Monday, November 8, 1999
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W O R L D | Monday, November 8, 1999 |
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Australian republicans
call for a fresh referendum Three dead in Dhaka clashes |
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Multi-faith service for
crash victims
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Osama bin laden fighters
train in Britain US asks for Pak poll dates Pak to maintain 'principled"
stand on Kashmir
Probe against Dan Burton to be
wound up British MPs in support of Balbir
Singh
Chechnya leader appeals to Clinton
for help Bangladesh FM says SAARC
postponement temporary Sharif brothers had promised
nuclear rollback: Leghari Soldiers will evict Jewish
settlers: Barak |
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Australian republicans call for a fresh referendum SYDNEY, Nov 7, (ANI) — Distraught leaders and supporters of Australia's Republican Party today called for a fresh referendum on the issue of whether Britain's Queen Elizabeth II should continue to be the constitutional head of state of the country or not, a day after over 50 per cent of Australia's citizens voted in favour of the Queen. Vowing to keep the Republican dream alive, Australia's Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley, rejected Prime Minister John Howard's missive to face reality and fact, saying that the Republicans would rise again " triumphant from the ashes once the republic passes into the hands of the people who have genuine affection for it and is not in the hands of its enemies." With four-fifths of Saturday's vote counted, Australians had voted by 55 to 45 per cent against the proposal for a home-grown president appointed by parliament. Only one of the country's six states, Victoria, supported the proposed change, by a slender margin. Earlier, Howard said many of Beazley's own Labour voters had rejected the republic in a vote that split starkly on social and economic lines. The 'yes' vote dominated in wealthier city surburbs but conservatism won the day in the urban fringes and Australia's vast rural heartlands. The leader of the youth wing of Howard's Liberal party was quick to seize on the city slicker image of republican leaders. "This referendum failed because elite elements from the Chardonnay-sipping sector of our society had their own precious model that their own egos couldn't allow themselves to alter," said Marc Dale. Newspapers said the no-vote to a republic was a resounding vote of no confidence " in ourselves". The daily Canberra Times newspaper refused to concede that the country really wanted to maintain the status quo. "It cannot be accepted that the people have rejected a republic," the paper said in its editorial. "The opinion polls show something like 70 per cent of the population wants one." The Queen herself is due
to visit to Australia next March although Howard has
already volunteered to open the Sydney Olympics in her
place next September. |
Multi-faith service for crash victims NEWPORT, Nov 7, (AP) — A multi-faith service and speeches in English, Arabic and Hebrew united the grieving relatives and dignitaries as they grieved over the loss of 217 victims of the EgyptAir Flight 990 plane crash even as the Navy continued its search for the Boeing 767's flight data and cockpit voice recorders. A US navy robot came up empty while combing the ocean floor in an attempt to locate the "black boxes" investigators hope will yield important clues about the crash. A break in the weather yesterday allowed the remote-controlled deep drone to work for 10 hours but it had to be brought back to the surface after seas became too rough at night. The next search is not expected until tomorrow afternoon. The robot was raised from the ocean bottom after waves rose to more than 10 feet and delayed efforts to find and recover the airliner's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. No details were released about what progress was made yesterday to reach the devices, which are believed to be under wreckage and silt. Information on the recorders could explain why the Boeing 767 heading from New York to Cairo plummeted into the sea last Sunday from 33,000 feet, killing 217 people, about 60 miles off the island of Nantucket. James Hall, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said he was optimistic that the recorders would be retrieved intact, but stressed that investigators face a "long, long process" as they search for the cause of the crash. |
Three dead in Dhaka clashes DHAKA, Nov 7 (PTI) — Three persons were killed and 30 injured, including three policemen, in clashes here today following an opposition-called strike called to press for early elections that paralysed normal life in the country. A rickshaw-puller, Shah Alma, was killed by a crude bomb hurled at him by a mob of protestors, police said. An unidentified woman was killed after being hit by a bullet in old Dhaka's Jatrabari area where rival political groups were engaged in pitched battles. Another person, identified as Hasudul Haq was killed in northern Rampura suburb following an old feud between two groups, the police said, but did not confirm if the incident was linked to the strike. Doctors at Dhaka medical college hospital said five persons were treated there for injuries sustained in clashes. Elsewhere, 25 people, including three cops were injured in crude-bomb throwing and firing incidents in the capital, the police said, adding 50 people had been arrested. Reports of violence also came in from other parts of the country including the port city of Chittagong and Khulna. The strike, the second such action in a week was intended to force prime minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and call early parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina said she was ready to discuss any issue with the opposition, including their "one-point demand" of forcing her to resign. ANI adds: The strikes have been organised by a four-party alliance headed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, which accuses Hasina of bad government, repression of its rivals, unfair elections and of submissiveness to India. Hasina has denied the charges and says her opponents are trying to mislead the people and plunge the country into chaos, and has urged Bangladeshis to remain alert against attempts to jeopardise democracy. Hasina took office in
June 1996 and the next parliamentary vote is not due
before 2001. But the alliance wants the election held
ahead of schedule. |
Censorship in Lanka, again COLOMBO, Nov 7 (ANI) — The Sri Lankan government today said it was imposing censorship on war news, a day after the country's armed forces suffered major debacles in their fight against rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE). The government Information Department said in a statement that no media organisation could print, transmit or broadcast information on military operations being carried out in the north and east of the country without the clearance of the competent authority. "This is in the national interest and to stop dissemination of false information," Director of Information Ariya Rubasinghe was quoted as saying. The government imposed censorship last year too after the military lost the key town of Kilinochchi. It was later eased. On Saturday, Sri Lankan troops suffered their worst setback since 1998 when in five days of fierce fighting they lost two more key northern garrison towns to the LTTE rebels. The clandestine Voice of Tiger Radio said the LTTE rebels had overrun Puliyankulam, 24 kilometres from the government-held Vavuniya town, followed by the fall of Kanagarayankulam. The military complex at Mankulam had been captured by the rebels last Friday. So far the Sri Lankan military has lost nine of its key bases in the Wanni region in five days of fighting. Military sources said the troops had been ordered to retreat to areas close to Vavuniya, regroup and hold the defence lines to beat back possible attacks on the key government-controlled town. The military has been pouring reinforcements in to the areas under conflict since Tuesday, when the LTTE began their offensive. Military sources said that the death toll had come down from 107 to 89, and added that 645 soldiers had been wounded in the conflict. The LTTE,however, claimed that over 1,000 soldiers had been killed and many more had been wounded. It also said that 82 of its cadre had died in the fighting. No independent confirmation of the fighting or the casualties has been possible because of a ban on media frontline reporting, except on conducted tours. Lanka army orders probe COLOMBO, Nov 7 (PTI) — Sri Lankan army today ordered a probe into one of its worst defeats at the hands of the LTTE even as it regrouped under a new regional command and launched a fresh offensive killing 35 rebels. The army, which suffered serious desertions since the fresh assault by the LTTE last Tuesday, claimed that order was restored after the new regional commanders spoke to troops and briefed them about "the actual situation". "The soldiers have responded positively and have joined their battalions to carry out operations in the Vanni sector," an army release said. The new resolve of the army to hit back came after the army commander, Lt Gen Srilal Weerasurya, in an attempt to restore order, effected a major shake up of the command in Vanni and appointed a three member court of inquiry to probe the loss of soldiers and territory in the sector. The army chief also cancelled all leave for the troops and directed them to report to their respective battalions. The court of inquiry with three senior officers from army, air force and navy, would go into the circumstances leading to the fall of the six camps in Vanni, whether prompt action has been taken to prevent further losses, failure of the personnel to carry out the orders and the action to be initiated against such soldiers. "Depending on the
outcome of the inquiry, severe punishment will be meted
out to all those found responsible," an army press
release said. |
Osama bin laden fighters LONDON, Nov 7 (PTI) — Scores of Muslim fundamentalists are receiving weapons training at secret locations across Britain so that they can join fighting groups headed by Osama bin Laden, the world's most wanted terrorist, media reported today. Most of the trained militants head for Chechnya where fighters led by bin Laden's international Islamic front (IIF) are battling renewed Russian advances. Some of them are being sent to Kashmir, the report said. A Sunday Telegraph investigation has found that dozens of volunteers are being imparted training in the use of suns and explosives to prepare them for the military wing of the IIF. Many others are travelling abroad to Kosovo, Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir in India to fight for mujahideen armies. Anjem Choudary, a key figure in the recruitment of jehad volunteers told the weekly ''before they go abroad to fight for organisations like the IIF, the volunteers are trained in Britain. Some of the training does involve guns and live ammunition.'' The number of volunteers leaving Britain for the war-torn region is now so high that the Russian government has asked Britain for help. ''We are in talks with British security services,'' said a Russian embassy source. On Friday, the political wing of the IIF will hold a public meeting in London to appeal for both jehad volunteers and funds. Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammad, head of the political wing in Britain, insisted last night that there was no structural link between the two wings of the front. But he said ''the military wing of the international Islamic front is run by Osama bin Laden.'' ''Volunteers from Britain are travelling abroad to join camps run by the IIF and other organisations. Once they are there they receive military training or take part in jehad. Last week we sent 38 people to Chechnya. Our volunteers are not terrorists. They are not targeting civilians and they do not target people in Britain,'' Mohammad said. Sheikh Abu Hamza, a former nightclub bouncer who claims to have lost both his hands fighting in Afghanistan denied the use of live ammunition but said it was important for volunteers to get the feel of weapons. But volunteers have told the Sunday Telegraph they have been fully drilled in weapons use, often by former British soldiers. Abdul Wahid Majid went on 10 special training courses in England before spending two months in the Pakistani hills with the mujahideen. ''After my basic training with awards and sticks at the mosque, I went on a number of courses where I was taught how to use real firearms and live ammunition,'' he said. ''It is unlimited, the amount of things you can learn. Once in Pakistan I was introduced to a greater range of military hardware including guns like Kalashnikovs and M16s,'' he said. Another volunteer,
Abdullah, a retailing manager in Crawley, has taken part
in eight outdoor training courses in Britain, the
newspaper said. |
US asks for Pak poll dates WASHINGTON,Nov 7 (ANI) — The Clinton administration has reportedly asked former Pakistan Foreign Minister Yaqoob Ali Khan to provide specific dates for holding of elections in Pakistan again to facilitate restoration of civilian rule there. U.S.State Department sources here were quoted as saying that Yaqoob Khan, who is on a week-long visit to Washington as Gen Musharraf's special envoy, was told categorically about the US demand in two separate meetings with National Security Adviser Sandy Berger and Under Secretary of State, Thomas Pickering on Friday. The sources also said that it was quite likely that the State Department would press the Musharraf-led military government further to announce some deadline for the completion of its agenda. The Clinton administration is walking a fine line between what The Washington Post in a report on Saturday described as "condemnation and appeasement". Quoting official sources, the paper said Yaqoob was told about US eagerness to secure Pakistan's cooperation on issues relating to its nuclear weapons program as well as Pakistani assistance in dealing with Taliban, which is basically about Osama bin Laden. "We don't accept the coup, but as a practical matter we're going to work to pursue our interests," a senior official was quoted in describing the thrust of the discussions. This contradiction of sorts was also evident from State Department James Rubin's Saturday briefing, when he said, "It is very important to have the constitutional, democratic and civilian government in Pakistan restored, and that we are looking for a timetable as soon as possible." In the same breath, Rubin mentioned that Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott in his meeting with Yaqoob Khan, which is expected next week, would convey US concerns about Pakistan. He reiterated the US stance, saying, "We will continue to engage with Pakistan. We do think it's important to work on issues of concern to our national security, whether they be proliferation, whether they be the importance of pressuring the Taliban to release Osama bin Laden, whether they be the prospect of improved conflict resolution in Kashmir, and whether they be the issues of non-proliferation that are so important to us. So we are going to work on issues of national security: counter-narcotics, law enforcement, non-proliferation, regional peace and security, counter-terrorism." Meanwhile, Pakistani
political parties are openly demanding for an early
withdrawal of military government, plus the mounting
domestic criticism against the Clinton administration for
siding with a military government, the administration is
pressuring the Musharraf government to at least announce
sometime frame. "For us, it does not matter if it's
one or two years," said the source. "We just
need some kind of commitment which we could remind them
about in future." |
Pak to maintain
'principled" ISLAMABAD, Nov 7 (ANI) — Pakistan's Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday said that Islamabad would continue to maintain its principled stand on Kashmir and lend diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of that region. Musharraf conveyed these views to the Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, who called on him on Saturday. Musharraf said the core issue of Kashmir had to be resolved in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, adding that peace in South Asia would remain elusive till the settlement of Kashmir dispute. Musharraf said India needed to honour its commitments of granting right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir it made at various international fora, including the United Nations. He said Pakistan was a peace-loving country and wanted to resolve all outstanding issues with India, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir through peaceful talks. He urged New Delhi to respond positively to Islamabad's quest for peace and stressed that durable peace in the region would remain a cherished dream if the Kashmir problem was left unresolved. Chaudhry told Musharraf about the situation in border areas of Kashmir with particular reference to the incidents of cross- border firing on the Line of Control. He also told the chief executive about the steps being taken to provide relief to the people of Neelum Valley including food subsidy package. The meeting lasted some
forty minutes and was the first one between Chaudhry and
General Musharraf. |
Sharif's son demands father's ISLAMABAD, Nov 7 (IANS) — Hassan Nawaz Sharif, son of deposed Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has called for his father's trial by a civil court and said Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf was not justified in dismissing an elected government and assuming executive powers himself. "We have a principled stand that what happened was wrong. It was done in the wrong manner. If the military or Pervez Musharraf were so worried, why didn't he contact the President (Rafiq Tarar) or lobby inside Parliament for a no-confidence motion against Nawaz Sharif? And why did he wait until he was sacked. Was he planning a coup already? Why did he have to do all this after his sacking?" Hassan Sharif said in an interview with BBC television, NNI news agency reported. Nawaz Sharif was ousted in a bloodless coup on October 12 soon after he announced the sacking of Musharraf, the Chief of Army Staff. He has since been in detention and is to be proceeded against for allegedly trying to create a divide within the Pakistan Army. "We demand a free and fair trial by an independent civil court of Pakistan," Hassan Sharif said. "Do not forget that all those people are selected by Pervez Musharraf, who is himself a self-appointed Chief Executive of Pakistan. We want accountability by elected people, people who have got a mandate to do that," he maintained. "He (Musharraf) has accused my father of playing around with institutions. And what could be more hypocritical than appointing himself as Chief Executive of Pakistan and also shutting down all those institutions including the Constitution, the Parliament and Supreme Court? There is no justification for these actions," Hassan Sharif said. He said the deposed Prime Minister should be given an opportunity to defend himself against the allegations hurled at him. "Let him come forward. Let him speak to the press. Let him speak to the international diplomats," he said. "There are courts in Pakistan, they have to decide all this. Who am I or who is General Musharraf to decide this?" he questioned. Hassan Sharif claimed his father was a pious man who worked hard to make Pakistan a better country. "He has worked all his life. He has scarified his family life to make Pakistan a better country," he claimed. He said the veracity of allegations against him or his father should be tested in independent courts in Pakistan. "We do not want a media trial. We want a fair trial from the court," he reiterated, once against voicing apprehensions about his father's safety. Meanwhile, former Foreign Minister Assef Ahmed Ali said Nawaz Sharif and his family should be provided a chance for a fair trial. "Though we were subjected to victimisation during the two-and-a-half-year tenure of the Nawaz Sharif government, even then I would say that he and his family members be tried in ordinary courts," Ali told NNI. About the Commonwealth's reaction to the military takeover, he said, "Democracy is part of their charter. We must not think that they have turned against us, rather we should adopt the policy of wait and see." The current government, he said, does not need to involve itself in a row with the Commonwealth, rather it should take measures to restore the democratic process in the country. "Our people have welcomed the change because the armed forces have rid them of an unpopular government, but this does not mean that they (military leaders) are licensed to always rule the country," he said. On the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Ali pointed out that even the U.S. Senate has voted against ratification of the treaty. "But President (Bill) Clinton is still stressing it does not mean that the U.S. has backed out of its stance over the issue," he noted. "Pakistan at this
juncture has two options, one is the chapter should be
closed right here without bowing to any international
pressure as the U.S. is in an awkward position after
Congress refusal to (ratify) the treaty. The other is
that since Pakistan has been diplomatically isolated in
the international community due to the policies of the
previous government, it is the best available opportunity
to restore national integrity by signing the treaty,
which will pressure and isolate India at the
international level," the former minister said. |
Probe against Dan Burton WASHINGTON, Nov 7 (IANS) — A U.S. government task force has recommended ending the investigation into allegations that Dan Burton, India's bete noire in Congress, illegally solicited a Pakistani government lobbyist for campaign donations. Congressional sources said the task force had listed the case against Burton, who chairs the House Government Reform Committee, as one of several alleged illegal campaign finance cases that would be shut down shortly. Two years ago, Mark Siegel, a close friend of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and lobbyist for Pakistan during Bhutto's tenure, told the task force investigators that he was "shaken down" by Burton, a Republican, for campaign donations. Siegel, a Democratic Party stalwart, said that Burton, an acerbic critic of India on Capitol Hill, had threatened him that unless he contributed to his (Burton's) campaign coffers he would make him a persona non grata in Congress and make sure that Pakistani-Americans prevail upon the ambassador at the time, Maleeha Lodhi (who has incidentally been nominated by the military junta in Islamabad to be Pakistan's new envoy), to terminate his $360,000-a-year lobbying contract. At the time he alleged that Burton had threatened him, Siegel acknowledged that he had been contacted by the Department of Justice and had deposed for more than three hours before a federal grand jury on the case. Following Siegel's deposition, several grand jury subpoenas were issued in the case, including one for Bhutto, but she never appeared before any panel, even though she was touring the United States at various times between 1993 and 1996. When the Nawaz Sharif government come into power, Siegel lost his lobbying contract and was replaced by former Texas Congressman Democrat Charles Wilson and the well-known lobbing firm of Patton Boggs, which now has former White House counsel and friend of President Clinton, Lanny Davis, handling the Pakistani account. Even though the Sharif
government is no more, Wilson and Davis are still the
lobbyists for Pakistan and have been spotted at several
Congressional hearings on South Asia rubbing shoulders
with influential lawmakers. |
British MPs in support of Balbir Singh LONDON, Nov 7 — Three British Members of Parliament (MPs) have backed moves in support of a British Sikh arrested in India on charge of carrying explosives. Family members and friends of Balbir Singh Bains (25) have joined demonstrations outside India House in London to demand his release. A court in New Delhi is to decide on November 15 whether to try him on the police evidence presented or to release him, his wife Baljit Kaur Bains said here. A decision was initially due on November 6 but was put off, she said. Three Labour MPs have backed Bains' family in its efforts to win his release. The political move is led by John McDonald, who heads the Punjab parliamentary human rights group. Marsha Singh and Allen Keen, both Labour MPs, are also supporting the Bains family. The family, with the backing of the MPs, has sent a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India. The NHRC has asked police to submit evidence in the face of the allegations, Bains' wife said. It is expected to announce its decision shortly, she added. Balbir Bains was charged under the explosives act along with another man. According to police, the two were caught with RDX explosives and two timer devices. Bains' family has alleged that the police is "inventing" evidence. It alleged Balbir Bains was tortured in police custody at Lodhi Road in Delhi. His condition improved since, but he then went down with malaria, they claimed. Balbir Bains has been living in Southall, London, with his five children. He is well known in the area for his involvement in religious work. Balbir Bains was arrested in June when he went to attend a wedding in India. His family has alleged that he was already in police custody on the day police said he was caught with the explosives. Atlanta NRIs protest publication CHICAGO, Nov 7 - Indian Americans in Atlanta held a protest march against the publication of a controversial anti-Hindu prayer book by the second largest Christian denomination in the U.S., the Southern Baptists. The marchers carried placards with slogans like "Bigotry and hatred, the world can live without", "Truth is one, Wise call it different", "Love unconditionally, not in exchange for others to convert." The march was followed by the chanting of the Vedic hymns and prayers for universal peace. The event attracted widespread coverage by the local print and television media. "It's basically the pain which we feel because of the denigration of Hindus and Hinduism by the Southern Baptists," said one of the marchers, Shyam Tiwari, a software developer. "We wanted to express our feelings as well as to enlighten these people, if we can." The Southern Baptists booklet "insults and maligns Hinduism and the Hindus," said Dhiru Shah, who helped organise the rally. "We believe that conversion...goes against the human spirit," he said. "We believe that there is only one god, and that god is for everybody. There's no reason to convert anybody," Shah added. The Southern Baptists
booklet, released to coincide with the Divali festival,
spoke in its opening line of "more than 900 million
people lost in the hopeless darkness of Hinduism".
It said, "Pray that Hindus, who celebrate the
festival of lights, would become aware of the darkness in
their hearts that no lamp can dispel". The Southern
Baptists have since apologised for hurting the sentiments
of Hindus. |
No Clinton visit without civilian rule WASHINGTON, Nov 6 - The United States has conveyed to Pakistan's military rulers that sanctions would remain in place and President Bill Clinton would not visit Islamabad until civilian rule was restored in the country. Administration and diplomatic sources said Gen. Pervez Musharraf's emissary Sahebzada Yakub Khan had "implored" the administration to bear with the military junta till it gets the country back on track before returning it to civilian authority. A distinguished and experienced diplomat, Khan, who is also a former Ambassador to the U.S., had forcefully reiterated the army's rationale for deposing the democratically-elected government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He claimed Musharraf had no intention to cling on to power and would return the country to civilian authority shortly. However, according to the sources, the U.S. officials, although acknowledging that Washington could understand the circumstances that led to the military coup and that indeed the Sharif government was mired in corruption and nepotism and was itself blatantly violating the Constitution, made it clear that normal relations with Islamabad was not possible unless it returned to the democratic path. The sources said the officials told Khan that the administration's hands were tied in this regard and that the sanctions, currently in place under Section 508 of the Foreign Assistance Act that triggers penalties if an elected government is overthrown by a military coup, simply could not be lifted unless there was restoration of civilian authority. The sources said the officials also informed Khan, a widely respected elder diplomat who still has many friends in the administration and Congress, that Clinton, who intends to visit South Asia early next year, would not be in a position to visit Pakistan unless there is a civilian government in place. Khan had extensive talks at the White House with National Security Adviser Samuel "Sandy" Berger and at the State Department with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Thomas Pickering. He is scheduled to meet with Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and several Congressional leaders who could include Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms, co-chair of Foreign Relations Subcommittee on South Asia Sam Brownback, and House International Relations Committee chairman Benjamin Gilman. Khan's talks were the first high-level U.S.-Pakistan meetings since the coup on October 12. The only previous meeting between the two countries since the coup was when the American Ambassador to Islamabad William Milam met with Musharraf. The sources said the U.S. officials made clear that Clinton was looking forward to visiting Pakistan too during his trip, but it would be virtually impossible for a U.S. president to visit a country under military rule as it would compromise Washington's professed commitment to democracy. Officials had acknowledged privately that if Pakistan was not returned to civilian rule, Clinton will visit only India and Bangladesh during his South Asia trip. State Department spokesman James Rubin said following Khan's talks with Pickering that "we made clear our view that it is very important to have the constitutional, democratic and civilian government in Pakistan restored and that we are looking for a timetable for steps to that end to be described as soon as possible." Rubin said that when Talbott meets with Khan, he would continue his "determined efforts to try to promote progress on the non-proliferation front and all that that entails as well as promote the prospect of dialogue between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue." He said the administration wanted to engage Pakistan in a discussion on "issues of national security, counter-narcotics, law enforcement, non-proliferation, regional peace and security, counter- terrorism." "But with respect to business as usual," "Rubin reiterated, "until there is a return to civilian, democratic, constitutional government, the relevant provision of the foreign assistance law (which bans American assistance to a government that has come to power by a coup) cannot be lifted." Sources said officials informed Khan that the U.S. looked favourably on some of the attempts by Musharraf to extend an olive branch to India and that this could be tangibly manifested if Pakistan, besides withdrawing its troops from the international border, also pulled them back from the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, the sources said, the U.S. officials had also emphasised that Washington would very much like Pakistan to rein in the elements in the country that support cross-border terrorism into Kashmir and also use its influence to persuade the Taliban militia in Afghanistan to hand over Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, the alleged mastermind behind the terrorist bombings of the U.S.missions in Nairobi and Dar es Salam. A spokesman for the
National Security Council said, "Mr.Berger raised
out concerns about an early return to democracy in
Pakistan and stressed non-proliferation concerns and
Pakistan's relations with its neighbours." |
Chechnya leader appeals to ON THE CHECHEN-INGUSH BORDER (Russia), Nov 7 (Reuters) — Chechnya's leader today appealed to U.S. President Bill Clinton to help end the ''genocide of the chitin people'' as Russia tightened its grip on the breakaway region. Russian guns shelled the outskirts of the capital Grozny and warplanes bombed areas to the south, west and east of the city forcing residents to join the thousands scrambling to leave for the relative safety of neighbouring Ingushetia. ''I will never go back to Chechnya, it is a damned land,'' said Satsita Busuyeva, 30, after she crossed the border. ''even if they pay me lots of money or if they cover the whole land with carpet, I'll never come back.'' Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov, a relative moderate who has little control over Chechen field commanders, wrote to Mr Clinton for help. ''we are ready for dialogue, ready to consider different ways of regulation which respect the rights of Chechens to live freely and safely,'' Maskhadov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying. ''the chechen people have huge hopes that the united states will use its authority to defend human rights,'' he said. Russia's leadership has given no sign that it is ready to talk to Maskhadov. But its six-week-long offensive against Islamic fighters whom Moscow blames for staging bomb blasts in Russian cities has brought growing criticism from the west over civilian casualties and the refugee exodus. A correspondent for Interfax news agency in grozny said a western suburb came under artillery fire from Russian troops on the Tersk ridge at about noon (0900 GMT) today. Russia's defence ministry in Moscow said it could neither confirm nor deny the report. A ministry spokesman earlier said aircraft had bombed Chechnya's second biggest city Gudermes and other villages to the east and south of grozny, killing Islamic fighters. ''the troops are continuing to expand their control over positions in Chechnya and they are reinforcing those positions,'' the spokesman said by telephone. ''air and artillery fire is continuing to destroy the guerrillas, their bases and camps in regions like Gudermes.'' Russia's army
headquarters at Mozdok, just outside the rebel region,
was quoted as saying fighter planes and bombers had hit
Chechnya more than 100 times in the last 24 hours. |
Bangladesh FM says SAARC postponement temporary DHAKA, Nov 7 (AFP) — Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad has described as temporary the last-minute postponement of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit scheduled to be held between November 26-28 in Kathmandu. The postponement of the meeting of the seven-nation (SAARC) "is temporary and for the time being," Azad said on his return yesterday from a visit to Canada, the official BSS news agency said. Pakistan yesterday denounced India for forcing the postponement of the summit and accused new Delhi of "compulsive hostility towards Islamabad." "This represents a gross breach of the established norms of inter-state relations, as well as the SAARC charter," the Pakistani foreign ministry said. The Indian government asked Sri Lanka, which holds the rotating chairmanship, to indefinitely postpone the summit because of Pakistan's October coup. Since all SAARC decisions must be made through consensus, India's stand meant the others had no option but to agree, officials in Colombo said. SAARC launched in Dhaka
in 1985 groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Its summit does not
discuss contentious bilateral problems. |
Sharif brothers had promised nuclear rollback: Leghari ISLAMABAD, Nov 7 (PTI) — Former Pakistani President Farooq Leghari said today that deposed premier Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif had committed to the United States to roll back nuclear and missile programmes, and to accept the line of control as permanent border asking US officials in return to take care of those in uniform. "They had made these commitments against national interests and in return asked us officials to take care of those in uniform. This is tantamount to treason," Leghari, who is leader of Millat party, told reporters here. He said his party believed in healthy, corrective criticism. "We did so in the past and we would criticise the military government if it does not work well," he added. It was wrong on the part of the present military set-up to believe that it would remove all ills, he said adding if the present government performs well, we will support, and if not we will criticise it." He said before the next
elections, existing identity cards be phased out and
replaced with computerised ones. Leghari further demanded
preparation of new electoral lists for the elections. |
Soldiers will evict Jewish settlers: Barak NICOSIA, Nov 7 (ANI) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak today warned that he would order soldiers to begin evicting Jewish settlers in rogue West Bank outposts this week if the settlers did not leave themselves. Talking to Israel Radio, Barak said that he had already extended the deadline for the settlers to move out, and added that that only two or three days more would be given by his government for the task to be accomplished. "What they don't remove, in sorrow and pain the Israeli army will remove the same day or the next. Under a deal struck with the umbrella YESHA Council of Jewish settlements, 12 rogue outposts were to be removed "voluntarily" or be uprooted by the army. Eight of the 12 have been dismantled under a deal allowing 30 more to remain.We live in a democracy in which only an elected government can decide on substantive political matters and not a group of citizens, no matter how well-intentioned they may be," Barak said. Settlers set up the sites without permission in a bid to establish "facts on the ground" ahead of the talks on a permanent Israeli-Palestinian peace that will decide the fate of settlements on land Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians, who want all of the West Bank for a state, regard all settlements as illegal and have assailed Barak's deal with the settler movement as tacit approval of land grabs. Settler leaders say that of the 12 outposts they agreed to dismantle, three would move to other sites and two would close temporarily with the expectation that Israeli authorities would legalise them. About 170,000 Jewish
settlers live in more than 145 settlements, some the size
of small towns, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The
territories are home to three million Palestinians. |
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| Israel accused of fuelling Muslim,
Christian row Nicosia, Nov 7: The Palestinian Authority has accused Israel of fuelling a row between Muslims and Christians over a planned mosque near a main Christian site in Nazareth to upset millennium festivities. Part of the designated site for the mosque is publicly owned land. Part belongs to the Waqf or Moslem religious trust and includes the grave of a nephew of Saladin, the Moslem hero who ousted the Crusaders from the Holy Land eight centuries ago. Palestinian leaders said that Tel Aviv was plotting to harm their national unity by disrupting the third millennium celebrations. — ANI Four killed in communal
violence in Indonesia Falun Gong
leader, accused of divulging information |
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