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| September 29, 2006 | Friday | Ramazan 5, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan: Earthquake reconstruction may take 8 years, says Asia Development Bank boss ISLAMABAD, Sept 29 (AP) _ Reconstruction of 600,000 homes plus many other buildings damaged by last year's earthquake could take eight years, longer than the government predicts, the country chief of the Asian Development Bank said Friday. Peter Fedon said after a visit Friday to areas ravaged by the Oct. 8, 2005, earthquake that the towering mountains and inclement weather conditions were major complications for reconstruction efforts.``The Pakistan army says it will take three to five years, but realistically it will take at least eight years given the terrain and the weather conditions,'' Fedon told The Associated Press.``For us, we see it as a long term effort.'' The earthquake killed more than 80,000 people, injured many more and left more than three million people homeless. (Posted @ 19:28 PST)
Kashmiri militants warn India over execution SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Sept 29 (Agencies) - Militants warned Friday of "dire consequences" if India executes a Kashmiri Muslim Mohammad Afzal convicted over a 2001 attack on parliament, as a strike paralysed Srinagar on the third day of protests. "We warn of dire consequences if the death sentence is carried out," said Sadaqat Hussain, spokesman for the United Jihad Council. Shops, businesses and schools remained closed and scores of rallies were held. The one-day strike, which followed two days of street demonstrations and running battles with police, was called by the Hurriyat Conference and was backed among others by the United Jihad Council. Hurriyet leader Syed Ali Shah Jilani and another leader Shabbir Shah were placed under house arrest on Friday. Another leading separatist leader Yasin Malik said he would travel to New Delhi to take up the matter of Afzal's death sentence with lawyers and human rights activists. "A massive agitation to save Afzal will continue to press for repeal of the death sentence," he said. Afzal can seek clemency from India's president, but his family said he opposes such a move. They allege that Afzal was not given a fair trial. (Posted @ 16:06 PST)
Bush insists progress being made in Afghanistan WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush insisted on Friday allied forces were making headway against a resurgent Taliban. In a speech to a friendly military audience, Bush said an increase in militant attacks in eastern Afghanistan was a result of the pressure Islamic extremists are under from Afghan, U.S. and NATO forces. He also said a major offensive in five eastern Afghan provinces was putting the Taliban on the defensive. Despite sharp differences between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf over how best to fight the Taliban, Bush said a White House dinner he had with the two leaders on Wednesday resulted in a cooperative spirit after frank talks. "We will defeat the Taliban. We will defeat al Qaeda. And the only way to do it is by working together," he said. (Posted @ 21:42 PST)
Israel attacked UN post in south Lebanon with precision-guided bomb - UN UNITED NATIONS, Sept 29 (AFP) - An Israeli air attack on a UN base in south Lebanon that killed four peacekeepers last July involved the use of a precision-guided bomb, the United Nations said Friday. "The UN patrol base at Khiam was struck by a 500 kg precision-guided aerial bomb," a UN statement said after a UN board enquiry submitted its report on the incident to UN chief Kofi Annan. (Posted @ 21:38 PST)
British PM appreciates Pakistan's cooperation in fight against terror LONDON, Sept 29 (PPI): The meeting between President Pervez Musharraf and British Prime Minister Tony Blair was held in ``extremely cordial atmosphere'' and Blair appreciated Pakistan's cooperation in the fight against terrorism, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and Information Minister Muhammed Ali Durrani said at a news conference. Kasuri said the President briefed the British Premier in depth about North Waziristan tribal area agreement emphasizing that it had``political, reconstruction and reconstruction elements.'' (Posted @ 21:34 PST)
162 buildings in Murree declared dangerous: SC informed ISLAMABAD, Sept 29 (PPI) The Supreme Court was informed on Friday that Tehsil administration Murree has issued notices to the owners of 162 buildings of Murree, as the buildings have been declared dangerous and in violation of building rules. The court directed the tehsil administration to submit a detailed report regarding action to be taken against the dangerous buildings within a period of 60-days. (Posted @ 21:32 PST)
President Musharraf meets UK opposition Conservative Party leader LONDON, Sept 29 (PPI): British Opposition Conservative Party leader David Cameron Friday called on President Pervez Musharraf and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. The President apprised him of measures taken by Pakistan to counter global terrorism. The talks also covered the prevailing situation in Afghanistan. President Musharraf invited Tory Party leader to visit Pakistan. (Posted @ 21:28 PST)
Russian planes evacuate personnel from Georgia TBILISI, Sept 29 (AFP) - Two Russian planes began evacuating about 80 Russian embassy personnel and family members from Georgia on Friday, an embassy official said, as the two countries traded accusations in a row over spying. (Posted @ 20:56 PST)
Sport: Grant grabs CNS Squash title KARACHI, Sept 29 (APP)- Top seed Adrian Grant of England won the 7th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) International Squash Championship beating local hope Mansoor Zaman 7-11, 11-6, 17-15, 11-7 3-1 in the final at Roshan Khan/Jahangir Khan Squash Complex Friday. (Posted @ 20:46 PST)
PM Shaukat Aziz directs steps to check street crime ISLAMABAD, Sept 29 (PPI) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday asked provinces and the lawenforcing agencies to strengthen security and take immediate steps to check street crime. Talking to newsmen after a meeting with the Federal Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao and home secretaries and IGs from the four provinces and Azad Kashmir, he said police has been directed to make special security arrangements at places of worship during Ramazan. Taking serious notice of growing street crimes he said he was writing to the provincial Chief Ministers to curb street cvrime like car thefts,snatching of cell phones etc. He said police would intensify mobile patrolling to curb street crime. Instructions have also been issued to the police to address complaints about non-registration of the FIR while provinces have been asked to improve traffic system on modern lines by introducing new technologies. Interior Minister told a questioner that increase in the incidence of kidnapping for random is a matter of great concern and necessary steps are being taken in this regard. (Posted @ 20:42 PST)
Strong quake rocks Trinidad CARACAS, Sept 29 (AFP) - A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 struck Friday north of the island of Trinidad, just off Venezuela's northeastern coast. The tremors were felt throughout most of eastern Venezuela, but there were no immediate reports of major damage there, Gustavo Malava, director of Venezuela's seismological institute, told state-owned VTV television. (Posted @ 20:02 PST)
PM Aziz for making textile industry more viable ISLAMBAD, Sept 29 (PPI) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Friday that in view of the paradigm changes taking place in the textile industry globally, there is a need to review our national textile strategy in order to make the industry viable, more competitive and sustainable. Chairing the first meeting of National Textile Strategy Committee he said that textile is the premier industry and core business of the country. Contributing 66% to the country's exports, 40% to employment and 8.5 to the GDP growth, it is the backbone of our economy and the government will take all the stepsd to help the industry sustain its present position in the global trade and to increase its share to avail the opportunities of quota free environment. He asked the committee to adopt a result and action oriented approach and come up with tangible short, medium and long term measures to increase production of cotton and improve productivity and competitiveness of the textile sector. (Posted @ 19:58 PST)
Two killed in sport aircraft crash LAHORE, Sept 29 (APP)- Pilot and a co-pilot were killed when a sport aircraft crashed at Walton Airport Friday afternoon. " Loss of control by the pilot led to this tragic incident," a spokesman said. (Posted @ 19:54 PST)
Pak Navy acquiring advanced equipment for its communication networks: Admiral Afzal KARACHI, Sept 29 (APP)- Pakistan Navy is acquiring state of the art equipment to rebuild its communication networks, and modern radios and telecommunication equipment are being introduced for gradual replacement of the old ones, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, said at the annual prize distribution ceremony of Pakistan Navy's Communication and Electronic Warfare Proficiency Competition on Friday. (Posted @ 19:52 PST)
Iraqi forces launch crackdown in volatile province BAQUBA, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Iraqi army launched an operation against insurgents on Friday in Diyala province, and arrested 60 suspects. So far the operation had been peaceful, with no reported casualties, officials said. (Posted @ 19:50 PST)
Explosion shuts down natural gas pipeline from Iran to Turkey TEHRAN, Sept 29(AP) _ An explosion on a natural gas pipeline outside the Iranian border city of Bazargan has halted the flow of gas to Turkey, Iranian authorities said Friday. The fire broke out at 11:30 p.m. Thursday and was extinquished an hour later, state-run radio reported Friday. (First Posted @ 13:55 PST Updated @ 19:26 PST)
Five civilians wounded in grenade blast in India's northeast GAUHATI, India, Sept 29 (AP) _ Suspected separatists hurled a grenade into a crowded market in the town of Tinsukia, 550 kilometers east of Gauhati, Friday, wounding at least five civilians, an official said. This was the second explosion in the area in less than 24 hours. (Posted @ 19:24 PST)
Thousands of Palestinians rally behind Hamas JABALIYA REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip, Sept 29 (AFP) - More than 10,000 Palestinians demonstrated in a Gaza refugee camp on Friday in support of the Hamas-led government as the embattled cabinet marked six months in office. (Posted @ 19:20 PST)
NATO soldier killed on foot patrol in Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Sept 29 (AFP) - A bomb blast killed a soldier with the NATO-led force who was on foot patrol Friday in Kandahar province's Zhari district, the force said. ISAF did not release the nationality of the victim. (Posted @ 19:18 PST)
Hair not a security concern, says India MUMBAI, India, Sept 29 (AFP) - India's cricket chiefs added a new twist to the Darrell Hair saga on Friday, insisting there were no security concerns that forced him off the Champions Trophy panel. "I don't know why the ICC said Hair was stopped from standing in the tournament because of security concerns," Indian cricket board secretary Niranjan Shah told reporters. "There are no security concerns in India. We have never said that Hair or any other umpire could face security problems." "We had only expressed concern about the controversy surrounding him which could distract attention from the tournament," he emphasized. (Posted @ 19:16 PST)
Three killed in India army helicopter crash NEW DELHI, Sept 29 (AFP) - An Indian army helicopter crashed in Nasik district of western Maharashtra state Friday, killing two pilots and a technician, the army said. The pilots were undergoing training as flying instructors. On Thursday, an Indian air force MiG fighter plane crashed in northern India, but its pilot bailed out safely. (Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Kidnapped Colombian national, two Afghan colleagues released KABUL, Sept 29 (AFP) - A Colombian aid worker and two Afghan colleagues who were abducted in Afghanistan on Sept 9 last were freed Friday, their organisation said. (Posted @ 19:12 PST)
Brother-in-law of Saddam trial judge killed-police BAGHDAD, Sept 29 (Reuters) - A brother-in-law of the judge trying Saddam Hussein for genocide was shot dead by gunmen while driving in western Baghdad, police said Friday. One police source told Reuters that the 10-year-old nephew of chief judge Mohammed al-Ureybi and a third person in the car were wounded in the attack on Thursday evening. A second source said the nephew had died and the third person, who was Ureybi's sister, was seriously wounded. (Posted @ 16:20 PST)
One person killed in explosion in Israeli town JERUSALEM, Sept 29 (AP) _ An explosion Friday in a car in the Israeli town of Rishon Letzion killed one person and wounded two others, Israeli rescue services said. Israel Radio reported that the blast appeared to have been a suicide bomber whose explosives prematurely detonated. (Posted @ 16:14 PST)
Sri Lanka welcomes outcome of Inzamam probe COLOMBO, Sept 29 (AFP) - Sri Lankan cricket authorities Friday welcomed the outcome of the ball tampering probe against Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq. "It is a very fair inquiry", K Mathivanan, the Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee told AFP. (Posted @ 16:10 PST)
Hair accused of guessing in ball-tampering row LONDON, Sept 29 (AFP) - Umpire Darrell Hair was accused of "guessing" when he punished Pakistan for ball-tampering, according to a key witness at captain Inzamam-ul-Haq's disciplinary hearing. TV analyst Simon Hughes, who was asked to analyse the ball during the hearing in London, claimed Hair did not have firm evidence of anything untoward. Hughes wrote in the Daily Telegraph: "It surprised me. After 56 overs on a dry, fourth-day Oval pitch, it was in pretty good condition. There were a number of small abrasions on the rough side fairly typical of normal wear and tear on a deteriorating Test pitch. The only thing that looked slightly suspicious was a number of slightly curved striations concentrated on one area. I concluded that those could have been man-made scratches but there was no way I could be sure. There was no hard evidence of ball-tampering. The problem was Hair was guessing, using the flimsiest evidence. The marks on the ball were not blatant enough for the drastic measures Hair took." (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Mirza follows Hingis out of Korea Open SEOUL, Sept 29 (AFP) - A day after she sent top seed Martina Hingis crashing out of the Korea Open, Sania Mirza was eliminated Friday by Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 on day five of the 145,000-dollar event. (Posted @ 15:46 PST)
Iranian FM sees no "logic" in suspending atomic work TEHRAN, Sept 29 (Reuters) Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Friday there was no "reason or logic" to suspending Iran's nuclear work and talks were the only way to resolve a standoff with the West, according to state TV. Mottaki also said Iran would not use oil as a weapon. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Eight bodies found in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sep 29 (AP) Eight bodies with signs of torture were found in Baghdad on Friday, police said. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Israeli air strike in Gaza kills two Palestinians GAZA, Sept 29 (Reuters) An Israeli missile strike in the northern Gaza Strip killed two people on Friday, Palestinian security services and witnesses said. The Israeli military declined to release details on the strike. (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Tamil Tigers kill police officer in Sri Lanka VALACHCHANI, Sri Lanka, Sept 29 (AP) Tamil Tigers shot dead a police officer in northern Sri Lanka, the government said Friday, as police found bodies of three Tamil youths on a road in east. There was no immediate comment from the rebels. (Posted @ 12:00 PST)
Turkish PM rejects Kurdish leader's ceasefire offer ANKARA, Sept 29 (AFP) Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Friday rejected a ceasefire call by Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, appealing instead to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to abandon its fight with the armed forces. (Posted @ 11:30 PST)
Policeman, two Taliban killed in Afghan battle KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept 29 (AFP) Taliban attacked a police checkpost in Zabul province overnight, setting off a two-hour gun battle in which a policeman and two rebels were killed, police said Friday. Two policemen were also wounded, police added. (Posted @ 11:30 PST)
US House approves Bush eavesdropping program WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (AFP) The US House of Representatives late Thursday approved a wiretapping and surveillance measure that would empower the Bush administration to obtain access to private US citizens' phone records in the “fight against terrorism”. The vote was 232 to 191. (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
Top UN official attacks US, UK "megaphone diplomacy" on Darfur LONDON, Sept 29 (AFP) The deputy secretary general of the United Nations, Mark Malloch Brown, criticised Friday the United States' and Britain's "megaphone diplomacy" in trying to persuade Sudan to accept a UN force in Darfur. Their approach is "counterproductive almost" and opens the door to Sudan comparing itself to Iraq and Afghanistan, both invaded as part of the "war on terror", he said in an interview with the Independent newspaper. "So Tony Blair and George Bush need to get beyond this posturing and grandstanding,” Brown added. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
South Korea, US finalise plan for new military alliance SEOUL, Sept 29 (AFP) South Korea and the United States agreed Friday on a programme to reshape their military alliance and give Seoul a bigger role in defending against any North Korean attack, officials said. The defense ministry said the two sides signed new terms for the decades-old alliance after talks in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday. It gave no details. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Retired general picked as new Thai PM BANGKOK, Sept 29 (AFP) Thailand's junta chose General Surayud Chulanont, a former head of the military, to succeed overthrown prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the website of state-run Radio Thailand said Friday. The generals are expected Sunday to formally announce a new prime minister after ousting Thaksin in a bloodless coup on September 19. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Bush concealing level of Iraq violence: report WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) The Bush administration is concealing the level of violence against U.S. troops in Iraq and the situation there is growing worse despite White House and Pentagon claims of progress, journalist Bob Woodward said in advance of his new book called "State of Denial.". "It's getting to the point now where there are eight, 900 attacks a week. That's more than a hundred a day. That is four an hour attacking our forces," Woodward said in a CBS "60 Minutes" interview taped for broadcast on Sunday. "The assessment by intelligence experts is that next year, 2007, is going to get worse," Woodward added. According to Woodward, Bush was absolutely certain he was on the right course on Iraq. The writer said that when Bush invited key Republicans to the White House to discuss Iraq, the president told them, 'I will not withdraw even if Laura and Barney are the only ones supporting me,'" referring to his wife and Scottish terrier. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Iranian space tourist, crew return to Earth NEAR ARKALYK, Kazakhstan, Sept 29 (Reuters) A Russian capsule landed in the Kazakh steppe on Friday, returning to earth Anousheh Ansari who is the first Muslim female tourist of Iranian origin to enter space. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 16.17 points: KARACHI, Sept 29: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10512.52, down 16.17 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 12:00 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Sept 29: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.67 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 12:00 PST)
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