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| September 30, 2006 | Saturday | Ramazan 6, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
West will fail in 'war on terror' without Pakistan: Musharraf LONDON, Sept 30 (AFP) - The United States and its allies will fail in the "war on terror" without the support of Pakistan and its intelligence service, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf said Saturday. In an interview with BBC radio, Musharraf was asked for his response to the view that Pakistan was not a good ally in the fight against global extremism because of the links between terrorism and his country. "You will be brought down to your knees if Pakistan doesn't co-operate with you. That is all that I would like to say. Pakistan is the main ally. If we were not with you, you would not manage anything. Let that be clear," he said. "And if the ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) is not with you, you will fail. Let that be very clear also. Remember my words: if the ISI is not with you and Pakistan is not with you will lose in Afghanistan." Musharraf recorded the interview after talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London on Thursday. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Indian police blame Pakistan for train bombings MUMBAI, Sept 30 (AFP) - Indian police on Saturday blamed July's deadly train bombings in Mumbai on Pakistan's intelligence agency and the outlawed pro-Pakistan militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). "We have solved the 7/11 bomb blast case," Mumbai police commissioner A.N. Roy said, referring to the July 11 attacks that killed 186 people and injured more than 800. "This whole business was planned by the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) in Pakistan and the LeT, and local operatives here helped them," he told a news conference. Roy gave no explanation to back his allegations but said police had arrested 15 people so far, of which three may be released. "The role of 12 people has been directly established," he said. "Many went to Pakistan at different times for training." He said 15 to 20 kilograms (33 to 44 pounds) of the explosive RDX "was brought (into India) by a Pakistani man." The bombs were "kept in bags and then camouflaged by newspapers and umbrellas" in the trains, he said. Roy said that Indian police had found no evidence that Al-Qaeda was invovled in the explosions. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Pakistan rejects Indian claim on bombings ISLAMABAD, Sept 30 (AFP) - Pakistan on Saturday rejected a claim by Indian police that the Pakistani intelligence agency was behind the July 11 Mumbai train bombings. "This is a totally baseless and fabricated allegation and we reject it," Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said. The foreign ministry in Islamabad also condemned the allegation as "irresponsible and repetition of baseless allegations." Sherpao said it was unfortunate the allegation was made after the leadership of the two countries met in Havana where they agreed to resume peace talks and also set up a joint mechanism to fight terrorism. "Such unfounded allegations maligning Pakistan are not going to help the peace process," Sherpao said. The foreign office said Pakistan had offered to help India in the investigation into the Mumbai train blasts if it provided evidence and solid information of Pakistani involvement. "We have received absolutely nothing in terms of evidence, information or leads," the ministry said in a statement. "This statement, like those made immediately after the Mumbai bomb blasts, contains unsubstantiated allegations, which the Indian officials and media keep making for propaganda purposes," it said. The foreign office charged it was "quite possible that this is an attempt to divert attention from indigenous elements that may be responsible for terrorist acts in Mumbai and Malegaon in Maharashtra," it said. (First Posted @ 16:20 PST Updated @ 20:50 PST)
President Musharraf addresses Pakistani expatriates in Britain LONDON, Sept 30 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf late Friday addressed a gathering of Pakistani expatriates at a hotel on the last day of his two-day visit to Britain. "Militancy is not the way forward and will lead us to nowhere," Musharraf told them. He observed that suicide attacks were bringing a bad name to Muslims the world over. "Muslims should obtain their rights through political means and not by the means of extreme behaviour," he urged. He asked the gathering to employ all means to "stop any kind of extremism" and to abide by the laws and rules of Britain. The president lauded the role of British-Pakistanis in the development of United Kingdom saying their good behaviour enhanced the image of Pakistan. He also took strong exception to the political elements living abroad attempting to malign the name of the country. "They should put aside their personal interests and act in a patriotic manner by not indulging in politics while sitting outside Pakistan," he said. Earlier, the president presented shields to nine British students of Pakistani origin who excelled in their respective fields. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Crash site of Brazil passenger jet found in Amazon BRASILIA, Brazil, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Airborne searchers found the wreckage of a Brazilian passenger plane on Saturday that crashed a day earlier in Amazon jungle with 155 people on board and the chances of anyone surviving were slight, officials said. The brand-new Boeing 737-800 plunged into the ground nose first after colliding with a smaller plane, the head of Brazil's airport authority said. The small size of the wreckage area indicated that chances of survivors among the 149 passengers and six crew members on board were slim. "Imagine the velocity at which it hit the ground coming from an altitude of 36,000 feet (11,000 meters)," he told reporters. (First Posted @ 09:10 PST Updated @ 21:06 PST)
50 injured, 200 held during protests in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, Sept 30 (PPI) Life across occupied Kashmir was crippled amid violent clashes and massive demonstrations for the fourth straight day following a complete shutdown in support of Muhammad Afzal Guru who is to be hanged on October 20, Kashmir Media Service reported. At least 50 people were injured in violent clashes between angry mobs and Indian troops in different parts of Srinagar which witnessed a complete down on the call given by veteran Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani, Kashmir High Court Bar Association, and many other groups. Syed Ali Gilani, Shabbir Ahmed Shah and APHC leader Naeem Ahmad Khan were placed under house arrest for the second day on Saturday. Nearly 10,000 people took to streets in Sopore alone, the hometown of Afzal Guru. Led by JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik, the protest march began from Afzal's home village, Doabagh, and was participated by hundreds of women who chanted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and demanded revocation of Afzal Guru's death sentence. Later, angry youth pelted stones on Police Station Sopore. Cops retaliated with teargas shells and baton charge. In Srinagar, clashes occurred at least at 10 places during which angry youth fought pitched battles with police and Indian troops. Activists of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League (ML) held a rally near Sariabala, in the heart of the city. Police arrested ML patron Mushtaq-ul-Islam along with three other party activists. Hundreds of youths gathered outside the historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar and staged a massive demonstration. Police baton-charged and fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters. Seven protestors and six cops sustained injuries. Similar protests demonstrations were held in Maisuma, Basant Bagh, Rainawari and many other parts of Srinagr. Police arrested at least 10 APHC leaders and activists near the party headquarters at Rajbagh. In Handwara town of Kupwara district, people staged a demonstration in Chinar Park where members of Handwara Bar Association addressing the protesters condemned the Indian courts. Similar protests were held in other areas of Kupwara. Life in other major towns including Islamabad, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama remained paralysed. Meanwhile, special prayers were offered across the Valley for the long life of Afzal Guru. (Posted @ 19:10 PST)
Russia suspends planning for further troop, base withdrawal from Georgia TBILISI, Georgia, Sept 30 (AP) _ Russia evacuated all but two staff members and guards from its embassy in Georgia on Saturday and announced it was suspending planning for further troop withdrawals from its ex-Soviet neighbor. The biggest bilateral crisis in years erupted after the arrest in Georgia on Wednesday of four Russian military officers accused of spying. (Posted @ 20:54 PST)
Philippines typhoon toll tops 60 MANILA, Sept 30 (AFP) - Philippines officials said Saturday the toll from Typhoon Xangsane had risen to 62 dead and 68 missing, as relief efforts struggled to cope with the worst storm to hit the capital in a decade. Millions of people were still without electricity two days after the typhoon pounded the country, ripping up trees and causing flash floods and landslides. It was headed Saturday for Vietnam. (Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Indian troops arrest 16 more Kashmiri youth SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Sept 30 (PPI) Indian troops have arrested 16 more Kashmiri youth from different areas across the valley, Kashmir Media Service reported. Indian Border Security Force arrested five youths in Masoora village of Pulwama district, soldiers of 52 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) arrested two youths of Argam Sopur, while Special Operations Group of Police arrested ten persons in Handwara, including four school students. The arrests sparked angry demonstrations in the respective areas. (Posted @ 19:06 PST)
Musharraf’s plane develops fault LONDON, Sept 30 (PPI) The special plane carrying President and his entourage returned to London airport after about twenty minutes flight due to a technical fault in its navigation system. It took off after about three and half hours when the fault was corrected at 02:15 AM local time. (Posted @ 18:24 PST)
Pakistani president returns home after visit to US, Britain ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) _ President Gen. Pervez Musharraf returned home Saturday after a nearly three week trip abroad, including high-profile stops in the United States and Britain. Musharraf visited Belgium for talks with European Union leaders on Sept. 11 and then attended the NAM summit in Havana. On the sidelines of the NAM summit, Musharraf held talks with Indian premier Manmohan Singh that paved the way for the resumption of peace process between the two countries. He later traveled to the United States, where he attended the U.N. General Assembly session in New York and later met with his U.S. counterpart, George W. Bush, in Washington. Musharraf also attended a dinner hosted by Bush at the white House with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. During his stay in London, Musharraf held talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. (Posted @ 17:14 PST)
At least 20 killed as Sri Lanka violence COLOMBO, Sept 30 (Reuters) - At least 17 Tamil Tiger rebels and three policemen were killed in Sri Lanka on Saturday. Police opened fire on LTTE guerrillas who attacked a remote police post in the east, killing 15 rebel fighters, while the Navy killed two rebels as they tried to land by boat on the northern army-held Jaffna peninsula, officials said. In a separate incident, three policemen were killed when suspected Tigers detonated a mine in the district of Vavuniya. (Posted @ 17:56 PST)
Basra governor says Iraq police tried to kill him BASRA, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The governor of Basra accused police of trying to kill him on Saturday after he survived an ambush on his motorcade in which three bodyguards were wounded. "Gunmen in police uniform and others in civilian clothes tried to assassinate me. I know who they are and am going to go after them legally," Mohammed al-Waeli told reporters after the attack. “They are a group of officers in the Major Crimes Department." Waeli, who is from the small but influential Fadhila party, fell out openly with the police chief in May, prompting Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to impose a state of emergency. (Posted @ 17:54 PST)
Four killed, 44 injured, 8 bodies found in Iraq BAGHDAD, Sept 30 (Reuters) -:Four persons were killed, 44 injured and eight bodies were found in various parts of the country in a chain of incidents on Saturday. A suicide car bomb targeting an Iraqi army checkpoint in Tal Afar killed two people and wounded 30, the town's mayor said. A car bomb outside the home of a police colonel in Kirkuk wounded 10 people, while a roadside bomb killed one person and wounded four in Iskandariya, police said. In Hilla, gunmen abducted and killed a translator for U.S.troops south of Hilla, and eight bodies were found in Baquba, including a father and his two sons, police sources said. Meanwhile, authorities imposed a curfew on Baghdad, ordering all cars and people off the streets of the capital until 6:00 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Sunday as U.S. military said it had arrested a man at the house of politician Adnan al Dulaimi on suspicion of planning car bombs attacks. (Posted @ 17:52 PST)
Karzai says Pakistan gives assurances on Taliban KABUL, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Pakistan has assured Afghanistan it will take action against Taliban insurgents, Afghan President Hamid Karzai told a news conference in Kabul on Saturday. Hailing an agreement with Pakistan to hold separate jirgas on each side of the border he said the agreement was a "first step in a very arduous journey". "It is a very important proposal. It's a very efficient way of preventing terrorists from cross-border activities or from trying to have sanctuaries where they have sanctuaries." (Posted @ 17:50 PST)
Bangladesh opposition to hold reform talks with government DHAKA, Sept 30 (AFP) - Bangladesh's main opposition party said Saturday it had accepted a government offer for talks aimed at defusing a major row over electoral reforms ahead of looming parliamentary elections. "We've accepted the government's offer for talks and we shall hold the meeting within one or two days," said Abdul Jalil, secretary-general of the main opposition Awami League. He said he would lead the 14-party opposition alliance in the talks. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Bin Laden not in Afghanistan, Afghan leader says KABUL, Sept 30 (AFP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai insisted Saturday that Osama bin Laden is not in his country. Other militant leaders including warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar were also not in the country, Karzai told reporters in a briefing about his visit to the United States. (Posted @ 16:36 PST)
Israel minister demands swift killing of Hezbollah chief JERUSALEM, Sept 30 (AFP) - Israel should "liquidate" Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah "at the first opportunity," Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer, a former defence minister, told army radio Saturday. "We must liquidate Nasrallah at the first opportunity, because he is the embodiment of evil, not just for us but for Muslims and Christians too," Ben Eliezer said. (Posted @ 16:34 PST)
Lebanon says Israel finally poised to complete pullout BEIRUT, Sept 30(AFP) - Lebanon said Saturday that it had been informed by UN peacekeepers that Israel was finally poised to complete its promised pullout from the south on Sunday. A government spokesman said the French commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), General Alain Pellegrini, had told Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora that Israel would pull out the last of its troops on Sunday. UNIFIL spokesman Alexander Ivanko declined to confirm or deny the Israeli deadline. But he had said Thursday that he was hoping for Israel to complete its withdrawal by Sunday. In Tel Aviv, an Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed that the army planned to withdraw from more positions in south Lebanon on Sunday but declined to say whether that would mark the completion of its pullout. (Posted @ 16:18 PST)
Ahmadinejad rejects short-term enrichment suspension TEHRAN, Sept 30 (AFP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Saturday vowed Iran would not suspend its enrichment of uranium even for a short period. "They (the West) want us to suspend for a short period and then they will use this for propaganda and say Iran has suspended and it has caved in," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to mark the first day of the new university term, according to the student news agency ISNA. "Nobody has the right to make Iran back down over its rights. With rationality and with logic, we will defend the rights of Iran," he added. (Posted @ 15:54 PST)
Bush calls for offensive 'across the world' WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (AFP) US President George W. Bush called Saturday for fighting America's enemies "across the world". Bush insisted that the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq was helping foster anti-American terrorism tantamount to buying "into the enemy's propaganda." "The only way to protect our citizens at home is to go on the offence against the enemy across the world," the president said. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
I won't seek action against Hair: Inzamam ISLAMABAD, Sept 30 (AFP) Pakistani cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said Saturday he would not seek legal action against Australian umpire Darrell Hair. "Our religion Islam teaches us to forgive and forget, so I forgive Hair and will not take any action against him," Inzamam said on return from London. "It will take time to forget what happened at The Oval but my heart is clear…and since we have been cleared of the more serious charge of ball tampering, I think we should bury the matter," he said. He justified the decision not to appeal against his four ODI ban. "The penalty imposed is the minimum in level III so it would neither be reduced nor would it be lifted if I had appealed. So I see no reason to take the matter any further," he said. Inzamam said he would miss the Champions Trophy competition. "It's the second-best event after the World Cup and I will miss it. But I am convinced that the team can deliver its best. We have a very good chance of winning the Trophy…we have a home series against the West Indies, then a tour of South Africa and finally the World Cup, so I will conserve my energies for these future assignments," he added. (Posted @ 13:45 PST)
US threatens to cut funding for Iraq's police NEW YORK, Sept 30 (Reuters) The United States may cut off funding for Iraq's police because of its failure to punish people responsible for torture, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said in an interview published in the New York Times Saturday. He said Washington has yet to formally notify Baghdad that funding may be cut, but officials are reviewing programmes because of a U.S. law that forbids funding armies or police that violate human rights. (Posted @ 13:35 PST)
U.S. Senate extends Iran sanctions WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) The U.S. Congress agreed on Saturday to extend sanctions on Iran for five more years to discourage companies from investing in Iran's energy sector. (Posted @ 11:50 PST)
At least 12 dead in Kabul blast KABUL, Sept 30 (Agencies) At least 12 people were killed and 42 were wounded in a suicide blast near the Afghan interior ministry here Saturday, according to police and a hospital official. Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. (First Posted @ 09:25 PST, Updated @ 11:40 PST)
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