China warns Indian leaders
BEIJING, Jan 6 — In a veiled warning, state-run Chinese media today asked Indian leaders not to test Beijing’s patience with irresponsible comments and urged the Indian government to adopt a more coherent policy towards China.

PPP turns anger against Tarar
ISLAMABAD, Jan 6 — Pakistan’s main opposition party has now turned its ire against President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar on the twin issues of executions after the summary trials and frequent issuance of ordinances by the Sharif Government.

Prince Edward to wed LONDON, Jan 6 — Prince Edward, youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, will marry Sophie Rhys-Jones, his girlfriend of five years, later this year, Buckingham Palace announced today. Hill gets 10 Grammy nominations BEVERLY HILLS, Jan 6 — Lauryn Hill received a leading 10 Grammy nominations today for her critically acclaimed debut solo album “The miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”

LONDON: Britain's Prince Edward, the youngest son of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, and his bride-to-be, Sophie Rhys-Jones, in the garden of St James's Palace, London on Wednesday. — AP/PTI

Ecevit may become Turkish PM again
ANKARA (Turkey), Jan 6 — An independent lawmaker asked to form Turkey’s next government gave up the attempt today after losing the support of expected allies.

Hastert chosen US Speaker
WASHINGTON, Jan 6 — Republicans in the US House of Representatives have elected Dennis Hastert of Illinois their choice to succeed Newt Gingrich as Speaker of the House.

Congolese rebels kill 500
GOMA, Jan 6 — Rebels killed at least 500 persons in a village in south-eastern Congo last week in apparent retaliation for an attack on their soldiers, Roman Catholic missionaries in the area reported yesterday.

Pak rethinking over power deal

ISLAMABAD, Jan 6 (PTI) — Pakistan is apparently trying to wriggle out of the power deal with India amidst widespread power shortage in the country and a strong negative public opinion against any such deal.

Pakistan’s Water and Power Minister Gohar Ayub Khan gave clear indications yesterday that the Government was rethinking the already agreed deal between the two countries to export around 2,000 mw power to India, 500 mw of which was to start flowing within the next six months as per arrangements.

"First, we have to see whether we genuinely have any surplus electricity when we are having load-shedding in our own country", Mr Khan told newsmen when he was asked whether the power deal with India was going ahead as per schedule.

He also raised apprehensions over a possible payment problem with the Punjab and Haryana electricity boards as they would be the direct recipient of Pakistani power and also expressed doubts over the power tariff agreement with India.

Mr Khan said the Punjab and Haryana electricity boards were "known for not paying their bills" and "if we conclude an agreement, we might face the problem in getting payments from these Indian boards".

The Pakistani power departments were already facing similar problems from some government organisation at home, he said.

Annan ‘has evidence’ of US-UNSCOM links

WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (AFP) — UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has obtained convincing evidence that UN weapons inspectors helped the USA collect intelligence to be used in Washington’s efforts to undermine Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, The Washington Post said today.

The report, citing unidentified “confidants” to Mr Annan, said the UN chief was “alarmed by the implications of the relationship” which, if substantiated, could undermine the neutrality of the world body.

The information Mr Annan has received, the Post said in its early editions, shows that the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) assisted the USA in listening to some of Baghdad’s most sensitive communications.

“The Secretary-General has become aware of the fact that UNSCOM directly facilitated the creation of an intelligence collection system for the USA in violation of its mandate”, the Post quoted one Annan confidant as saying.

“The United Nations cannot be party to an operation to overthrow one of its member states. In the most fundamental way, that is what’s wrong with the UNSCOM operation”, the source added.

PTI adds: The Washington Post quoting three advisors of the UN Secretary General said Mr Annan had obtained what he regards as convincing evidence that UN arms inspectors helped collect eavesdropping intelligence used in US efforts to undermine the Iraqi regime.

“The Secretary General has become aware of the fact that UNSCOM directly facilitated the creation of an intelligence collection system for USA in violation of its mandate,” an Annan adviser said. 

The report which said Mr Annan had evidence implicating the UN teams on the issue will now give more credibility to Iraq’s persistent charges that the UNSCOM team included spies for the USA.

Australian Richard Butler, who headed the UNSCOM (whose job was to dismantle Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction), has reportedly denied any such involvement.

Mr Annan, meanwhile, is not willing to go public with his serious charges and prefers to voice them through confidants speaking anonymously to the media, the Post said.

UNITED NATIONS (AFP): The United Nations on Tuesday rejected an Iraqi demand for the replacement of US and British humanitarian workers in Iraq, following Anglo-American air strikes against Iraqi targets.

US and British envoys to the UN Security Council announced the move in comments to reporters after a closed-door briefing by senior UN officials.

Meanwhile, a preliminary UN report has pointed out that us and British strikes last month flattened an agricultural school, damaged at least a dozen other schools and hospitals and knocked out water supplies for 3,00,000 persons in Baghdad.

It was the first such report from UN officials on the ground in Iraq. The WFP said a missile destroyed a large storehouse filled with 2,600 tonnes of rice in Tikrit, President Saddam Hussein’s home town.

CAIRO (AP): Egypt has opened a dialogue with Iraqi dissidents who are trying to topple their country’s leader, Saddam Hussein, an opposition group has said.

The move comes amid a war of words between Iraq and Egypt.

State-run Egyptian Radio on Tuesday referred to Mr Saddam as a “butcher” and a “destroyer” who is prepared to risk the lives of all Iraqis in order to stay in power. Meanwhile, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz accused Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of “cooking up more manoeuvres and conspiracies and probably another aggression” against Iraq in a commentary in the state-run Al-Jumhuriya newspaper.

Slaying of writers, Oppn leaders
Iran arrests intelligence men

TEHERAN, Jan 6 (AP) — Iran has arrested a number of Intelligence Ministry officials in the slaying of five dissidents. The ministry has acknowledged, a rare admission of official complicity in the killings of government opponents.

The five writers and opposition figures killed late last year were all critical of the government’s hardline clergymen, who are trying to stymie the social and political reforms of moderate President Mohammad Khatami.

In a statement given to the official Islamic Republic News Agency, the Intelligence Ministry said yesterday that it had arrested a number of ministry officials for the killings. It did not say how many.

The ministry announced with regret “that a few of our colleagues irresponsible, devious and obstinate persons were among those arrested.”

“With no doubt these criminals were acting for the interests of foreigners and the actions of these traitors are quite contrary to the holy mission of the Intelligence Ministry and we condemn it,” the statement said.

The statement did not say which foreign countries were involved in the killings. It accused the detained ministry officials of destroying the reputation of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

In another development Iranian authorities have banned a newspaper of a hardline vigilante group for insulting a senior moderate clergyman.

The Press Supervisory Board of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance issued the ban on Shalamcheh on Monday for an article it published in November claiming that the late grand Ayatollah Abul Qassim al-Khoei had ties with Savak, the ousted Shah’s feared secret police.

Liberal newspapers and journalists yesterday condemned the closure of Shalamcheh, saying it did not help press freedom.

Meanwhile, Iranian boys between the ages of 13 and 18 will be required to undergo military training, the daily Abrar reported yesterday. Under the defence readiness training programme, boys in the last year of primary school will receive one hour of training each week, while high school students will take one military training course, the Farsi-language paper quoted Iranian Education Minister Hossein Mozaffar as saying.

At the age of 19, Iranian men are required to serve in the military for 18 months unless they get special exemptions.

China warns Indian leaders

BEIJING, Jan 6 (PTI) — In a veiled warning, state-run Chinese media today asked Indian leaders not to test Beijing’s patience with irresponsible comments and urged the Indian government to adopt a more coherent policy towards China.

Keeping up its virulent tirade on Indian Urban Affairs Minister Ram Jethmalani for his remarks on Taiwan’s political status, the ‘China Daily’ said today “China’s goodwill and repeated patience should not be returned with vile language.”

In a recent interview to ‘The Week’, Mr Jethmalani had said there was a strong case for India to recognise Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province. The Communists drove the defeated nationalists into exile on the island in 1949.

Describing Mr Jethmalani’s statement as harmful to the Sino-Indian ties, the article, echoing the government line, said the Indian Government should adopt a clearer and more coherent stance on its China policy.

Official Xinhua news agency had described Mr Jethmalani’s utterances were evil-minded and dangerous as he was advocating the recognition of Taiwan, an island province of China.

Last Thursday, The Peoples Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party of China, on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Mr Jethmalani for supporting “splittists and anti-China forces” in the island.

However, Indian diplomatic sources told PTI here that there was no change in India’s policy towards Taiwan and Tibet and New Delhi was willing to have friendly and good-neighbourly ties with China.

The ‘China Daily’ article said the minister’s remarks amounted to a brazen interference in China’s internal affairs.

Mr Jethmalani’s utterances make China doubt whether India could keep its solemn words on the Taiwan issue, it said pointing out that China had hardly pondered Indian Foreign Minister’s (Jaswant Singh) call for improving ties before another high-ranking Indian official made irresponsible remarks that were sure to tarnish relations.

It said China had always viewed Sino-Indian relations from a positive perspective with an eye to the future.

The article also repeated the Chinese stand on the vexed Sino-Indian border issue, claiming that India was occupying 90,000 sq km of Chinese territory after the 1962 war.

PPP turns anger against Tarar

ISLAMABAD, Jan 6 (PTI) — Pakistan’s main opposition party has now turned its ire against President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar on the twin issues of executions after the summary trials and frequent issuance of ordinances by the Sharif Government.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders have said that the controversial military courts, established following the imposition of Governor’s rule in Sindh, have sentenced to death 11 people, two of whom have already been sent to the gallows.

They have also raised objection to the frequent promulgation of ordinances, pointing out that the government issued a record 19 ordinances during 1998 as against just seven Bills in the same period.

Expressing shock at the haste in which a man convicted by the military court was hanged in Karachi recently, former Interior Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Aitzaz Ahsan threatened to launch an agitation against Mr Tarar if he did not stop ordering executions of the convicts by the controversial courts.

In a letter to the President, Mr Ahsan said the constitution of the courts itself was a matter sub judice.

The Pakistan Supreme Court will hear a petition filed by Karachi-based Mohajir Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) challenging the establishment of the military courts tomorrow.

Prince Edward to wed

LONDON, Jan 6 (AP) — Prince Edward, youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, will marry Sophie Rhys-Jones, his girlfriend of five years, later this year, Buckingham Palace announced today.

The queen and her husband, Prince Philip, said they were delighted at the match.

Buckingham Palace said the date and venue have yet to be decided, but the couple hope to use St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, the Queen’s weekend home west of London, for a ceremony in late spring or summer.

The marriage is the first for both Mr Edward, 34, a TV presenter and producer, and 33-year-old Ms Rhys-Jones, a public relations executive.

The Queen’s other three children have all been through divorces.

Before dating Ms Rhys-Jones, Mr Edward had been seen on the town with actress Ruthie Henshall, television presenter Ulrika Jonsson and model Romy Alderton.

Hill gets 10 Grammy nominations

BEVERLY HILLS, Jan 6 (AP) — Lauryn Hill received a leading 10 Grammy nominations today for her critically acclaimed debut solo album “The miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”

Hill will compete against a nearly all-female field including Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Shania Twain for album of the year. Hill also received nods in the best new artist, pop, r-and-b, rap and producer categories.

Twain and Crow tied for six nominations each.

Record of the year nominees included Celine Dion’s “My heart will go on”, Twain’s “You’re still the one”, “The brandy” and Monica duet “The boy is mine”, “The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” and Madonna’s “Ray of light”.

Album of the year bids went to Hill’s “The miseducation of Lauryn Hill”, Crow’s “The globe sessions”, Madonna’s “Ray of light”, Twain’s “Come on over” and Garbage’s “Version 2.0”.

Nominations for song of the year, a songwriter’s award, went to “I don’t want to miss a thing” by Diane Warren, “Iris”, by John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, “Lean on me, by Kirk Franklin, “My heart will go on” by James Horner and Will Jennings and “You’re still the one” by Lange and Twain.

In the pop category, Dion’s “Let’s talk about love” was nominated for best album. The competition includes “Pilgrim” by Eric Clapton, “Left of the middle” by Imbruglia, “Ray of light” by Madonna, and “The dirty boogie’’ by the Brian Setzer orchestra.

Crow’s “The globe sessions” was nominated for best rock album.

Two new categories have been added this year to acknowledge the growth of dance music in the pop world.

The awards will be presented on February 24 at the Shrine auditorium in Los Angeles.

Ecevit may become Turkish PM again

ANKARA (Turkey), Jan 6 (AP) — An independent lawmaker asked to form Turkey’s next government gave up the attempt today after losing the support of expected allies.

Mr Yalim Erez’s defeat Left veteran Leftist politician Bulent Ecevit in position to form his own coalition government and become Turkey’s next Premier.

Turkey has been dealing with a government crisis since November 25, when a Centre-Right coalition collapsed over of a corruption scandal.

“I decided to return the mandate to form a government,” private NTV television quoted Mr Erez as saying.

Mr Erez’s downfall was the opposition of ex-Premier Tansu Ciller. Ms Ciller appeared determined to keep Mr Erez, a much-resented defector from her own Centre-Right party, from becoming Premier. She backed the idea of a government under the leadership of Mr Ecevit, whom she had previously opposed.

Hastert chosen US Speaker

WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) — Republicans in the US House of Representatives have elected Dennis Hastert of Illinois their choice to succeed Newt Gingrich as Speaker of the House.

The full House must now elect him when it convenes today, but that is usually a formality since the Republicans’ control a majority in the House.

Hastert, (57), starting his seventh term in Congress, is a traditional pro-business midwestern Conservative who has the trust and respect of both moderates and fellow Conservatives.

The previous Speaker, Gingrich stepped down after Republicans lost seats in the November elections. His designated successor, Bob Livingston of Louisiana, announced his retirement when confronted with reports of past adultery.

Congolese rebels kill 500

GOMA, Jan 6 (AP) — Rebels killed at least 500 persons in a village in south-eastern Congo last week in apparent retaliation for an attack on their soldiers, Roman Catholic missionaries in the area reported yesterday.

The MISNA Missionary News Services quoted sources as saying the rebels rampaged through Makobola village for three days, beginning December 30 swinging machetes and shooting guns.

The agency said the killings were carried out by the Congolese rebels fighting to oust President Laurent Kabila, apparently in retaliation for an earlier attack on the soldiers by the local Mai-Mai militiamen. The rebels have denied any knowledge of the massacre.

Holidays cancelled
ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban Islamic Movement has announced cancellation of holidays for its authorities during the Muslim festival of Id-ul-Fitr later this month. The Taliban-controlled Kabul Radio, monitored in Islamabad, quoted an order from the Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar as telling all military, security and other authorities to remain on their jobs so people could celebrate the festival in peace and security. — Reuters

Ex-stuntman survives
SYDNEY: A former stuntman survived a 70-metre leap off Sydney’s Anzac Bridge in the city’s harbour on Tuesday with slight back injuries, according to the police. After completing his jump, the 41-year-old man was able to swim to shore without help and was taken to hospital for observation. Initially, a friend wanted to take the plunge together with the ex-stuntman, but backed out at the last minute. — DPA

Laws against mafia
ROME: Mapping out strategy after a coffee bar massacre in Sicily, the Italian Government has vowed to keep on the books tough laws against the mafia but ruled out any new legislation. Premier Massimo D’Alema said Italy had no more need for emergency laws, like the special measures enacted during the 1970’s to fight domestic terrorism. Head of the Parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission, Ottaviano Del Turco, made clear that Italy would keep on the books a law which allows particularly tough treatment for imprisoned mob bosses. That measure allows for solitary confinement and strict limits on who can visit convicted bosses in the prisons, some of whom are on remote islands. — AP

Berlin film festival
BERLIN: Two Asian films from Hong Kong director Ann Hui and Japanese film-maker Yoshimitsu Morita are to feature in the official selection for the 49th Berlin film festival in February, the organisers have said. Three other Asian films will also be presented during the festival, which runs from February 10-21. — AFP

31 die in accident
BEIJING: Thirtyone herdsmen were killed and six seriously injured when a truck in which they were travelling overturned in China’s northwestern province of Qinghai, a news report said on Wednesday. The legal daily said the accident occurred on Sunday when the truck carrying 52 herdsmen on its way to Tibet overturned when it took a sharp bend at high speed. — AFP