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| May 30, 2008 | Friday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 24, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
 Bush assures Musharraf of US support for Pakistan WASHINGTON, May 30 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Friday assured Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf by telephone of strong US support for its staunch anti-terrorism ally, the White House said. Bush “reiterated the United States' strong support for Pakistan and he indicated he looks forward to President Musharraf's continuing role in further strengthening US-Pakistani relations,” said spokeswoman Dana Perino. The conversation was a follow-up to Bush's meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh earlier this month, she said, providing no other details. (Posted @ 20:50 PST)  Pakistan asks U.N. to probe Benazir Bhutto assassination ISLAMABAD, May 30 (Reuters) - Pakistan has formally requested a U.N investigation into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, her widower said on Friday. “We have already sent the request,” Asif Ali Zardari told reporters after a meeting of the Socialist International Asia-Pacific Committee in Islamabad. Zardari who took over leadership of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) after his wife was killed by a suicide gun and bomb attack while campaigning in the city of Rawalpindi on Dec. 27 said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will travel to New York to personally discuss the issue with the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. President Pervez Musharraf has opposed a U.N. investigation of Bhutto's killing, and the previous government which blamed Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud of being behind the conspiracy had earlier invited help from Britain's Scotland Yard to determine how Bhutto was killed, though the British police were not asked to investigate who killed her. Scotland Yard backed up the government's earlier conclusion that Bhutto smashed her head against her vehicle during the attack. (Posted @ 19:40 PST) Pakistan needs more time on militants: Robert Gates ON BOARD A US MILITARY PLANE, May 30 (AFP): US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that Pakistan's new civilian government needed more time to effectively tackle extremists on its border with Afghanistan. Speaking en route to Singapore to attend a regional security conference, Gates said the coalition government in Islamabad was still trying to feel its way. “Clearly Pakistan is in a transition, the civilian government is still relatively new, and I think until they get their feet on the ground and get a full appreciation of the nature of the threats that they face and their approach to it, I think we just have to give them a little time,” Gates told reporters. Asked if it was just a question of transition, he responded: “I certainly hope so.” On Thursday, the head of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, US General Dan McNeill, raised a lack of dialogue between NATO forces, Afghanistan's leaders and Islamabad over the border issue, but Gates said “my impression is that communications between Pakistani military forces along the border and our own is still good.” (Posted @ 12:05 PST) Justice Iftikhar Choudhry addresses Sindh lawyers HYDERABAD, Pakistan, May 30 (APP)- Deposed Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhry Friday said that every citizen has the right to justice, which is possible only through supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law. In his telephonic address to the lawyers and office bearers of different district bar associations of Sindh, gathered at the Hyderabad Bar Association office, he said besides judiciary, the executive was equally responsible for protecting the rights as well as life and property of the people. He stressed that the country cannot at this point of time afford compromises and the people must get their rights on merit and as guaranteed under the constitution and law. He paid tributes to the lawyers' movement for the restoration of Judiciary and said that it was much before March 9, 2007 that the judiciary had started its struggle to provide justice to the common man and it was these efforts that resulted in relief and positivity for the masses, who are now supporting the lawyers' movement. Representatives of the various bar associations also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the struggle of lawyers for the restoration of judiciary. (Posted @ 18:20 PST) Al Qaeda near defeat, on defensive: CIA chief WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters): Al Qaeda is essentially defeated in Iraq and Saudi Arabia and on the defensive throughout much of the world, CIA Director Michael Hayden said in a Washington Post interview published Friday. “On balance, we are doing pretty well,” Hayden said citing major gains against Osama bin Laden's network and its allies. “Near strategic defeat of al Qaeda in Iraq. Near strategic defeat for al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Significant setbacks for al Qaeda globally - and here I'm going to use the word 'ideologically,' as a lot of the Islamic world pushes back on their form of Islam,” Hayden said. He further said counter-terrorism successes extend even to the region along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. “The ability to kill and capture key members of al-Qaeda continues, and keeps them off balance - even in their best safe haven along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border,” Hayden said. He said capturing or killing bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri remains a top priority, although he noted the difficulties in finding them in the remote region where the U.S. military is officially forbidden to operate, the Post reported. The CIA chief also cited a successful blow against “training activity” in the region, but offered no details. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)  Benazir cards being introduced in budget to help poor ISLAMABAD, May 30 (APP): Benazir Bhutto Cards would be introduced in the coming budget to provide financial help to 7 million poorest of the poor in the county, Co-Chairman, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari said at a press conference Friday. He said the beneficiaries would be able to hop on those cards and the subsidy amount will be automatically transferred to those accounts every month. Referring to the democratic struggles around the world he said that quite recently the parliament in Nepal had voted to put an end to monarchy, and said he also had a vision to bring about a change in the system in Pakistan through the parliament. He also praised the struggle and sacrifices of Aung San Sui Kyi for the democratic rights of the people in her country and announced that a delegation of Pakistan Peoples Party and the government will go there to express solidarity with her. He reminded that Ms. Sui Kyi children's have been kept away from their mother for the last five years and demanded that she should be allowed to see her children. He said that the PPP government was fully aware of the hardships the masses were facing because of the food inflation and high oil prices and promised that despite the economic pressures the upcoming budget will be people friendly. (Posted @ 20:36 PST) Sherry reiterates anti-terrorism policy ISLAMABAD, May 30 (APP): Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Sherry Rehman addressing the Socialist International Asia Pacific committee (SIAPCM) meeting on Friday said that Pakistan would not allow its land to be used for terrorist activities and expressed the confidence that the world community would support its policy. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who also spoke on the occasion, said the government was promoting democracy and understanding among the major political parties in Pakistan and in Asia. Secretary General of Social International Asia Pacific Committee Luis Ayala praised PPP's struggle for democracy in Pakistan. (Posted @ 18:50 PST) India putting pressure on APHC to contest occupied Kashmir elections NEW DELHI, May 30 (APP): The Indian government has started lobbying with All Parties Hurriyat Conference to contest occupied Kashmir state elections expected to be held in October next. “Asian Age” reported that Ashok Bhan, a senior Supreme Court lawyer and prominent name in Kashmir Track II diplomacy, has been asked by national security adviser M.K. Narayanan to open talks with Hurriyat leaders aimed at persuading them either to contest the elections in occupied Kashmir or support them. Ashok Bhan and Narayanan met for over an hour on Thursday and a number of issues were discussed threadbare, the daily quoting sources said. Bhan confirming this told the daily, “Yes, I will be visiting Srinagar from tomorrow (Friday) to talk to the Hurriyat leaders to strengthen the democratic electoral process in the state.” APHC and other Kashmiri leaders have been boycotting the elections in occupied Kashmir. Syed Ali Gilani, Chairman of its own faction of APHC has already announced to boycott the elections and asked Kashmiris not to participate in it. (Posted @ 16:30 PST) PPP-SB leader dies in car crash MIRPUR MATHELO, Pakistan, May 30 (PPI): Two persons including District Leader of PPP-SB Huzoor Baksh were killed and another person injured in a road accident near Mirpur Mathelo in Sindh province on Friday. The accident occurred when their car crashed into a trailer on the National Highway. The other victim was identified as Vijay Kumar. Rasheed Ahmed was injured and was shifted to Raheem Yar Khan Hospital. (Posted @ 21:22 PST) Memon terms rumors about President's resignation bid to destabilise democratic process ISLAMABAD, May 30 (APP): PML-Q additional secretary general Senator Nisar Memon said Friday that the rumors of resignation by President Pervez Musharraf were “a bid to destabilise the entire democratic process”. “Neither the president is stepping down nor the democratic process would be derailed,” Memon said at a joint press conference with acting secretary general of the party Iqbal Dar at PML House. Iqbal Dar urged political parties to settle all outstanding issues in the parliament which he said was the appropriate forum to decide national issues. “Some politicians want to be civilian dictator. The PML-Q, with the help of the nation, would foil all such dreams. The nation acknowledges the services rendered by president Pervez Musharraf and opposition by one political party makes no difference,” he said. (Posted @ 21:14 PST) Torrential rains sweep western Europe ROME, May 30 (APP/AFP) - Italy declared a state of emergency in the north of the country Friday after flooding and mudslides left at least three people dead in heavy rains that also hit Belgium, Britain, France and Germany. In Piedmont, where three people were killed and one was still missing, schools were closed in the town of Saviglano. In France the SNCF train operator closed lines overnight between Turin and Lyon, southeastern France. Road tunnels linking France and Italy were closed to trucks for several hours and several highways were blocked or closed in the Alpine districts of Savoie and Isere. Mudslides and flooding also hit villages and cut secondary roads in eastern France overnight. Further north, streets were turned to rivers of mud in the eastern Belgian city of Liege. In southwestern Germany heavy rain and hail had caused extensive damage. At Moenchengladbach dozens of motorists had to abandon their cars, while in Baden-Wurtemberg lightning set fire to a farm. A clean-up operation was under way in southwest England Friday after torrential rain caused flash flooding the previous evening. The worst-hit area was the southern part of the county of Somerset. Cars were abandoned on water-logged roads, and hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded out. (First Posted @ 12:20 PST Updated @ 20:16 PST) Pirates hijack two ships off Somali coast NAIROBI, May 30(Reuters) - Somali pirates fired rockets as they seized two freighters off the lawless Horn of African coast bringing to three the number of ships hijacked this week, a Kenyan maritime official said on Friday. The number of crew on the ships are still unknown,” he said. (Posted @ 20:02 PST) Bomb kills six in Afghanistan JALALABAD, Afghanistan, May 30 (AFP) - Six Afghan security guards working for a construction company were killed and two wounded at Qarghayi, about 100 kilometres east of Kabul Friday when a roadside bomb blew up the truck they were travelling in, police said. (Posted @ 19:30 PST) Six killed, 11 injured in AJK road accident MUZAFFARABAD, Azad Kashmir, May 30 (APP): At least six people were killed and 11 others injured when a Hajera-bound bus plunged into a deep ravine while negotiating a sharp turn, some 160 km from Azad Kashmir capital Muzaffarabad, on Friday. Police said six persons were killed on the spot while the 11 injured were rushed to Combined Military Hospital Rawalakot. (Posted @ 19:20 PST) Indo-Pak officials review security along border KARACHI, May 30 (PPI): A 13-member delegation of Indian Border Security Force led by Deputy Inspector General Brigadier N.D Parsad arrived in Khokhrapar (Sindh) Thursday and held talks with Deputy Director General of Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Brigadier Syed Khushnood Hussain . The meeting lasted nearly six hours and covered matters pertaining to joint patrolling along the border, defence construction and border demarcation at certain disputed points were discussed. The meeting was also attended by officials of narcotics and survey departments. (Posted @ 19:12 PST) Croatian court jails ex-general for seven years over war crimes ZAGREB, May 30 (AFP) - A Croatian court Friday convicted former general Mirko Norac of war crimes against the Serbs and sentenced him to seven years in prison over the massacre of 23 civilians and five prisoners of war. Another former general and co-defendant, Rahim Ademi, was acquitted of all charges. The case was the first to be transferred to Croatia by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Norac, 40, and Ademi, 54, had both been charged with allowing troops under their control to massacre civilians and prisoners of war in a 1993 military operation during the Serbo-Croatian war. (Posted @ 18:44 PST) Israeli fire wounds six at Gaza border protest SUFA, Gaza Strip, May 30 (AFP) - Six Palestinians were wounded on Friday when Israeli troops opened fire on demonstrators in the Gaza Strip as they neared the border fence, medics in the besieged territory said. Thousands of people joined the demonstration called by Hamas to demand that Israel lift its crippling blockade of the impoverished enclave. The protesters marched from the cities of Rafah and Khan Yunes in southern Gaza towards the Sufa border crossing, waving banners calling for the end of the “Holocaust” they say Israel is committing in Gaza. Six people were wounded when Israeli forces fired on the protesters who approached the frontier fence. A military spokesman said Israeli forces would “operate in all strength to prevent anybody from damaging the fence or the crossing or entering” the country. (Posted @ 18:16 PST) More than 100 countries agree to ban cluster bombs DUBLIN, May 30 (AFP) - A landmark international convention banning cluster munitions was formally adopted by some 111 countries here Friday. The convention is due to be signed in Oslo on December 2-3. States then have to ratify the pact. Politicians and campaigners described the move as hugely significant, despite the absence from the talks of major users and producers of the weapons like the United States, China, Russia, Israel, India and Pakistan. But supporters said they hoped the treaty would pressure them to change track. (Posted @ 17:54 PST) Eight shot dead, dozens injured outside mosque in Yemen SANAA, May 30 (Reuters) - At least eight people were shot dead when a man opened fire with a machinegun outside a village mosque in Amran province, about 60 km north of the capital, Sanaa in Yemen after Friday prayers, a local official said. Dozens were wounded, many seriously, the official said. The gunman fled. (Posted @ 17:00 PST) Time to talk to al Qaeda, says N. Ireland police chief LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) - Britain should negotiate with the leaders of al Qaeda to end its campaign of violence, Sir Hugh Orde, head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said on Friday. He said his force's experience of tackling the IRA showed that policing alone would not defeat al Qaeda-inspired terrorism. In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Orde said: “If you want my professional assessment of any terrorism campaign, what fixes it is talking and engaging and judging when the conditions are right for that to take place. “Is that a naive statement? I don't think it is ... It is the reality of what we face. “If somebody can show me any terrorism campaign where it has been policed out, I'd be happy to read about it, because I can't think of one.” In Northern Ireland, the British army and Royal Ulster Constabulary could not bring an end to 30 years of violence. The provinces “troubles” were only ended by a peace process that saw enemies like Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley talking to each other. (Posted @ 16:10 PST) Cricket: India name squad for B'Desh tri-series, Asia Cup MUMBAI, May 30 (AFP) - India on Friday named a 15-man squad to take part in a one-day series in Bangladesh and the six-nation Asia Cup in Pakistan next month. The tri-series in Bangladesh, also featuring Pakistan, will be held in Dhaka from June 8-14 with each side playing the other once in a league before the final. Pakistan will host the limited-overs Asia Cup from June 24-July 6. Other teams in the fray are India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong. India squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla, Pragyan Ojha, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar. (Posted @ 16:00 PST) Iraqi troops kill 11 suspected Qaeda fighters MOSUL, Iraq, May 30 (AFP) - Iraqi security forces shot dead at least 11 suspected Al-Qaeda operatives who were hiding in a sheep truck near the northern city of Tikrit on Friday, the defence ministry said. The men were killed in fighting at a checkpoint between Tikrit and Baiji, a ministry spokesman said adding that one of the men was a foreigner from an unidentified Arab nation. (Posted @ 15:55 PST) Indian police shoot dead two more ethnic protesters, says minister JODHPUR, India, May 30 (AFP): Police on Friday shot and killed two more protesting Gujjars in Rajasthan state, home minister Gulab Chand Kataria said, bringing the death toll from more than a week of violence in the area to 43. The two were shot dead when police tried to clear a blocked road and were pelted with stones in Sawai Madhopur district, 350 kilometres from Jodhpur, he said. The Gujjars have been demonstrating for more than week to press the government to grant them special status as a tribe to be eligible for additional benefits in respect of jobs and education. (Posted @ 15:45 PST) China quake death toll rises to 68,858 BEIJING, May 30 (AFP): The death toll from China's earthquake has reached 68,858, with another 18,618 missing, a government spokesman said Friday. The confirmed death toll, given by cabinet spokesman Guo Weimin at a press conference, marked an increase of about 340 deaths from the day before. (Posted @ 13:20 PST) Afghan town recaptured by security forces GHAZNI, Afghanistan, May 30 (Reuters) - Afghan security forces along with U.S.-led coalition forces regained control of Rashidan district in the province of Ghazni after the Taliban had captured it overnight, provincial governor, Shir Khosti told Reuters. “The word I have got a few minutes ago is that they (Taliban) have been pushed back,” he said. Asked if Afghan and coalition forces were now in charge of the district centre, Khosti replied: “Yes”. (Posted @ 20:56 PST) US-led soldier killed in Afghanistan, district falls KABUL, May 30 (AFP): A soldier in the US-led coalition and several militants were killed in separate clashes in Afghanistan, officials said Friday, while the Taliban attacked and captured a remote district. The soldier was killed “in action” Thursday near the western town of Farah, the coalition said in a statement. Separately, the coalition reported it had killed “several militants” and detained 16 in a mission Thursday “to disrupt anti-government operations” in Ghazni province. Also in Ghazni, the Taliban captured a district called Rashidan overnight, taking prisoner the heads of its police and administration, officials and the militant group said. “Last night Taliban attacked Rashidan district and it fell,” said provincial police chief Jan Mohammad Mujahed. A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahed, confirmed the rebels were in control of Rashidan, 120 kms southwest of Kabul, and said the district chief, acting police chief and eight officers had been captured. “They are alive and we have captured them. The district is totally under our control,” he said. (First Posted @ 12:10 PST, Updated @ 12:50 PST) Sri Lankan forces capture Tamil rebel base in north COLOMBO, May 30 (AP): Government troops captured a Tamil Tiger rebel base in Sri Lanka's war-torn north after three days of fighting that killed seven rebels and one soldier, the military said Friday. Army troops captured the stronghold known as “Munnagam Base,” located four miles north of the front lines in Welioya region, Thursday, said military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara. He said the base had been used by guerrillas as an operational center, adding that the battle to seize it had killed seven rebels and one soldier. Another five soldiers were wounded. Other fighting Thursday in Mannar and Vavuniya regions near the rebels' de facto state in the north killed four rebels and wounded eight soldiers, he said. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment. (Posted @ 12:40 PST) 115 soldiers committed suicide last year; 3rd straight annual increase WASHINGTON, May 30 (AP): The number of U.S. Army suicides increased again last year amid the most violent year yet in both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. An Army official, requesting anonymity, said Thursday that 115 troops committed suicide in 2007, an increase of almost 13 percent over the previous year's 102. About a quarter of the deaths occurred in Iraq. The 115 deaths last year and 102 in 2006 followed 85 in 2005 and 67 in 2004. (Posted @ 10:50 PST) Powerful earthquake rocks buildings in Iceland; up to 30 injured REYKJAVIK, Iceland, May 30 (AP): A powerful earthquake shook Iceland Thursday, rocking buildings in the capital, lightly injuring up to 30 people and forcing residents in outlying towns to evacuate. The U.S. Geological Survey said the 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit at 3:46 p.m., with its epicenter near the town of Selfoss, 30 miles east-southeast of the capital, Reykjavik. (Posted @ 10:15 PST) Eleven killed as chopper crashes into Panama City building PANAMA CITY, May 30 (AFP): At least eleven people including Chile's chief of police were killed Thursday when a helicopter belonging to Panama's National Air Service crashed into a building and burst into flames in a busy Panama City neighborhood, officials said. Justice Minister Daniel Delgado Diamante told AFP that in the crash “eleven people were killed ... six Chileans and five Panamanians,” adding that one of 12 occupants, a Panamanian, had survived. In Santiago, Chile's Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma confirmed that the fatalities included the head of Chile's national police, Jose Alejandro Bernales, and his wife, as well as four other Chilean officials. The dead Panamanians included four police officers. Eyewitnesses said the helicopter pitched wildly before plunging and starting a fire in the building it hit. (First Posted @ 09:20 PST, Updated @ 09:55 PST) Tropical Storm Alma pummels Nicaragua, kills one LEON, Nicaragua, May 30 (Reuters): Tropical Storm Alma, the first cyclone of the Americas hurricane season, slammed into Nicaragua's Pacific coast Thursday, killing one person as winds toppled trees and ripped roofs off flimsy homes. Torrential rain fell in the city of Leon as Alma whipped up sustained winds near 65 mph and even higher gusts. (Posted @ 09:50 PST) Three suspected bomb-makers charged at Guantanamo MIAMI, May 30 (Reuters): Pentagon prosecutors filed new charges Thursday against three prisoners accused of operating an al Qaeda bomb-making cell. Saudi Arabian captives Jabran al Qahtani and Ghassan al Sharbi and Algerian prisoner Sufyian Barhoumi were charged with conspiring with al Qaeda and providing material support for terrorism. The charges allege they trained at al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, then travelled to a safe house in Pakistan, where Barhoumi taught Qahtani and Sharbi to build remote-control detonators for car bombs to be used against U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The charges still must be approved by the Pentagon official overseeing the Guantanamo war court, where charges are now pending against 17 of the 270 prisoners. Those charged Thursday are known as the Faisalabad Three, for the Pakistani town where they were captured with al Qaeda operations director Abu Zubaydah in March 2002. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) Guantanamo judge dismissed in Canadian's case MIAMI, May 30 (Reuters): The U.S. military judge, Army Col. Peter Brownback, in the war crimes trial of a young Canadian prisoner at Guantanamo was abruptly relieved of further duties in the case Thursday. The chief judge for the U.S. war crimes court at the Guantanamo naval base notified lawyers that a new judge had been assigned to hear the case of Canadian prisoner Omar Khadr, who is accused of murdering a U.S. soldier with a grenade during a firefight at a suspected al Qaeda compound in Afghanistan in 2002. Khadr's lawyer, Navy Lt. Cmdr. William Kuebler, called the timing suspicious because Brownback had recently threatened to suspend the Khadr case unless prosecutors turned over key evidence to the defence lawyers. “Clearly, Brownback was making an effort to make the process at least look a little more fair,” Kuebler said. (Posted @ 09:25 PST) Karachi Stocks down 104.54 points: KARACHI, May 30: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 12130.51, down 104.54 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:00 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, May 30: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 68 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:00 PST)
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