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| March 25, 2008 | Tuesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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 New Pakistan PM sworn in ISLAMABAD, March 25 (AFP): Yusuf Raza Gilani was sworn in as Pakistan’s new prime minister by President Musharraf Tuesday. Supporters chanted “Long Live Bhutto” after Gilani finished repeating the oath read out by Musharraf in a ceremony at the presidential palace. Key coalition leaders including Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former premier Nawaz Sharif, stayed away from the swearing-in. Musharraf told Pakistan Television after the ceremony that he would “always extend my fullest cooperation” to Gilani, saying the country faced a “difficult period” from militancy. Standing beside him, Gilani said February's elections showed that people wanted change. After the ceremony US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher met Musharraf for 90 minutes, officials said. (First Posted @ 09:55 PST, Updated @ 17:30 PST)  Bush calls new Pakistan PM: White House WASHINGTON, March 25 (AFP): US President George W. Bush spoke on Tuesday by telephone with Pakistan's new Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on the importance of the fight against terrorism and expressed his readiness to work with the new leader, the White House said. Spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters, “he reiterated that Pakistan is an important ally and country, and the two leaders agreed that fighting extremists is in everyone's interest.” (First Posted @ 19:24 PST Updated @ 19:32 PST) Two US envoys in Pakistan for talks ISLAMABAD, March 25 (AFP) - Two top US diplomats flew into Pakistan Tuesday for talks with senior officials and politicians, officials said. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher arrived in the early hours on the latest in a series of trips to the frontline state in the “war on terror”. “They arrived this morning. This is part of an ongoing series of visits to Pakistan -- they will meet with a wide variety of people,” US embassy spokesman Kay Mayfield told AFP. The spokeswoman would not confirm whether Negroponte and Boucher would meet President Pervez Musharraf or other senior officials, although they have done so on several visits in the past. But Pakistani officials said the US diplomats would meet former premier Nawaz Sharif and officials from the Pakistan People's Party of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, as well as government figures. “The two US officials are due to meet Nawaz Sharif for talks in Islamabad,” PML-N spokesman Siddique-ul Farooq told AFP. It was not clear if the US diplomats would meet President Musharraf or prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who was administered oath of office by Musharraf in a ceremony at the presidential palace Tuesday morning. (First Posted @ 11:15 PST, Updated @ 12:15 PST)  Nawaz Sharif says government will review terror policy ISLAMABAD, March 25 (AFP): Pakistan's new government will review the country's role in the US-led “war on terror,” former premier Nawaz Sharif said Tuesday after holding talks visiting US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte. Sharif said he wanted peace around the world but did not want Pakistan turned into a “murder-house” to achieve that aim. “We discussed terrorism, we informed them our point of view is that since 9/11 all decisions were made by one man,” Sharif told reporters. “Now the situation has changed, a truly representative parliament has come into being.... every decision will be presented before the parliament, they will review Musharraf's policy in the last six years,” he said. Sharif said that a parliamentary committee would be set up “which will examine this and international concern and then keeping in view national aspirations will give recommendations.” Negroponte and US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher also held talks with Musharraf, although details were not immediately available. They were also set to meet prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. “Pervez Musharraf used the “war on terrorism” to perpetuate his rule. No cabinet and no parliament was taken into confidence in any of his decisions. That is why it did not have popular support,” Sharif said. He said both the US and Pakistan want to see the world “free of terrorism” and for innocent people not to suffer. “We want to see peace in every corner of the world and we want to see peace in Pakistan also. We do not want that in order to give peace to others we turn our own country into a murder house,” he said. (First Posted @ 16:00 PST, Updated @ 16:20 PST) Musharraf vows 'fullest cooperation' with Pakistan PM ISLAMABAD, March 25 (AFP): President Musharraf pledged his “fullest cooperation” with the country's new prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani after swearing him in Tuesday, saying unity was necessary to fight terrorism. Musharraf spoke after administering the oath to Gilani, who was elected as premier Monday by the parliament. “I will always extend my fullest cooperation to him. I congratulate him,” Musharraf said in an interview with Pakistan Television, standing with Gilani at his side. “I believe all forces should be united... because the period which is coming is a difficult period in the context of terrorism, of militancy, of the economy,” Musharraf said. “All sides should work together in a balanced way.” After his swearing in, Gilani said Pakistan's 160 million people had voted for change in last month's elections. “It's a reflection, the way people voted, of what kind of manifesto and government they wanted to bring to power,” Gilani said. But he added that he would “like to strengthen parliament and the presidency is part of it.” (Posted @ 14:50 PST) Britain's Brown pledges 'full support' for new Pakistani PM LONDON, March 25 (AFP): British Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered Pakistan's new premier Yusuf Raza Gilani his “full support” Tuesday after he was sworn in by President Musharraf. “I congratulate him and look forward to working closely with him on our shared agenda,” Brown said in a statement released by his Downing Street office. “The new government will face many challenges and the UK stands ready to assist Mr Gilani and his government in meeting them. (Posted @ 14:00 PST) Pakistan on British human rights watch list for first time LONDON, March 25 (AFP): Britain for the first time included Pakistan on a list of countries of concern over human rights Tuesday, saying there had been “very little progress” towards pledged improvements. Pakistan featured on a list of 21 “major countries of concern” like China, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe in the Foreign Office's Human Rights Annual Report 2007. The report says the list “is not a league table of countries we consider the worst offenders” but adds it “focuses on countries where human rights issues cause us the greatest concern, or where we devote a great deal of attention”. The move to include Pakistan came after a recommendation from the House of Commons' Foreign Affairs Committee. (Posted @ 21:50 PST) Caretaker PM, advisers, ministers cease to hold office Islamabad, March 25 (PPI): The government Tuesday issued a notification, terminating the tenure of ministers, advisers and special assistants of the outgoing caretaker cabinet of Mohammadmian Soomro, with immediate effect. The notification was issued following oath taking of Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani earlier in the day. (Posted @ 23:04 PST) BP recalls 148 employees from Russia for alleged visa problems MOSCOW, March 25 (AP): British energy giant BP PLC is recalling 148 employees from Russia due to alleged visa problems, an official with BP's Russian joint venture said Tuesday. The move follows a raid last week on the joint venture, TNK-BP, and the announcement that a low-level employee had been charged with industrial espionage. TNK-BP spokeswoman Marina Dracheva told Associated Press the employees are being recalled temporarily due to “a lack of clarity over their current visa status.” (Posted @ 22:18 PST) Saudi King calls for dialogue betweem Muslims, Christians, Jews RIYADH, March 25 (AP): King Abdullah has called for a dialogue among Muslims, Christians and Jews, the first such proposal from Saudi Arabia at a time of mounting tensions between Islam and the two religions. In a speech late Monday, Abdullah said Saudi Arabia's top clerics have given him the green light to pursue his idea. Their backing is crucial in a society which expects decisions taken by its rulers to adhere to Islam's tenets. The monarch also said he discussed the idea with Pope Benedict XVI when they met at the Vatican last year. (Posted @ 20:28 PST) 
India's Supreme Court orders fresh riots probe NEW DELHI, March 25 (AFP): India's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a special team to start fresh investigations into some of the worst incidents during sectarian rioting in the western state of Gujarat in 2002, a report said. The court asked a five-member team, which will include senior police officials from Gujarat and a former head of India's federal Central Bureau of Investigation, to report back in three months, the Press Trust of India agency said. Indian media described the move as a “setback” for the state government and its recently re-elected leader, hawkish Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi, who was chief minister when the riots broke out. (Posted @ 20:22 PST) 60 cars involved in Austria autobahn pileup: at least 1 dead VIENNA, March 25 (AP): About 60 vehicles slammed into each other Tuesday in heavy snowfall on an autobahn in northwestern Austria, killing one person and injuring at least 30 others, police said. Police in the province of Upper Austria said five of the injured people were seriously hurt. Some victims were believed to be trapped in their vehicles and rescue efforts were hampered by the snow, police said. (Posted @ 19:16 PST) Russia, Egypt seal nuclear power deal in Mubarak visit NOVO-OGARYOVO, Russia, March 25 (AFP): Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Russia's President Vladimir Putin oversaw the signing Tuesday of a deal that will enable Moscow to bid for the construction of Egypt's first atomic power station. The head of Russia's Rosatom nuclear energy agency, Sergei Kiriyenko, and Egyptian Energy Minister Hassan Younis signed the civilian nuclear cooperation accord at Putin's residence just outside Moscow. The agreement will allow Russia to bid in an international tender for a $1.5-1.8 billion reactor project on Egypt's Mediterranean coast. (Posted @ 18:36 PST) Six killed, 22 injured in Pakistan road accident MULTAN, Pakistan, March 25 (APP) Six people, including three women and two children, were killed, while 22 passengers of a pick-up sustained injuries when the vehicle going towards Chowk Naag Shah crashed into a tree on the old Shujabad Road here Tuesday. The pick-up ran out of control due to overspeeding and banged into a tree near the Agriculture Research Centre. (Posted @ 17:56 PST) 
Russia, Egypt sign nuclear power deal NOVO-OGARYOVO, Russia, March 25 (AFP): Russia and Egypt signed a deal Tuesday that will allow Moscow to compete in a tender for Egypt's first civilian nuclear power station. Russia's Rosatom nuclear energy agency chief Sergei Kiriyenko and Egypt's Energy Minister Hassan Younis signed the civilian nuclear cooperation accord at Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence just outside Moscow. The agreement opens the way for Russia to bid in an international tender for a 1.5-1.8 billion dollars reactor project on Egypt's Mediterranean coast. (Posted @ 17:40 PST) At least 12 die in clashes in Iraq's Basra BAGHDAD, March 25 (Reuters): At least 12 people were killed in clashes between gunmen and Iraqi security forces in the southern oil city of Basra Tuesday, police and health workers said. (First Posted @ 10:50 PST, Updated @ 17:40 PST) Road accident kills 27 people in Iran TEHRAN, March 25 (AP): At least 27 people were killed and 14 others injured when their tour bus crashed in southwestern Iran Monday evening, state television said. The crash occurred on the road linking Dehdez to Izeh, some 450 kilometres southwest of Tehran. (Posted @ 17:35 PST) Sri Lanka says 13 rebels dead, arms dump hit COLOMBO, March 25 (AFP): At least 13 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in fresh fighting in northern Sri Lanka as government warplanes bombed a suspected rebel arms dump, the defence ministry said Tuesday. The ministry said the warplanes struck targets near the town of Mullaittivu in the rebels' northern stronghold Tuesday. A rebel boat was also badly damaged Tuesday when a Sri Lanka naval patrol fired at a cluster of guerrilla boats near Pulmoddai in the northeast. Fighting across the northern frontlines Monday left at least 13 rebels dead, the military said, adding that seven soldiers had been injured. (First Posted @ 15:10 PST, Updated @ 16:55 PST)
Iraq's Sadr threatens “civil revolt” NAJAF, Iraq, March 25 (Reuters): Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called on Iraqis to stage sit-ins and threatened a countrywide “civil revolt” if attacks by U.S. and Iraqi security forces continue against his followers. “We call upon all Iraqis to stage sit-ins all over Iraq as a first step. And if the people's demands are not respected by the Iraqi government, the second step will be to declare civil revolt in Baghdad and all other provinces,” Sadr said in a statement read out by senior aide Hazim al-Araji. (Posted @ 16:25 PST) Curfew in three Iraqi cities BAGHDAD, March 25 (AFP): Police imposed curfews in three Iraqi Shiite cities of Kut, Nasiriyah and Samawa Tuesday after clashes between militiamen and security forces in the southern city of Basra, security officials told AFP. (Posted @ 16:20 PST) Saudi plane catches fire in Bangladesh DHAKA, March 25 (AFP): More than 300 passengers aboard a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight escaped unhurt Tuesday after their Boeing 747 jet caught fire as it landed in Bangladesh, an official said. The 326 passengers were evacuated after airport officials spotted flames coming from the right wing of the aircraft as it touched down at Dhaka's Zia International airport, aviation chief Shakeb Iqbal Khan Majlish said. (Posted @ 16:10 PST) Three rebels, one soldier killed in fighting in northern Sri Lanka COLOMBO, March 25 (AP): Scattered battles in northern Sri Lanka killed three Tamil rebels and one government soldier, the military said Tuesday. Battles in the Mannar district on the border of the Tamil Tigers' de facto state killed two rebels and one soldier Monday, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said. Fighting in the Jaffna peninsula killed one rebel, he said. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be reached for comment. (Posted @ 15:10 PST) Comoros army says controls rebel island Anjouan FOMBONI, Comoros, March 25 (Reuters): The Comoros army took total control of the rebel island of Anjouan Tuesday after a morning assault backed by the African Union, a senior officer said. “Anjouan island is under total control of the army,” Major Ahmed Sidi told reporters on the neighbouring island of Moheli. “So far we have no dead or wounded to lament. The rebel chiefs have all run away, and none has yet been found.” (First Posted @ 10:10 PST, Updated @ 14:40 PST) Taliban ambush kills four Afghan police, two civilians HERAT, Afghanistan, March 25 (AFP): Taliban insurgents ambushed a police patrol in western Afghanistan’s Heart province late Monday, killing four policemen and two men working on a farm nearby, the police commander for western Afghanistan, Rahmatullah Safi, told AFP Tuesday. Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi confirmed his group was responsible for the ambush and said six policemen were killed. Separately, Afghan soldiers killed five Taliban militants in Zabul province Monday and arrested another two, a defence ministry statement said. (Posted @ 13:45 PST ) Cricket- Bangladesh name ODI squad for Pakistan series DHAKA, March 25 (Reuters): Bangladesh announced a 15-man squad Tuesday for next month's one-day international series in Pakistan. Squad: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddique, Aftab Ahmed, Nazim Uddin, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Dhiman Ghosh, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Mahmud Ullah, Farhad Reza, Roqibul Hassan, Syed Rasel. (Posted @ 13:20 PST) Three police officers killed, one wounded in separate attacks in Russia's Caucasus ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia, March 25 (AP): Insurgent attacks in Russia's North Caucasus region killed three police officers and wounded one, officials said Tuesday. Two local police officers died late Monday when a homemade bomb went off near the village of Alleroi in Chechnya's southern mountains, according to the Chechen branch of the Interior Ministry. In Dagestan province, unidentified gunmen fired at a police patrol in the town of Khasavyurt, killing one officer and seriously wounding another one, authorities said. (Posted @ 13:15 PST) Taliban militants kill Afghan 'US spy' in Pakistan MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, March 25 (AFP) - Taliban militants shot dead an Afghan refugee in a Pakistani tribal area, accusing him of spying for US forces operating in neighbouring Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday. A note left on the body of 40-year-old Abdullah Jan said he “met his fate because he was spying for the Americans,” said an official in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district. “The man was shot from close range and his body was found near a paramilitary camp five kilometres west of Miranshah,” the official said. Residents said Taliban militants had kidnapped the man last week from Miranshah bazaar. (Posted @ 11:20 PST) Cricket- West Indies 269-9 vs S. Lanka 476-8 dec Georgetown, March 25 (Reuters) - West Indies reached 269 for nine at the close in reply to Sri Lanka's 476 for eight declared on the third day of the first test in Georgetown, Guyana on Monday.,Scores: West Indies 269-9 from 106 overs (R. Sarwan 80) v Sri Lanka 476-8 dec (Warnapura 120, Jayawardene 136, Taylor 4-110) (Posted @ 10:30 PST) U.S. warship fires on Egyptian craft, killing one ISMAILIA, Egypt, March 25 (Reuters): A U.S. warship fired on an Egyptian motor boat in the Gulf of Suez on Monday, killing one Egyptian and wounding two others, The U.S. ship fired on the motor boat after it ignored calls to stay away, sources said adding that the vessel was carrying goods to sell to ships passing through the Suez Canal. (Posted @ 10:25 PST) Shuttle heads for home after leaving station HOUSTON, March 25 (Reuters) - Space shuttle Endeavour undocked from the International Space Station on Monday and headed home after delivering part of Japan's ambitious space laboratory. The shuttle blasted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 11 and was scheduled to land there at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT) on Wednesday. (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Cricket-New Zealand 222-5 (&168) v England (467-7d &253) NAPIER, New Zealand, March 25 (Reuters) - New Zealand were 222 for five, chasing 553 for victory, at the close of play on the fourth day of the third test against England on Tuesday. Scores: England 253 (Pietersen 129, Broad 42; Southee 5-55) & 467-7 dec (A.Strauss 177, Bell 110; Vettori 4-158) v New Zealand 168 (Fleming 59; Sidebottom 7-47) & 222-5 (M.Bell 69, Fleming 66; Panesar 3-49) (Posted @ 10:10 PST) Strong earthquake strikes northern Chile SANTIAGO, March 25 (AFP) - A strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook sparsely populated northern Chile on Monday, causing no injuries or major damage but some power outages in the region, the University of Chile's Seismological Service reported. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) US, Bahrain sign deal on nuclear energy cooperation WASHINGTON, March 25 (AFP) - The United States and Bahrain signed a deal Monday on peaceful nuclear energy cooperation, holding it up as a model for the Middle East that contrasts with Iran's disputed atomic program. The State Department said the MOU is a “tangible expression of the United States' desire to cooperate with states in the Middle East, and elsewhere, that want to develop peaceful nuclear power in a manner consistent with the highest standards of safety, security and nonproliferation.” In so doing, they will “serve as models for the responsible pursuit of the benefits of nuclear technology,” the department said in a statement. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Karachi Stocks down 59.65 points: KARACHI, March 25: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 15122.73, down 59.65 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, March 25: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 63.1 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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