Dhaka, January 28
Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba, blamed for the Mumbai attacks, had supplied the grenades used in seven major terror attacks in Bangladesh in 2004 and 2005, including the one on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a media report said today. "Any findings in the probe into a terror attack in the last decade have got to give clues to the other attacks, as it was the same group that used the same weapons to kill members of the same political party," the Daily Star reported quoting an investigation official who preferred anonymity.

It said the LeT sent 32 Arges grenades to Harkatul Jihad Bangladesh (HuJI) which were used in at least seven major terror attacks, six of them targeting the then opposition Awami League leaders, including Hasina, while former Bangladeshi-born British High Commissioner in Dhaka Anwar Choudhury was the target of the seventh one.

"In carrying out the blasts, HuJI had been aided by a powerful quarter, some of who were in state power (at that time)," the report said.

Investigators unearthed these while trying to get to the source of the grenade used in the killing of Awami League leader and former Finance Minister SAMS Kibria.

Officials concerned were not immediately available for comments on the report. But a senior official Criminal Investigation (CID) said they are expected to file a chargesheet against the suspects of the most gruesome of the attacks, the August 21, 2004 attempt on Hasina when 24 people were killed. The seven attacks killed 34 and injured over 400.

Several HuJI men have been convicted on charges of attempts on life of the British envoy while the outfit's chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and two leaders to death.

The Bangladesh Police three months ago said they arrested the suspected coordinator of the Pakistan-based Laskar-e-Toiba along with two accomplices from a downtown hotel under an intensified anti-militant campaign. Security officials earlier said they suspected that LeT operatives were providing money to Bangladeshi militant groups and recruiting operatives to be trained in Pakistan as they were in close contacts with HuJI and Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). — PTI

Amman, January 28
Thousands of Jordanians demonstrated peacefully in Amman and other cities after weekly prayers today to press for political and economic reform, and demanding that the government resign. “Egypt, the Arab nation salutes you. We urge your men to get rid of (President Hosni) Mubarak,” an estimated 3,000 people chanted as they marched in Amman city centre holding national flags.

“The Arab people's message: you are corrupt, beware our anger. (Ousted Tunisian president Zine El Abidine) Ben Ali is waiting for you,” they said. Police said around 2,000 people staged protests in other cities, answering a call by the powerful Muslim Brotherhood which is insisting on forcing political and economic reform in the kingdom.

“Together let’s make political and economic change”, “no alternative to political reform,” and “down with the Samir Rifai government. We want a national salvation government,” read some banners, referring to Jordan's premier. Muslim Brotherhood leader Hammam Said demanded an elected government. “Jordanians should elect their government. Why should they be deprived from electing a government that would feel with and represent them... a government that would make us feel safe?” he told the crowds.

The Islamists have called for constitutional amendments to curb the king's power in naming government heads, arguing that the premiership should go to the leader of the majority in parliament. The Jordanian constitution, adopted in 1952, gives the king the exclusive prerogative to appoint and dismiss the prime minister. King Abdullah II held meetings this week with senior officials, MPs, senators and others as part of his efforts to “come closer to the demands of the people,” urging them to speed up political and socio-economic reforms. “It's time for change. People can no longer accept corruption. We do not want a government of aristocrats, merchants and the rich,” Said told the demonstrators. — AFP

Washington, January 28
US President Barack Obama has named two Indian-Americans - Vivek Murthy and Islam Siddiqui - for key posts in his administration, the White House has said.

Murthy has been appointed as member of the advisory group on Prevention, Health, Promotion and Integrative and Public Health, while Siddiqui would be the US President’s chief agricultural negotiator.

“Our nation will be greatly served by the talent and expertise these individuals bring to their new roles. I am grateful they have agreed to serve in this Administration, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead,” Obama said in a statement after announcing the appointment of Murthy.

Murthy is an attending physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, where he is an internal medicine hospitalist.

He is co-founder and president of Doctors for America, a grassroots organisation of over 15,000 doctors and medical students in 50 states who are working to build a better health care system for all Americans. He is also the co-founder and chairman of Epernicus, LLC, a private company. — PTI

BRIEFLY

North proposes parliamentary talks with South Korea
SEOUL: North Korea on Friday proposed holding parliamentary talks with South Korea in its latest diplomatic overture toward Seoul after months of animosity. South Korea quickly dismissed the idea, saying that the two sides were already discussing a preliminary meeting for high-level defence talks. The Koreas have been in a standoff following the North's November shelling of a South Korean island and its alleged attack on a South Korean warship in March. — PTI

Blast in Kabul leaves nine dead
Kabul: Nine bodies were removed from the site of a suicide bombing at a supermarket in central Kabul on Friday and the police said three female foreigners were among the dead. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. — PTI

Medvedev signs START treaty
Moscow: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday signed the ratification of a New START nuclear treaty with the US, a move likely to boost arms control and strengthen efforts to “reset” ties between the two former cold war rivals. — PTI

No fan mail for Hitler's bodyguard
LONDON: German dictator Adolf Hitler's last surviving bodyguard, now 93 years old, has now given up on responding to fan mail. Rochus Misch was by the German leader's side for five years and even saw the Fuehrer after he committed suicide as the Russian tanks closed in. — IANS

Mandela discharged from hospital
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa's anti- apartheid icon Nelson Mandela was on Friday discharged from a hospital here after being treated for acute respiratory infection."Medically at present, there is no need to panic... Dr Mandela had undergone routine tests for a respiratory infection. Dr Mandela is in high spirits and has been visited by his family and friends," Surgeon-General Vijaynand Ramlakan said. — PTI

WikiLeaks rival launches website
DAVOS: A former member of the group that created WikiLeaks has launched a rival website with the aim of giving whistleblowers more control over the secrets they spill. Daniel Domscheit-Berg says the new platform called OpenLeaks will allow sources to choose specifically who they want to submit documents to anonymously. — AP