S P O T L I G H T

Suicide bombers arrested
COLOMBO, Sept 30 (PTI) — The Sri Lankan police has claimed to have arrested two LTTE suicide bombers planning to hit specified targets in the capital ahead of the October 10 parliamentary poll in the island nation. They also seized two suicide jackets packed with plastic explosives from the two, who were nabbed while being transported here from a northern Vavuniya town. The police last night demonstrated seized plastic explosives on the local television networks.

Taliban capture pass
PESHAWAR (Pakistan), Sept 30 (DPA) — Afghanistan’s Taliban troops overran a strategic highway gorge and captured a road junction in overnight fighting with the opposition forces in northern Farkhar area, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported today. Farkhar Tangi fell to the Taliban following intense fighting with forces loyal to commander Ahmed Shah Masood.

Bomb attack
MUMBAI, Sept 30 (UNI) — Three low-intensity bombs hurled in the compound of Five-Star Regent hotel near band stand at Bandra in north-west Mumbai created panic among the hotel staffers and guests. The police said four low-intensity bombs (sutli-bombs) were hurled inside the compound of the hotel at around 8.35 a.m. Out of the four bombs hurled inside, only three exploded. The impact of the explosion was minimal and there was no damage to life or property, police sources said.

Bangladesh floods
DHAKA, Sept 30 (Reuters) — Floods sweeping nearly a quarter of Bangladesh have killed at least 70 persons and made over a million homeless, officials said today. They said nearly 350 persons were missing, about three million were marooned while nearly 300,000 moved to shelters, were battling hunger and disease. Thousands of families also moved on to dykes or any other raised ground they could find.

Pak minister resigns
ISLAMABAD, Sept 30 (PTI) — A Minister in Pakistan’s Punjab province has resigned reportedly over his differences with the state government’s move to retrench its employees. However, Mr Shafqat Mahmood said he had resigned due to personal reasons. Mr Mahmood, an ex-Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senator, was appointed Information Minister of the province after the military coup last year. The PPP had expelled him after he joined the Cabinet. The Governor has approved the resignation.