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Robles disqualified to hand Richardson hurdles gold
Japan PM Naoto Kan and his cabinet resign
Iran denies role in Syria crackdown
Tripoli badly torn by conflict
Iran ready to continue talks with IAEA
Meeting under Zardari disowns Mirzas allegations
Heavy rain in Karachi and other parts of Sindh
Karachi: Police used tear gas to disperse protesters
Karachi: Bomb diffused in Lyari
Libyan rebels say Gaddafis son Khamis dead
IHK literary festival off over fear of violence
4 killed in Muslims, Christians clashes in Nigeria
Clinton to attend Libya meeting in Paris this week
Syrian forces kill 6 as Russian envoy visits
26 militants, 10 soldiers killed in Yemen fighting

Robles disqualified to hand Richardson hurdles gold

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Dayron Robles was disqualified at the at the world athletics championships to hand Jason Richardson the world championship gold medal in the men s 110-metre hurdles. Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles was stripped of gold and glory at the world athletics championships in Daegu, South Korea in a twist every bit as dramatic as Usain Bolt s disqualification from the blue riband 100 metres sprint the night before.  The muscular world record-holder was disqualified after a physical track tussle in the 110 metres hurdles final with China s Liu Xiang. Robles bumped Liu in an epic race between the three fastest hurdlers of all time -- America s David Oliver finished fifth -- and crossed the line first ahead of American Jason Richardson. The Chinese protested, however, and though world athletics governing body the IAAF did not rule out the race being re-run, Richardson has gold as it stands with Liu in silver and Britain s Andy Turner lifted to bronze. Allyson Felix of the United States dreams of completing an unprecedented women s 200-400m double at a worlds disappeared when she was beaten in the 400 final by Amantle Montsho, the first Botswanan to win a world championship gold. Montsho raced across the line in a time of 49.56 seconds with Felix just three-hundreths of a second behind. Anastasiya Kapachinskaya won bronze for Russia. Carmelita Jeter put a smile back on the faces of Team USA in the night s last final, racing to gold in the women s 100 metres. She finished in 10.90 seconds, beating Jamaica s Veronica Campbell-Brown by 0.07 seconds with Trinidadian Kelly-Ann Baptiste third. Earlier, South African double-amputee Oscar Pistorius bowed out of the championships after failing to qualify for the 400 metres final. In the field events, Koji Murofushi earned a surprise gold medal in the hammer with a throw of 81.24 metres to give Japan its first title of the world championships. Murofushi s mark was six centimetres better than that of Hungarian Krisztian Pars, and Slovenian Primoz Kozmus, who won gold in Berlin two years ago, had to settle for the bronze. Valerie Adams of New Zealand won her third successive shot title with a championship record of 21.24 metres in the final round. Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus was second with 20.05 followed by American Jillian Camarena-Williams on 20.02. There was drama in the men s pole vault when Russian Dmitry Starodubtsev s pole snapped, leaving him sprawled on the landing area clutching his chest, though he was able to eventually able to walk away, wincing in pain. The competition was won by Poland s Pawel Wojciechowski s clearance at the second attempt of 5.90 metres, beating into second place Lazaro Borges who needed three attempts to clear the same height. Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie took third on 5.85 metres.

Japan PM Naoto Kan and his cabinet resign

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Japan s Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his cabinet resigned on Tuesday, making way for Yoshihiko Noda, the outgoing finance minister, to be confirmed by parliament as the new premier later in the day. At the end of an extraordinary cabinet meeting, the outgoing trade and industry minister Banri Kaieda confirmed to reporters that the entire group of ministers had stepped down, saying "Yes, all of them".

Iran denies role in Syria crackdown

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Iran s government has denied allegations it is playing a role in Syria s bloody crackdown on political opposition.  But reports in the international press continue to contend that Iran is helping Syria militarily. Iran s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, said that Tehran is “not intervening” to help Syria s government repress its people. He described as "baseless," allegations from the European Union that the Quds Brigade of Iran s Revolutionary Guards is involved in the Syrian crackdown. During a news conference last week, Mehmanparast urged other countries “not to intervene in Syria s internal political crisis.”  Reports in the Arab and international press have accused both Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, of helping Syrian authorities deal with the popular uprising. Former Iranian President Abolhassan Bani Sadr, now an exiled opponent of Iran s government, is among those who say Iran and Hezbollah are helping Syria in the crackdown. He says the Iranian regime is helping Syria in every possible way.  He says he has information that 3,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards and 2,200 Hezbollah fighters are working with the Syrian government.  But he contends that Saudi Arabia is also intervening in Syria - on the opposition side. Hilal Khashan, who teaches political science at the American University of Beirut, says Iran is in fact starting to distance itself from the Syrian regime, anticipating that it may fall.  He notes that Iran s Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, urged Syria last week to address its people s “legitimate demands.” “The fact that the Iranians are beginning to talk to the Syrians and telling the regime to accommodate the  legitimate demands of the Syrian people  means that they are concluding that the regime in Damascus is unsalvageable. In the long run, the regime will collapse,” he said. Khashan also says Iran has been trying to mend fences with the Gulf Arab states, perhaps as a prelude to a policy shift on Syria.  He notes that Iran s foreign minister met with the leader of Qatar last week to discuss developments in Syria. “The Iranians are trying to find alternatives and that s why the Iranians are trying also to mend fences with the countries of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). A few days ago, the Emir of Qatar visited Tehran and the visit had to do with the beginning of the careful shift of the Iranian position vis-a-vis Syria,” Khashan stated. Khashan says both Iran and neighboring Turkey are major regional power brokers, and that each country is working to change its policy toward Syria, slowly.  He says it s impossible for them to change their policy 180 degrees overnight, but that "they are preparing for it.”

Tripoli badly torn by conflict

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The Libyan conflict has taken its toll on the capital city, while Tripoli endured heavy fighting and frequent NATO bombardments over the past months. The rebel fighters now have full control of the capital, with Gaddafi s image banished for good. Life is tough for the city s people, many of whom are still searching for relatives who went missing in the fighting. At Brigade 32 in Salahadin, the proud eagle is still sitting over the gate, but Gaddafi s crack troops are gone. Down a dusty dirt road in Abu Salim District lies a makeshift mass grave. There are 17 bodies, some local residents who are not affiliated to either side. While asked about the corpses left in the dirt, a rebel said they are the work of the retreating Gaddafi troops. However, nobody understood what he meant. Its pointlessness seemed to add to the grief. And with all Gaddafi s forces banished from the Libyan capital, curious locals crowded into the former leader s palace that had been forbidden for so long. The rooms were destroyed by the fight, while the walls were daubed with graffiti. A rebel fighter said that the Libyan people had reclaimed this house as their own, because its former owner scuttled away like a rat. In the courtyard the fighters loose of rounds, but the gunfire now is the sound of victory, in a city that is looking forward to peace.

Iran ready to continue talks with IAEA

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Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Director Fereydoun Abbasi has said that Tehran is ready to continue talks on the issues or questions raised recently by the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA) about Iran’s nuclear programme if the agency takes a serious step to resolve dispute over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear issue. “We have asked them to submit a number of their claims and provide supporting evidence and documentation so that we examine the matter,” Abbasi said.  He insisted Iran will address new questions on the condition that the IAEA takes a serious step and shows it has the authority to resolve the issue. He added, “The IAEA should change the language of its reports on Iran because the Islamic Republic sees this language as unacceptable.” Moreover, Abbasi said Iran will only examine a limited number of questions about its nuclear programme. “During our negotiations with IAEA officials, we made it clear that if talks are to be held on this issue, there should be a limit on their claims… because if new claims are put forward, certain member countries, which are opposed to our peaceful nuclear activities, will find an opportunity to raise news issues and fabricate new documents,” the nuclear chief explained.

Meeting under Zardari disowns Mirzas allegations

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A meeting of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders from Sindh was held in the Presidency Monday night to discuss the latest situation in Karachi in particular and Sindh in general. The meeting was presided over by party’s Co-chairman President Asif Ali Zardari. The meeting termed Mirza’s allegations an unacceptable violation of party discipline and contrary to the policy of reconciliation as envisaged by Benazir Bhutto. The meeting also reiterated its resolve to continue the policy of reconciliation. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, Mir Nadir Magsi, Sharjeel Memon, Manzoor Hussain Wassan, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Agha Siraj Durrani and Abdul Qadir Patel. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah, Qamar  Zaman Kaira, Ms. Rukhsana Bangash and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar were also present. Provincial President of PPP and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah also informed the meeting that he had taken action against Zulfikar Mirza and that his resignation had been accepted. Chief Minister Sindh also briefed the meeting about the current drive against criminal elements in Karachi, the steps taken thus far and plans for the future. He also highlighted the results of the drive thus far. Talking to the media about the meeting Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting endorsed the steps taken by the provincial government and called upon all political forces and citizens to support the provincial government in fighting lawlessness in the city. He said that the meeting reiterated resolve of the government to maintain law and order in Karachi at all cost and rid the metropolitan city of extortionists, criminals and lawless elements. The meeting said that the ongoing operation against criminal elements will continue regardless of political affiliations of the lawless elements till the restoration of peace in the city.

Heavy rain in Karachi and other parts of Sindh

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Heavy rain was recorded in different parts of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the past 24 hours. Weather turned pleasant in Karachi and other areas after showers. 53mm rain was recorded in Mithi in Sindh. According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, heavy rains are expected in most parts of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir from Tuesday to Sunday. The PMD source said that most parts of Sindh will receive heavy rain in the next 24 hours while there are chances of rain in upper Punjab, Bahawalpur and Hazara Division. Meanwhile, Disaster Management Authority has been put on high alert in Sindh due to fear of floods after expected heavy rains in the coming few days.

Karachi: Police used tear gas to disperse protesters

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According to details, the KESC employees staged a protest demonstration in front of head office against non-payment of salaries. The guards of the KESC Head Office open fire on the protesters when they tried to enter to office, which resulted in injuries to six people. The firing by guards infuriated protesters and they pelted stones on KESC vehicles. The protesters also set ablaze a police mobile van. Police and Rangers reached the spot and resorted to shooting in the air and also used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters.

Karachi: Bomb diffused in Lyari

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According to details, bomb was fixed in a motorcycle near Maulvi Usman Park. Police and bomb disposal squad reach the spot and diffused the bomb. According to bomb disposal squad, weight of the bomb was 1.5 kilogram and it was planted near battery of the motorcycle.

Libyan rebels say Gaddafis son Khamis dead

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A rebel minister said a son of Moamer Gaddafi, Khamis, whose death was announced several times since Libya s conflict erupted but was never confirmed, was killed south of Tripoli and buried on Monday. "One of the rebel leaders confirmed to me that Khamis was killed somewhere near Tarhuna, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Tripoli," the opposition justice and human rights minister Mohammed al-Allagy said.

IHK literary festival off over fear of violence

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The festival was to be staged September 24-26 in Srinagar, Kashmir s main city, but organisers said Monday that it had been called off after some local and Indian authors and filmmakers wrote an open letter in protest. "Holding such a festival would dovetail with the state s concerted attempt to portray that all is normal in Kashmir," read the letter, signed among others by leading Kashmiri writers Basharat Peer and Mirza Waheed. Opponents have set up a Facebook page to argue against the festival, saying there is no freedom of speech in Kashmir. Anti-India sentiments run high in the region, which has been wracked by a deadly insurgency against New Delhi s rule since 1989. Cancelling the event, organisers said that many participants "have voiced their concerns about possible violence during the festival due to the heightened nature of the debate, and a call for protest at the venues". "We neither have the desire to be responsible for yet more unrest in the valley nor to propagate mindless violence in the name of free speech," a statement said. "We are therefore left with little alternative but to cancel the festival for now." Those arranging the literary festival are also responsible for a similar event held each January in India s "pink city" of Jaipur. The Jaipur festival this year gave pride of place to Indian Kashmir, whose literature has been marked by more than two decades of rebel violence. Muslim-majority Kashmir has a rich literary tradition dating back to the 14th century, but few outsiders are familiar with works from the region because much of it has never been translated. But an increasing number of Kashmiri books are now appearing in English as interest grows. Organisers made it clear that they had not invited Salman Rushdie, as was reported in some media.

4 killed in Muslims, Christians clashes in Nigeria

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Clashes broke out between Christians and Muslims in tense central Nigeria on Monday, with witnesses reporting four deaths while several vehicles and at least two shops set ablaze. "There are casualties, but the police will give that later," said Yiljap Abraham, information commissioner for Plateau state, without specifying if anybody was killed. Plateau state Police Commissioner Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni confirmed there had been some fighting. "There were some skirmishes among the worshippers ... The matter has been put under control," he said. Witnesses and local religious figures claimed varying numbers of deaths, but police could not immediately confirm them. Musa Shuaibu, chairman of the local chapter of Jama atu Nasril Islam, an umbrella body for Nigerian Muslims, said "so far we have recovered three dead bodies and our search teams are still looking for more dead and injured." Witnesses said that a group of Muslims had gone to a prayer ground in the city of Jos, the capital of Plateau state, to mark the end of Ramazan when they were surrounded by residents of the Christian-dominated neighbourhood. The residents would not allow them to leave and violence resulted, with motorcycles and cars burnt. Gunshots could be heard, possibly from soldiers firing into the air in a bid to clear the crowds. A witness said Christians involved in the clashes spoke of preventing Muslims from marking their holiday in revenge for a string of bombs that exploded in Jos on Christmas Eve last year. Soldiers evacuated the Muslims who had gone to pray from the area. Jos and the surrounding area has been hit by waves of violence between Christian and Muslim ethnic groups that have left hundreds dead in recent years.

Clinton to attend Libya meeting in Paris this week

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Clinton and other top officials from countries backing NATO operations over Libya will meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss ways to help the Libyan opposition now that they have taken control of Tripoli. The International Contact Group on Libya will be gathering for the fifth time since the uprising began in January and for the first time since Tripoli fell last week to opponents of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. At the top of the agenda will be getting billions of dollars in frozen Gadhafi government assets to the rebels.

Syrian forces kill 6 as Russian envoy visits

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Syrian security forces killed six people, activists said as a Russian envoy visited Damascus and the EU moved to ban oil imports from the country over its brutal crackdown on protesters. A child was among five people killed when troops and security forces opened fire during search operations in the Sarmin district of northwestern Idlib province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. One person died when part of his home was levelled as forces raked houses in Sarmin with heavy machine-gun fire, said the head of the Britain-based Observatory, Rami Abdel Rahman. At least 60 people were also wounded in Sarmin and six houses were partly destroyed, he said. A sixth person was killed when security forces raided his home at dawn in the town of Qara outside Damascus during an arrest operation, the Local Coordination Committees reported. Around 10 trucks and armoured vehicles rumbled into Qara, said the group which organises anti-regime protests and has militants on the ground across Syria. It said about 40 people whose names were on a "wanted list" were detained. Meanwhile, troops backed by tanks and personnel carriers early on Monday stormed the village of Hit, two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the border with Lebanon, south of the central city of Homs, Abdel Rahman said. Witnesses across the border said dozens of Syrian refugees poured into northern Lebanon on Monday as gunfire was heard and smoke billowed over the frontier. The latest bloodshed came as a senior Russian envoy said after talks in Damascus on Monday that there was no change in Moscow s policy on Syria which has been opposed to Western calls for sanctions, Syrian state media said. "Russia s position on Syria is unchanged," deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov was quoted as saying. "The envoy affirmed his country s support for the reforms launched by Syria in the political and economic fields and expressed hope that its security and stability would be maintained," the agency added. The Russian envoy, who held talks with both President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, underlined the "importance of continued coordination between the two countries in all fields." Moscow staunchly opposes attempts by Western governments to push through a UN Security Council resolution targeting Assad, and has circulated an alternative draft urging Syria to expedite reforms. Britain, France, Germany, Portugal and the United States drew up their draft resolution last week but Russia and China have refused to attend informal talks on the document. The European Union reached an agreement in principle to ban oil imports from Syria to punish the regime for its crackdown on protesters, diplomats said.

26 militants, 10 soldiers killed in Yemen fighting

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Yemen military officials said Monday, the latest battle left 10 soldiers and 26 militants dead in a government campaign to retake territory from al-Qaida-linked fighters, . Another 38 militants and about 30 soldiers were wounded in the clashes that took place near the city of Dufas in the southern province of Abyan, they said. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations, said the fighting took place over the past 24 hours. Among the military dead was a colonel. The US and other Western powers have looked on with concern as al-Qaida gains a strong foothold in southern Yemen. The US considers the Yemen spur of al-Qaida as one of the most active in worldwide terror. The "Christmas bomber" who tried to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear on a plane as it landed in Detroit in December 2009 was said to have been trained in Yemen. Yemen has been wracked by internal conflict for months over popular protests demanding the resignation of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The al-Qaida militants have taken advantage of that to take control of several towns and districts in the southern part of the country. Saleh is still in Saudi Arabia, recovering from severe wounds suffered in a June attack on his palace but refusing to resign despite heavy international pressure, leaving the nation in political limbo. Even so, the Yemeni military has stepped up its attacks against the Islamist militants in recent weeks, killing dozens. The largest battle over the past day erupted when militants intercepted government troops advancing on Dufas, with dozens of casualties on both sides. Dufas is just west of Abyan s provincial capital of Zinjibar, where militants have driven out tens of thousands of residents. They have taken refuge in nearby cities. Officials said warplanes attacked militant bases late Monday afternoon in areas around Zinjibar. Also, military officials said army units were advancing toward militant positions in al-Mutalaa, eight miles (13 kilometres) from Zinjibar. Mohammed Nasser, a resident of al-Code, a town near Zinjibar, said the military was bombing the area heavily, setting fire to militants  vehicles and equipment.

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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

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