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| August 21, 2006 | Monday | Rajab 25, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan forfeit Test after ball tamper row LONDON, Aug 21 (AFP) The fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval was sensationally abandoned on Sunday after an ugly row over ball-tampering and England were declared the winners. The decision that Pakistan should forfeit the game in the circumstances was unprecedented in the 129-year-history of Test cricket. "It was concluded with regret that there will be no play on the fifth day of the fourth Test on Monday," said a joint-statement by the ECB, world governing body, the ICC, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) read out to reporters by ECB chief executive David Collier. The statement made it clear that while the teams and boards were happy for the match to progress the umpires (Australia's Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove of the West Indies) were not. "After lengthy negotiations which resulted in agreement between the teams the ICC match referee (South Africa's Mike Procter) and both ECB and PCB to seek to resume the fourth Test match on Monday it was concluded with regret there will be no play. "The fourth Test match has therefore been forfeited with the match being awarded to England”. "The Pakistan team was aggrieved by the award of five penalty runs to England. The award of those penalty runs for alleged interference with the ball is under review by the ICC match referee Mike Procter, whose report will be considered in due course. "ICC will be issuing a separate report concerning action which may be taken in relation to the forfeiture of the match by Pakistan." (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
Cricket-Inzamam says protest defended Pakistan's pride ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (AFP) Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said Monday he kept his team off the field against England in the fourth Test to defend his country's pride after allegations of cheating. Inzamam also told a local private TV channel that the International Cricket Council should not let Australian umpire Darrell Hair take charge of any more matches involving Pakistan. "The pride of the nation has been hurt, we have been unfairly labelled as cheats," Inzamam said, explaining for the first time why he led the dressing room protest on Sunday. "It's not a question of myself and my team, it's a question of my country. So we decided to protest and no player was ready to play. They were distraught." The 36-year-old master batsman added: "We think what we did was justified, we did it for the sake of country. Why is only one umpire finding fault with us?" Inzamam said they had returned to the pitch at the request of the match referee and English cricket officials. But "when we went to the ground the umpires refused to come," he said. Inzamam also complained about previous decisions by Hair, saying that a number of rulings on the first day of the third Test at Headingley had changed the course of the game. He also criticised Hair's performance at Faisalabad last November when he ruled that Inzamam had been run out by a throw from England bowler Stephen Harmison, even though the batsman appeared to be taking evasive action. "Why does everything happen against us from the end that Darrell Hair is umpiring?" Inzamam asked. (Posted @ 15:40 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan to refuse to play under umpire Hair: PCB KARACHI, Aug. 21 (Reuters) Shaharyar Khan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said Monday the board would not accept Australian umpire Darrell Hair for any future matches. Shaharyar said the Pakistan team, both boards and even the match referee wanted to resume the test. "Even the match referee, Mike Proctor, was keen that somehow the match should be held on the final day and that some flexibility was needed to be shown by the umpires. But Hair refused to listen to anyone," he said. "We were also willing to give in writing that the umpires were entitled to change the ball and they didn't act outside the law. We accepted that," he added. Shaharyar Khan told a press conference later Monday that they had lodged a protest to the governing body, the ICC, over the ball-tampering charge and forfeiture of the Test match. "The umpires didn't even bother to ask our players what had happened…We know for a fact that no ball tampering took place. Several times the ball hit the concrete when (Kevin) Pietersen was batting. The ball was in a condition one would expect a ball used for 56 overs to be," he stated. He also defended his team's action to not come out immediately after tea to register their protest. "They didn't come out because they were wronged. The decision to change the ball was pre-meditated." Shaharyar also made it clear that the one-day series against England was not in any danger of not being played. (First Posted @ 15:00 PST Updated @ 21:40 PST)
Cricket-Woolmer apologises to fans LONDON, Aug 21 (AFP) Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said Monday his team wanted to continue playing after they were deemed to have forfeited a Test against England and voiced his frustration at the way the row had been handled. "We would like to say we are sorry to the British public that we are not playing cricket today -- we are prepared to play cricket today," Woolmer told Sky Sports News television. "Unfortunately, circumstances yesterday were such that we deemed it necessary to make the protest, which we did, but we do apologise for not playing cricket," Woolmer added. "The history of ball-tampering goes back with Pakistan in time when Wasim (Akram) and Waqar (Younis) were first involved…since then, there's been a radical change in trying to stop that and therefore they've taken it very personally." Asked about Australian umpire Darrell Hair, Woolmer said: "In view of the match referee's meeting due later, I'd rather not make any comment on that." He added: "We're facing a level two breach of the code (the International Cricket Council's Code of Conduct for players and officials) so there are other things going to happen…In the long run, it's not good for cricket. However, a stand was made, it was made on principle and I wish the whole thing could be handled better." (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Eighty die in Egypt train crash CAIRO, Aug 21 (Reuters) A collision between two trains in a town in Egypt's Nile Delta killed 80 people and injured 163 on Monday, an Egyptian security source said. The accident took place at about 0430 GMT near the town of Qalyoub, about 20 km north of Cairo. (First Posted @ 10:45 PST Updated @ 12:30 PST)
ARD approves draft of no trust motion against PM ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (Agencies): The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) gave its final approval Monday to the draft on the no trust move against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. This was decided in an ARD’s central leadership meeting here presided by ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, ARD secretary general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said that after a draft committee had evolved a report highlighting mega scandals including Steel Mills privatization, sugar scandal, law and order situation in the country, Balochistan situation, it was approved by ARD, which would be handed over to a joint committee of opposition. He demanded that voting on the no confidence move be held through secret balloting. (Posted @ 22:14 PST)
At least five dead in Spanish train derailment MADRID, Aug 21 (Reuters) At least five people were killed and between 20 and 30 were injured when an inter-city train derailed in northwest Spain on Monday, officials said. Police put the death toll at five, while Spanish state radio said eight people had been killed. There was no immediate official comment on the cause of the crash. (Posted @ 22:12 PST)
Four U.S. servicemen killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, Aug 21 (Reuters) The U.S. military said on Monday four U.S. servicemen had been killed in action in Iraq in the past 24 hours. Two Marines and a sailor were killed on Sunday in the western province of Anbar, the military said in a statement. In another statement, the military said a U.S. serviceman was killed on Monday when the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by a roadside bomb north of Baghdad. (First Posted @ 20:22 PST Updated @ 22:10 PST)
Cricket-Miandad says Pakistan cricket decision a mistake KARACHI, Aug 21 (AFP) Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad Monday said Pakistan had put themselves in a difficult position and made a mistake by not taking the field following the row over alleged ball tampering which wrecked the fourth Test against England. Miandad said that Inzamam had accepted Hair's decision by playing the game till the break. "Either he should have taken the decision immediately or have played the match under protest," he said. "If I have been in Inzamam's place I would have asked the boys to play on. I would have played under protest and kept the door open for the appeal," Miandad said. (Posted @ 22:06 PST)
Pakistani opposition MPs protest proposed changes to Hudood Ordinance ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (AFP) Pakistani opposition lawmakers walked out of federal parliament Monday in protest at government proposed amendments to the Hudood Ordinances. Opposition MPs mostly from the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) shouted slogans and tore up copies of the bill before walking out after Law Minister Wasi Zafar introduced the legislation to change the laws. "This bill is against holy Quran and Shariah, we reject it and (will) try to block it in any possible manner," said opposition leader Maulana Fazalur Rehman. MPs of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto did not boycott the proceedings. The law minister said the "Women Protection Bill" would be referred to a select committee of parliament represented by all parliamentary parties. (Posted @ 22:04 PST)
Pakistan looking into Australian warning about terror plot ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (AFP) Pakistan on Monday said it was trying to confirm an Australian warning about possible terrorist attacks on Western hotels in Islamabad. Australia's foreign affairs department issued the travel warning on its website. "We don't have any information of this nature.... We will try to confirm it through our high commission (embassy) in Canberra," Pakistani foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told a weekly briefing here. Security at the Australian High Commission in Islamabad was at a high level as a precautionary measure and the government had, since May 2004, authorised the voluntary departure of the dependants of staff, the Australian advisory said. (Posted @ 22:02 PST)
Bill to protect women rights not against Quran and Sunnah: PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday said the Protection of Women Rights Bill being tabled in the National Assembly on Monday is in accordance with the holy Quran and Sunnah. Talking to newsmen after a Parliamentary Party meeting of PML and its allied parties before the start of the National Assembly session here, Aziz said the government discussed the bill for six months and exchanged views on all its clauses. He said the government would ensure the protection of women rights through this bill and expressed the hope that it would be passed in the present session of the National Assembly. Replying to a question about reservations of some of the members of the ruling party on the bill, he said their reservations and apprehensions have been removed and they are now satisfied with the present bill. On the point of view of MMA on the bill to protect women rights, he said, they have their own point of view, however, the government had discussed the bill in details and it has nothing against Holy Quran and Sunnah. On the issue of vote of no-confidence being moved by opposition against him, he said the government would face the motion with full determination. Replying to a question on holding a secret ballot on the no-trust motion, he said the procedure on the vote of no-confidence would be according to the rules and regulations of the National Assembly. (Posted @ 21:24 PST)
Musharraf calls for accelerated efforts to install water purification plants RAWALPINDI, Aug 21 (Agencies): President General Pervez Musharraf Monday directed to accelerate the setting up of water purification plants utilizing affordable, reliable and cost effective modern technologies to ensure provisions of safe drinking water to people across the country. He made these observations while chairing a meeting to review progress on the safe drinking water initiative under which the first phase will be completed by the end of the current year. While reviewing the progress, the meeting was informed that some 300 plants were already installed in collaboration with the private sector while 110 more such plants were in the process of being made operational. (Posted @ 20:45 PST)
Qatar says peace chances better after Lebanon war BEIRUT, Aug 21 (Reuters) Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said on Monday chances for peace in the Middle East had risen after Israel failed to crush Hizbollah in Lebanon. "I believe that the chance for peace is greater than at any time before," Sheikh Hamad, the first head of state to visit Lebanon since the war, told reporters in Beirut. Sheikh Hamad also held talks with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud. Sheikh Hamad said he carried a Syrian invitation to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to visit Damascus. (Posted @ 20:42 PST)
Eleven UK bomb plot suspects charged LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) Eleven people have been charged in connection with a suspected plot to blow up several airliners in mid-Atlantic, British officials said on Monday. Eight were charged with conspiracy to murder and three with other offences, a prosecutor said. One woman was released and another 11 people are still being held pending a decision whether to charge them, the prosecutor added. (Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Israeli reservists slam leaders over Lebanon war JERUSALEM, Aug 21 (Reuters) Israeli reservists on Monday took the front line in a campaign to hold government leaders and top army officers to account for a war in Lebanon that failed to crush Hizbollah or halt a daily rain of rockets. The demonstrators set up a protest tent in a park on the edge of the government office compound in the city. Some called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz to resign. In a separate protest, reservists from the Spearhead Paratroop Brigade complained in an open letter in the Haaretz newspaper that the 34-day war was marked by indecisiveness at the top. Hundreds of soldiers signed the document, published a week after a ceasefire went into effect. The manifesto demanded a broad state inquiry into the actions of government leaders and top military brass. (Posted @ 20:38 PST)
Bush says Lebanon needs U.N. troops urgently BEIRUT, Aug 21 (Reuters) U.S. President George W. Bush called on Monday for the urgent deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping force to southern Lebanon to shore up a week-old truce between Israel and Hizbollah. He said there would be another U.N. resolution on the rules for such a force. "First things first will be to get the rules of engagement clear," he told a news conference in Washington. Announcing a $230 million aid package to Lebanon that includes 25,000 tons of wheat, Bush called for United Nations forces to "deploy as quickly as possible to keep the peace". (First Posted @ 20:04 PST Updated @ 20:35 PST)
Bush urges U.N. to act "in concert" on Iran WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday urged the international community to act at the United Nations to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions and said there had to be a "consequence" for Tehran's actions. "It's up to the international community, including the United States, to work in concert for effective diplomacy, and that begins at the United Nations Security Council," Bush told a news conference. "We will see what their response is and we're beginning to get some indication but we'll wait till they give a formal response," Bush said. "I want to resolve this diplomatically," he added. (Posted @ 20:30 PST)
Iran to reply to atomic offer: Ayatollah TEHRAN, Aug 21 (Reuters) Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday Iran would press ahead with its pursuit of nuclear energy. Khameneidid not mention enrichment by name. The deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Mohammad Saeedi told Iran's Fars News Agency Monday "considering the technical advancement of Iranian scientists, the suspension of uranium enrichment is not possible any more." Saeedi said Iran would formally reply on Tuesday to a nuclear package offered by the six world powers. (Posted @ 20:28 PST)
Saudi forces kill two suspected militants in clash RIYADH, Aug 21 (Reuters) Saudi security forces killed two suspected militants in clashes in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Monday during a siege of a building where four militants were holed up, state television said. An Interior Ministry spokesman in the capital Riyadh could not confirm any casualties. "The operation is still under way," the spokesman said, adding "they (suspects) still refuse to give themselves up. There is a heavy exchange of fire." The spokesman said other residents of the building were evacuated, adding it was too early to say whether the gunmen were on a list of most wanted militants. (First Posted @ 15:00 PST Updated @ 20:26 PST)
Saddam refuses to plead in Kurd genocide trial BAGHDAD, Aug 21 (Reuters) Saddam Hussein refused to plead as he and six former commanders went on trial in Baghdad on Monday for what prosecutors called a genocidal campaign that killed tens of thousands of Kurds in the 1980s. One of Saddam's co-defendants is his cousin, Ali Hassan al- Majid, known as "Chemical Ali" also refused to enter a plea. The seven defendants, including Saddam's former defence minister, face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their role in Anfal. The chief judge rejected a petition by defence counsel that the court was illegitimate and two lawyers walked out after he refused to let them speak. The trial was adjourned until Tuesday. (First Posted 09:25 PST Updated @ 20:24 PST)
Bush concerned over civil war talk in Iraq WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) President George W. Bush said on Monday he was concerned about talk of civil war in Iraq but withdrawal from that country would be wrong. "I hear a lot of talk about civil war," Bush told a news conference. "I'm concerned about that of course." But he said talk about pulling U.S. troops out before Iraq was ready was "absolutely wrong." "We're not leaving," he said. (Posted @ 20:20 PST)
Inzamam faces disrepute and ball tampering charges LONDON, Aug 21 (AFP) Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was charged Monday with ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC said in a statement: "Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq will be required to answer two charges relating to 'changing the condition of the ball' and 'bringing the game into disrepute'." Both charges will be considered at a hearing to be conducted by ICC chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle in London on Friday. If found guilty of either offence Inzamam could be banned for several matches and fined. (First Posted @ 14:30 PST Updated @ 19:58 PST)
Musharraf backs Pakistani captain over ball tampering protest ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (AFP) Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has telephoned the country's cricket captain to offer his support in the row that wrecked the fourth Test against England, officials said Monday. "The president spoke to captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and supported the stance the team took in protest against the allegations of ball tampering," a senior government official said. The official said Musharraf also spoke to the team management soon after the dispute erupted on the fourth day of the Test at the Oval. (Posted @ 19:54 PST)
Pakistan and NATO to enhance cooperation RAWALPINDI, Aug 21 (APP): Pakistan and NATO agreed Monday to further enhance mutual cooperation in areas of common interest. This was decided in a meeting held here between the Head of the NATO legal office and the Secretary General's Principal legal adviser, Baldwin DE VIDTS, and Real Admiral Tanveer Faiz, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence. It was agreed that Pakistan would extend logistic support to the International Security Force in Afghanistan (ISAF). Pakistan also agreed to facilitate the transit of equipment of ISAF through Pakistan. The NATO team also offered training facilities for the Pakistan Armed Forces. (Posted @ 19:24 PST)
Probe into Britain terror plot continuing, results to be revealed: FO ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug 21 (AP) The probe into the plot to blow up trans-Atlantic passenger jetliners was continuing, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Monday, and that the ``full picture'' will be eventually revealed to the public. Tasnim Aslam also criticized the media's ``continuing speculation'' around the case, adding that most reports were baseless. ``It is in the larger interest of everyone that we get to the bottom of this plot and are able to ensure that no link remains unearthed and no link is missed,'' Aslam told reporters at a press conference. ``Once we know that we have the full picture, we will share it with you.'' To another question the spokesperson said Pakistan stands by its claim that the Afghanistan based al-Qaeda was responsible for the London aircraft bombing plot. ``al-Qaida leaders and members are present in the bordering regions inside Afghanistan but no one knows their exact coordinates,'' she added. (First Posted @ 18:30 PST Updated @ 19:18 PST)
No decision yet to send troops to Lebanon: FO ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (APP): Pakistan on Monday said it has not yet taken a decision to send its troops to join the UN peacekeepers in Lebanon and will make one based on ground realities. Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told reporters at the weekly briefing that Pakistan will agree to send troops under the UN umbrella and after acceptance of the mandate by all parties involved in the conflict. When asked whether there was any change in Pakistan's policy on Israel in view of its attack on Lebanon, the spokesperson said any "progress towards Pakistan-Israel relations will depend on the progress of the peace process and establishment of a Palestinian state and a just solution of the Middle East." She said Pakistan's Foreign Minister met his Israeli counterpart in Turkey only after it vacated Gaza to demonstrate that as Israel moves towards a just resolution of Palestine, the Muslim countries will correspondingly move forward. The spokesperson to a question regarding the Aug 23-24 talks between Pakistan and India on Sir Creek issue, said Islamabad has not yet received any intimation about the visit. On President Musharraf's reported interview to the Indian media about the Mumbai blasts, the spokesperson said Pakistan's intelligence agencies never indulge in such acts. To a question, she said there was no specific proposal for talks between the intelligence agencies of the two countries. "If India were to share information, Pakistan will be willing to cooperate," she added. (Posted @ 19:04 PST)
Six Pakistanis in Guantanamo Bay prison: Interior Secretary ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (APP): Six Pakistanis are currently under detention at the US Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba and they are not involved in any major crimes, Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah said here Monday. He said Pakistan requested the US government to repatriate the prisoners and a delegation of the Interior Ministry had recently visited Washington in this regard. Replying to a question regarding Rashid Rauf, a British national held in connection with the London terror plot case, he said Pakistan and UK have no extradition treaty or mutual legal assistance agreement. He said the government had not so far received any request from London for handing over Rauf to them. The Interior Secretary said that the suspect was under investigation and other matters would come under consideration after the probe was finished. Shah also denied reports that Rauf's father and brother had been taken into custody. (Posted @ 19:02 PST)
No Hair peace as Pakistan fumes over cricket chaos ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (AFP) Protesters burned pictures of cricket umpire Darrell Hair and chanted "You are a mini Hitler" Monday as anger grew at the ball-tampering row that wrecked the fourth Test against England. Dozens of activists from Imran Khan's political party, Tehreek-e-Insaaf, gathered in Rawalpindi and took out a rally. Around 50 teenagers from local schools gathered at an Islamabad cricket ground and shouted slogans, witnesses said. Protesters at both rallies chanted references to Hitler, apparently inspired by Khan's newspaper column in which he wrote: "Hair is one of those characters, where when he wears the white umpire's coat, he metamorphoses into a mini Hitler." (Posted @ 18:36 PST)
Pakistan arrest two over U.S. consulate blast KARACHI, Aug 21 (Agencies) Two al Qaeda militants suspected of planning a suicide car bomb attack that killed a U.S. diplomat earlier this year have been arrested, Pakistani police said on Monday. The March 2 blast near the gates of the U.S. consulate in Karachi killed the bomber, U.S. diplomat David Foy and three other people on the eve of a visit to Pakistan by U.S. President George W. Bush. Jahangir Mirza, police chief of Sindh province, said the suspects were arrested in a raid on a hideout in the city on Monday. ``The terrorists we arrested today have links with al-Qaida,'' he said without offering evidence. Over the weekend, a Pakistani security official said six men had been detained in connection with the bombing and that the suicide bomber’s name was Raja Tahir, a militant from the outlawed group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Mirza confirmed that Tahir was the bomber, but denied the arrests of six men last week. ``We arrested two terrorists today, and police are looking for some of their associates,'' he said. (Posted @ 18:26 PST)
Pakistan committed to promote peace and stability in region: PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday said Pakistan does not want to engage in an arms race in the region. Addressing the participants of 7th National Security Workshop held here at National Defence College, he said, "We do not harbour aggressive designs against any country, nor do we wish to engage in an arms race." However, he said that "we firmly believe that a strong defence is indispensable for the territorial integrity, stability and progress of Pakistan." He also said "Pakistan is keen to promote peace and cooperation with its neighbours," adding that “Pakistan is still engaged in a composite dialogue process with India and believed that a resolution of all outstanding issues, including the core issue of Kashmir, is essential for lasting peace in the region.” He added that "we hope that Indian leadership will show courage and work sincerely towards carrying the process forward." Condemning the Israeli aggression in Lebanon, Aziz expressed the hope that the United Nations will ensure implementation of its resolutions for immediate cessation of Israeli offensive and restoration of peace. "We recognize that the solution of the Palestine is indispensable to a lasting peace in the Middle East," he said. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Bismillah Khan, India's 'shehnai' maestro, dies LUCKNOW, India, Aug 21 (Reuters) Bismillah Khan, one of India's best-known musicians and a master exponent of the wind instrument 'shehnai', died of heart failure at the age of 90 on Monday, doctors and his aide said. A one-day national mourning was declared in honour of the music legend. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the country in mourning Khan. "A true symbol of our composite culture, Khan Sahib, through his mellifluous rendering of the shehnai, showed us that while God may manifest himself in many forms, piety finds its true expression through music," Singh said in a statement. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Srebrenica trial resumes with Serbia also in the dock THE HAGUE, Aug 21 (AFP) The war crimes trial of seven Serb military officers over the 1995 Srebrenica massacre resumed here Monday with fresh condemnation of Serbia's refusal to arrest top suspect Ratko Mladic. In her opening statement, chief UN war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte said the accused were among the "most responsible" for the slaughter in the eastern Bosnian town, but she condemned Serbia for allowing top suspect Mladic to remain at large. Five of the seven accused face charges of genocide as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity. All have pleaded not guilty. (Posted @ 15:55 PST)
Cricket-Former England captains back Pakistan refusal to play LONDON, Aug 21 (AFP) Former England captain Nasser Hussain said he sympathised with Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq for refusing to play in the fourth Test after the tourists were accused of ball-tampering at The Oval. Hussain told the Daily Mail: "Did Darrell Hair actually see a member of the Pakistan team tampering with a cricket ball? Has he got proof? …If he hasn't then he has made a massive mistake," Hussain added: "If I had been accused of cheating in this way then, as long as I was sure of our innocence, I would have done exactly the same thing as Pakistan.” "To Pakistan, if they had carried on playing, they would have been admitting their guilt," he said. Also Former England captain Mike Gatting told Sky Sports that the ICC had erred in selecting Hair for Test matches involving Pakistan. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Bomb blast kills three policemen in Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Aug 21 (AFP) A roadside bomb hit a police vehicle in southern Afghanistan and killed three policemen on Sunday in the southern province of Helmand, a provincial government spokesman said Monday. Another roadside bomb exploded Sunday close to a police vehicle in Zabul province but did not cause any casualties, an official said. A purported Taliban spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi, said the group had carried out both attacks. (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Pakistan denies arrest of Al-Qaeda militant ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (AFP) Pakistan on Monday rejected reports that wanted Al-Qaeda militant Matiur Rehman had been arrested and denied that he was linked to an alleged plot to blow up US-bound airliners. ABC News had reported last week quoting unnamed intelligence sources that Rehman was arrested from central Pakistan. "It is totally baseless," foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said. "It is a fictitious story. Matiur Rehman has not been arrested, we are still looking for him," she said. "He is not linked" to the airline plot, she added. (Posted @ 14:10 PST)
Explosion hits Moscow market, up to nine reported killed MOSCOW, Aug 21 (AP) An explosion hit Cherkizovsky market in the northeastern part of Moscow on Monday at about 10:30 a.m. local time, officials said. News reports said up to nine people were killed and that the blast was apparently caused by a gas cylinder malfunction. Police could not immediately be reached for comment. (First Posted @ 12:25 PST Updated @ 14:10 PST)
Two killed in Battagram road accident BATTAGRAM, PAKISTAN, Aug 21 (APP) Two persons were killed when a passenger pick-up headed toward Labbi Khel plunged into deep ravine while negotiating a sharp turn near Thakot Robund on Monday. Two persons, identified as Masaal Khan and Shahizar Khan, died on the spot, while three sustained injuries. (Posted @ 12:50 PST)
Defence minister warns rogue Palestinian rocket teams against attacks on Israel BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug 21 (AP) Lebanon's defence minister on Sunday said he was certain Hezbollah would not break the cease-fire but warned rogue Palestinian groups of harsh measures and a traitor's fate if they incited Israeli retaliation by launching rockets into the Jewish state. Prime Minister Fuad Saniora toured the devastated Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut and decried the destruction wrought by Israeli bombs as ``crimes against humanity.'' Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, stood at the prime minister's side and said they spoke with one voice. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
UN resolution on Sudan "wicked and misleading" KHARTOUM, Aug 21 (AFP) Sudan's Justice Minister on Sunday described a US-British draft resolution which would transfer peacekeeping in the Darfur region from the African Union to a UN force as "wicked and misleading." "The British draft resolution that will be presented to the UN Security Council is full of wicked and misleading elements," Justice Minister Mohamed Ali al-Madhi told reporters in Khartoum. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
British soldier killed in Afghanistan LONDON, Aug 21 (AFP) A British soldier has been killed and three injured in fighting in Afghanistan, a spokesman for Britain's ministry of defence (MoD) said on Sunday. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Test cricket controversy dominates British press LONDON, Aug 21 (AFP) The controversial end to the Oval Test after the tea break on the fourth day Sunday dominated the front-pages of Britain's newspapers on Monday. Similar pictures of Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq inspecting a ball with umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove graced page one of The Guardian, The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, with The Independent dedicating its cover to Pakistani bowler Shahid Nazir holding a ball, under the headline "It's just not cricket!" Pakistan staged a dressing room protest during the tea interval on the fourth day of the final Test match on Sunday to register their anger at being penalised five runs over allegations of ball-tampering. But when they eventually returned to the field, Hair and Doctrove stayed in the pavilion believing that Pakistan had forfeited the match with their original protest. After five hours of talks, it was eventually ruled that Pakistan had forfeited the match and England were declared the winners. The home side took the series 3-0. The result was, according to former England bowler Angus Fraser writing in The Independent, "the day cricket spun out of control".The newspaper even dedicated an editorial to the chaos at The Oval, lamenting: "A cricket match should not end like this." The Times laid the blame squarely at the ICC with a columnist writing: "Darrell Hair has been a controversial figure for a long time in Asian cricket circles and it was insensitive and unwise to appoint him for the last two matches of this series." Former England all-rounder Ian Botham echoed The Times's sentiment in his column in The Daily Mirror, entitled: "I blame the ICC". (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
Four dead in small plane crash in Canada MONTREAL, Aug 21 (AFP) A small airplane crashed in western Canada, killing its pilot and three passengers, according to Radio-Canada television. (First Posted @ 09:05 PST Updated @ 09:30 PST)
Two die in Peruvian military plane crash in Brazil BRASILIA, Aug 21 (AFP) A Peruvian military plane crashed Sunday in northern Brazil shortly after takeoff, killing its two passengers, believed to be a commander and a major, the Brazilian Air Force said. The Peruvian Air Force plane slammed into a wall that divided a field and the airport in Porto Velho, capital of Rondonia state, an Air Force source said. The cause of the accident was unknown so far, the source said. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Three dead, 250 injured in Budapest as violent storm mars national celebrations BUDAPEST, Aug 21 (AFP) At least three people were killed and 250 injured in Budapest late on Sunday as a violent storm sent hundreds of thousands of panicked people fleeing for cover during a fireworks display over the river Danube, authorities said. "The storm claimed three lives and there are some 250 being treated at hospitals according to the current information," Budapest Mayor Gabor Demszky said early Monday. (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 81.24 points: KARACHI, Aug 21: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10481.64, down 81.24 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Aug 21: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.45 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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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
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