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| October 20, 2007 | Saturday | Shawwal 7, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Militants kill two tribal elders KHAR, Oct 20 (AFP): Pro-Taliban militants shot dead two government-backed tribal elders on Saturday after a peace meeting in Pakistan's troubled northwest, officials said. The two were gunned down near Khar, the main town in Bajaur district, bordering Afghanistan, officials said. “The victims were returning after attending a jirga (grand council) to negotiate peace in the area with (other) tribal elders when they were gunned down by extremists,” a local official said. (Posted @ 21:48 PST)
Bomb rips through bus in Pakistan’s Dera Bugti, killing seven QUETTA, Pakistan, Oct 20 (AP) A bomb ripped through a bus parked at a terminal in southwestern Pakistan Saturday, killing seven people and wounding six others, police said. The explosion occurred in Dera Bugti, a tribal town in Balochistan province, police officer Raja Bashir said. The victims were standing around the bus, which had no passengers on board. (Posted @ 11:30 PST)
Government probes Karachi blast suspects KARACHI, Oct 20 (AFP) Government probed Saturday a list of possible suspects given by former premier Benazir Bhutto after a suicide assassination bid that killed 138 people and bloodied her return from exile. Benazir said she had sent President Musharraf the names of three people she accused of involvement in Thursday's blast, which ripped through a crowd of hundreds of thousands who welcomed her back to Karachi. Police said they were pushing forward with investigations but had made no arrests. “Investigations are progressing in the right direction but once again we will avoid pinpointing anyone or blaming it on a certain set of militants,” Karachi police chief Azhar Farooqi told AFP. “There has been a minor piece of evidence found from the site today but we will not be disclosing it. Police have secured the site of the blast and taken samples.” Benazir’s Pakistan People’s Party said she would soon visit the tomb of her father in her family's ancestral village of Larkana in Sindh. “Her next stop will be Larkana to pay homage to her shaheed (martyr) father. That will come in a day or so,” senior party leader Taj Haider told AFP. “She is meeting party officials and consulting them. The programmes are being re-adjusted because of the security threat but she has said the attack will not deter her and the party from going ahead with plans.” (Posted @ 12:05 PST)
Police release photo of Karachi bomber KARACHI, Oct 20 (Reuters) Police released a photograph Saturday of a suicide bomber who killed at least 139 people. The dead eyes stared blankly out of the chubby, unshaven face, the heavy growth apparent around the jawline and top lip. The man appeared to be in his twenties. “The age of suspect is in between 20 to 25 and he looks to be a Karachiite,” a security official, requesting anonymity, told Reuters. (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Held Kashmir in turmoil after army kills teacher SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Oct 20 (AP): Thousands of angry villagers torched government vehicles in street battles that injured 30 police after soldiers shot dead a school teacher in Indian occupied Kashmir, officials and villagers said on Saturday. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Afghan girl killed by NATO bullet KANDAHAR, Oct 20 (AFP): A two-year-old Afghan girl was killed when a warning shot from a NATO force soldier apparently ricocheted while more than a dozen Taliban were killed elsewhere, officials said on Saturday. The Helmand police chief said the incident happened outside her home. Several civilians have been killed in Afghanistan this year by the international security force. The US-led coalition, which works alongside ISAF and the Afghan security forces, said meanwhile it had killed more than a dozen Taliban fighters elsewhere in Helmand.Dutch military: Dutch military operations in Afghanistan could be extended for two more years after August 2008 but with fewer troops, a Dutch daily De Telegraaf reported on Saturday. It quoted sources as saying Chief of Staff Dick Berlijn had advised the government that it could keep a maximum of 1,200 soldiers in southern Afghanistan from about 1,600 now. (Posted @ 16:28 PST)
Thousands flee fighting in eastern Congo GOMA, Congo, Oct 20 (Reuters): Thousands of civilians fled renewed fighting between Tutsi-dominated rebels and local militia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, the country's U.N. peacekeeping mission said. Villagers from Bunagana and nearby settlements of Jomba, Runyoni and Bweza poured into Rutshuru, the government-held local administrative seat, 0600 GMT. (Posted @ 20:28 PST)
Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan foreign ministers meet in Herat Herat, Oct 20 (PPI): The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan on Saturday held a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of 10-nation Economic Cooperation Organization conference in Herat. (Posted @ 20:18 PST)
Two protestors arrested near IMF-World Bank meetings WASHINGTON, Oct 20 (Reuters): Two protesters were arrested in Washington on Friday evening during demonstrations on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank semi-annual meetings. “A couple people got unruly and were locked up,” a police spokesman said about the mainly peaceful protest in the upscale Georgetown neighborhood. Activists said another rally was planned for Saturday several blocks from the White House and the headquarters of the IMF and the World Bank. Large numbers of police were massed in the vicinity and several streets were closed to traffic. (Posted @ 20:12 PST)
Myanmar lifts curfew, ban on assembly YANGON, Oct 20 (AP): Myanmar's military rulers on Saturday lifted a curfew and ended a ban on assembly, which were imposed last month during a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests. The relaxing of restrictions imposed Sept. 25 was announced from government vehicles driven through the streets of Myanmar's largest city and former capital, Yangon. (Posted @ 20:06 PST)
Pakistan beat South Africa LAHORE, Oct 20 (AP): Pakistan defeated South Africa by 25 runs in the second one-day international on Saturday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Scores: Pakistan 265-9 in 50 overs, South Africa 240 all out in 49.3 overs. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Pakistan-India talks on anti-terror mechanism on Oct 22 NEW DELHI, Oct 20 (APP): The second round of Pak-India talks on anti-terror mechanism will be held here on Monday to discuss the issues relating to terrorism. A meeting of Saarc home ministers will be held here on October 25 to discuss issues of terrorism, money laundering and drug and human trafficking. Prior to this meeting, the police chiefs of Saarc countries will meet on October 23. (Posted @ 19:36 PST)
U.S. forces in Iraq find 19 tonnes of explosives BAGHDAD, Oct 20 (Reuters): U.S. forces found nearly 19 tonnes of explosives in Tarmiya, some 30 km north of Baghdad this week, the U.S. military said on Saturday. It contained 18.6 tonnes of ammonium nitrate and 35 mortar bombs. The cache was destroyed. (Posted @ 18:56 PST)
Iran’s new nuclear negotiator is Ahmadinejad ally TEHRAN, Oct 20 (AFP): Saeed Jalili, the career diplomat set to replace Ali Larijani as Iran's top nuclear negotiator, is said to be a close confidante of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Jalili is deputy foreign minister in charge of European and Americas affairs and his anticipated appointment as secretary of the supreme national security council is a major promotion for the diplomat. “The resignation of Mr Larijani has been accepted and Saeed Jalili will be replacing him,” a government spokesman said. (First Posted @ 15:00 PST Updated @ 17:30 PST)
Thousands defy police, remain on deadly volcano MOUNT KELUD, Indonesia, Oct 20 (AP): Gun-toting police ordered villagers off the slopes of one of Indonesia's deadliest volcanos fearing an imminent eruption on Saturday, but thousands refused to leave over concern for crops and livestock. The authorities have ordered 116,000 people living along Mount Kelud's fertile slopes to leave in recent days. Nearly 13,000 of the 40,000 villagers within the volcano's danger zone insisted on staying. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Roadside bomb strikes travellers south of Baghdad BAGHDAD, Oct 20 (AP): A roadside bomb exploded near a minibus on Saturday, killing at least three people and wounding nine, police said. Elsewhere U.S.-led ground forces backed by two Polish helicopters came under fire from machine guns and an anti-tank grenade launcher on Friday in eastern Diwaniyah, 130 kilometers south of Baghdad, the military said. No coalition casualties were reported, but two militants were killed, according to a statement. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
“Iran capable of firing 11,000 rockets into enemy bases if attacked” TEHRAN, Oct 20 (AP): Iran is capable of firing 11,000 rockets into enemy bases within the first minute after any possible attack, state-run television quoted a top Revolutionary Guards Corps commander as saying on Saturday. (Posted @ 15:48 PST)
Gorbachev founds new political movement MOSCOW, Oct 20 (AFP): Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev founded a new political movement on Saturday aimed at fighting democratic abuses in Russia, but not at challenging President Vladimir Putin's rule. His new movement is not a political party and will therefore not take part in parliamentary elections in December. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Karzai urges region to fight terror, poverty HERAT, Oct 20 (AFP): Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on 10 Muslim-majority nations gathered here Saturday to work together to end terrorism, which he said is tarnishing Islam, and boost their economies. Karzai was addressing a meeting of foreign ministers and senior officials from nations in the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), a grouping of Central Asian states and regional heavyweights Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. (Posted @ 15:17 PST)
Two killed in Hamas and Gaza clan clash GAZA CITY, Oct 20 (AFP): At least two person were killed including 13 year old boy and 12 others injured when new clashes broke out on Saturday between the Hamas-run police in the Gaza Strip and a clan tied to the rival Fatah movement, eyewitnesses and medics said. (Posted @ 15:00 PST)
More than dozen Taliban killed in southern Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct 20 (AP) A battle in southern Afghanistan between U.S.-led coalition forces and Taliban militants left more than a dozen of the insurgents dead, the coalition said. Insurgents attacked the coalition soldiers, along with accompanying Afghan security forces, with rocket propelled grenades and gunfire while they were on a patrol in northern Helmand province Thursday, the coalition said. Attack aircraft helped repel the initial Taliban attack, though the fighters tried to reinforce their numbers through out the engagement, which lasted several hours, the coalition said. (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
12 killed in Egypt's road crash CAIRO, Oct 20 (Reuters) A minibus and a truck collided head-on south of Cairo at dawn Saturday, killing 12 people and injuring five others, a security official, requesting anonymity, said.The accident took place near the town of Ayyat, around 45 km south of the capital. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
Malawi accident kills 26 opposition supporters ZOMBA, Malawi, 20 Oct (Reuters) Twenty-six Malawi opposition supporters died Friday night when the vehicle they were travelling in to a party conference overturned, police said Saturday. The Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) members were travelling to Lilongwe from Blantyre for a Saturday meeting to elect a new leadership ahead of Malawi's 2009 presidential elections. “We are still investigating but we suspect that the truck must have been overloaded because the supporters were 62 in total,” Gausi said. Twelve supporters were seriously injured. (Posted @ 13:35 PST)
New clashes erupt between Hamas and Gaza GAZA CITY, Oct 20 (AFP) New clashes broke out between the Hamas-run police force in the Gaza Strip and a powerful clan tied to the rival Fatah movement Saturday, eyewitnesses and Palestinian medics said. Medical officials said they had received reports of casualties but could not immediately provide precise numbers. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Occupied Kashmir protests over Indian army killing SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Oct 20 (AFP) Thousands of villagers set fire to government vehicles in noisy demonstrations in northern Kashmir over the killing of a school teacher by Indian troops, officials said Saturday. Residents accused Indian troops of killing Abdul Rashid Mir in cold blood during frisking of civilians near a forest Friday. Police and residents said thousands of villagers have been holding noisy demonstrations against the army Friday and Saturday. A police officer said angry villagers set fire to two government vehicles and forced a shutdown in one area, adding police used batons and tear gas to attempt to disperse the crowd early Saturday but failed. (Posted @ 13:25 PST)
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani resigns TEHRAN, Oct 20 (AFP) Iran's top negotiator on its controversial nuclear programme, Ali Larijani, has resigned, the state news agency IRNA reported Saturday, quoting the Islamic republic's government spokesman. “Larijani had resigned several times and finally the president (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) accepted his resignation,” Gholam Hossein Elham was quoted as saying. (Posted @ 13:10 PST)
At least six people found dead in Vancouver suburb apartment SURREY, British Columbia, Oct 20 (AP) Workers responding to a reported gas leak found at least six people dead in an apartment in a Vancouver suburb, authorities said. The bodies were discovered Friday by firefighters and hazardous materials workers, said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Dale Carr. (Posted @ 12:45 PST)
Three dead, six injured in England motorway crash LONDON, Oct 20 (Reuters) Three people died and six were injured in a motorway pile-up in northern England, police said Saturday. The crash, involving a lorry and six cars, happened on the M62 Friday night, Humberside Police said. (Posted @ 12:35 PST)
Somali journalist gunned down in Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Oct 20 (Reuters) Unknown attackers shot dead Bashir Nur Gedi, the acting head of independent radio station Radio Shabelle, at his home in Mogadishu Friday, Radio Shabelle's acting director Jafar Kukay said. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Twelve killed in India building collapse CHENNAI, India, Oct 20 (AFP) Twelve people died and eleven sustained severe injuries in southern India when an apartment building collapsed after heavy rain, police said Saturday. Three women and a boy were among those who died in the accident late Friday in southern Coimbatore city. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Small plane crashes into Canadian apartment building, killing pilot MONTREAL, Oct 20 (AP) A twin-engine plane crashed into the ninth floor of an apartment building in Vancouver, killing the pilot and injuring at least two people in the building, officials said. Fire crews evacuated the 15-story building after residents reported smelling aviation fuel, but the accident Friday did not spark a blaze, officials said. There was no immediate word on the cause of the crash. Airport officials said the Piper Seneca had taken off from Vancouver International Airport en route to suburban Pitt Meadows several miles to the east. It quickly ran into trouble and slammed into the north side of the Rosario Gardens apartments just east of the airport, officials said. (First Posted @ 08:45 PST, Updated @ 09:30 PST)
US Air Force describes errors in nuclear missile flight WASHINGTON, Oct 20 (AFP) The Pentagon acknowledged Friday an unprecedented breakdown in procedures that allowed six nuclear missiles to mistakenly end up on a cross-country flight, an incident which took 36 hours to be discovered. “Nothing like this has ever occurred,” said Major General Richard Newton. “This was a failure to follow procedures, procedures that have proven to be sound.” He said at least four officers have been relieved of command in the wake of the August 30 incident. Six nuclear armed cruise missiles on a pylon were loaded onto the wing of a B-52 bomber that was supposed to ferry other cruise missiles from Minot Air Force Base to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana for decommissioning.s(Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Immigrant boat sinks off Mexico coast, drowning 24 MEXICO CITY, Oct 20 (AFP) At least 24 people drowned Friday when a boat believed to be carrying Central American immigrants sank off Mexico's Pacific coast on a route used to head to the United States, authorities said. “On Friday morning, a boat carrying undocumented immigrants capsized in a zone known as the Dead Sea,” an official with the public ministry of San Francisco Ixhuatan in Oaxaca state told AFP. “Local residents recovered 24 bodies,” the official said. (Posted @ 08:30 PST)
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