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| February 27, 2007 | Tuesday | Safar 9, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Deadly blast kills 20 as Cheney visits Afghan air base KABUL, Feb 27 (Reuters) A suicide bomber killed 20 people outside the main U.S. base in Afghanistan on Tuesday, the Afghan Islamic Press reported. The attack came during a visit to Afghanistan by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, who stayed at the base Monday night. He was not hurt, according to his spokeswoman. “The suicide bombing took place at gate 2 where Afghan labourers were waiting,” the news agency said. It quoted provincial governor Abdul Jabbar Taqwa as saying that 20 people had been killed in the blast outside the Bagram air base. Many others were also reportedly injured. (First Posted@ 10:55 PST, Updated @ 12:15 PST)
British FM meets NWFP governor PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Feb 27 (AFP) British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett held talks Tuesday with the governor of North West Frontier Province, Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai, at his residence in the provincial capital Peshawar, a government statement said. “Margaret Beckett appreciated the role of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and hoped that these efforts would continue until the achievement of the objectives,” the statement said. “She also resolved that the British government would continue to provide generous assistance for the uplift of tribal areas.” The statement said he and Beckett discussed issues “especially relating to law and order in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), with particular reference to Waziristan.” Aurakzai also informed her about Pakistan's steps to increase security on the border and moves to fence a small part of the rugged frontier with Afghanistan. He “expressed the hope that stringent measures would also be taken from the Afghanistan side”. Earlier, Beckett ruled out negotiations with the Taliban. (Posted @ 21:06 PST)
Car bomb kills 18 boys in west Iraq BAGHDAD, Feb 27, (AFP) - A truck bomb exploded at a crowded football pitch in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi on Tuesday, slaughtering 18 boys under the age of 15, a senior Sunni leader said. The truck, which was parked next to the pitch and loaded up with logs, detonated as the boys played, said Sheikh Hamid al-Hais, deputy head of a council of Sunni tribal chiefs opposed to Al-Qaeda. (Posted @ 23:48 PST)
President announces Rs two mln for persons developing Bagh Ibn-i- Qasim KARACHI, Feb 28 (APP) - President General Pervez Musharraf announced a sum of Rs two million for all those involved in the development of Bagh-i-Ibn-i-Qasim. Speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of the Park in Clifton area here on Tuesday, he lauded their excellent work in appreciation of efforts they put in, in this respect. (Posted @ 23:04 PST)
British prime minister says Iran making 'big miscalculation' on nuclear stance Feb 27, (AP) - Iran is making a ''big miscalculation'' by refusing to suspend its nuclear enrichment program, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday _ urging the international community to take ''tough, clear and unified'' action by toughening sanctions. Iran's foreign minister said his country would never again suspend uranium enrichment, a move the United States insists on as a condition for any negotiations with Tehran. (Posted @ 22:38 PST)
Three ambassadors hurt in east Sri Lanka by rebel shells COLOMBO, Feb 27 (Reuters) The Italian, German and U.S. Ambassadors to Sri Lanka were slightly injured on Tuesday when Tamil Tiger rebels shelled a delegation of diplomats led by the island's human rights minister, the military said. Hospital officials in the eastern district of Batticaloa treated Italian Ambassador Pio Mariani and German envoy Jurgen Weerth, and said they were then evacuated to Colombo. U.S. Ambassador Robert Blake's arm was grazed either by shrapnel or a stone, the military said, but he was not taken to hospital and his embassy said he was fine and unharmed. The attack came as helicopters carrying Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe as well as ambassadors from the United States, European Union, Germany and France landed in Batticaloa on a goodwill mission. “Due to Tiger shelling, the two helicopters were slightly damaged. They took off, but the U.S., Italian and German ambassadors had already got off and received minor injuries,” said a Lt.Col. of the Media Centre for National Security. The Tamil Tigers were not immediately available for comment on the attack. (FirstPosted @ 10:10 PST, Updated @ 11:57 PST)
UN launches appeal for WWII-era Palestinian camp AMMAN, Feb 27 (AFP) The UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Tuesday launched an appeal for 26 million dollars to rebuild the World War II-era barracks in northern Syria where 18,000 people live in dire conditions. The funds would be used to rehabilitate Neirab camp, south of Aleppo, where overcrowding and unsafe buildings pose a health hazard, said United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) commissioner general Karen Abu Zayd. Neirab is one of 10 Palestinian refugee camps in Syria. (Posted @ 21:04 PST)
Egypt editor avoids jail, fined for insulting president CAIRO, Feb 27 (AFP) A prominent Egyptian independent newspaper editor had his one-year jail sentence for insulting the president quashed on Tuesday but was fined 22,000 pounds. Ibrahim Eissa noted that his case takes place in an environment of bloggers being prosecuted and opposition leaders in prison. (First Posted @ 16:36 PST Updated @ 21:00 PST)
Two Indian soldiers, militant killed in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Feb 27 (AFP) Two Indian army soldiers and a suspected militant were killed during a day-long gun-battle in the village of Mawar in northern Kupwara district on Tuesday, police said. Two more soldiers were hurt, police added. Late Monday in Baramulla town, 55 kilometres north of Srinagar, police detected and defused a powerful bomb planted in a three-wheeler taxi, an official said. (Posted @ 20:58 PST)
One billion suffer from neurological disorders: WHO GENEVA, Feb 27 (AFP) An estimated one billion people in the world suffer from debilitating or life-threatening neurological disorders ranging from Alzheimer's disease to headaches and the consequences of head injuries, the World Health Organisation said Tuesday. The data, which is far higher than previous estimates, was contained in a WHO report, “Neurological disorders: Public health challenges.” The report also underlined the lack of adequate treatment in many parts of the world and the huge cost of care. (Posted @ 20:56 PST)
UN envoy takes Israel to task over Lebanon overflights BEIRUT, Feb 27 (AFP) A UN envoy told Lebanese leaders on Tuesday that he had “forcefully” raised Israel's persistent violations of Lebanese airspace with officials in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. “I briefed the prime minister (Fuad Siniora) on my visit to Israel in the last few days,” Michael Williams, special advisor to the UN secretary general for the Middle East, told reporters after meeting with Siniora. (Posted @ 20:52 PST)
Cricket: Imran delivers Australia World Cup Warne-ing DOHA, Feb 27 (AFP) Australia should have talked Shane Warne out of retirement and included him in their World Cup squad, Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has said on Tuesday. Khan, who is in Doha as a speaker at the Forbes CEO Forum, told the Gulf Times newspaper that “the Aussies are sure to bounce back and in Ricky Ponting they have an aggressive captain who will make all the difference for them”. Khan said Pakistan's chances would depend on the fitness of fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif. ”Till that is not known we cannot evaluate our chances. However, if they make it, we will also be the favourites after Australia,” said Khan. He also added that he would like leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to be used more frequently in one-dayers. He had a word of advice for Pakistan captain Inzamam-uul-Haq as well. “If he wants to make the team fight he has to lead from the front. All captains do that. He cannot come in at number five or six and hope he can become a big factor.” Khan also disagrees with the notion that minor nations at the World Cup have devalued the tournament. (Posted @ 20:50 PST)
Taliban claim responsibility for Cheney attack KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Feb 27 (AFP) Afghanistan's Taliban movement said one of its fighters carried out a suicide bombing that killed at least 14 people Tuesday outside the Bagram base which was visited by US Vice President Dick Cheney. (Posted @ 20:44 PST)
India's ruling Congress party suffers reverses in state polls NEW DELHI, Feb 27 (AFP) India's ruling Congress party appeared set for defeat in two states amid voter concern over inflation, according to early vote counting. Ballot counting in Punjab showed Congress trailing the regional Shiromani Akali Dal and national Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led opposition alliance, the Press Trust of India news agency said. The opposition was ahead of Congress in more than 70 of the 117 provincial assembly seats in Punjab. Congress was leading in 35 seats so far, the report said. In neighbouring Uttarakhand state, the Congress had conceded defeat to the BJP, which was leading in 30 of 70 assembly seats. The only state Congress appeared set to hold onto was the remote northeastern state of Manipur, the news agency added. (Posted @ 18:14 PST)
China downplays new Iran sanctions BEIJING, Feb 27 (AFP) China refused to say Tuesday if it would back new sanctions against Iran as part of multinational efforts to halt Tehran's nuclear programme, saying only the dispute should be resolved peacefully. “Our position has been consistent in that we advocate a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue through negotiation and peaceful means,” a foreign ministry spokesman told reporters when asked if China would support sanctions. (Posted @ 16:38 PST)
Fourth Frenchman dies after Saudi ambush MEDINA, Saudi Arabia, Feb 27 (AFP) A French teenager wounded in an attack that killed three compatriots in Saudi Arabia lost his fight for life Tuesday. The 17-year-old, whose father was also killed in the ambush, died after undergoing surgery to extract a bullet from a lung overnight, a hospital official said here. (Posted @ 16:32 PST)
Cricket: Pakistani all-rounder Razzaq out of World Cup LAHORE, Pakistan, Feb 27 (AFP) Injury-hit Pakistan suffered a fresh World Cup blow Tuesday when all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was ruled out for three weeks with a fractured knee. Razzaq was hit on the knee by a ball during practice on Monday and doctors have advised him to take three weeks rest, followed by another two to three weeks of physiotherapy. “It is a major blow for us because Razzaq is one of our main players,” said Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq. (Posted @ 16:15 PST)
Pakistan captain hopes injured bowlers Akhtar, Asif will play in World Cup ISLAMABAD, Feb 27 (AP) Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said Tuesday he expected the country's two key fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif to recover from injury in time for the World Cup “We still have a lot of time and I am very confident that Akhtar and Asif would be available before our first game,” Inzamam told newsmen in Lahore. The Pakistan team leaves Thursday for Jamaica, where it is drawn in Group D against West Indies, Ireland and Zimbabwe. It plays its first game against the host on March 13. Akhtar and Asif are currently in England for medical checkups for knee and elbow problems, respectively, for the second time in the last two weeks. Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board has already conducted dope tests for 18 of its World Cup players, Akhtar and Asif are still to go through the process “Our team is a balanced one and I have a lot of confidence in it to do well,” he said. “For me, the goal is to win the World Cup,” Inzamam said but rated Australia and South Africa as the two strongest teams among the 16 participants. (Posted @ 13:50 PST)
One US soldier, two Afghans killed in suicide blast: coalition BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Feb 27 (AFP) - One US soldier and two Afghans were among the 18 persons killed in a suicide blast Tuesday outside a US base in Afghanistan where US Vice President Dick Cheney was visiting, the US military said. “More than 20 Afghan civilians were injured,” it added. (Posted @ 13:40 PST)
Cheney meets Afghan president after suicide blast KABUL, Feb 27 (AFP) - US Vice President Dick Cheney met President Hamid Karzai in the Afghan capital Tuesday, hours after a suicide blast at the US base where he had spent the night killed upto 20 people, an official said. The leaders met at the presidential palace in Kabul, an official in the Afghan leader's office said, giving no further details. (Posted @ 13:35 PST)
Iran kills three Kurdish rebel chiefs TEHRAN, Feb 27 (AFP) - Iranian forces have killed three local chiefs of a Kurdish rebel group that has been involved in deadly clashes with the military close to the Turkish border, Commander Hassan Rastegar-Panah told the official IRNA news agency. He said that numerous wounded Pejak fighters were still hiding in the region and were being pursued by Iranian forces. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Six dead in Swedish bus crash STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb 27(AP) Two buses crashed Tuesday on a highway in central Sweden, leaving at least six people dead and nine others seriously injured, news agency TT reported, citing rescue officials. The crash occurred near Uppsala, about 70 kilometers north of Stockholm. (First Posted @ 12:00 PST, Updated @ 12:25 PST)
Israeli army leaves West Bank city after largest operation in months NABLUS, West Bank, Feb 27 (AP) The Israeli army pulled its troops and armoured vehicles out of the West Bank city of Nablus early Tuesday after a three-day operation targeting Palestinians militants, Palestinians said. But the army did not confirm the end of the raid. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Three brothers among five Iraqis killed in bomb blast BAGHDAD, Feb 27 (AFP) Three brothers were among five people killed by a roadside bomb early Tuesday in the town of Al-Wahda, southeast of Baghdad, police said. The five were in a car heading to the Iraqi capital from Al-Wahda, about 40 kilometres away, when their vehicle was hit by the bomb. (Posted @ 12:20 PST)
Suicide raid kills, wounds several in Afghan south KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Feb 27 (Reuters) A suicide attack killed at least two civilians and wounded several people in Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar Tuesday, officials said. (Posted @ 12:15 PST)
Fourteen dead, 25 injured as bus plunges off highway in Nepal KATHMANDU, Feb 27 (AFP) At least 14 people died and 25 were injured when a passenger bus plunged into a river after skidding off a Nepal mountain road Tuesday, police said. The bus, heading towards southern town of Birgunj from Kathmandu, plunged 130 metres into the river at Mugling, 110 kilometres west of the capital in the pre-dawn accident. (First Posted @ 08:55 PST, Updated @ 11:20 PST)
Tens of thousands protest CAFTA in Costa Rica SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Feb 27 (Reuters) Tens of thousands of students and teachers opposed to a free-trade pact with the United States marched in Costa Rica's capital Monday. The protesters said the march was a show of strength to be followed by a nationwide strike. Costa Rica is the only participant of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, CAFTA, not to have ratified the measure and the government hopes to have a deal passed by the end of the year. (Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Suicide ambulance bomber kills 14 Iraqis RAMADI, Iraq, Feb 26 (AFP) A suicide bomber in a stolen ambulance killed 14 Iraqis Monday in an attack on a police post in the Albu Alwan area of the city of Ramadi, a medical official said. Five police, three children, three civilian women and three local men were killed in the attack. (Posted @ 09:53 PST)
Bush warns US Congress against touching his war budget WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (AFP) US President George W. Bush warned his Democratic opponents Monday that he will fight any attempt to use the debate on war funding to undercut his controversial troop “surge” in Iraq. Speaking to a gathering of US state governors at the White House, Bush said he expected a “healthy debate” on the war but said he was concerned about any move by Congress to limit funding. While House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday she supports legislation to redefine U.S. troops' mission in Iraq away from combat and focus it on training Iraqi soldiers and thwarting terrorism, an idea that is circulating among Senate Democrats. “I do support the idea of 'the authorization could be more focused,'” she said. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
Majority in U.S. want troop deadline in Iraq-poll WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) A narrow majority of Americans now favour setting a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq and a record number say they disapprove of the war, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released Monday. Fifty-six percent say U.S. forces should be withdrawn eventually even if civil order has not been restored in Iraq. Fifty-three percent support setting a date for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq. The poll found that 64 percent of Americans now say the war in Iraq was not worth fighting, while two-thirds of Americans oppose President George W. Bush's plan to send an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq. The ABC News/Washington Post telephone poll of 1,082 adults was conducted Feb. 22- 25. (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 15.95 points: KARACHI, Feb 27: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11378.02, down 15.95 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Feb 27: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.7 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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