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Wave of bombings across Baghdad kills 60; 160 hurt
Baghdad, December 22
A wave of at least 14 bombings ripped across Baghdad this morning, killing at least 60 people in the worst violence Iraq has seen for months.

A burnt vehicle seen after a bomb attack took place in Baghdad’s Bayaa district on Thursday. — Reuters

november 26 nato attack
Pentagon: US forces acted in self-defence
Washington, December 22
Asserting that its US-led NATO forces "legitimately responded in self-defence" after being fired upon on November 26, NATO today said that mistakes were committed on both sides that resulted in the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Wave of bombings across Baghdad kills 60; 160 hurt
The attacks come days after the last American forces left Iraq

Baghdad, December 22
A wave of at least 14 bombings ripped across Baghdad this morning, killing at least 60 people in the worst violence Iraq has seen for months.

The apparently coordinated attacks struck days after the last American forces left Iraq and in the midst of a major government crisis between the country's top Shi’ite and Sunni political leaders that has sent sectarian tensions soaring.

The bombings may be linked more to the US withdrawal than the political crisis, but altogether, the developments heighten fears of a new round of sectarian bloodshed like the one a few years ago that pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But the bombings bore all the hallmarks of an attack by the Sunni insurgents of Al-Qaida. Most of the violence appeared to hit Shi’ite neighbourhoods, although some Sunni areas were also targeted.

In all, 11 neighbourhoods were hit by either car bombs, roadside blasts or sticky bombs attached to cars. At least one of the attacks was a suicide bombing and the blasts went off over several hours.

The worst blast was in the Karrada neighbourhood, where a suicide bomber driving an explosives-laden vehicle blew himself up outside the office of a government agency fighting corruption.

Two police officers at the scene said the bomber was driving an ambulance and told guards that he needed to get to a nearby hospital. After the guards let him through, he drove to the building where he blew himself up, the officers said.

Sirens wailed as ambulances rushed to the scene and a large plume of smoke rose over the area. The blast left a crater about five yards wide in front of the five-storeyed building, which was singed and blackened.

"I was sleeping in my bed when the explosion happened," said 12-year-old Hussain Abbas, who was standing nearby in his pyjamas. "I jumped from my bed and rushed to my mom's lap. I told her I did not to go to school today. I'm terrified."

At least 25 people were killed and 62 injured in that attack, officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Figures gathered from Iraqi health and police officials across the city put the death toll at 60, and the number of those injured at 160.

The spokesman for the Iraqi health ministry put the death toll at 57 and said at least 176 people were injured. But conflicting casualty figures are common in the aftermath of such widespread bombings.

Iraqis are already used to horrific levels of violence, but many wondered when they would be able to enjoy some measure of security and stability after years of chaos. — PTI

november 26 nato attack
Pentagon: US forces acted in self-defence

Supporters of Pakistan’s religious political party Jamaat-e-Islami hold an anti-US and anti-NATO demonstration in Karachi. — Reuters

Washington, December 22
Asserting that its US-led NATO forces "legitimately responded in self-defence" after being fired upon on November 26, NATO today said that mistakes were committed on both sides that resulted in the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers.

"The combined international and Afghan force was initially fired upon by unidentified forces, then believed not to be Pakistani military, and legitimately responded in self-defence," NATO said in a statement soon after the US Department of Defence issued a similar investigation note at the conclusion of their probe into the incident.

"The investigation has ascertained that a series of mistakes were made on both sides in failing to properly co-ordinate their locations and actions, both before the operation and during the resulting engagement," NATO said.

However, neither of the statements clarified whether they were talking about separate investigations or the same.

"The combined force did not knowingly fire at the Pakistani forces. The investigation has substantiated that close air support was employed in self-defence in response to intense, heavy machine gun and mortar fire initiated by what turned out to be Pakistan forces near the border in the vicinity of Salala," NATO said.

The US-led military grouping said a thorough review of the operational plan and communications during the incident substantiate the conclusion that the Pakistani forces were not knowingly targeted and the action of its forces was legitimate within the Laws of Armed Conflict and within their Rules of Engagement.

"Immediate steps have been taken to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future. ISAF is also reviewing the manning, training and certification of the Border Coordination Centres to assist in this effort," it said.

The NATO chain of command extends their sincerest, heartfelt condolences to the families of those Pakistani Security Force members who were killed or injured in this incident, the statement said.

The Department of Defence had also expressed its regret.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal, in its lead report, said that the US erred in the deadly attack.

"The US is poised to concede for the first time that it bears significant responsibility for last month's American air strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops, US officials said, an admission that is expected to embarrass the American military but points to a way out of the deepening mistrust between the two countries," the journal said. — PTI

N Korea praises Kims; US ready to work
with new regime

Seoul, December 22
North Korea today burnished the image of its past and present leaders amid wintry scenes of mass grief, as Washington said it wants to work with the new regime when the mourning period ends next week.

"Please come back to the people you loved so much," the state news agency quoted one army officer as saying as he viewed the bier of late leader Kim Jong-II, whose body is lying in state under a glass coffin.

Official media has reported mass mourning, said to involve five million people in Pyongyang alone, since Kim's death was announced on Monday. The nation has been urged to rally round his son Kim Jong-Un as the "great successor".

Even nature is heartbroken, according to the news agency which, in its characteristic style, reported weather phenomena at his supposed birthplace and a Manchurian crane adopting a posture of grief.

Kim Jong-II and his father Kim II-Sung, who ruled the communist nation with an iron fist since its creation in 1948, were the subject of an extravagant personality cult.

The latest dynastic ruler, aged in his late 20s, is also being showered with praise but remains a figure of mystery to the outside world. He was pictured yesterday weeping at his father's coffin.

Elsewhere, North Korean media has shown mourners braving freezing conditions to pay their respects to Kim senior. — AFP

‘Pak committed to constructive engagement with India’
Afzal Khan from Islamabad

December 22
Pakistan is committed to pursuing a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with India, including on the issue of Kashmir, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told the National Assembly in a written statement here.

Responding to a question by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Parvez Malik, Khar said that Pakistan continues to support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process.

"We are also actively engaged in various trilateral and quadrilateral forums exploring ways to bring about peace, stability and development in Afghanistan," she said.

"As peace and security must be underpinned with economic development, Pakistan has pledged an amount of $330 million for carrying out development and reconstruction work in Afghanistan," she further stated.

Regarding the NATO air raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in Mohmand Agency, she said: "In the wake of the attacks , we are reassessing our foreign policy."

Musharraf calls legal team to Dubai

Lahore, December 22
Pakistan's former President Pervez Musharraf has summoned his legal team to Dubai to finalise a strategy to avert his possible arrest during his planned homecoming next month.

An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi has issued a permanent non-bailable arrest warrant for Musharraf for failing to cooperate with investigators probing the 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

The same court has ordered the seizure of his property and freezing of his bank accounts after declaring him a fugitive.

Musharraf's legal team is considering challenging several arrest warrants issued for the former military ruler in a high court.

The team, comprising Muhammad Ali Saif, Ahmed Raza Kasuri, Fawad Chaudhry, Muaz Butt, Sadiq Mirza and Malik Shafiq, will hold a meeting with Musharraf in Dubai on December 26.

"Gen Musharraf has called his legal team to Dubai next week to finalise a strategy to deal with the looming threat of his arrest in the Benazir Bhutto case and other challenges he is expected to face on his return," Saif said. — PTI