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| August 12, 2008 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 9, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 Bomb hits Pakistan military truck, up to 14 dead PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Aug 12 (AP) A Taliban roadside bomb destroyed a Pakistan air force truck Tuesday, killing up to 14 people. The powerful blast hit the vehicle on a bridge on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, as it traveled from a nearby air force base. An AP Television News cameraman at the scene said he saw at least 12 dead bodies and about a dozen wounded people. He said the victims included civilians. Provincial government spokesman Mian Iftikhar Hussain said 14 people were killed in all, and more than 12 people were wounded. Jehangir Khan, another police officer, said the dead included seven air force personnel. A bomb disposal officer at the scene said it was planted under the bridge and contained between 66 and 88 pounds of explosives. “We have done it in reaction to the government operations in Swat and Bajur,” Taliban spokesman Mulla Umar told AP. Meanwhile, a senior Interior Ministry official said Tuesday authorities were probing the identity of a suspected militant reported killed this week in clashes in Bajur, where the army has pounded militant positions. A senior intelligence official identified the militant as an Egyptian known as Abu Saeed and said he was believed to be a close aide of al-Qaida No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahri. He said authorities had intelligence the militant had died but did not have the body. Two Taliban spokesmen contacted by The Associated Press in Afghanistan, Qari Yousef Ahmadi and Zabiullah Mujahid, said Tuesday that they had no information about it. (First Posted @ 11:40 PST, Updated @ 20:00 PST)  Indian forces kill 13 more Kashmir protesters; APHC leaders attend Sheikh Aziz’s funeral SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Aug 12 (AP) Government forces fired at Muslim protesters for a second day Tuesday as they defied a curfew in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing thirteen and injuring scores others, police said. Thousands of government forces enforced the indefinite curfew, which was imposed across Muslim-majority areas of the state after Sheikh Abdul Aziz, a leader of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, and seven others were killed Monday during a protest by tens of thousands of Muslims opposing a blockade by Hindus of a key highway that has stranded hundreds of trucks carrying food and other supplies in and out of the region. Six protesters were killed in several incidents Tuesday in Srinagar, police said. Two died in Nagbal village on the city's outskirts and three others were killed in Paribal, a village 40 miles to the north, they said. Two protesters died in Jammu, the only Hindu-majority city in the region, when police opened fire at an angry Muslim mob. A protester injured in Monday's violence also succumbed to his injuries Tuesday, his doctor, Ajaz Mustafa, said. Tens of thousands of mourners chanted “We want freedom” as they defied the curfew and attended the funeral Tuesday of Sheikh Abdul Aziz at Srinagar's main mosque. Two other APHC leaders, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Omer Farooq, defied house arrest and the curfew to attend Aziz's funeral. “Our struggle for complete independence from India will continue. No power on earth can deter us from achieving this,” Mirwaiz told the crowds. The federal government said Tuesday it was open to the idea of traders exporting their products across the border to neighboring Pakistan. “However, a decision in the matter can be taken only through mutual arrangements between India and Pakistan,” India’s Home Ministry said in a statement. (First Posted @ 11:55 PST Updated @ 19:35 PST) NWFP Assembly votes against President Musharraf PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Aug 12 (AFP): Legislators in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP) passed a resolution against President Musharraf Tuesday, the second province to back the initial step in impeaching the president, officials said. The motion was passed by a huge margin of 107 votes to four, NWFP assembly speaker Karamatullah Khan announced. The NWFP motion accused Musharraf of following policies that had triggered unrest in the province. “The flawed internal and external policies of his dictatorial regime have resulted in the large scale murder of innocent people of our province and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas),” it said. (First Posted @ 12:50 PST, Updated @ 13:40 PST) Zardari’s TV Interview ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP) Co- Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Ali Zardari Tuesday said people of the country want to bestow presidency on their true representative. The people's president on the very first day in office would himself surrender the powers of 58-2 (B) to the parliament, he said in an Interview with privet TV channel. He said the 58-2 (B) has no future, and tomorrow belongs to democratic and political forces. He asked the persons repeatedly visiting president's camp office that it was the time for them to register their name on the right side of the history by siding with democratic forces. “We will have to be precise so that coming generations also authenticate and testify our decision.” he said. Charge sheet would be finalised in consultation with coalition partners of ANP, PML-N, JUI-F. Some Baloch leaders and FATA legislatures would also be taken into confidence. (Posted @ 23:35 PST)  Six civilians, 16 militants killed in Pakistan tribal area KHAR, Pakistan, Aug 12 (AFP) Six civilians and 16 Taliban were killed Tuesday when Pakistani helicopter gunships shelled militant hideouts in Bajaur tribal area where days of clashes have left scores dead, officials said. Five civilians were killed and three others injured when helicopters pounded suspected militant positions Tuesday in Takht village, 10 kilometres south of Khar, the main town in Bajaur, officials and residents said. Separately, an 11-year-old boy was killed and his six-year-old sister was wounded in clashes in Sevai village in Bajaur on Tuesday, they said. More than a dozen houses were also destroyed, they added. Helicopters later shelled areas east of Khar for about 45 minutes when they spotted militants “preparing for an action against government forces,” a local administration official told AFP. Sixteen militants were killed in the attack and their bodies were still lying on the ground, the official said. Military officials said that six civilians and 50 militants were killed on Monday. At the weekend, security forces said that nine soldiers and 100 militants had been killed during the previous four days. (First Posted 16:30 PST Updated @ 21:05 PST) Airstrike kills four foreign militants in Bajaur: officials PESHAWAR, Aug 12 (AFP): Pakistani fighter jets bombed a militant hideout in a tribal area bordering Afghanistan Monday, killing four foreign Islamist militants, security officials said. The airstrike targeted a building in the Bajaur tribal region, where fierce clashes between Pakistani forces and Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants over the past week have left around 150 people dead. “The airstrike killed at least four foreign militants. Their nationality is unknown at this time,” a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Militant sources also confirmed that foreign fighters were targeted in the airstrike but had no further details. (Posted @ 09:35 PST) Gas pipeline blown in Pakistan QUETTA, Aug 12 (PPI): Suspected militants blew up a 16-inch gas pipeline in Pir Koh near Dera Bugti suspending supply of gas to Sui plant, well placed sources said. (Posted @ 21:15 PST) Russia has 'no intention' of staying in Georgia: Sarkozy MOSCOW, Aug 12 (AFP) - Russian forces have “no intention” of remaining in Georgia, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said here Tuesday after talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. “The Russians -- and President Medvedev confirmed this to me -- have no intention of remaining in Georgia,” Sarkozy told reporters at a joint news conference in the Kremlin. (Posted @ 21:00 PST) Oil prices dive on strong dollar, Russian order to end attack LONDON, Aug 12 (AFP) Crude prices slid further on Tuesday, as traders took their direction from the strengthening dollar and Russia, which ordered a halt to its military offensive against Georgia, traders said. London's Brent North Sea crude for September delivery lost 1.30 dollars to 111.37 dollars per barrel in electronic trading on Tuesday after falling as low as 110.47. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for September delivery sank 1.34 dollars to 113.11. (Posted @ 20:25 PST) Eight of family die in Pakistan as roof caves in CHARSADDA, Pakistan, Aug 12 (PPI): Eight members of a family died when the roof of their house caved in following heavy rains in Sher Baba Colony near Choti Bridge in Parang area, near Charsadda town of North West Frontier Province on Tuesday. (Posted @ 19:10 PST) Cricket-Rawalpindi dropped as third Champions Trophy venue KARACHI, Aug 12 (Reuters) Rawalpindi has been dropped as the third city for next month's Champions Trophy, according to a provisional International Cricket Council (ICC) schedule sent to member boards. A copy of the schedule released to Reuters said the eight-nation tournament scheduled from Sept. 12-28 will now be restricted to Lahore and Karachi. Australia, India, Pakistan and West Indies will play in Group A and New Zealand, South Africa, England and Sri Lanka in Group B. (Posted @ 19:00 PST) Cricket: Shoaib back in Pakistan squad LAHORE, Pakistan, Aug 12 (AFP) Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was Tuesday named in Pakistan's 15-man squad for next month's Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan, selectors announced. Squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanveer, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Bazid Khan, Abdul Rauf, Khalid Latif, Saeed Ajmal (Posted @ 18:45 PST) Champions Trophy: ICC assigns coach Lawson to allay fears of Aussie, Kiwi players KARACHI, Aug 12 (Reuters) Pakistan's Australian coach Geoff Lawson has left for Australia on the advice of International Cricket Council (ICC) to allay player safety fears over travelling to Pakistan for next month's Champions Trophy. “We have asked Geoff to join us in Australia and New Zealand when we present to stakeholders, including player groups, the result of the task team visit,” an ICC spokesman said on Tuesday. “As a former Australia test player, a coach and someone who lives in Pakistan he is in a unique position to give his perspective to those stakeholders.” (Posted @ 17:50 PST) Yemen says leading Qaeda fugitive killed in shootout SANAA, Aug 12 (AFP) - Yemen said Tuesday that a prominent fugitive member of the local branch of Al-Qaeda was killed in a shootout when police stormed a house in the eastern province of Hadramaut. Hamza al-Quayti, one of 23 Al-Qaeda militants who broke out of jail in February 2006, was killed along with four other fighters in Monday's clash in the town of Tarim, the defence ministry website said. Two policemen were killed and three others wounded, while two militants were wounded and captured, it added. (Posted @ 17:25 PST) Russian troops halt advance, but not withdrawing TBILISI, Aug 12 (AFP) - Russian forces have halted their advance on Georgian territory but are not withdrawing, Georgia's Reintegration Minister Temur Yakobashvili said Tuesday in televised comments.“The Russians have halted their advance. There is no movement of Russian forces, but they are staying at their occupied positions,” he said. “The ceasefire agreement is yet to be signed ... the Medvedev statement could mean that hopefully they will not fire at us anymore,” he added. Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday he had ordered a halt to the military offensive against Georgia after the army staged new strikes against its neighbour. “I have taken the decision to end the operation to force Georgian authorities into peace,” Medvedev was quoted as saying at a meeting with defence officials on the conflict over the separatist region of South Ossetia. “The purpose of the operation has been achieved.... The security of our peacekeeping forces and the civilian population has been restored,” Interfax news agency quoted the president as saying. (Posted @ 17:00 PST) Pakistan urges balanced approach towards nuclear non- proliferation ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP): Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday stressed the need for a balanced approach towards incorporating disarmament, non-proliferation and access to peaceful use of nuclear energy for civilian purposes. In a meeting with Gareth Evans, Co-chairperson of International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, he reiterated Pakistan's principled position on nuclear non-proliferation and said it can only be strengthened by the application of norms in a non-discriminatory and equitable manner. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Dr Aafia's extradition; IHC maintains objections ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP): The single bench of Islamabad High Court headed by Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Aslam Tuesday maintained objections over a writ petition about extradition of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, an American-educated Pakistani neuroscientist, to US. The bench upheld the two objections of Registrar office, ie: application by post could not be entertained and secondly, the writ petition was not properly arranged. It directed Barrister Javed Jafferi to remove these objections, so that it could be heard along the main habeas corpus petition on September 9. (Posted @ 16:40 PST) Suicide blast kills two Iraqis, wounds six in Baquba BAGHDAD, Aug 12 (AP): Two Iraqis were killed and 12 others wounded when a female suicide bomber struck a convoy carrying senior Iraqi officials in Baquba Tuesday. The convoy was also carrying the Diyala governor. According to the U.S. military in northern Iraq, the woman blew herself up as a convoy carrying the Iraqi commander of ground forces in the surrounding Diyala province was near government offices in central Baquba. (Posted @ 16:35 PST) Quake jolts Peshawar, parts of NWFP ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP): A 5.0 earthquake jolted Pakistan’s Peshawar and northwestern areas of Risalpur, Mardan, Swat and Mangora. According to Seismological Network of Pakistan Meteorological Department, the quake occurred at 11:26 a.m. Tuesday, private television channels reported. It originated from the Hindu Kush mountain range, 300 kilometres away from Peshawar. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. (Posted @ 15:15 PST) ‘In the interest of democracy,’ Sherpao abandons Musharraf PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Aug 12 (AFP): Aftab Sherpao, the former interior minister under President Musharraf, will back moves to impeach him, a party official said Tuesday. Sherpao, a staunch ally of Musharraf who headed the interior ministry until 2007, changed his mind after speaking to ruling coalition leader Asif Ali Zardari, Sherpao's son Sikander told reporters. “We have decided to support the impeachment motion in the interest of democracy,” Sikander Sherpao, a member of the North West Frontier Province assembly and a key leader of Sherpao's small political party. Sherpao was a member of former premier Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party(PPP) until 2002 before creating his own faction and supporting Musharraf in the previous parliament. (Posted @ 14:00 PST) Three killed in attack in Thai south BANGKOK, Aug 12 (Reuters): Suspected militants killed three members of a family, including two children, Tuesday in southern Thailand, police said. The victims were in a pick-up truck in Narathiwat province when gunmen riding pillion on a motorcycle opened fire, police said. A woman was also seriously wounded in the shooting. (First Posted @ 11:25 PST, Updated @ 13:15 PST) Sri Lanka says another 32 killed in fighting COLOMBO, Aug 12 (AFP): Sri Lankan security forces killed another 26 Tamil Tiger rebels for the loss of six of their own soldiers in the latest fighting in the north of the island, the military said Tuesday. Troops pushed into territory held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on at least three fronts in Wanni region on Monday, military officials said. They said 20 government troops were wounded in Monday's fighting and placed rebel casualties at another 29 wounded. There was no immediate word from the rebels about the military's latest claims. (Posted @ 11:35 PST) Guatemala rights group slams 1,600 violent deaths this year GUATEMALA CITY, Aug 12 (AFP): A Guatemalan rights group on Monday denounced the violent deaths of more than 1,600 people in the first half of 2008 in the Central American country, including 77 urban bus drivers. “The wave of violence includes men, women, children, and all professions and social levels,” said a statement from the Group of Mutual Aid (GAM). The tally includes 1,317 men, 217 women and 76 children under 15 years, and was based on media reports. It also includes 85 extrajudicial killings in the country of more than 12 million. (Posted @ 09:00 PST) Karachi Stocks down 208.28 points: KARACHI, Aug 12: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 9963.58, down 208.28 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, Aug 12: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 74.8 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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