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| December 18, 2006 | Monday | Ziqa'ad 26, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Musharraf urges votes for pro-development politicians in next elections KHANEWAL, Dec 18 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday said that general elections next year would be a decisive moment in Pakistan's political history. "Voters hold Pakistan's future in their hands and they should support the development-oriented politicians in the next general elections if they want to see their country's march to progress…and prosperity continue unaffected," the president said while addressing a public meeting here. He said the Kalabagh dam would be constructed and completed by 2015. All reservoir projects, including under-execution Bhasha dam and others like Mirani Dam, Subakzai Dam, Munda Dam would be pursued seriously, he added. He reiterated the government's commitment towards fighting terrorism; he said that some so-called champions of Islam were trying to mislead the people by saying that the 80 people killed in Bajaur were not terrorists but children. "They are lying. I have checked the whole thing myself from all aspects and have found that they were terrorists," he said. (First Posted @ 18:28 PST Updated @ 22:44 PST)
Pakistan terms Singh's remarks "positive": FO ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP): Pakistan on Monday termed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks regarding President Musharraf's proposals to resolve the Kashmir issue as "positive" and said that both countries were now discussing the proposals through formal and back channels. Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that the foreign ministers of the two countries will meet in Islamabad on January 13. "They will also review progress on the third round of the composite dialogue between the two countries," she said. Pakistan and Afghanistan have exchanged proposals on how to organize meetings of tribal leaders on both sides of their border, "There is an agreement on the basic concept," Tasnim said. "The effort is to use this traditional institution to establish peace in Afghanistan," she said. She did not elaborate on the proposals. (First Posted @ 18:24 PST Updated @ 19:50 PST)
U.S. Ambassador launches $11.5 million health program for FATA children PESHAWAR, Dec 18 (APP): U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker launched Monday a $11.5 million three-year program to improve child healthcare across FATA here. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Save the Children U.S., the new initiative will deliver a health package for children under the age of five that will cover newborn care and nutrition, immunization and treatment for lung infections and other diseases. (Posted @ 23:02 PST)
British opposition leader claims Iraq war has fueled terror threat LONDON, Dec 18 (AP) Britain's support for the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq has put the public at greater risk of terrorist attacks, the main opposition Conservative party leader David Cameron said Monday. Cameron speaking at the London's Royal United Services Institute, a military think tank, said the Iraq invasion had ``failed in its objectives so badly that the threat to this country is actually greater.'' He also called for Britain to reassess its relationship with the U.S. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Gunmen kill Fatah activist in northern Gaza GAZA, Dec 18 (Reuters) Gunmen killed one activist from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction and wounded three others in northern Gaza on Monday, Fatah sources said. (Posted @ 22:08 PST)
Bush signs US-India nuclear pact WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (AFP) US President George W. Bush on Monday signed a landmark civilian nuclear deal with India. "The United States and India are natural partners," Bush said at a White House signing ceremony, calling the agreement "evidence of the growing bonds of trust between our two countries." (First Posted @ 21:08 PST Updated @ 22:00 PST)
Israelis back in cleared West Bank settlement NABLUS, West Bank, Dec 18 (AFP) A group of 25 Jewish families returned under army escort to a former settlement in the occupied West Bank, Homesh, which was evacuated in 2005, witnesses and Palestinian security sources said Monday. The settlements of Homesh, Sanur, Qadim and Ganim in the northern West Bank were evacuated in August last year during Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. (Posted @ 21:54 PST)
Bangladesh opposition threatens election boycott DHAKA, Dec 18 (AFP) Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina Wajed threatened Monday to boycott next month's general elections as at least 200,000 supporters packed Dhaka to protest. "The atmosphere for free and fair elections has not been created yet. So we will not join elections under this schedule," Hasina told the crowd, and demanded a new date. She threatened to call a nationwide strike on December 21 unless her demands including the total overhaul of the election commission, with the removal of two controversial commissioners, an updated voter list and its publication in all the election booths and the removal of at least 300 election officials appointed during the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government's tenure, were met. Former military strongman Hossain Muhammad Ershad and former president A.Q.M Badruddoza Chowdhury, who leads the Liberal Democratic Party, also addressed the rally and confirmed they were siding with the Awami League in a grand alliance. (First Posted @ 18:20 PST Updated @ 21:50 PST)
Indian soldiers kill three; one soldier commits suicide in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Dec 18 (AP) Indian soldiers on Monday killed three suspected militants in two separate gunbattles in occupied Kashmir, an army spokesman said. Two were killed in the village of Kota Sumlar, where a soldier was also injured. Separately, soldiers killed another suspected militant in Lalpora village, the spokesman added. Also Monday, a 30-year-old soldier committed suicide in Kishtwar town, the army said. Also, the Indian army ordered a probe into the early Sunday killing of a 65-year old village head in Targam village by soldiers, apparently as a result of "mistaken identity". (First Posted @ 20:04 PST Updated @ 21:46 PST)
Arab League calls for crisis talks after Palestinian clashes CAIRO, Dec 18 (AFP) Arab League chief Amr Mussa called Monday for an emergency meeting of foreign ministers aimed at ending the factional fighting in the Palestinian territories, League sources said. After talks with Saudi King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Mussa called for a meeting next Sunday of Arab foreign ministers aimed at resolving the crisis in the Palestinian territories, the sources added. (Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Chinese, Pakistani troops end joint anti-terrorism maneuvers ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec 18 (AP) Pakistan and China pledged to continue cooperation in fighting terrorism Monday, as troops from both countries wrapped up weeklong joint anti-terrorism ``Friendship 2006'' exercises, a statement issued by the Pakistan military said. The exercises were a ``manifestation of our resolve that Pakistan and China stand united to fight and eliminate the menace of terrorism,'' said Lt. Gen. Tariq Majid, commander of Pakistani troops in the region, the statement said. Senior Chinese and Pakistan army generals, who attended the closing ceremony, promised to continue anti-terrorism cooperation in the future, the statement added. (Posted @ 20:42 PST)
Afghan general arrested for alleged spying for Pakistan KABUL, Dec 18 (AFP) Afghan intelligence agents arrested an army general on charges of spying for Pakistan, officials said Monday. General Khair Mohammad was detained within the past week after he was found to be selling information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the press office of the Afghan national intelligence agency said. (Posted @ 19:52 PST)
Doping-ICC back appeal against lifting of Pakistan doping bans KARACHI, Dec 18 (Reuters) The International Cricket Council (ICC) has backed the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) decision to appeal against the lifting of doping bans on Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif. In a statement on Monday ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said "our lawyers...do not believe the ICC has a right of appeal but we will cooperate with WADA and provide it with any assistance it requires". (Posted @ 19:28 PST)
Cricket-Shoaib, Asif and Shabbir summoned to S.Africa tour camp KARACHI, Dec 18 (Reuters) Fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who were cleared of doping charges two weeks ago, have been included in a shortlist of players for Pakistan's tour of South Africa from January. Selectors have also recalled pacer Shabbir Ahmed whose 12-month ban for an illegal bowling action, imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), ends on Tuesday. Twenty-five players have been named on the shortlist, including a second wicketkeeper in Zulqarnain Haider following concerns over the performance of Kamran Akmal. "The players will attend a short conditioning camp in Lahore next week before the final squad is announced," a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman said. (Posted @ 19:25 PST)
Pakistan still maintains principled stance on Kashmir: PM Aziz ISLAMABAD Dec 18 (PPI) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday said that Pakistan’s principled stance on the Kashmir dispute remains unchanged and the issue would be resolved according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people, acceptable to both Pakistan and India. Talking to newsmen here, the prime minister said Pakistan always called for a peaceful and amicable resolution of the issue through dialogue. To a question, Aziz said the government intends to lower the petroleum prices, but only after it has recovered the fifteen billion rupees deficit amount. To another question, Aziz said the government believes in dialogue with political parties, and announced that the Pakistan Muslim League would take part in the next general elections along with its allies. (Posted @ 19:06 PST)
Railway links with Afghanistan, Central Asian Republics soon: Musharraf KHANEWAL, Dec 18 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Monday announced that Pakistan would soon be linked with Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics by rail. He was speaking at a ceremony to inaugurate the 246kms long dual carriageway track from Khanewal to Raiwind. Musharraf lamented the fact that while high speed and modern trains such as bullet trains that can speed up to 300 km/hr were present in many countries, Pakistani trains were still running at a speed of 80 km/hr. He appreciated the completion of the dual carriageway project, through which trains would now be able to run at 140 km/hr. He also expressed his desire to see goods delivered from Karachi to Peshawar by train within 24 hours. (Posted @ 18:22 PST)
Indian politician's son convicted in model murder NEW DELHI, Dec 18 (AFP) An Indian court on Monday convicted Manu Sharma, the son of a Congress party politician for the murder of a young model, Jessica Lal, in a packed New Delhi bar, bringing an end to a seven-year-old scandal. Two other people were found guilty of conspiracy to murder and destruction of evidence, the Press Trust of India news agency said. Sentencing will take place Wednesday. (Posted @ 18:18 PST)
Abbas appeals to Blair to lift Western aid freeze RAMALLAH, West Bank, Dec 18 (AFP) Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas appealed to visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair Monday to help end a Western aid freeze and said he was ready for serious talks with Israel. "We insisted to the prime minister on the need to work to end the economic siege, to reopen crossings, to free Palestinian prisoners including ministers, lawmakers and officials, and to end the expansion of settlements and the wall," Abbas told a joint news conference after talks with Blair. Blair called for a new initiative to support the Palestinians and move towards a two-state solution in the Middle East peace process. (First Posted @ 15:45 PST Updated @ 17:14 PST)
Suicide car bomb in Afghanistan injures two NATO soldiers KABUL, Dec 18 (AFP) A suicide bomber injured two NATO soldiers and damaged a military vehicle in Kandahar province on Monday, the force said. (Posted @ 17:12 PST)
Muslims face discrimination in Europe: report VIENNA, Dec 18 (AFP) Muslims in Europe face discrimination in education, employment and housing and are often victims of verbal abuse and physical attacks, a monitoring group reported Monday. The "Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia" report, published by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) on Monday, said incidents against Muslims were "under-documented and under-reported" and called on European Union countries to improve their methods for reporting racist crimes. (Posted @ 16:58 PST)
India beat South Africa in first Test JOHANNESBURG, Dec 18 (AFP) India beat South Africa by 123 runs on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium Monday to lead a three-match series 1-0. Scores: India 249 and 236. South Africa 84 and 278. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Saddam Hussein's Kurdish genocide trial resumes after an 11-day break BAGHDAD, Dec 18 (AP) Saddam Hussein's trial on genocide charges against the Kurds resumed Monday after an 11-day break. The court was expected to hear more witnesses against the former Iraqi president and six other co-defendants, who have pleaded innocent to charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their alleged roles in a military offensive against the Kurds, codenamed Operation Anfal. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
Iran to replace dollar with euro in foreign deals TEHRAN, Dec 18 (AFP) Iran announced Monday it has ordered the central bank to use euros for foreign transactions and transform the state's dollar-denominated assets held abroad into the single European currency. "The government has ordered the central bank to replace the dollar with the euro to limit the problems of the executive organs in commercial transactions," government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham told reporters. "We will also employ this change for Iranian assets (in dollars) held abroad." "Foreign income sources and oil revenues will be calculated in euros and we will receive them in euros in order to put an end to our dependence on the dollar," Elham said, adding that Iran's budget would in future be calculated in euros. (Posted @ 14:10 PST)
Earthquake kills 7 on Indonesia's Sumatra island JAKARTA, Dec 18 (AP) An earthquake early Monday killed seven people and injured more than 100 others on Indonesia's Sumatra island, witnesses and officials said. The 5.5-magnitude tremor, felt across western and northern parts of the island, destroyed at least 20 houses and damaged scores of others, said a local official. Six people, including two children, were killed by falling debris, while an elderly person died from a heart attack, they said. (First Posted @ 09:20 PST Updated @ 13:00 PST)
Indian minister acquitted of corruption NEW DELHI, Dec 18 (AFP) India's Railways Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav was cleared Monday of amassing unaccounted assets in his former post as chief minister of Bihar state, local media said. A special court set up by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which announced the verdict in Bihar's state capital Patna, also acquitted Yadav's wife in the case. (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Two US troops killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, Dec 18 (AFP) Two US troops - an army soldier and a marine - died from injuries sustained during clashes in Iraq's Al-Anbar province, the military announced Monday. One died Friday and the other Saturday, the military said. (First Posted @ 11:00 PST, Updated @ (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Cricket-England (215) & 350 v Australia (244 & 527-5) - result PERTH, Dec 18 (Reuters) Australia beat England by 206 runs in the third Ashes test at WACA on the fifth day on Monday. 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 350 from 122.2 overs (Alastair Cook 116, Ian Bell 87, Kevin Pietersen 60 not out, Andrew Flintoff 51) (First Posted @ 10:30 PST, Updated @ 12:55 PST)
US-Afghan forces kill four insurgents, capture 10 KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec 18 (AFP) US-led coalition and Afghan troops killed four Taliban militants and arrested 10 suspected "terrorists" in separate raids in Afghanistan, the US military said Monday. The forces "seized an enemy weapons cache containing mines and explosives" in an operation near Sperwan Ghar in Kandahar late Sunday during which four insurgents were killed and three coalition force soldiers wounded, it said in a statement. Coalition troops backed by Afghan army soldiers also detained 10 "suspected terrorists" in the eastern province of Kunar early Monday, the coalition said in another statement. (Posted @ 11:25 PST)
Powell, Democratic leaders reject boosting Iraq troop levels WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (AFP) Former US secretary of state Colin Powell and top Democratic lawmakers rejected reported White House plans to hike US troop levels in Iraq, with Powell calling the US military "about broken" by the pressure on their numbers. Speaking on CBS television's "Face the Nation" program, Powell said he had not seen anything that would justify a reported White House plan to increase US forces in Iraq by 20,000 or more, from the current 140,000. "I am not persuaded that another surge of troops into Baghdad for the purposes of suppressing this communitarian violence, this civil war, will work. ... If I were still chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, my first question to whoever is proposing it (would be), what mission is it these troops are to accomplish?" Meanwhile, top Democratic Senators Harry Reid and Ted Kennedy said US President George W. Bush needs a new strategy for bringing the troops home from Iraq. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)
Cricket- Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 217 runs in second Test WELLINGTON, Dec 18 (AFP) Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 217 runs on the fourth day of the second cricket Test at the Basin Reserve here Monday to tie the two-match series one-all. Set a target of 504 to win, New Zealand were all out for 286 with Daniel Vettori scoring 51 and James Franklin 44. For Sri Lanka Muttiah Muralitharan took six for 87. Scores: Sri Lanka 168 and 365; New Zealand 130 and 286. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 210.47 points: KARACHI, Dec 18: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10341.40, down 210.47 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Dec 18: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 61.1 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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