Washington, January 29
On a collision course with Congress on Iraq, the White House has again emphasised the need to send more troops to the violence-hit country.

Vice-President Dick Cheney said the US forces needed to take the challenge in restoring peace in Iraq.

“...We have to have the stomach to finish the task," Cheney said in an interview broadcast yesterday.

“...After 9/11, we learned that we have a vested interest in what happens on the ground in the Middle East. Now, if you are going to walk away from Iraq today and say, well, gee, it's too tough, we can't complete the task," Cheney told CNN.

“The critics have not suggested a policy. All they have recommended is to redeploy or to withdraw our forces.But the fact is we can complete the task in Iraq. We're going to do it. We've got Petraeus, General Petraeus, taking over. It is a good strategy. It will work," the Vice-President remarked in an interview that was combative at times.

Cheney said a Senate Resolution would not be in the interests of the American troops in Iraq.

“It won't stop us. And it would be detrimental from the standpoint of the troops,” Cheney maintained. — PTI

Kuala Lumpur, January 29
Malaysia's governing coalition clinched a landslide victory in a rural state byelection following a boycott by Opposition parties that feared the ballot would be marred by fraud.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front on Sunday trounced the lone challenger, Mr Ng Chee Pang, 22, a little-known Independent candidate with scarcely any political experience, to retain the legislative seat of Batu Talam in eastern Pahang state.

The National Front's candidate, Abdul Aziz Mat Kiram, secured 89 per cent of 7,080 votes cast, beating Mr Pang by a majority of 5,857 votes, the Election Commission said. Mr Pang received 419 votes, while another 385 ballots were spoilt.

"The support for the government has grown stronger," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama. "Considering the turnout of 67 per cent, we can clearly state that the Opposition's effort to boycott the byelections was not welcomed by the voters in Batu Talam."

Two key Opposition groups refused to field any candidates to protest what they claimed were discrepancies in the voter roll, and concerns the vote might not be transparent. The government authorities rejected the accusations and called the boycott a publicity stunt.

The National Front had been concerned that many of Batu Talam's 10,525 eligible voters might not bother to show up because Abdul Aziz seemed assured of triumph. — AP 

Islamabad, January 29
Pakistan's Interior Ministry has directed law enforcement agencies to arrest three activists of the banned Sunni extremist group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, for their suspected involvement in the Peshawar suicide bombing, which left 15 persons dead, including the city police chief.

The three activists, Jalil Ahmed, Ilyas Moawia and Nazir Ahmed, are suspected of orchestrating the blast, officials here said.

The Interior Ministry issued the directive following reports that the three had been planning to target Shias in Peshawar and Hangu during the Muharram period.

Three teams have been formed to investigate Saturday's suicide attack and the police has been deployed in extra strength for peaceful Muharram processions.

Ten persons, including the Peshawar Police Commissioner and four top police officials, were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Peshawar on Saturday.

"Teams for the collection of evidence, investigation and arrest purposes have been formed," new Peshawar police chief Abdul Majeed Marwat was quoted by Daily Times as saying. Majeed said statements by injured policemen and others had not yet been recorded.

He said it was difficult to suggest whether the suicide bomber was targeting police officials, but Adviser to Chief Minister Allama Ramzan Tauqir said the police had been targeted in the attack. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Faction fight in Gaza
Gaza City: Rival Palestinian factions clashed again in Gaza despite agreeing to Saudi-mediated talks to end violence that has left 30 persons dead in four days. Gunbattles between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions raged killing three persons in Khan Yunis and two others in Gaza City. — AFP

Coal mine blast toll 15
Beijing: The death toll in a coal mine gas blast in southwest China's Guizhou province has risen to 15 with four more bodies found on Monday, local officials said. — PTI