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| September 08, 2006 | Friday | Sha'aban 14, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Blast in Baluchistan kills six QUETTA, Sept 8 (Agencies) At least six people were killed and 21 wounded Friday when a powerful bomb exploded in front of a hospital in Rakhni town of Barkhan district, some 480 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital Quetta, a local police officer said. "The blast was very powerful. So far we have six dead and 21 wounded, three of them seriously," the officer said requesting anonymity. "It was a homemade bomb, fitted with a timer," he said. (First Posted @ 10:13 Updated @ 14:31 PST)
Bush says US watching Pakistan deal with militants WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) A peace deal between Pakistan and pro-Taliban militants does not give "safe haven" to terrorists who may be hiding on tribal lands near the Pakistani-Afghan border, U.S. President George W. Bush said in an interview on Thursday. "I don't read it that way," Bush said of the agreement Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's government signed on Tuesday in which the militants agreed to stop attacks in the region. "What he is doing is entering agreements with governors in the regions of the country, in the hopes that there would be an economic vitality, there will be alternatives to violence and terror," Bush said in an ABC News interview. Bush said he did not know all the details of the agreement but added that he would be seeing Musharraf "pretty soon." "You know, we are watching this very carefully, obviously," Bush said. "We have made it clear that, uh, he should not provide an environment that enables people to go from his country into Afghanistan." "I will tell you this: President Musharraf, in my conversations with him, and I talk to him quite frequently, fully understands, and does not want his country to become a launching pad for military actions against neighbours and/or U.S. troops," Bush said. (Posted @ 10:29 PST)
Hockey World Cup results MONCHENGLADBACH, Germany, Sept 8 (AFP) - Spain defeated Olympic champions Australia 3-1 in their opening match of the men's field hockey World Cup Championship here Thursday. Earlier, India lost 3-2 to England, Pakistan defeated Japan 4-0 and the Netherlands beat South Africa 2-0. "We have played Australia nine times in 2006 and each match has been tough and with close results and this time we were able to control the match," Maurits Hendriks, Spain's coach said. "We had more possession than Spain but they converted the opportunities they had and we did not," said Barry Dancer, Australia's coach. "It is not the end of all hope for us in the tournament and I know the team can do a better job in later matches," said Vasudevan Baskaran, India's coach, after 2-3 loss to England. (Posted @ 10:02 PST)
Government files review appeal in SC regarding privatisation of PSM decision ISLAMABAD, Sept 08 (Agencies): The government has filed a review appeal in the Supreme Court regarding its decision against the privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) here Friday, praying to the apex court to provide fresh guidelines. The Minister for Privatization, Zahid Hamid, and Information Minister, Muhammad Ali Durrani, announced this in a joint press conference here Friday. Zahid said the government has implemented SC’s decision to a considerable extent. The Council of Common Interests (CCI) was reconstituted within the stipulated timeframe. The PSM case was presented before the CCI in its meeting on August 2 for reconsideration. The CCI however endorsed May, 29, 1997 decision. As per apex court ruling, 10 percent shares of steel mills will be offered for general public. The steel mills deal has been annulled. The security and other amount has also been returned to successful bidder. However, certain observations given by the Supreme Court could affect the re-privatisation process of PSM. Therefore the government has decided to approach the SC for its guidance so that the reservations of the court on the government’s privatisation policy can be removed, he said. Hamid also indicated that the estimated sale cost of PSM will be evolved afresh. (Posted @ 23:04 PST)
Six die as heavy rains lash Hyderabad; Karachi receives light rain HYDERABAD, September 08 (Agencies): Routine life came to a standstill following heavy rains in Hyderabad and its outskirts. At least six persons died and more than two dozen were injured in rain-related incidents, while power and communication systems broke down. The local administration declared an emergency and called in the army. The rainfall started Thursday evening and continued intermittently till late night as rainwater submerged low-lying areas. It was learnt that in some areas six to seven feet of water was accumulated on roads and streets. According to the Met Office, 150 millimetres of rain was recorded in Hyderabad and more rain was forecast there in the next 24 hours. The temporary railway bridge constructed at Ran Patthani collapsed for the second time due to flood water, suspending the train service to and fro Karachi on Friday. Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad along with a team of engineers arrived at Ran Pathani with a team of engineers to review the situation. The authorities were sending the passengers coming from upcountry to Karachi via buses. Karachi Friday received light rain, which started around at 12 noon and continued till the filing of this report. Heavy showers were also received in Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Umerkot and other areas of Sindh. (First Posted @ 21:04 PST Updated @ 22:10 PST)
No Qaeda-Saddam Hussein links: US Senate report WASHINGTON, Sept 8(AFP) There is no evidence Saddam Hussein had ties with Al-Qaeda before the Iraq war, a US Senate Intelligence Committee report said Friday, igniting a new row over the US rationale for the invasion. "Saddam Hussein was distrustful of Al-Qaeda and viewed Islamic extremists as a threat to his regime, refusing all requests from Al-Qaeda to provide material or operational support," said the report. (Posted @ 22:00 PST)
President Musharraf to visit Brussels next week BRUSSELS, Sept 8 (AFP) President Pervez Musharraf will travel to Brussels next week for a four-day visit which will include talks with senior European Union officials, the Pakistani embassy said on Friday. Musharraf, who will fly in late on September 11, is scheduled to hold talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Parliament President Josep Borrell and an unnamed representative of the Finnish EU presidency. He is also scheduled to take part in a conference on the disputed Kashmir region, as well as field questions from the EU parliament's foreign affairs committee. An EU official said that Musharraff's visit, coming five years after the September 11 attacks in the US, would provide an opportunity to discuss Pakistan's key role in fighting international terrorism. Before he flies out early on September 14, the president will also meet Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. (First Posted @ 20:22 PST Updated @ 21:56 PST)
Pakistan not a 'source of terrorism': British diplomat PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Sep 8 (AP) A senior British diplomat said Friday that Pakistan is not a ``source of terrorism,'' and praised the country's role in the international struggle against militancy. ``It was not possible to defeat the Taliban without the support of Pakistan,'' Britain's Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells said at a news conference after visiting the town of Torkham near the Afghan border. ``Pakistan is not a source of terrorism,'' Howells said. ``It is fighting against terrorism.'' Howells also said ``the North Waziristan pact is a good example for Afghanistan''. He urged both countries to work together to fight terrorism, calling it ``a common problem for Pakistan and Afghanistan.'' Earlier, Pakistani officials at the Torkham border crossing briefed Howells on the area's tribal customs and history. (Posted @ 20:24 PST)
Pakistani forces seize weapons on border with Afghanistan CHAMAN, Pakistan, Sept 8 (AFP) Pakistani authorities said Friday they had seized a cache of arms and ammunition being smuggled into the country from Afghanistan after an exchange of fire in Chaman, a town bordering Afghanistan's Kandahar province, late Thursday. The official said the action was taken following an intelligence tip-off that arms and ammunition were being smuggled into Baluchistan province for sabotage activities. The cache included six RPG rocket launchers and an anti-tank mine as well as mortar bombs, hand grenades and a machine gun. (Posted @ 20:18 PST)
India may resume talks with Pakistan after leaders meet: official NEW DELHI, Sept 8 (AFP) India may resume a stalled dialogue with Pakistan after leaders of the nuclear-armed rivals meet on the sidelines of an international summit in Cuba this month, India's top diplomat said Friday. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf are scheduled to meet in Havana during the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, outgoing foreign secretary Shyam Saran told reporters. "Yes, if the results of the summit meeting are satisfactory and we see there is willingness on part of Pakistan to work together with India to deal with what Pakistan itself says is a shared threat of terrorism," Saran said. (Posted @ 20:12 PST)
Prime Minister Aziz meets President Musharraf ISLAMABAD, Sept 08 (Agencies): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz met President General Pervez Musharraf Friday at the Presidential camp office in Rawalpindi. The two leaders agreed that the Women Protection Bill 2006 was completely inline with the injunctions of Quran and Sunnah, and criticized the attitude of some elements for politicising the issue. They also exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and the political and national issues. The two leaders expressed the hope that the Parliament would soon pass the bill. (Posted @ 19:48 PST)
U.S. secret detention move not enough: UN GENEVA, Sept 8 (Reuters) U.N. human rights chief Louise Arbour called on the United States on Friday to abolish secret detention for terrorism suspects, saying transferring 14 CIA detainees to Guantanamo Bay was not enough. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights viewed as "significant" the announcement by U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday that the 14 had been sent to the U.S. naval base in Cuba, where they may receive visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross and be tried, her spokesman said. "However, she urges that the programme of secret detention be completely abolished," her spokesman told a briefing in Geneva. "The system should be done away with." (Posted @ 18:36 PST)
All laws to be in conformity with Islam: PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, Sep 8 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday reiterated that all laws in the country will be in complete conformity with Islamic teachings and in consonance with the guidelines laid down in Quran and Sunnah. Talking to a group of parliamentarians led by Ch. Shujaat Hussain, at his Chamber in the Parliament, he said the Protection of Women's Rights Bill would safeguard their rights ensuring speedy justice and security. (Posted @ 18:34 PST)
No UN sanctions on Iran as long as talks continue: Solana COPENHAGEN, Sept 8 (AFP) EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Friday that no UN sanctions would be imposed on Iran as long as talks continued on Tehran's nuclear program. Solana, who made the statement during a visit to Copenhagen on Friday, is scheduled to meet Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani in an undisclosed location on Saturday. (Posted @ 18:32 PST)
British soldier in Iraq dies from injuries LONDON, Sept 8 (AFP) A British soldier has died from injuries sustained in an attack in Iraq’s Al Qurna town on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence said here Friday. (Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Thirty-five people killed in western India blasts MUMBAI, Sept 8 (Reuters) Thirty-five people were feared killed in a series of explosions on Friday in a town in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, TV reports said. Three blasts, including two at a Muslim burial ground, took place in Malegaon town, 260 km northeast of Mumbai, its mayor Asif Sheikh told Times Now TV. He said 35 people were dead, including many children. About 50 were injured, he added. Police said thousands of people had gathered at the burial ground for Friday prayers. A curfew had been imposed to prevent trouble. (First Posted @ 14:24 PST Updated @ 18:28 PST)
Pakistan court closes Scottish girl's case LAHORE, Pakistan, Sept 8 (AFP) A Pakistani court Friday dismissed a petition of the father of a 12-year-old Scottish girl at the centre of a custody row after the government said she would not be deported, lawyers said. The Lahore High Court disposed of the petition of Sajjad Ahmed Rana, who had asked the court to bar the government from repatriating his daughter Molly Campbell, her lawyer said. (Posted @ 16:04 PST)
Suicide car bomb kills 16 in Afghan capital KABUL, Sept 8 (Reuters) A huge car bomb exploded near the U.S. embassy in Kabul on Friday, killing at least 16 people, including two U.S. soldiers and up to seven foreigners, police and witnesses said. The attack, just before noon Friday prayers, was the deadliest suicide bombing in Kabul since the fall of the Taliban five years ago. Police and rescue officials say at least 16 people, including up to seven foreign soldiers or security contractors, were killed in the blast that stripped trees and shattered windows for several hundred metres in either direction. Taliban claimed the attack. (First Posted @ 14:07 PST Updated @ 16:02 PST)
Roadside bomb targeting police patrol in Baghdad kills two BAGHDAD, Sept 8 (AP) A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol in Baghdad’s Zayouna area killed two people and wounded six Friday, police said. The wounded included three policemen, police said. (Posted @ 14:47 PST)
U.S. says progress made in talks on Iran sanctions BERLIN, Sept 8 (AP) The United States expects Security Council agreement on U.N. sanctions against Iran within weeks unless Tehran does a last-minute turn and agrees to freeze uranium enrichment, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said Friday. He additionally dismissed suggestions of cracks in the six-power coalition pushing Tehran to give up enrichment. ``It's fair to say we have ... a lot more work to do,'' he told guests at an event staged by The American Academy in Berlin. ``But I believe we will be successful in passing the sanctions resolution shortly'' in the Security Council, he added. (First Posted @ 12:49 PST Updated @ 14:45 PST)
Twenty-one rebels killed in major Afghan offensive KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept 8 (AFP) Troops killed 21 militants in the latest battles in a major offensive launched a week ago in southern Afghanistan, the NATO-led force said here. The insurgents were killed Thursday in an area about 35 kilometres southwest of Kandahar, the International Security Assistance Force said late Thursday. ( First Posted @ 12:38 PST Updated @ 14:08 PST)
Israel to lift naval blockade of Lebanon within 48 hours JERUSALEM, Sept 8 (AP) Israel will lift its naval blockade of Lebanon within 48 hours, once international forces arrive to monitor the seas, government spokesman Asaf Shariv said Friday. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has not set an exact date for the end of the blockade, but the U.N. has informed Israel that its naval force would be ready to take over ``within 48 hours,'' enabling Israel to withdraw its ships, Shariv said. (Posted @ 14:07 PST)
Iraq checks report Iran holds soldiers on border BAGHDAD, Sept 8 (Reuters) Iraqi security officials said on Friday they were checking a report from Tehran that seven Iraqis from the security forces had been detained by Iranian troops on the border, east of Baghdad. Iran's IRNA state news agency said late Thursday the seven were detained near Maimak, crossing into Iran's Ilam province from Iraq. An investigation was under way, it added. (Posted @ 12:38 PST)
More than 1,500 killed in Baghdad last month despite US claim BAGHDAD, Sept 8 (AFP) - At least 1,584 people were killed in Baghdad last month, down by only 14 percent on July, the health ministry said Friday, despite claims that a US-led security operation had cut murders by half. "The Baghdad morgue received 1,584 bodies of people killed in violent attacks," Hakim al-Zamily, director general at the ministry told AFP. The ministry reported 1,850 killings in the war-torn capital in July. (Posted @ 12:21 PST)
Baghdad bomb targets police, two killed BAGHDAD, Sept 8 (Reuters) Two people were killed, one of them a policeman, when a car bomb blasted an Iraqi police convoy in central Baghdad on Friday, police said. Three other people were wounded in the blast, which police sources had initially said was caused by a roadside bomb. (Posted @ 11:18 PST)
Bomb hidden with dead body explodes in Sri Lanka, 6 wounded VAVUNIYA, Sri Lanka, Sept 8 (AP) _ A bomb hidden with a dead body inside an abandoned, three-wheel taxi exploded in the town of Vavuniya in north Sri Lanka on Friday, wounding six people, including four schoolgirls, witnesses and the Defence Ministry said. The body inside the vehicle was identified as one of two ethnic Sinhalese men abducted from their village in Vavuniya on Thursday, an official said. (Posted @ 10:46 PST)
Iran could discuss nuclear suspension -Khatami WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami said Thursday Iran could discuss suspending its nuclear program if the West would negotiate without preconditions. Speaking at the Washington National Cathedral, Khatami said: "We are in search of solutions. During the course of negotiations we could even talk about suspensions, the nature of suspensions, the timing of suspensions and the durations of suspensions." (Posted @ 10:33 PST)
Qatar briefs Security Council on proposed Mideast peace initiative UNITED NATIONS , Sept 8 (AFP) - Qatar on Thursday briefed the Security Council on an Arab League's call for a ministerial council session tentatively set for September 21 during the General Assembly session to create a new mechanism to revive the stalled Middle East peace process. Qatari Ambassador Nassir al-Nasser huddled behind closed doors with his council colleagues to review the plan, which was discussed at a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo Wednesday. The proposed "new mechanism" is based on the 2002 Arab initiative proposed a full normalization of relations with Israel in exchange for the return of allland occupied by the Jewish state since 1967. (Posted @ 10:19 PST)
US Open results - collated NEW YORK, Sept 8 (AFP) - The following are the results of the matches played in the US Open on Thursday (x denotes seed): Men's singles (Quarter-finals) Nikolay Davydenko (RUS x7) bt Tommy Haas (GER x14) 4-6, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Roger Federer (SUI x1) bt James Blake (USA x5) 7-6 (9/7), 6-0, 6-7 (9/11),6-4. Men's doubles (Quarter-finals) Ashley Fisher (AUS)/Tripp Phillips (USA) bt Paul Goldstein/Tim Thomas (USA)7-5, 6-4. Martin Damm (CZE)/Leandes Paes (IND x6) bt Leos Friedl (CZE)/MikhailYouzhny (RUS) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. Women's doubles (Quarter-finals) Lisa Raymond (USA)/Samantha Stosur (AUS x1) bt Martina Navratilova (USA)/Nadia Petrova (RUS x10) 7-6 (7/1), 6-3; Dinara Safina (RUS)/Katarina Srebotnik (SLO x8) bt Cara Black (ZIM)/Rennae Stubbs (AUS x3) 6-4, 7-6 (7/3); and Nathalie Dechy (FRA)/Vera Zvonareva (RUS) bt Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP)/Paola Suarez (ARG x7) 7-5, 6-3. Mixed Doubles (Quarter-finals) Martina Navratilova (USA)/Bob Bryan (USA x5) bt Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER)/Frantisek Cermak (CZE) 6-3, 6-4; and Meghann Shaughnessy (USA)/Justin Gimelstob (USA) bt Vania King (USA)/Vincent Spadea (USA) 6-4, 1-6, 10-7 (Posted @ 10:10 PST)
Federer into semis at US Open NEW YORK, Sept 8 (AFP) - Two-time defending champion Roger Federer continued his mastery over the Americans at the US Open, beating fifth seed James Blake 7-6 (9-7), 6-0, 6-7 (9/11), 6-4 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals. (Posted @ 09:44 PST)
Afghan suicide blast kills attacker KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept 8 (AFP) A suicide attacker blew himself up next to a convoy of foreign and Afghan civilian contractors just outside Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan Friday but only killed himself, security officials said. (Posted @ 09:41 PST)
Rain triggers mudslides killing 16 in rural Mexico MEXICO CITY, Sept 8 (AFP) At least 16 persons died under mudslides in the mountains of northwest and central Mexico, Civil Defense officials said Thursday. The rain-soaked mud slid late Wednesday down onto the community of Chalchihuitillo, on Indian land in El Mezquital, in the northern state of Durango. (Posted @ 09:19 PST)
Belarus voices support for Iran nuclear program MINSK, Sept 8 (AFP) Belarus supports Iran's development of a civil nuclear program, Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov said Thursday after talks with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki. "Belarus thinks that Iran has every right on every kind of peaceful nuclear activity, in accordance with the non-proliferation regime. We have no grounds to doubt the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program," Martynov said. (Posted @ 09:19 PST)
Nine miners found dead after Russian gold mine fire MOSCOW, Sept 8 (AFP) Nine of over 30 miners who were trapped in a burning gold mine Thursday were found dead early Friday, Russian news agencies reported. The fire broke out at 0415 GMT at a depth of 85-130 metres in the gold mine in Vershino-Darasunsky, northeast of the regional capital Chita, the emergency situations ministry said. Of the 64 miners present at the time, 31 were soon rescued. (Posted @ 09:18 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 38.11 points: KARACHI, September 8:At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 9965.21, up 38.11 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:05 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, September 8: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.55 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:05 PST)
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