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| December 16, 2006 | Saturday | Ziqa'ad 24, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Abbas calls for fresh Palestinian elections RAMALLAH, West Bank, Dec 16 (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday called for fresh parliamentary and presidential elections at the earliest opportunity. But Abbas, in a speech broadcast live on Palestine TV, also said that in the interim period all efforts should be made to form a unity government made up of technocrats. (Posted @ 17:02 PST)
Hamas rejects Abbas call for early elections RAMALLAH, West Bank Dec 16 (Reuters) - Palestinian governing party Hamas on Saturday rejected President Mahmoud Abbas's call to hold early parliamentary and presidential elections. "Our priority is to form a national unity government. It is the only solution. We reject anything which complicates the Palestinian situation," Wasfi Kabha, minister of prisoners affairs, said. (Posted @ 17:04 PST)
Iraq PM invites Saddam-era soldiers to join new army BAGHDAD, Dec 16 (AFP) Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki Saturday invited former members of Iraq's military who served under Saddam Hussein to join the new army. "The Iraqi army opens its doors to officers and soldiers from the former army who wish to serve the country," Maliki told delegates as a national reconciliation conference opened in Baghdad. "The national unity government will pay pensions for those who are not reintegrated," he added. (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Beijing, Washington sign pact to build four nuclear reactors in China BEIJING, Dec 16 (AP) China and the United States on Saturday signed a deal that is meant to pave the way for a US unit to build four civilian nuclear reactors in China. (Posted @ 11:50 PST)
Iran offers Arab states nuclear technology TEHRAN, Dec 16 (AFP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday offered to share Iranian-made nuclear technology with Arab states in the Gulf after they expressed a desire to acquire it, Iranian media reported. "The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to provide its experience and valuable achievements in peaceful nuclear technology as a clean source of energy and as oil replacement to all regional countries," Ahmadinejad told a visiting Kuwaiti envoy, Mohammed Zeyfullah Shirar. (Posted @ 19:36 PST)
Cricket - India (249, 146) v South Africa (84) at the close of play JOHANNESBURG, Dec 16, (AFP) - India took control on the second day of the first Test after bowling out South Africa for 84 at the Wanderers Stadium Saturday. India stretched their overall lead to 311 when they scored 146 for five in their second innings by the close of play. Live Commentary(Posted @ 22:14 PST)
Pakistan beat India to win Blind Cricket World Cup RAWALPINDI, Dec 16 (APP): Defending champions Pakistan retained their title in the 3rd Blind Cricket World Cup with a six wickets victory over India in the final here Saturday. Scores: India 225 for 7 in 40 overs (Subhash 54, Dilip Munday 47 n.o.); Pakistan 226 for 4 in 30 overs (Noor Qureshi 102 not out). There were six run-outs in Indian inning. (Posted @ 20:40 PST)
UAE inches toward reform with first-ever election ABU DHABI, Dec 16 (AFP) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) took a first step toward democratic reform Saturday as it became the last Gulf Arab state to hold elections, but with only a handful of its citizens entitled to vote. First ballots were cast in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, with the elections -- to fill half of the 40 seats in the Federal National Council (FNC) -- to continue on Monday and Wednesday in the country's five other emirates. (First Posted @ 09:35 PST Updated @ 20:24 PST)
Blair discusses Mideast with Mubarak as tension mounts CAIRO, Dec 16 (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair was holding talks in Cairo on Saturday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Before flying to Egypt from Turkey, where he met Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Blair described the coming days and weeks as a "critical moment of decision" for resolving the current stalemate in the peace process. He said it was important to secure a "fully functioning" Palestinian adminstration with which Israel and the rest of the world can deal. (First Posted @ 14:00 PST Updated @ 20:04 PST)
Chinese military, delegation witnesses Pak-China Friendship exercises 2006 RAWALPINDI, Dec 16 (Online): A Chinese Military delegation led by Lieutenant General Lu Dengming, Chief of Staff Chengdu Military Command, arrived here Saturday to witness the ongoing Pak-China Friendship exercises 2006, says an ISPR Press release. The focus of these exercises is planning and conduct of anti-terrorist operations. (Posted @ 19:54 PST)
Hafeez and Akmal pilot Pakistan to series victory against West Indies KARACHI, Pakistan, Dec 16 (AP) _ Opening batsmen Mohammad Hafeez (91) and Kamran Akmal (56) piloted Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory against the West Indies in the fifth and final one-day international here Saturday. Scores: West Indies 238-7; Pakistan 239 for 3. Live Commentary(Posted @ 19:34 PST)
Swiss Cabinet gives go-ahead for surplus arms sales BERNE, Dec 16 (PPI): The Swiss government has authorised the export of war material to Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan. The sales include 20 air defence systems with ammunition to Saudi Arabia valued at SFr375 million ($309.27 million) and 21 air defence systems for Pakistan worth SFr136 million. India wants to buy 140 assault rifles with accessories and spare parts for SFr519,000. (Posted @ 18:24 PST)
33 custodial killings in occupied Kashmir in 2006: Ali Gilani Srinagar, occupied Kashmir, Dec 16 (PPI) Veteran Kashmiri leader, Syed Ali Gilani, rejecting puppet regime's claim that only four custodial killings took place in occupied Kashmir in 2006, insisted that "thirty-three custodial killings have taken place during this year and human rights' abuses continue unabated," reports Kashmir Media Service. Addressing a public meeting at Karan Nagar in Srinagar, Gilani said as a matter of the fact there was an alarming increase in Indian troops' human rights violations in occupied Kashmir. (Posted @ 17:24 PST)
Tanzanian Cabinet minister injured in crash of small plane; 1 dead DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, Dec 16 (AP) _ A small plane crashed through the roof of a house in northern Tanzania on Saturday, killing a news agency photographer and injuring six others, including Tanzanian Cabinet minister Juma Akukweti who was undergoing surgery for burns, police said. No one in the house was believed to be injured. The plane went down just minutes after taking off, Regional Police Commander Suleiman Kova said. (Posted @ 16:58 PST)
Rebel tribesmen surrender in southwest Pakistan QUETTA, Pakistan, Dec 16 (AFP) - A group of about 22 militants belonging to the Marri tribe Saturday surrendered to the authorities with weapons and explosives in the town of Sibbi in Baluchistan province, officials said. The rebels had been hiding at three fugitives camps known as Karmo Wadh, Haftpur and Bangan and had been taking part in anti-state activities, they said. (Posted @ 16:38 PST)
Pakistan's stand on Kashmir 'historical': Maulana Ansari NEW DELHI, Dec 16 (APP): Billing the policy adopted by Pakistan for resolving the Kashmir issue as a "historical step", senior Hurriyat leader Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari has regretted that New Delhi's "unrealistic approach" is becoming an "impediment" to the success of the dialogue process. "The unrealistic approach of India is becoming an impediment to the success of the dialogue process for resolution of the Kashmir dispute," the former Hurriyat Conference chairman told a Friday prayer congregation in Srinagar yesterday. "India should realise the changing global political scenario and accept the reality that Kashmir is a dispute which is pending a resolution," he said and hailed the four-point formula suggested by President Pervez Musharraf as a "practical solution to Kashmir". Those opposing it could "neither be well wishers of Pakistan nor the people of Jammu and Kashmir", he added. (Posted @ 16:15 PST)
Cricket-England (215) & 19-1 v Australia (244) & 527-5 - close PERTH, Dec 16 (Reuters) England were 19 for one in their second innings at the close of play on the third day of the third Ashes test against Australia at the WACA on Saturday. Scores: Australia 244 from 71 overs (Mike Hussey 74 not out; Monty Panesar 5-92, Steve Harmison 4-48) and 527-5 declared from 112 overs (Michael Clarke 135 not out, Mike Hussey 103, Adam Gilchrist 102 not out, Matthew Hayden 92, Ricky Ponting 75; Monty Panesar 3-145) England 215 from 64.1 overs (Kevin Pietersen 70) and 19-1 from 6 overs.Live Commentary (First Posted @ 11:00 Updated @ 15:50 PST)
Cricket-Former president Dalmiya expelled from Indian board CHENNAI, Dec 16 (Reuters) Former president Jagmohan Dalmiya was expelled from the Indian cricket board on Saturday for misappropriation of funds and bringing the board into disrepute, senior board official Rajiv Shukla told NDTV after the special general meeting of BCCI in Jaipur. (Posted @ 15:10 PST)
Iraqi, US forces call air strike during Sadr City raid BAGHDAD, Dec 16 (AFP) Iraqi army special forces and US advisers called in an air strike Saturday and killed a gunman during a raid on Sadr City, the US military said. A US military spokesman said six suspects were detained. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Taliban deny receiving backing from Pakistan SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan, Dec 16 (Reuters) A senior Taliban commander on Saturday denied accusations by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that the group was being sponsored by Pakistan. Hayat Khan said Karzai was trying to hide his own failure and the Taliban movement lived only on the support of ordinary people. Senior U.S. Senator John McCain, visiting Kabul ahead of a trip to Pakistan, on Saturday said "the level of rhetoric needs to be lowered and the level of cooperation needs to be dramatically increased". (Posted @ 13:55 PST)
UN approves office for Palestinian damage claims due to Israeli barrier UNITED NATIONS, Dec 16 (AP) The U.N. General Assembly voted 162-7 to establish an office in Vienna to register Palestinian claims for damage stemming from Israel's construction of a barrier in the West Bank which has divided villages and destroyed orchards, olive groves and homes. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. observer, said establishing the register was just one step toward implementing the court's ruling, and called for the complete dismantling of the wall. (Posted @ 13:40 PST)
U.S. arrests 26 Bosnian Serbs WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) Authorities arrested 26 Bosnian Serbs in the past one week from at least eight U.S. cities and accused a number of them of taking part in the 1995 massacre of 8,000 Muslims in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, The Washington Post reported on Saturday. The suspects had allegedly concealed their service in the Bosnian Serb military when they had applied for refugee status, the newspaper added. (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Israeli troops kill Palestinian man NABLUS, West Bank, Dec 16 (Reuters) Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian man during a raid in the occupied West Bank town of Nablus on Saturday, local medical officials said. (Posted @ 12:55 PST)
Windstorm leaves a million without power, kills six in US SEATTLE, Dec 16 (AP) The worst windstorm in more than a decade tore through the northwestern U.S. including Seattle city, leaving more than a million people without power and killing at least six until late Friday. (Posted @ 12:10 PST)
One NATO soldier killed, two wounded in Afghanistan blast KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec 16 (AP) A roadside blast killed one NATO soldier and wounded two others in Mehtar Lam district of the eastern Laghman province on Friday, an alliance statement said Saturday. (Posted @ 11:50 PST)
Bhutan's king hands over power to son GUWAHATI, India, Dec 16 (AFP) The king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, abdicated in favour of his son, Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck the state-run Kuensel newspaper said Saturday. (Posted @ 11:15 PST)
Cricket-Sri Lanka 225-5 v New Zealand in second innings at close of play WELLINGTON, Dec 16, 2006 (AFP) Scoreboard at close of the second day of the second cricket Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka here Saturday: Sri Lanka 1st innings 268 (K. Sangakkara 156 n.o., C. Silva 61; Martin 3-50, Vettori 3-53), New Zealand 1st innings 130 (McCullum 43; Malinga 18-4-68-5, Muralitharan 12.1-3-31-4); Sri Lanka 2nd innings 225-5 (Silva 79 n.o.; Vettori 31-5-101-3).Live Commentary (Posted @ 11:15 PST)
NASA fails to budge stuck solar array on ISS HOUSTON, Texas, Dec 16 (AFP) Despite all the vibrations of a German astronaut exercising, a solar array on the International Space Station remained stuck and could require a fourth spacewalk to fold it away, NASA said late Friday. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Nepal parties, Maoists finalize interim constitution KATHMANDU, Dec 16 (AFP) Nepal's ruling coalition and Maoists agreed on an interim constitution early Saturday that paves the way for the rebels to join government and will see King Gyanendra's powers as head of state transferred to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala until an interim period that ends on mid-2007, officials said. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
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