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| July 05, 2008 | Saturday | Rajab 1, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Kashmir shrine fire sparks massive protest SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 5 (AFP) At least 30 people were injured in clashes with police after thousands of protestors gathered outside a shrine housing Islamic relics that caught fire Saturday in Srinagar. Police said the fire at the shrine was accidental. “Initial reports suggest that the fire was caused by a short circuit,” said a police officer, who requested anonymity. “We brought the fire under control,” he said, calling the rumours “base and misleading.” All the centuries-old relics at the shrine were safe, he added. But news of the fire at the Jenab Sahib shrine, which is said to house a relic of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), drew thousands of Muslims onto the surrounding streets. Police fired in the air, set off tear-gas shells and baton-charged the crowd that was pelting stones at security forces outside the shrine. Protesters also hurled stones at a nearby paramilitary police camp and at a local police station, witnesses said. Some 30 people, including eight journalists, five policemen and six firemen were injured in the melee, police said. (Posted @ 21:30 PST)
Pakistan condemns human rights violations in occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD, July 5 (APP) Pakistan Saturday condemned and expressed deep regret on the use of force against demonstrators in occupied Kashmir and said it is a violation of human rights. Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq while commenting on the incident expressed deep regret over the use of force against demonstrators at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar resulting in injuries to dozens of people including prominent Kashmiri leader Shabbir Shah. Sadiq also expressed concern over recent instances of human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and stressed the need to create an enabling environment for the success of peace process between Pakistan and India and the resolution of Kashmir dispute. (Posted @ 21:22 PST)
Taliban fighters free two Pakistani journalists PESHAWAR, Pakistan, July 5 (Reuters) Taliban militants released two Pakistani journalists on Saturday more than 36-hours after they were abducted in Pakistan’s tribal region. “When it was proven that they're journalists and not spies, we freed them,” Taliban spokesman Asad said. A group of tribal elders had gone to negotiate for the release of the journalists, freelance reporter Pir Zubair Shah and photographer Akhtar Soomro, after they were kidnapped in the Mohmand region on Thursday. Syed Ahmad Jan, a senior administrator in Mohmand, confirmed that the two men had been freed and said both were fine. (Posted @ 21:12 PST)
Pakistan denies Musharraf, army sent centrifuges to North Korea ISLAMABAD, July 5 (AFP) Pakistan's top nuclear authority Saturday rejected claims by nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan that the army and President Musharraf sent centrifuges to North Korea in 2000. Lieutenant General Khalid Kidwai, head of the Strategic Planning Division (SPD), told reporters there was “enough evidence” about the proliferation network that Dr. Khan had run from 1987. Kidwai reiterated that there had been no involvement by the army, Musharraf, SPD or the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) in the transfer of centrifuges to North Korea. “Technically, yes it happened in his (Musharraf) tenure, but giving an impression that he or the army was aware or supervised it is wrong,” Kidwai said. “I would like to categorically say it is absolutely wrong, false.” He said they had evidence about Dr. Khan's network and “we can produce it in camera at any level- court, parliamentary committee, tribunal or any group of people.” Kidwai said a dozen centrifuges - used for enriching uranium - were sent to North Korea by Khan's network in 2000 and one was sent several years earlier. He said the government got suspicious about Khan's activities around the same time which finally led to his termination as head of the country's main nuclear research laboratory in 2001. (Posted @ 20:34 PST)
Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan says he read out written statement ISLAMABAD, July 5: Nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan Saturday said he was handed a pre-written statement and was asked to read out the same with an assurance that doing this would correct everything but “now I will not stay silent anymore and react to the allegations immediately and in the similar tone.” In his reaction to Director General, Strategic Plans Division, General (Retd.) Khalid Kidwai’s statement, Dr. Khan said “Dr. Kidwai has told a lie… I have not said anything on my own, I only repeated what President Musharraf had already said.” “I only got one sentence added to the pre-written draft handed over to me, which read - I did it in good faith,” Dr. Khan said. He complained he was not permitted to meet his ailing sister and that he himself was seriously ill at present. (Posted @ 20:25 PST)
16 children injured when tour bus collides with car in Austria KLAGENFURT, Austria, July 5 (APP/AP) - Sixteen children were injured after their tour bus collided with a car in the southern Austrian province of Carinthia Saturday, authorities said. Police said the bus veered off the highway and over an embankment and slammed into a tree. (Posted @ 20:08 PST)
Pakistan eases assault on militants to let elders negotiate BARA, Pakistan, July 5 (AP) Security forces eased an operation against insurgents in Pakistan’s Khyber tribal region as local elders tried to negotiate peace with a militant leader, a government official said Saturday. Earlier, the head of a tribal council involved in the talks said the paramilitary operation in the area had been halted. But Mohammad Ali, an official in charge of a crisis management center set up by the government in Peshawar to monitor the offensive, said it was still under way, though “in a mild tone.” Ali said security forces had stopped demolishing militant centers, and that the round-the-clock curfew in the troubled town of Bara was being relaxed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Amal Khan, leader of a 35-member council of elders, said he had met with Bagh and that the militant leader had showed interest in peacefully ending the operation. “Today, I will meet with the government to inform it of what we discussed with Mangal Bagh,” Khan said. On Saturday, shops in Bara were open, selling cloth, electronics and food. Paramilitary forces had only a minor visible presence in the area. A senior politician in the North West Frontier Province, requesting anonymity, said supporters of Lashkar-i-Islam and Ansarul Islam fled to the remote Tirah valley ahead of the crackdown. (Posted @ 19:38 PST)
Several thousand anti-G8 protesters rally in Japan SAPPORO, Japan, July 5 (Reuters) Several thousand people rallied Saturday on the streets of central Sapporo, Japan, to protest against a Group of Eight summit due to start next week at a luxury hotel a two-hour drive away. Four Japanese men were arrested, said a police official on the northern island of Hokkaido, of which Sapporo is the capital. The one-and-a-half hour march by Japanese and foreign activists, citizen groups and non-governmental organizations took place under heavy security ahead of the July 7-9 summit of the rich nations at the hot spring and lake resort of Toyako 70 km away. The protesters banged drums and carried colourful banners proclaiming “Shut Down the G8” and yelled: “We are against a summit of rich nations”. (Posted @ 19:08 PST)
Turkish army kills two PKK guerrillas ANKARA, July 5 (Reuters) Turkey's military Saturday killed two Kurdish guerrillas in operations carried out in a southeastern region of the country Friday, it said. The troops seized 46 guns and various equipment and documents belonging to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in an operation in Hakkari province on the Iraq-Turkey border. (Posted @ 18:36 PST)
Explosion in Somalia kills Mogadishu official and five others MOGADISHU, July 5 (AP) An explosion killed Somali official Hassan Illmi Abtidoon, his wife and four others Saturday in the capital Saturday, witnesses and officials said. In a separate attack, militants said they ambushed a convoy of Ethiopian troops allied to Somalia's transitional government, but the number of casualties was not immediately known. The attack on the Ethiopian troop convoy occurred near the Somalia-Ethiopia border, said Sheik Abdirahin Issa Adow, a militant spokesman. He said the fighters destroyed three vehicles and killed soldiers on two trucks, but did not know the number of casualties. Somali and Ethiopian officials were not immediately available to confirm the attack. (Posted @ 18:22 PST)
Govt committed to people’s welfare: PM Gilani ISLAMABAD, July 5 (APP): Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said Saturday the government is committed to providing basic necessities of life to people at their doorstep in line with the manifesto of PPP and the vision of Benazir Bhutto. Gilani was chairing a high-level meeting to review the compliance status of government's 100-Day Agenda at the PM's House. He was briefed on the major actions taken by the ministries in this regard. Prime Minister Gilani said despite facing many challenges the government has taken numerous steps for providing food and energy security to every citizen in both short and long term perspective in addition to restoring the confidence of the investors. He said the government has also launched conservation drive including reducing the budget of PM's House and PM Secretariat by 40%. In addition, he said the government has also taken steps for strengthening democratic institutions in the country and ensuring supremacy of parliament, independence of judiciary and freedom of media. (Posted @ 17:05 PST)
Explosion kills four in northern Yemen SANAA, July 5 (Reuters) At least four people were killed in an explosion near a postal office in the northern province of Saada in Yemen, a local official said Saturday. The cause of the explosion was not immediately known, he added. (Posted @ 16:25 PST)
One policeman killed, five wounded in attacks in Russia's restive Caucasus regions NAZRAN, Russia, July 5 (AP) A policeman was dead and at least five others injured in an array of attacks in the Caucasus regions, Russian officials said. Police said the officer was killed and another was injured when their armored vehicle came under grenade fire Saturday in the republic of Ingushetia. Another officer was wounded by gunfire in an attack in the Ingush town of Malgobek. Dagestan's Interior Ministry said three policemen were wounded Saturday when a bomb went off near their vehicle in the town of Khasavyurt. (Posted @ 16:20 PST)
India party backs government over nuclear deal NEW DELHI, India, July 5 (Reuters): A key regional party in India said on Saturday it backed the government over a controversial nuclear energy agreement with the United States, easing concerns the pact could trigger early elections. Support from the Samajwadi Party (SP) is likely to help the Congress Party-led ruling coalition secure a parliamentary majority if communist parties carry out their threat to withdraw support in protest at the nuclear deal. “The deal is in the interest of the nation, we should have come out in support of the deal a year ago,” SP leader Amar Singh told reporters in New Delhi. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
16 civilians killed in US strike ASADABAD, Afghanistan, July 5 (AFP) An Afghan provincial governor said Saturday 16 civilians including women, children and doctors were killed in US-led coalition air strikes but the force insisted the dead were militants. The strikes were Friday in Nuristan province’s Waygal district. Provincial governor Tamim Nuristani told AFP 16 civilians were killed as they were travelling out of the area after being told by security forces to leave ahead of an operation. “The casualties were all civilians. They included two women, two children and workers and shopkeepers travelling in two pick-up vehicles,” Nuristani told AFP. Two doctors and a female nurse were also dead, he said. “Altogether 16 people, all civilians, were killed,” he said. Seven other people were injured in the strike by attack helicopters, the governor said. District governor Zia-ul-Rehman said Friday that 22 civilians were killed in the strike. (Posted @ 15:40 PST)
Bomb recovered, Quetta averts a major terror plot QUETTA, Pakistan July 5 (APP): City police on Saturday foiled a major terror plot and recovered a powerful Russian made explosive device planted in a motorbike at Mezan Chowk here, police said. The motorbike was parked in front of Baldia Plaza at the heart of city's commercial center and could have caused huge loss to life and property. (Posted @ 15:30 PST)
Shut down in occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 5 (APP): A complete strike is being observed Saturday in occupied Kashmir in protest against the attack Shabbir Ahmad Shah, a senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference, and the destruction of properties of Muslims and Hurriyet leaders by Hindu extremists in Jammu region. The strike call was issued by APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, KMS reported. All business centres, educational institutions and courts are closed and traffic is off the road. Meanwhile, a young boy who was critically injured by Indian police firing at Nowhatta in Srinagar succumbed to his injuries. A large number of people participated in his funeral at Mazar-e-Shuda Eidhgah and later carried out a protest march. (Posted @ 15:15 PST)
25 killed in Syrian prison riot: rights group NICOSIA, Cyprus, July 5 (AFP): At least 25 inmates were killed by Syrian security forces during a riot in a jail for political prisoners in the mountains outside Damascus on Saturday, according to a human rights group. “Prisoners started a riot inside the prison this morning,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement received in Nicosia, quoting a political prisoner. “Shooting is continuing against the prisoners,” the group said. (First Posted @ 14.15, Updated @ 14:55 PST)
Insurgents attack cafe in Thailand's south, killing 3 BANGKOK, Thailand, July 5 (AP): Suspected insurgents in Thailand's south shot up a bustling cafe early Saturday, killing three customers and injuring four others, police said. The shooting occurred in a café frequented by police and soldiers in Raman district of Yala province, police said. (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Iran says offers talks without nuclear freeze TEHRAN, Iran, July 5 (AFP): Iran is ready to negotiate with world powers on its nuclear programme but without suspending its controversial uranium enrichment work, the government spokesman said on Saturday. “Iran will not go back on its rights on the nuclear issue,” Gholamhossein Elham said, in the first comments from Tehran since it handed over Friday a response to an international bid to end the nuclear standoff. “The will of the Iranian people is firm and will continue to follow the principles defined by the supreme guide (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei),” the spokesman said at a weekly news conference. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
10 killed in Syrian prison riot: rights group NICOSIA, Cyprus, July 5 (AFP): Ten inmates were shot dead during a riot in a Syrian jail outside Damascus on Saturday, according to a human rights group. “Prisoners started a riot inside the prison this morning and the number of people killed is 10,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement. “Shooting is continuing against the prisoners.” (Posted @ 14:15 PST)
35 Tamil rebels, 1 soldier killed in fighting in northern Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, July 5 (AP) - Government forces attacked Tamil Tiger rebels along Sri Lanka's northern front lines, triggering a series of gunbattles that killed 35 rebels and one soldier, the military said Saturday. The latest fighting broke out in the Jaffna, Vavuniya, Welioya and Mannar regions bordering the rebels' de facto state in the north on Friday, said a defence ministry official. The government had vowed to end the insurgency by the end of this year, but army chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka told reporters Monday it may take another year to defeat the rebels. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Shootings kill seven in restive Thai south YALA, Thailand, July 5 (AFP) - Seven people were killed in four separate shooting incidents in Thailand's troubled southern states, police said Saturday. In a drive-by shooting early Saturday, at least five militants in a pick-up truck opened fire on a tea shop in Yala province's Raman district, killing four villagers and wounding four others. A Buddhist man was killed in Bannang Sata district of Yala, a Thai Muslim man was shot dead in his pick-up in another drive-by shooting in the same area shortly afterwards, and in the neighbouring province of Pattani, a 56-year-old retired teacher was shot dead Friday evening in the Meung district after leaving a mosque. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Afghan MP shot dead, 10 Taliban killed laying landmine KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 5 (AFP) Unidentified gunmen shot dead Afghan legislator Habibullah Jan in Kandahar province late Friday, while 10 Taliban were killed laying a landmine in Helmand province, also on Friday, officials told AFP Saturday. Habibullah Jan, also the head of Kandahar's prominent Alizai tribe and a former commander of the 1979-1989 anti-Soviet resistance, was ambushed soon after leaving the home of one of his wives in his troubled home district of Zharai, district government Niaz Mohammad Sarhadi said. A spokesman for the Taliban said the movement was not involved in the shooting. Meanwhile, police in Helmand province said 10 rebels including one of their commanders, named Mullah Jabbar, were killed late Friday when a mine exploded as they were trying to lay the device near the town of Musa Qala. Their bodies were recovered by security forces, a statement said. (First Posted @ 09:55 PST, Updated @ 12:20 PST)
Cricket: Holding quits ICC over Oval Test result change LONDON, July 5, 2008 (AFP) - West Indies great Michael Holding has resigned from the International Cricket Council’s cricket committee in protest against the ICC's decision, taken at its board meeting in Dubai, to change the result of the 2006 Oval Test from an England win over Pakistan to a draw. While accepting Pakistan were not guilty of ball-tampering, Holding said their refusal to play should not go unpunished. “When you take certain actions, you must be quite happy to suffer the consequences,” he said while commentating for Sky Sports on Friday. “That game should never, ever be a draw. “I have just written my letter of resignation to the ICC cricket committee because I cannot agree with what they've done. “A lot of things that are happening today I don't want to be involved with, so I've moved on.” (Posted @ 11:05 PST)
US to help Pakistan in building prosperous, secure, free society LAHORE, July 5 (APP): US Principal Officer, Bryan Hunt Friday said the United States is fully committed to work with Pakistan on the full spectrum of bilateral issues and will support Pakistan's efforts to continue building a prosperous, secure and free society. Speaking at the 232nd independence celebration of USA at his residence, he said that US provided assistance and reimbursements in excess of $ 1.7 billion to Pakistan every year and it is mainly focused on wide range of shared economic, social and security-related development projects. The USAID contributed nearly $ 400 million annually towards development programs in education, health, economic growth, democracy and governance. During the last half decade, we have invested over $ 256 billion in Pakistan's basic and higher education, he said adding that recently USAID singed a $ 90 million “links to learning” project that will boost teacher education. (Posted @ 10:55 PST)
Pak nuke issue is a closed chapter: FO ISLAMABAD, July 5 (APP): Pakistan foreign office spokesman Friday said that Pakistan's nuclear proliferation issue is a closed chapter. He was reacting to an interview nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan gave to The Associated Press claiming that the uranium enrichment equipment was sent from Pakistan to North Korea in a North Korean plane that was loaded under the supervision of Pakistani security officials. (Posted @ 10:45 PST)
Zafarul Haq urges reinstatement of deposed judges through executive order ISLAMABAD, July 5 (APP): Deposed judges of superior judiciary should be reinstated through an executive order by revoking the controversial orders issued under emergency in November 2007, Chairman of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Raja Zafar ul Haq said Friday. Talking to Dawn News TV he urged ruling PPP to honour Bhurban declaration as enough delay has already occurred. The actions taken under emergency were totally wrong, immoral and illegal and should be revoked, he said. Responding to a question he said action in Khyber Agency was being taken without seeking consent of his party. He urged for negotiated settlement of disputes. (Posted @ 10:40 PST)
Train ploughs into car in Bangladesh; 6 killed DHAKA, Bangladesh July 5 (APP/AP)- Six people were killed when Mohanagar Express train traveling from Chittagong to Dhaka ploughed through a car at an unmanned crossing in Narshingdi district, 40 kilometers east of the capital, on Friday. Police said five people including the driver died at the scene while another died at hospital. (Posted @ 10:35 PST)
Americans celebrate Independence Day NEW YORK, July 5 (AP) - Americans across the country mixed patriotism and plain old good fun to mark Independence Day on Friday, with solemn ceremony alternating with parades, fireworks and hot-dog-eating hijinks. On the 232nd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Boy Scouts in Hartford, Connecticut, rang a replica of the Liberty Bell, while hundreds of thousands of people gathered to watch the country's largest fireworks display along New York's East River, moved south this year so onlookers would get a better view of the city skyline. (Posted @ 10:25 PST)
Heavy rain sweeps bus into river in El Salvador; 15 killed SAN SALVADOR, July 5 (Reuters) - At least 15 people died and 28 others were missing after intense rains in El Salvador, which swept a passenger bus into a river on the edge of the capital, rescue workers said on Friday. Seven of the dead were killed when their bus was pulled into a river on the impoverished outskirts of San Salvador on Thursday night as it tried to drive through a flooded road crossing. The force of the water smashed the bus, which was carrying evangelists back from church, into a bridge and split it in two. Separately, eight people including a young girl drowned in a swollen river in central El Salvador and five were missing after unexpected rains across the small Central American country. (Posted @ 10: 20 PST)
Cricket: Australia win 4th ODI against WI BASSETERRE, St Kitts, July 5 (AFP) - Andrew Symonds top scored with 87 and David Hussey supported with 50 to help Australia to a thrilling one-run win on Friday over West Indies in the fourth One-day International in St Kitts. The Aussies made 282-8 while their hosts replied with 281-6 at Warner Park. Australia lead the five-match series 4-0 after winning the opening match by 84 runs in St. Vincent, the rain-affected second ODI last Friday by 63 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis Method, and the third ODI last Sunday by seven wickets. (Posted @ 10:10 PST)
10,000 protest over violence against Asians in New Zealand AUCKLAND, July 5 (AFP) - An estimated 10,000 people took part in a rally in pouring rain in Auckland on Saturday to protest against violence against Asians in the city. The march was organised by the Asian Anti-Crime group and included people carrying coffins and placards with pictures of those killed. Liquor store owner Navtej Singh was shot and killed during a robbery at his shop on June 7. A week later 80-year-old Yan Ping Yang died after being attacked by an intruder in her home. And Joanne Wang, 39, died in hospital in late June after being knocked down by a stolen vehicle in a shopping mall car park after her handbag was snatched. (Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Afghan MP shot dead KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 5 (AFP) - Unidentified gunmen shot dead a member of Afghanistan's parliament in Kandahar province on Friday evening. “Habibullah Jan was shot dead by unknown gunmen while going home”, said Niaz Mohammad Sarhadi, governor of Zharai district where the MP was killed. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Major quake hits region of Okhotsk Sea WASHINGTON, July 5 (AFP) - A major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 hit the region of the Sea of Okhotsk early Saturday, the US Geological Survey reported. The epicentre of the quake, at a depth of 605 kilometres, was said to be 384 kilometres west-northwest of the Russian far eastern city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy. It occurred at 0212 GMT, the USGS said. (Posted @ 09:53 PST)
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Editor: Abbas Nasir
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