M A I N   N E W S

US, UK planes raid Iraqi base

London, September 6
Britain confirmed today an air raid by US and British warplanes on an Iraqi air defence base, but refused to confirm reports that some 100 planes took part. “I am afraid we are not giving out particular details on the size of the package,” a ministry of defence spokesman said. “But coalition aircrafts did use precision guided weapons to hit at an air defence and control facility,” he said, adding that it had been carried out “in response to threats to coalition aircraft.”

The Daily Telegraph said today that some 100 US and UK planes took part in what it called the biggest single operation in Iraqi skies for four years. It said the raid — involving a large number of support planes — appeared to be a prelude to possible special forces operations before any US-led war on Iraq, reputed to be developing weapons of mass destruction. AFP

Vajpayee to focus on terror in New York
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 6
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will urge the international community in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 13 to launch a “comprehensive war” against terrorism.

Mr Vajpayee is going to tell the world that the war must not be against terrorism alone but also against those who support the menace and provide safe havens to terrorists.

It is understood that the Prime Minister, during his September 12 meeting with US President George W. Bush in New York on the margins of the UNGA, would urge him to counsel Pakistan to cooperate with India in dealing with infiltration and fulfil its commitment to stop cross-border terrorism.

Sources here said today that Mr Vajpayee would also make it clear to President Bush that there was no question of India resuming a dialogue with Pakistan until Islamabad put a permanent end to infiltration and cross-border terrorism.

India had already told the U S leadership that a violence-free Assembly poll in Jammu and Kashmir was a “litmus test” of Pakistan’s intention to deal with terrorism, particularly when a number of “jehadi” elements were already in Kashmir and were in constant touch with Pakistan’s ISI.

Mr Vajpayee would be using the opportunity to press for India’s claim for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council and articulate the country’s long-standing position that the UN must be restructured to reflect the contemporary realities.

Another area likely to be touched upon by the Prime Minister is that the international community must discuss a strategy to ensure that weapons of mass destruction do not fall into the hands of terrorists.

The Prime Minister, who leaves here for his nine-day foreign tour on September 9 morning, is scheduled to attend a function at Battery Park on September 11 to remember the victims of the September 11 attacks. The Prime Minister, who reaches New York on September 10, will, along with other special invitees, light a candle at a memorial for the September 11 victims. He is also expected to meet a number of relatives of Indians who died in the tragedy.

Apart from meeting Mr Bush, the Prime Minister would hold talks with Afghanistan transitional government head Hamid Karzai, and leaders of Sri Lanka, Denmark, Nigeria, Zambia, South Africa, Japan, Mauritius and Bulgaria.

On September 13, he will address the General Assembly session in the morning and meet representatives of the Non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Indo-American organisations.

The same evening, the Indian Ambassador will host a dinner in his honour. Mr Vajpayee will attend a function in connection with the 100th death anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and address a gathering of the Indian community on September 14. He leaves New York on September 15 to return home via Zurich.

The Prime Minister’s delegation would include his Principal Secretary and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal. Before joining the Prime Minister’s delegation in New York, Mr Sinha will visit Washington on his first official visit after taking over as the External Affairs Minister and hold wide-ranging talks with his American counterpart Colin Powell, US National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice and US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, if he is in town.

Mr Sinha will participate in various committee meetings and attend other major engagements in New York on behalf of India before leaving for Canada on September 19 on a two-day bilateral visit. Mr Sinha would be attending a number of meetings on the fringes of the General Assembly session, including those of G-77, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) and SAARC.