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| March 04, 2008 | Tuesday | Safar 25 ,1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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 Suicide bombers kill seven, injure 19 at Pakistan navy college LAHORE, Pakistan, March 4 (AFP) - Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the parking lot near the main gate of the prestigious Naval War College in Lahore on Tuesday, killing at least five people (seven according to private TV channels) and injuring 19, officials said. One bomber rammed a motorcycle into the gate of the college just off the city's historic Mall Road, then the second drove another bike into the parking lot where he detonated explosives, they said. Two buses and several cars caught fire afterwards. “Two suicide bombers attacked the naval college,” Lahore police chief Malik Mohammad Iqbal told AFP. “The first drove into the security post and they (security personnel) opened fire. His head was blown over the wall into the naval compound by the force of the blast,” Iqbal added. “He cleared the way for the second bomber to drive into the parking lot where he also exploded himself.” Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema said five people were killed and another 19 were wounded, according to initial reports. Navy spokesman Captain Akbar Naqi confirmed there were two suicide bombers and said that three navy personnel were among those killed. The college trains senior naval officials from Pakistan and from other countries including China, Sri Lanka and at least a dozen Muslim nations. (First Posted @ 13:30 PST Updated @ 18:14 PST)  
US military chief holds talks with Pakistan leaders ISLAMABAD, March 4 (AFP) - The chief of the US military Admiral Mike Mullen held talks with President Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan army top brass Tuesday on his second visit to the crucial “war on terror” ally in a month, officials said. “He is here to continue developing the relationship military-to-military and to discuss a range of bilateral issues of mutual concern, including regional security,” US Embassy spokeswoman Elizabeth Colton told AFP. Mullen held talks with Musharraf and had two meetings with Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, Colton said, without providing further details on their talks. Colton said he was here to follow-up on his last visit to Pakistan in early February. Pakistani state media said Musharraf and Mullen “discussed the regional security situation and the measures being taken to address it” in their meeting at the president's former army office in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. Mullen “also discussed the role the two countries were playing in the global war against terror” and “was appreciative of the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan Army in this regard,” the Associated Press of Pakistan said. Separately, a Pakistani military statement said Mullen “remained with the chief of army staff ( General Kayani) for some time and discussed matters of professional interest with particular reference to security situation in the region.” (First Posted @ 14:45 PST Updated @ 18:30 PST) 
 Pakistan should return to Commonwealth fold: Gordon Brown ISLAMABAD, Mar 4 (APP): British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Tuesday said Pakistan should return to the fold of Commonwealth and resume its role as an important member.Talking to President Pervez Musharraf on telephone, the British PM congratulated him on the successful holding of general election in Pakistan and added that he would be sending his Foreign Minister David Miliband to Pakistan soon to discuss matters of mutual interest and situation in the region. (Posted @ 20:20 PST) SC directs authorities to distribute Rs. 1.75 billion among Margalla Tower affectees ISLAMABAD, Mar 4 (APP): A three-member bench of the Supreme Court Tuesday directed the authorities to distribute Rs. 1.75 billion among the Margalla Tower affectees without delay. According to the SC decision, a three-member committee of the Supreme Court has already finalized all official formalities and decided to distribute a total Rs. 1.75 billion among Margalla Tower's affectees this month. The amount had been deposited with the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in accordance with the decision of the apex court. A three-member committee headed by Deputy Registrar Khalid Nasim was constituted to work out distribution of the amount. The committee will distribute the amount among the affectees as it has already categorized all the 148 collapsed flats of the Tower as per size. (Posted @ 20:30 PST) Three kidnapers killed in Lakki Marwat shootout PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Mar 04 (APP):- Three kidnappers and a villager were killed during a bloody shootout when the former were trying to shift abducted Nazim to unknown location in Lakki Marwat on Tuesday, police said. The shootout started when the kidnappers were shifting Idrees Khan, Nazim UC Najmalzai to the mounds and fields of Bajai village in the vicinity of Tajwar police station in Lakki Marwat. The villagers took up arms and chased the outlaws and overpowered them near the mounds of Bajai village. As result of three hours long encounter, three abductors and a local were killed, police added. (Posted @ 21:04 PST) Indian man freed by Pakistan after 35 years in prison for spying crosses border WAGAH, Pakistan, March 4 (AP): Kashmir Singh, an Indian man, returned home Tuesday after spending 35 years in Pakistani prisons on a spying conviction. Singh was released Monday from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Central Jail after being granted clemency by President Musharraf. Tuesday Singh walked to the border, accompanied by Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Ansar Burney, who had helped secure his release. ''I have no regrets for anything that happened to me ... that life is over,'' Singh said. Burney handed over Singh to Indian police officials who put their palms together in a gesture of thanks to the Pakistanis before leading him away. Burney told reporters earlier that Singh's release was unconditional and a purely humanitarian gesture. ''There was no bargain. This is a bargain of love. In love there are no conditions. We have planted a tree of love,'' Burney said. ''Never have we seen before an Indian prisoner being escorted in a flag car of a minister. This has shown the world that Pakistan is a humane nation.'' ''It doesn't matter what his crime was. He spent 35 years in prison. It was too long,'' said Burney. (Posted @ 13:05 PST) Aitzaz Ahsan visits Garhi Khuda Bux Naudero, Sindh, March 4 (PPI): President, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan visited Garhi Khuda Bux Tuesday and laid floral wreaths on the grave of Pakistan Peoples Party's slain chairperson Benazir Bhutto. (Posted @ 13:20 PST) Ali Ahmed Kurd's house arrest ends ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Mar 4 (APP): Provincial authorities on Tuesday released advocate Ali Ahmed Kurd on completion of his house arrest period in Quetta. A number of people from civil society and lawyers' community gathered outside the house of Ali Ahmed Kurd who vowed to continue his struggle for the cause of independent judiciary. (Posted @ 20:18 PST) 
IAEA board drops Iran sanctions resolution: diplomats VIENNA, March 4 (AFP) - A push by Western nations for a resolution against Iran at a UN atomic watchdog meeting has been dropped amid objections from Russia, China and developing countries, diplomats said Tuesday. Just a day after the UN Security Council slapped a third set of sanctions on Iran, European countries drafted a resolution which they wanted to put to the IAEA's board of governors here. But the text was finally ditched after its opponents -- notably the Russians, the Chinese and the Non-Aligned Movement -- argued it was superfluous following the UN Security Council decision. Furthermore, it could prove counter-productive and lead Iran to reduce cooperation with the IAEA, other diplomats said. (Posted @ 20:40 PST) US soldier, seven others killed in Iraq chopper crash BAGHDAD, March 4 (AFP) - A Russian made helicopter belonging to the Iraqi military has crashed in northern Iraq, killing eight people on board, including a US soldier, a US military official told AFP on Tuesday. “There were eight onboard, including one coalition force member. Recovery operations have been completed and there are no survivors,” said US Lieutenant Michael Street. (Posted @ 20:38 PST) Rice says Mideast peace deal still possible in '08 RAMALLAH, West Bank, March 4 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Tuesday that she believed a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians was still possible this year and urged the two sides to resume suspended talks. “I still believe that that can be done,” Rice said of the chances of reaching a statehood agreement in 2008. With Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at her side in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Rice added: “We look forward to the resumption of those negotiations as soon as possible.” (First Posted @ 09:40 PST Updated @ 19:16 PST)
China's Hu says Taiwan independence moves 'doomed to fail' BEIJING, March 4 (AFP) - Chinese President Hu Jintao said Tuesday Taiwan independence moves were “doomed to fail. “The 'Taiwan independence' activities have run counter to the Chinese nation's strong will to safeguard national unity,” Hu said according to the official Xinhua news agency, speaking to an advisory body in Beijing. “Such activities will get nowhere and are doomed to fail,” Hu said, ahead of the March 22 island referendum on whether Taiwan should apply for UN entry under the name of “Taiwan” rather than the official “Republic of China”. (Posted @ 18:20 PST) Death toll nears 100 in Sri Lankan battles COLOMBO, March 4 (AFP) - Sri Lankan forces pushed deeper into Tamil Tiger territory in three days of fighting that has left at least 90 guerrillas and nine government soldiers dead, the defence ministry said Tuesday. Seven rebels were killed in Tuesday's clashes while 14 more died on Monday. Another 69 separatists were killed on Saturday and Sunday and a further 31 were “either killed or wounded,” the ministry said. Nine soldiers died and 40 were also wounded, it added. Meanwhile, government fighter jets carried out two air raids over a bunker network in rebel-held areas in the north on Tuesday and destroyed the targets, the ministry said. (First Posted @ 10:15 PST Updated @ 18:00 PST) Cricket-India beat Australia by nine runs BRISBANE, March 4 (Reuters) India beat Australia by nine runs in Tuesday's second tri-series final at the Gabba in Brisbane to win their best-of-three final series 2-0. Scores: India 258-9 from 50 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 91); Australia 249 all out from 49.4 overs (James Hopes 63, Matthew Hayden 55). (First Posted @ 12:25 PST, Updated @ 17:00 PST) Afghan politicians protest Dutch, Danish 'insults' KABUL, March 4 (AFP): Afghan legislators demonstrated outside parliament Tuesday, some chanting “Death to the enemies of Islam,” to condemn blasphemous Danish cartoons and a Dutch film. About 300 parliamentarians, accounting for most members of both houses, also demanded President Hamid Karzai summon the ambassadors in Kabul of Denmark and The Netherlands to issue a formal protest. The protesting MPs read out a statement urging the UN and the OIC, the world's largest pan-Islamic group, to prevent acts that could trigger dangerous “confrontation.” “We call on the world community, the United Nations and the OIC to commit themselves to their responsibilities... to not to allow the world community to end up facing a dangerous challenge and confrontation from the acts of spiteful persons,” the statement said. (Posted @ 16:55 PST) Indian court lifts ban on Bollywood royal romance epic NEW DELHI, March 4 (AFP): India's Supreme Court Tuesday lifted state bans on the screening of a blockbuster film about the love between a Muslim emperor and his Hindu wife. Several states last month prohibited cinema's showing “Jodhaa Akbar” after it sparked protests by Hindu Rajputs against a “wrong interpretation” of history. But the court lifted the bans until March 14, when a hearing will receive a petition from the Bollywood film's producers, who say the protests have cost them heavy losses. (Posted @ 16:40 PST) Suicide blast in Khost province kills policemen KHOST, Afghanistan, March 4 (AFP): A suicide car bomb exploded near a government compound in eastern Afghanistan Tuesday, killing a policeman, officials said. The attacker had tried to ram an explosives-filled vehicle into the compound - which houses the local government and security forces - in the Tani district, officials said. “The guards opened fire and an explosion took place, killing the policeman who opened fire at the attacker,” district governor Badai-ul-Zaman Sabarai said. An Afghan soldier was critically wounded and nine civilians were also hurt, he added. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. (Posted @ 15:55 PST) Two killed in Israeli raids on Gaza GAZA CITY, March 4 (AFP): Israeli warplanes early Tuesday carried out two raids on the north of the Gaza Strip, killing two Palestinians and wounding two others, a Palestinian medical source said. A first raid against Gaza City killed one person while the second further north killed one and wounded two. The victims were not immediately identified. (Posted @ 11:20 PST) Bodies of 6 people, including 2 children, found at Memphis home MEMPHIS, Tennessee, March 4, (AP): Police found the bodies of six people, including two children, as well as three critically wounded children in a Memphis home on Monday. The cause of death was still under investigation. Police said the victims had been shot and all the children were under the age of 12. The identities of the victims were not released. (Posted @ 10:10 PST) Karachi Stocks down 76.69 points: KARACHI, March 04: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 14739.74, down 76.69 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, March 04: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 62.9 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST) 
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
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