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| June 20, 2008 | Friday | Jamadi-us-Sani 15, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 Pakistan coalition fails to break Musharraf logjam LAHORE, Pakistan, June 20 (Reuters) - Partners in Pakistan's ruling coalition led by the party of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto failed on Friday to agree on a strategy to remove President Pervez Musharraf. “We don't have complete understanding between us,” Khawaja Mohammad Asif, a close aide to Pakistan Muslim League(N) chief Nawaz Sharif, told reporters after the latest round of talks between Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, Co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party. “One or two more rounds of talks will be held to narrow down the differences,” he said. The question of Musharraf's fate, and a related issue of the restoration of judges he dismissed last year, has preoccupied the fragile coalition. The third thorny issue is the constitutional package, and all three issues are inter-related. PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that meetings between Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif will continue until two partners arrived at some decision. Talking to Dawn News television he said:”The meeting will continue until the two coalition partners arrived at some decisions and a few more round of talks between the two leaders are expected soon.” Differences are narrowed down after every meeting, he said adding that consensus has been reached on some points. However, he said both the parties have decided not to talk about the decisions taken in the meeting. Replying to a question, he said during a meeting between the two leaders, restoration of the deposed judges, constitutional package and impeachment of President were discussed. These are interlinked. If one issue is resolved the remaining two would automatically be solved, he said. (First Posted @ 20:28 PST Updated @ 21:28 PST)   Mirwiaz, Gilani agree on continuing Kashmir struggle jointly ISLAMABAD, June 20 (APP): The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq held a five-hour meeting with veteran Hurriyet leader Syed Ali Gilani in Srinagar on Thursday and the two leaders agreed on jointly continuing the liberation struggle based on Kashmiris' right to self-determination, KMS reported. Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, the two leaders said that they had agreed to set up a six- member joint committee to evolve a mechanism for the purpose of making the liberation struggle more dynamic and forge a broad based unity, They said that the Indian conspiracies to change the demographic composition in occupied Kashmir and deface Kashmiris' identity would be frustrated with full force. They maintained that they were not interested in the periodical elections in occupied Kashmir as such dramas could not resolve the Kashmir dispute in the past nor could do so in future. (Posted @ 18:08 PST) Pakistan denies any ”foreigner” has access to its nuclear blueprints ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 20 (AP) - Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has denied that any “foreigner” has access to its nuclear blueprints. The ministry's comments Friday follow reports that a network led by the country's top former nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan may have given nuclear weapon plans to Iran and Libya. (Posted @ 18:40 PST) Cricket: Asif returns home after Dubai drops drug probe ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 20 (AP) - Pakistan fast bowler Mohammed Asif returned home Friday and apologized “to the whole nation” after Dubai authorities dropped a drug investigation against him, ending almost three weeks of detention. Asif arrived in Pakistan on a flight from Dubai early Friday and immediately proclaimed his innocence. “No banned substance was recovered from me, and all of my tests were clear,” he told reporters at Lahore International Airport. But later Friday, when Asif met with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf, he was less defiant. “I feel shame and apologize to the whole nation over what happened,” he told reporters. Ashraf announced Friday that a three-member committee, chaired by the PCB's chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi, would probe Asif's case from Monday. Earlier, the PCB said in a statement that it welcomed Asif's release and was “relieved that this ordeal is over.” “We appreciate the professional manner in which this whole issue was dealt with by the Dubai police, prosecution department and the UAE authorities,” it said. (First Posted @ 09:50 PST Updated @ 18:38 PST) Five of a family shot dead near Multan MULTAN, Pakistan, June 20 (PPI): Five members of a family, including an infant, were shot dead by three unidentified gunmen on the night between Thursday and Friday in Mandi Sadiq Ganj, Bahawalnagar district. The family was asleep in its house when the gunmen opened fire, killing four persons and an infant on the spot. A woman received injuries during the firing and was shifted to a nearby hospital. The attackers also exchanged fire with the police and managed to flee. (First Posted @ 12:30 PST, Updated @ 13:55 PST) Pakistan police arrest 5 suspected Islamic militants, seize explosives LAHORE, Pakistan, June 20 (AP): Police acting on a tip from intelligence agents raided militant hideouts in Lahore and elsewhere, arresting five suspected radicals and seizing explosives, an official said Friday. The men were members of an outlawed Sunni Muslim militant group who were planning to target government buildings, security agencies and other installations, said Chaudhry Manzoor of the Federal Investigation Agency. He did not give specific details of their alleged plans. The men were arrested this week and were still being questioned by police, he said. (Posted @ 17:25 PST) Oil rockets to record near 140 dollars LONDON, June 20, (AFP) - Oil prices raced to all-time highs of almost 140 dollars a barrel this week despite Saudi plans to increase output. A weak US currency pushed up demand for crude and metals as they became cheaper for foreign buyers, traders said. (Posted @ 23:44 PST) Privatisation will not be done without consent of workers: Zardari KARACHI, June 20, (APP): Co-chairman, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Senator Asif Ali Zardari said Friday that no entity will be privatized without the consent of the workers. He said it has been decided that 30 percent of the profits of Pakistan Steel Mill, will be given to the Labour Union, which it will give to poor & needy workers. He added that he had also talked to PIA Management to do likewise. (Posted @ 22:38 PST) PM names Islamabad Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport ISLAMABAD, June 20 (APP):- Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday named Islamabad Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport, on the occasion of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto's birth anniversary as a mark of respect and reverence for the martyred leader and in recognition of her unparalleled services for the nation, the people of Pakistan and the cause of democracy. The Prime Minister also named Rawalpindi General Hospital as Benazir Bhutto Hospital, and Murree Road as Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Road in consultation with the Government of Punjab. He has also decided to build a monument at the site of her martyrdom. (Posted @ 21:08 PST) UK government delays EU treaty ratification while referendum suit is pending LONDON, June 20 (AP) - The British government agreed Friday to a judge's request to delay ratification of the European Union's reform treaty until he has ruled on a lawsuit seeking to force a referendum. Lord Justice Stephen Richards had said he was surprised that the government was pressing ahead with ratification before he ruled on a suit brought by millionaire Stuart Wheeler, and Richards asked the government to pause until there is a ruling next week.Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced in Brussels that the government would hold back. “The judgment fits into our own timetable, so ratification will not take place until we have had the judgment from the judge,” Brown told reporters. Both houses of Parliament have authorized the treaty, making Britain the 19th EU state to approve it, but the process is technically not complete until instruments of ratification are deposited in Rome. Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty in a referendum last week. On Friday, the EU agreed that its member states should continue ratifying the treaty, and delayed until October decisions on how to overcome the document's rejection in Ireland, diplomats said. (Posted @ 20:54 PST) 1 American soldier killed, 5 wounded by roadside bombs northeast of Baghdad BAGHDAD, June 29 (AP) - An American soldier was killed and five others wounded by roadside bombs northeast of Baghdad, the US military said. A statement said the soldiers were struck Friday in three bombings on U.S patrols in the volatile Diyala province. (Posted @ 20:48 PST) Ahsan Iqbal calls for early restoration of judges ISLAMABAD, June 20 (APP):- Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Secretary Information Ahsan Iqbal Friday said that supremacy of the constitution and reinstatement of the deposed judges are imperative for the country's prosperity. Talking to Dawn TV he said there was no change in the party's stance and PML-N wants to restore the sacked judges in line with the March 9 declaration signed by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. Ahsan Iqbal said, “The only difference is over the modalities and hopefully we would be able to find out the modality which would be acceptable to both parties as well as to the lawyers and the civil society”. (Posted @ 20:32 PST) Bangladesh announces local body election dates DHAKA, June 20 (AFP) - Bangladesh's military-backed government announced Friday plans to hold local body elections in four major cities and nine towns on August 4 despite opposition from the country's two main political parties. Commerce and education minister Hussain Zillur Rahman said the government will also ease some of the emergency restrictions during the lead-up to the elections. The country's two major political parties -- the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League -- have said the government should first stage the parliamentary elections and allow an elected authority to hold local polls. The BNP says it will hold nationwide demonstrations if the local polls go ahead. (Posted @ 20:20 PST) ANP’s provincial cultural secretary dies in road accident Peshawar, June 20 (PPI)- Awami National Central Secretary Culture . Syed Bilal Shah died in a road accident near Jehangira on Friday. His other three family members were seriously injured in the mishap. (Posted @ 18:54 PST) WWF hails scrapping of New Murree Development Scheme LAHORE, June 20 (APP): World Wide Fund (WWF) Pakistan has congratulated the Punjab government on scrapping the New Murree Development Scheme (NMDS) and dissolving the New Murree Development Authority. Ali Habib, Director General, WWF Pakistan in a press statement Friday asserted that in the future projects like NMDS that violate existing laws and disturb the already fragile ecosystem should not be initiated. WWF is of the opinion that the land should be returned to the Forest department and declared as forest reserve, it added. (Posted @ 18:42 PST) OPEC president rules out output hike ALGIERS, June 20 (AFP) - OPEC president Chakib Khelil said on Friday it was illogical and irrational to ask the oil cartel to increase output so as to take the pressure off soaring prices, the Algerie Presse Service (APS) news agency reported. “To ask the oil producers to increase their output is illogical and irrational,” Khelil was quoted by APS as saying ahead of a meeting Sunday in Jeddah of oil producers and consumers to discuss record high prices. (Posted @ 18:20 PST) Suicide attack on military convoy kills 12 in Afghanistan Kabul, June 20 (Reuters) - A suicide bomber on foot attacked a foreign military convoy on Friday in Girishk district of the southern province of Helmand, killing one soldier, an Afghan interpreter and ten civilians, police and the U.S. military said. Another suicide bomber tried to attack a convoy of foreign soldiers in the southeastern province of Khost on Friday but set off his explosives too soon and only killed himself, provincial officials said. Taliban fighters also ambushed a convoy of foreign troops in the eastern province of Paktika, on Friday sparking a clash, a provincial and NATO official said. The NATO official said there were some casualties but had no details. Separately, two soldiers from a U.S.-led coalition force were killed Late on Thursday, the U.S. military said while two Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban ambush on a convoy of Afghan and foreign troops late on Thursday in Logar, south of Kabul. (First Posted @ 11:25 PST, Updated @ 17:15 PST) Five Asian nations branded 'worst' violators of refugee rights WASHINGTON, June 20 (AFP) - China, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Bangladesh have been identified as among the worst violators of refugees' rights in a global survey released ahead of Friday's World Refugees Day. They joined Iraq, Kenya, Russia, Sudan and Europe as the 10 worst places for refugees last year, according to the World Refugee Survey 2008 released in Washington on Thursday. The study also showed the total number of refugees growing to 14 million at the end of 2007, the largest it has been since 2001. Driving the growth again were Iraqi refugees, with more than 550,000 fleeing their country. One of the reasons that India was listed as among the worst places for refugees was because of its “radically discriminatory treatment of refugees.” “They treat refugees depending on their nationality -- at the better end of the spectrum would be the Tibetan refugees, they are treated the best. Sri Lankans not so well but worst of all would be the Chin ethnic group from Myanmar.” (Posted @ 17:00 PST) 26 drown, millions displaced by India floods KOLKATA, June 20 (AFP) -The death toll from monsoon flooding in eastern India climbed to 26 on Friday, with hundreds of villages cut off and an estimated four million people displaced, officials said. Bridges were washed away and roads and railway tracks submerged by the swirling waters in West and East Midnapore districts, said West Bengal state's finance minister Asim Dasgupta. “Telephone lines were snapped and electric poles uprooted. Nearly 2.5 million people were forced from their homes by flood in over 300 villages during the past four days,” Dasgupta said. “The death toll has risen to 26 as 15 people drowned during the past 24 hours,” he said. Helicopters were airdropping food and essentials as army personnel and aid workers struggled to reach the growing number of people marooned, he said, adding there also appeared to be no let-up in the heavy rains. (Posted @ 16:25 PST) Indian troops kill four in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, June 20 (AFP) Indian troops killed four militants in two separate clashes in occupied Kashmir, the army said Friday. “Three of the militants were killed along the Line of Control (LOC) in (northern) Kupwara district late Thursday,” an army statement said. Soldiers also killed a senior commander of a militant group in the neighbouring Baramulla district early Friday, the statement said, identifying the slain rebel as Mehboob Ahmed alias Abu Tahir. (Posted @ 15:20 PST) Thousands of Thai protesters push past police to PM's office BANGKOK, June 20 (AFP) At least 8,000 Thai protesters Friday pushed past a police barricade to the gates of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's office, demanding that he resign. About 5,100 police had held them off for more than three hours, but a group of the protesters finally pressed past the police shields. Security forces did not try to force them back, and more protesters followed them to the gates surrounding the prime minister's compound. The protesters from the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) accuse Samak of acting as a proxy for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by royalist generals in a 2006 coup. The PAD spearheaded protests against Thaksin in the months leading to the coup, raising fears of a new military intervention. The protesters have blocked a road near Government House for nearly four weeks. (Posted @ 15:00 PST) 10 killed as Thai army helicopter crashes in southern Thailand BANGKOK, June 20 (AP): A military helicopter crashed in an insurgency-plagued area of southern Thailand, killing all 10 people on board, a Thai army spokesman said. Army spokesman Col. Akara Thiprote said the helicopter reported engine trouble before it crash-landed Friday and exploded in Yala province. There is no evidence the helicopter had been attacked. Eight soldiers, one police officer and one civilian were killed in the crash. Other details are not immediately available. (Posted @ 14:35 PST) Sri Lanka clashes kill 29 COLOMBO, June 20 (AFP): At least 26 Tamil Tiger guerrillas and three government soldiers were killed in clashes across Sri Lanka's northern regions, the defence ministry said Friday. Confrontations in the districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu since Thursday killed 26 rebels, the ministry said, adding that 47 guerrillas were also believed to have been wounded. The military's own losses were placed at three dead and 17 wounded. (Posted @ 11:30 PST) Israel frees jailed Hamas lawmaker in West Bank HEBRON, West Bank, June 20 (Reuters): An Israeli military court ordered the release Thursday of a Hamas lawmaker detained two years ago as part of a crackdown on the Palestinian faction in the occupied West Bank. Plans to prosecute Bassam al-Zahari were dropped due to “reasonable doubt,” a military spokeswoman said. Zahari told Reuters he had left Israel's Ofer prison and was returning to his hometown, Hebron. (Posted @ 10:05 PST) Bush, Maliki say security talks going well: White House WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters): U.S. President George W. Bush spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki Thursday and they agreed negotiations for a long-term security pact were going well, the White House said. “The two leaders discussed the ongoing negotiations to develop normalized bilateral relations - and agreed that the negotiations are proceeding well with constructive ideas being offered by both sides,” White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. The two countries are negotiating a new security deal to provide a legal basis for U.S. troops to stay in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires on December 31, and a separate long-term agreement on political, economic and security ties. “President Bush confirmed the United States' commitment to forge an agreement that fully respects Iraqi sovereignty,” Johndroe said. The two leaders spoke in a video conference call. “Prime Minister Maliki confirmed his commitment to conclude an agreement that meets our mutual interests across the subject areas outlined in the Declaration of Principles - including economic, diplomatic, and security cooperation,” Johndroe said. (Posted @ 09:10 PST) EU agrees to lift sanctions against Cuba BRUSSELS, June 20 (AFP): EU nations agreed Thursday to definitively lift their sanctions against Cuba, in the hope of encouraging democracy on the island, European diplomats said. European Union foreign ministers took the decision in principle during dinner on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels. “There was an agreement to lift the sanctions against Cuba,” a European diplomatic source said. “They have agreed to have an annual review and in one year's time to assess the political dialogue with Cuba,” the source added. However Washington said it was “disappointed” by the EU decision favouring Cuba. “We're disappointed in this decision. We think the Castros need to take a number of steps to improve the human rights conditions for ordinary Cubans before any sanctions are lifted,” National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. The sanctions were imposed in 2003 after Cuba jailed 75 dissidents and executed three Cubans who had attempted to escape to the United States. (Posted @ 09:00 PST ) House of Representatives approves Iraq, Afghanistan war funding WASHINGTON, June 20 (AFP): The US House of Representatives approved Thursday a compromise bill to free up 162 billion dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stripped of a timetable to pull US troops out of Iraq. The bill was approved after Democrats and Republicans hammered out a deal following weeks of partisan haggling, angering peace activists seeking a swift end to the war in Iraq. The legislation, which now goes to the Senate, would finance the military operations through mid 2009. (Posted @ 08:45 PST ) Karachi Stocks down 215.67 points: KARACHI, June 20: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11655.28, down 215.67 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:32 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, June 20: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 68.5 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:32 PST)
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