tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Friday, August 20, 1999
weather today's calendar

Turkey quake toll 7,000
ANKARA, Aug 19 (DPA) — Relief workers were racing against the time today to find survivors trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings from Turkey's devastating earthquake as the death toll approached 7,000. While there have been a number of heart-lifting stories emerging from the worst-hit areas, including that of a nine-year-old girl pulled out of debris, 56 hours after the quake struck Tuesday morning, reports today were more pessimistic. A total of 6,866 persons were confirmed dead and 33,022 injured up to this evening.

Awards for Sheila Dikshit, Om Puri
NEW DELHI, Aug 19 (PTI) — Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, film actors Om Puri and Nana Patekar and Odissi danseuse Kavita Dwibedi are among several distinguished persons to be presented the Rashtriya Ekta Awards on the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary tomorrow. The annual awards, instituted in memory of Rajiv Gandhi by the All-India National Unity Conference (AINUC), are given to distinguished personalities in various walks of life for their contribution to national integration and unity.

Bypoll in B'desh
DHAKA, Aug 19 (AFP) — The sudden death of a ruling party lawmaker today has pushed the Bangladesh government into an unwanted byelection which in the past have led to Opposition claims of fraud. Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain, a veteran parliamentarian of the Awami League, died of a heart attack at his home in southern Faridpur district, the official BSS news agency said.

Afghan ISI agent
CALCUTTA, Aug 19 (PTI) — A city court today remanded an Afghan national suspected to be an ISI agent to a week's police custody for his alleged involvement in the terrorist and illegal activities. The Afghan national, Gul Mohammad Khan, was arrested from his hotel-cum-guest house in centrally located Mirza Ghalib Street in the city yesterday and produced before, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate M.M. Mukherjee today.

Two executed in Pak
KARACHI, Aug 19 (AFP) — Two Pakistanis convicted of kidnapping and murdering a boy were executed in Karachi's Central Jail today, officials said. Khalid-ur Rehman and Nasim Akhter were found guilty by a special court for suppression of terrorist activities in December of abducting for ransom and killing nine-year-old Anas Farid in 1994. The bodies of the two were handed over to wailing relatives after the hanging, witnesses said.

Flood situation
PATNA, Aug 19 (PTI) — The swollen Ganga threatened to submerge vast areas in Patna, Barauni, Katihar and Bhagalpur in Bihar as the overall flood situation in the state remained grim with all major rivers in spate. According to a Central Water Commission report, the Ganga crossed the danger mark at Gandhighat, Hathidah, Kahalgoan and Farakka by 27 cm, 16 cm, 42 cm and 142 cm, respectively.

9 workers killed
HYDERABAD, Aug 19 (UNI) — At least nine workers of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Congress were killed and 45 others injured in two separate road accidents in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, yesterday.

Gunned down
KOHIMA, Aug 19 (PTI) — A suspected rival faction abducted and gunned down the general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), Dally Mungro, besides killing two of his associates here last night. Mungro and his wife were forcibly taken from their house to a isolated place where he was shot dead, the police said. However, his wife Thokuli was released unharmed.