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| May 01, 2007 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Govt to increase salaries, pensions, and minimum wages in budget: PM ISLAMABAD, May 1 (APP) - Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday said the government would increase the minimum wages and salaries and pensions of government servants in the next budget. He was addressing the labour leaders and representatives of the workers who had led a May Day rally to the Parliament House. The Prime Minister also announced scholarships for the children of workers who get admission in institutes of higher learning on merit and assured to address their concerns over the Industrial Relations Ordinance 2002. “The matter will be looked into and resolved through consensus,” he said. (Posted @ 17:58 PST)
Iraq interior ministry says Qaeda kingpin dead BAGHDAD, May 1, 2007 (AFP)- Iraqi officials believe the alleged leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been killed in an internal struggle within the militant group, the interior ministry said Tuesday. Speaking on state television, the ministry's operations chief Brigadier General Abdel Karim Khalaf, said he had seen strong intelligence information showing that the Egyptian militant had died in a feud between militants.“The clashes took place among themselves. There were clashes within the groups of Al-Qaeda. He was liquidated by them. Our forces had nothing to do with it,” he said.“Some information, you know, needs confirmation, but this information is very strong,” he said, suggesting more investigations should be carried out.A US military spokesman could not confirm the report.“We can't confirm anything yet. We are seeing the reports in the media as well and are checking into this,” said Lieutenant Colonel Chris Garver.“While I hope it is true, because of misreporting about the fate of senior leaders in the past -- we seem to capture or kill al-Masri about every month -- we are going to be doubly sure before we attempt to confirm or deny anything. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Iraq Al-Qaeda chief not dead: Internet DUBAI, May 1, (AFP) - A coalition of Sunni insurgent groups led by Al-Qaeda's Iraq branch denied on Tuesday that its leader, known by US officials as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, had been killed, in an Internet statement. “The Islamic State of Iraq reassures the ummah (Islamic nation) on the safety of Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, God keep him, and he is still fighting God's enemies,” the group said, using the name it uses for its leader. (Posted @ 22:36 PST)
Pakistani workers rally for better wages, conditions ISLAMABAD, May 1, 2007 (AFP) –Thousands of labourers rallied across Pakistan Tuesday demanding better wages and living conditions to mark May Day, witnesses said.Labour Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan led a rally on wheels in the capital in which hundreds of vehicles participated.More than 4,000 workers staged a rally in the eastern city of Lahore, where leaders accused the government of failing to provide basic benefits for the working class.In the southern port city of Karachi, the country's commercial capital, labour leaders also criticised Musharraf's regime for violating labour laws.In the central city of Multan, labourers and social workers staged several rallies demanding social security and wage increases. (Posted @ 16:10 PST)
Turkey's top court declares presidential poll invalid ANKARA, May 1, (AFP) - Turkey's top court ruled Tuesday that a first round parliamentary vote to elect a new president was invalid, a decision that could lead the Islamist-rooted government to call early general elections. (Posted @ 22:54 PST)
Turk parliamentary vote set for Wed postponed ANKARA, May 1 (Reuters) - Turkey's ruling AK Party has decided to postpone Wednesday's planned round of voting in parliament on its presidential candidate, the state Anatolian news agency quoted a senior party member as saying on Tuesday. It also quoted the lawmaker, Sadullah Ergin, as saying a new timetable for the election would be fixed after a parliamentary board meeting on Wednesday morning. (Posted @ 23:32 PST)
Iraq attacks kill 30 HILLA, Iraq, May 1, (AFP) - Attacks killed 30 people across Iraq on Tuesday, including 11 people shot dead in a minibus headed south from Baghdad to the mainly provincial capital of Hilla. “The bus was carrying people to Hilla from Baghdad and was attacked as it passed Iskandiriyah,” police said. “Three women and two children were among the dead, and three people were wounded.”Witnesses said six gunmen in two vehicles swooped down on the minibus and riddled it with bullets, the officer added. In a similiar incident, gunmen in the nearby town of Latifiyah set up a fake checkpoint, stopped a minibus and shot its eight passengers, killing five. Another four people were killed when a salvo of mortar rounds rained down on the town. A roadside bomb targeting a passing Iraqi army patrol went off in the same area killing a civilian. (Posted @ 20:12 PST)
Nearly 60 rebels killed in NATO, Afghan operation KABUL, May 1, (AFP) - Nearly 60 militants, including some Pakistani nationals, were killed in a major NATO-led offensive in a restive southern Afghanistan district, an Afghan commander told AFP Tuesday. (Posted @ 19:36 PST)
Bomb blast kills 2 soldiers in Russia's Ingushetia region ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia, May 1, (AP) - An improvised bomb exploded in southern Russia's troubled Ingushetia region Tuesday, killing two soldiers, a law enforcement official said. The soldiers were searching for militants in a wooded area at night when they accidentally set off the device, which was apparently fashioned out of an anti-personnel mine, Ingushetia Interior Ministry spokesman said. (Posted @ 18:54 PST)
Iran rules out Rice 'dialogue' at Iraq conference TEHRAN, May 1, (AFP) - Iran on Tuesday ruled out engaging in a “dialogue” with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a conference on Iraq's security this week, saying the time was not right for negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is to attend the May 3-4 conference in Egypt alongside Rice, raising expectations the two could meet in the highest-level bilateral talks between the two foes since 1980. (Posted @ 18:22 PST)
Musharraf hopes Ankara declaration to enhance trust between Pakistan, Afghanistan ON BOARD SPECIAL AIRCRAFT, May 1 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf terming the Ankara Declaration as very positive has hoped that it would end blaming and accusing each other and reducing differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan.Talking to the newsmen on board his special aircraft on way back home after his four-nation visit, the President said that Ankara Declaration agreed upon by the two sides provides a mechanism to address the issues of concerns. He said Pakistan desires that blame game should be stopped and the two coalition partners work with trust.The joint declaration was a good document to work together for ensuring peace and stability in the region, he said . “We want to have better understanding with the Afghan side to deal with the problem of terrorism in an effective manner”, he added.Replying to a question President Musharraf said Pakistan has deep- rooted and brotherly relations with Turkey. About his visit to Poland, Spain and Bosnia, the President said :“Our relations with these countries are excellent and now we are laying greater emphasis on improving economic ties through increased trade, investment and joint ventures”. He said Pakistan, Spain and Bosnia can play important role in promoting interfaith harmony. Bosnia which is a multi-ethnic and multi- religion society could be a model for boosting better understanding among various religions and faiths, he said. Replying to another question, he said that issues like Kashmir and Palestine need to be resolved at the earliest. (Posted @ 10:10 PST)
Three dead as blast destroys apartment block in Spain MADRID, May 1, 2007 (AFP) -At least three people were killed when a powerful explosion ripped through a five-storey apartment building in northeast Spain early Tuesday, officials said.Rescue teams with sniffer dogs were struggling against smoke and flames to find victims trapped under the rubble of the building in central Palencia.Local media said cries for help could be heard coming from the debris.“There are three dead and seven hospitalised,” a spokesman for the local authorities told AFP. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Four killed in fresh Afghan violence KHOST, Afghanistan May 1, 2007 (APP/AFP): US-led coalition warplanes killed four militants who had attacked a government building in eastern Afghanistan, the coalition said Tuesday.The casualties occurred after nearly a dozen militants attacked the administration office of eastern Khost province's Spera district late Monday with rockets and gunfire, it said.“In response to a request from the (police), coalition forces responded with close air support, killing four insurgents,” the statement said. Seven other rebels were wounded. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Bomb blasts rock Bangladesh railway terminals, none hurt DHAKA, May 1 (Reuters) - Three simultaneous bomb blasts rocked separate railway terminals in Bangladesh on Tuesday but there were no injuries, officials said. The blasts were reported at Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong railway terminals. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Bomb explodes at busy night market in southern Thailand, wounding 20 PATTANI, Thailand, May 1 (AP) - A bomb blast rocked a busy night market wounding 20 people in Pattani province's Muang district in southern Thailand, where an Islamic insurgency has killed more than 2,000 people since early 2004. The bomb was hidden in the front basket of a motorcycle, which was parked in front of a Muslim food stall. (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
U.S. sees 40 percent rise in global 'terror' deaths WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - The number of people killed in “terrorism” around the world surged by 40 percent to more than 20,000 last year largely because of violence in Iraq, a U.S. report said on Monday. Global terrorism fatalities rose to 20,498 in 2006 from 14,618 in 2005 with the bulk of last year's deaths -- about 13,000 -- in Iraq. According to the report, the number of “terrorist” incidents last year rose to 14,338 last year from 11,153 in 2005. Of these, attacks in Iraq nearly doubled to 6,630 from 3,468 in 2005 and represented about 45 percent of the total.The number of attacks also jumped to 749 from 491 in Afghanistan. The report listed the five countries that the United States describes as state sponsors of terrorism -- Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. It accused Iran and Syria of fomenting the violence in Iraq. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
US, EU ink 'open skies' pact WASHINGTON, May 1 (AFP) - The United States and European Union formally signed an “open skies” accord Monday aimed at opening up more competition in transatlantic aviation.US President George W. Bush signed the agreement along with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of a US-EU summit in Washington. The agreement will take effect next March 30 and will eliminate most limitations on US and EU airlines' ability to fly between the two continents. Under the draft agreement, any EU carrier would be able to fly from anywhere in the bloc to any point in the United States and vice versa. But EU airlines will still not be able to operate domestic US routes. (Posted @ 09:33 PST)
Seven dead in stampede at Tunisian concert TUNIS, May 1 (AFP) - Seven people died and several were injured late Monday in a stampede at an open air concert held in Sfax, 300 kilometres south of Tunis, the official news agency Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) reported. The stampede occurred shortly after 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) when stars from Tunisia and other Arab countries appeared on stage. Several spectators fell down during the stampede and were trampled, a witness said. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
NATO Gen says cooperation with Pakistan becoming more and more effective on Afghan border WASHINGTON, May 1 (APP): A top NATO commander in southern Afghanistan, Major General Ton van Loon Monday said the international forces have “very good cooperation” with Pakistan in ensuring security along Pakistan-Afghanistan border. “We have regular meetings with the Pakistani authorities on the other side of the border -- this is actually working out more and more to be effective, he told a Pentagon video conference from Afghanistan.” “ I think with Pakistan we have very good cooperation,” he stated in response to a question. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
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