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| June 19, 2007 | Tuesday | Jamadi-us-Sani 03, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Missile strike kills 32 militants in Pakistan MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, June 19, (REUTERS) - A missile attack, possibly launched by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, killed at least 32 pro-Taliban militants on Tuesday in a Pakistani tribal region near the border, Pakistani officials said. The missiles targeted a militant training base in Mamy Rogha, a village near Datta Khel district, 60 km west of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. (Posted @ 23:42 PST)
Blasts at militant hideout near Pak-Afghan border: 28 feared killed, many injured MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan, June 19 (AP) - Explosions at a suspected militant hideout in northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border on Tuesday caused several casualties, the army said. An intelligence official in North Waziristan said three missiles fired from across the border destroyed a training facility, killing 17 militants (28 according to a private TV channel) and wounding 10 others. He spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media. But Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad claimed that the explosions were caused when bombs militants were making at an isolated compound accidentally exploded. “The blast happened when these militants were making bombs, and there were several casualties,” he said. The intelligence official said it was a local Taliban militant training facility, housed in a big mud-brick compound in the border village of Mami Rogha, about 40 kilometers west of Miran Shah, the main town in North Waziristan. He provided no further details but maintained the compound had been hit by missiles fired from Afghanistan. (Posted @ 20:22 PST)
SC continues hearing on CJ Iftikhar’s petition ISLAMABAD, June 19 (PPI) - The 13-member full court of the Supreme Court on Tuesday continued hearing on the constitutional petition of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry against the presidential reference, on the question of its merits. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, lead counsel of Chief Justice Iftikhar continued his arguments on the legal and constitutional aspects of the petition and issue of malafide in filing the reference against the Chief Justice. He submitted that the action taken by the Referring authority (President) was unreasonable and it was against public interest. He argued against restraining the Chief Justice from performing his duties as a Chief Justice of Pakistan or the Judge of the Supreme Court. He would continue his arguments on Wednesday. The full court headed by Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday comprises Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice M. Javed Buttar, Justice Tassadduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Ch Ijaz Ahmed, Justice Syed Jamshed Ali, Justice Hamid Ali Mirza and Justice Ghulam Rabbani. (Posted @ 19:24 PST)
Kasuri rejects allegation Pakistan going soft in war on terror WASHINGTON, June 19 (APP) Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri rejected the allegation that Pakistan is going soft in the war on terror and citing the country's sustained and firm counter-terrorism measures over the years and loss of hundreds of its soldiers, stressed that Pakistan has done more than any other country in fighting terrorism. In an interview with CNN, Kasuri, who is visiting Washington, dismissed the assertion that Pakistan provided sanctuary to extremists. “I strongly reject any suggestion which says that we have given sanctuary,” he told Wolf Blitzer in CNN's Situation Room while replying to a question vis-a-vis allegation that the Taliban had sanctuary along Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. In answer to another question he wondered what more should Pakistan be doing when it has been consistently combating terrorists and lost more soldiers in fighting them in the border region than NATO and international forces combined on the Afghan side. The foreign minister said Washington is not pressing Pakistan to do more but is appreciative of its efforts to curb terrorism. “I met Secretary Rice. She understands what we are doing. People who understand what we are doing don't press, because they know how much we are doing,” he stated referring to close intelligence cooperation and a high degree of trust between the two sides. Kasuri also said Pakistan's strategic assets are safe and ruled out the possibility of their falling into wrong hands.(Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Iraq: Over 150 killed, 255 injured in a day of violence Baghdad, June 19 (Reuters)- Nearly 150 people were and more than 255 injured in four major acts of violence and clashes in various parts of Iraq , officials confirmed Tuesday. A car bomb killed at least 75 people and wounded 130 near the Shi'ite Khilani mosque in central Baghdad, police said. The mosque was badly damaged in the blast. In Baquba, the U.S. military said it had killed 22 suspected militants in the early hours of a major offensive against al Qaeda in Diyala province. The offensive involves 10,000 soldiers and is one of the military's biggest against the Sunni Islamist militant group in Iraq. On the other hand, two days * of fighting between gunmen loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr and Iraqi police have killed 35 people and wounded 125 in Nassiriya, a hospital doctor said. The Iraqi army killed 15 suspected insurgents and arrested 65 others during the past 24 hours in different districts of Baghdad, the Defence Ministry said. Separately, gunmen attacked a Kurdish army unit and killed five soldiers and wounded 15 near Baquba. Meanwhile, the bodies of 33 people were found shot in different districts of Baghdad on Monday, police said. (Posted @ 18:04 PST)
Taliban overrun southern Afghan district, more than 100 killed in fighting over 3 days KANDAHAR, June 19 (AP) - Taliban overran and occupied Miya Nishin district in Kandahar province and are pushing for control of another key area, sparking fierce clashes with NATO and Afghan forces that have left more than 100 people dead over three days, officials said Tuesday. Hundreds of Taliban fighters launched raids on police posts near the strategic town of Chora in Uruzgan province Saturday, forcing NATO, backed by fighter jets, to respond. Fighting was continuing Tuesday, and some officials reported there have been dozens of civilian casualties. Precise casualty figures were not available because of the continued fighting, though two Afghan officials said more than 100 people have been killed, including at least 16 police. A Dutch soldier also died, and three others were wounded. Mullah Ahmidullah Khan, the head of Uruzgan's provincial council, estimated the clashes in Chora killed 60 civilians, 70 suspected Taliban militants and 16 Afghan police. An official close to the governor said 70 to 75 civilians were killed or wounded, while more than 100 Taliban and more than 35 police were killed. (Posted @ 17:40 PST)
Musharraf directs NHA to ensure timely completion of projects ISLAMABAD, June 19 (PPI) - President Pervez Musharraf chairing a meeting of the Ministry of Communication on Tuesday reviewed progress of the ongoing road projects and asked the National Highway Authority to ensure timely completion of the schemes and to check cost escalation. He took serious note of the poor construction of 68 kilometres of the Nowshera-Pabbi section( worth Rs 700 million) and 48-kms section of Nooriabad-Hyderabad section (Rs 500 million) and ordered action against the errant officials and contractors. The President directed the NHA to complete the Islamabad-Peshawar M-1 motorway by October this year and directed the Ministry of Finance to release necessary funds. The meeting focussed on improvement of road network in Northern Areas. Under the new projects the 800-km Karakoram Highway would be expanded and upgraded from Hassanabdal to Khunjerab Pass touching the Pak-China border at an estimated cost of Rs one hundred billion. He was informed about the progress of work on Skardu road, Lowari Tunnel, Gilgit-Chitral road etc. The President directed early improvement of road linkages of Gwadar. (Posted @ 19:14 PST)
Cricket: England beat West Indies by 7 wickets CHESTER-LE-STREET, England, June 19, (APP/AFP) - England beat West Indies by seven wickets in the fourth and final Test at Riverside here Tuesday, a result that saw them win the series 3-0. England, set 110 for victory on the last day, finished on 111 for three with captain Michael Vaughan 48 not out and Paul Collingwood five not out. (Posted @ 23:18 PST)
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka to start campaign on hopeful note ISLAMABAD, Jun 19 (APP) - Title aspirants Pakistan got off to a solid start by beating Sri Lanka in straight games in the inaugural match of the seven-Nation 2nd Asian Central-Zone Volleyball Championship at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex, on Tuesday. President General Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the seven-day tournament which features the teams of Pakistan, India, Kazakhastan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Maldives and Sri Lanka. (Posted @ 22:35 PST)
Heavy mortar bomb attack on Baghdad Green Zone BAGHDAD, June 19 (Reuters) - Militants fired a spate of mortar bombs at Baghdad's Green Zone on Tuesday, Reuters reporters said. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the heavily fortified compound, which houses the U.S. embassy and Iraqi government ministries. It was unclear if there were any casualties. (Posted @ 21:18 PST)
Thousands protest killing of student in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, June 19 (AP) - Thousands of people marched in occupied Kashmir Tuesday protesting the killing of a 17-year-old student by government forces. The teen, Bilal Ahmed Dar, was killed Monday in a gunbattle between police and suspected Kashmiri rebels in the village of Chewdara. Local villagers said Dar was a student with no ties to militant groups. Nearly 2,000 men and women marched through the neighbouring village of Narwara carrying the body of Dar to its burial and chanting “We want freedom” and “Long live Pakistan.” “He was a 10th grade student and was fired upon by soldiers when the gunbattle started in the village,” said Dar's neighbour, Gulzar Ahmed, 27. Apart from Dar, two others were also killed in the raid. (Posted @ 20:38 PST)
Train rams into bus in Bangladesh, killing 4 DHAKA, Bangladesh, June 19 (AP) - A train collided with a bus at the level crossing near the Bangladeshi capital Tuesday, killing at least four people and injuring about 30 others, a domestic news agency said. A bus passenger was killed on the spot while three others died at a hospital in Tangail district, 72 kilometers north of Dhaka. All the victims were traveling on the bus. (Posted @ 20:28 PST)
Bush and Olmert seek to bolster Abbas after Palestinian split WASHINGTON, June 19 (AP) - President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday sought to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling him a moderate voice and the only true leader of the Palestinian people. Bush and Olmert, in a meeting at the White House, both spoke positively of the prospect for new meetings between Abbas and the Israelis. “I'm going to make every possible effort to cooperate with him,” the prime minister said. Bush called Abbas “the president of all the Palestinians” and “a voice for moderation. “Our hope is that President Abbas and Prime Minister (Salam) Fayyyad _ who's a good fellow _ will be strengthened to the point where they can lead the Palestinians in a different direction,” Bush said. Olmert said he will be talking to Abbas but spoke of several prerequisites for progress towards peace. They included a much more responsive Palestinian government and increased security efforts, Olmert said. (Posted @ 20:26 PST)
Britain voices 'deep concern' over Pakistani Rushdie comments LONDON, June 19 (AFP) - Britain voiced “deep concern” Tuesday at reported comments by a Pakistani minister suggesting that the knighthood given to author Salman Rushdie could justify suicide attacks, the Foreign Office said. A spokesman said the British high commissioner had been to the Pakistani foreign ministry in Islamabad. “He made clear the British government's deep concern at what the minister for religious affairs was reported to have said,” the spokesman said. “The British government is very clear that nothing can justify suicide bomb attacks.” (Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Pakistan minister dismisses British Rushdie complaints ISLAMABAD, June 19 (AFP) - Religious Affairs Minister Ijaz-ul-Haq Tuesday accused Britain of undermining the war on extremism after it complained about his comment that a knighthood given to Salman Rushdie justified suicide attacks. “It is surprising that the British government is criticising me. I am the one who is heading the front-line ministry for the front-line state in the war against terrorism,” Haq told AFP. “I never supported suicide attacks. What I meant to say yesterday (in the parliament) was that we are trying to curb extremism, but their (British) actions are adding fuel to the fire and not helping,” Haq said.. “Instead of praising the efforts, the British government has chosen to criticise. It is surprising,” said the minister. (Posted @ 20:56 PST)
Pakistan summons British envoy in Rushdie row ISLAMABAD, June 19 (AFP) - Pakistan summoned Britain's ambassador Robert Brinkley to the foreign ministry Tuesday to receive a protest, as angry mobs torched effigies of Queen Elizabeth and Salman Rushdie in fresh protests against the author's knighthood. The high commissioner was called and he was given copies of resolutions passed by the parliament. It was further conveyed that Pakistan deplores and regrets the decision by the British government, Pakistan Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam Aslam told AFP. Meanwhile, protesters burned British flags for the second day running in Lahore, while dozens more radicals led by a former cabinet minister burned an effigy of Rushdie in Karachi and raised slogans ”The government must withdraw its high commissioner (ambassador) from Britain and break all ties till the decision is withdrawn,” former Religious Affairs Minister Hanif Tayyab told the crowd. (Posted @ 20:02 PST)
Pakistan, India moving in right direction to resolve bilateral issues: Shujaat ISLAMABAD, June 19 (APP): Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Tuesday said Pakistan and India are moving ahead in the right direction to resolve bilateral issues in an amicable manner. Talking to Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Satya Brata Pal he highlighted the role played by Pakistan for resolution of outstanding issues, including the core issue of Kashmir through dialogue. Shujaat Hussain said the two countries should ease visa regime to enhance people-to-people contacts and promote cultural exchanges. (Posted @ 19:42 PST)
SC takes suo motu notice of illegal detention of nursing students ISLAMABAD, June 19 (PPI) - Taking suo motu notice of alleged illegal detention of students of Nursing Hostel, Mandi Bahauddin, Justice Javed Iqbal of the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Secretary Health and Provincial Police Officer Punjab to appear before him on June 26 and submit report into the matter. According to news item broadcast on different TV channels on June 18 nursing students were allegedly kept in detention by the school authorities for about 8 to 10 days after they had complained to the authorities about sub-standard food, deduction of money from their scholarships to arrange a function in honour of EDO who was going to perform Umra, and forcing the girls to perform at private functions. (Posted @ 18:54 PST)
9 firefighters killed in furniture warehouse fire in US CHARLESTON, South Carolina, June 19 (AP) - Nine firefighters died in a blaze that swept through a furniture warehouse in the southern U.S. city of Charleston. Two employees in the building were rescued from the blaze, which broke out at about 7 p.m. Monday in the Sofa Super Store and warehouse. The cause of the fire was under investigation, but arson was not suspected. Witnesses said the store's roof collapsed, throwing debris over about two-dozen rescue workers. Onlookers were hit with flying ash.The roof collapsed too quickly for anyone to escape, officials said. (Posted @ 17:24 PST)
Three Tamil Tigers killed in Sri Lanka clash COLOMBO, June 19 (AFP) Sri Lankan security forces killed three Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday in renewed fighting in the east of the island, the defence ministry said. The fighting took place in an area between the coastal towns of Batticaloa and Trincomalee.(Posted @ 14:15 PST)
Two more Lebanese soldiers killed in camp battle NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon, June 19 (AFP) Two more Lebanese soldiers were killed Tuesday during intense fighting with militants holed up in a refugee camp in the north of the country, an army spokesman told AFP.(Posted @ 12:00 PST)
Time is right for peace talks with Israel: Abbas RAMALLAH, June 19 (AP) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told U.S. President George W. Bush that peace talks with Israel should be convened, after he installed a new government that excludes Hamas militants who have taken over the Gaza Strip. Bush called Abbas Monday to offer his support to the Palestinian leader. During the 15-minute conversation, Abbas said he is ready to restart peace talks with Israel. ''President Abbas told Mr. Bush that this is the time to resume the political negotiations and to revive the hope of the Palestinian people,'' said Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeneh.(Posted @ 11:00 PST)
Israeli troops shoot dead Palestinian at Erez crossing GAZA CITY, June 19 (AFP) Israeli troops at the Erez border post with Gaza shot dead a Palestinian man who was trying to cross and seek refuge in the West Bank late Monday, Palestinian hospital sources said. Jihad al-Madun, 45, was killed while three other Palestinians were wounded, the sources said.(Posted @ 09:50 PST)
Iraq conflict pushes global refugee total near 10 million: UN GENEVA, June 19 (AFP) Violence in Iraq is the main driver behind a significant rise in the global refugee population to nearly 10 million people by the end of 2006, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday. “By the close of 2006, there were an estimated 9.9 million refugees globally. For the first time since 2002, a declining trend in the global figures was reversed,” the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in its “2006 Global Trends” report. The number of refugees rose by 1.2 million or 14 percent in 2006 - equal to the 1.2 million Iraqis who sought refuge in neighbouring Jordan and Syria over the same period. A further 300,000 Iraqis fled to other countries, and the total - 1.5 million - represents a more than fivefold increase over the year, the UNHCR said.(Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Flash floods kill at least four in north Texas GAINESVILLE, Texas, June 19 (Reuters) At least four people were killed by flash floods in north Texas Monday and several were reported to be missing as the waters began to recede and weather forecasters saw a drying spell ahead. Texas Governor Rick Perry's office said he had deployed three helicopters and 38 national guardsmen to help with recovery efforts in stricken areas after dozens of people were plucked from the rooftops of their homes and even trees.(Posted @ 09:05 PST)
Bomb kills three in Thai south NARATHIWAT, Thailand, June 19 (AFP) Two soldiers and a local government official were killed early Tuesday when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in southern Thailand, police said. The three were travelling to investigate an arson attack at a school in Pattani province early Tuesday when the bomb exploded, police said.(Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 73.26 points: KARACHI, June 19: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 13494.14 , down 73.26 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, June 19: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 61.15 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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