13 million environment-linked deaths every year: WHO

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) A staggering 13 million people across the globe die every year of environmental-linked diseases, a World Health Organisation (WHO) study revealed Friday.

The four main diseases influenced by poor environment worldwide are diarrhoea, lower respiratory tract infection, various forms of unintentional injuries and malaria, said a WHO statement.

The report, "Preventing Disease through Healthy Environments", underlined that over 40 percent of deaths from malaria and an estimated 94 percent of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases - two of the world's childhood killers - could be prevented through better environment management.

The UN health body suggested that all countries, especially the developing and underdeveloped courtiers, promote safe household water storage, use cleaner and safer fuel, increase safety of the built environment, use and manage toxic substances at home as well as work place more judiciously and improve water resource management among general public.

The report also estimated that more than 33 percent of diseases in children, under the age of five, were caused by environmental exposures.

"Preventing environmental risks could save as many as four million lives a year, mostly in developing countries," it said.

"We have always known that the environment influences health very profoundly, but these estimates are the best to date. This will help us to demonstrate that wise investment to create a supportive environment can be a successful strategy in improving health and achieving development that is sustainable," said acting WHO director-general Anders Nordström.

The report revealed that 2.6 million people died annually of cardiovascular problems, 1.7 million from diarrhoeal diseases and 1.5 million from lower respiratory tract infections.

It added that 1.4 million deaths occurred annually due to cancer, 1.3 million from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 470,000 from road traffic crashes and 400,000 from unintentional injuries.

After China, Arab League proposes second forum with India

By Arvind Padmanabhan,
New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) In a sign of warming ties, India and the Arab League propose to establish a permanent forum to institutionalise political, economic and cultural dialogue and set up an Arab Cultural Centre here.

The details of the forum - on the lines of the Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum - will be discussed at a meeting between India and the 22-member Arab League in Cairo June 28, diplomatic sources said.

Rajiv Sikri, secretary (east) in India's Ministry of External Affairs, will lead the Indian delegation to the bilateral meeting that will also hold discussions on political, economic, cultural and multilateral issues, the sources added.

"The only forum that exists between the Arab League and another country is one with China. The forum covers areas like politics, economy, culture, education, health and sports," an Arab diplomat here said.

"Since India and the Arab world enjoy centuries-old ties, we want a similar institutionalised mechanism for dialogue. The Arab world and India can jointly work in areas of mutual interest as we share common interests," he added.

On the issue of an Indo-Arab Cultural Centre, diplomatic sources said it would be different from the centre announced by Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh during his recent visit to Dubai.

Singh had said that the centre - housed at the Jamia Milia Islamia University in New Delhi with funding from the University Grants Commission - would bring India and Arab countries closer as they shared deep historical ties.

India, in fact, has already offered to build a cultural centre in the name of its first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in Khartoum in Sudan at a cost of $10 million, said the diplomat, who because of protocol reasons cannot be identified.

In the economic sphere, India and the Arab League are working out modalities for the mutual promotion of trade and investment and cooperation among the various industry lobbies and chambers of India and Arab countries.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Arab League recently formulated an action plan for targeted collaboration in investment and trade relations between India and Arab countries that would also be discussed at the Cairo meeting, officials said.

Arab diplomats said that India's bilateral trade with Arab countries, not counting petroleum and fuels, stood at $11.7 billion last fiscal and that these countries as a group were India's third largest trading partners after the US and China.

Efforts are also on to cooperate in areas like globalisation, trade, investment, information technology, labour affairs, civil aviation, maritime transportation, pollution control and desertification.

On multilateral issues, a memorandum of understanding exists covering annual meetings between the Indian external affairs minister and the Arab League secretary general ahead of UN General Assembly meetings to discuss joint strategies.

"India's diplomatic opinion is also being sought on the Iraq situation, Darfur, Iran, the Middle East peace process and restructuring of the Arab League," a senior diplomat said.

Ahmadinejad: EU package a "step forward" to peaceful solution of Iran's N-case

Shanghai, June 15, IRNA,Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Thursday that the 5+1 Group's incentives package for Iran is a "step forward" in efforts to find a peaceful solution to his country's nuclear standoff with the West.

He made the remarks at a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, General Pervez Musharraf, on the sidelines of the sixth summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The day-long summit concluded with the signing of 10 documents for enhancement of cooperation among the organization's member states.

Reiterating that Iran's nuclear program was for peaceful purposes, President Ahmadinejad told Musharraf that Iran has consistently been cooperating with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog on its nuclear activities.

"Iran has always called for fair negotiations on equal terms to find a solution to its nuclear case," said the president.

On Tehran-Islamabad relations, he hoped the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project would soon be finalized, saying its realization would promote economic ties between the two capitals.

The president also stressed the need for Iran-Pakistan closer cooperation in providing security in their border areas.

He said evildoers on both sides of their border should not be allowed to mar the good, neighborly ties of the two countries through terrorist acts.

The Pakistani president, for his part, said that Islamabad was keen to further broaden its ties and cooperation with Tehran.

He asked his Iranian counterpart to speed up implementation of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, saying realization of the pipeline would help boost Tehran-Islamabad economic ties.

Describing Iran-Pakistan political ties as "good," the general said Islamabad was ready to mount a new security and intelligence cooperation with Tehran in order to boost security in their border areas and intensify cooperation in the battle against terrorism.

Musharraf took the occasion to thank Tehran for its humanitarian aid to survivors of Pakistan's killer earthquake.

President Ahmadinejad arrived in China Wednesday afternoon to attend the SCO summit.

He held talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit and is expected to also meet with the presidents of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an inter-governmental organization founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001 by six countries -- China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Iran, Pakistan, India and Mongolia are observer states in the organization.

Its main goals are to draw member states to work together to maintain regional peace, security and stability and hopefully establish a new international political and economic order anchored on the principles of democracy, justice and rationality.

Air raids against rebel targets in Sri Lanka

Colombo, June 16 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka's air force continued raids against rebel targets in the north of the country Friday, a day after an attack on a civilian bus killed 64 people.

"The air force took some limited targets of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)-controlled areas in the north on Friday morning," military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said.

Samarasinghe also declined to comment if the air raids will continue or not.

The Sri Lankan government ordered air raids on rebel positions in the Mulaitivu district in the north and Sampur in the east on Thursday, hours after a claymore mine attack on a bus at Kebitigollewa, 270 km north of Colombo. More than 80 people were also injured in the attack.

The government has strongly condemned the attack, which occurred a day after an LTTE delegation returned to the country after the aborted peace talks in Oslo.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse visited the scene of the explosion and the victims on Thursday and instructed officials to provide all necessary relief and assistance to the people.

"All necessary arrangements will be made to protect the people," Rajapakse stressed, adding that the government will continue the peace process.

Over 700 people have been killed in violence in Sri Lanka since last December.

Antwerp's Indian community in shock over robbery

Antwerp, June 16 (IANS) The Indian community of flourishing diamond merchants in Belgium's business capital is reeling with shock after a murderous robbery at the home of an Indian here.

A 60-year-old Indian diamantaire and his 55-year-old wife, who live in Antwerp's wealthy suburb of Wilrijk, had just finished entertaining some guests over for a weekend dinner.

The couple and a 38-year-old female visitor from India, who was staying with them, were enjoying the rare Belgian summer heat and getting ready to retire to bed when four masked and armed men leaped out from behind them. They pressed a gun against the diamantaire's head, forcing him to fall on the grass. The two women were also made to fall in a similar fashion.

The traumatising event, which took place just after midnight, lasted around two hours during which the couple was brutally beaten, threatened with their lives and robbed of their valuables by the men. The robbers later boldly walked out the front door in-spite of the presence of a private security vehicle that kept watch on their street.

The victims did not want their identity to be disclosed.

Some 500 Indian families, who control 60 percent of Antwerp's rough and polished diamond trade worth $36 billion, are shocked by the event.

Some of them had moved to Belgium in the 1980s when Antwerp was a safe haven of peace and prosperity and many, including the couple, had never felt the need to take measures to secure their homes with alarm systems.

Crime figures in Belgium have rapidly risen over the last 10 years and while thefts and robberies have taken place in Indian households, such severe cases have been unheard of.

Antwerp's Chief of Police Roger Wouters, who is looking into this case, said: "We understand the Indian community is shocked because Belgium is a safe land. This is a very serious situation."

The distressed woman who has called Antwerp home for the last 30 years or so, told IANS: "We are such a peace loving community. We have never even hurt a dog."

"Why would people want to live here with this kind of risk when they contribute so much to the economy."

Stepping up security has been on the diamond community's to-do list for a long time. Offices in Antwerp's diamond market have also been plagued by safe heists of massive proportion in the last five-six years.

The Indo Belgian Diamantaire Association together with like minded diamond and coloured stone associations in Antwerp have organised a seminar next week to raise awareness of such events and as well as adequate security measures.

Argentina trounce 10-man Serbia and Montenegro 6-0

Gelsenkirchen, June 16 (Xinhua) Argentina are closer to the World Cup knockout stage with a 6-0 Group C rout of Serbia and Montenegro here Friday.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Maxi Rodriguez opened the scoring in the sixth minute after Juan Pablo Sorin capped a flowing left-flank move by Javier Saviola for a neat pass inside, enabling Rodriguez to thump a right-footer beyond Dragoslav Jevric.

Substitute Esteban Cambiasso made it 2-0 25 minutes later after the midfielder, who replaced injured Luis Gonzalez in the 17th minute, rounded off a string of magnificent one-touch moves.

Rodriguez then scored his second in the 41st minute as he latched on to a lose ball from Jeric, which Hernan Crespo failed to reach, and sidefooted it in from a narrow angle (3-0).

In the 78th minute, substitute Lionel Messi, who came off the bench to make his World Cup debut after recovering from a lengthy thigh injury, was found by a quick free-kick from Juan Roman while waiting on the left wing, and delivered a low cross to Hernan Crespo, who lobbed in to make the already outstanding Argentine performance 4-0.

But the goal-scoring spree was far from over for the South American powerhouse. Substitute forward Carlos Tevez, debuting in the World Cup, skipped past two Serb defenders to send the ball into the bottom right-hand corner in the 84th minute (5-0).

Messi extended Argentina's lead even further with two minutes remaining, as the Barcelona striker pounced the ball past Jevric after being fed by Tevez following some spectacular build-up play (6-0).

With the victory, Argentina is in sight of the last 16 after beating Ivory Coast 2-1 in their opening match last weekend.

Serbia and Montenegro, who lost 0-1 to the Netherlands in the opening match, now face an early exit from the tournament.

Argument for fuel price hike weak: CPI-M

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has alleged that central government's refusal to reduce taxes on petroleum products was due to its reluctance to "part with the windfall bonanza of extra revenues".

The CPI-M said the government's claim that a reduction in taxes on petroleum products would affect resource mobilisation was "completely tenuous".

"The central government earns a windfall bonanza of extra revenues, which it doesn't want to part with. Instead, it imposes burdens on the people to meet the deficit caused by the rise in the international prices," an editorial in party's weekly People's Democracy said.

The editorial pointed out that the taxes levied on petroleum products were ad valorem - proportionate to the price.

The CPI-M-led Left Front, which shores up Manmohan Singh's coalition government, conducted a nation-wide protest Tuesday against the government's decision to increase the prices of diesel by Rs.2 per litre and petrol by Rs.4 per litre.

The Communists also took a dig at the Congress-led state governments' move to cut sales tax in order to bring the petrol and diesel prices down. The editorial said the Left-ruled West Bengal imposed lesser sales tax than Congress-ruled Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh states.

It also said the total tax revenue from oil sector last year was Rs.1,266 billion, out of which the government had received Rs.770 billion.

"All the states and union territories of India put together receive Rs.488 billion. Each state can reduce the extra revenue, but this amounts only to a miniscule amount. If the central government forewent its extra revenues, then the price hike would have been unnecessary," the article said.

The CPI-M reiterated that the party-ruled states would reduce sales tax only after the central government took such a step. "The day the central government reduces its taxes, on that very day, the CPI-M-led governments in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura will do the same."

Responding to the Bharatiya Janata Party's assertion that the Left was doing "double speak" by continuing the support to the United Progressive Alliance coalition, the editorial said it was due to pressure from the Left that the government did not increase the prices further.

"The BJP, unable to stomach such reality, as is its wont, embarked on its familiar goebbelsian disinformation campaign. This, however, cannot cut any ice," the article said.

Bangladesh rejects India's smuggling allegation

Dhaka, June 16 (IANS) Bangladesh has rejected an Indian allegation that Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) provides protection to cattle smugglers on the border.

The news agency BD News quoted a spokesperson of the foreign affairs ministry as saying that the allegation was "unwanted".

Quoting Border Security Force (BSF) officials, the Indian high commission in a press release Wednesday blamed BDR men for the June 13 incident at Satkhira on the border, saying they had helped in the smuggling of cattle from India to Bangladesh.

Cattle smuggling is an old phenomenon along the India-Bangladesh border with millions of animals being transported illegally. The demand goes up during the Eid festival when cattle are required for sacrifice.

The Bangladesh foreign affairs ministry spokesperson countered the allegation made by the Indian high commission in Dhaka by saying some 52 unarmed Bangladeshi civilians were shot dead by India's BSF between November 2005 and May 2006.

Asked if Bangladesh's position was conveyed to the Indian side, the spokesperson said they are "in close touch" with the Indian high commission, the Daily Star newspaper said.

India Wednesday strongly emphasised the "need for restraint and professional conduct by the BDR in order to ensure maintenance of peace and tranquillity along the border with Bangladesh".

Bank of India to open branch in Qatar, UAE

Thiruvananthapuram, June 16 (IANS) Bank of India, which is celebrating its centenary year, is planning to spread its wings by opening several new branches, including in Doha (Qatar), Dubai (UAE), Indonesia and South Africa.

M. Balachandran, chairperson and managing director of the bank, said he was leaving for Qatar next week for discussions with the Central Bank officials in the country.

"We have got the sanction from the Reserve Bank of India and the central government. Once Qatar gives us the green signal, we will open a full fledged branch there," Balachandran told reporters.

He said his bank would also open a new office at the Dubai International Financial Centre.

"As the rules in United Arab Emirates (UAE) are different, we will have just a representative office in Dubai."

He also said the bank would strengthen its Chinese operations and open branches in Indonesia, a subsidiary in Tanzania and also in South Africa.

"We are working on the takeover of a bank in East Asia and this is expected to happen in a month's time," said Balachandran, declining to give further details.

The bank's centenary goals include taking total business to Rs.2 trillion and achieving net profit of Rs.10 billion.

It has 23 branches in 14 countries and was the first Indian bank to begin overseas operations in Britain, France and Japan.

Bird flu may recur in Maharashtra, warn experts

By Probir Pramanik,

Mumbai, June 16 (IANS) Experts have warned of another outbreak of bird flu in Maharashtra after the monsoon due to the unscientific disposal of chicken culled in the first episode of the dreaded virus outbreak in February.

Maharashtra witnessed an outbreak of the bird flu in the Nandurbar and Jalgaon regions, giving a body blow to the once booming poultry industry.

If experts of the technical committee set up by the Maharashtra government are to be believed, unscientific disposal of composting poultry litter will lead to spread of the dreaded avian influenza (H5N1) virus in the same region after the rains.

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) claims that the animal husbandry department ignored its guidelines. But the department maintains that it followed World Health Organisation norms in composting of culled chickens.

"Despite giving it proper guidelines on how to coordinate with firms specialising in composting, the department ignored them and followed its own method," said MPCB member secretary D.B. Boralkar.

"Following a meeting with state and central government officials March 1, we had told the animal husbandry department to coordinate with Excel industries for aerobic composting," Boralkar told IANS.

"Neither did they comply nor take the suggestions of Excel. This was despite basic enquiries on the cost factors and methods involved."

Corroborating the MPCB official, Excel general manager (technical) Sushanta Kundu said: "We had offered them help for composting poultry litter and disinfecting the birdcages. We offered one kg of bioculum culture, which speeds up aerobic composting of a tonne of organic waste. But the department did not show any interest."

He too did not deny the possibility of another outbreak in the same regions.

"Despite our advice, neither did the department clean the bird cages nor treat the virus with Vantocil B, which is readily available," Kundu lamented.

Vijay Kumar, commissioner in the animal husbandry department, however, said that they followed WHO norms and MPCB had given them a clean chit.

"We followed the WHO norms. In fact the MPCB officials came and checked and were satisfied with the culling and disposal procedures. The disposals were carried out in the presence of central officials," Kumar said.

But Boralkar alleged that the department had culled the chickens and buried them.

"The chickens ideally should have been incinerated but they were buried that too inside bags which further delayed degradation," he said.

Poultry litter remains the main concern of MPCB. "Poultry litter is the carrier of the virus and composting is yet to be done," Boralkar warned.

Change of 'house' for major political parties

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Political parties using sprawling bungalows in Lutyen's Delhi - the heart of the capital - as offices will have to vacate them soon following Friday's cabinet decision on allotment of land.

The cabinet has approved a new "policy for allotment of land to political parties" under which they will be provided land to construct offices in the capital's institutional areas.

"The Supreme Court has given directions to vacate bungalows occupied by political parties and asked the government to provide land for new offices to them," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said after the meeting, explaining the rationale behind the new policy.

The quantum of land that would be considered for allotment to political parties would vary according to the number of MPs in both houses of parliament, Mukherjee said.

According to the new policy, national parties recognised by the Election Commission and having 201 or more MPs would be provided four acres of land.

Parties with 101 to 200 MPs would be given two acres, those with 51 to 100 MPs would get one acre and those with 26 to 50 MPs would get 2,000 sq metres.

"A political party - national as well as state - must have at least seven MPs to become eligible for allotment of land under the new policy," Mukherjee informed.

"Political parties which have four or less MPs would be provided space for office in Vithalbhai Patel House (near parliament)," he added.

According to the new policy, land would be allotted on leasehold basis and parties would have to pay prevailing institutional rate.

"The allottee party shall also pay the annual ground rent amounting to 2.5 percent of the premium," says a note approved by the cabinet. The premises so allowed cannot be used for residential or commercial purpose.

Dhaka for quickening death sentences of wanted terrorists

Dhaka, June 16 (IANS) Bangladesh is seeking to fast-forward the enforcing of death sentences delivered by a lower court against top leaders of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) last month for killing two judges.

The high court on Thursday permitted the government "to make the paper books" to hear on priority basis the death reference of the judges' killers, including JMB chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman, his deputy Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai and five others, the UNB news agency here reported.

The high court passed an order permitting the Attorney General's office to make the paper-books by the concerned section of the Supreme Court under the government management.

Two judges Sohel Ahmed and Jagannath Pande were killed in bomb explosions last year after which the government cracked down on the militant organisation, the existence of which it had been denying to the world community.

The government argued that it wants to execute the judgment of the judges' killing case on priority basis. It would take at least three years to hear the death reference of this case, if the serial of the death references pending in the high court is maintained, as the court is now hearing the death references of 2003.

Earlier on June 6, Law Minister Moudud Ahmed, met Chief Justice Syed J.R. Mudassir Husain at his Supreme Court office to discuss the matter, the Bangladesh Observer newspaper said.

DPRK again accuses US of conducting spy flights

Pyongyang, June 16 (Xinhua) The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Friday again accused the US of conducting spy flights over its coastal area.

An unnamed spokesman for the air command of the Korean People's Army (KPA) said in a statement that the US conducted a spy flight Friday in its airspace over the east of Hwadae, Chongjin and other places along the eastern coast of the DPRK.

A US reconnaissance plane flew over strategic DPRK targets for hours, said the statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"The ceaseless illegal intrusions have created an imminent danger of a military clash in the sky above those waters," said the spokesman.

This was the third warning in less than a week. The air command of the KPA issued two similar statements Sunday and Monday.

The DPRK said the US conducted more than 170 spy flights in May.

England, Ecuador and Germany make World Cup progress

By Ron Wall

Berlin, June 16 (DPA) England, Ecuador and Germany all booked their places in the knock-out stages of the World Cup, while Sweden looked set to join them after a last-gasp win over Paraguay.

Ecuador's historic first-ever place in the knock-out stages came by beating Costa Rica 3-0 Thursday - a result which also meant Germany qualified from the same Group A after Wednesday's win over Poland.

Both teams have an unassailable six points after two matches, with Poland and Costa Rica on none. The result set up a Germany-Ecuador decider in Berlin on June 20 to establish who will top the group.

Ecuador will need only a draw to win the group but Germany will be keen to win to finish top and avoid England in the second round.

England only need draw with Sweden in their last group game to go through as Group B winners.

"Ecuador were impressive in both their outings," German coach Juergen Klinsmann said of the South Americans' 2-0 win over Poland and 3-0 win over Costa Rica.

"We'll be putting in some intensive preparation in the next few days to ensure we finish top of the group." Ecuador coach Luis Suarez declared: "We want to make history - you'll see more of us."

Carlos Tenorio and Agustin Delgado struck in each half for Ecuador's victory over a lacklustre Costa Rica, and Ivan Jaime Kaviedes hit the third in injury time.

England booked their place in the knock-out phase when late goals by Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard broke a determined rearguard action by the battling team from Trinidad and Tobago.

The Caribbeans, who mostly ply their trade in the lower English leagues, had several times threatened to take the lead against the English superstars.

Crouch headed the breakthrough goal in the 83rd minute and Gerrard added the second in the 90th with a rasping shot from 25 metres.

England brought on Wayne Rooney for his first appearance in this World Cup to crack the team from a country which is more famous for its cricketing exploits than its football prowess.

There had been doubts whether Rooney was ready to play only 47 days after breaking his metatarsal. Though the Manchester United 20-year-old did not score or even have a shot on goal, his appearance did seem to inspire the English team, and it appeared that he finished the game without aggravating the injury.

"We've stuck at our task, we've worked hard and in the second half we've broke through," said England captain David Beckham. "It's uplifting. It's very positive."

World Cup action continues Friday with Argentina looking to qualify by beating Serbia and Montenegro while the Netherlands can join them from Group C if they beat Ivory Coast.

The day's final match sees Mexico poised to qualify from Group D by beating Angola.

Environmental risks cause millions of avoidable deaths: WHO

Geneva, June 16 (DPA) Around a quarter of global diseases and almost a quarter of all deaths are caused by environmental risks, says a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO).

It estimates that more than 13 million lives are lost every year due to avoidable causes and says a third of disease in children under the age of five can be attributed to environmental factors.

Tackling environmental risks could save up to four million lives a year, mainly in developing countries, according to the report.

Two of the biggest childhood killers, malaria and diarrhoeal diseases, could be significantly reduced, for example, by better water supply management and improved sanitation.

Measures targeting air pollution, as well as secondary smoking, could greatly reduce the 1.5 million deaths a year from respiratory infections. Better urban design would see a decline in fatal road accidents, the report says.

The report, it is claimed, breaks new ground in understanding the link between health and the environment.

"It brings together the best evidence available today on environmental links to health in 85 categories of disease and injury," said Maria Neira, of the WHO's Department for Public Health and Environment.

"We now have a hit list for problems we need to tackle most urgently in terms of health and the environment," she added.

The report says the right policies in sectors such as the environment, energy, transport and industry could prevent millions of unnecessary deaths every year.

EU delays decision on constitution by two years

Brussels, June 16 (DPA) European Union leaders delayed a decision on the fate of the bloc's crippled constitution until the end of 2008, highlighting deep divisions within the 25-nation bloc on whether to bury or resurrect the treaty.

Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, admitted Thursday the 25 leaders had failed to reach consensus on the future of the failed treaty which was resoundingly rejected by French and Dutch voters last year.

"Nobody felt that a rapid solution is in sight today," Schuessel told reporters at the end of the first day of the summit.

But no EU leader had said the ratification process should be broken off, he said.

Given continuing disagreements, Schuessel said that leaders had agreed to continue the "process of assessment until at the latest at the end of 2008".

A communique by the 25-nation bloc, to be issued on Friday, calls for extending a so-called "pause for reflection" through June 2007, with final decisions on the treaty's fate put off until the end of 2008.

The statement said Germany, which holds the EU's rotating presidency in the first half of 2007, would issue a report on the "state of discussion" on the treaty which will "explore possible future developments".

Recognising that reviving the treaty - if this is possible - will be a long haul effort, leaders set no firm deadline for when the treaty would come into force.

This appeared to be a step backwards compared to calls from EU foreign ministers last month for the constitution to be approved and up and running by 2009.

Schuessel and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said leaders would focus on a "double-track approach" which would include efforts to deliver concrete results on issues like immigration and energy while working on constitutional reform.

A total of 15 of the 25 EU states have given a green light for the constitution, mainly through parliamentary ratification. All 25 must approve the treaty for it to enter into force.

Given that the last 12 months have produced little more than hand-wringing over the constitution's fate, there is no guarantee that another year will be more productive.

"The period of reflection begun a year ago has ended without producing any consensus of the constitutional treaty, nor has any plan B been found," said European Parliament President Josep Borrell.

To tide over - and produce a feel-good momentum - EU leaders will issue a "political declaration" on their "values and ambitions" at a summit in Berlin in March next year to mark the 50th anniversary of the EU's founding with the Treaty of Rome.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been outspoken with calls to preserve most of the original constitutional treaty text.

But Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot insists the constitution be radically slashed in scope and downgraded to a mere treaty status. This would allow it to be approved by the Dutch parliament and prevent it from facing another referendum.

Turning to the other key issue at the summit, Schuessel denied the EU was setting up new obstacles to further expansion of the bloc.

"We do not set up new criteria. We always said the candidates must be prepared ... to meet their responsibilities," he said.

But in a sign of a deep split on the issue, Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson insisted he would veto any EU moves to raise new barriers by references to the bloc's "absorption capacity" before further enlargement.

"I am dead against it," said Persson.

French President Jacques Chirac and some of the old EU states insist that opening of the bloc's doors to poorer cousins of south-east Europe must hinge on whether old members are capable of dealing with them and paying what are expected to be massive bills for developing their infrastructure.

Bulgaria and Romania will join the EU either in 2007 or 2008, but after that it remains unclear as to when the bloc will take in aspiring states such Croatia and other countries in the western Balkans.

Further afield, both Ukraine and Georgia are knocking at the EU door. Membership talks with Turkey, which were agreed to last October, are expected to last up to 15 years.

Linking the constitution and enlargement, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has warned that the EU cannot enlarge further - after taking in Romania and Bulgaria - unless a new institutional and decision-making framework is in place.

The 2001 Nice Treaty - under which the bloc now functions given failure to ratify the new constitution - only has provisions for an EU of 27 states.

In other summit business, leaders discussed the bloc's immigration crisis following the arrival of thousands of illegal migrants from Africa on Spain's Canary Islands over the past weeks.

They also will nod through Slovenia's planned membership in the eurozone as of Jan 1, 2007, and are expected to confirm the rejection of Lithuania's bid to also adopt the euro.

Floods displace 500,000 in northeast, Assam on alert

Guwahati, June 16 (IANS) The Assam government Friday sounded an alert as flash floods displaced thousands of people overnight with the death toll mounting to 16 and nearly 500,000 displaced in the northeastern region, officials said.

"We have alerted the army, paramilitary, police and civil officials, including healthcare workers, to move to flood hit areas in the shortest possible time when summoned," Bhumidhar Barman, Assam revenue, relief and rehabilitation minister, told IANS.

Three people were killed overnight in separate incidents, taking the total number of people dead in floods in Assam to 11, an Assam flood control department official said.

Five were killed in the neighbouring Tripura state earlier in the week. At least 10,000 people have been displaced by floods in the state. Officials said heavy mudslides have blocked the lone highway linking the landlocked Tripura to the rest of India.

An Assam government statement said more than 200,000 people were marooned Thursday as rising floodwaters of the main Brahmaputra river cut a swathe across the state. The floods in Assam started May 31.

"Thirteen of the 27 districts in Assam are hit by floods with an estimated 485,000 people displaced so far. A total land area of about 55,000 hectares has been submerged," the statement said.

Police and rescue workers with rubber boats were deployed in the worst-hit Cachar and Karimganj districts in southern Assam to evacuate trapped villagers.

"The situation is critical and with road links snapped we may have to requisition helicopters to drop essentials to people staying in makeshift camps located in inaccessible areas," Cachar district magistrate Gautam Ganguly said over the phone.

Road and rail communications have been hit in many parts of Assam with floodwaters overtopping highways and breaching rail tracks.

Indian Army soldiers Thursday rescued scores of passengers from southern Assam after the train in which they were travelling got stranded due to a rail track breach.

According to a Central Water Commission bulletin, the main Brahmaputra river was flowing above the danger level in at least seven places in Assam. "Displaced people who have fled their homes due to the floods are now taking shelter in raised platforms or in government buildings and schools," the minister said.

Floodwaters of the Brahmaputra entered the famed Kaziranga National Park in eastern Assam, home to the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. "Some areas of the park are now under water forcing migration of animals to higher reaches," a park ranger said.

The 2,906 km Brahmaputra is one of Asia's largest rivers that traverses its first stretch of 1,625 km in China's Tibet region, the next 918 km in India and the remaining 363 km through neighbouring Bangladesh before converging into the Bay of Bengal.

Every year, the floods leave a trail of destruction, washing away villages, submerging paddy fields, drowning livestock, besides causing loss of human life and property, in the remote state of 26 million.

In 2004, at least 200 people have died and more than 12 million displaced in the floods.

Huge increase in British student visas for Indians

London, June 16 (IANS) India is among five countries where there has been a huge increase in the number of student visas issued by Britain during 2004-05, according to official figures.

The five countries are India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Turkey and Ghana. The number of visas across the five countries soared from 17,723 in the year 2000 to just over 40,000 in 2004-05, according to Kim Howells, Foreign Office minister.

In response to parliamentary questions from Douglas Carswell, Conservative MP, Howells stated that Nigeria showed one of the largest rises - from 1,516 in 2000 to 8,045 in 2004-05.

Student visa numbers for Pakistan rose from 2,421 to 10,859.

In India, the figure last year was 15,283, up from 4,790.

Student visas for Turkey fell during the five-year period from 7,208 to 4,234, while Ghana's remained relatively stable at a little over 1,700.

Carswell, a member of the Commons education committee, raised fears of "an immigration scam", claiming that the growth in student visas coincided with a decline in asylum-seeker numbers.

Responding to Carswell, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne admitted that Britain did not have accurate estimates of the number of students who returned to their country of origin after their courses were over.

Ibrahimovic injury spares Swedish coach blushes

Berlin, June 16 (DPA) Sweden coach Lars Lagerback admitted his second-half substitution of Marcus Allback for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which led to the winning goal against Paraguay, was unplanned.

Allback had with one effort cleared off the line before he headed across a goal for Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg to grab an 89th minute 1-0 win Thursday over Paraguay which knocked the latter out of the tournament and left the Swedes needing a draw against England to be guaranteed of a place in the knock-out stage.

"Zlatan had an injury in his leg and we didn't want to risk him," Lagerback said afterwards.

"We have to wait one or two days to see how bad the injury is. The medical staff said if he had broken down in the second half he could miss the whole tournament."

Ibrahimovic, despite his silky first-touch skills, had a disappointing first-half, missing the best chance, and it had begun to look as if Sweden would again pay for their inability to finish just as they had against Trinidad and Tobago.

"We had some good chances but Paraguay played well," said Lagerback who dismissed the criticism the Swedes had taken after their opening draw.

"I couldn't care less about the criticism we had after Trinidad and Tobago. We know what we are doing," he said.

And he said he had the backing of the Swedish federation president. "I never feared the sack."

But he was pleased the Swedes would not be under the pressure of needing to beat England to qualify.

"It is a relief not to have to face England needing a win. We will enjoy this evening and then start focussing on the England game. One point will be enough against England although we want to win."

However, defeat could send the Swedes home and put Trinidad and Tobago into the second round if the Caribbean minnows beat Paraguay in their last match.

Ljungberg, involved in a shouting match with captain Olof Mellberg after the embarrassing draw with Trinidad, said they owed their supporters a win.

"We needed the points and gave everything for the fans. Both in the stadium and back home they have been fantastic. We finally gave them something to cheer about," he said.

"The England game is going to be massive. We both want to win the game so much and it's going to be difficult."

Ljungberg admitted he had last scored with a header a year ago in a home game against Norwich.

He said they had kept their nerve as they failed to put away their chances.

"We created many opportunities and of course when we didn't score we started to get a little worried, as though we were jinxed."

"But we had more patience, had a lot of opportunities and put pressure on their defence. We played a faster passing game."

Kim Kallstrom, brought in midfield, agreed the winner had proved elusive.

"But we managed to solve it. It was something of an all-or-nothing match for me."

India approves air services agreement with Iceland

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) The Indian cabinet Friday paved the way for better air links with Iceland by approving signing of an air services agreement between the two countries.

"Both countries shall have the right to designate as many airlines as they wish under the new agreement," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here after a cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"The agreement will be formally signed by the two countries after it is approved by both the governments," said a spokesperson of the ministry of civil aviation.

The spokesperson added: "This new arrangement signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relation between India and Iceland.

"As per the agreement to be signed, the designated airlines of Iceland will be able to fly from any point in Iceland to any two points in India via any two intermediate points and to any two beyond points."

Similarly, the designated airlines of India shall be able to fly from any point in India to any two points in Iceland via any two intermediate points and to any two beyond points.

India shows trade not aid way to fight poverty: Bush

By Arun Kumar,

Washington, June 16 (IANS) US President George Bush has cited the examples of India and South Korea to illustrate that more trade rather than aid was the best way out of poverty for the developing world.

"Prosperity as a result of trade is more likely -- ten times more likely to have a positive effect on somebody living in a poor society than just investment and grants," he said in a special address to the Initiative for Global Development's 2006 National Summit here Thursday.

Co-chaired by former secretaries of state, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright, the summit brings together about 150-200 of America's foremost business leaders to set an action agenda for the private sector on what it can do to eradicate extreme global poverty.

"History has shown what I'm talking about," Bush said recalling the India success story. "India, for a long period of time, had restricted its markets. India opened its markets to global trade 15 years ago. It has doubled the size of its economy since then and created a middle class which is larger than the entire population of the United States".

Similarly, South Korea once one of the poorest nations in Asia, has thanks to export growth today become the 10th largest economy in the world after it reformed its economy and opened its markets to the world.

These are not isolated examples, said Bush, noting that a World Bank study had found that developing nations that lowered their trade barriers in the 1990s grew three times faster than those that did not.

"Economic growth is one important way to reduce poverty. It's the most effective way to reduce poverty. The best way to help millions mired in poverty is to expand the benefits of global trade," said the president, setting it out as his administration's new policy outlook.

Outlining the US position on the upcoming Doha Round of WTO negotiations, Bush said Washington was ready to eliminate all tariffs and subsidies and other barriers to free flow of goods and services, and it expected other nations to do the same.

"We're ready to make the move -- on agriculture and services and manufacturing, but we expect other nations to do the same thing. We expect other nations to give us market access," he said.

Similarly, European countries needed to make a tough decision on farming, while the G20 countries needed to do so on manufacturing, Bush said, declaring the United States is prepared to make a tough decision along with them.

Since 2002, the US had more than doubled assistance around the world from 10 billion dollars to 27.5 billion dollars -- the largest increase of foreign aid since the Marshall Plan - to fight poverty, Bush said.

At the same time US foreign policy now recognises true compassion being measured by real improvements, not just by the amount of money spent. "And real improvement is the goal of our assistance," he said.

But it did not stop US from moving when disaster strikes, said Bush noting, "We moved hard for the tsunamis, with a military presence that helped organize relief. When the earthquake came in Pakistan, we didn't hesitate, we moved."

India signs convention to combat nuclear terrorism

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) India has acceded to the International Convention for Suppression Of Acts Of Nuclear Terrorism, with the cabinet Friday giving its approval for signing and ratifying it.

"It is the first terrorism convention adopted since the terrorist attacks of Sep 11, 2001, in New York," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The convention was opened for signature at the UN headquarters in New York from Sep 14, 2005, and will remain open up to Dec 31, 2006. The UN General Assembly adopted it April 13, 2005.

"This convention will strengthen the international legal framework to combat terrorism," Mukherjee said.

"It will provide the legal basis for international cooperation in the investigation, prosecution and extradition of those who commit terrorist acts involving radioactive material or a nuclear device," he added. The convention applies to acts committed by individuals.

Within the meaning of the convention, any person commits an offence if that person possesses radioactive material or makes or possesses a device with an intent to cause death or serious bodily injury or substantial damage to property or to the environment.

The convention does not apply to the activities of the armed forces during an armed conflict, which are governed by international humanitarian law.

India is already a party to 12 international terrorism conventions and protocols.

"By signing and ratifying this convention, India will strengthen its credentials as a responsible partner in the fight against terrorism," the defence minister said.

"The convention does not apply where the offence is committed within a single state, the alleged offender and the victims are nationals of that state, and no other state has a basis to exercise jurisdiction."

India, Kuwait joint ventures in petroleum soon: minister

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Indian and Kuwaiti energy companies are in talks for possible collaborations and joint ventures that should materialise soon, Kuwaiti Energy Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahd Al-Sabah said here Friday.

"There is potential for both private and government oil companies to participate in joint ventures in India. Some memorandums of understanding have already been signed for exploring opportunities in petrochemicals and refining here and in Kuwait," the minister told reporters.

Speaking on the sidelines of an industry meeting addressed by Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the energy minister said: "One of the Indian companies has won a bid together with a Kuwaiti company for greencut (refinery intermediate). This is the first India-Kuwaiti joint venture to have made a breakthrough in Kuwaiti downstream."

He said there were similar joint venture opportunities waiting to be explored in both countries.

A leading oil producer, Kuwait is planning major investments in the oil and petrochemical sectors. It plans to invest an estimated $100 billion over next 10 years, with around $64 billion in the energy sector alone.

Inviting Indian companies to explore opportunities either alone or together with their Kuwaiti counterparts, the minister said Kuwaiti companies too were exploring similar ventures in India.

He said initial talks have been held with Indian companies in a follow-up to the memorandums of understanding signed earlier this year for collaboration in both exploration and refining and petrochemical projects.

Kuwait is studying possibilities of taking stakes in some of the existing refineries and later in petrochemical plants in India.

On the exploration front in Kuwait, the minister indicated that there could be possibilities.

"Two companies have already qualified technically for exploration. They are partnering with all our engineering programmes. Indian companies have submitted tenders for infrastructure in movement of oil as part of our strategy for 2020," the minister said.

The two Indian companies, state-owned Indian Oil Corp (IndianOil) and Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), have asked the Indian government to seek the intervention of the emir.

They are part of an international consortium that includes British Petroleum (BP) and Occidental Petroleum Corp of the US, which has bid for development of four oilfields in north Kuwait

The final bids for the mega project for around 20 years are expected to be invited later this year.

Indian Oil Corp chairman and managing director S. Behuria said: "We have talked (with the Kuwaiti energy minister) about inviting investment in the Panipat naphtha cracker and the Paradip refinery projects. These are the two opportunities they can consider."

Indian medicare eyes foreign markets

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) India's fast-growing medical tourism industry is set to get a further boost with two companies coming together to market the entire range of medicare facilities overseas.

Global Medicare, a healthcare consultancy, and Uday Tours and Travel, a leading travel firm, have signed an agreement to endorse super-specialty medical facilities in the US, Britain, South Africa, Canada and the Middle East.

"Initially we will take about top 40 recognised hospitals and promote their expertise overseas. Non-resident Indians will be our initial target but gradually the purview will be broadened to all sections of the society in those countries," V.N. Seth, chief of Global Medicare, told IANS.

The 40-odd private hospitals that have been selected from major cities of the country have world-class facilities and will be recognised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Escorts Hospital, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Max Healthcare, Shankar Netralaya, Chennai, and Narayan Hrudalaya in Bangalore are a few of them.

The joint collaboration will market the entire gamut of medical facilities available in India including cardio vascular treatment, cancer treatment, joint replacement surgery, hip surgery, cosmetic and plastic surgery and eye treatment.

While Global Medicare will be in charge of networking with the top medical institutions in India, Uday Tours will undertake marketing and promotional activities overseas. It will also make all the travel and ground arrangements like accommodation and sight seeing for their clients.

Interestingly, the collaboration also plans to offer ayurvedic treatment and yoga in Kerala for post-operative recovery.

"In foreign countries we have partner tour operators. We are going to further tie up with travel wholesalers. We will also insert advertisements in newspapers and try to network with Indian physicians there," said Atul Seth, marketing manager of Uday Tours.

With India offering world-class medical facilities at competitive rates, foreigners are increasingly coming to the country for medical treatment.

Seth said around 150,000 foreigners visited India in 2004 and about 200,000 in 2005 for treatment.

According to a study by the CII and McKinsey, the medical tourism industry is expected to grow to 1.21 billion pounds by 2012.

"The long waiting list in developing countries and the cost effective and quick treatment in India are a suitable combination to attract more patients to our country. In India, foreigners can get treatment from healthcare professionals and nursing care at a fourth the rate in developed countries," said V.N. Seth, former executive director of Batra Hospitals and chief executive officer of Modi Hospitals here.

"We are going to advertise our unique facilities and develop a network with other healthcare consultancy firms abroad," he added.

Indian military must have strategic reach: air force chief

By Vishnu Makhijani, New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) India's armed forces must acquire "strategic reach" that would include creation of an Aerospace Command and employment of net-centric warfare to protect the country's economic and energy security interests in a fast changing world, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief says.

The Aerospace Command was needed to integrate the operations of the three services, with the army being the biggest user of the system but the IAF providing the "maximum impact", Air Chief Marshal S.P Tyagi maintained.

"I see that India as it grows economically will have to worry about trade security, economic security, food security, energy security. That is the new role of the armed forces. In addition to the traditional defence role, (they) will also have to perform the security role," Tyagi told IANS in an interview.

This meant the armed forces would have to operate in an expanded area.

"You cannot be confined to geographical boundaries. If you have to provide energy security, you have to go out; if you have to provide space security, you have to go out of the geographical boundaries of India," he contended, adding that "we tend to get locked inside" even as borders were "losing meaning" in the new world.

"If you agree with that line of argument, then we are saying that we'll have to be prepared to launch operations - not fighting necessarily - to protect our interests at larger distances," Tyagi maintained.

How would this be achieved?

"I need firstly a long reach to get there. How can I have any impact unless I get there? So the first thing the Indian Air Force talks of is a strategic reach.

"Now, if I am there, someone has to provide me radar cover, so I need an AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System) aircraft. I need flight refuelling aircraft, I need combat aircraft, I need transport aircraft for the infantry," the air chief pointed out.

This would entail the employment of net-centric warfare to fit the various pieces together.

"That's were aerospace comes in. To control all this, you need an Aerospace Command," Tyagi pointed out.

"I have articulated, therefore, that if India is to look for tomorrow, tomorrow's India as I see it - this is the picture: a strategic reach, new strategic boundaries, and a new net-centric environment which will exploit the media of space," he added.

Pointing out that aerospace was "everybody's business", Tyagi maintained that within the armed forces, the biggest user of aerospace would be the army.

"You have a million soldiers, each one with a radio set and with a GPS (Global Positioning System). In terms of numbers, the largest numbers will be the army but in terms of effect, the largest will be the air force" because it will, through its aircraft and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), provide pictures of the operational area to the command post in real time.

Reiterating that the job of the military is not only to take care of geographical boundaries, he noted: "If that were the job, the United States will not need too big an armed force. There is no military threat to the continental United States and yet we know they have a fairly large military force."

According to him, the size and shape of the armed force of a country depended on not only the perceived threats but also the protection of national security.

"The armed forces' role is to provide national security. National defence is part of national security. The armed forces only tend to look at the defence part but actually the armed forces play a much more role than defence," Tyagi contended.

Indian origin cop alleges discrimination

Johannesburg, June 16 (IANS) An Indian origin police officer in South Africa has alleged that he has been sidelined and discriminated against as he has been confined to a wheelchair for three years now.

Police inspector Danny Pillai sustained serious injuries when he was tackling an armed robbery three years ago. He has been wheelchair-bound ever since.

Speaking to the Daily News newspaper, he alleged that he has been passed over for promotion twice and has still not been "assessed" for his injuries. He also claimed that nobody has come to his home to get a statement about the incident.

In March 2003, Pillay, based in the Cato Manor police station at the time, and a colleague were called to a house in the Sydenham area of Durban where an armed robbery was taking place. In the course of the encounter, he was shot in the neck while his partner sustained injuries in her hand and chest.

Though he underwent a speedy recovery, he was confined to a wheelchair. Admitting that special equipment would need to be installed at the station for him, he said that he was very keen to resume his duties.

"Initially when I was shot, the entire police force was concerned about me and kept in touch with me. Now it's only my close friends from the station who keep in touch with me," he told the newspaper. "I'm now having problems getting back to work. I have to work because I have a family to support and take care of."

Charging the state with not assessing him quarterly as is the procedure, he said that this had affected his salary progression as well.

"I need to go to the station every month to fetch my pay slip. Even this is not posted to me," said Pillay, who has been in the police force for 17 years.

The Daily News also quoted a police spokesperson as saying that the authorities concerned were investigating Pillay's complaints and the findings would be released as soon as the investigation was over.

International donors agree on Palestinian aid fund

Brussels, June 16 (DPA) International donors have agreed to set up a special aid fund to channel money to the Palestinian people, bypassing the Hamas-led government, French diplomats said.

The diplomats, speaking at a European Union (EU) summit in Brussels Thursday, said that the United States and Russia had given their go-ahead to the financial facility aimed at easing the worsening financial crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.

The EU has been trying for several weeks to win international approval of the "temporary international mechanism" fund, but the US and the World Bank had until now queried certain key elements of the European proposals.

In a statement to be issued on Friday, EU leaders are expected to insist that the new fund will focus "on essential supplies and running costs for social services and health, supply of utilities including fuel and social allowances".

They will also express hopes that other donors including Arab states will contribute to the fund.

The US, Israel and the World Bank have questioned EU suggestions that money should be made available for the education sector and are particularly determined to prevent Palestinian salaries being paid by foreign donors. They argue this could be seen as supporting Hamas-appointed officials.

Europeans have countered, however, that they want to pay "allowances" - not salaries - to people working in the key health and education sectors.

The EU statement is also expected to call again on Hamas to renounce violence, recognise Israel and abide by past treaties - three key conditions for a resumption of European aid to the Palestinian Authority.

EU aid to the Palestinian government was cut off after Hamas won the Jan 25 legislative elections. The EU, like the US, blacklisted Hamas as a terrorist organisation.

--DPA

Krishna Mandir in Lahore unharmed: Pakistani minister

Islamabad, June 16 (IANS) The Krishna Mandir in Lahore is intact, Pakistan's Federal Religious Affairs Minister Ejazul Haq said, countering a statement by Indian opposition leader L.K. Advani that the Hindu temple had been demolished and minorities in Pakistan do not enjoy religious freedom.

"The Krishna Mandir is in perfect condition. I invite L.K. Advani to visit Lahore and pray at the temple," Haq said during a visit to the temple located on Ravi Road in Lahore, the Daily Times newspaper reported.

The minister said that irresponsible statements by the Indian leadership could affect the ongoing peace process between the two countries, the paper said.

He said Rs.700,000 had been spent on the renovation of the temple only a few months ago.

Krishna Mandir supervisor Pandit Kashi Ram, who was present when the minister met the media, said the government was spending money on the temple's renovation. He added that the government gave Rs.10,000 for Hindu religious festivals, including Diwali, Dussehra and Holi, observed at the Krishna Mandir.

EPTB Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Zulfikar Ali Khan also said the Krishna Temple had not been demolished.

Khan sought to contradict a local newspaper report that the board had allowed a private developer to demolish the temple to build a commercial building. "The newspaper wrongly reported the Krishna Temple was situated in the Wachhowali Bazaar in Rang Mahal. The property under discussion and claimed as temple is a disputed piece of land under the EPTB's control," he said.

There was a place named 'Sanatan Dharm Sabha' in Rang Mahal, and even that was 300 feet away from where the developer was constructing his building, Khan added.

The EPTB chairman said the developer, Khawaja Sohail Naseem, was constructing a building according to an agreement with the EPTB. He said the developer had not sold the property, as alleged.

Meanwhile, another temple controversy seemed to be brewing in the country.

Om Prakash Narayan, secretary general of Pakistan Minorities Welfare Council, on Thursday moved a petition in the Lahore High Court for the registration of a case against people responsible for demolishing a Hindu temple in Sooha Bazaar, Rang Mahal, in Lahore. Narayan's lawyer Chaudhry Fawad alleged that the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB) (Eastern Zone) chairman demolished the temple and allowed a jeweller to build a commercial building on the site.

Microsoft icon Gates to ease out of daily role

Washington, June 16 (DPA) Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates will give up his day-to-day role in running the software giant that he co-founded in 1975 and devote more time to his philanthropic foundation, the firm announced.

The 50-year-old executive, perhaps the most recognised and iconic figure in the technology sector, will remain as chairman of Microsoft but give up his daily activities starting in July 2008. He announced the change two years in advance to allow time to make a strong transition and provide full transparency, he said Thursday.

"I believe we can make this transition without missing a beat," Gates told reporters. "I know Microsoft is well positioned for success in the years ahead."

He said he was seeking "new challenges while keeping my connection to this great company".

Gates, whose personal fortune is estimated at $46.6 billion, has been ranked as the richest person in the world on Forbes' international rich list the last 12 years straight.

Gates amassed his personal wealth by displaying leadership and ambition at the start of the personal computer revolution. Microsoft's Windows software emerged years ago as the dominant operating system running personal computers throughout the world.

While he is widely respected for his intelligence, Gates is also widely criticised as having built Microsoft through unfair, illegal, or anti-competitive business practices. Government authorities in several countries, including the United States, have found some of Microsoft's practices illegal.

He currently works full time at Microsoft and part time at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on global health and poverty issues. Two years from now the division of his time will switch to working full time for the foundation and part time for Microsoft.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has emphasised causes such as vaccination in developing countries, AIDS research and computer access and literacy. Gates and his wife endowed the foundation with more than $26 billion.

"I am very lucky to have two passions that I feel are so important and so challenging," Gates told reporters at company headquarters. "Microsoft is well positioned for success in the years ahead. We have a clear vision of how we will meet new challenges [and] we continue to generate almost a billion dollars of profit every month."

The Redmond, Washington-based software vendor announced Gates' plans after the close of US stock exchanges. Microsoft shares fell 11 cents to 21.96 dollars in extended trading. The stock had risen to 22.07 in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading earlier Thursday.

Gates dropped out of Harvard University at age 19 to co-found Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen, who gave up an active role in the company long ago. The company went public in 1986, and Gates served as chairman and chief executive until 2000, when Steve Ballmer took over the position. Gates remained as chairman and continued to lead the firm in software design and product development.

Speaking at the press conference, Gates said he and Allen once dreamed there would be a computer in every home - something that is nearly a reality in the US and other developed countries.

"I have one of the best jobs in the world," Gates said, adding that he wants to return almost all of his wealth to society through his foundation.

The company said that two current Microsoft executives would immediately take over some of Gates' duties.

Chief Technical Officer Ray Ozzie, 50, will immediately assume the title of chief software architect and begin working with Gates on all technical architecture and product oversight responsibilities.

Craig Mundie, 56, the company's chief technical officer for advanced strategies and policy, will take the new title of chief research and strategy officer and will work with Gates to assume responsibility for research. Mundie also will be working with general counsel Brad Smith on Microsoft's intellectual property and technology policy efforts.

"Microsoft and Bill Gates are synonymous," Tim Boyd, an analyst at Caris and Co., told Bloomberg financial news service. "This is an indication that going forward Microsoft will be a very different company than what we're used to."

Minister calls for joint ventures between India, US firms

Chicago, June 16 (IANS) Minister of State for Industry Ashwani Kumar has called upon American corporations and Indian American companies to look at India as a manufacturing hub and to enter into engaging commercial partnerships with Indian companies.

Speaking at a meeting at the India Engineering Centre here Thursday, he urged the companies to take advantage of the competitive benefits that India offers.

India had achieved a growth rate of 8.4 percent and was likely to achieve a double-digit growth rate on a sustained basis, Kumar said.

The minister further said India was determined to increase the share of manufacturing from 17 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to over 30 percent by 2020.

"A one percent growth in manufacturing would lead to a three percent growth in jobs and would thereby unfold huge employment generation opportunities in the hinterland of India", he said.

Citing various studies by Goldman Sachs, AT Kearney, World Economic Forum and
UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Kumar said India was one of the most preferred investment destinations of the world.

He cited a recent McKinsey report that said India has the potential to achieve the same level of productivity in the manufacturing sector as that of European countries with costs as low as 20 percent compared to them.

The meeting was attended by leading Indian American and American business leaders wishing to do business in India. Among the medium-sized companies which attended the meeting were Plante Moran, Lee Salberg International Group, LGO Global and Barnes, Richardson and Colburn.

A group of American securities and brokerage companies presented alternative and innovative methods for raising foreign capital for investment in India.

Kumar also told the gathering that Indo-US relations had undergone a significant change from one of contention to that of conciliation and a mutually reinforcing engagement.

"The Indo-US civil nuclear agreement of July 2005 was a clinching evidence of the growing relationship," he said.

The minister also met leading Indian Americans in the city and expressed appreciation of their role in enlisting support for the Indo-American civil nuclear pact.

Prominent Indian Americans who had extensive discussions with Kumar were Bharat H. Brar, chairman of Indiana's Medical Licensing Board, Sam Ramesh, managing director of the Illinois' Office of Trade and Investment, Rajinder Bedi and Raghu Nayak.

Kumar also spoke to Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr and thanked him for his support to the Indo-US deal.

Mulayam to give dole to 50,000 unemployed

Lucknow, June 16 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's much publicised decision to offer a dole of Rs.500 a month finally sees light of day Friday with 52,571 unemployed youth getting their first cheque at a mega event here.

The first batch comprises 34,084 men and 18,487 women from six districts - Sitapur, Unnao, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Hardoi, Rae Bareli and Lucknow.

Of these, the chief minister will hand over cheques to 300 select youths. The rest will be given out by a large team of 54 ministers and 62 senior officials specially detailed for the job.

The venue for the event, Ambedkar Maidan, has been covered with a 600,000-sq ft tent to accommodate 60,000 chairs. Separate counters for different towns have been set up with each being supervised by principal secretary ranked official.

"This is an unprecedented and historic event. No government has ever undertaken such an exercise," said District Magistrate Ramendra Tripathi, the chief organiser.

The state government has allocated a budget of Rs.4 billion in the current financial year for the dole, an official spokesperson said.

Though 880,000 people were registered with different employment exchanges spread across the country's most populous state until the cut off date of Feb 28, 2006, only about half had applied for the unemployment allowance, he said.

Nepal monarchy will end: Prachanda

Kathmandu, June 16 (IANS) The Nepalese crown would cease to exist after an election later this year that would ask the people to chose between a republic and the monarchy, Maoist supremo Prachanda asserted Friday, maintaining that the Leftists would next month join the government as a coalition partner.

Addressing a press conference here after path-breaking peace talks with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda asserted that those who advocated a ceremonial monarch were expressing their personal opinion.

The Maoist supremo was obliquely referring to a comment by Koirala earlier this week that Nepal was passing through a critical stage and needed a ceremonial monarch.

Earlier Friday, nearly 11 years after his last public appearance here, Prachanda arrived in the Nepalese capital for talks with Koirala. It was the first time during the decade-old insurgency that peace talks were held between the Maoist leader and the prime minister.

The 52-year-old rebel chief and his deputy Baburam Bhattarai were flown in from Pokhara city in central Nepal by helicopter and were escorted by Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula to Koirala's official residence in Baluwatar.

After nearly three hours of parleys between the two leaders, top leaders of the ruling seven-party alliance (SPA) joined them.

After nearly 10 hours, the talks ended with an eight-point pact that is seen as a major victory for the rebels, who have been pressing for the dissolution of parliament.

At his press conference later, Prachanda said an interim constitution would be formulated within a month.

Reports said a six-member team headed by former Supreme Court judge Laxman Arryal would draw up the framework of the interim constitution. Prachanda said it would be done in 15-20 days.

After this, parliament and the government would be dissolved to make way for an interim government with the Maoists as partners.

"It would be done within a month," the rebel chief maintained.

Polls for electing a constituent assembly would be held soon thereafter.

Both sides have also pledged themselves to a competitive multi-party system of government, citizens' independence, fundamental rights, press freedom and rule of law. They have also agreed to extend the truce called by them into lasting peace and resolve problems through dialogue.

Prachanda said the size of the army would be drastically reduced. "We don't need 90,000 soldiers," he said. "What have they done besides killing Nepalis and raping women? We can do with a small 20,000-strong force that will uphold law and order."

Netherlands beat Ivory Coast to reach knockout stage

Stuttgart, June 16 (Xinhua) The Netherlands qualified for the World Cup knockout stage after beating debutants Ivory Coast 2-1 in their second Group C match here Friday.

The Netherlands, who beat Serbia and Montenegro 1-0 Sunday, took a 2-0 lead in the 26th minute, thanks to goals from Robin van Persie and Ruud van Nistelrooij.

Striker Bakary Kone pulled one goal back for Ivory Coast with a powerful shot in the 37th minute.

Ivory Cast threatened quite a lot after the interval, but just could not crack the Netherlands defence.

Van Persie opened the scoring with a powerful, curling free kick in the 22nd minute to give the Netherlands a 1-0 lead.

Four minutes later, van Nistelrooij made it 2-0 scoring from an unmarked position.

Nine km of Bangalore-Mysore road opened

Bangalore, June 16 (IANS) A 9.1 km stretch of the ambitious 111-km Bangalore-Mysore highway project was inaugurated Friday amid tight security and with the media out in full force - but with the state government staying away.

Though the "soft launch" was meant to be a low-key affair, project executor Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) Ltd. turned it into a high-profile event by inviting hundreds of people from nearby villages to witness the religious rites and chanting of vedic hymns at the inaugural ceremony of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) at Thalaghattapura, about 30 km from here.

With a defiant state government staying away from the function despite an invitation from NICE, its managing director Ashok Kheny asked a dozen children and aged people to cut the ribbon tied across the road, break coconuts and light traditional lamps.

"We have decided to go ahead with the auspicious function as scheduled though the state public works department (PWD) has directed us to cancel it on the ground that the road quality work was neither inspected nor certified by its officials.

"The state government has been contradicting itself by asking us first not to hold the function and in the same breath assuring us in writing Thursday that it would allot the required land in accordance with a Supreme Court directive in April," Kheny told reporters on the sidelines of the function.

Hoping the state government would reconcile to the Rs.28.5 billion mega project and not attempt to take it over through legislation, Kheny said the 111-km expressway would be completed by December 2007 provided the remaining land (2,450 acres) was handed over to the company.

In spite of the apex court upholding the consortium's right to complete the project, the ruling Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) of former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda and his son, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, have locked horns with NICE over the issue of "excess land" allegedly grabbed by the promoters for real estate development along the corridor.

The proposed legislation, however, did not find favour with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the coalition partner in the state. The BJP agreed to go with the JD-S if the government was ready to take over only the "excess land" and not the entire project.

Denying his government was tinkering with the project, Kumaraswamy said measures were being taken only to protect farmers' interests.

Opposition parties, led by the Congress, accused Kumaraswamy of stalling the project as he and his family members had farm lands adjacent to the corridor.

Meanwhile, business leader and Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka Vijay Mallya criticised the state government for putting a spoke in the corridor project.

"I don't understand why politics should get into the way of infrastructure, which is badly required and in which world class companies are contributing significantly to our economy," Mallya told reporters on the sidelines of the two-day India Innovation Summit 2006, organised here by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

One killed, five hurt in Kashmir

Srinagar, June 16 (IANS) A National Conference leader was critically wounded and a civilian killed in two separate incidents of militant firing in Jammu and Kashmir Friday.

Police said one person was killed and four others were injured in Bandipore, 54 km from here, when guerrillas ambushed the vehicle of a police official near a mosque immediately after Friday prayers.

Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Fareed Khan, his two guards and another person were injured as guerrillas rained bullets on his vehicle. A civilian died on the spot.

"The officer was returning to his office after offering Friday prayers in the mosque," said one of his colleagues. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

In the other incident, the block president of the opposition National Conference (NC) was critically injured in a guerrilla shootout in the bus stand at Batmallo in Srinagar.

Police said three guerrillas suddenly appeared in the bus stand and fired several rounds at Ali Muhammad Magray, who was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Pakistan to get 300 London taxicabs

Islamabad, June 16 (DPA) The world famous London taxicabs equipped with satellite tracking systems will be introduced next month in Pakistan's capital Islamabad and other major cities, media reports said Friday.

"The government has allowed duty-free import of 300 taxicabs on trial basis," the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted deputy minister for privatisation and investment Umar Ahmad Ghuman as saying.

Prime Transport Limited, a company owned by a US-based Pakistani, is to invest one billion dollars to set up an assembly plant for London Taxi (LTI) in southern Sindh province.

President Pervez Musharraf will inaugurate the London Taxi terminal at Karachi Airport by the end of July, while Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the LTI assembly plant at Gharo town in Sindh, for which 300 acres of land has been allocated.

The decision to launch the London taxicab scheme is aimed to provide people with a safe, economical and reliable taxi service, Ghuman said.

Ghuman said that Daimler Chrysler of the US would establish its assembly plant in Punjab province to produce Mercedes-Benz trucks, buses and cars.

Pakistan, India exchange civilian prisoners' lists

Islamabad, June 16 (IANS) Pakistan and India have exchanged lists of civilian prisoners lodged in each other's jails.

Pakistan has handed over a list of 432 prisoners languishing in Indian jails while New Delhi handed over a list of 493 civilian prisoners in this country, Online news agency reported.

Well-placed sources said that during secretary-level talks here May 30-31, Pakistani and Indian officials had agreed to exchange the lists by June 15.

The two countries exchanged the prisoners' lists through diplomatic channels. The list handed by India revealed that 169 Pakistani prisoners had been granted consular access and their citizenship had also been confirmed.

However, they said, citizenship of some 111 Pakistani prisoners had yet to be confirmed while 150 prisoners had no consular access.

At least 50 Pakistani prisoners have completed their jail terms but could not be released for a variety of reasons.

Sources revealed both sides would release the prisoners by July 31.

Political parties to vacate bungalows; to get land for office

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Political parties using sprawling bungalows in Lutyen's Delhi in the heart of the capital as offices will have to vacate them soon following Friday's cabinet decision to allot them land elsewhere to construct office buildings.

The cabinet has approved a new "policy for allotment of land to political parties" under which they will be provided land to construct offices in the capital's institutional areas.

"The Supreme Court has given directions to vacate bungalows occupied by political parties and asked the government to provide land for new offices to them," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said after the meeting, explaining the rationale behind the new policy.

The quantum of land that would be considered for allotment to political parties would vary according to the number of MPs in both houses of parliament, Mukherjee said.

According to the new policy, national parties recognised by the Election Commission and having 201 or more MPs would be provided four acres of land.
Parties with 101 to 200 MPs would be given two acres, those with 51 to 100 MPs would get one acre and those with 26 to 50 MPs would get 2,000 sq metres.

"A political party - national as well as state - must have at least seven MPs to become eligible for allotment of land under the new policy," Mukherjee informed.

"Political parties which have four or less MPs would be provided space for office in Vithalbhai Patel House (near parliament)," he added.

According to the new policy, land would be allotted on leasehold basis and parties would have to pay prevailing institutional rate.

"The allottee party shall also pay the annual ground rent amounting to 2.5 percent of the premium," says a note approved by the cabinet. The premises so allowed cannot be used for residential or commercial purpose.

Probe urged into attacks on journalists in India

Brussels, June 16 (IANS) The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world's largest journalists' group, has condemned the brutal killing of an Indian journalist in Nagpur, Maharashtra, last week following his expose of an illegal gambling racket.

Arun Narayan Dekate, a rural correspondent with the Marathi daily Tarun Bharat, died on June 10 from injuries sustained after he was attacked with stones on his way home on June 8.

Dekate was admitted to a hospital in Nagpur immediately after the attack but died of his injuries on June 10, said an IFJ statement.

According to local reports, Dekate had recently exposed an illegal gambling racket and his recent tip-off to police about the activities of alleged gambling boss Dhampal Bhagat had resulted in several arrests.

"This brutal murder is a direct attack on the freedom of the Indian press. Sadly, another voice exposing illegalities has been silenced," said IFJ president Christopher Warren, according to INEP agency.

Just hours after Dekate's death, another journalist in India was abducted and an attempt made on his life.

Syed Shujaat Bukhari, Kashmir-based special correspondent of The Hindu newspaper, was reportedly forced into an auto-rickshaw by two armed men on his way home from work and was later thrown from the vehicle and shot at.

"In a single day one journalist has died from violence and another has narrowly escaped. The Indian authorities must not let these crimes go unpunished," Warren said and called for "a swift and thorough" investigation into these attacks.

The Brussels-based IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in over 110 countries.

Rahul, Bibek consumed cocaine and heroin: forensic reports

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Forensic experts Friday said cocaine and heroin had shown up in the tests they had conducted on Rahul Mahajan and Bibek Moitra, the son and close aide respectively of late Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pramod Mahajan.

"We have found cocaine and heroin samples in the stomach wash and vomit samples of Mahajan and Moitra," Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) experts said in a report.

The samples had been sent soon after a drinks-and-drugs binge June 1 at the official bungalow allotted to the elder Mahajan following which Rahul had taken ill and Moitra had died of a suspected drug overdose.

Rahul had maintained Thursday he was not drug-dependent.

Meanwhile, the questioning of doctors of the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital continued as the police grilled three more doctors. The police suspect the hospital staff had withheld vital information related to the case.

Six members of the hospital staff, including doctors, were questioned Thursday.

"We have a list of 150 doctors and office staff who had attended to Rahul during his stay in the hospital, and will question each one of them to find out the truth," said a senior investigating official.

The police had registered a case against the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital June 9 on charges of providing false information about the case.

Rahul was admitted to the hospital early June 2 in a critical condition following the drinks-and-drugs party.

While the hospital had initially said that the toxic screen test revealed no trace of any narcotics in Rahul's blood and urine samples, the Central Forensic Science Laboratory found traces of illegal drugs like heroine and cocaine in them.

Shipping Corp to buy 35 vessels

Mumbai, June 16 (IANS) India's largest shipping firm, Shipping Corp of India Ltd (SCI), Friday announced plans to spend Rs.63 billion ($1.37 billion) to buy 35 vessels.

The company has identified transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as its thrust for growth. It plans to diversify into port operations and rail transport, said SCI chairman and managing director S. Hajara.

"LNG has been identified as the future fuel for India's power plants and as a feedstock for chemical and petrochemical industry. The SCI has identified carriage of LNG as one of its thrust and growth areas and has its presence in the Petronet LNG project," a company statement said Friday.

"We would like to be virtually in all LNG projects in the country and offshore services segment," Hajara said.

"We will continue with our two joint ventures in LNG transportation for now. But three-four years from now, we might enter LNG ourselves," he added.

"Two joint venture companies (JVCs) have been formed at Malta, with India LNG Transport Co. No.1 and No.2 Ltd. for construction, ownership and operation of two LNG tankers which are on time charter to Petronet LNG Ltd for a period of about 24 years."

The SCI and Mitsui OSK Line (MOL) have a 29.08 percent stake each in the consortium amounting to an equity participation of $27.626 million each with the remaining 41.84 percent being shared by NYK (17.89 percent), K Line (8.95 percent) and Qatar Shipping Co. (15 percent).

The company owns a fleet of 82 ships, mostly bulk carriers and tankers, and it plans to start buying second-hand vessels to meet its acquisition target.

"We will try to meet at least 50-60 percent of the target this year in the next couple of months," said Umesh Grover, SCI director in-charge of technical and offshore.

The SCI has diversified into the Indian offshore marine business and provides vital offshore support services to the Indian oil industry in its indigenous oil exploration activities.

Its 10 anchor handling towing-cum-supply vessels are on long-term charter to the Oil & Natural Gas Corp.

Over the years, the SCI has also developed expertise for successful execution of state-of-art sub-sea jobs and has earned good merit as a technically competent offshore contractor.

Special arrangements for women to pray Juma at Ajmer dargah

Ajmer, June 16 (IMI)Recently some of the khadims of Ajmer dargah complained to the dargah administration that presence of women during Juma prayers is cause for distractions.

The khadims of the daragah demanded that women should be given separate space during Juma prayers so that they are not in front of praying men. During Juma there is a huge crowd and the namaz consists of hundreds of rows. Women in the begami balcony and ahata-e-noor are right in front of the men and therefore cause distraction during the namaz.

Ajmer dargah is the burial place of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, a very important Sufi of India. It is believed that he was born in 1143 and died in the year 1233 CE. Thousands of Hindus and Muslims visit his grave every day. Crowd is specially large on Juma and Urs days.

Nazim of the daragh Abdul Aleem said that women who come to see the dargah are suppose to stay in the area of the maqbira but those who are here for the first time spill over to the balcony but we are making arrangements that this does not happen.

There is no report of any ban on Women to offer namaz there. Today for Juma, special arrangements were made for Women.

Suicide bomber hit Baghdad Shia mosque, 6 killed

Baghdad, June 16 (Xinhua) Six people were killed and 15 others wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a Shia mosque in central Baghdad Friday before the weekly prayer, an interior ministry official said.

"Our first report said that six worshippers were killed and 15 others wounded when a suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt blew himself up at the Buratha Mosque shortly before the Friday prayer," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The Buratha mosque is the second most important Shia mosque in Atifiyah neighbourhood in central Baghdad.

It is a historic mosque and the headquarters of lawmaker Jalel al-Deen al-Sagheer.

In April, the mosque was hit by multiple suicide bombings, which killed about 75 Iraqis and wounded 135 others.

Tharoor told to focus on job at hand before "mission impossible"

United Nations, June 16 (IANS) India's nominee for the post of UN chief, Shashi Tharoor, Thursday got a piece of advice from his boss, Secretary-General Kofi Annan: focus on your work and quit your post before taking up the "mission impossible" or "a job from hell".

"First of all, the Under-Secretary-General has to focus on his work," he said at a press conference at the United Nations in response to a question on whether it is possible to be under secretary-general and a candidate at the same time as he himself was once.

"He has to focus on his work as under secretary-general, and his responsibilities to the United Nations. If he or she is elected, he or she will have to resign and take up the new responsibilities," Annan said.

The secretary-general denied that on a recent trip to Asia he had suggested that his successor should be an "Asian and an outsider", criteria that would have disqualified him, as a career UN person, and would now rule out his long-time colleague Shashi Tharoor.

Annan said he had not made any specific recommendation, but merely stated that most UN members wanted the next secretary-general to come from Asia and that they seemed to be looking outside.

"It's not that I was recommending that the individual comes from outside. Obviously, the more the merrier and, as I have indicated, if an Under secretary-general is elected, he or she will have to resign. In the meantime, his or her responsibility is towards the organization, and I will have to make sure that that is respected," he said.

Asked what he would say are the essential skill set and attributes that are required based on his nearly 10 years on the job now, Annan said he would hesitate to answer at this stage as he could be accused of drawing up a tailor-made job description for one or the other of the candidates.

"But let me just say that the job is much, much wider and much bigger than chief administrative officer. You do have to be the chief diplomat of the world; you do have to take on the negotiations; there are lots of other issues that the secretary-general gets involved in, and it is not just as an administrative officer. But I think I should be careful not to define it strictly." He said.

Annan agreed with a questioner that the top UN job was like 'a mission impossible' at times. "...and as I told you when I took the job, someone described it as a job from hell. That was one of the first cables I got, and I don't think he was far wrong."

Twice married IUML MP 'corrects' profile on Rajya Sabha site

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) A twice married Rajya Sabha MP, who was accused of providing misinformation about his marital status on the parliament website, Friday corrected his personal details on the site after reports in the media.

The revised profile of M.P. Abdussamad Samadani of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on the website now says he is married, but the column for spouse's name still remains blank.

P.V. Shebi, a Students' Federation of India (SFI) activist from Palakkadu district, had complained Samadani had stated that he was "unmarried" when he has been married twice and lived with both his wives.

"This is wrong information. To the best of my knowledge, he has married twice. He is living with both of his wives," Shebi said in the complaint sent to Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Samadani admitted it too. He told a TV channel that it was a mistake by officials in the Rajya Sabha secretariat.

The information had been on the website for the last 12 years.

Local reports from Kerala also claimed that the voters' list of Kottackal panchayat, the native place of Samadani, showed that the MP, who is due to retire from the Rajya Sabha end of this month, had two wives.

"In our personal law (Muslim Personal Law), it is permissible to have more than one wife. It is valid legally too," Shebi said.

"But Samadani intended to hide this information from the public," he added.

Shebi had also claimed that Samadani had mentioned that he did not have any children whereas "he has five children at present". Samadani has not yet included this information on the parliament website.

Pointing out that such "misinformation" would affect the credibility of parliamentary documents, the complainant had asked the chairman to take "appropriate action" before the MP retired.

"He allowed this misinformation to stay on the website for the last 12 years. It is highly condemnable," Shebi told IANS over the phone from Kerala.

US-based NRI murdered in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, June 16 (IANS) A non-resident Indian (NRI) from the US was brutally beaten to death by four unidentified attackers late Thursday evening in the city, police said Friday.

Pankaj Trivedi, a 43-year-old professional from Cincinnati, was hit in his head with a baseball bat by the attackers outside the Ellis Bridge Gymkhana in the upscale Law Garden neighbourhood, a police official said.

A relative of Trivedi, whose wife and two children are in the US, identified the body.

The victim, who had migrated to Cincinnati nine years ago, was on one of his regular visits to India. In the city, he used to live in Satyagrah Chhavni in the Satellite area, the official said.

While the assailants were still at large, police were talking with the only witness of the murder - the guard of the excusive club.

The victim was closely associated with the spiritual movement of Swadhyaya, inspired by the late Pandurang Shastri Athawale, and was involved in the legal battle between two factions of the movement, according to media reports.

Withdraw sedition cases against Katiyar, Verma: BJP

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir government for charging party leaders Vinay Katiyar and Sahib Singh Verma with sedition for declaring a bounty for killing terrorists.

BJP chief Rajanth Singh demanded immediate withdrawal of the charges, saying it was an attempt to suppress voices of protest in a democracy.

"To institute cases of sedition for speaking against soft handling of terrorism by the Jammu and Kashmir government is not only unconstitutional and undemocratic but manifests a dictatorial mindset," Singh said in a statement.

BJP general secretary Katiyar and vice-president Verma were booked by the Jammu and Kashmir police after they had announced at a June 8 rally that cash rewards would be paid to any civilian who killed a militant in the state or who lost life while fighting terrorists.

"Asking the people to take strong action against terrorists does not mean promoting enmity between different communities because terrorists are rabid killers who do not belong to any community or religion," the BJP chief said.

"Both leaders have repeatedly explained that they were in fact emphasising the need to strengthen Village Defence Committees, arm the villagers and install more military pickets to prevent any further massacres of innocent civilians in the state, he added.