tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Tuesday, August 24, 1999
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11 die in Lankan fighting
COLOMBO, Aug 23 (AFP) — At least eight Tamil Tiger guerrillas and three government soldiers were killed in fresh fighting in northern Sri Lanka, the Defence Ministry said here today. Army troops opened fire at a group of LTTE men at Thadduvankoddy in the Jaffna peninsula yesterday and killed at least four of them, the ministry said. It said three soldiers were killed and another seven were wounded in the exchange of fire with the Tigers.

Jessica case
NEW DELHI, Aug 23 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today raised serious doubt over the probe into the killing of model Jessica Lal in socialite Bina Ramani’s "illegal" bar here in March and questioned the police as to why it had not charged those who cleaned the floor of the restaurant after the murder. A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil Dev Singh and Justice R S Sodhi while hearing a public interest litigation by the Bhrashtachar Virodhi Morcha accusing the police of lopsided investigation, asked, "Is there no offence against Ramani. Did the police find any blood stains on the floor."

Peace conference
DHAKA, Aug 23 (AFP) — Lawmakers from 31 Asian countries, except Japan, are to join a four-day conference on peace here next month, officials said today. The Bangladesh Parliament will host the "Asian Parliamentarians for Peace and Cooperation" conference from September 1 with the cooperation of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

ULFA killings
GUWAHATI, Aug 23 (PTI) — Two persons, including a CRPF Deputy Commandant, were killed when ULFA militants exploded a remote-controlled bomb in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district today, official sources said. The bomb, planted in a roadside ditch at Kakopathar, exploded while the family of the CRPF official was on its way to Namchai in Arunachal Pradesh, where he is posted. The Deputy Commandant and his driver were killed on the spot.

Darjeeling bandh
SILLIGURI, Aug 23 (PTI) — Normal life was affected in Darjeeling during the CPM sponsored "indefinite" bandh which began today. Shops and markets remained closed and vehicles were off the roads. Banks and educational institutions also did not function. State and central government offices, however, remained open, District Magistrate Navin Prakash said.

Fire claims 13 lives
BEIJING, Aug 23 (DPA) — At least 13 persons were killed and six injured when fire swept through a watch and spectacles company building in southwestern China last week, state media reported today. The fire broke out at about 2 a.m. Last Friday at the In Time building in downtown Zigong city in Sichuan province. Fire-fighters took more than one hour to extinguish the blaze.