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| October 06, 2006 | Friday | Ramazan 12, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Cricket-Pakistan cricket chief resigns over captaincy row ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (AFP) Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan resigned Friday over batsman Younis Khan's refusal to captain the national team and the Oval Test fiasco, officials said. "Yes, I am hurt because of the recent events like the Oval Test and Younis Khan fiascos," Khan, a former diplomat, said. "I thought this is the right time to step down and pass the responsibility to someone else. The Younis Khan episode has hurt me more than the Oval fiasco," said Khan who had headed the PCB since December 2003. Officials said the PCB patron-in-chief, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, announced the appointment of Dr Nasim Ashraf as the new chairman of the cricket board. (First Posted @ 20:56 PST Updated @ 22:52 PST)
Peace deal achieving desired objectives: Musharraf RAWALPINDI, Oct 6 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Friday said the truce signed with tribal elders of North Waziristan was progressing well towards achieving the desired objectives of peace and stability. He made these remarks while chairing a high-level meeting to review the situation in North Waziristan. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Musharraf underscored the need for strengthening the local political and administrative structure, including that of the traditional "Malik system". He reiterated that the peace agreement was not a compromise with the militants but rather a strategy to marginalize them. Aziz informed the meeting that the federal government was already providing adequate funds and resources for the speedy development of FATA. He said administrative machinery was being strengthened to ensure timely completion of various infrastructure and social development projects. The meeting also reviewed the situation in Afghan refugees’ camps, which intelligence reports indicated were being used for drug trafficking, criminal activities, militant training and other kinds of cross-border activities. (Posted @ 17:52 PST)
UN adopts statement on North Korea nuclear test UNITED NATIONS, Oct 6 (AFP) The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a non-binding statement that urged North Korea to drop plans to test an atom bomb and to return to six-party disarmament talks, Russia's UN envoy announced. The text however did not explicitly mention the threat of sanctions if North Korea went ahead with the test. "Should the DPRK (North Korea) ignore calls of the international community, the Security Council will act consistent with its responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations," the statement said. (Posted @ 22:48 PST)
PM Aziz approves Rs.3 billion for quake-hit areas ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday approved an emergency allocation of Rs.3 billion for early payment of housing subsidy to the quake-affected people residing in the 34 Union Councils of NWFP and AJK. He also announced to write off loans from the House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC) and ZTBL. He made these decisions while chairing the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) council meeting here at the PM's House. (Posted @ 22:34 PST)
World powers meet to decide how to tackle Iran LONDON, Oct 6 (Reuters) Ministers from six world powers began a meeting in London on Friday to discuss U.S. and British proposals for possible sanctions against Tehran. Russia and China, two of the six powers, agreed it was "absolutely unacceptable" to threaten force against Iran and that talk of ultimatums was counter-productive, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alexeyev was quoted as saying. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she was "not anticipating any major decisions" at Friday's ministerial-level meeting between Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. (First Posted @ 09:10 PST Updated @ 22:32 PST)
U.S. Navy medic admits role in Iraqi murder case CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Oct 6 (Reuters) A U.S. Navy medic admitted on Friday to participating in the kidnapping of an Iraqi civilian but avoided murder charges in a plea deal in which he agreed to testify about his own role and that of seven Marines in the Iraqi's death. Petty Officer Melson Bacos, 21, and the seven Marines he accompanied on an April patrol were charged with seizing Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, from his home, killing him and placing an AK-47 assault rifle and shovel next to his body to suggest the victim wanted to plant a roadside bomb. (Posted @ 22:30 PST)
US General Abizaid visits Pakistan RAWALPINDI, Oct 06 (Agencies): Commander US CENTCOM forces, General John P. Abizaid, arrived here Friday at the PAF Chaklala airbase on a two day official visit to Pakistan. (Posted @ 22:02 PST)
Pakistan must do more on Taliban: U.S. senator KABUL, Oct 6 (Reuters) Pakistan has to do more to control its border with Afghanistan and stop Taliban insurgents organising in Pakistan, a U.S. senator said on Friday. Senator Jack Reed said Pakistan had made an "extraordinary contribution" to the success of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led Afghan operation against the Taliban and their allies launched five years ago on Saturday. "But going forward, there has to be a much more aggressive effort to control the border and prevent any suggestion that Taliban elements can freely associate and organise themselves within Pakistan," Reed, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told a news conference. "Also, I don't think we can lose sight of the fact there still appears to be al Qaeda leadership elements in Pakistan and that, for us, is a continuing and constant effort to identify and pre-empt these elements," said Reed. (Posted @ 21:42 PST)
Pakistan detains several over rockets in capital: Aziz ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (Reuters) Pakistani security agencies arrested a number of people for interrogation in a foiled bid to fire rockets in the vicinity of the parliament, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Friday. "We have lot of people being interrogated and the process is ongoing," Aziz said. He said it would be premature to say who was behind the attempt and who was their target. "It is premature...these are very events which need to be thoroughly investigated before we give any tangibles." (Posted @ 21:02 PST)
Athens to build mosque by 2009 ATHENS, Oct 6 (AFP) Greece on Friday pledged to build a state-funded mosque by 2009 in Athens at a cost of 19 million dollars for the benefit of tens of thousands of Muslims living in the Greek capital. The chairman of the Muslim Union of Greece welcomed the announcement in a statement as "very good news, as long as there are actions, not just words." Athens' sizeable Muslim immigrant community, mainly comprised of Pakistanis, Iraqis and Egyptians, currently meets in small apartments and back rooms of shops to pray and has long lobbied for a sanctioned site of prayer. Under the terms of a new law, the Elaionas mosque will be officiated by a Muslim religious leader paid by the Greek government, a minister said. The only mosques in Greece are in Thrace in the northeast of the country where a minority of Muslims of Turkish origin lives. (Posted @ 19:44 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan's Younis agrees to captain Yorkshire ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (Agencies) Younis Khan Friday agreed to captain the English county Yorkshire next season, one day after turning down the job of leading Pakistan. Younis confirmed that Yorkshire had made him the offer through former captain Rameez Raja and that he had agreed to their terms and conditions. "Hopefully the contract should be completed next week," Younis said. "The club said they like my energy and the way I have captained in the past so hopefully we can be good for each other," he told the Big Star Cricket website. ``I know players like Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard play there and also legends such as Geoffrey Boycott and Sir Leonard Hutton played there a few years ago,'' Khan. ``It will be an honour to follow these cricketers and play at Headingley, especially as the captain,'' he added. (Posted @ 19:24 PST)
Palestinian PM sees mutiny in rival security forces GAZA, Oct 6 (Reuters) Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas on Friday accused members of Abbas's Fatah movement security forces of mutiny against the government for taking part in street protests. Addressing tens of thousands of supporters inside Gaza's largest stadium, Haniyeh said "Any government that faced what we have faced would have fallen in the first or second month. Why has it not fallen? Because it gets its strength from God". (Posted @ 19:22 PST)
Three killed in occupied Kashmir violence SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Oct 6 (AP) Three people were killed in two separate attacks of violence in occupied Kashmir Friday, police said. Two suspected militants were killed in an alleged gunbattle in Sopore town, police said. Elsewhere, three people were injured when a grenade targeting a paramilitary post, missed its target and instead exploded near Srinagar's main bus station. One of the three injured later died in a hospital. (Posted @ 17:56 PST)
Rice urges Kurds to work for peaceful, unified Iraq ARBIL, Iraq, Oct 6 (AFP) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met the leaders of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region on Friday, urging them to cooperate with Iraqi Arabs in building a peaceful and unified country. "The Kurdish people will ... certainly be better served if Baghdad and its surrounding areas are stable and democratic," Rice told reporters at a joint press conference with Kurdish regional president Massud Barzani in Arbil. "Kurdistan, as any other nation, has the right to self-determination," said Barzani, adding however that "the parliament of Kurdistan has adopted, within the framework of a democratic Iraq, the federal system." Barzani met with Rice for 45 minutes and said afterwards: "We are for a fair distribution of oil revenues for the Iraqis." (First Posted @ 12:10 PST Updated @ 17:06 PST)
France in talks to sell India second-hand Mirage jets NEW DELHI, Oct 6 (AFP) India is in talks with France to purchase several second-hand Mirage 2000 fighters to bolster its air force, a diplomat said Friday, without giving numbers, although the Indian press said 40 may be bought. French defence ministry officials were due to meet India's air force chief later Friday. France and India have also been discussing for several months a new maintenance contract for New Delhi's 52 Mirage fighters built by Dassault, the diplomat said. Indian sources added that India's navy is also talking to Dassault about purchasing the Mirage-2000MKI. India has plans to purchase 126 fighter jets at a cost of up to nine billion dollars to replace its ageing MiG-21s. Dassault's Rafale warplane is among the contenders along with US firm Lockheed Martin's F-18 and Russia's MiG-35. New Delhi is expected to issue a request for proposals in January, the sources said. (Posted @ 17:04 PST)
EU, US reach air passenger data deal LUXEMBOURG, Oct 6 (AFP) EU and US negotiators clinched a deal Friday allowing more US law enforcement agencies to have access to data about air travellers heading to the United States, Finnish Justice Minister Leena Luhtanen whose country holds the EU presidency announced. The data -- including credit card, passport and telephone details -- is currently sent to the US customs authorities, but the Department of Homeland Security wants it to be shared with other anti-terror agencies, including the FBI. Under the old agreement, aircraft leaving the EU for US airports had to provide more than 30 pieces of data about passengers at least 15 minutes before departure, or face being diverted and the possibility of heavy fines. The new deal will see the same data being made available to US customs authorities, who will then be able to pass it on under certain conditions and if privacy requirements are respected. (Posted @ 17:00 PST)
EU urges donors to continue aid for earthquake-ravaged Azad Kashmir BRUSSELS, Belgium, Oct 6 (AP) The European Union executive on Friday urged international donors to continue providing aid to Azad Kashmir, one year after the region was ravaged by a massive earthquake. ``More than one million individuals are still homeless and living in tents in the high mountains of Kashmir. The efforts must continue by all donors. We have to fight against forgetting these kinds of catastrophes,'' said European Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio. The EU said it has provided euro600 million (US$763 million) in aid, of which euro171 million (US$217 million) was for humanitarian actions. (Posted @ 16:42 PST)
Kurdish lawmaker kidnapped and killed in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Oct 6 (AP) A Kurdish lawmaker, Mohammed Ridha Mahmoud, was kidnapped with his driver Thursday afternoon in Baghdad’s Seleikh neighbourhood, a spokesman for the Kurdish bloc in parliament said Friday. Hours after the kidnapping, both bodies were found shot in the head and chest. (Posted @ 15:05 PST)
Bangladesh govt, opposition resume talks to break poll deadlock DHAKA, Oct 6 (AFP) Bangladesh's government on Friday resumed talks with the opposition, which threatens to boycott national polls in January unless electoral reforms are introduced. Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, secretary general of the BNP, met Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil at the Bangladesh parliament Friday. "We discussed all the issues of the proposals in the friendly environment and the discussion will take more time," Bhuiyan said. (Posted @ 14:45 PST)
Militants kill 11 in northeast India GUWAHATI, India, Oct 6 (AFP) Suspected militants ambushed and killed at least four railway workers and seven paramilitary troopers Friday in the Assam state's Hathikhali region, police and railway officials said. Four other construction workers were wounded in the attack. (Posted @ 14:40 PST)
Cricket- Woolmer demands attitude change after Younis row LAHORE, Pakistan, Oct 6 (AFP) Pakistan's cricketers must change their attitude to succeed, coach Bob Woolmer said Friday after Younis Khan's "sad" refusal to captain the side. "Younis's decision to turn down the captaincy shows a lack of attitude and we need to change this attitude if we want to be world-beaters," Woolmer said. "I fought for him in the team and helped him fight for his place against all odds, but his decision left me sad and disappointed. It seemed he could not take the pressure of captaincy…I am a firm believer that things happen for the good but we must learn quickly because the people of Pakistan have high expectations of this team and the World Cup is getting nearer," he said. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
Bomb attack kills one in northeastern Baghdad BAGHDAD, Oct 6 (AP) One person was killed and four others injured early Friday in a bomb attack in northeastern Baghdad’s Qahira district, police said. The casualties came about 10 minutes later when a second bomb exploded nearby. In eastern Baghdad, police found the bodies of five men in their 30s. All victims had been shot, had their hands and feet bound and showed signs of torture, police said. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Italian journalists stage strike, causing virtual news blackout in Italy ROME, Oct 6 (AP) Italy faced a virtual news blackout Friday as broadcast journalists joined a strike staged by print reporters. Domestic news agencies have been shut down since Thursday. TV and radio news was limited to a few short bulletins a day, while only a few minor newspapers were available at newsstands. The workers are protesting a stalemate in contract renewal talks with media publishers. The print journalists were set to return to work Saturday at 7 a.m. after a two-day strike. The walkout by broadcast journalists, also lasting 48 hours, was scheduled to end a day later. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Suicide attack in Afghanistan kills one, wounds 15 KHOST, Afghanistan, Oct 6 (AFP) A suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body as he was searched Friday outside a police headquarters in eastern Afghanistan’s Khost city, killing a policeman, officials said. Another 15 people, including three policemen, were wounded in the attack. (First Posted @ 10:35 PST, Updated @ 11:25 PST)
Pakistan not to accept discrimination in nuclear field: Masood Khan UNITED NATIONS, Oct 6 (APP): Pakistan has told the UN General Assembly's main committee that it would not accept discrimination in the nuclear field, while underscoring the energy needs of its expanding economy. "In the strategic and defence areas, Pakistan always demands and deserves parity of treatment with our neighbour," Ambassador Masood Khan, Pakistan's delegate to the 192-member Assembly's First Committee, said in a debate on disarmanent-related matters on Thursday. "Discriminatory approaches in the nuclear or conventional fields will not advance stability in South Asia," he said in an obvious reference to the controversial Indo-US nuclear deal under which India would get sophisticated technology for its civilian nuclear programmes. (Posted @ 11:25 PST)
Pakistan to take over as G-77 chairman at UN in January UNITED NATIONS, Oct 6 (APP): Pakistan will assume the chairmanship of the powerful group of 77 (Developing countries) and China at a special ceremony in January 2007, Ambassador Munir Akram said Thursday. Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri will especially come to New York to take over the G-77 chairmanship from South Africa, the current chairman. It will be the fourth time Pakistan will lead the group since its inception in 1962. (Posted @ 11:25 PST)
Benazir wants to return for elections BOSTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) Former premier Benazir Bhutto said Thursday she wants to return to Pakistan to run in 2007 elections and accused the country's military ruler of failing to tackle religious schools that promote global terrorism. "I've been out for a very long time - since 1999. The people need to hear from me," the self-exiled opposition leader told Reuters in an interview after attending a conference in Boston. "If the people of Pakistan honor me with that position, I would like to come back as prime minister." She said a blast near Musharraf's army residence in Rawalpindi on Wednesday showed that terrorism was reaching deeper into Pakistani cities, partly because militants still thrive in seminaries. "If we cannot control our own areas from the militants how are we going to control them from crossing into Afghanistan and destabilizing (Afghan President Hamid) Karzai," she said. Asked about Pakistani media reports that say Musharraf approached her for a possible patch-up before 2007 elections, she said there were some "back-channel" contacts with the government but that stubborn differences remained. She added that it was premature to describe her ties with Sharif's party as an electoral alliance but that they wanted to work together on reforms and put their "unhappy past" behind them. "If one remains chained to the prejudices of the past then one is unable to do anything in the future," she said. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
NATO commanders demand governments get tough with Pakistan: The Daily Telegraph LONDON, Oct 6 (AFP) NATO commanders from five countries who have troops stationed in Afghanistan are demanding their governments get tough with Pakistan over its support for the Taliban militia, The Daily Telegraph reported on Friday. "It is time for an 'either you are with us or against us' delivered bluntly to Musharraf at the highest political level," an unnamed NATO commander told the newspaper. "Our boys in southern Afghanistan are hurting because of what is coming out of (the Pakistani city of) Quetta," the same commander added. (Posted @ 09:05 PST)
Danish soldier killed in Iraq COPENHAGEN, Oct 6 (AFP) A Danish soldier was killed after a mortar attack in Al-Hartha near Basra Thursday, a Danish news agency reported Friday. (Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Sri Lanka troops kill 22 Tamil Tigers in fresh attack COLOMBO, Oct 6 (AFP) Sri Lanka troops killed at least 22 Tamil Tiger rebels in renewed fighting in eastern Sri Lanka Friday, defence officials said. Troops repulsed an offensive by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) against military camps at Mankerni in Batticaloa district, officials said. "We have recovered the bodies of 22 Tiger cadres and they may have suffered more casualties…we have about five soldiers seriously wounded," a military official in the area said. (Posted @ 08:50 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 71.23 points: KARACHI, Oct 6: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10927.05, up 71.23 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 12:00 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Oct 6: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.6 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 12:00 PST)
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