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| January 19, 2007 | Friday | Zilhaj 28, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
President Musharraf meets APHC leaders ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday received the visiting Kashmiri leaders, including the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, Abdul Ghani Bhatt and Bilal Ghani Lone here. The president discussed the efforts being made by Pakistan for a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. The composite dialogue and the peace process between India and Pakistan as well as the recent visit of the Indian Foreign Minister were also discussed in the meeting. The president reaffirmed Pakistan's support for the Kashmiri cause and appreciated the efforts of the APHC leadership under the Mirwaiz. Chairman APHC Mir Waiz thanked the president for Pakistan's support and appreciated his ideas for a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute. The president also condemned the recent attack on the Mirwaiz’s house. (Posted @ 22:02 PST)
APHC leaders meet PML leadership ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (APP) President Pakistan Muslim League(PML-Q), Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, on Friday said that the time had come to take “unpopular” decisions to resolve the core issue of Kashmir and safeguard rights of its inhabitants. Talking to the media after a breakfast meeting with the Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat and Bilal Lone here, Shujaat said PML was advocating a peaceful solution of Kashmir issue. The Mirwaiz said PML had been projecting the cause of the Kashmiris since the days of Quaid-e-Azam. He said that all political parties in Pakistan were united on the issue and were extending their full support to the Kashmir cause. He expressed the hope of a day when all artificial boundaries will be removed and Kashmiris will be able to live according to their free will. “It is a natural process and no one can stop it”, the Mirwaiz added. Bhat on the occasion said there is a need for flexibility by the leadership of India to resolve the Kashmir issue. (Posted @ 21:38 PST)
At least 10 killed in Iraqi violence BAGHDAD, Jan 19 (AFP) At least 10 Iraqis were killed Friday in violence across the country, while the bodies of 17 others were found in various districts of Baghdad, security sources said. Three policemen were killed and four wounded during a firefight with gunmen near Iskandiriyah, south of the Iraqi capital. Another police officer died and a colleague was wounded when a bomb exploded neaxt to their patrol in Karrada, central Baghdad. Three mortar rounds struck different districts of the capital, meanwhile, killing three people and wounding seven, while a civilian was also killed in crossfire between police and insurgents near the southern district of Bayaa. (Posted @ 22:24 PST)
Cricket-Sensational Shoaib gives Pakistan the edge PORT ELIZABETH, Jan 19 (AFP) Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar made a sensational return to Test cricket as wickets tumbled on the first day of the second Test against South Africa at St George's Park Friday. Shoaib took four for 26 as South Africa were bowled out for 124, their lowest total against Pakistan. But Makhaya Ntini hit back for South Africa, taking four for 18 as Pakistan stumbled to 135 for six at the close. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Greek court rejects request to extradite Pakistani ATHENS, Jan 19 (AFP) A Greek court on Friday threw out a request by Pakistan to have a leading member of Greece's Pakistani community extradited to Islamabad for alleged people trafficking, a judicial official said. Javied Aslam, the 38-year-old head of the Unity community of Pakistanis resident in Greece, had criticized the Greek police for arresting and illegally questioning Pakistanis for their suspected role in the public transport bombings in London in July last year. On Friday, the Athens appeals court unanimously decided to reject Pakistan's extradition request. Aslam has lodged a request for political asylum in Greece. (Posted @ 22:06 PST)
Around 2,000 stage rally against compromises in Kashmir plan ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (Reuters) Around 2,000 people staged a rally in Islamabad on Friday, saying they won’t accept any plan that compromises the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people. (Posted @ 22:04 PST)
Pakistan's Musharraf to visit five Arab countries ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (AFP) President Pervez Musharraf is to visit five Middle East countries to discuss the regional situation, the foreign ministry announced Friday. Musharraf, who leaves on the tour Saturday will visit the capitals of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and on his way back will go to the United Arab Emirates. Musharraf will hold talks with the leaders of the five countries on the “grave situation in the Middle East and the dangers facing the Islamic world,” the ministry said in a statement. Citing the Palestinan-Israeli tensions and the situation in Iraq and Lebanon, the statement said that circumstances call for a “strong political and diplomatic initiative on the part of the Muslim countries.” N 07 (Posted @ 21:44 PST)
Extra US troops to stay in Iraq until at least June: general TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq, Jan 19, (AFP) US troop reinforcements will stay in Iraq until at least June, outgoing coalition commander General George Casey said Friday, welcoming the early progress of a new US strategy. (Posted @ 20:18 PST)
Asian Games-PM summons Pakistan sports chiefs ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (AFP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has summoned top sports chiefs to explain the country's poor performance at last month's Asian Games, an official said Friday.The meeting scheduled for January 22 will be attended by Sports Minister Shamim Haider, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) chief Arif Hasan and other officials, POA secretary Abdul Khalid Khan said. Pakistan just managed a silver and three bronze medals in the Doha Games, far below from their one gold, six silvers and six bronzes won in Busan, South Korea in 2002. (Posted @ 19:04 PST)
Battle for Sri Lanka town kills 376 COLOMBO, Jan 19 (AFP) At least 45 Sri Lankan soldiers and 331 Tiger guerrillas were killed in the battle for a key rebel stronghold which fell into government hands Friday, the defence ministry said. After weeks of fighting, security forces took control of the town of Vakarai, the main bastion of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the district of Batticaloa, the ministry said. (Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Cricket: Australia defeat England by four wickets BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 19 (AFP) Australia defeated England by four wickets in their one-day international triangular series match at the Gabba here Friday. Brief scores: Australia 156 for six (Michael Hussey 46 not out, Jon Lewis 4-36) bt England 155 (Mal Loye 36, Glenn McGrath 3-24, Nathan Bracken 3-24). Live Commentary(Posted @ 18:40 PST)
US Defense Secretary visits Basra BASRA, Iraq, Jan 19 (AFP) US Defense Secretary Robert Gates met British and US commanders Friday in a surprise visit to Basra to review the military situation in Iraq. (Posted @ 18:38 PST)
Pentagon unveils new Guantanamo trial guidelines WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (AFP) The Pentagon unveiled new guidelines for trials of “war on terror” detainees that will allow hearsay and coerced information to be introduced as evidence if a judge considers it credible. The rule handbook, presented to Congress on Thursday, will apply to the special tribunals at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba set up to try the “enemy combatants” being held at the site. (Posted @ 17:24 PST)
Golf-Hurd opens up five-shot lead in Pakistan KARACHI, Jan 19 (AFP) England's Simon Hurd blasted a seven-under-par 65 to open up a five-stroke lead early in the Pakistan Open's second round on Friday. Hurd was 11-under-par 133 after two rounds, ahead of Australian rookie Shane Baxter and Sweden's Olle Nordberg as play continued. (Posted @ 16:56 PST)
Six British soldiers wounded in southern Iraq BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan 19 (AP) A rocket attack struck a British military base in the southern city of Basra late Thursday, wounding six soldiers, a military spokeswoman said Friday. (Posted @ 14:40 PST)
Bush renews freeze on bin Laden assets WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (AFP) US President George W. Bush on Thursday renewed for one year an asset freeze on Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda network among other groups. In a letter to key US lawmakers explaining the move, Bush cited “grave acts of violence committed by foreign terrorists that disrupt the Middle East peace process.” “Terrorist groups continue to engage in activities that have the purpose or effect of threatening the Middle East peace process and that are hostile to United States interests in the region,” he said. (Posted @ 14:40 PST)
Blasts rock Indonesian town PALU, Indonesia, Jan 19 (AFP) Explosions rocked the Indonesian town of Poso Thursday but caused no casualties or damage, police said Friday. (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Sadr aide captured in Baghdad raid BAGHDAD, Jan 19 (AFP) Iraqi and US troops in a pre-dawn raid near Sadr City captured Friday Sheikh Abdul Hadi al-Darraji, an aide of Moqtada al-Sadr, accusing him of heading an illegal armed group and of ties to feared Shiite militiaman Abu Deera, Sadr movement and security officials said. They also killed one of the guards and arrested four others. The US military also said its troops and Iraqi forces had killed 44 insurgents and arrested 172 other suspects in the city of Ramadi during a month-long operation. (Posted @ 14:28 PST)
Israel transfers 100 mln dlrs to Palestinians JERUSALEM, Jan 19 (AFP) Israel transferred on Friday 100 million dollars in frozen funds to the Palestinian Authority in an effort to bolster president Mahmud Abbas's moderate camp, a senior Israeli official said. (Posted @ 14:25 PST)
More than 60 feared drowned in India boat capsize HYDERABAD, India, Jan 19 (Reuters) More than 60 people returning home from a Hindu festival in southern India were feared drowned after their overcrowded boat with more than 70 people capsized and sank while crossing a river Thursday, police said Friday. The accident occurred on the Krishna river in Mehboobnagar district of Andhra Pradesh state, 180 km southwest of the state capital, Hyderabad. Sixty six people, including 36 women and children, were missing and feared drowned, the district police chief said. Divers and helicopters were scouring the river for bodies. The boat sank 100 metres from the bank in deep water. “So far we have recovered the bodies of 13 people including a woman and two children,” the district police chief said. (Posted @ 11:18 PST)
US lawmakers demand Bush ask Congress before attacking Iran WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (AFP) US lawmakers on Thursday demanded President George W. Bush win approval from Congress before using military force against Iran, even as officials again denied that any attacks are in the cards. Legislation calling on Bush to obtain congressional backing before any military strike against Iran was put to the US House of Representatives as Defence Secretary Robert Gates visited the Middle East seeking to line up support against Tehran. Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Barack Obama introduced legislation Thursday to cap the number of US troops in Iraq. Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Obama said US troop strength should not exceed the 132,000 troops in Iraq on January 10, adding that his measure would also call for the gradual redeployment of US troops from the region “within two to four months.” ”This measure would stop the escalation of the war in Iraq,” he said. (Posted @ 11:02 PST)
US nuclear negotiator says no deal reached in Berlin talks SEOUL, Jan 19 (AFP) US nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill said Friday his talks with his North Korean counterpart in Berlin this week were useful but denied a report from Pyongyang that an agreement had been reached. Earlier Friday a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said a “certain agreement” was reached at the Berlin talks. “I'm sorry, I'm not really sure what he's referring to. We had very useful discussions,” Hill told reporters on arrival in South Korea adding that he expects the next round of six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear programme to be held “pretty soon.” (First Posted @ 09:16 PST, Updated@ 10:43 PST)
Ex-military ruler rules out coup in Bangladesh DHAKA, Jan 19 (AFP) Bangladesh's army is unlikely to step in again this time despite the country's raging political unrest, its former military ruler says. In an interview with AFP, retired general Hussain Mohammad Ershad, who grabbed power in a bloodless coup in 1982 and ruled the nation until 1990, said the army would not want to risk its lucrative and prestigious role as the largest provider of UN peacekeeping troops. Bangladesh is currently under a state of emergency and tens of thousands of troops have been called out by the president to restore order after months of political violence. (Posted @ 10:42 PST)
Bush taps career diplomat as new Afghanistan ambassador WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (AFP) US President George W. Bush has chosen career diplomat William Wood, currently the US ambassador to Colombia, to be the new US ambassador to Afghanistan, the White House said Thursday. Wood's nomination is subject to US Senate approval. (Posted @ 09:41 PST)
US rejects claims of Maliki rift WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (AFP) The US administration is working to put its relationship with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki back on track, dispelling rumours of growing resentment over the situation in Iraq. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Thursday said she was “sorry” if Maliki was offended by her comment that his government was on “borrowed time.” Also White House spokesman Tony Snow said “the president is absolutely resolute and steadfast in his support of this government.” (Posted @ 09:18 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 0.60 points: KARACHI, Jan 19: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 10641.31, up 0.60 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 19: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.92 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
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