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| January 23, 2007 | Tuesday | Muharram 03, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Musharraf calls for new Mideast initative AMMAN, Jan 23 (AFP) President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday called for a “strong initiative” to restore stability in the Middle East, after talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II. Musharraf said and the king “discussed the situation facing the Muslim ummah (nation), particularly in the context of the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, and its implications for all of us”. Talks focused on “the unresolved Palestinian issue” as well as violence and political tensions in Iraq and Lebanon, he said before leaving Jordan for Syria ahead of a wrapping up a regional tour in the United Arab Emirates. “At the same time there is the serious challenge in the shape of our common fight against terrorism and extremism,” Musharraf said. “President Musharraf shares our sense of urgency that another opportunity not be missed to reach a lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict,” the king said. The two leaders also discussed Afghanistan and “the importance of finding a diplomatic solution to tensions over Iran's nuclear capabilities”, he added. (First Posted @ 17:52 PST Updated @ 19:10 PST)
Gwadar port to provide world class facilities:PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, Jan 23 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday said that the Gwadar port in Balochistan will provide world class shipping facilities. Talking to the state television after presiding over a meeting of the Gwadar Policy Board, he said, “we took some important decisions including the agreement to give concessions to the Singapore Port Authority for operating the Gwadar port.” (Posted @ 22:26 PST)
President Musharraf leaves for Abu Dhabi DAMASCUS (Syria), Jan 23 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday left for Abu Dhabi on the last leg of his five-nation visit of the Middle East countries. He was seen off at Damascus International Airport by President Bashar al-Assad. (Posted @ 22:12 PST)
Pakistan, Syria stress resolution of Palestinian dispute DAMASCUS (Syria), Jan 23 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday held an in-depth discussion in which they called for an early resolution of the Palestinian issue to end tension in the Middle East. President Musharraf urged the need for unity and harmony within the Muslim world. Musharraf said there is a common perception that the Palestine issue is at the heart of tension and conflict in the region, requiring a strong political and diplomatic initiative to resolve it. President Bashar agreed that collective efforts are needed by the Muslim countries for an early resolution to the dispute. (Posted @ 22:08 PST)
Lebanon struggling with environmental impact of war: UN BERLIN, Jan 23 (AFP) Lebanon is still contaminated by toxic and hazardous substances unleashed by Israel in last year's conflict and needs coordinated international aid to recover, the UN Environment Program said Tuesday. “War-related debris, cluster bombs on farmland, toxic waste -- the result of bomb damage and fires at industrial facilities -- and the widespread damage to water and sewage systems require urgent remedial action,” UNEP executive director Achim Steiner told reporters in Berlin. (Posted @ 21:10 PST)
Iran won't be allowed to control Gulf: US DUBAI, Jan 23 (AFP) The US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns warned on Tuesday that Washington will not allow Iran to “control” the Gulf and was sending a second aircraft carrier battle group to stop Tehran's muscle-flexing. “The Middle East is not a region to be dominated by Iran. The Gulf is not a body of water to be controlled by Iran, and the interests that all of us have in stability, in the free flow of oil and gas from this region, have to be met,” Burns said in Dubai. Burns said the United States was “not seeking a war” with Tehran, but also ruled out negotiations with Iran unless it met the “international community request” to suspend uranium enrichment work. (Posted @ 21:08 PST)
Three Frenchmen kidnapped in West Bank NABLUS, West Bank, Jan 23 (AFP) Three Frenchmen were kidnapped on Tuesday in the northern West Bank town of Nablus, witnesses said. The Al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigades claimed responsibility for the kidnappings. 7 (Posted @ 21:06 PST)
One dead in northeast India violence GUWAHATI, India, Jan 23 (AFP) One person was killed and fourteen injured in three attacks in India's northeast Assam state, police said Tuesday. Meanwhile the United States, Australia and Britain issued warnings to their nationals, accompanied by advice not to travel to Assam. (Posted @ 21:04 PST)
British doctors eye opium from Afghanistan LONDON, Jan 23 (AFP) Britain's state-run hospitals could benefit from opium produced in Afghanistan to make up for shortfalls of painkillers, doctors reportedly said Tuesday. The British Medical Association (BMA) told the British Broadcasting Corp that the state-run National Health Service could overcome part of its own shortage of painkillers by turning to Afghan farmers. A senior official at the BMA said a lack of manufacturers as well as a move led by the US not to use the drugs from Afghanistan had contributed to the shortage. (Posted @ 21:02 PST)
Three US troops killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, Jan 23 (AFP) Three more US troops were killed in Iraq, the American military announced on Tuesday. A marine was killed Sunday during an operation south of Baghdad, and a soldier died Monday in similar circumstances in the western province of Anbar, a military statement said. North of the Iraqi capital, a US military policeman was killed Monday by a roadside bomb, a separate statement said. (First Posted @ 13:47 PST Updated @ 21:00 PST)
Three Indian policemen killed in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Jan 23 (AFP) Three Indian policeman were killed on Tuesday and five hurt in a roadside bombing in the village of Sangam, about 35 kilometers south of Srinagar, police said. A police vehicle and three residential houses were also damaged in the attack. Earlier, a border guard was hurt in a grenade attack in northern Bandipora town, police said. Security forces detected and defused a roadside bomb in the same town on Tuesday morning, police added. Meanwhile the Hurriyat Conference on Tuesday called for a “total strike” on January 26. “We don't have any complaint against the people of India, but when their troops are committing atrocities against Kashmiris how do they expect us to participate in their celebrations (India's Republic Day)?” a statement said. (First Posted @ 17:44 PST Updated @ 20:58 PST)
Homeless Pakistan quake survivors to get winter aid ISLAMABAD, Jan 23 (AFP) Aid agencies said Tuesday they had launched an operation to help thousands of vulnerable survivors in earthquake-hit Pakistan survive a second harsh Himalayan winter. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said it was distributing winterized tents, blankets and plastic sheeting to some 5,000 people in devastated Azad Kashmir. (Posted @ 20:14 PST)
Indian foreign minister meets Afghan president KABUL, Jan 23 (AFP) Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee met President Hamid Karzai Tuesday to formally invite Afghanistan into a South Asian grouping after witnessing the signing of a million-dollar agreement on building the Afghan government. (Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Pakistan summons US, British envoys over border killing ISLAMABAD, Jan 23 (AFP) Pakistan on Tuesday said it had summoned the US and British envoys after coalition forces in Afghanistan killed a Pakistani soldier and wounded two others in cross-border fire. US Ambassador Ryan Crocker and British High Commissioner Robert Brinkley were called to the Pakistani foreign office separately and a “strong protest” was lodged with coalition authorities, an official statement said. “They were told that the coalition authorities should investigate the incident and ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future,” the foreign office statement said. The diplomats expressed “deep regrets and said that the incident was being investigated,” it added. (Posted @ 19:08 PST)
'Chemical Ali' defiant as Iraq genocide trial resumes BAGHDAD, Jan 23 (AFP) Saddam Hussein's cousin “Chemical Ali” defied Iraqi court officials on Tuesday by refusing to make a statement at the genocide trial in Baghdad of six former regime officials. “I have no testimony to present to the court unless I am given the chance to see my lawyer,” said Ali Hassan al-Majid. (Posted @ 17:48 PST)
Seventeen Palestinians abducted in Baghdad: UNHCR GENEVA, Jan 23 (AFP) Seventeen Palestinian men were abducted from their Baghdad apartment by men in Iraqi police uniform on Tuesday morning, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said. “Palestinians are increasingly targeted for killings, kidnapping, harassment and other abuses,” the spokesman said, adding that it was very difficult for them to move around the country because of a lack of documentation. (Posted @ 17:46 PST)
At least 15 wounded by gunshots in Lebanon protests BYBLOS, Lebanon, Jan 23 (AFP) At least 15 people were wounded when gunmen fired at protestors trying to block roads on Tuesday during opposition street demonstrations across Lebanon, police said. (First Posted @ 10:04 PST Updated @ 17:42 PST)
Pakistan police arrest Lashkar-e-Jhangvi chief KARACHI, Pakistan, Jan 23 (AP) Police arrested the chief of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group in Karachi, a senior local official said Tuesday. Mohammed Ali, also known as Mama, was accused in the slayings of at least two clerics. (Posted @ 17:40 PST)
Cricket-New Zealand thrash England SYDNEY, Jan 23 (Reuters) New Zealand beat England by 90 runs in their tri-series one-day international at Adelaide Oval Tuesday. Scores: New Zealand 210 all out from 50 overs (Jacob Oram 86; Andrew Flintoff 4-21); England 120 all out from 37.5 overs (Ed Joyce 47; Daniel Vettori 4-24) (Posted @ 15:56 PST)
Eight killed in Iraq violence BAGHDAD, Jan 23 (AFP) Eight people were killed in Baghdad and the northern Iraqi city of Mosul Tuesday, security and medical sources said. Five policemen died and three were wounded in firefights with gunmen in the southern districts of Mosul. In Baghdad, two people were killed and five wounded when a car bomb blasted in Karrada district, sources in the interior ministry and hospital sources said. Another car bomb in the central Sheikh Omar district killed one person and wounded four. (Posted @ 14:17 PST)
India's court stays former cricketer Sidhu's conviction in road rage killing case NEW DELHI, Jan 23 (AP) India's highest court suspended the conviction of former cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu Tuesday, allowing him to contest a seat in India's Parliament, a news report said. The Supreme Court made the decision in response to a petition filed by Sidhu challenging a three-year jail term handed to him by a lower court over a road rage killing 18 years ago.(Posted @ 12:55 PST)
Eight killed, 28 hurt in occupied Kashmir truck crash SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Jan 23 (AFP) Eight members of a marriage party were killed and 28 others injured Monday when a truck they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Udhampur district in occupied Kashmir, police said. “Before landing at the bottom of the gorge the truck hit many boulders as it rolled down,” a police spokesman said. (Posted @ 12:33 PST)
Australian Open results MELBOURNE, Jan 23 (AFP) Results from day nine of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park here Tuesday (x denotes seeding). Men's singles (Quarter-final): Andy Roddick (USA x6) bt Mardy Fish (USA) 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. Women's singles (Quarter-finals): Nicole Vaidisova (CZE x10) bt Lucie Safarova (CZE) 6-1, 6-4; Serena Williams (USA) bt Shahar Peer (ISR x16) 3-6, 6-2, 8-6. (Posted @ 12:29 PST)
More than 600 Sadr militiamen detained in Iraq BAGHDAD, Jan 23 (AFP) More than 600 militiamen loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr and 16 of their top leaders have been detained by Iraqi and US forces in Iraq, the US military said Tuesday. (Posted @ 12:12 PST)
Suicide bomber kills 10 people, wounds 14 outside U.S. base in eastern Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan 23 (AP) A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a U.S. military base in eastern Afghanistan’s Khost province’s Khost city Tuesday, killing 10 people and wounding 14 others, an Afghan official said. It was not immediately clear if there were any U.S. casualties in the attack. (Posted @ 11:03 PST)
Two bombs kill soldier, wound civilians in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Jan 23 (AP) Two roadside bombs exploded in northern Sri Lanka's Jaffna town Tuesday, killing a government soldier and wounding 10 others including eight civilians, officials said. (Posted @ 10:38 PST)
Top Republicans move against Bush's Iraq troop hike plan WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (AFP) Top Republican senators Monday assailed President George W. Bush's plan to increase US troops in Iraq. Senior Republican Senator John Warner, also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and colleagues proposed a resolution calling on Bush to find alternatives to his plan, announced January 10, to send 21,500 more US troops to Iraq. In a press conference together with Republican Senators Susan Collins and Norm Coleman, Warner said the resolution aimed at registering “genuine concerns” in the Congress about Bush's plan. The non-binding resolution reads: “The Senate disagrees with the plan to augment our forces by 21,500 and urges the president instead to consider all options and alternatives for achieving the strategic goals set forth below with reduced force levels than proposed.” (Posted @ 09:26 PST)
Zawahiri mocks Bush in video message DUBAI, Jan 23 (AFP) Al-Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, on Tuesday defiantly mocked US President George W. Bush's plan to send extra troops to Iraq, saying he should send his entire army to be annihilated. “Security must be shared: if we are safe, you will be too…if we are hit and killed, you will inescapably be hit and killed,” he said. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 3.33 points: KARACHI, Jan 23: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 10702.54, down 3.33 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 23: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.83 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
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