Sunday, March 16, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Excavation leads to mosque floor
VHP threatens stir from March 27
Ayodhya, March 15
Excavation at three of the four new trenches at the disputed site here today led to the floor of the demolished structure, forcing archaeologists to ponder over the next course of action.

CRPF in Jalalabad; BJP to boycott repoll
Jalalabad, March 15
Even as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have been deployed in ward number 9 and 12 for conducting a free and fair repoll tomorrow for the Municipal Council elections in these two wards, the BJP leadership has decided to boycott the same in protest against the large-scale booth-capturing by hooligans.

Bishop writes to Jathedar
Amritsar, March 15
The fact-finding committee, constituted by the Diocese of Amritsar, Church of North India, today claimed that Christian missionaries were not responsible for conversions in the border belt.

US missile ships head for Red Sea
Cairo, March 15
At least three more missile-firing US warships and three US attack submarines passed through the Suez Canal today heading south to the Red Sea, Suez Canal sources said.

WORLD PAGE US President justifies war US, British commanders discuss final plans Fresh anti-war protests

EDIT PAGE: SPECIAL FOCUS

US war games in Iraq and their wider ramifications America flaunts its military power too fast & with less foresight Uncle Sam’s double standards well known, but not its Janus face

Pakistan arrests top Al Qaida member
Islamabad, March 15
Pakistani authorities arrested a leading Al Qaida member, Moroccan national Yasir al-Jaziri, in Lahore on Saturday, the state APP news agency reported. The arrest followed two weeks after the capture of another senior Al Qaida figure, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, in Rawalpindi.

	Atapattu leads Lanka into semis Australia survive Kenya scare India will win Cup: Imran Australia’s Brett Lee walks towards Kenya’s Kennedy Obuya after Obuya was hit by a ball bowled by Lee during their World Cup Super Six match at Kingsmead cricket ground in Durban, South Africa, on Saturday. Obuya was dismissed for one run after being hit on the arm. — Reuters photo

Suspend officials, EC tells MP Govt
New Delhi, March 15
Taking a stern view on dereliction of duty, the Election Commission today turned down the Madhya Pradesh government’s reconsideration plea and asked it to suspend the officials and order an inquiry against them.

Mob attacks police station
Nawada (Bihar), March 15
Over 1,000-strong mob attacked the Bundelkhand Sahayak police station and torched several vehicles here tonight. According to the police, the attackers demanding the release of their 12 accomplices nabbed during a religious procession this morning, hurled bombs at the police station.

Militants burn houses of one community
Jammu, March 15
Militants set ablaze six abandoned houses in Nerolai village in Thannamadi sector of Rajauri district late last night, a senior police officer said today. Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajauri, Prithvi Raj Manhas told UNI here today that militants descended on the village from the nearby hills and sprinkled kerosene on the empty houses and set these afire.

Plan for Ganga pollution control New Delhi, March 15 A development study to prepare a master plan for quality water management of the Ganga water is being prepared jointly by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Indian Government.