Baghdad, June 14
Two Sunni mosques were bombed in Iraq today in apparent reprisal for an attack on a revered Shiite shrine, sparking fears of fresh sectarian bloodletting despite appeals for calm.

Curfews were swiftly imposed in Baghdad and in Samarra, where suspected Al-Qaeda militants yesterday bombed the Al-Askari mosque, but at least six Sunni mosques have been attacked, including one in the capital.

The destruction of Samarra's two gold-covered minarets came after an initial attack on the shrine in 2006, also blamed on Al-Qaeda, sparked Sunni-Shiite reprisals that have claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Today morning, the Sunni mosques of Al-Mustafa in Iskandiriyah and Al-Bashir in Mahawil, both south of Baghdad, were bombed, Lieutenant Kamal al-Ameri of Hilla police told AFP.

Four other Sunni mosques -- three in Iskandiriyah and one in Baghdad -- were attacked yesterday, the latter despite imposition of a curfew in the capital that was due to be lifted on Saturday.

US President George W Bush, who ordered tens of thousands more US troops onto Baghdad's streets to stem brutal sectarian murders started by the 2006 Samarra bombing, blamed the latest attack on Al-Qaeda.

He said the bombing was aimed at "inflaming sectarian tensions among the peoples of Iraq and defeating their aspirations for a secure, democratic and prosperous country." Bush called "on all Iraqis to refrain from acts of vengeance and reject Al-Qaeda's scheme to sow hatred among the Iraqi people and to instead join together in fighting Al-Qaeda as the true enemy of a free and secure Iraq." — AP

Miami, June 14
The US has returned more than 400 stolen artifacts worth millions of dollars to the Peru government, including hammered silver masks, rare Incan counting devices and a clay vessel more than 3,000 years old.

Yesterday’s was Peru’s largest recovery from the US since the two nations signed a 1997 accord to combat theft of pre-Columbian objects from the South American country.

The recovery began after an informant tipped off Broward County officials in 2005 about the collection of 412 metal work, textile and pottery artifacts.

Carol Damian, professor, the Florida International University School of Art History, recalled arriving at a US Customs’ office to identify the pieces.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other investigators arrested a 66-year-old Ugo Bagnato of Italy, who brought the artifacts into the US in 2004 using fake documents.

At one point, Bagnato tried to sell a 3,000-year-old clay vessel, officials said.

Bagnato pleaded guilty to sale and receipt of stolen goods and served 17 months in federal prison. He is now in federal custody, awaiting deportation.— AP

United Nations, June 14
The United Nations General Assembly will declare October 2 -- the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi -- as 'International Day of Non-Violence' in recognition of his role in promoting the message of peacearound the world.

A resolution reaffirming the universal relevance of non-violence, initiated by India and co-sponsored by more than 120 of the 191 members of the Assembly, is expected to be adopted unanimously tomorrow.

The day will be observed for the first time on October 2 next, after which it would become an annual event.

Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma will participate in the formal adoption of the resolution which diplomats and officials say is very timely as the United Nations is expanding its efforts to resolve conflicts.

Most of the major countries, including Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, are among the co-sponsors. From the subcontinent, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bhutan are among those sponsoring it.

The resolution stresses that non violence, tolerance, full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, democracy, development, mutual understanding and respect for diversity are interlinked and reinforcing.

The resolution says that "The Assembly decides, with effect from the 62nd session of the General Assembly (which begins in September next) and guided by the Charter of the United Nations, to observe the International Day of Non-Violence on October 2 each year, with the International day being brought to the attention of all people for its celebration and observance on this date."

It invites all member states, NGOs and individuals to commemorate the day and to disseminate the message of non-violence, "including through education and public awareness." The resolution also requests the Secretary-General to recommend ways and means by which the UN systems can assist member states in organising activities to commemorate the day. — PTI

Former premier Benair Bhutto has said her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would oppose General Musharraf’s bid to get re-elected from present assemblies but would not boycott general elections.

“We are averse to his (Musharraf's) re-election as president by the present assemblies. But if he is re-elected, we will not boycott general elections,” she said in an interview with a private TV channel.

Bhutto reiterated that General’s military uniform is incompatible with democracy. If he contests election in uniform it would be gross violation of the Constitution. “We will not accept that. And we believe that the judiciary will also reject it as unconstitutional.”

The PPP chief said her party was busy in preparations for the elections and was deciding its candidates. A party meeting in London in July would finalise the candidates. She said no one could save the present government from sinking, adding that it would be succeeded by pro-democracy elements, and not by extremists as being speculated.

She said any rigging of the election would have “dreadful consequences” and her party would do all it could, to prevent rigging. She hoped that the administration would not allow any rigging.

“I have never commented on my working as prime minister under General Musharraf as president. The report appearing in this regard is just the mischief of some journalist,” she said.

Melbourne, June 14
Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader Dalai Lama has said he would likely be arrested were he to return to his Chinese-controlled homeland.

The 71-year-old Nobel laureate, on the last leg of an 11-day tour of Australia, feared that the Communist Chinese authorities would arrest him if he returned to his homeland in Tibet.

Speaking in Sydney today, the exiled spiritual leader said Tibetan culture faced decimation within 15 years unless pressure can be exerted on China to accept Tibetan autonomy, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The Dalai Lama said he was a surprisingly popular figure among some ordinary Chinese, but was considered an enemy of the state by the Chinese Government.

He accused China of distorting Tibet’s modest claims for autonomy and of mistaking it as a push for independence.

Despite decades of fruitless diplomatic negotiations, the Dalai Lama said he remained hopeful, even optimistic, that China would change its attitude to Tibet within his lifetime.

The spiritual leader’s visit was overshadowed by a warning China issued soon after Prime Minister John Howard agreed to meet him this week. Beijing said it could harm relations between the two nations. — PTI