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Akram Durrani (r), Chief Minister of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan, speaks at the Assembly session in Peshawar on Tuesday. The assembly passed a Bill on Monday to implement Sharia, or Islamic law, and the Chief Minister said those who failed to observe it were not welcome there. Islamic fundamentalists ruling the NWFP said they would segregate universities and urge men to grow beards, acts reminiscent of the former Taliban regime in adjacent Afghanistan. —Reuters photo

Video: Pakistan's newly appointed Ambassador to India has said he would go to New Delhi with hopes for peace and good neighbourly relations between the two nuclear rivals. (28k, 56k)

It is time for peace: Bush
Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt), June 3
US President George W. Bush, entering the labyrinth of West Asia peace negotiations, told Arab leaders today that “a few people, a few killers, a few terrorists” couldn’t be allowed to prevent a settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.

GLOBAL MONITOR

An Afghan youth wears a T-shirt with a portrait of Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt in a street in Kabul no Tuesday. Bollywood films are popular in Afghanistan and posters of Indian film stars can be seen displayed in shops in the city. —Reuters

	Bush, Chirac, Schroeder chat amiably June 3, 2003
	Chirac’s short handshake with President Bush June 2, 2003
	Protests in Nepal after PM quits June 1, 2003
	Role in Asia-Pacific crucial: USA May 31, 2003
	Nepal honours Hillary, other Everest conquerors May 30, 2003
	PM not to compromise on security May 29, 2003
	Sinha: Pak’s steps on infiltration inadequate May 28, 2003
	Musharraf ‘scuttled’ India’s entry into OIC May 27, 2003
	Jamali calls meeting of top oppn leaders May 26, 2003
	Pak Rangers unleash terror May 25, 2003

Palestinian prisoners freed
Jerusalem, June 3
Israel began releasing Palestinian prisoners today in a goodwill gesture timed for a landmark summit between US President George W. Bush and Arab leaders aimed at drafting a peace “road map”.

Abu al Sakr (L), the longest-held Palestinian prisoner of Israel, goes home with his relatives after his release from 28 years in jail, at Kalandia check point at the entrance of the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday. Israel released dozens of Palestinian prisoners on Tuesday in a goodwill gesture timed for a landmark summit between President Bush and Arab leaders to promote a peace "road map." —Reuters photo

Hollywood actress Goldie Hawn with Bollywood star Anil Kapoor outside the elite Campagnola restaurant in Manhattan, New York, on Monday to discuss on future Hollywood projects with Anil Kapoor. —PTI

The Mars Express spacecraft is launched with a Soyuz FG booster rocket from the Russian-operated Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday. The European Space Agency (ESA) said the space vehicle, which cost about US$350 million, is on a six-month journey to Mars. It will parachute down to the Mars surface on December 25. —AP/PTI

Kashmir ‘inseparable’ part of Pak policy

Islamabad, June 3
Despite international pressure, Kashmir will remain an “inseparable” part of Pakistan’s national policy and a key component of Islamabad’s overall strategy, Vice-Chief of Army Staff, Gen Mohammad Yusuf Khan, has said.

“The international pressures notwithstanding, Kashmir will remain an inseparable component of our national policy and consequently a vital strand of our strategy”, he said while addressing the participants of war course at Naval War College yesterday in Lahore.

Welcoming the offer of talks by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he, however, asked the Pakistan military not to lower its guard in the face of emergence of the new peace process between India and Pakistan.

“The recent peace proposal of the Indian Prime Minister is surely a welcome step. But let me emphasise that as professional soldiers and sailors, we must never let our guards down. We ought to be very clear that the only guarantee for peace is our preparedness for war,” he said.

General Yusuf also said Pakistan army should beef up its conventional forces if the deterrence with India failed.

“We must be able to deter aggression and defend land frontiers of Pakistan. However, in case deterrence fails, we have to maintain a strong defensive capability to absorb enemy’s offensive, inflict serious attrition, and embroil enemy’s committed forces”, he said.

“We also need to have credible offensive capability not only to retain strategic options for ending the war on a favourable note,” he said adding that Pakistan needed to step up its indigenous defence production.

General Yousuf said direct threat was only a part of the total spectrum of threat, an indirect manoeuvre, which sought to bring about an economic collapse, was a more insidious threat.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri today said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had “demonstrated real leadership” by taking the peace initiative.

“I absolutely believe that Prime Minister Vajpayee has demonstrated real leadership. I am quite happy with Vajpayee. His heart is in the right place,” Mr Kasuri said in a TV interview.

He denied the existence of militants’ training camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and said Pakistan prevented nine out of 10 militants from crossing over to Jammu and Kashmir.

He said Pakistan was not in a position to stop infiltrations even if it wanted. “We are not in a position even if it is completely wanted because people are in suicide missions,” he said. PTI 

Myanmar says Suu Kyi unhurt

Yangon, June 3
Myanmar’s military government said today that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi had not been harmed in clashes between her supporters and pro-government groups last week, rejecting rumours she had been injured.

World leaders have urged Myanmar to release the Nobel peace laureate and democracy leader who was detained on Friday after violence erupted as she toured a northern town.

The government said four persons were killed and 50 injured in the disturbance in a northern town during a Suu Kyi visit, but there has been a flurry of rumours in Myanmar dissidents circles — which include many exiles in Thailand — that she had received a head injury.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win told diplomats in Yangon that the reports about her injury were not true.

A diplomat said the junta cited “security” as the reason they would not divulge her whereabouts.

WASHINGTON: US President George W. Bush said the ruling junta in Myanmar should free Suu Kyi. “I am deeply concerned by reports from Myanmar of the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her political party, and reports that the military authorities have closed her party headquarters in Rangoon,” he said in a statement on Monday. “The military authorities should release Suu Kyi and her supporters immediately.

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged Myanmar’s military government to release Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy leaders from “protective custody” and cooperate with them in bringing about national reconciliation.

Chief UN Spokesman Fred Eckhard said the UN chief has instructed his Special Envoy Razali Ismail in his capacity as “facilitator” to talk to the government, Suu Kyi and other leaders during his visit beginning June 6 in an effort to start the process of national reconciliation. Agencies

It is time for peace: Bush

Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt), June 3
US President George W. Bush, entering the labyrinth of West Asia peace negotiations, told Arab leaders today that “a few people, a few killers, a few terrorists” couldn’t be allowed to prevent a settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.

Mr Bush said all sides must assume responsibility toward achieving peace. “I believe now is the time to work together to achieve the vision” of peace, he said.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who hosted the Arab summit said: “We convene today to examine the peace process in order to ensure stability in our region.” He welcomed Mr Bush’s commitment to Palestinian and Israeli states existing side by side, each enjoying “peace and security.”

The Arab summit came a day before Mr Bush’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan.

“Israel must deal with the settlements, Israel must make sure there’s a continuous territory that the Palestinians can call home,” he said. AP

Canada rejects probe into link to bombing

Vancouver, June 3
The Canadian Government has rejected a demand for an inquiry into the reports that its spy agency had pulled out a mole from the Sikh separatist movement who was in the know of the plan to blow up Air-India Kanishka aircraft in 1985.

Media reports, citing interrogation files released last week, said that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had planted a mole in the Sikh group and concealed information about his activities from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

The reports, citing RCMP files, allege that the CSIS pulled out their mole — named as Surjan Singh Gill — just three days before Air-India Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland in June 1985, killing all 329 onboard.

The issue was raised in the House of Commons in Ottawa yesterday where Kevin Sorenson of the right-winged populist Canadian alliance demanded the government to hold an inquiry into the allegations. PTI 

Palestinian prisoners freed

Jerusalem, June 3
Israel began releasing Palestinian prisoners today in a goodwill gesture timed for a landmark summit between US President George W. Bush and Arab leaders aimed at drafting a peace “road map”.

However, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian security man in the Gaza Strip and wounded five stone-throwers in a sweep for militants in the West Bank.

Responding to US pressure for conciliatory moves, Israel freed the first group of what was expected to total around 100 prisoners being sent home in time for Mr Bush’s three-way summit with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Reuters

GLOBAL MONITOR

WIFE GETS $ 1,300 FOR LOSS OF SEX LIFE
HONG KONG: A young wife in southern China has been awarded $ 1,300 for the loss of her sex life after her electrician husband lost both legs in an accident, a news report said on Tuesday. The woman sued her 32-year-old husband’s employers after her husband fell from a telegraph pole and had to have both legs amputated, the South China Morning Post reported. The accident left him unable to have sex and the woman, from Guangzhou, sued the company over the loss of her right to have sex, the newspaper said. DPA

74-YEAR-OLD WOMAN BOOKED FOR ASSAULT
SYDNEY: A 74-year-old woman was charged with attempted murder on Tuesday after allegedly bashing an 88-year-old neighbour in her suburban Sydney retirement home with an iron object. The aged assailant, whose name was not released, was denied bail and was due to appear in a court in the suburb of Manly on Tuesday, the police said. AFP

COUPLES FINED FOR HOLDING HANDS
KUALA LUMPUR: Couples in the Malaysian city of Ipoh risk getting slapped with a fine if they hold hands in public. About 30 unmarried couples have been fined 30 ringgit for holding hands in a drive to keep the city “morally clean,” but the campaign has been rapped by rights groups. Reuters