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| January 15, 2007 | Monday | Zilhaj 24, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
President Musharraf reviews border control measures RAWALPINDI, Jan 15 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday gave directions to install state-of-the-art systems across the Pak-Afghan border to record and document all movements through it. Chairing a high level meeting to review border control measures, the president also directed the ministry of foreign affairs to coordinate with the Afghan government for similar measures on the Afghan side. He gave strict instructions to officials from both FATA and Balochistan government to take all necessary steps to curb the illegal crossings. He also gave directions to reinforce political agents in FATA so that ‘miscreants and the foreign elements’ could be dealt with more effectively. The participants were also briefed of the measures to check illegal activities originating out of Afghan refugee camps and it was decided that steps should be taken through the United Nations for their early repatriation to their homeland. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
India, Pakistan commence Sir Creek joint survey ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 (Agencies): Hydrographers from India and Pakistan on Monday formally began a 20-day joint survey of Sir Creek, a 65 mile-long marshy strip off the Gujarat coast, to finalise maps that would help the two countries demarcate the disputed maritime boundary of the area. The hydrographers met onboard an Indian ship at the Sir Creek and held discussions, officials in Islamabad said. The survey would be conducted on land as well as off the coast to verify the outermost points of the coastline in the disputed area based on the principle of equidistance. This is the second survey being conducted in Sir Creek in as many years. The first survey, conducted last year, covered the horizontal section of the creek. (Posted @ 21:52 PST)
India, Pakistan making progress on Siachen: Indian PM ON BOARD PM's SPECIAL AIRCRAFT, Jan 15 (Agencies) Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, on Monday acknowledged that progress on the Siachen issue was being made by India and Pakistan. "We have to take a holistic view of relations with Pakistan. We have had several rounds of composite dialogue in which Siachen, Sir Creek and other issues figured. We are making progress," he told reporters while returning from the Philippines. "But it will be premature for me to say that we have reached a stage where an agreement is being signed," he said. "The two sides are among other things holding negotiations on the issue of authentication of ground position (in Siachen). There are hopeful features in the present dialogue," Singh said, adding "it is my effort to sustain the momentum." Asked whether the atmosphere was conducive for him to undertake a visit to Pakistan before the SAARC summit in India in April, Singh said the future course of action will be determined after he meets Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who recently visited the country. (Posted @ 21:50 PST)
Govt reduces petrol, diesel prices ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 (APP): The government on Monday announced a reduction in prices of petroleum by rupees 4 per liter and diesel by rupee 1 per liter with immediate effect. The decision was taken here at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The new prices will now become effective at midnight on Monday, according to which petrol will now be sold at 53.70Rs per liter and diesel 37.70Rs per liter. The price of petrol and diesel before the announced reduction was 57.70Rs and 38.73Rs per liter. (First Posted @ 21:45 PST Updated @ 22:40 PST)
Cricket-South Africa cruise to victory CENTURION, South Africa, Jan 15 (AFP) Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis took South Africa to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Pakistan on the fifth day of the first Test at Centurion Park on Monday. Scoreboard: Pakistan 1st innings 313, South Africa 1st innings 417, Pakistan 2nd innings 302, South Africa 2nd innings 199-3 (69-2 overnight, Amla 64 n.o., Kallis 60 n.o.; Asif 14-2-56-2, Hafeez 12-2-36-1) (First Posted @ 19:00 PST Updated @ 22:38 PST)
Factory blaze leaves five dead in Karachi KARACHI, Pakistan Jan 15 (AP) Four firefighters died and 14 were injured Monday in a blaze at a garment factory in Karachi, police and a rescue worker said. The roof of a room collapsed in the factory in the southern port city, trapping the firefighters as they rescued laborers inside, said Karachi Police Chief Tariq Jamil. At least one laborer also died. A rescue worker said 14 firefighters buried in rubble were later rescued. Some were listed in critical condition in a hospital. Other firefighters managed to douse the blaze after extensive efforts. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire. (First Posted @ 19:24 PST Updated @ 23:42 PST)
10 killed in Iraq attacks MOSUL, Iraq, Jan 15 (AFP) Insurgents killed at least 10 people in Iraq Monday, including six in a suicide bombing in the main northern city of Mosul, security officials said. (Posted @ 23:14 PST)
US 'disappointed' by undignified Iraq hangings LUXOR, Egypt, Jan 15 (AFP) US Secretary State Condoleezza Rice expressed “disappointment” Monday with the way in which two of Saddam Hussein's aides were hanged, saying it should have been done with “greater dignity”. Speaking at a press conference with Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit, Rice said that while Monday's pre-dawn execution of Saddam's associates was an Iraqi process, “we were disappointed there was not greater dignity given to the accused under these circumstances”. (Posted @ 23:12 PST)
British soldier killed, several hurt in Afghan violence KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan 15 (AFP) NATO soldiers attacking an insurgent base in Helmand province were engaged from several positions, leaving one British soldier dead and several others wounded, an ISAF statement and the British Ministry of Defense said. Two other ISAF soldiers, said by Afghan police to be Canadians, were wounded in a separate incident Monday when a patrol vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Kandahar province. Afghan security forces and foreign troops stormed a Taliban position in the western province of Farah early Monday, killing two Taliban and wounding another fighter. In the eastern city of Khost, two Afghan civilians were wounded in a bomb blast. In the eastern province of Nangarhar, gunmen shot dead a senior provincial councilor, police said. The United Nations office in the capital Kabul meanwhile reported that a rocket had been fired in the vicinity of one of its compounds in the early hours of the morning, spreading debris but causing no injuries, a US spokesman said. (First Posted @ 11:52 PST Updated @ 23:10 PST)
Cricket-Gibbs banned for two tests for racial slur CENTURION, South Africa, Jan 15 (Reuters) South African Herschelle Gibbs on Monday was banned for two tests for making derogatory comments about Pakistanis during Sunday's play in the first test. Match referee Chris Broad announced the punishment to reporters after a hearing which followed South Africa's seven-wicket win. Cricket South Africa earlier released a statement saying Gibbs would appear at a separate, internal disciplinary hearing. (First Posted @ 17:44 PST Updated @ 22:36 PST)
Police thwart kidnapping at atomic agency's camp ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 (Reuters) Police foiled an attempt to abduct four men working for the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission at a uranium exploration site, and killed three of the kidnappers in a gunfight, a commission official said on Monday. Unidentified gunmen barged into the commission's camp in Karak district of North West Frontier Province on Sunday night and took one officer and three technicians hostage. Police intercepted the vehicles a few kilometres from the site and exchanged fire with kidnappers, killing three of them. The official ruled out the possibility that the gunmen were trying to get hold of nuclear material as the site was in the initial stages of exploration. (Posted @ 22:34 PST)
Bomb blast kills four in Afghan refugee camp NOWSHERA, Jan 15 (Online): At least four persons were killed and five others injured seriously in a bomb blast at an Afghan refugee camp in Jolazai, Nowshera, early Monday, police said. (Posted @ 21:48 PST)
Blair meets Iraqi vice-president in London LONDON, Jan 15 (AFP) British Prime Minister Tony Blair met Iraqi Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi in London on Monday. As the pair met at Blair's Downing Street office, the prime minister's official spokesman said only that they talked about the new US plan for Iraq announced last week. (Posted @ 19:42 PST)
No guarantee of Baghdad success: US commander BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan 15 (AP) There are no guarantees of overall success or quick results in the new U.S.-Iraqi security drive in Baghdad, Gen. George Casey, the U.S. commander in Iraq said on Monday. He told reporters he did not expect significant results until the summer and fall. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who joined Casey at a news conference, declared that there were no deadlines being imposed on the Iraqis to take action against gunmen. Both Casey and Khalilzad also said they had assurances that no areas of Baghdad would be allowed to serve as sanctuaries for gunmen. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Cricket: Pakistan will ring changes: Inzamam CENTURION, South Africa, Jan 15 (AFP) Pakistan captain Inzamam-u-Haq said there would be three or four changes ahead of the second Test against South Africa starting in Port Elizabeth Friday. “We will come back hard,” said Inzamam after Pakistan were beaten by seven wickets on the fifth day of the first Test at Centurion Park Monday. He said Mohammad Yousuf’s comeback to the side would strengthen the batting, while bowler Umar Gul was making good progress. Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is also expected to come into contention. (Posted @ 19:28 PST)
Amnesty slams latest Iraqi hangings LONDON, Jan 15 (AFP) Human rights group Amnesty International condemned Monday the execution of two of Saddam Hussein's aides in Iraq as brutal and cruel, in particular lamenting that one of them was beheaded. “This should have been through a fair trial process and without recourse to the death penalty,” the organization said. (Posted @ 19:26 PST)
Pakistan hopeful of progress on Kashmir issue after talks with India ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan 15 (AP) Pakistan on Monday said its leadership discussed the issue of Kashmir at length during weekend talks with the Indian Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, and hoped for progress in resolving the dispute over the Himalayan region. Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told reporters that “we do hope that there will be some progress for the resolution of this dispute”. (Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Bangladesh elections months away, says cabinet member DHAKA, Jan 15 (AFP) Bangladesh is likely to be in political limbo for months, a cabinet member said Monday. “There are several big demands including introduction of voter identity cards, reconstitution of election commission, preparation of the voters list and depoliticisation of the administration,” interim government member M.A.Matin told reporters. He said the interim government would be holding talks with Bangladesh's main parties -- including the main opposition Awami League of Sheikh Hasina Wajed and the outgoing Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of Khaleda Zia. “If they agree to our plans... it will also help complete our jobs within three or six months without any troubles,” he said.(Posted @ 17:00 PST)
Three Kurdish rebels killed in Turkey clashes DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Jan 15 (AFP) Three militants from the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed late Sunday in fighting with Turkish soldiers in the country's southeast, officials said Monday. (First Posted @ 14:25 PST Updated @ 16:55 PST)
Grenade fired at Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s home in Srinagar SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Jan 15 (AFP) Unknown persons on Monday fired a grenade at the residence of All-Parties Hurriyat Conference’s chairman in Srinagar, but noone was hurt, police said. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was in occupied Kashmir's winter capital of Jammu at the time of attack, police said, adding that security guards deployed at the home fired shots into the air to scare away the attackers. As the news of attack spread, people came out on streets chanting “long live Umar Farooq.” In few areas the protesters clashed with police, witnesses said. (Posted @ 16:24 PST)
Two thousand rally against border controls in Chaman CHAMAN, Pakistan, Jan 15 (AP) About 2,000 tribesmen rallied in the Chaman border town near Afghanistan Monday to protest against the new border control measures including the plan to plant mines and build a fence. ''These measures are not meant to stop Taliban from entering into Pakistan. These steps are aimed at dividing Pashtuns, who live on both sides of the border,'' said Sardar Gillani, a leader the nationalist Awami National Party. (Posted @ 16:01 PST)
Three dead in Mogadishu fighting MOGADISHU, Jan 15 (AFP) At least three people, including a police officer, were killed and several wounded in heavy fighting in Mogadishu, residents said Monday. At least two people died in a gunbattle between government forces and rebels in southern Mogadishu, while the policeman was gunned down when a gang raided a cache of weapons that he was guarding. (FirstPosted @ 12:34 PST, Updated @ 15:11 PST)
Italy, EU condemn Iraq executions ROME, Jan 15 (AFP) European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, meeting here Monday, condemned the execution of two of Saddam Hussein's former aides. The two European leaders reiterated their opposition to the death penalty. (Posted @ 14:34 PST)
Iran eyes at least 3,000 centrifuges at nuclear plant TEHRAN, Jan 15 (AFP) Iran is aiming to install at least 3,000 centrifuges at a key nuclear plant, the government spokesman said Monday, confirming Tehran would make a major announcement on its atomic programme next month. (Posted @ 13:56 PST)
Leopard kills girl in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Jan 15 (AFP) A leopard mauled a 10-year-old girl to death near a village in occupied Kashmir’s southern Anantnag district late Saturday, sparking a protest by the villagers, police said Monday. Leopards, a protected species, have killed three girls and a boy in occupied Kashmir since January. Attacks are more frequent in winter, when the animals leave the high mountains in search of food. Police and wildlife officials are allowed to shoot leopards if they endanger humans. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Bangladesh's national security chief ousted DHAKA, Jan 15 (AFP) Bangladesh's national security chief has been ousted, officials said Monday. “Major General Rezakul Haider Chowdhury has been sent to retirement after he was removed as the director general of National Security Intelligence,” an armed forces spokesman said. No reason for the sacking was given. (Posted @ 11:51 PST)
Two Saddam aides executed BAGHDAD, Jan 15 (AFP) Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Ahmed al-Bandar, two former aides of Saddam Hussein, were executed early Monday, a top Iraqi government official, who requested anonymity, said. Barzan, Saddam's half-brother and former intelligence chief, and Bandar, the former head of the revolutionary court, were found guilty of crimes against humanity for the killing of 148 Shiites from the village of Dujail in 1980s. They were sentenced to death by a special court along with Saddam Hussein. (Posted @ 10:42 PST)
Two US soldiers killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, Jan 15 (AFP) Two US soldiers were killed in and around Baghdad in separate roadside bomb attacks Sunday, the military reported Monday. One soldier was killed from wounds received when a bomb exploded close to his vehicle north of Baghdad, while the other was killed in a separate bomb attack in the centre of the capital. Four other soldiers were wounded. (First Posted @ 09:33 PST, Updated@ 10:31 PST)
Two Palestinians killed by Israeli weapons fire JERUSALEM, Jan 15 (AFP) An Israeli army unit hit and killed two Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip Sunday, a military spokesman said. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Ice storms, snow, floods, tornado wallop US, killing 13 CHICAGO, Jan 15 (AFP) Freezing rain, snow, sleet, flash floods and at least one tornado walloped the United States over the weekend, killing at least 13 people in accidents on slick roads as a storm front blanketed much of the country, local media and authorities said. The storm was expected to continue through at least Tuesday. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 80.39 points: KARACHI, Jan 15: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 10505.85 , up 80.39 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 15: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.98 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
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