W O R L D

US House faults Bush on Iraq
Washington, February 17
In a blow to US President George W Bush, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives has expressed its strong disapproval of his decision to deploy more than 20,000 United States combat troops to Iraq.

Bush all set to attack Iran: Report
London, February 17
The Bush administration’s preparation to strike Iran is complete, with the top commander of the US central command having received computerised plans for Operation Iranian Freedom, a report has said.

Blast in Pak court kills judge, 15 others
Quetta, February 17
A judge and six lawyers were among 16 persons killed in a suspected suicide bomb attack on a courtroom in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta today, the city's police chief said.

Policemen inspect the blast site in Quetta where at least 16 persons were killed and around 24 injured when a powerful bomb exploded in a court. The majority of the dead include lawyers. — AFP photo

Pak proposes to liberalise visa regime
Islamabad, February 17
After rejecting a number of Indian proposals, Pakistan is likely to put forward new ideas to liberalise the visa regime during Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri's three-day visit to New Delhi next week.

Grant, Jemima split Los Angeles: Actor Hugh Grant and his British society girlfriend, Jemima Khan, have ended their relationship. Romantic comedy star Grant best known for “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” had been dating Khan for about three years but had recently dodged questions about whether marriage was on the cards. Khan, daughter of billionaire Sir James Goldsmith, began dating Grant after the end of her marriage to ex-Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan. — Reuters

Indian-origin politician shot
Durban, February 17
A local politician of Indian origin, Rajah Naidoo, was shot dead here at a primary school, soon after attending a meeting to discuss pollution damage. Naidoo, an independent town councillor and chairman of the Merebank Residents' Association, was shot dead near the school grounds yesterday.

Anna’s treatment was ‘sound’
Silicon Valley, February 17
An attorney representing the Indian-origin doctor being investigated about possibly prescribing methadone to Anna Nicole Smith has said his treatment of the former Playboy playmate was "sound and appropriate."

US House faults Bush on Iraq

Prince Harry may be sent to Iraq LONDON: Britain’s Prince Harry (22), an army officer and third in line to the throne, could be deployed to Iraq by the end of February, a newspaper reported today. He will be sent to Basra, southern Iraq, where Britain has more than 7,000 troops, the Daily Mirror said, citing an unnamed senior military source. A royal family spokesman declined to comment on the report, while the Ministry of Defence said it was “entirely speculative”.

Washington, February 17
In a blow to US President George W Bush, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives has expressed its strong disapproval of his decision to deploy more than 20,000 United States combat troops to Iraq.

As many as 17 Republicans also joined Democrats in the House of Representatives to oppose the Iraq policy, which includes an increase in troops there, in a non-binding resolution. Only two Democrats joining the Grand Old Party in opposition to their Party’s position.

“Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007 to deploy more than 20,000 US combat troops to Iraq. ”Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the US armed forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq,” the resolution said. The leadership in the Senate has indicated that it is bracing itself for a showdown on a vote today but Republicans in that Chamber have made it known that getting 60 votes to move forward in the Chamber is not going to be easy to come by.

Bush has made no formal comments on the House Resolution but the White House has been making no bones of the fact as to where the President stood on the issue.

In fact, Republicans have been making the point that the so-called Non Binding Resolution is only the precursor to a binding Resolution calling for cut off in funds.

Rice in Baghdad

BAGHDAD: Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad today, arriving as American and Iraqi troops make early gains in a new crackdown against militants in the Iraqi capital.

“They are off to a good start,” Rice said of the military operation. Rice, who will later go on to Jerusalem, would meet various officials during her Iraq visit, a U.S. embassy spokesman said. She is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem on Monday. — Agencies

Bush all set to attack Iran: Report

London, February 17
The Bush administration’s preparation to strike Iran is complete, with the top commander of the US central command having received computerised plans for Operation Iranian Freedom, a report has said.

“American military operations for a major conventional war with Iran extend far beyond targeting suspect weapons of mass destruction facilities and will enable President George W. Bush to destroy Iran’s military, political and economic infrastructure overnight using conventional weapons”, the journal New Statesman has claimed.

In a story titled ‘Attack Revealed: America’s plans to invade Iran’, the journal quoting British military sources said “The US military switched its whole focus to Iran as soon as Saddam Hussein was removed from power. The White House continued this strategy, though it had American forces bogged down in Iraq.”

The US army, navy, air force and marines had all prepared battle plans and spent four years building bases and training for Operation Iranian Freedom. Admiral Fallon, the new head of US central command, had inherited computerised plans under the name Theatre Iran Near Term.

The US navy could put six carriers into battle at a month’s notice. Any US general planning to attack Iran could now assume that at least 10,000 targets could be hit in a single raid. — PTI

Blast in Pak court kills judge, 15 others

Quetta, February 17
A judge and six lawyers were among 16 persons killed in a suspected suicide bomb attack on a courtroom in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta today, the city's police chief said.

The bomb exploded while the court was in Sessions and Additional Judge Abdul Wahid Durani and six lawyers were among those killed, the police said. At least 24 people were injured, police chief Rahu Khan Brohi said, adding six of them are in critical condition.

The police found a head amongst the carnage, raising suspicions that the blast could have been caused by a suicide bomber. The upward force of a blast from a suicide belt typically decapitates the bomber.

''We are looking into the possibility of whether the blast is a suicide attack,'' said Rehmat Niazi, the police officer in charge of operations.

Television footage from the wrecked courthouse showed people and the police walking through pools of blood, collecting belongings. Body parts and torn clothes could be seen all around.

''The Quetta incident should be seen as a continuity of recent suicide attacks in the country. These suicide attacks could be linked with the government's anti-terror operations in the tribal regions. We are looking into this aspect as well,'' chief of the crisis management cell Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema (retd) said.

A wave of suicide attacks gripped Pakistan since January 26 almost a month after 25 suspected militants were killed in Pakistan’s air strike on Zamzola village of South Waziristan’s tribal region, bordering Afghanistan.

At least 20 people, mostly officials of law enforcement agencies, were killed in the five suicide attacks in less than fifteen days.

''Pakistan's policy is very clear. It will not allow its soil to be used for acts of terror against any country,'' Mr Cheema said.

Today's suicide attack came a day after Pakistani security agencies arrested three suspected suicide bombers from the port city of Karachi yesterday and recovered from them hand grenades, an explosives-laden jacket, Kalashnikovs and pistols. — Reuters, UNI

Pak proposes to liberalise visa regime

Islamabad, February 17
After rejecting a number of Indian proposals, Pakistan is likely to put forward new ideas to liberalise the visa regime during Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri's three-day visit to New Delhi next week.

Mr Kasuri will bring a new set of proposals to negotiate a revised liberal visa regime during his visit beginning February 20 to co-chair the Indo-Pak Joint Commission with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee, an official was quoted as saying by The News, a Pakistani daily.

The two countries are making efforts to change a very restrictive visa regime brought out in 1974. However, according to Indian officials, plans to liberalise the visa regime were bogged down after Pakistan, while responding to India's proposals made in 2005, either rejected or watered down a number of proposed measures.

A comparative study of the proposals of the two countries submitted to Kasuri during Mukherjee's visit last month revealed that Pakistan, besides rejecting proposals for new category visas for pilgrims and students, has also reduced the Indian proposal to grant visa to businessmen from 90 days to 30 days.

According to the unnamed official, about 10,000 Indian pilgrims visited different shrines in Pakistan while a fewer number went from Pakistan to India. "We will also be seeking to bring a balance in these numbers so that more Pakistanis can go to India," the official added.

During Kasuri's visit, Pakistan and India will also ink an agreement to reduce the risks of nuclear accidents.

The agreement will greatly help in reducing tension pertaining to apprehensions of misuse and mishandling of nuclear arsenal on part of either side, official sources said.

The Pakistani delegation will comprise of Foreign Minister Mian Khurshid Kasuri, Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan and High Commissioner in New Delhi Shahid Malik.

The visit of the foreign minister will have significant importance in the backdrop of the 14th SAARC summit to be held at New Delhi in the first week of April. — PTI

Indian-origin politician shot

Durban, February 17
A local politician of Indian origin, Rajah Naidoo, was shot dead here at a primary school, soon after attending a meeting to discuss pollution damage.

Naidoo, an independent town councillor and chairman of the Merebank Residents' Association, was shot dead near the school grounds yesterday.

"Naidoo was confronted by two persons near the school grounds. A shot was fired and he died on the spot," said Phindile Hadebe, police spokesperson. "At this stage we don't know what are the circumstances of the murder. Our Serious and Violent Crime Unit is investigating the killing," she said.

Meanwhile, the local Indian community has reacted with shock and anger at his murder. — PTI

Anna’s treatment was ‘sound’

Silicon Valley, February 17
An attorney representing the Indian-origin doctor being investigated about possibly prescribing methadone to Anna Nicole Smith has said his treatment of the former Playboy playmate was "sound and appropriate."

In a statement to the celebrity news website TMZ.com, Dr Sandeep Kapoor's attorney Ellyn Garofalo said: "Dr Kapoor's treatment programme for Anna Nicole Smith was at all times medically sound and appropriate. We are confident that responsible authorities will agree and he will cooperate with any inquiries by the Medical Board of California."

The response came a day after the California Medical Board said it opened an inquiry of the 38-year-old doctor. The agency started looking at Kapoor after TMZ.com this week published what appeared to be an August 25, 2006, pharmacy receipt for a methadone prescription written by "Dr Kapoor, S.v to a "Chase, Michelle."

Smith was pregnant with her daughter, Dannielynn, at the time after receiving information about possible misconduct involving Smith.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, methadone treatment for pregnant women can "save [a] baby's life". — PTI