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| September 24, 2006 | Sunday | Sha'aban 30, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan's president undergoes medical testing in Texas PARIS, Texas, Sept 24 (AP) _ Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf underwent routine testing with his doctor during an unannounced visit to this rural East Texas town. Musharraf, whose surprise appearance Saturday came a day after visiting President George W. Bush in Washington, was ``found to be in excellent health,'' according to a statement from Paris Regional Medical Center. Pakistan Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani told The Associated Press on Saturday that Musharraf, 63, visited a friend in Texas who is a cardiologist and suggested he be examined.``He went through that,'' Durrani said. ``All systems are go. Everything is fine. He is as fit as a horse.'' After leaving the hospital, Musharraf attended a private luncheon in the small town about 105 miles northeast of Dallas, The Paris News reported in Saturday's online edition. In a brief interview with the newspaper, Musharraf said his meeting with Bush was ``extremely positive.'' The Department of Public Safety troopers began closing some roads more than two hours before Musharraf's arrival Saturday. One of the main highways and several other roads were closed, managing editor Phil Hamilton said. (Posted @ 10:20 PST)
President Musharraf absolutely well: Durrani Houston, Sept 24 (PPI) Federal Information Minister, Mohammad Ali Durrani confirming President Musharraf's medical check up told that he was absolutely well and dismissed rumors about heart surgery. Talking to newsmen here on Sunday Morning, Mohammad Ali Durrani told that some foreign news channels have reported that President Musharraf will undergo a heart surgery in United States, which is totally incorrect. The president was absolutely well and he will attend all scheduled programmes including launching of his biography, he added. (Posted @ 23:00 PST)
Major electricity breakdown hits Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Sept 24, (AFP) - Supply of electricity was disrupted across Pakistan Sunday after a technical fault developed in the power distribution network, officials said. All power stations were shut down around 1:45 pm after a major fault developed in the electricity distribution system, said Salah-ud Din, general manager of the national power control centre. "We are in the process of restoration at the moment and cannot say what caused the breakdown," he said. It was the worst breakdown in five years. He said some generators at Tarbela and Mangla dams had been reactivated, thermal power plants in Punjab province had also been restarted and electricity supply had been restored to several cities. "It will take a few hours to restore complete supply of electricity as the load had to be carefully distributed to power plants and this process takes some time," he said. "According to reports we have received a large part of the country was affected due to power breakdown," he said. (First Posted @ 18:20 PST Updated @ 20:04 PST)
Electricity supply to be restored soon: Shaukat Aziz Islamabad, Sept 24 (PPI) The Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said electricity supply has been restored in some parts of the country and it will be restored in the remaining areas within a couple of hours. Talking to newsmen here on Sunday, he said due to power surge during the maintenance of 500 Kv transmission line from Ghazi Barotha to Rewat and Ghatti, there was power break down in some parts of the country, adding that power would be restored in these areas soon. He said the WAPDA authorities are making hectic efforts to restore the power supply throughout the country as soon as possible. He said he talked to the WAPDA Chairman and asked him to conduct an inquiry in this regard. (Posted @ 23:14 PST)
Power transmission from Tarbela, Ghazi Barotha restored: WAPDA ISLAMABAD, Sep 24 (PPI) The WPDA spokesman has said that power transmission from Tarbela and Ghazi Barotha has been restored, however several cities and districts is still facing power outage following the major power breakdown struck across Pakistan Sunday due to a fault in the national electricity transmission system. Sources in the ministry said that in view of the power breakdown, the Minister for Water and Power, Liaquat Ali Jatoi who was on way to Sri Lanka, has cancelled his official visit to inquire into the matter. The Minister has directed concerned WAPDA officials to submit a report within 48 hours. (Posted @ 23:52 PST)
Iran have weeks to agree on talks-France PARIS, Sept 24 (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana has weeks to reach a deal with Iran on an agenda for talks about Tehran's nuclear programme, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said on Sunday. (Posted @ 23:34 PST)
Somalia's militiamen seize strategic seaport KISMAYO, Somalia, September 24, (AP) _ Hundreds of militiamen in heavily armed trucks took over the town of Kismayo, one of the last seaports outside their control in Somalia, witnesses said Sunday. (Posted @ 23:26 PST)
Two U.S. Marines killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, Iraq, September 24, (AP) _ Two U.S. Marines were killed Sunday in fighting in Anbar province, the U.S. command said. (Posted @ 23:18 PST)
Cricket: Inzamam upbeat on ICC hearing, leaves for London KARACHI, September 24 (PPI): Inzamamul Haq left Karachi for London Sunday to appear in the International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing regarding ball-tampering and forfeiture of test at the Oval last month. Inzamam is due to appear before an ICC code of conduct hearing in London on September 27 and 28 in which he faces charges of ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute. (Posted @ 21:36 PST)
Saddam Hussein's defense team to boycott his genocide trial `indefinitely,' chief lawyer says AMMAN, Jordan, September 24, (AP) _ Saddam Hussein's defense team will boycott his genocide trial indefinitely, citing violations by the Iraqi court trying him, his chief lawyer said Sunday. (Posted @ 21:24 PST)
Boat with illegal migrants overturns off Lampedusa; fishermen rescue 21; two die ROME, September 24, (AP) _ A boat crammed with people illegally trying to enter Italy overturned Sunday in waters off the tiny Sicilian island of Lampedusa, leaving two people dead while 21 others were rescued, Italian police and port officials said. The Italian naval ship Libra found the bodies of two people who had been reported missing, a woman and a child, Palermo port officials said. A helicopter had joined Italian vessels in the search in the waters some 55 nautical miles south of Lampedusa, said border police officials. Fishermen saved 21 passengers, the police said. (Posted @ 20:48 PST)
Insurgent leader captured northeast of Baghdad BAGHDAD, Iraq, September 24, (AP) _ Iraqi security forces on Sunday arrested a leader of the al-Ashreen Brigades, a group responsible for attacks and kidnappings, the prime minister's office said. The leader along with seven aides were captured in Kharnabat, a region just north of Baqouba, which is 60 kilometers northeast of Baghdad. The statement did not give the name of the captured leader and the prime minister's office could not be immediately reached. (Posted @ 20:30 PST)
Six more kashmiris martyred SRINAGAR, September 24 (PPI) In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops, in their fresh acts of state-terrorism, martyred six more Kashmiri youth, at different places, reports Kashmir Media Service. Of those martyred, four youth were shot dead in a violent military operation in Uri area of Baramulla district. The operation was still going on, till last reports came in. Two more youth were killed in a crackdown in Bandipora area. Unidentified gunmen killed an 18-year-old girl at Sunderia in Udhampur and another person in Kangan area. (Posted @ 19:02 PST)
Toppled prime minister may have removed assets from Thailand, official says BANGKOK, Thailand, September 24, (AP) _ Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may have whisked some of his assets out of the country aboard two aircraft days before military coup ousted him, airline officials say Sunday. An official from Thai Airways International, who demanded anonymity because company policy did not allow him to speak to the press, said he wanted the new ruling military council to investigate the incidents. (Posted @ 18:48 PST)
Hamas prime minister says he is serious about making coalition talks with Abbas succeed GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip, September 24, (AP) _ Hamas is serious about coalition talks with President Mahmoud Abbas and wants them to succeed, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said Sunday. Haniyeh released a statement on the talks after Abbas warned his efforts to set up a Palestinian government acceptable to the West were ``back to zero.'' The key dispute is over whether a coalition of Hamas and Abbas' Fatah movement would recognize Israel. (Posted @ 16:12 PST)
Five killed, 20 injured in scattered violence around Iraq BAGHDAD, Iraq, September 24, (AP) _ Five people were killed and 20 injured Sunday in scattered violence around Iraq, including a mortar attack on the Health Ministry and a car bombing targeting a police patrol in Baghdad. The Health Ministry in northern Baghdad was hit by two mortar shells at 8:40 a.m., which slammed into the building and its garden, seriously injuring three civilians, police Lt. Ahmed Mohammed Ali said. In eastern Baghdad a car bomb targeting a police patrol killed two people and wounded 13. The bomb was detonated in a parked car as the patrol went by at 10:15 a.m. One policeman was among the dead, while five were injured, police Lt. Bilal Ali said. (Posted @ 14:08 PST)
Cricket-Bangladesh axe manager before Champions Trophy DHAKA, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Bangladesh have sacked their manager Harunur Rashid just 10 days after his appointment, Bangladesh Cricket Board officials said on Sunday. Rashid, a former air force officer, was chosen to manage the side for next month's Champions Trophy in India but was fired on Saturday following strong media criticism, BCB joint-secretary Reazuddin Al Mamun said. Former captain Khaled Mahmud, who retired from international cricket last February, will replace Rashid as manager for the Champions Trophy," Mamun said. (Posted @ 11:35 PST)
Nepal steps up search for missing helicopter KATHMANDU, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Rescue teams in Nepal stepped up their search for a helicopter chartered by WWF with seven foreigners and 17 Nepalese on board after it went missing Saturday during bad weather, officials said Sunday. Among those aboard were a senior U.S. aid official, a Finnish diplomat and a Nepalese minister. Besides five helicopters, search is being conducted by about 90 army and police rescuers as well as villagers, officials said. (Posted @ 11:30 PST)
Experimental Chinese satellite returns to earth BEIJING, Sept 24 (AP) _ A Chinese satellite designed to test what happens to the germination and sprouting of plants at conditions of zero gravity returned to earth Sunday, and its capsule was recovered intact, state media reported. (Posted @ 11:25 PST)
Tennis-India's Paes to partner Pakistan's Qureshi in Mumbai Open MUMBAI, Sept 24 (Reuters) - India's Leander Paes will pair up with Aisam Qureshi of Pakistan in the men's doubles at the Mumbai Open beginning on Monday. (Posted @ 10:55 PST)
NATO says it killed 23 suspected insurgents in southern Afghanistan KABUL, Sept 24 (AP) _ NATO aircraft killed 23 suspected insurgents in southern Afghanistan over the last several days, the military alliance said Sunday. A NATO helicopter attacked 20 insurgents who shot at a NATO patrol in Naw Zad district of Helmand province on Friday, killing 15 suspected insurgents, the alliance said. An attack helicopter fired on another group of insurgents who shot at a support helicopter on Thursday, killing eight of the militants in the nearby Sangin district, the statement said. There were no NATO casualties in the attacks. (Posted @ 10:50 PST)
Four militants killed in gunbattle in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR,occupied Kashmir, Sept 24 (AP) _ Four suspected militants were killed in a gunbattle with army soldiers in occupied Kashmir early Sunday, an army spokesman said. During a search operation just after dawn Sunday near Trikanjan, a hilly forested area north of Srinagar, a fierce gunbattle took place in which four militants were killed, he said. In the last 17 years, the insurgency against Indian occupation has killed more than 68,000 people by official count. (Posted @ 10:50 PST)
Eight killed in road accidents near Sheikhupura SHEIKHUPURA, Sept 24 (APP): Eight persons including four members of a family were killed while six others injured in separate road accidents on the outskirts of the city on Saturday. At Joyianwala Morr, four members of a family were killed when their car (Karachi-8033) collided with an oil tanker. The three injured were taken to hospital. In the second road mishap near Kala Shah Kaku, a wagon (LKS-6622) collided with a pickup, killing two and injuring two others. (Posted @ 10:45 PST)
Saudi govt disassociates itself from French report on bin Laden WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (AFP) - The Saudi government late Saturday pulled the rug from under a French newspaper report about the alleged death of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, saying in a statement that it "has no evidence to support" the contention. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has no evidence to support recent media reports that Osama bin Laden is dead," the Saudi Embassy here said in a statement. "Information that has been reported otherwise is purely speculative and cannot be independently verified." (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Iranian nuclear chief in Moscow for Bushehr reactor talks MOSCOW, Sept 24 (AFP) - The head of Iran's atomic energy agency Gholamreza Aghazadeh will visit Moscow on Monday for talks with his Russian counterpart on Iran's first nuclear reactor, officials said. The Russia-built Bushehr plant, a project worth almost one billion dollars,is set to start generating energy in November 2007, said Sergei Novikov, a spokesman for Russia's atomic energy agency Rosatom. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
US apologizes after Venezuelan FM detained at airport NEW YORK, Sept 24 (AFP) - Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said he was temporarily detained, threatened and stripped of his travel documents Saturday at a New York airport, prompting an apology from the US government. "I was detained in a room ... for an an hour and 40 minutes" at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Maduro told CNN television. "Then they handed me to a delegation headed by our UN ambassador." "I denounce before the world the US government. I ask UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that he speak about this case, that investigations be opened." "Now I have no documents and cannot travel," he said. (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
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