Erekat says Rice to visit Mideast in mid October
By Xinhua
Ramallah : U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit the Middle East in the middle of this month, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Sunday.
"Rice will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to follow up the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations," Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio.
Report: Syrian military plane crashes, killing 2
By Xinhua
Damascus : A Syrian military training plane crashed near the capital on Sunday, killing two persons on board, pan-Arab satellite TV al-Jazeera reported. A third person might have been injured in the accident, said the report.
The plane was seen crashing into Muadamiet al-Sham district, west of Damascus. But there was no official confirmation at the moment.
Jordanian NGOs to take part in Jerusalem forum
By Xinhua
Amman : Jordanian non-governmental organizations will partake in the Jerusalem International Forum slated for next month in Turkey, which marks the 40th anniversary of the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967, the Jordan Times reported on Sunday.
Around 3,000 intellectuals from Turkey and around the world will take part in the Nov. 15-17 forum, which aims to highlight the historical rights of the Palestinians as well as denying Israel's claims on East Jerusalem, the report said.
President Musharraf ideal choice of leadership of Pakistan: says US survey report
WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf, an obvious and ideal choice for leadership of Pakistan in comparison to Ms. Benazir Bhutto and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, says International Public Opinion Polls (IPOP) survey report.The IPOP survey report, focusing primarily on exploring leadership issues for rescuing Pakistan, suggested that Pakistani nation suffers from assertively dangerous and grave political crises that also endanger the national interest which has a significant bearing and immense pertinence.
Syria, Turkey call for resumption of dialogue among Palestinians
By Xinhua
Damascus : Syria and Turkey on Saturday stressed the necessity to resume dialogue among the Palestinians in order to ensure the unity of their cause and establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem and his visiting Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan made the call during a meeting, according to the official SANA news agency.
Turkey says not to let airspace be used against Syria
By Xinhua
Damascus : Visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said here on Sunday that his country would not let Israel use its airspace to launch attack against Syria as tension remains high after an air raid by the Jewish state into deep Syria last month.
"Turkey will not let Turkish territory or airspace be used in any activity that could harm the security or safety of Syria," Babacan said at a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem before leaving Damascus.
20 militants, 2 soldiers killed in Pakistan clashes
By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistani security forces killed at least 20 pro-Taliban militants in fighting in North Waziristan on Sunday, the military said, after attacks on security forces, the army said.
Two soldiers were also killed in the fighting, spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told state television.
Violence has intensified in the volatile tribal region after militants scrapped a peace deal with the government in July.
Iran says will continue uranium enrichment
By RIA Novosti
Tehran : Iran is prepared for talks with six world powers mediating Tehran's controversial nuclear program but will not suspend its uranium enrichment, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Sunday.
Shortage of qualified teachers main obstacle to achieving education for all – UN
By IRNA
Tehran : It will not be possible to meet the goal of providing quality education for all children by 2015 without an additional 18 million new teachers worldwide - 4 million in Africa alone - the United Nations said last weekend on the occasion of World Teacher's Day.
Hamas praises Iranians’ mass protest on Qods Day
By IRNA
Tehran : The Islamic Resistance Movement of Palestine "Hamas" on Saturday issued a statement to appreciate millions of Iranians who marked the Qods Day on Friday protest rallies.
According to the Palestine website center, the statement said Iranian Muslims supported Palestinian oppressed nation via holding protest rallies throughout Iran.
The public support will definitely give hope to Qods fighters and Palestinian oppressed people as well as make global public opinion aware of current realities in the usurped territory, the statement read.
Kashmiris celebrate Musharraf’s victory
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Though the fate of Pakistan President is still hanging in fire, the supporters of separatists leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq celebrated the victory of Gen Parvez Musharraf by bursting crackers and taking out a victory procession in Srinagar, summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, here on Sunday.
SPO’s assault rifle goes missing; Police arrests 3
By B A Nazki, NAK
Mendhar (Poonch) : Police has arrested three police personnel including two Special Police Officers (SPOs) after an assault rifle with some ammunition went missing from the private accommodation of the cops, here on Saturday.
Militant, soldier killed in Kashmir encounter
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : An unidentified militant and a solider were killed and two others jawans wounded in a fierce encounter at Kangan area of Ganderbal district
Giving details of the encounter an official spokesman told News Agency of Kashmir that an operation was launched by Ganderbal Police and 24 RR at Barwal Thune on receiving a specific information regarding presence of militants in the area.
Lashkar threatens fresh ‘fidayeen’ attacks in Kashmir
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Incensed over recent losses in Kashmir valley at the hands of security forces, dreaded Pak based militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba has threatened to launch fresh spate of fidayeen attacks in near future.
Sheikh-ul-Aalam propagated Prophet’s eternal message: Azad
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Describing Sheikh Nooruddin Wali (RA) popularly known as Sheikh-ul-Aalam as the torch bearer of Kashmir who preached and practised the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has exhorted the people to follow him in their daily life.
US accuses Iran of inciting violence in Iraq
By DPA
Baghdad : Top US commander in Iraq General David Petraeus reiterated Sunday his country's accusations that Iran is fomenting violence in Iraq while charging that Iran's ambassador there is a member of Iran's paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Petraeus, speaking from a military base near the Iran-Iraq border, was quoted by Arab broadcaster al-Arabiya as saying that Tehran provides Iraq with advanced weaponry.
68 militants, troops killed in Pakistan fighting
By DPA
Islamabad : At least 48 pro-Taliban militants and 20 troops died Sunday in heavy fighting in Pakistan's tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, the army said.
Thirty rebels died and 20 were injured in an assault by government forces south of the town of Mir Ali in North Waziristan following overnight bomb attacks on military convoys, according to army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad.
Three killed in Syrian military plane crash
By Xinhua
Damascus : Three crewmembers on board a Syrian military plane were killed Sunday when the aircraft crashed near here due to a technical snag.
The plane was a Navajo small aircraft that belonged to a department linked to the Syrian military, SANA news agency quoting officials said. It was on a training flight.
The incident occurred at a sensitive time when the tension is high between Syria and its arch-rival Israel, which has carried out an air raid on Sep 6 deep into the Syrian territory.
‘Palestinian-Israeli negotiators to meet Monday’
By Xinhua
Ramallah : An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday that Palestinian and Israeli negotiation teams will meet Monday to draft some agreements.
However, Nemer Hamad, Abbas' political advisor, said he has no information about the location of the meeting.
Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed to form the negotiation teams after six regular meetings between them.
The agreements will be referred to a US-hosted peace conference slated for November.
War on Iran cannot be ruled out: Albright
By DPA
Prague : Former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright does not rule out a war against Iran in the nuclear dispute between Tehran and the international community.
"This last resort can never be given up completely," the Czech-born Albright who also served as US ambassador to the United Nations, told Prague-based CT1 television.
"First negotiation has to take place, although Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says terrible things," she insisted.
Iran, EU to resume nuclear talks
By IANS
Tehran : Iran Sunday reiterated that its right to uranium enrichment was non-negotiable but said talks over the nuclear dispute with the European Union (EU) will begin soon.
"Talks of nuclear freeze are outdated," foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said at his weekly press conference.
Hosseini said Iran and the European Union (EU) are soon to resume talks over the nuclear dispute.
Iran ready for equal talks with Six without preliminary conditions
TEHRAN, October 7 (Itar-Tass) - Iran is ready for equal talks with the Six (five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) without preliminary conditions, said spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Mohammad Ali Hosseini, speaking at a news conference on Sunday.
In the spokesman’s opinion, “efforts by some states, aimed at imposing sanctions on Iran outside the UN Security Council, ended in a flop”.
Dejagah withdraws from Germany’s U-21 match against Israel: report
Berlin, Oct 7, IRNA, German-Iranian footballer Ashkan Dejagah has withdrawn for political reasons from Friday's football match of Germany's Under-21 national squad in Israel, local news reports said here Saturday.
"It is known that I am a German-Iranian. I don't want to say anything more," said Dejagah after Germany's Under-21 head coach Dieter Eilts surprisingly left him out of the roster.
"It was well known beforehand that I won't fly (to Israel). The coach understood my reasons," the VfL Wolfsburg midfielder added.
Top German scholar rejects Western blueprint for Islamic democracy
Berlin, Oct 7, IRNA, A leading German Middle East expert here Saturday evening dismissed Western blueprints for democracy in Islamic countries.
Speaking at the cultural section of the Iranian embassy, the head of the Hamburg-based Leibniz Institute of Global and Area Studies, Udo Steinbach said, "If you look at the American blueprint for democracy in Iraq, one has to say it has failed."
"Each Islamic country has to form its democracy based on its culture and tradition. Each society has to rediscover its values in its own tradition, culture and religion," he added.
Violence kills 10 as Baghdad governor survives attack
By IANS
Baghdad : At least ten people were killed in a series of bomb attacks here Sunday, as governor of the Iraqi capital survived a bid on his life when gunmen attacked his convoy, police said.
A car bomb went off Sunday near the governor's building, killing three civilians in the Salihiya neighbourhood, police sources. Five people were also wounded when the explosives-laden vehicle, parked on a road, was detonated, a police source told DPA.
GCC ministers of municipal affairs to meet in Riyadh Oct 24
RIYADH, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- GCC ministers of municipal affairs are to hold their 11th conference in Riyadh on October 24, a statement by the GCC secretariat said Sunday.
"On the agenda of the meeting are items of common interest specifically those involving real municipal work like urban planning and municipal fees and ways of collecting them," the statement said.
Other items include construction regulations and ways of preserving traditional building character.
Ill-fated plane for surveilance department — SANA
DAMASCUS, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- An ill-fated aircraft that crashed west of the Syrian capital earlier on Sunday was used by the public surveilance authority, the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said.
SANA quoted an unnamed authoritative source as saying that the aircraft had fallen due to a technical failure.
The three-person crew died in the accident, the source said.
Syrian military plane crashes near Damascus
DAMASCUS -- The source said the aircraft, used for military training, went down onto an olives field in the town of Al-Muadhamia, west of the capital, killing two people, presumbaly the crew members, and wounding a third person.
The aircraft hit a house upon crashing in the farming region, the source said.
The source speculated that the aircraft might have fallen due to technical malfunction.
2 civilians killed, Baghdad’s governor survives attack
By DPA
Baghdad : A car bomb went off here Sunday near the governor's building killing two civilians, shortly after gunmen opened fire on the governor of the Iraqi capital in a separate incident.
Five were wounded when an explosives-laden vehicle, parked on a road in the Salihiya neighbourhood, was detonated, a police source told Voices of Iraq news agency.
Security forces quickly sealed off the blast site, including a bridge that links the area of Senk to Salihiya "in fear of other attacks," said the agency. Civilians were pushed back from the surrounding areas.
Palestinian missiles will reach Jerusalem — Knesset member
GAZA, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- Israeli Knesset member Yuval Steinitz, who represents the Likud party, called on Israeli authorities to take immediate actions to halt the Palestinian attacks on the Jewish state.
Steinitz told Israeli radio that people of Jerusalem and other cities in central Israel should not accept any political compromises offered by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to the Palestinians, which might lead to more similar attacks.
Israeli cabinet to review negotiations with Palestinians — Radio Israel
GAZA, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- The Israeli cabinet is to hold its weekly session Sunday and is to review reports over the negotiations with the Palestinians.
Radio Israel said the meeting would be headed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who is later to head a meeting of the miniature cabinet on security and political affairs.
Gaza militants launch rocket attacks at Israel
By Xinhua
Gaza : Two Palestinian armed groups said Sunday they launched four homemade rockets from northern Gaza Strip at the southern Israeli town of Sderout early in the day.
The armed wings of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) and the Fatah movement led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas claimed their responsibility for the attack in leaflets.
The two groups also told the media that they attacked the Israeli-Egyptian crossing by eight mortar shells.
Iran is ready to negotiate with the big powers on the nuclear issue, says...
Tehran, Oct 7, SPA -- Mohammed Ali Husseini, the spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, said his country is ready to conduct negotiations with the permanent members of the UN's security council on the Iranian nuclear issue without preconditions.
Addressing his weekly press conference here today, Husseini said Iran had earlier announced its readiness to conduct talks with group 5+1 without preconditions.
Head of Turkey’s Parliament tells U.S. House speaker Armenia genocide bill will harm ties
ISTANBUL, Oct 7, SPA -- The head of Turkey's Parliament warned the United States against passing an Armenian genocide bill, saying in a letter to the U.S. House speaker that the move would harm bilateral ties, AP quoted his office as saying Sunday.
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said in his letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that «it might take decades to heal negative effects of the bill if it passes,» Toptan's office said in a statement.
Toptan _ who is elected by the legislative body to chair arliamentary sessions _ is considered neutral toward all political parties.
Civilians killed; Baghdad’s governor survives attempt on his life
Baghdad, Oct 7, SPA -- A car bomb went off in Baghdad early Sunday near the governor's building killing two civilians, news reports said, shortly after gunmen opened fire on the governor of Baghdad in a separate incident, reported dpa.
Five were wounded when an explosives-laden vehicle, parked on a road in the Salihiya neighbourhood, was detonated, a police source told Voices of Iraq news agency.
Iran criticizes France
Tehran, Oct 7, SPA -- Mohammed Ali Husseini, the spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry has described the new political trend of the French government towards Iran as an illogical trend.
In a statement to the pressmen today, Husseini said 'we have made it clear to the French officials that illogical trends towards Iran will not yield positive results.
It is worth mentioning that the French foreign minister has recently criticized the Iranian nuclear policy noting that his country prefers diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue.
Iran says will continue uranium enrichment
TEHRAN, October 7 (RIA Novosti) - Iran is prepared for talks with six world powers mediating Tehran's controversial nuclear program but will not suspend its uranium enrichment, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Sunday.
Iran has been at the center of international concerns over its nuclear program, which some countries, particularly the United States, suspect is geared toward nuclear weapons development. Tehran has consistently denied the claims, saying it needs nuclear power for civilian purposes.
My life is at risk in Pakistan: Benazir
By IANS
London : Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto spoke of risks to her life as Pakistani Taliban militants were Sunday quoted as saying they would launch suicide attacks against her when she returns home after eight years in exile.
"I know there are security risks, people who want to kill me and to scuttle the restoration of democracy," Bhutto said in an interview with the Sunday Times ahead of her planned return home on Oct 18.
Altaf Hussain lauds new Pakistani ordinance
By IANS
Karachi : Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, who lives in exile but whose party supports the federal government and also rules Sindh, has termed an ordinance that grants politicians amnesty from corruption cases as the "beginning of a new political culture" in Pakistan.
Syrian military plane crashes, two killed
By Xinhua
Damascus : A Syrian military training plane crashed near the capital Sunday, killing two persons on board, pan-Arab satellite TV al-Jazeera reported.
A third person might have been injured in the accident, the report said.
The plane was seen crashing into Muadamiet al-Sham district, west of Damascus. But there was no official confirmation about the crash.
30 killed as Pakistan army clashes with militants
By DPA
Islamabad : As many as 30 people died Sunday in fighting between militants and Pakistani troops supported by helicopter gunships in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, news reports said.
Government forces launched a retaliatory operation against insurgents in south of the town of Mir Ali in North Waziristan following overnight roadside bomb attacks on military convoys, army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said.
Pakistani beggar shames cellular provider
By IANS
Islamabad : A Pakistani beggar shamed a cellular operator when he reminded it that whatever be his profession, he deserved to be treated like any other subscriber and be shown the same courtesies.
Muhammad Zafar, who has for long been begging on the streets of Sialkot in Punjab, was miffed when the guards at a Mobilink franchise tried to stop him from entering the shop.
PPP hardliners see poll boycott as saving grace
By IANS
Islamabad : The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) decision to boycott the presidential election is being seen in political analysts here as a saving grace for party hardliners opposed to their chairperson Benazir Bhutto's power-sharing deal with President Pervez Musharraf.
These hardliners "wanted to give an impression that there had not been a complete sell-out", Dawn reported Sunday.
The party took the decision to boycott the poll on Saturday morning after long-drawn discussions for two days.
Iran, EU to resume nuclear talks
By DPA
Tehran : Iran and the European Union (EU) are soon to resume talks over the nuclear dispute, said foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini Sunday.
The spokesman, however, could not give an exact date and venue of the new round of talks between Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Hosseini said that further technical talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts on Iran's P1 and P2 centrifuges were scheduled for this Tuesday.
Former premier is Russia’s foreign intelligence chief
By RIA Novosti
Dushanbe (Tajikistan) : Former prime minister Mikhail Fradkov has been appointed the head of the Russian foreign intelligence service, President Vladimir Putin has said.
Fradkov will replace Sergei Lebedev, who occupied the post since 2000 and was selected Friday to head the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose union of former Soviet republics.
"You all know well the man, who will head the Russian foreign intelligence service - this is Mikhail Fradkov," said Putin, who is currently on a visit to Tajikistan.
Duped Bangladeshi worker dies in Malaysia
By IANS
Dhaka : A Bangladeshi worker stranded in Malaysia after being duped by recruiting agencies has died in Kuala Lumpur.
Mahesh Kumar Sarkar, 55, had gone to Malaysia seven months ago but the employers, on whose behalf he had been recruited, failed to provide him a job, the New Age newspaper said Sunday.
Ten other workers who returned Saturday accused Bangladesh's high commission in Kuala Lumpur of being indifferent to Sarkar's plight.
Seven killed in Baghdad bombings
By Xinhua
Baghdad : At least seven people were killed and 11 injured in a series of bomb attacks here Sunday, an interior ministry source said.
Three people were killed and three wounded when a roadside bomb went off near a US patrol in Baghdad's southern district of Dora, the source said. The blast apparently missed its target and hit bystanders.
Earlier, three civilians were killed and six wounded when a homemade bomb planted inside a car detonated near a passing police patrol in the Baladiyat neighbourhood in eastern Baghdad.
Clash leaves 22 dead, 21 injured in Pakistan
By Xinhua
Islamabad : At least 22 people were killed and 21 injured in a clash between militants and security forces in Pakistan's tribal area Sunday, army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said.
The security forces killed 20 militants and injured 15 while two soldiers died and six suffered injuries in the clash in North Waziristan, said Arshad.
The militants launched an attack on the security forces at Mir Ali, a major town in North Waziristan. The security forces retaliated, using helicopters to fight the guerrillas.
Two NTPC employees abducted
By IANS
Ranchi : Two officials of the National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) have been abducted from Godda district of Jharkhand, police said Sunday.
Senior supervisor D.J. Acharya and supervisor Subarato Dam were abducted when they went to inspect a site in a village, Superintendent of Police B. Oraon told IANS. The village is about 500 km from Ranchi.
Rice to visit Middle East mid October – Erekat
By NNN-KUNA
Gaza : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit the Middle East region in mid-October, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Sunday.
"During her visit, Rice will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert," he told Radio Palestine.
However, he dismissed as ungrounded reports that Rice would try to arrange a tripartite meeting in Washington involving herself, Abbas and Olmert, in a bid to bring closer their views ahead of the fall conference called by US President George W. Bush.
US to keep closer watch on Blackwater operations in Iraq
By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : The US administration has decided to send a team of monitors to Iraq to keep an eye on staff of the private security company Blackwater during their operations o0n Baghdad streets, the US Embassy in Iraq said Saturday.
"US Secretary of State Condaleezza Rice has received an initial probe" into a Baghdad shootout involving Blackwater last month, a statement by the embassy said.
Based on the probe findings, Rice directed "actions to improve operational accountability and control" of Blackwater's operations, the statement said.
UNHCR called on donor countries to raise aid for Yemen
By NNN-SABA
Sana'a, : The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has called upon donor countries and organizations to increase their supports for Yemen to be able to do its humanitarian duties towards refugees on its territories, said the deputy minister of foreign affairs Mohi-al-Deen al-Dhabi.
After his participation in the 58th round of the UNHCR's Executive Committee held in Geneva, Al-Dhabi - the head of the Supreme National Committee of the Refugees' Affairs - said that the
20 Palestinian refugees injured in Iraq-Syrian border blaze
By NNN-WAFA
Baghdad : At least twenty Palestinian refugees were injured on Saturday as an enormous fire broke out in al-Tanf camp for refugees in the Iraqi-Syrian borders, sources from the camp said.
They added that thirteen refugees suffered serious burns and seven others bruised by overcrowding, run, after the flee of refugees from tents which came by fire.
The sources mentioned that eleven families were affected by the blaze, which counts about three thirty tents.
Peace in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions – Abbas
By NNN-WAFA
Ramallah : President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed on Friday that he wants peace in accordance with the international legitimacy resolutions as well as a viable independent Palestinian state living side- by- side with Israel.
During a meal breaking fast of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the Presidential HQ in Ramallah, the President told Palestinian dignitaries from Jerusalem that he expected at least 36 states to attend, including 12 Arab states, three Muslim nations, the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the G-8.
Kuwaiti lawmakers arrive in Geneva to participate in IPU conference
By NNN-KUNA
Geneva, Switzerland : A Kuwaiti National Assembly delegation arrived in Switzerland Saturday evening to participate in the 117th International Parliament Union conference scheduled to start next Monday.
The delegation headed by Member of Parliament (MP) Mubarak Al-Khrainej was received upon arrival by Kuwaiti Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Derar Abdulrazzaq Rzouqi and advisor of the Kuwaiti diplomatic mission Najib Al-Bader.
Pakistani operation in Waziristan kills 20 militants, wounds 15
ISLAMABAD, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- The military, in a retaliatory operation Sunday in North Waziristan tribal agency along the Afghan border, killed 20 militants and wounded over 15 others, while two soldiers were also killed and six wounded, said an official.
The operation, backed by gunship helicopters, was launched in an area near Mir Ali village and was launched after militants targeted a military convoy on Saturday with explosive devices at two or three locations, said military spokesman Waheed Arshad, while talking to KUNA.
Australia fines smokers on beaches, sidewalks, all open areas
SYDNEY, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- As studies prove smoking more dangerous and harmful than previously thought, Australia, having banned smoking in bars and clubs and other closed areas, is to fine those who smoke in open public places like beaches, side walks, and anywhere near a playground for children as of next year.
Musharraf asks opposition to accept his victory
By NNN-PTI
Islamabad : Shortly after winning a landslide victory in a controversial presidential election, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today asked the opposition parties to accept the outcome.
"I bow my head in front of God almighty and thank him for giving me such a great victory. I call on opposition parties to accept the outcome and urge them not to destabilise the country," Musharraf told reporters.
Wearing civilian clothes instead of his military uniform, the military ruler said, "I appeal to the people for a conciliatory approach, let sanity prevail".
Rice to visit Middle East mid-October — Erekat
GAZA, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit the Middle East region in mid-October, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Sunday.
"During her visit, Rice will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert," he told Radio Palestine.
However, he dismissed as ungrounded reports that Rice would try to arrange a tripartite meeting in Washington involving herself, Abbas and Olmert, in a bid to bring closer their views ahead of the fall conference called by US President George W. Bush.
Israeli ships fire at Palestinian fishing boats off N. Gaza shores
GAZA, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- Israel navy ships opened fire early Sunday at Palestinian fishing boats that were at sea by the town of Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip.
According to Palestinian security sources, the fishing boats were fired at while at sea, forcing many of them to return to shore immediately.
Many boats were damaged, but no causalities were reported, the sources added.
Indian handicrafts: weaving their way to slow death?
By Azera Rahman, IANS
New Delhi : Forty-year-old Inder Pal's lost expression quite fit in with the smiling faces of terracotta sculptures he has created.
"Life is just not what it used to be. Earlier people used to buy terracotta sculptures in bulk. But now they just don't want to," he says at the Dilli Haat crafts village in the capital.
"They come to the shop looking impressed but once they hear the price they say, 'What's the point in spending so much on something that is breakable?'" Pal told IANS.
Sunderbans scripts a story of tiger protection
By Sujoy Dhar, IANS
Bali Island (West Bengal) : He used to be a poacher, but today Anil Krishna Mistry preaches conservation with a missionary zeal in the Sunderbans, India's biggest tiger reserve and the world's largest mangrove gene pool.
And he also symbolises the massive initiative under way in the archipelago that is turning villagers, once foes of the big cats, into its friends.
Moussa to address EU parliament’s meeting in Lisbon
By NNN-KUNA
Cairo : Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa will head to Lisbon, Portugal, Sunday to take part in the EU parliament's foreign relations and cooperation committee meeting.
The League's official spokesman Alaa Rushdi told the press that Moussa's address to the conference would focus on the situation in the Mideast and efforts to revive the peace process. The address would also touch upon European-Arab relations.
Syrian, Turkish Foreign Ministers hold talks
By NNN-KUNA
Damascus : Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem discussed issues of common interest with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan during their meeting here on Saturday.
An official Syrian source said that the talks dealt with bolstering bilateral relations, in addition to developments in the Middle East particularly in Iraq, Palestine, and Lebanon.
Efforts being exerted to activate the peace process in the region was also on the agenda, said the source.
Iranian border with Iraqi Kurdistan reopens Saturday
By NNN-KUNA
Tehran : Iranian border with Iraqi Kurdistan will re-open beginning on Saturday, Under-Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council for Internal Affairs Muhammad Jaafari said on Saturday.
He said that the decision was made after Iraqi Kurdish officials discussed border security with Iranian officials in Tehran.
Religious, cultural strife threatening global peace, security – Kuwait UN representative
By NNN-KUNA
United Nations : Kuwait warned late Friday that religious strife and cultural conflicts witnessed around the world threatened global peace and security.
Georgia calls for expansion of economic ties with Iran
By NNN-IRNA
Isfahan : Georgian Ambassador to Iran Lovan Asatiani on Saturday said that Iran-Georgia economic exchanges are not at a satisfactory level and called for expansion of mutual ties in this respect.
Asatiani made the remark in a gathering dubbed the Identification of Trade Opportunities of Central Asia and Georgia in the presence of a number of businessmen and managers of Isfahan province, adding that given current potentials and good relations between Tehran and Tbilisi, the bilateral economic ties should increase more than ever.
Hamas praises Iranians’ mass protest on Qods Day
By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : The Islamic Resistance Movement of Palestine 'Hamas' on Saturday issued a statement to appreciate millions of Iranians who marked the Qods Day on Friday protest rallies.
According to the Palestine website centre, the statement said Iranian Muslims supported Palestinian oppressed nation via holding protest rallies throughout Iran.
The public support will definitely give hope to Qods fighters and Palestinian oppressed people as well as make global public opinion aware of current realities in the usurped territory, the statement read.
Senegal calls for expansion of cooperation with Iran
By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : Senegalese Culture Minister Brahima Jiouf said the president of his country is for expansion of cooperation between Iran and Senegal.
In a meeting with Iran's Ambassador to Dakar Jahanbakhsh Hassanzadeh on Saturday, the minister said, "The Senegal president has called for expansion of cultural cooperation with Iran, especially in the fields of movie production and cinema education." He said, "Our cultural programs are ready to be presented in the joint commission."
Iran for expansion of defence relations with Afghanistan
By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said here Saturday that expansion of defence relations with all Muslim and neighbouring countries, especially Afghanistan, is a priority of Iran's foreign policy.
Najjar told Afghan Ambassador to Tehran Mohammad Yahya Maroofi that long borders and deep historical, ethnic and cultural commonalties and bonds between Iran and Afghanistan would pave the way for further expansion of the two-way ties and cooperation.
Iran suggests inaugurating direct Tehran-Nairobi flight
By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : Managing Director of Iran's Tourism Promotion Company Mehdi Jahangiri in a meeting with Kenyan Tourism and Wildlife Minister Morris Dzoro here Saturday suggested inauguration of Iran-Nairobi direct flight.
Jahangiri said under the proposal Iranian private sector would fill seats in the flight if the Kenyan party agrees to provisions of the proposal.
He said Iranian investors are fully ready to invest in Kenya, so the Kenyan government should prepare necessary ground for activities of Iranian businessmen there.
22 dead in Pakistan clashes
By Xinhua
Islamabad : At least 22 people were killed and 21 injured in a clash between militants and security forces in Pakistan's tribal area of North Waziristan Sunday, army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said.
The security forces killed 20 militants and injured 15 while two soldiers died and six were wounded in the clashes, Arshad said.
Do commissions of inquiry serve any purpose?
By Murali Krishnan, IANS
New Delhi : Do judicial commissions and commissions of inquiry (COI) appointed by the government to examine issues ranging from communal riots, scandals and assassinations to inter-state disputes actually achieve anything? A sampling of the number of the commissions appointed till date and their fate is an eye-opener.
Tajikistan to hold rotating presidency in Eurasec in 2008
By RIA Novosti
Dushanbe : Tajikistan will hold a rotating chair in the Eurasian Economic Community (Eurasec) in 2008 and its leader will supervise the work of the organization, the Russian president said Saturday.
UAE calls for promoting inter-religious dialogue
By NNN-BNA
New York : The UAE was among the first countries to lend its strong support to the alliance of civilizations, an initiative launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2005, based on its belief in the importance of mobilising an international concerted effort towards creating a new global environment where all states can live peacefully, USE's charge-de afaires to the UN said Saturday.
Palestine ex-PM laid out conditions for talks
By NNN-Prensa Latina
Riad : A Palestinian state reduced to the West Bank makes no sense, warned ex-prime minister of the National Authority Ahmed Qurea in public declarations to the Saudi newspaper Al Watan on Saturday.
Qurea said that the structure should also include Jerusalem and Gaza Strip besides being established above the Western Bank.
Qurea, who is also the chief of the negotiating team with Israel added that "unity of this homeland is geographic, political, demographic and cultural so it is inadmissible to reduce it."
Syria, Turkey call for resumption of dialogue among Palestinians
By Xinhua
Damascus : Syria and Turkey on Saturday stressed the necessity to resume dialogue among the Palestinians in order to ensure the unity of their cause and establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem and his visiting Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan made the call during a meeting, according to the official SANA news agency.
U.S. troops’ mistaken fire kills 2 Afghan
By Xinhua
Kabul : U.S. troops based in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province opened fire on a civilian vehicle Saturday morning, killing two persons, spokesman of provincial government Zarghon Shah Khaliqyar said.
"The U.S. troops mistakenly opened fire on a local car in Manogai district at around 8: 00 a.m. local time this morning, leaving two civilians dead and injuring three others," Khaliqyar told Xinhua.
He did not give more details.
The U.S. military officials were not immediately available to make comment.
Iraqi major Shiite rivals agree to curb clash
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Two leading Iraqi Shiite political rivals agreed Saturday to jointly prevent further violence and bloodshed in the country bogged down by factional scuffles.
Musharraf unofficially declared successful in presidential elections
By Xinhua
Islamabad : Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf was unofficially declared successful in the presidential elections on Saturday, the state-run PTV channel reported.
The results of the poll from the National Assembly, Senate and four provincial assemblies showed that Musharraf achieved a crushing victory in the presidential elections.
US Says Blackwater Massacred Iraqis
Washington, Oct 6 (Prensa Latina) The Pentagon blamed US Blackwater agency for the arbitrary killing of 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad on September 16, the Washington Post revealed on Friday.
Quoting a top ranking military officer, The Post said that military reports called the reaction of Blackwater guards disproportionate and wrong.
"The shot civilians had no guns to respond the Blackwater guards fire. Neither Iraqi police nor local security forces should have shot at them," said the source who remained anonymous.
US Kills 25 Iraqis, Possible Civilians
Baghdad, Oct 5 (Prensa Latina) At least 25 persons died and another 28 were wounded in a US air strike in northern Iraqi city of Baquba, capital of Diyala, on Friday.
New Scandal on Washington Torture Endorsement
US Says Blackwater Massacred Iraqis
Before dawn and following a combat with the insurgency, American warplanes shelled Khalis neigborhood in Baquba, police said.
According to occupation forces, all the victims were insurgents, but an Iraqi officer who remained anonymous said that several dead were civilians.
IAEA: Cooperate with Iran
Cairo, Oct 5 (Prensa Latina) International Atomic Energy Association president Mohamed El Baradei asserted on Thursday in Cairo that cooperation is the best way to solve the Iranian nuclear affair.
El Baradei told Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram of the consequences of a confrontation with Iran, and urged to avoid it since, "the Middle East has quite enough problems to solve."
The affair is moving beyond nuclear differences and putting regional security at risk, he stated adding that greater cooperation and adopting measures that build trust is the best way to find a solution.
US commander in Iraq pays first visit to Diyala
Baghdad, October 06, SPA -- Amid ongoing violence in Iraq, top US Commander General David Petraeus paid a visit to Kirkush military camp in northern Diyala province Saturday, an official security source in the province told local press sources according to DPA.
According to the independent news agency Voices of Iraq, it was Petraeus' first visit ever to the camp, which lies between the districts of Baldroz and Mandali and serves as a base for the fifth
division of the Iraqi Army and commanders of the multinational forces. Details of the visit were not disclosed.
US congratulates Musharraf on re-election
By Xinhua
Washington : The United States Saturday congratulated Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf for his re-election to the post.
"Pakistan is an important partner and ally to the United States and we congratulate them for today's election," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.
"We look forward to the electoral commission's announcement and to working with all of Pakistan's leaders on important bilateral, regional and counter terrorism issues," Stanzel said.
Pakistan Islamic alliance facing split
By IRNA
Islamabad : The ruling alliance of Islamic groups in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) faced split as members of a major group resigned from the provincial assemblies on Friday, a leader said.
23 members of Jamaat-e-Islami, a coalition partner of the 6-party alliance Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) or United Action Forum, handed over resignations to the Speaker provincial assemblies in Peshawar, Siraj-ul-Haq, Jamaat provincial chief said.
Siraj-ul-Haq said that the resignations are aimed at blocking General Musharraf's re-election bid.
Musharraf supporters relish his win as opposition groups show disdain
ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (KUNA) Hundreds of supporters of President Pervez Musharraf were celebrating his expected win but the legal community along with opposition parties held protest demonstrations in several parts of the country.
President Musharraf secures over 55% votes in elections: Shaukat Aziz
ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said President General Pervez Musharraf won the today’s presidential elections with overwhelming majority by securing over 55 percent votes from the electoral college. “It is a historic day for Pakistan, as today’s presidential elections were held smoothly and the PML and allied parties voted in favour of President Musharraf,” he told the newsmen after a an Iftar hosted by him in honour of the PML workers from the party’s Islamabad chapter here at the Prime Minister House.
Confronting Iran’s nuclear right, west’s grave mistake
By NNN-KUNA
Tehran : Tehran Substitute Friday prayer leader Hojjatoleslam Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here in his second sermon West's resistance against Iran's nuclear right was their grave mistake.
Addressing thousands of Tehrani worshipers at Tehran University Campus, Rafsanjani said it is a grave mistake to confront a nation that has proved throughout history it is capable of defending its rights mightily."
Astan-e-Qods museum displays world Qods Day stamp exhibit
By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : An exhibition of stamps marking the occasion of World Qods Day, opened on Friday at the Stamp and Banknote Section of the Astan-e Qods Razavi Museum in the holy city of Mashhad, northeastern Iran.
The stamps bear various pictures of Bait-ul-Moqaddas (Jerusalem) in Palestine, said the curator of the section Mohammad-Hossein Yazdinejad, adding that the stamps had been issued in twenty countries including Iran, Senegal, Nigeria, Somalia, Libya, Bangladesh and Cyprus.
US needs to “engage seriously” with meddling Iran
By NNN-KUNA
Washington : The United States needs to "engage seriously" with Iran, which is meddling in Iraqi internal affairs in a way that could cause Iraq to lose "everything" of its nascent political process, Iraqi National Security Adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie warned on Friday.
In a short speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, Rubaie also linked Syria to "foreign terrorists" in Iraq. Damascus has been denying any link.
Iraqi interpreters for British troops to be allowed to settle in UK
By NNN-KUNA
London : Iraqi interpreters and other key support staff who have risked their lives to work for Britain are to be allowed to settle in the United Kingdom, The Times newspaper revealed Saturday.
Hundreds of interpreters and their families are to be given assistance to leave Iraq, where they live under fear of death squads because they collaborated with British forces.
Those wishing to remain in Iraq or relocate to neighbouring countries will be helped to resettle.
Iraqi PM discusses militias with US officials
By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : The situation in Iraq requires a precise working plan that deals with militias in order to avoid any further "mistakes," Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said.
His remarks came during a meeting Friday evening with Joint Chief of Staff at the US Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, General David Petraus and US Ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker.
Azad joins Rushdie, Nasreen in blasphemy
Mufti-e-Azam Kashmir issues fatwa against JK CM
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today joined the (in)famous Muslims viz Salman Rushdie and Tasleema Nasreen with Mufti-e-Azam of Kashmir Mufti Bashiruddin issuing a 'fatwa' against him for alleged blasphemy for eulogising Gandhian philosophy of non-violence on October 2 last.
Qazi shoots off another letter to CM, accept resignation
Mehbooba eulogises Cong led coalition in JK
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : As Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti was eulogising the achievements of Congress led coalition government, senior party leader Qazi Mohammad Afzal piqued over the silence of top leadership of both the parties, shot off another letter to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad asking him to accept his resignation from council of ministers.
PDP leader’s Gypsy burnt in Kashmir
By News Agency of Kashmir
Anantnag : An angry mob set ablaze a police gypsy allotted to a Peoples Democratic Party leader at KP road after the vehicle hit a pedestrian here today.
Police sources informed News Agency of Kashmir that a speeding police gypsy bearing No. JK02 Q - 4128 allotted to PDP leaderAbdul Salam Reshi of Bijbehara, hit a pedestrian Manzoor Malik of Batakoot at KP road, injuring him seriosuly.
Govt favours industrial revolution in J&K: Aijaz Khan
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education Aijaz Ahmad Khan underscored the need to create awareness among youth regarding setting up of industrial units in the state. However, for healthy industrialization strong will of entrepreneurs is imperative, he added.
Khan was addressing a 2-day workshop organized by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute Government of India in collaboration with Kashmir Government Polytechnic College Gogji Bagh Srinagar here today.
JK R&B minister orders suspension of JE for sub-standard work
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Roads and Buildings Gulchain Singh Charak has directed the Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir to suspend the Junior Engineer and get explanation for Executive Engineer and Assistant Executive Engineer for allowing use of sub-standard material for black-topping on the two lanes of Bishamber Nagar Nowpora Srinagar.
Lashkar pays tributes to slain Cdrs Abu Wafa, Abu Kasim
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : The dreaded militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba today paid tributes to its slain commanders Abu Wafa alias Musa and Abu Kasim, who died fighting during an encounter with security forces at Bandipora in north Kashmir.
Six militants killed in Kashmir
By IANS
Srinagar : Six militants were gunned down by Indian soldiers in the Tangdhar sector of the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir Saturday.
A statement issued here by the spokesman of the Indian Army said troops of 16 Jat regiment observed the movement of the guerrillas in the Tangdhar sector of the LoC.
"When the group of terrorists was challenged, they opened fire from their automatic weapons on the troops resulting in a long fire fight at the end of which all the six terrorists were killed.
Devices used in explosives found at Delhi Metro station
By IANS
New Delhi : Averting a potential tragedy at a Delhi Metro station in northwest Delhi, security officials Saturday recovered a bag containing electronic devices which could have been used in assembling explosives.
"A bag containing electronic devices has been recovered from an unidentified man during the regular frisking of passengers at the security counter of the Rohini Metro station," Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) spokesman Vertul Singh said.
Fatwa issued against Azad
By IANS
Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir's official Grand Mufti Saturday issued a fatwa against the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad asking him to seek penance and clarify his reported statement about Mahatma Gandhi.
Azad, at function here on Gandhi Jayanti, had said the Gandhian way of life was the best path and everybody should follow it.
Amid boycott, Musharraf wins presidential election
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf won Saturday's presidential election boycotted by the opposition by a huge margin, setting the stage for him to quit as the army chief, eight years after he seized power in a bloodless coup.
Although the Supreme Court had said while allowing the ballot that the result would be kept in abeyance, Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Mohammed Farooq went ahead and announced the outcome of vote count while maintaining that it was not a formal notification.
Khatami to lead Iranian opposition in elections
By DPA
Tehran : Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami will lead the opposition coalition in the country's March parliamentary elections, the cleric's brother told the Fars news agency Saturday.
"As far as I know, he will not directly nominate himself but lead the (opposition) coalition," Mohammad-Reza Khatami of the reformist Islamic Participation Front said.
After the two defeats of the 2004 parliamentary and 2005 presidential elections, the reformist and moderate factions formed a coalition and hope to regain power in 2008.
Prince William’s commander killed in Afghanistan
By DPA
London : A British soldier killed in Afghanistan Thursday was the platoon commander of Prince William, the ministry of defence said here Saturday.
In a statement, the prince said he was "deeply saddened" at the death of Major Alexis Roberts, who had been his platoon commander at the military training academy Sandhurst. Prince William described him as a "good friend".
Qaiser Mohammad Ali gets Madhavrao Scindia award
By IANS
New Delhi : IANS Sports Editor Qaiser Mohammad Ali Saturday received the annual Madhav Gourav Ratna Award 2006-07 for excellence in journalism, instituted in memory of former cricket board president Madhavrao Scindia.
Besides Qaiser, who had won the 'Best of News Agencies' prize of the Sports Journalists' Federation of India (SJFI) last year, Hindustan Times sports editor Kadambari Murali, Aaj Tak sports editor Vikrant Gupta and CNN-IBN cricket correspondent Nishant Arora also received the award.
‘Bangladeshi terror group, ISI behind Hyderabad blasts’
By IANS
Hyderabad : Bangladesh-based terror group Harkat-ul Jihad-e-Islami (HUJI) under the directions of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) carried out three bomb blasts in Hyderabad since May, the police have claimed on the basis of the confession of a suspect.
Claiming to have unravelled the entire terror plot, the police said Shahid, a native of this city who is now believed to be in Bangladesh, plotted the May 18 blast at the Mecca Masjid here and twin blasts at two public places on Aug 25.
Musharraf wins controversial presidential election
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : Incumbent Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf won Saturday's controversial presidential election by a huge margin, according to unofficial results. Formal notification of the military ruler as the winner has been barred by the Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions challenging his candidacy when he is the army chief.
Two ministers stand to gain from Musharraf-Benazir deal
By IANS
Islamabad : Two ministers charged with corruption as well as a number of politicians and officials stand to benefit from Friday's promulgation by President Pervez Musharraf of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), the result of a deal he worked out with Benazir Bhutto to withdraw corruption cases against her.
Federal home minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Water and Power Minister Liaqat Jatoi, who are charged with corruption, stand to gain from the ordinance.
India’s Zeeshan Ali UAE tennis coach
By IANS
Dubai : Former Indian Davis Cup player Zeeshan Ali has been appointed the permanent coach of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tennis team.
Ali was earlier given a temporary contract after he guided the UAE to the Tier III Davis Cup event in July.
After being appointed the permanent coach, Ali said that players must show renewed commitment to their sport if they were to progress further in the Davis Cup.
Bihar to expedite trials in bribery cases
By IANS
Patna : The Bihar government has decided to conduct speedy trials of cases against government officials arrested on bribery charges and has set up a special court to deal with such cases.
Assistant director general of the state vigilance bureau, Neelmani, said: "The special court will start speedy trials of all the charge-sheeted cases."
"The vigilance department has arrested 109 government officials on bribery charges till September 2007 and 68 in 2006 as part of the anti-corruption drive," he said.
Pakistan issues national reconciliation ordinance
Islamabad, Oct 6, IRNA , President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday promulgated 'the National Reconciliation Ordinance' aimed at promoting national reconciliation, foster mutual trust and confidence among holders of public office and to remove the vestiges of national vendetta and victimization.
The ordinance is issued to drop corruption cases against the exiled Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, analysts say.
Ms Bhutto has twice been prime minister of Pakistan, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1993 to 1996.
Pakistan Islamic alliance facing split
Islamabad, Oct 5, IRNA ,The ruling alliance of Islamic groups in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) faced split as members of a major group resigned from the provincial assemblies on Friday, a leader said.
23 members of Jamaat-e-Islami, a coalition partner of the 6-party alliance Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) or United Action Forum, handed over resignations to the Speaker provincial assemblies in Peshawar, Siraj-ul-Haq, Jamaat provincial chief said.
Siraj-ul-Haq said that the resignations are aimed at blocking General Musharraf's re-election bid.
Haniya plays down upcoming US-sponsored peace forum
GAZA, Oct 6 (KUNA) -- Deposed Palestinian Premier Ismail Haniya played down Saturday the significance of next Fall's US-sponsored international peace forum in Washington to settle Palestine's case.
In a press statement, Haniya said this forum was a mere attempt to trick some Palestinians, warning against steps aimed at taking improper advantage of the current division between Palestinians.
The forum, he said, was an attempt by the US to normalize ties between Israel and Arab nations, as well as to ensure Arab backing for US policies towards Iraq and Iran.
UK to give asylum to Iraqi interpreters – report
London, Oct 6, IRNA , Iraqi interpreters and other key support staff who have risked their lives to work for Britain in their war effort are to be allowed to settle in the UK, it was reported Saturday.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is due to make a statement on Britain's future role in Iraq on Monday, will announce the change of policy next week, the Times newspaper said.
Brown vowed in August to "look again" at the issue after an outcry over 91 Iraqi translators, who had fled the country, claiming that their lives were at risk and that they were being abandoned by Britain.
Situation in Afghanistan from bad to worse
KABUL, Oct 6 (KUNA) -- The situation in war-devastated Afghanistan continues to slip from bad to worse despite efforts by the government and other international players to call dissidents, whether Taliban or those loyal to former warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to join the government and engage in negotiations.
According to UN figures, violence in Afghanistan rose by 33 percent in 2007 compared to the previous year.
Muslim leader in Germany urges unity in Ramadan
BERLIN, Oct 6 (KUNA) -- A Muslim leader in Germany said Saturday that the holy month of Ramadan was as a good occasion for Muslims here and around the world to be united.
Ayyub Koeler, head of Germany's Supreme Council of Muslims, voiced his views in an interview with the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), expressing much satisfaction and happiness at the Muslim fasting month thanks to its spiritual links to worshipping, true belief and Muslim unity.
Musharraf wins Presidential polls with overwhelming majority
ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday secured votes from the overwhelming majority of parliamentarins in the presidential election.According to unofficial result out of 257 votes, the President secured 252 votes against 2 by Justice (Retd) Wajihuddin and 3 that were rejected in the National Assembly and the Senate.
The PPP abstained from voting and its candidate Amin Faheem could not get any vote.
Two ministers stand to gain from Musharraf-Benazir deal
By IANS
Islamabad : Two ministers charged with corruption as well as a number of politicians and officials stand to benefit from Friday's promulgation by President Pervez Musharraf of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), the result of a deal he worked out with Benazir Bhutto to withdraw corruption cases against her.
Federal home minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Water and Power Minister Liaqat Jatoi, who are charged with corruption, stand to gain from the ordinance.
UN appeals for ‘humanitarian’ visas for iraqis fleeing to Syria
United Nations, Oct 6, SPA -- Responding to Syria’s strict adherence to new visa restrictions for Iraqis wishing to enter the country, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday urged the creation of a “humanitarian” visa for Iraqis fleeing violence.
Since visa restrictions were imposed Monday, only Iraqis with visas for commercial, transport, scientific, and education purposes have been successful in crossing the border to Syria, UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva.
Haneya casts doubts about the Middle East conference
Gaza, Oct 6, SPA -- Isma'il Haneya, the deposed Palestinian Premier, has warned against the real US purposes after convening a conference on the Middle East problem.
In statements published today in Palestine newspaper, Haneya ruled out the possibility of reaching a Palestinian-Israel understanding for restoring the Palestinian inalienable rights before the convening of the conference.
Top Pakistani and Iranain officials to meet
ISLAMABAD, OCT 6, SPA -- Top Pakistani and Iranian officials meet in Islamabad on October 15 to discuss the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, officials said.
The Iranian officials are certain to reach Islamabad for talks to finalize the project but the attendance of Indian representatives is still unconfirmed.
Pakistani and Iranian experts discussed the project last month in Tehran. They talked about tariffs and other issues and agreed to hold further talks before signing an agreement.
GCC Labour Ministers To Define Time Frame For Foreign Workers’ Residency
DUBAI, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) labour ministers will consider a proposal to define a time frame for foreign workers' residency in member states at a meeting in Riyadh next month.
The labour ministers' council will also explore the possibility of enacting a law for domestic helpers and creating a model system for a labour market data base.
Musharraf secured 31 votes from NWFP Assembly: Unofficial result
PESHAWAR, Oct 6 (APP): According to unofficial results, Pervez Musharraf secured 31 votes out of total 34 polled during Presidential elections here at NWFP Assembly on Saturday.
The unofficial results were announced by Presiding Officer, Chief Justice Peshawar High Court, Justice Tariq Pervez.Two other candidates of Presidential polls, Justice (Rtd) Wajih ud Din Ahmad bagged one vote and Mukhdom Amin Fahim of PPPP failed to obtain a single vote as the party MPAs abstained themselves from taking part in the voting.Two votes were declared as invalid by the Presiding officer.
Highlights of proceedings of Pak presidential polls
ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (APP): The following are the highlights of the Proceedings of the Parliament here on Saturday regarding the polling held for the presidential poll.
I. A large number of diplomats witnessed the Parliament proceedings on the Polling Day.
II. The parliamentarians thumped desks as the Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq announced the name of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The PM shook hands with the Returning Officer Qazi Muhammad Farooq after polling his vote.
Politician convicted of murder not allowed to pray: wife
By IANS
Patna : The wife of former Bihar minister Akhlaq Ahmad, who was sentenced to death for the 1994 lynching of an IAS officer, has alleged that jail authorities here prevented him from offering prayers and they did not allow him to break the fast he is observing during Ramadan.
Ahmad, a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader, was one of the three politicians -- including former MP and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Anand Mohan Singh -- who were sentenced to death for the lynching of G. Krishnaiya, the Gopalganj district magistrate, by a Patna court Wednesday.
Teenage singer kidnapped, father seeks governor’s help
By IANS
Kolkata : The father of a 15-year-old singer has met the West Bengal governor to help him find his daughter who was kidnapped by some youths on Tuesday while she was performing at a show here.
Anil Bhattacharya met Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi Friday and asked for help to find his abducted daughter Anuradha.
Anuradha, 15, a resident of Janai in Hooghly district, was a popular singer of religious songs. She and her family used to perform at different venues across the country, media reports said.
Maoist strike hits Jharkhand
By IANS
Ranchi : Roads in most Jharkhand cities were deserted and several trains were cancelled because of a 24-hour strike called by Maoist guerrillas to protest the induction of labour intensive technology in industries.
The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) called the strike with a view to garner the support of blue-collar workers who could lose jobs due to the new technology.
Iran, Pakistan to discuss gas project Oct 15
By IANS
Islamabad : Officials from Pakistan and Iran will meet here Oct 15 to take forward the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project even as New Delhi has stressed that it is still a part of the venture.
A Petroleum and Natural Resources department official said here that Iranian officials were to reach Islamabad for talks to finalise the project. But the attendance of Indian representatives was still unconfirmed, the Daily Times said Saturday.
Boycott, protests mar Pakistan presidential polls
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : Amid an opposition boycott and protests on the streets, Pakistani lawmakers backing the government Saturday voted to pick President Pervez Musharraf for another five years in an election closely monitored by the international community.
Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, is easily expected to win the controversial election whose result has been barred by the Supreme Court that is hearing petitions challenging his candidacy when he is the army chief.
Suicide attack hits US military convoy in Kabul
By DPA
Kabul : A suicide car bomb hit a US military convoy in the Afghanistan capital, killing at least one American soldier and two civilians Saturday.
Police say an explosive-laden car rammed into a US military convoy on the road to the Kabul International Airport, causing a huge blast.
The interior ministry said an unknown number of US soldiers were killed and wounded in the attack this morning in addition to two civilian deaths and one injured.
Afghan drug kingpin gets 16 yr jail in US
By NNN-PTI
New York : An Afghan heroin kingpin, who is the first person ever to be extradited to the US from Afghanistan, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for smuggling millions of dollars of heroin into America and providing financial support to Taliban.
The extradition of Baz Mohammad, 51, was authorised by Afghan President Hamid Karzai in 2005 after his American counterpart George W Bush designated Mohammad as a foreign narcotics kingpin under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation act.
Pak presidential elections polling in process
By Xinhua
Islamabad : Senators and members of the National and Provincial Assemblies of Pakistan are cast their votes in the presidential elections on Saturday, the state-run PTV channel reported.
The polling started at 10 a.m. (0500 GMT) and will continue till 3 p.m. (1000 GMT) at the National Assembly hall and provincial assemblies in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.
Suicide car bombing kills 1 American in Kabul
By Xinhua
Kabul : A suicide car bombing targeting a convoy of U.S. military in the Afghan capital Kabul Saturday morning killed at least three persons, including one American, and injured nine others, an official at the press department of Afghan Interior Ministry said.
The attack occurred at 8:20 a.m. local time at the busy road linking Kabul International Airport to the fortified U.S. embassy.
Pak. opposition party abstains from presidential elections
By Xinhua
Islamabad : The opposition People's Party of Pakistan (PPP) has opted to abstain from the presidential elections on Saturday, a local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.
The members of National Assembly belong to PPP walked out of the National Assembly Hall when a session was summoned, the DAWN NEWS report said, adding that the session had been adjourned.
Pakistan opposition party to announce strategy for presidential elections
By Xinhua
Islamabad : The opposition People's Party of Pakistan (PPP) led by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto will announce their strategy for the presidential elections on Saturday, a local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.
The PPP will either abstain or vote for their candidate Makhdoom Amin Faheem, according to DAWN NEWS.
The PPP will not vote for President Pervez Musharraf because he is still the Army Chief, Makhdoom Amin Faheem was quoted by DAWN NEWS as saying.
Pakistan parliament sessions begin
By Xinhua
Islamabad : The Senate and National Assembly sessions of Pakistan started on Saturday morning, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.
The parliamentarians of the opposition People's Party attended the session, according to DAWN NEWS.
The presidential poll is scheduled to start from 10 a.m. (GMT0500) and last till 3 p.m. (GMT1000).
More than 200 members of National and Provincial Assemblies belonging to the opposition alliance All Parties Democratic Parties have resigned.
One security man killed, 16 others injured in Pakistan’s tribal area
By Xinhua
Islamabad : One security man was killed and 16 others suffered injuries in Northwest Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area, a local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported on Saturday.
Musharraf confident of victory in Presidential poll
By NNN-PTI
Islamabad : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who is seeking a second five-year term in uniform in a key poll today, has expressed confidence that he will be re-elected and pledged to quit as Army Chief after the issuance of notification in this regard.
"I will shed the uniform after the issuance of notification regarding my becoming the next President and before being sworn in," he said addressing MPs of the ruling PML-Q and its coalition partners during a dinner at the President House late last night.
Bangladesh committed to maintaining workers’ rights
By NNN-BSS
Dhaka : Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States M Humayun Kabir has said Bangladesh fully recognizes that improving the lives of its workforce and safeguarding their labour rights are mutually reinforcing objectives in building a modern nation.
He said this during the hearing on GSP facilities for Bangladesh at the US Trade Representative (USTR) office in Washington DC on Thursday, according to a message received here Friday.
Pakistan Presidential polls today
By NNN-PTI
Islamabad : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is seeking a new five-year term in uniform today in a key poll which the opposition has threatened to boycott to rob the General's expected victory of any credibility.
Supported by the ruling PML-Q, Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless military coup in 1999, is projected to win the approval of the national and provincial assemblies which constitute the electoral college.
Six LTTE rebels killed
By Xinhua
Colombo : At least six Tamil Tigers guerrillas have been killed in continuing clashes with government troops in Sri Lanka's north, military officials said Saturday.
They said that at least three members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were killed in a confrontation at Welioya, in the northernmost Singhalese settlement in the country, Friday night.
In Vavuniya's Periyathampanai area in the north, three LTTE cadres were killed Friday.
The LTTE and government troops have been clashing regularly in the north since the middle of last month.
Pakistan presidential election amid opposition boycott
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : Balloting was underway Saturday for presidential elections in Pakistan that incumbent Pervez Musharraf is expected to win easily amid an opposition boycott.
Members of the federal parliament and provincial assemblies supporting the government took part in the voting that began at 10 a.m. here in Islamabad and in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar.
Ex-FM warns westerners against abusing Iran-IAEA cooperation
By IRNA
Tehran : Former Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi here Friday warned westerners against abusing the Iran-IAEA cooperation.
Kharrazi, who is now head of Foreign Relations Strategic Center, made the remark in an interview with reporters in reaction to recent anti-Iran claims of French Foreign Minister Robert Kouchner.
Speaker: Palestinian issue not to be forgotten by Muslims
By IRNA
Tehran : Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel said here Friday that Palestine issue will never be put into oblivion by the world's Muslim nations.
"All Muslim nations support the oppressed Palestinian nation," Haddad-Adel told IRNA on the sidelines of the International Qods Day rallies.
He said Iranians' high turnout in today's demonstrations sends an important message to global arrogance and the usurper Zionist regime that Muslim nations are fully aware of the ongoing conditions worldwide.
President condemns Israeli crimes against Palestinians
By IRNA
Tehran : President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here Friday condemned the atrocities of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian people.
"Why don't you let the black box of the World War II be decoded? We want to help you!" Ahmadinejad asked supporters of the Zionist regime while addressing ralliers in the International Qods Day rallies.
Qods Day rallies reiterate support for Palestinians
By IRNA
Tehran : International Qods Day rallies ended in Tehran Friday with issuance of a resolution in which the ralliers reiterated support for ideals of the Holy Qods, Intifada (uprising) and the oppressed Palestinian people.
Ansari urges Muslims to defend Palestinian nation
By IRNA
Tehran : Expediency Council member Majid Ansari said here Friday that Muslim nations should use all their potentials to defend the Palestinian nation.
"This is while many heads of Muslim states refrain from using all their facilities to defend the Palestinian nation out of fear or due to their dependence on global arrogance," he told IRNA on the sidelines of the International Qods Day rallies.
Ansari said International Qods Day has strong influence and that the Iranian nation's move has set a model for other Muslim states.
54-meter Palestinian flag carried in Intl. Qods Day rallies
By IRNA
Tehran : International Qods Day ralliers in Tehran carried a 54-meter flag of Palestine during their demonstration.
Members of Basij and other youth carrying the flag and chanting anti-US and anti-Israeli slogans, joined the demonstrations in support of the Palestinian nation.
Moreover, a number of Basijis carried 12-meter placards, bearing the statement "Down with Israel."