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| July 27, 2007 | Friday | Rajab 11, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Blast kills 13, wounds 71 inside Islamabad hotel after riot near Lal Masjid ISLAMABAD, July 27 (AP) A suspected suicide bombing killed at least 13 people and wounded 71 others Friday at a hotel near Islamabad's Lal Masjid, after madrassa students occupied the mosque and demanded the return of its cleric Abdul Aziz. The explosion occurred soon after police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters who for several hours took control of the mosque which the government reopened to the public Friday. A witness said the blast went off inside the Muzaffar Hotel, located in a crowded market area about a half-kilometre from the mosque. He said he saw blood, body parts, and shreds of Punjab police uniform inside the hotel. Neighbouring shops and food stalls were also hit by the blast. ''I heard the blast and I came running. A policeman got blown into the air and landed away from the blast site,'' said another witness. Khalid Pervez, Islamabad's top administrator, said 13 people were killed, including seven police, and 71 were wounded. Kamal Shah, another top ministry official, said initial reports suggested it was a suicide attack targeting police. Explosive experts collect parts from the torso of a man's mutilated body that they suspect was the bomber's, a senior police officer said requesting anonymity. After the bombing, police retook control of the mosque, said Zafar Iqbal, the city police chief. Some protesters resisted and about 50 people were arrested. (First Posted@ 18:02 PST Updated @ 21:38 PST)
Police fire tear gas at Lal Masjid protesters ISLAMABAD, July 27 (Reuters) Police fired tear gas Friday to disperse protesters who spoiled government plans for activities to resume smoothly at Lal Masjid. Chanting anti-government slogans hundreds of protesters stormed out of the mosque Friday after offering Jumma prayers. They threw rocks at police and uprooted signboards on the roadside, and earlier manhandled parliamentarians who tried to enter the mosque. Police lobbed tear gas to break up the demonstration. One policeman was slightly wounded in skirmishes, witnesses said. The protesters refused to allow a government appointed imam to lead prayers in the mosque. Stave-wielding young protesters threw stones at an armoured vehicle as it careened through the street, and some brushed red paint and inscribed “Lal Masjid” on the mosque walls, coloured cream and white by authorities during the renovation. (First Posted @ 16:15 PST Updated @ 20:04 PST)
Pakistanis wait on reports President Musharraf meeting Benazir Bhutto ISLAMABAD, July 27 (Reuters) Speculation intensified Friday that President Pervez Musharraf and former premier Benazir Bhutto will form a power-sharing pact, as television channels reported they met secretly in Abu Dhabi. Pervez Musharraf flew to the Gulf state earlier in the day, and was expected to return Sunday, after also visiting Saudi Arabia. Three private television channels said Bhutto had also gone there from London and the two met secretly, but Pakistan Television said officials had denied the reports. “These report deserve no comments,” President Musharraf's spokesman former general Rashid Qureshi said. A close aide to Bhutto, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, told Reuters by telephone from London that he was not aware of any meeting. (Posted @ 21:16 PST)
Gunmen kill Balochistan’s provincial spokesman QUETTA, Pakistan, July 27 (AFP) Gunmen ambushed the car of Raziq Bugti, the government spokesman in Balochistan, Friday and shot him dead, police said. Unidentified assailants attacked Bugti near a high security area of Quetta, local police officer Mohammad Iqbal told AFP. “They sprayed his car with bullets and Bugti died on the spot,” he said. Officials said Bugti was the spokesman for the provincial government and media consultant to the province's chief minister. (Posted @ 16:54 PST)
US Congress ties Pakistan aid to terrorism progress WASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - Congressional negotiators have agreed on legislation that would tie U.S. aid to Pakistan to significant progress by Islamabad in cracking down on al Qaeda, the Taliban and other militants, as wells as democratic reforms, including “free, fair elections”, congressional sources said Thursday. The Pakistan aid provision is part of a massive bill implementing recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission that was the result of compromise by House and Senate negotiators. It bars assistance in the fiscal year beginning Oct 1 until President George W. Bush finds Pakistan is “making demonstrated, significant and sustained progress toward eliminating support or safe haven for terrorists,” according to a draft made available to Reuters. Islamabad must show a commitment to eliminate from its territory “any organization such as Taliban, al Qaeda or any successor, engaged in military, insurgent or terrorist activities in Afghanistan,” the bill said. And it must undertake a “comprehensive military, legal, economic and political campaign” to achieve that goal. Pakistan this year is receiving about $700 million in U.S. economic and military assistance and in 2008 is expected to receive more than $800 million, which could be affected by the bill. It also receives billions of dollars in counter-terrorism assistance, which could also be targeted in a separate defence spending bill. Other criteria demand the implementation of democratic reforms, including “free, fair and inclusive elections at all levels of government in accordance with internationally-recognized democratic norms.” Depending on Pakistan's progress toward these targets, aid could be cut or increased, one congressional source said. The compromise provision tones down some of the tough rhetoric toward Pakistan in the House version of the bill and sets goals that drafters felt Bush could more realistically certify and Pakistan could more realistically achieve. But it also would put Congress on record as calling for Pakistan to do some specific things, including take stronger action against al Qaeda affiliate groups Lashkar-e Taiba and Jaish-e Muhammad. (Posted @ 12:00 PST)
Pakistan, UAE vow to strengthen fight against terrorism Abu Dhabi, July 27 (PPI) Pakistan and United Arab Emirates Friday vowed to strengthen fight against terrorism and extremism and further enhance bilateral relations. President Pervez Musharraf and UAE Crown Prince Gen Sheikh M Bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed regional, international situations and matters of bilateral interest at working-lunch meeting at Royal Palace. President Musharraf termed terrorism a common global challenge which required improved coordination and information sharing among countries to fight the menace. The two leaders agreed to further broaden and strengthen existing fraternal ties. President Musharraf said Pakistan held UAE leadership in high esteem and hoped both countries would jointly play prominent role in regional peace and stability. (Posted @ 21:10 PST)
Field Hockey: India offer to host Champions Trophy NEW DELHI, July 27 (AFP) India's field hockey chiefs on Friday offered to host the elite Champions Trophy in December if the tournament was taken away from Pakistan due to security concerns. The tournament was thrown in doubt last week when Olympic champions Australia pulled out, citing security fears, and the FIH reportedly informed Pakistan that England, who were next in line to replace Australia, had also expressed their reluctance to make the trip to Lahore. Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) secretary K. Jothikumaran said he had written to the FIH that India was willing to step in if Pakistan was unable to host the tournament. “We are ready to host the Champions Trophy this year,” Jothikumaran said. “It is up to the FIH to decide, but we will take it up if the tournament is offered to us.” (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Dozens of Afghan civilians die in air raids residents KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 27 (Reuters) Dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed in two foreign air strikes in southern Afghanistan, residents and a local member of parliament said Friday. One of the raids by NATO hit houses in the Girishk district of Helmand province Thursday evening, killing up to 50 civilians, a group of some 20 residents reported to journalists in Kandahar. (Posted @ 21:40 PST)
Remaining Korean hostages alive KABUL, July 27 (Reuters) The remaining 22 South Korean hostages being held by the Taliban are alive, a Taliban spokesman said Friday, hours after the passing of the latest deadline set by the group. “They are alive. The talks are going on (with the Afghan team) and we are not giving further deadlines for the government has assured us that it wants to resolve the issue through talks,” Qari Mohammad Yousuf told Reuters. (First Posted @ 11:40 PST Updated @ 21:32 PST)
Four PKK leaders killed in Iraq blast ISTANBUL, July 27 (Reuters) Four leading members of the Turkish separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were killed in an explosion at their camp in northern Iraq, Turkish private broadcaster CNN Turk reported Friday. The broadcaster said the explosion occurred in the Kandil mountains. (Posted @ 21:04 PST)
US says kills 17 militiamen in Iraq clashes KERBALA, Iraq, July 27 (Reuters) The U.S. military said Friday it killed around 17 militia fighters in clashes in Iraq's Kerbala city, but hospital and police sources said some civilians were among the dead. The clashes broke out at about dawn when U.S. Special Forces and Iraqi soldiers entered Kerbala, 110 km southwest of Baghdad. The troops responded, killing five suspected insurgents. A U.S. helicopter, which was called in to assist the ground forces, also came under fire. “U.S. Special Forces called in precision aerial fires that resulted in approximately a dozen insurgents killed,” the U.S. military statement said, adding that there were no civilians in the area at the time. (First Posted @ 11:40 PST Updated @ 19:44 PST)
Soldiers kill six Tamil rebels in separate clashes in Sri Lanka's north COLOMBO, July 27 (AP) Sri Lankan soldiers killed six Tamil Tiger rebels in three separate clashes in the island's north, the military said Friday. Army troops ambushed and killed four rebels in the northern Mannar district Thursday evening, said an officer at the Defence Ministry's media centre. Two soldiers were also wounded in the fighting, officer said. Hours before, soldiers killed a rebel fighter who attempted to infiltrate the government-controlled northern Jaffna peninsula at the Muhamalai border post, and in Vavunya district troops attacked a rebel hide-out, killing one insurgent, an officer said. (Posted @ 18:34 PST)
US, India announce completion of nuclear deal WASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) The United States and India Friday announced the completion of negotiations on a nuclear cooperation deal they said would offer enormous benefits for both sides. But they gave no details of the long-delayed, controversial deal and acknowledged there are still critical other steps that must be taken before it can be implemented. The pact, approved by India's cabinet Wednesday, would allow India access to U.S. nuclear fuel and equipment for the first time in 30 years. (Posted @ 18:26 PST)
Five die in explosions in Somali capital MOGADISHU, July 27 (AP) Two explosions killed at least five civilians in Mogadishu, witnesses said Friday. In one blast late Thursday, a gunman lobbed a hand grenade at tea shop in the Hurwa district. ''The bomb went off among dozens of men,'' a witness said. Three people were killed and five were wounded, he said. Also Thursday, a land mine exploded in southern Mogadishu after a government convoy drove by, killing two people and wounding three, said a man who witnessed the blast. (Posted @ 17:16 PST)
Five militants shot dead in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 27 (AFP) Indian soldiers in occupied Kashmir shot dead five suspected militants in three separate gunbattles, police said Friday. “Soldiers shot dead Mushtaq Ahmad and Mohammad Shafi, both members of Hizbul Mujahideen” just south of Srinagar Friday, a senior police official said. “The militants were killed in a fierce gunbattle,” the official said. Troops also killed another militant in a shootout nearby Friday, police added. Two other militants were killed in a shootout overnight, police said. (Posted @ 16:38 PST)
Another US soldier killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, July 27 (AFP) Another American soldier was killed in combat in Diyala province on Thursday, the US military said Friday. (Posted @ 12:50 PST)
Two Lebanese soldiers die in camp battle overnight NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon, July 27 (Reuters) Lebanese troops were battling militants house-to-house at a Palestinian refugee camp on Friday as the death toll from 10 weeks of fighting rose to 248. Security sources said two soldiers were killed in overnight exchanges. Commandos were engaging militants with small arms fire, machineguns and grenades in close-quarter fighting, sources said adding that troops were moving in slowly because of mines and booby-traps. (Posted @ 12:35 PST)
US angry over Saudi role in Iraq: report WASHINGTON, July 27 (AFP) The US administration is deeply frustrated with Saudi Arabia over its role in Iraq, accusing the Saudis of trying to undermine the Baghdad government and failing to stem the flow of volunteers joining the insurgency there, the New York Times reported on Friday. Officials in President George W. Bush's administration say that of an estimated 60 to 80 foreign fighters who enter Iraq every month, nearly half come from Saudi Arabia and the Saudi leadership has not done enough to counter the influx. (Posted @ 11:50 PST)
US Senate pours three billion into border security WASHINGTON, July 27 (APP/AFP) The US Senate on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to pour three billion dollars into border security measures.The money will be used to hire and train 23,000 more border security agents, build 700 miles of fencing and procure new patrol vehicles for use along the US frontier with Mexico. (Posted @ 10:35 PST)
US congressmen for early resolution of Kashmir dispute WASHINGTON, July 27 (APP): US congressmen called for an early settlement to the lingering Kashmir dispute that may take into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people, as diplomats, politicians and experts attending a conference Thursday pushed for substantive progress towards resolution of decades-old conflict in the interest of lasting peace in South Asia. “The tension over Kashmir needs to be resolved sooner rather than later,” stated Congressman Joe Pitts from Pennsylvania. The participants from Kashmir and Pakistan also voiced support for demilitarizing the Indian occupied Kashmir as a way forward and underlined the need for progress beyond confidence building measures between Pakistan and India. The two-day conference, being organized by Kashmiri American Council on the Capitol Hill, drew a number of American, Pakistani and Indian scholars and journalists. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher said Kashmir is an “ongoing tragedy” and the people of Kashmir from all shades of opinion should be able to choose their destiny. Jim Moran, a Democratic Congressman, saw prospects for better times ahead and called for Pakistan and India to come together and work out a solution. He added the United States should also come forward to facilitate a resolution of the dispute. Representative Tom Davis of Virginia appreciated the positive signs emerging out of the reconciliation process and noted willingness on part of all parties to move forward. Dr Rodney Jones, an expert, emphasized the inclusion of Kashmiris in peace talks and felt possibilities of Kashmir solution have been enhanced by the reconciliation process between Pakistan and India. (Posted @ 10:35 PST)
Iraq: 20 bodies found Baghdad, July 27 (Reuters) The bodies of 20 people were found in different areas of Baghdad in the past 24 hours, police said Friday adding that 18 bodies were also found in different districts of Baghdad on Wednesday. (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Rocket explosion kills two in California LOS ANGELES, July 27 (AFP) A rocket exploded Thursday at an airport, 130 kilometers north of Los Angeles, in the California desert, killing two people and seriously injuring four others, firefighters said. The cause of the explosion was not immediately known. The Mojave desert site near the US Edwards Air Force Base is home to several private space flight companies. (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 52.87 points: KARACHI, July 27: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 13630.50, down 52.87 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:10 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, July 27: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 61 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:10 PST)
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