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| September 14, 2006 | Thursday | Sha'aban 20, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan delays women’s rights bill ISLAMABAD, Sept 14 (AFP) - The Pakistan government Thursday stepped up efforts to win larger parliamentary support for women’s rights bill which interalia seeks to amend the Islamic rape laws, after delaying its presentation to the lower house for approval. The bill was on the agenda of the national assembly on Wednesday but was not moved by the government, which said it wanted to garner support from all parties in parliament. A government official said no new date has been fixed for presenting the bill in the parliament.(Posted @ 16:26 PST)
Top U.S. military spokesman says senior al-Qaida member arrested, Iraqis say another killed BAGHDAD, Sept 14 (AP) _ U.S. forces have arrested a senior al-Qaida terrorist and personal associate of the group's new leader, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq said Thursday. The man, who was not identified, was arrested Tuesday and was the leader of assassination, kidnapping and bomb making cells in Baghdad, Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell said. In a separate announcement, Iraqi authorities said that police killed Abu Jaafar al-Liby, a senior member of al-Qaida in Iraq, during an operation in Baghdad three days ago, Interior Ministry director of operations Brigadier Abdul-Karim Khalaf told the Associated Press. Four other insurgents were killed and two others were arrested during the raid, Khalaf said. al-Liby was in charge of the Baghdad sector and was either the second or the third man in al-Qaida in Iraq, according to Khalaf. Two letters were found with al-Liby, he said. One was for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and the other was for Abu Ayyoub al-Masri, who took over al-Qaida in Iraq from Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi after he was killed in an American airstrike north of Baghdad on June 7. Both letters pledged loyalty and promised more attacks. It was not known if the killing announced by Iraqis was in any way related to the operations that led to the arrest of the unidentified al-Qaida terrorist described by Caldwell. According to Caldwell he was a ``personal associate'' al-Masri. (First Posted @ 17:26 PST Updated @ 17:38PST)
Five US soldiers killed in Iraq, four in Baghdad and one in Mosul BAGHDAD, Iraq, September 14, (AP) _ A suicide bomber in a vehicle killed two U.S. soldiers and wounded 25 others in Baghdad on Thursday, bringing the one day death toll to four, the U.S. command said. A fifth soldier was killed Wednesday and his death was reported Thursday. The military said the suicide bomber struck just after noon west of Baghdad. Also in Baghdad, one soldier died from wounds in the early morning hours after his unit same under attack by small arms. The second soldier died after his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb south of Baghdad. (Posted @ 23:58 PST)
Pope respects Islam but not religious violence: spokesman VATICAN CITY, Sept 14, (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI respects Islam but rejects violence motivated by religion, his spokesman said Thursday after the pontiff faced sharp criticism for linking Islam with violence. Benedict seeks to "cultivate an attitude of respect and dialogue toward other religions and cultures and obviously also toward Islam," said Father Federico Lombardi in an official statement. (Posted @ 23:54 PST)
US urges caution in lifting sanctions on Palestinians WASHINGTON, Sept 14, (AFP) - The United States urged its European allies Thursday not to rush into a decision to lift restrictions on aid to the Palestinians following the proposed creation of a national unity government involving Palestinian moderates and the Hamas movement. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would meet next Wednesday in New York with her counterparts from the so-called Quartet -- Russia, the European Union and the United Nations -- to discuss how to respond to the unity government idea. (Posted @ 23:50 PST)
Two Kuwaiti detainees transferred from Guantanamo WASHINGTON, Sept 14, (AFP) - Two Kuwaiti prisoners have been transferred to Kuwait from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where they were held since early 2002 at a prison for "war on terror" suspects, the US Defense Department announced Thursday. The Kuwaiti government said Sunday that the two would be prosecuted in Kuwait under an agreement reached with the United States following a visit to Washington last week by Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah. (Posted @ 23:46 PST)
Musharraf in Havana to address NAM Summit HAVANA, Sept 14 (PPI) Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf arrived here from Brussels Thursday to attend the 14th Non-Aligned Movement Summit. Some of the major issues likely to draw the attention of the NAM leaders include the search for energy alternatives and economic policies promoting development. (Posted @ 21:45 PST)
PM arrives to represent Pakistan at SCO DUSHANBE, Sept 14 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz arrived here Thursday on a two-day official visit to represent Pakistan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which meets here to discuss cooperation in economy, telecommunications, transport, energy and other fields. He was received at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Akil Akilov. The meeting of the six-nation regional grouping comprising Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and China has accorded observerstatus to Pakistan, India and Iran. (Posted @ 21:44 PST)
President to visit US from Sept 16 to 27 ISLAMABAD, Sep 14 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf will visit the United States from September 16 to 27 during which he will be addressing the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and will also meet the world leaders attending the General Assembly session including Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General. The President will meet President Bush at the White House on September 22. The two leaders will discuss bilateral matters and exchange views on regional and global issues of common interest. President Mushgarraf’s engagements also include meetings with Vice President Richard B. Cheney in Washington and Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice in New York. The President will interact with members of U.S. Congress representing both sides of the aisle at a luncheon meeting on Capitol Hill being hosted by Congressman Tom Lantos. The President will also have several speaking engagements at prominent academic institutions and think-tanks in both Washington and New York. In a special investiture ceremony being held in Washington on September 21, the President would confer awards to US government agencies, corporations non-governmental organizations and individuals involved in rendering assistance and services during the October 8, 2005 earthquake relief and rehabilitations efforts. The President will also address the Pakistani-American community in Washington. (First Posted @ 20:04 PST Updated @ 21:04 PST)
Bush, Roh, recommit to six-party WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said Thursday that he and visiting South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun had recommitted themselves to six-party talks aimed at defusing the North Korea nuclear crisis. "We reaffirmed our commitment to the six-party talks so that we can peacefully deal with the nuclear issue," Bush said during a joint public appearance with Roh in the Oval Office of the White House. (Posted @ 21:50 PST)
Mahathir says Islam rejects suicide bombings, acts of terror ISLAMABAD, Sept 14 (PPI) Former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Bin Mohammed has said that suicide bombings and acts of terrorism have nothing to do with Islam. Addressing a news conference along with Tehrik-I-Insaf chief Imran Khan here Thursday he said Islam is religion of peace and harmony and is against all acts of terror. He said terrorism has no religion. 'Let us separate acts of terrorism and religion', he stressed. About ineffective role of the OIC, he said it was unfortunate that the member countries do not agree on critical issues. Referring to effective regional forums, he said forum having fewer member states became more effective. Dr Mahathir Mohammed would address a seminar on 'clash of civilization or clash of interests' on Friday. During the proceedings he would share stage with leading Pakistani politicians including host Imran Khan, Ch. Shujat Hussain, foreign minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri, Makhdoom Amin Faheem, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Raja Zafarul Haq and others. (Posted @ 21:48 PST)
32 bodies found; 27 killed, 56 injured in Iraq BAGHDAD, Sept 14 (Reuters): Thirty-two bodies, most bound, tortured and executed, were found in various locations in Baghdad over the last 24 hours. This brings the total to nearly 100 in two days. Meanwhile, a family of six, including a three-month-old boy, were shot dead in their home in western Baghdad on Thursday, family members said. A roadside bomb targetting an Iraqi army patrol killed five civilians and wounded 15 outside a soccer field in Falluja in the province of Anbar, a hospital source said. A suicide bomber strapped with explosives detonated himself at a police checkpoint in Tal Afar, killing one policeman and wounding two civilians, police and hospital sources said. In another major act of violence, nine people were killed and 26 wounded when a car bomb went off near a police patrol in central Baghdad, police said. A person was killed and 13 wounded when a car bomb went off near a photography shop in northeastern Baghdad, a source in the Interior Ministry said. Four people were also wounded when a roadside bomb went off near a U.S. patrol in Mosul, while one person was killed and 15 were wounded, including seven policemen, in clashes between protesters and guards at the governorate building in Diwaniya, a hospital source said. The protesters were demonstrating against the storming of an office of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr by U.S. troops, a witness said. (First Posted @ 16:40 PST Updated @ 20:54 PST)
Pope's attack on Islam sparks anger MUNICH, Germany, Sept 14 (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI's provocative equation of Islam with violence has caused anger and condemnation across the Muslim world. Turkey's top Muslim religious leader described the pontiff's remarks as hateful, prejudiced and biased, and opposed his planned visit to Turkey in November. It "reflect the hatred in his heart. It is a statement full of enmity and grudge," said Ali Bardakoglu, the head of the state-run religious affairs directorate. Dalil Boubakeur, head of the French Council for the Muslim Religion (CFCM), demanded a "clarification" from the Vatican. "We hope that the Church will very quickly give us its opinion and clarify its position so that it does not confuse Islam, which is a revealed religion, with Islamism, which is not a religion but a political ideology," he told AFP by telephone. Senior Islamic officials in Kuwait demanded an immediate apology from the pope to the Muslim world for his "calumnies against the holy Prophet and Islam." Independent Moroccan newspaper "Aujourd'hui" said the pope had "pointlessly" upset the world's Muslim population of one billion. (Posted @ 19:58 PST)
Pakistani Muslim scholars, leaders reject Pope's remarks ISLAMABAD, Sept 14 (AFP) - Muslim scholars and religious leaders in Pakistan Thursday criticised Pope Benedict's remarks against Islam and urged him to play a positive role in bringing Islam and Christianity closer. "It is very unfortunate that a religious leader of his stature is issuing statements which can fan religious disharmony," Prof Khurshid Ahmed, head of the Institute of Policy Studies in Islamabad, told AFP. "The Pope's attitude is very different from his predecessor. Instead of bringing Islam and Christianity closer, he is straining relations between the two religions," he said. Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, a senior leader of the hardline Jammiat Ulema-e-Islam party and an MP said: "The Pope is a respected personality not only for Christians but for Muslims also. He should not lower his stature by giving Bush-like statements." "The Pope's statement is highly irresponsible," a senior Islamic scholar Javed Ahmed Ghamdi said. (Posted @ 19:48 PST)
Rare earthquake shakes Hong Kong HONG KONG, Sept 14 (AFP) - An earthquake rattled Hong Kong Thursday causing skyscrapers to shake and sending people running into the streets in rural areas, officials and witnesses said. Hong Kong Observatory said the quake, measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale, struck in the sea around 36 kilometres off the coast of Hong Kong. Police said there were no initial reports of injuries or casualties. (Posted @ 19:46 PST)
Mumtaz Bhutto describes Govt.-Opposition tussle over Hudood Ord. as a 'Drama' Karachi, Sept.14 (PPI): Chairman, Sindh National Front, Sardar Mumtaz Ali Khan Bhutto, Thursday said that opposition parliamentarians would not resign as according to him they have secretlinks with the government on the one and on the other each of the MNA earns about half a million per month as salary and other benefits, which they would not want to lose. They were also scared of elections, he said. In a statement Mumtaz Bhutto described as 'drama' the ongoing tussle between the government and the opposition over the Hudood Ordinance, which according to him was aimed at diverting attention of the people from Balochistan issue and rain calamities in Sindh province. (Posted @ 18:12 PST)
Two US soldiers killed in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Sept 14 (AP) _ Two U.S. soldiers died Thursday in and around Baghdad, the U.S. Command said. The first soldier died from wounds after his unit same under attack by small arms. The second soldier was killed after his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb south of Baghdad. (Posted @ 17:50 PST)
Chinese premier stresses opposition to sanctions against Iran BERLIN, Sept 14 (AP) _ Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao Thursday reiterated opposition to imposing sanctions against Iran, saying a solution to the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program could still be reached through peaceful efforts. ``Our goal is to find a solution to the Iranian nuclear problem,but sanctions do not necessarily lead to this goal, they can also achieve the opposite,'' Wen said through a translator after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.``So long as there is still hope, we should continue to move ahead with our peaceful efforts,'' he said, but did not elaborate. (Posted @ 17:48 PST)
IAEA complains of 'outrageous' inaccuracies in Iran report to House Intelligence Committee VIENNA, Austria, Sept 14 (AP) _ A recent U.S. House of Representatives committee report on Iran's nuclear capability is ``outrageous and dishonest'' in trying to make a case that Tehran's program is geared toward making weapons, a senior official of the International Atomic Energy Agency has said. The letter, obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday outside a 35-nation IAEA board meeting, says the report is false in saying Iran is making weapons-grade uranium at an experimental enrichment site, when it has in fact produced material only in small quantities that is far below the level that can be used in nuclear arms. (Posted @ 17:36 PST)
Top US military spokesman reports spike in sectarian vioelnce around Baghdad BAGHDAD, Sept 14(AP) _ The top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq on Thursday said there was a spike in sectarian violence around Baghdad over past 24 hours. Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell said the spike came from``murder-executions'' and was probably the result of an increase in sectarian violence around Baghdad. (Posted @ 17:28 PST)
Taliban try to capture Afghan district, two killed KABUL, Sept 14 (AFP) - About 150 Taliban stormed a district in western Farah province, taking control of the headquarters for about an hour before being repelled in a battle in which two insurgents were killed, police said Thursday. It was the third major attack in the province in three days.The rebels descended on the capital Bakwa district late Wednesday, sparking a three-hour battle. "Taliban captured the district only for one hour and then we forced them out of the area," provincial police chief Sayed Agha Saqib said. "Two Taliban were killed, four Taliban were wounded and two police were also wounded", he said. The district police headquarters was partially damaged and several police vehicles were set ablaze by the attackers. Separately, a police convoy was attacked in Farah province mid-afternoon Wednesday and four policemen and four Taliban were killed in the fighting. In another attack four rockets were fired near Qalat -- capital city of Zabul province -- but caused no damage or casualties. (First Posted @ 13:18 PST Updated @ 17:24 PST)
Zawahiri says Algeria's GSPC has joined Al-Qaeda DUBAI, Sept 14 (AFP) - Osama bin Laden's right-hand man Ayman al-Zawahiri claimed in a video message that an Algerian Islamist grouphad joined Al-Qaeda and warned it would be a "thorn in the throat" of the West. "Osama bin Laden has told me to announce to Muslims that the GSPC (the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat) has joined Al-Qaeda," Zawahiri said, according to extracts of the video issued this week. (Posted @ 17:22 PST)
India seizes papers with pope's Islam criticism SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Sept 14 (AFP) - Police in occupied Kashmir seized newspapers Thursday carrying Pope Benedict XVI's strong criticisms of Islam and jihad, fearing a Muslim backlash in the flashpoint area. "We've seized copies of (Indian) newspapers carrying the pope's remarks. It has been done to prevent any tension here," a police officer said. Copies of the Indian dailies were impounded at Srinagar's high-security airport when they arrived from New Delhi, he said. The Muslim league, a Kashmiri separatist group, called for a protest Friday over the pope's comments. (Posted @ 17:20 PST)
Palestinians await new government after months of crisis GAZA CITY, Sept 14(AFP) - Palestinians awaited Thursday the official dissolution of the Hamas-controlled government and the formation of a national unity cabinet after six months of unprecedented political and financial crisis. Talks were progressing slowly over the makeup of the new government, which will include for the first time representatives from both the Hamas and the Fatah party. "For the moment, we haven't reached an agreement on the portfolios," Salah Bardawil, a spokesman for Hamas's faction in parliament, told AFP. "Once we begin to discuss in detail specific names, I think the negotiations will be difficult," Bardawil said. (Posted @ 16:52 PST)
Azad Kashmir bus plunge kills 11 MUZAFFARABAD, Azad Kashmir, Sept 14 (AFP) - At least 11 people were killed and 24 injured when a bus plunged into a river in quake-hit mountainous region of Azad Kashmir, officials said Thursday. The bus fell some 60 meters down the bank of Neelum river while cornering near Keil Seri village north of Muzaffarabad late Wednesday.(Posted @ 16:35 PST)
'You were not a dictator,' trial judge tells Saddam BAGHDAD, Sept 14 (AFP) - The chief judge trying Saddam Hussein on charges of genocide on Thursday said that the deposed leader was not a "dictator." The rather friendly exchange came after a Kurdish witness on Thursday told the court how he met Saddam to question him on the whereabouts of his family members who allegedly were killed in the Anfal attack of 1987-1988. Seated in the dock, Saddam asked: "Why did you try to meet me when you knew I was a dictator?" The judge, Abdullah al-Ameri, then interjected. "You were not a dictator," he said to Saddam, and suggested that it was the people close to him who had made him look like a dictator. Following this Saddam said to the judge "Thank you."(Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Pakistan has no objections to Daniel Pearl film: official KARACHI, Sept 14 (AFP) Pakistani authorities Thursday said they had no objections to the shooting of a film here on slain US journalist Daniel Pearl but the crew must get permission for security reasons. "The government has not opposed the movie but formal permission is required to avoid security problems," Interior Secretary of Sindh provincial government Ghulam Mohammad Mohtaram said. His statement came after press reports that authorities had barred filming of "A Mighty Heart", based of Mariane Pearl's book of the kidnapping and murder of her husband.(Posted @ 15:18 PST)
Pakistani official kidnapped in North Waziristan MIRANSHAH, Sept 14 (Reuters) A Pakistani government official, Aurangzeb Gandapur, was kidnapped in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali town on Wednesday afternoon, officials said on Thursday. No one claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.(Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Four killed at Yemen election rally ADEN, Yemen, Sept 14 (AFP) Four people were crushed to death and six injured Thursday during an election campaign rally in the town of Zinjubar in southern Yemen, a hospital source said.(Posted @ 14:15 PST)
World Cup hockey results MONCHENGLADBACH, Germany, Sept 13 (AFP) Men's World Cup field hockey tournament results Wednesday: Japan 2 (Katayama 15, 49) Spain 4 (Amat 22, S. Freixa 44, 58, 66); South Korea 0 Germany 0; South Africa 1 (Symons 10) England 3 (Tindell 21, Mantell 42, 50); Australia 3 (George 14, 51, Dwyer 32) Pakistan 0(Posted @ 14:12 PST)
Annan says Mideast leaders consider Iraq war 'a real disaster' UNITED NATIONS, Sept 14 (AFP) UN chief Kofi Annan said in a press conference Wednesday that most Middle East leaders he recently conferred with considered the Iraq war "a real disaster," but felt the United States should not pull out just yet. However, he added that many of the same leaders wanted the Americans to stay in Iraq until the security situation improved, pointing out that "having created the problem they cannot walk away." "So in a way the US finds itself in a position where it cannot stay and it cannot leave," he added. A White House spokesman disagreed. "I'm not going to engage in a further disputation with the secretary general of the United Nations, but we disagree with the characterization," the spokesman said.(Posted @ 13:15 PST)
Indian soldier kills commanding officer in occupied Kashmir JAMMU, occupied Kashmir, Sep 14 (AP) An Indian soldier shot and killed his commanding officer in occupied Kashmir, police said Thursday. The soldier, Naik Ravi Kumar, was arrested after shooting Maj.Harsh Kumar with his service weapon late Wednesday at a base in the Rajouri district, police said. A police official added that there have been several such cases recently, which he attributed to ``stress due to long duty hours in the troubled area or denial of leave.''(Posted @ 13:05 PST)
Poland to send 1,000 new troops to Afghanistan WARSAW, Sept 14 (Reuters) Poland said on Thursday it would send 1,000 new troops to join its existing 100-strong contingent in Afghanistan in response to NATO calls for reinforcements to step up the fight against Taliban. "We know this will be a dangerous operation. Poland understands that NATO will have to be more active in Afghanistan. We are well aware of that, and that is why we decided to increase the size of the force," a Polish Defence Ministry spokesman said.(Posted @ 12:48 PST)
Bomber convicted over deadly 1993 India attacks MUMBAI, Sept 14 (AFP) A bomber was convicted of murder Thursday over the 1993 India attacks which killed 257 people. Mohammed Kasam Ghansar faces a possible death sentence for killing 17 people and wounding 57 after leaving an explosive-laden scooter outside the market in Mumbai that was primed to explode minutes after he walked away, an Indian court said.(Posted @ 12:48 PST)
Seven killed in fresh Sri Lanka violence VAVUNIYA, Sri lanka, Sept 14 (AFP) Three Tamil civilians were shot dead in the town of Vavuniya, north of the capital Colombo on Thursday, police said, as four soldiers died in clashes with Tamil Tigers. Also, in Vavuniya two bomb blasts left 18 people, including two soldiers, wounded on Wednesday.(Posted @ 12:05 PST)
Former Israeli army chief asks prime minister to resign over Lebanon war JERUSALEM, Sep 14 (AP) A former Israeli army chief of staff said in comments published Thursday that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert must resign for not stopping a final, ill-fated battle in the Lebanon war. The sole purpose of the Lebanese war was to make it appear that Israel had won, former military chief Moshe Yaalon told the Haaretz newspaper. ``That was a spin move,'' Yaalon said. ``It had no substantive security-political goal, only a spin move. It was meant to supply the missing victory picture. You don't do that.'' The current military chief, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, must also resign, Yaalon said, for ``failing in the management of the war'' and Defense Minister Amir Peretz should be replaced since he does not have enough security experience, he said.(Posted @ 11:30 PST)
Israeli troops kill Palestinian in Gaza GAZA, Sept 14 (Reuters) Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian man in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, medics and witnesses said. The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the shooting.(Posted @ 11:10 PST)
Non-Aligned Movement demands Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza HAVANA, Sept 13 (AFP) Ministers at a Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana demanded late Wednesday that Israel withdraw its troops from Gaza, release jailed Palestinian officials and repair damage caused by its military operations. A draft declaration to be adopted by leaders of the NAM countries also expresses "grave concern about the deterioration of the situation ... in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, as a result of the unlawful policies and practices being carried out by Israel." It also urged its members "to extend, on an urgent basis, economic and financial assistance to the Palestinian people to ease the current financial and humanitarian crisis."(Posted @ 11:05 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 39.97 points: KARACHI, Sept 14: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 10028.60, up 39.97 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Sept 14: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.7 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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