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| April 04, 2007 | Wednesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Ahmadinejad says British sailors to be freed TEHRAN, April 4 (AFP) -Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Wednesday announced that the 15 British sailors captured by Iran will be freed immediately after his news conference and can go straight to the airport. “They will be going back home today.””While insisting on our rights, these 15 sailors have been pardoned and we offer their freedom to the British people,” Ahmadinejad said. “I ask (British Prime Minister Tony) Mr Blair not to judge the military personnel for the truths that they said,” said Ahmadinejad, referring to a string of televised “confessions” by the sailors. “I ask Mr Blair, instead of reinforcing international tensions and modernising Britain's nuclear weapons and occupying other countries, to return to justice and morality.” “Among the British who were arrested, there was a women who was the mother of a child. Why do they give such missions to a woman who is the mother of a child to patrol the sea?,” he said.(Posted @ 18:45 PST)
Ahmadinejad meets British sailors as they are released TEHRAN, April 4 (AFP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday met the 15 British sailors as they were released at the presidential compound, wishing them success for the future, state televison pictures showed.(Posted @ 19:50 PST)
Pakistan tribal assault leaves 250 dead in a month WANA, Pakistan, April 4, 2007 (AFP) - Pakistani tribesmen beating war drums Wednesday launched their biggest assault yet against foreign Al-Qaeda militants in a border region after weeks of fighting that have left 250 people dead. Forty-four Uzbek and Chechen rebels were killed on Wednesday along with seven tribesmen in heavy rocket and mortar clashes in the mountainous South Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan, security officials told AFP. “This is the result of the agreements the government made with tribal people in which they pledged to expel foreigners and now they are doing it,” Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao told reporters in Islamabad. “Around 200 foreign militants have been killed since the start of the fighting on March 19 and the overall figure including local tribesmen is around 250,”Sherpao said, updating an earlier toll of about 200 dead overall. Residents and officials said around 1,000 tribesmen answered a call from their leaders and set off from the regional capital Wana early Wednesday to mount a final push against bunkers occupied by the foreign rebels. “Both sides have been using heavy weapons since this morning and tribal fighters captured important Uzbek bunkers. In one bunker alone 19 foreigners were killed,” one security official said on condition of anonymity. Tribesmen also stationed children at local checkpoints to ensure that people wearing all-covering burqas were women and not foreign militants in disguise trying to flee the area, residents said. Pakistan signed peace pacts with pro-Taliban tribesmen in South Waziristan in 2005 and North Waziristan in 2006, leading to military pull-outs. It signed a similar deal in the Bajaur tribal region last month.(Posted @ 19:10 PST)
Benazir vows to move court if Musharraf seeks re-election Larkana, Sindh, April 04 (PPI): Former Prime Minister and chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party Ms. Benazir Bhutto vowed to move the court if Gen. Pervez Musharraf tried to get himself re-elected as President. In a telephonic address from abroad at a big public meeting in Garhi Khuda Bux on Wednesday on the occasion of 28th death anniversary of her father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, she said, “ Gen. Musharraf exerted pressure on CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry to resign and later removed him on refusal, as the CJP was to take some decision for restoration of democracy in the country.” She said Justice Iftikhar was removed because he was not prepared to continue as a rubber stamp CJP. “Now Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has become a symbol for independent judiciary, which has a vital role in a real democratic setup”, she said. “If the rulers want to resolve this issue, they should forthwith reinstate the CJP instead of extending threats to judges, legal fraternity and the media,” Ms. Bhutto said. She reiterated her party's stance of holding fair and transparent general elections and categorically stated that Gen. Musharraf would not be allowed to get himself re-elected from the present assemblies. She criticized military operation in Balochistan, killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti and portraying other Baloch leaders as traitors and called for provincial autonomy.(Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Ghunwa Bhutto terms government action against CJP as unconstitutional Larkana, April 04 (PPI): Ms. Ghinwa Bhutto, chairperson, Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto) has termed the government action against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhri as unconstitutional. Addressing a big public meeting at Garhi Khuda Bux on Wednesday on the occasion of 28th death anniversary of former prime minister Zlfiqar Ali Bhutto, she supported the legal fraternity's ongoing struggle and said her party believes in independence of judiciary. She called upon the lawyers also to fight for bringing to an end all black laws. She demanded provincial autonomy, payment of royalty on natural resources to the provinces and stressed that the military could be detached from politics through joint struggle.(Posted @ 16:55 PST)
Indian Premier Says SAARC Summit Given Hope To Live In peace, Amity New Delhi, April 4( PPI): Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Wednesday said he believes 14th SAARC Summit has given “us hope that we can live in peace, amity and confidence that we can make SAARC work'' “I believe a new dawn is breaking out over South Asia and we are all set to fulfill promise and vision of SAARC,” Dr Singh said in his remarks at the conclusion of the summit in New Delhi. He said Summit agreed to operationalize SAARC Development Fund, establish South Asian University, create SAARC Food Bank and set up SAARC Arbitration Council. “The cooperation and accommodation that characterized our deliberations show our countries are ready for a transformation of SAARC into effective instrument of regional advancement.'' Indian Premier said quality of SAARC leaders discussions in Retreat earlier today gave him confidence that “we can soon bring fruits of SAARC to our people. We agreed to make tangible progress in next six months on water (including flood control), energy, food and environment which affect people's daily lives.“We will work with international agencies to develop and implement viable cross-border regional projects in these four sectors, which address our people's basic needs. We also decided to designate 2008 as SAARC Year of Good Governance,” he stated.(Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Govt. to oppose petition filed in SC challenging appointment of Justice Bhagwandas as ACJ ISLAMABAD, April 4 (APP) A three-members bench of the Supreme Court Wednesday adjourned the hearing of the petition filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the appointment of Justice Rana Bhagwandas as Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan being a non-Muslim for a period of two weeks on the request of the Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan. The Attorney General, who appeared before the court on notice apprised the bench about the stand of the Government regarding the petition. The bench, comprising Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Shakirullah Jan, heard the case and granted time to the Federation by accepting the request made by the Attorney General for filing written reply in the case. The bench directed the petitioner, Shahid Orakzai who appeared before the court in person to provide a copy of the petition to the Attorney General. (Posted @ 15:06 PST)
EU gives airlines six months to shape up on passenger rights BRUSSELS, April 4 (AFP) - The European Commission Tuesday gave airlines six months to better respect EU laws on passenger rights and threatened to step up legal action against them. “Over the next six months, the Commission will carry out checks in airports to ensure that airline companies are providing passengers with the information, assistance and compensation provided under the law,” it said in a report. Two years after the introduction of new rules on compensation for passengers and assistance for those denied access to a plane or whose flights are delayed or cancelled, the Commission said some airlines have found them tough to apply. Under rules that came into effect in February 2005, compensation can run from 250 to 600 euros (320-770 dollars), depending on a flight's distance, if passengers flights are cancelled or they are victims of over-booking. For late flights -- more than two hours for short-haul flights, three hours for inter-EU country travel and more than four hours for long-haul flights -- meals, lodging and a means of communication must be provided if needed. (Posted @ 15:53 PST)
Cricket: Sri Lanka beat England by 2 runs ST JOHN'S, Antigua, April 4, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lanka beat England by two runs in their World Cup Super Eights match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here Wednesday. Brief scores Sri Lanka 235 in 50 overs (U Tharanga 62, M Jayawardene 56; S Mahmood 4-50, A Flintoff 3-35) England 233-8 50 overs (K Pietersen 58, R Bopara 52; Fernando 3-41) Sri Lanka won by two runs. (Posted @ 02:40 PST)
Assad says Pelosi visit shows need for dialogue DAMASCUS, April 4 (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday that a visit by US House speaker Nancy Pelosi which angered the White House showed that dialogue was essential between the two countries, the state-run news agency SANA said. “President Assad confirmed to Mrs Pelosi and her delegation that their visit to Syria carries a clear message that dialogue and peace are the joint language between peoples,” SANA said. “Direct dialogue is aimed at clarifying many realities and correcting key issues that are of concern to the two countries and regional security,” Assad told Pelosi, SANA said. He likewise “renewed Syria's attachment to peace” which he described as a “strategic option”, SANA said. Assad and Pelosi also discussed the crises in war-torn neighbouring Iraq and insisted that Syria “is attached to the unity and independence of Iraq, as well as achieving security and stability” in the country, SANA said. This must be done “through comprehensive national unity and a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops,” from Iraq, the agency added. US President George W. Bush has slammed Pelosi's visit to Syria as giving “mixed signals” that undermine his administration's efforts to isolate Assad.(Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Pelosi says Assad 'ready' for peace talks with Israel DAMASCUS, April 4 (AFP) -US House speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had assured her he was ready for peace talks with Israel.During her meeting with Assad that has infuriated the White House, Pelosi said she also raised her “concern” about alleged support for militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah and infiltrations into neighbouring Iraq.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Cricket: Greg Chappell resigns as India coach: sources NEW DELHI, April 4 (AFP) - Under-fire Greg Chappell has resigned as India's cricket coach following the team's first round exit from the World Cup, sources told AFP on Wednesday.Chappell, 58, sent an e-mail to Indian cricket board president Sharad Pawar, saying he did not wish to renew his contract as coach for “family and personal reasons,” the sources said.The former Australian captain has served as coach since June 2005 and his two-year contract was due to end on May 31. His resignation comes two days before the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) meets in Mumbai on Friday and Saturday to take stock of the World Cup debacle. Chappell will, however, attend the meeting to present his report on the team's dismal performance, the sources added.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)
One Palestinian dead in Israeli incursion into Gaza GAZA CITY, April 4 (AFP) - One Palestinian was killed on Wednesday when Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip and clashed with militants in the first such incursion since a November ceasefire, security sources said. Soldiers driving five tanks, bulldozers and jeeps, penetrated 500 metres into farmland near the northern Gaza village of Beit Hanun, sparking sporadic gunfights, according to Palestinian security sources. Israeli soldiers shot and killed Ramez Awad al-Zaanin, of Islamic Jehad while a second militant was wounded. “A unit operating on the Israeli side saw three men placing an explosive charge close to the fence.The soldiers penetrated inside the area and exchanged fire with the militants, hitting two of them”, the military said.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Strong quakes hit Pacific, no damage reported SYDNEY, April 4 (AFP) - Two strong earthquakes rocked the Loyalty Islands region of the South Pacific on Wednesday, two days after an 8.0-magnitude quake spawned a tsunami in the Solomon Islands, experts said. No damage was immediately reported from the first 6.3-magnitude quake, or the second quake, also magnitude 6.3, which hit close.(Posted @ 18:55 PST)
Pakistani avalanche kills 4; toll near 50 ISLAMABAD, April 4 Reuters) An avalanche hit a Pakistani mountain village on Wednesday killing at least four people and burying nine, taking the toll from a week of killer avalanches to nearly 50, government officials said. The avalanches have swept down mountains in the Chitral region of Pakistan's Hindu Kush mountains, 280 km north of Islamabad, after heavy snow was followed by rain. Wednesday’s avalanche hit the remote village of Birgon. Snow had blocked mountain roads hampering rescue and relief efforts and authorities were using helicopters to take food and other supplies to affected areas.(Posted @ 16:55 PST)
Railway: Sh. Rashid inaugurates 'Nishter Express' RAWALPINDI, April 04 (PPI) Federal Minister for Railways, Sh. Rashid Ahmed inaugurated the “Nishter Express” new train from Rawalpindi to Karachi at Rawalpindi Railway Station on Wednesday. The twice weekly train( Rawalpindi to Karachi on Saturday and Wednesday, and Karachi to Pindi on Thursday and Sunday night) would cover the distance in 22 hours with stoppages at Lahore, Multan, Rohri and Hayderabad stations.(Posted @ 16:55 PST)
Sri Lanka's former cricket chief sentenced to jail, granted bail on appeal COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, April 4 (AP) Sri Lanka's former cricket board chief Thilanga Sumathipala was sentenced to two-year prison term on Wednesday for passport forgery, but the judge released him on bail after an appeal to a higher court, an aide said. Sumathipala is accused of altering the passport of Dhammika Amarasinghe, a purported contract killer, to enable him to travel to England for the 1999 World Cup. At the time, Sumathipala was president of Sri Lanka Cricket. Amarasinghe, who was accused of dozens of killings and the attempted assassination of a newspaper editor in 1998, was shot dead in January 2004 as he arrived at court to face murder charges.(Posted @ 16:55 PST)
Pakistan deports 638 Afghans for fake haj papers KARACHI, April 4 Reuters) Pakistani authorities have deported 638 Afghans since last week who travelled to Saudi Arabia for Haj on fake Pakistani documents, a government official said Wednesday. Authorities sent 302 Afghans back home on Wednesday after deporting 336 last week, said Mumtaz Awan, deputy superintendent of the central prison in f Karachi. The Afghans were being sent home across the border by bus. (Posted @ 15:58 PST)
Dozens of Taliban killed, captured in NATO operation KABUL, April 4 (AFP) - Dozens of Taliban militants have been killed and captured in more than 200 engagements with NATO-led and Afghan security forces during a major operation launched in the southern province of Helmand a month ago, the alliance said Wednesday. Those captured or killed included some “big extremist leaders,” NATO’s spokeswoman told reporters. Three international soldiers -- two British and one US national -- have also been killed, a military official said previously. The operation involved about 4,500 troops from ISAF and about 1,000 from the Afghan army. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Pakistan, Bangladesh discuss bilateral relations, regional issues NEW DELHI, April 4 (APP) Pakistan and Bangladesh Wednesday discussed bilateral relations and regional situation and decided to further strengthen these ties for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries. In a meeting here between Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, Fakharuddin Ahmad and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on the sidelines of the 14th SAARC Summit, both the leaders also discussed security cooperation. Aziz said Pakistan would grant ten million dollars to Bangladesh as gift to fulfil its food requirements as both the countries have historical and strong relations based on common faith and religion. He appreciated the micro-finance system of Bangladesh and said Pakistan has also started the micro-finance system to take advantage from the experience of Bangladesh. Both the leaders also exchanged views on the progress made in the SAARC. (Posted @ 13:41 PST)
Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to cooperate in all fields NEW DELHI, April 4 (APP) Pakistan and Sri Lanka Wednesday underlined the need to turn SAARC into an effective and vibrant organization by making sincere efforts to open new chapters of cooperation between member states. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Sri Lankan President Mahindra Rajapaksa in a meeting on the sidelines of 14th SAARC summit here called for translating the vision of SAARC into reality. They also decided to enhance cooperation in diplomatic, economic, defence, security, education, culture, tourism with particular focus on trade and investment. Shaukat Aziz said the two countries enjoy excellent relations and hold similar views on major regional and international issues. Pakistan and Sri Lanka noted that the trade between the two countries was below the potential and there was a need to exchange business delegations to fully leverage the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. He said the present level of trade between the two countries should be increased from current 200 million dollars to one billion dollars. (Posted @ 13:08 PST)
Pakistan, India agree to pursue IPI project sincerely NEW DELHI, April 4 (APP) Pakistan and India Wednesday agreed to pursue the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project “sincerely and seriously” besides taking forward the composite dialogue process for the benefit of people of the two countries. This was stated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at a news conference here following his meeting with Dr. Manmohan Singh at his official residence. The Prime Minister said he and his Indian counterpart agreed that it is in the interest of three countries to speed up the IPI project as energy needs of Pakistan and India are substantially increasing. They expressed satisfaction over the process on IPI project so far made in the technical talks between the three sides. Both the leaders talked about bilateral relations and reviewed the progress on various prospects of the composite dialogue process, the Kashmir issue, as well as the ongoing dialogue process between the two countries through official and back channel. They also discussed trade issues and people to people contact and agreed on granting permission to their respective banks to open branches and increasing air links between the two countries. (Posted @ 13:06 PST)
Gunmen kill 11 Iraqi workers in ambush KIRKUK, Iraq, April 4 (Reuters) Gunmen killed 11 employees of an electricity station in an ambush on their vehicle near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk Wednesday, police said. Gunmen in a car attacked the men as they were driving to work. The ambush took place near Hawija about 70 km southwest of Kirkuk. (Posted @ 12:47 PST)
Landmine blast kills Pakistani official QUETTA, Pakistan, April 4 (AFP) A Pakistani government employee was killed in a landmine blast as he repaired an electricity pylon that was blown up by militants in the country's southwest, officials said Wednesday. The junior official from the Water and Power Development Authority died late Tuesday in Bolan town, 70 kilometres south of Quetta, company executive Shafiq Khattak said. (Posted @ 12:16 PST)
Pakistani militants staging raids inside Iran: ABC WASHINGTON, April 4 (Reuters) The U.S. has been secretly advising and encouraging a Pakistani militant group that has carried out a series of deadly guerrilla raids inside Iran, ABC News reported on Tuesday, citing U.S. and Pakistani intelligence sources. The raids have resulted in the deaths or capture of Iranian soldiers and officials, ABC reported. The group, members of the Baluchi tribe, operates from Pakistan's province of Baluchistan, just across the border from Iran, the report said. The only relationship with the group that U.S. intelligence acknowledges is cooperation in tracking al Qaeda figures in that part of Pakistan, ABC reported. The group, called Jundullah, has produced videos showing Iranian soldiers and border guards it says it has captured, ABC said. ABC cited U.S. government sources it did not identify as saying the United States does not provide direct funding for the group but has maintained close ties to its leader, Abd el Malik Regi, since 2005. A CIA official said the account was not accurate. (Posted @ 10:21 PST)
Four Tamil Tigers killed in latest Sri Lankan violence COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, April 4 (AP) Government soldiers killed four Tamil Tigers in two separate clashes on northern Sri Lanka's Jaffna peninsula, the Defence Ministry said Wednesday. In the first incident, two rebels attacked a military roadblock in Jaffna town with a hand grenade late Tuesday, a senior officer at the ministry's information centre said. The soldiers fired back, killing one, while the other escaped, he said. Also on the Jaffna peninsula, insurgents fired late Tuesday at a group of soldiers guarding a defence line that separates rebel and military-held areas, the officer said. ''We fired back and according to information we have, three terrorists have died,'' he said. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 17.86 points: KARACHI, April 4: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 11414.88, down 17.86 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:28 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, April 4: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.7 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:28 PST)
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