Islamabad, April 27
Under intense US pressure to stop Taliban’s advance towards the federal capital, Pakistani troops intensified operations against militants in the NWFP killing over 50 of them.

Helicopter gunships pounded Taliban hideouts as security forces continued their operations for the second day today in NWFP's lower Dir district, which adjoins Swat and is covered by the peace deal between radicals and the government.

As US pressure built up on Islamabad to take steps to safeguard its nuclear arsenals, President Asif Ali Zardari ruled out the possibility of his country's atomic weapons falling into the hands of Taliban.

“Pakistan’s nuclear installations are in safe hands and under extra security,” Zardari said in an interview to foreign media. Zardari also called for more foreign support for ‘cash-strapped’ Pakistan to prevent any danger of its nuclear arsenal falling into the hands of Al-Qaeda and its allies.

Meanwhile, in another sign of mounting Western concern, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was to meet Pakistani leaders, including Zardari, tonight. — PTI

Islamabad, April 27
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari today ruled out the possibility of his country’s nuclear weapons falling into the hands of the Taliban. “I want to assure the world that the nuclear capability of Pakistan is under safe hands,” he told a panel interview with Reuters and other international media.

The Taliban’s creeping advances towards the Pakistani capital of Islamabad in recent weeks heightened fears in the United States about the stability of its nuclear-armed ally.

Western allies that need Pakistan’s support to defeat the Al-Qaida and succeed in stabilising Afghanistan, dread the idea of any threat to the security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. Zardari said Pakistan had a strong command and control system for its nuclear weapons that was fully in place.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in an interview with Fox News last week that the United States could not contemplate the possibility of the Taliban taking control of Pakistan's nuclear assets.

London, April 27
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has cancelled a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Brown, who arrived in Pakistan this afternoon after talks in Afghanistan, told reporters on the plane that he would hold a meeting with President Zardari.

But instead of a joint press conference with Zardari in Islamabad, it has emerged that Brown will appear alongside Pakistani premier Yusuf Raza Gilani. Downing Street tried to play down reports that the Zardari had cancelled the press conference at the last minute as a snub to Brown, The Times reported.

“It is entirely appropriate that he has a press conference with his counterpart,” a spokesman said. However, on his last visit to Pakistan in December, Brown and Zardari did stage a joint press conference.

Brown was visiting the region today to discuss Britain's new strategy for dealing with the terror threat on the Pakistani-Afghan border, as international alarm spreads over Taliban advances. Earlier, on a visit to British troops in Afghanistan, Brown described the area between Afghanistan and Pakistan was a “breeding ground for international terrorists.” — ANI

London, April 27
As many as five Tamil protesters were today arrested as they forced their way inside the Indian High Commission and smashed the bulletproof glasses while thousands agitated against the assault by the Sri Lankan army on the LTTE in the island nation.

The Metropolitan police handcuffed five pro-LTTE supporters after they attacked the bulletproof glasses in the front of the India House, housing the Indian High Commission, at Aldwych this morning and forced their way inside.

When contacted, an official of the Indian High Commission said the bulletproof glasses were shattered but no one was injured.

Initially, there were about 100 demonstrators but it soon swelled to 3,000 with many carrying placards and shouting slogans demanding an immediate ceasefire.

Some of the demonstrators also smashed glass panes on the side of the High Commission where the Visa counters were located. A spokesman of the Metropolitan Police said the demonstration was on for over three hours and further details were awaited. — PTI

Toronto, April 27
After the US and Mexico, Canada yesterday confirmed six cases of human swine flu. The flu outbreak originated in Mexico where 80 people have already died of it. The US, where 20 cases with mild symptoms have been confirmed in California, New York, Texas and Kansas, has declared a medical emergency to deal with the situation.

Many countries have issued advisories to their citizens against travelling to Mexico and the US.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which declared the outbreak to be ‘public health emergency of international concern’ on Saturday, said it was re-convening the meeting of its emergency committee tomorrow to decide whether to declare it a pandemic.

Canadian Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq told the media yesterday that six cases of human swine flu linked to the Mexican outbreak had been confirmed in the country.

While two cases came to light in British Columbia province, four were reported in Nova Scotia province, the health minister said.

However, the swine flu symptoms in all the six cases were “relatively mild and the patients are recovering,” she said.

Urging people to take precautions, the top health officer said they should wash their hands thoroughly, never cough or sneeze into their hands, always use a hand sanitizer and stay at home if their show symptoms of the flu.

Countries have stepped up surveillance at airports and ports, using thermal cameras and sensors to identify people with fever.

Japan’s cabinet held a special meeting and said it would prioritise production of a new vaccine.

Health authorities across Asia tried to reassure nationals, saying they had sufficient stockpiles of anti-flu drugs to handle an outbreak. The European Commission has called an urgent meeting of health ministers.

Fearing another setback for the fragile world economy, markets reacted nervously to the outbreak, which has prompted the WHO to activate its 24-hour “war room” command centre.— IANS/Reuters