W O R L D

122 Tibetans held in Nepal
Attempt to storm Chinese embassy foiled
Kathmandu, March 30
An attempt by Tibetans to storm the Chinese embassy here was foiled by the Nepalese police today which arrested 122 people in continuing crackdown on anti-China protests. Baton-wielding policemen dispersed nearly 200 people shouting pro-independence slogans who tried to enter the tightly guarded embassy in Nepal.

Army back to barracks in  2 weeks, says Gilani (56k)

Four killed in Nepal blasts
At a time when the government and Election Commission of Nepal are hell-bent to hold the Constituent Assembly election on April 10, various armed outfits have started to pose a serious challenge before the government by unleashing a series of violent incidents across the country.

5 die as plane crashes into houses
London, March 30
Five persons were killed when a private plane crashed into residential properties in north Kent today, the police said. Officers were called to the scene in Broadwater Gardens, Farnborough, around 2.30pm local time, the Metropolitan Police said.

Gilani apologises to deposed judge
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday called deposed Supreme Court judge Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday and apologised for the Saturday night incident when his residence in Islamabad was raided and got forcibly vacated by staff of the Supreme Court.

Chinese dancers perform during their show ‘Buddha with 1.000 hands’ on the German TV show “Wetten dass...?” (Bet that..) in Erfurt, Germany, on Saturday. — AP/PTI

New York Times photographer Dith Pran, whose harrowing experiences in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge were dramatised in the film ‘The Killing Fields’, died on Sunday in New Jersey at the age of 65. — Reuters

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Protesters wearing masks of US President George W. Bush (right) and Polish President Lech Kaczynski march through Slupsk, northern Poland, on Saturday. Several hundred people rallied against US plans to build a missile defence base on the outskirts of Slupsk in the shuttered Redzikowo air base. — AP/PTI

Hair follicles may help grow new blood vessels
New York, March 30
Imagine physicians growing new blood vessels or skin tissue from the hair on their patients' heads. Well, it may soon be a reality. A team of researchers at the University of Buffalo has carried out a study showing that stem cells isolated from sheep hair follicles contain the smooth muscle cells that grow new vasculature.

Recession Fears
Queen cancels anniversary party
London, March 30
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has cancelled a party to mark her 60th wedding anniversary this weekend as she felt it would be “inappropriate” to hold a lavish celebration with the country on the brink of recession.

Baggage chaos at Heathrow to last
London, March 30
British Airways has said that delays and cancellations at London Heathrow airport's new terminal would last into next week, amid claims that the extent of the problems was worse than admitted.

122 Tibetans held in Nepal
Attempt to storm Chinese embassy foiled

Kathmandu, March 30
An attempt by Tibetans to storm the Chinese embassy here was foiled by the Nepalese police today which arrested 122 people in continuing crackdown on anti-China protests.

Baton-wielding policemen dispersed nearly 200 people shouting pro-independence slogans who tried to enter the tightly guarded embassy in Nepal, which has witnessed almost daily demonstration by Tibetans since the most vicious protests against the Chinese rule erupted in Tibet on March 10.

The police said 122 people, including 46 women, had been arrested. Some of the demonstrators and security personnel were injured in the scuffles.

Nepal's government officially recognises "One China" policy and considers Tibet as an integral part of the communist country.

Nepal's foreign ministry, meanwhile, said that reports that Chinese security agents were deployed on its territory along the border with Tibet were "completely untrue, groundless and pre-meditated attempts to malign" the country's image.

Tibetan students entered the United Nations' office premises here a few days ago, demanding freedom for Tibet.

However, the UN office in Kathmandu has asked the government to allow peaceful demonstrations and not to use excessive force.

There are over 20,000 Tibetan refugees in Nepal. — PTI

Four killed in Nepal blasts
Bishnu Budhathoki writes from Kathmandu

At a time when the government and Election Commission of Nepal are hell-bent to hold the Constituent Assembly election on April 10, various armed outfits have started to pose a serious challenge before the government by unleashing a series of violent incidents across the country.

A day after detonating bombs at a mosque in Biratnagar, the hometown of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, where two people were killed and two others sustained injuries; two more people have been reportedly killed in a bomb explosion in Garkhakot today afternoon. However, detailed information about the explosion is still awaited.

According to media reports, on Saturday evening, two persons were killed and two more injured critically when unidentified persons came on motorcycles and hurled bombs inside a mosque premises in Biratnagar where over 60 persons were reciting evening prayers.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Koirala denounced the incident dubbing it as an anti-social and criminal act unleashed against humanity. Talking to journalists at his residence in Biratnagar this afternoon, Koirala urged the Muslim community and the victims’ family members to be patient.

While staying in Biratnagar, he has directed the security officials to take immediate initiative to improve the law and order situation and ensure a peaceful environment for the elections. He also reiterated that the government would hold the election as decided and would all efforts made by the regressive elements to disrupt the elections would be foiled.

5 die as plane crashes into houses

London, March 30
Five persons were killed when a private plane crashed into residential properties in north Kent today, the police said.

Officers were called to the scene in Broadwater Gardens, Farnborough, around 2.30pm local time, the Metropolitan Police said.

A spokesman said five persons were on board the twin-engined aircraft.

There was no information on any casualties on the ground. An eyewitness said the crash was next to the Princess Royal University Hospital.

Katheryn Simnett, a resident of a nearby house, told the BBC: “We looked out of the bedroom window and we saw it (the plane) flying really low, as though it was in trouble.

“It swerved our house. It looked like it was trying to land in the nearby woods, the nearby fields... but it crashed into two of the houses on the block and we saw two big balls of black smoke and could smell the air fuel.”

A spokeswoman for London Ambulance Service said at least 12 vehicles, including ambulances and fast response vehicles, were attending the scene. — Reuters

Gilani apologises to deposed judge
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday called deposed Supreme Court judge Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday and apologised for the Saturday night incident when his residence in Islamabad was raided and got forcibly vacated by staff of the Supreme Court.

The incident has evoked strong reaction across the country and lawyers’ community has announced complete boycott of courts on Monday. The Prime Minister ordered immediate return of all belongings of Ramday and an inquiry has also been ordered.

The demolition squad said they were acting on the orders of Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar. PPP information secretary Sherry Rehman described it as a conspiracy against the new government, which is committed to reinstatement of deposed judges.

Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan said the conspiracy originated from the Presidency, which was engaged in blocking the restoration of judges.

Ramday told Dawn News TV that he was in Lahore when the house was raided. He confirmed that some important files of cases were lying in his house.

Court registrar said Justice Dogar had ordered eviction of Ramday from the residence because he has been sacked and another judge needed the house. But Aitzaz Ahsan said even retired judges are entitled to keep the residence for six months. He said Ramday continues to be judge of the Supreme Court and the incident was meant to further confuse the issue and embarrass the new government.

PPP, PML-N announce names for cabinet

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have announced the names of the members of their parties who will take oath as members of federal cabinet on Monday.

President Musharraf will administer oath to the new cabinet. The PML-N has said it has reluctantly agreed to take oath from Musharraf for unity of the coalition despite serious reservations about his legality. PML-N information secretary Ahsan Iqbal said it would be more embarrassing for Musharraf than the PML-N to administer oath to people whom he has been condemning and victimising for past over eight years.

The designate members from the PPP are Shah Mehmood Qureshi (foreign affairs), Sherry Rehman (information), Syed Naveed Qamar (privatisation, Poprt and shipping), Raja Pervez Ashraf (water and power), Syed Khursheed Shah (labour, manpower and overseas Pakistanis), Qamar Zaman Kaira (Kashmir affairs), Senator Farooq Naek (law, justice and human rights), Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar (defense), while the portfolios of Najamuddin Khan, Nazar Gondal and Mir Hamayon Aziz Kurd would be announced later.

The ministers from the PML-N are Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan (senior federal minister, communication), Senator Ishaq Dar (finance, economic affairs and commerce), Ahsan Iqbal (education), Tahmina Daultana (women development), Sardar Mehtab Abbassi (railways), Khawaja Asif (petroleum and natural resources), Rana Tanveer Hussain (food, agriculture and Llivestock), Shahid Khakan Abbasi (defense production) and Khawaja Saad Rafiq (youth affairs).

The Awami National Party (ANP) has designated Ghulam Ahmed Bilour (local government and rural development) and Khwaja Khan Hoti, whose portfolio will be announced later. JUI-F’s Rehmatullah Kakar will be minister for religious affairs, while Fata member Hameedullah Jan Afridi will be minister for states and frontier region.

Hair follicles may help grow new blood vessels

Recession Fears
Queen cancels anniversary party

London, March 30
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has cancelled a party to mark her 60th wedding anniversary this weekend as she felt it would be “inappropriate” to hold a lavish celebration with the country on the brink of recession.

With her subjects facing rising bills and falling house prices and the banking system paralysed by “credit crunch”, the Queen decided that the celebration at the Ritz here would be regarded as insensitive.

According to The Mail on Sunday, her highlighting of the dire state of the economy would not be welcomed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who faces daily reminders from his advisers that the country was heading for a recession. — PTI

Baggage chaos at Heathrow to last

London, March 30
British Airways has said that delays and cancellations at London Heathrow airport's new terminal would last into next week, amid claims that the extent of the problems was worse than admitted. The airline said about 13 per cent of short-haul and European flights in and out of Terminal 5 (T5) would be cancelled on Monday, with the expectation that a similar number would be cut on Tuesday. — AFP