Edinburgh (Scotland), July 6
The police and anti-G8 protesters clashed early today, as demonstrators smashed car windows and attempted to block one of the main approach roads to the exclusive Gleneagles resort hosting the summit.

More than 100 black-clad activists, many covering their faces with bandanas and wearing hoods, streamed from a makeshift campsite in Stirling, central Scotland, where some 5,000 anarchists and anti globalisation protesters are staying.

An Associated Press Television news cameraman said he saw a group of around 100 smashing the windows of parked cars and throwing stones at police.

A spokesman for Central Scotland Police confirmed that officers had come under attack. The police predicted heavy congestion as they closed the M9 highway, the main approach route to Gleneagles from the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.

The leaders of the world’s top industrialised countries are expected to rubber-stamp agreement on writing off more than 40 billion dollars in debt to 18 mainly sub-Saharan African states, with another 20 countries potentially eligible later.

Aid agencies say even that will do little to overcome Africa’s problems. They argue that 62 countries need 100 percent debt relief if they are to meet the goals agreed at the United Nations of halving poverty and disease by 2015.

While Mr Blair can expect some backing on efforts to help Africa, he faces a struggle to persuade the USA to reduce emissions that most scientists say are warming the earth.

US President George W. Bush, in a new emphasis in US policy, acknowledged more loudly than before that human beings were to blame for harmful climate change.

‘’Listen, I recognise the surface of the Earth is warmer, and that an increase in greenhouse gases caused by humans is contributing to the problem,’’ he told a news conference during a visit to Denmark on his way to the G8 summit.

The USA still rejects the Kyoto agreement on cutting emissions of gases blamed for warming the atmosphere, Mr Bush said, but now accepts there are good security reasons to find alternatives to expensive and polluting oil supplies.

‘’Listen, the USA for national security reasons and economic security needs to diversify away from fossil fuels. So we put out a strategy to do just that. I can’t wait to share it with our G8 friends,’’ he said.

Mr Bush’s concerns over oil were underscored in the draft declaration on economic issues, which was shown to Reuters.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has insisted that the G8 be seen to act over oil prices. But there were few concrete measures outlined in the draft declaration, which is expected to be changed little by the leaders in their discussions.

The draft says the G8 objects to high oil prices and wants clear information on oil reserves to counter speculation in the markets that may damage global economic growth. — AP, Reuters

Islamabad, July 6
Another `Mukhtaran Mai' ordeal was enacted in Pakistan last month when at least 11 persons reportedly kidnapped a married woman and gang-raped her in order to take revenge after her nephew eloped with a young girl. The accused reportedly gang-raped the woman for her alleged role in the girl's elopement.

According to The News, Fauzia Bibi (25), a resident of Chiniot, was raped, tortured and humiliated for three consecutive days last month before the case was reported to the police.

The report said that on the fateful day last month, around 11 armed persons, including Anwar, Akbar, Ghulam Ali, Sajid and others, reached her house on horses, dragged her out of her bed and forcibly took her away. They also thrashed her uncle Nawaz when he resisted them. Thereafter, they took her to a deserted farmhouse on the bank of the Chenab where she was gang-raped.

Later, they left her at Ghulam Ali's house, and shut her there for two days. A police party recovered her from there, the paper said.

Meanwhile, apparently not satisfied with just filing of a police report, Fauzia has appealed to the Jhang DIG Faisalabad, Punjab Chief Minister and human rights organisations to help her get justice.

The paper quoted police investigation officer Sharif Lalira as saying that investigation was on. While three accused had been arrested, raids were being conducted to arrest the others, he added. — ANI

Islamabad, July 6
Exiled former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ruled out any dialogue or deal with President Pervez Musharraf saying such a step would undo his six-year-long “struggle for a democratic Pakistan”.

“As far as I am concerned, I am not ready to have any parleys with Musharraf or his team, leave aside making a deal with them. I have no knowledge of any deliberations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia regarding the end of my exile or my return home,” he was quoted as saying by ‘Daily Times’ from Jeddah.

Mr Sharif’s remarks came in the midst of reports that Musharraf had sought the help of Saudi Royal family to work out political reconciliation with him. The Pakistan Government, however, denied these reports yesterday.

In his interview to the newspaper, Mr Sharif confirmed other media reports that he has applied for fresh passports saying it was a “routine matter”.

“The government won’t be doing me any favour by renewing my expired passport. My application for renewal is only a routine matter and its timing or coincidence with stories carried by certain newspapers should not be viewed as a pre-planned affair.” — PTI

New York, July 6
Expressing outrage at the attack on makeshift temple in Ayodhya, several Indian-American political and religious groups have appealed to the people to remain calm and maintain communal harmony to enable the government to fight terrorists.

Condemning the “horrific attack,” Indian National Overseas Congress, USA, urged the authorities to expedite investigations into yeterday’s attack.

Vice President of Overseas Friends of BJP Rajesh Shukla blamed the “deterioration in the law and order situation under Congress rule” for the “dastardly” act and called for urgent steps to prevent such incidents in future as they could adversely effect communal harmony in the country.

The OFBJP praised the security forces for thwarting the attack and asked the government to take a strong action against terrorists and those who support them.

Chairman of the Kashmir Solidarity Surinder Zutshi said the attack is the result of government’s failure to take strong action against Pakistan-trained terrorists who had created havoc in Kashmir and are trying to spread out.

NRI’s For Secular and Harmonius India urged the “court and community leaders to redouble their efforts to settle this matter.” “We join all inter-faith and political leadership in their appeal for unity and peace during this crisis,” its spokesperson Najma-Sultana said. — PTI

Kathmandu, July 6
At least eight students were arrested after they protested the government’s decision to remove Nepali, national language, as a subject from the curriculum of 11th grade.

Besides those arrested, over 10 students were injured yesterday as the police baton-charged them when they demanded the government scrap the decision, an activist said.

The incident took place at the office of the Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) here.

The Central Department of Nepali, Tribhuvan University, has launched an agitation to oppose the government’s decision.

Various students organisations have issued separate statements condemning the police action on the agitating students. — PTI