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| December 11, 2007 | Tuesday | Ziqa’ad 30, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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President Musharraf vows to work with elected government ISLAMABAD, Dec 11, (AFP) President Pervez Musharraf pledged in an interview broadcast Tuesday to cooperate with whoever wins January's general elections, saying that he was not a “trouble creator”. Musharraf told Al-Jazeera's English channel: “I will try to work with anyone who comes to power after the elections. I interact with people quite well, I am not such a trouble creator.” He had no conciliatory words however for the country's ousted chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, saying that he had to impose emergency rule on November 3 because the judge was “illegally trying to remove me.” ”What would have happened if we allowed this chief justice to have his own way? We would have landed this country into chaos.” Musharraf meanwhile said he would keep a close relationship with the military, despite quitting as army chief on November 28 and becoming a civilian president. “My relationship with the army is not direct, obviously. There is protocol obviously, there is the chief of army staff,” he said. (Posted @ 17:45 PST)
Benazir says free, fair elections needed to thwart extremism ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec 11 (AP) - Parliamentary elections must be free and fair to thwart lawlessness and Islamic extremism that are on the rise in Pakistan, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said Tuesday. Returning from a trip to Dubai, Benazir immediately hit the campaign trail for the crucial Jan. 8 elections. Her first stop was the town of Mardan in North West Frontier Province, a militant stronghold. “We want fair and free elections, but extremists don't want this,” she told a group of about 3,000 supporters. “I believe in people power, and if that is organized, no one can deprive the people of fair polls,” she added. On arrival at the Islamabad Airport she earlier warned of mass protests immediately after the elections if there are signs of cheating. She also defended the decisions by the top two opposition groups _ her Pakistan People's Party and Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N party _ not to boycott the balloting. “It is good that two major parties are in the field to fight against the Q-League. This may compel the government to hold free and fair elections, or it can further rig the elections,” she said. She also talked about seat adjustment with like-minded parties. (First Posted @ 15:55 PST Updated @ 21:12 PST)
Two face Pakistan 'terror' charges in London court LONDON, Dec 11 (AFP) - Two men accused of links to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army in Pakistan appeared in court in London Tuesday, as their supporters mounted a noisy protest against their arrest and detention. Faiz Baluch, 25, and Hyrbyair Marri, 39, are charged with inciting terrorism and murder in Pakistan by having links to the BLA which is deemed a terrorist organisation in Britain. The pair's supporters, who picketed City of Westminster Magistrates Court in central London, said the defendants were human rights activists. Baluch, an Iranian student, and Marri, a Pakistani journalist, were arrested during early morning police raids at their homes in west and north London last Tuesday. Prosecutor Mark Topping said large quantities of documents, DVDs and computer files, as well as money, were seized during searches at their homes and offices. They are jointly charged with inciting another person “to commit an act of terrorism wholly or partly outside the UK which would, if committed in England and Wales, constitute murder”. Marri, who has four children and is a former elected member of the Baluchi provincial assembly, also faces a second charge of possessing a CS gas canister at his home in Ealing, west London. District Judge Timothy Workman remanded the men in custody until December 21, when they will appear at London's Central Criminal Court for a preliminary hearing. (Posted @ 20:52 PST)
Pakistani troops kill 20 militants in Swat valley ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (AFP) - Pakistani troops launched artillery barrages on suspected militant hideouts in the northwestern Swat valley, killing 20 rebels and injuring up to 15, the army said Tuesday. The new operation came two days after the army claimed killing 290 rebels and arresting another 143 in recent weeks. “According to our information, 20 militants were killed while 10-15 were injured on Monday night,” chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told AFP. He said the army also used gunship helicopters to purge the areas of militants. “The situation is now well under control and people are returning to their homes in these areas,” Arshad added. (Posted @ 20:48 PST)
Twin bomb blasts kill 67 in Algiers ALGIERS, Dec 11 (AFP/AP) - Two bomb attacks rocked the Algerian capital on Tuesday, killing at least 67 people and injuring scores others with foreigners among the casualties, hospital sources and officials said. One bomb tore apart the front of the UNHCR building. A second blew apart a bus packed with university students outside the Supreme Court. Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni said a suicide bomber triggered the explosion outside the UNHCR building. UNHCR said 10 staff members were among the casualties. In the second near-simultaneous attack, a car bomb was detonated outside the Supreme Court as a bus packed with university students passed by. Security sources said most of the dead and injured were students. Hospital sources said 67 people were killed in the two attacks but did not give a breakdown. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blasts. (First Posted @ 17:54 PST Updated @ 21:32 PST)
Elections to be held on time: President Musharraf SIALKOT, Pakistan, Dec 11 (APP) President Musharraf Tuesday said the general election will be free and fair and will be held on January 8. Formally inaugurating the Rs 2.6 billion Sialkot International Airport, the country's first built by the private sector, the President said holding of election, maintaining economic upsurge and countering terrorism were the three major tasks confronting the country. Terming terrorism a “cancer,” he said it has to be defeated at all costs. President Musharraf expressed concern over the escalating prices of wheat and underlined the need for increasing its support price to encourage farmers to sell it locally, and to discourage its smuggling. At the same time, he said the government will subsidize its sale through Utility Stores and in the next four months every Union Council will have one USC outlet. (Posted @ 17:28 PST)
Pakistan warns of strong response to nukes grab ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (AFP): Pakistan's military vowed a strong response to any international attempt to seize its atomic arsenal as the army successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable cruise missile Tuesday. The security of Pakistan's estimated 50 nuclear warheads has been under global scrutiny since President Musharraf imposed emergency on November 3. But the chairman of Pakistan's joint chiefs of staff, General Tariq Majid, blasted reports by “vested and hostile elements in the international media” about the security of its nuclear weapons, an army statement said. “Suggestions have been made that our assets could either be neutralised or taken away towards a safer place to prevent them from falling into wrong hands,” the statement quoted Majid as saying after witnessing the launch of the Babur (Hatf 7) cruise missile. “Though no responsible state in the world can contemplate such an impossible operation, yet if someone did create such a scenario he was confident that Pakistan would meet the challenge strongly,” the statement said. “Pakistan's nuclear assets are very safe and secure, and the nation need not to worry on that account. There is a very strong security system in place, which can ward off all threats, internal as well as external.” (Posted @ 15:05 PST)
Pakistan tests nuclear-capable cruise missile: ministry ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (AFP): Pakistan on Tuesday said it had successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable cruise missile. The locally developed Babur (Hatf 7) missile has a range of 700 kilometres and uses stealth technology, a defence ministry spokesman told AFP. “The test will consolidate Pakistan's strategic capability and strengthen national security,” the army said in a statement. “The Babur, which has near stealth capabilities, is a low-flying, terrain-hugging missile with high manoeuvrability, pinpoint accuracy and radar-avoidance features,” it said. (First Posted @ 10:50 PST, Updated @ 12:10 PST)
Military says 32 rebels, 5 soldiers killed in Sri Lankan fighting COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Dec 11 (AP) - A series of fierce battles between government troops and Tamil separatists across northern Sri Lanka on Tuesday killed 32 rebels and five soldiers, the military said. Much of the fighting took place in the Adampan section of Mannar district just south of rebel-held territory, where 20 rebel fighters and three soldiers were killed in three separate battles Tuesday evening, the military said. (First Posted @ 13:22 PST Updated @ 20:56 PST)
Pakistan school bus attack a plot to subvert polls: ministry ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (AFP) - Pakistan's interior ministry said Tuesday that a suicide attack on a school bus injuring five children and three adults in the northwestern town of Kamra on Monday was part of an “ugly design” to subvert next month's general elections. “While the nation is approaching the crucial vote next month, terrorists have struck again in a bid to spread fear and destabilize society,” Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Cheema told a press briefing. (Posted @ 20:54 PST)
Troops dig in after Taliban flee Musa Qala KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec 11 (AFP) - Afghan and NATO forces fortified their positions in Musa Qala Tuesday after driving out Taliban fighters based there for 10 months, but the rebels vowed to fight back. Afghan defence ministry said it knew of only four civilians killed in the operation. Two ISAF soldiers and several Taliban -- officials did not state numbers -- have also been killed. Defence ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi told reporters in Kabul “Afghan army and NATO forces are busy fortifying their positions in Musa Qala at this stage and a search operation is ongoing.” But some rebel fighters remain in Musa Qala district, Azimi said. “That is why we say the next 48 hours are crucial,” he added. A broader operation is under way in Helmand to retake the districts of Nawzad, Baghran and Washir which are still in Taliban hands, he said. Some of the Musa Qala Taliban moved to Sangin district, where hundreds attacked the district centre but were pushed out.. A Taliban spokesman confirmed that the rebel fighters had pulled out of the town Monday but said they would continue their campaign. “Our aim is to beat the enemy and inflict maximum casualties. Having them in Musa Qala makes it even easier for us to attack them,” Yousuf Ahmadi said. (Posted @ 20:30 PST)
Saudi says Israel settlement move against Annapolis RIYADH, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned Israel for restarting settlement activity after a promise to stop building on occupied land helped persuade Riyadh to attend U.S.-brokered peace talks in Annapolis last month. “The kingdom strongly condemns Israel's decision to expand settlement building in East Jerusalem, which contradicts the bases and principles of the Annapolis peace conference,” Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told reporters The foreign minister also called on the Palestinian government and the opposition Hamas group to mend their differences. “The Palestinian question now has absolute support around the world, so it's a contradiction that at the same time there should be Palestinian infighting,” Prince Saud said. (Posted @ 19:05 PST)
Five die in fresh violence in Somali capital MOGADISHU, Somalia, Dec 11 (AP) An explosion followed by a 30-minute gunbattle killed at least five people in the Somali capital Tuesday. A roadside bomb struck a government convoy near Mogadishu's Bakara Market, killing three Somali soldiers, a witness said. Minutes later, government soldiers fought for 30 minutes with 20 gunmen, killing two civilians, another witness said. (Posted @ 19:02 PST)
Ahmadinejad: US Iran report is a positive step TEHRAN, Dec 11 (AFP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday hailed the latest US intelligence report on the Iranian nuclear programme as a positive step and called for more such moves from Washington. “It is a positive step, a step forward,” Ahmadinejad told a news conference. “If they take one or two more such steps the issues will be totally changed and... the way will be paved for the resolution of regional and bilateral issues,” he added, without elaborating. Pressed what further steps the United States could take, Ahmadinejad replied: “A second step could be on the nuclear issue. They could say that the issue has been finished.” (Posted @ 18:58 PST)
Taliban attacks kill 15 in Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec 11 (AFP) Taliban fighters ambushed a convoy supplying NATO forces in Afghanistan Tuesday and separately blew up a car bomb near an alliance convoy in attacks that killed 15 people, police said. The first convoy, guarded by Afghan police, was attacked west of Kandahar city, Kandahar’s provincial police chief said. “Five policemen were martyred, eight Taliban were killed and three were wounded,” General Sayed Aqa Saqib added. In a separate incident in Kandahar province's Panjwayi area, a suicide attacker blew up a bomb-filled car near a NATO convoy, Saqib said. “There were no casualties or damage to NATO forces but two civilians in the area were killed,” he said. Insurgents also attacked a police post in Kunar province Monday, wounding four civilians, provincial governor Fazlulah Wahidi told AFP. (Posted @ 18:50 PST)
Wheat flour prices to come down from Rs 25 to Rs 16 in a few days: Sindh cabinet KARACHI, Dec 11 (APP)- Caretaker Sindh Cabinet was informed Tuesday that wheat flour prices will be brought down to Rs 16 per Kg in a few days. The cabinet was briefed about the measures being taken to arrest the spiralling wheat and atta prices. It was informed that smuggling and hoarding were the basic reasons for increase in the prices of wheat and atta and that shortage was also caused by non-availability of transport because of approaching Eid-ul- Azha. (Posted @ 18:46 PST)
Cricket-India (626) & 131-2 v Pakistan (537) in third Test BANGALORE, India, Dec 11 (Reuters) - India were 131 for two in their second innings after Pakistan were all out for 537 in reply to India's first innings total of 626 at the close of play on the fourth day of the third and final test on Tuesday. Brief scores: India 626 ( Singh 169, Ganguly 239, Pathan 102, Arafat 5-161) & 131-2 v Pakistan 537 (Misbah-ul-Haq 133 not out, Sharma 5-118). (Posted @ 18:04 PST)
Cricket: Sri Lanka lead England by 28 runs in second Test COLOMBO, Dec 11 (AFP) - Sri Lanka, replying to England's first innings score of 351, were 379-4 at stumps on the third day of the second cricket Test here on Tuesday. Skipper Mahela Jayawardene was unbeaten on 167 and Jehan Mubarak was on two, with Sri Lanka ahead by 28 runs with six wickets in hand. (Posted @ 17:56 PST)
SC acquits Pir Mazharul Haq in plot allotment case ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (APP) - A three-member Supreme Court bench has acquitted Pir Mazharul Haq of charges that as PPP provincial minister in Sindh he wrongfully allotted a plot for a petrol pump in 1994. The bench headed by Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar upheld his appeal and set aside his 1998 conviction by Ehtesab bench of Sindh High Court, which had sentenced him to two-year imprisonment and fined him Rs. one million. Pir Mazharul Haq was unable to contest the 2002 elections because of the guilty verdict and his nomination papers for the forthcoming January elections were also rejected on the same ground. (Posted @ 17:34 PST)
Sixteen dead or missing in Afghan avalanche KABUL, Dec 11 (AFP): Eight people were killed and as many others were missing after an avalanche engulfed a village in northeastern Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province Tuesday, the interior ministry said. Fifty people were initially trapped by the avalanche but most were rescued by police and villagers, it said in a statement. “Eight people were killed, four wounded and eight others are missing,” the statement said. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Israeli tanks, bulldozers move into southern Gaza, clash with militants; five killed GAZA CITY, Dec 11 (AP): Israeli tanks and bulldozers backed by attack aircraft moved into the southern Gaza Strip Tuesday in the biggest operation in the territory since Islamic Hamas forces wrested control in June, setting off clashes with militants firing rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. An Israeli tank shell fired at a group of Islamic Jihad fighters killed three, while missiles fired from an aircraft killed two unidentified militants, hospital officials said. Schoolchildren ran through the streets of Khan Younis, let out early from school so they could take refuge in their homes. (First Posted @ 10:35 PST, Updated @ 14:30 PST)
PML-Q denies opposition claims of election rigging ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (AP): Pakistan's ruling party Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid (PML-Q) denied Tuesday that January's parliamentary elections would be rigged in its favour and accused the opposition of making the accusation because it feared defeat at the polls. PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said allegations of rigging even before the elections were ''baseless.'' ''The elections have not been held and they have started crying about the rigging,'' Hussain said in an interview with a private television channel. ''Those who talked about the rigging want to see elections postponed.'' Former premier Benazir Bhutto has claimed that authorities would feed 30,000 ballots to each pro-Musharraf candidate to skew the results in PML-Q's favour. Benazir said Tuesday that her party was ready to join forces with Nawaz Sharif in some constituencies to defeat PML-Q candidates. Speaking to reporters at Islamabad's airport on her return from a visit to her family in Dubai, she said the opposition should mount a ''massive campaign'' starting January 9 if the ballot is rigged. (Posted @ 13:45 PST)
Pakistan religious parties’ coalition near collapse: party officials ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (AFP): Pakistan's main alliance of religious parties was near collapse Tuesday after cancelling a last-ditch meeting to resolve differences over a possible election boycott, party officials said. The alliance was formed in 2002 and won control of North West Frontier Province but the six leading parties that constitute the alliance - the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) or United Action Front - are split over taking part in the January 8 election. “It is an alliance by name only,” the alliance's chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, told a private television channel. “We are not dissolving it. We want relations to continue so that at some later stage we could sit together again, once the drama of the fraudulent election is over,” he said. “This election will strengthen the hands of dictatorship,” Ahmed said. Jamiat-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) chief Fazlur Rehman said his party was making efforts to save the alliance. “We are trying to save MMA.” Senior MMA leader Liaquat Baloch confirmed that a meeting of the alliance's supreme council scheduled for Tuesday had been called off. “The reason is that some of the parties have opposed a boycott of elections. It was not possible to reach a unanimous decision,” he told AFP. (Posted @ 13:20 PST)
Four killed, three injured in Sibi road accident DERA MURAD JAMALI, Pakistan, Dec 11 (APP): Four people were killed and three injured when a passenger van going from Sibi to Jacobabad collided with a truck coming from opposite direction near Damboli on Sibi-Jacobabad highway Tuesday morning, Sibi police said. Four persons including two women killed on the spot. The injured persons were admitted to Civil Hospital Sibi. (Posted @ 13:05 PST)
Two policemen killed in Baghdad blast BAGHDAD, Dec 11 (AFP): Two policemen were killed and 12 were wounded when a suicide bomber blew up his explosives-rigged car near the homes of two Iraqi politicians Tuesday, security officials said. The bomber struck at around 8:15 am near the homes of former prime minister Iyad Allawi and lawmaker Saleh Mutlak on Zaithun Street in western Baghdad's Hathiya neighbourhood, the officials said. In another incident late Monday, gunmen on two motorcycles shot dead doctor Ibrahim Mohammed al-Ougil, the head of Baghdad’s Al-Rashid psychiatric hospital, security officials said. (First Posted @ 11:40 PST, Updated @ 12:55 PST)
US soldier killed north of Baghdad BAGHDAD, Dec 11 (AFP): A US soldier has died of his wounds sustained when a suicide bomber blew up a car near the soldier's convoy in Salaheddin province north of Baghdad, the US Command in Iraq announced Tuesday. Two other soldiers were wounded in Monday's blast. (Posted @ 10:10 PST)
First regular train service crosses inter-Korean border DORASAN STATION, South Korea, Dec 11 (AFP): The first regular train service between the two Koreas for over 50 years crossed the heavily fortified border Tuesday, in the latest reconciliation project between the historic enemies. A flower-decked locomotive pulling 10 container trucks crossed the frontier from South to North Korea at 8.30am (2330 GMT Monday), a unification ministry spokeswoman said. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
Lebanon presidential vote postponed for eighth time BEIRUT, Dec 11 (AFP): A parliamentary session to elect a new president in Lebanon was postponed Monday for an eighth time, with a new date set for December 17, parliament speaker Nabih Berri said. “The office of the speaker has decided to postpone tomorrow's session to next Monday,” a statement said. (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
Libya to buy 14 French fighter planes, 35 helicopters PARIS, Dec 11 (AFP): Libya plans to buy 14 French-made Rafale fighters as well as 35 helicopters and military equipment in a deal worth 4.5 billion euros (6.6 billion dollars), a French presidential source said Monday. The two countries signed a “memorandum of understanding” detailing a list of military hardware, including the Rafales and helicopters, which will be negotiated in detail on July 1, the source said. (Posted @ 09:05 PST)
At least 40 dead in River Congo boat disaster KINSHASA, Dec 11 (AFP): At least 40 people died and several are missing after their boat capsized at the weekend on the River Congo, a Democratic Republic of Congo interior ministry delegate said Monday. “More than 220 people were rescued on Sunday by river police after the barge, M/B Lipamboli, which was carrying a large cargo of oil and wood, started to sink,” he said. (Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 61.36, points: KARACHI, Dec 11: At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 14633.00, up 61.36, points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Dec 11: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 61.4, to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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