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| March 03, 2008 | Monday | Safar 24, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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 Qaim Ali Shah nominated for CM Sindh slot KARACHI, Pakistan, Mar. 3 (APP): Syed Qaim Ali Shah who has previously served as chief minister of Sindh Province was Friday nominated by the majority PPP for yet another term as the chief executive of the province. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Sindh PPP Parliamentary Party held at Bilawal House .PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari who presided over the meeting addressing a press conference also announced the candidature of Nisar Ahmed Khuhro for the office of speaker of the Sindh assembly and of Pir Mazharul Haq as leader of the PPP Parliamentary Party in Sindh Assembly. (Posted @ 21:22 PST)  
Police tear gas Iftikhar Chaudhry’s supporters ISLAMABAD, March 3 (AFP) Police fired tear gas Monday to disperse hundreds of lawyers who tried to remove barbed wire outside the house of Pakistan’s deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, an AFP reporter witnessed. Around 200 people joined a rally at the residence of former judge Chaudhry, who was suspended by President Musharraf under emergency rule four months ago and remains under house arrest. Chanting anti-Musharraf slogans and “Iftikhar Chaudhry is our hero”, the protesters tried to tear aside coils of barbed wire and remove barricades blocking off Chaudhry’s house. Riot police wearing helmets and carrying batons responded by firing at least half a dozen tear gas shells at the protesters. The demonstrators dispersed but started to regroup soon afterwards. (Posted @ 18:06 PST) President Musharraf meets General Kayani RAWALPINDI, March 3 (APP): Talking to Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani here at his Camp Office, President Musharraf Monday lauded the professionalism and the sacrifices being rendered by Pakistan Army for defending the country from external and internal threats. The President noted the role of the army in ensuring security during the general election. He appreciated the measures taken by the Pakistan Army in combating terrorism along the Pak-Afghan border, Fata and Swat. General Kayani briefed the President about the ongoing operation against terrorism. They also exchanged views on the role of the Pakistan Army in respect to internal security situation. (Posted @ 15:30 PST) 
 Pakistan lawyers to hold fresh anti-Musharraf protests ISLAMABAD, March 3 (AP) Pakistan's lawyers announced Monday they will hold fresh protests to pressure President Musharraf to reinstate independent-minded judges that he fired during a state of emergency. ''There is no example in history where 60 judges have arrested and detained with their families and eight of them continue to remain in detention to this day,'' said Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan, who was released from house arrest Sunday. Ahsan, a PPP member, said the lawyers will observe a ''black flag week'' beginning March 9 to mark the first anniversary of an attempt by Musharraf to fire Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. The attempt failed but Musharraf dismissed Justice Chaudhry and dozens of other superior court judges after declaring a state of emergency on November 3. Beginning March 9, lawyers will distribute black flags to people and stage rallies to demand reinstatement of the judges. Later, Aitzaz Ahsan, a former interior minister in Benazir’s cabinet, left Lahore for Sukkur by air on his way to Larkana to lay floral wreaths and offer fateha at the grave of Benazir Bhutto. At the Sukkur Airport, he was accorded a rousing welcome by hundreds of lawyers, political workers of PPP, PML-N, Tehrik-i-Insaf etc. besides members of the civil society, private television channels reported. (Posted @ 19:30 PST) Kashmiris angry, distrust Pakistan's parties SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, March 3 (Reuters) - Kashmiris accused Pakistani political parties on Monday of turning their back on them and their struggle against Indian occupation after last month's elections in Pakistan. Anger simmered in Kashmir after Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), told an Indian television channel that relations between India and Pakistan should not be held “hostage” to the Kashmir issue. “It looks like PPP is backing out, but let me (make) clear to Islamabad, with or without the support of Pakistan, our freedom struggle will reach its logical end,” said Shabir Ahmad Shah, a senior separatist leader. “We will continue our fight, and occupation will not last forever,” he added. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a hard line separatist leader, said Pakistan had abandoned Kashmir long before these elections. “It is not the future government ... after 9/11, the Pakistan government has taken a U-turn on Kashmir. Pakistan should do some rethinking and support the Kashmiri cause,” he said. (Posted @ 18:40 PST) Pakistan frees Indian accused of spying after 35 years in prison LAHORE, Pakistan, March 3 (AP) - Pakistani authorities on Monday freed an Indian citizen who spent 35 years in prison, most of them on death row, for allegedly spying. Kashmir Singh, who is about 60 years old, was released from a Lahore prison on the order of President Pervez Musharraf, said Javed Latif, the jail superintendent. “He is a free man now,” Latif said. Singh was scheduled to reunite with his family on Tuesday on the Indian side of Wagah, the main border crossing between the two countries. (Posted @ 21:08 PST) 13 killed in clash between rival groups in Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan, March 3 (AFP) - At least 13 people were killed and 14 injured in a gunbattle between followers of two rival clerics near Peshawar, capital of North West Frontier Province, Monday, police and witnesses said. The exchange of fire erupted when supporters of a hardline cleric tried to kidnap a rival cleric from a shrine on the outskirts of Peshawar, city police chief Tanweerul Haq Sipra told AFP. Local legislator Zahir Khan said the clash left 13 people dead and 14 wounded, with casualties on both sides. Custodian of the shrine Pir Hayatullah told reporters that the dead included 10 of his followers who resisted the abduction attempt by supporters of Mangal Bagh. No arrest has been reported. Police said an investigation was underway. (Posted @ 20:36 PST) Akhtar Mengal examined by JPMC doctors HUB, Pakistan, Mar 3 (PPI): President of BNP and former Balochistan Chief Minister Sardar Akthar Mengal was brought to Jinnah Post-graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) from Karachi Central Jail Monday and was examined by a team of specialists in the Cardiovascular ward. Several tests were also carried out after which Akthar Mengal was shifted back to Central Jail Karachi. Meanwhile, party activists wore black arm bands, while shutter down strike was observed in parts of Balochistan including Wadh and Karkh to demand release of the Baloch leader. (Posted @ 20:18 PST) Differences in PPP over CM slot in Balochistan QUETTA, Pakistan, Mar 3 (PPI): Differences over the slot of Balochistan chief minister have emerged in Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Balochistan after MNA- elect Khursheed Shah sent by Asif Zardari to Quetta announced the name of Nawab Aslam Raisani as leader of house and PPP parliamentary leader in provincial assembly. An aspirant for the coveted office, Sadiq Umrani, complained that his over 30 years services for the party have been ignored. Khursheed Shah told newsmen Monday that apprehensions of Sadiq Umrani would be removed. He said a 3-member committee consisting of Khursheed Shah, Ejaz Jhakrani and Baz Muhammad Khetran would hold talks with other political parties on government formation in Balochistan. He said soon they would make a show of their strength. Answering a question he said the PPP has majority in the centre and in Sindh. However we would like to have a government of national consensus. We would take all with us in national interest, but would not make any government in coalition with PML-Q, he added. (Posted @ 20:02 PST) 
Israeli ground troops leave Gaza, but fighting persists JEBALIYA, Gaza Strip, March 3 (AP) - Israeli aircraft pummeled targets in Gaza for the sixth straight day Monday and militants fired rockets at a major Israeli city even as the fighting showed signs of slowing, with the army pulling ground troops out of northern Gaza. The departing soldiers left behind scenes of devastation in this northern Gaza town: roads plowed up, cars crushed by tanks and electric poles toppled. Hamas militants declared victory and staged a large celebration in Gaza City. The Gaza fighting has killed some 120 people since last Wednesday. As Israel was withdrawing from Jebaliya, it carried out a series of airstrikes, targeting weapons manufacturing and storage facilities, a Hamas headquarters and police station. Five militants were killed, the group said. Gaza militants continued to fire rockets into southern Israel. Three rockets hit the city of Ashkelon on Monday morning, with one scoring a direct hit on an apartment building. No casualties were reported. (Posted @ 21:00 PST) Tens of thousands of Syrians, Arabs march to protest Israeli attacks on Gaza DAMASCUS, Syria, March 3 (AP) - Tens of thousands of Syrians filled the central square of Damascus Monday to protest ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip that have killed more than 100 Palestinians, while elsewhere in the region thousands others also demonstrated. The Syrians chanted slogans against Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and called on Arab leaders to take a tough stand on U.S. support for Israel. “With soul and blood we sacrifice ourselves for you Palestine,” the crowd shouted in Damascus, waving Syrian and Palestinian flags and carrying pictures of Palestinian children killed by Israeli attacks. In neighboring Lebanon, about 2,000 students demonstrated outside the U.N. building in downtown Beirut Monday to protest the Israeli attacks in Gaza. In Egypt, about 2,000 students demonstrated at al-Azhar University. Another thousand students demonstrated on Cairo University's campus. Elsewhere in Cairo, a group of Egyptian parliamentarians planned a rally in front the presidential palace to present a memo to President Hosni Mubarak, but security forces prevented them from leaving from the People's Assembly, the Brotherhood Web site said. In Jordan, thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Karak, more than 200 kilometers south of the capital Amman, calling on the international community to stop the “Israeli machine of destruction.” (Posted @ 20:58 PST) Security forces vehicle hit by mine blast DERA MURAD JAMALI, Pakistan, Mar 3 (PPI): A security forces vehicle was destroyed by land mine explosion near Dera Bugti Monday, but all the occupants escaped unhurt. According to reports, security forces vehicle was on routine patrol duty when it struck the land mine at Pesh Bogi. Separately, two towers of 220-kv Uch power plant to Shikarpur transmission line were damaged by an explosion at Marri Farm, suspending power supply to Uch Power plant, and parts of Sindh and Balochistan provinces. (Posted @ 20:14 PST) Israel kills five more Palestinians in Gaza raids, naval shelling GAZA CITY, March 3 (Agencies): Israeli aircraft and navy killed five more Palestinians early Monday in raids and shelling of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security officials said. Three Palestinians died in a raid carried out by Israeli warplanes on Gaza city’s eastern sector. A Hamas member was killed in Shatti refugee camp during a naval bombardment. A member of Hamas's maritime police was killed in an air raid on Nusseirat camp in the centre of Gaza Strip, the movement said. Israeli warplanes carried out five other raids throughout Gaza Strip, after two earlier raids late Sunday. Yet another Israeli air raid destroyed the Palestinian parliament headquarters in Khan Yunis, officials said. Israel defiant: Israel vowed Monday to press its campaign against Palestinians despite an international outcry over its deadly onslaught. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed Sunday to continue the ground and air operation that has killed more than 85 Palestinians since Saturday following the death of one Israeli civilian last week and earned the Jewish state international condemnation for disproportionate use of force. Even Israel's closest ally, the United States, called for a halt to the violence. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) UN helicopter crash kills 10 in Nepal KATHMANDU, March 3 (AFP) A United Nations helicopter crashed in Nepal Monday, killing at least 10 people, officials said. “We lost radio contact with a UN helicopter Monday while it was returning from Ramechhap in east Nepal,” Mohan Prasad Adhikari, a senior official from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport, told AFP. Police from Ramechhap district, located 85 kilometres east of Kathmandu, said 10 people were killed when the chopper caught fire and crashed in heavy rain and wind. “We have recovered the bodies of 10 people, and we found no survivors,” Khinu Prasad Acharya, a senior local police officer told AFP. (First Posted @ 17:25 PST Updated @ 18:44 PST) 
Suicide bomber attacks US base in Afghanistan, three soldiers wounded KABUL, Afghanistan, March 3 (AP) A suicide car bomber attacked a U.S. base in eastern Afghanistan Monday, collapsing a guard post with American soldiers inside, an Afghan official said. Three NATO soldiers were wounded in the attack, a military official said. The attacker in the eastern Khost province rammed the explosives-laden car into the gates of the U.S. military base in Yaqoubi district, said Lutfullah Babakarheil, a district chief. Two Afghan policemen were wounded in the attack, Babakarheil said. (Posted @ 18:26 PST) Saudi arrests 28 suspects for links with Zawahiri RIYADH, March 3 (AFP) Saudi Arabia said Monday it had rounded up 28 more Al-Qaeda suspects after arresting a similar number in December following an alleged plot to carry out attacks during Hajj. This brings to 56 the total number of people arrested who are linked to the Al-Qaeda leadership abroad and were in contact with Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri, the interior ministry said in a statement carried by the SPA news agency. The group had been instructed by the Al-Qaeda leadership to launch a “terrorist campaign” inside the kingdom, it said. (Posted @ 18:12 PST) Seven alleged killers escape from Pakistani jail MULTAN, Pakistan, March 3 (PPI): Seven accused in a political murder case of Khizar Hayat Toor, a close associate of former speaker of National Assembly Syed Fakhar Imam, escaped from District Jail Multan in the small hours of Monday. However, police arrested two of them while another five were still absconding. Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Farooq Nazir told that the seven broke the wall of latrine of Barrack No.7 in District Jail. One of them also injured warder Asghar Ali. SSP (Operation) Muhammad Nawaz Waraich said::” we have sent a police team to arrest them and ordered an inquiry into the jail-break. Their case is under trial in the sessions court. (Posted @ 17:48 PST) More than 20 Taliban killed or wounded in Afghan clashes; Canadian soldier killed in blast KABUL, March 3 (AP): Clashes and raids in southern Afghanistan killed or wounded more than 20 Taliban fighters, while a Canadian soldier died in a roadside blast, military officials said. In Helmand province, U.S.-led coalition troops targeted a Taliban commander in Garmser district on Sunday. ''Several insurgents were killed when they fired on coalition forces.” Also Sunday, Afghan and foreign troops clashed with militants in Helmand's Sangin district, resulting in 20 casualties. Separately, a Canadian soldier was killed by a roadside bomb west of Kandahar city on Sunday, said Brig. Gen. Guy Laroche, the commander of Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. (First Posted @ 09:20 PST, Updated @ 17:05 PST)
Kadhafi orders ministers' powers handed over to people SIRTE, Libya, March 3 (AFP): Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi has ordered a raft of government ministries abolished and their powers handed over to the people. “For years, Libyans have been unhappy with the workings of their country's ministries which have been transformed into a labyrinthine bureaucracy in which corruption and maladministration reign,” Kadhafi told the session of the General People's Congress (parliament) in the coastal city of Sirte late Sunday. “Apart from the main departments of defence, internal security and foreign affairs and those responsible for strategic projects like the Great Man-Made River and airport and road construction,” state ministries will be “abolished,” the Libyan leader said. The 37-billion-dollar a year budget allocated to the errant ministries should instead “be shared among the people so that they can manage their affairs themselves,” Kadhafi said. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Field Hockey: Britain and India stay the course in Chile SANTIAGO, March 3 (AFP) - In the Olympic Games qualifier here Sunday Britain registered a 8-0 victory over Russia, following up an 11-0 rout of Mexico on the opening day. India also registered a 7-3 triumph over Austria to go with their 8-0 demolition of Russia on Saturday. In the day's other match, hosts Chile bounced back from their shock 4-3 loss to Austria on Saturday to beat Mexico 4-0. (Posted @ 16:30 PST) Iran signs seven pacts with Iraq: Ahmadinejad BAGHDAD, March 3 (AFP): Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday said Tehran and Baghdad have signed seven pacts in areas such as industry, trade and transportation. Ahmadinejad said he discussed with top Iraqi officials issues in about 20 different areas, including education and culture. (Posted @ 16:20 PST) Kenyan police say 15 killed in Rift Valley attack NAIROBI, March 3 (AFP): At least 15 people were killed and several wounded when raiders attacked overnight a village in Kenya's western Rift Valley region, police said Monday. “A total of 15 people died: six burnt in their houses, six hacked with machetes and three shot dead,” a police commander said of the attack that occurred in the Rift Valley's Trans Nzoia area. (Posted @ 16:10 PST) 23 killed in Iraq bloodshed BAGHDAD, March 3 (AFP): At least 23 people were killed in bomb attacks and shootings around Iraq Monday as US troops announced the discovery of a mass grave with the bodies of 14 men bound and shot in the head. In Baghdad at least 19 people were killed in two car bombings, while an Iraqi police chief was killed in an ambush in the southern port city of Basra. At least 15 people were killed and 45 wounded when a car bomb exploded near a labour ministry building in a commercial area of Baghdad's Bab al-Muazam neighbourhood Monday, a security official said. The attack came just hours after a car bomb hit an Iraqi army checkpoint at Maisaloon Square in eastern Baghdad, killing four people, security and medical officials said. At least 12 people were injured. In Basra, gunmen ambushed a top Iraqi provincial police chief's convoy and shot him and his three bodyguards dead, police said. Colonel Qassim Obeid, the inspector general of Dhi Qar provincial police, was ambushed in central Basra's Al-Aswad street by gunmen who riddled his convoy with bullets, Basra police spokesman Colonel Karim al-Zaidi told AFP. Separately, the US military announced that soldiers had found the bodies of 14 men in a mass grave in Samarra. The statement said the grave was uncovered Sunday. (First Posted @ 10:45 PST, Updated @ 15:25 PST) Western media ignored Pakistan poll 'rigging': Fatima Bhutto HONG KONG, March 3 (AFP): Benazir Bhutto's niece Fatima Bhutto Monday accused western media of irresponsibility in their reporting of Pakistan, saying they disregarded heavy rigging in last month's polls. Fatima said she witnessed widespread rigging when she visited polling stations in Sindh province during the elections. “We turned on CNN and we turned on the BBC and we were told, Musharraf has lost, it's a sign for democracy....you've had elections, good job, you've done wonderfully, because the president hasn't won.” “But in Pakistan, the situation looked quite different,” said Fatima in a speech at the Foreign Correspondents' Club here. “To say there was rigging in the February 18 elections is an understatement.... It wasn't just rigging, it was quite open, unapologetic rigging.” Fatima said the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) had engaged in “unapologetic” rigging to win its landslide election victory. She also said her family connections would deter her from entering politics. “Dynasty has been incredibly bad for Pakistan... You have a country of 165 million people that has three choices, the Bhuttos, the Sharifs or the Musharrafs,” she said. “To enter (politics) now would be to perpetuate that system.” (Posted @ 14:15 PST) Missiles hit Somali border town, wounding eight MOGADISHU, March 3 (AP): Planes fired three missiles at Somalia’s Dobley town, some four miles from the Kenyan border, early Monday, destroying a home and seriously injuring eight people, including four children, residents and police said. The missiles were from military aircraft, but it was not clear from which country they originated, witnesses said. (First Posted @ 11:35 PST, Updated @ 13:55 PST) Artillery duels kill 27 in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, March 3 (AFP): Artillery exchanges between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels across the north left at least 25 rebels and two soldiers dead, the defence ministry said Monday. Heavy fighting in Vavuniya and Weli Oya left 21 rebels dead on Sunday, it said, putting government casualties at two dead and 10 injured. In Mannar district, troops smashed rebel bunkers on Sunday killing four guerrillas, the ministry said, adding that one soldier was injured in the clashes. There was no comment from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). (Posted @ 11:45 PST) Pakistan suicide bombing toll rises to 43: official PESHAWAR, March 3 (AFP): The death toll from a suicide attack at a gathering of tribal elders in Darra Adamkhel has risen to 43, officials said Monday. “According to information we have gathered from the bereaved families, the number of dead is 43,” local administration official Saleem Gandapur told AFP. “There is a possibility that the final death toll may be higher as we are still compiling data from affected families.” Hospital and security officials earlier had put the toll at 35 dead and dozens wounded. (Posted @ 11:10 PST) South Africa beat Bangladesh by an innings and 205 runs CHITTAGONG, March 3 (AFP/Reuters): South Africa thrashed Bangladesh by an innings and 205 runs on the fourth day of the second Test here on Monday. The win helped South Africa wrap up the two-Test series 2-0 after having won the opener in Dhaka by five wickets. Scores: South Africa 583-7 declared (G.Smith 232, N.McKenzie 226). Bangladesh 259 (S.Nafees 69) and 119 (Robin Peterson 5-33) (Posted @ 10:30 PST) Sri Lankan navy rescues 71 migrants adrift COLOMBO, March 3 (AFP): Sri Lanka's navy on Monday rescued 71 Myanmar and Bangladeshi survivors adrift in the Indian Ocean after 20 people died aboard the wooden boat, a navy spokesman said. The craft developed engine trouble and was towed to Sri Lanka's northeastern port of Trincomalee, he said. The navy had gone to search the ship thinking it was smuggling weapons for Tamil Tiger rebelsid. “We rescued 50 Myanmar and 21 Bangladeshi nationals,” he said. The navy said 91 people were aboard when the craft set off in February, but 20 had died over the last two weeks. (Posted @ 10:05 PST) Oil prices hold above $101 ahead of OPEC meeting SINGAPORE, March 3 (AFP): Oil prices stayed above 101 dollars per barrel in Asian trading Monday ahead of an OPEC meeting in which the cartel is expected to maintain current output levels, dealers said. In late morning trading, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for April delivery, held steady at 101.84 dollars, equalling Friday's close in New York. London's Brent North Sea crude for April delivery gained seven cents to 101.17. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
German chopper crashes in Antarctica: two dead, three injured BERLIN, March 3 (AFP): A helicopter crashed Sunday in Antarctica near the German research station Neumayer II killing two passengers and injuring three, it was announced here. Minister of Research Annette Schavan said in Berlin that the injured were out of danger and being looked after in the medical bay of the vessel, Polarstern. (Posted @ 09:15 PST) Six villagers die fighting forest fire in China BEIJING, March 3 (Reuters): Six villagers died in central China's Hunan province as they tried to battle a forest fire in an area ravaged by severe winter storms, state media said on Monday. The fire broke out on Saturday, trapping more than 200 people in Xitai village, Xinhua news agency reported. (Posted @ 09:10 PST) Karachi Stocks down 117.80 points: KARACHI, March 03: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 14816.50 , down 117.80 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:16 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, March 03: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 62.8 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:16 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
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