W O R L D

450 political activists held in Nepal
Kathmandu, January 20
More than 450 political activists, including top leaders, were arrested in Nepal and authorities imposed a
dawn-to-dusk curfew in the capital Kathmandu to prevent a seven-party pro-democracy alliance from organising a massive anti-King rally today.

Indian-origin couple burnt alive
Durban, January 20
A young couple of Indian origin was burnt to death after a man set fire to their shop in Eshow town in KwaZulu-Natal province, north of here.

An Atlas V rocket that will carry the New Horizons spacecraft on a mission to the planet Pluto lifts off from launch pad 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday. The spacecraft is estimated to reach Pluto by July 2015. — AP/PTI

Protest against US missile strike
Peshawar, January 20
About 8,000 Islamic hardliners today protested a US missile strike that targeted
Al-Qaida leaders in a Pakistani village, chanting their support for holy war and burning an effigy of US President George W Bush.

Bush admn rejects Laden’s “truce” offer
The Bush administration has rejected an offer of "truce" from Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden saying it does not negotiate with terrorists. The offer was made in an audiotape broadcast on Al Jazeera television yesterday.

More die in Russia’s bitter cold
Moscow, January 20
Russia’s coldest winter in a generation today killed seven more persons overnight, bringing the death toll in Moscow to 123 and putting huge pressure on the
Soviet-era heating and power network.

450 political activists held in Nepal

Kathmandu, January 20
More than 450 political activists, including top leaders, were arrested in Nepal and authorities imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew in the capital Kathmandu to prevent a seven-party pro-democracy alliance from organising a massive anti-King rally today.

Streets in the capital bore a deserted look as thousands of troops patrolled the capital to ensure that none of the political activists reached the central Durbar Square where the planned protest rally was to take place.

Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party President Narayanman Bijukchhe and CPN-UML leaders Bharatmohan Adhikari and K.P. Sharma Oli were placed under house arrest. All of them were also been handed over a three-month arrest warrant.

Over 250 persons were arrested from various places today, bringing to more than 450 the total number of political activists in the custoday since yesterday.

Around 200 activists belonging to the seven-party opposition alliance were arrested from a charity home near the famous Pashupatinath Temple here today while they were preparing to stage a rally defying curfew.

Shortly after the curfew was imposed, police breaking the main gate of the charity home arrested the political activists, sources at the Human Rights Organisation of Nepal said.

Earlier in the morning, hundreds of people gathered at various places, where curfew was not effective, opposing the King seizure of power in February last year. The police also resorted to baton-charge at some places outside the curfew zone where activists tried to stage rallies. The government, however, today confirmed the arrest of only 207 activists.

Home Minister Kamal Thapa had earlier claimed that the government arrested political leaders and imposed curfew as it received information that Maoists might infiltrate into their peaceful programmes. Anti-King demonstrations were also held in Pokhara, Palpa and Nepalgunj districts in the Himalayan kingdom today.

The European Union, UN High Commissioner’s Office for Human Rights/Nepal, the UK, the US and Japan have issued separate statements condemning the government’s crackdown on peaceful demonstrators and urged the kingdom to restore democracy.

The day-long curfew imposed by the royal government affected business and normal life in Kathmandu. The School Leaving Certificate examination was also cancelled for which some 40,000 students were to appear, according to officials.

Muslims in the capital could not go to the mosques for the Friday prayers due to the curfew. Tourists in Kathmandu were confined to their hotels with hotel owners saying that it would have a bad impact on tourism business. — PTI

Indian-origin couple burnt alive

Durban, January 20
A young couple of Indian origin was burnt to death after a man set fire to their shop in Eshow town in KwaZulu-Natal province, north of here.

Fiaz Motala, 22, and his wife Tahira, 21, died of serious burns as they were trapped behind heavily-barred counter of their cellphone shop when the man came to the outlet, poured a liquid and set it on fire, eyewitnesses said.

The accused has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder and one of arson, the police said.

KwaZulu-Natal province has been the focal point of a spate of violent robberies, mostly targetting ethnic Indians.

Community members have expressed their shock and anger and called for immediate action by the authorities.

Tony Subramoney, a businessman, said he knew the couple since they had set up shop recently.

“They had to lock themselves behind bars because of the robberies they had experienced. The situation is getting out of hand and we need action,” he said.

The murder of the young couple is the latest in a series of incidents where people of Indian origin have been targetted in and around the city of Durban, which has the largest concentration of Indians outside India. — PTI

Protest against US missile strike

Peshawar, January 20
About 8,000 Islamic hardliners today protested a US missile strike that targeted Al-Qaida leaders in a Pakistani village, chanting their support for holy war and burning an effigy of US President George W Bush.

Protesters marched from two mosques to the centre of the northwestern city of Peshawar, chanting “Death to America” and “Jihad (holy war) is our way.” Speakers rallied against last Friday’s attack in a border village that killed 13 civilians and possibly several top Al-Qaida operatives.

Dost Mohammed, a leader from the opposition Islamic coalition, asked the crowd: “Are you ready for Jihad against America?” Hundreds of bearded protesters, most wearing white prayer caps, put their hands up. — AP

Bush admn rejects Laden’s “truce” offer
Ashish Kumar Sen writes from Washington

The Bush administration has rejected an offer of "truce" from Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden saying it does not negotiate with terrorists. The offer was made in an audiotape broadcast on Al Jazeera television yesterday.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the offer showed Al-Qaida was "under a lot of pressure." The Central Intelligence Agency has confirmed that the voice on the tape was Bin Laden's. This was the first time the Al-Qaida leader had been heard since December 2004, when he urged Iraqis to boycott elections.

Bin Laden referred to the US opinion polls that show waning support for the war in Iraq. "In response to the substance of the polls in the US, which indicates that Americans do not want to fight Muslims on Muslim land, nor do they want Muslims to fight them on their land, we do not mind offering a long-term truce based on just conditions that we will stick to," he said.

The Al-Qaida leader said: "We are a nation that God banned from lying and stabbing others in the back. Hence, both parties of the truce will enjoy stability and security to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, which were destroyed by war."

The solution would "prevent hundreds of billions from going to influential people and warlords in America — those who supported Bush's electoral campaign. And from this, we can understand Bush and his gang's insistence on continuing the war," he said.

Vice-President Dick Cheney said Bin Laden's offer sounded like a "ploy." Speaking to Fox News yesterday, Mr Cheney said, "I'm not sure what he's offering by way of a truce. I don't think anyone would believe him."

Mr McClellan reiterated the Bush administration's determination to "defeat the terrorists." "We are taking the fight to the enemy; we are working to advance freedom and democracy, to defeat their evil ideology. We are winning. Clearly, Al-Qaida and the terrorists are on the run. And that is why it is important that we do not let up, and that we do not stop until the job is done," he said.

Terrorism analysts said the voice on the tape did not indicate Bin Laden was sick or weak, as has been suggested in media reports.

The White House spokesman, insisting that the administration would not take up the truce offer, said, "The terrorists started this war, and the President made it clear that we will end it at a time and place of our choice."

In his message, Bin Laden warned of a fresh attack against the United States. "It's only a matter of time," he said, referring to attacks. "They are in the planning stages, and you will see them in the heart of your land as soon as the planning is complete."

More die in Russia’s bitter cold

Moscow, January 20
Russia’s coldest winter in a generation today killed seven more persons overnight, bringing the death toll in Moscow to 123 and putting huge pressure on the Soviet-era heating and power network.

“The Moscow energy system has never sustained such a load,” said Anatoly Chubais, chief executive of state electricity monopoly Unified Energy System.

Temperatures in the Russian capital have reached minus 30 degrees Celsius and electricity consumption hit a record peak yesterday, Chubais said in comments quoted by RIA Novosti.

Emergency services reported seven people died overnight from exposure in Moscow. Another 22 were being treated in hospital, the Interfax news agency reported.

Based on previous figures by Russian news agencies this would bring to 123 the number of people who have died from cold in Moscow since the end of October.

The human toll is mainly among the homeless.

The morning temperature in the Russian capital today warmed slightly to just above minus 30 degrees Celsius with a bitter northern wind and driving snow. There are persisting fears of blackouts.

Russia’s weather centre said on its Website that daytime temperatures would stay well below minus 20 degrees Celsius for at least another five days. — Reuters