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| March 23, 2008 | Sunday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 14, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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 We are here to deliver: Gilani ISLAMABAD, March 23 (AFP) - The man set to become Pakistan's new premier -- former parliamentary speaker Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was nominated by the party of slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto -- on Sunday promised to deliver following his party's big election win. “I can only assume that we are here to deliver -- we are not here just to stay for a period,” Gilani told reporters outside parliament, where he filed his nomination papers ahead of Monday's election for the premiership. “Inshallah (God willing) we will deliver and there is a will and there is a hope.” When asked how the new government would handle Musharraf, the 58-year-old Gilani, a low-key but stalwart aide to Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari, replied: “I will follow the constitution.” ”We will struggle for the supremacy of the parliament and make it supreme in all policymaking because it reflects the wishes of the people,” he said, vowing to pursue the mission of Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated on December 27. (Posted @ 17:24 PST)  Musharraf says era of democracy has begun in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, March 23 (AP/Reuters): President Pervez Musharraf has said an “era of democracy” has begun in Pakistan, a day after an alliance of four parties led by Pakistan People’s Party named their candidate to lead a coalition government. Musharraf spoke early Sunday at a military parade celebrating Pakistan's national day. He said he had put the country “on the track of development and progress.” President Pervez Musharraf also assured full support to the incoming government. “Whichever new government is formed, it will enjoy my full support,” Musharraf said in a speech while addressing the military parade at a sports stadium in Islamabad. “I hope that these governments will maintain political peace ... and will continue the struggle against terrorism and extremism with the same force,” he said. (First Posted @ 10:20 PST, Updated @ 11:20 PST) Pervaiz Ilahi promises constructive opposition ISLAMABAD, March 23 (APP): PML-Q candidate for the office of the prime minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ilahi Sunday reaffirmed resolve to play a positive and constructive role in the opposition. “We would bury traditions like desk thumping and criticism for the sake of criticism,” he told newsmen after filing and acceptance of his nomination papers. He said the opposition would support positive and constructive policies of the government but would keep reminding the ruling coalition about their promises to the people. (First Posted @ 12:10 PST Updated @ 19:40 PST) Pakistan Senate Opposition Leader tenders resignation. ISLAMABAD, March 23: The Opposition Leader in Pakistan’s Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has tendered his resignation. A privateTV channel reported that Mian Raza Rabbani who belongs to Pakistan People’s Part had tendered his resignation. (Posted @ 12:10 PST)  Pakistan Press hopes new PM will not be puppet ISLAMABAD, March 23 (AFP) -Pakistan's leading newspapers on Sunday hailed Yousuf Raza Gilani nominated for prime minister by thePPP, with hopes being raised he will not be a puppet. “We hope that the country will have a prime minister empowered to tackle the challenges, rather than a puppet on a string with real authority lying elsewhere in the party hierarchy,” the leading English daily Dawn said in its editorial. Gilani “acquires the rare distinction of becoming the first PPP prime minister who is not a Bhutto,” it added. Another newspaper, The News, also backed the choice of Gilani, saying in its editorial: “The choice of (Gilani) who had been one of the prime targets of General Pervez Musharraf's eight-year rule, reflects political sagacity and maturity and needs to be welcomed. “On Tuesday when he takes oath as a powerful and popularly elected prime minister of Pakistan from his very jailor and captor, it will be a moment of truth and of his vindication.” (Posted @ 17:32 PST) India test fires nuclear-capable missile NEW DELHI, March 23 (AFP): India on Sunday test fired a medium-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile capable of hitting most targets in Pakistan, a defence official said. The Agni-1 missile, which has a range of more than 700 kilometres, was fired at 0445 GMT off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa, the official said. The Agni is a 12-metre medium-range ballistic missile that can be fired from mobile launchers and can carry a one-tonne warhead. In April, India staged a successful test of Agni-III, its longest range ballistic missile capable of transporting a nuclear warhead more than 3,000 kilometres. The Agni series is one of five developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation. The others are the Prithvi, the surface-to-air Trishul, multi-purpose Akash, and the anti-tank Nag. (Posted @ 11:45 PST) China says Dalai Lama targeting Olympics BEIJING, March 23, (AFP) - China on Sunday accused the Dalai Lama of trying to take the Olympic Games “hostage” over Tibet. The Liberation Army Daily, the People's Daily and most other major papers carried a lengthy opinion piece warning that the “Dalai Lama clique” would inevitably fail to achieve its alleged goal of independence for Tibet. (Posted @ 23:16 PST) NA speaker urges country's institutions to work in accordance with constitution ISLAMABAD, Mar 23 (APP): Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza Sunday urged country's institutions to ensure working within the limits as defined in the Constitution. In an interview with a private TV channel she praised the maturity being exhibited by various political parties and said that this spirit should continue for full tenure of the parliament. (Posted @ 22:24 PST) More than 40 insurgents, 2 US coalition soldiers killed in Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan, March 23 (AP) - Afghan and NATO forces killed more than 40 insurgents in a joint air and ground battle in southern Afghanistan, a security official said Sunday. Separately, two soldiers from the U.S.-led coalition died after hitting a roadside bomb in Kandahar province. Troops seized dozens of weapons _ including rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns _ after Saturday's battle in Dihrawud, a district in Uruzgan province, the Afghan Defence Ministry said in a statement. It said many militants were killed, including a commander, but provided no figures. Meanwhile, in the northern province of Jawzjan, five Afghans working on a de-mining team were killed and eight wounded when their truck was attacked by militants, said Kefayat Ullah Ablagh, head of the U.N.-funded Afghan Technical Consultants. (First Posted @ 10:40 PST Updated @ 20:14 PST) 
CM-House will be converted into IT University: Shahbaz Sharif LAHORE, March 23 (APP): PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif Sunday said that his party would convert Punjab Chief Minister's House into Information Technology University. Presiding over a function to mark Pakistan day he also announced that “children from poor families will get free education in professional institutions, and quality education and proper health facilities will be made available in the rural areas”. (Posted @ 19:32 PST) Dutch anti-Islamic film's Internet site suspended THE HAGUE, March 23 (AFP) - An American network provider Sunday said it had suspended a website that Dutch MP Geert Wilders had reserved to post his anti-Islamic film, which has sparked wide condemnation and fears of a backlash. “Network Solutions has received a number of complaints regarding this site that are under investigation,” the provider said a message posted on the Internet. (Posted @ 19:12 PST) Palestinian factions agree to open dialogue SANAA, March 23 (AFP) - Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah reached a Yemeni-brokered deal on Sunday to open their first direct talks since the Islamists seized control of the Gaza Strip nine months ago. Fatah parliamentary leader Azzam al-Ahmed and Hamas number two Mussa Abu Marzuk signed the Sanaa Declaration in the presence of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The plan, which calls for a return to the status quo that existed before Hamas's seizure of the impoverished territory -- denounced as a coup by Abbas -- had looked doomed just days ago. “The two movements Hamas and Fatah have agreed to accept the Yemeni initiative as a framework for dialogue between the two movements and a return of the Palestinian situation to what it was before the events in Gaza,” the declaration said. The text, read out to journalists by Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Kurbi, said the dialogue also aimed to “reconfirm the unity of the Palestinian homeland in terms of its land, people and the Palestinian Authority.” The Yemeni initiative also provides for early elections. (Posted @ 18:54 PST) 
Cheney warns Palestinians over attacks on Israel RAMALLAH, West Bank, March 23 (AFP) - US Vice President Dick Cheney warned the Palestinians on Sunday that strikes on Israel, including rocket attacks, “kill the legitimate hopes and aspirations” for a Palestinian state. “A difficult but immutable truth must continue to be told: Terror and rockets do not merely kill innocent civilians, they also kill the legitimate hopes and aspirations of the Palestinian people,” Cheney said during a joint public appearance with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. (Posted @ 18:54 PST) 51 killed, dozens injured in Iraq bloodshed BAGHDAD, March 23 (AFP) - A wave of attacks across Iraq on Sunday killed 51 people, while insurgents fired a barrage of mortars at Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, sending US embassy staff scurrying into bunkers. The deadliest attack was in Mosul where a suicide bomber crashed an explosives-laden truck into an Iraqi army base, triggering a blast that killed 12 soldiers and wounded 30 other people, mostly soldiers, Major Mohammed Ahmed told AFP. In Baghdad, armed men travelling in three cars opened fire on crowds in a local market in the mixed Zafaraniyah neighbourhood, killing seven people and wounding 16, security and medical officials said. In another attack in the Iraqi capital, a Katyusha rocket struck a residential building in largely Shiite eastern Al-Kamaliyah neighbourhood, killing at least five people and wounding eight, security officials said. A car bomb near a bus stop in Baghdad's Shiite Al-Shuala neighbourhood killed five people and wounded eight others. Further north, a roadside bomb near the town of Al-Tuz, 75 kilometres south of Kirkuk, killed four Iraqi army personnel. The US military, meanwhile, said its troops raided a “suicide bombing network” in Diyala province northeast of the capital, killing 12 men, six of whom who had shaved their bodies in ritual preparation for becoming human bombs. Elsewhere in Iraq, four people, including a police officer, were killed in shootings, police said. The violence on Sunday began with a barrage of mortar fire against Baghdad's Green Zone, the seat of the Iraqi government and the US embassy. Two waves of mortar rounds struck the area between 6:30 am and 10:30 am. They caused no casualties but sent panicked US embassy staff scurrying into bunkers, officials and witnesses said. (First Posted @ 13:10 PST Updated @ 21:48 PST) Christians celebrate Easter PARIS, March 23 (AFP) - Christians around the world celebrated Easter Sunday, hearing messages of renewal, peace and hope. At the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI called for “solutions that will safeguard peace and the common good” during his traditional Easter message. (Posted @ 18:04 PST)
President confers civil, military awards on 157 outstanding individuals ISLAMABAD, March 23 (APP): President Pervez Musharraf conferred civil and military awards on outstanding individuals at an investiture ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on the occasion of Pakistan Day celebrations on Sunday. The awards were announced for 157 persons including 24 women and 14 foreigners on August 14 last year. (Posted @ 18:00 PST) Sheikh Hamdan awarded Hilal-i-Pakistan ISLAMABAD, March 23 (APP): President Pervez Musharraf on Sunday conferred Hilal-i-Pakistan on Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates for his exemplary services for the victims of October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan and for strengthening Pak-UAE relations. The award was announced at an investiture ceremony in connection with Pakistan Day. (Posted @ 17:52 PST) Cricket-Sri Lanka 269-4 v West Indies MIAMI, March 22 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka were 269 for four against West Indies at the close on the opening day of the first test in Georgetown, Guyana on Saturday. Brief scores: Sri Lanka 269-4 from 90 overs (M. Warnapura 120, M. Vandort 52, K. Sangakkara 50, J. Taylor 3-59). (Posted @ 17:48 PST) Cricket-England 91-2 (& 253) v New Zealand (168) NAPIER, New Zealand, March 23 (Reutrsw) - England were 91 for two, an overall lead of 176, at the close of play on the second day of the third test against New Zealand on Sunday. Scores: England 253 (Pietersen 129, Broad 42; Southee 5-55) & 91-2 (Strauss 42 not out, Cook 37) v New Zealand 168 (Fleming 59; Sidebottom 7-47). (Posted @ 17:40 PST) Four policemen, rebel killed in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, March 23 (Reuters) - Four policemen and a militant were killed on Sunday in a gun battle in Srinagar, after police raided a militant hideout. “Militants hiding in a house fired indiscriminately. We have lost four policemen,” city police chief said. (Posted @ 17:36 PST) Sri Lanka claims 80 rebels killed in fresh fighting COLOMBO, March 23 (AFP) - At least 80 Tamil rebels and five government soldiers were killed in fresh fighting as Sri Lankan security forces tried to break into rebel-held territory, the defence ministry said Sunday. Fierce battles raged in the north of the island as the military smashed through a bunker line of the LTTE inflicting heavy casualties on the rebels, the ministry said. The pro-rebel website said the Tigers had killed 55 troops and wounded another 120 in Saturday's fighting. The website did not give rebel casualties. (First Posted @ 12:10 PST Updated @ 17:28 PST) Tropical storm kills 12 in Bangladesh DHAKA, March 23 (Reuters): A tropical storm swept parts of Bangladesh, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 200, media reports said on Sunday. The storm, packing winds of up to 100 kph, hit nine districts in north and northeastern Bangladesh, the reports said. Heavy rain and hail damaged rice and other crops across thousands of acres (hectares), agriculture officials told reporters. It flattened thousands of huts and several schools. (Posted @ 11:55 PST) Bomb kills 3 US soldiers in Iraq BAGHDAD, March 23 (AP): A roadside bomb killed three American soldiers Saturday north of Baghdad, pushing the U.S. death toll in the five-year conflict to nearly 4,000. Two Iraqi civilians also died in the bombing, which occurred as the Americans were patrolling an area northwest of the capital, the U.S. military said in a statement. The latest deaths brought to 3,996 the number of U.S. service members and Pentagon civilians who have died since the war began on March 20, 2003, according to an Associated Press count. (Posted @ 09:50 PST) Venezuela prison riot kills 9 inmates, injures 20 CARACAS, March 23 (AP): A prison riot between rival gangs left nine inmates dead and 20 wounded, Venezuelan media said Saturday. The fighting began Friday morning when gunfire erupted in the San Fernando de Apure lockup in central Venezuela, according to the Caracas-based El Nacional newspaper. The uprising was controlled with the help of more than 100 national guard and police agents, it said. (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
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