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No
threat to govt: Mamata
MADURAI, Feb 18 (PTI) — Trinamool Congress leader
Mamata Banerjee today discounted any threat to the
BJP-led coalition government following withdrawal of
support by Indian National Lok Dal of Om Prakash
Chautala, saying differences between the two parties
would be sorted out through negotiations. Asserting that
the BJP government would last its full term, Ms Banerjee
told newsmen here that the demands of allies in a
coalition government should not be misconstrued as
threats.3
die in derailment
KARACHI, Feb 18 (AP) — A passenger train today
derailed in Sindh province, killing at least three people
and injuring 100 others. The Chenab Express was en route
to the southern Arabian Sea port of Karachi, some 108 km
away, when it derailed, said Anzer Rizvi, a
transportation official in Karachi. While initial reports
put the dead at three, there was considerable concern
from emergency workers that the death toll would rise.
Wye agreement
WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) — Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright met with Palestinian officials to
discuss implementing the Wye Peace Agreement for the
Middle-East. The second phase of implementing the
agreement, hammered out at the Wye River Plantation in
Maryland in October 1998, has stalled and Washington has
particularly criticised Israel.
76 rebels killed
COLOMBO, Feb 18 (AFP) — Renewed fighting in Sri
Lanka's embattled northern and eastern regions killed at
least 76 Tamil rebels, three government soldiers and one
civilian in the past week, the defence ministry said
today. Thirteen of the guerrillas of the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were killed by the Navy
during a confrontation, ministry spokesman Sunil
Tennakoon told reporters here.
Teenager killed
AGARTALA, Feb 18 (PTI) — In a daring strike,
insurgents of the outlawed National Liberation Front of
Tripura (NLFT) shot dead a teenager, injured a woman and
kidnapped another from the busy South Tripura district
headquarter town of Udaipur last night, the police said
today.
Bar owners strike
MUMBAI, Feb 18 (PTI) — An estimated one lakh
restaurants and bars in the state remained closed in
Maharashtra today in response to a bandh called to
protest the proposed hike in licence fees on
establishments, a spokesperson for the owners said. The
demands of the restaurant and bar owners include
scrapping proposed increases in excise duty and sales tax
on liquor, health licence fees, water and power charges,
the spokesperson for the demonstrators said.
2 killed in clash
GWALIOR, Feb 18 (PTI) — Two people were killed and
seven injured, two of them seriously, in a clash between
two groups in a village under Maharajpura police station
of the city, police said today. The clash occurred
following an altercation between a field owner Narendra
Narwaria and a watchman of a nearby brick kiln Suleman
Khan over waste disposal in Lakhamipur village yesterday.
Suspension revoked
LUCKNOW, Feb 18 (PTI) — The Uttar Pradesh
Legislative Council today revoked the suspension of 10
Samajwadi Party (SP) members by a voice vote. The
resolution to revoke the suspension, which was ordered on
Tuesday for 15 days for creating disorderly scenes, was
moved by Leader of the House and Urban Development
Minister Lalji Tandon after teachers' group leader Om
Prakash Sharma raised the issue during zero hour.
Appeal to CPM
CALCUTTA, Feb 18 (PTI) — Mr Bhrigu Phukan,
ally-turned-foe of Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar
Mahanta, has appealed to the CPM to withdraw support to
the ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in the state, saying
it had forfeited its right to rule. The CPM, which has
two members in the Assam Assembly, is giving outside
support to the AGP-led government.
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