23 June 2006
By A U Asif
Aligarh continues to be tense even after over two months. Indefinite curfew is enforced there since April 6 following the eruption of communal riots. It has claimed 12 lives so far.
It all started with a dispute over hanging decorations outside a temple constructed on the land of Masjid Memaran in Dahi Wali Gali of the Old City. Half a dozen persons were killed and dozens injured in the subsequent riots. Triloki, son of BJP MLA Deoki Nandan Kori was also found dead in the riots and then mistaken as a Muslim and buried by the local Police as an unidentified Muslim. Later, after demand his body was exhumed, identified and cremated.
Local Muslims got registered FIR in the Police Station concerned. A few persons, including those associated with the BJP were named in it. The time rolled by but the Police remained inactive despite the continued tension. Meanwhile, curfew relaxed in parts and rotation in seven Police Stations of Aligarh in the first week of May.
Later, two unidentified motorcyclists shot dead two persons---Raju Kumar, a Samosewaala and Raman Gupta, a chemist---in two separate incidents on May 19 and 22. Later, again on May 28 O P Gupta, a local BJP leader, too became a victim to the bullets of the unidentified motorcyclists. Incidentally, all the three killed were accused in the April 6 riot FIR for instigating the communal riots.
Then in the subsequent riots two persons belonging to the minority community was lynched by the agitating mob on the same night of May 28. Since then the curfew that was relaxed but not lifted, was full-fledged enforced again there.
Till date there is neither reduction of tension, nor relaxation in curfew. As a result, the tension is growing and the number of those being detained by the Police is increasing. It is causing harassment to the weaker sections, particularly Muslims. Some are arrested for violating the norms of Curfew by going to the streets in search of some work. They all are labourers and depend upon daily wages.
As is well known, Aligarh is famous for its locks, besides the internationally renowned Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Over 6,000 manufacturing units of locks are found here. Even after the entry of the Chinese locks into India, they are more or less in demand in different parts of the country.
Incidentally, all these units are located in the Curfew-bound areas of Kotwali, Banna Devi, Gandhi Park, Delhi Gate and Sansi Gate. Therefore, they all are locked since April 6. About 25,000 employees work in these 6,000 units. Almost 30 per cent of the products are exported. The annual turnover of the lock industry in Aligarh is Rs 200 crore.
Says Bua Singh, Dirctor General Police, UP: "We will only lift the curfew after the motorcycle shooters are caught. Our Special Task Force team is on the run and we expect a quick result."
The motorcyclists must be identified and caught so that the culprits might be punished. But so far as the matter of bringing Aligarh to normalcy is concerned, it may not serve the purpose fully. The continuing tension has got its roots in the construction of a temple on the land of a mosque.
The local senior citizens belonging to both the communities would have to come forward. In this context, some Muslim organizations like the All India Milli Council, having credibility and confidence in the society, can play a role in coordinating them.
So far as the local Police is concerned, it could not take up the case properly. That’s why the case is still pending since the incident of April 6. The state government can’t shirk its responsibility just by suspending the Aligarh city SP S K Verma and Additional District Magistrate Satya Bhan and terming the shooting down of the three accused persons in the April 6 riots FIR as the retaliatory killing.
Apart from these facts, it can’t be denied that the Sangh Parivar has again begun spreading its tentacles in raising issues that have potential in widening the gap and creating tension and mistrust in the two communities. The alleged involvement of a few local BJP men confirms this.
It is quite clear that the BJP has its eyes concentrated upon the ensuing assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh next year. Its main aim is how to polarise the Hindu votes. But surprisingly, the Mulayam Singh government doesn’t seem to be serious in countering the Sangh Parivar’s moves.
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Article courtsey of Institue of Objective Studies, New Delhi.
Stuttgart, June 23 (Xinhua) Thanks to a late second half goal from Harry Kewell, Australia advanced to the knockout round of the World Cup after a 2-2 draw with Croatia at their last Group F match here Thursday.
After beating Japan 3-1 at their group opener, a draw would be enough to send Australia into the second round. Knowing this well, the Australian never gave up their desire of searching for the goal.
Kewell headed home a dramatic equaliser in the 78th minute after receiving a cross from Brett Emerton through a free kick just right out off the box.
Earlier, Croatia looked half a step into the next round as playmaker Niko Kovac's long shot found the net in the 56th minute when it hit goalkeeper Kalac who should have handled easily, but the ball popped up and went behind him and into the goal, giving Croatia a 2-1 lead.
Croatia had the dream start when Darijo Srna sent a blistering free-kick into the top left-hand corner only two minutes into the game.
Mark Viduka was left to rue his mistake after conceding the free-kick with his challenge on Niko Kovac and setting up Croatia's first goal of the tournament.
Australia saw the light in the 38th minute when Stejpan Tomas was fouled inside the area and a penalty was awarded by referee Graham Poll.
Centre back Craig Moore stepped up to the spot and quite confidently slammed the ball into the net to equalise and put the Aussies back in position to qualify for the next round.
Forward Viduka almost found the net at the last moment of the first half when he headed Chipperfield's cross from the left on goal.
Croatia finally found the pace when Olic failed to make a connection with his head after a cross from the right side, but only witnessed the shot denied by Zeljko Kalac three minutes into the second half.
It was more misery for Croatia as Simic was red-carded for a second bookable offence after his rash challenge on Kewell with less then 10 minutes to go.
Australia saw Cahill's goal disallowed in the dying minute and Croatia's Simunic got his second yellow card before referee Poll blew the final whistle on this Group F decider.
It was Australia who went through to the last 16 as runners-up to Brazil.
Croatia and Australia have met each other four times, all in friendly international matches.
Croatia have won once, Australia twice, with one match drawn. Their last meeting was in 1998 when Croatia crushed the Aussies 7-0.
Kuala Lumpur, June 23 (IANS) Former champions India crashed out of the 15th Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament with their 0-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the first semi-final here Friday.
Both teams were goalless in the first half, after which the world No. 3 Dutch side increased attacks and scored through Roderick Weusthof off a penalty corner in the 64th minute.
World No. 6 India, who topped Pool A to qualify for the semi-finals, will now play for the third place Sunday.
In the other semi-final, defending and Olympic champions Australia will play New Zealand.
Overall, it was a match without any flashes of brilliance, especially the first half when the game was played in light drizzle.
The two teams took a lot of time to measure each other up and attempted no innovation to score goals.
One of the early opportunities for India came in the 17th minute when penalty corner specialist Sandeep Singh's drag-push went inches wide of the Dutch goalkeeper. Moments later, the Dutch attacked, but it was futile too.
Then, in the 22nd minute, the Netherlands earned their first penalty corner after Vikram Pillay carried the ball inside the striking circle.
India were lucky not to concede the goal from this stinging Weusthof drag-flick as the ball hit the goal post even as goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza dived full length to his right.
D'Souza, however, effected a good save in the closing seconds of this half when he blocked a sharp reverse flick from a Dutch player.
India attacked most of the times from the left flank, and just a few from the right.
The Netherlands looked more aggressive and determined in the second half. But D'Souza continued the good work as he made two brilliant saves early on in this half.
India forced their first penalty corner in 42nd minute and Tejbir Singh took the hit but a Dutch defender stopped the ball from entering the goal right on the goal line.
Five minuets later, striker Gagan Ajit Singh was shown the green card after he collided with an opponent.
The Netherlands forced their second penalty corner and this time Weusthoff scored off a straight hit to the left side of D'Souza.
The Dutch forced one more penalty corner, but Adrian again managed a save and the ball was hit out on the rebound.
Dhaka, June 23 (IANS) Bangladesh's flag carrier Bangladesh Biman has refused to pay its fuel bills worth $2 billion to the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
Biman managing director M.A. Momen communicated the company's inability to pay during a meeting with Mahmudur Rahman, advisor to the energy ministry, on Wednesday.
"Sorry sir, we can't pay the BPC whether it continues to supply fuel or not," Momen told Rahman, UNB news agency said quoting "a meeting source".
The ball is now in Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's court.
The meeting decided that the energy ministry and Biman would jointly seek an appointment with the prime minister to resolve the issue.
Biman has been in the red for long because of alleged mismanagement and rising operational overheads, although it has cited rising international fuel prices as a principal reason.
It has shelved plans to purchase new aircraft, making do with the ageing fleet of 13, and has had to suspend operations to the US for both monetary reasons and for security lapses alleged by the US aviation authorities.
Washington, June 23(IANS) The Bush administration Thursday made a forceful plea to Congress to quickly approve the India-US nuclear deal, warning that any changes or delays could jeopardise the evolving strategic partnership between the two countries.
Choosing to deliver the message at the US-India Business Council's Leadership Summit here, Vice President Richard Cheney said the deal symbolising the great potential of the US-India relationship was one of the most important strategic foreign policy initiatives of the government.
"There is a great deal of discussion in India's parliament and the US Congress about what this deal means for both our countries, and that's how democracies do business. At the same time, given this agreement's strategic importance, we must be sure that amendments or delays on the US side do not risk wasting this critical opportunity," he said.
At the same time, both President Bush and he were confident that the agreement will receive the strong bipartisan support it deserves, he said as if to reassure the gathering of American and Indian captains of industry and high government officials, including Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.
The Indian American Caucus in the US Senate is led by Republican Senator John Cornyn and Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton, while Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Democratic Representative Gary Ackerman headed the one in the House, he noted.
"We encourage these members to use their leadership role to help usher through a critical agreement that benefits both the United States and our friends in India," Cheney said, expressing the hope that Congress will move quickly to enact legislation that enables the two nations to move forward on this important agreement without delay.
"A strategic partnership in the 21st century also requires a new and realistic approach to nuclear energy," said the vice president, who was presented the USIBC's distinguished service award for "exemplary leadership" in uniting the two countries.
Cheney offered four key arguments for changing US policy to bring it in line with modern realities, describing it as the primary purpose of the Civil Nuclear Initiative agreed between President Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
First, there is no question that nuclear power is critical to meeting India's energy needs. Given the forecast for India's increased energy needs in the future, diversifying India's sources of energy is important in relation to the world energy market and to US energy prices.
And as the United States begins a serious effort to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels, it makes sense to encourage others to do the same. The initiative will also create new business opportunities for US firms, which translates into new jobs for American workers.
Second, India will enter the international non-proliferation mainstream by separating its civil and military nuclear programme, adopting international safeguards, and conforming to international standards.
"In a time when terrorists are bound and determined to gain access to weapons of mass destruction, nothing is more important than keeping weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear technology, out of the wrong hands. So India's commitment to non-proliferation clearly serves the interests of us all," he said.
Third, India has a very good non-proliferation track record. India has no interest in the spread of this deadly technology, and by taking additional steps to secure its nuclear materials and technology, India continues to build upon this track record.
Fourth, like the United States, India is an open, transparent society with a vigorous political process, an energetic free press, oversight and accountability. The Indian people and their leaders understand the responsibilities of a nuclear nation. Indeed, they have acted more responsibly than some countries that actually signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
"It is only right and sensible that we begin cooperating with India on civil nuclear programmes. A civil nuclear deal is plainly in the interests of both countries economically, environmentally and from the standpoint of our national security," Cheney concluded.
Hamburg, June 23 (DPA) Italy overcame a 10-man Czech Republic team 2-0 in their final Group E clash in Hamburg Thursday to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup as group winners.
Their likely opponents next Monday are either Australia or Croatia.
Both Italian goals came from substitutes.
Marco Materazzi, who had come on for the injured Alessandro Nesta, climbed above the Czech defence to power a header down and past Petr Cech from a 26th minute Francesco Totti corner.
Filippo Inzaghi, who came after an hour for his 50th cap, missed two good chances before picking up the ball just inside the Czech half and rounded Cech for his 22nd international goal.
The Czechs played all the second half with 10 men after midfielder Jan Polak got himself sent off for a second yellow card when he clattered into the back of Totti's ankles in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
The Czechs, beaten 2-0 by Ghana after starting with an impressive 3-0 win over the US, went out of the tournament, their first World Cup since 1990.
"It was a hurdle we had to overcome and the Czechs started well but we kept our eye on the ball. This is a very good result for us and it is important for the team," said Italy coach Marcello Lippi.
"We needed to have patience but overall we worked very well. I won't single out any players but Buffon was very strong," he said of his goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon who pulled off a string of decisive saves.
"We feel we have our chances in this World Cup," he added. "We have done well to have beaten two strong sides like Ghana and the Czech Republic."
By winning the group, the Italians avoided five-times champions Brazil and they have a relatively easy passage to the semi-finals, when they could face Argentina or Germany.
Czech playmaker Pavel Nedved forced his Juventus team-mate Buffon into three fine saves as they fought back but Italy, who had leading scorer Luca Toni on the bench, should have won more easily.
Czech coach Karel Brueckner said his side faced an impossible task after having Polak sent off.
"Playing with 10 men was just too difficult today," said Brueckner. "We lost a lot of players before the game and had suspensions which hurt us in this tournament."
Inzaghi pulled a shot wide after the Czech defence failed to clear and then stooped to head wide of an unguarded goal.
Mauro Camoranesi should also have done better when Totti placed a corner on his head while Cech went full length to finger-tip a low Totti shot around the post.
The Czechs, needing to win to stay in the tournament, had a mountain to climb. They never gave up but it proved too high.
They had done all the running in the first half with Nedved involved in everything.
The 33-year-old, playing perhaps his last international, floated a diagonal ball onto fit-again striker Milan Baros' thigh but his first touch gave the Italy goalkeeper time to cover at the far post and the shot crashed into the side netting.
Then the Juventus playmaker suddenly let fly from 20 metres and his club team-mate Buffon had to go down quickly.
Nedved's next attempt from outside the area was even better.
Buffon could not hold the ball, which squirmed free, but the keeper scrambled to his feet to block Marel Jankulovski at the near post.
Italy were riding the storm and Gennaro Gatttuso got upfield to head a Francesco Totti cross onto the roof of the Czech net from outsidie the area.
Then Materazzi, who had come on for Nesta in the 17th minute, climbed above the Czech defence to power a header down and past Petr Czech from a 26th minute Totti corner.
It was the first goal for Italy in 29 internationals for the 32-year-old Inter Milan defender.
Polak, who had failed to compete with Materazzi at the corner, was then sent of for a second yellow card leaving the Czechs an impossible task.
Baros, who missed the first two games with a foot injury, was replaced by David Jarolim after an hour, but apart from Nedved's surging runs the Czechs looked less and less likely of scoring.
Italy always looked like increasing their lead as they exploited the room left by the Czechs whose giant striker Jan Koller was on the bench after pulling a hamstring in the 3-0 win over USA.
Nedved had come back out of international retirement to boost his country's World Cup hopes but he is now likely to restrict his football to playing for Juventus.
Match statistics
Czech Republic - Italy 0-2 (0-1)
Czech Republic: Peter Cech - Zdenek Grygera, Radoslav Kovac (78.
marek Heinz), David Rozehnal, Marek Jankulovski - Jaroslav Plasil,
Jan Polak, Pavel Nedved, Karel Poborsky (46. Jiri Stajner), Tomas
Rosicky - Milan Baros (64. David Jarolim)
Italy: Gianluigi Buffon - Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro,
Alessandro Nesta (17. Marco Materazzi), Fabio Grosso - Andrea Pirlo,
Simone Perrotta, Gennaro Gattuso - Mauro Camoranesi (74. Simone
Barone), Francesco Totti, Alberto Gilardino (61. Filippo Inzaghi)
Referee: Benito Archundia Tellez (Mexico)
Attendance: 50,000
Best Players: Nedved / Materazzi, Buffon
Nairobi/Brussels, June 20 (IMI) The Darfur Peace Agreement has little chance of bringing any stability to the region unless the parties comply strictly and the international community acts decisively to support the peacekeeping mission.
The latest International Crisis Group briefing examines the flaws and shortcomings of last month’s Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). The deal could be positive, but it depends heavily upon the goodwill of the parties, including the Khartoum government. International actors must shore up its security provisions, improve the return and recovery packages for displaced persons, bring in holdouts who have yet to sign, and rapidly deploy UN peacekeepers with Chapter VII authority.
“There continues to be serious violence since the DPA was concluded�, says John Prendergast, Crisis Group Senior Adviser. “With only one of the three rebel delegations as signatory, and security arrangements that don’t address the underlying violence, instability may in fact continue to worsen�.
The DPA, signed under African Union (AU) auspices on 5 May 2006 by Sudan’s government and the faction of the insurgent Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) led by Minni Arkou Minawi, is a half step towards ending the violence. But the SLA faction of Abdel Wahid Mohamed Nur and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) refused to sign. The DPA has worryingly accelerated the break-up of the insurgency along loose ethnic lines, and the AU must make it a priority to widen acceptance by all stakeholders.
Other steps are urgently required. The UN Security Council should apply sanctions against any side, including the government, that violates the ceasefire or attacks civilians, peacekeepers, or humanitarian operations. And it must authorise deployment of a robust UN force to take over from the AU force by 1 October, with a Chapter VII mandate to use all necessary means to protect civilians and assist in DPA implementation, including by military action against Janjaweed, rebel and hard-line government spoilers.
The EU and NATO should work with the UN and AU to ensure that there is capability to respond quickly to ceasefire violations or provocations by any party. A rapid reaction force should be deployed as a first component of the UN mission, and countries with advanced military capabilities should detail senior officers to the headquarters of the peacekeeping force to bolster overall professionalism.
“Whether the agreement will hold now largely depends on whether the parties observe its security provisions and whether peacekeepers of the AU, and eventually the UN, can hold back the many spoilers who want to undermine it�, says Suliman Baldo, Director of Crisis Group’s Africa Program.
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) India's defence establishment was jolted Friday as federal investigators descended on the homes and residences of military officers, defence ministry bureaucrats and an arms dealer to probe the leak of classified information from the Indian Navy's war room here.
The premises of 14 people, including four navy officers, two army officers, three defence ministry officials and arms dealer Abhishek Verma, who is said to have been involved in the sale of French Scorpene submarines to the Indian Navy, were searched at 19 places across the country, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials said.
There were also reports that certain offices in the army and navy headquarters were searched but the CBI denied this.
"So far the documents and other evidence found during the raids has indicated that top defence officials were bribed with cash, electronic gadgets and other gifts in lieu of information provided by them," a CBI official said.
"We have got hold of incriminating documents indicating a larger conspiracy and a wide network of defence officials involved in leaking sensitive information," the official added.
"The raids were conducted in 13 places in Delhi, two in Kolkata and one each in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and Bhubaneswar (Orissa) to unravel the larger conspiracy in the war room leak case," the official said.
The CBI, which had begun investigating the case in February at the behest of Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, had conducted similar raids in the case in April, leading to the arrest of five people, including three officers who had been dismissed from the navy.
Among those who came under the scanner Friday were Commodore S.S. Bhiman - the senior-most officer to be probed so far - Commanders S.M. Hanchihal, A.K. Pandey and A.K. Patnaik, defence ministry under secretaries Sushil Bagachia, Prem Shankar Mehra and R.S. Dodani, as also a lieutenant colonel and a major, both of whom were not named.
This is the first time the names of army officers have emerged in the case, which had broken last year after classified information was found in the possession of retired Wing Commander S.L. Surve, a former joint director (Air Defence) at air headquarters.
The navy had last year carried out a probe after it was alleged that nine people were involved in leaking classified information relating to its planned purchase of a wide array of sophisticated equipment from the war room or Directorate of Naval Operations.
The navy dismissed three officers in October 2005 after the probe concluded they had sold classified information for commercial benefits.
They included Captain Kashyap Kumar, who headed the Directorate of Naval Operations at the time of the leak and was described as its "mastermind", as also Commanders Virender Rana and Vinod Kumar Jha were dismissed for their involvement in the leak.
The two commanders were among the five people the CBI arrested in April. The other three were retired Lt. Cdr. Kulbhushan Parashar, Mukesh Bajaj and Rajrani Jaiswal.
Among those charged in the case is retired Lt. Cdr. Ravi Shankaran, a relative of navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash. The CBI says Shankaran is an arms dealer and an alleged recipient of the sensitive information that was stolen from the war room.
Interpol, on the request of the CBI, has already issued a red corner notice against Shankaran, who was initially thought to be in London but whose whereabouts now are not known.
The navy chief had offered to resign after the scandal broke but the government had firmly turned this down.
According to highly placed sources, the CBI is under increasing pressure from several quarters to act, especially after media reports sought to suggest a connection between the war room leaks and alleged kickbacks in the Scorpene submarine deal.
The names of those mentioned as end users in the war room leak, such as Shankaran and Parashar, frequently appeared in the submarine deal as well.
Srinagar, June 22 (IANS) Eight civilians were injured in a grenade attack by separatist guerrillas outside the residence of a prominent Muslim mystic in Jammu and Kashmir, police said Thursday.
The grenade exploded outside the house of 90-year-old 'Malang' (Dervish) Ahad Sahib at Sopore, 42 km from here in north Kashmir, Wednesday afternoon, a police officer said.
"The residence of the Dervish is thronged by hundreds of people daily who come from different parts of the Valley to invoke his blessings. However, only eight civilians were injured in the attack," the officer said.
The injured were being treated at the Soura Medical Institute here.
By T.R. Ramakrishnan, Basseterre (St. Kitts), June 23 (IANS) Openers Chris Gayle and Darren Ganga ensured a formidable start for the West Indies without allowing the Indian bowlers to dictate terms on the opening day of the third Test here.
The pair put on 143 for the first wicket as the West Indies finished the rain-affected opening day of the third Test against India at 207 for 1 at the Warner Park Stadium here Thursday.
Gayle (83, 127balls, 5 sixes, 8 fours) dominated the stand, especially the 150-minute extended session between lunch and tea, after play before lunch was ruled out due to wet ground conditions.
Rain also halted play for 20-odd minutes after eight overs were bowled. Finally only 64 overs were possible on the day.
At stumps, the resolute Ganga was batting on 64 (187 balls, 6 fours) along with Ramnaresh Sarwan (44, 79 balls, 8 fours), who seemed to be working his way back into form after a couple of poor scores.
They have added 64 so far for the second wicket, playing with assurance and showing a determination to consolidate the team's position.
On the eve of the match, West Indian skipper Brian Lara had said he would be happy to copy India's gameplan in the second Test: bat first, put up a big score and hope for the pressure to work on the opposition.
He did his bit by winning the toss, Gayle, in particular, and Ganga then did their part by giving the West Indies the start they needed to implement the plan.
India made two changes in the team, both in the bowling department, S. Sreesanth and Harbhajan coming in for Irfan Pathan and V.R.V. Singh. After a quiet start, Gayle showed what he thought of those changes.
Sreesanth was slammed for a massive six over long-on, which almost cleared the roof of the pressbox, and two overs later, slashed over point for another.
When Harbhajan came on, he got the same treatment, being clubbed for three sixes, two of them in one over, all soaring mightily but hit with the least of effort. Harbhajan's first spell in the series, of six overs, cost him 42 runs.
A hundred was for the taking when, shortly after tea, Gayle misjudged one slanting in from Munaf Patel, bowling from around the wicket. He left it alone only to see it thud into his off-stump, which went cartwheeling a long way.
It was a delightful sight for the Indians, their sole moment of such joy on a day when patience and perseverance was called for.
There was nothing in the track, and Patel, who had a good opening spell (7-2-16-0), Anil Kumble and Sreesanth toiled away, over after over, hoping the batsmen would err.
The Indian attack will have to carry on in similar vein Friday. They will also be encouraged by Harbhajan's second spell late in the day, when his six overs yielded only 15 runs. But it promises to be a long grind.
SCOREBOARD
Day 1, Third Test, West Indies v India, Warner Park Stadium, Basseterre (St Kitts)
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat
West Indies (1st innings):
Chris Gayle b Patel 83
Darren Ganga batting 64
Ramnaresh Sarwan batting 44
Extras (lb 7, nb 9) 16
Total (for 1 wkt in 64 overs) 207
Fall of wickets: 1-143,
Bowling:
Munaf Patel 14-2-53-1 (7nb)
S. Sreesanth 14-5-30-0 (1nb)
Anil Kumble 21-5-54-0 (1nb)
Harbhajan Singh 12-0-57-0
Virender Sehwag 3-0-6-0
Nuremberg, June 23 (DPA) Ghana beat US 2-1 Thursday to secure qualification to the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup, thanks to goals from Haminu Dramani and a Stephen Appiah penalty.
The Americans equalised Dramani's effort through Clint Dempsey but found no way back from Appiah's spot-kick on the stroke of half time and go home with just a point from their three games.
Things started badly for Ghana when star player Michael Essien was booked in the sixth minute for a foul on Claudio Reyna ruling him out of the Africans' next game.
Moments later he wasted his team's first real chance shooting well wide when set up by Appiah, but in the 22nd minute he was celebrating Ghana's first goal.
Dramani dispossessed Reyna and shot past Kasy Keller to send the Ghana fans inside the Franken-Stadion into raptures. Reyna was stretchered off as a result of Dramani's challenge.
Reyna recovered and the US nearly drew level in the 35th minute when Brian McBride nodded down for Landon Donovan, but he blazed wide from just inside the box.
Two minutes before the break the US were level when Clint Dempsey rifled Derek Boatend's through ball past Richard Kingston. But the lead was short lived.
Razak Pimpong was pushed in the penalty area by Oguchi Onyewu and Stephen Appiah scored the penalty. It was the Fenerbahce midfielder's 12th goal in 45 starts for his country and it meant Ghana went in 2-1 at half-time.
With the Czechs losing against Italy, the African World Cup debutants kicked-off the second half knowing they were just 45 minutes from the last 16.
In the 57th minute John Mensah almost put the victory and their qualification beyond all doubt but just failed to get his head to a cross. But in the second half the Americans looked sharper.
Brian McBride hit a post with a header from an Eddie Lewis cross in the 67th minute and then Oguchi Onyewu powered a header over the bar from a Landon Donovan corner.
Ghana weathered the storm and held on for the victory. There were wild celebrations and a few prayers as players tore off their shirts or dropped to their knees.
They had bounced back from losing their first game against group winners Italy and progressed to the last 16.
Ahmedabad, June 23 (IANS) The Gujarat High Court Friday discharged two senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, Law Minister Ashok Bhatt and MP Harin Pathak, from a case related to inciting a mob that killed a police constable during communal violence in the city in 1985.
Bhatt, also minister of non-resident Gujarat affairs, and Pathak, a former union minister, were facing charges of delivering inflammatory speeches April 24, 1985, after which the mob had killed head constable Lakshman Desai in Khadia locality of the walled city.
Justice J.R. Vora upheld the discharge petition by Pathak and the names of the two leaders were removed from the list of the accused in the case.
A lower court had earlier rejected their discharge petition, advocate Suresh Thakore, who appeared on behalf of the victim's wife, told reporters.
By Arun Kumar, Washington, June 23 (IANS) India is hopeful that despite compulsions and sensitivities of various groups the ongoing Doha round of world trade talks would be successfully completed before the end of 2006.
New Delhi's optimism flowed from the all-round growing realisation that global economy needs a strong structure and the desire of all countries not to fracture the multilateral system, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath told a news conference here Thursday.
All countries had their compulsions and sensitivities that needed to be addressed, but these could not be allowed to block the 149-nation world trade talks, he said after the third ministerial meeting of the US-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF).
Kamal Nath said it was important for major players like India, the US and the European Union to converge their positions for a successful conclusion of the Doha round and he was quite hopeful about it.
The Doha round also came up for discussion at the TPF with Kamal Nath and US Trade representative Susan Schwab agreeing that the two countries shared a commitment to conclude successful and far-reaching trade talks by the year-end.
Kamal Nath saw a vast difference between the Uruguay Round that led to the setting up of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1994 and the Doha Round as all countries now want to be involved in framing the rules of the game of global trade.
Many countries did not want to be a part of the Uruguay round because they thought it was nothing but a "suicide round". Now in the Doha round all countries want to remain engaged, the minister said.
Asked if the developing nations and the developed ones could bridge their differences, he said every developing country has different concerns with the least developed countries being the most vulnerable.
Commenting on Schwab's observation at the TPF that some thought that the US has goals that are too ambitious, Kamal Nath said there was no harm in aiming high but that needed to be tampered to make WTO an effective instrument of enhancing world trade.
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) India has pledged $2 million to the UN Peacebuilding Fund, which has been set up to help countries recover from conflict situations and rebuild their societies afresh.
In yet another recognition of India's contribution to the UN system, India has been selected as a member of the organisational committee of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). New Delhi is one of the top five providers of military personnel and civilian police to the UN peacekeeping operations.
The committee will hold its first meeting in New York Friday.
The PBC, established last year, is an inter-governmental advisory body to help countries in post-conflict peace building, recovery, reconstruction and development.
"India looks forward to making positive contribution to PBC's functioning, especially in areas of capacity building," said a statement from the ministry of external affairs.
More than 85,000 Indian troops, military observers and civilian police officers have participated in 42 out of the 60 peacekeeping missions established since the inception of the UN. And 116 Indian soldiers have made the supreme sacrifice while serving in UN peacekeeping operations, and have been awarded the Dag Hammarksjold Medals.
Last month, India was selected to the UN Human Rights Council with a record number of votes that showed New Delhi's growing stature in the UN system.
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) India once again rejected the Organisation of Islamic Conference's remarks on Jammu and Kashmir and asserted the group has no "locus standi" to comment on the country's internal affairs.
"We regret that the OIC has once again chosen to comment upon Jammu and Kashmir at the OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan," said external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna in a statement.
"Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India's internal affairs. We reject all such references."
The OIC, an inter-governmental organisation with a permanent delegation to the United Nations, groups 57 Islamic nations in the Middle East, North and West Africa, Central Asia, southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and South America.
The OIC's contact group on Jammu and Kashmir early this week called for an early resolution of the Kashmir "dispute" and urged India to allow visit of its special representative to what it called "occupied Kashmir."
The 33rd session of OIC's foreign ministers meeting adopted a resolution on Kashmir, expressing concern over stepped-up human rights violations in India-administered Kashmir.
New Delhi has denied rights violations and pointed out rights abuses and lack of democracy and self-governance in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The group's adverse remarks on human rights violations in India-administered Kashmir are an annual feature and are invariably rejected by India.
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) India once again rejected the Organisation of Islamic Conference's remarks on Jammu and Kashmir and asserted the group has no "locus standi" to comment on the country's internal affairs.
"We regret that the OIC has once again chosen to comment upon Jammu and Kashmir at the OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan," said external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna in a statement.
"Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India's internal affairs. We reject all such references."
The OIC, an inter-governmental organisation with a permanent delegation to the United Nations, groups 57 Islamic nations in the Middle East, North and West Africa, Central Asia, southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and South America.
The OIC's contact group on Jammu and Kashmir early this week called for an early resolution of the Kashmir "dispute" and urged India to allow visit of its special representative to what it called "occupied Kashmir."
The 33rd session of OIC's foreign ministers meeting adopted a resolution on Kashmir, expressing concern over stepped-up human rights violations in India-administered Kashmir.
New Delhi has denied rights violations and pointed out rights abuses and lack of democracy and self-governance in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The group's adverse remarks on human rights violations in India-administered Kashmir are an annual feature and are invariably rejected by India.
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) India and China are likely to move one step closer to resolving their decades-old border dispute when India's special representative M.K. Narayanan holds the next round of talks in Beijing beginning Monday.
Narayanan, who is also the National Security Adviser, will leave for Beijing over the weekend for the eighth round of talks with his Chinese counterpart and Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo.
Although both special representatives will focus their energies on the shape of a likely package settlement over the border row, other crucial issues like China's stance on the India-US civil nuclear deal in the Nuclear Suppliers Group will also come up for discussions, official sources told IANS.
Narayanan is also likely to seek China's support for Shashi Tharoor, India's candidate for the post of UN Secretary-General, and discuss strategic issues as well with Dai.
The likely visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to India later this year will also figure in the discussions. The year 2006 has been dedicated to India-China friendship by both sides.
India and China fought a bitter border war in 1962 and then re-established diplomatic relations in 1976.
A "political settlement" of the boundary dispute will cover their winding 3,550-km border, removing the most important irritant in their ties.
The re-opening of border trade at Nathu La in Sikkim - a territory that Beijing earlier refused to recognise as part of India - from next month will be another step in the rapid normalisation of ties between the neighbouring Asian giants.
In the last round of talks held in the picturesque resort of Kumarakom in Kerala, India and China had resolved to take their relations to a new high without letting the border issue come in the way.
After the talks, Narayanan had said that he was hopeful of wrapping up the basic framework "within the next two to three rounds".
"We've made a good start. We've made progress. We would find a solution soon," Dai had said.
"The two special representatives continued their discussions for an agreed framework for the resolution of the boundary question in a constructive and friendly atmosphere," a statement issued at the end of those talks said.
India and China are trying to work out an "agreed framework" for a boundary settlement on the basis of political parameters and guiding principles finalised during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to New Delhi last year.
The "agreed framework" would include a political settlement to resolve the disputed border from a strategic perspective that could include a mutual give or take of territories or acceptance of the status quo as a final solution.
The actual demarcation of the border can happen only after the framework is finalized, official sources said.
During the visit of Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to China last month, the two countries imparted a new dimension to their ties by signing their first-ever memorandum of understanding on institutionalizing military training.
Washington, June 23 (IANS) India and the United States agreed on an action plan, including involvement of private sector big business leadership, to double their bilateral trade from the current 20 billion to 40 billion dollars in three years.
The agreement was reached Thursday at the third ministerial-level meeting of the US-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF) co-chaired by Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath and US Trade Representative Susan Schwab.
The two sides had agreed to add a "CEOs' arm" to TPF, launched during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's US visit in July 2005 to discuss trade and investment issues, to provide strategic direction and support and address micro issues more effectively, Nath told a press conference.
"The Trade Policy Forum has, within a short time, emerged as a very effective forum for the two sides to enhance bilateral trade and investment. It was encouraging to see both sides engaged in intensive discussions at the expert level on a variety of issues of mutual interest," he said.
With India already among the United States' fastest growing major bilateral trade relationships, Nath and Schwab hoped the cooperative steps endorsed Thursday will serve to further trade and investment, with the goal of doubling two-way trade in three years.
"Under the Trade Policy Forum we continue to make steady progress on key issues to improve the bilateral trade and investment climate," said Schwab. "We remain committed to doubling bilateral trade over the next three years, and improving the regulatory, customs and intellectual property protection climate is key."
Nath and Schwab also discussed the Doha negotiations, agreeing that the US and India share a commitment to conclude a successful, far reaching Doha Round by the end of 2006.
The US-India Trade Policy Forum agreed to a number of actions, including:
* Cooperation on an action plan and technical assistance to promote innovation, creativity and technological advancement by providing a vibrant intellectual property rights regime;
* Initiation of a Bilateral Infrastructure Investment Program that will focus on identifying investment opportunities, incentives and challenges in key infrastructural sectors;
* Various steps to address several sanitary issues, including Indian mango exports to the United States and US almond, wax covered fruit and wheat exports to India;
* Progress toward selecting participants for a working group on legal services to discuss market access and other relevant issues;
* Continued discussions on tariff structures to facilitate wine and spirits trade as well as discussions on emissions standards for large motorcycles;
* The creation of a senior-level private sector adjunct to the Trade Policy Forum that will provide strategic direction, input and support to the TPF.
The inaugural ministerial session of the Forum was held in November 2005 in New Delhi, the second session was in February 2006 in Washington. Additional meetings at the deputy level were held in March 2006 in New Delhi and again when Deputy US Trade Representative Karan Bhatia led a 25-member US government delegation to New Delhi in May 2006.
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Indian Army chief Gen. J.J. Singh Thursday inaugurated a rebuilt Kashmir village that had been destroyed in last year's devastating earthquake, saying it was important "to create a 'can do' spirit to make a better society".
"We want to improve the quality of life and provide basic necessities like education, healthcare, clean environment, employment opportunities to the youth and most importantly, to create a 'can do' spirit to make a better society," Singh said while addressing the locals after dedicating the border village of Tithwal in Kupwara district.
Tithwal, which was almost razed to the ground, was among the worst affected in the Oct 8 quake that killed some 1,500 people in Indian Kashmir and thousands more on the Pakistani-administered side.
"Seeing the plight of the village, during his visit in November last year, Singh had issued directions for its adoption and development as a model village," said a defence ministry statement.
"In accordance with this, the army assiduously preserved and literally resurrected Tithwal from its rubble. The army has created basic infrastructure like roads, a water supply scheme, street lighting and other amenities," it added.
Singh also gifted two minibuses, an ambulance and recreational assets like an amphitheatre to the village.
The project was completed in seven months. The village now has a state-of-the-art gymnasium, volleyball and basketball courts as well as a cricket ground.
"Apart from the physical reconstruction, the army has also endeavoured for social resurgence in the region and initiated various projects for women's empowerment and youth development.
"There are a number of vocational classes being run including in sewing, knitting, weaving and embroidery. For a recent recruitment drive, conducted in this part of the state for the first time on a special request of the locals, the army trained 75 boys - of whom 18 were selected to join the force," the statement said.
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (NNN-Bernama) Islam Hadhari (civilisational Islam), introduced by the Malaysian government as a model for development in the country, can serve as the best model for today's Islamic world in an effort to revive the glorious heritage of the ummah (Muslim community).
Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Najib Abdul Razak said to realise the vision, Malaysia was prepared to share its experiences with other Muslims on its achievements in modernising the nation, despite having a multi-racial society.
"Maybe with our experience, we could share our thoughts, energy and aspiration, in regaining the past glory of Islamic civilisation," he said in his keynote address at the national convention on Islam Hadhari here Friday.
The two-day convention, organised by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department, was attended by some 800 delegates from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei.
Najib said the Muslim world continued to lag behind non-Muslim nations such as North America, Europe and Japan which had fast developed, and also new economic giants such as India and China.
Overnight, India, had transformed into a global information technology centre, he said.
No thanks to the Muslim world's lackaidaisical attitude, their excellence in knowledge, renowned during the glorious Islamic civilisation, were eventually overtaken by the West, he said.
"We do not want to become Muslims who are narrow in our understanding of akhirat (hereafter) and neglecting world achievements," he said.
He said the Muslim community had long been weakened by the wrong teachings of Islam and the failure to understand the teachings as prescribed in the Quran.
He said Islam Hadhari, an effort to bring the ummah back to basics, also encouraged the Muslim community to be dynamic and progressive. According to Najib, various lessons contained in the Quran were timeless, citing Prophet Yunus' experience in living inside a fish as an example of how scientists had made it into reality by inventing submarines.
He said Islam Hadhari encouraged change in accordance with the times, including the need for the Muslims to empower themselves with knowledge such as information technology, which would help in preparations for the ummah's development.
"It also means preparing ourselves by upgrading our knowledge in sophisticated military hardware and software, in the present context," he said.
Najib said Islam Hadhari also emphasised the importance of bringing knowledge and exchange of ideas to the highest level.
"As such, I urge all Muslims and scholars in particular, to spearhead these efforts towards this transformation of the minds," he said.
The Islam Hadhari concept was also an approach for change in an effort to raise and revive the Muslims' dignity, he said.
More on Islam Hadhari :
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Japan has formally lifted a two-decade-old ban on Indian mangoes "after confirming that that there is no risk of infiltration of diseases and pests", said a government statement here Friday.
According to the statement, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has formally communicated the decision to the Indian government.
"Japan has formally lifted the ban on import of Indian mangoes in Japan on June 23, 2006, on the basis of the request by the Indian side, after confirming that there is no risk of infiltration of diseases and pests through previous scientific and technical examinations; and also getting acceptance through procedures like public hearing, public comment etc," the statement quoting the Japanese decision said.
In 1986, Japan banned the import of Indian mangoes because of suspected pest infestation by fruit flies.
Mango varieties that will now be imported by Japan include Alphonso, Banganapalli, Kesar, Langra, Chausa and Malika.
Applauding the decision, Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath said it would be a "major step forward in securing access to an important market for a major Indian agricultural product".
During his visit to Japan last week, Nath had taken up the case seriously after pursuing it for two years. A Japanese technical team had visited India earlier this year and was satisfied after inspection, the statement added.
Jammu, June 23 (IANS) Indian Army troops were surprised when they stumbled upon palmtops along with a huge quantity of arms and ammunition belonging to separatist militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district Friday.
This is the first time that security forces have found palmtops in possession of terrorists in the state, an army source said.
"A lot of data is stored in these palmtops - details of their operations, locations and code names of their compatriots and guides who led them from the Line of Control to the hinterland," said the source.
He added that forces were trying to decipher these details.
Earlier, militants used to jot down their plans on plain sheets and papers, but these days they seem to have switched to high-tech gadgets, which is a dangerous trend, he said.
Forces had earlier found that militants were using laptops and satellite phones.
Kuala Lumpur, June 23, IRNA , Muslim scholars from 53 countries supported the rights of Muslim nations in accessing peaceful nuclear technology.
In the final statement of the two-day Second International Conference of Islamic Scholars in Indonesian capital Jakarta, 320 Muslim scholars stressed the undeniable and inalienable right of all countries including Muslim nations in using nuclear power for research and development and other peaceful purposes.
They presented 37 proposals in the areas of globalization, regional conflicts, economic development, poverty eradication, educational promotion and social development.
Muslim scholars called for unity among Muslims and creating civil organizations in line with participation in economic and social affairs for observing the rights of Muslim communities.
They also demanded establishment an independent financial system for furthering cooperation among Muslim countries worldwide.
The conference ended Thursday.
London, June 23 (IANS) Scientists have developed a hand-held magnetic device to treat migraine, a form of headache that is usually very intense.
The hairdryer size-electronic gadget, developed by the California-based migraine specialist firm 'Neuralieve', is placed at the back of the head and uses a gentle pulse to disrupt the "electrical storm" which is believed to lead to migraines, reported the online edition of the Daily Mail.
The Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation device has been tested by a team of scientists based at the Ohio State University Medical Centre. It could be on sale in shops from autumn next year at a cost of 1,000 pounds with a further 15 pounds for each treatment.
"It releases electrical energy through a magnet, and this magnetic field then passes into the brain. This then interrupts the nerve signalling process which would otherwise result in a migraine," said Gary Story, president of Neuralieve.
More than two-thirds of patients who have been given the new treatment during trials claimed they experienced no pain or only slight discomfort two hours after first experiencing the onset of a headache.
"The idea was conceived about three years ago but finally we are able to build a device that people would be able to use at home," Story said.
One in eight people in Britain suffer from debilitating headaches and treatment costs the National Health Service one billion pounds each year.
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) In an effort to stem "misinformed speculation" about the civil nuclear deal with the US, India Friday asserted that the deal was about civil nuclear energy cooperation and not about enhancing its strategic capacity.
Ahead of the mark-up - a closer scrutiny of the bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement by US legislators next week - New Delhi also sought to remind some US Congressmen like Democratic Representative Tom Lantos who had tried to link the nuclear deal with its stand on the Iranian nuclear issue, saying that the deal was based strictly on mutual obligations.
"First of all, you must remember that our nuclear deal with the US is about civilian nuclear energy cooperation and not about our strategic programme," external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said. He was responding to media reports that quoted a top former intelligence official saying India would have the capacity to make 50 nuclear warheads a year under the deal.
"Under the deal, India shall retain six unsafeguarded reactors and have the capability to produce 50 nuclear warheads a year," Research and Analyses Wing (AW) former additional secretary J.K. Sinha had said in an article in the Indian Defence Review.
He had also said the assurance of nuclear fuel supply from the US and other Nuclear Suppliers Group countries would free India's existing capacity to produce highly enriched uranium and plutonium for its nuclear weapons programme.
"The argument that the nuclear deal with the US would enhance our strategic capacity is as misplaced as its opposite extreme - that it would cripple our programme," Sarna stressed.
"We believe that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has accurately summed up the situation in her Congressional testimony when she has noted that the nuclear deal would have no impact on our strategic programme. India remains committed to a credible minimum deterrent," he added.
Alluding to Lantos' remarks warning that India could jeopardize the nuclear deal if it sided with non-aligned states in backing Iran's atomic ambitions, the spokesperson said: "There have been a number of US Senators and Congressmen who have expressed different views concerning the Indo-US nuclear agreement."
"We have been negotiating the nuclear deal with the US administration on the premise that it is an agreement about civil nuclear energy cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit," he added.
The external affairs ministry reiterated the centrality of the separation plan of India's civilian and military facilities which was presented by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to parliament early this year and which forms the basis of the landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the US.
Islamabad, June 23 (IANS) Pakistan has concluded a $1.14 billion deal for the supply of a Swedish airborne radar system that will counter India's Phalcons and enhance air space security, which currently relies on ground based radars.
Swedish aerospace and defence company SAAB AB has finalised the deal to supply the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), media reports said.
The system includes SAAB 2000 turboprop aircraft equipped with airborne radars from Ericsson Microwave Systems. The air surveillance system can be used for both military and civilian purposes, such as helping coordinated relief flights after natural disasters.
The SAAB-Ericsson AWACS deal with Pakistan was first announced last October.
"This is a very important order for SAAB and it confirms our strong position in the world regarding airborne surveillance systems," SAAB Chief Executive Ake Svensson said in a statement Thursday.
The system will be able to play a significant part in the search and rescue operations and in logistic support, the company said.
The deal is a reflection on how Pakistan has been able to offset the heavy losses caused by last year's earthquake, which had forced it to temporarily postpone the long-awaited purchase of around US-built F-16 fighters, The News newspaper said.
Pakistan, however, agreed in April to purchase a scaled-down package of F-16s.
The airborne surveillance system together with existing ground-based radars is expected to provide more detailed pictures, enabling PAF to detect multifarious threats.
According to the Daily Times, SAAB said the Pakistan order would be included in its second-quarter earnings results.
SAAB had signed a contract to supply the airborne surveillance system to Pakistan in 2005.
Islamabad, June 23 (IANS) Two Pakistani Hindu journalists, accused of filming the Pakistan Air Force's Jacobabad base, have alleged torture by authorities who questioned them for 14 weeks after they said they mistakenly strayed into the security zone.
Mukesh Rupeta, reporter of The News newspaper and Geo TV, and his cameraman Sanjay Kumar were picked up on March 6.
Charged under the Official Secrets Act with unauthorised filming as well as forging passports and identity cards, they face seven years in jail if convicted, the Daily Times newspaper said in a dispatch from Sukkur, Sindh.
Rupeta broke down in the court, where he also met his family members. His counsel Ashok Kumar requested medical treatment for his client, which the Jacobabad civil court granted.
Rupeta was shifted to the prison ward of the Jacobabad civil hospital. Police said both men were handed over to the airport police on Wednesday night by law enforcement agencies.
He alleged that he had been mistreated and said the charges against him were false.
"I can't tell you what they have done to me. I thought I would be killed the way they treated me. I cannot tell you all from the lock-up," a weeping Rupeta said.
He told reporters after the court hearing that he wanted to film the planes flying from the Jacobabad air base after nearby residents reported hearing "strange sounds".
"I sent my cameraman just to take footage of the flying planes. But the cameraman mistakenly entered the prohibited area," Rupeta said. "It was simply a mistake... and should be pardoned."
Rupeta's brother Dr Ghanshaam accused intelligence agents of seizing the journalists at the base and holding them until Wednesday.
He said his brother appeared "very thin and weak" and had been tortured.
Cotabato City (Philippines), June 23 (DPA) At least five people were killed and several wounded when a bomb exploded Friday in front of a busy public market in a southern Philippine town.
The explosive was planted inside a passenger van, locally called a "multi-cab", which was parked near the market in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao province, 950 km south of Manila.
"The bomb was detonated as the convoy of Governor Andal Ampatuan passed by," said Norie Unas, provincial administrator. "The empty multi-cab was totally destroyed."
Senior Superintendent Akmad Mamalinta said one of the vehicles in the convoy was also destroyed, killing two aides, a niece and a close friend of Ampatuan. The other victims were bystanders and market buyers, he said.
Mamalinta said investigators were still determining the type of explosive used as well as the motive.
Authorities warned Thursday of plots by Islamic militants to launch bomb attacks in Manila and other key cities in the Philippines.
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) The government will take more steps to curb the price rise if the situation demands, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said here Friday, a day after a series of measures were announced to ease galloping prices of essential commodities.
"Monetary measures have been taken. We have taken some fiscal steps. Some action has also been taken on the import side. I am confident these steps will moderate inflation," the finance minister said.
"If necessary we will take further steps," he told reporters even as India's annual inflation rate based on wholesale prices breached the 5-percent mark to touch 5.24 percent for the week ended June 10 from 4.72 percent for the week before.
Chidambaram said the latest jump in the inflation rate was due to the recent hike in prices of fuels and said it should not pressure interest rates. "Don't go by one week's spurt," he said.
"When this government came into office, inflation was moving upwards. But we had said we will moderate inflation and we did so," the finance minister added.
To curb the rising prices of essential commodities, the government had Thursday allowed the private sector to import wheat and sugar. It also ordered a ban on the export of pulses.
The government said inflationary expectations would be dampened in the economy after the decisions that were aimed at handling the supply side constraints.
The finance minister said wheat, sugar and pulses were the three prime articles showing a rising price trend and driving the price rise. "As far as the prices of vegetables and fruits are concerned, there are always seasonal fluctuations."
Riyadh, June 23 (Xinhua) Six alleged Al Qaeda members were killed and one arrested in an operation carried out by Saudi security forces here Friday.
The Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement that one policeman was also killed when security forces attacked a hideout of seven members with "deviant thoughts", an official reference to Al Qaeda terrorists.
Six of the terrorists were killed and the seventh was injured and arrested following a heavy exchange of fire, the statement said.
It further said that the house was a hideout for crime, corruption and a base for the plots of aggression and outrage.
Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of fugitive Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, has stepped up its anti-terrorism campaign since the terrorist organisation allegedly waged suicide bombings against three residential compounds in Riyadh in 2003.
Kaiserslautern, June 23 (DPA) Gutierrez Juanito's first half goal helped Spain overcome Saudi Arabia 1-0 in their final Group H clash here Friday to qualify for the knockout stage of the World Cup as group winners
Islamabad, June 23 (IANS) The two-day talks between Pakistan and India on the contentious Wullar Barrage project in Jammu and Kashmir concluded inconclusively here Friday even as both the sides agreed to continue consultations for settling the issue.
According to a joint statement issued at the end of the talks, the two sides exchanged views on the project and had a better understanding of each other's views, Online News agency reported.
Both the sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Indus Waters Treaty 1960.
The dispute relates to a barrage India started building in 1984 on the Jhelum river, which runs through Jammu and Kashmir.
India wants to build the barrage across the mouth of the Wullar lake downstream from the Jhelum to make the river navigable during the dry season.
But Pakistan says it would be used to store water and would deprive its farms of irrigation water, violating the Indus Waters Treaty. Jhelum is a tributary of the Indus river.
Water and Power Secretary Ashfaq Mahmood led the Pakistani delegation while the Indian side was headed by Water Secretary J. Hari Narayan.
The two sides agreed to continue discussions during the next round of composite dialogue with a view to resolving the issue in accordance with the provisions of the treaty.
Narayan and the members of the Indian delegation also called on Pakistan's Water Resources Minister Liaqat Ali Jatoi.
Narayan said a breakthrough is expected only when an agreement or understanding is reached between the two countries. He said the two sides remained stuck to their respective positions on the issue.
On asked when there would be "real progress" in talks, he said: "There will be a breakthrough when there is a perfect understanding between the two sides."
India halted construction work in 1987 after Pakistan raised objection to its design, but it has not abandoned the project.
Dates for the next round of talks would be worked out through "diplomatic channels", Mahmood said.
Berlin, June 23 (DPA) List of teams that qualified by the end of Thursday for the round of the last 16 at the World Cup and those that have been knocked out:
Teams that have qualified for the next round:
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Ecuador
England
Germany
Ghana
Italy
Mexico
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Teams that have been knocked out of the World Cup ahead of their final group game:
Angola
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Iran
Ivory Coast
Japan
Paraguay
Poland
Serbia & Montenegro
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
USA
Dortmund, June 23 (DPA) Ronaldo bagged two goals to equal the World Cup record as Brazil beat a spirited Japanese side 4-1 to top Group F and face Ghana next Tuesday in the last 16.
The defeat left Japan group bottom with a single point.
Ronaldo's goals in first-half injury time and the 81st minute, levelling the 14-goal record of Germany's Gerd Mueller, were added to by goals from Juninho and Gilberto in the 53rd and 59th minutes.
Japan had opened the scoring against the run of play through Keiji Tamada in the 34th minute, but after that shock Brazil turned on the style in the second half with changes of pace and clever passing.
The first half was lit up by Japan's goal, and they went on to attack determinedly - only to see their hopes of progressing in the tournament at that point through a second goal dashed.
The big surprise had come in the 34th minute when Tamada was released by a pass from Alex, which caught Lucio on the hop.
The Nagoya Grampus Eight striker timed his run perfectly to hammer home the first World Cup goal conceded by Brazil since England's against them in the 2002 quarter final.
Japan's boosted self-confidence saw them stage several more raids involving Tamada and strike partner Seiichiro Maki after good midfield service.
But Ronaldo was to deflate Japanese euphoria seconds before the break, heading in off a headed Cicino cross from the right.
With Brazil already through to the next round, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira had left seasoned defenders and midfielders Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Emerson, Ze Roberto and Adriano on the bench.
Japan's Brazilian coach Zico had brought in Tamada and Maki as strike partners instead of Naohiro Takahara and Atsushi Yanagisawa.
Japan were grateful earlier on for several great saves by their goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi - including a 17th minute Robinho shot and one in the 20th by Ronaldo.
Japan were also finding a route to the Brazilian goal mainly down the right through Akira Kaji, who in one foray forced a 24th-minute desperate clearance from Gilberto da Silva.
Then in the 53rd minute Juninho hammered home Brazil's second goal, a long-distance shot that left Kawaguchi looking hapless as it thundered past his right side. From then on, Japan looked lost.
Gilberto made it 3-1 in the 59th minute when a wonderful through ball from Ronaldinho on the left let him run at Kawaguchi's goal and coolly slot home.
Brazil were by now well in control, and by the 71st minute Parreira was able to take off his star midfielders Kaka and Ronaldinho.
The 81st minute then saw Ronaldo equal Gerd Mueller's 14-goal record, right-footing the ball into net after a delightful one-two with Juan inside the penalty area.
Japan almost pulled one back in the dying seconds when Shunsuke Nakamura lunged at an Alex cross from the left.
Berlin, June 23 (DPA) Andriy Shevchenko's penalty made easy Ukraine's triumph over Tunisia 1-0 to secure qualification to the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup, in a Group H match Friday here.
Washington, June 23 (IANS) With the Bush administration set against "deal breaker" moves in the US Congress, the Senate foreign relations committee will review an original bill on the India-US nuclear deal on June 28.
A business meeting of the Senate committee, coming a day after a review of a separate supporting bill by a panel of the lower house, will consider and vote on a new bill "to exempt from certain requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 US exports to India of nuclear materials, equipment and technology".
That the Senate panel is considering an original bill rather than the one moved on March 16 by the panel chairman Richard Lugar and five others is indicative that the Bush administration is close to building a consensus over a bi-partisan legislation that would avoid going back to the negotiating table.
Vice President Richard Cheney's remarks at the US-India Business Council's leadership summit, making a forceful plea for a quick Congressional approval of the deal as it is and expression of confidence that it will receive the strong bipartisan support, is another pointer that the deal is on track.
While the Bush administration is not averse to the Congress adding "its own ideas to the bill", its pointsman on the deal has made it clear that it would "favour, support, a majority vote, a straight up and down vote in the Congress at the end of the process" on the India nuclear deal.
As Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns told a forum on the deal, organised by Congressional Task Force on US-India Trade and US India Business Alliance, the administration is not willing to renegotiate the deal.
Because of the interplay between the Congress and the administration, a stronger bill had emerged and "we are optimistic that this legislation can now go forward," Burns said, describing it as an "opportunity to have bipartisan victory for the American people".
The crucial legislation has already won critical public support from the heads of the foreign relations panels of the two houses with Lugar warning that a Congressional rejection or delay in approving the deal risks wasting a critical opportunity to give a new post cold war direction to the American foreign policy.
The bill before the senate panel has emerged after the State Department responded to close to 200 questions on the deal and meetings with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Nick Burns and other officials besides several experts outside the government.
The chairman of the International committee of the House of Representatives, Henry Hyde, who himself introduced the enabling legislation in the house on March 16, 2006, too has expressed his willingness to push the bill through.
An open meeting of the House of Representatives Committee on International Relations has been called on June 27 for the purpose of marking up or fine tuning a bill that would allow the US to share its nuclear know-how with India provided New Delhi meets a set of seven conditions and refrains from detonating a nuclear explosive device.
The Bush administration is keen that the foreign relations panels of the two houses finish their review process before the month end as Congress would be on a week-long recess from July 4. It would then have just about a fortnight to push the deal through Congress as it again goes for a month-long summer work break around July 27.
By Arun Kumar, Washington, June 23 (IANS) The United States has asked India to remove its remaining restrictions on foreign direct investment, reduce tariffs on agricultural and industrial products and strengthen the protection for intellectual property rights.
The last five years had seen a completely transformed relationship between India and the US, said Vice President Richard Cheney in an address to the US-India Business Council's (USIBC's) 31st Anniversary Leadership Summit here Thursday. Despite this tremendous success, there was much more that can be done to expand their trade relationship, he said.
Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath was present along with American and Indian captains of industry.
Asking India to show the same reform-minded leadership by pressing for the conclusion of an ambitious agreement this year at the Doha Round as it had done in opening its markets to trade and capital investment, Cheney said there were very encouraging signs in a consensus building in India towards greater economic reform.
The consequences in new opportunities, new markets and new wealth add up to a bright economic future for India's people and the country's trading partners. But there was also some anxiety in the United States over the outsourcing of jobs to India posing a challenge to policymakers, the vice president said.
"If we turn our backs on other countries, we can expect them to respond in kind," Cheney told the gathering. He ruled out protectionism as an option.
There are far better ways to answer the challenge of outsourcing, Cheney said suggesting that the US focus on job training and educational excellence so that it can prepare its citizens to fill the good, knowledge-based, high-wage jobs of the 21st century.
With a middle class of 300 million people - more than the entire population of the United States - India is one of the fastest-growing markets for American goods and services, he said, noting that US exports to India grew by more than 30 percent last year alone.
In addition, American companies that have research centres in India have become more competitive worldwide. From almost every angle one looks at, bilateral trade relationship with India brings tremendous benefits to both countries. That relationship is vital for reasons of economic progress, national security and global stability, he said.
In his keynote address on the theme of "Implementing the US-India Strategic Partnership", Nath voiced India's commitment to ongoing economic reforms and hoped trade between India and the US would double in the next three years.
Besides attending the USIBC summit and the US-India Trade Policy Forum, Nath met US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, and World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz in Washington. He also delivered a talk on the Doha round at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.