Dunya TV

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• Malaysian regime wins polls, Anwar alleges fraud
• 10 dead as Bangladesh Islamists demand blasphemy law
• Turkey, Israel to meet Monday on raid compensation
• Messi edges Barcelona closer to title
• Palestinian leader Abbas in China for State visit
• Libya adopts law barring Gaddafi-era officials
• Wawrinka beats Ferrer to clinch Portugal title
• Federer raring to go after two-month break
• Chelsea edge United to close on Champions League
• Golf: Ernst downs Lynn in playoff as Mickelson fades
• Aamir Atlas wins final to become Asian Champion
• Nawaz, Imran acting like Taliban spokesmen: Kaira
• Sethi takes notice of police violence against PTI workers
• Thousands take to Paris streets against Hollande
• Egypt, Arab League slams Israeli air strikes on Syria

Malaysian regime wins polls, Anwar alleges fraud Posted: KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia's ruling coalition retained its 56-year hold on power in hard-fought elections Sunday, but a bitter opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said the polls were tainted by fraud and refused to concede.The ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition led by Prime Minister Najib Razak ceded just two seats in the election to end at 133, maintaining a firm majority of the 222-member parliament.But he became the first leader of the regime, which has controlled Malaysia since independence in 1957, to win with a minority of the popular vote.Najib, 59, called for a spirit of reconciliation but rejected any challenge to the outcome of the polls, marked by record voter turnout and a fierce campaign that laid bare deep polarisation in the country.This is the decision of the people, he told cheering supporters in the capital Kuala Lumpur.But Anwar was in no mood to concede after the hopes of his three-party Pakatan Rakyat (People's Pact) alliance were dashed by a tide of late results in favor of the ruling coalition that Anwar calls corrupt and oppressive.It is an election that we consider fraudulent and the EC (Election Commission) has failed, an exhausted-looking Anwar told reporters.The opposition ended with 89 seats, an increase of 14, largely at the expense of non-aligned candidates.Voters took to the Internet on Sunday in droves to accuse Barisan and the EC of trying to steal the election, as indelible ink that Najib touted as a guarantee against voter fraud was found to easily wash off.Videos, pictures and first-hand accounts of purportedly foreign voters being confronted at polling centres by angry citizens also went viral online.Anwar had earlier alleged a scheme to fly tens of thousands of dubious and possibly foreign voters to sway the outcome in key constituencies.Opposition officials said Pakatan would explore legal avenues over such allegations, but it was believed to have no recourse to block the results.Najib was believed to be facing a possible leadership challenge within his ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Barisan's dominant force, if he failed to regain seats lost to Pakatan in 2008 polls.But while he failed to do so, Barisan basically held firm, and even gained back one of four states held by the opposition. Malaysia has 13 states.Najib is secure for at least another term, said James Chin, a research fellow with Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.Facing rising public pressure for reform, Najib has responded with some limited liberalisation moves widely criticised as cosmetic steps that avoid deep change.He had called on voters to give him a mandate to pursue a reform agenda.Election authorities said a record 80 percent of the multi-ethnic country's 13 million registered voters -- or more than 10 million people -- had turned out Sunday.Barisan's clear majority come on just 49 percent of the vote, according to tallies by independent online media. Critics say Barisan's gerrymandering, and tinkering with seat apportionment, have allowed it to win greater seat numbers than are reflected in the popular vote.Sunday's outcome raised the spectre of an end to the remarkable career of the charismatic Anwar. Now 65, he vowed earlier to step aside as opposition leader if Pakatan failed to unseat the government.Anwar was Barisan's deputy premier until his ouster in a 1998 power struggle with then-premier Mahathir Mohamad and jailing for six years on sex charges widely viewed as trumped up, events that deeply polarised Malaysian politics.Anwar later brought his pan-racial appeal to the once-divided opposition, dramatically reversing its fortunes with pledges to combat corruption and reform controversial affirmative-action policies for majority Malays.But Najib's ethnic Malay-dominated regime retains powerful advantages, including control of traditional media and key institutions.

10 dead as Bangladesh Islamists demand blasphemy law Posted: DHAKA (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of Islamists demanding a new blasphemy law on Sunday blocked highways and fought running battles with police, leaving 10 people dead and hundreds injured in the Bangladeshi capital.Chanting Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) and One point, One demand: Atheists must be hanged, activists from the hardline Hefajat-e-Islam marched along at least six highways, blocking transport between Dhaka and other cities.Police said about 200,000 people had marched to central Dhaka, where fierce clashes erupted between thousands of rock-throwing protesters and security officials, with police beating back demonstrators with batons.At least 100,000 protesters, blocked the road at Tongi town, which connects Dhaka with the northern region, local police chief Ismail Hossain told AFP.Witnesses said rioting broke out after police tried to intercept stick-wielding protesters, most travelling from remote villages, in front of the countrys largest mosque. Trouble then spread to central districts of Dhaka.Police inspector Mozammel Haq said three dead were brought to Dhaka Medical College and seven others taken to two private clinics including six at the Al Baraka Hospital.All six have bullet wounds in their heads, Al Baraka administrative officer Shahjahan Siraj told AFP by telephone.Police would only say rubber bullets were used in the clashes, but witnesses and local media said hundreds of live rounds were fired by security forces to disperse the rampaging Islamists, who torched a police station, scores of vehicles and shops.Dozens of small bombs exploded, leaving smoke hanging in the air around the mosque as clashes continued late Sunday night.One policeman suffered serious head injuries after he was beaten by protesters, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene.M. Adnan, an emergency doctor at Islami Bank Hospital, told AFP nearly 300 protesters were treated in its two branches.A senior police officer who declined to be named told AFP between 150,000 and 200,000 demonstrators marched to Motijheel, Dhakas main commercial district, where they continued to rally even after midnight.This government does not have faith in Allah. This is an atheist government, we will not allow them to live in Bangladesh. Muslims are brothers, we must protect Islam, one protester was seen chanting.The protest was staged as the country was recovering from its worst industrial disaster, which saw at least 620 people killed when a factory building collapsed just outside the capital on April 24.Hefajat, a newly created radical Islamist group, is demanding the death penalty for those who defame Islam.

Turkey, Israel to meet Monday on raid compensation Posted: ANKARA (AFP) - Turkish and Israeli officials will meet on Monday in Israel for another round of talks over compensation for a deadly 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, a diplomatic source told AFP.The second round of negotiations will be held in Israel tomorrow, the source said on Sunday, without elaborating.An initial meeting was held in Ankara on April 22 to discuss the amount and the terms of the payment for the compensation by Israel, which Turkey has named as a precondition for normalisation of diplomatic ties.That meeting was the first stage of what Turkish officials have said would be a multi-step diplomatic process that could finally reinstate bilateral ties between the former allies.Monday's talks will see Turkish diplomats officially visit Israel for the first time in three years since Israeli commandos staged a botched pre-dawn raid on an aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip, killing nine Turkish nationals.An Israeli official told AFP the Israeli side would be led by national security adviser Yaakov Amidror and special liason for Turkish reconciliation Joseph Ciechanover.The two teams will discuss moving forward towards full normalisation of relations, he said, without providing any further details.Following the first round of talks, Ankara had said initial parameters were set and a framework was established, but the amount was still to be discussed.The maritime assault severely wrecked relations between the regional allies, with Ankara demanding a formal apology and compensation for the families of the raid victims, as well as the lifting of an Israeli blockade on Gaza.Compensation talks finally began in late March, after Israel extended a formal apology to Turkey to get the rocky relations back on track.

Messi edges Barcelona closer to title Posted: MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi came off the bench to move Barcelona to within two points of clinching the La Liga title with a 4-2 win over Real Betis at Camp Nou on Sunday.Dorlan Pabon and Ruben Perez had twice given the visitors the lead in the first-half either side of Alexis Sanchezs equaliser.However, after David Villa had once again levelled the scores, it was unsurprisingly left to Messi to decide matters as within three minutes of coming on he fired in a wonderful free-kick and then was on hand to tap home at the end of a flowing move involving Sanchez and Andres Iniesta.Following their humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek, that sealed a record 7-0 aggregate defeat, Barca started in the worst possible fashion.A goal kick from Jose Manuel Pinto was headed back towards the Barca goal by Jorge Molina and avoided everyone on its way through to Pabon who finished confidently into Pintos right-hand corner.The lead only lasted six minutes as Iniesta turned wonderfully on the left and delivered a tantalising ball into the middle which Sanchez bulleted home with his head to register his sixth league goal of the season.Molina then headed just wide as Betis broke dangerously, but Barca went onto dominate for large periods of the first-half and would have been well in front but for some poor finishing from Villa.Spains all-time record goalscorer inexplicably blazed over from six yards after being teed up perfectly by Iniesta and Xavi on 23 minutes.And five minutes later Villa passed up another great opportunity as this time Cristian Tello sped to the byline and cut the ball back only for Villa to place his side-footed effort too close to Adrian.Tello was then desperately unlucky as he cut in from the left and rocketed a shot that came off the underside off the bar that didnt quite fully cross the line on its way back out.However, Betis were back in front two minutes before half-time as Perez found the top corner with a glorious strike from fully 30 yards.The game was turned on its head again within 15 minutes of the restart though as Villa finally got his name on the scoresheet as he took advantage of incredibly slack Betis defending to head home Dani Alves cross before being replaced by Messi.And it took the World Player of the Year just three minutes to make his mark on the game with a sumptuous free-kick that curled into Adrians top left-hand corner.That goal ensured Messi continued his streak of scoring in 21 consecutive league games and he so nearly repeated the trick with another free-kick that struck the bar nine minutes later.But the Argentine soon did have his second of the evening thanks an outrageously good Barca move as an Iniesta backheel released Sanchez and he laid the ball back across goal for Messi to roll into an empty net.

Palestinian leader Abbas in China for State visit Posted: BEIJING (AFP) - Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a state visit, official media said, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also set to meet Chinese leaders later this week.Abbas will stay in China through Tuesday, the state news agency Xinhua reported, while Netanyahu is due to arrive in the financial hub of Shanghai on Monday for two days and then visit Beijing until Friday.Abbas told Xinhua he plans to update Chinese leaders about obstacles to Israeli-Palestinian talks and ask them to use its relationship with Israel to remove the obstacles that obstruct the Palestinian economy.Of his overlapping visit with the Israeli leader Netanyahu, he said: It is a good opportunity that the Chinese listen to both of us.Netanyahu is expected to seek greater Chinese backing for tougher sanctions against Iran in an attempt to slow its nuclear programme, which Israel and western states suspect is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.Iran has repeatedly denied that claim.China belongs to the P51 group of nations -- the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany -- that has been pressing Iran over its nuclear programme. It is also one of the biggest customers for Irans oil.Beijing has traditionally remained distant from Middle Eastern affairs, though in recent years it has begun to take a more active diplomatic role.

Libya adopts law barring Gaddafi-era officials Posted: TRIPOLI (AFP) - Libyas General National Congress on Sunday, under pressure from armed militias, voted through a controversial law to exclude former regime officials from government posts.Gunmen who had surrounded the foreign and justice ministries to press for officials from the regime of the late dictator Moamer Gaddafi to be sacked from top government jobs lifted the sieges when state television broke the news, they told AFP.The GNC, Libyas top political body, adopted the text with 115 votes in favour of the key article in the controversial law barring Gaddafi-era officials from having any political role in Libya.Under the law, all those who occupied key official posts from September 1, 1969 when Gaddafi took power, until the fall of the regime in October 2011 will be excluded from government for five years.The proposal for the law caused a stir among Libyas political elite, as senior members of the government could be affected, including Prime Minister Ali Zeidan and GNC president Mohamed Megaryef.Both were diplomats under Gaddafi before joining the opposition in exile.Fifteen lawmakers also risk loosing their jobs once the GNCs legal commission ratifies the law, including the vice president of the national assembly Jomaa Atiga, an official said.A special commission will now be set up to implement the new law.Gunmen, many of them former rebels who helped topple Gaddafis regime, had encircled the foreign ministry for a week and the justice ministry since Tuesday to pressure the national assembly to pass the law.They had threatened an open-ended siege of the ministries and warned they would spread their action if the GNC adopted a law that stipulated exceptions to allow key individuals to keep their jobs.Since the fall of Gaddafis regime, militia groups, mostly ex-rebels, have managed border controls, prisons, strategic facilities in the country and vital institutions.They received salaries and other perks from the authorities, while some also reportedly benefited from smuggling and extortion.

Wawrinka beats Ferrer to clinch Portugal title Posted: OEIRAS (AFP) - Stanislas Wawrinka won his first title since 2011 when he upset top seed David Ferrer 6-1, 6-4 to claim the Portugal Open title on Sunday.The Swiss claimed his fourth career trophy, three of which have come on clay.The 28-year-old last won a tournament at Chennai in January two years ago.Ferrer, ranked fourth in the world, was burdened by 31 unforced errors in the 64-minute loss.The win was the second for Switzerland at the tournament after Roger Federer lifted the 2008 title and played the final two years later.Ill have to tell Roger to come back and play here again, everyone seems to want him to return, joked Wawrinka.As for me, Im happy to be back here, Ive had a good week on the clay.The world number 16 was playing in Portugal for a second straight year after losing in the 2012 semi-finals to Juan Martin Del Potro, the defending champion whom Ferrer replaced in the draw after the South American fell ill with a virus.It was the perfect match for me, said Wawrinka, whose picturebook backhand served him well on a sunny afternoon.Its so tough to play David, hes a big champion.Wawrinka used his most lethal stroke to best advantage in an opening set in which he kept Ferrer under the cosh throughout.The top-seeded Spaniard did not even get onto the scoreboard until the 25th minute of the 29-minute opener but made it more of a contest in the second set.His rally, however, came to an end as Wawrinka secured a break for 5-4 and served out the victory a game later. The Swiss won with three breaks of Ferrer while never facing a break point on his own serve.Stan played a great match, he deserved to win, said Ferrer.There have been a lot of Spanish champions here and I wish I could have been one of them.But I still had a good week, especially after coming in on the wild card. It was all positive. I had hoped to win but I still made the final and got matches on the clay.Ferrer stood 5-1 on clay against Wawrinka and had beaten the Swiss in February for the Buenos Aires title.Ferrers loss still keeps him atop the ATP with 28 match wins this season. Wawrinka earned his 20th victory of 2013 as he played his 11th career final.

Federer raring to go after two-month break Posted: MADRID (AFP) - Roger Federer believes his two-month break from competing on the ATP Tour will help him as he prepares for a hectic few months between now and the US Open in September.The 17-time Grand Slam winner last played in Indian Wells where he was hampered by a back injury as he went out to Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals.It took me a little time to get over my back issue from Indian Wells, but at the same time, that clashed with my vacation anyway, which was okay, he told a press conference on Sunday ahead of defending his Madrid Masters title.Now I feel good. Obviously extremely excited about being back on tour and entering all the tournaments from here through to the US Open really, so its going to be a long stretch and you want to be ready for it.Federer seemed to be the least affected by the controversial blue clay used at last years event where he went on to win for a record third time in Madrid.But he welcomed the change back to the traditional red clay and joined Nadal in describing the surfaces at the Caja Magica as the best they have ever been.There was a lot of criticism about the colour, about the quality of the court as well, being extremely slippery, said the world number two.I dont know if that was due to the colour, but this tournament has in the past had issues with the quality of the court. I think through what happened last year with the controversy around the blue clay, it was a big eye opener to have a proper court here now.I think this year, from what Im hearing from the players, its a good quality court and the players are happy. In the process, hopefully well see better tennis this year.World number one Novak Djokovic joined in the praise of the new courts, but refused to get drawn into a debate over whether he was favourite to lift the title in the Spanish capital or at the French Open next month.The Serb dethroned Nadal after an eight-year reign at his last outing in Monte Carlo, prompting many to believe he could complete the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros where his Spanish rival is a record seven-time champion.The court is great. The one where I practiced is great. I havent practiced on the centre court yet, but Ill try to do that tonight to get a little feel about it, said Djokovic.But also from the opinions of the other players I can hear only positive comments, so its great to see that.First up though Djokovic could face a tricky first round opponent in Grigor Dimitrov who took a set off Nadal before losing in the Monte Carlo quarter-finals last month.The world number 29 faces Spanish qualifier Javier Marti in the first round, and Djokovic expects a tough test should the Bulgarian get through.Ive played him in Indian Wells and hes very talented player. He has the capacity to play at a very, very high level. Hes an all-round player, and he has showed it, said Djokovic.There is an altitude here, 500, 600 meters, which helps the servers and more aggressive players. The ball travels through the air faster, so that can make Dimitrov very dangerous.World number three Andy Murray had a disappointing start to his claycourt season in Monte Carlo as he was swept aside by Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round.On grass and hard courts Ive played very well over the last year, said US Open and Olympic champion Murray, who has never won a claycourt title.The clay has been still the most challenging surface for me, but Ive played some good matches and beaten some tough players; at the French Open I made the second week there a few times; made the semis.I feel like Im a better player now than I was then.

Chelsea edge United to close on Champions League Posted: MANCHESTER (AFP) - Juan Matas dramatic late goal earned Chelsea an unlikely three points in their quest for Champions League football as they secured a 1-0 victory at Premier League champions Manchester United on Sunday.The Chelsea midfielder struck at the end of a rare flowing move in the 87th minute -- Ramires back-heel finding Oscar, whose pass to Mata allowed his team-mate to drive the ball home via a deflection -- to lift his team into third place in the table.To add to Uniteds dissatisfaction, substitute Wayne Rooney claimed he had been brought down just outside the Chelsea penalty area in the seconds leading up to the goal.It was a rare moment of memorable attacking play in an otherwise forgettable contest and a goal that ensured an ill-tempered conclusion to the game, with United defender Rafael da Silva shown a straight red card two minutes later.The Brazilian hacked at the ankles of countryman David Luiz as the pair tussled for the ball near the corner flag, and players from both sides engaged in a subsequent shoving match.There had been pre-game speculation over whether United manager Alex Ferguson would shake the hand of opposite number Rafael Benitez, with whom he has a frosty relationship, but the veteran manager went out of his way to seek out the Chelsea interim coach on his way to the bench.Ferguson had taken the controversial step of resting key personnel and handed starts to reserve goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard and midfielders Anderson and Tom Cleverley.It was a selection that will have raised eyebrows at Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, the clubs in direct competition with Chelsea for Champions League places.Uniteds performance will have done little, therefore, to allay fears that this is a United side that is far from firing on all cylinders.After just three minutes, Mata picked out Demba Ba at the far post and the forward heading just wide while off-balance.The Senegalese striker then miskicked horribly from a promising position, the chance created after Lindegaard had flapped at a Mata cross unconvincingly.Errors by Patrice Evra and Phil Jones then handed the visitors two more promising openings.First, Lindegaard did well to turn a shot from Oscar onto his post before smothering the rebound, then Mata laid the ball off for Victor Moses, whose 18-yard shot rose harmlessly over the United goal.Robin van Persie just failed to make clean contact as he ghosted in to meet a superb through-ball from Ryan Giggs and shot wide, but moments of quality such as that displayed by Uniteds Welshman were few and far between.Before the interval, Oscar rifled wide from just inside the area, Giggs volleyed an Antonio Valencia cross over, and Van Persie headed a Nemanja Vidic cross directly at Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.The attacking quality scarcely improved after the restart as Ba slid in and turned a Moses cross wide, while Mata won a free-kick in a promising position after being brought down by Evra, but succeeded only in placing the dead ball directly into the wall.Somehow, the second half produced even fewer chances than the first, with Mata underlining the point when he narrowly avoided connecting with Frank Lampards cross from close range after 77 minutes.Branislav Ivanovic, meanwhile, was required to perform a rare piece of defending for Chelsea as he intercepted a dangerous Rafael cross.Belatedly, the game burst to life at the death, with Matas shot, which took a deflection off Phil Jones, condemning United to defeat, as the hosts failed to score for the first time in 67 home games.

Golf: Ernst downs Lynn in playoff as Mickelson fades Posted: CHARLOTTE (AFP) - Derek Ernst beat Englands David Lynn in a playoff on Sunday to win his first US PGA Tour title at the Wells Fargo Championship after Phil Mickelson squandered a late lead.Ernst, ranked outside the top 1,200 at the start of the week and in the field as the fourth alternate, birdied the 72nd hole of regulation to seize a share of the lead, then returned to the 18th for the first hole of the sudden-death playoff.Lynn, who was also seeking a first US PGA Tour title, hit his drive into the rough along the bank of the stream left of the fairway. He found a greenside bunker with his second shot, while Ernst was on the fairway and landed his approach 15 feet from the pin.Lynns bunker shot flew the green and he chipped seven feet past.Ernsts birdie putt lipped out, but his tap-in for par was enough for the victory that also brought him an invitation to next weeks prestigious Players Championship.The two finished four rounds at Quail Hollow on eight-under 280. In a rainy final round in which the tee times were brought forward to avoid the worst of expected inclement weather, both Ernst and Lynn had four birdies and two bogeys as both shot two-under 70.This feeling is unbelievable right now, said Ernst, a 22-year-old Californian playing just his ninth US PGA Tour event.Just at the beginning of the week not even knowing I was going to be in the field. I was fourth alternate last time I heard, and then a couple people dropped out so I got in.Ernsts four-foot birdie putt at the last hole of regulation was just one of four birdies at the 18th all day.Winning was not on my mind, he said of his mindset at the 72nd hole. On 18, I had 190 something, I dont know. I hit a six-iron and choked up a little bit and hit a draw in there.I was trying to hit it as close as I possibly could, yeah. I knew Dave (Lynn) was at eight (under), so I didnt know what Phil was or where he was at. So I was just trying to get tied with David at eight.Three-time Masters champion Mickelson, who shared the overnight lead with Nick Watney, arrived at the 16th hole with sole possession of the lead, but he bogeyed 16 and 17 and didnt even make the playoff.His approach at 18 was in the back fringe and he missed a 19-foot birdie attempt that would have given him a share of the lead.Mickelson finished with a 73 for third place on 281.Englands Lee Westwood and Swedens Robert Karlsson both posted last-round 72s to share fourth on 282.World number two Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who notched his breakthrough US PGA Tour win at Quail Hollow in 2010 and lost in a playoff last year, carded a second straight 73 to finish in a group sharing 10th place on four-under 284.

Aamir Atlas wins final to become Asian Champion Posted: KARACHI (Web Desk) - Pakistan’s Aamir Atlas Khan brushed aside Kuwait’s Abdullah Al Mezayan in three sets to become the first Pakistani in 14 years to win the Asian Squash Championship on Sunday at the Islamabad Sport Complex.Khan triumphed over Al Mezayan after an impressive performance with figures of 11-9, 11-3, 11-8.Speaking to Dawn.com, Khan said the victory was the result of his hard work and he was happy to have won a title for Pakistan.“I am very happy and I am sure that after this victory, squash in Pakistan will see better days,” Khan said. The twenty-two year old had earlier said that he was using the home advantage to his benefit.“I knew I had advantage of home glass court and crowd, and I took advantage of both,” he said.Khan had beaten Asyraf Azan of Malaysia 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 in the semi-final on Saturday.He added that his expectations before the start of the tournament were low because he had just recovered from an injury; however, his goal was to win the Asian title for which he worked hard.In the women’s final, Hong Kong’s Annie Au beat Malaysia’s Low Wee Wern 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-1.

Nawaz, Imran acting like Taliban spokesmen: Kaira Posted: LALAMUSA (Dunya News) Pakistan People’s Party leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said He said Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan were acting like spokespersons of Taliban.Lashing out at PML-N leadership, he said Nawaz struck deal with Musharraf and escaped abroad along with family members.Criticizing Nawaz Sharif for taking credit for atomic explosions Kaira said atomic programme was initiated by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and complete by Benazir Bhutto.Addressing a public meeting in Lalamusa on Sunday‚ he said the PPP led former government also promoted unity of all the federating units.Kaira said it is a good omen that all political forces are taking part in elections.The PPP leader also said that his party served with great courage despite international pressures.Earlier‚ addressing another gathering near Lalamusa‚ he said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto never bowed their heads before dictators.He said PPP workers also rendered numerous sacrifices for the cause of democracy and were imprisoned in notorious jails of Shahi Qila‚ Attock and Mianwali.He said Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan were acting like spokespersons of Taliban.

Sethi takes notice of police violence against PTI workers Posted: LAHORE (Web Desk) – Caretaker Chief Minister Najam Sethi has taken notice of the violence against workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Toba Tek Singh on Sunday.The chief minister has sought a report from the Inspector General Police Punjab, and has directed to take immediate action against the culprits.On Sunday Toba Tek Sing police stopped the PTI workers from participating in the lection rally by blocking various roads.The police also thrashed the PTI workers.An activist of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was taken out of his car and was severely beaten by the police.He was later thrown into a police van and taken to police station.

Thousands take to Paris streets against Hollande Posted: PARIS (AFP) - Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Paris on Sunday to mark Socialist President Francois Hollandes first year in office by accusing him of turning his back on the left.On the eve of the anniversary of Hollandes May 6 win last year over right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy, the Communist-backed Left Front gathered supporters for a march starting at the Bastille, the iconic square of the French Revolution.Many were also expected to gather for separate protests in Paris and other cities to oppose the governments plans to legalise same-sex marriage and adoption by gay couples. The demonstrations come with polls showing Hollande as the most unpopular president in modern French history. Many voters are angered by an economy on the edge of recession and unemployment hitting a 16-year high.Jean-Luc Melenchon, the Left Fronts firebrand candidate in last years vote, called the protest in Paris last month at the height of a scandal over Hollandes ex-budget minister Jerome Cahuzac being charged with tax fraud.Melenchon, who said he expected 100,000 to attend the rally, told the crowd the Socialist government had betrayed its supporters on the left. We do not want the world of finance in power We do not accept the politics of austerity he told protesters waving the red flags of left-wing movements.In an interview Sunday with newspaper Le Parisien, Melenchon called on Hollande to return to the left, where he was when he was elected. He accused Hollande of contributing to Europes economic crisis by focusing on the interests of shareholders, of big business and of European austerity policies, to the detriment of the workers.Melenchon called for a government reshuffle with himself or Industrial Renewal Minister Arnaud Montebourg -- considered one of Hollandes most left-wing ministers -- as prime minister.Opponents of gay marriage were meanwhile to rally in major cities in a bid to force Hollande to back down from signing a bill approved in parliament last month.The bill, which is also facing a constitutional challenge, sparked months of demonstrations across the country, with some descending into violence. It has been one of the most controversial reforms of Hollandes first year in office, with right-wing opponents demanding the issue be put to a referendum.About 1,000 people protested against the bill in Strasbourg on Saturday and other protests were due Sunday in Paris, Rennes, Lyon, Montpellier, Toulouse, Dijon and Lille.Sundays protests follow another demonstration on Wednesday that brought hundreds of supporters of the far-right National Front to the streets of Paris, as a poll showed its leader Marine Le Pen would come second to Sarkozy if an election were held now, far ahead of Hollande in third place.Since his election, Hollandes approval rating has fallen faster and further than any other presidents since the founding of Frances Fifth Republic in 1958. The government has said it will hold a meeting on Monday to set its agenda for the months to come, with the focus on tackling unemployment, boosting economic growth and controlling public finances.

Egypt, Arab League slams Israeli air strikes on Syria Posted: CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt on Sunday condemned Israeli air strikes on Syria, with the Arab League also demanding that the UN Security Council act to stop what it called Israeli attacks against the war-torn country.The Egyptian presidency said in a statement the air strikes violated international law and principles that will further complicate the situation. The raids reportedly targeted rockets destined for Lebanons Hezbollah.The Arab League, which like Egypt sides with rebels against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, demanded the Security Council act immediately to end Israeli attacks on Syria, which it called a dangerous violation of an Arab states sovereignty.The presidency in Cairo affirmed its extreme opposition to the Syrian regimes brutal crackdown on rebel-held areas, but accused Israel of exploiting its internal conflict. A senior Israeli source said an overnight aerial assault hit Iranian weapons destined for the Hezbollah, which is closely allied to the Syrian regime.A diplomatic source in Beirut told AFP three sites were targeted -- a military facility, a nearby weapons depot and an anti-aircraft unit in Sabura, west of the capital Damascus.

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