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			Monday, June 21, 1999
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ISI ex-chief flays Sharif's remarks
ISLAMABAD, June 20 (PTI) — Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Gen Hamid Gul (retired) termed as "betrayal" the comments made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that Pakistan and India must go beyond their stated positions on Kashmir and show some flexibility to resolve the issue. Terming Mr Sharif's comment as "ill-timed", he said referring to the current fighting in the Kargil region, "when the struggle is at its peak, with Pakistan's diplomatic and media efforts in full force, such a statement could only be an effort to get favours from the USA". General Gul, during whose tenure as ISI chief militancy started in Kashmir in 1989, said: "There will be no compromise on Kashmir, and demanded that Mr Sharif tell the nation what is the new policy (on Kashmir)".

18 rebels killed
COLOMBO, June 20 (PTI) — The Sri Lankan army today claimed to have killed at least 18 rebels over the weekend in the north and eastern parts of the country. Eighteen rebels were killed during the past two days in different encounters, a Defence ministry release said here, adding that eight suspected rebels were detained during the army operations in the northwestern parts of Vanni. The suspects have been handed over to police in the northwest Mannar Town, it said.

Israeli air raids
TYRE (Lebanon), June 20 (Reuters) — Israeli warplanes attacked suspected Iranian-backed Hizbollah positions near Israel's South Lebanaon occupation zone, a security source said. The source said two planes fired a total of eight rockets at a valley near the village of Shouaytiyeh. There was no immediate report of casualties in the attack, that raised to 94 the number of Israeli air raids on Lebanon since the start of 1999.

Elephants electrocuted
COLOMBO, June 20 (AFP) — Four wild elephants were electrocuted when they crashed into high tension power lines in the jungles of eastern Sri Lanka where LTTE militants are active, witnesses said today. The power pylons had been blown up by the rebels in a bid to sabotage electricity to the eastern district of Batticaloa but workmen had made ad hoc arrangements which proved fatal for the elephants. Witnesses said it appeared that one young male elephant had first touched the high voltage line and then the other three may have gone to its rescue and got electrocuted in the process.

TN Sena leader
CHENNAI, June 20 (PTI) — Tamil Nadu Shiv Sena chief S. Thenmaravan today said he had quit the party along with his supporters and decided to join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) headed by Mr Sharad Pawar. He said the decision was taken at a meeting of office-bearers in the morning and later formally conveyed to the leadership of the Shiv Sena and the NCP.