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| October 08, 2007 | Monday | Ramazan 25, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Army helicopter escorting Musharraf crashes in Azad Kashmir; four including brigadier killed MUJHOI, Azad Kashmir, Oct 8 (AP) - An army helicopter accompanying President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to quake-hit Azad Kashmir crashed in flames Monday during landing, killing four people on board, officials said. Army’s chief spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad termed it as a “technical fault.” The army Puma helicopter was one of three choppers that officials said took Musharraf and aides to Azad Kashmir on the occasion of the second anniversary of the Oct. 8, 2005, earthquake that killed nearly 80,000 people. Arshad said Musharraf had already reached his destination when the accident occurred. State television later aired footage of him touring the quake zone Monday. The fatalities included Mohammad Farooq, cameraman for state-owned Pakistan Television, a military intelligence brigadier and two soldiers, officials said. The president's spokesman, Maj-Gen (Retd) Rashid Qureshi, suffered a burned right hand but was in stable condition, they said. The helicopter went down on the outskirts of Mujhoi, a village 20 kilometers south of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir. Hundreds of villagers and scores of soldiers swarmed around the smouldering helicopter wreckage, 100 meters from Jhelum River. Part of the chopper's tail jutted above the crowd. At least four ambulances, sirens wailing, left the scene carrying injured people. Witnesses said the helicopter's engine was on fire before it hit the ground but there was no indication it had come under fire. Minutes before, two other helicopters flew past the village, they said. Naseer Ahmed, a resident, said the noise of the engine suddenly grew louder and the pilot found level terrain on the outskirts of the village for an emergency landing. He said several passengers jumped from the chopper before it hit the ground and exploded into flames. He said he helped drag bodies out of the burning chopper. Maj=Gen Arshad said the helicopter made a crash landing in the Jhelum Valley due to a technical fault.. Security was tight in Muzaffarabad on Monday morning, restricting residents' movement in anticipation of Musharraf's arrival to the city, about 100 kilometers northeast of Islamabad. (Posted @ 18:15 PST)
50 Pakistani soldiers missing after clashes ISLAMABAD, Oct 8 (AFP) About 50 Pakistani soldiers are missing after clashes with militants in North Waziristan tribal area bordering Afghanistan, the army said Monday. “We have reports of around 50 troops missing. They are out of communication and their whereabouts have not been found,” chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told AFP. The troops have been missing since Monday morning following clashes near Mir Ali, the second biggest town in North Waziristan, he said. (Posted @ 17:00 PST)
CM advises Governor to dissolve NWFP Assembly PESHAWAR, Oct 8 (APP) The NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani Monday advised the Governor to dissolve the NWFP Assembly soon after prorogation of the current session and after the Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan had tendered resignation before adjourning of the session sine die. The communication said, “I, Mohammad Akram Khan Durrani, Chief Minister of the North West Frontier Province in exercise of the power under Article 112 (1) advise the NWFP Governor to dissolve the NWFP Assembly.” According to the Constitution, the assembly will stand dissolved in 48 hours after being advised by the Chief Minister. Pursuing his party line, Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami, also tendered resignation during the assembly session and announced to submit the same to the Governor. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Speaker NWFP Assembly resigns PESHAWAR, Oct 8 (APP) Speaker NWFP Assembly, Bakht Jehan Khan Monday tendered his resignation to Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai following directives from leadership of his party (Jamat-i-Islami). “The Provincial Executive Committee of JI in a meeting held here last night had directed me to resign from Speakership,” he told the house. “I am bound to honour order of my party high command and cannot reverse my decision,” he said this in response to request of some of the members of the house to review his decision. Opposition parties including PPPP, PML and leader of the opposition, Shezada Gastasab termed the move as unconstitutional. (Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Most of quake victims to have shelter this winter: Chairman NDMA ISLAMABAD, Oct 8 (APP) Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Farooq Ahmed Khan Monday said that almost all the survivors of the earthquake would have adequate shelter this winter. Some 210,000 quake-resistant homes have been built and another 350,000 are under construction across Azad Kashmir and NWFP, he said in a PTV interview, adding that at present only 6,000 quake victims are sheltering in tents and they too would be shifted in houses by the end of the year. There will be no problem whatsoever this winter and hopefully most houses would be finished by year's end. (Posted @ 19:05 PST)
Second anniversary of devastating October 8 earthquake observed Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Oct 8 (APP) The second anniversary of the devastating earthquake of October 8, 2005 was observed on Monday with solemnity. The day began with special prayers in mosques and fateha and Quran khwani for the martyrs, followed by commemorative meetings in towns and villages all over Azad Kashmir and parts of quake-affected regions of NWFP. Sirens were blown at 8:52 a.m. (to mark the time when the jolts began) and two minutes silence was observed. President Pervez Musharraf paid a special visit to quake-devastated areas in and around Muzaffarabad. The president and prime minister of Azad Kashmir as well as other Kashmiri leaders joined crowds to visit the graves of the martyrs and visited rehabilitation centres and camps of the uprooted families to express solidarity and reaffirm pledge to convert the calamity into an opportunity as promised by the government and the international donors. (Posted @ 18:55 PST)
12 civilians, 2 Al-Qaeda among 80 killed in fighting MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan Oct 8 (AP): Two suspected Al-Qaeda fighters and a dozen villagers were among about 80 people killed in fierce fighting between soldiers and militants in northwest Pakistan. A security official in Miran Shah, the main town in North Waziristan, said on Monday that two Arabs who were low-ranking Al-Qaeda men and an Uzbek died in the Malagam fighting. The official said authorities heard about the death of the Arabs through informers. (Posted @ 10:49 PST)
CJ takes suo motu notice of Karachi’s Shershah Bridge collapse ISLAMABAD, Oct 8 (APP): Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Monday took suo motu notice of the collapse of Northern Bypass Road Project (Shershah Bridge), Karach, and issued notices to Chairman NHA, Director General NLC and others directing them to appear before the Apex court on October 27 and submit a report in this regard, says a press release. (Posted @ 18:40 PST)
Suicide truck bomber kills 14 near Iraq's Samarra SAMARRA, Iraq, Oct 8, 2007 (AFP) - A suicide bomber killed at least 14 people, including three policemen, on Monday when he detonated his truck bomb outside a police station near the Iraqi town of Samarra, police said. The attack in Dejlaa, 140 kilometres (90 miles) north of Baghdad, destroyed four cars and wounded another 26 people, among them police and civilians, police spokesman Ala Atia told AFP. (Posted @ 22:22 PST)
Car bombs across Iraq kill 20 people, wound dozens BAGHDAD, Oct 8 (AP) - Car bombs across Iraq, including at least one near the Polish embassy in Baghdad, killed 20 people and wounded dozens on Monday, police said.A suicide truck bomber slammed into a police station building in Dijlah, 130 kilometers north of Baghdad in early afternoon, killing nine people, including three policemen, and wounding 26, mostly civilians. The explosion also destroyed over 20 shops in the area and some 10 cars nearby. In Baghdad, a blast near the Polish embassy in Karradah district killed two persons and wounded five. All the victims were Iraqis, police said. Polish Ambassador Gen. Edward Pietrzyk, who was wounded when his convoy was ambushed last week in Karradah was still being kept in an artificial coma in a hospital in Poland. Also Monday, a car bomb went off in a market near Baghdad University's technology department, killing five civilians and wounding 15, police said. Half an hour earlier, another parked car bomb went off near a police checkpoint in the neighbourhood of Kamaliyah in eastern Baghdad, wounding six civilians and damaging at least three cars, police said. A suicide car bomber also struck a police checkpoint in Tikrit, killing four, including three policemen, and wounding 10 other people, police said. (Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Britain to cut Iraq troops to 2,500 by early 2008: PM Brown LONDON, Oct 8 (AFP) Britain will more than halve the number of its troops in Iraq to 2,500 by next spring, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Monday, in a long-expected statement. “We plan for next spring to reduce force numbers in southern Iraq to a figure of 2,500,” he told parliament's lower House of Commons. He said Monday that the reduction down to 4,500 would come immediately after Britain hands over control of Basra Province in southern Iraq to the Iraqi forces in the next two months. (Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Next round of Pak-India talks on October 18: FO Islamabad, Oct 8 (PPI) The next round of Pakistan-India talks on conventional and nuclear Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) would take place on 18th and 19th of this month. This was stated by Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam at the weekly news briefing here Monday. She said among other things the two sides would discuss the issue of return of inadvertent line crossers and hoped that they would arrive at an agreement on the issue. The meeting would also discuss prevention of incidents on sea. Aslam said the meeting will review implementation of the CBMs already agreed upon during the last meeting held in April last year in Islamabad and consider new proposals, if any. She said the second meeting of the anti-terrorism mechanism would also take place in New Delhi on October 22. To a question, Aslam said there was no slowing down of the composite dialogue process due to events in Pakistan or India and the two countries have entered into the fourth round of composite dialogue covering eight subjects and agreed upon a number of CBMs. She, however, agreed that the progress on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir was not ideal and urged the need to take advantage of the improved climate and move towards resolving the disputes that have caused tension and conflict in the region. To another question she said Pakistan had given a number of workable proposals to India that could form the basis for solution of the Siachen dispute, while reminding that the two countries were very close to a settlement in 1989 but India changed its mind. (Posted @ 20:30 PST)
General Kiyani assumes VCOAS post ISLAMABAD, Oct 8 (AFP): General Ashfaq Parveiz Kiyani took over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff on Monday, setting him up to succeed President Pervez Musharraf as leader of the army in coming weeks, officials said. He received a guard of honour at army headquarters in Rawalpindi as he arrived to take up the new position, a military statement said. “Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani assumed the charge of office today,” the statement said. (Posted @ 10:21 PST)
General Tariq takes over as CJCSC ISLAMABAD, Oct 8 (APP) Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Tariq Majid on Monday assumed the charge of his office at a simple but impressive ceremony was held at the Joint Staff Headquarters in Islamabad. (Posted @ 19:10 PST)
Two PN Rear Admirals promoted as Vice Admirals ISLAMABAD, Oct 8 (APP) The Government of Pakistan has announced the promotion of Rear Admiral Nayyar Iqbal and Real Admiral Mahmood Ahmed Khan to the rank of Vice Admiral with immediate effect. (Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Kashmir rebel alliance declares three-day Eid truce SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Oct 8 (AFP) - An alliance of rebel groups fighting Indian rule in occupied Kashmir on Monday declared a three-day truce for the upcoming Eid festival. “The unilateral ceasefire by all the militant groups will come into effect from October 12 and last for three days,” said the United Jihad Council, an alliance of more than a dozen militant groups (Posted @ 19:17 PST)
Cricket-South Africa 259-6 v Pakistan in 2nd Test Lahore, Oct 8 (Reuters) - South Africa were 259 for six wickets at the close of play on the first day of the second test against Pakistan at the Gaddafi stadium on Monday. Bad light meant play was called off seven overs before the scheduled close. (Posted @ 19:20 PST)
SC directs IGPs to submit report about steps against hoarders ISLAMABAD, Oct 8 (APP): A four-member bench of the supreme court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry Monday directed all the Inspector Generals of Police to submit a comprehensive report about the measures taken to discourage hoarding of essential commodities. The bench hearing suo moto notice termed the report submitted by the four provincial secretaries regarding price control dissatisfying. It also directed Secretary Investment and Industries to take immediate steps for price stabilization. The case was adjourned for October 11. (Posted @ 18:35 PST)
16 fighters under Most Wanted warlord killed in Afghan airstrikes KABUL, Oct 8 (AFP) - Sixteen militants fighting under a wanted Uzbek warlord Tahir Yuldash with a US$200,000 bounty on his head were killed in airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, while an Afghan child who apparently walked onto a NATO training site was killed, officials said Monday. A roadside bomb killed a soldier in the NATO-led force in Uruzgan province, said Maj. Charles Anthony, spokesman for ISAF. Also in Uruzgan, two Dutch Apache helicopters were hit by enemy fire Monday, the Dutch Defence Ministry said in a statement. Both landed safely and their crews were not injured. A suicide attack in Helmand province, meanwhile, against a NATO convoy wounded two children and an Afghan adult. In southern Afghanistan, a suicide bomber on a bicycle attacked a joint NATO and Afghan patrol in Helmand province's capital of Lashkar Gah on Monday, wounding three civilians, including two children, the alliance said in a statement. In eastern Khost province, meanwhile, an Afghan child was killed and two others were wounded. (Posted @ 18:25 PST)
2 Americans, 1 Briton share Nobel Prize in medicine Stockholm, Oct 8 (AP) - U.S. citizens Mario R. Capecchi and Oliver Smithies and Briton Sir Martin J. Evans won the 2007 Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for groundbreaking stem cell discoveries that led to a technology known as gene targeting. The three scientists modified the DNA of mice in so-called “knockout” experiments that have advanced the understanding of the relationship between genes and a range of human ailments, including cystic fibrosis, cancer and high blood pressure. The citation from the Nobel award committee said the three winners of the coveted 10-million-kronor (US$1.5-million) prize had discovered “principles for introducing specific gene modification in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells.” The researchers used “knockout mice” _ animals whose genetic code has been altered in the lab to either turn on or off certain genes that mice and humans share. (Posted @ 17:50 PST)
2 more Turkish soldiers killed after 13 die in separate attack by Kurdish rebels DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Oct 8 (AP) - Kurdish rebels killed two Turkish soldiers with roadside explosions on Monday, a day after guerrillas killed 13 troops in their most devastating attack in months. The Turkish Cabinet met to discuss the fight against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. Turkey has been pressing Iraq and the United States to hit PKK bases in northern Iraq, and has considered a military operation across the border to root out the rebels. “Our government is determined to take every measure possible if it will be useful to stamp out terrorism,” State Minister Cemil Cicek, the government spokesman, said at the end of the Cabinet meeting. “What is at issue here is how much any measure we decide to take would bring us closer to a result,” Cicek said. (Posted @ 17:45 PST)
Thai troops kill 5, arrest 19 in Muslim south BANGKOK, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Thai security forces killed five suspected Muslim militants and arrested 19 men and women after a brief clash in Thailand's rebellious far south on Monday, an army spokesman said. (Posted @ 17:20 PST)
Cricket: India beat Australia by eight runs CHANDIGARH, India, Oct 8 (AFP) - India beat Australia by eight runs in the fourth one-day international here on Monday. The next match of the series, which India now trail 2-1, will be played in Baroda on Thursday. The first match was abandoned due to rain. Brief Scores: India 291-4 in 50 overs; Australia 283-7 in 50 overs. (Posted @ 17:00 PST)
Ex-Bangladesh home minister jailed DHAKA, Oct 8 (AFP) Mohammad Nasim, home minister in the Awami League government of 1996-2001, was jailed by a special court on Monday for amassing illegal wealth worth 16 million taka (232,000 dollars) and concealing income, said prosecutor Shamim Ahsan. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Iraq vows to punish Blackwater guards BAGHDAD, Oct 8(AFP): Iraq has vowed to punish US security firm Blackwater after a probe found that its guards were not provoked when they opened fire on civilians in Baghdad three weeks ago, killing 17 people. The US embassy was tightlipped on Monday over whether those involved in the September 16 killings in Nisoor Square would be handed over for prosecution. (Posted @ 12:21 PST)
Israeli deputy vice premier says govt would support division of Jerusalem JERUSALEM, Oct 8(AP): A confidant of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday that his government would support a division of Jerusalem, which is reportedly a key component of an Israeli-Palestinian declaration to be made at a U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference next month. (Posted @ 11:19 PST)
Seven injured in Israel air strike on Gaza GAZA CITY, Oct 8(AFP): Seven Palestinians were wounded in an overnight Israeli air strike on the Gaza Strip, witnesses and Palestinian medical sources said on Monday. An Israeli aircraft fired a number of air to ground missiles east of Gaza City in the Hamas-run territory. The strike hit ut unarmed civilians, the sources said. An Israeli army spokesman confirmed the raid. The army he said arrested 10 militants. (Posted @ 11:14 PST)
Four policemen killed, 10 wounded in Chechnya MOSCOW, Oct 8(Reuters): Four Russian policemen were killed and 10 wounded when a convoy of vehicles carrying interior ministry servicemen was ambushed in the troubled Chechnya region on Sunday, Russian news agencies reported on Monday. The convoy came under fire in the mountainous Vedeno district in southern Chechnya on Sunday morning, said media reports. (Posted @ 09:44 PST)
'War on terror' has been a 'disaster': British think tank LONDON, Oct 8(AFP): The US-led “war on terror” has been a “disaster” and Washington and its allies must change their policy in Iraq and Afghanistan to defeat Al-Qaeda, the Oxford Research Group (ORG), an independent global security think tank said on Monday in a report. The report, “Towards Sustainable Security: Alternative Approaches to the War on Terror”, said the situation was comparable to the rise of the mujahedin that rose against the Russian occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. On Afghanistan, the ORG said ousting the Taliban from power in late 2001 had been of “direct value” to Al-Qaeda and militia sympathetic to its violent Islamist ideology were re-invigorated. “Going to war with Iran will make matters far worse, playing directly into the hands of extreme elements and adding greatly to the violence across the region. “Whatever the problems with Iran, war should be avoided at all costs, the mistakes already made will be completely overshadowed by the consequences of a war with Iran,” the report says. (Posted @ 08:45 PST)
Seven dead in Wisconsin after policeman opens fire CHICAGO, Oct 8(Reuters): A sheriff's deputy shot and killed six young people in the northern Wisconsin town of Crandon before being killed himself after a manhunt, a local TV station reported on Sunday, quoting police and witnesses. The Forest County Sheriff's Department said seven people were dead, including the shooter, Tyler Peterson, according to a report on the WJFW-TV Web site. The sheriff's department would not confirm details. (Posted @ 08:20 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 268.70, points: KARACHI, Oct 08:At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 14368.00, up 268.70, points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Oct 08:The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.67, to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
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