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| April 12, 2007 | Thursday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 23, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Musharraf says tribes killed 300 militants in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, April 12 (AFP) - President Pervez Musharraf said Thursday that Pakistani tribesmen had killed around 300 foreign Al-Qaeda militants near the Afghan border adding that the army had helped the tribal fighters. “The people of South Waziristan now have risen against the foreigners. They have killed about 300 of them,” Musharraf told a conference of defence officials from 22 countries. “They have support from the Pakistan army. They asked for it.” Musharraf said there were indications that tribesmen in other parts of the region were ready to take up arms against the foreign insurgents, many of whom fled Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban in 2001. “We want a similar activity in North Waziristan and there are indications that this can happen there as well,” he said. The government has repeatedly said that the formerly Taliban-supporting tribesmen's efforts vindicate its policy of signing peace deals with the ethnic Pashtun clans of the region, despite criticism from Western allies. (First Posted @ 16:54 PST Updated @ 17:08 PST)
Outsiders blamed for Parachinar sectarian clashes PESHAWAR, Pakistan, April 12 (AFP) - Tribal elders who Thursday arranged a shaky ceasefire in several violence-hit areas around the curfew-bound tribal town of Parachinar, in Kurram tribal district, are strongly of the view that elements in Afghanistan were behind a week of fierce clashes that left over 50 dead and more than 100 injured . Tribesmen “have blamed extraneous forces from across the border for the unrest,” said a statement issued by the office of Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai, the governor of North West Frontier Province, which oversees affairs in the tribal region. Meanwhile, Arbab Arif, a top official dealing with security in the tribal areas, gave a toll of 49 dead and 115 injured in the fighting in the past week. “The law and order situation has been restored to some extent,” he said, adding that in some areas there were slight violations of the ceasefire imposed by security forces and tribal elders. Residents said at least 40 houses were torched in Jalime and Char Dewar villages, on the outskirts of Parachinar, on Wednesday. Parachinar (population about 70,000) remains under curfew, and soldiers patrolling the town have been given shoot-on-sight orders to curb the violence. (First Posted @ 13:30 PST Updated @ 20:16 PST)
Eight dead in Iraqi parliament blast-US spokesman LONDON, April 12 ( Reuters) - About eight people were killed and 20 wounded when a suicide attacker detonated a bomb vest in the Iraqi parliament building on Thursday, a U.S. military spokesman said. “It appears from eyewitness accounts that it was a suicide vest. The initial count for casualties as of this time is about eight dead and about 20 wounded from that,”Major General William Caldwell was quoted as saying by Sky News in Britain. (Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Suicide bomber kills 3 MPs at Iraq parliament BAGHDAD, April 12 (Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed three Iraqi lawmakers at a cafe in the parliament building on Thursday. Witnesses said dozens had been hurt in the blast, which tore through the restaurant as many lawmakers were having lunch. Police said 10 people were wounded. Other reports said several others lawmakers were among those injured. Iraqiya state television said three lawmakers had been killed. Officials have named one as Mohammed Awadh, a member of the Accordance Front, the biggest Sunni bloc in parliament. A security official said another parliamentarian was missing and presumed dead. Two other lawmakers were critically wounded, the official said. “Suddenly we heard a huge blast inside the restaurant. I saw a lot MPs wounded and bleeding,” said Fouad al-Massoum, leader of the Kurdish bloc in parliament. Iraqi security official said the bomber was wearing a belt packed with explosives. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the attack was carried out by those “who wish to stop the Iraqi people having a future that would be based on democracy and stability”. A Reuters witness said the blast took place at the cashier's register in the cafe, which is near parliament's main assembly hall. Parliament was in session on Thursday. (First Posted @ 17:10 PST Updated @ 19:38 PST)
Pakistan, Russia agree to expand bilateral relations ISLAMABAD, April 12 (APP): The prime ministers of Pakistan and the Russian Federation Thursday agreed to enhance bilateral economic and trade ties, cultural and diplomatic interaction and cooperation in energy and other fields. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail E. Fradkov held talks with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz first had one-on-one meeting for fifty minutes, followed by150 minutes of delegation level talks. Two agreements, one on promoting cooperation in the fields of culture, arts, archaeology, archives and cinema and the other for increasing cooperation in combating illicit trafficking, abuse of narcotics and psychotropic substances, were signed on the occasion. Talking to newsmen, they expressed satisfaction at the wide-ranging talks. Prime Minister Aziz said all aspects of the bilateral relations were discussed. “We discussed the situation in the region and the world, particularly related to Pak-Afghan relations, India, China and Iraq.” They also discussed the recent initiatives for the resolution of the Palestine issue and solving the situation in Iraq. (Posted @ 17:36 PST)
Pakistan's commitment, sincerity in fight against terror must never be doubted: President ISLAMABAD, Apr 12 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday said that Pakistan itself being a victim of terrorism and extremism is fighting this menace with full conviction and its commitment and sincerity must never be doubted. “Our commitment and sincerity must never be doubted. We have suffered casualties. If Pakistan is not doing enough then no one is doing enough”, he said while addressing the concluding session of a symposium on “Common Security and Global War on Terror” at the National Defence University. The President explained that under the peace deal between the government and the notables, Maliks and Lungi Holders, it was undertaken that they will not allow Taliban and Al-Qaida elements in their area. He said the media, particularly in the West, had misunderstanding and misperception about the deal. The President called for end of the blame-game and said the increased and on-time intelligence cooperation between Pakistan, the United States and Afghanistan was a must to achieve success. About Al-Qaida, he said Pakistan has successfully dealt with Al-Qaida and after the 9/11, 700 Al-Qaida men were caught from Pakistani cities. The President said after the elimination of Al- Qaida from cities, Pakistan deployed 80,000 troops along the Afghan border to chase them in the mountains. “Now there is no Al-Qaida men in the cities. This is the success of Pakistan's operation against Al- Qaida”, he maintained. (Posted @ 18:30 PST)
200 arrested in Pakistan ahead of protests ISLAMABAD, April 12, (AFP) - Pakistani police Thursday arrested about 200 opposition supporters ahead of protests on Friday against the removal of chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, officials said. The arrests were made in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and throughout Punjab province, a senior government official said. (Posted @ 23:48 PST)
Shaukat’s banquet for Russian Prime Minister ISLAMABAD April 12, (APP) - Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday said Pakistan and Russia will succeed in creating greater linkages and inter-dependencies to benefit of the people of the two countries and contribute towards further strengthening Pakistan-Russia ties. He was speaking at the banquet which he hosted in honor of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail E. Fradkov. (Posted @ 23:24 PST)
Cricket: New Zealand make 219-7 against Sri Lanka ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, April 12, (AFP) - New Zealand made 219-7 off 50 overs in their World Cup Super Eights match against Sri Lanka at the Grenada National Stadium here on Thursday. Brief score New Zealand 219-7 in 50 overs (S Styris 111 no; M Muralitharan 3-32, C Vaas 3-32). (Posted @ 22:52 PST)
Six Iraqis killed when bus home bombed KIRKUK, April 12 (AFP) - A roadside bomb attack killed six Iraqi civilians taking the bus home from college and work near Kirkuk on Thursday, security and medical sources said. Another 21 Iraqis were wounded. A security official said the bus was carrying students and workers home from their place of study and employment in downtown Kirkuk. (Posted @ 20:50 PST)
2 NATO soldiers killed in bomb explosions in eastern Afghanistan KABUL, April 12 (AP) - Attacks on two NATO convoys in eastern Afghanistan left two soldiers dead and another wounded on Thursday, a NATO statement said. The convoys were patrolling 8 kilometers apart when they were struck with roadside bombs within 30 minutes of each other, the statement said. NATO did not identify the killed and injured soldiers. Most of alliance troops in the east are American. (Posted @ 20:46 PST)
Soldiers, police charged with cleric murder in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, April 12 (Reuters) - Indian authorities in occupied Kashmir Thursday charged five soldiers and five policemen for killing a Muslim cleric in a staged gun battle and passing him off as a separatist militant, police said. “The accused were charged with hatching a criminal conspiracy, abduction, murder and destruction of evidence,” a police official said. In February, five bodies, including the cleric Molvi Shoukat Khatana, were exhumed in connection with investigations into charges of staged gun battles. Earlier this year, seven policemen were charged with killing one of the five men -- a local carpenter. In occupied Kashmir, officials say more than 42,000 people have been killed in a separatist movement which broke out in 1989. Human rights activists put the toll at 60,000 dead and missing. (Posted @ 20:44 PST)
TURBAT: 5 killed in security forces, miscreants clash TURBAT, Pakistan, April 12 (PPI): Five persons including a security personnal were killed in a clash between miscreants and security forces near Baksar village of Tump area (Kech District) in Balochistan province Thursday. The miscreants reportedly belonging to Jundullah suffered four casualties including ring leader Jungal in an exchange of fire .Three others were arrested. (Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Communist-era mass grave of nearly 400 found in Afghanistan KABUL, April 12 (AFP) - The bodies of nearly 400 Afghan civilians killed during the communist regime that ended in 1992 have been found in a mass grave in northeastern Afghanistan, officials said Thursday. The grave was found by local farmers in a desert just outside Faizabad, the capital town of the remote Badakhshan province, deputy governor Shams-ul Rahman Shams told AFP. “We've so far recovered the bodies of some 380 people. They were killed during the communist time,” Shams said. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Bangladesh government promises polls by end of 2008 DHAKA, April 12 (AFP) - The head of Bangladesh's military-backed government said Thursday he expected to stage elections by the end of 2008 and hand over power afterwards.“I firmly believe the much expected parliamentary elections can be held before the end of 2008,' Fakhruddin Ahmed said in a televised address to the nation. “We are determined to hand over power to an elected government after holding free and fair elections through carrying out necessary programmes and administrative reforms as soon as possible,” he said. (Posted @ 18:56 PST)
Militants shave wedding singers' heads, moustaches PESHAWAR, Pakistan, April 12 (AFP) – Pro-Taliban militants shaved the heads and moustaches of a troupe of singers, then clashed with a marriage party and took six hostages, officials and witnesses said Thursday. They intercepted the musicians overnight near the town of Lakki Marwat, some 160 kilometres southwest of Peshawar, where the group was due to perform at three weddings, police said. After beating the troupe and smashing up their instruments, the militants then shaved the performers' heads and moustaches, a witness said. Early Thursday the angry hosts of one wedding went after the militants and a clash erupted in which two local residents were wounded, police said. The militants then took some six people hostage, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, they said. (Posted @ 18:48 PST)
Two Canadians, 35 Taliban killed in Afghan violence KANDAHAR, April 12 (AFP) - At least 35 Taliban militants were killed in fierce fighting with Afghan and US-led troops in Zabul province on Wednesday, provincial governor's spokesman Gulab Shah Alikhil said Thursday. “Initially our troops came under attack. They called for support from the coalition troops, who responded with ground troops and air support. Thirty-five Taliban were killed in the subsequent fighting,” Alikhil said. Separately, two Canadian soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb near their vehicle on Wednesday, officials said. The blast about 38 kilometres west of Kandahar also wounded two soldiers, one seriously. A third soldier was also wounded in an earlier bomb attack in the same area. Meanwhile an ISAF service member died of “non-combat-related injuries” in Kunar province Tuesday, a military statement said Thursday. A local police official said the soldier drowned in the flooded Kunar river. (Posted @ 16:26 PST)
Iran at starting stage of nuke enrichment -Elbaradei RIYADH, April 12 (Reuters) -, Mohamed Elbaradei, head of the AEA, said Thursday Iran was still at the starting stage of creating a uranium enrichment plant and that concerns stemmed more from its motivations than the scale of production. “There are various definitions of industrial scale production. Iran is still at the starting stage of creating a uranium enrichment plant,” he told reporters in Riyadh. “The fears do not only stem from Iran conducting industrial production but rather Iran's aims behind (enriching uranium) before it has nuclear reactors for electric power generation that need enriched uranium.” Baradei said.(Posted @ 16:10 PST)
India tests longest-range ballistic missile BHUBANESWAR, India, April 12 (Reuters) India tested on Thursday its longest-range nuclear-capable missile, the Agni III, which has a range of more than 3,000 km, a scientist said. The launch of Agni, which means “fire” in Sanskrit language, came after a failed test last July when the missile plunged into the Bay of Bengal after take-off. “The test launch has been successful but the final results will be known four hours later - whether it met all the parameters,” a scientist at the site on Wheeler island off India's eastern coast said. (FirstPosted @ 10:45 PST, Updated@ 12:10 PST)
Truck bomber kills 10 in Baghdad bridge bombing BAGHDAD, April 12 (AFP) A suicide bomber blew up a truck on a bridge spanning the Tigris River in northern Baghdad Thursday, partially destroying the bridge, killing 10 people and sending four cars plunging into the waters below. The bombing ripped through the metal Al-Sarafiyah Bridge which connects the Al-Atafiyah neighbourhood on the western bank of the Tigris to the Waziriyah neighbourhood on the east. The bridge partially collapsed under the force of the blast, a security official said. Another official said a quarter of the bridge had been destroyed. The metal construction was sliced in two after the attack, as river boat police and divers were seen searching for survivors, an AFP photographer and a security official. Twenty six people were wounded. (FirstPosted@ 09:20 PST, Updated@ 11:50 PST)
Iraq PM calls for international help to rebuild SEOUL, April 12 (AFP) Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki Thursday called for international help to rebuild Iraq, saying the people were struggling to “rise from the ashes” of conflict. “Because of its abundance in resources such as oil and gas, Iraq has a great potential to become an advanced country,” he told South Korean business leaders in Seoul. “However, it is true that reconstruction is being delayed and all facilities are in ruins. But the Iraqi people are making utmost efforts to rise from the ashes,” he said through an interpreter. Iraqis are striving for democracy and peace in the face of near-daily attacks by insurgents, he said. “For reconstruction, Iraq needs help from its friends...we hope our friends join us in efforts to rebuild the country.”(Posted @ 11:45 PST)
American writer Kurt Vonnegut dead at 84 WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) American literary idol Kurt Vonnegut, best known for such classic novels as “Slaughterhouse-Five” and “Cat's Cradle,” died Tuesday night in Manhattan at age 84, The New York Times reported Wednesday.(Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Gates extends US troop tours in Iraq to 15 months WASHINGTON, April 12 (AFP) US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates Wednesday announced that US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan will have their deployment extended from 12 months to 15. “Effective immediately, active army units now in the Central Command area (Iraq and Afghanistan) and those headed there will deploy for not more than 15 months and will return home to home station for not less than 12 months,” said Gates. The extension is designed to make enough troops available to maintain the “surge” in forces that President George W. Bush announced in January.(Posted @ 09:19 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 10.96 points: KARACHI, April 12: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 11905.92 ,up 10.96 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, April 12: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.82 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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