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| January 04, 2008 | Friday | Zilhaj 24, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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British police start work on Bhutto probe RAWALPINDI, Jan 04, (AFP) - A team of British anti-terrorism police started working with Pakistani investigators on Friday after flying in to help them investigate the killing of Benazir Bhutto, officials said. The specialists from Scotland Yard arrived amid raging controversy over the assassination of the former premier, which sparked a wave of bloody unrest across Pakistan and forced the postponement of elections. “The Scotland Yard team have started interacting with Pakistani investigators for technical assistance in the assassination probe,” interior ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema told AFP. (Posted @ 22:38 PST)
Pakistan volatile but unrest has calmed: EU observer ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Violence may erupt in Pakistan in the run-up to February elections but a six-week postponement of the polls has not fuelled unrest, the head of European Union observer mission Michael Gahler said Friday. “The security situation is, of course, well, volatile,” he told a news conference. “We cannot exclude that violence may erupt for whatever reason ... but at the moment it's my impression that the level of unrest has definitely calmed down,” he said. The EU has a core team of 11 election experts in Pakistan since last month and about 50 long-term observers will be deployed in coming days. They will be joined by a similar number of short-term observers before the vote. Gahler said members of his team would travel to most parts of the country except tribal areas where Taliban and al Qaeda militants operate. He said the team would put out a preliminary assessment of the vote within 72 hours of election day. (Posted @ 17:56 PST)
Bhutto's party rejects 'meaningless' Scotland Yard probe ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (AFP) - A Scotland Yard team that arrived in Pakistan on Friday to help investigate the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto will fail to shed any light on the murder, her party said. “This Scotland Yard team... what will it do here? It will work under the patronage of the government. It is going to be a meaningless exercise,” said Farooq Naik, a lawyer and Benazir’s top aide. “We reject it, we will not join it,” Naik said. “An international investigation commission should be set up, appointed by the UN and answerable to the UN and nobody else,” he said. (Posted @ 16:25 PST)
Oil train derails near Liaquatpur Multan, Pakistan, Jan 04 (PPI :An oil train carrying furnace oil for Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station derailed near Liaquatpur in Punjab province on Friday suspending all up and down rail traffic for several hours. Korakuram Express was stopped at Rahimyar Khan, Super Express at Khanpur, and Awam Express and Quetta Express at Liaquatpur. The track was cleared in about two hours after which rail traffic was normalised. A Railway official at Multan said the train derailed due to some technical fault in the bogies. (Posted @ 17:48 PST)
3 more killed, 5 injured in Kurram clashes PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Jan 04(APP);- The bloody clashes between the rival groups in Kurram Agency Friday claimed three more lives and injuries to five others taking the death toll to 65 in the last 13 days. The non- local Taliban suffered heavy casualties in lower parts of the agency while the peace jirga was facing difficulties in brokering the ceasefire, said a dispatch of the APP Correspondent from Parachinar, headquarters of Kurram Agency. The clashes were reported from Jalmai and Meangak areas of Lower Kurram. The non-local Taliban from Waziristan side, it said, were targeting the agency. Security forces have been deployed at all the sensitive points on Thall- Parachinar Road and the Political Administration was making hectic efforts to establish lasting peace, it added. (Posted @ 18:58 PST)
Iran's Foreign Minister holds talks with Musharraf RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Jan 4 (PPI) : The visiting Iran's Foreign Minister Manochar Mottaki Friday called on President Pervez Musharraf and exchanged views on regional, international issues of mutual importance. Mottaki expressed solidarity with people of Pakistan over the death of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Earlier he met with his Pakistani counterpart Inamul Haque and discussed bilateral relations and important regional issues of mutual concern. Mottaki also visited Peoples Party Secretariat in Islamabad. (Posted @ 19:12 PST)
SCBA demands release of Aitzaz, other lawyers ISLAMABAD, Jan 04 (PPI)- The Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan at a meeting Friday demanded immediate release of President of SCBA Chaudhary Atizaz Ehassan, Ali Ahmad Kurd, Justice (R) Tariq Mahmood and others otherwise the boycott of the courts will continue till their release. The demand presided over by the Vice President SCBA Saeed Akhtar also demanded restoration of the Judiciary as it was before November 2, condemned the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and also discussed the current situation in the country. (Posted @ 19:04 PST)
Pakistan criticises Crisis Group for meddling ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (Reuters)- Pakistan government Friday slammed a Brussels-based think-tank on Friday for meddling “in the country's democratic process” after it issued a report saying President Pervez Musharraf should quit for the sake of stability. The International Crisis Group report was “patently biased and reflects a complete lack of understanding” of ground realities in Pakistan, an official spokesman said in a statement. He said elements of the report suggesting Musharraf should be persuaded to quit were tantamount to propagating “seditious views against the laws of the country” and advised media in Pakistan to handle such material with care. (Posted @ 16:56 PST)
Cricket: W.Indies 96-4 (& 243) v South Africa (321) - close CAPE TOWN, Jan 4, (REUTERS) - West Indies were 96-4 in their second innings at close of play on the third day of the second test against South Africa on Friday. Scores: West Indies 243 (Marlon Samuels 51, Shivnarine Chanderpaul 65 not out, Dale Steyn 4-60) and 96-4. South Africa 321 (Ashwell Prince 98, Mark Boucher 59, Dwayne Bravo 4-82). (Posted @ 23:44 PST)
19 British airports to relax cabin bag rules LONDON, Jan 4 (AP) - Passengers travelling through 19 British airports will be allowed to carry two pieces of cabin luggage through security checks starting on Monday, the government said. Airports where the one cabin bag restriction is being lifted include Heathrow, Stansted, London City, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham and Aberdeen, the Department of Transport said. Airports where the one bag rule will stay in place for weeks include Gatwick, Luton, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool. (Posted @ 21:04 PST)
French president arrives in Aqaba for talks with Jordan's king AMMAN, Jordan, Jan 04 (AP) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived Friday in the Red Sea resort of Aqaba for talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II, a Royal Palace statement said. The statement said the talks will focus on the situation in the Middle East and ways to push forward the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations and the bilateral relations between Jordan and France. (Posted @ 20:06 PST)
Tennis: USA win fifth Hopman Cup PERTH, Australia, Jan 4 (AFP) - The United States capitalised on Jelena Jankovic's injury misfortune to beat Serbia 2-1 in the final and win their fourth Hopman Cup in six years here on Friday. Aided by a one match headstart in the final after Jankovic, battling a right thigh injury, forfeited her singles match, Serena Williams and Mardy Fish claimed the title with a straight sets win in the deciding mixed doubles clash, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2. That win came after Novak Djokovic had levelled the tie with a three-set win over a brave Fish in the men's singles, 6-2, 6-7 (4/7) 7-6 (7/4). (Posted @ 19:56 PST)
India says not given up on U.S. nuclear deal NEW DELHI, Jan 4 (Reutrs) - India said on Friday that it had not dumped a controversial nuclear deal with the United States, opposed by the Indian government's communist allies, but feared that time was running out to clinch it. Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said New Delhi was still trying to find ways out of the face-off with the left parties, but did not indicate how a solution could be found. “No, I have not given up,” he said in an interview to the PTI news agency. “We are working on how we can proceed.” “Of course time is running out,” said Mukherjee. “But one cannot help it. Either you lose majority, and if a government loses majority nobody is going to have an arrangement with a minority government.” (Posted @ 19:28 PST)
Avalanche kills 3 near Spanish ski resort MADRID, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Three skiers were killed Friday after being buried by an avalanche near the Spanish resort of Formigal in the Pyrenees, the government said. “After being buried by the avalanche, two people died during attempts to revive them,” the government's local representative said in a statement. Police ruled out that any more skiers might be trapped. (Posted @ 19:18 PST)
Bush calls on Israel to dismantle wildcat settlements JERUSALEM, Jan 4, 2008 (APP/AFP) - US President George W. Bush called on Israel to dismantle wildcat settlement outposts on occupied Palestinian land, in an interview published on Friday ahead of his visit to the region next week. “We expect them to honour their commitments,” Bush said in the interview with Israel's mass-selling Yediot Aharonot daily. “The Israeli government has said that they're going to get rid of unauthorised settlements, and that's what we expect. That's what we've been told,” he said, according to an English-language transcript of the interview provided by the newspaper. Asked whether he supported Israel retaining some of its large settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank under a final-status agreement, Bush said: “Both understand, as well, that I said conditions on the ground, the realities of the situation will help determine what... the borders look like.” “But the unauthorised settlements, which is different from authorised settlements, is an issue we've been very clear on.” Wildcat outposts are Israeli settlements established in the West Bank without government permission. The international community considers all Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land as illegal. (Posted @ 18:44 PST)
Cricket: England squads for Test and one-day tour to New Zealand LONDON, Jan 4 (AFP) - England on Friday named their Test and one-day squads for the forthcoming tour to New Zealand: Squad for three Test matches in March: Vaughan ( capt), Strauss, Cook, Bell, Pietersen, Shah, Collingwood, Mustard (wkt), Ambrose (wkt) Anderson, Broad, Harmison. Hoggard , Panesar, Sidebottom, and Swann. England squad for ODIs: Collingwood (capt), Cook , Bell, Pietersen, Wright, Shah, Bopara, Ambrose (wkt), Mustard (wkt), Anderson, Broad, Mascarenhas, Sidebottom , Swann , Tredwell, and Tremlett. (Posted @ 18:28 PST)
Khamenei warns Iran will 'humiliate' any attacker TEHRAN, Jan 4 (AFP) - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Friday that the country would humiliate any possible attacker over its controversial nuclear programme. “This peace-loving nation would humiliate any aggressor, regardless of its size and level so that it won't even think of aggression again,” Khamenei was quoted as saying by state media during a visit to the central city of Yazd. On Thursday, Khamenei said Iran saw “no benefit” in resuming ties with the United States at the moment and vowed that the Islamic republic would not halt sensitive nuclear work as demanded by the West. (Posted @ 18:18 PST)
Tennis-Hingis handed two-year ban for positive dope test LONDON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Former world number one and a five-times grand slam champion Martina Hingis, who retired from tennis in November after testing positive for cocaine, was banned for two years on Friday after an independent tribunal confirmed the doping offence. The ITF said in a statement that the 27-year-old Swiss would also forfeit the ranking points resulting from last year's Wimbledon championships and $129,481 in prize money. Hingis has denied taking cocaine but said in November she had “no desire to spend the next several years of my life reduced to fighting against the doping officials.” (Posted @ 18:10 PST)
Nuclear declaration submitted, says North Korea SEOUL, Jan 4 (Reuters) - North Korea said Friday it had given an accounting of its nuclear arms programme as required in an international disarmament deal that called on the secretive state to make the declaration by the end of 2007. “We have already drawn up a nuclear report in November and have notified the United States of it,” its KCNA news agency quoted an unnamed Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying. The U.S. State Department said a few days ago that North Korea did not meet the deadline of providing a full list of its nuclear arms programme as required in the deal it struck in 2007 with regional powers. (Posted @ 18:02 PST)
Afghanistan’s opium production to complicate security sector: US General KABUL,Jan 04 (PPI)- Afghanistan's opium production exceeded 8,200 tonnes in 2007 and “I expect to see yet another year of explosive growth in poppy, and that, I think, will again complicate the security sector,” NATO's ISAF commander, U.S. General Dan McNeill said. (Posted @ 17:52 PST)
Five killed, several hurt in Pakistan tribal clash CHAMAN, Pakistan, Jan 04 (APP): At least five people were killed and several others seriously injured in a clash between two tribes in Gulistan area of Qila Abdullah district of Balochistan province Friday, police said. Syed Hanif Agha, a tribal veteran was on his way home with his relatives when rival tribesmen opened fire killing five people including Syed Hanif Agha, his two sons, and their two guests on the spot. Intense exchange of fire started and continued for several hours in which several people from both sides were said to have received injuries. Police have reached the scene of the clash to control the situation. (Posted @ 17:40 PST)
Situation in interior Sindh improves: army SUKKUR, Jan 4 (APP) - Law and order situation is under control and normalcy has been restored in the interior of Sindh, says an ISPR news release Friday. Goods worth Rs 13 million, which were recovered by the Army troops from various districts of the Sindh, have been handed over to the civil administration, it added. (Posted @ 17:16 PST)
Benazir’s assassination: Khairpur police books 125,000 rioteers SUKKUR, Pakistan, Jan: 4 (APP)--Police have so far booked some 125,000 people for rioting across Khairpur district in Sindh province in the aftermath of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, city police chief Ghulam Akbar Wagan told mediamen on Friday Majority of these belonged to the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), he said . ASP Wagan said there were some eight gangs of criminals led by notorious dacoits in the district, each comprising 15 to 20 outlaws. These gangs exploited the situation and looted bus, car and train passengers in particular. Overall, during the unrest in the district, 26 banks, 133 private vehicles, 65 government vehicles, 04 police mobile vans, 54 shops, 14 petrol stations, 14 party offices, 06 warehouses, school buildings and private houses were also set ablaze, Zila Nazim said and other district officials said. (Posted @ 17:14 PST)
Palestinian PM assails Israel over West Bank raids RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan 04 Reuters) - Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad criticised Israel on Friday for mounting a major military sweep in the West Bank, saying such intervention was ruining a Western-backed internal Palestinian security plan. “These operations destroy our efforts in the field of security, which started bearing fruits lately in a way that people felt the change,” Fayyad said in a statement. He said Israel's actions in Nablus and elsewhere had “a tremendous negative impact on efforts being exerted, including at international level, to revive the peace process”. (Posted @ 16:48 PST)
Dakar Rally cancelled PARIS, Jan 4 (AFP) - This year's Dakar Rally has been cancelled over security concerns, the head of sport for France Televisions, Daniel Bilalian, told Europe 1 radio station on Friday. (Posted @ 16:20 PST)
Kenya's Kibaki open to coalition - Tutu NAIROBI, Jan 4 (Reuters) - President Mwai Kibaki is open to the idea of a coalition government to break political deadlock and end turmoil after Kenya's election, South African Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu said on Friday. “The president was not averse to the formation of coalitions -- but clearly there has to be an acceptance that there is a governing authority in the country,” Tutu told reporters after a meeting with Kibaki. Tutu had separately met opposition leader Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement on Thursday. (Posted @ 16:42 PST)
Kenya opposition demands new election NAIROBI, Jan 4 (AFP) – Kenya's main opposition party demanded Friday a fresh presidential election after the defeat of its candidate Raila Odinga last week in a disputed ballot marred by allegations of vote-rigging. “The way forward will involve a transitional arrangement during which proper preparation can be made for a new election ... that will be transparent and democratic,” Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) secretary general Anyang Nyongo told reporters. Nyongo said the new polls should be held within three months .Meanwhile, US Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer, Washington's top Africa diplomat, was flying to Kenya Friday to try and help resolve the crisis which has sparked deadly nationwide violence.c (Posted @ 16:15 PST)
Farhat and Umar challenge PCB ban KARACHI, Jan 4 (Reuters): Pakistani test players Imran Farhat and Taufiq Umar have filed a petition against the Pakistan Cricket Board for banning them from playing domestic cricket matches. The board banned Farhat and Umar last month after they returned from India after playing in the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), which is not recognised by the International Cricket Council or its member boards. (Posted @ 15:05 PST)
Strong quake rocks Sumatra JAKARTA, Jan 4 (AFP): A strong offshore earthquake registering 6.3 on the Richter scale hit the east coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra Friday forcing people to flee their homes, the meteorological agency said. The earthquake hit at 0729 GMT and was centred 75 kilometres southwest of Mukomuko town in Bengkulu province under the floor of the Indian Ocean, the Indonesian Meteorological Agency said in a statement. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
Truce monitors pack up in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Jan 4 (Reuters): Nordic ceasefire monitors began wrapping up their 6-year mission to Sri Lanka Friday after the government scrapped a truce with the Tamil Tigers, and their mandate. President Mahinda Rajapaksa's administration formally notified mediator Norway late Thursday it was giving a stipulated 14-day notice period to end the truce. That means the gloves finally come off on Jan. 16 and analysts and diplomats expect an intensification of the fighting. (Posted @ 12:05 PST)
Five killed in car-trailer collision near Chiniot CHINIOT, Jan 4 (APP): At least five people were killed in a collision between a car and a trailer on Jhang-Chiniot Road Friday. Five passengers in a car bearing registration (No.LH-29) were killed when their vehicle collided with a trailer coming from opposite direction. The trailer driver fled from the scene. (Posted @ 12:00 PST)
India all out for 532 to lead Australia by 69 runs SYDNEY, Jan 4 (AFP): India were all out for 532 to lead Australia's first innings of 463 by 69 runs late on the third day of the second cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. Sachin Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 154. (First Posted @ 09:30 PST, Updated @ 12:00 PST)
Cricket: Bangladesh 137, New Zealand 156 for 4 at stumps DUNEDIN, Jan 4 (AFP): New Zealand were 156 for four in reply to Bangladesh's first innings 137 at stumps on the first day of the first Test at University Oval here Friday. Mathew Bell was not out 74. Tamim Iqbal top scored with 53 for Bangladesh while Chris Martin took four for 64 and Jacob Oram took three for 23. (First Posted @ 09:20 PST, Updated @ 10:45 PST)
Israeli air strike kills two Hamas members in Gaza GAZA CITY, Jan 4 (AFP): A fresh Israeli air strike killed two members of Hamas near the northern town of Beit Hanun in the Gaza Strip early Friday, medical sources said. The latest strike came one day after Israeli ground and air attacks killed nine Palestinians, including two women. Friday's deaths bring the total number of Palestinians killed since 2000 in violence to 6,032, according to AFP figures. (Posted @ 10:40 PST)
Hillary Clinton placed third in Iowa setback: CNN DES MOINES, Jan $ (Reuters): Senator Hillary Clinton placed third in the Iowa Democratic caucus on Thursday, a big setback for the one-time national front-runner in the first nominating contest of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, CNN reported. Senator Barack Obama placed first in the vote and former Senator John Edwards came in second. (Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 263.17 points: KARACHI, Jan 04: At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 14259.59, up 263.17 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 04: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 61.6, to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
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