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Tense calm returns to Tunisia after revolt
Pak to impose partial curfew in Karachi
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Indian sailors jailed in Somalia
Afghan roadside bomb kills 9
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Tense calm returns to Tunisia after revolt
Tunis, January 16 Some cafes re-opened in the centre of the capital Tunis, the scene of violent clashes in the days running up to Ben Ali’s abrupt departure on Friday, as the army continued its lockdown of the city centre. The night in Tunis was punctuated by the crackle of gunfire despite a strict curfew and army helicopters circled overhead, as eyewitnesses reported people riding around in ambulances and cars in the suburbs shooting up homes at random. “You can’t ignore the power of disruption of the presidential security apparatus that was headed up by general Ali Seriati. It has thousands of supporters of Ben Ali,” a source said on condition of anonymity. Tunisia’s new acting president, speaker of parliament Fouad Mebazaa, was sworn in on Saturday after Ben Ali fled with his family to Saudi Arabia following weeks of social protests in cities across the North African state against his regime. Mebazaa said earlier that all Tunisians “without exception” would now be able to take part in national politics in the once tightly-controlled country and a presidential election is due to be held in two months’ time. Mebazaa called for a unity government in “the greater national interest.” Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi met with some opposition leaders yesterday and was set to hold round-table discussions today with all the legal political parties in Tunisia on the formation of a new government. The exiled head of the main Tunisian Islamist party, which was banned by Ben Ali, told AFP on Saturday that he now planned to return to his homeland. “The Tunisian intifada has succeeded in collapsing the dictatorship,” said Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahdha party, speaking from London. There were chaotic scenes in and around Tunis on Saturday, with young people joyriding in stolen cars and gangs looting and setting fire to homes and shops. The main railway station in Tunis was attacked and portraits of Ben Ali were torn down around the country. Most of the violence appeared to target the property of Ben Ali’s family and his residence in Hammamet was pillaged. Soldiers were seen dragging dozens of suspected looters from their cars at gunpoint and loading them into trucks at a checkpoint outside the city. International powers including European nations and the United States urged calm in Tunisia and called for democracy in the southern Mediterranean country after events that Tunisian Internet users have dubbed the “Jasmine Revolution”. — AFP
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Pak to impose partial curfew in Karachi
Islamabad, January 16 Malik said a “semi-curfew” would be imposed in parts of Karachi to facilitate operations against those involved in a spate of targeted killings. He was speaking to reporters at the Karachi airport after chairing a series of meetings to finalise a plan of action to end violence in the southern port city. Officials said security agencies would decide the duration of curfew to be imposed in parts of Karachi. Operations will be launched on the basis of intelligence reports and police and paramilitary forces have drawn up lists of persons wanted for targeted killings. Special teams have been formed to trace illegal arms caches and police commandos will be dropped in sensitive areas by helicopters for quick action against criminals, the officials said. Residents were asked to carry their ID cards at all times to ensure they do not face problems in areas where curfew is imposed. Malik chaired a meeting that was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and officials of the police department and security agencies to frame an action plan to end the violence. The latest spell of violence since Thursday has left nearly 30 dead, including a reporter of the Geo News channel and a former deputy mayor. Much of the violence has been blamed on rivalry between groups representing Urdu-speaking people and a growing number of Pashtuns in Karachi. The Urdu-speakers traditionally back the Muttahida Qaumi Movement while the Pashtuns support the Awami National Party. Both political parties are members of the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalitions at the centre and in Sindh. — PTI
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Indian sailors jailed in Somalia
Mogadishu, January 16 "The court sentenced 14 Indian sailors and a Somali woman" who was the owner of the charcoal, judge Hashi Elmi Nur said, adding that the sailors could avoid serving the prison term by paying $10,000. In their defence, lawyer Hassan Abdule Farayare argued that because the charcoal had been exported from zones controlled by Islamic insurgents, the court was not competent to try the case. "The boat and the crew members are not guilty because they exported charcoal from areas the government does not control," he said. It was the first time that a court had tried foreign nationals for illegally exporting charcoal. Charcoal is an important source of revenue for the country's Al Qaida-linked Shebab rebels, which control Kismayo, the biggest port in the south of the country. According to Andrew Mwangura, who heads the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme and closely monitors illegal maritime activity in the region, charcoal is one of the main commodities transiting through Kismayo.
— AFP
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Afghan roadside bomb kills 9
Mazar-I-Sharif, January 16 Six women, two men and a child died in the blast, which happened as the vehicle travelled from Pul-e-Khumri, the provincial capital, to a village in the province, on a road often used by foreign forces. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the blast.
— AFP
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Tunis, January 16
