Washington, October 14
Saudi King Abdullah vowed in his first television interview as monarch to eliminate Al-Qaeda even if the battle took decades to win, condemning the terror network as “the work of the devil”.

Abdullah also told the US channel ABC in an interview due to be broadcast later today that Riyadh would work to bring down oil price whose rise he admitted had helped Saudi Arabia while damaging other countries.

The new king, who took over from late half-brother Fahd in April, insisted Saudi Arabia was doing all it could to halt terror following the September 11 attacks on the USA, in which most of the hijackers were Saudis.

He said Saudi Arabia would “fight the terrorists and those who support them or condone their actions for 10, 20 or 30 years if we have to, until we eliminate this scourge”.

Abdullah, seen by some observers as a relative moderate in the Saudi ruling family, unequivocally condemned Al-Qaeda, led by the Saudi-born Osama Bin Laden.

“Madness and evil, it is the work of the devil,” he said.

According to official Saudi figures, 90 civilians, 47 security personnel and 121 militants have died in unrest linked to Islamic militants in Saudi Arabia.

The monarch also defended Saudi Arabia’s oil policy. Abdullah said Saudi Arabia was now producing 10 mn barrels a day to meet demand on oil markets and bring down prices.

On the regional front, Abdullah said that Iran was a “friendly country” and at the same time expressed concern about the Shiite country’s role in Iraq. — AFP

Muzaffarabad, October 14
Many emotional survivors held Friday prayers today in this devastated capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), six days after a terrifying earthquake, that to clerics’ regret, led many to suspend their Muslim rituals.

Clerics said more than 50 Muzaffarabad mosques were destroyed or damaged in the 7.6-magnitude quake, which killed at least 25,000 people and left more than 2.5 million homeless.

Only three mosques remained somewhat intact and had water supply to allow devotees to undertake ritual bathing before prayers.

At the Markazi Imambargah or central mosque, the city’s chief cleric Mufti Kifayat Hussain Navqi prayed for those who had died, leaving many in his audience in tears.

Officials say at least two or three people died in just about every household in Muzaffarabad, a city of some 1,25,000 people. Many are still buried under the rubble, their bodies unlikely ever to be recovered.

But the mufti also had some harsh words for the survivors, lashing out at them for giving up their observance of the Ramadan fasting month and for abandoning their quake-damaged homes, instead of rebuilding them.

Some aid workers had urged Muslims to suspend their dawn-to-dusk fast as they needed water and basic sustenance to stay alive.

“Many have left their fast. This is not good,” the chief cleric told AFP, summarising his message to about 70 tearful men who turned up for his weekly sermon at the mosque.

He also said the quake that reduced the city to little more than large mounds of jagged rubble, was a warning from God that people must learn to love their fellow humans, no matter what their religion.

Some survivors told that they were not fasting because food supplies were so sporadic and they were eating when they could. Very few said they had gone to the mosque since their lives were turned upside down by the catastrophe.

“We don’t have time. We are too busy trying just to survive,” said Noordin Riaz, who lost five members of his family. “We also have no water so we can’t cleanse ourselves properly. One can’t just pray — there are rituals involved.”

Pakistani soldiers who have been at the forefront of rescue and relief efforts are strictly observing the fast, however, and each evening are seen passing dates, biscuits and bottles of water among themselves, just after sunset to mark a simple Iftar meal. — AFP

Kathmandu, October 14
Maoist rebels have abducted five persons, including one soldier and two policemen, during the Dasehra holidays, Royal Nepalese Army said today.

The rebels stopped a passenger bus heading towards Khimti from Kathmandu at Barakilo area in Sindhupalchowk district on Arniko Highway and abducted the soldier and policemen.

The security personnel, all travelling unarmed, were taken to undisclosed destination, the army said.

The guerillas have also abducted one person each from Mirchaia area of Siraha district and Thawang area of Rolpa district.

In a separate incident, the armed rebels attacked and injured a Royal Nepalese Army personnel in Tilahara area of Parvat district.

Meanwhile, two Maoist cadres from Taplejung and Panchthar districts of eastern Nepal have surrendered.

The army said the two have dissociated themselves from their past acts of terror and violence and expressed willingness to lead a peaceful life. — PTI

Islamabad, October 14
Issuing an urgent appeal for more helicopers to deliver aid to remote quake-hit areas of Pakistan and PoK, UN emergency relief chief Jan Egeland has said the number of the relief choppers needed to be increased to save thousands of lives.

More aid for the quake-affected was on the way, he told the UN information service. “In the pipeline we have 10,000 tents and 100,000 blankets but it takes time to get them into these areas.”

Mr Egeland, who made a helicopter tour of Muzaffarabad, the devastated capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, to assess relief efforts, said more helicopters were needed urgently if thousands of lives are to be saved in the remote areas affected by the Saturday temblor.

The UN has made an appeal for approximately $ 272 million for Pakistan in the wake of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that hit the region on Saturday. The appeal aims at saving lives and early recovery activities for a six-month emergency phase. — PTI

Islamabad, October 14
A mother-daughter duo from Jammu and Kashmir, who was visiting PoK when the killer quake struck, today managed to reach Rawalpindi from Muzaffarabad by road with the help of relatives after spending some harrowing days in the worst-hit area even as efforts were on to locate 44 other Indian nationals.

The 44-year-old, Nuzahat Basheer, and her eight-year-old daughter Tahannya, who survived the quake without injuries, contacted the Indian High Commission for help after reaching Rawalpindi near here.

She along with her daughter would be sent home through Wagah border in the next few days, Indian High Commission officials here said. — PTI