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| January 26, 2007 | Friday | Muharram 06, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Suicide bomber attacks hotel in Pakistani capital ISLAMABAD, Jan 26 (AFP) A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital Islamabad Friday, killing a security guard who prevented him entering the five-star building, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said. Five other people were injured in the powerful blast. Several cars had their windscreens smashed while the wall of the building was spattered with blood and pieces of flesh. Officials were trying to identify the bomber, said by witnesses to have been wearing a long tunic and a prayer cap. “The bomber appears to be in his 20s. His face is not recognizable but we are fingerprinting him,” said an interior ministry official. Major cities including Karachi and Peshawar were placed on high alert and security was stepped up across the country following the attack on the hotel. The US embassy said Americans should “avoid the area, exercise caution, and limit unnecessary travel”, while the British Foreign Office said its citizens should “avoid all restaurants and other areas frequented by westerners”. (First Posted @ 15:11 PST Updated @ 22:52 PST)
Iran, India, Pakistan agree on gas pricing formula TEHRAN, Jan 26 (AFP) - Officials from Iran, India and Pakistan have agreed on a pricing formula for the export of Iranian gas to meet Pakistan and India's burgeoning energy demands, an Iranian oil official said Friday. "After years of efforts we could reach an understanding in terms of a pricing formula," Hojatollah Ghanimi-fard, director of international affairs at the National Iranian Oil Company told state radio. "The three sides will take this proposal, this agreement to their (governments) and we hope to take the next steps after they give their opinions," Ghanimi-fard said after three days of negotiations with Indian and Pakistani officials in Tehran. "The three sides have one month to respond," he added, without elaborating on the terms of the accord. He hoped the three countries can "take all other measures" by the end of June in the next round of discussions. Talks on the proposed multi-billion-dollar pipeline -- to supply Iranian gas to India through a 2,600-kilometre (1,600-mile) pipeline via Pakistan -- began in 1994. (Posted @ 14:27 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan rally after Ntini, Kallis strike CAPE TOWN, Jan 26 (Reuters) Scoreboard at close on the first day of the third test between South Africa and Pakistan on Friday: Pakistan first innings 157 (Mohammad Yousuf 83; M.Ntini 4-44, J.Kallis 4-42) South Africa first innings 131-5 (Smith 64, Kallis 28, Prince 18 n.o., Harris 0 n.o.; Asif 10-2-20-2, Sami 8-1-37-1, Nazir 8-0-37-1, Kaneria 13-3-29-1). (First Posted @ 21:34 PST Updated @ 22:32 PST)
British trio found guilty of race murder of Pakistani LONDON, Jan 26 (AFP) Three white British teenagers were found guilty at an English court Friday of the racially-aggravated murder of a Pakistan-born taxi driver who was ambushed and beaten to death. Christopher Murphy, 18, Graeme Slavin, 18, and Steven Utley, 17, were convicted of murdering Mohammad Parvaiz in July last year. Parvaiz, 41, believed he was collecting a fare when he was lured into a cul-de-sac in Huddersfield, northern England, and attacked by a teenage mob. The judge said Murphy and Hand would receive life sentences, while Utley and Slavin faced jail terms. (Posted @ 23:04 PST)
U.S. says South Africans assisted al Qaeda WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) The U.S. Treasury Department named two South African cousins as al Qaeda financiers and facilitators, ordering a freeze on any U.S. assets they may have and banning Americans from doing business with them. The Treasury said Farhad Ahmed Dockrat provided funds to a trust used by al Qaeda, and his cousin, Junaid Ismail Dockrat, helped facilitate travel of South Africans to Pakistan for al Qaeda training. (Posted @ 22:38 PST)
Six killed in Gaza clashes GAZA, Jan 26 (Reuters) Rival Palestinian factions clashed across the Gaza Strip, killing six people, as thousands of Hamas supporters marched on Friday to mark the group's election victory over Fatah opponents last year. Three Hamas supporters, an Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades activist and two bystanders were killed in violence which began with a bombing on Thursday night and continued with a spate of shootings on Friday. (First Posted @ 09:55 PST Updated @ 22:28 PST)
US troops may protect selves from Iranians: Bush WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) President George W. Bush said on Friday that U.S. forces in Iraq have authority to protect themselves against Iranians attempting to launch attacks inside Iraq. “It makes sense that if somebody is trying to harm our troops or stop us from achieving our goals or killing innocent citizens in Iraq, that we will stop them,” Bush said. But Bush said any operations against Iranians would be conducted only inside Iraq. (Posted @ 22:24 PST)
Bomb kills 15 in Baghdad attack BAGHDAD, Jan 26 (Reuters) A bomb killed 15 people and wounded 55 in Baghdad’s pet shop market on Friday morning and a suicide bomber in Mosul killed seven at a mosque after prayers, police sources said. Also Friday, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, arrived in Baghdad to meet Iraqi and U.S. officials, a U.S. embassy official said. (First Posted @ 14:27 PST Updated @ 22:20 PST)
Pakistan denies LoC firing with India ISLAMABAD, Jan 26 (Reuters) Pakistan's army on Friday denied it had exchanged fire with Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC) a day before. “No incident of exchange of fire took place along the LoC in Poonch sector,” the Pakistan army said in a statement. “Such incidents are on the increase wherein Indian troops fire on their own side of the border and in certain cases end up killing innocent civilians, terming them infiltrator(s),” it said. (Posted @ 22:16 PST)
Gunman kills lawmaker in Afghan capital KABUL, Jan 26 (Reuters) An unidentified man shot dead a member of Afghanistan's national assembly in Kabul on Friday, a government spokesman said. Mohammad Islam Mohammadi was the governor of Bamiyan province during the Taliban's rule, the spokesman added. (Posted @ 22:14 PST)
U.S. warns of bloody Taliban spring fightback KABUL, Jan 26 (Reuters) The United States on Friday warned that Afghanistan faced a bloody and dangerous spring offensive from an emboldened and strengthened Taliban. “I think we will face a strong offensive and will have a difficult and dangerous and bloody spring,” U.S. assistant secretary of state for south and central Asia, Richard Boucher, told the BBC, calling the guerrillas virulent and tough. “The Taliban phenomenon is largely a southern phenomenon…They're actually under pressure -- they're under pressure from all sides. Not only from NATO and the Afghan army, but also to some extent from Pakistan as well,” he said. (Posted @ 22:12 PST)
Afghanistan's Karzai becomes first-time dad KABUL, Jan 26 (Reuters) Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has become a father for the first time at the age of 49, palace officials said on Friday. Karzai's wife, Zeenat, who he married in 1999 in exile in Pakistan, gave birth to their son on Thursday night in a Kabul hospital. Officials said mother and son were healthy. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
FC seizes 100 Kg of hashish QUETTA Jan 26 (APP) The Frontier Crops (FC) seized 100 kilograms of hashish from Zangi Nawar area of Chaghi district after a gun battle with smugglers, a press release issued here on Friday said. (Posted @ 21:40 PST)
President Musharraf discusses ME with Turkish leaders, EU ISLAMABAD, Jan 26 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf discussed the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, in particular the Palestinian issue, with Turkish leaders on Friday. The president spoke on the telephone with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday and with the Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Thursday. He exchanged views with the Turkish leaders in the backdrop of his recent visit to five Middle Eastern countries. The president conveyed that all the leaders he met had agreed on the need for a strong new initiative to address the Palestine issue and the Middle East situation in order to bring harmony in the Muslim world. The president also talked to the EU Foreign Policy Chief, Javier Solana, on the phone and briefed him about the visits. Solana appreciated the president's initiative and assured him of his full support in political and diplomatic efforts to address the Palestine issue. (Posted @ 21:22 PST)
PM Aziz urges religious scholars to promote interfaith DAVOS Jan. 26 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat on Friday urged religious scholars to play their role in bridging the gap between various religious faiths. Talking to the Imam of Cordoba, Faisal Abdul Rauf, who called on him here on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Aziz stressed the need for projecting the commonalities and similarities of different faiths by religious scholars. The prime minister also emphasized that extremist behaviour should not be linked to typecasting of any faith. (Posted @ 21:18 PST)
President Musharraf, PM Aziz condemn Islamabad blast RAWALPINDI, Jan 26 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf strongly condemned the bomb blast at a hotel in Islamabad on Friday. The President ordered an immediate inquiry of the incident and condoled the loss of lives. He also gave directions to provide the best medical treatment to the injured. Musharraf also reiterated Pakistan's unwavering commitment to the fight against terrorism and said that all efforts would be made to unmask the perpetrators of this crime. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in a message also strongly condemned the bomb blast and directed the authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter. (First Posted @ 17:30 PST Updated @ 21:16 PST)
Musharraf stresses enhancing of civil servants’ skills RAWALPINDI, Jan 26 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday emphasized the need to enhance the professional skills of civil servants in the country. Chairing a meeting of the Board of Governors of the National School of Public Policy (NSPP) here, the president said that an improvement in syllabi, the examination system and training along modern lines was vital to enhance the efficiency and capabilities of civil servants. The meeting reviewed and approved in principle the revised syllabi of all training courses for the Civil Services Academy, Mid Career Management Course and Senior Management Course. It was decided to set up a committee to review the proposed organizational structure, revision of pay and allowances, as well as other financial implications. It was also decided that NSPP should administer the School of Local Governance to improve the training of both the elected local government representatives and government servants. (Posted @ 21:12 PST)
All parties in Pakistan support Kashmir cause: Mirwaiz ISLAMABAD, Jan 26 (APP) Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference(APHC), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Friday said that it was encouraging for the Kashmiri people that all political parties in Pakistan support their cause. Talking to the media here, he said the dialogue process on the Kashmir issue was moving in a positive direction but its success would depend on the sincerity of Indian government. The Mirwaiz stressed the need for taking Kashmiris living on both sides of the Line of Control into confidence in the quest for a durable settlement of the dispute. (Posted @ 21:10 PST)
NATO allies pledge to step up Afghan efforts BRUSSELS, Jan 26 (AFP) NATO pledged on Friday a robust response to an expected offensive early this year from Taliban-led insurgents in Afghanistan. “That means more reconstruction, and we have heard more nations stepping up to the plate as far as their activities are concerned in the field of reconstruction and development,” NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said after talks between alliance foreign ministers in Brussels. On the need for more troops to confront the Taliban, Scheffer said: “Force generation will no doubt be discussed in Seville,” Spain between defence ministers February 8-9. (Posted @ 20:26 PST)
Human rights activist goes missing in Islamabad ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan 26 (AP) A prominent human rights activist who campaigned against suspected detentions by Pakistani intelligence agencies disappeared on Friday, his family and police said. Khalid Khawaja, chief coordinator of Defense of Human Rights, disappeared from a residential area of Islamabad, while on his way to a mosque for morning prayers. “We fear that he has been abducted by intelligence agents for being vocal against them,” his wife said. (Posted @ 19:56 PST)
Khatami calls on Aziz DAVOS Jan. 26 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and former President of Iran Mohammad Khatami on Friday underscored the need for joint efforts to promote brotherly and friendly relations between the two countries. Khatami, who called on Aziz here at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, also discussed bilateral relations, regional and international issues. Both leaders urged the international community, particularly the Muslim countries, to make efforts to ensure peace in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon. Aziz reiterated Pakistan's principled stand on Iran's nuclear issue and said that Pakistan was against the use of force to resolve this issue. Referring to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, Aziz said the project would bring economic development and prosperity in the region. (Posted @ 17:58 PST)
Kabul accuses Pakistan of using terror as tool BRUSSELS, Jan 26 (Reuters) Afghanistan's foreign minister accused Pakistan on Friday of using terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy and said the Taliban could be beaten in two or three years if Islamabad cooperated fully against them. Rangeen Dadfar Spanta told Reuters his country needed more money to fight terrorism, improve government and bring better lives for the people. Speaking on the margins of talks among NATO foreign ministers, he accused “some circles” in Pakistan of “using terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy” but declined to identify them. (Posted @ 17:54 PST)
Suicide blast in Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan 26 (AFP) A suicide bomber blew himself up Friday outside a US-funded aid office in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province. A purported Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that “eight American soldiers were killed or wounded in the suicide blast today”. Separately, police said 10 Taliban rebels and a policeman were killed in a gunbattle in southeastern Paktika province’s Gomal district early Friday. Fifteen Taliban and five police were also wounded in that incident. (First Posted @ 09:55 PST Updated @ 17:50 PST)
Canada wants more Pakistani help on Afghan border OTTAWA, Jan 26 (AFP) Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay Thursday urged Pakistan to do more to help stop insurgents from entering Afghanistan across the country's common borders. Mackay, in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, said Pakistan “is a partner that we expect more from and we have to push them and I think you're seeing that now…There is no question (President Pervez Musharraf is) in a precarious position himself, but I think he recognizes that there are obligations on Pakistan, on him specifically”. (Posted @ 17:36 PST)
Beirut curfew lifted day after clashes BEIRUT, Jan 26 (AFP) A curfew slapped on Beirut after street battles between government and opposition supporters left four people dead was lifted Friday but the army warned it could be re-imposed if fighting flared again. An uneasy calm prevailed in the streets of the capital after the overnight curfew was lifted at 6:00 am (0400 GMT), with a few shops and businesses opening their doors but schools and universities remained shut in line with government orders. (Posted @ 17:34 PST)
Strike shuts down occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Jan 26 (AFP) Occupied Kashmir was crippled by a one-day strike on Friday to commemorate India’s Republic Day. The shutdown left many streets deserted with all shops and businesses closed in Srinagar. The strike, called by the region’s main political alliance, All Parities Hurriat Conference(APHC), was also in force in other towns, police and residents said. In Srinagar, several hundred Kashmiris took to the streets to protest the death of a youth in an army shooting, witnesses said. Residents said Yaqoob Mir was killed in custody after being arrested by the security forces, but the Indian army said he was a militant who was shot during a gunbattle near south Kashmir town of Patan. (Posted @ 17:32 PST)
Cricket: Australia embarrasses insipid England ADELAIDE, Australia, Jan 26 (AFP) - Australia defeated England by nine wickets in their triangular series one-day international at the Adelaide Oval here on Friday. Australia is unbeaten after five games and already certain of playing in the tri-series finals, picking up a bonus point for the win. England is last in the table, with one win from five games. Brief scores: England 110 in 34.3 overs; Australia 111-1 in 24.3 overs. (Posted @ 14:27 PST)
Pakistan jail ordered to produce Briton held in plane plot ISLAMABAD, Jan 26 (AFP) A Pakistani court ordered Friday authorities produce a Briton who was held in connection with a plot to bomb transatlantic jets after jail chiefs failed to bring him to a legal hearing. Rashid Rauf was seized in Pakistan in August, sparking a worldwide security alert and arrests in Britain, amid fears of a conspiracy to blow up passenger jets flying from London to the United States. The 25-year-old was due to appear at a magistrates court in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, on Friday to face charges including impersonation, carrying a fake identity card and fake documents. “A contempt case has been registered against jail authorities” after Rauf was not produced for the hearing, magistrate Ata Rabbani said. The authorities have now been ordered to bring the Briton to court on February 9 when they will also answer the contempt of court charges, Rauf's lawyer Hashmat Habib said. (Posted @ 14:22 PST)
Militants shoot and kill one police officer in northwestern Pakistan DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan, Jan 26 (AP) Suspected militants opened fire on a vehicle carrying police in Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province, killing one officer, police said Friday. No one claimed responsibility for the attack late Thursday in Tank, a town about 50 kilometers west of Dera Ismail Khan. Sanaullah Khan, an area police chief, said the officers were on a routine patrol at the time. Police returned fire, but the attackers fled, Khan said. ''We believe that militants are behind this attack,'' he said. (Posted @ 09:56 PST)
Cricket: New Zealand's Astle quits international scene WELLINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) New Zealand opening batsman Nathan Astle has retired from international cricket with immediate effect. Astle announced his retirement on Friday in Perth, Australia, where the New Zealand side is due to play in a Tri-series limited overs match on Sunday. Astle who made his Test debut in 1996, enjoys a reputation for being a hard hitting batsman and holds the record for the fastest test double-century, 153 balls against England in Christchurch in 2002. He played 81 tests, scoring 4,702 runs, including 11 centuries and 24 half centuries. In his 223 one day internationals he scored 7,090 runs, with 16 centuries and 41 half centuries. (Posted @ 09:11 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 74.26 points: KARACHI, Jan 26: At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 11105.34, up 74.26 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 26: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.87 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
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