tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Tuesday, February 23, 1999
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US jets attack Iraqi sites
WASHINGTON, Feb 22 (Reuters) — US and British aircraft attacked an Iraqi missile site and two military communications sites yesterday after Iraqi jets violated the southern no-fly zone, Pentagon officials said. The strikes were conducted near Al Amarah Tallil, about 273 km southeast of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, according to a statement from the US Central Command. All planes returned safely to their bases and there was no immediate word on damage or casualties, it said.

19 die in mishap
CHENNAI, Feb 22 (PTI) — Nineteen persons, including seven women, were killed as 21 injured when a banana laden lorry overturned near Srivaikuntam in Tuticorin district last night, the police said today. Tuticorin SP Rajesh Das said here that 11 of the injured had been admitted to Tirunelveli Government Hospital and others were released after first-aid. Forty persons, mostly farm workers, were travelling in the lorry at the time of mishap. The driver of the vehicle was absconding, he added.

Collision
JAIPUR, Feb 22 (PTI) — Thirteen persons, including five children, were killed and four injured in a collision between a jeep and a truck at Deva-ka-Khera village in Bundi district last night, the police said here today. The deceased — five children, five men and three women — were travelling in the jeep, which was on way to Deval from Hindoli when the accident took place. They belonged to various towns, including Jhalawar Ajmer and Kota, of Rajasthan, the police said. The injured were admitted to Bundi Government Hospital where two of them were stated to be in serious condition, the police said.

Army on alert
AMMAN, Feb 22 (AFP) — The Iraqi armed forces have been placed on top alert following protests by Shia Muslims angered by the murder of a senior Shia cleric, Iraqi sources said today. Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces clashed with Shia protesters in several Iraqi cities for a third straight day today, the leader of an Iraqi opposition group said in Teheran. As many as 25 persons were killed and 250 injured on Saturday and yesterday in Baghdad, according to Ayatollah Mohammad Baqr Al Hakim, head of the Tehran-based Supreme Assembly of Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

Bus to New Delhi
ISLAMABAD, Feb 22 (PTI) — The inaugural Lahore-New Delhi bus is likely to leave for India on March 1, officials from the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) said today. The PTDC has purchased two new buses and each will make two trips to the Indian Capital every week on regular basis, the officials were quoted by the official APP news agency. The Indian Tourism Department has also prepared two buses which will make twice a week shuttle bus service to Pakistan's second biggest city of Lahore, the officials said. The 494-km journey takes about 13 hours.

Undertrials escape
KOLLAM, Feb 22 (PTI) — Eight undertrials escaped from Kollam sub-jail here in Kerala around last midnight but two of them were soon arrested, even as the prison Superintendent, a Head Warden and two Wardens were suspended in connection with the jailbreak. The police said today that the eight undertrials escaped from the sub-jail near the collectorate building by drilling a hole in the wall adjacent to a toilet.

Benazir
KARACHI, Feb 22 (Reuters) — Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto today criticised Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for not pushing India to sign a nuclear non-proliferation agreement during a weekend summit. Ms Benazir said Mr Sharif, "missed a golden opportunity for both India and Pakistan to jointly announce the signing of the CTBT during the summit meeting."