W O R L D

Pak suicide bomber targets funeral prayer, 37 dead
Peshawar, March 9
A Taliban suicide bomber today targeted a funeral prayer attended by members of a tribal militia fighting militants in Pakistan’s restive northwest, killing at least 37 mourners and injuring 52 others, the latest in a slew of terror strikes that have rocked the country.

The blast site in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday. — Reuters

Pak man on trial for threatening Indian couple
Dubai, March 9
A Pakistani man went on trial here for allegedly threatening an Indian couple and sending them abusive text messages, local media reported. The 29-year-old Pakistani postman, who claimed that he had a physical relationship with the woman, allegedly threatened to kill her. He also sent abusive text messages to women and her husband.

Libyan rebels under intense artillery fire in east Ras Lanuf (Libya), March 9 Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi rained artillery shells on a rebel position near the key oil town of Ras Lanuf in the east of the country today. At least 20 shells slammed mid-afternoon near a checkpoint just 5 km west of rebel-held Ras Lanuf. However, there were no immediate reports of casualties. Muammar Gaddafi after an interview with a Turkish television, in Tripoli. — Reuters

Gaddafi plane lands in Egypt with army officer on board
TRIPOLI/CAIRO: A private jet belonging to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi landed at the Cairo International Airport on Wednesday with an army general on board, carrying a message for the Egyptian authorities, officials said. A Libyan diplomat confirmed the presence of General Abdel-Rahman Ben Ali al-Zawi in Cairo, but did not provide any further details.

Pak suicide bomber targets funeral prayer, 37 dead

Peshawar, March 9
A Taliban suicide bomber today targeted a funeral prayer attended by members of a tribal militia fighting militants in Pakistan’s restive northwest, killing at least 37 mourners and injuring 52 others, the latest in a slew of terror strikes that have rocked the country.

The suicide bomber targeted the funeral prayers of the wife of Hakeem Khan, a leader of the “peace committee” or anti-Taliban militia of Adezai, a tribal area near Peshawar.

The attacker, a youth who was on foot, joined a crowd of mourners at Mattani, 35 km south of Peshawar, and detonated his explosive vest. Over 200 tribesmen were attending the funeral.

A bomb-disposal squad from the army later carried out controlled detonation of a bomb that was found at the site of the attack.

The suicide attack left 37 persons dead and 52 injured, “The Express Tribune” reported. The condition of 10 of the injured was serious, officials said.

The Darra Adam Khel chapter of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the attack was carried out to avenge the killing of militants in a military operation in the Adezai area.

Footage on television showed bloodied shoes and caps lying at the site of the attack.

A pall of gloom descended over the Adezai area as people buried the dead.

Witnesses and local residents said 25 persons, including young boys and elderly men, were killed instantly while others died in hospital.

The anti-Taliban militia of Adezai, formed in 2008, has been at the forefront of efforts by tribesmen to flush out militants from the region around Peshawar.

A leader of the militia, Abdul Malik, was killed in a suicide attack in 2009.

In recent months, leaders of the militia have complained that the government has not been providing adequate support to their effort of taking on the Taliban.

Taliban have repeatedly threatened members of pro-government militias in northwest Pakistan. They want to have control on areas surrounding Peshawar so that they can gain unfettered access to the city. — PTI

Pak man on trial for threatening Indian couple

Dubai, March 9
A Pakistani man went on trial here for allegedly threatening an Indian couple and sending them abusive text messages, local media reported.

The 29-year-old Pakistani postman, who claimed that he had a physical relationship with the woman, allegedly threatened to kill her. He also sent abusive text messages to women and her husband.

"He threatened to kill her if she did not resume her "relations" with him," the Court of First Instance heard. He faces charges of threat, libel and consuming liquor.

The woman, 29, who was not identified, told the prosecutor that she and her husband filed the complaint in November last year. They had known the defendant for about a year when they worked together in the real estate field. — PTI

Libyan rebels under intense artillery fire in east

Ras Lanuf (Libya), March 9
Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi rained artillery shells on a rebel position near the key oil town of Ras Lanuf in the east of the country today. At least 20 shells slammed mid-afternoon near a checkpoint just 5 km west of rebel-held Ras Lanuf. However, there were no immediate reports of casualties.

The first shells fell about 300 m west-south of the rebel checkpoint. The rebels retaliated by firing some 40 Katyusha rockets from launchers mounted on two trucks as well as two anti-aircraft missiles, reports said.

One of the missiles struck a telephone relay antenna a few km away, while huge clouds of black smoke could been seen some 10 km further west, suggesting they had hit a more distant target. One of the rebels marked the moment by playing a revolutionary song full blast on a loudspeaker, with lyrics that said: “We will stay here until the pain in over.”

The skirmish came as rebels and pro-Gaddafi forces dug into defensive positions in eastern Libya. Around 200 rebel fighters were seen spread out on small hills around the main coast road between Ras Lanuf and Bin Jawad, around 30 km to the west.

“Today, we have established defensive positions ahead of here,” rebel Colonel Masud Mohammed told reporters. “Gaddafi’s forces are in Bin Jawad, they are occupying the mosque and the school,” he said. “Today we are not attacking yet,” he added. He also said there were four air strikes by government warplanes near Bin Jawad earlier today. Several rebels were wounded, he said. — AFP

Gaddafi plane lands in Egypt with army officer on board

TRIPOLI/CAIRO: A private jet belonging to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi landed at the Cairo International Airport on Wednesday with an army general on board, carrying a message for the Egyptian authorities, officials said. A Libyan diplomat confirmed the presence of General Abdel-Rahman Ben Ali al-Zawi in Cairo, but did not provide any further details.

The Falcon jet left Libya and passed through Greek airspace around midday, before arriving in Cairo. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou reportedly had a telephonic conversation late Tuesday night with Gaddafi, who warned the West not to intervene in his country's affairs.

"Greece is a friend of Libya and can pass on this piece of advice to the European Union," Libya's state-run Jana news agency quoted Gaddafi as saying. — DPA