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| September 07, 2007 | Friday | Sha'aban 24, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan court orders arrest of Shahbaz Sharif LAHORE, Pakistan, Sept 7 (AFP) - A Pakistani anti-terrorism court Friday issued arrest warrants for Shahbaz Sharif, brother of former premier Nawaz Sharif, just days before the pair's scheduled return from exile on Sept 10, officials said. Shahbaz has been charged with ordering the killing of five people in an allegedly fake police encounter during his 1997-99 tenure as chief minister in Punjab province, his lawyer Aftab Bajwa said. “The anti terrorism court judge Shabbir Hussain Chatha has ordered police to arrest Shahbaz Sharif and produce him before the court,” he said. The court has ordered that “Shahbaz Sharif should be arrested whichever airport he lands at,” he added. (Posted @ 13:15 PST)
Cricket: Pakistan send Akhtar home after Twenty20 brawl ISLAMABAD, Sept 7 (AFP) - Pakistan sent Shoaib Akhtar home from the Twenty20 world championships in South Africa on Friday after the fast bowler had a bust-up with teammate Mohammad Asif, officials said. “The tour management has heard the two players and they have decided to send Shoaib Akhtar back. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) fully endorses this decision,” PCB chief executive officer Shafqat Naghmi told AFP. “Shoaib Akhtar will be returning by the first available flight.” Nagmi added that the “decision was taken on complaints of discipline violation.” PCB sources said that the controversy-hit Akthar hit new ball partner Asif on the thigh with a bat after they had an altercation during a practice session in Johannesburg. Pakistan open the Twenty20 World Cup with a match against Scotland at Durban on September 12 before facing arch-rivals India at the same venue two days later. (Posted @ 12:58 PST)
British man deported from Pakistan arrested on return LONDON, Sept 7(Reuters): A British man held in Pakistan without charge for more than a year on suspicion of links to al Qaeda was arrested immediately on returning to Britain on Friday. Nine armed, uniformed police officers and two detectives were waiting for Rangzieb Ahmed as he flew into London's Heathrow airport on a commercial flight from Islamabad. As soon as the doors were open, police boarded the plane and minutes later escorted Ahmed from it in handcuffs and put him in the back of a police van. A Greater Manchester police spokeswoman said the 32-year-old was being taken to the northwestern city to be questioned in connection with a terrorism investigation in which a man and a woman had been charged. She declined to give further details. (Posted @ 19:55 PST)
At least 70 Indian piligrims die in truck crash JAIPUR, India, Sept 7 (Reuters) A truck packed with pilgrims travelling to a Hindu shrine plunged off a mountainous road in India's desert state of Rajasthan on Friday, killing at least 70 people, police said. Another 30 to 40 people were injured. Thousand of devotees flock every year to the shrine at Ramdevra, near the tourist city of Jaisalmer. Trucks with huge trawlers of up to 10 wheels often carry dozens of passengers in India. Traffic accidents killing dozens of people are not uncommon across the country where roads and the state of many vehicles are often poor. (Posted @ 23:30 PST)
Al-Qaeda planning 'high impact plots' on US: CIA chief NEW YORK, Sept 7, 2007 (AFP) - CIA director Michael Hayden warned Friday that Al-Qaeda was plotting fresh attacks on the United States aimed at producing massive casualties. “Our analysts assess with high confidence that Al-Qaeda's central leadership is planning high impact plots against the American homeland,” Hayden told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. (Posted @ 23:00 PST)
Hurricane Felix death toll hits 130 for Nicaragua PUERTO CABEZAS, Nicaragua, Sept 7(Reuters): The number of Nicaraguans who died when Hurricane Felix tore over Central America's Caribbean coast this week has jumped to around 130, a rescue official said on Friday. (Posted @ 21:25 PST)
US economy loses jobs for first time in 4 years WASHINGTON, Sept 7(AFP): The world's largest economy was hit with surprise job losses in August as the slump in housing contributed to increased layoffs, a government report revealed Friday. The Labor Department said US employers unexpectedly shed 4,000 jobs in August, marking the first drop in payrolls since August of 2003. (Posted @ 21:10 PST)
U.S. has copy of purported bin Laden tape: official WASHINGTON, Sept 7(Reuters): The U.S. government has obtained a copy of a purported new videotape of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and is studying it, U.S. officials said on Friday. “We can confirm that the U.S. government has the video and it is being analyzed,” the official said on condition of anonymity. (Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Pakistan link to foiled Germany terror plot: report LOS ANGELES, Sept 7(AFP): A US intelligence intercept of suspicious communications between Pakistan and Germany was the initial breakthrough that helped authorities foil a terror plot this week, it was reported on Friday. The Los Angeles Times, citing unidentified officials, reported that communications referring to “apparent terrorist activity” were first detected by US intelligence last year before the lead was passed to German officials. (Posted @ 20:50 PST)
169th British soldier dies in Iraq LONDON, Sept 7(AFP): A British paratrooper was killed during a routine operation in Iraq earlier this week, the defence ministry said on Friday. The death brings to 169 the total number of British troops to have died in Iraq since the March 2003 US-led invasion. The soldier, from the Parachute Regiment, was fatally wounded on Wednesday, the MoD (Ministry of Defence) said in a statement. (Posted @ 20:02 PST)
17 killed in grenade attack in northern Burundi BUJUMBURA, Burund, Sept 7(AP): A man killed himself and 16 other people with a grenade in northern Burundi when he was stopped from addressing scores of family members at a welcome home party for his sister, a police spokesman said on Friday. The man threw the grenade late Thursday killing his sister and her husband, who were being honoured with a traditional ceremony in Muyinga district, 240 kilometers north of the capital, Bujumbura. (Posted @ 20:43 PST)
IAEA chief rebuffs critics of Iran nuclear plan VIENNA, Sept 7(Reuters): The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog body Mohamed ElBaradei on Friday rebuffed Western critics of a cooperation deal it struck with Iran as “back-seat drivers” and accused U.S. media of a campaign to discredit him. (Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Death toll in India cholera outbreak nears 200 BHUBANESWAR, India, Sept 7(AFP): The death toll from an outbreak of cholera and other water-borne stomach diseases in eastern India rose to 197 Friday, with thousands of people still being treated, officials said. Most of the deaths have been reported in three districts some 500 kilometres southwest of impoverished Orissa state's capital, Bhubaneswar, with Koraput district the worst hit. (Posted @ 20:25 PST)
Belgian organisers say anti-Islam demo to go on despite ban BRUSSELS, Sept 7(Reuters): Organisers say a demonstration against the “Islamisation of Europe” will go ahead in Brussels on September 11, the anniversary of attacks by militants on the United States, despite it being banned. The organisers failed to have a ban by the mayor of Brussels lifted when a Brussels court said on Friday it was not competent to rule on their appeal. “There will still be a demonstration and a big one,” said Anders Gravers, one of the protest's supporters. Gravers, the founder of the Stop Islamisation of Denmark party, denied he and fellow organisers were racist, although far-right groups across Europe have voiced support. (Posted @ 20:15 PST)
Congo asks Uganda to move troops from its territory ARUSHA, Tanzania, Sept 7(Reuters): The Democratic Republic of Congo asked Uganda on Friday to withdraw troops it says are in its east, ahead of a meeting of their presidents to resolve a border dispute in which an oil worker was killed last month. Congo's Joseph Kabila and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni are due to meet in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha this weekend for talks to calm tensions over oil exploration on Lake Albert, which straddles both countries. (Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Moroccans vote for new parliament RABAT, Sept 7(AFP): Voting got off to a slow start in Morocco on Friday. Some 1.5 million voters, or nearly ten percent, had cast their ballots by 1200 GMT, four hours after polls opened, the north African country's interior minister said. (Posted @ 19:50 PST)
Eight killed in Congo plane crash GOMA, Congo, Sept 7(Reuters): Eight people were killed when a cargo plane overshot the runway and caught fire while landing in the eastern Congolese town of Goma on Friday, the latest in a spate of crashes in the central African state. The two crew and six passengers, including three children, were killed, police said. (First Posted @ 17:30 PST; Updated @ 18:35 PST)
Niger rebels kidnap six soldiers in desert raid NIAMEY, Sept 7(Reuters): Tuareg-led rebels in northern Niger kidnapped six soldiers and stole ammunition during an overnight attack on a military outpost in the desert town of Adharous, the insurgents and a local official said on Friday. (Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Twenty two people contract HIV in Kyrgyz hospitals BISHKEK, Sept 7(Reuters): Seventeen babies and five adults have contracted HIV through infected blood transfusions in Kyrgyzstan, a senior health official told Reuters on Friday. The head of the state AIDS watchdog, said “we have discovered a total of 22 HIV-infected people in the Osh region.” He said the infections were most probably caused by transfusions of blood that had not been tested for HIV, although some babies may have got the virus from their mothers. (Posted @ 18:20 PST)
Gold price breaches $700 per ounce LONDON, Sept 7(AFP): The price of gold broke through 700 dollars per ounce here on Friday, reaching the highest level since May last year on a variety of supportive factors, analysts said. On the London Bullion Market, the spot price of gold touched 700.08 dollars per ounce, which was last seen on May 17, 2006. This week, gold has won support from the falling US dollar, global geopolitical jitters, rebounding demand and ongoing concern about world financial markets. (Posted @ 18:10 PST)
Hamas police break up banned Gaza prayers GAZA CITY, Sept 7(AFP): Hamas police wounded 20 Palestinians as they broke up crowds gathering to pray outdoors across the Gaza Strip on Friday in defiance of a ban on such gatherings, medics and witnesses said. The Executive Force paramilitaries dispersed hundreds and arrested several people near the Nusseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, witnesses said. Medical sources said seven Palestinians were wounded including one who was hit in the head in a serious condition. (Posted @ 17:55 PST)
Iraqi president opposes execution of Saddam aide SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq, Sept 7(AFP): Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Friday said he would not sign the execution order of a top Saddam aide whom he personally had “provoked” to rebel against the executed dictator. Talabani said he would refuse to sign the order of Sultan Hashim al-Tai. During Friday's press conference, he also denied reports by an Iraqi news agency that the three condemned men would be hanged on Saturday. (Posted @ 17:51 PST)
Cargo plane crashes in east Congo, five dead KINSHASA, Sept 7(AP): A cargo plane crashed after landing at Goma airport in east Congo, killing all five people aboard, the regional governor said.All five aboard were members of the flight crew, he said. (Posted @ 17:35 PST)
Mob attacks police after leopard kills girl in Kashmir OCCUPIED SRINAGAR, Sept 7(AFP): Five policemen were hurt in Indian occupied Kashmir on Friday when a crowd, angered by mauling to death of a teenage Muslim girl by a leopard, attacked them with stones and sticks, police said. The policemen were attacked when they brought the body of the victim to her village of Machipora, about 85 kilometres north of Srinagar, a police statement said. “They also damaged a police ambulance,” it said. (Posted @ 17:20 PST)
Indian Supreme Court grants bail to relatives of 1993 bomb plotter NEW DELHI, Sept 7(AFP): India's Supreme Court Friday granted interim bail to four family members of Tiger Memon, a fugitive wanted for plotting the serial bomb attacks in Mumbai in 1993 that killed 257 people. Memon's brothers Yusuf and Anjum, sister-in-law Rubina and another relative Mubina were convicted in connection with the conspiracy to carry out the attacks and handed life terms by a special anti-terror court in July. On Friday, Justices Arijit Pasayat and P. Sathasivam ruled that the four would remain free until they received copies of the judgement given by the lower court, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. The judges ordered them to surrender immediately thereafter, it said. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Myanmar monks, angered by army beatings, destroy property of junta supporters YANGON, Sept 7(AP): Buddhist monks in northern Myanmar, angry after being beaten by soldiers for protesting economic conditions, destroyed a shop and a hut belonging to supporters of the military government, witnesses said on Friday. The destruction on Thursday night in the town of Pakokku came just hours after monks held a group of officials captive at a monastery for several hours in retaliation for the beating and kicking of monks participating in a peaceful march a day earlier. (Posted @ 15:47 PST)
Tanzania police kill 14 men near Kilimanjaro ARUSHA, Tanzania, Sept 7(Reuters): Tanzanian police killed 14 men suspected of planning to rob a bank in a gun battle at a roadblock near the northern town of Moshi, the local commander said on Friday. The men, 11 of them from neighbouring Kenya, were carrying grenades, assault rifles and bullet-proof vests when they were stopped late on Wednesday near the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Nepal royals dealt new blow on top of prince's heart attack KATHMANDU, Sept 7(AFP): Nepal's biggest political party landed a potentially knock-out blow to the embattled monarchy on Friday declaring it wanted the kingdom to become a republic. The policy shift by the Nepali Congress Party, which has traditionally supported keeping a ceremonial king, came as King Gyanendra's only son and heir languished in hospital after suffering a heart attack. (Posted @ 15:40 PST)
Two dead as typhoon crashes into Japan TOKYO, Sept 7, 2007 (AFP) - A strong typhoon lashed the Tokyo region on Friday, bringing torrential downpours and violent winds that killed at least two, injured dozens more and stranded homeless people on a swollen river. Typhoon Fitow -- named after a flower found in Micronesia -- slammed into Japan before sunrise, felling trees, smashing windows and causing one bridge to snap in two. (First Posted @ 09:30 PST, Update @ 15:30 PST)
At least 10 illegal immigrants die trying to reach Canaries MADRID, Sept 7(AFP): At least 10 would-be migrants were found dead on a flimsy boat trying to reach the Canary Islands, Spanish emergency services said. A spokesman from the civil guard told AFP, “there are six survivors, two of whom have been taken to hospital,” he said, adding that the search was continuing. (Posted @ 15:27 PST)
Two women beheaded by militants in Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Sept 7 (AFP) - Suspected militants beheaded two women accused of prostitution in northwestern Pakistan, police said Friday. The bodies of the women in their 40s were dumped on the outskirts of the town of Bannu, a day after they were abducted by gunmen, district police officer Dar Ali Khattak. A note left with the corpses accused the women of being involved in prostitution. (Posted @ 14:25 PST)
Seven U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Seven U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq, including four in Anbar province, the U.S. military said Friday. Four Marines were killed in the vast desert region on Thursday while conducting combat operations. Separately, the military said three soldiers were killed in northern Iraq on Thursday when an explosion hit their vehicle. It said the attack occurred in Nineveh province. It gave no other details. (Posted @ 13:18 PST)
Afghan mine clearing team kidnapped KHOST, Sept 7 (AFP) - Unknown gunmen kidnapped an Afghan demining team of 13 members that includes two doctors in a remote village in eastern Afghanistan, officials said Friday. The NGO team was snatched at gunpoint Thursday about 80 kilometres south of Kabul, the director of the organisation told AFP. (Posted @ 13:05 PST)
Indian Maoists target politicians, three killed HYDERABAD, India, Sept 7 (Agencies) - Maoists rebels targeted a federal MP and a state minister from India's ruling Congress party in a bomb attack that left three people dead and several injured, police said Friday. The attack occurred southeast of Hyderabad, the capital of southern Andhra Pradesh state, as MP Janardhana Reddy and his wife, a state minister for women development and child welfare, were on their way to a university event. An apparently remote-controlled bomb hit their convoy as it passed over a bridge, killing two party activists and a driver. The couple were unhurt in their bullet proof car. (Posted @ 11:35 PST)
Bush offers North Korea peace treaty if disarms SYDNEY, Sept 7 (Reuters) - U.S. president George W. Bush said on Friday the United States would be willing to consider a formal peace treaty with North Korea if it gave up its nuclear weapons programme. Bush discussed this possibility in a meeting with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Prodded by Roh, Bush said this meant a permanent agreement that would replace the fraying truce that ended the 1950-53 Korean war. (Posted @ 11:25 PST)
U.S. Open Results NEW YORK, Sept 7 (AP) The following are the results of the men’s singles ties played on Thursday at the US Open. (seedings in parentheses):< Men’s Singles(Quarterfinals)- David Ferrer (15), Spain, def. Juan Ignacio Chela (20), Argentina, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5; Novak Djokovic (3), Serbia, def. Carlos Moya (17), Spain, 6-4, 7-6 (7), 6-1.(Posted @ 10:20 PST)
Top NATO generals meet in Canada to map Afghanistan strategy TORONTO, Canada, Sept 7 (AP) - NATO's top generals met Thursday to debate strategies to put down the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. Gen. Ray Henault, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, met with 25 other NATO generals including Canadian Chief of Staff Gen. Rick Hillier in Ottawa, at the opening of a three-day session. The generals provided no specifics about their talks, which follows statements by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper that Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan will not be extended beyond 2009 without a national consensus. “We don't know how long the mission will last. We are focused on staying the course and will go as long as possible to fulfill what we signed up for,” Henault said at a news conference. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Putin signs uranium deal with Australia SYDNEY, Sept 7 (AFP) - President Vladimir Putin signed a landmark nuclear deal with Australia on Friday after talks with Prime Minister John Howard who quickly announced at a joint press conference with Putin that “any uranium that is sold to Russia will be sold under very strict safeguards”. “This new agreement will allow the supply of Australian uranium for use in Russia's civil nuclear power industry and provide a framework for broader cooperation on peaceful nuclear-related activities,” he said. Both Howard and Putin dismissed concerns that Russia would sell Australian uranium to third countries such as Iran. (Posted @ 09:48 PST)
Afghan war remains 'winnable', says former head of British Army LONDON, Sept 7 (AFP) - The war in Afghanistan remains “winnable” and Britain must “stay the course” there, the former head of the British Army said on Thursday.“In Afghanistan, I am confident,” retired General Sir Mike Jackson, who was until last year chief of the general staff, told the BBC's Newsnight current affairs programme. “My sense is the Afghan war is indeed winnable, and we have to do that.” He added: “If we were not to stay the course in Afghanistan, I have very little doubt that the Taliban will overturn, yet again, the government in Kabul ... it will be a safe haven for Al-Qaeda, we will be back to square one or worse.” ”I don't believe this to be an operation of choice, I believe it to be one of necessity.” . (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 160.67, points: KARACHI, Sept7:At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 12406.71, down 160.67, points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Sept7: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.98 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
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