W O R L D

Pak launches crackdown on LeJ; 50 detained
Lahore, February 24
The police in Pakistan's most populous province of Punjab has detained over 50 persons in a crackdown on the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) that was launched in the wake of terror attacks on the minority Shia community.

People participate in a rally against the bombing in Quetta in
Mazar-i Sharif on Sunday. — AFP

Suicide bombers hit Afghan cities; Kabul attack foiled
Kabul, February 24
Two Taliban suicide bombers killed three members of Afghan security forces today, but a third attack in Kabul's diplomatic enclave was foiled when the police shot dead the would-be assailant, officials said. The attacker in Kabul was armed with a suicide vest and his SUV was full of explosives, but the police opened fire when he tried to penetrate deeper into the capital's diplomatic enclave of Wazir Akbar Khan, the officials said.


A security personnel is seen through the broken window of a suicide bomber’s vehicle in Kabul on Sunday. — Reuters

Austerity-hit Italy votes in crucial eurozone election
Rome, February 24
Italians fed up with austerity voted today in the country's most important election in a generation, as Europe held its breath for signs of fresh instability in the eurozone's third economy.

Lanka plans to grant working visa to Indians
Colombo, February 24
Facing a shortage of labourers, Sri Lanka plans to grant work visas to Indians to harvest paddy in the country's north and east, a media report said today.

Karzai orders US forces to leave two provinces in 15 days
Kabul, February 24
Afghan President Hamid Karzai today demanded the withdrawal of US special forces from Wardak and Logar within two weeks, accusing them of fuelling "insecurity and instability" in the volatile provinces neighbouring the capital Kabul.

Pak launches crackdown on LeJ; 50 detained

Lahore, February 24
The police in Pakistan's most populous province of Punjab has detained over 50 persons in a crackdown on the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) that was launched in the wake of terror attacks on the minority Shia community.

The crackdown has focused on the southern part of Punjab, where several militant groups like the LeJ and Jaish-e-Mohammed have strongholds and support bases.

On Friday, the police arrested LeJ chief Malik Ishaq at his home in Rahim Yar Khan district.

According a Punjab police official, over 50 activists of the LeJ and the SSP had been arrested from different parts of the province, including Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad and Lahore. "They have been detained for a month under the Maintenance of Public Order law. The crackdown will continue," said the official.

Among those detained in Lahore were Abdur Rau Moawaia, Muhammad Shafique and Asif Moawia.

The Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), considered a front for the LeJ and the SSP, condemned the arrests and said most of the detained men were its members.

ASWJ leader Maulana Muhammad Awais claimed members of his group were being detained to "please" Shias.

The LeJ claimed responsibility for two devastating bomb attacks in the south-western city of Quetta that killed nearly 200 persons, a majority of them Shia Hazaras.

The attacks triggered countrywide protests and led to the imposition of Governor’s Rule in Balochistan.

The authorities launched the crackdown even as Interior Minister Rehman Malik warned the PML-N government in Punjab that he would use federal law enforcement agencies against the LeJ if the provincial authorities failed to act.

Malik has said the LeJ has its main base in Punjab and some 3,000 of its activists are present in the province. He said he would order the Federal Investigation Agency, Pakistan Rangers and paramilitary forces to take action against the LeJ if the Punjab government fails to crack down on the group. — PTI

Tackling terror

• The police arrested 50 persons in a crackdown on the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) that was launched in the wake of terror attacks on the minority Shia community
• The crackdown has focused on south Punjab, where several militant groups like the LeJ and Jaish-e-Mohammed have strongholds and support bases
• On Friday, the police arrested LeJ chief Malik Ishaq at his home in Rahim Yar Khan district

Suicide bombers hit Afghan cities; Kabul attack foiled

Kabul, February 24
Two Taliban suicide bombers killed three members of Afghan security forces today, but a third attack in Kabul's diplomatic enclave was foiled when the police shot dead the would-be assailant, officials said.

The attacker in Kabul was armed with a suicide vest and his SUV was full of explosives, but the police opened fire when he tried to penetrate deeper into the capital's diplomatic enclave of Wazir Akbar Khan, the officials said.

In the day's first attack, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into a spy agency facility in the town of Jalalabad, 150 kilometres east of Kabul.

It was followed by a similar attack on a police base in Puli Alam, 70 kilometres south of the capital, officials said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed claimed responsibility for the attacks in Puli Alam and Jalalabad, but denied that the militant group was involved in the foiled attack in Kabul. — AFP

Taliban Strike

• The attacker in foiled Kabul attack was armed with a suicide vest and his SUV was full of explosives, but the police opened fire when he tried to penetrate into the capital's diplomatic enclave

• In the day's first attack, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into a spy agency facility in the town of Jalalabad
• It was followed by a similar attack on a police base in Puli Alam

Austerity-hit Italy votes in crucial eurozone election

Rome, February 24
Italians fed up with austerity voted today in the country's most important election in a generation, as Europe held its breath for signs of fresh instability in the eurozone's third economy.

Millions turned out to vote for the first time since billionaire tycoon Silvio Berlusconi was ousted in 2011 during a wave of financial market panic and was replaced by former Eurocrat Mario Monti.

"This is a chance to change Italy," said Ida, a 48-year-old computer company employee, voting at a polling station in a school in Rome where entire families came out to vote, forming long queues.

There was a commotion as Berlusconi came to vote in Milan when three topless feminists hurled themselves towards him with "Basta Berlusconi" ("Enough With Berlusconi") scrawled on their backs.

Centre-left Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani is the most likely winner, but analysts say he may fall short of a majority and need to weave together a coalition that could prove unsteady.

Bersani has promised to stick to Monti's budget discipline but says he will do more for growth and jobs as Italy endures its longest recession in 20 years and unemployment hits record highs. "I am voting for the Democratic Party. I don't want us to end up like Greece," said Alessandro, a 63-year-old manager, as he cast his ballot in Milan. — AFP

Lanka plans to grant working visa to Indians

Colombo, February 24
Facing a shortage of labourers, Sri Lanka plans to grant work visas to Indians to harvest paddy in the country's north and east, a media report said today.

"The government is helpless as our people are leaving the country to work as labourers in West Asia, Singapore, South Korea and Italy," Lankan Agricultural Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was quoted as saying in the Sunday Times.

He said the Indians were working in the paddy fields in the country's north and east having arrived on tourist visas. "It (the labour shortage) is now spreading to the North-Central and Southern provinces too," he added. — PTI

Karzai orders US forces to leave two provinces in 15 days

Kabul, February 24
Afghan President Hamid Karzai today demanded the withdrawal of US special forces from Wardak and Logar within two weeks, accusing them of fuelling "insecurity and instability" in the volatile provinces neighbouring the capital Kabul.

"In today's national security council meeting, President Karzai ordered the ministry of defence to kick out the US special forces from Wardak and Logar provinces within two weeks," said presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi.

"The US special forces and illegal armed groups created by them are causing insecurity, instability, and harass local people in these provinces," he told a press conference. — AFP

BRIEFLY

Oz pilot to fly on plastic waste fuel
London: In a first-of-its kind attempt, an Australian pilot plans a 16,898-km historic trip from Sydney to London using fuel produced entirely from plastic waste. Rowsell's flight will be powered by five tonnes of discarded packaging and waste collected from rubbish dumps and - using a pioneering technique – melted down into 1,000 gallons of aviation-grade diesel. — PTI

Pope’s last sermon: Pope Benedict XVI during his last Sunday Angelus prayer at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican. Pope said he was following God’s wishes and was not abandoning the Roman Catholic Church. — Reuters

Pope gives last Sunday sermon
VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict, speaking in his last Sunday address before becoming the first pope in some six centuries to step down, said he was following God's wishes and that he was not abandoning the Roman Catholic Church. Benedict, speaking in a strong voice to tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square, said he would continue to serve and love the Church by praying and meditating after his historic abdication on Thursday. — Reuters

Egypt’s President advances parliamentary elections
Cairo: Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has advanced the first post-constitution parliamentary elections to be held from April with the dates clashing with the Easter holidays, even as a leading opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei called for a boycott of the polls. Egypt's parliamentary elections, previously scheduled to begin on April 27, have been brought forward to start on April 22, according to a statement issued by the presidency yesterday amid calls for boycott. — PTI

Lanka to grant working visa to Indians
Colombo: Facing a shortage of labourers, Sri Lanka plans to grant work visas to Indians to harvest paddy in the country's north and east, a media report said on Sunday. "The government is helpless as our people are leaving the country to work in West Asia, Singapore, South Korea and Italy," Lankan Agricultural Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said. — PTI

Five killed in Bangladesh clashes
Dhaka: At least five persons, including a woman, were killed and over 50 others injured on Sunday in Manikganj's Singair upazila as the police opened fire during clashes with Islamists who enforced a nationwide shutdown demanding execution of "atheist bloggers" for alleged blasphemy. — PTI

Tribal fighting in Sudan leaves 60 dead
Khartoum: Sudan's state news agency says 60 persons were killed in renewed fighting between two Arab tribes over mining rights in the northern Darfur region. The United Nations says fighting broke out in January in the Jebel Amir area, leaving 100 dead and forcing 70,000 people to flee their homes. — AP

Cuban Parliament meets to select Prez
Havana: Cuba's Parliament is reconvening with new membership and is expected to name Raul Castro to another five-year-term as President. But all eyes are on whether younger politicians may be tapped for top leadership posts in a sign of who might emerge from the next generation of leadership as a possible successor. — AP