PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif today held another lengthy but inconclusive round of talks in Lahore on major political and constitutional issues, including the impeachment of President Musharraf. The two leaders met alone and later in the company of senior leaders of their respective parties to narrow their differences on three major issues -- restoration of deposed judges, constitution reforms package and impeachment of President Musharraf. The two sessions lasted nearly four hours.

A senior PML-N leader and former federal minister, Khawaja Asif, while briefing newsmen after the meeting, said the two leaders considerably narrowed the gap in their respective positions but would need a couple of more rounds of talks before arriving at some decisions. Zardari would be away abroad till the first week of July when another round would be held in Islamabad. He said a broad agreement existed on all three issues but the two sides differ on methodology. It was decided to continue the talks till a final decision is reached.

Khawaja Asif said the PML-N would not rejoin the federal cabinet till the resolution of the issue of the reinstatement of judges. The party would support the passage of the federal budget, including the Finance Bill which contains a provision for the allocation of funds to pay for enhanced strength of the Supreme Court from 17 to 29, he said.

PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said each meeting between the two leaders had helped them come closer to each other’s point of view. He said all three issues were interlinked.

“There is a strong view that if Musharraf is impeached and removed from the scene, the other two issues would fall in place,” Babar said.

Khawaja Asif said there was virtual consensus among all four coalition partners -- PPP, PML-N, ANP and JJUI -- on the impeachment of Musharraf.

There was some divergence of view on the timing that would be resolved in due course, he added.

Nepal’s former King Gyanendra Shah, who had lost his crown, sceptre and throne on May 28 following the historic declaration of the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly, now is receiving yet another hard blow.

For the first time in the history of Nepal’s monarchy, dethroned King Gyanendra has been fighting a legal battle in a bid to secure his residence and security personnel provided by the government as the Supreme Court today entertained a public interest litigation (PIL) against him.

A law practitioner, Bhupendra Prasad Pokharel, today lodged a case at the Apex Court against Gyanendra and the Nepal government under the PIL challenging the government decision to provide Nagarjun Palace to Gyanendra and Mahendra Manjil to his mother Ratna to reside there, including security personnel to him and his family members.

Following the incident, his wife Komal, mother Ratna, son Paras and Himani Shah have been also dragged into the legal battle.

In his petition, Pokharel said the government decision to provide a nationalised properties and security personnel to the ousted king and ex-royal family members was against the May 28 declaration.

On that day, the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly had declared the Nepal a federal democratic republic state by abolishing the 239-year old Shah dynasty from the country. It had also directed the government not to give extra privileges to the ousted king and his family members more than a common citizen receives from the state.

Meanwhile, a Supreme Court official informed that the court will start hearing from Sunday.

United Nations, June 20
Warning that systematic rape and other forms of sexual violence could constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity or even acts of genocide, the UN Security Council (UNSC) has demanded that warring governments and factions immediately cease such acts. It also affirmed the Council's intention, when establishing and renewing state-specific sanction regimes, to consider imposing "targeted and graduated" measures against warring factions that committed rape and other forms of violence against women and girls.

The UNSC resolution came at the end of a day-long ministerial debate, during which American secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said sexual violence profoundly affected not only the health and safety of women, but also economic and social stability of their nations. Rice chaired part of the meeting as the US is the president of the current month and had organised the debate.

There had been objections that the 15-member Council could not take up the issue as it was not a threat to international peace and security and some members thought that it was trying to impinge on an area which is in the purview of the General Assembly.

The Council expressed its deep concern that, despite repeated condemnation, violence and sexual abuse of women and children trapped in war zones was not only continuing, but, in some cases, had become so widespread and systematic as to "reach appalling levels of brutality".

Stressing that such violence could significantly exacerbate conflicts and impede peace processes, the resolution affirmed the Council's readiness to, where necessary, adopt steps to address systematic sexual violence deliberately targeting civilians, or as a part of a widespread campaign against civilian populations. It also requested the Secretary-General to develop effective guidelines and strategies to enhance the ability of relevant UN peacekeeping operations to protect civilians, including women and girls, from all forms of sexual violence. In his opening remarks to the meeting, which came eight years after the Council had adopted its landmark resolution on women, peace and security, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said an increasing and alarming number of women and girls were falling victim to sexual violence in conflict areas and that the problem had reached unspeakable and pandemic proportions in some societies attempting to recover from it.

"We must do far more to involve women in conflict prevention, peace negotiations and recovery after the guns fall silent," he said, stressing that he needed the member states to come forward with more women candidates. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Children’s book illustrator Tasha Tudor dies
MARLBORO (US): Children's book illustrator Tasha Tudor, whose whimsical drawings of country outings, gardens and family life in rural New England echoed her own picturesque lifestyle, has died. She was 92. Tudor, who illustrated classics such as "Little Women" and "The Secret Garden" died on Wednesday at her home, surrounded by her family and friends. — AP

14 detained for seeking Suu Kyi’s release
YANGON: Myanmar's ruling military junta detained 13 opposition party members who called for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she marked her 63rd birthday, witnesses said. The 13 persons were taken into a truck after dozens of Suu Kyi's supporters gathered outside the National League for Democracy party's headquarters in Yangon on Thursday. A Buddhist monk was also arrested, according to a government official. — AP

Indian restaurants in UK fined
LONDON: At least 15 Indian restaurants have been fined for employing illegal migrants, including Indians, who do not have the right to work in the UK. The crackdown launched in February on employers for using illegal migrants has led to a total fine of £ 303,000 levied on 35 companies, including 15 Indian restaurants, across the UK. However, trade union leaders have expressed concern over the government's strategy. — PTI

Indian energy groups awarded top British prize
LONDON: An Indian organisation has been named 'Energy Champion 2008' at the prestigious Ashden Awards for its exemplary work in the area of local sustainable energy. Bangalore-based Technology Informatics Design Endeavour was adjudged with 'Energy Champion' here on Thursday for its role in transforming small businesses by encouraging them to use safer and cleaner energy-efficient woodstoves and kilns. Uttar Pradesh-based Aryavart Gramin Bank was also awarded with £ 20,000 for the prize, dubbed the "Green Energy Oscars". — PTI