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| March 11, 2007 | Sunday | Safar 21, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Non-functional Chief Justice demands open trial ISLAMABAD, Mar 11 (APP) - Non-functional Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has demanded an open trial on the reference filed against him by the President General Pervez Musharraf. During a meeting with Tehreek-e-Istaqlal Chairman Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan on Sunday Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expressed his desire for an open trial. When contacted Air Marshal (retd) confirmed this demand by the non-functional Chief Justice. “The non-functional Chief Justice has demanded to hold an open trial on the reference,” he told APP on phone. (Posted @ 22:38 PST)
Avalanche kills 10 Pakistani soldiers on border KABUL, March 11, (REUTERS) - Ten Pakistani soldiers were feared killed in an avalanche in a remote area on the border with eastern Afghanistan, NATO said on Sunday. NATO spokesman Col Tom Collins said the Pakistani government had sought permission from the Afghan government and NATO-led forces to set up a base camp inside Afghanistan to recover the bodies. The avalanche struck the soldiers on March 1. (Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Iraq attacks kill 58 BAGHDAD, March 11, (AFP) - At least 58 people were killed in a spate of attacks across Iraq on Sunday, including 31 Shiite pilgrims who died in a car bombing as they returned from a religious festival, security officials said. The car bomb exploded as pilgrims arrived in several vehicles at Baghdad's downtown Karrada district from Karbala in central Iraq which on Saturday played host to several million Shiites for the festival of Arbaeen. The attack also wounded 25 pilgrims, five of whom were in critical condition, according to a medic at Baghdad's Ibn Nafis hospital. A security official said 10 commuters were killed and eight wounded in a separate incident when a suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body on board a minibus as it passed Baghdad's renowned Mustansiriyah University. (First Posted @ 15:40 PST Updated @ 18:44 PST)
Israeli, Palestinian leaders hold summit JERUSALEM , March 11, (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday held their second summit in less than a month, prodded by U.S. officials to keep moving forward with their fledgling dialogue. But heading into the meeting, held at Olmert's official residence in Jerusalem, both sides acknowledged that prospects for a breakthrough in peace efforts were slim. The talks were overshadowed by Abbas' recent power-sharing deal with the radical Islamic group Hamas. Olmert has said he will not conduct peace talks with a government that includes Hamas unless the group gives in to international demands to renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and accept past peace agreements. (Posted @ 22:12 PST)
8 killed, two injured as truck plunges into deep ditch CHAKWAL, Mar 11 (APP) - At least eight persons were killed and two seriously injured when a truck loaded with salt veered off the road, police said on Sunday. According to Kalarkhar police source, a truck carrying number of people was on its way when the driver lost control of the vehicle while taking a sharp turn. As a result, the truck plunged into a deep ditch, killing eight people on the spot and injuring two others. (Posted @ 22:06 PST)
Ahmadinejad wants to attend UN Security Council meet TEHRAN, March 11, (AFP) President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants to defend Iran's position in person when the UN Security Council holds a session to discuss the controversial Iranian nuclear programme, state television reported Sunday. “The president wants to be present at the meeting of the Security Council examining the Iranian nuclear question to defend the right of the Iranian people to master nuclear technology,” it quoted government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham as saying. UN Security Council permanent members and Germany are currently discussing a draft resolution to tighten sanctions against Iran for its controversial nuclear fuel work. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Car bomb, deaths rekindle Baghdad violence during international conference BAGHDAD, March 11 (AP) A suicide car bomber Saturday killed 20 people in Baghdad's Sadr City . The blast ripped through an Iraqi army checkpoint at a southern entrance to the district, and six of the dead were soldiers, the U.S. military said in a statement. Smouldering debris was scattered for hundreds of yards . U.S. military officials at the station said 20 people were killed, and Iraqi police said nearly 50 were hurt. Also Saturday, the U.S. military said it was investigating a shooting on Friday in Baghdad's Azamiyah neighbourhood, in which thee Iraqis were killed and three others were wounded Police meanwhile said 34 bodies were discovered across Baghdad on Saturday .Other bombings and shootings also killed at least 15 people, Iraqi officials said. Six of the victims were pilgrims on their way home from Karbala. Some 340 people, mostly pilgrims en route to Karbala, were killed in sectarian attacks this past week. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Cricket: Sobers ready to declare World Cup open DANIEL TOWN, Jamaica, March 11 (AFP) West Indies legendary all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers will officially open the World Cup later Sunday at the culmination of a two-hour, 45-minute ceremony. .”The ceremony, which is being held at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium here, comes two days before the first match of the seven-week event takes place. That will see hosts West Indies facing Pakistan at Sabina Park on Tuesday. The ceremony, which has been called “West Indian Energy”, will feature reggae star Jimmy Cliff as well as a cast and crew of around 2,000 singers, dancers and performers. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Indian Troops martyr seven more Kashmiri youths Srinagar, occupied Kashmir, March 11 (PPI) - In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops, in their fresh acts of state-terrorism, martyred seven more Kashmiri youths, at different places, reports Kashmir Media Service. Five youths were shot dead during crackdowns at Aripal and Naibugh areas in Tral. Two residential houses were damaged at Naibugh in the course of military operation. (Posted @ 21:02 PST)
Israel frees jailed Hamas official RAMALLAH, West Bank, March 11, (AFP) - Israel on Sunday released Saleh al-Aruri, a senior leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, after 15 years in jail, the Palestinian prisoners' affairs ministry said. No immediate comment was available from the Israeli authorities. (Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Rain, snowfall sever land link of Neelum, Leepa valleys with Muzaffarabad ISLAMABAD, Mar 11 (APP) - Muzaffarabad and adjoining areas of Azad Kashmir received rainfall for the third consecutive day on Sunday. The snowfall at mountains has suspended the land-link of Neelum and Leepa valleys with Muzaffarabad. Rain-triggered landslides at Jhelum Valley have closed Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway at Para and Muzaffarabad-Athmuqam road at Chhon area. (Posted @ 20:24 PST)
Widespread rains in Sindh province Karachi, March 11 (PPI) - Widespread rains lashed Sindh province on Sunday, turning routine life standstill. Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Shikarpur, Mirpurkhas, Khipro and other areas received heavy to moderate showers. Rains also affected various crops. Low-lying areas went inundated and power supply and telecommunication system was also disturbed. (Posted @ 20:04 PST)
Bush leaves Colombia to discuss insurgency, trade MONTEVIDEO, March 11, (AFP) - US President George W. Bush wrapped up his visit to Uruguay and headed to war-torn Colombia Sunday in a display of continued US support for that country's efforts to combat a leftist insurgency and illegal drug trafficking. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Military says roadside bomb kills 2 commandos in eastern Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, March 11, (AP) - A roadside bomb killed two special forces commandos in eastern Sri Lanka Sunday, the Defense Ministry said. The deaths came amid heightened fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and Sri Lanka's military. (Posted @ 16:04 PST)
Iran blasts Russian firm for nuclear delays TEHRAN, March 11, (AFP) Iran complained on Sunday that financing problems at the Russian contractor building its first atomic plant were behind a string of delays and expressed hope Moscow was not “politicising” the issue. The Russian firm leading construction of the plant in the southern city of Busheher, Atomstroiexport, has signalled that completion of the facility and delivery of fuel could be delayed again due to late Iranian payments. “The problem of the Russian company is one of a lack of money,” retorted Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, the head of Iran's atomic energy agency. “This goes beyond our legal engagements but, as we want that the Bushehr power station is finished as quickly as possible, it is necessary to solve this problem,” he told the semi-official Mehr news agency. (Posted @ 14:10 PST)
8 police, 2 Taliban killed in clashes in southern Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Afghanistan Two clashes between Afghan police and Taliban militants left eight police and two Taliban dead in volatile southern Afghanistan, police said Sunday. Taliban insurgents ambushed a police convoy Saturday night as they patrolled in Kandahar province, said border security chief Gen. Mohammad Raziq Khan. Eight border police were killed and two wounded in the ensuing one-hour gunbattle, he said. There were no known Taliban casualties. The militants fled the attack site in Arghasan district to neighboring Zabul province. Also Saturday night in Zabul, Taliban militants attacked police on the main highway between Kabul and Kandahar. A half-hour gunfight left two Taliban dead and four wounded, said Zabul highway police commander Ghulam Jailani. One of the wounded Taliban was arrested, but the others were taken away by the fleeing militants, Jailani said. The clash occurred near Qalat city. (Posted @ 12:40 PST)
Peacekeeping forces from OIC countries can play due role to ensure peace in Iraq: Mushahid ISLAMABAD, Mar 11, (APP):Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said that after the failure of US forces in restoring peace in Iraq, a peace-keeping force of OIC countries under UN umbrella should be established to give a respectable exit to the foreign troops. This Islamic Peace-keeping Force could consist of Muslim countries including Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria and other Muslim states that are not neighbours of Iraq, he said while talking to a media delegation from Indonesia at a dinner reception he hosted for them here at Islamabad Club last night. (Posted @ 12:00 PST)
One killed in Fatah-Hamas clash in Gaza GAZA, March 11 (Reuters) A Hamas gunman was killed and one was wounded in a shootout with the rival Fatah group in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, officials from both Palestinian factions said. Each side blamed the other for starting the firefight in the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern part of the coastal strip. The man killed was identified as Mohammad al-Kafarna, a senior Hamas militant and member of the group's Executive Force. Residents said three people had been wounded in the clash, including one Hamas and two Fatah gunmen. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Bush asks 3.1 bln dlr domestic cut for more US military cops in Iraq MONTEVIDEO, March 11 (AFP) US President George W. Bush has asked Congress to cut 3.1 billion dollars from federal programs to finance 2,200 more military police for Iraq, a White House spokesman said Saturday. The top US commander in Iraq has requested 2,200 more US military police to oversee detainees in Baghdad. Commanding General David Petraeus requested the troops in addition to the 21,500 combat troops and 2,400 support troops being sent to Iraq as part of Bush's planned “surge” in US forces. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
20 dead, 9 missing in northeast China mine flood BEIJING, March 11 (AFP) Twenty miners were confirmed dead and nine others were missing in a coal mine flood late Saturday night in northeast China, state press reported.The flood occurred in a pit in China's northeastern province of Liaoning, Xinhua news agency said. No other details were immediately available. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
Five Buddhists killed in Thailand's Muslim south YALA, Thailand, March 11 (AFP) Five Buddhists have been killed in shootings throughout Thailand's Muslim-majority south, where separatists have battled the government for three years, police said Sunday. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
US envoy says talks with Iran, Syria 'businesslike' WASHINGTON, March 11 (AFP) The US ambassador to Iraq says Saturday's conference with Iran and Syria on Iraqi security was businesslike and constructive. Zalmay Khalilzad spoke with reporters by conference call from Baghdad after meeting with representatives of Iran and Syria about helping pacify their neighbour, Iraq. “The overall mood was businesslike, constructive exchanges, nobody was pounding the table, the exchanges were quite, I would say, ordinary and there was a frank and sometimes even jovial exchanges,” he said after the meeting in the US Green Zone in Baghdad. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
Policeman kills five colleagues at New Delhi bank NEW DELHI, March 11 (AFP) An Indian police officer shot dead five fellow policemen Sunday after an argument outside the bank they were guarding, officials said. Another officer was seriously wounded in the early morning attack, a police control room spokesman said, adding that a massive manhunt was on for the fugitive suspect. The shooting occurred at the private Dena Bank in the city's busiest commercial district of Daryaganj. (Posted @ 09: PST)
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