W O R L D

24 killed, 130 hurt in blast near ISI office
Lahore, March 8
A powerful car bomb went off close to an ISI office in the central Pakistani city of Faisalabad today, killing 24 persons and injuring more than 130 others. The explosives-laden car was parked at a CNG station as the attackers apparently could not get close to the intelligence agency’s heavily-guarded office in Civil Lines area of Faisalabad, regional police chief Aftab Cheema said.

Pakistani rescue workers search for victims among rubble and vehicle wreckage at the scene of a car bomb blast in Faisalabad on Tuesday. — AFP

Calls for no-fly zone in Libya mount after fresh strikes
Cairo, March 8
In a renewed offensive, Libyan jets today pounded rebel-held eastern oil port city of Ras Lanuf to stop opponents from advancing towards Tripoli, Muammar Gaddafi's stronghold, amid mounting calls by western nations for reinforcing a 'no-fly' zone over the country.

Attack on Sikhs
FBI joins probe to nail culprits
Washington, March 8
A troubled Sikh community shocked by the shooting of their two elderly members today offered a reward of $30,000 for any information leading to the culprits, as the local police said they suspected it to be a hate crime and has called in the FBI to join the manhunt. The West Sacramento Police in California said they suspect that the tradition turbans worn by the Surinder Singh, 68, and Gurmej Atwal, 78, could have become beacons for an attack on them.

Punjab page: Pall of gloom descends on victim’s village

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at the 100 Women Initiative in Washington. — AP/PTI

Lava pours out from the Pu'u O'o vent on Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. Scientists say the Pu'u O'o crater floor has collapsed and an eruption occurred along Kilauea's eastern rift zone. — AFP

24 killed, 130 hurt in blast near ISI office

Lahore, March 8
A powerful car bomb went off close to an ISI office in the central Pakistani city of Faisalabad today, killing 24 persons and injuring more than 130 others. The explosives-laden car was parked at a CNG station as the attackers apparently could not get close to the intelligence agency’s heavily-guarded office in Civil Lines area of Faisalabad, regional police chief Aftab Cheema said.

“It is yet to be determined whether the attackers abandoned the car near the CNG station or deliberately parked it there,” Cheema said.

The powerful blast, which occurred at about 11.30 am local time, reduced the CNG station and three buildings to rubble and destroyed 33 cars and motorcycles near the ISI’s heavily guarded office in Faisalabad, considered the hub of Pakistan’s textile industry.

Further damage was caused as cylinders exploded at the CNG station. Several bodies and injured persons were pulled out of the rubble of buildings that collapsed due to the explosion.

Offices of the state-run Pakistan International Airlines and a private courier firm were severely damaged. The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

Militant spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan told CNN that the target was the regional office of the ISI. Ahsan also told the media that the attack was aimed at avenging the killing of a militant commander in Faisalabad last year by security forces. — PTI

Calls for no-fly zone in Libya mount after fresh strikes

Cairo, March 8
In a renewed offensive, Libyan jets today pounded rebel-held eastern oil port city of Ras Lanuf to stop opponents from advancing towards Tripoli, Muammar Gaddafi's stronghold, amid mounting calls by western nations for reinforcing a 'no-fly' zone over the country.

Warplanes fired missiles near rebel positions on the Mediterranean coast in Ras Lanuf, but there were no immediate reports of any casualties. The Libyan ruler's supporters pushed eastward in an effort to roll back the gains of the rebels and recapture fallen towns, with Al-Jazeera channel reporting that they have taken the central town of Bin Jawad.

Fierce fighting in the eastern city of Misurata, located between the capital Tripoli and Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, continued as the uprising to end the 41-year rule of Gaddafi entered the 22nd day.

The rebels said they would not pursue 68-year-old Gaddafi over crimes against humanity if he steps down from his post in the next 72 hours.

"If he leaves Libya immediately, during 72 hours, and stops the bombardment, we as Libyans will step back from pursuing him for crimes," Abdel Jalil Mustapha, head of the opposition National Council was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

But the Libyan state television denied reports that Gaddafi had tried to strike a deal with the rebels.

Amid growing pressure on the international community to halt the civil war, UK and France led a campaign at the United Nations for a 'no-fly' zone over Libya in a bid to halt the Gaddafi regime from unleashing air strikes on rebel-held areas.

In Washington, US President Barack Obama tried to raise pressure on Gaddafi further by talking about "a range" of possible options, "including potential military options" against the embattled Libyan leader.

Obama said the US would stand with the Libyan people as they face "unacceptable" violence. "I want to send a very clear message to those who are around Colonel Gaddafi: It is their choice to make how they operate moving forward, and they will be held accountable for whatever violence continues to take place there," Obama said. — PTI

Attack on Sikhs
FBI joins probe to nail culprits

Washington, March 8
A troubled Sikh community shocked by the shooting of their two elderly members today offered a reward of $30,000 for any information leading to the culprits, as the local police said they suspected it to be a hate crime and has called in the FBI to join the manhunt.

The West Sacramento Police in California said they suspect that the tradition turbans worn by the Surinder Singh, 68, and Gurmej Atwal, 78, could have become beacons for an attack on them.

“Because they sported the turbans they might have been singled out,” the police said. The Elk Grove police department said that last week’s shootout would be the first targeting the Sikhs in the city if it turns out to be the hate crime. They also said FBI had been called in as it was suspected to be a hate crime.

While Surinder Singh died on the spot, Atwal is still reported to be in a critical condition and a deeply shocked community in the area have joined together to offer a reward of $30,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the culprits, who shot the two on March 4. This amount is over and above the $5,000 reward offered by a top Islamic body, who strongly condemned the attack.

Sikh men in beards and turbans are often targeted for discrimination by bigots who mistake them for Muslims, the Council on American-Islamic Council-Sacramenton Valley’s Executive Director, Basim Elkarra said.

“The Muslim community offers its condolences and support to the Sikh community in this time of sorrow, he said.

About 100 religious leaders, including ones from the Sikh community gathered at a Gurudwara in California, announcing a rise in the award money to informants that would lead to arrest of those responsible. — PTI