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			Thursday, November 26, 1998
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Pak test-fires ATGM
ISLAMABAD, Nov 25 (PTI) — Pakistan has successfully test-fired its newly developed anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) with night vision capability while simultaneously embarking on serial production of its inter-mediate range nuclear capable Ghauri missile. The anti-tank missile named "Baktar Shikan" was successfully test-fired last week at the Tomian Wali firing range of the Pakistan Army, well-known nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan said here yesterday. The missile is developed in Dr Khan’s research laboratory in Kahuta. It is capable of hiting targets with 100 per cent accuracy.

Blasts kill 1, injure 7
KARACHI, Nov 25 (AP) — Two bombs ripped through a busy marketplace in the southern Sind province today, killing one and injuring seven, police officials said. The bombs went off within minutes of each other in Hyderabad, 100 km northeast of here. The first bomb outside a shop killed one person and injured four, according to ambulance workers. The second explosion barely 3 km away injured three persons. No one has claimed responsibility for the explosions.

Award for Mandela
CAPE TOWN, Nov 25 (AFP) — Visiting Ukraine Foreign Minister Borys Tarasvuk today bestowed his country’s highest civilian award, the order of ‘Yaroslav the Wise’, on South African President Nelson Mandela. In a short ceremony at Mandela’s official residence here, Mr Tarasyuk said the award was in recognition of his "outstanding merit in the course of the struggle against apartheid." It was also a tribute to Mr Mandela’s "personal courage (and) remarkable contribution in promoting democracy and peaceful transformation in South Africa and in developing bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and South Africa."

'Communal amity day'
NEW DELHI, Nov 24 (PTI) — Left parties today asked the people to join them for a countrywide observance of "communal harmony day" of December 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. The four Left parties CPM, CPI, All-India Forward Block and Revolutionary Socialist Party — in a joint statement here said "material preparation for the temple at Ayodhya is going on under the patronage of BJP governments". Charging the BJP with pushing their RSS agenda, they said the situation demanded "mobilisation of secular forces against communalism and nefarious designs of the RSS combine."

Detained under NSA
MUZAFFARNAGAR, Nov 25 (PTI) — The Superintendent of a government hospital was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) today for allegedly raping a 14-year-old patient, Muzaffarnagar District Magistrate Vinod Shankar Chobey said here today. Mr Mahak Singh, Superintendent in Sir Shahi Lal Hospital, was booked under the NSA following his arrest earlier on the charge of raping a girl patient in the premises of the hospital on October 20, Mr Chobey said.

Muslim bodies' protest
LUCKNOW, Nov 25 (PTI) — The All-India Muslim Forum (AIMF) and the CPM today held a demonstration in protest against the Uttar Pradesh government’s stand, making recitation of Saraswati Vandana and Vande Mataram compulsory in government schools. In a protest in front of Vidhan Bhavan, AIMF President Nehaluddin said: "Fascist forces are launching a determined assault on the beliefs of the Muslims and harming the secular ethos of the country." Another Islamic organisation, the Muslim Samaj, also held a meeting here today criticising the state government for allegedly playing with the constitutional rights of the community.

Narcotics seized
BULSAR, Nov 25 (PTI) — In one of the biggest haul of contraband in Gujarat, the Customs Department seized 6.7 kg of narcotics worth Rs 6 crore in Damlav and Dimapur villages of the district last night, Customs sources said here today. At least five persons had been arrested in this connection, the sources said.

Six of family axed
PATNA, Nov 25 (PTI) — Six members of a family were axed to death allegedly by relatives at Gudripani village in Gumla district yesterday, Bihar Director-General of Police K A Jacob said today. A land dispute was the motive behind the killing, Mr Jacob said.

Pinochet loses appeal
LONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters) — Britain’s House of Lords ruled today in a three-to-two majority verdict that former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet did not have immunity from prosecution on charges of murder, torture and genocide during his 17-year rule. The judgement, by a panel of five Law Lords constituting the highest court in the land, means that Pinochet must stay in Britain to face an extradition request by a Spanish judge. The Law Lords were ruling on an appeal against a high court decision that Pinochet’s arrest in a London hospital on October 16 was wrong because the offences against Spanish nationals of which he was accused took place while he was head of state.