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| April 05, 2007 | Thursday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 16, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
India to press Pakistan on troop posts in Kashmir glacier NEW DELHI, April 5 (AFP) - Top Indian defence officials flew Thursday to Pakistan for fresh talks on demilitarisation of an icy Siachin glacier in Kashmir where freezing temperatures have claimed more lives than actual combat. Indian Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt Thursday led a nine-member team to the talks with his newly appointed Pakistani counterpart, Kamran Rasool, in Islamabad, Indian defence ministry officials said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier Thursday called a meeting of his security cabinet to chalk out a framework for the two-day talks which begin Friday, they said. “The cabinet brief given to the defence secretary is clear-cut on the issue of India's position on the need for an authentication of (Pakistani) troops positions on the Siachen,” a delegation member said before leaving New Delhi. Pakistan, which claims all of Kashmir, fears that setting out its positions would be tacit acceptance of India's claims to Siachen and the area as a whole. “Maybe things could be easier this time as they now have a civil servant as defence secretary,” the Indian official said of Rasool, the first Pakistani civilian bureaucrat to occupy the strategic post since 1996. Rasool took charge on Wednesday from retired Pakistani general Tariq Waseem Ghazi, who had led previous rounds of unsuccessful talks on Siachen with India. Indian army which has around 5,000 troops and has occupied most of the glacier since 1987 refuses to thin its forces despite the high costs involved. Pakistan has less than half the number of Indian soldiers on the frigid wasteland where temperatures plummet to minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit). (Posted @ 20:22 PST)
Nine children killed as tractor hits Pakistan school LAHORE, Pakistan, April 5 (Agencies) At least nine children were killed and 18 wounded Thursday when a speeding tractor smashed into a school in a rural Pakistani town, police said. The driver lost control and struck a roadside government primary school in Hafizabad, some 80 kilometres southeast of Lahore. “The tractor hit the wall of the school, making it collapse onto the children during a class. Scores of children were taking lessons in the school when the accident occured,” area police chief Waqar Abbasi said. (First Posted @ 12:35 PST Updated @ 19:24 PST)
Ten British, US troops killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, April 5 (AFP) - Six American and four British soldiers were killed in separate attacks in Iraq, while the US military investigated reports that a Black Hawk helicopter was shot down south of Baghdad on Thursday. The four British soldiers, together with a civilian translator travelling in the same vehicle, were killed outside Basra in a complex roadside bomb, small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenade attack. Another soldier was seriously wounded and undergoing hospital treatment. In Baghdad, the US military also announced its share of new casualties, saying six soldiers had been killed over the past two days. Five of the soldiers were killed on Wednesday -- four when roadside bombs ripped through their patrols in southern Baghdad and north of the capital. Two other troops were shot dead by insurgents in eastern parts of Baghdad over the last two days. The US military was alsot probing reports that one of its Black Hawk helicopters had crashed after it received ground fire in the Sunni stronghold town of Latifiyah, 40 kilometres south of Baghdad, a spokesman said. (Posted @ 16:42 PST)
Top journalist killed in Iraq TV bombing BAGHDAD, April 5 (AFP) – The deputy bureau chief and senior Iraqi journalist Thaer Ahmed Jabr was killed on Thursday when a suicide truck bomb exploded outside Baghdad TV channel's headquarters, Iraqi Islamic Party, the leading Sunni political party that owns the network said in a statement. Another 12 employees of the 24-hour television channel were wounded, some of them seriously, it added. “Since its establishment, the channel has been committed to a moderate national line and has always defended Iraqi citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation,” the Islamic Party added. One of the party's leaders, Sunni moderate Tareq al-Hashemi, is one of the country's two vice presidents. In the same neighbourhood, the body of Khamael Muhsin, the prominent tv newsreader during the time of Saddam Hussein, was found on Thursday a day after she was kidnapped, a media rights group said. She was kidnapped in Yarmuk district on her way home. More than 150 media workers, 95 percent of them Iraqi, have been killed in Iraq in the four years since the 2003 US-led invasion. (Posted @ 20:12 PST)
Gunmen kill 10 Iraqi soldiers near Mosul MOSUL, April 5 (Reuters) Gunmen killed 10 Iraqi soldiers and wounded one in an attack on a military checkpoint near the northern city of Mosul on Thursday. An army source said at least 40 gunmen attacked the checkpoint, which was manned by 11 soldiers, at dawn 40 km northwest of Mosul, setting their vehicles on fire and seizing their weapons. (Posted @ 17:48 PST)
Ten bodies found in Baghdad BAGHDAD, April 5 (Reuters) The bodies of 10 people were found shot in different districts of Baghdad on Wednesday, police said Thursday. (Posted @ 14:02 PST)
Pakistanis march against Islamic vice squads ISLAMABAD, April 5 (AFP) - Hundreds of Pakistani human rights activists rallied Thursday to urge the government to act against Islamic students who have launched “anti-vice” patrols in the capital Islamabad. Around 600 protesters chanted slogans calling upon the authorities to “curb the rise of extremist forces in the country that are promoting intolerance and violence,” an AFP photographer witnessed. The students were “harassing and terrorising ordinary citizens of Pakistan in the name of Islam” and must be stopped, said a joint statement by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and a dozen non-governmental organisations. It also urged people to “rise against these extremist religious bigoted forces and secure the future of the present and future generations. ”Deputy information minister Tariq Azeem said last week that the government had taken a very serious view of the situation and would get tough on the school and on any Islamic vigilantes. However the mosque in an open letter to President Pervez Musharraf released Thursday told Musharraf to “not start a civil war” by taking action against its students. (Posted @ 20:32 PST)
Pakistan rejects US report on aiding anti-Iran militants ISLAMABAD, April 5 (AFP) - Pakistan on Thursday rejected a US media report that it was secretly aiding a militant group for attacks across the border in Iran as “tendentious”, the foreign office said. “The Foreign Office takes serious note of the tendentious ABC News report alleging that a group called 'Jundullah (Soldier of God)' was operating from inside Pakistan to carry out raids across the border into Iran,” an official statement said. It described as an “absurd and sinister insinuation” that Pakistan was part of a “secret campaign” against Iran. “Pakistan will never allow its territory for carrying out acts of terrorism and violence against any country,” it said. “Pakistan has active cooperation with Iran to curb any criminal and terrorist activity by any group including so-called Jundullah,” it said. “Pakistan and Iran enjoy close friendly relations and we condemn any attempt to create misgivings between the two brotherly countries.” (Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Musharraf meets folk singer Reshma RAWALPINDI, April 5 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday hailed Pakistani artists as ambassadors and said they were playing an important role in projecting country's true image as a modern, dynamic and progressive Islamic state with rich socio-cultural heritage. Talking to the legendry folk singer Reshma, Musharraf lauded her contribution in introducing to the world the undiscovered melodies and lyrics of the deserts of Pakistan. Her songs gained popularity as they were blended with modern musical scores, the President said adding that artists like Reshma are a national asset. He announced a grant of Rs 2.5 million for the purchase of house for Reshma, besides approving of a life-time monthly honorarium of Rs. 10,000 for the artist who is suffering from cancer. (Posted @ 16:32 PST)
Pakistan changes PSO bid date to May 19 KARACHI, April 5 (Reuters) - The Pakistani government has changed the date for bidding for a majority stake in Pakistan State Oil (PSO) , the country's top oil marketing company, to May 19 from May 5, Privatisation Minister Zahid Hamid told reporters in Karachi on Thursday. The change was being made because some of the bidders had asked for more time to prepare,he said. The government is selling a 51 percent stake in PSO. (Posted @ 16:44 PST)
Over 200 foreign militants killed in South Waziristan since last month: DG ISPR ISLAMABAD, April 5 (APP): Director General ISPR Major General Wahid Arshad Thursday said that 200 to 220 foreign militants and their supporters have so far been killed in fighting with local tribesmen in South Waziristan, which started last month. He told a private tv channel that the local tribesmen started the action after an agreement with the government that they would drive out foreign elements from their area. He said the political authorities are functioning in tribal areas, Frontier Corps is there, and if the tribesmen needed their support they will get it. He however said the military is not involved in the present fighting. (Posted @ 21:08 PST)
Rice does not rule out meeting with Iranian counterpart WASHINGTON, April 5 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice does not rule out a bilateral meeting with her Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki on the sidelines of an international conference on Iraq in early May, spokesman Sean McCormack said. (Posted @ 20:28 PST)
Eight killed in Afghanistan violence KHOST, Afghanistan, April 5 (AFP) - Eight people including five Taliban and two policemen were killed Thursday in the latest violence in Afghanistan, officials said. An interpreter working with NATO-led troops was killed and his three colleagues were injured when unknown attackers fired at their vehicle outside the eastern city of Khost. In Ghazni province a police official was killed and nine others were wounded in two separate attacks by Taliban, provincial police commander Alishah Ahmadzai said. Afghan police retaliated killing five Taliban fighters and injuring four others, he said. Separately a policeman was killed and seven others were injured when their patrol vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Maiwand district just outside Kandahar. (Posted @ 20:24 PST)
Three charged over London 2005 suicide bombings LONDON, April 5 (AFP) - Three suspects were charged Thursday over the July 7, 2005 suicide bombings in London which killed 52 commuters and injured more than 700, police said, in the first indictments since the horrific attacks. The men -- identified as Waheed Ali, Sadeer Saleem and Mohammed Shakil -- were involved in the “reconnaissance and planning” of the attacks, in which four bombers blew themselves up on underground trains and a bus, police said. The three were charged that between November 1 and June 29, 2005 “they unlawfully and maliciously conspired ... to cause explosions on the Transport for London system and/or tourist attractions in London,” prosecutors added. (Posted @ 18:28 PST)
Three die as mini truck dashes into a truck RAHIMYAR KHAN, April 05 (PPI): Three young men died in the wee hours of Thursday when their mini truck on way to Rahimyar Khan from Daharki (Sindh) crashed against a truck at motorway near Sanjarpur A consignment of about 1,500 chickens also perished in the accident. (Posted @ 18:26 PST)
U.S. says helicopter down in Iraq, 4 hurt BAGHDAD, April 5 (Reuters) The U.S. military said an army helicopter with nine personnel on board went down south of Baghdad on Thursday, and four personnel were injured. A statement did not give the cause of the incident or any other details. Witnesses reported seeing heavy gunfire force the aircraft that appeared to be an Apache attack helicopter go down in an insurgent stronghold near Latifiya, 40 km south of Baghdad. (Posted @ 18:22 PST)
Bangladesh election body rules out new polls before late 2008 DHAKA, April 5 (AFP) - A top Bangladesh election commission official Thursday ruled out new polls before late 2008 in order to have time to revise the country's voter list. “We will need at least 18 months to prepare the voters list. Pragmatically speaking, this is the least amount of time we need to prepare the ground for credible elections,” deputy election commissioner Shakhwat Hossain said. (Posted @ 17:40 PST)
'A Christmas Story' director, son killed in Los Angeles car crash LOS ANGELES, April 5 (AP) Film director Robert Clark, best known for the beloved holiday classic “A Christmas Story,” was killed Wednesday along with his son in a head-on crash with an alleged drunken driver on Pacific Coast Highway, the filmmaker's assistant and police said. He was 67. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Freed British sailors arrive back in Britain LONDON, April 5 (Reuters) The flight carrying 15 British military personnel freed by Iran after a tense two-week stand-off arrived back in England on Thursday. The 15 were transferred to military helicopters and flown to a military base at Chivenor in Devon, 200 miles southwest of London for a private meeting with their families and debriefing. (Posted @ 16:10 PST)
Iran tv shows British sailors laden with gifts TEHRAN, April 5 (AFP) - Iran broadcast new pictures of 15 British sailors preparing to fly out of Tehran on Thursday, showing them opening an array of traditional gifts before departing.The 14 men and one woman smiled and laughed as they sipped tea and waited to board their plane in the plush surroudings of the presidential lounge at Tehran's international airport. The pictures aired on Iran's Arabic language channel Al-Alam showed the sailors opening gifts that ranged from traditional handicrafts to Iranian pistachio nuts. Their luggage, packed into a combination of matching traditional Iranian woven bags and sports holdalls laid on by the authorities, was also shown (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Pope kicks off Easter celebrations with Holy Thursday mass VATICAN CITY, April 5 (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI opened Easter celebrations with a Holy Thursday mass in St Peter's Basilica, to be followed by the ceremony of the washing of the feet at Rome's Basilica San Giovanni in Laterano. (Posted @ 15:54 PST)
Over 70 injured as Paris train hits buffer PARIS, April 5, 2007 (AFP) More than 70 people were injured Thursday when a train carrying hundreds of rush-hour commuters hit the rail buffer of a Paris station, firefighters said. The driver was held for questioning by police after the nine-carriage train carrying 600 passengers hit the buffer as it pulled into the Gare de l'Est station, in eastern Paris. (Posted @ 15:51 PST)
Seven killed in Sri Lanka violence COLOMBO, April 5 (AFP) Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels shot dead four civilians in eastern Sri Lanka Thursday, the defence ministry said, as the military reported killing three guerrillas. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) gunmen opened fire on farmers in Polonnaruwa district, the ministry said. The attack came as the military said they killed three suspected rebels along the de facto border in northern Sri Lanka after the air force bombed guerrilla targets in the northeast. Security forces shot dead three men who tried to infiltrate the army's defence lines at Muhamalai in the Jaffna peninsula late Wednesday, they said. (FirstPosted @ 10:21 PST, Updated@ (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Bush rejects 'dangerous' Iraq timetables FORT IRWIN, California, April 5 (AFP) US President George W. Bush on Wednesday vowed to reject any legislation creating a timetable for pulling US forces out of Iraq, calling that a “dangerous” strategy that helps extremists. Bush warned that “the enemy does not measure the conflict in Iraq in terms of timetables.” ”They plan to fight us and we've got to fight them alongside the Iraqis. A strategy that encourages this enemy to wait us out is dangerous,” he said. “It's dangerous, it's dangerous for our troops, it's dangerous for our country's security and it's not going to become the law,” he said acknowledging that “it's a tough war. The American people are weary of this war, they wonder whether or not we can succeed.” (Posted @ 10:19 PST)
Mosque bombed in southern Thailand, 14 wounded BANGKOK, April 5 (Reuters) A bomb was thrown into a mosque in southern Thailand Thursday, wounding at least 14 worshippers, a senior policeman said. Also, eight schools, two teachers' houses and two clinics were set ablaze in the Yaha district of Yala province and a neighbouring area, the provincial police chief said. (Posted @ 10:14 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 181.22 points: KARACHI, Arpil 5: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 11596.08, up 181.22 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, April 5: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.78 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
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