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| August 08, 2006 | Tuesday | Rajab 12, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
33 more feared dead in Pakistan rains MUZAFFARABAD, Azad Kashmir, Aug 8 (Agencies) Torrential monsoon rains are feared to have killed another 33 people across Pakistan Tuesday, including 20 when a bus slid off a flooded mountain road and plunged into a ravine. Ten bodies have been recovered after Tuesday's bus accident in Swat district, and another 10 are still missing, a local official said. Another five people were killed in Azad Kashmir when a landslide sheared off a mountainside left unstable by last October's South Asia earthquake. "A woman, her daughter aged three and three sons died when a huge boulder fell on their home" near the town of Balabandi, police said. In Balochistan province, flash floods hit over 30 villages, washing away crops and houses and killing livestock. "There are some villages where more than half of the population is badly hit and they have no shelter, food or livestock," a provincial government spokesman said. Around 12,000 people have been marooned and about 300 houses were washed away in Balochistan’s Sibi district. Many cases of snake bite have also been reported from the flood-hit areas. (First Posted @ 15:15 PST Updated @ 20:08 PST)
Cricket-England beat Pakistan to clinch series LEEDS, England, Aug 8 (Reuters) England beat Pakistan in the third test at Headingley on Tuesday to clinch the series. England bowled the tourists out for 155 in their second innings to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-test series with one match left to play. For match details click here. (Posted @ 19:10 PST)
Key gas pipeline blown up in Pakistan QUETTA, Pakistan, Aug 8 (AFP) Tribal militants Tuesday blew up a major pipeline at Sui town in Balochistan province, disrupting gas supplies to the country's commercial hub of Karachi, a gas company spokesman said. "It was the main pipeline .... We have reduced the supply of gas to power companies and Karachi steel mills," Khan said. Monsoon rains and "security issues" could cause a 48-hour delay before supplies are fully restored. Efforts were being made to get gas to domestic and other industrial consumers, he added. (First Posted @ 13:10 PST Updated @ 15:15 PST)
President Musharraf calls for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon ISLAMABAD, Aug 08 (Agencies): A high level meeting was held Tuesday at the presidential camp office in Rawalpindi with President General Pervez Musharraf in chair to review the current situation of the Middle East crisis and the deadlock in the dialogue process between Pakistan and India. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri, and other senior officials also attended the meeting. Musharraf called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon saying that any further delay would exacerbate the crisis, sources said. On sending a peace keeping mission to Lebanon, Musharraf said Pakistan would commit its troops only when the UN mandated it and the consent of Lebanese government was given. Musharraf regretted the stalemate in the peace process between Pakistan and India, stressing that for the sake of peace and stability in the region, the composite dialogue process should be resumed as soon as possible. The situation in Afghanistan also came under discussion in the meeting, during which the president reiterated Pakistan’s desire for peace there which would work in the interest of both countries. (Posted @ 21:35 PST)
Hezbollah kills four Israeli soldiers in Lebanon battles TYRE, Lebanon, Aug 8 (Reuters) Hezbollah blasted anti-tank rockets, mortar bombs and assault rifles fighting pitched battles with Israeli armoured and infantry units in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, killing four Israeli soldiers. The Israeli army confirmed that anti-tank missiles fired by Hizbollah killed one soldier and wounded five other troops near the town of Bint Jbeil. The army said two more of its soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire in the village of Labbouna, just east of the coastal frontier town on Naquora. An army spokesman later said a soldier wounded in the fighting had died. There were no further details. Hizbollah said its guerrillas destroyed an Israeli bulldozer near the town of Bint Jbeil. It said two tanks were also destroyed near the village of Aitaroun, killing or wounding the crews. The group later reported fierce fighting near the village of Aita al-Shaab with more Israeli casualties and two more tanks destroyed. There was no immediate Israeli comment. Israel claimed killing 15 Hizbollah fighters in the area over the past several days. (First Posted @ 16:20 PST Updated @ 22:56 PST)
Russia seeks interim U.N. resolution on Lebanon MOSCOW, Aug 8 (Reuters) Russia urged the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to adopt an interim resolution calling for "humanitarian cessation of fire" in Lebanon, if it fails quickly to overcome differences over a wider document. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov said in remarks posted on his ministry's website that Moscow wanted Lebanese opinion to be taken into account in the resolution co-authored by the United States and France. (Posted @ 22:26 PST)
Maoists in India, Nepal say U.S. trying to crush them KATHMANDU, Aug 8 (Reuters) Maoist rebels in Nepal and India accused the United States on Tuesday of "openly intervening" in the two countries to weaken their movements and urged Washington to end its interference. "As part of their direct intervention U.S. officers have been training the RNA(Royal Nepal Army) and even entering every sphere of society to subvert the ongoing anti-monarchical movement," the groups said in a rare joint statement e-mailed to journalists in Kathmandu. American diplomats were also visiting Indian government jungle warfare training camps in the central state of Chhattisgarh, which has witnessed high levels of Maoist violence this year, as part of their plans to suppress them, the statement said. U.S. embassy spokesmen in both countries said they had no reaction to the comments. (Posted @ 22:24 PST)
Oil prices hit new high at $78.65 on Alaska outage LONDON, Aug 8 (Reuters) Oil prices hit a new record on Wednesday. London Brent crude rose 35 cents to a new all-time high of $78.65, traders said, a cent higher than Monday's mid-session peak of $78.64. (Posted @ 22:22 PST)
Israeli air strikes kill 14 in Lebanon village GHAZIYEH, Lebanon, Aug 8 (Reuters) Israeli air strikes killed 14 people and wounded 23 in the southern Lebanese village of Ghaziyeh on Tuesday, rescue workers said. The air strikes hit the village as mourners were burying 15 relatives killed in a bombing the previous day, but were not in the immediate vicinity of the funeral, a Reuters witness said. The mourners chanted anti-American slogans after the air, he said. (First Posted @ 17:54 PST Updated @ 22:20 PST)
Indian troops kill two in occupied Kashmir; 13 wounded in separate attack SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Aug 8 (AP) Indian security forces claimed killing two gunmen in a clash Tuesday along the Line of Control in the densely forested Machhil sector, police said. Separately, suspected militants lobbed a grenade at a jeep carrying paramilitary soldiers Tuesday in Handwara town, narrowly missing their target and wounding 13 other people instead, police said. Four of the civilians injured suffered critical wounds and were hospitalized in Srinagar. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the attack. (Posted @ 22:08 PST)
Saudi king visits Turkey for first visit in 40 years ANKARA, Turkey, August 8, (AP) Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah arrived in Turkey on Tuesday, the first visit by a Saudi monarch to the Turkish state in 40 years. The trip marks a warming of ties between the oil-rich Islamic kingdom and the overwhelmingly Muslim, but secular Turkish state. King Abdullah is expected to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in Ankara before travelling to Istanbul to meet with business groups and visit historic sites. (Posted @ 22:06 PST)
Cricket-Woolmer says Pakistan will not panic after losing series LEEDS, England, Aug 8 (Reuters) Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said he would not panic after his side crashed to a series defeat against England at Headingley on Tuesday and said he would fight any calls for players to be axed. "What we need to do is to keep this team solid and not to panic. We have been outplayed by a better team at home and we need to work on our cricket," he said after Pakistan lost the third test by 167 runs on the final day. "I don't want to throw individuals out of my team, I want to make sure they get better," Woolmer told a news conference. Woolmer also said he would not rush fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif back into the side following injuries. "Shoaib hasn't bowled for about six months. Mohammad Asif hasn't bowled for a month," Woolmer said. "It's going to be up to him (Shoaib) to prove that he is fit (for the fourth test at The Oval). If he isn't, he won't play," he added. (Posted @ 22:04 PST)
Cricket-Strauss says England have recovered their hunger LEEDS, England, Aug 8 (Reuters) England captain Andrew Strauss said on Tuesday his side had had a score to settle during their victorious test series with Pakistan. "It wasn't a case of revenge. I think we had a score to settle with ourselves," he told a news conference after his team won the third test at Headingley by 167 to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series. "We didn't play as well as we should have done in Pakistan (during the English winter). We back ourselves, when we play well, to beat just about any side in the world. There has been a real hunger to win over the last three test matches and that has been good to see." Strauss praised left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, who took six wickets in the match at Headingley to go with his eight-wicket haul in the victory at Old Trafford. (Posted @ 22:02 PST)
Pakistan seeks access to nearly 100 prisoners in Iran ISLAMABAD, Aug 8 (Agencies) Pakistan said Tuesday it was trying to gain consular access to some 94 Pakistanis held by neighbouring Iran, mostly for violating immigration laws. Many were arrested more than a year ago while trying to go to European countries in search of work, interior ministry secretary Syed Kamal Shah said in a press conference. Islamabad also handed over the names of some 10 Pakistani human smugglers living in Iran, he said. The Iranian authorities also gave assurances that no member of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) would be provided refuge, Shah added. (First Posted @ 20:10 PST Updated @ 21:46 PST)
Fazl to meet Nawaz in London tomorrow KARACHI, Aug 08 (Agencies): Opposition Leader and Secretary General MMA, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, will meet the chief of PML-N, Main Nawaz Sharif, tomorrow (Thursday) in London, Information Secretary MMA Maulana Amjad Khan announced here Tuesday. He said during their meeting Maulana Fazl and Nawaz Sharif would discuss matters regarding the proposed no-trust motion against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the launch of a mass movement against the present government. (Posted @ 21:15 PST)
SC releases detailed verdict on privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills case ISLAMABAD, August 8 (Agencies): The Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday released its detailed verdict against the privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). The apex court in its 80-page decision maintained that the cabinet committee for privatization had overlooked the recommendations of the Privatization Commission (PC) and showed haste in the privatization process, violating the mandatory laws. The steel mill was handed over to the bidder for three years and no surety was obtained or explanation given as to what the buyers would do after the three years. The SC further ruled that the PC did not ascertain the whereabouts of the successful bidder and that massive irregularities were committed in the sale. The scrutiny of consortium was not conducted. Arif Habib was involved in several cases. The CCOP should have investigated this matter, it said. The Privatization Ordinance 2000 was also reviewed. It is not correct to accept that the powers of Council of Common Interests(CCI) have been transferred to PC so that it could liberalize the policies of CCI, it said. The privatization ordinance was promulgated for debt retirement and alleviation of poverty. If privatization of steel mills is being carried out for some other purpose, then this should have been taken to CCI. Consortium was handed over the mills for the three years and no guarantee was obtained from consortium that it would not use the steel mills against the national interests, the detailed judgement added. (Posted @ 21:10 PST)
601 trafficked Pakistanis freed from Muscat jails reach home KARACHI, Aug 08 (Agencies): 601 Pakistani nationals, who were arrested while illegally trying to enter into Gulf countries such as Oman, arrived here early Tuesday in a cargo launch. On arriving in Karachi, they were checked through the immigration counter where members of the FIA gathered data on the agents that smuggled them abroad illegally. (Posted @ 20:56 PST)
Pakistan’s Auditor General reveals massive 'irregularities" in Foreign Ministry ISLAMABAD, Aug 08 (Agencies): The Auditor General of Pakistan Tuesday revealed a massive fraud in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 48 missions abroad totalling to more than Rs.42.73 crores in a report for the year 2004-05 presented at the National Assembly. The massive amount was misused in various cases of embezzlements, frauds, misuse of powers, illegally contrived allowances etc, and the report strongly recommended action against the perpetuators. The report reveals about seven cases of irregularities in provision of facilities for Hajj pilgrims amounting to about Rs.233.434 million and another four cases of massive fraud and grafts paid to building engineer and construction manager, amounting to Rs.93.749 million for construction of the Chancery building of Washington, USA. Another fraud of Rs.42.546 million was unearthed regarding unrecorded advance payments of additional payments, while an additional Rs.37.035 million was also wasted for inflated prices for furniture, fixtures, purchase of machinery. Another massive fraud in the Pakistan Community Welfare Fund amounting to Rs.14.9 million had taken place in the form of illegal and unauthorized expenses. These expenses were incurred in the missions of Dubai, New Delhi, Madrid, Abu Dhabi, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. About 66 staff members of the Ministry obtained about Rs.26.913 million during the year 2001-02 and 2002-03 for such luxuries as gifts, transportation, and air-tickets, the report added. (Posted @ 20:45 PST)
Frontier Corps recover huge cache of weapons in Balochistan QUETTA, August 08 (Agencies): A Frontier Corps team during a search operation in Balochistan recovered a huge cache of weapons and explosives near Margzai Dera Bugti, the government claimed Tuesday. A number of rifles, rockets launchers, anti-tank shells, rocket mortar bombs and thousand of ammunitions were seized from various parts of that area. Meanwhile, a leading Ferrari commander of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti militia, Sher Dil Khan, along with his accomplices surrendered their arms to the government. After handing over the arms, they announced not to take part in any anti-state or anti-social activities in the future. (Posted @ 20:28 PST)
Water dispute claims three lives in Sibbi SIBBI, August 08 (Agencies): Three people were killed Tuesday when two rival groups clashed over a water dispute here in Sibbi’s Ezzat Wala village. Police handed over the dead bodies to their legal heirs whereas the accused managed to flee from the spot. (Posted @ 20:22 PST)
Pakistan to expel "illegal" foreigners in madrasas ISLAMABAD, Aug 8 (Reuters) Pakistan will expel around 300 foreign students from seminaries in the country if they failed to get permission from their governments to stay, a senior official said on Tuesday. Syed Kamal Shah, permanent secretary at the Interior Ministry, said in a news conference that 600 to 700 foreign students were currently enrolled with seminaries or madrasas across the country. "Fifty percent of them have already got permissions from their governments," he said. Shah did not specify the countries involved, but officials earlier have said students in the madrasas belonged to Southeast Asia, Europe, North America and Africa. (Posted @ 20:12 PST)
60 rockets fired at Israel JERUSALEM, Aug 8 (AFP) Some 60 rockets were fired at Israel from southen Lebanon by early Tuesday afternoon, without any immediate reports of injuries, police said. (Posted @ 17:52 PST)
Three killed, 33 hurt in Srinagar road accident Srinagar, Aug 8 (Agencies): Three people were killed and 33 injured Tuesday when a bus skidded off the Jammu-Srinagar highway at Athwajan, reports IANS. (Posted @ 16:25 PST)
Iraqi PM slams raid on Sadr city BAGHDAD, Aug 8 (AFP) Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki criticised his own government's security forces and their US advisers for carrying out a night-time raid on Sadr City, which he said had been undertaken without his consent. In an interview broadcast Tuesday on state television, Maliki branded the raid "unjustified" and said such operations "should not happen again in order to protect the reconciliation process" he has launched. The raiders late on Sunday came under fire from militiamen loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr and became drawn into a two-hour battle. Coalition aircraft fired into the city and at least three civilians were killed. (Posted @ 16:20 PST)
Three dead in Sri Lanka bomb attack COLOMBO, Aug 8 (AFP) Three people including a child were killed Tuesday when a powerful bomb ripped through a car in the capital of Sri Lanka on Tuesday, police said. Seven people were also wounded in the blast, which they said was caused by a bomb planted in a Tamil politician M. Sivadasan’s car. It was not immediately clear if he was one of the dead. (Posted @ 16:20 PST)
Four Palestinians wounded, two arrested in West Bank raid JERUSALEM, Aug 8 (AFP) Four Palestinians were wounded and two militants arrested Tuesday during an Israeli incursion in the northern West Bank, Palestinian security sources said. Some 40 armoured vehicles thrust into the town of Qabatiya and Israeli troops captured two members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.The Israeli soldiers responded with gunfire to stone-throwing Palestinians, wounding four of them, the sources added. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. (Posted @ 16:20 PST)
Three Taliban killed in Afghanistan clashes KABUL, Aug 8 (AFP) Three Taliban militants were killed and a rebel commander was captured in the latest spate of attacks in Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday. Two militants were killed when Taliban forces attacked a police post late Monday in Garmser district in Helmand province. In another attack late Monday in Paktika province one insurgent was killed while four others and a policeman were wounded following a short battle, said a provincial spokesman. Three Afghan soldiers and a civilian were wounded in Khost province Tuesday when an army vehicle headed for Kabul was struck by a roadside remote-controlled bomb, police added. A provincial-level Taliban commander and five other rebel fighters were arrested Tuesday in Paktika, said a provincial official. (Posted @ 16:10 PST)
Twenty six still missing after Israeli strikes on Beirut BEIRUT, Aug 8 (AFP) Rescue workers were still searching Tuesday for 26 people missing after Israeli air strikes hit residential buildings in south Beirut, civil defence service said. ANI news agency had reported earlier that at least 20 people were killed late Monday in the Israeli strike on the Shiyah district which until now had been spared attacks and was still inhabited by some residents. The double strike caused a three-storey building to collapse while a neighbouring building was sliced in two. (First Posted @ 09:50 Updated @ 12:45 PST)
Seven Iraqi soldiers killed near Iran border: medic KUT, Iraq, Aug 8 (AFP) Seven Iraqi border guards were killed in a village near the Iranian border east of Baghdad, a medic from the southern town of Kut said Tuesday. The bullet-riddled bodies were found in the village of Kharqush near the frontier, a doctor in Kut's hospital morgue said. (Posted @ 12:45 PST)
Militants fire rocket at Pakistani military base in tribal region, no injuries reported DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan, Aug 8 (AP) Suspected militants fired a rocket Monday that landed near a military base in a tribal region in northwestern Pakistan but no one was hurt, an official said Tuesday. The rocket slammed into a field close to the base housing army and paramilitary troops in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan tribal region, bordering Afghanistan, said an official on condition of anonymity. Troops combed the area around the base following the attack, finding three other rockets positioned to be launched toward the military facility but they were defused, he said. (Posted @ 10:50 PST)
Israeli government says it will pay for some 17,000 residents to leave border towns JERUSALEM, Aug 8 (AP) The Israeli government is offering some 17,000 Israelis to leave border downs for several days, a senior official said Tuesday. In making the announcement, Cabinet Secretary Yisrael Maimon avoided the word ``evacuation,'' saying instead that the residents were offered to leave the war zone for several days of recuperation. The government will pay for the stay of those leaving the border area. (Posted @ 10:40 PST)
Arrested Hamas speaker hospitalized JERUSALEM, Aug 8 (AFP) The Hamas speaker of the Palestinian parliament, Aziz Dweik, who was arrested by Israel over the weekend, was hospitalized Monday after complaining of chest pains, an Israeli army spokesman said. "He underwent tests at the hospital and will remain under observation," he added. Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri said in Gaza that Dweik was taken to hospital "after being severely beaten." "We accuse the Zionist enemy. According to our information, he is in a serious state," Masri told AFP. (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Lebanon ready to send 15,000 troops to south when Israel pulls out BEIRUT, Aug 8 (AFP) The Lebanese government said on Monday it is ready to deploy 15,000 troops in the south up to the border with Israel once the Jewish state pulls out all soldiers from the area. "The government asserts that it is ready to send 15,000 troops to the south, with the Israeli withdrawal beyond the Blue Line," or Lebanon's UN-drawn border with Israel, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said after a cabinet meeting. Asked about the military presence of Hezbollah which has been controlling the border area, Aridi said: "Where the army will be, it will be on its own." "Hezbollah is staying in the south as a party which represents a political and social strata, which has its role and position and has its effects in Lebanon's decision-making," he said. Responding to a question about Hezbollah's agreement to the decision, Aridi said there is an "agreement on all the steps, and we do not necessarily announce everything." (Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Annan says Qana killings could be breach of international law UNITED NATIONS, Aug 8 (AFP) Israel's deadly attack on the Lebanese village of Qana could be part of "a pattern of violations of international law" in the Israel-Hezbollah war, the UN chief said in a report released Monday. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan highlighted the heavy civilian toll in Lebanon and Israel when he called for a fuller investigation into the July 30 bombardment which killed at least 28 civilians dead, including 16 children. "The attack on Qana should be seen in the broader context of what could be, based on preliminary information available to the United Nations, including eyewitness accounts, a pattern of violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, committed during the course of the current hostilities," Annan said. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
Ten Iraqis killed in Baghdad bombing BAGHDAD, Aug 8 (Agencies) At least ten Iraqis were killed Tuesday when a roadside bomb hit a minibus and a taxi in central Baghdad despite a massive security crackdown in the Iraqi capital, an interior ministry official said. At least sixty-nine others were wounded in the blast which occurred near a bus station in the Nahda area at about 6:45 am (0245 GMT).Two more roadside bombs went off early in the day in the same area against police patrols wounding three policemen, the official added. More than 50,000 Iraqi and US troops are patrolling Baghdad to quell the violence since June and about 3,700 more troops from US military's 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team were brought in on Saturday to boost the security. (First Posted @ 09:20 PST Updated @ 12:30 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 17.84 points: KARACHI, Aug 8: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10828.90, down 17.84 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Aug 8: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.62 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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