Lanka ceasefire
COLOMBO, Sept 9 (PTI) — Sri Lankan army and the LTTE have agreed to observe ceasefire for four days to facilitate smooth implementation of Unicef-sponsored national immunisation programmes, the world body said today. Unicef, which organises the immunisation programme against polio, said in a press note here that the ‘day of tranquility’ would be observed on September 10-11 and October 15-16.

Kanshi's plea dismissed
NEW DELHI, Sept 9 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today dismissed a petition by BSP leader Kanshi Ram seeking quashing of a trial court order directing framing of charges against him in the journalists' beating case. Mr Justice M.S.A. Siddique said since the charges were not formally framed, this was not the stage to seek such a remedy. The accused was at liberty to approach the court once the charges were framed, the court observed.

Russian jet shot
MOSCOW, Sept 9 (DPA) — Islamic rebels fighting Russian government troops in the Caucasian Republic of Dagestan today shot down a government combat aircraft and inflicted more casualties on ground forces, news agencies reported. Two Russian soldiers were killed and 15 injured in fighting in the village of Karamakhi, which along with neighbouring Chambanmakhi has been at the centre of heavy fighting for almost two weeks.

Dalai Lama
COLOMBO, Sept 9 (PTI) — The Sri Lankan Government said today that Tibetan leader Dalai Lama would not be ‘encouraged’ to visit the country despite invitations from some Buddhist leaders, but endorsed the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader's suggestion to UNESCO to name the Tamil dominated eastern Trincomalee town as "city of peace".

Quake in Sikkim
NEW DELHI, Sept 9 (PTI) — An earthquake of slight intensity was felt in the Sikkim-Nepal-Tibet border region last night, according to Mateorological Department sources here today. The quake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale occurred at 11.38 p.m. and had its latitude at 28.2 N and longitude 88.0 E.

Pak Naval aircraft
ISLAMABAD, Sept 9 (PTI) — Pakistan today criticised India for refusing to allow a fact-finding mission from the United Nations to look into the shooting down of a Pakistani naval aircraft last month and claimed New Delhi’s assertion that the plane was shot down when it violated Indian airspace despite warnings was incorrect. Foreign office spokesman Tariq Altaf told reporters here that the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had responded to a complaint by Pakistan about the issue in which he had been informed about the Indian response.

Nepali Gurkhas
DHARAN (Nepal), Sept 9 (PTI) — India today announced that Nepali Gurkha soldiers, who made sacrifices during the Kargil conflict, would get the same benefits and compensation as being extended to their Indian counterparts. Making a special reference to the bravery of the Gurkha soldiers External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said "the Indian nation and the Army greatly valued their outstanding contribution and dedication". Meanwhile, India and Nepal hailed their "unique" relationship wherein both neighbours have closely cooperated in a manner singular globally — India in vital infrastructure — development in the Hindu Himalayan kingdom and Nepal providing its world-renowned brave solidery for India’s defences.