W O R L D

US warning ignored; Russian troops headed for Tbilisi
London, August 14
Russia continues to challenge the United States, and especially President George W. Bush to “choose” between Washington’s relationship with Georgia and its future ties with Moscow.

Impeachment likely on Monday: Sherry
The impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf are likely to be initiated next Monday, information minister Sherry Rehman told reporters after the Federal Cabinet deliberated on the issue in its meeting held under Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Mush warns of plots to weaken Pak
In an oblique reference to the current political crisis that has sent him reeling for survival, President Pervez Musharraf has warned the nation against "conspiracies" being hatched within and abroad to destabilise the country.

NC’s Deuba to counter Prachanda
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda and Nepali Congress leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday filed their candidacies to contest the election for the post of the first Prime Minister of federal democratic republic Nepal.

US warning ignored; Russian troops headed for Tbilisi

London, August 14
Russia continues to challenge the United States, and especially President George W. Bush to “choose” between Washington’s relationship with Georgia and its future ties with Moscow.

The challenge was mounted as Russian troops in about 70 military vehicles left Gori for Georgian capital Tbilisi.

In appeared to be a calculated defiance of the US and the European Union, which mediated a ceasefire deal 24 hours earlier, reports The Telegraph.

It maybe recalled that Bush had warned that the Russian advance could damage ties between the two countries, and demanded that Moscow “keep its word” over the ceasefire.

Bush also announced that he was sending a large US aid mission to Georgia.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov countered by saying: “We understand that this current Georgian leadership is a special project of the US, but one day the US will have to choose.” Britain’s foreign secretary David Miliband said: “Russian incursions into Georgia from South Ossetia or from Abkhazia are contrary to international law. The sight of Russian tanks rolling into parts of a sovereign country on its neighbouring borders will have brought a chill down the spine of many people, rightly.” Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has berated his country’s western allies for lack of assistance in the conflict.

But following Bush’s offer of humanitarian aid, he claimed that Georgia’s ports and airports would be placed under US military protection, a suggestion quickly denied by the Pentagon.

Russian forces on Wednesday entered the main port at Poti and detonated explosives on three Georgian patrol vessels.

In and around Gori, several reports suggested Russian forces backed by South Ossetian militias were engaged in looting and violence, but Moscow denied the claims.

The ceasefire brokered by the EU on Tuesday called for Russian and Georgian forces to return to positions they occupied before hostilities began, obliging Russian troops to withdraw to from Georgian territory. — ANI

Impeachment likely on Monday: Sherry
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

The impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf are likely to be initiated next Monday, information minister Sherry Rehman told reporters after the Federal Cabinet deliberated on the issue in its meeting held under Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

‘Try Musharraf’ Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, top leader of the lawyers’ movement has said President Musharraf must be tried under the Constitution because he destroyed the state institutions, including judiciary and arrested 60 judges along with their children. Talking to mediapersons at Islamabad Airport on arrival from New York after a week-long trip to the US, Ahsan said the President had violated Article 6 of the Constitution by imposing Martial Law and arresting judges.

“The Cabinet supported the decision to impeach the President. The process is likely to start on Monday. All coalition partners are on board. We are also in contact with the MQM,” she said.

The minister said the chargesheet against the President was almost complete and would be presented to the coalition partners. “There is a tidal wave against Musharraf,” she said, referring to the recent resolutions by the provincial Assemblies.

Four ministers belonging to the PML-N did not attend the meeting, but Sherry said: “They were not stopped but we want all the PML-N ministers to rejoin the Cabinet. They are on board in the impeachment movement.

The PML-N says it is waiting for the successful culmination of the impeachment process after which the issue of restoration of deposed judges at the earliest convenience and in accordance with the Murree Declaration that envisages Parliament adopting a resolution declaring as unconstitutional Musharraf’s November 3 actions, including dismissal of 60 judges.

Sherry said the Cabinet had decided to do away with all Martial Law regulations, as some of them were hindering the restoration of students unions. “We will ensure a zero tolerance policy towards the weaponisation of educational institutions. A special Committee has been formed in this regard,” she added.

Mush warns of plots to weaken Pak
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

In an oblique reference to the current political crisis that has sent him reeling for survival, President Pervez Musharraf has warned the nation against "conspiracies" being hatched within and abroad to destabilise the country.

Making his first public appearance in a late night traditional annual "Azadi Show" that continued till the wee hours of Thursday to mark the 61st Independence Day anniversary at the Presidency, Musharraf said the strength of a country depended on a strong economy and its military.

"Pakistan's military is strong and it will safeguard this country forever," the President said, adding that the "military and the people must stay united to defend the country." 

NC’s Deuba to counter Prachanda
Bishnu Budhathoki writes from Kathmandu

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda and Nepali Congress leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday filed their candidacies to contest the election for the post of the first Prime Minister of federal democratic republic Nepal.

Prachanda filed his nomination at the Constituent Assembly (AC)

Secretariat at 4.30 pm as a common candidate of the CPN-UML and the Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF), the third and forth largest party in the Assembly, for Friday’s prime ministerial election.

For the first time in the history of Nepal, the 594 CA members in the capacity of Legislature-Parliament meeting on Friday at 1.00 pm will elect the country’s head of the government through voting.