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| October 10, 2007 | Wednesday | Ramazan 27, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan to hold parliamentary elections in January: PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, Oct 10 (AP) Pakistan will hold parliamentary elections in early January, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Wednesday. Aziz said a caretaker government would be set up to organize the polls ''in the beginning of January.'' He didn't give a specific date. ''The elections would be held in a free and fair manner, and international observers would also be invited'' to monitor them, Aziz told reporters. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
11 children hurt in mortar attack on Iraqi school DIWANIYAH, Iraq, Oct 10 (AFP) Eleven children were wounded, three seriously, when an Iraqi primary school was hit by mortar fire in the city of Diwaniyah Wednesday, police said. Another four people, including two teachers, were wounded by the shells in the attack. Interior ministry officials said at least three people had been killed and 17 wounded in violence in Baghdad. One civilian was killed and six were wounded by a roadside bomb targeting a US patrol in a main square in the central Karrada district. Gunmen attacked a vehicle carrying Iraqi railway employees in the southwestern Bayaa district, killing one person and wounding five, while a man was killed and six more wounded by gunmen in the western Saydiya neighbourhood. Also in Diwaniyah, two policemen were killed in a drive-by shooting. A Baghdad policeman was also killed by insurgents in the southern Amarah city, police said. (Posted @ 19:25 PST)
Cricket- Smith shines as South Africa control second test LAHORE, Oct 10 (Reuters) Graeme Smith shared an undefeated 88-run partnership with Jacques Kallis to lead South Africa into a dominant position against Pakistan at the close on the third day of the second test at Gaddafi stadium Wednesday. The tourist's skipper scored 75 from 164 balls with 11 fours in a second innings total of 154 for two giving South Africa a lead of 305 runs in the match. The visitors bowled out Pakistan for 206 runs one over after lunch for a first innings advantage of 151 after fast bowler Makhaya Ntini took three wickets in an over before the interval. (First Posted @ 13:00 PST, Updated @ 19:10 PST)
NWFP Governor appoints Shamsul Mulk as Caretaker CM PESHAWAR, Oct 10 (APP) The NWFP Governor Lt. Gen. (R) Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai Wednesday appointed former provincial minister and chairman WAPDA Eng. Shamsul Mulk as Caretaker Chief Minister of NWFP. He will be taking oath of his office shortly, said an official handout. (Posted @ 19:05 PST)
Sheikh Rashid sees climate of trust between Musharraf, Benazir ISLAMABAD, Oct 11 (APP) Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said a bond of trust has developed between President Musharraf and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, a private televion channel reported Wednesday. The two need no intermediary now for communication between them, Rashid said. He said the conciliation process should broaden, adding that he has stated at every forum that Nawaz Sharif and all political parties should be allowed to contest the forthcoming general elections. He said that no political leader or party in the country could bag two- third majority in the assemblies in the elections. Commenting on dissolution of NWFP Assembly, Sheikh Rashid said it showed cracks in the MMA ranks. (Posted @ 19:00 PST)
At least 25 dead in two road accidents in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Oct 10 (AFP) At least 25 people were killed and 80 injured in two accidents in the same location on a road in Santa Catarina state in southern Brazil, radio CBN said Wednesday. In the first accident late Tuesday night near Descanso, a highway bus carrying some 40 passengers hit two trucks, setting all three vehicles on fire. Two hours later, another car lost its brakes and crashed into a number of vehicles at the same location. (Posted @ 18:55 PST)
Pakistan to provide Bhutto with extra security: Interior Minister ISLAMABAD, Oct 10 (AFP) Pakistan's former premier Benazir Bhutto will be given extra security on her homecoming on October 18 and she has been allowed to import a special bullet-proof car, the government said Wednesday. “We will provide her security and we expect her representative to discuss the arrangements with the interior ministry authorities,” Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao told AFP. Sherpao said the government had already given Benazir permission to bring a bullet-proof car into the country for her use. (Posted @ 18:50 PST)
Kasuri appreciates international support after October 2005 earthquake ISLAMABAD, Oct 10 (APP) Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri Wednesday said with the support from international community, Pakistan was able to cope with the challenge of the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake and mobilized all resources and provided food, shelter and medical care to the affectees in the shortest possible time to mitigate their sufferings. Addressing the closing ceremony of ECO’s International Conference on Disaster Risk Management here at a local hotel, he appreciated the support from the international community, including members of ECO. Pakistanis will never forget the solidarity shown by the international community and the support extended by the entire world at that difficult hour to them, he added. The conference was organized jointly by Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority and the Economic Cooperation Organization. (Posted @ 18:30 PST)
German, four Afghan hostages freed GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Oct 10 (AFP) A German engineer and four Afghans kidnapped in mid-July were freed Wednesday in exchange for five Taliban prisoners, a district governor and a Taliban commander told AFP. “The German engineer and four Afghan hostages were freed in exchange for five Taliban prisoners,” said Mohammad Naeem, governor of Jaghato district in Wardak province. “The German engineer is in good health.” (Posted @ 18:00 PST)
Pakistan army lashes out in Waziristan, toll rises MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Oct 10 (Reuters) Pakistani artillery bombarded Taliban and al Qaeda positions Wednesday as villagers buried relatives killed by an air strike during heavy fighting in the North Waziristan tribal region. Residents and intelligence officials in the area reckoned up to 50 people had been killed Tuesday. This takes the tally to about 250 since the fighting escalated Saturday night after an attack on an army convoy near Mir Ali town. The only people left in Hormuz, a village near Mir Ali, were holding funerals. Other families fled the conflict zone in the North Waziristan tribal region. “One of my aunts and her son were killed,” said Akhtar Azam, whose house in Hormuz village was hit. The thump of artillery shells could be heard in the main town of Miranshah, coming from the vicinity of Mir Ali, 25 km away. Scores of rounds were fired in the pre-dawn barrage, residents said. Militants also fired a couple of rockets onto the military runway near Miranshah's fort, but there were no casualties reported. (First Posted @ 10:56 PST Updated @ 17:00 PST)
Governor dissolves NWFP Assembly PESHAWAR, Oct 10 (APP) The NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai dissolved the NWFP Assembly on the advice of the Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani Wednesday, said Secretary Law NWFP, Shahid Nasim Khan Chamkani. Talking to APP on phone, Secretary Law said, the Governor signed the dissolution summary sent by the Chief Minister two hours before automatic dissolution of the assembly under article 112 (1) of the constitution. The Law Department has issued notification about dissolution of the provincial assembly, he said. The nomination of Caretaker Chief Minster is expected any time Wednesday while the caretaker cabinet would be announced in a few days time. Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani turned down the request to continue as caretaker chief minister till the announcement of the election schedule for the general elections in mid November 2007. (First Posted @ 12:36 PST, Updated @ 16:35 PST)
Top Al-Qaeda fighter reported killed in Algeria ALGIERS, Oct 10 (AFP) Algerian security forces killed the deputy leader of the Maghreb offshoot of Al-Qaeda in a clash in the east of the country, newspapers reported Wednesday. Zobeir Harkat, who was better known as Sofiane Fassila, was killed Sunday in fighting in the troubled Kabylie region, said the reports, which were not immediately confirmed by authorities. Harkat, 32, was considered the main bomb-maker for Al-Qaeda in Maghreb, the former Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) which changed its name last year and pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden. (Posted @ 16:25 PST)
Car bomb kills four in Iraq's Tikrit TIKRIT, Iraq, Oct 10 (AFP) A car bomb exploded in the central Iraqi city of Tikrit Wednesday, killing four people and wounding eight others, police said. Two police were among those killed after explosives in the car were detonated as a police patrol was passing, said a police official in Tikrit. (Posted @ 16:15 PST)
No evidence Iran building nuclear bomb: Putin MOSCOW, Oct 10 (AFP) Russia has no evidence that Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday after talks in Moscow with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy. “We do not have information that Iran is trying to create a nuclear weapon. We operate on the principle that Iran does not have those plans,” Putin said. He added that Russia shared the West's desire for Iran's nuclear programme, in which Russia is building the first civilian power station, to be “absolutely transparent.” (Posted @ 16:10 PST)
More than 100 killed in DR Congo fighting KINSHASA, Oct 10(AFP): More than 100 fighters, including 85 rebels, have been killed in clashes in the Nord-Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a top army officer said on Wednesday. The army's second in command in the eastern province said 16 troops and 85 rebels were killed around Karuba, a town north-east of the provincial capital of Goma. “We have been in control of Karuba since yesterday,” he told AFP. (Posted @ 14:50 PST)
Seven killed in Somalia violence MOGADISHU, Oct 10(Reuters): Fresh violence has claimed seven lives in Somalia, most of them in Mogadishu where the Ethiopian-backed government began security sweeps this week to find guns and insurgents, witnesses said on Wednesday. (Posted @ 14:45 PST)
Turkish military pounds Kurdish rebel camps in northern Iraq SIRNAK, Turkey, Oct 10(AP): Turkish troops pounded suspected Kurdish rebel camps in northern Iraq with artillery fire after the government announced it would seek parliament's approval for a cross-border military operation, a newspaper reported on Wednesday. Responding to more than a week of deadly attacks in southeastern Turkey by PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) Turkish troops are targeting the guerrillas' suspected escape routes in the mountainous areas. Other punitive measure at Turkey's disposal are cutting electricity supplies and closing the border with Iraq. (Posted @ 14:40 PST)
Japan opposition refuses to budge on Afghan mission TOKYO, Oct 10(AFP): Japan's main opposition leader on Wednesday refused to budge in his bid to end a controversial naval mission supporting US-led troops in Afghanistan, saying Tokyo should not simply follow Washington. Ichiro Ozawa, president of the Democratic Party of Japan which took control of one house of parliament in the July elections, said his party may propose alternative plans on troop deployments overseas. (Posted @ 14:35 PST)
Afghan prisoners on hunger strike after executions KABUL, Oct 10(AFP): Dozens of inmates at Afghanistan's main prison in Kabul have been on a hunger strike for three days to protest the executions at the weekend of 15 convicts, the head of prisons said on Wednesday. Inmates at Pul-i-Charki prison started their protest soon after the 15 men were taken from the jail late on Sunday and put before a firing squad for crimes including murder, kidnapping and attacks on government security forces. (Posted @ 14:11 PST)
Five killed in south Thailand YALA, Oct 10(AFP): Suspected separatist rebels shot dead five people in Thailand's violence-plagued south, police said on Wednesday. More than 2,600 people have been killed since unrest erupted in the south in January 2004. (Posted @ 13:01 PST)
Pakistan 206 all out v South Africa LAHORE, Oct 10: Pakistan were dismissed for 206 shortly after lunch on the third day of the second test against South Africa at Gaddafi stadium on Wednesday. (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Thousands protest Western-style stores in India MUMBAI, Oct 10(Reuters): More than 20,000 traders, farmers and shopkeepers protested on Wednesday against the entry of private retail giants like Wal-Mart into India which they say would destroy millions of livelihoods. The protests in India's financial capital were the biggest yet against the ambitions of foreign and local companies to introduce Western-style supermarkets into a fragmented $350 billion market expected to double in size by 2015. (Posted @ 12:47 PST)
Governor dissolves NWFP Assembly PESHAWAR, Oct 10: The Governor of NWFP, retired Lieutenant General Aurrakzai on Wednesday evening dissolved the NWFP provincial assembly on the advice of the chief minister, Akram Khan Durrani, a local television channel reported. (Posted @ 12:36 PST)
Bangladesh elections could be next October DHAKA, Oct 10(AFP): Bangladesh could go to the polls in October 2008, 21 months after disputed polls were cancelled and a military-backed government took power, officials said on Wednesday. “Our projection is that the voter list will be completed by July next year. Generally an election takes place three months later so we expect the election will be held in October 2008,” said election commission information officer. Elections scheduled for January 22 this year were cancelled because of vote-rigging allegations by the opposition. A state of emergency was then imposed ending months of political turmoil. (Posted @ 12:07 PST)
Shooting inside Afghanistan mosque leaves 2 dead, 12 wounded KABUL, Oct 10(AP): Gunmen opened fire with machine guns on people praying at a mosque in central Afghanistan, killing two people and wounding 12 others, officials said on Wednesday. Five assailants starting shooting inside a mosque in Dashte Toop area of Wardak province late Tuesday, said the provincial police chief. (Posted @ 11:57 PST)
Tribesmen bury dead after air strikes MIRANSHAH, Oct 10(AFP): Thousands of tribesmen offered funeral prayers Wednesday as they buried 50 people killed in military air strikes after days of heavy clashes near the Afghan border, officials said. The army said it had only killed pro-Taliban militants in the attacks but residents insisted the dead were civilians and included women and children. “Around 3,000 tribesmen gathered in Ippi village to offer funeral prayers for some 50 people who died in the air strike,” a local official told AFP on condition of anonymity. (Posted @ 11:39 PST)
Shelling heard near Miran Shah MIRAN SHAH, Oct 10(AP): Shelling resumed early Wednesday near Miran Shah. The five days of clashes in North Waziristan near the Afghan border between troops and militants have killed up to 250 people and sent thousands more fleeing. An Associated Press reporter in Miran Shah, the region's main town, heard a burst of artillery or mortar fire before dawn on Wednesday. Aresident of nearby Mir Ali, said the shells had hit houses in that town. Army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said that while artillery may have been fired, no major incidents took place overnight. (First Posted @ 10:56 PST Updated @ 11:30 PST)
Thailand will send 800 peacekeeping troops to Darfur BANGKOK, Oct 10(AP): Thailand will send 800 troops to Darfur to join a peacekeeping operation in the war-torn region of western Sudan by the end of the year, a government spokesman said on Wednesday. (Posted @ 11:23 PST)
Charity concert on Mount Everest KATHMANDU, Oct 10(AP): American and British rock and folk singers will stage a concert on Mount Everest for a cancer charity and a bid to earn a world record for the highest concert ever, organizers said Wednesday. The concert, on October 21, will be held at 5,550-meters near the Mount Everest base camp used by mountaineers who scale the world's highest peak. (Posted @ 11:21 PST)
Landmines kill three, injure four in Myanmar YANGON, Oct 10(AFP): Three people were killed by landmines in military-ruled Myanmar, state press reported on Wednesday. The official New Light of Myanmar newspaper said another four people were injured by the mines. (Posted @ 11:03 PST)
Two hostages released in Nigeria LAGOS, Oct 10(Reuters): Two oil workers, a Colombian and a Filipino, kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria, were released overnight in good health after 12 days in captivity, security sources said on Wednesday. The two men were seized by gunmen from an oil industry construction yard on Sept. 27 in Port Harcourt. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)
Shelling heard near Miran Shah MIRAN SHAH, Oct 10(AP): Shelling resumed early Wednesday in an area where battles between troops and militants have killed up to 250 people and sent thousands more fleeing, witnesses said. An Associated Press reporter in Miran Shah, the region's main town, heard a burst of artillery or mortar fire before dawn on Wednesday. A resident of nearby Mir Ali said the shells had hit houses in that town. “I have not dared to go outside, so I don't know if anyone was hurt,” he said via telephone. Army spokespeople were not available for comment and local security officials said they had no information. (Posted @ 10:56 PST)
Military: Fighting kills 12 Tamil rebels in northern Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Oct 10(AP): Tamil Tiger rebels attacked government soldiers in northern Sri Lanka, in two areas setting off separate gunbattles that killed 12 rebels, the military said on Wednesday. The rebels did not make any immediate comment. (Posted @ 10:46 PST)
Strong quake hits Indonesia's Sumatra JAKARTA, Oct 10(AFP): An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck off the west coast of Sumatra island on Wednesday, but there were no immediate reports of damage, seismologists said. The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 0019 GMT, was located about 129 kilometres southwest of the city of Padang, at a depth of 20 kilometres, the Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics agency said. (Posted @ 09:05 PST)
Fatah supporter killed by Israeli army in West Bank NABLUS, Oct 10(AFP): A Fatah supporter was killed and another wounded in a clash with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank overnight, Palestinian security service officials said. A local chief of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades was wounded in the clash, they added. (Posted @ 09:05 PST)
Two dead, two hurt in California shooting SIMI VALLEY, California, Oct 10(AP): A gunman shot one person to death and wounded two others at a California tire shop on Tuesday morning, then apparently shot and killed himself, police said. All the victims were employees or customers, and at least one was a woman. A 20-year-old man was in critical condition and a 37-year-old man was in fair condition, a hospital spokesman said. (Posted @ 09:00 PST)
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