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			Friday, December 10, 1999
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Supplementary grants passed
NEW DELHI, Dec 9 (PTI) — The Lok Sabha today voted supplementary demands for grants for 1999-2000 to the tune of Rs 16,549.79 crore after Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha announced a complete review of all development works to focus on delivery of basic needs like water, housing, roads and health. After the Minister’s reply, the House passed the relevant appropriation Bill authorising payment of Rs 16,549.79 crore including Rs 3,007 crore spent on the Kargil conflict. Dismissing criticism that poor management of finances by the government had resulted in tabling of a massive supplementary demands for grants, Mr Sinha said the bulk of expenditure sought in the demands could not be anticipated in the budget for the current year.

Benazir Bhutto
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9 (PTI) — The Pakistani Supreme Court today directed the police to file an FIR in a murder case against former Premier Benazir Bhutto and five others for ordering firing on a Jamaat-e-Islami rally in which two of its workers were killed over three years ago. Jamaat-e-Islami had earlier filed an application at the police station under which the incident occurred accusing Ms Bhutto, her then Home Minister Naseenrullah Babar and four others for killing two of its workers.

Envoy to Spain
NEW DELHI, Dec 9 (PTI) — Mr Dilip Lahiri, Additional Secretary (UN) in the External Affairs Ministry, has been appointed India’s new Ambassador to Spain, it was officially announced today. Mr Lahiri, who succeeds Mr Ranjit Gupta, is expected to take up his assignment shortly.

20 killed in Lanka
COLOMBO, Dec 9 (PTI) — At least nine Sri Lankan security forces personnel and 11 LTTE rebels were killed in separate clashes in the north and east, Army sources said here today. Five policemen were killed when the rebels attacked a police checkpost in Trincomalee district this morning.

Plane crash
STOCKHOLM, Dec 9 (AFP) — A Piper PA-31 passenger plane carrying eight persons crashed today shortly after departing from Midlanda airport near the central Swedish city of Sundsvall, TT news agency said. There was no immediate word on casualties.