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| September 17, 2006 | Sunday | Sha'aban 23, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
President Musharraf arrives in New York NEW YORK, Sept 17 (APP): President Gen. Pervez Musharraf flew into New York Saturday night to begin his 11-day visit here. He is scheduled to speak at the 191-member UN General Assembly on September 19. Talking to reporters on arrival in New York, Musharraf said his talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Havana were "successful" that would augur well for resolving problems between India and Pakistan, including the issue of Kashmir. He said the joint statement issued after talks was to the satisfaction of both sides, and termed it as a victory of the peace process between the two countries. About his one-on-one meeting with Singh, the president said "we agreed to narrow down our divergences (of views) and strengthen convergences. The road forward is the willingness to discuss and resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute." He said the talks at foreign secretary-level between Pakistan and India would be held expeditiously. "We haven't fixed the dates but they are going to be held very soon," he said. He said the Indian PM was keen to visit Pakistan at an appropriate time. Replying to a question regarding the activities of opposition in Pakistan, Musharraf said "the fact that I am roaming around shows how confident and relaxed I am…there is no problem in Pakistan and there is no question of destabilization.” Regarding talks with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, he said it would be an open agenda and he would discuss with him international issues. (First Posted @ 11:45 PST Updated @ 17:48 PST)
Railway link to Karachi restored KOTRI, September 17 (PPI): The railway link of Karachi with the rest of the country was restored after ten days Sunday when a temporary bridge near Ran Patiani Railway Station, situated about 78 km from Karachi, was opened to rail traffic. Shalimar Express was the first passenger train to pass Sunday morning through the temporary bridge. The old bridge had washed away on September 8, 2006 for the third time due to floodwater. Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Farid Express and some passenger trains to interior Sindh would still set out from Hyderabad and Kotri, while other trains would travel from Karachi, the Pakistan Railways officials said. About 30 goods trains, stranded in Karachi after suspension of the rail link, will be sent upcountry in phases, the officials added. The railway sources informed that the construction of a regular bridge at Run Pathani would take at least another six months. (First Posted @ 11:48 PST Updated @ 19:34 PST)
NAM slates Israel for Lebanon attacks, supports Iran HAVANA, Sept 17 (AP) _ Leaders of 118 Nonaligned Movement nations condemned Israel's attacks on Lebanon and supported a peaceful resolution to the U.S.-Iran nuclear dispute in the final declaration Saturday. The 92-page declaration also broadly condemned terrorism _ with exceptions for movements for self-determination and battles against foreign occupiers. And while declaring democracy to be a universal value, the movement said no one country or region should define it for the whole world. The leaders mentioned Venezuela and Cuba in particular as they asserted the right of all countries to determine their own form of government.(Posted @ 10:20 PST)
Nigerian military plane crashes with 17 on board LAGOS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A Nigerian military aircraft crashed on Sunday with 17 people on board including senior army officers, a defence spokesman said. He said initial reports suggested there were survivors but it was not known how many. The plane crashed on a flight from the capital Abuja to Obudu Cattle Ranch, a hotel and conference centre in the southeastern state of Cross River where the officers were due to attend a series of meetings. (Posted @ 23:54 PST)
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visits rain affected areas HYDERABAD, Sept 17 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Sunday visited the rain affected areas of Latifabad and Qasimabad here. The Prime Minister, accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Federal Minister for Communication and Works, Shamim Siddiqui and Minister of State for Information Tariq Azim visited rain hit areas of Autobahn Road, Hussainabad, Wehdat Colony and different units of Latifabad and reviewed the relief work and process of disposal of stagnant rainwater. Earlier, Prime Minister took aerial view of rain hit areas of different districts. (Posted @ 23:42 PST)
Iranian president makes first visit to Venezuela CARACAS, Venezuela, Sep 17 (AP) Iran's president visited Venezuela for the first time on Sunday. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez shortly before President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives that ``Iran is generously transferring technology to us''. He said Iran and Venezuela will also set up factories to build cars and produce plastics. Chavez said Iran and Venezuela are ``two heroic nations'' with ``two revolutions that are giving each other a hand.'' Ahmadinejad said Venezuela and Iran have much in common. ``Today we have thoughts, objectives and interests in common,'' Ahmadinejad said through an interpreter at the airport. ``We must be united to be able to make these ideas reality with the aim of achieving justice and peace in the world.'' The two leaders later began talks in private at the presidential palace. (Posted @ 23:06 PST)
APHC welcomes Musharraf-Manmohan meeting ISLAMABAD, Sep 17 (APP): Senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Professor Abdul Ghani Butt, welcomed the joint statement issued at the end of a meeting between the heads of Pakistan and India at Havana, which said that dialogue was the only option to settle the Kashmir dispute. Butt described the Havana meeting as a good omen and said that India will have to accept the ground reality that it cannot resolve Kashmir dispute through military power. (Posted @ 22:52 PST)
US sailor killed in Iraq's Sunni bastion BAGHDAD, Sept 17 (AFP) Insurgents killed a US sailor in Iraq's western province of Al-Anbar, the military said Sunday. The sailor died on Saturday from wounds sustained from "enemy action", the military said in a statement. (Posted @ 22:40 PST)
Germany wins men's hockey World Cup MONCHENGLADBACH, Germany, Sept 17, (AFP) Germany beat Australia 4-3 to win the men's field hockey World Cup here on Sunday. Germany, who fought back from 3-1 down, retained the title they had won back in 2002. Collated men's World Cup field hockey tournament results on Sunday: Final match, Germany 4 (Zeller 18, 55, Furste 46, Emmerling 49) Australia 3 (Knowles 19, Naylor 25, Elder 38); Bronze medal play-off: Spain 3 (Tubau 9, S. Freixa 40, Amat 71 Golden Goal) South Korea 2 (Jang 42, Seo 60); Playoff for 9th to 10th place: Japan 2 (Yoshida 37, Ozawa 69) Argentina 1 (R.Vila 57); Playoff for 11th to 12th place South Africa 0 India 1 (R.Singh 54). (First Posted @ 20:20 PST Updated @ 21:14 PST)
Indian soldier kills colleague in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Sept 17 (AFP) An Indian army soldier Sunday shot dead a colleague and injured two others in a fit of rage before turning the gun on himself at an army camp in occupied Kashmir’s Karnah district, a police spokesman said. (Posted @ 20:14 PST)
Prosperity of country depends on continuity of economic policies: PM Aziz MIRPURKHAS, Sept 17 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Sunday said the progress and prosperity of a country depended on the continuity of economic policies, not on the change of governments. He was addressing the elected representatives of Mirpurkhas, Sanghar and Umerkot districts here at the Sindhri Air Base. Aziz said that next general election would be held in the year 2007. He praised the people of Sindh province for bravely facing the recent heavy monsoon rains. He said that 35,000 ration bags have so far been distributed among the rain affected people in the Sindh province and more food would be provided in a few days. He announced that the 50 percent share of total expenses of Sindh government for relief work would be borne by the federal government. He also announced the extension of the Sui gas pipeline from Hyderabad to Mirpurkhas and said its supply would be expanded up to Mithi in district Tharparkar. (Posted @ 19:30 PST)
Putin calls for 'responsibility' from religious leaders MOSCOW, Sept 17 (AFP) Russian President Vladimir Putin called Sunday for world religious leaders to exercise "responsibility," amid fury in the Muslim world over recent remarks by Pope Benedict XVI. "We understand how sensitive this area is," Putin said in remarks carried on Russian television. "I trust that the leaders of the main confessions will have enough strength and wisdom to avoid any kind of excesses in relations between confessions," Putin told a meeting of parliament speakers from the G8 (Group of Eight) countries. (Posted @ 18:38 PST)
Series of bomb attacks in Iraq's Kirkuk kill 24 KIRKUK, Iraq, Sep 17 (AP) A series of six bomb attacks, including two suicide car bombings, in the northern city of Kirkuk Sunday killed at least 24 people and wounded 84, police said. Elsewhere, a series of near simultaneous mortar and bomb attacks in Fallujah, killed four people and wounded 10 in the centre of the city, which led to a vehicle curfew throughout the city. In Baghdad, a bomb left in plastic bag exploded in central Baghdad's commercial Jumhouriyah street, killing two civilians and wounding eight, police said. On Sunday, the bullet-riddled bodies of four unidentified men were found in separate neighbourhoods in east Baghdad. Another two bodies were found in the Tigris river in central Baghdad. In the city of Kut, 160 kilometres southeast of Baghdad, another body was found, said a morgue official. (First Posted @ 14:05 PST Updated @ 18:34 PST)
Anti-Taliban operation in southern Afghanistan "successfully completed": NATO KABUL, Afghanistan, Sep 17 (AP) A top NATO general said Sunday that the alliance's anti-Taliban offensive in southern Afghanistan has been ``successfully completed.'' Lt. Gen. David Richard, the head of the 20,000 NATO-led force, called the two week-long operation in southern Afghanistan a ``significant success.'' The insurgents were forced to abandon their positions and reconstruction and development efforts would soon begin in three southern areas, he said. (Posted @ 17:52 PST)
Sri Lankan navy kills 15 Tamil rebels in gunbattle COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Sep 17 (AP) The Sri Lankan navy, backed by warplanes, sank a ship allegedly carrying weapons for Tamil Tiger rebels and killed up to 15 insurgents off the east coast on Sunday, the military said. The navy said there were no military casualties. Rebel officials could not immediately be reached for comment. (Posted @ 17:50 PST)
Suicide bomber injures four in attack on U.S. convoy near Kabul KABUL, Afghanistan, Sep 17 (AP) A suicide bomber blew himself up next to a U.S. military convoy on the outskirts of Kabul, injuring two American soldiers and two civilians, police said. There was no immediate comment from the U.S. military command. (Posted @ 17:08 PST)
Pope says he's “deeply sorry” CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, Sep 17 (AP) Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday he was ``deeply sorry'' about the reaction sparked by his speech about Islam and holy war and said the text did not reflect his personal opinion. ``These (words) were in fact a quotation from a Medieval text which do not in any way express my personal thought,'' Benedict told pilgrims at his summer palace outside Rome. He said, ``at this time I wish also to add that I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims.'' (Posted @ 17:04 PST)
Pakistani killed in blast near Canadian convoy in Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept 17 (AFP) A suicide bomber exploded a bomb-filled car near a convoy of Canadian troops in southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar city Sunday, killing a Pakistani national and wounding 11 other people. Among the wounded were three soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, the alliance said. The interior ministry in Kabul confirmed that the blast killed a Pakistani civilian worker and a second Pakistani was hurt. Seven Afghans were wounded, the ministry said. Police at the scene said two of locals were in a critical condition. A man who claimed to speak for the Taliban in a phone call said that the movement had carried out the bombing. A spokeswoman with the Canadian military in the city confirmed that the blast had struck a Canadian convoy. (First Posted @ 10:35 PST Updated @ 16:48 PST)
Pakistan arrests 25 Indian fishermen KARACHI, Sept 17 (AFP) Authorities in Pakistan arrested 25 Indian fishermen and seized their four boats Saturday night for poaching in Pakistani territorial waters in the Arabian sea, a Maritime Security Agency spokesman said Sunday. The fishermen were handed over to police, he said, adding that the latest arrests brought the number of Indian fishermen detained in Pakistan this year to 260. (Posted @ 16:46 PST)
Sri Lankan athlete, two Pakistani boxers test positive COLOMBO, Sept 17 (AFP) A Sri Lankan athlete and two Pakistani boxers have reportedly tested positive for banned substances at a regional meet, sports officials said Sunday. Sprinter Jani Chaturangani de Silva and pugilists Nauman Karim and Dur Mahmud may be stripped of gold medals won at the South Asian Games here last month and also risk facing bans if the 'B' samples are confirmed positive. (Posted @ 16:42 PST)
18 Pakistanis die in shrine festival KARACHI, Sept 17 (Reuters) Eighteen Pakistan pilgrims died during a three-day festival at the shrine of sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalender in Sehwan Sharif, some 350 km from the port city of Karachi, a police official said on Sunday. Twelve people, mostly old men and women died of heat, while six young devotees drowned while swimming in a river near the shrine, police said. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
4 dead, 38 injured in Czech bus accident in Austria VIENNA, Austria, Sept 17 (AP) A Czech bus veered off a road in northern Austria near the Czech border early Sunday, killing 4 people and injuring 38, police said. The bus was on its way to the Czech Republic from Croatia.(Posted @ 14:25 PST)
Afghan president travels to United States KABUL, Sept 17 (AFP) President Hamid Karzai travelled to the United States Sunday to attend the UN General Assembly and then visit Canada and the United States, both key supporters of post-Taliban Afghanistan.(Posted @ 14:20 PST)
Polls open in Swedish election STOCKHOLM, Sept 17 (AFP) Polling stations opened in Sweden's legislative elections at 8:00 am (0600 GMT) on Sunday, with voter surveys suggesting the centre-right opposition could topple Prime Minister Goeran Persson's government. Persson has headed a minority Social Democratic government for 10 years.(Posted @ 14:18 PST)
Former Bangladesh dictator cleared on corruption charges DHAKA, Sept 17 (AFP) - A court in the Bangladesh capital Sunday cleared former military dictator (between 1982 and 1990) Hussain Muhammad Ershad of corruption charges that have been pending for 15 years, a public prosecutor said. Media reports said the verdict may pave the way for an alliance between Ershad's Jatiya Party, the second largest opposition group, and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's four-party coalition government ahead of national polls in January.(Posted @ 14:10 PST)
World Cup field hockey results MONCHENGLADBACH, Germany, Sept 17 (AFP) - Men's World Cup field hockey tournament results Sunday: (Playoff for 11th to 12th place) South Africa 0, India 1 (R.Singh 54)(Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Abbas freezes unity govt talks, blames Hamas -aide RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has frozen talks on forming a unity government after Hamas said it would not accept existing peace deals with Israel, an aide said on Sunday. "Abu Mazen has frozen efforts to form the national unity government," Nabil Amr, a media adviser to Abbas said in a statement, using the president's nickname.(Posted @ 10:50 PST)
Pakistani nuclear scientist Dr A.Q.Khan leaves hospital after cancer surgery KARACHI, Pakistan, Sept 17 (AP) Dr A.Q. Khan, father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb, was discharged Sunday from the hospital after undergoing surgery last week for prostate cancer at the Aga Khan hospital in Karachi. Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate had said late Saturday that Dr Khan would stay in Karachi for ``a few weeks for postoperative care under the supervision of the team of doctors who operated upon him.''(Posted @ 10:48 PST)
Eight militants killed in occupied Kashmir: police SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Sept 17 (AFP) - Eight suspected militants were shot dead by troops after gun battles across occupied Kashmir during the last 48 hours, police said Sunday. Six were killed in three separate gunbattles late Saturday in Pulwama district where two policemen were also injured in one of the gun battles. In other fighting, troops killed two militants Saturday in Kupwara district.(Posted @ 10:40 PST)
British NATO commander says campaign against Taliban in Afghanistan could take 3 to 5 years LONDON, Sept 17 (AP) The commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan said Saturday that he expects the military campaign against the Taliban to last another three to five years. Lt. Gen. David Richards of Britain, who took command of the 8,000-strong NATO force last month, told Channel 4 News that tackling the opium trade in Afghanistan was likely to take many years. But, he said, ``if we do that cleverly, then in terms of the insurgency I reckon within between about three to five years this campaign could ... people might say 'well, we've just about won.''' He said fighting in the turbulent southern province of Helmand had been ``very intense'' until about two weeks ago but that the Taliban had lost many fighters.(Posted @ 10:25 PST)
$500 million in private money for 2008 U.S. presidential election ? WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (AP) _ Strategists from both the Republican and Democratic parties estimate the next presidential election in 2008 could cost each nominee $500 million (euro395 million) _ far more than the U.S. program that grants campaign funds can afford.(Posted @ 10:12 PST)
Palestinian rocket lands in Israeli town, injures one JERUSALEM, Sept 17 (AP) _ Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired rockets toward Israel Sunday, injuring one person in the southern town of Sderot, Israeli officials said.(Posted @ 10:12 PST)
Prisoners riot in Thailand's restive south BANGKOK, Sept 17 (AP) _ About 100 inmates rioted Sunday at Yala provincial prison in Thailand's restive south, burning down offices and destroying living quarters, a provincial governor said. It was brought under control within two hours after authorities agreed to transfer three officials and allow Muslim inmates to cook their own meals during Ramadan. No one was hurt in the rioting, he said.(Posted @ 10:10 PST)
Second boatload of Asian immigrants heads for Canary Islands PUERTO DE LOS CRISTIANOS, Spain, Sept 17 (AFP) - A second boatload of some 200 clandestine immigrants from Asia has been spotted on its way to the Canary Islands, this time from Guinea Bissau, police said here Saturday. "It's carrying around 200 Asians and probably left from Bissau," Agustin Brito Machin, secretary general of the Spanish police confederation, said adding: "It is just over a day's sailing time from the Canary Islands." A first unflagged boat carrying 165 illegal Asian immigrants, mostly from Pakistan and Sri Lanka, was intercepted Thursday south of Tenerife and towed to Santa Cruz. Its passengers, who had spent five days without food or water, are in a port depot awaiting repatriation. Spain's interior ministry says more than 53,000 immigrants who tried unsuccessfully to reach the islands have been repatriated to Guinea Bissau, India, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan and Senegal following a slew of bilateral accords.(Posted @ 10:55 PST)
Iran gets strong backing from developing-world leaders in nuclear row HAVANA, Sept 17 (AFP) - Iran drew strong backing in the tense dispute over its nuclear program Saturday when the 118-state NAM Summit leaders adopted a statement in which they "reaffirmed the basic and inalienable right of all states to develop research, production and use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes." They also said "the only way to resolve the issue is to resume negotiations without any preconditions." "They recognized the need for a comprehensive multilaterally negotiated instrument, prohibiting attacks, or threat of attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful uses of nuclear energy." They noted that the IAEA found that all nuclear material declared by Iran had been accounted for, and urged Iran to continue cooperating fully with the IAEA.(Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Iran, Mideast, Darfur to top General Assembly agenda UNITED NATIONS, Sept 17 (AFP) - World leaders kick off their annual UN General Assembly debate here Tuesday, seeking answers to vexing issues ranging from the nuclear standoff with Iran to the Darfur tragedy and the stalled Middle East peace process. Other pressing questions during the two-week debate and in parallel bilateral sessions will be worsening security in Afghanistan and Iraq, the selection of a new UN secretary general, a global counter-terrorism strategy and prospects for elections in Ivory Coast. Also on Tuesday, US president George W. Bush addresses the 192-member body, followed a few hours later by his nemesis, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.(Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Thai blasts kill four, wound dozens HAT YAI, Thailand, Sept 17 (AFP) - A string of five bombs ripped through Saturday night crowds in bars and cafes in Hat Yai, the main tourist hub, killing four people and wounding dozens in troubled southern Thailand. A Canadian and a Chinese tourist were among the latest dead. Police said 62 people were hurt, 11 of them foreigners. At least one explosive device was planted inside a motorcycle and detonated with a mobile phone, local press quoted police as saying.(Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Atlantis prepares to undock from International Space Station HOUSTON, Texas, Sept 17 (AFP) - The US space shuttle Atlantis prepared to undock from the International Space Station early Sunday after astronauts outfitted it with new solar panels designed to boost the station's power generating capacity. The spacecraft is scheduled to leave the station at 8:50 am (1250 GMT) as it begins its journey back home that will end with the shuttle's expected landing at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 5:57 am (0957 GMT) Wednesday.(Posted @ 09:25 PST)
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