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| May 27, 2008 | Tuesday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
 Pakistan ruling coalition mulls anti-Musharraf amendments ISLAMABAD, May 27 (AFP) - Pakistan's ruling coalition leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif met here Tuesday to discuss proposed constitutional amendments to clip the wings of President Pervez Musharraf, officials said. Asif Zardari, Co-Chairman of the PPP, and Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N “discussed in detail the constitutional package,” Farzana Raja, a PPP leader said after the meeting. “There was consensus between the two leaders to support each other and work together to strengthen the democratic system and parliament,” she said. Under the proposed bill the president's powers to appoint the chiefs of the army, navy and air force would be transferred to the prime minister, while parliament will appoint the chief election commissioner. “The main outline of the package is to transfer the powers to the prime minister and the parliament which were taken away by the president,” Farzana Raja said. The proposed amendments would also remove the president's powers to dismiss the government. Asked if the leaders talked about impeaching Musharraf, she said that “this step could be taken if the people of Pakistan so desire, because we believe in taking decisions according to the will of the people.” The amendments package also provides for the reinstatement of dozens of judges deposed by Musharraf last year.The dispute over reinstatement of the judges had caused strains on the coalition government and Sharif pulled out his ministers from the cabinet. Sharif's party said it will scrutinise the proposed amendments and respond later, adding that Musharraf was no more acceptable. “The people of Pakistan have impeached Musharraf on February 18, now it is for the political leadership to take a step in this direction as early as possible,” Sharif's spokesman Ahsan Iqbal told reporters. “It is important to undo illegal actions taken by Musharraf to strengthen democracy in the country,” he added, referring to the sacking of judges by Musharraf in November. (Posted @ 19:38 PST)  'I like Musharraf's support for democracy': PM Gilani ISLAMABAD, May 27 (APP): Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has said what he likes most in President Musharraf is his support for democracy and his straight-forwardness. “He (Musharraf) supports democracy. He is very frank, straight-forward,” Gilani said in an interview with a private television channel Tuesday. Gilani said his government would support the policies of the previous government if these coincided with the PPP manifesto - issues like Women Protection Bill and women's representation in assemblies. However, Gilani said he has made changes in the policy in respect of war against terror with focus on finding root cause of the problem rather than use of force alone. Gilani said he also believed that the March 9 step by President Musharraf against the judiciary had cast a negative impact on his political goodwill. Talking about the challenges confronting the present government, Gilani mentioned electricity and flour crises, law and order situation and inflation. On upcoming budget, the Prime Minister said focus would be on primary education, basic health facilities and increase in wages. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)  ANP urges involvement of political parties in FATA peace talks PESHAWAR, Pakistan, May 27 (APP) Awami National Party Provincial President, Afrasiab Khan Khattak Tuesday underlined the need for involvement of political parties in the ongoing peace negotiations in tribal areas. Speaking at a function he said that previous efforts made by undemocratic forces failed to produce the desired results because of non-involvement of the political parties in the dialogue process. He also welcomed government’s decision to shelve the controversial Kalabagh Dam project, and suggested that the available funds should be diverted to finance Munda, Katzara and Diamir-Basha dams. (Posted @ 18:34 PST) NATO urges Pakistan to prevent Afghanistan spillover BERLIN, May 27 (Reuters): NATO's secretary-general urged Pakistan Tuesday to prevent a spillover of violence from its border region into Afghanistan and called for stronger political dialogue between Pakistan and the U.S.-led alliance. “It is...important for Afghanistan's neighbours to be involved in a constructive manner and especially for Pakistan to prevent spillover across its border with Afghanistan,” NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told members of NATO's parliamentary assembly at a meeting in Berlin. “It is of great importance that the alliance establishes and increases its political dialogue with Pakistan,” Scheffer said, adding he hoped to travel to Pakistan in the autumn. “I hope to discuss this in a very constructive spirit,” he said. “The right approach is to consider Pakistan as part of the solution, not part of the problem ... It's important that apart from military dialogue, to have serious political dialogue.” (Posted @ 17:15 PST) Kashmir: APHC delegation to visit Pakistan in June ISLAMABAD, May 27 (PPI)- A high level delegation of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference will visit Islamabad from June 21 to 25 at the invitation of the Government of Pakistan. The delegation will be led by the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. During the visit, the delegation will hold consultations and meetings with the leadership of Pakistan. (Posted @ 20:36 PST) Abandoning Kalabagh Dam to be protested at all levels: Pervaiz Elahi LAHORE, May 27 (APP): Former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has criticised the government's announcement of abandoning the Kalabagh Dam (KBD) project without having any public mandate in this regard. Talking to newsmen Tuesday, he said:“On the pretext of disagreement by some politicians of small provinces, the champions of democracy, in one go, have abandoned the important national project without tabling it on the floor of the National Assembly for debate.” The decision also puts in waste billions of rupees, which had been spent on the feasibility report and site of the KBD, he asserted. (Posted @ 20:22 PST) Thirteen police, 11 civilians killed in Afghanistan KABUL, May 27 (Reuters) - Eleven civilians and 13 policemen were killed in a series of blasts and Taliban attacks in Afghanistan on Tuesday, officials said. Nine police were killed in attacks in Shor Abak district of southern Kandahar, provincial police chief Sayed Aqa Saqib told Reuters. “The Taliban killed five police in an attack on their post and the other four were killed when we sent in reinforcements later,” he said. Separately, three children were killed by a blast while playing near a police station outside Kandahar city, he said, adding the explosion occurred as a Taliban militant was planting the device under a bridge. Earlier in the day, one woman, a child and six men were killed when a blast hit a bus in Del Aram district of western Farah province, deputy provincial governor Mohammad Younus Rasuli said. The other four policemen were killed in an explosion in Logar province south of Kabul, a provincial official said. In another incident on Tuesday, U.S.-led troops killed several Taliban militants in an operation in Helmand province, the U.S. military said in a statement. (Posted @ 19:50 PST) 420,000 houses collapse in China aftershocks BEIJING, May 27 (AFP) - More than 420,000 houses collapsed in quake-hit Sichuan province in southwest China after two fresh aftershocks hit the area on Tuesday afternoon, Xinhua news agency reported. It said the houses were in Qingchuan County and added 63 people had been injured there as a result, six of them critically. As of noon on Monday, 182 aftershocks measuring above four on the Richter scale had been recorded in Sichuan, Xinhua said earlier, citing the China Seismological Bureau. Tuesday's aftershocks measured 5.4 and 5.7 on the Richter scale, state media said earlier, and came within half an hour of one another. (Posted @ 20:42 PST) Pak-Saudi ties unique and exemplary: PM ISLAMABAD, May 27 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia transcends the changing global environment and expediency of international politics, and vowed efforts to further boost bilateral ties in all fields. “It will remain our endeavour to further promote our multi-faceted cooperation,” he said at the inauguration ceremony of the Saudi Embassy Complex in Islamabad. The Co-chairman of Pakistan People's Party, Asif Ali Zardari, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Speaker National Assembly, Fehmida Mirza, federal ministers and diplomats also attended the ceremony. Prime Minister Gilani said it was a matter of honour for him to lay down yet another milestone in Pakistan's brotherly and cordial relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (Posted @ 23:08 PST) 120 illegal Afghan immigrants handed over Afghan authorities at Chaman Border CHAMAN, May 27 (APP) - The Pakistani border security forces handed over 120 Afghan nationals to Afghan authorities at Chaman Border here Tuesday, officials said. These Afghans had entered Pakistan without possessing legal documents and were arrested under foreign act. (Posted @ 22:18 PST) British truckers jam key route into central London to protest rising cost of fuel LONDON, May 27 (AP) - Hundreds of trucks rolled into central London on Tuesday to jam a major route into the capital to protest the rising price of fuel. Around 300 truck drivers honked their horns and parked on a highway on the edge of the city, forcing police to close off a section of road and divert hundreds of motorists during the busy morning rush hour. Truckers protesting the soaring cost of fuel in Britain _ where diesel now costs more than 1.20 pounds per liter (euro1.50 per liter, more than US$9 a gallon) _ called for government to lower fuel taxes for trucking companies. (Posted @ 20:15 PST) Oil retreats below $131 LONDON, May 27 (Reuters) - Oil fell below $131 a barrel on Tuesday, after a stronger U.S. dollar helped to pull prices down from peaks hit when rebels attacked Nigerian oil facilities. U.S. crude was down $1.48 at $130.71 a barrel by 1318 GMT. London Brent crude was down $2.03 at $130.34. (Posted @ 19:54 PST) 5.9 magnitude quake in Guatemala WASHINGTON, May 27 (AFP) - US seismologists reported a 5.9 magnitude earthquake off the Pacific coast of Guatemala early Tuesday. The quake occurred offshore at a depth of 73 kilometers south-southwest of Guatemala City. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The temblor, which struck at 1128 GMT is the strongest since a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Central American country in June 2007. (Posted @ 19:44 PST) Myanmar junta extends Aung San Suu Kyi's detention YANGON, Myanmar, May 27 (AP) Myanmar's military junta extended the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, ignoring worldwide appeals to free the Nobel laureate who has been detained for more than 12 of the past 18 years, an official said. Her period of house arrest was extended by one year, the official said requesting anonymity. Earlier Tuesday, police hauled away about 20 opposition party members who were protesting Suu Kyi's detention. (Posted @ 18:22 PST) Flash floods kill 20 in southern China BEIJING, May 27 (Reuters): Floods triggered by rain and hail storms in southern China killed at least 20 people and left 16 missing, Xinhua news agency reported Tuesday, citing local authorities. Flash floods in Wangmo county in southwest Guizhou province killed 18 people and left 12 missing, Xinhua said, citing the province's Emergency Response Office. The floods also destroyed bridges, dozens of houses and caused power outages in eight townships, affecting 26,000 residents, the agency said. Torrential rains killed two people and left four missing in Yuanling county of neighbouring Hunan province. The rain had triggered floods and landslides, damaged houses, roads, crops, power supplies and telecom networks, affecting 90,000 people, Xinhua said. The floods occurred as authorities tried to drain hundreds of endangered reservoirs and dozens of lakes formed by landslides triggered by the severe earthquake which hit southwest Sichuan province on May 12. (First Posted @ 11:25 PST, Updated @ 18:05 PST) At least 26 dead in South Africa bus crash JOHANNESBURG, May 27 (AFP): At least 26 people have been killed and some 30 people were still trapped underwater after a bus plunged off an 80-metre cliff into a river in South Africa's Eastern Cape province Tuesday, police said. “Up until now I have got 26 deceased people, four children and 22 adults. I have got 21 people who have been taken to hospital critically injured,” police spokeswoman Constable Nokonwaba Kholisa told AFP from the scene of the accident. Kholisa said the bus had “lost control” after the brakes failed near the town of Cedarville. (First Posted @ 15:40 PST, Updated @ 16:10 PST) Cricket- Australia beat West Indies by 95 runs, first test KINGSTON, May 27 (Reuters): Australia won the first test against West Indies on Monday after the hosts were bowled out for 191 in their second innings at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. Australia won by 95 runs. Scores: Australia 431 (Ponting 158, Hussey 56, Hodge 67, Symonds 70 not out; Edwards 5-104) and 167 (Symonds 79) v West Indies 312 (Morton 67, Chanderpaul 118) and 191 all out (Clark 5-32). (First Posted @ 09:00 PST, Updated @ 16:05 PST) Three dead, 13 hurt at China shipyard MANILA, May 27 (AFP): Three Filipino seamen were killed and 13 hospitalized in China after a gas leak at a Shanghai shipyard, the Philippines foreign department said Tuesday. The three died from carbon dioxide inhalation while 13 other Filipinos were treated at Chongming hospital on May 22, foreign department spokesman Claro Cristobal said in a statement. The leak occurred as the Filipinos repaired their Panamanian-flagged ship Hakone at the Chongming Dadong shipyard, he added. The cause of the incident was not known, Cristobal said. (Posted @ 15:35 PST) New Nepal assembly sworn in KATHMANDU, May 27 (AFP): A newly elected assembly that will rewrite Nepal's constitution was sworn in on Tuesday, one day before the Maoist-dominated body is expected to abolish the monarchy. The Maoists won over a third of the seats in the 601-member constituent assembly in elections in April. Officials have said the assembly will dissolve the country's 240-year-old monarchy and sack King Gyanendra when it holds its first session Wednesday. (Posted @ 14:35 PST) Maoists kill policeman, blast track in east India PATNA, India, May 27 (Reuters): Maoist insurgents blew up railway tracks, blocked roads and killed a policeman in eastern India Tuesday during a day-long strike, police said. They damaged a section of track in Bihar state, severely disrupting the eastern rail network, senior officers said. “They bombed the tracks sometime after midnight,” Bimal Kumar, a senior police officer said. The rebels said they had called an impromptu strike to protest against the recent arrest of some of their leaders. A policeman was abducted by the rebels in a remote village and killed, a police officer said. (Posted @ 14:10 PST) Moderate quake hits northern Iran TEHRAN, May 27 (AFP): An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale Tuesday shook part of northern Iran near the city of Zanjan, the IRNA news agency reported. No casualties had been reported by 11:30 am but telephone communications with the affected area had been disrupted. The earthquake struck some 16 kilometres east of Zanjan at 10:48 am causing panic and sending people running into open areas. (Posted @ 13:10 PST) Sri Lankan airstrike destroys rebel explosive stash, kills bomb expert COLOMBO, May 27 (AP): Air force helicopters bombed and destroyed a Tamil Tiger rebel explosives storage depot in northern Sri Lanka and killed a guerrilla bomb-making expert, the military said Tuesday. The air force targeted the explosives stash in Mannar district's Andankulam village Monday, a military official said requesting anonymity. He said the raid killed a rebel known as Dora who was an expert on improvised-explosive devices. The official also said separate ground clashes killed 20 rebels Monday on the northern front lines in the Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya areas. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment. (Posted @ 13:00 PST) Somali pirates seize Dutch-owned ship NAIROBI, May 27 (Reuters): Somali gunmen hijacked a Dutch-owned ship as it travelled from Kenya's Mombasa port to Romania in the latest act of piracy off the lawless Horn of Africa nation's coast, a maritime official said on Tuesday. The MV Amiya Scan, managed by the Dutch Reider Shipping BV, was seized along with some nine Russian and Filipino crew members on Sunday while it passed through the Gulf of Aden, said the director of the Seafarers Assistance Programme. “Unfortunately we don't know where she is right now ... there's been no ransom demand yet,” he told Reuters (Posted @ 11:55 PST) Rain, dust storms kill 22 people in northern India LUCKNOW, May 27 (AP): Dust storms and heavy rains lashed huge swaths of northern India, killing at least 22 overnight, an official said Tuesday. An additional 89 people died in unseasonal rain and dust storms in Uttar Pradesh state last week, police spokesman Surendra Srivastava told The Associated Press in the state capital Lucknow. Srivastava said bad weather caused “havoc” on Monday as strong winds of more than 113 kph and heavy rains swept through the state, uprooting trees and electricity poles and destroying mud-brick houses. (Posted @ 11:40 PST) US-led coalition soldier killed in Afghanistan KABUL, May 27 (AFP): A soldier serving under the US-led coalition in Afghanistan died of a non-combat related injury, the force said in a statement Tuesday. The name and nationality of the soldier, who died in Paktika province in the country's southeast, were not being released until next of kin were notified, the statement said, adding that the incident was under investigation. (Posted @ 11:30 PST) Football: One dead, 10 hurt in Vietnam football clash HANOI, May 27 (AFP): One man died and at least 10 people were wounded in clashes between hundreds of football fans in Vietnam, state media reported Tuesday, in the most serious in a spate of similar incidents. The violence erupted in the central city of Vinh on Sunday after a 1-1 draw between local V-League team Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) and visitors Haiphong Cement, a team from Vietnam's largest northern port city. Fighting broke out after Haiphong scored an equaliser three minutes from time, which the 600 visiting Haiphong fans noisily celebrated with firecrackers, reported the state-run Vietnam News daily. The hooligans then started to hurl bricks and bottles at each other. (Posted @ 11:20 PST) Pioneering rocket scientist Ernst Stuhlinger dies HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, May 27 (AP): Pioneering German-born rocket scientist Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, who played a key role in developing America's space program, died Sunday, according to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. He was 94. Stuhlinger served as chief scientist for Dr Wernher von Braun and was among the group of German scientists who moved with him to Huntsville in 1950 when the army established the Ordnance Missile Laboratories. (Posted @ 11:15 PST) Four killed, 21 injured in Los Angeles car pile-up LOS ANGELES, May 27 (AP): Four people including a 12-year-old boy died in a fiery six-vehicle collision in South Los Angeles. A police spokeswoman said the crash happened just before 6 p.m. Monday when a van ran a red light and hit another van in Hyde Park neighborhood. The first van hit the second van from the side, causing a chain reaction that set three vehicles ablaze. She said a 12-year-old boy was ejected from a vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Two other victims were found burned beyond recognition inside a vehicle. Twenty-one people were taken to hospital, eight of them in critical condition. A fourth victim died in hospital. (Posted @ 11:00 PST) Oscar-winning director Sydney Pollack dies LOS ANGELES, May 27 (AFP): Sydney Pollack, the critically acclaimed Academy Award-winning director of “Out of Africa” and “Tootsie”, died of cancer Monday, US media reported. He was 73. The director and producer made several Hollywood blockbusters and worked with A-list stars such as Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Dustin Hoffman and Nicole Kidman. He died in Pacific Palisades surrounded by family, trade magazine Variety reported. (Posted @ 08:45 PST) Karachi Stocks up 237.47 points: KARACHI, May 27: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 12822.25, up 237.47 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, May 27: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 69 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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