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| Sunday,
July 15, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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3 die in nation-wide clashes in Bangladesh
10 die in Russian cargo
plane crash |
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Minister calms possible rift S. Koreans, police
clash over missile programme |
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India for efforts to
deny arms to ultras Condit takes lie-detector test
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3 die in nation-wide clashes in Bangladesh Dhaka, July 14 However, some newspapers reported that four persons were killed in the clashes. The clashes took place in Daulatkhan, Bhola, Jhenaidah, Rajshahi and Noakhali between pro- Awami League and Opposition supporters last night at a time when the seventh Parliament was holding its last sitting. Houses, offices and business establishments of rival groups were either damaged or burnt and police arrested scores of people. The clashes were also reported from Narayanganj, riverine port town near here, which witnessed a massive bomb blast last month in which 22 people were killed. Although no official announcement of the swearing-in of the Chief Adviser of the caretaker government was made yet, in all likelihood the ceremony would take place tomorrow. The caretaker government as per the constitution is to hold general elections within 90 days. Opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia has demanded immediate installation of the caretaker government. “We want immediate installation of the caretaker government to ensure peace and we will not accept any delay,” she told supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led four-party opposition alliance at midnight celebration last night marking the “fall of Awami League”. There were some scattered violence in the capital city, but those were mostly minor in nature when pro-Opposition activists damaged installation of supporters of the outgoing party in power. The police remained on vigil across the country as outgoing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ended her tenure last night. The Bangladesh Parliament, which was dissolved last night on completion of its full term, was described by Speaker Abdul Hamid Advocate a “milestone” in parliamentary history. Meanwhile, the BNP of Begum Zia submitted a list of advisers for appointment in the caretaker government after a delegation went to the Presidential Palace Bangabanhban yesterday. The Awami League of Hasina is expected to submit a similar list later in the day. Hasina has sought a fresh mandate from voters, arguing that during the past five years her government set the economy on a sound foundation. “If we get the chance to serve the country for the next term, Inshallah (God willing) we shall be able to bring about the coveted economic emancipation,” she told Parliament last night. The outgoing Prime Minister will address the nation where she will make a fresh call to the people to elect her party for the second time to complete the unfinished task, her office sources said. Begum Zia, during her meeting with President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed two days ago, had also demanded installation of a neutral caretaker government headed by former Chief Justice Latifur Rahman. Rahman (65) will have to pick 10 advisors from a list proposed by the political divide, as well as make his own choice.
PTI |
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10 die in
Russian cargo plane crash Moscow, July 14 The plane, carrying 40 tonnes of cargo, hit the ground shortly after takeoff. The news agency, citing the Russian emergency ministry, said there had been 10 crew members on board the aircraft but there was no information on whether the plane had been carrying any passengers. The aircraft, belonging to a private airline company, Rus Air, was carrying building material to the city of Norilsk in the far north of Siberia, Radio ‘Ekho Moskvy’ added.
PTI |
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US role in summit confirmed Washington, July 14 President Bush has also emphasised that the solution of the Kashmir problem must be found in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Such an emphasis is being viewed as American endorsement to include Kashmiri representatives in the negotiations by some observers. In response to a letter of concern on South-Asian situation by US Senator Thomas Carper (Delaware), President Bush said: “I believe the leaders of India and Pakistan must talk directly to resolve the issues dividing their nations. Ultimately, the two countries must find a solution, taking into account the views of the people of the region.” (Kashmir region as he used in the opening para of his letter). On the issue of American mediation, President Bush regards it unproductive unless India and Pakistan request for it. “At the same time, I do not believe direct American mediation would be productive unless both parties requested our participation.” The letter also verifies the US role in bringing the two eternal enemies to the negotiating table. The letter signed on May 18 — when “Agra Summit” was not on the horizon — also said, “My Administration will continue to encourage the two sides to resume a dialogue, and I will continue to urge the leaders to talk.” The letter was made public today, after Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee claimed that the US had played no role in causing the “Musharraf-Vajpayee” meeting. Congressman Henry Hyde, chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, has also talked about the US role encouraging both leaders for a dialogue. In an Interview, he said that the USA would continue to play a constructive role in resolving the outstanding issues in the South-Asian region. He welcomed the bilateral dialogue and said: “The meeting scheduled for July 14-15th of this month is a very bright sign. You have new people, New President of Pakistan, negotiating and the fact that Indian Government made the offer, is a good sign.” Asked about the possible outcome of the meeting, the Congressman said: “We could be disappointed, but as long as they are talking to each other, it is a good sign.”
ANI |
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Minister calms possible rift Jerusalem, July 14 “No one is accusing India,” Ben Elizer was quoted saying by public radio in an English-language interview. He also attempted to play down any conflict with the world body, which is widely suspected here of being biased against the Jewish state. “I don’t know if even the UN itself knows the truth behind this affair,” he said. The Israeli newspaper Maariv this week cited an unnamed “very senior” source who said Hezbollah militants paid off dozens of Indian members of the UN interim force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) before the kidnap of three soldiers on October 7. “This is nonsense and very cheap and I reject it completely,” UNIFIL spokesman Timur Goksel said from the Lebanese city of tyre. “Any unproven allegations are a slander and an insult.” UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the handling of Israel’s request for a videotape, filmed by UN forces the day after the three were kidnapped, showing alleged Hezbollah members suspected in hostage-taking. Israel and India have had growing ties since re-establishing diplomatic relations in 1992 after a 40-year break, particularly in military cooperation. India has rejected Arab claims of nuclear cooperation between the two.
AFP |
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S. Koreans, police
clash over missile programme Seoul, July 14 “We oppose the Bush administration, which is pushing forward with the missile-shield system,” chanted 100 protesters in front of a main US military base in Yongsan district of the central Seoul. Shoving matches erupted when the police tried to take away an American flag a student intended to burn. Soon students kicked and threw punches at the police, who fought back with plastic shields. However, there were no serious injuries. The protesters carried several anti-US banners and pickets, saying that Washington’s plan to build a missile defence system is hurting stability on the divided Korean peninsula. The Pentagon planned to conduct a missile flight test over the Pacific sea later today. In the test, an intercontinental missile with a mock warhead will be launched and experts will try to destroy it with an interceptor missile. The test will be the first since US President George W. Bush took office.
AP |
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UK, Ireland reconvene talks Weston Park (England), July 14 Prime Minister Tony
Blair insisted it was the last opportunity to refloat a peace process stalled over a lack of guerrilla disarmament, policing reforms and calls for fewer British troops in the Protestant-majority province. Some of the worst rioting seen in Belfast for years sent a bleak reminder of the alternative to political progress. The police, bombarded with petrol and acid bombs, used water cannon and plastic bullets to quell the rioting. Mr Blair and Irish Premier Bertie Ahern returned to an English country house with the leaders of the province’s political parties to see if a deal was possible. Three days of talks had taken place there this week with little sign of progress. “There is not going to be another opportunity in the weeks to come. This is the window,” Mr Blair’s official spokesman told reporters. Participants from rival factions gave no indication that a breakthrough was in the offing. Protestant leader David Trimble made clear he wanted to see progress on disarmament by the Irish Republican Army, which has so far refused to hand in any of its guns. “We’re here to see whether there is any willingness now on the part of the Republican movement to do what of course they should have done quite some time ago,” he told reporters. Bairbre de Brun of Sinn Fein, the IRA’s political ally, blamed the UK government for lack of progress towards implementing Northern Ireland’s 1998 peace agreement. Politicians from the province’s Protestant majority and Roman Catholic minority blame each other for lack of progress in implementing the 1998 good Friday peace accord aimed at ending three decades of sectarian and political conflict that killed more than 3,000 persons. Mr Trimble quit as Northern Ireland’s first minister on July 1over the IRA’s failure to disarm. Mr Blair must decide whether to suspend Belfast’s power-sharing executive or call fresh elections for it within some weeks unless he can reach a deal allowing Mr Trimble to return to his post. Mr Trimble says Sinn Fein must get the IRA
to begin disarming before he will share power again. Sinn fein president Gerry Adams insists the Protestant-dominated police force must be reformed and
British troops withdrawn. Reuters |
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India for efforts to deny arms to ultras United Nations, July 14 Stressing on the need for controlling small arms and light weapons which terrorists and insurgents use, Indian Ambassador to the United Nations Kamalesh Sharma said, “Access to arms to non-state actors particularly fuels conflicts.” “An answer to availability of arms and weapons in the hands of terrorists and insurgents, who operate impervious to law and outside its realm, is a major challenge in conflict prevention,” he told the United Nations General Assembly yesterday. “It is imperative,” he said, adding, “states stop supply of arms to such groups and take resolute action in preventing trafficking in arms and weapons.” He also asked the world body to give highest priority to promote democracy across the world to facilitate healthy and cooperative intra-state relations which, in turn, would reduce changes of conflicts. “Subversion of democracy, either one’s own or of others, should be unacceptable.” Intervening in the debate on the Secretary General’s report on prevention of conflicts, he said, “one of the elements fuelling the conflicts is endemic poverty and the lack of economic development which needs to be addressed urgently.”
PTI |
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Condit takes lie-detector test Washington, July 14 But a senior police official immediately disparaged the lie-detector test as “self-serving” because it was done without police participation and the police had not seen the full results. “He has submitted himself to a polygraph examination, the results and raw data ... are being sent to the FBI and the DC police,” attorney Abbe Lowell said yesterday. At a news conference, where he lashed out at the media coverage of the Levy case, Lowell said Condit had answered questions about key points in the case of Levy, the 24-year-old Californian last seen on April 30. Barry Colvert, a former FBI special agent who administered the polygraph test, “had concluded that the Congressman was not deceptive in any way,” Lowell said. Colvert asked Condit the questions that “really matter” in this case, according to Lowell: “Did the Congressman have anything at all to do with the disappearance of Ms Levy? Did he harm her or cause anyone else to harm her in any way? Does he know where she can be located?”
Reuters |
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