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Tuesday,
November 6, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Afghan
oppn show of strength ASEAN concern over civilian deaths
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Find
political solution: EU China
skirts Taliban role in future set-up Sedition
charge slapped on Jamaat chief Russia
repairs three subs 5 die in Russian
copter crash McCormack,
Heaton bag Emmys Harry
Potter film premiered Harris
gives in to kin’s demand Legal
challenge to Trimble fails Israeli
troops pull out
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Afghan oppn show of strength Jabal-us-Saraj/Rabat (Afghanistan), November 5 Over their heads in the distance, huge plumes of smoke billowed into the sky as US jets and a B-52 heavy bomber pounded the Taliban-held village of Estarghech, about 35 km north of the capital, Kabul. “This parade symbolises the level of preparedness of the regular army of the United Front,” said Opposition Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. “It reflects a desire among both senior and junior commanders to take action.” The Opposition has said repeatedly that it is ready to advance on Kabul, but has shown no sign of preparing its troops to take on the Taliban who have hemmed them inside their Panjshir valley headquarters for five years. Their troops have, however, joined battle in the north near the border with Uzbekistan. President Burhanuddin Rabbani and General Mohammad Fahim sat among other dignitaries surveying the parade, and officials said 7,000 soldiers in new uniforms took part. Behind the mass of men were rows of about 20 Soviet T-55 tanks, 20 armoured personnel carriers and single and multiple rocket launchers. “There have been many who have been killed and injured, but you have defended your country bravely,” Rabbani said over a loudspeaker, his voice echoing over the dusty plain. “It is you who have defended Afghanistan against terrorism and Osama bin Laden for the last two years. “Now the whole world knows that you have fought this terrorism and the whole world is watching Afghanistan... I hope soon you will rid the whole of Afghanistan from this terror.” After the speeches, the firing of tanks and artillery boomed loudly across the plain near Jabal-us-Saraj as a small military exercise got under way. Further south in the lush Shomali plain, the “real war” was going on, with three huge explosions hitting the Taliban-held village of Estarghech. US war planes and a B-52 bomber could be seen flying over the position. Minutes later a string of nine blasts hit the ground almost simultaneously, creating a wall of dust and smoke. It was a sign of growing confidence within the opposition movement that it had won the backing of the USA, after urging the world’s only superpower to work more closely with the tiny army of 20,000 in defeating the Taliban. Yesterday, a small propeller plane landed on a new, unpaved airstrip just outside the town of Gulbahar. Local witnesses said they saw five to six Caucasians get out before they were whisked away in
off road vehicles. The incident coincided with US confirmation that it was sending more military personnel into Afghanistan. Abdullah said last week that small military and civilian cargo planes should be able to use the landing strip soon, giving the Northern Alliance their first working airfield near their Panjshir headquarters. It has long been assumed by opposition commanders that there are US personnel on the ground along the frontline north of Kabul acting as forward air control coordinators. US bombing of the Taliban frontlines north of Kabul is in its third week, and many within the united front would clearly like to capitalise on the enemy’s problems before winter sets in. The declared military tactic is to march toward Kabul but not try to take the city amid concerns that opposition to the return of some of the fighters involved in four years of internecine fighting (1992-96) might trigger chaos.
Reuters |
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ASEAN concern over
civilian deaths Bandar Seri Begawan, November 5 The 10 members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) had earlier agreed on an anti-terrorism declaration condemning the September 11 attacks and pledging to work to counter cross-border militancy in the region. But in a speech at the end of the first day of the summit Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, who chaired the meeting, referred directly to ASEAN’s misgivings over Washington’s strategy. “In reiterating their condemnation of the terrorist attacks, leaders expressed their concern for the welfare of innocent people following the military action on Afghanistan and considered extending humanitarian assistance,” the Sultan said. The summit agreed to look into proposals to include India in its annual meetings, but stopped short of extending the invitation to other South Asian countries, participants said. “We now support an
ASEAN-India arrangement, in which the formula would be ASEAN-plus-one,” said Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, who had formerly opposed the inclusion of India at the annual summits held by
ASEAN. The ASEAN leaders also adopted a joint declaration on combating HIV/AIDS that commits them to consulting non-governmental organisations in the struggle, and to finding means of reducing prices of anti-viral drugs for the estimated 1.6 million persons living with the deadly virus in the region. The 7th ASEAN Declaration of HIV/AIDS, adopted by 10 South-East Asian leaders today, was hailed as a step forward for the allocation of state resources in combating the epidemic, and highlighting the need for joint efforts to get pharmaceutical companies to slash prices on anti-viral drugs for HIV/AIDS victims in the region, observers
said. ASEAN Secretary-General Rodolfo Severino said the 10-nation grouping will look into negotiations for bulk purchases of anti-viral drugs from pharmaceutical multinationals by studying the past experiences of Thailand, India, South Africa and
Brazil. ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, The Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Meanwhile, the ASEAN leaders today met their major dialogue partners China, Japan and South Korea, amid growing moves for closer integration and to develop a giant East Asian free trade area.
Agencies |
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‘12,000 jehadis’ cross border Islamabad, November 5 Mocking Pakistan’s support for the US war against the Taliban for sheltering Osama bin Laden, firebrand Islamic leader Maulana Sufi Mohammad has won permission from the fundamentalist militia that rules Afghanistan to send in tribesmen from Pakistan’s lawless border areas. “The convoys are going, convoys of about 1,500 persons each day,’’ Fazlullah, son of Maulana Sufi Mohammad said. No independent confirmation of the number was available but Fazlullah said the groups of Mujahideen, or holy warriors, had been flowing across the porous border since late last week.
Reuters |
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Find political solution: EU London, November 5 British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday hosted a dinner for French President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, as well as other leaders who came when the invitation list was extended. Spain’s Jose Maria Aznar, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana were also included in the informal “mini-summit”. “We were unanimous on the absolute need to find a solution to the current problems of the Middle East,” Mr Chirac told reporters after leaving Blair’s Downing Street residence. He said the leaders gave full backing to the USA engaged in military action in Afghanistan, while stressing the need for finding a political framework for that country’s future. Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok said a short-term priority was humanitarian — to get sufficient food into Afghanistan before winter fell. “Informal” discussions focused on the importance of the Europeans and the Americans, especially President Bush, putting pressure on both Israel and Palestinians to move ahead, Mr Kok added.
Reuters |
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China skirts Taliban role in future set-up Beijing, November 5 “We support all the efforts for the restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told reporters while confirming receipt of Vajpayee’s recent letter addressed to Chinese President Jiang Zemin. In his letter to the world leaders, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Mr Vajpayee said India visualised a broad-based government with equitable representation of different ethnic and religious groups acceptable to the people of Afghanistan. The first priority of such a post-war government should be to reconstruct and rebuild the country, he said. The spokesman skirted the question on Vajpayee’s suggestion that Taliban regime should be excluded from a future government in
Afghanistan, but said China has put forward several principles regarding formation of a new government in Kabul. Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity should be safeguarded, Mr Zhu said adding it was up to Afghans themselves to independently come up with a solution.
PTI |
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Sedition
charge slapped on Jamaat chief Islamabad, November 5 Authorities in the North-West Frontier Province placed Qazi Hussain Ahmed, head of the right-wing Jamaat-i-Islami party, under house arrest on Saturday to prevent him from travelling to the volatile Bajaur tribal rim bordering Afghanistan to lead an anti-US demonstration. “He has been booked under sedition charges for speaking against the government,” Liaquat Ali Khan, SP, Mardan, told Reuters by the telephone. Sedition can carry a maximum life sentence if proven. However, it is unlikely that the authorities will go beyond registering the accusation and actually filing formal charges. “I consider this government as unconstitutional and illegal. Let them do whatever they like,” Ahmed said.
Reuters |
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Russia repairs three subs St Petersburg, November 5 Repair work on the third submarine will be completed soon and the vessel will sail for India by next week, Indian Consul-General Rajiv Chandran said here today. Mr Chandran was quick to point out that cooperation with St Petersburg was not related to the Indian Navy alone. The cooperation extended to other areas also like business, nuclear sphere, trade and culture. St Petersburg was a major centre for generators and turbines. Besides, equipment for the Rs 13,000 crore Koondakulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu was being manufactured at the Leningrad metallic works. The Consul-General said the last time when Mr Vajpayee visited St Petersburg was 22 years ago, in his capacity as External Affairs Minister.
HJ |
5 die
in Russian copter crash St Petersburg (Russia), November 5 A ministry spokesman said the Mi-8 helicopter, belonging to the Defence Ministry, crashed into the mast 30 km (18 miles) south of Russia’s second city. “We have already recovered five bodies, and we are looking for a sixth. According to our records there were six men on board,” the spokesman said.
Reuters |
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McCormack, Heaton bag Emmys Los Angeles, November 5 McCormack plays the lead character, a gay man whose best friend is his straight roommate, Grace, in the comedy. “I am a Canadian, and this is my American dream,” said McCormack onstage, holding his Emmy up high. Heaton portrays the wife of a fictional sportswriter on the family-oriented situation comedy that centres on their life together and dealing with the writer’s parents and brother who live nearby. “I’m happy to be part of a show that brings comedy to this country at this time,” said Heaton. She also thanked all men and women in the armed services and dedicated her work to their efforts. The Emmys, TV’s top awards, are handed out each year by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This year’s ceremony, originally scheduled for September 16, had been delayed twice due to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the US Military response. White House drama “The West Wing” claimed a second straight Emmy for best dramatic series, and HBO’s “Sex and the City” was named best comedy. “The West Wing” tells of the behind the scenes working of the White House under a fictional president. “Sex and the City” tells of the lives and loves of four single women living in New York City.
Reuters |
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Harry Potter film premiered London, November 5 Thousands of Harry Potter fans, many dressed as magicians, waited for the arrival of the stars in front of the Leicester Square theatre in central London. A cheer went up for Daniel Radcliffe, 12, who plays the hero of the film. Rowling had endorsed the film in an interview published hours before the London premiere amid great publicity. “I was terrified because it was way too late if bits were wrong, but at the end of the film I was happy,’’ Rowling said in an interview, details of which were published by Sunday Telegraph. Rowling, 36, said “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’’ had remained faithful to the book and had used an all-British cast, along with her wishes, including her “dream’’ choice of actors. Rowling singled out three actors for special praise: Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, and Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall. “The first time I met Chris Columbus, the director, he promised me two things: he promised that he would remain as faithful to the book as he possibly could within the constraints of the film; and he promised me that he would have an all-British cast. And, he kept both promises and so I was a happy woman,’’ Rowling said.
DPA |
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Harris
gives in to kin’s demand Kentworth (England), November 5 The actor had originally turned down the chance to play the worldly-wise Professor Dumbledore in “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” because he couldn’t face the idea of being locked into a string of sequels. Then Ellie got to hear about his decision: “She called me up and said ‘Poppa, if you don’t play Dumbledore, I will never speak to you again.’ I hung up and called my agent and said I’d do it. I can’t afford to lose that kid,” he said.
Reuters |
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Legal challenge to Trimble fails Belfast, November 5 “I can confirm that the Democratic Unionist Party’s legal action was dismissed in the Belfast High Court,” senior Ulster Unionist Party politician Lord Kilclooney told the Northern Ireland Assembly. The decision means Trimble looks likely to be returned to the post of First Minister when the British province’s assembly votes on Tuesday, a move supporters hope will bring stability to the government set up under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Trimble quit as First Minister on July 1 in an effort to force the Irish Republican Army to begin disarming. The guerrilla group began decommissioning its weapons last month. On Friday, Protestant hardliners foiled Trimble’s bid to be re-elected. He won the assembly vote but just failed to secure the majority he needed among his own pro-British Unionist bloc.
Reuters |
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Israeli
troops
pull out Jerusalem, November 5 “The Israeli army has withdrawn from the positions it occupied for more than two weeks,” the spokesman said, stressing that “the Israeli forces remain around Qalqilya to continue to thwart terrorist activities in the area”. The army “will continue to do whatever is necessary to guarantee the security of civilians and Israeli military personnel,” the spokesman added. Palestinian security officials confirmed that some 30 Israeli tanks had left the town, a process which took several hours, but said the army was keeping up roadblocks around the area.
AFP
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