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| September 12, 2007 | Wednesday | Sha'aban 29, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Up to 40 militants killed in Pakistan tribal area MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Sept 12 (AFP) - Pakistani helicopter gunships and artillery pounded militant hideouts in a tribal region near the Afghan border, killing up to 40 insurgents, the army said Wednesday. “We have reports from local sources that 30 to 40 miscreants have been killed in a security forces operation targeting a hideout in South Waziristan,” top military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said. He said that the operation involving US-built Cobra gunships began late Tuesday and fighting was ongoing. “The ground troops have started reaching the area for mopping-up operations once the firing ends,” Arshad added. He said the area where the operation took place, known as Punj Ziarat, was on the border between the troubled tribal zones of South and North Waziristan, where US officials have said that Al-Qaeda is regrouping. Militants in Punj Ziarat had mounted several attacks on security force convoys passing through the region. “The miscreants were occupying mountaintops. We used artillery and Cobra gunship helicopters to dislodge them,” Arshad added. Pakistan forces killed a top pro-Taliban militant commander, Ismatullah Khan, last week in the same region along with five other militants. (Posted @ 18:20 PST)
Militants abduct 12 more Pakistani soldiers PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Sept 12 (AFP) - Dozens of pro-Taliban militants attacked a checkpost on the outskirts of the city of Bannu, which borders the tribal zone of North Waziristan, and kidnapped 12 troops Wednesday. In a pre-dawn raid, the rebels armed with heavy weapons including rocket launchers surrounded the security post, opened fire on the post and wounded a policeman and a soldier before whisking away 12 paramilitary troops to an unknown place, local security chief Amir Badshah said. “They were local Taliban,” he said. Meanwhile, a spokesman for pro-Taliban rebels in the area warned that they would begin killing the 250 and odd para-military men captured more than a week back if Pakistani troops “continued to kill innocent people in the tribal region.” ”We will start killing them in batches of three soldiers if the military operations do not stop,” spokesman Zulfiqar Mehsud said. (Posted @ 16:48 PST)
US for robust ties with Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Sept 12 (PPI)- The United States wants long term and robust relationship with Pakistan and its policy towards tribal areas is characterized by respect for the country's sovereignty, the visiting US Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. John Negroponte said at a joint news conference with the Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan Wednesday at the conclusion of second round of strategic dialogue between the two countries. The US diplomat said there is no doubt about Pakistan's commitment to restore and establish security in tribal areas and is doing more than its share in the war against terror. He said the United States is working with Pakistan on a three pronged strategy in FATA which included security, dialogue and development. Riaz Mohammad Khan said the parameters of cooperation between Pakistan and the United States in counter terrorism are very clear and the US side stated that they fully understand these parameters and Pakistan's sensitiveness. The Foreign Secretary said the two sides welcomed the growth of interaction in variety of dimensions especially bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation. He said the strategic dialogue focused on four areas of education, science and technology, energy and economy. For education and science and technology, there are a number of proposals including capacity building, exchanges, establishment of an institute for advance technologies in Pakistan and also US assistance in establishing science parks. In terms of economy, the dialogue focused on reconstruction opportunities zones and the US side informed that a legislation would soon be introduced in the Congress for the purpose. Riaz said Pakistan explained its plan for expansion and development of energy sector to meet its growing energy requirements. These included hydro-electricity, thermal, renewable sources and nuclear energy. Pakistan, he said, looks forward to assistance from the international community to help meet its growing energy needs. He said during talks the United States was requested to help produce energy from thermal resources especially coal and also help Pakistan in getting energy from Central Asia. Replying to a question the Foreign Secretary said the issue of nuclear cooperation in energy sector was not specifically discussed but Pakistan has been urging the nuclear supplier group to extend cooperation as the country is committed to non-proliferation and its civilian nuclear programme is under IAEA safeguards. Mr. Negroponte said economic dialogue between the two countries is scheduled in Washington and hoped that the issue of energy cooperation would be discussed in detail there. The Foreign Secretary said Pakistan underscored its concern on some of Pakistan-specific observations and provisions in the 9/11 Commission Act 2007 which place conditionalities on bilateral cooperation. The US Deputy Secretary, however, told a questioner that the legislation requires certification by the administration that Pakistan is cooperating in the war against terror, which clearly Pakistan is doing and he saw no difficulty in continuation of the assistance. (Posted @ 19:30 PST)
US diplomat on Nawaz exile ISLAMABAD, Sept 12 (AFP) - US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte offered broad support Wednesday for President Pervez Musharraf. He refused to condemn Musharraf's deportation of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif saying it was an “internal” matter for Pakistan. Negroponte, who arrived on Wednesday from Kabul, told a news conference he did not discuss the expulsion of Sharif with Pakistani officials. “We view this as an internal Pakistani political and legal matter and it is for the government, people and authorities of Pakistan to decide,”. He said the United States “looks forward to democratic elections here quite shortly” but stopped short of specifically urging Musharraf to ensure that they are free and fair. (Posted @ 18:43 PST)
SHC again adjourns May 12 proceeding Karachi, Sept 12 (PPI): Sindh High Court Wednesday adjourned the hearing of petitions regarding May 12, 2007 violence in Karachi till September 24. A SHC notification said one of full bench member Justice Khilji Arif Hussain was going to Hong Kong to attend a conference organized by Asian Human Rights Commission. Therefore, full bench would now take up all identical petitions regarding May 12 incidents on September 24. Meanwhile, more than 160 residents of Karachi today filed affidavits in main petition. They submitted they were eye witness of incidents on May 12 and were ready to appear before the court for recording statements. Shahi Syed, President of Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh, and Amin Khattak, Secretary ANP filed affidavits praying to make them party in petitions regarding May 12 violence in Karachi as they too were eye witnesses. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Imran Khan expelled from Karachi KARACHI, Sept 12(Reuters): Pakistani cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan was expelled from Karachi on Wednesday shortly after arriving on a domestic flight to launch an anti- government campaign, a government official said. “He wanted to hold a rally in Karachi which is banned since Section 144 was imposed here on September 10,” said Waseem Akhtar, the Sindh government home ministry adviser, referring to a law banning demonstrations. “He has been sent back in order to maintain public order,” Akhtar told Reuters. About a dozen supporters of Imran's Tehrik-e-Insaaf (Movement of Justice) party were detained, he said. Khan had arrived from Islamabad and was sent back to the capital on the next flight, said his political secretary, Saifullah Niazi. (Posted @ 14:07 PST)
Most Pakistanis oppose letting US forces hunt terrorists in their country: poll WASHINGTON, Sept 12: Only a quarter of Pakistanis support their military working with U.S. forces to pursue terrorists inside Pakistan, and even fewer favor letting American forces mount such operations on their own, a poll released on Tuesday said. In a broader measure of America's unpopularity, 19 percent of Pakistanis see the U.S. favorably, half the number with a positive view of India. President General Pervez Musharraf, is less popular than Osama bin Laden, though both are far better liked than President George W. Bush. The survey was released by Terror Free Tomorrow, a bipartisan group that seeks to reduce support for international terrorism The group said the poll was the most worrisome of 23 it has conducted in the Muslim world because of the anti-American, pro-bin Laden feelings.(Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Draw for Haj held Islamabad, Sept 12 (PPI)- The computer draw to select seventy-nine thousand five hundred pilgrims who will perform Haj this year under government scheme was held here on Wednesday. Over one hundred and sixty-two thousand people have applied under the Scheme against seventy-nine thousand five hundred seats. Another eighty thousand eighty-eight will perform Haj under the arrangements of Haj Group Organizers. (Posted @ 21:20 PST)
Bush to announce possible troop cut in Iraq WASHINGTON, Sept 12 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush will say Thursday that he could pull some 30,000 US troops from Iraq by mid-2008.He was to announce the plan in a 15-minute televised address at 9:00 pm (Friday 0100 GMT), saying he could bring force levels back to where they were in 2006 depending on conditions on the ground. However, he was not expected to give a timeframe for a total US draw-down, leaving such decisions to whomever takes over the White House in January 2009. “All draw-downs will be based on the conditions on the ground, I think General Petraeus made it clear in his testimony,” a senior White House official said Wednesday on condition of anonymity. (Posted @ 21:10 PST)
Ramadan in Middle East from Thursday TRIPOLI, Sept 12(AFP): The holy month of Ramadan begins on Wednesday in Libya and Thailand’s south which has a Muslim majority. In Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates Ramadan will begin on Thursday. (Posted @ 08:55 PST)
Pakistan to become major trained manpower exporter Islamabad, Sept 12 (PPI): President General Pervez Musharraf Wednesday said Pakistan can become a major trained manpower exporter by fully exploiting the potentials Speaking at the certificate distribution ceremony of National Vocational Training & Technical Education Commission in Islamabad, he said skilled young workforce is declining in industrialized states which projects Pakistan as a foremost source of skilled manpower export. Per hour wages in Germany are about $30 while in Pakistan about half a dollar. He said providing skill training to about 90 million youngsters was a big challenge and has to be met through a concerted policy of providing technical education and vocational training. (Posted @ 17:10 PST)
Massive quake hits Indonesia JAKARTA, Sept 12 (AFP) - A massive 8.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island on Wednesday, toppling buildings and briefly triggering a tsunami alert across the Indian Ocean region. There was no immediate word on the full extent of casualties and damage, but at least one person was reported killed and dozens injured in the quake, which split open buildings 300 kilometres from the epicentre. In Jakarta 600 kilometres further south, high-rise towers wobbled, water sloshed from swimming pools and panicked office workers ran into the streets. Elsewhere, power was knocked out and phone lines went dead. The huge quake was felt in neighbouring Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, where office buildings swayed and shook. At least three major aftershocks, one of magnitude 6.1, were recorded after the quake. (Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Cricket-Afridi, Gul bowl Pakistan to win over Scotland DURBAN, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul earned Pakistan victory over Scotland in a Twenty20 World Cup match on Wednesday. Leg-spinner Afridi took four for 19 and fast bowler Gul claimed four for 25 to spur Pakistan to a 51-run win. Younis Khan top-scored with 41 as Pakistan made 171 in 20 overs after being put in to bat. In reply, Scotland were bowled out for 120 in 19.5 overs. Opener Fraser Watts' 46 was the best of their batting. (Posted @ 20:15 PST)
Cricket: Record-setting Gillespie sends Kenya to new low DURBAN, South Africa, Sept 12 (AFP) - Mark Gillespie returned the best ever figures in Twenty20 cricket as New Zealand demolished Kenya by nine wickets in the world championships here Wednesday. Gillespie picked up 4-7 in 2.5 overs to send Kenya crashing for 73 all out, the lowest T20 international total, which the Kiwis surpassed easily in the eighth over to begin their campaign on a rousing note. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Cricket: Injured Rana Naved rushed to hospital LONDON, Sept 12 (AFP) - A serious injury to Sussex bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan suspended play for 45 minutes in the Division One match against Durham at the Riverside on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Pakistani player injured himself diving to try to stop a boundary, with Durham 233-2 in reply to Sussex's 291. He was taken to hospital by ambulance. “At this early stage - without medical confirmation - it would seem there is a dislocation and fracture to the shoulder”, a statement said. (Posted @ 19:51 PST)
Hockey: New Zealand set men's hockey scoring record in Olympic qualifier BUDERIM, Australia, Sept 12 (AFP) - New Zealand's men created a new world record by destroying Papua New Guinea 39-0 in the Oceania field hockey Olympic qualifying tournament match here Wednesday. It broke the record set 24 hours earlier by Australia's 35-0 defeat of Papua New Guinea. (Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Saudi sees chance of Lebanon breakthrough JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Sept 12 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday a compromise proposed by Lebanese opposition leader Nabih Berri offers a chance of breaking the political deadlock in Lebanon and electing a new president. “After the initiative announced by Mr Nabih Berri, there is cautious optimism. There is a chance,” Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told reporters in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. Berri, Lebanon's speaker of parliament, announced two weeks ago that the pro-Syrian opposition was ready to drop its demand for a unity government if all Lebanese factions could agree on a consensus candidate for the presidency. Berri also officially called for a special session of parliament on September 25 to elect a new head of state. (Posted @ 20:05 PST)
16 hurt in boiler blast incident in Karachi’s Gadap Town KARACHI, Sept 12 (PPI):The boiler of a factory in Gulshan-e-Mamaar exploded Wednesday morning, injuring at least 16 workers. The explosion rocked the building, causing the collapse of some walls and smashing windowpanes. Fire also broke out in an air-conditioned cabin at the first floor of the building. Ten persons were buried under the rubble. They were rescued by firefighters. (Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Iran says will not halt nuclear work despite EU call TEHRAN, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Iran will not stop uranium enrichment, chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said Wednesday. “We heard about this EU demand and we said our view,” Larijani told a news conference, referring to Iran's repeated stance it would not stop enrichment. Larijani still voiced optimism about the chances of reaching a solution in the nuclear row. “I think the ground is paved for reaching a solution. It depends on the will of both parties (Iran and the West). Iran has shown that it has positive intentions.” (Posted @ 18:55 PST)
Sweden apologises to OIC over blasphemous cartoon JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Sept 12 (AFP) - A Swedish envoy apologised to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference for the publication in Sweden of a blasphemous cartoon, the OIC said on Wednesday. The Swedish ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jan Thesleff, met OIC chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu on Tuesday in Jeddah and offered his “deepest apologies for the controversy created by the publishing of the hurtful depiction,” the 57-nation bloc said in a statement. Egypt, Iran and Pakistan had lodged formal protests with the Swedish government and religious leaders in Afghanistan and Jordan as elsewhere in the world condemned the cartoon. (Posted @ 18:40 PST)
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe resigns TOKYO, Sept 12(AFP): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday announced his resignation after just a year in office following a series of scandals involving his cabinet and a major election drubbing. “I have decided to step down from the prime minister's position,” Abe told a press conference. He took office last year but his approval ratings nosedived amid public perceptions he lacked authority following a raft of scandals. (Posted @ 10:26 PST)
Putin dismisses Russia govt ahead of elections MOSCOW, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov's resignation on Wednesday, clearing the way for him to appoint a new premier who is likely to become the leading candidate in presidential elections next March.Putin did not immediately name a replacement. Fradkov will continue on an acting basis in the post until a new premier has been named and confirmed by the parliament. (Posted @ 16:17 PST)
15 dead in Afghan violence KABUL, Sept 12 (AFP) -At least 15 people including a dozen Taliban insurgents and a civilian road worker were killed in a new string of violent attacks across insurgency-hit Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday. In Zabul province, nearly a dozen rebels were killed Tuesday after Afghan security forces called in US-led coalition warplanes to bomb their positions, the US military said. Two Afghan policemen were killed Wednesday when a Taliban-type bomb ripped through their patrol vehicle in Paktia province of Paktia. Also in Paktia, a bomb blast in the restive Zurmat district killed a road worker on Tuesday. (Posted @ 16:06 PST)
Bangladesh flood death toll nears 1,000 DHAKA, Sept 12(AFP): The death toll from flooding this year in Bangladesh neared 1,000 on Wednesday, with an estimated 800,000 people displaced or marooned by rising river waters, officials said. The two main rivers, the Brahmaputra and the Ganges, began swelling again early this week, bursting their banks and submerging thousands of villages afresh in more than a third of the country, the government flood centre said. At least 13 people died in flooding overnight, the agency said, taking this year's monsoon death toll to 987. Some 800,000 people have been marooned or displaced by the new flooding.(Posted @ 15:05 PST)
Uttar Pradesh CM sacks 6,500 police officials over corruption LUCKNOW, Sept 12(Reuters): The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, has sacked 6,500 police officers, saying they paid bribes to get jobs under the previous government. Chief Minister Mayawati also fired 12 senior officers who were in charge of police recruitment during the rule of her predecessor, Mulayam Singh Yadav.(Posted @ 14:50 PST)
Fleming ousted as test captain; retires from one-day cricket WELLINGTON, Sept 12(AP): Stephen Fleming's 10-year reign as one of world cricket's most admired test captains ended on Wednesday when he was replaced as New Zealand skipper by his former deputy Daniel Vettori. At the same time, Fleming announced his retirement from limited-overs cricket after leading his country to 98 wins in 218 matches over the past decade. No player in cricket history has captained his national team more often in the one-day game. (Posted @ 12:45 PST)
Israel hits Syrian base financed by Iran: report JERUSALEM, Sept 12(AFP): Israeli warplanes last week bombed and destroyed a northern Syrian missile base that was financed by Iran, an Arab Israeli newspaper alleged in a report on Wednesday. Citing anonymous Israeli sources, the Assennara newspaper said Israeli jets “bombed in northern Syria a Syrian-Iranian missile base financed by Iran…” Syria on Tuesday lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations over the flagrant violation of its airspace last Thursday, during which it said its air defences opened fire on Israeli warplanes flying over the northeast of the country. Israeli officials have refused to comment on the report, as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert “specifically instructed ministers not to talk about the incident. (Posted @ 11:41 PST)
10 fruit merchants die in Bangladesh road mishap DHAKA, Sept 12(AP): A sand-laden truck skidded off a highway on Wednesday in northern Bangladesh, killing at least 10 fruit merchants who had been hitching a cheap ride, a domestic news agency said. The accident happened early on Wednesday at Sherpur district, 145kms north of the capital, Dhaka, the United News of Bangladesh said. (Posted @ 11:33 PST)
Six police, soldier killed in northern Iraq MOSUL, Sept 12(AFP): Six policemen, an Iraqi army officer and his father were killed in separate attacks in the northern province of Nineveh, police said on Wednesday. The attacks occurred late onTuesday, the police said (Posted @ 10:50 PST).
Seven Tamil rebels killed in Sri Lanka's north COLOMBO, Sept 12(AP): Sri Lankan soldiers killed seven Tamil Tiger rebels who attempted to enter government-held territory in the country's volatile north, the military said on Wednesday.Troops guarding a defence line in northern Jaffna peninsula killed the insurgents at a border post. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Insurgents attack US military headquarters in Iraq BAGHDAD, Sept 12(AFP): Insurgents fired rockets or mortars at a US military base near Baghdad's international airport, killing one person and wounding 11 American soldiers, the military said. The person killed in the attack on Camp Victory on Tuesday, the military said in a statement, was a “third-country national,” someone who is not an American or an Iraqi. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Former Philippines president jailed for life MANILA, Sept 11(AFP): Former Philippine movie star and deposed president Joseph Estrada was found guilty of corruption on Wednesday and ordered to spend the rest of his life in prison. A special anti-corruption court ruled he was guilty of plundering tens of millions of dollars in tax kickbacks and bribes. The court ordered that $87 million frozen in the accounts of deposed president be handed over to the state. (Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Mexico gas line blasts force major factories to close MEXICO CITY, Sept 12(AP): More than 60 percent of Mexico's steel production was halted and two major auto plants, including Volkswagen's only manufacturing facility in North America, shut down after explosions claimed by a shadowy leftist group cut natural gas supplies. State-owned Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, said the attacks on its oil and natural gas pipelines would cause the company hundreds of millions of dollars in production losses and affect 10 states.(Posted @ 08:50 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 221.66 points: KARACHI, Sept 12:At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 12784.00 , up 221.66 , points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Sept 12: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.85 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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