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| August 18, 2008 | Monday | Sha'aban 15, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 Pakistan's Musharraf announces resignation ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (AFP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation on Monday in the face of looming impeachment charges, ending a turbulent nine years in power. “After viewing the situation and consulting legal advisers and political allies, with their advice I have decided to resign,” a grim-faced Musharraf, wearing a sober suit and tie, said in a televised address to the nation. “I leave my future in the hands of the people.” Musharraf said he would hand his resignation to the speaker of the national assembly (lower house of parliament) later on Monday. He made the shock announcement after denying that any of the impeachment charges against him could stand and launching into a lengthy defence of his time in power.“Not a single charge in the impeachment can stand against me,” Musharraf said. “No charge can be proved against me because I never did anything for myself, it was all for Pakistan.” PERVEZ MUSHARRAF RESIGNS(First Posted @ 14:56 PST Updated @ 19:20 PST)   Tens of thousands demand UN intervention in Indian occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Aug 18 (AFP): Tens of thousands of Muslims took to the streets of Indian occupied Kashmir's main city Monday to demand that the United Nations recognise the Himalayan region's right to self-determination. Security was tight as tens of thousands of people marched towards a local UN office, in defiance of official warnings against holding the rally in Srinagar, still tense after deadly clashes last week. “I have never seen such a big rally in Srinagar,” said Abdul Aziz, a 75-year-old shopkeeper taking part in the procession. “I couldn't resist coming out to demand freedom from India,” he said, as he marched towards the UN office carrying a placard, “If freedom for Kosovo, why not for Kashmir?” The marchers included men, women and children, who chanted slogans including “We want freedom” and “We will give blood for Kashmir's freedom.” Many also carried green or black flags -- symbolising Islam and mourning. Last week 22 Muslim demonstrators were shot dead by security forces in the Kashmir valley as they vented their anger over a blockade of the area by Hindu hardliners. Top Kashmiri leader Shabir Shah said the demonstrators planned to deliver a plea for UN intervention in the wake of last week's shootings of “peaceful protesters”. Another Kashmiri leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said the plea urges the UN “to intervene and help us in achieving the right to self-determination.” There are decades-old UN Security Council resolutions calling for a referendum to allow the Kashmiri people to choose between India and Pakistan, but they have never been implemented. (Posted @ 15:10 PST) Deposed judges be restored within next three days: PML-N ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (APP): Following the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf, all deposed judges should be restored within next two to three days as per commitment and understanding reached among the coalition partners when they announced to impeach the president, said PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafiq on Monday. “Deposed judges should be restored within next two to three days as per commitment of the coalition partners,” he told a private television. He said, PML-N wanted that next president must be a symbol of federation, undisputed, having graceful personality. (Posted @ 22:14 PST) India eyes US, Russian, French firms for nuclear plants: report NEW DELHI, Aug 18 (AFP): India's atomic energy body has short-listed US, Russian and French firms for nuclear power projects once the country gets the green light to enter global atomic commerce, a report said Monday. The Hindu newspaper said the Nuclear Power Corporation of India has selected US giant Westinghouse Electric, US-Japanese alliance GE-Hitachi, Russia's Rosatom and France's Areva for potential orders as part of its plans to generate 40,000 megawatts of atomic power by 2020. India currently has 17 nuclear power plants with a capacity of 4,120 megawatts. Once nuclear trade starts, India plans to set up “nuclear parks” or reactor clusters for which four coastal sites have been identified, the report quoted government officials as saying. Indian officials currently prefer French and Russian technology, the report added. (Posted @ 21:55 PST) 11 killed in Bangladesh landslide: police CHITTAGONG, Aug 18 (AFP): At least eleven people were killed in Bangladesh early Monday after heavy rains triggered landslides in the southeastern port city of Chittagong, police said. Local police chief Abu Zafar Mohammad Faruq told AFP the victims died while sleeping in flimsy homes at the bottom of hills, and that several people were still missing following the landslide. “So far we have recovered 10 bodies and rescued three people. One of those died in hospital,” Faruq said. Faruq said 142 millimetres of rain had fallen in the city in the past 24 hours. (Posted @ 21:48 PST) Iran ready to put Muslim countries' satellite in orbit TEHRAN, Aug 18 (Reuters): Iran said Monday it was ready to help fellow Muslim states launch satellites into orbit after it successfully put a dummy satellite into orbit. Iran said Sunday it had put the home-grown dummy satellite into orbit on a domestically made rocket for the first time. The long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into space can also be used for launching weapons. Iran says it has no intention to do so. Head of Iran's Aerospace Organisation, Reza Taghipour, said Iran wanted to help Muslim countries to launch satellites. “I am announcing now that Iran is ready to launch satellites of friendly Islamic countries into space,” Taghipour told state television. (Posted @ 21:40 PST) Georgian actions 'must not go unpunished': Medvedev VLADIKAVKAZ, Russia, Aug 18 (AFP): Georgia's actions in South Ossetia were excessive and “must not go unpunished”, Russian news agencies quoted President Dmitry Medvedev as saying here Monday. “What the Georgian authorities did exceeded human understanding. Their actions cannot be explained and moreover must not go unpunished,” Medvedev was quoted as saying in remarks to military personnel. “We take a hard line on security throughout the region, in assuring peace and stability in South Ossetia. “We will do whatever is necessary, and no one should have any illusion about this,” the Russian leader said. A senior Russian military commander said a pullback of troops got under way on Monday after it was promised by Medvedev on Sunday. (Posted @ 21:32 PST) “Toxic” Indian festivals poison waterways MUMBAI, Aug 18 (Reuters): Toxic chemicals from thousands of idols of Hindu gods immersed in rivers and lakes across India are causing pollution which is killing fish and contaminating food crops, experts and environmentalists said on Monday. Hindus across India celebrate various religious festivals in September and October, paying homage to deities like Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and Goddess Durga, the destroyer of evil. Elaborately painted and decorated idols are worshipped before they are taken during mass processions to rivers, lakes and the sea, where they are immersed in accordance with Hindu faith. Environmentalists say the idols are often made from non-biodegradable materials such as plastic, cement and plaster of Paris and painted with toxic dyes. After the statues are immersed, the toxins then contaminate food crops when villagers use the polluted water for irrigation, said Shyam Asolekar, science and engineering head at the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai. “Even small traces are extremely toxic as they persist in the body for a long time and accumulate in the human tissues,” said Asolekar, who has closely studied the effects of Hindu customs. (Posted @ 21:20 PST) 87 dead in north India floods LUCKNOW, Aug 18 (AFP): At least 87 people have died in northern India following heavy monsoon rains and flooding, officials said Monday. The bulk of the casualties were reported from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, with 73 people killed in the past 48 hours, state revenue secretary Balwainder Kumar told AFP. Most of the deaths happened when houses of the victims collapsed during the downpours. The other 14 deaths occurred in the Indian Punjab, where a major river overflowed, officials said. According to the weather office, more rains were forecast for the next 24 hours, with all the major rivers flowing over the danger mark. “The rainfall this season is 25 percent above normal,” weather office official L.C. Ram said in Uttar Pradesh state capital Lucknow. Further north in Punjab, at least 125 villages were underwater, with thousands of people left homeless and several thousand hectares of rice crop destroyed, state Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Shekon said. Some of the dead were washed away after the Sutlej river broke its banks, while others were electrocuted. (First Posted @ 16:48 PST Updated @ 21:10 PST) Britain's “youngest terrorist” found guilty LONDON, Aug 18 (Reuters): Three men were found guilty of terrorism offences on Monday, including a teenager believed by prosecutors to be the youngest Briton to be convicted of an offence under the Terrorism Act. Hammaad Munshi, 18, Aabid Hussain Khan, 23, and Sultan Muhammad, 23, were found in possession of “huge volumes” of terrorism material, including Al Qaeda documents and information on poisons and firearms, police said. Detectives said the men were “facilitators” who provided exclusive, up to date information on terrorist techniques, training, weapons and explosives. “These are not the actions of curious individuals, or even those who are sympathetic to terrorist objectives,” said Detective Chief Superintendent John Parkinson, head of the Leeds Counter Terrorism Unit. (Posted @ 21:05 PST) Six die in Sudan floods KHARTOUM, Aug 18 (Reuters): At least six people have died due to heavy rains in Sudan where the Nile was approaching record levels, but the head of the country's civil defence authority said officials were prepared for floods this year. Hamadallah Adam Ali told Reuters on Monday five people have died in Khartoum and one in the remote western Darfur region because of floods. He said he had no information yet on south Sudan where rainfall has been heaviest. Last year Sudan experienced the worst floods in living memory. (Posted @ 20:50 PST) Killer Caribbean storm hits Cuba, set to become hurricane HAVANA, Aug 18 (AFP): Tropical storm Fay powered towards hurricane strength Monday as it hit Cuba and barreled toward the Florida Keys after claiming at least 11 lives in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The torrential rains killed seven people and left another three missing in Haiti, civil protection officials told AFP. A bus plunged into a river swollen by Fay, reportedly killing dozens. Four people were killed in the Dominican Republic due to the heavy rains, while thousands were evacuated, media reported. In Miami, anxious residents descended on gas stations and supermarkets to fill up on petrol and bottled water. Television stations broadcast warnings about possible business shutdowns and power cuts. (Posted @ 19:50 PST) Afghan woman, two children killed in British rocket fire KABUL, Aug 18 (AFP): An Afghan woman and two children were killed when British soldiers fired rockets at a compound in southern Afghanistan over the weekend to thwart a Taliban attack, the British military said Monday. Another four civilians were hurt in the incident on Saturday in the southern province of Helmand, a British military statement said. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), under which the British troops serve, said Sunday that four civilians were killed and three wounded in the rocket fire in Sangin district. There have been several incidents in the past weeks in which civilians have been slain in foreign military action against militants, most often air strikes. (First Posted @ 09:30 PST Updated @ 19:28 PST) Cleric killed, 17 wounded in Baghdad violence BAGHDAD, Aug 18 (AFP): A Shiite cleric was shot dead and 17 people, mostly Iraqi policemen, were injured in a wave of bombings in Baghdad on Monday, security sources said. Sheikh Jaber Fares Dhaher was killed when militants attacked his car in the southern Baghdad neighbourhood of Zafaraniyah, interior ministry sources said. His wife and daughter were also wounded. Three separate bomb attacks targeting US and Iraqi forces also wounded 17 people in Baghdad, the sources added. Nine Iraqis, including three policemen, were injured by a mine targeting a military patrol in the western district of Yarmuk, while a similar attack in the Mansur neighbourhood injured five people, including three policemen. Another explosive device wounded two policemen and an Iraqi civilian in the central district of Karrada. Monday's rash of violence followed an attack Sunday night by a suicide bomber who blew himself up near a mosque in a Sunni Arab district of Baghdad, Adhamiyah, killing at least 15 people and wounding 30. (First Posted @ 09:50 PST Updated @ 18:06 PST) Cricket: Sri Lanka beat India by eight wickets DAMBULLA, Aug 18 (AFP): Sri Lanka defeated India by eight wickets in the first one-day international here on Monday to gain a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Brief scores: India 146 in 46 overs; Sri Lanka 147-2 in 34.5 overs. (First Posted @ 11:00 PST Updated @ 18:04 PST) Rice heads to NATO meeting to rally support for Georgia WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (AFP): US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heads for Europe Monday for crisis talks with NATO allies on the situation in Georgia and to sign a key missile defense shield pact with Poland. Rice confirmed she would travel from the meeting in Brussels to Warsaw to ink the deal on installing US interceptor missiles on Polish territory, a move sure to further inflame tensions with Russia. Earlier Rice told Fox News, “We are going to help rebuild Georgia into a strong Georgian state.” Meanwhile, The New York Times reported Monday that Russia had deployed several SS-21 tactical missile launchers and supply vehicles in South Ossetia, putting the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in striking range. And a Georgian government spokesman said his country sees “no signs” that Russian forces are preparing to withdraw. Russian withdrawal from Georgia begins MOSCOW: The withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia under a peace agreement began Monday, the deputy head of Russia's general staff, General Anatoly Nogovitsyn said. (First Posted @ 09:50 PST Updated @ 17:34 PST) Suicide attack kills nine outside US base in Afghanistan KABUL, Aug 18 (AFP): A suicide car bomb blew up Monday outside a US military base in eastern Afghanistan, killing nine civilian labourers, as the country marked Independence Day under the shadow of militant attacks. The blast, claimed by the Taliban, did not penetrate the base in the town of Khost and security forces were able to prevent a second suicide attack moments later, the US-led coalition and Afghan officials said. A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, said it carried out the suicide attack in Khost, 30 kilometres from the border with Pakistan. The US-led coalition said insurgents detonated the device outside the base and that nine Afghans were killed and 13 wounded. (First Posted @ 11:00 PST Updated @ 17:08 PST) Nepal Maoist leader sworn in as prime minister KATHMANDU, Aug 18 (AFP/AP): The leader of Nepal's Maoists, Prachanda, was sworn in as prime minister of the world's youngest republic Monday, an AFP reporter witnessed. The former rebel chief was on Friday overwhelmingly voted in as Nepal's new premier by lawmakers in the country's constitutional assembly, which had abolished the unpopular monarchy in May. “I will remain faithful to the nation and my countrymen, and promise in the name of the people that I will remain faithful to the sovereign nation of Nepal,” he said in his oath of office. The event was broadcast live on national television. The Maoists quit their armed revolt in 2006 to join the peace process and mainstream politics. They secured the largest number of seats in the April election. (Posted @ 16:15 PST) Militants kill 28 civilians in Philippines ILIGAN, Aug 18 (AFP): At least 28 civilians and three soldiers were killed Monday in a wave of militant attacks in the southern Philippines, witnesses and officials said. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) militants raided several towns in southern Lanao del Norte province, looting businesses, burning homes and randomly attacking villagers, officials said. Nine bodies were lying bloodied by a roadside in Lapayan village in Kauswagan town as black smoke billowed from houses burning nearby, AFP reporters said. Five civilians were killed in a neighbouring village, residents fleeing the area told AFP. Six more bodies were found in Kauswagan Monday. All 20 bodies were taken by troops to two mortuaries in Iligan city a few kilometres away. Meanwhile, in Kolambugan town, six civilians and three soldiers were killed, mayor Beltran Lumaque said in a radio interview. (First Posted @ 10:30 PST; Updated @ 15:55 PST) Cricket- PCB chief describes security concerns as 'illogical' KARACHI, Aug 18 (Reuters) Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Nasim Ashraf told players to stop “grumbling” and described their concerns over the security arrangements for next month's Champions Trophy as an illogical reaction. Ashraf told reporters Monday that neither the International Cricket Council (ICC) nor its member boards would bow to player-pressure demanding the one-day international tournament be moved from Pakistan. “Everything is set for the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan and the ICC fully supports our security plans and planning. It is only a few players who are grumbling and their concerns are emotional pressure not based on reasoning or logic,” Ashraf said. England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand officials and players have expressed concerns about the security situation in Pakistan ahead of the tournament due to start on Sept. 12. Despite briefings from an ICC task force, Cricket Australia and New Zealand have said they had yet to decide whether they would send teams to Pakistan. “The ICC and its member boards are satisfied with our security arrangements and foolproof planning and there is no reason for not having the Champions Trophy in Pakistan,” Ashraf added. (Posted @ 13:10 PST) 27 killed in Sri Lanka fighting COLOMBO, Aug 18 (AP) Fighting in northern Sri Lanka killed 23 rebels and four soldiers, the Sri Lankan military said. Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said Monday six Tamil Tiger fighters and two soldiers were killed in the Kilinochchi district Saturday. Fighting in Vavuniya, Welioya and Mullaitivu killed 17 other rebels and two soldiers. He said four other soldiers died when their vehicle was struck by lightning. Rebel spokesmen were not available for comment. At least 12,000 persons were forced to flee their homes in northern Sri Lanka, joining more 100,000 others displaced by a government push into Tamil rebel-held territory, the UN said Monday. The United Nation's Inter-Agency Standing Committee said they expected more people to flee the ongoing fighting, with security forces attempting to take the Tamil Tigers' political capital of Kilinochchi and key base of Mullaittivu. (First Posted @ 12:10 PST Updated @ 16:35 PST) South Ossetia's president sacks government, declares emergency MOSCOW, Aug 18 (AFP) The president of Georgia's separatist republic of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity, late Sunday dismissed his government and proclaimed a state of emergency in the region, Russia's Vesti-24 television reported. “I have signed three decrees including one on the resignation of the government, another on proclamation of a state of emergency in South Ossetia and the third on setting up an emergency committee to settle the consequences of the Georgian aggression,” Kokoity told the channel. He accused his government of being slow in distributing humanitarian aid to the residents of South Ossetia, stressing that a public servant “must work for his people and not to make profit for himself.” (Posted @ 10:05 PST) Gunmen kill 13 at party in northern Mexico MEXICO CITY, Aug 18 (AP) Gunmen killed 13 people at a family party in the Mexican border state of Chihuahua’s Creel town Saturday, authorities said. Most of the victims were members of a single family. (Posted @ 09:20 PST) Blast at Azerbaijan mosque kills at least two BAKU, Aug 18 (Reuters) A blast on Sunday at a mosque in Azerbaijan's capital killed at least two people and injured nine others, police said. A hand grenade was thrown into the Abu-Bekr mosque in central Baku during evening prayers. About 100 people were in the mosque when the grenade exploded. (Posted @ 09:00 PST) 50 die in Haiti after swollen river sweeps bus away PORT-AU-PRINCE, Aug 18 (Reuters) Around 50 people died in Haiti on Sunday when a bus tried to cross a river swollen with rain from Tropical Storm Fay and was swept away, officials and witnesses said. Two dozen survivors were pulled alive out of the Riviere Glace waters in the southwestern province of Grand-Anse, said mayor Oreste Andre of the town of Bomont, where the accident occurred. There were 80 or more people crowded on the bus headed to Jeremie, the largest city in Grand-Anse, Andre said. Four people were killed in Haiti on Saturday by the tropical storm as it passed over on its way to Cuba and Florida, possibly as a hurricane. One person was killed in the neighboring Dominican Republic and two were missing. (Posted @ 08:55 PST) Lebanese army opens fire after bomb thrown in Tripoli TRIPOLI, Lebanon, Aug 18 (AFP) The Lebanese army opened fire early Monday after a homemade bomb was thrown in an area of the northern city of Tripoli, an army spokesman told AFP. “The army fired at the place from where the bomb was thrown, in a sector separating Bab al-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen” areas, the spokesman said. Witnesses told AFP two bombs had been thrown and an exchange of fire ensued between the two sides for 10 minutes before the army intervened. The spokesman said no one had been hurt. (Posted @ 08:50 PST) Karachi Stocks up 460.91 points: KARACHI, Aug 18: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10719.62, up 460.91 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, Aug 18: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 75.4 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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