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| December 13, 2006 | Wednesday | Ziqa'ad 21, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Karzai says Pakistan wants to enslave Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec 13 (AFP) Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai accused the Pakistani government Wednesday of trying to turn his countrymen into "slaves". Hamid Karzai said in a speech at a school in Kandahar city that he was the only person able to prevent Afghans from "coming after" President Pervez Musharraf. Pakistan foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam responded by saying that "the problem of Afghanistan is primarily inside Afghanistan and it should be resolved there. The Taliban are operating well inside Afghanistan," Tasnim said. She said plans for traditional councils or jirga could bring peace to Afghanistan, and added that Pakistan wanted the repatriation of more than 2.5 million Afghan refugees whose presence near the frontier "appears to prompt allegations from Kabul". Pakistan also urged the world community and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan to "do more" to help, she added. (Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Bush presses Syria on prisoners, Lebanon WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (AFP) US President George W. Bush Wednesday called on Syria to free all political prisoners and to halt "intimidation and interference" in Lebanon. The US president, in a written statement released by the White House, specifically named Aref Dalila, Michel Kilo, Anwar al-Bunni, Mahmoud Issa, and Kamal Labwani among the prisoners he hoped to see set free. (Posted @ 22:26 PST)
Asian Games squash results DOHA, Dec 13 (AFP) Asian Games squash results on Wednesday: Men's semi-finals Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 3-1; Mohamad Azlan Iskander (MAS) bt Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 3-0. (Posted @ 22:24 PST)
Rights group says abuses "endemic" in South Asia NEW DELHI, Dec 13 (Reuters) Extrajudicial killings, attacks on religious and ethnic minorities and curbs on press freedom are endemic in South Asia, with Bangladesh being the worst violator, the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) said during the release of its 2006 report. Pakistan has "entrenched legal repression and cultural cruelties" that make women "excessive targets" of violence, it said. (Posted @ 22:18 PST)
Doha Asian Games-Pakistan gets bronze in Wushu DOHA, Dec 13 (APP) Pakistan’s Maratab Ali lost to Vietnam’s Nguyen Trung in the semi-final of the 65kgs Wushu event here on Wednesday to claim a bronze medal. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Prime Minister Aziz meets Saudi King Abdullah RIYADH, Dec 13 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz met the Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz here on Wednesday. Both leaders had a wide ranging discussion and agreed to further deepen their bilateral relations through enhanced economic cooperation and trade ties. (Posted @ 22:02 PST)
Iran, Arabs demand UN action over Israeli nuclear arms CAIRO, Dec 13 (AFP) Iran and Arab states on Wednesday deplored Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's statement implying that Israel has nuclear weapons, calling it proof of a regional threat and demanding UN action. The Arab League urged the international community and the Security Council to exert pressure on Israel "to open its nuclear facilities in a transparent manner." (Posted @ 21:32 PST)
Syria's Assad calls on West not to intervene in Lebanon DAMASCUS, Dec 13 (AFP) Syria's president called on world powers Wednesday not to intervene in Lebanon. Bashar al-Assad was speaking during a meeting with US Senator Bill Nelson, a member of the foreign relations and armed services committees, who is on a one-day visit to Damascus. (Posted @ 21:30 PST)
US needed 'Iraqi De Gaulle' for invasion: Perle BERLIN, Dec 13 (AFP) Top US neo-conservative Richard Perle, a key former architect of US President George W. Bush's foreign policy, admitted there were mistakes in the execution of the Iraq war. Perle told a German weekly in an issue to be published Thursday that a string of tactical errors had resulted in the chaos reigning in Iraq today. "We should have agreed on a post-war Iraqi leadership" but were thwarted by opposition at the US State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency, Perle said. "We should have marched into Baghdad with an Iraqi De Gaulle," he said. Perle said he did not expect Bush to follow recommendations of an Iraqi Study Group. "I think he will change the strategy: more US troops in Iraqi units, more Iraqis in American (units)," he said. (Posted @ 21:02 PST)
Maintaining coalition bases in Iraq down to Baghdad: Blair LONDON, Dec 13 (AFP) British Prime Minister Tony Blair told the parliament Wednesday that any decision to keep long-term permanent bases in Iraq by coalition forces would have to be instigated by the Iraqi government. (Posted @ 20:54 PST)
Bush Sr meets Chinese president BEIJING, Dec 13 (AFP) Chinese President Hu Jintao met Wednesday with former US President George Bush and urged stronger ties between the two nations, state press reported. (Posted @ 20:52 PST)
Bangladesh president rules out resigning DHAKA, Dec 13 (AFP) President Iajuddin Ahmed told the US ambassador in Bangladesh Wednesday that he will not bow to mounting pressure to resign and that such a suggestion was "unrealistic and impractical", his advisor said. (Posted @ 20:50 PST)
Greece puts off ruling on Pakistani's extradition ATHENS, Dec 13 (AFP) Greece told Pakistan it needs more information before ruling on a request by Islamabad to extradite a Pakistani national for alleged people trafficking, judicial officials said Wednesday. Javed Aslam, the 38-year-old head of a Pakistani community in Greece, had in the past criticized the Greek police for arresting and illegally questioning Pakistanis for their suspected role in last year’s London bombings. Amnesty International said Tuesday it was "probable" that Aslam's charges, made by Pakistan, were "linked to his attempts to defend the rights of his compatriots” and called on Greece not to extradite him. (Posted @ 20:42 PST)
UN rights body agrees to send mission to Darfur GENEVA, Dec 13 (AFP) The United Nations Human Rights Council agreed on Wednesday to send a mission to assess the human rights situation in the Sudanese region of Darfur, the council president said. (Posted @ 20:40 PST)
India, Bhutan demarcate border after 45 years GUWAHATI, India, Dec 13 (AFP) India and Bhutan formally demarcated their border by signing the final maps 45 years after the process of settling the boundary started, officials said Wednesday. The two countries will erect pillars and use markers to define the 700-kilometre frontier, which is currently unfenced and separated by concrete pillars in only some places. (Posted @ 20:36 PST)
12 dead in central China coal mining accident BEIJING, Dec 13 (AFP) Twelve miners were killed Wednesday when they suffocated following a gas leak in a central China coal mine, the government reported. (Posted @ 20:32 PST)
Shaukat Aziz invites Saudi investors to Pakistan RIYADH, Dec 13 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday urged Saudi investors to focus on Pakistan as an "investment destination". "We encourage you to visit Pakistan and see for yourself the vast opportunities and wide areas available for foreign investors," he told a gathering of leading Saudi investors, ministers and senior government officials at a forum. Aziz identified agriculture, information technology, power, banking, real estate, construction, auto-industry and telecommunication as key sectors to make profitable investments in Pakistan. (Posted @ 20:22 PST)
President Musharraf calls for generous donations to volunteer organizations ISLAMABAD, Dec 13 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf appealed to philanthropists Wednesday to contribute and donate generously to volunteer organizations such the Pakistan Red Crescent Society. Addressing a function here, he said that close to Rs90 billion was spent last year on philanthropic activities in the country. He emphasized the need to have a comprehensive and proper system for fast unloading, packing and distribution of the relief goods in case any natural disaster strikes Pakistan in the future. (Posted @ 20:18 PST)
Pakistan beat Australia in cricket World Cup for the Blind ISLAMABAD, Dec 13 (APP): Pakistan beat Australia by ten wickets Wednesday to reach the final of the third cricket World Cup for the Blind. (Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Cricket-West Indies beat Pakistan by seven wickets Dec 13 (Infostrada Sports) West Indies beat Pakistan by 7 wickets in the fourth one-day international Wednesday in Multan. Scores: Pakistan Innings 209 (Yasir Hameed 71 Faisal Iqbal 30, Abdul Razzaq 33; Powell 10-1-33-3, Smith 10-1-29-2), West Indies Innings 212 (Chanderpaul 60, Samuels 100 not out; Naved-ul-Hasan 6-1-18-2) (Posted @ 19:18 PST)
Iraq violence kills at least 37 BAGHDAD, Dec 13 (AFP) A series of vehicle bombs and shootings killed at least 37 people and wounded scores more across Iraq on Wednesday. A car bomb exploded in a market near the Al-Kamaliyah mosque in east Baghdad, killing at least 10 civilians and wounding another 26, a security official said. Two more car bombs were set off later in Baghdad’s Jadida neighbohood, killing five labourers and wounding 10 others. In another attack, two truck bombs smashed into a base near the town of Riyadh, killing 10 Iraqi soldiers and wounding six, an officer said, adding that three civilians were also injured. In other violence, a roadside bomb against a police patrol in Baiji killed one woman and wounded three others, while gunmen murdered five people in separate attacks in and around the city of Baquba. (First Posted @ 11:45 PST Updated @ 17:28 PST)
China's Zheng fights off Mirza for tennis gold DOHA, Dec 13 (AFP) China's Zheng Jie defeated India’s Sania Mirza Wednesday 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 to win gold in the women's singles at the Asian Games. (Posted @ 17:22 PST)
NATO troops kill Afghan civilian during presidential visit KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec 13 (AFP) NATO troops in Afghanistan killed a civilian motorcyclist Tuesday afternoon who failed to stop at a checkpoint during a visit to Kandahar by President Hamid Karzai, the force said Wednesday. (Posted @ 17:20 PST)
Kashmiris in Pakistan denounce European report ISLAMABAD, Dec 13 (Reuters) About 300 activists from the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) marched to the office of the European Commission in Islamabad on Wednesday to protest against a European parliament report they said glossed over rights abuses by the Indian military. Police stopped the protesters from getting close to the office but there was no trouble. (Posted @ 15:48 PST)
Pakistan court drops charge in London plot case ISLAMABAD, Dec 13 (Reuters) A Pakistani court dropped terrorism charges Wednesday against Rashid Rauf, a Pakistani-British dual national who was suspected of being a key figure in a plot to blow up airliners over the Atlantic Ocean, his lawyer Hashmat Habib said. An anti-terrorism court found no evidence of terrorism against the suspect: "The court has dropped charges of terrorism against him," Habib told Reuters, adding that Rauf still faced other charges, including impersonation, forging documents and possessing explosives, which a civil court would deal with.(Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Pakistan, India to sign shipping protocol on Dec. 14 KARACHI, Dec. 13 (APP):- Pakistan and India will sign shipping protocol in Delhi on Thursday paving the way for sea trade between the two countries, Federal Miniser for Ports and Shipping, Senator Babar Khan Ghauri said Wednesday. Talking to newsmen before leaving for India, he said that after the signing of the protocol, private ship owners would be allowed to lift cargo from one another's country, and also from and to a third country. He said feasibility study of Bombay Karachi ferry service has been completed and licenses have been issued. The service is likely to commence in February or March next year.Answering another question about Gawadar Port , he said that a Singapore based consortium has submitted the highest bid. Gawadar Port Authority has made recommendations.(Posted @ 13:05 PST)
Cricket-Symonds replaces Martyn in Australia team PERTH, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Australia named all-rounderAndrew Symonds in place of the retired Damien Martyn in their team for the third Ashes test against England starting on Thursday.Squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath. 12th man: Mitchell Johnson.(Posted @ 13:05 PST)
Maoists kill four policemen in central India RAIPUR, India, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Four policemen were shot dead when about 250 Maoist rebels made an abortive bid to attack a refugee camp in central India early on Wednesday, police said. The clash took place just outside a camp housing 1,000 tribal refugees in a forested village of the Dantewada district of impoverished Chhattisgarh state, 480 km south of the state capital, Raipur. Maoists tried to storm the camp but fled after reinforcements reached the area, police said.(Posted @ 12:50 PST)
Islamic tribunal judge killed in Khan Yunes GAZA CITY, Dec 13 (AFP) Armed men early Wednesday killed a judge of an Islamic tribunal in Khan Yunes in the south of the Gaza Strip, a security official said. Bassam al Farah, 45, a member of Hamas, was driving to work when he was targeted by armed men in another vehicle, the official said. Farah was a judge at the Beni Suheila court in Khan Yunes. (FirstPosted @ 11:30 PST, Updated@ 12:20 PST)
Philippine congressman cries foul after car blast MANILA, Dec 13 (APP/AFP) Robert Jaworski, a Philippine congressman who narrowly escaped death Tuesday when his car exploded on a busy Manila street said Wednesday he believed the blast was a deliberate attempt on his life. "It was an assassination attempt," he told reporters.(Posted @ 11:15 PST)
Annan rebukes UN members, quartet on Mideast peace UNITED NATIONS, Dec 13 (Reuters) U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan rebuked General Assembly members as well as leading international players Tuesday for failing to come to grips with the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In his last address on the Middle East to the U.N. Security Council, Annan said a settlement had defied several generations of world leaders and "I, too, will leave office without an end to the prolonged agony." "Mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians has reached new heights," he said. "We need a new and urgent push for peace." Annan chastised supporters of the Palestinians for their criticism of actions by the Security Council, where the United States has vetoed most measures critical of Israel. "Some may feel satisfaction at repeatedly passing General Assembly resolutions or holding conferences that condemn Israel's behavior," Annan said. "But one should also ask whether such steps bring any tangible relief or benefit to the Palestinians." As for the quartet of international advisers, Annan said the group had to engage the parties directly and "be clearer at the outset on the parameters of an end-game deal." He said quartet members - the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - needed to do more to restore faith in its "own serious and effectiveness." At the end of debate, the Security Council issued a statement reaffirming previous ones, such as its support for two separate democratic states living side by side.(Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Dec 13: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 61.05 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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