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| April 26, 2007 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 08, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan, India relations improving: President Musharraf CORDOBA, Spain, April 26 (AFP) Pakistan's relationship with India is gradually warming, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said Thursday during a visit to Spain. “We are improving our relations, we are trying to resolve our disputes, and there is reasonable progress,” he said during an address to students in the southern city of Cordoba. He also said terrorism will not be solved unless solutions for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are found first. “We can not say we will stop terrorism and extremism and then we will look at solving this dispute. This is putting the cart before the horse, it is not do-able.” “If we want to bring harmony to the world we can not fail to resolve the Palestinian dispute, whatever it costs,” he added. President Musharraf said political disputes like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict together with poverty and illiteracy were the three main causes of terrorism. “Terrorism is a symptom, we must get at the cause. If we keep battling the symptom we will never win,” he added. (Posted @ 18:44 PST)
Seven prisoners killed in encounter GUJRANWALA, April 26, (Agencies) - Seven under-trial prisoners who killed two policemen and tried to escape were killed in an encounter with police near Nandipur here on Thursday. According to police, nine prisoners involved in abduction cum ransom case were being taken to district jail Sialkot after their appearance in anti-terrorist court Gujranwala. Near Nandipur bridge, they snatched rifles from the police guards, killed two of them and escaped. Local police started the chase and in the ensuing encounter seven of them were killed. Search for the other two is continuing. (First Posted @ 19:36 PST Updated @ 23:54 PST)
Somali government claims victory over Islamic insurgents in Mogadishu Mogadishu, April 26, (AP) - Somalia's government claimed victory over an Islamic insurgency Thursday just hours after a surge in violence killed nearly 60 people in the capital, but diplomats said they were skeptical that the worst fighting in more than 15 years had ended. Somali troops and their Ethiopian allies have been trying to wipe out the insurgents since late March, with the unrelenting rain of mortar shells and artillery taking the highest toll on civilians. Rights groups say the fighting killed more than 1,000 people and sent up to 400,000 fleeing for safety. (Posted @ 23:52 PST)
President Musharraf criticizes Afghan counterpart over resurgence of Taliban CORDOBA, Spain, April 26 (AP) President Pervez Musharraf voiced criticism of his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai over the resurgence of the Taliban, saying he is weak on fighting terrorism and denying Afghan charges that Pakistan is helping the militants. President Musharraf's remarks were published Thursday in an interview by the Spanish daily El Pais. ''The ones who do nothing against terrorism, like Karzai, are those who criticize those who fight, like us,'' President Musharraf said during his four-day visit to Spain. In Cordoba, where he addressed university students on relations between Islamic countries and the West, President Musharraf insisted that both al-Qaida and the Taliban were products of Afghanistan. ''They were imported from Afganistan,'' Musharraf told a packed auditorium at the University of Labor. ''We in Pakistan are victims.'' In the university speech, Musharraf vowed to fight terrorism and extremism, but called for more international support, saying that countries must address the root of the problem, including resolving the political dispute between Israeli and the Palestinians, fighting poverty and improving education. He also said any U.S. attack on Iran would fuel sectarian tensions in Pakistan. “There would be an effect on Pakistan as well, with implications of religious sectarianism, from any operation against Shi'ites in Iran, which Sunnis (in Iran) would suffer just as much.” (First Posted @ 15:10 PST Updated @ 17:14 PST)
President visits historical Cordoba mosque CORDOBA, Spain, April 26 (APP) President Pervez Musharraf visited Cordoba Mosque, a great monument of 100 years rule of Muslim Empire. The President alongwith the members of his entourage went around various sections of the sparsely built mosque structure and evinced keen interest in its unique style of construction. During the briefing about history of the mosque, he asked questions about different aspects of historical nature and various phases of its rebuilding and renovation, and appreciated the preservation of some parts of the mosque in its original shape and character. (Posted @ 18:50 PST)
61 Pakistanis, one dead body handed over to authorities TAFTAN, April 26 (PPI) Iranian authorities handed over 61 Pakistani nationals and a dead body to Levies in Taftan Thursday. According to details, Iranian officials arrested 61 Pakistani nationals from different cities of Iran who were proceeding to European countries illegally. They were handed over to Levies in Taftan. Of these also included a dead body of a resident of Gujrat who died in Mashhad due to severe hunger and thirst. (Posted @ 19:48 PST)
At least 29 killed in Iraq bloodshed BAGHDAD, April 26 (AFP) At least 29 people were killed across Iraq Thursday, including nine Iraqi soldiers who died when a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle against a checkpoint north of Baghdad, security officials said. The morning bombing in the town of Khalis in Diyala province also wounded 15 people, 10 of them soldiers, a security official said. (FirstPosted @ 13:20 PST Updated @ 19:06 PST)
Bush to veto Iraq timetable quickly WASHINGTON, April 26 (AFP) US President George W. Bush will quickly veto legislation, backed by his Democratic foes, tying Iraq war funding to starting a pull-out of US forces late this year, the White House said Thursday. “We need to see when we get the bill. But it will be very soon,” spokeswoman Dana Perino said as the Senate prepared to follow the House of Representatives in approving the controversial 124-billion-dollar measure. “Obviously the president has said that we need to get the process over with, in terms of them sending him a bill and him vetoing it so that we can take the next step. So it will be soon, but I can't give you a date, or time,” she said. (FirstPosted @ 09:50 PST Updated @ 20:36 PST)
Istanbul eight-storey building collapses ISTANBUL, April 26 (Reuters) An eight-storey building collapsed in Istanbul Thursday, officials said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. It was not immediately clear how many people were inside, but a number of ambulances had been dispatched to the scene, television station NTV said. (Posted @ 20:30 PST)
Iran calls for greater regional cooperation Tehran, April 26 (PPI) Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Thursday said greater exchanges and cooperation among regional countries will strengthen peace and stability in the area. Speaking in a meeting with visiting Indian Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, Ahmadinejad referred to the agreement on the construction of gas pipeline to transfer Iran's gas via Pakistan to India, noting that signing such MoUs, particularly in the energy sector will expedite development of ties between the two friendly countries. “Given the readiness of Pakistan to ink final deal during previous year, the Islamic Republic extended deadline in favour of India to participate in MoU to show it gives priority to multilateral cooperation in energy sector as well as bolstering peace and prosperity of regional countries,” he added. Turning to unwanted impacts of delay, which complicates chances of signing agreements in energy sectors due to global developments in this area, he underlined need to expedite conclusion of agreements. (Posted @ 20:16 PST)
Iraq situation 'very tough': Petraeus WASHINGTON, April 26 (AFP) US General David Petraeus, commander of allied forces in Iraq, Thursday acknowledged the complex situation in Iraq was “very tough.” ”The situation in Iraq is, in sum, exceedingly complex and very tough. Success will take continued commitment, perseverance and sacrifice,” Petraeus told reporters. The general said he would deliver an assessment in September of the “surge” military strategy implemented since the beginning of the year. (Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Geelani detained in Srinagar NEW DELHI, April 26 (APP) Senior Kashmiri leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani along with five others were detained Thursday in Srinagar before they were to address a press conference. A heavy contingent of police waiting outside the venue of the press conference detained them and took them away to Kothibagh police station. Geelani's other companions Sumji, Massrat Alam, Mohammed Shafi Lone, Firdous Ahmad Shah, Mohammed Yasin and Merajuddin were also arrested. Meanwhile, the Kashmiri leaders have protested over this action and described it a government's frustration. (Posted @ 18:48 PST)
Four civilians killed in new Afghan attacks KABUL, April 26 (AFP) A bomb exploded near a provincial government headquarters in eastern Afghanistan Thursday, killing a passer-by, while three more civilians died in attacks blamed on Taliban insurgents. The blast in the town of Mihtarlam, about 100 kilometres from Kabul, was outside the offices of the Laghman provincial government and “a passer-by was martyred as a result,” a provincial spokesman said. Another civilian man was killed and one wounded overnight when around 20 rockets were fired into Barmal province, officials said. Elsewhere in Barmal, armed men shot dead two other civilians, the officials said. (Posted @ 16:54 PST)
Charity organization wins case against closure in Pakistan KARACHI, April 26 (Reuters) A Pakistani court Thursday ordered authorities to re-open offices of a charity they had sealed after it appeared on a U.N. list of organizations linked to terrorism, a lawyer said. The government shut down offices of Al-Rasheed Trust in several cities, including over a dozen in Sindh province, in February. A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court ruled there was no justification for closing the offices of the trust. “The court has ordered an immediate opening of all the offices and relief centres of the trust throughout the country,” said Manzoor Ahmed Rajput, a lawyer for the charity. “The court has instructed the government that such action cannot be taken under the rules of the U.N., and that the government needs to frame its own rules and regulations for such steps,” he added. (Posted @ 16:34 PST)
Iran must cease all uranium reprocessing: Rice OSLO, April 26 (AFP) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday that Iran must stop all uranium reprocessing activities in order to head off further UN sanctions. Rice reiterated an offer by the United States and its major power allies of trade and political incentives for Iran as well as the start of direct negotiations if Tehran accepted UN demands to stop uranium enrichment. “The only condition for beginning those discussions ... is that Iran suspend its enrichment and reprocessing activities,” Rice said during a visit to Oslo for talks with NATO and Russian foreign ministers. “What we can't have is Iran practising enrichment and reprocessing, because that's what they're doing,” she said. (Posted @ 16:26 PST)
Indian court orders arrest of Gere, Shetty over kiss JODHPUR, India, April 26 (AFP) An Indian judge ordered the arrest of Hollywood star Richard Gere and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty Thursday over a hug and kiss at an AIDS awareness event. The arrest warrants were issued in the Rajasthan state capital of Jaipur following a public interest plea filed last week by resident Poonam Chand Bhandari accusing the pair of obscenity, court officials said. “Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gupta issued the (arrest) orders,” a court official said from Jaipur, 375 kilometres from Jodhpur.(Posted @ 15:55 PST)
Pakistan will never compromise on its minimum deterrence needs: PM Aziz RAWALPINDI, April 26 (PPI) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan seeks peace through strength in South Asia and will never compromise on its nuclear programme or its minimum deterrence needs. He said Pakistan is a declared and fully established nuclear power with its minimum deterrence needs successfully achieved and its capability operationalized through a variety of delivery means. He was speaking on the occasion of handing over of the final production batch of the Hatf III Ghaznavi Missiles to the Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC) at a ceremony. According to a press statement issued by the ISPR here Thursday, indigenously produced Hatf III Ghaznavi Ballistic Missiles, with a range of 290 kms, were taken over by the Second Missile Group of Pakistan Army's Strategic Force Command. The Prime Minister congratulated the scientists, engineers and staff associated with the manufacture of the Ghaznavi missile system on successful completion of their mission in record time. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
US military accuses Iraq prison commander of aiding enemy BAGHDAD, April 26 (AFP) The US military said Thursday that a senior officer in command of a prison camp in Iraq had been detained and will be investigated for a series of offences, including that of aiding the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel William H. Steele is accused of having aided the “enemy by providing an unmonitored cellular phone to detainees” held at Camp Cropper and of wrongfully fraternizing with the daughter of a prisoner. Earlier, a US military spokeswoman said that Steele had been detained in Kuwait and would face a panel of officers who would decide whether there is enough evidence for him to face a court martial. Steele is also accused of having unauthorised possession of classified information, maintained an improper relationship with an Iraqi interpreter, failing to obey an order and of possessing pornographic videos. The charge sheet also accused him of “wilfully failing to fulfil obligations as an approving authority in the expenditure of funds.” (FirstPosted @ 13:15 PST, Updated@ 15:30 PST)
PML women wing rallies against extremism LAHORE, April 26 (APP) Pakistan Muslim League's Women Wing staged a peaceful rally here Thursday to condemn extremism and retrogressive elements. Senior vice president, PML women wing Punjab, Mahrukh Jamshed led the rally which started from Masjid-e-Shuhada and dispersed peacefully at Faisal chowk, Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam. (Posted @ 15:20 PST)
Iran nuclear talks moving towards 'united view': Larijani ANKARA, April 26 (AFP) Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani said Thursday that talks with a senior EU official had made progress towards a “united view” on ending the crisis over Iran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment. “I think in some areas we are approaching a united view and that is to say the best approach is to have the issue settled through negotiation,” Larijani told journalists after meeting in Ankara for a second day with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. (FirstPosted @ 10:15 PST, Updated@ 15:10 PST)
Cricket: Smith defends South Africa's ill-fated aggression GROS ISLET, St. Lucia, April 26 (AP) - Graeme Smith defended South African batsmen's ill-fated aggression in the seven-wicket World Cup semifinal defeat against Australia.. South Africa wanted to call the shots and not let Australia dictate terms. “The ball did swing in the beginning and once you're three down, it really became very difficult to wrest back the initiative,” said Smith, whose dismissal on the 15th delivery of the game began the South African slide. Coach Mickey Arthur also said the aggressive shots that contributed to South Africa's defeat were a calculated risk. “I don't think we played reckless shots and threw the wickets away,” said Arthur. “We had a plan, we wanted to destroy Australia's momentum somehow and we needed to get on top quickly. It was part of the plan, but it never came off.” Smith said the top order's dismissal had to do with some good bowling and some bad shots. “Life becomes a bit difficult when a strike bowler like Shaun Tait comes in as the first-change bowler,” he said.(Posted @ 10:40 PST)
Glittering ceremony for Malaysia's new king KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (AFP) - Recalling the pageantry of sultanates centuries ago, Malaysia installed its 13th king Thursday in a ceremony where he pledged to protect Islam and maintain peace. At 45 the country's second youngest king ever, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin was sworn in last December, but Thursday's ceremony was a formal installation.(Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 42.84 points: KARACHI, April 26: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 12208.87 , up 42.84 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, April 26: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.75 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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