tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Sunday, October 18, 1998
weather today's calendar

Landslides bury 15
CHAMOLI, Oct 17 (PTI) — Fifteen casual labourers of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have been buried alive in a landslide triggered by heavy rains on the Joshimath-Malari road, 30 km from here. None of the victims, caught unawares by the landslide yesterday, could be extricated from the debri as search and rescue operations were hampered by incessant rains lashing the area for the past two days, BRO sources said here today.
Anti-Mahathir protest
3 ITBP men killed
NEW DELHI, Oct 17 (PTI) — Three personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been killed and four injured when snowstorm struck Pithoragarh and other areas in Garhwal Himalayas, wiping out two of their camps, ITBP said here today. Two ITBP jawans were killed today when an avalanche hit an outpost, 16 km from Malari, also threatened by landslides. A red alert has been received from an ITBP post at Mandi in the Gangotri area where an avalanche is expected to strike any time.

Chinese assurance
BEIJING, Oct 17 (PTI) — The Chinese Government today pledged full support to the economically-hit Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and restated its resolve not to interfere in the affairs within the prerogative of the HKSAR Government. Chinese President Jiang Zemin at a meeting today with the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mr Tung Chee-Hwa, said the Central Government would "unswervingly implement" the principle of "one country, two systems".
Jones wants $ 2 million
WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (AFP) — Ms Paula Jones wants a cool two million dollars to settle for sexual harassment lawsuit against President Bill Clinton, The Washington Times reported today. If the case is dropped, it becomes easier for the President to negotiate with Congress on the impeachment hearings concerning the Monica Lewinsky affair. Ms Jones, currently unemployed, has already ran up legal bills of more than two million dollars. Ms Jones wants the first million dollars from the President and second million dollars from a maverick New York millionairess who has offered the money in exchange for her dropping the case.
Sunni leader shot dead
ISLAMABAD, Oct 17 (AFP) — Unidentified gunmen today shot dead Maulana Abdullah, a top Sunni Muslim religious leader and Chief Priest of Islamabad, the police said. Gunmen riding a car opened fire when the Muslim leader was on his way home adjacent to the mosque. The murder came hours after unknown assailants in Karachi gunned down Hakeem Mohammad Saeed, a respected former Governor of the southern Sind province. No body has claimed responsibility for the murders.
Eleven killed in ambush
IMPHAL, Oct 17 (UNI) — At least 11 persons, including five women, and a Manipur Rifles jawan, were killed and six seriously injured when a Manipur State Transport Corporation truck was ambushed by suspected Kuki militants last night, the police said today. The ambush took place at Gelnel on the Imphal-Tamenglong road in Senapati district. The civilians were proceeding towards Chalwa village in the truck escorted by a column of Manipur Rifles.