2 dead, 11 hurt in blast
Mosque siege ends; another encounter on
SRINAGAR, March 27 — At least nine persons, including five militants, were killed and 14 others were injured while the security forces apprehended four suspects and found a large quantity of arms and ammunition in the Kashmir valley since yesterday.

(Below) Army personnel keeping a strict vigil on a village where an operation to flush out militants was in progress in Kandi area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir on Monday. — PTI photo

LOS ANGELES: Best director nominee M. Night Shyamalan arrives with his wife during the 72nd Annual Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday. Shyamalan directed the "The Sixth Sense." — AP/PTI photo

Acting President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with the Chairman of Central Election Commission Alexander Veshnyakov, left, prior to their meeting in Moscow, on Monday. — AP/PTI

Banks sign wage accord
MUMBAI, March 27 — The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), representing 27 public sector banks, 17 private sector banks and 11 foreign banks today signed a bipartite settlement with three workmen unions on wage revision and other service conditions for a period of five years beginning from November 1, 1997.

Impasse on eve of SGPC meeting
AMRITSAR, March 27 — Senior Akali leaders including Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi and Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Cooperation Minister today made last ditch efforts to bring about rapprochement between SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur and Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht in light of the crucial executive meeting of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee scheduled for tomorrow.