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| April 16, 2007 | Monday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 27, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
32 killed in Virginia Tech shooting: Fox News WASHINGTON, April 16, (REUTERS) - Thirty-two people, many of them students, were killed by a gunman at Virginia Tech university on Monday, Fox News reported. “We are now getting reports that it is 32,” a Fox News announcer said. Earlier police had said more than 20 had died, including the gunman. (Posted @ 23:54 PST)
Shooting spree on US campus leaves at least 22 dead WASHINGTON, April 16 (AFP) - At least 22 people were shot dead at a Virginia University early Monday in one of the deadliest school massacres in US history.“We have a ballpark figure on fatalities. It's at least 22 fatalities,” Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum told reporters. One of the dead was the gunman, but Flinchum had no information as to whether he killed himself or had been killed by others. “At this time we believe it was only one gunman,” Flinchum said. “The university in Blacksburg, in western Virginia, was locked down as police combed the campus after shootings in two separate buidings, which went well beyond the toll of 15 dead in a shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999. Gunfire first broke out in a residence on the campus of Virginia Tech, a university of about 25,000 students located some 425 kilometers southwest of Washington. Gunfire was then also heard in a second building, called the Norris Hall. “Those on campus are asked to remain where they are, lock their doors and stay away from windows,” the university initially announced before it began evacuating the students and faculty in waves. Entrances to the campus were meanwhile closed as television images showed heavily armed police rushing across the school grounds in a light snowfall. A security guard and a policeman were killed before the man was re-arrested. (First Posted @ 20:36 PST Updated @ 22:12 PST)
Pakistan playing rightful role for peace and harmony in region: Musharraf RAWALPINDI, April 16 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Monday said because of its important geo-strategic location, Pakistan is and will continue to play its rightful role and contribute positively towards peace and harmony in the region. Addressing the 60th Formation Commanders Conference the President said that with pragmatic policies and progressive approach to develop the potential, Pakistan can play a significant role and become an important economic trade hub and an energy corridor. He also said that with the country's Armed Forces stronger than ever before in conventional and non-conventional fields, Pakistan is fully capable of facing any external challenges. Internally, he said, Pakistan faces the menace of extremism, obscurantism and religious bigotry. Referring to recent incidents of extremism in Islamabad, the President said: ”We are following a prudent course in tackling the misguided youth. The moderate forces must win and we must defeat extremism, if Pakistan has to make progress.” He said the problem of Taliban lies in Afghanistan where they are on one side and Afghan Government and Coalition Forces on the other. Acknowledging that Taliban have some support in the tribal areas, he remarked “We are making sure that this support is effectively neutralized.” “Our strategy in Tribal areas is succeeding with positive results and we are encouraging others to follow the same,” he added. The President said the sacrifices made by Pakistani security forces in war against terror are unprecedented. He also spoke at length on Pak-India relations and expressed optimism on conflict resolution between the two countries. There is positive movement in resolution of issues of conflict specially Kashmir he said and reiterated that Pakistan's national interests will not be lost sight of. (Posted @ 19:32 PST)
Bush rejects any Iraq pull-out deadline WASHINGTON, April 16 (AFP) -US President George W. Bush, ahead of talks with lawmakers pushing for an Iraq withdrawal timetable, warned Monday that he would reject a pending war-funding bill if it comes with a deadline. Two days before hosting congressional leaders, Bush accused Democrats who have attached a 2008 withdrawal timeline to the president's 100-billion spending request of trying to “legislate defeat in this vital war.” ”The consequences of failure would be death and destruction in the Middle East and here in America,” he warned. “I hope the Democratic leadership will drop their unreasonable demands for a precipitous withdrawal.” (Posted @ 21:56 PST)
Sadr ministers quit Iraqi govt over U.S. troops BAGHDAD, April 16 (Reuters) - Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his ministers to quit Iraq's government on Monday in protest at Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's refusal to set a timetable for U.S. troops to withdraw. Sadr's populist movement holds six ministries and a quarter of the parliamentary seats in Maliki's coalition of Shi'ite Islamist parties. The move exposes cracks in the alliance but it is unlikely to significantly weaken the government since Sadrists do not hold key cabinet posts. Baghdad's Sadr City slum is the cleric's main powerbase. (Posted @ 18:18 PST)
Delhi not sincere in solving Kashmir issue: Mirwaiz SRINAGAR, April 16 (APP) Chairman All Parties Hurriayat Conference Mir Waiz Umar Farooq termed the roundtable conference convened by the Indian government in occupied Kashmir as a futile exercise, an Indian daily reported Monday. Rejecting occupied Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's appeal to join the third roundtable conference scheduled for April 24, Mirwaiz said: “Here in the roundtable they are talking to the parties which are pro-India and we are not against the participation of those parties but we believe that fundamentally the problem is with separatists either political or militant”. He said: “they (pro-India parties) can be involved at a later stage but the priority is to be given to us with whom Delhi has problems.” Terming the roundtable as a futile exercise, the Mirwaiz said, “It is a decision taken in hurry. No one has been taken into confidence and no ground work has been done.” He questioned the timing and wisdom of the Indian government in convening the roundtable saying, “on the one hand you are talking about the roundtable and on the other there are issues of human rights violations and fake encounters. How can you talk about the roundtable and also dismiss demilitarisation and say these forces are not occupation forces but people friendly forces.” Mirwaiz clarified that it was not an issue between Srinagar and Delhi but Islamabad was also party to it. He said, “There is no policy in Delhi.” (Posted @ 12:43 PST)
SC adjourns hearing of petitions regarding SJC composition ISLAMABAD, April 16 (APP): A three-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Monday adjourned to April 24 the hearing of petitions regarding the constitutional and legal position and composition of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) upon a request for more time by Muhammad Qayyum Malik, who appeared as counsel for the Federation. The bench, comprising Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, Justice Ch.Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Hamid Ali Mirza, heard the point of view of Barristers Zafarullah Khan and Dr.Farooq Hassan, who represented the Watan Party and Adilya Bachao Committee respectively. It directed the counsel of the respondents to file para-wise comments before the next hearing. Justice Ch.Ijaz directed Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan, who appeared before the court on notice, to provide a copy of the Presidential Reference against Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to the bench.“We only want to see the Reference, but not as part of the record,” Justice Ijaz observed. The bench directed the office of the Supreme Court to fix all the identical petitions related to the Supreme Judicial Council for April 24. The identical petitions have been filed by Watan Party, Adilya Bachao Committee, Mujeeb Pirzada, Engineer Jamil and others. Barrister Farooq Hassan requested the bench to direct electronic and print media not to use the term “non-functional” for Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Muhammad Qayyum Malik apprised the bench that this is a very sensitive matter and it would be better if the Supreme Judicial Council gave a reply about it. (Posted @ 17:22 PST)
Two US soldiers killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, April 16, (AFP) - Insurgents killed two more US soldiers and wounded another two in Baghdad on Monday, the military reported. One soldier was killed and one wounded when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in a southern area of the capital. (Posted @ 23:28 PST)
Cricket: Sri Lanka 226 all out against Australia ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, April 16 (AFP) - Sri Lanka were 226 all out in 49.4 overs in their World Cup Super Eights match against Australia at the Grenada National Stadium here Monday.Brief score-- Sri Lanka 226 all out in 49.4 overs (M Jayawardene 72, C Silva 64; N Bracken 4-19) (Posted @ 22:30 PST)
One soldier and 16 rebels killed in Turkey clashes TUNCELI, Turkey, April 16 (Reuters) - Sixteen Kurdish separatist guerrillas and one soldier have been killed in clashes in Turkey's restive southeast, security forces said on Monday. They were killed on Sunday and Monday in separate incidents during a military offensive involving 10,000 troops in the mainly Kurdish region against the rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Thirteen of the PKK militants were killed in the province of Tunceli, two in Hakkari and one in Siirt. (Posted @ 20:38 PST)
Sh. Rashid claims Musharraf-Benazir to be on same plate-form after general elections RAWALPINDI, April 16 (PPI) Federal Minister for Railways, Shaikh Rashid Ahmed Monday claimed that President Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto would be on the same platform after the forthcoming general elections. He told a new conference that talks between President Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto had entered the final stage ” and added that the nation would hear a big news in May. Benazir Bhutto would also give a surprise, he said. Replying to a question Shaikh Rahshid said that President Musharraf would be re-elected for the next term before November 12, any time. (Posted @ 20:34 PST)
Defence: US assures its support to Pakistan ISLAMABAD, April 16 (PPI) The US reiterated on Monday its commitment to continue to support Pakistan particularly in its struggle against the war on terror and emphasized the need for reinforcing the ties between the navies of the two countries. The assurance was given at a meeting between Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Hayat and the visiting Chief of Navel Operations, US Navy, Admiral Michael G Mullen. Admiral Mullen lauded the counter-terrorism efforts made by Pakistan and assured that the USA would continue to support Pakistan in these efforts. (Posted @ 19:38 PST)
Guinean military plane hits TV station - witnesses CONAKRY, April 16 (Reuters) - A Guinean military plane crashed into the country's state broadcasting centre on Monday, setting fire to the building located across the road from the U.S. embassy, witnesses said. “The building caught fire. Luckily everybody got out and at the moment there are no reports of injured or dead,” said a TV journalist who works at the building. “The two pilots inside the plane were able to eject and use their parachutes,” she said. A spokesman at the U.S. embassy said no one was hurt at the embassy and no damage to the embassy itself, but would not comment further on what had happened. (Posted @ 19:26 PST)
Gunmen kill 13 Iraqi soldiers; 43 bodies found Baghdad, April 16 (Reuters) - Gunmen killed 13 soldiers and wounded four others in an attack on an Iraqi army checkpoint near Mosul, police said. On the other hand, U.S. forces killed three Iraqi policemen on Monday in a case of friendly fire during a raid against suspected al Qaeda militants in Ramadi. Meanwhile, the bodies of seven people were found shot in Falluja, the bodies of six people, including a policeman, who had been shot were found in different districts of Mosul, while the bodies of 30 people who had been shot were found in different districts of Baghdad on Sunday, police said. Gunmen also killed Talal al-Jalili, the Dean of the Political Science College, in a drive-by shooting in Mosul. (Posted @ 19:24 PST)
Radical Hindus attack Indian TV station MUMBAI, April 16 (AFP) - Radical Hindus stormed the headquarters of an Indian television network Monday and damaged equipment to protest the broadcast of reports on a controversial Hindu-Muslim marriage, witnesses said. Activists from a group calling itself the Hindu Rashtriya Sena (Hindu National Army) used hammers to smash windows, computers and cameras at the Star News office before police intervened. “They threatened journalists and smashed our studios and cars and warned that an even larger group of activists will return to teach us a lesson if we highlight inter-religion marriages,” a spokesman for the channel said. “We arrested 17 of them on the spot and we are taking legal action,” Mumbai Police Commissioner J.N. Jadhav told reporters. The Muslim woman and her Hindu husband presented themselves to the channel last week saying they faced threats because of their marriage. (Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Pakistan, Iran agree to commence Quetta-Zahedan-Mashhad bus service ISLAMABAD, April 16 (APP):Pakistan and Iran have agreed to commence regular bus service on Quetta-Zahedan-Mashhad route and more routes would be added later, says a message received from Tehran on Monday. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at First Joint Comprehensive Transport Meeting between the Ministry of Road and Transportation of Iran and Ministry of Communications of Pakistan. The Iranian delegation was headed by Mohammad Rahmati, Minister of Road and Transportation and the Pakistani delegation was led by Mohammad Shamim Siddiqui, Minister of Communications. Iran informed side that it has completed construction of 240 km of railway line between Kerman-Bam and the remaining 300 Km Bam- Zahedan railway line, shall be made operational by the end of December 2008. The Iranian side suggested to Pakistan the rehabilitation of Taftan- Quetta railway with standard gauge. Pakistan said that the decision in this respect will be taken soon. (Posted @ 19:18 PST)
US defence secretary arrives in Middle East AMMAN, April 16 (AFP) -US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Jordan on Monday at the start of a three-nation Middle East tour officials said was aimed at confronting Iran's influence in the region and pledging support for the government of Iraq. Gates will meet top military officials in Jordan, Egypt and Israel on a trip that will also seek to reassure the three countries of Washington's continued support, US officials said. (Posted @ 18:22 PST)
Troops martyr six youth in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, April 16 (PPI) Indian troops martyred six more Kashmiri youth at different places, Kashmir Media Service reported. The bodies of two youths were recovered from the debris of a house bombed by Indian troops in Zainbhatoo area of Shopian. Two others fell victim to Indian firing near Numbal Nallah in Doda, while Indian troops shot dead two civilians at Kakapora in Pulwama district. The President of Democratic Freedom Party Shabbir Ahmad Shah visited the area to sympathize with the bereaved families. Addressing a gathering, he urged the world community to pressure India to put an end to its continued state terrorism. Meanwhile, two bodies were recovered from Kursu Rajbagh in Srinagar and one from Gundpora in Pulwama district. (Posted @ 17:40 PST)
Policeman killed as rebels attack occupied Kashmir railway project SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, April 16 (AFP) - A policeman was killed Monday when suspected militants opened fire on a group of engineers inspecting the construction of a railway line in Pulwama district, a police spokesman said. “None of the engineers were hurt,” he said. (Posted @ 17:32 PST)
No plan to attack Iran, says US naval chief ISLAMABAD, April 16 (AFP) - The United States has no plans to attack Iran and its beefed-up naval presence in the Gulf region is meant to keep the area peaceful, the visiting chief of US naval operations Admiral Michael Mullen said Monday. He said efforts were focused on a diplomatic solution to resolve the ongoing row over Tehran's nuclear programme. “There is no plan for an attack on Iran,” Mullen told reporters after the talks. (Posted @ 17:28 PST)
Pakistan still backs cross-border terrorism: India NEW DELHI, April 16 (AFP) - India's defence minister A.K. Antony Monday accused Pakistan of continuing to support cross-border terrorism in occupied Kashmir. “There is no change in Pakistan's support to cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir,” he told a conference of top army officials in New Delhi. “This remains a cause of concern to us,” a defence ministry statement quoted him as saying. The insurgency in occupied Kashmir began in 1989 and has left more than 42,000 people dead by an official count. Human rights groups put the toll at 70,000, including 10,000 people who have disappeared and are presumed dead. (Posted @ 17:28 PST)
Tanzania bus, fuel tanker crash kills 22 NAIROBI, April 16 (Reuters) A fuel tanker ripped through the left side of a bus carrying about 60 people in northern Tanzania, killing 22 people and injuring 17 others, police said Monday. The crash occurred Sunday at Kisangara, about 400 km northwest of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. (Posted @ 15:48 PST)
AJK: 7-injured in road mishap KOTLI, Azad Kashmir, April 16 (PPI) - Seven people including three women were injured when a jeep going from Goie to Mityali fell into a ravine in Kotli on Monday. (Posted @ 14:22 PST)
Separatists to snub Kashmir meeting SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, April 16 (AFP) - Muslim separatists in occupied Kashmir said Monday they would boycott the so-called Kashmir roundtable in New Delhi on April 24 , saying talks would be a “futile exercise.” “It is a futile exercise. We will only take part in trilateral talks involving India, Pakistan and Kashmiris,” prominent hardline separatist Masarat Alam told AFP. Several political parties including the most powerful All-Parties Hurriyet Conference has already rejected the proposal. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Suicide bomber kills 9 police in Afghanistan KABUL, April 16 (AFP) - A suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a police station in Kunduz Monday, killing nine officers and injuring 25 others, interior ministry ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said. The bomber had spoken to his victims, who were performing morning exercises in the street outside the police station, before he detonated explosives strapped to his body, said Kunduz province governor Mohammad Omer. Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi, calling from an unknown location, claimed responsibility. (Posted @ 13:59 PST)
Ahmadinejad vows Iran will 'resist to the end' TEHRAN, April 16 (AFP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday vowed in a public speech that Iran would “resist to the end” in defending its rights over the country's l nuclear drive. “The Iranian people are standing firm until the end on acquiring their right and will not shift an inch,” Ahmadinejad said in a speech in the southern city of Shiraz broadcast live on state television. “On the nuclear issue, the Iranian people will stand firm to acquire all their rights, will continue solidly to reach the summits of perfection, and will raise their fists to insist on their rights.” (Posted @ 13:58 PST)
Thirteen officials killed in road accident in India NEW DELHI, April 16 (AFP) Thirteen village officials were killed in southern India Monday when a train hit their van at an unattended railway crossing in the southern most state of Tamil Nadu, a report said. The van driver did not notice the train as he tried to cross the track, the Press Trust of India quoted the police as saying. The vehicle was carrying around 23 passengers. (Posted @ 12:43 PST)
Deaths set off protests in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, April 16 (AFP) Hundreds of villagers in southern occupied Kashmir poured onto the streets Monday chanting anti-police slogans to protest the death of two men in a weekend shoot-out, a witness said. Police said Monday that the two were killed during fighting between rebels and a security patrol in occupied Kashmir's southern Pulwama district. However, local residents blamed the police and launched a protest Monday that shutdown traffic on a main road, a witness said. “The situation is tense as the residents have blocked one of the key highways,” a local photojournalist said. (Posted @ 11:36 PST)
Japan, US, India hold naval drills TOKYO, April 16 (AFP) Japan, India and the United States Monday conducted their first joint naval drills in the Pacific Ocean, officials said. Japan sent four escort vessels to the drill off Japan's east coast, where two US destroyers and three Indian warships joined the exercise, a Japanese defence ministry spokesman said. “The first naval drill between Japan, the United States and India is aimed at boosting the friendly relationship among the three countries as well as improving maritime technique,” the spokesman said. (Posted @ 10:02 PST)
U.S. military helicopter makes “precautionary landing” in Mosul MOSUL, April 15 (Reuters) A U.S. military helicopter made a “precautionary landing” after it was hit by insurgent gunfire during combat in the northern city of Mosul Sunday, the U.S. military said. The two pilots of the OH-58D “Kiowa Warrior” helicopter were not hurt and were recovered by a second helicopter, the military said. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Bangladesh arrests second son of former PM Zia DHAKA, April 16 (AFP) A second son of the former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia was arrested late Sunday as part of the government's nationwide anti-graft crackdown, police said. Military-led security forces arrested Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Coco at her house in the capital Dhaka, a senior police officer said, requesting anonymity. (Posted @ 09:12 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 26.85 points: KARACHI, April 16: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 12004.59, up 26.85 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, April 16: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.22 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 PST)
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