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| September 27, 2006 | Wednesday | Ramazan 3, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
President Musharraf appears on satirical TV show to promote memoir NEW YORK, Sep 27 (AP) President Musharraf appeared in comedian Jon Stewart’s ``The Daily Show'' Tuesday night to promote his memoir “In the Line of Fire”. When Stewart asked ``where's Osama bin Laden?'', Musharraf replied: ``I don't know…you know where he is? You lead on, we'll follow you.'' On balancing the wishes of the U.S. and Pakistan, Musharraf told Stewart: ``I've had to learn the art of tightrope-walking many times, and I think I've become quite an expert of that.'' The president was then asked if he had omitted any mention of the war in Iraq in his memoir because it had ``gone so well.'' Musharraf laughed, but said: ``It has led certainly to more extremism and terrorism around the world.'' To conclude the interview, Stewart put Musharraf on the ``Seat of Heat,'' a new feature for the program in which red lights flash around the studio and the guest is asked a final question. ``George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden--be truthful--who would win a popular vote in Pakistan?'' asked Stewart. ``I think they'll both lose miserably,'' replied Musharraf. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Karzai ‘concerned more about himself’ than Afghanistan: Musharraf MONTREAL, Sept 27 (AFP) President Pervez Musharraf accused President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday of putting himself before his country. "We should work together, but I'm afraid he is not being honest about everything," Musharraf told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "He is concerned more about himself than about Afghanistan.” Musharraf also took issue with criticism from Karzai and NATO generals who said that Pakistan was not doing enough to prevent Taliban fighters filtering into Afghanistan from Pakistan. "We were the one who led the defeat of communism, we are now in the front ranks against fighting terrorism, we are the only one which have inducted 80,000 troops, suffered over 500 casualties…we are the only one who have caught 680 Al-Qaeda people and handed them over…we are the one who broke the back of Al-Qaeda in the mountains of Pakistan, they are on the run now, we've got their sanctuaries where they were in hundreds and now there are in single digit," he said. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Taliban attacks triple in eastern Afghanistan since Pakistan peace deal, US official says KABUL, Sept 27 (AP) _ U.S. troops on Afghanistan's eastern border have seen a threefold increase in attacks since the recent truce between Pakistani troops and the tribesmen that was supposed to have stopped militants making cross-border raids, a U.S. military official said Wednesday. The agreement, which followed a June 25 cease-fire, has also contributed to the Taliban's overall resurgence as ethnic Pashtun rebels are no longer fighting Pakistani troops and are using the North Waziristan border area as a command-and-control hub for launching attacks in Afghanistan, said the official, who was interviewed on a U.S. military base in Kabul and spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.(Posted @ 20:50 PST)
OIC urges pope to 'retract' 'inappropriate' remarks about Islam UNITED NATIONS, Sept 27 (AFP) - Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have called on Pope Benedict XVI "to retract or redress" his "inappropriate" comments equating Islam with violence, according to a communique seen here Wednesday. Meeting late Monday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, they "expressed their profound regrets over the terms” used by the Pope and “believe that it is befitting to the Vatican to retract or redress the said statement, in demonstration of the correct spirit of Christianity in dealing with Islamic issues." The communique warned that the pontiff's "inappropriate remarks about Islam" "might engender a situation of tension between the Muslim world and the Vatican, to the detriment of the real interests of the two parties."(Posted @ 20:30 PST)
Three Italian soldiers, interpreter wounded in Afghanistan blast HERAT, Afghanistan, Sept 27 (AFP) - An Italian convoy returning from a school building project in western Afghanistan was struck by a blast near the city of Herat on Wednesday, leaving three soldiers and an interpreter wounded, the force said.(Posted @ 19:25 PST)
Inzamam discipline hearing starts LONDON, Sept 27 (Online): Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq's disciplinary hearing started Wednesday at The Oval in south London, reports BBC. Ranjan Madugalle is chairing the two-day hearing with a verdict expected on Friday.(Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Pakistan allows more goods to be imported from India ISLAMABAD, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Pakistan decided on Wednesday to allow imports of machinery, surgical items, chemicals and pharmaceuticals from India. The Economic Coordination Committee, Pakistan's top decision-making body on economic issues, allowed import of more than 302 "tariff lines" from India.Pakistan earlier had put 1,527 tariff lines on the list, covering a total of just under 800 products, Ashfaque Hasan Khan, adviser to the prime minister, told reporters after the meeting. The new additions to the list of permissible items will also include raw materials and metals, diesel locomotives, and textile machinery. "The taxes and duties applicable on these items will be the same as those applicable on imports from other countries," he said.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)
India nominates former captain Vengsarkar as chief selector MUMBAI, Sept 27 (AP) _ Indian cricket board Wednesday named former captain Dilip Vengsarkar as its chief selector for the next two years.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Afghan troops kill 25 suspected insurgents; suicide bomber targets NATO convoy KANDAHAR, Sept 27 (AP) _ Afghan security forces killed 25 suspected insurgents during a clash in Helmand province's Garmser district Wednesday, while a suicide bombing targeting a NATO convoy wounded one civilian, officials said. Insurgents attacked an Afghan police checkpoint and in the ensuing clash, ``at least 25 insurgents'' were killed, NATO said. The suicide attack in Kandahar province wounded a civilian and damaged a military vehicle.(Posted @ 18:50 PST)
Illegal migrants say Greek authorities threw them into sea< ANKARA, Turkey, Sept 27 (AP) _ Survivors among a group of 40 illegal migrants from the Middle East and North Africa rescued at sea have accused Greek authorities of throwing them overboard off the Turkish coast, Turkey's Coast Guard said Wednesday. Six of the migrants drowned and three others were missing. They said in a statement they boarded a boat for Greece. ``When they landed, they saw Greeks in military uniforms who put them on a boat and threw them into the sea off the (Turkish)coast.'' The migrants' account could not be independently verified.(Posted @ 18:45 PST)
Four die in occupied Kashmir shootings, 14 hurt in grenade attack SRINAGAR, Sept 27 (AFP) - Suspected militants shot dead a policeman and injured 14 other people in two separate attacks in Srinagar Wednesday, while two militants and a soldier died in gun battles, police said. The policeman was shot dead soon after mid-day prayers. Two hours later, a dozen policemen and two civilians were hurt in a grenade attack in another busy quarter of Srinagar. Three policemen and a civilian were in critical condition, a police spokesman said. In other incidents, a soldier and two militants died in separate gun battles late Tuesday in northern parts of occupied Kashmir, police said.(Posted @ 18:20 PST)
President Musharraf stresses need to fight Taliban NEW YORK, Sept 27 (APP): Underscoring Pakistan's lead role in the fight against terrorism, President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday said the focus had now been shifted from al-Qaeda to Taliban who were mainly based in Afghanistan and operating under the command of their leader Mullah Omer. "We need to fight Taliban and Talibanization. Taliban are trying to spread their obscurantist views; they are militants and they are aggressive and we need to stop them," he said while speaking at the Cornell University.(Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Pakistan won't allow its sovereignty violated in hunt for Osama: Musharraf NEW YORK, Sept 27 (APP) - Pakistan does not want its sovereignty violated by letting U.S. troops hunt for Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda associates on the Pakistani side of the border with Afghanistan, President Pervez Musharraf said in a CNN interview Tuesday. Asked if the Pakistan government would allow U.S. troops to capture the al-Qaeda leader, he said: "We should not be discussing how and who is to deliver the blow, but whenever we locate him, we have to deal with him. And our decision is that we operate on our side of the border and U.S. forces and allies operate on the other side." In the wide-ranging interview, Musharraf also told CNN's "Situation Room" that the Iraq war has not made the world safer from terror, saying he stands by statements on this subject he made in his book, 'In the Line of Fire'. Musharraf reacted sharply when asked why the United States could operate in Afghanistan but not Pakistan. "Please don't compare Pakistan with Afghanistan," he said. Musharraf was also critical of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who he said is "turning a blind eye like an ostrich" to the situational realities in his country and pointing the finger at Pakistan.(Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Indian embassy allows Khokrapar-Munabao train passengers to go India by road ISLAMABAD, Sep 27 (APP): Indian High Commission has allowed the passengers of Khokrapar-Munabao train to travel by road to India via Wagah-Attari border without changing their visa. It said the step is because travellers to India are facing inconvenience to get visas modified on account of the temporary suspension of Khokrapar-Munabao train service. In the event of resumption of train services, they can complete their return journey by the Khokrapar-Munabao train, the High Commission further said. It clarified that passengers do not need to visit the High Commission of India to get any route change endorsed in their passports.(Posted @ 17:00 PST)
Russia rejects move to give Putin third term MOSCOW, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Russia's top election authority on Wednesday threw out a call for a people's poll that would clear the way for President Vladimir Putin to stay on in power, making it more likely he will step down as he plans in 2008. North Ossetia region formally sought a referendum to get the two-term rule scrapped. Rejecting the move, Russia's election chief Alexander Veshnyakov said: "None of the members of the Central Election Commission, none of the experts, have any doubts that the question in its present form cannot be used for a referendum."(Posted @ 16:45 PST)
Eight killed in U.S. raid; six others killed in scattered violence around Iraq BAGHDAD, Sept 27 (AP) _ Four terrorist suspects and four civilians were killed by American soldiers and airstrikes during a Wednesday morning raid in Baqouba, while six other people died in scattered violence around Iraq. In Baqouba, U.S. forces came under heavy fire from their target building. The military called air support. Four suspected terrorists and four women civilians had been killed. Meanwhile, nine bodies were pulled out of the Tigris river. In Baghdad, a police detective was killed when a bomb hidden in his car detonated. The blast also wounded one passer by. In Dora district, an official of the power station and his friend were shot dead while driving through the area, while in downtown neighborhood of Karrada one civilian was killed and three traffic policemen were injured when a roadside bomb targeting a patrol exploded. Shortly later, another civilian was killed and two more wounded when a second bomb exploded about nearby, police said. In Karma, an Iraqi soldier on foot patrol was gunned down by a sniper, and in Kirkuk two Iraqi soldiers were killed and three wounded when unidentified people opened fire on them in their car late Tuesday night, officials said.(Posted @ 16:20 PST)
Hungary PM apologises for lying to the public BUDAPEST, Sept 27 (AFP) - Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany on Wednesday apologised to the public for having lied about the dire state of the economy, but vowed to press on with unpopular austerity measures.(Posted @ 15:55 PST)
Israeli military court orders release of Hamas deputy PM RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept 27 (AFP) - An Israeli military court judge on Wednesday ordered the release of Palestinian deputy prime minister Nasseredine al-Shaer, who was detained as part of a crackdown on the ruling Hamas movement, his attorney said. The release was ordered because of "lack of evidence". Shaer was detained on August 19.(Posted @ 15:40 PST)
Four shot dead in Thailand's Muslim south YALA, Thailand, Sept 27 (AFP) - Suspected militants on Wednesday shot dead four Buddhists in two separate attacks in Thailand's mainly Muslim south, where an insurgency has raged for more than two years, police said. In one attack at midday, two teenagers shot and killed three Buddhists in Yala. Earlier, a militant shot dead a Buddhist man in Pattani province while he was riding a bus. police said.(Posted @ 15:40 PST)
Australian troops ambushed in Iraqi province CANBERRA, Australia, Sept 27 (AP) Australian troops were ambushed and fought an intense gun battle Tuesday in the southern city of Samawah in Muthanna province, Australia's defence chief said Wednesday. No Australians were hurt but the assailants sustained casualties(Posted @ 15:10 PST)
India to double troops along Bhutan border GUWAHATI, India, Sept 27 (AFP) India will double troop levels to more than 10,000 along its northeastern border with Bhutan to eliminate camps used by regional insurgents and Maoist rebels from Nepal, an official said Wednesday. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Tamil Tiger leader agrees to talks COLOMBO, Sept 27 (AFP) Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran told the Sri Lankan government that he is committed to resuming talks on ending decades of ethnic bloodshed, a government minister said Wednesday. Policy Planning Minister Keheliya Rambukwella also told reporters that Prabhakaran had given the assurances sought by President Mahinda Rajapakse. (Posted @ 13:52 PST)
Kashmiris protest planned execution of Mohammad Afzal SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Sept 27 (AP) Indian police on Wednesday fired tear gas at dozens of people demonstrating against the upcoming execution of Mohammed Afzal, a Kashmiri man convicted of plotting the 2001 terror attack on India's Parliament. ``This is very unfortunate. I expect the Indian president to seriously reconsider the death penalty for Afzal,'' said Yasin Malik, the head of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Malik and 10 other members of his party were later detained by police after participating in the protest march that shut down shops and disrupted traffic in parts of Srinagar. (Posted @ 13:50 PST)
Israel committed "war crime" in Gaza: Israeli rights group JERUSALEM, Sept 27 (Reuters) Israel's bombing of a power plant in the Gaza Strip on June 28 this year was disproportionate and constituted a war crime under international law, an Israeli human rights group said on Wednesday. "Even if one adopts the doubtful claim that the attack provided some definite military advantage, it was disproportionate and Israel had other, less harmful alternatives," rights group B'Tselem said in a report entitled "Act of Vengeance". B'Tselem called on the Israeli government to open a criminal investigation into the bombing and called on the government to pay to rebuild the $150 million plant. (Posted @ 12:55 PST)
British and Iraqi troops begin new operation in Basra BAGHDAD, Sept 27 (AP) British and Iraqi troops launched ``Operation Sinbad'' in Basra early Wednesday morning, involving some 2,300 Iraqi army troops and 1,000 British soldiers, a British forces spokesman said. (Posted @ 12:05 PST)
Mortar bombs kill eight in Baquba BAQUBA, Iraq, Sept 27 (Reuters) A mortar attack killed eight people, including seven members of a family and wounded two others in the Iraqi town of Baquba early Wednesday, police said. (Posted @ 10:45 PST)
Israeli shells kill Palestinian woman in Gaza GAZA CITY, Sept 27 (AFP) A Palestinian woman was killed overnight and thirteen other people, including several children, injured when a shell fired by an Israeli tank slammed into a house in the southern Gaza Strip’s Rafah area, hospital sources said Wednesday. Israeli tanks completely destroyed another building nearby, but there were no injuries. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 81.69 points: KARACHI, Sept 27: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10387.12, up 81.69 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Sept 27: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.6 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
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