W O R L D

Musharraf has no problem with my return: Benazir
Dubai, October 13
Former Premier Benazir Bhutto, who has vowed to go back to Pakistan from her self-imposed exile on October 18, said President Pervez Musharraf has no problem with her return but the ruling PML-Q was "afraid" of it. Bhutto (54), who is in Dubai, said the precise schedule for her homecoming will be announced on October 16. In video (56k)

Human shield, aerial surveillance for Bhutto
Karachi, October 13
Over 3,000 volunteers would form a human shield around Benazir Bhutto after her arrival here on October 18 while the government has agreed to “extraordinary security measures”, including aerial surveillance, to protect the Pakistan People’s Party chief.

N-deal: Jaswant for renegotiation
New York, October 13
Senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh has sought renegotiation and revision of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal to ensure that the country's "strategic autonomy," especially in defence sector, is maintained under all circumstances.

Myanmar arrests top dissident: Rights group Bangkok, October 13 Myanmar authorities have arrested another top pro-democracy leader along with three other political dissidents in Yangon, Amnesty International said today. Htay Kywe, who had been in hiding since the anti-government protests began in Yangon in mid-August, was arrested along with three other activists, the rights group said. Myanmar's military junta has arrested Htay Kywe (R), leader of a 1988 student uprising, after a two-month manhunt — Reuters photo

Drug-resistant TB genome identified
Durban, October 13
A group of South African scientists claimed to have sequenced the genome of the bacterium that causes a deadly strain of tuberculosis, a breakthrough that might help in better diagnosis.

Peace activist Sri Chinmoy dead
Washington, October 13
Spiritual guru Sri Chinmoy, a peace activist who inspired his followers to the feats of extreme physical endurance, has died at the age of 76 at his home in New York, a statement from his organisation said.

Id Holiday Rush Bangladeshis climb on the roof of train that leaving Dhaka’s Tejgaon rail station ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan on Saturday. In Dhaka, nearly half the city’s 11 million residents scrambled aboard overcrowded trains, ferries and buses leaving the city as they have a four-day holiday, which is traditionally spent with family at home. At least fivepersons were killed and scores of others injured when an overcrowded train, ferrying mostly Eid holidaymakers, derailed today near Bangladesh’s southeastern port city of Chittagong on Saturday. — Reuters

Musharraf has no problem with my return: Benazir

Dubai, October 13
Former Premier Benazir Bhutto, who has vowed to go back to Pakistan from her self-imposed exile on October 18, said President Pervez Musharraf has no problem with her return but the ruling PML-Q was "afraid" of it. Bhutto (54), who is in Dubai, said the precise schedule for her homecoming will be announced on October 16. “In fact, Gen Musharraf has no problems with my return but the ruling coalition, especially the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) is afraid of my return,” she said. “I may fly from Dubai to Karachi to return to Pakistan,” Bhutto, also the Chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), told Gulf News.

Human shield, aerial surveillance for Bhutto

Karachi, October 13
Over 3,000 volunteers would form a human shield around Benazir Bhutto after her arrival here on October 18 while the government has agreed to “extraordinary security measures”, including aerial surveillance, to protect the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief.

Officials of the provincial Sindh and federal governments met representatives of the PPP and agreed to “extraordinary security measures” for the former prime minister following threats by Islamic militants, the Daily Times reported. Bhutto’s close aide Agha Siraj Durrani, who took part in yesterday’s meeting said, more than 3,000 PPP volunteers would form a human shield around Bhutto’s vehicle after her arrival in Karachi.

The party representatives informed the authorities about some possible threats to Bhutto's life, including a suicide attack on her convoy, the daily said.

Durrani said the party has arranged a bullet-proof vehicle for Bhutto and the government has agreed to aerial surveillance along the route of her convoy.

Baitullah Mehsud, a Pakistani Taliban leader linked to Al-Qaida, has threatened that suicide bombers would launch attacks on Bhutto as soon as she returns. — PTI

N-deal: Jaswant for renegotiation

New York, October 13
Senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh has sought renegotiation and revision of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal to ensure that the country's "strategic autonomy," especially in defence sector, is maintained under all circumstances.

"We cannot have decision- making authority concerning India's security being arrogated to itself by any other power," he told a press conference here yesterday.

Replying to a question, Singh, former External Affairs Minister, said his party stood for strategic relations with the USA in all fields but "strategic partnership is not strategic subservient." He also rejected the suggestion that the stand of the BJP and Left parties, which were also opposing the deal, was similar.

"Our approaches are fundamentally apart. The Communists are persuaded by foundational anti-Americanism. But we have no such ailment." "We want strategic relationship with the United States" but also wanted to ensure that it would not affect India's autonomy to take its own decisions, he said, while calling for renegotiation and revision of the nuclear deal.

The major problem with the deal is that it was announced in a hurry and both Indian and US governments "made the mistake" of not taking lawmakers into confidence, he said, adding that all issues could have been sorted if that had been done. — PTI

Myanmar arrests top dissident: Rights group

Bangkok, October 13
Myanmar authorities have arrested another top pro-democracy leader along with three other political dissidents in Yangon, Amnesty International said today.

Htay Kywe, who had been in hiding since the anti-government protests began in Yangon in mid-August, was arrested along with three other activists, the rights group said.

He was detained along with Mi Mi, a 35-year-old mother of two, and Aung Thu, a 43-year-old man, as well as a fourth person not yet identified, it said.

“We believe they were arrested at the same location in Yangon,” Amnesty said in a statement. “We are extremely concerned for the well-being of these people given their prominence, and we do fear that they risk torture and ill treatment,” the group said.

Htay Kywe and Mi Mi led some of the first protests against the military regime in mid-August, harnessing public anger at an overnight jump in fuel prices. They went into hiding after 13 other top pro-democracy leaders were arrested on August 21. — AFP

Drug-resistant TB genome identified

Durban, October 13
A group of South African scientists claimed to have sequenced the genome of the bacterium that causes a deadly strain of tuberculosis, a breakthrough that might help in better diagnosis.

The extremely drug-resistant (XDR) TB, which was first discovered in Kwazulu-Natal province of South Africa, can kill an untreated person within a month. The dean of the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine in Durban has said researchers from the institution had sequenced the genome of the bacterium that causes XDR TB. It is hoped the breakthrough will lead to better diagnosis of the strain and understanding of the mechanisms involved in its resistance to drugs. — PTI

Peace activist Sri Chinmoy dead

Washington, October 13
Spiritual guru Sri Chinmoy, a peace activist who inspired his followers to the feats of extreme physical endurance, has died at the age of 76 at his home in New York, a statement from his organisation said.

Chinmoy, who suffered a heart attack, died on Thursday.

Chinmoy was born in India and in 1964 immigrated to New York, working in the Indian consulate. He later started a meditation centre that eventually spread around the world. — Reuters