following his first innings of 161 not out, as Australia A and Pakistan A drew their four-day match at the Top End Cricket Series. Australia A declared its second innings at 165 for six, setting Pakistan A a winning target of 245, and the tourists reached 145 for four from 30 overs before stumps were drawn half an hour early. Meanwhile, India A beat New Zealand A by three wickets in another four day match. (Posted @ 18:52 PST)
Bush calls Siniora, Mubarak, Abdullah ST PETERSBURG, Russia, July 14 (Reuters) U.S. President George W. Bush made a round of phone calls to Middle Eastern leaders on Friday as he sought to defuse a crisis between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. A senior Bush administration official said Bush called Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordan's King Abdullah and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. The official had no details of the calls Bush made while flying aboard Air Force One from Germany to Russia, where he is to attend a Group of Eight summit. (Posted @ 18:50 PST)
Iran warns Israel against extending conflict TEHRAN, July 14, 2006 (AFP) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad boasted Friday that Israel is not powerful enough to take on Iran after warning the Jewish state not to attack Syria. "This situation cannot last, and one day the protectors of the Zionist regime -- the US in particular -- will have to explain themselves and be judged by the conscience of humanity," he said in a speech. "If Israel commits another act of idiocy and aggresses Syria, this will be the same as an aggression against the entire Islamic world and it will receive a stinging response," he said in a telephone conversation with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad. He told Lebanon's President Emile Lahoud that "Iran would put all its potential at the service of Lebanon." (Posted @ 18:48 PST)
Israel appears to 'wish to destroy' Lebanon: Chirac PARIS, July 14, 2006 (AFP) President Jacques Chirac of France said Friday there appeared to be a "wish to destroy Lebanon" in reference to Israel's bombardment of that country. "One may well ask if there isn't today a kind of wish to destroy Lebanon -- its infrastructure, its roads, its communications, its energy, its airport. And for what?” "I find honestly -- as all Europeans do -- that the current reactions are totally disproportionate," he said in a live television interview to mark France's July 14 national day. (Posted @ 18:46 PST)
Israel kills one Palestinian, bombs Hamas offices GAZA, July 14 (Reuters) Israel bombed the offices of lawmakers, destroyed a bridge and fired a tank shell that killed one Palestinian on Friday as part of its Gaza Strip offensive. Israeli forces withdrew overnight from central Gaza after two days of fighting, and an army statement said the troops had "currently completed their activities in the area". Before withdrawing from central Gaza, Israeli troops fired a tank shell at a vehicle, killing one Palestinian civilian and wounding another, Palestinian medics said. Palestinian witnesses said Israeli bulldozers overnight destroyed a large segment of the main central road and ripped down telephone and power lines. "It's like an earthquake hit the road," a witness said. (Updated @ 16:30 PST)
Blair urges return to Middle East road map 'as soon as possible' LONDON, July 14, 2006 (AFP) British Prime Minister Tony Blair Friday urged Friday all sides involved in the escalating crisis in the Middle East to return to the "roadmap" for peace in the region as soon as possible. "The only way we are going to get the situation resolved is if we support the UN mission, get some calm in the situation, and then as soon as possible get back to the roadmap towards the two states solution which offers the only chance of stability and peace in the future," he told reporters in London at a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "I totally understand the desire and the need for Israel to defend itself properly and I also understand the plight of Lebanon and the Lebanese government, not to say the many Palestinians that are suffering as well," Blair added. (Posted @ 16:15 PST)
All sides must end military action in Mideast: Putin SAINT PETERSBURG, July 14, (AFP) All sides in the Middle East conflict must immediately end military action, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Saint Petersburg ahead of the G8 summit, Interfax reported. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Thousands protest attacks on tourists in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 14, (AFP) Several thousand people held a demonstration Friday in occupied Kashmir against a series of attacks on tourists that have left 15 dead since May, police and witnesses said. The protesters, including pony men, sledge pushers and restaurant owners, poured onto the streets of the Himalayan resort of Tangmarg shouting slogans against those behind the attacks, they said. Police estimated the size of the crowd at between 2,000 and 3,000. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Monsoon rains kill 25 in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, July 14, (AFP) At least 25 people died as torrential monsoon rains lashed Pakistan, flooding roads and disrupting communications in several cities, officials said Friday. Six members of a gypsy family including two children were killed as they slept Thursday night when the sodden wall of a neighbouring house collapsed on them, police and newspapers said. Three people were electrocuted in Lahore by poorly maintained power lines, officials said. Another six people died in house collapses in Punjab, while further casualties were reported from the province's rural areas, they said. "A total of 25 people have died over the past two days," a health ministry official confirmed. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
SOCCER: Materazzi faces FIFA over Zidane head butt LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) Marco Materazzi faced FIFA's disciplinary committee on Friday over the incident that saw French captain Zinedine Zidane sent off for a head butt on the Italy defender in the World Cup final last weekend. A FIFA spokesman confirmed that the meeting was underway at the world football body's Zurich headquarters. He did not comment on what punishment, if any, Materazzi might face or when a decision would be announced. (Posted @ 15:40 PST)
Five Bosnian Serbs on trial for Srebrenica genocide THE HAGUE, July 14 (Reuters) Five former Bosnian Serb officers went on trial on Friday at the U.N. war crimes tribunal on charges of genocide over the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys. The five accused now on trial, Vinko Pandurevic, Ljubisa Beara, Vujadin Popovic, Drago Nikolic and Ljubomir Borovcanin, all surrendered to the tribunal. A sixth accused, Milorad Trbic, whose indictment has been severed for health reasons from the others could see his trial transferred to Bosnia. (Posted @ 15:40 PST)
Sri Lankan rebels kill 22 soldiers in fire-fight COLOMBO, July 14 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said on Friday they killed 22 soldiers in a fire-fight in potentially the worst military clash since a 2002 truce, but the army said the number of fatalities was far lower. A senior Tamil Tiger rebel said around 60 troops entered Tiger territory, who were surrounded by about 200 rebels. "We have found 22 bodies, and we are still searching," the rebel commander said, adding that "we have also captured some military personnel." The military confirmed there had been a clash in Batticaloa, but said four troops were injured and some were unaccounted for. (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Oil prices hit record high at $78 LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) Oil prices hit a record high and stocks fell on Friday as fighting between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon intensified. Safe-haven assets such as gold and government bonds also continued to rise after Israel stepped up its attacks on targets in Lebanon. U.S. crude oil surged to a peak of $78.40 as traders worried the conflict could spread to other parts of the volatile and energy-rich region. (Posted @ 15:30 PST)
Israel continues air assault on Gaza GAZA CITY, July 14 (AFP) - Israel pressed on with its air assault on Gaza Friday but troops withdrew from the centre of the territory. The air force carried out at least two overnight raids, while ground artillery and naval gunboats pounded the Palestinian territory north and south. One raid struck the house of an Hamas MP in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, and a bridge in central part of the territory. Meanwhile, four rockets fired from Gaza exploded in the southern Israeli town of Sderot on Friday but caused no damage or any casualties, the military said. Tanks and armoured jeeps positioned on a north-south road in the central Gaza Strip near the Deir al-Balah refugee camp and the town of Khan Yunis withdrew from the area Friday, witnesses and the army said. (Updated @ 12:15 PST)
Israel threatens to eliminate Hezbollah leader JERUSALEM, July 14 (AFP) - An Israeli cabinet minister on Friday threatened to eliminate Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah. "Nasrallah decided his own fate," Interior Minister Roni Bar-On announced on public radio. "We will settle our accounts with him when the time comes." (Posted @ 10:45 PST)
Five Turkish soldiers killed by mine blast ANKARA, July 14 (Reuters) - Five Turkish soldiers were killed in a mine blast in eastern Turkey's Bitlis province and four other were wounded, the state Anatolian news agency said Thursday. The soldiers were in a military vehicle when a mine exploded on a road. (Posted @ 10:40 PST)
Three dead, five missing as Russian ship sinks VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, July 14 (AFP) - Three people died and five others were missing after a Russian fishing boat sank off the coast of Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka peninsula, local emergency ministry officials said early Friday. The captain was among nine of the ship's crew who managed to make it out alive. Three bodies were found in the ship's lifeboats. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 12.21 points: KARACHI, July 14: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10027.09, up 12.21 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, July 14: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.65 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
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