KABUL, Aug 15 (AFP) — Afghanistan’s Taliban movement said today its forces were consolidating their sweeping gains in the north and claimed the overnight capture of a third town in Baghalan province. The town of Doshi situated close to the crucial Salang tunnel that links the Afghan capital Kabul with the north of the country, was taken yesterday, Taliban officials told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). There was no immediate independent confirmation of the Taliban claim.

6 killed in Karachi

KARACHI, Aug 15 (AFP) — Six people including two policemen were shot dead and rioting youths torched banks, vehicles and shops here today amid a general strike called by an ethnic party, police and witnesses said. At least two banks, 12 vehicles and 18 shops in a cloth market were set alight, firebrigade sources and residents said. Two rioters were killed in Liaquatabad and Western Pak Colony area as police retaliated.

Fire extinguished

THEKERAGURI (Assam), Aug 15 (PTI) — The fire raging in the last of the seven tanks containing kerosene at the Indian Oil Corporation depot in Nagaon district has now been completely extinguished, senior IOC officials said here today. The last of the seven tanks, which caught fire, sank early this morning after the flames finally died down after raging for nearly 85 hours since August 11.

10 killed in accident

COIMBATORE, Aug 15 (PTI) — Ten people, including four women, were killed on the spot, when the jeep in which they were travelling collided with a bus near Mettupalayam about 35 kms from here today. All the dead were occupants of the Tata Sumo, which was proceeding to Udhagamandalam, while the private bus was coming from Mettupalayam.

2 shot in encounter

MUMBAI, Aug 15 (PTI) — Two criminals were shot dead in an encounter with the police here early today. The police said on receiving specific information a trap was laid near Don Bosco School at Borivili in north Mumbai. At around 4.40 a.m. the duo were sighted and immediately challenged by a police patrol. However, they opened fire with 7.62 mm pistols forcing the policemen to retaliate.

Explosives seized

CHENNAI, Aug 15 (UNI) — The police seized 25 gelatine sticks and 30 detonators from a youth who was moving about in a suspicious manner at Perumalpalayam, in Salem district, last night, according to reports received here. The youth, Saravanan, was arrested, the reports said.

Youth shot dead

SURAT, Aug 15 (PTI) — A 22-year-old youth Mohammad Sakir alias Kalu was shot dead by some unidentified persons at the sensitive red-light area of the city this afternoon, police said. He was rushed to the new Civil Hospital where he was later pronounced dead, police said. Security has been beefed up in the area after the incident, the police added.

KOLHAPUR, Aug 15 (PTI) — The first Mother Teresa award instituted by a local organisation, Manavata Pratishtan, was presented to freedom fighter and Congress MLA Ratnappa Kumbhar today. The award was presented by the Pratishtan's chairman H.D. Baba Patil at a function at Ganganagar, near here. Kumbhar was selected for the award for his services to the freedom movement and to the neglected and downtrodden.

Diamond-studded Tricolour

NEW DELHI, Aug 15 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today presented a golden model of national Tricolour studded with diamonds and gemstones to President K.R. Narayanan in commemoration of the completion of 50 years of India's Independence.The Tricolour, gifted by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, was presented to Mr Narayanan at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan, an official release said. A model of the Indian Tricolour made of gold was also presented to Mr Vajpayee by Union Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde on behalf of the council on the occasion, the release added.

Ireland blast

OMAGH (Northern Ireland), Aug 15 (AFP) — At least 20 persons were killed and several others injured when a powerful car bomb ripped through the town at the height of afternoon shopping today, the police said. The explosion, the worst single atrocity in 29 years of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, left a "scene of carnage" in the town centre crowed with shoppers, eyewitnesses said. One building collapsed due to the force of the blast. Shops were blown apart and the streets strewn with broken glass.