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| March 06, 2007 | Tuesday | Safar 16, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Bush sees 'test' for Iran, Syria, on Iraq WASHINGTON, March 6 (AFP) US President George W. Bush challenged Iran and Syria Tuesday to prove at a pair of upcoming international conferences on Iraq that they are serious about helping to quell deadly violence there. In his speech, Bush also took aim at opposition Democrats now in control of the US Congress over their efforts to curb the war in Iraq. He assailed lawmakers calling for a withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. They “seem to believe that we can have it all: That we can fight Al-Qaeda, pursue national reconciliation, initiate aggressive diplomacy, and deter Iran's ambitions in Iraq -- all while withdrawing from Baghdad and reducing our force levels,” he said. “That sounds good in theory, but doing so at this moment would undermine everything our troops have worked for,” he charged. (Posted @ 23:34 PST)
Over 118 Iraqis killed in attacks BAGHDAD, March 6 (AFP) At least 118 Iraqis were killed in attacks across the country on Tuesday. The deadliest single attack was in Hilla, south of the capital, where two suicide bombers triggered explosives amid a packed crowd of worshippers walking to the holy city of Karbala, killing 90 and wounding at least 160, police and hospital officials said. In Baghdad, eight pilgrims died when their minibus was raked with bullets by unknown gunmen in the district of Dura, while 15 more were killed and 47 wounded in three separate car bombings in other parts of the city. Another five were gunned down in two attacks near Latifiyah, south of the capital. At least 15 more were wounded. (First Posted @ 14:20 PST Updated @ 23:18 PST)
President Musharraf calls for peaceful solution of Iran issue ISLAMABAD, Mar 6 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said that a peaceful solution to the Iran nuclear issue should be sought and there should be no use of force. “Iran should not be made a target,” he said in reply to a question after inaugurating a two-day conference on UN peace-keeping at the National Defence University here. The president said that in case Iran was targeted this will not only be harmful for Pakistan but also for the entire region. This action will also trigger sectarian and other complex problems, he added. Musharraf, in reply to another question, said safeguarding Pakistan's sovereignty and solidarity “is our foremost responsibility and we are always for peace and avoiding turmoil.” To a question regarding the recent visit of US Vice-President, he said a “threadbare discussion” of tactical nature was held during his meeting with Dick Cheney. Musharraf said discussions during the course of the meeting took place with “total understanding.” He refuted reports that some threatening message was delivered. (Posted @ 23:14 PST)
India, Pakistan discuss cooperation on terrorism ISLAMABAD, March 6 (Reuters) India and Pakistan on Tuesday exchanged information on security problems in their first talks on fighting terrorism together. “This is a two-way mechanism which is meant to be used by the two sides to prevent acts of terrorism in either country, or cooperate in investigations on the basis of specific information,” a Pakistani official said after the one-day talks. The official said the Indian side had handed over a sketch of someone suspected of involvement in last month's train bombing. The Indian side had also handed over a picture of a severed head recovered after the July bombings in Mumbai, the official said. “We have also given them a dossier on terrorism acts sponsored by Indian agencies inside Pakistan, particularly in Baluchistan,” said the official. (First Posted @ 20:38 PST Updated @ 23:10 PST)
Cricket-Fallen sightscreen halts Pakistan in their tracks ST AUGUSTINE, Trinidad, March 6 (Reuters) A fallen sightscreen held up play for more than an hour in the World Cup warm-up match between Pakistan and Canada on Tuesday. The temporary sightscreen, a flimsy, wheeled structure of steel and fabric divided into two sections, was blown over at southern end of the Frank Worrell Oval. The incident halted play with Pakistan having limped to 82 for four in the 20th over. (Posted @ 23:06 PST)
More than 1,000 journalists died during deadly decade LONDON, March 6 (AP) More than 1,000 journalists and their support staff have died in the past decade, with Iraq and Russia topping the list as the deadliest countries for the profession, according to a report released on Tuesday. “This report breaks new ground in capturing how dangerous the pursuit of news has become,” said Tom Curley, President of The Associated Press. “It also confirms how insignificant the efforts have been to achieve justice for journalists who are harmed or persecuted as they work to keep the world informed. We are at a perilous point in journalism: fair and accurate coverage is more necessary than ever but the risks to those who pursue it are greater than ever, too.” There were 138 deaths in Iraq in the past decade, while there were 88 in Russia and 72 in Colombia. Other potentially deadly countries for journalists included Colombia, Philippines, Iran, India, Algeria, Mexico, Pakistan and the former republics of Yugoslavia. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Pakistan's human rights record poor: US WASHINGTON, March 6 (AP) The State Department on Tuesday criticized Pakistan for increasing cases of murder, rape and torture in the country. More political dissidents and activists in custody in provincial areas disappeared, and citizens faced arbitrary arrest and a lack of judicial independence, the department's annual global report on human rights said. Reporters were said to have been harassed, intimidated and arrested in growing numbers, and the government did little to fix widespread corruption in the government and police forces. The State Department said security forces reportedly raped women and children during questioning. The National Assembly elections in 2002 were found by observers to be deeply flawed; Pakistan's citizens have been restricted from changing their government, the report added. (Posted @ 22:04 PST)
Akhtar and Asif absence to allow focus on cricket: Woolmer PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad. March 6 (AP) Pakistan was relieved that fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were ruled out of the World Cup with injury since their inclusion would have cast a shadow over the team, coach Bob Woolmer said. Woolmer said WADA's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reinstate the two-year ban for Akhtar and the one-year ban for Asif made it difficult for them to concentrate on cricket. “As far as Pakistan cricket goes, it's been resolved but obviously there's other people wanting to get involved here,” Woolmer said. “This is in-house drug testing and both were found to be positive and both were cleared. With WADA and ICC trying to get involved, this is hanging over their heads. So in an obtuse way, it's best they're not here. And it's best for the team that there's not all this rubbish hanging over our heads.” Woolmer said he was confident replacements Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami would easily fit in. Woolmer said the entire Pakistan squad had been drug tested before traveling to the West Indies and all were cleared. (Posted @ 22:02 PST)
Taliban pushed back from Afghan district KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, March 6 (AFP) Authorities said Tuesday they had pushed back a Taliban assault in southern Kandahar province's Maiwand district in two days of fighting that left a rebel and a policeman dead. Seven militants and their local commander were also seized during the operation. (Posted @ 21:56 PST)
Pakistan airline says EU ban 'discrimination' KARACHI, March 6 (AFP) The chairman of Pakistan's national airline on Tuesday accused the European Union of discrimination after it imposed a safety ban on most of its ageing fleet. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) chief Tariq Kirmani said that the state-owned carrier was leasing two planes to fill the gap and hoped to get its service back to normal by the end of the month. “The EU decision is unjust and discriminatory. PIA had a better record than certain major European airlines presently flying in the skies of the EU,”Kirmani told a news conference in Karachi. The airline earlier said it had been forced to cancel 14 flights to Europe over the next three weeks, including services to London, Manchester and Rome, but that passengers would be accommodated on other planes. The chairman said the ban had “hurt our business and created inconvenience for our customers” but that PIA had no choice but to accept it. Kirmani said the airline would go for a “realignment” of its flight schedule to US and European destinations and that steps were being taken to bring everything back to normal by March 28. (First Posted @ 16:05 PST Updated @ 21:52 PST)
Israel aggravates Palestinian economic plight: rights group JERUSALEM, March 6 (AFP) Israel's leading group in defence of human rights in the Palestinian territories on Tuesday accused the Jewish state of aggravating severe economic hardship in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. “Severe economic hardship now prevails in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Poverty is extremely high and many Palestinians have trouble finding work to support themselves and their families,” B'Tselem said in a new report. “Not only does Israel do nothing to ease the hardship, it aggravates the situation,” B'Tselem added. (Posted @ 21:50 PST)
NATO soldier dies in southern Afghanistan KABUL, March 6 (AFP) A NATO soldier was killed during fighting in southern Afghanistan Tuesday, the alliance said. It did not specify where the soldier died. (Posted @ 21:46 PST)
At least 82 dead in Indonesia quake: UNICEF GENEVA, March 6 (AFP) At least 82 people were killed Tuesday in a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that rocked Indonesia's Sumatra Island, a spokesman for the UN children's agency, UNICEF, said. “The toll won't stop rising because the quake happened in a relatively populated region,” said a UNICEF spokesman. (First Posted @ 14:30 PST Updated @ 21:42 PST)
Cricket-PCB mull over Gul contract offer KARACHI, March 6 (Reuters) The Pakistan Cricket Board want assurances young pacer Umar Gul will not be overworked before they make a decision on a contract offer from English county side Gloucestershire for this year. “We have asked for assurances from the county there will be acceptable workloads for Umar as he is a valuable player for us,” Saleem Altaf, PCB director cricket operations, said. (Posted @ 21:40 PST)
India, Pakistan hold anti-terror talks ISLAMABAD, March 6 (AFP) India and Pakistan held the first meeting Tuesday of a new panel to fight terrorism and discuss intelligence-sharing, officials said. Pakistan said it would use the joint panel to push India for information about the firebombing of a train linking the two countries that killed 68 people last month. “The opening round went well. The two sides talked about devising a mechanism to deal with the threat of terrorism,” a Pakistan foreign ministry official said after the first part of the day's meetings. “They discussed ways to share intelligence, how to prevent terrorism and if something happens how to deal with it effectively,” the official said. (Posted @ 20:38 PST)
China says will solve India border issue BEIJING, March 6 (AFP) Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing voiced confidence Tuesday that a decades-old border dispute with India would eventually be resolved. “I believe the two peoples have the wisdom and capacity to find a proper solution to this issue left over from history,” Li told a press conference. “This was something imposed on the Chinese and Indian peoples when they were not masters in their own homes. It was imposed by the western colonial powers.” (Posted @ 20:34 PST)
Fifteen killed in South Waziristan clash WANA, Pakistan, March 6 (AFP) Foreign militants fought gun-battles with tribesmen at Azam Warsak village in South Waziristan district on Tuesday, leaving 15 people dead, officials said. Fighting broke out after Uzbek rebels and some local supporters opened fire on a Pakistani pro-government tribal chief in the main bazaar, a security official said. The chieftain, Malik Saadullah, is the head of a peace committee responsible for maintaining a truce between security forces and militants. Two of Saadullah's men and an Afghan shopkeeper were killed, the official said. Shortly afterwards there was another gunfight in which 12 militants were killed, again mostly Uzbeks, he said. “The militants were angered because Saadullah's men had fired at their friends on Monday night,” the official said. (Posted @ 20:32 PST)
Pakistan carrier cancels Europe flights after EU ban KARACHI, March 6 (AFP) Pakistan's national carrier has cancelled 14 flights to Europe over the next three weeks after the European Union imposed a safety ban on most of its fleet, PIA officials said on Tuesday. Passengers on Pakistan International Airlines flights (PIA) to destinations including London, Manchester and Rome will be accommodated on other services, the senior official said. The PIA official said the flights have been cancelled up to March 26 after which the airline may try to lease more planes or take other measures. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Two Pakistanis arrested in Cyprus terror probe NICOSIA, March 6 (AFP) Cypriot authorities have arrested two Pakistani men on the basis of British intelligence of a planned car bomb attack on a Western embassy, a Greek Cypriot newspaper reported on Tuesday. The Phileleftheros daily said the police have yet to establish a link between the men and any international terror organisation, and that no explosives were found. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Turkish nightclub roof collapses, one dead ISTANBUL, March 6 (Reuters) One person was killed and four injured early Tuesday when falling rocks crashed through the roof of a nightclub in a tourist resort in central Turkey, state-run Anatolian news agency reported. The incident occurred in the town of Urgup in the region of Cappadocia. Anatolian news agency said four or five more people were believed to be trapped in the remains of the club. (Posted @ 15:00 PST)
Zimbabwe bus accident kills 27, injures others HARARE, March 6 (Reuters) At least 27 people died in Zimbabwe's capital Harare Tuesday when a commuter minibus crashed into a cargo train at a rail crossing, police said. A police spokesman said several other people were injured in the accident. (Posted @ 14:35 PST)
At least 70 dead in Indonesia quake JAKARTA, March 6 (AFP) At least 70 people were killed Tuesday in a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that rocked Indonesia's Sumatra island, a spokesman for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said. “So far 70 people were reported dead in various places and scores injured,” Sudi Silalahi told reporters. The quake hit at 10:49 am, the US Geological Survey said, about 50 kilometres northeast of the West Sumatra capital Padang. It appeared to have been followed by an aftershock almost as strong. Many people were trapped in collapsed buildings and there was no official information about the situation at the quake's epicentre because phone lines were down, West Sumatra's police chief said. “The epicentre is in Batusangkar but communication is disconnected from there so we don't know what the damage is,” he added. “Several houses have collapsed. There are hundreds of victims,” Solok mayor Samsurahim told ElShinta radio, adding that a school had burnt to the ground after the quake. (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Nine pilgrims among 18 killed in Iraq attacks BAGHDAD, March 6 (AFP) At least 18 people, including nine pilgrims, were killed in a spate of bombings and gun attacks across Iraq Tuesday, security officials said. Also among the dead were five policemen who were hit by a car bomb blast in Baghdad's eastern Al-Obeidi district, an official said. Four pilgrims were killed and 14 wounded in a car bomb attack in Baghdad's central Al-Yarmuk district as they set out for Karbala, 100 kilometres to the south, for the Arbaeen religious ceremony. Another five were gunned down in two separate attacks near Latifiyah, 40 kilometres south of the capital. At least 15 more were wounded. In central Baghdad, two civilians were killed and four wounded when a bomb ripped through a truck near the Al-Sarafiyah bridge across the Tigris, a security official said. Also Tuesday, a police commander from Kut was shot dead and four of his security guards were wounded after being ambushed by unknown gunmen while on patrol in Suweira, 60 kilometres south of Baghdad, police said. At Iskandiriyah, also to the south, a civilian was killed and two were wounded in a bomb explosion, a security official said. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
Pakistan to construct Rs 1200 mln Jinnah Hospital in Afghanistan ISLAMABAD, Mar 6 (APP): Pakistan will construct Jinnah Hospital in Kabul at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 million. The contract signing ceremony was held here Tuesday. The planned three-storey hospital would have 200 beds with space available to double the capacity to 400 beds. It would comprise 50-bed Thalassemia centre, dialysis centre, surgical wards, besides others facilities. It has been designed by M/S NESPAK and the contract for construction has been awarded to National Logistic Cell, which is also constructing Allama Iqbal Faculty Block at Kabul University, Sir Syed Post Graduate Science Faculty Block in Nangarhar University, Jalalabad, Liaquat Ali Khan Engineering Faculty Block in Bulkh University, Mazar-e-Sharif and Nishtar Kidney Centre, Jalalabad. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
20 injured including 6 cops in Uri protest in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, March 6 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, at least 20 people including an SHO and 5 cops were injured in a clash, ensued after Indian police resorted to heavy lathicharge and tear-gassing on the demonstrating residents of Nihalpora area in Pattan. According to Kashmir Media Service, thousands of people, including women, blocked the Srinagar-Baramulla highway, and raised slogans protesting against agents of Indian Army indulging in theft and other crimes at Nihalpora besides Churu, Wagub, Potkhah and Bangdose areas of Pattan. Meanwhile, six person including two cops were injured during a clash with the police during a protest demonstration by the quake-hit people who were demanding relief in Uri area of Baramulla. Meanwhile, night curfew in rural areas of Poonch has been extended for another two months beyond February 26, 2007. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
At least 41 dead in Indonesia quake JAKARTA, March 6 (AFP) At least 41 people were killed Tuesday when a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia's Sumatra island, a police official in one of the towns affected said. “There were 41 people killed - it looks like the number will increase because the evacuation process is underway,” the police chief in Solok, Budi Sarwono, told the detikcom news website. (First Posted 13:10 PST Updated @ 14:10 PST)
Pakistan: Multinational naval exercises begin to promote anti-terrorism cooperation KARACHI, Pakistan, March 6 (AP) Warships from countries including China and Britain along with host Pakistan began a naval exercise Tuesday designed to strengthen cooperation against maritime terrorism, the Pakistani navy said. A total of 27 countries also including the United States and Iran are participating in the weeklong “Aman 07” exercise centered on Karachi, Pakistan's main port on the Arabian Sea and the home of its navy.In an initial “harbor phase,” naval officials will attend conferences and exchange information on the capabilities of their forces, navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Salman Ali said. Exercises at sea begin Thursday, Ali said. Britain, France, China, Malaysia and Bangladesh have already sent ships to Karachi for the war games. Ships or special forces are to arrive from Italy, Turkey and the United States later Tuesday. Iran and other countries are sending observers. The exercises are to “rehearse combined moves and tactics, and harmonize coalition operations to combat terrorism on the sea,” the navy said in a statement. (Posted @ 14:10 PST)
Nine US soldiers killed in Iraq blasts BAGHDAD, March 6 (AFP) Nine American soldiers from the same command were killed and four more wounded in a single day in two attacks on their convoys in northern Iraq, the US military said on Tuesday. In one attack on Monday in Salaheddin province, six soldiers from Task Force Lightning died “as a result of injuries sustained following an explosion near their vehicles” and three more wounded, a statement said. Separately, three more Task Force Lightning troops were killed and one more wounded in a similar attack on the same day in Diyala Province, north of Baghdad, another statement said. (Posted @ 14:10 PST)
India-Pakistan terror panel to discuss train blasts ISLAMABAD, March 6 (AFP) An India-Pakistan anti-terror panel held its first meeting here Tuesday, with talks focusing on the firebombing of a train linking the two countries which killed 68 people, officials said. Pakistan said it would use the panel, set up late last year by the nuclear-armed South Asia rivals, to push India for information about the February 19 blasts on Samjhota Express. “The attack will be discussed. The Indian leadership has assured us that whatever information they have by the time this meeting takes place they would share it with us,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said. “And we expect to hear from them.” The three-member Indian delegation is led by senior foreign ministry bureaucrat K.C. Singh while Pakistan's side is headed by Tariq Osman Hyder, the additional secretary for the United Nations. “We expect the Indian side to brief us on the investigation. But it is basically a technical meeting about how information generally is to be shared, what channels will be used,” another foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
NATO, Afghan forces launch 'largest combined' offensive KABUL, March 6 (AFP) NATO and Afghan forces on Tuesday launched their largest combined offensive to bring security to the troubled southern province of Helmand, plagued by Taliban attacks, the NATO force said. The operation began at 5:00 am (0030 GMT) and at its peak will involve more than 4,500 NATO troops and close to 1,000 Afghan security force personnel, an ISAF commander said in a statement. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Philippines says 16 Muslim rebels killed COTABATO, Philippines, March 6 (AFP) The Philippine military said Tuesday that 16 Muslim separatists and a soldier were killed in fresh fighting in the south of the country. Some 200 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters attacked army forces in two villages on Mindanao island late Monday, triggering intense fighting, said a spokesman. Running gunbattles raged until early Tuesday, spreading to some 17 villages and forcing about 4,000 residents to flee their homes, officials said. One soldier was killed and two were wounded. As of Tuesday afternoon, 16 MILF fighters were killed, the military said. An AFP reporter saw 16 bodies in a corn field and near a highway in the area but could not confirm they were MILF rebels. (Posted @ 13:20 PST)
Taiwan test-fires cruise missile capable of striking China: report TAIPEI, March 6 (AFP) Taiwan has test-fired a cruise missile capable of hitting rival China, it was reported Tuesday, amid fresh tensions across the region.The missile, currently capable of a range of 600 kilometres , was test-fired at the southern Chiupeng missile base on February 2, the United Daily News reported, citing a military source. The missile could be fired from land bases, airplanes or warships and has the ability to hit Shanghai or Hong Kong, the paper said, and its range could be increased to 1,000 kilometres. The defence ministry declined to comment on the report. (Posted @ 13:10 PST)
At least 34 dead in Indonesia quake JAKARTA, March 6, 2007 (AFP) At least 34 people were killed Tuesday when a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia's Sumatra island, a rescue official said. “18 people were killed in Solok and 16 in Tanah Datar,” Erry Gusman, a coordinator for the disaster relief operation in West Sumatra, told the detikcom news website. (Posted @ 13:10 PST)
Afghan students protest civilian deaths JALALABAD, Afghanistan, March 6 (AFP) Around 1,000 students rallied Tuesday in eastern Afghanistan to demand the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country after the killing of nearly 20 civilians. The chanting crowd at a university in the eastern city of Jalalabad shouted slogans against the “invading forces”. ””The coalition forces and the international forces came to Afghanistan to keep my stability, to keep my security, but now they are killing civilians and are in a position to kill me,” a demonstrator said. A letter of demands accused US and other foreign forces of failing to keep Afghanistan stable or secure and said they “must leave.” (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Five shot dead in Thai south YALA, Thailand, March 6 (AFP) Insurgents shot dead five people in southern Thailand, police said Tuesday. A 21-year-old government security guard was gunned down in a public phone booth late Monday in Yala. Also in Yala, two men, aged 20 and 24, were shot dead in a drive-by shooting late Monday, police said. Militants also shot dead two villagers, aged 52 and 31, in neighboring Pattani province. (Posted @ 12:00 PST)
Six US soldiers killed in Iraq blast BAGHDAD, March 6 (AFP) Six American soldiers were killed Tuesday and three wounded in an explosion near their convoy in northern Iraq, the US military said. (Posted @ 11:50 PST)
Nine dead after quakes in Indonesia's Sumatra A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.3 killed nine people on Indonesia's Sumatra island Tuesday and was felt in Malaysia and caused the evacuation of several buildings in Singapore. In the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang, the quake sparked panic among seaside residents who feared it might trigger a tsunami. The United States Geological Survey put the quake’s strength at 6.3 and said its epicentre was around 420 km from Singapore. The Indonesian national quake centre measured the quake at 5.8 on the Richter scale. Tall buildings in Singapore's business district swayed slightly, occupants said, and the tremor was also felt in other parts of the island. Another 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's West Sumatra area Tuesday, two hours later, the U.S. Geological Survey said. (First Posted @ 10:30 PST, Updated @ 11:50 PST)
Second quake hits Indonesia's West Sumatra area JAKARTA, March 6 (Reuters) A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's West Sumatra area Tuesday, two hours after a slightly stronger tremor hit the same area, the U.S. Geological Survey said. (Posted @ 11:20 PST)
Quake kills two in Sumatra, felt in Singapore JAKARTA, March 6 (Reuters) A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.3 killed at least two children and wounded some on Indonesia's Sumatra island Tuesday and was felt in Malaysia and caused the evacuation of several buildings in Singapore. In the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang, the quake sparked panic among seaside residents who feared it might trigger a tsunami. The United States Geological Survey put the quake’s strength at 6.3 and said its epicentre was around 420 km from Singapore. The Indonesian national quake centre measured the quake at 5.8 on the Richter scale. Tall buildings in Singapore's business district swayed slightly, occupants said, and the tremor was also felt in other parts of the island. (FirstPosted @ 10:30 PST, Updated @ 11:15 PST)
NATO troops kill Afghan civilian: police KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, March 7 (AFP) NATO troops shot dead a civilian in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar Monday, police said, as US soldiers faced allegations of killing up to 19 civilians in two days. The man was driving a car near a convoy of the ISAF in the centre of the city. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Quake in Indonesia's Sumatra causes panic, damage JAKARTA, March 6 (AFP) A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia's Sumatra island Tuesday, damaging houses and causing panic and a power cut, but there were no immediate reports of casualties, reports said. The quake was felt in cities including Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. It caused panic as people fled buildings, and houses were damaged in Solok, south of Bukittinggi, reports said. The quake was also said to have been felt in Singapore. It occurred in a mountainous area 49 kilometres northeast of the West Sumatra capital Padang, the USGS said. Indonesia's national Meteorology and Geophysics Agency estimated the quake at a lower magnitude of 5.8. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
British soldier dies of injuries after being shot on patrol in southern Iraq LONDON, March 6 (AP) A British soldier wounded by gunfire last week in southern Iraq died of injuries, the Defence Ministry said Monday. The ministry said Pvt. Jonathon Dany Wysoczan, 21, died Sunday after being injured while on patrol in Basra last week. The soldier was the 134th member of the British forces to die in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion and the 103rd to be killed in combat. (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Helicopter and plane crash in Austria, killing eight people VIENNA, Austria, March 6 (AP) A helicopter and a small plane collided in the air and crashed near a ski slope in Austria Monday, killing eight people, police said. Five Swiss nationals, a German and a French citizen died in the late-morning collision that occurred near Zell am See, in Salzburg province, police said. Seven victims were in the helicopter which was flying from Kaprun, Austria, in the direction of Germany at the time of the accident, police said. The plane's pilot, an Austrian citizen, also died in the accident. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. (Posted @ 10:10 PST)
Twenty nine Al-Qaeda members captured in Iraq BAGHDAD, March 6 (AFP) Iraqi and US forces have captured 29 members of Al-Qaeda, including a death squad leader, in a series of operations across Iraq, an official said Monday. Twenty-two Al-Qaeda members were captured Monday at Baiji, 220 kilometres north of Baghdad, said interior ministry operations director Brigadier General Abdel Karim Khalaf. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Five dead as late snowstorm hits China BEIJING, March 6 (AFP) Northeast China's heaviest March snowstorm in 56 years has left five people dead and caused transport chaos and power failures, state media reported Monday. The Sunday blizzard dumped up to 50 millimetres of snow on parts of Heilongjiang in China's far north, while significant snowfall closed the airport in the city of Shenyang further south, causing 144 flight cancellations and stranding thousands, Xinhua news agency said. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Six major UN powers consider fresh sanctions on Iran UNITED NATIONS, March 6 (AFP) Envoys of six major powers met Monday to consider a new set of sanctions designed to coax Iran into suspending uranium enrichment. Diplomats from the Security Council's five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany met for 90 minutes at Britain's UN mission in New York to discuss elements of a new draft resolution that would tighten sanctions adopted by the council last December. Both Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya and his Russian counterpart Vitaly Churkin said the proposed new draft would give Iran 60 days to comply with UN demands that it freeze sensitive nuclear fuel work or face more sanctions. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
Gunman dead, three injured in California shooting LOS ANGELES, March 6 (AFP) An ex-employee of a California printing firm opened fire on his former co-workers Monday, critically wounding three people before killing himself, police said. The unidentified gunman went on the rampage at the Kenyon Press printing firm in Signal Hill, 20 miles south of Los Angeles, shortly after 9am. (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
Slum fire kills 21 in Bangladesh's Chittagong DHAKA, March 6 (Reuters) At least 21 people were killed by a fire that raged through a slum district of Bangladesh's port city of Chittagong early Tuesday, police and witnesses said. They said the dead included 10 children and eight women and that around 25 others were injured and taken to hospital. The blaze erupted in the city's Bakulia area, gutting at least 30 houses before fire fighters brought it under control after four hours. (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
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