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| August 05, 2008 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 2, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 Pakistan demands access to Dr Aafia Siddiqui in U.S. KARACHI, Aug 5 (Reuters): Pakistan demanded consular access to Dr Aafia Siddiqui, accused of suspected links to al Qaeda. She is due to be arraigned in New York on Tuesday on charges of attempting to murder U.S. troops and FBI agents in Afghanistan. Pakistan's ambassador to Washington made the request for consular access on Monday, Pakistan's state-run news agency said. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) demanded the Pakistani government intervene and secure her release. “Dr. Aafia's case is a reminder of the grave injustice done to God knows how many Pakistanis in U.S. detention facilities in Bagram in Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere, who have been listed as missing” an HRCP statement said. The story of her arrest is one of the strangest to emerge since the Sept. 11, 2001 al Qaeda attacks on the United States. Family members said Siddiqui was raped and tortured at Bagram, although they did not say how they knew this. The New York Times newspaper said Dr Aafia Siddiqui had links to at least two of 14 suspected high-level Al-Qaeda members held in Guantanamo Bay. (Posted @ 21:05 PST)  Aafia Siddiqui charged in NY with soldier attack NEW YORK, Aug 5 (AP): Aafia Siddiqui, an MIT-educated Pakistani woman, once identified as a possible Al Qaeda associate has been brought to New York to face the charges that she tried to kill U.S. agents and military officers during an interrogation in Afghanistan, federal prosecutors said. Siddiqui, who was shot and wounded last month during the confrontation, was expected to be arraigned Tuesday in a federal court in Manhattan on charges of attempted murder and assault, U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said in a statement. Aafia’s family attorney, Elaine Whitfield Sharp, said the allegations were false. Siddiqui, 36, was stopped by Afghan police on July 17 outside a government building, according to a criminal complaint. Police searched her handbag and discovered documents containing recipes for explosives and chemical weapons and describing “various landmarks in the United States, including New York City,” according to the complaint, which did not identify the landmarks. The next day, as a team of FBI agents and U.S. military officers prepared to question her, Siddiqui grabbed a rifle, pointed it at an army captain and yelled that she wanted blood, prosecutors said. An interpreter pushed the rifle aside as she fired two shots, which missed, they said. One of two shots fired by a soldier in response hit her in the torso. Even after being hit, Siddiqui struggled and shouted in English “that she wanted to kill Americans” before the officers subdued her, the complaint said. Sharp called the charges “a tall story.” At the time of the incident, Afghan officials gave conflicting accounts of what transpired. U.S. military officials declined comment. Siddiqui is charged with one count each of attempted murder and assault. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison on each charge. (First Posted @ 11:35 PST, Updated @ 16:45 PST) Aafia Siddiqui’s family says death threats received KARACHI, Aug 5 (AFP): The family of Aafia Siddiqui, facing terrorism charges in the United States said Tuesday that they had received death threats warning them not to discuss her case. Mother-of-three Aafia Siddiqui was extradited to the United States on charges of shooting at US soldiers while in detention in Afghanistan, a US attorney said. Siddiqui, 36, disappeared from Karachi in 2003 and appeared on a list of US suspects linked to Al-Qaeda the following year. “Our lives are in serious danger,” her sister Fauzia Siddiqui, a doctor living in Karachi, told AFP. “We are receiving threats through phone calls and SMS not to dicuss or pursue Aafia's case. I do not know who are the people threatening us,” she said. (Posted @ 17:00 PST)  PPP, PML-N leaders discuss how to reinstate judges ISLAMABAD, Aug 5 (AP): The leaders of Pakistan's ruling coalition agreed on Tuesday to continue their talks on the issue of restoring judges. Farhatullah Babar, spokesman for Pakistan People's Party, said party chief Asif Ali Zardari met former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at his Islamabad residence, and the two leaders “will again meet on Wednesday.” Babar provided no details about the six hours of talks on Tuesday. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said he would press Zardari for reinstatement of judges fired. Sharif's spokesman, Siddiqul Farooq, described the meeting as crucial for the future of the alliance. (Posted @ 21:15 PST) Taliban threaten suicide bombings in Pakistan KHAR, Pakistan, Aug 5 (AP): A Taliban spokesman on Tuesday warned Pakistan's government to end a military crackdown against insurgents or face suicide bombings. Maulvi Umar, spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, said the government had run out of time and must stop the military operation in Swat Valley, where clashes this week left 125 dead. “Our ultimatum has ended. They have made a strike and it is our turn to strike whether it will be tomorrow or whenever,” Umar told a news conference in a village mosque in Bajur tribal region bordering Afghanistan. He accused the government of violating the accord and threatened suicide bombings and other attacks targeting the government and senior officials. Meanwhile in Bajur, a clash between security forces and militants left one paramilitary soldier dead Tuesday. (Posted @ 20:50 PST) Two dead, four missing in Tokyo rains TOKYO, Aug 5 (AFP): Two people were killed Tuesday and four others were missing after being swept away in a Tokyo sewage system as torrential rain drenched the Japanese capital, officials and reports said. Six workers, including a 49-year-old victim, were working on a sewage pipe in central Tokyo as thunderstorms swept the capital. One of them escaped but five others were washed away, said a spokesman for the Tokyo Fire Department. Kyodo News reported by around noon, 58 millimetres of rainfall were recorded in Tokyo, according to the weather agency. (Posted @ 23:45 PST) Oil falls to three-month low of $118 LONDON, Aug 5 (Reuters): Oil fell to $118 a barrel on Tuesday, a three-month low, as investors focused on rising OPEC supply and declining demand in the United States and Europe. The loss extends a slide from the July 11 record high of $147.27 a barrel, despite a Gulf of Mexico storm that has curbed oil output, and is prompting some to say that oil's rally has run its course for now. Asked how far prices could fall, an analyst said: “Probably to about $100 within the next month if you keep on getting weak demand data.” U.S. crude was down $1.89 at $119.52 a barrel by 1310 GMT and fell as far as $118.00, the lowest price since May 5. London Brent crude lost $2.10 to $118.58. Other commodities such as copper, gold and platinum also fell, hit by concern slower economic growth will limit demand and as the dollar rose, making commodities priced in dollars more expensive for holders of other currencies. (Posted @ 23:15 PST) Six powers to hold talks Wednesday on Iran nuclear program WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (AFP): The six world powers involved with talks on Iran's nuclear program will hold a conference call Wednesday to decide the next step, after Tehran defied calls to give a final answer to an incentives package, a US State Department spokesman said Tuesday. (Posted @ 22:45 PST) Pakistan pugilists to miss first Olympics in 48 years BEIJING, Aug. 5 (APP): Pakistan’s pugilists, once a force to be reckoned with in Asia, will not be in action in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as they failed to qualify for the first time in 48 years for the world's greatest sporting show. “It is disappointing our boxers will not be action here in Beijing,” commented Pakistan Chef de mission Syed Aqil Shah. “I think after hockey, fans always pinned some hopes on boxers, he said. (Posted @ 22:30 PST) Two die, eight injured in road mishap near Rawalpindi Fateh Jang, Aug 5 (PPI): Two passengers died and eight were,injured when a vehicle plunged into a ravine near Qutbal. The vehicle bearing registration number LZB-5147, was on its way from Rawalpindi to Fateh Jang when its trye burst and it fell into a deep ditch. Residents of the area reached the scene and provided relief to victims of the accident. (Posted @ 22:00 PST) 10 injured in coach-truck collision Mirpurkhas, August 5 (PPI): Ten people were injured in a road accident last night near Mirpurkhas. A coach was on its way to Mirpurkhas from Hyderabad when it collided with a truck at Hyderabad Road near Dargah Masoom Shah, injuring 10 people. The injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Mirpurkhas. (Posted @ 21:40 PST) Strong quake hits two China provinces ahead of Games BEIJING, Aug 5 (Reuters): A strong earthquake rocked the western Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Gansu Tuesday, killing one person and injuring 23 near the site of May's devastating quake that killed at least 70,000 people. The 6.0-magnitude quake was epicentred in Sichuan's Qingchuan county, 1,253 km southwest of Beijing, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Five people were seriously injured in the tremor, which had toppled a bridge cutting off a national highway, and cut roads to at least three villages, the official Xinhua news agency said. (First Posted 16:20 PST Updated @ 20:55 PST) Secret deal kept British troops out of Basra: report LONDON, Aug 5 (Reuters): A British newspaper said Tuesday British soldiers in Iraq had been prevented from coming to the aid of American and Iraqi allies during battles in Basra because of a deal with the Mehdi Army militia. The Times said 4,000 British troops were forced to watch from the sidelines for almost a week in March while U.S. and Iraqi forces battled militants in the southern city because of the deal with the Shi'ite group led by cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Britain's Ministry of Defence denied any secret deal or accommodation had kept its troops out of Basra, and said British forces had provided a “raft of military support” to the Iraqi operation. (Posted @ 20:50 PST) Bangladesh extends medical parole for ex-PM Hasina Wajed DHAKA, Aug 5 (Reuters): Bangladesh extended the parole of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for a month so she can receive more medical treatment in the United States, a government statement said Tuesday. “The parole has been extended until Sept. 7 following a petition by her husband Dr Wazed Miah,” the statement said. (Posted @ 20:30 PST) IOC medical chief suspects Russian athletes of systematic doping BEIJING, Aug 5 (AP): The head of the IOC's medical commission said seven Russian female track and field athletes, accused of tampering with their urine samples, appeared to be involved in a case of “systematic doping.” Seven Russian women were provisionally suspended last week by the IAAF in the doping scandal. They included a world record-holder and world champion middle-distance runner who was favored to win both the 800 and 1,500 meters at the Beijing Olympics. He called on the Russian track and field federation to investigate. (Posted @ 20:20 PST) Violent storms cause damage in Illinois, Indiana CHICAGO, Aug 5 (AP): Severe thunderstorms plowed across America's Midwest during the night, ripping roofs from buildings and blacking out thousands of homes and businesses. By midmorning Tuesday, storms with locally heavy rain still stretched from eastern Iowa across Illinois and Indiana into Ohio. Late Monday, the storms set off tornado warnings for downtown Chicago. The National Weather Service did not immediately confirm any tornado touchdowns. (Posted @ 20:00 PST) Protests, clashes continue in Indian Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Aug 5 (AP): Hundreds of Muslim protesters clashed Tuesday with Indian forces in Srinagar, in Indian occupied Kashmir, a day after a Muslim protester was killed amid alleged assaults on Muslims in the occupied state's Hindu-majority Jammu region. Protesters pelted stones at the police and paramilitary who responded by firing tear gas shells to break up the demonstrations at many places, said a Central Reserve Police Force spokesman. Shops, businesses and schools remained closed for the second day on Tuesday in Srinagar. To control the spiraling violence, cell phone service providers in occupied Kashmir were told to block text messaging to control the anger, senior government officials said. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called a meeting of India's political parties on Wednesday to discuss the situation. (Posted @ 19:50 PST) Thai troops withdraw from one disputed temple PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Aug 5 (Reuters): A detachment of Thai soldiers at an ancient temple on the disputed border with Cambodia pulled back on Tuesday, a Cambodian general said, raising hopes of a peaceful end to a much bigger military face-off at a second site. “The military tension is over,” Cambodian deputy military chief Pov Heng told Reuters in Phnom Penh after the Thai withdrawal from the 13th century Ta Moan Thom temple sitting on the natural escarpment dividing the two south-east Asian nations. Earlier, a Thai officer told Reuters the two sides had agreed to resume joint patrols around the temple to ease tensions in the area. (Posted @ 19:35 PST) Russian arms sales to set new record: official MOSCOW, Aug 5 (AP): Russian arms sales are set to reach a new post-Soviet record this year, a top official said Tuesday. Weapons exports will exceed $8 billion this year, Russian news agencies quoted Mikhail Dmitriyev, head of the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, as saying. Arms sales reached a post-Soviet record of US$7.5 billion last year and are on track to surpass that for 2008.(Posted @ 19:10 PST) Israeli policeman arrested JERUSALEM, Aug 5 (AP): Israeli police say they have arrested a policeman in connection with the death of a Palestinian boy at a protest in the West Bank. The 10-year old boy was killed by gunfire last week during clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians in the West Bank village of Naalin. A police spokesman said Tuesday the authorities detained a member of the paramilitary Border Police and put him under house arrest while the investigation continues. (Posted @ 18:45 PST) Four US-led soldiers injured, five Taliban killed KANDAHAR, Aug 5 (AFP): Four US-led soldiers were wounded in a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan, the force said Tuesday, as five insurgents died in a clash with police. The soldiers, whose nationalities were not released, were injured when their vehicle hit an improvised bomb in the western province of Farah on Monday, said a US military spokesman. One of the troopers sustained several wounds, while others were slightly hurt, he told AFP. Separately, five Taliban-linked militants were killed Monday after they ambushed a police patrol in the insurgency-hit southern province of Kandahar, a police official said. (Posted @ 18:10 PST) Montenegro court convicts 17 ethnic Albanians BELGRADE, Serbia, Aug 5 (AP): A Montenegrin court says a group of ethnic Albanians are guilty of plotting a rebellion in the Balkan country. Four U.S. citizens are among those convicted. Judge Ivica Stankovic has issued prison sentences ranging from 3 months to 6.6 years. He says 12 defendants are guilty of “conspiring against the constitution and planning acts against the security of Montenegro.” They include four U.S. citizens. All four are from Michigan. The judge said in his ruling Tuesday that five others are guilty of illegal weapons possession. (Posted @ 17:55 PST) At least 20 killed in Myanmar jade mine landslide YANGON, Aug 5 (Reuters): At least 20 people were killed when the slag heap from a jade mine in military-ruled Myanmar collapsed late last month after torrential rain, industry sources said on Tuesday. “A number of people panning for gold in the earth were buried alive,” a person involved in the jade industry in Yangon told Reuters, saying they had heard about the July 30 incident through traders in the northern state of Kachin, where it happened. Official media made no mention of the tragedy, which the source said occurred at the Hmawzizar Jade Mine in Phakant, a major jade mining area about 1,500 km north of Yangon. (Posted @ 17:55 PST) Militants attack Philippine troops after deal halted COTABATO, Philippines, Aug 5 (AFP): Muslim separatists traded mortar fire with troops in the southern Philippines just hours after the Supreme Court stopped a land deal between them and the government, the military said Tuesday. The mortar attack by an unknown number of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) militants on soldiers stationed near Midsayap town lasted for about half an hour late Monday, the military said. The Supreme Court in Manila on Monday stopped the government from signing a deal that would have given MILF administrative and economic power over a large semi-autonomous area in southern Mindanao Island. (Posted @ 17:35 PST) Ex-PM Hasina followers win Bangladesh local vote DHAKA, Aug 5 (Reuters): Unofficial results from local elections in Bangladesh showed that followers of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina won almost all the positions in a free, fair and peaceful vote, poll officials said. Local leaders of her Awami League won the four posts for city mayor and captured most of the positions in the municipalities as well, election commission officials said. Hasina's followers also won eight out of nine municipalities, defeating challengers mostly from the BNP, officials added. Neither party fielded people directly to contest the local polls but backed those who stood as independents because of a government ruling banning direct involvement of parties. The High Court late last week reversed that ruling, allowing parties to take part in forthcoming rounds of local polls. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Bush greeted by demonstrations in South Korea SEOUL, Aug 5 (AP): Thousands of South Koreans prayed to welcome U.S. President George W. Bush while hundreds of others demonstrated against his policies as the American leader arrived Tuesday for a summit on the future of the countries' long-standing alliance. Bush was to meet Wednesday with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, whose new government has faced weeks of protests over his effort to improve ties with Washington by allowing renewed imports of American beef. Bush held off on visiting Seoul earlier this year while protesters staged nightly candlelight vigils and repeatedly clashed with riot police in anger over government plans to resume meat imports. Bush's visit was the spark for the latest rally in Seoul, with a crowd that police placed at about 1,500 marching to a downtown stream for a demonstration against the American visit. (Posted @ 16:40 PST) 18 foreign terrorists arrested in China's northwest: official KASHGAR, Aug 5 (AFP): Eighteen foreign terrorists have been arrested in China's Muslim-populated far northwest, a local government official said here Tuesday, after detailing a list of security incidents this year. (Posted @ 16:25 PST) 'Danger over' as frostbitten Italian reaches K2 base camp GILGIT, Pakistan, Aug 5 (AFP): A frostbitten Italian climber limped into K2 base camp Tuesday, but swirling cloud prevented helicopters plucking him from the world's second highest peak. Marco Confortola, believed to be the only survivor of Friday's catastrophic avalanche that killed 11 others, finally hobbled into the 5,200-metre (17,060-foot) camp with his toes blackened by exposure to sub-zero temperatures, officials said. “The danger is over,” said Ashraf Aman, who is part of the rescue team. “Marco has reached the main base camp, he is recovering. The base camp has facilities to provide him with immediate medical help like oxygen and drugs, so he will improve gradually,” Aman told AFP. But rescuers said they feared the choppers would not be able to take off at all on Tuesday because of storms and thick cloud around the mountain. (First Posted @ 09:35 PST, Updated @ 15:15 PST) 16 Taliban die in Afghan clashes KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Aug 5 (AP): A series of clashes in southern Afghanistan killed 16 Taliban militants and wounded five police officers, officials said Tuesday. Afghan and foreign troops clashed with Taliban fighters in Uruzgan province on Monday, leaving 11 militants dead and five policemen wounded, provincial officials said. Also Monday, in neighboring Kandahar province, militants ambushed a police patrol in Panjwayi district and five attackers were killed in return fire, police said. (First Posted @ 13:05 PST, Updated @ 14:50 PST) Ethiopian shelling kills 10 in Somalia MOGADISHU, Somalia, Aug 5 (AP): Witnesses say Ethiopian troops backing Somalia's government have shelled residential areas in northeastern Mogadishu and killed at least 10 people. (Posted @ 14:45 PST) 27 Tamil rebels, one soldier killed in Sri Lanka fighting COLOMBO, Aug 5 (APP/AP): Soldiers fired artillery rounds into the Tamil Tiger rebel-held territory as new infantry clashes killed 27 rebels and one soldier, Sri Lankan military said Tuesday. A military statement said the latest fighting erupted along the front lines of their civil war in northern Sri Lanka Monday. There was no immediate comment from the rebels. (Posted @ 12:25 PST) Roadside blast kills two U.S. soldiers in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Aug 5 (AP): A roadside bomb blast killed two U.S. soldiers in Baghdad on Monday. The U.S. military said another American soldier was wounded when the blast struck a U.S. patrol at about 9:30 a.m. in eastern Baghdad. (Posted @ 09:40 PST) Police kill 10 suspects in Rio slum shootout RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 5 (Reuters): Brazilian police killed at least 10 suspected drug traffickers Monday after gunmen cornered a group of officers in a Rio de Janeiro slum. Police who had entered the slum to retrieve a stolen truck called in reinforcements after they were surrounded by armed gang members, a police spokeswoman said. “It was an operation to retrieve stolen goods and the police came under fire,” Rio Civil Police official Renata Nunes said. At least one officer was wounded in the gun battle in the city’s Baixada Fluminense area. (Posted @ 08:55 PST) Five dead, three hurt after plane hits Oregon home in fog GEARHART, Oregon, Aug 5 (AP): A small plane crashed into a seaside house in heavy fog early Monday, killing two people aboard and three children inside the vacation home, authorities said. A woman and two children in the home were injured. Gearhart city officials said two people were aboard the plane that crashed before 7 a.m., apparently hitting a tree during conditions described as foggy with low clouds. City Administrator Dennis McNally said the plane had just taken off from the airport and was apparently headed to Klamath Falls in southern Oregon. An explosion was reported about 20 seconds after the crash. (Posted @ 08:50 PST) Karachi Stocks up 189.29 points: KARACHI, Aug 05: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10042.47, up 189.29 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:45 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, Aug 05: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 72.9 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:45 PST)
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