|
|
| December 29, 2006 | Friday | Zilhaj 07, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Muslim pilgrims pray at Jebal Rahmah in key hajj ritual MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia, Dec 29 (AP) Nearly three million pilgrims prayed Friday on the desert mountain Jebal Rahmah, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon, seeking forgiveness of their sins in a key ritual of the annual hajj pilgrimage. Addressing pilgrims in a sermon at Mount Arafat, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz warned against staging political demonstrations and called on Muslims to unite. After sunset Friday, the pilgrims will move to the nearby plain of Muzdalifah, where they will spend the night and pick stones for the next major rite: the symbolic stoning of the devil. (First Posted @ 17:22 PST Updated @ 22:52 PST)
Pakistan military destroy ‘miscreant’ bunkers in Balochistan QUETTA, Pakistan, Dec 29 (AFP) Pakistani troops backed by at least eight military helicopters early Friday morning destroyed several bunkers of tribal militants in the mountainous Zain Koh area, security officials said. No official comment was immediately available. A purported spokesman for the tribal militants, Wadera Alam, said the tribesmen suffered no casualties. Alam claimed that one helicopter fell during the raid and about a dozen people were "believed killed." In another incident on Friday, police arrested a tribal militant wanted over bomb blasts, and killed his accomplice in a clash on the outskirts of Quetta, police said. (Posted @ 22:56 PST)
President Musharraf meets US Army chief ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (Agencies): President General Pervez Musharraf met the US Army Chief of Staff General Schoomaker on Friday morning. The President and the US General discussed the war against terrorism, Pak-US cooperation and the current situation in Afghanistan at length in their meeting, sources said. (Posted @ 19:54 PST)
Government to provide funds for development of country: PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (Agencies): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday said that the government would provide all necessary funds for the development of the country. He was talking to Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Federal Minister for Political Coordination Engr. Amir Muqaam, who had called on him at the PM house in the afternoon. The law and order situation, overall political environment in the country and organisational matters of PML in NWFP were discussed in the meeting. (Posted @ 23:12 PST)
US cancels defense lawyers meeting with Saddam AMMAN, Dec 29 (AFP) US authorities cancelled a planned meeting on Saturday between Iraqi ex-president Saddam Hussein and his defense team, Saddam’s lawyer said on Friday. (Posted @ 23:10 PST)
US panel to review China-Iran deal, decide on potential sanctions WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (AFP) A US congressional committee will review a Chinese-Iranian deal to determine if US sanctions are called for against the Chinese company involved in the 16-billion-dollar gas deal, a US lawmaker said Friday. (Posted @ 23:08 PST)
Two Iranians held by US in Iraq freed BAGHDAD, Dec 29 (AFP) Two Iranians being held by US forces in Iraq were released early Friday and handed over to Iranian officials in Baghdad, Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Hasan Kazemi Qomi, said. (Posted @ 23:04 PST)
Cricket-India set to make 354 to win second Test against South Africa DURBAN, South Africa, Dec 29 (AFP) Scoreboard at close on the fourth day of the second Test between South Africa and India at Kingsmead here Friday: South Africa first innings 328, India first innings 240, South Africa second innings 265-8 (de Villiers 47, Smith 58, Pollock 63; Sreesanth 19-4-79-4), India second innings 38-2 (Jaffer 22 n.o., Tendulkar 0 n.o., Ntini 6-2-14-2). (Posted @ 22:16 PST)
Mirwaiz calls for ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir SRINAGAR, Dec 29 (Agencies): Hurriyat Conference chief Mirwaiz Umer Farooq Friday asked New Delhi to declare a ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, and said the Hurriyat would hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh if asked. He blamed the bureaucracy in New Delhi for the deadlock in talks. Although there are similarities in the Irish peace process and the Kashmir issue, the two issues are unique, he said. "At least the vicious cycle of violence in Ireland has come to a halt. The government of India should declare a ceasefire in the state so that people can feel the change," he said. (Posted @ 20:08 PST)
Somali PM arrives in Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Dec 29 (AFP) Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi on Friday entered the capital Mogadishu while thousands of people protested the presence of Ethiopian troops in the city, correspondents reported. (Posted @ 19:52 PST)
Suicide attack on Iraq mosque kills nine BAGHDAD, Dec 29 (AFP) A suicide attack in a mosque in the town of Khalis north of Baghdad just after Friday prayers killed at least nine people, including the prayer leader, and wounded eight others, officials said. A defence ministry official confirmed the attack but gave a higher casualty toll, saying that 10 people had been killed and 15 wounded. (Posted @ 19:50 PST)
No one can prevent Saddam execution: Maliki BAGHDAD, Dec 29 (AFP) No one can prevent Saddam Hussein's execution, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told the families of some of the ousted dictator's victims Friday. "Those who reject the execution of Saddam are undermining the dignity of Iraq's martyrs," Maliki said. (Posted @ 19:48 PST)
Pakistan name Test squad for South Africa tour KARACHI, Dec 29 (AFP) Pakistan on Friday announced a 17-man squad to play three Test matches on their tour of South Africa starting next month. The team for one Twenty20 and five one-day internationals which follow the Tests would be named later, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced. Mohammad Asif was included in the squad but Shoaib Akhtar, the other paceman involved in the doping scandal, was left out due to lack of match fitness. Pakistan's Test squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Kamran Akmal, Zulqarnain Haider, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria, Shahid Nazir, Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami. (Posted @ 17:20 PST)
Saddam lawyers told to pick up his effects BAGHDAD, Dec 29 (Reuters) Saddam Hussein's lawyers have been asked to pick up his personal effects but Iraq's Justice Ministry denied it had taken custody of the former president and dismissed a U.S. suggestion he would hang as early as Saturday. Asked about comments from the defence lawyer that Saddam had been handed over, Deputy Justice Minister Bosho Ibrahim said: "This is not true. He is still with the Americans." He also dismissed a remark by a senior U.S. official who said there were plans to send Saddam to the gallows as early as Saturday. The ministry, which is in charge of implementing court rulings, would not execute Saddam before Jan. 26, he said. (First Posted @ 14:25 PST Updated 14:50 PST)
Taliban will never accept defeat in Afghanistan: Mullah Omar KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec 29 (AFP) Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar called Friday on his fighters to avoid harming civilians in Afghanistan in an anti-government insurgency he said would never accept defeat. In a message on the eve of Eid al-Adha festival, he said: "We must be more cautious and careful in focusing the target. We should have friendly and sincere relations with our own Muslim people." (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
One killed, three hurt by roadside bomb in occupied Kashmir NEW DELHI, Dec 29 (AFP) One person was killed and three others injured Friday when a powerful roadside bomb exploded in Srinagar’s neighbourhood of Hawal and about 200 metres from an army camp in occupied Kashmir, police said. "The IED (improvised explosive device) was planted by militants, apparently to target the nearby camp," police said. (Posted @ 14:24 PST)
More than 10 Taliban killed in clash with NATO and Afghan forces KABUL, Dec 29 (AP) NATO and Afghan forces killed more than 10 Taliban fighters during a clash in southern Afghanistan’s Khost province late Thursday, police said Friday. (Posted @ 11:25 PST)
Israeli army killed 660 Palestinians in 2006: Israeli rights group JERUSALEM, Dec 29 (AFP) An Israeli human rights association said Thursday that 660 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army in 2006 - three times more than in 2005. B'Tselem, which monitors human rights in the Palestinian territories, said that 141 of those killed were minors and that at least 322 of the victims had taken no part in fighting against Israeli forces. According to the B'Tselem figures, which do not include December, 9,075 Palestinians, including 345 minors, are being held in Israeli jails. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
Israeli guards wounded in West Bank shooting JERUSALEM, Dec 29 (AFP) Two Israeli guards were shot and lightly wounded Thursday in a Palestinian attack in the West Bank, west of Ramallah, an Israeli military source said. (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
Unchanged Australian team for fifth Ashes Test SYDNEY, Dec 29 (AFP) The Australian team named Friday for the fifth and final Ashes Test against England starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne (12th man to be named). (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 17.96 points: KARACHI, Dec 29: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10040.50, down 17.96 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:05 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Dec 29: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.63 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 10:00 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
Editor: Abbas Nasir
The DAWN Group of Newspapers
Haroon House, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Karachi 74200, Pakistan.
Phone:+92 (21) 111-444-777 Fax: +92 (21) 569-3995
webmaster@dawn.com
Make sure to reload these pages so you're viewing the current version.
|
|
|
Contributions |