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| August 03, 2008 | Sunday | Rajab 30, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 Climbing catastrophe as 9 perish on Pakistan’s K-2 GILGIT, Pakistan, Aug 3 (Reuters) - At least nine climbers have perished on K-2, the world's second highest peak, in Pakistan in one of the blackest days in the sport of mountaineering and the toll could rise, expedition organisers said on Sunday. Those confirmed dead included three South Koreans, two Nepalese, along with Serbian, Norwegian, Dutch and French climbers. Unconfirmed reports said one Pakistani had died and several foreign and local climbers were unaccounted for. Catastrophe struck on Friday, when a chunk of ice broke off from a serac, a pillar or cuboid of ice, and tore away fixed lines from a perilous steep gully known as the Bottleneck, above 8,200 metres (26,902 ft). Several expeditions were on the mountain, including a Korean team that was making its descent after summiting the 8,611 metre peak. The Korean team lost five members, including the two Nepalese in the ice fall. Three more fatalities were confirmed by Brigadier Mohammad Akram, vice president of Pakistan's Adventure Foundation. “We don't have names of dead climbers but it has been confirmed that one Dutch, one Norwegian and one French are in the tally of dead,” Akram said. A Serbian climber, identified as Dren Mandic on various mountaineering websites, fell to his death earlier on Friday during the ascent and a Pakistani sherpa was also believed to have died.. “According to the rumours from the various expeditions at the base camp, there should be nine people dead and four still missing,” the head of Italian group, Agostino Da Polenza, who is in Italy, told SkyItalia television. Around a dozen climbers were stranded at Bottleneck, at an altitude known as the “Death Zone” because bodies begin degenerating because of lack of oxygen. A few were either seen or reported to have made their way back to camps, still high on the mountain. The seven surviving members of the Korean team had descended to camps lower down. “We were told that some climbers are still returning to the camps,” Major Farooq Firoz, an army spokesman, said. A Dutch expedition said on its website that three of its team were descending from Camp Three, at 7,350 metres. Two of them were suffering from frostbite. But it said there was no information about a French climber Hugues d'Aubarede, Irish climber Gerard McDonnell, and a third climber identified as Karim. “We're still discussing the possibilities of an operation because the altitude where the accident occured is very high,” army spokesman Major Farooq Firoz said. “We can take a helicopter up there to drop medicines and supplies but carrying out any operation is very difficult,” he said. (First Posted @ 16:48 PST Updated @ 20:10 PST)  Gilani, Karzai agree to counter terrorism jointly COLOMBO, Aug 3 (APP): Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met over breakfast on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit Sunday and agreed to come up with strategy to tackle terrorism and extremism. According to a joint statement issued after the meeting, both sides agreed that there was a need for the two governments to engage on all issues across the board with a view to developing a common strategy to overcome the challenges posed to the security and stability of both countries by terrorism and extremism. The two sides agreed to coordinate their efforts to stop cross border terrorism. The two leaders agreed theirforeign ministers meet to prepare grounds for a framework for close and constructive engagement between the two countries to build confidence and develop a common strategy at the political, military and intelligence levels in collaboration with their coalition partners and NATO and ISAF. They also stressed the importance of closer bilateral engagement at the leadership level and at Afghanistan's suggestion, agreed that the engagement should also lead to expediting the process of convening the mini Jirga as soon as possible. The Afghan side agreed to re-engage on all bilateral and multilateral forums. (Posted @ 18:34 PST) Pakistan PM says Indian accusations hurt peace process COLOMBO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Pakistan prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said there was no evidence linking his country to attacks on India, adding such accusations had hurt the peace process, Sri Lanka's Sunday Leader newspaper reported Sunday. “The Indian statement is not only surprising but shocking too,” he told the newspaper in an interview. “There were also bombing incidents in Pakistan subsequently, but we have not pointed fingers at anyone as we believe in carrying out investigations before laying responsibility.” “Such baseless accusations serve no purpose other than vitiating bilateral atmosphere,” he said. “It is important that the blame game is avoided, as both countries have an institutionalised counter-terror mechanism which is functioning satisfactorily.” He was referring to a 2006 anti-terrorism mechanism they established to provide a platform for information exchange and assistance in investigations. (Posted @ 20:30 PST) SAARC Summit concludes with commitment for strengthening cooperation Colombo, Aug 03 (PPI)- The 15th SAARC summit concluded in Colombo with a renewed commitment for strengthening cooperation to combat terrorism besides promoting cooperation in the fields of energy, economy, environment and education to bring peace and stability for the progress and prosperity of the people of South Asia. The leaders signed the Charter of SAARC Development Fund, agreement on the establishment of SAARC regional Standards Organization, SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and the Protocol on the Accession of Afghanistan to SAFTA. In a declaration the leaders of SAARC countries reaffirmed their commitment for making collective efforts to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development and also resolved to adhere to the principles and objectives of the association enshrine in the SAARC Charter and work together for improving the quality of life of their peoples by contributing to peace, stability and progress in the region. The summit noted with satisfaction that SAARC is now entering into implementation phase. They observed that escalation in oil prices demands immediate attention of the member states to concentrate on alternate energy resources. They also expressed satisfaction over the signing of charter of SAARC development funds and reiterated their commitment to implement SAFTA in letter and spirit. (Posted @ 19:16 PST) Pakistan needs more time to tackle terrorism: Boucher COLOMBO, Aug 3 (AFP) - US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher, who attended the 15th SAARC summit as an observer, has said he believed Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was determined to “conquer the problems of extremism and terrorism.” ”We welcome the statement he made about looking into the causes and sources of the Kabul bombing,” Boucher told reporters, adding that Pakistan's new government needed more time to tackle terrorism. “I do remember it's a new government. There are enormous challenges,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the summit in the Sri Lankan capital. Gilani also met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday, and “the two sides agreed to coordinate their efforts to stop cross border terrorism,” a joint statement said. SAARC groups Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. (Posted @ 21:34 PST)  Taliban kill 'US spy', kidnap police official in Pakistani tribal area KHAR, Pakistan, Aug 3 (AFP) - Taliban militants shot dead an Afghan refugee accusing him of spying for the US-led military in Afghanistan and kidnapped a policeman in a Pakistani tribal area, officials said Sunday. The bullet-riddled body of Afghan Qasim Jan was found on Sunday in a drain in restive Bajaur tribal district, a tribal administration official told AFP. Separately, militants kidnapped a tribal police official but there were no further details available about the incident, the official said. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Tehreek-e-Taliban (Taliban movement) Pakistan, Maulvi Omar, asked the government to immediately stop military operations in tribal areas and resume peace talks. “The government must stop military operations and start dialogue,” Omar told AFP via telephone. “If the government starts any military operation in Bajaur, Mohmand or any other tribal district, then we will give a befitting reply,” he warned. (Posted @ 20:36 PST) PM's US visit could not achieve its objectives : Pervaiz Elahi LAHORE, Aug 3 (APP): Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Ch Pervaiz Elahi Sunday claimed that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's visit to the United States could not achieve the objectives set by the government. Addressing a press conference he said issues like Kashmir, Pak-US trade, nuclear deal of US with India and other matters of key importance should have been discussed during the visit. He also said the government has failed both on internal and external fronts and the PML-Q regretted giving vote of confidence to the Prime Minister. Pervaiz Elahi said the government is talking about the supremacy of parliament, but making decisions out of the august house. “One of their favourite things is to blame the previous government for all the ills just to cover their weaknesses,” he said. Criticising the Punjab Chief Minister, he said Shahbaz Sharif is in the habit of abusing government officials and others and it is for this reason that the bureaucracy is not cooperating with him and masses are suffering. (Posted @ 18:24 PST) Stampede kills 123, injures hundreds of Hindu worshippers in India CHANDIGARH, India, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The death toll in a stampede at a temple in northern India on Sunday rose to at least 123 people, police said. Iron railings leading to a Hindu temple in the state of Himachal Pradesh broke, causing the stampede, senior police officers said. “As off now we have 123 people dead, including more than 30 children,” Daljit Singh Manhas, a senior police officer told Reuters by telephone. Another couple of hundred were injured, many seriously. (First Posted @ 17:40 PST Updated @ 20:14 PST) India: 40 killed as bus plunges into river PATNA, Aug 3 (AP): Police in northern India said 40 farm laborers died after the truck carrying them home from the fields plunged into a river. Police officer S. P. Shukla said 35 people were killed in the accident late Saturday and five others died in hospital. At least 80 people were believed to have been crammed into the back of the truck when the driver lost control, sending the vehicle into the river near the village of Ghoomsa, some 130 kilometers south of Patna, capital of Bihar state. (Posted @ 12:40 PST) Four killed in 'crude bomb' blast in Kolkata KOLKATA, Aug 3 (AFP) - Four people were killed and several injured Sunday in a “crude bomb” blast in a slum in India's eastern city of Kolkata. Police said the device was left at a garbage dump in a slum, but ruled out the possibility of an organized terrorist attack. (Posted @ 21:26 PST) Israel sends fleeing Fatah men back to Gaza GAZA CITY, Aug 3 (AFP) -Israel began sending Fatah members who had fled deadly clashes in the Gaza Strip back to the territory on Sunday at the request of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Israeli security officials said. Those crossing back into the Gaza Strip were immediately detained for questioning by the Hamas-run security forces, a Hamas official said. More than 20 people who were evacuated from Gaza and hospitalised for wounds inflicted in the fighting will remain in Israel until they recover. The Fatah supporters had fled Gaza on Saturday after 11 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in clashes between Hamas-run security forces and the pro-Fatah Helis clan. (Posted @ 21:14 PST) At least 20 killed, 40 injured in Mogadishu bomb carnage MOGADISHU, Aug 3 (AFP) - A roadside bomb caused carnage in Somalia Sunday with a group of women sweeping a Mogadishu street “torn to pieces” amid a body count of at least 20 civilians, according to witnesses and medics. Another 40 were injured, many seriously. “They were cleaning the street when this huge explosion rocked the entire neighbourhood. I counted 15 bodies, most of them are women who were torn to pieces,” eyewitnesses said. (Posted @ 19:38 PST) Russia: 1 dead, 3 wounded in latest attack in Ingushetia MOSCOW, Aug 3 (APP/AP): One police officer was killed and three policemen were wounded after their vehicle came under attack by unknown assailants overnight Sunday near the village of Stanitsa in Ingushetia, Police said. Ingushetia shares a border with war-torn Chechnya. (Posted @ 19:12 PST) Cricket: Vaughan quits as England captain LONDON, Aug 3 (AFP) - Michael Vaughan on Sunday resigned as England cricket captain. His decision follows Saturday's five-wicket defeat against South Africa in the third Test at Edgbaston, which gave the Proteas an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series. “I've made the decision to stand down as England captain,” a tearful Vaughan told a press conference. “I felt if I kept going my career could come to an abrupt end. Hopefully, this can prolong my career. “I will carry on playing because I think there are a lot more runs in me. “This decision will prolong my career.” Vaughan said he does not want to be considered for the final Test of the series and would take a break to consider his future before coming back and finishing the season for county cricket side Yorkshire. “I will take a break from the game so I won't be playing at The Oval,” he said. (Posted @ 19:30 PST) Al-Qaeda says 4 leaders including al-Masri killed in Pakistan airstrike CAIRO, Egypt, Aug 3 (AP) - Al-Qaeda confirmed in a Web statement Sunday the death of Abu Khabab al-Masri, a top explosives and poisons expert, who is believed to have been killed in a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan last week. The statement said al-Masri and three other commanders were killed but did not give details on when or how they were killed, but Pakistani authorities have said they believe al-Masri died in an American airstrike last Monday on a compound near the Afghan border. Pakistani officials have said six people were killed in that strike, in the country's South Waziristan tribal region. The statement dated July 30 and signed by al-Qaeda's top Afghan leader, Mustafa Abu al-Yazeed, identified the other three slain leaders, also seemed to be Egyptians, as Abu Mohammed Ibrahim bin Abi Farag al-Masri, Abdul-Wahab al-Masri and Abu Islam al-Masri. The statement said some of their children were killed with them but gave no further details. (First Posted @ 17:44 PST Updated @ 18:10 PST) Cricket: Collingwood quits as England one-day captain LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Paul Collingwood has stepped down as England's one-day captain, the ECB said on Sunday. “Paul Collingwood has informed the selectors he will be standing down as England's one-day captain,” Hugh Morris, managing director of the England team, told a news conference. (Posted @ 20:18 PST) Cricket: India beat Sri Lanka to square Test series GALLE, Sri Lanka, Aug 3 (AFP) - India beat Sri Lanka by 170 runs on the fourth day of the second Test at the Galle International Stadium here on Sunday to square the three-match series 1-1. Sri Lanka, who won the opening match by an innings and 239 runs in Colombo, were dismissed for 136 in their second innings chasing a 307-run target. Brief scores: India 329 and 269; Sri Lanka 292 and 136. (Posted @ 17:14 PST) Cricket: South Africa beat England by five wickets in 3rd test BIRMINGHAM, England, Aug 3 (Reuters) – Greame Smith played a captain’s innings of 154 not out as South Africa beat England by five wickets on the fourth day of the third test at Edgbaston on Saturday. South Africa now have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series Scores: England 231 (Cook 76, Bell 50) and 363 (Collingwood 135, Pietersen 94, Morkel 4-97), South Africa 314 (McKenzie 72, Kallis 64, Flintoff 4-89) and 283-5 (G.Smith 154 not out). (Posted @ 17:10 PST) Car bomb kills 12 in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Aug 3 (Reuters) - A car bomb killed 12 people and wounded 22 others in a Sunni Arab area of Baghdad on Sunday, police said. The parked vehicle exploded on a commercial street in Adhamiya district. (First Posted @ 12:50 PST Updated @ 16:54 PST) Algeria car bomb wounds 21 TIZI OUZOU, Algeria, Aug 3 (Reuters) - A car bomb exploded near a police station in a town east of Algiers early Sunday morning, wounding 21 people including six policemen. The blast happened in Tizi Ouzou, the main town in the mountainous Berber-speaking Kabylie region of northern Algeria, an Interior Ministry statement said. (Posted @ 16:44 PST) Thai troops occupy second temple on Cambodian border PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Aug 3 (AP): Cambodia said Thai soldiers had occupied a second temple site along on the countries' border, a new twist in an ongoing armed standoff that nearly led to clashes between the neighbors. A Cambodian spokesman said Sunday about 70 Thai soldiers had occupied the 13th century Ta Moan Thom temple since Thursday. The site is located on a northwestern region of Cambodian border with Thailand. A Thai foreign ministry spokesman said he was not aware of the latest confrontation. (Posted @ 14:10 PST) Chinese farmer slashes six to death BEIJING, Aug 3 (Reuters): An apparently deranged Chinese farmer slashed six people to death, including a woman in her 80s, using a sickle and rice cutter, state media reported Sunday. The dead included, besides the elderly woman, two brothers in their 60s and a boy aged seven. The boy's mother was also attacked and is in a serious condition in hospital, the report said. Police offered no motive for the farmer's eruption of violence. Villagers said he had spent time in a psychiatric hospital. (Posted @ 13:30 PST) US soldier dies in Iraq BAGHDAD, Aug 3 (AP): The U.S. military said an American soldier had died in a non-combat incident in Iraq. It said the soldier died and another one was wounded Saturday during a road accident north of Baghdad. This was the first reported death of an American soldier in August. At least 4,128 members of the U.S. military have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. (Posted @ 12:35 PST) Communist rebels claim killing six Philippine soldiers in ambush MANILA, Aug 3 (AFP): Communist guerrillas said Sunday they killed six soldiers and wounded nine others in an ambush on troops in the northern Philippines. The New People's Army (NPA) rebels attacked the army troopers in Abra province Saturday, triggering a five-minute firefight, spokesman Diego Wadagan said. He said they launched the attack to prevent troops from establishing encampments in the remote town. The claim could not be confirmed by the army. Two soldiers were killed in an ambush Friday in the same province, where rebels also bombed two cellular telephone towers last week. (Posted @ 12:05 PST) Seven bombs hit southern Thai tourist towns YALA, Aug 3 (AFP): Seven small bombs planted at shops and restaurants exploded in the southern Thai tourist towns of Hat Yai and Songkhla, injuring two people, the health ministry said Sunday. Two bombs hit Hat Yai and five exploded in Songkhla Town within hours of each other late Saturday. Both towns are in Songkhla province, which borders two southern provinces beset by a separatist insurgency. The bombs hit 7-Eleven convenience stores, a restaurant, a tea shop and a police checkpoint, with the first blasts heard at about 1400 GMT. (Posted @ 11:50 PST) Sri Lanka military enters rebel capital, captures town COLOMBO, Aug 3 (Reuters): Sri Lanka's military entered the rebels' de-facto capital in the north of the island, killing 20 Tamil Tiger rebels after fierce fighting, the defence ministry said late on Saturday. “Troops crossed the district borders between Mannar and Kilinochchi districts at an undisclosed location,” the defence ministry said in its website www.defence.lk. Two soldiers were killed in the operation. The rebel capital in the island's northern district of Kilinochchi is where the elusive rebel leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran is believed to be hiding. The military also captured one of the main rebel strongholds, Vellankulam town, killing 30 rebels in northern Mannar district, the ministry said. The rebels said they killed 30 Sri Lanka soldiers, thwarting an offensive in Mallavi in northern Mullaiteevu district. “Three dead bodies of SLA soldiers were recovered by the Tigers,” the group said in its website www.tamilnet.com. The website also posted pictures of dead bodies of the three soldiers with arms captured by them. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
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