Hague court to rule on Sudan president genocide charge

Hague court to rule on Sudan president genocide charge

By Geraldine Coughlan BBC News, The Hague

Appeal judges at the International Criminal Court are to decide whether Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir should be charged with genocide.

In issuing its first arrest warrant against a sitting head of state, the ICC said Mr Bashir could be held responsible for war crimes in Darfur.
Bu the Hague court earlier rejected the prosecution's request to include charges of genocide.
The prosecution appealed and judges will rule on this on Wednesday.
The International Criminal Court found there was enough evidence to believe that the Sudanese president was responsible for murder, extermination, torture, rape and attacks against civilians in Darfur.
The warrant did not include the most serious war crime of genocide as the judges found there was not enough evidence to believe the government of Sudan intended to destroy the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups.
Whether or not the court decides to include genocide in the warrant, the Sudanese president could continue to evade arrest.
The ICC has no police force, and relies on the obligation of states themselves to ensure suspects are sent to The Hague to face international justice.

South Sudan hungry 'quadrupled in a year'

Page last updated at 19:25 GMT, Tuesday, 2 February 2010

The number of people needing food aid in south Sudan has quadrupled in a year to more than four million, the UN's World Food Programme says.

The WFP wants to ensure the people have enough food to last until their next harvest in October.
Southern Sudan's agriculture minister Samson Kwaje blamed the surge on internal conflict and drought.
The region is recovering from a two-decade civil war and remains one of the least developed parts of the world.
Although the civil war with the north ended in 2005, some 2,500 people died in conflicts between rival communities in Southern Sudan last year - far more than in Darfur, the UN says.

Cash shortfall

Since the end of the war, millions of former refugees have returned home to start their lives again from scratch.
The BBC's Peter Martell, in the southern capital, Juba, says the situation in the region is grim.
And many in the south fear that tensions will rise further in the run-up to elections in April, our correspondent says, potentially putting even more people at risk.
The WFP is preparing thousands of tonnes of food to feed some of the millions it fears will be cut off when the rains start.
But the organisation also says it remains more than $480m (£300m) short of the food aid needed for Sudan.
Mr Kwaje - who said the WFP's figures represented half of the region's population - blamed the rising hunger on conflicts between rival ethnic groups.
But he also blamed incursions by the Lord's Resistance Army - a feared guerrilla army originally based in Uganda but now marauding across several countries.
The new WFP figures come from an annual assessment in which some 2,000 people across Southern Sudan were asked about what food they ate and where it came from.

The WFP's Leo van der Velden said: "This spike in the number of hungry people in Southern Sudan comes just ahead of the rainy season when roads become blocked and communities are cut off from food assistance."
As well as preparing for the first national multi-party elections in 24 years, Southern Sudan is also due to vote in an independence referendum next year.

Foreigners killed in north west Pakistan explosion

Page last updated at 07:38 GMT, Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Police say three Westerners are among six people killed in an explosion near a girls' school in north west Pakistan.

A group of journalists and aid workers was travelling in an army convoy when it was hit by a roadside bomb in the Lower Dir area, officials said.
At least 19 people, including school girls, were injured in the blast.
Pakistani troops carried out a major offensive in the area last year to crush Taliban militants who have often attacked girls' schools.
The BBC's Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says a bomb was detonated when a military convoy was passing a road beside the school in Koto, a heavily populated village in the Lower Dir district in North West Frontier Province.
The convoy was on the way to Maidan, an area of Lower Dir district which is the base of a pro-Taliban cleric Maulana Sufi Mohammad, and a stronghold of Taliban militants, our correspondent says.

Oil dips in Asian trade

Updated at: 0721 PST, Wednesday, February 03, 2010

SINGAPORE: Oil prices dipped in Asian trade on Wednesday bucking a recent trend as the market braced for a larger-than-expected rise in crude inventories, analysts said.New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in March, fell 42 cents to 76.81 dollars a barrel. London's Brent North Sea crude for March delivery was down 31 cents to 75.75 dollars. Analysts said rallies on the oil market experienced over the past few days had been stemmed by numbers released by the American Petroleum Institute (API) on Tuesday indicating a build-up in US crude stockpiles. "I think it's because of the API (American Petroleum Institute) numbers.... They showed a build-up of 4.7 million barrels of crude which was unexpected," said Clarence Chu, an oil trader with Hudson Capital Energy in Singapore. Analysts had expected US inventories to rise by a median of only 400,000 to 500,000 barrels, Chu added. Market sentiment had been buoyant as equities markets put in strong performances and manufacturing data from the United States hinted at a global economic recovery.But the market was spooked when the API report was released late Tuesday. "The minute the API number was released, the market dropped by around 30 cents," Chu said.The API report serves as the precursor to the US Department of Energy's weekly inventories report out every Wednesday, which provides a snapshot of global energy demand by showing the size of crude stockpiles in the world's largest energy consumer.

US plans increase in drone operations

Updated at: 1118 PST, Wednesday, February 03, 2010

WASHINGTON: The US defence budget for 2011 seeks more funds to enhance drone operations by 65 per cent, citing its success in targeting militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal belt.“With this funding, we will increase the unmanned Predator and Reaper orbits from 37 to 65, while enhancing our ability to process, exploit and disseminate information gathered by this game-changing technology,” said Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen.“As we’ve seen firsthand through eight years of war, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets are absolutely critical enablers for the war-fighter,” he said.US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, while briefing journalists on the 2011 budget, said the new drones would be added to the American military’s arsenal “in a couple of years” and these would be “the most advanced UAVs”.

Death toll in US drone strikes rises to 31

Updated at: 1040 PST, Wednesday, February 03, 2010

MIRAMSHAH/PESHAWAR: In the biggest attack so far by the American spy planes in the Pakistani tribal areas, the US drones on Tuesday rained a barrage of missiles on different locations of Dattakhel Tehsil of North Waziristan Agency (NWA), initially killing 17 people, including militants, and injuring several others.Now, the death toll has risen to 31 while some injured persons are still fighting for their lives, Geo news quoted sources as saying.Government officials in Miramshah, the main town of North Waziristan, said nine spy planes took part in the brazen attack, firing 18 missiles and causing heavy human loss.They had rightly feared the death toll could rise as rescue work could not be started for late in some of the places due to fear of more missile strikes by the unmanned spy aircraft. Besides the militants, several villagers and some foreign nationals were said to be among the victims. The villagers came under attack from the drones while approaching the spot to help retrieve the bodies and the injured from the rubble of the collapsed houses.Tribesmen in Miramshah said the town echoed with heavy explosions when the missiles were fired. They said a series of explosions were heard in distant villages of the restive North Waziristan tribal region.Officials said the Deegan village in Dattakhel Tehsil, where the Taliban last week claimed to have shot down a US drone, suffered the most. The drones fired eight missiles, hitting several houses and vehicles parked inside the mud-walled buildings.Deegan, which is located about 30 kilometres west of Miramshah, has always been the prime target of US drones. “Deegan is considered to be a stronghold of the Taliban but we don’t know whether those killed were militants or villagers,” said a government official, who declined to be named. He said most of the targeted places were located in the mountains.After Deegan, Thooth Narray village in the same vicinity, also suffered when drones fired four missiles at targets there. Officials said four houses were attacked in the village, leaving seven people dead and six injured.Similarly, the US spy planes struck suspected hideouts of militants in Mohammad Khel and Khar Kamar villages. In Mohammad Khel village, a drone reportedly fired two missiles on villagers, who had come out of their houses after the first drone attack and were on their way to help retrieve the bodies and injured from the collapsed houses.Tribal sources said the drones had been flying over the area since early morning and the militants were seen firing at the planes from their anti-aircraft guns, which they had installed on double-cabin trucks.Officials said they could not gather exact details about human and material losses in Tuesday’s attacks due to lack of physical presence of the government in the area. “We don’t have any physical presence in the area and then there is no telephone facility. We do have our security personnel deployed on their checkpoints on hilltops but they are away from the area where drones played havoc,” a government official explained.An intelligence official said on condition of anonymity that the drones mostly targeted small posts set up by the militants. He said it appeared the US forces in Afghanistan wanted to avenge the loss of their drone, which the militants had allegedly shot down in the same area a few days ago.He said initial reports indicated that most of the people killed in Tuesday’s missile strikes were either low-level militants or poor villagers. “I did not hear that any big name had died,” he claimed. It was the biggest missile attack by the CIA-operated spy planes in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

Four foreign journalists killed in Dir blast

Updated at: 1131 PST, Wednesday, February 03, 2010

LOWER DIR: A massive explosion has been reported near girls school in tehsil Blambutt located in Lower Dir, reportedly killing four foreign journalists and injuring scores others on Wednesday morning, Geo news reported.According to preliminary details, some security forces also came under attack as the bomb was planted on a roadside, which targeted the convoy of foreign journalists.The rescue efforts are underway as the security forces have cordoned off the entire blast site. Also, few local journalists have sustained injuries amid explosion, sources saidSome girls have been reportedly caught under the debris of school building, sources said further.

Sports minister wants Pakistan Cricket Board to raise issue of player security

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 1 hour

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan's sports minister has asked the country's cricket board to raise the issue of player security with Australian and international cricket authorities after a Pakistani player was attacked by a fan during a one-day international at Perth last Sunday.
"I have asked the Pakistan Cricket Board officials to raise this serious security breach with both Australian cricketing authorities and the ICC," Ijaz Jhakrani told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Pakistan player Khalid Latif escaped serious injury when a spectator ran onto the field at the WACA Ground and attacked him from behind.
Australia won the match by two wickets and clinched the one-day series 5-0.
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Offensive kills up to 80 militants: military

Tuesday, 02 Feb, 2010

SAWAI: A Pakistani military commander said Tuesday a new air and ground offensive had killed up to 80 militants in the northern extremity of the lawless tribal belt on the Afghan border.

The paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) stepped up an offensive targeting Taliban havens in Bajaur district after a suicide bombing killed 17 people at a military checkpoint on Saturday.
Bajaur, which is at the northern tip of the semi-autonomous tribal belt, has seen a spike in attacks and Pakistan is under US pressure to do more to eliminate the extremist menace to ease the conflict in Afghanistan.
The raids are concentrated around Mamoond, about 12 kilometres (eight miles) northwest of Khar, a notorious Taliban hideout which Pakistan failed to clear in past offensives against militant havens.
“When we started the operation it was estimated that there were about 1,000 militants present in the area and 80 of them have been killed so far,” Colonel Rana Munnawar told reporters at a briefing in the village of Sawai.
There was no independent confirmation of the death toll. Local officials have given a combined toll of 43 militants killed since Saturday, and said two other militants were found hanging from a pole outside Khar.
Four soldiers have been killed, Munnawar said. Militants from nearby districts Swat and Dir, where Pakistan quelled a major Taliban uprising last year have also joined the fight, he added.
Pakistani troops backed by jets, helicopter gunships and commandos swung into action Sunday in Sawai, some 22 kilometres northwest of Khar, where they have come under mortar and rocket fire, Munnawar said.
He claimed the offensive had dislodged a Taliban command and control system, but expected main operations to take another 15 days.

The colonel said troops had also captured the strategic height of Khaza, where the militants had attacked from bunkers and set up a training centre.
Pakistan first launched operations in the district in August 2008 and has claimed several times to have eliminated the Islamist militant threat.
US officials call Pakistan's tribal belt the most dangerous place on earth and, following the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan, the headquarters of Al-Qaeda, which has links to Taliban and other extremist networks. -AFP

Karachi violence claims 27 lives within 4 days

Updated at: 1049 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010
KARACHI: Another person was brutally killed by unidentified shooters on Tuesday morning, taking the tally of target killings to 27 persons within 4 days of extreme chaos, violence and tension here in metropolis; meanwhile, nearly 2 dozen more injured victims are being treated at separate hospitals in city, Geo news reported. On Monday, at least 7 more people were gunned down by late night when some unidentified armed assailants opened indiscriminate fire in the Nazimabad and Khwaja Ajmer Nagri localities of metropolis city, mounting the death toll to 26.According to reports, unknown armed men started firing near Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, killing four people, two of them on the spot. While two more succumbed to injuries in hospital. Immediately after the incident, the hospitals’ doors were closed.Later, another incident of incessant firing occurred near Abbasi Phatak located underneath Nazimabad Bridge, killing 5 persons on the spot including a youth who resided in nearby flats, police sources said.Two persons were gunned down in Orangi Town and Qasba Colony as the deceased persons were reportedly hailing from two different political parties and used to serve as their activists, sources claimed.The incident seems to be the part of recent spate of target killings in mini-Pakistan, according to police.

Talks to free Israeli soldier halted: Hamas

Updated at: 1536 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010
LONDON: Negotiations between Hamas and Israel over a prisoner swap involving captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit have stopped, a senior official in the Islamist movement said in an interview aired Tuesday. "Up to this moment, we fail to achieve this process," Mahmud Zahar told the British broadcaster. "After the interference of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, there was a big regression and retraction. For this reason, everything has stopped," said Zahar, one of the leaders of Hamas in its Gaza Strip stronghold. Although Israel is reportedly prepared to release about 450 prisoners in exchange for Shalit, Netanyahu has vowed not to free several high-profile Palestinians who Hamas insist must be part of any deal. Shalit, now 23, was captured by Hamas fighters and militants from two other groups in a cross-border raid from Gaza in June 2006.

Nearly half a million have fled Haitian capital: UN

Updated at: 1606 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010
GENEVA: Nearly half a million people have fled Port-au-Prince for the Haitian countryside following the devastating earthquake that destroyed the capital, the United Nations said on Tuesday. The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 90 percent of the people leaving the capital for rural areas were staying with relatives, and supporting these host families was now a priority. Prices of basic commodities such as rice and sugar are rising as a result of the influx of people, the UN said, and medical centres are short of stock and equipment for emergency care. "The government has revised the number of people leaving Port-au-Prince for outlying departments to 482,349 people, as of 31 January," the UN body said.

Bilour seeks govt intervention on Karachi killings

Updated at: 1803 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

PESHAWAR: NWFP senior minister Bashir Bilour, denouncing the recent spate violence in Karachi, called for the government’s intervention to stop the ongoing incidents of target killing. In a statement from Peshawar on Monday, Bilor slammed wave of target killings in Karachi and demanded its immediate halt. He emphasized that the government should arrest the culprits, who were mostly targeting the Pakhtun inhabitants. Bilour further said that safety of life and property of citizens should be ensured. He urged the Sindh Government take immediate measures to curtail target killings so that any untoward incident could be averted in future

Shoaib Malik named captain for T20 against Australia

Updated at: 1806 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

MELBOURNE: Allrounder Shoaib Malik has been appointed captain for the only Twenty20 International which will be played against Australia here at the MCG on February 5.Pakistan team will not have the services of T20 captain Shahid Afridi as he is facing a ban for two T20 matches for his ball-biting in the fifth and final One-day International at Perth.This may be recalled that Shoaib Malik was removed from captaincy after the ODI home series against Sri Lanka in January last year.

SRK stands by his IPL statement

Updated at: 1006 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010
New York: Under attack from Shiv Sena for his remarks on the IPL, Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan on Tuesday said he was not apologetic for favouring the inclusion of Pakistani players and termed the activities of the party as "undemocratic". Standing by his comments, Shah Rukh asserted he believed that every Indian would agree that India is a "good country" and that "everyone is welcome as a guest", but at the same time said too much importance was being attached to the words of "just an actor". "It makes me feel that activities like this are unhealthy, undemocratic, its insensitive but this is the world is and you can only say what you believe in and stand by it and hopefully I will have the strength to do so," Khan told reporters when asked about the Shiv Sena protests back home. "As an Indian I'm not ashamed, guilty or unhappy about what I said neither am I sorry," he said. Following the IPL snub, Khan who is also the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, had spoken against ignoring the Pakistani players and said he would take in cricketers from across the border if his team had an empty slot. Shiv Sena activists reacted angrily terming it an issue of patriotism, burnt the posters of his upcoming film 'My Name is Khan,' and took their protest to his bungalow in Mumbai. The party has threatened to not allow the screening of the film, unless the actor apologises.

LPG price likely to be stable in Feb

Updated at: 1502 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010
KARACHI: The LPG prices are expected to remain stable in February as the gas price went down by $3 per tonne in monthly contracts in international market, Geo News reported Tuesday.According to LPG industry sources, the LPG price may scale down by 25 paisa in view of the price slump by $3 in international market.However, diesel price is expected to remain pegged at the present level, as the fuel price surged in international market.The LPG is still being imported into the country, as a ship carrying 33,000 tonnes of the gas anchored at Port Qasim. While, another ship is expected to arrive here during the current month.

Nearly half a million have fled Haitian capital: UN

Updated at: 1606 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010
GENEVA: Nearly half a million people have fled Port-au-Prince for the Haitian countryside following the devastating earthquake that destroyed the capital, the United Nations said on Tuesday. The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 90 percent of the people leaving the capital for rural areas were staying with relatives, and supporting these host families was now a priority. Prices of basic commodities such as rice and sugar are rising as a result of the influx of people, the UN said, and medical centres are short of stock and equipment for emergency care. "The government has revised the number of people leaving Port-au-Prince for outlying departments to 482,349 people, as of 31 January," the UN body said.

Election symbols allotted for NA-55 by-poll

Updated at: 1928 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010

LAHORE: The Punjab Election Commission, releasing the final list of candidates contesting by-election in NA-55, allotted them election symbols.The polling will be held on Feb 24 in this constituency. According to the election commission, 25 candidates will contest in NA-55 Rawalpindi. PML-N candidate was allotted lion while Awami Muslim League candidate was allotted with ‘Kalam dawat’ symbol. Apart from PML-N and AML, no other major party has fielded its candidate here.

Pakistan win 6 gold medals in South Asian Games

Updated at: 1545 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010

DHAKA: Pakistan won gold and silver medals in the singles event of squash to take the gold medals tally to six in the South Asian Games here on Tuesday.The men’s singles final in squash was played between Pakistan’s Aamir Atlas Khan and Farhan Mehboob and Aamir defeated his cousin Farhan in three straight sets 12-10, 11-7 and 11-7 to win the gold medal.In weightlifting, Pakistan’s Usman Rathore won the gold medal in 94kg category of weightlifting while Khurram Shehzad, also from Pakistan, secured gold for the country in -85kg.In kabaddi, Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh 17-11 while Zahid Iqbal won gold for the country in judo.In all, Pakistan’s tally of medals reached 16 – six gold, eight silver and two bronze while India are still going ahead of all the participating countries with 17 medals.in the Games. The fourth group, consisting of 56 players, of Pakistan contingent left here for Dhaka, Bangladesh to take part in the South Asian Games.

Loans worth Rs256b written off in 38 years

Updated at: 1351 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan told the Supreme Court that various government banks and financial institutions written off loans worth over Rs256 billion during last 38 years, Geo News reported Tuesday.Of them, there are borrowings upto a limit over Rs500,000 worth Rs213 billion and Rs43 billion upto a limit below Rs500,000.The central bank tabled a report to the apex court bench in this connection in a suo motu case being heard by a three-judge bench headed by Justice Sardar Muhammed Raza.According to the report, the loans amounting to Rs11.22 billion with a limit of Rs500,000 and above were written off to at least 1424 people during a span from 1971 to 1996.Another 22021 people got loans worth over Rs202 billion written off from 1997 to 2009. Similarly, in the period from 1971 to 2009, at least 640,000 people got their loans worth below Rs500,000 written off.According to the SBP report, there is no record of Indus Bank and Banker Equity among the defaulters.The SBP said in its report that these loans include the capital, markup and other various charges.The committee comprising the presidents of the five banks requested the court to become party to the case. On this, the court issued notices to the parties and adjourned the hearing sine die.

Can’t let Afghans fall into Taliban’s hands: Nato chief

Updated at: 0606 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010

BRUSSELS: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Monday we will never abandon Afghanistan into hands of Taliban, Geo news exclusively reported.Talking to Geo news correspondent, Khalid Hameed Farooqi, he said Nato troops to continue their operations until Afghan security forces gained ability to defend their country.He said we cannot let Afghanistan fall into hands of Taliban unless Afghan security forces become able to take control of their country.Also, Nato chief ruled out stay of troops in Afghanistan forever. “Our goal is to hand Afghan people the security of their country and will stay in there unless the accomplishment of this goal.”

PM phones Altaf, discusses Karachi unrest

Updated at: 1955 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani today spoke to Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain on phone and discussed with him the country’s political situation. According to sources, both leaders exchanged views on the recent spate of violence in Karachi that entered fourth day on Tuesday. The two leaders also discussed to enhance cooperation between PPP and MQM leaders.

PPP conspiring to take over Karachi: MQM

Updated at: 1823 PST, Tuesday, February 02, 2010

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Rabita Committee on Tuesday demanded a medical examination of Sindh Local Bodies Minister Agha Siraj Durrani at any good hospital over use of non-parliamentary language against MQM and City Nazim during Sindh Assembly’s session. Addressing a joint press conference along with other party’s leaders at Nine Zero, MQM’s Deputy Convener Anis Kaimkhani said some members of the Pakistan People Party (PPP) believe in politics of hypocrisy rather than reconciliation. He alleged that PPP had not only supported the infamous Rehman Dacoit Group but also employed its some 5, 000 criminal people in the Police department. “Why Nabeel Gabool’s son was released after being arrested for keeping illegal arms?” he asked Mirza.The MQM leader said that PPP was using negative tactics to take over Karachi. Kaimkhani further said that Home Minister Zulfiqar Ali Mirza carried out bloodshed in Karachi on Yaum-e-Ashur and released several culprits.

Committee formed on team’s poor performance in Australia

Updated at: 1933 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt has formed a six-member committee for reviewing the poor performance of the national cricket team on the tour of Australia while he said that the resignation of Iqbal Qasim has not been accepted and he has been asked to continue his job until the Twenty20 World Cup.Talking with media here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday, the chairman PCB said that all matters are now under process so the resignation of Iqbal Qasim cannot be accepted and he has been directed to continue as chief selector.Ijaz Butt said that the PCB has formed a six-member committee which will be headed by Wasim Bari and will include Wazir Ali Khoja, Yawar Saeed, Haroon Rasheed, Zakir Khan and Tafazzul Rizvi.Besides reviewing the team’s performance, the committee will also review the violations of discipline and other matters and then it will submit its recommendations to the chairman.

Female suicide bomber kills 41 pilgrims in Baghdad

Updated at: 1708 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010
BAGHDAD: A female suicide bomber blew herself up among a crowd of Shiite pilgrims on their way by foot to a shrine city in central Iraq on Monday, killing 41 people, including women and children, officials said.The attack took place while the pilgrims had stopped over at a rest station as they made their long journey to Karbala, 110 kilometres (68 miles) south of the Iraqi capital, for a religious festival."At 11.45 am (0845 GMT), a woman wearing an explosives-filled belt blew herself up in the middle of a crowd of pilgrims going to Karbala," said Major General Qassim Atta, spokesman for Baghdad operational command.An interior ministry official gave the toll and said the wounded were being treated at five hospitals in Baghdad.A medical official said initial reports indicated that five women and six children were among the dead.The victims had been travelling on foot from the central province of Diyala and had stopped at a food tent set up for pilgrims heading for Karbala to observe Arbaeen rituals. Arbaeen marks 40 days after the Ashura anniversary that commemorates the killing of revered 7th century Imam Hussein, whose shrine is considered one of the holiest places of Shiite Islam.Tens of thousands of Shiites, including many from neighbouring Iran, make their way at Arbaeen to pay homage at the Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala, walking as a sign of greater piety.The culmination of Arbaeen is on Friday and pilgrims have for days been seen at roadsides around Baghdad as they make their journeys south.

Administrators will be apolitical: PPP, MQM

Updated at: 2119 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement have reached an agreement on the appointment of non-partisan administrators before the local bodies elections in Sindh.This was announced by PPP leader Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq and MQM leader Dr. Farooq Sattar while talking to media persons here outside Bilawal House on Monday.They said a bill in connection with the above will soon been tabled before Sindh Assembly and the date of local bodies polls will also be announced.The meeting of PPP-MQM core committee was held here at Bilawal House under the chairmanship of President Asif Ali Zardari.The meeting reviewed overall law and order situation of the province including Karachi besides the future of local bodies system.Dr. Farooq Sattar said agreement has been reached that the administrators will be non-political and that the local bodies elections will be held in the next 3 to 4 months. The date of elections will be announced soon, he added.It was also came under discussion that the mandate of each party would be respected. Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said some elements are not happy with the PPP-MQM alliance and not leave any opportunity of creating a rift between the two parties.

Obama proposes $1.2 bln to aid Pakistani military

Updated at: 2122 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday proposed $1.2 billion in funding next year to help train and equip Pakistani security forces to fight Taliban militants.Created by Congress last year, the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund set aside some $700 million in 2009 to train and equip the country's army and other security forces.

Gen Kayani vows to root out militancy despite losses

Updated at: 1836 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said that Pakistan has suffered the maximum in terms of human and economic losses due to terrorism and violent extremism, but it has not dented the resolve of the nation and its armed forces to root out the terrorism in line with own national interests.He made these remarks, while talking to a group of foreign correspondents on his return from Brussels, where he had gone to attend the conference of NATO commanders on a special invitation.The Army chief said he has conveyed the concerns, challenges, contributions and constraints of Pakistan in its fight against the terrorists.The COAS said that he had highlighted the key issues of the conflict that needed to be fully understood and addressed. He drew the attention of the forum towards the huge sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan and its armed forces, due to the effect of ‘Blow Back’.Referring to Afghanistan, Gen Kayani said: “Our objective is to have peaceful, stable and friendly Afghanistan. We cannot wish for Afghanistan anything that we don’t wish for Pakistan”. He reaffirmed that geography, culture and history can neither be separated nor wished away and emphasized that our operations in 2009 have helped improve situation in Afghanistan in terms of squeezing of spaces, better control of areas and continuous logistic flow.The COAS identified five fundamentals that helped in turning the tide and must not be lost sight for future operations. These are: public opinion, media support, army’s capability and resolve, ‘our war’ was not ‘US war’ and a comprehensive strategy based on four different phases namely clear, hold, build and transfer.About the way forward, he said that, the fundamentals should remain strong and intact, short and long term interests be reconciled, strategic direction should be maintained and coordination be effect based.He informed the NATO commanders that our strategic paradigm needs to be fully realized. He said we are the second largest Muslim nation in the World located in a strategic region defined by competing interests and civilizational cross roads, with a prolonged history of conflict. “We have three million Afghan refugees. At present, our operations are in a transitory phase (from hold to build), we must consolidate our gains and fully stabilize the areas secured, lest it falls back to terrorists.” Constraints of capability to absorb and operate, limited cutting edge counter intelligence, counter terrorism capability and limited budgetary space should be factored in, he said.In his concluding remarks, General said Pakistan has contributed to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan. “We have the will and resolve to overcome the menace of terrorism in our country and we have the public support. We have also offered to train ANA and ANP, as we have the capacity and wherewithal to do so.” He reiterated that Pakistan should be trusted and enabled.

ICC asks CA for report on Khalid assault

Updated at: 1549 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

PERTH: The International Cricket Council(ICC) has asked Cricket Australia (CA) for a report into the breach of security that allowed a spectator to enter the field of play during the fifth and final One-day International between Australia and Pakistan at the WACA in Perth yesterday and tackle the Pakistan opener Khalid Latif to the ground.The incident occurred in the 46th over of Australia's innings. Latif was brought down from behind by 37-year-old David James Fraser but was uninjured. The spectator has been charged with assault and given a life ban from the ground. He was also fined A$500 (£280)."Obviously the ICC is very disappointed by the incident," an ICC spokesperson said. "There has been a clear security breach. We have asked CA to send us a detailed report on the incident before we can make any comment." Given the ICC's zero tolerance for such breaches, the matter is being viewed with concern and it could be brought up at the ICC executive board meeting in Dubai from 9-11 February.Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, said: "I just hope I never see that again to tell you the truth. I had seen that once a long time ago and that ended up being a horrible incident and seeing it again is a worry.The PCB is thought to be considering pursuing the matter though it has yet to make an official statement. Officials are expected to make an announcement later today.

Govt charges 39pc tax on a liter of petrol

Updated at: 1229 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010
KARACHI: The government is receiving a juggernaut of 39 percent tax on a liter of petrol that becomes Rs19.82/lit.The government yesterday rocketed the petrol price by Rs6.10 to Rs71.21/lit.In December 2009, the ex-factory price of petrol was Rs42.72/lit tagged with Rs4.42 as transportation charges, Rs2.36 as dealers’ commission and Rs1.89 as profit for the oil marketing company, totaling at Rs51.39/lit.Besides, the government charges Rs10 as Petroleum Development Levy and 16 percent as Sales Tax amounting to Rs19.82/lit, which add up to Rs19.82/lit; it means that government is charging 38.57 percent on the per liter of petrol. Experts said the government can slash its taxes to impart relief to the people at large and the business community, which will be instrumental in affording relief to the common man and it will help control the inflation rate as well.

Female suicide bomber kills 41 pilgrims in Baghdad

Updated at: 1708 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010
BAGHDAD: A female suicide bomber blew herself up among a crowd of Shiite pilgrims on their way by foot to a shrine city in central Iraq on Monday, killing 41 people, including women and children, officials said.The attack took place while the pilgrims had stopped over at a rest station as they made their long journey to Karbala, 110 kilometres (68 miles) south of the Iraqi capital, for a religious festival."At 11.45 am (0845 GMT), a woman wearing an explosives-filled belt blew herself up in the middle of a crowd of pilgrims going to Karbala," said Major General Qassim Atta, spokesman for Baghdad operational command.An interior ministry official gave the toll and said the wounded were being treated at five hospitals in Baghdad.A medical official said initial reports indicated that five women and six children were among the dead.The victims had been travelling on foot from the central province of Diyala and had stopped at a food tent set up for pilgrims heading for Karbala to observe Arbaeen rituals. Arbaeen marks 40 days after the Ashura anniversary that commemorates the killing of revered 7th century Imam Hussein, whose shrine is considered one of the holiest places of Shiite Islam.Tens of thousands of Shiites, including many from neighbouring Iran, make their way at Arbaeen to pay homage at the Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala, walking as a sign of greater piety.The culmination of Arbaeen is on Friday and pilgrims have for days been seen at roadsides around Baghdad as they make their journeys south.

Impeachment only way to remove President from office

Updated at: 1415 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Former Supreme Court Bar President Aitzaz Ahsan said the President of the State could be removed from his office through impeachment at the Parliament despite his ineligibility declared by the Supreme Court, Geo News reported Monday.Talking to media at the SC compound here, he said the President has the immunity from the criminal cases under Artcle-248 of the Constitution.The detailed verdict given by the 13-member SC bench headed by Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday in 2007 mentioned that the President has no immunity in civil cases.

Nawaz not to contest by-polls in NA-123

Updated at: 1100 PST, Monday, February 01, 2010

LAHORE: The leader of PML-N Nawaz Sharif will not contest by-poll from National Assembly constituency 123.According to PML-N sources, Nawaz has decided to withdraw nomination papers filed from NA-123. The spokesman of PML-N senator Pervaiz Rashid while talking to Geo News said Nawaz Sharif wants to give a chance to a worker who resisted the dictatorship to contest the election.