Islamabad, August 26
Pakistan Taliban’s new chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who managed to assume the mantle after reaching a power-sharing deal with his rivals, has threatened to strike the USA in revenge for the slaying of their leader Baitullah Mehsud.

Hakimullah (28) issued the threat as he was declared new central ‘Amir’ (chief) of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). However, Wali-ur Rehman, who was named Amir for South Waziristan, would continue to control affairs of the organisation, as he did during the time of Baitullah Mehsud, Pakistani TV channels reported. The organisation has around 25,000 armed militants.

The two top commanders had joined hands only because of the power-sharing deal, giving credence to assertions by Pakistan’s interior minister Rehman Malik that the TTP was plagued by infighting.

The two commanders conceded for the first time that Baitullah was dead, 20 days after US and Pakistani officials said that he was killed in an American missile attack in South Waziristan on August 5.

“He (Baitullah) remained unconscious after being seriously injured in the drone attack and died on Sunday,” Hakimullah was quoted as telling the newsmen by Pakistan news channels. “Now “Shura” (council) has unanimously appointed me Amir of the TTP... we will take revenge on America for the drone attack,” Hakimullah said in his first public comment after taking over the TTP.

But the Pakistani authorities took his threats lightly, saying it was a mere rhetoric as the new leadership was keen to prove its strength in front of its men.

Hakimullah and Wali-ur Rehman are up for a tough test as an attack by the Pakistan military is impending on Taliban’s stronghold of Waziristan.

Under the power-sharing formula reported by the News, Hakimullah has been chosen as the chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, while Wali-ur Rehman would continue to control organisation’s affairs. — PTI

Kathmandu, August 26
The Nepal government on Wednesday sent a letter to President Ram Baran Yadav recommending appointment of acting army chief Chhatra Man Gurung as chief of army staff. According to Information & Communications Minister and government spokesman Shankar Pokharel, a cabinet meeting held this morning decided to promote Gurung to the top army post effective from September 9.

In accordance with the existing constitutional provision, the president who is the patron of the Nepalese army appoints the CoAS going by the government’s recommendation.

Once the government enforces the decision, Gurung, who represents the country’s ethnic groups, will break the century-old tradition of certain elite groups like the Shahs, Ranas and Chhetris, who were considered close to the deposed Shah monarchy, holding the army chief’s post.

The incumbent CoAS, Rookmangud Katawal, who became mired in a political controversy last May when he finally forced the then prime minister and Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal to step down, is on a customary month-long leave before retiring on September 9.

It may be recalled Katawal, who was unilaterally sacked by the Maoists-led government that was then in power and later retained by President Yadav, had brought about dramatic political changes in the Himalayan nation by sending the former rebels to the opposition bench in constituent assembly.

Subsequently, UCPN-M, the single largest party in the constituent assembly, has been obstructing the parliamentary procedures and taking to the street protesting against Yadav's move, dubbing it as a "constitutional coup and a blatant attack against civilian supremacy”

Today’s cabinet meet also decided to extend the tenure of Brig Gen Bikash Bikram Shah and colonels Krish Sumsher JBR and Tej Man Singh Basnet. Besides, it asked all ministries to submit a “progress report” during the government's first 100 days in office.

Senator Edward M Kennedy, the brother of former President John F. Kennedy and a political heavyweight in his own right, died on Tuesday night. He was 77.

A senator for more than four decades, Kennedy had last year been diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour.

In a statement announcing the death, the Kennedy family said, "Edward M. Kennedy, the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply, died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port (Massachusetts)... We've lost the irreplaceable centre of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever."

Kennedy was an early supporter of Barack Obama and the President on Wednesday said he was "heartbroken" to learn of his friend's death.

An important chapter in our history has come to an end," Obama said. "Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States senator of our time."

An ailing Kennedy has disregarded doctors' orders to travel to the Democratic convention in Denver last year where he spoke in support of Obama. Later in January, when Obama was inaugurated, Kennedy braved freezing Washington temperatures to witness the new President being sworn in. The exertion proved too much for Kennedy, who suffered a seizure as a consequence.

Kennedy, known among his colleagues as the "Lion of the Senate" and among friends and family simply as "Teddy," became a Democratic senator from Massachusetts in 1962 at the age of 30 - the youngest US senator. He replaced his brother John, who resigned the seat to become the President.

"The liberal lion's mighty roar may now fall silent, but his dream shall never die," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said on Wednesday.

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) today ordered release on bail of three sons of top cleric of Swat Maulana Sufi Mohammad, who is facing charges of subversion and instigating revolt against the state.

Chief of Tahreek-e-Nifaz Shariat Mohammadi Sufi was arrested last month. He signed an agreement with the government for enforcement of Sharia in the Swat and Malakand region before Taliabn took over the division, forcing a military operation against them. His elder son was killed during army operation in Swat.

The PHC had yesterday reserved judgment on a writ petition filed by the three sons of Maulana against their detention. They include Ziaullah, Rizwanullah and Hayatullah.

The petitioners along with Sufi Mohammad had been arrested from their residence in Peshawar on July 22 by the law enforcement agencies. Counsel for the petitioners Atlas Khan contended that the detainees had been sons of Maulana, but they have been innocent and their arrest on the order of the district coordination officer (DCO), Peshawar, had been illegal. He argued that the DCO had issued a stereotyped order lacking any solid grounds for the arrest of the petitioners and there had been no threat to the public order from the petitioners.

The Sri Lanka military denied on Wednesday its members were involved in atrocities against Tamils during its operations to defeat the Tamil Tigers in northern Sri Lanka after British TV news channel showed a video on Tuesday allegedly showing a soldier executing two men. “This video has been doctored and is meant to defame members of the Sri Lanka armed forces, military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakara said.

Channel Four, which aired the video, had shown footage of a man dressed in army uniform shooting a naked, bound and blindfolded man in the back of his head. Several other bodies too could be seen in the background.