Pentagon to work with Indian govt to boost military relations
Washington, May 21
Pentagon has expressed its willingness to work with the new Indian government on a military-to-military relationship for advancing their cooperation on common challenges.

Nigerian twin car bomb blasts toll reaches 118
Jos (Nigeria), May 21
Rescue workers will dig through rubble to search for more victims of twin car bomb blasts that collapsed buildings in a bustling marketplace and bus station in Nigeria's central city of Jos, an official said.

Mubarak sentenced to three-year jail for graft
Cairo, May 21
A Cairo court on Wednesday convicted ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of embezzlement, sentencing him to three years in prison.

Bangkok, May 21
A day after imposing martial law, Thailand's army chief today convened a meeting of all stakeholders to end the prolonged political turmoil plaguing the nation and avoid another 'Ukraine or Egypt' in the making.

Army Chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha assumed the role of a crisis mediator as he chaired the meeting in Bangkok that had a noticeably lesser military presence compared to yesterday.

Top officials of the ruling and opposition parties, Election Commission (EC) members and senators besides leaders of the pro and anti-government protest camps took part in the meeting even as caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan was conspicuous by his absence.

Five top government ministers represented the interim premier during the meeting.

However, the meeting ended without any resolution underlining the tough challenge the army faces in trying to end the country's crisis.

In a surprise pre-dawn move yesterday, Thailand's military declared martial law to maintain order in the troubled South East Asian nation.

"The military will not tolerate any more loss of lives," Prayut said.

The military, which has intervened repeatedly in politics down the decades, acted after over six months of protests that have claimed 28 lives and left hundreds wounded.

"The Army aims to maintain peace, order and public safety for all groups and all parties," the military said in a statement, insisting that its assumption of responsibility for national security was not a coup.

"This must be resolved swiftly before I retire, otherwise I won't retire," said Prayut, due to step down at the end of September.

"I will not allow Thailand to be like Ukraine or Egypt," he said yesterday, according to a transcript of remarks released by the military.

Niwatthamrong, who replaced Yingluck Shinawatra after a court dismissed her from office this month, yesterday said he had asked the EC to organise fresh elections on August 3.

Yingluck was accused of acting as a proxy for her fugitive brother, former premier Thaksin, who was ousted in a coup in 2006. Anti-government protesters have said they will disrupt any re-run held before electoral changes designed to reduce the influence of the powerful Shinawatra clan.

Martial law comes after a long-running political crisis, and months of escalating tensions between the government and the opposition. Anti-government protesters have staged mass protests in recent days to topple the government.

Thailand's long-time ally the US has said it does not consider the military action as a coup but urged the Thai army to respect democratic principles and refrain from violence.

"Martial law, the declaration of that is allowed for in the Thai constitution. We are certainly closely watching what's happening on the ground. We will continue to make evaluations of what's happening," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

"The army has stated publicly that it would be a temporary action. We expect them to abide by their commitment that this is a temporary action to prevent violence and that they will respect democratic institutions," she said. — PTI

Islamabad, May 21
At least 60 militants were killed today in precision bombing by air force jets on Taliban targets in Pakistan's restive tribal region on the Afghan border, military officials said.

Air Force bombers pounded rebel positions in North Waziristan, which is one of seven tribal agencies where the al-Qaeda-linked Pakistani Taliban has strongholds.

A military official said there were confirmed reports about the presence of the militants in the targeted areas. "As per reports so far, 60 hardcore terrorists, including some of the important commanders and foreigners, were also killed in the strikes and around 30 were injured," the official said.

He said a huge cache of arms and ammunition, including IED-making explosive material, has also been destroyed in the strikes.

"There are confirmed reports that terrorists involved in recent attacks, including IDP (internally displaced people) camp blast in Peshawar, IED (improvised explosives device) attacks in Mohmand and Bajaur killing innocent civilians and security forces and IED attacks at security forces convoy in NWA (North Waziristan Agency), were hiding in these hideouts," said the official.

There was no independent confirmation of the reported strikes and death toll as the areas are remote and out of reach of the news media.

Pakistan's Army has adopted a policy of aerial strikes in response to bombings by the Taliban.

General Raheel Sharif since taking over as Army chief last year has announced tough measures in response to Taliban attacks on security forces and civilians.

Use of aerial strikes was put on hold after announcement of talks by the government in January but negotiations are stalled and the Taliban have resorted to bombings, forcing the army to launch new air attacks. —PTI

Jos (Nigeria), May 21
Rescue workers will dig through rubble to search for more victims of twin car bomb blasts that collapsed buildings in a bustling marketplace and bus station in Nigeria's central city of Jos, an official said.

More than 118 bodies have been recovered and dozens of wounded are in hospitals.

Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency Mohammed Abdulsalam said they were waiting for earthmovers to arrive to do the heavy work before they can begin the grisly task.

The search for survivors was halted on Tuesday night by raging fires ignited in buildings by massive blasts.

At least 118 bodies were sent to hospital morgues after the Tuesday afternoon blasts. Hundreds of people gathered at hospitals and morgues in search of loved ones. "We expect to find more bodies in the rubble," Abdulsalam said.

President Goodluck Jonathan indicated that he blames the Boko Haram terrorist network for Tuesday's attack, assuring Nigerians their government "remains fully committed to winning the war against terror."

Outrage continues to grow at home and abroad over his government's failure to curb a five-year-old Islamic uprising that grabbed international attention with the mass abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls who the extremists are threatening to sell into slavery.

No group has claimed the responsibility, but Nigeria's homegrown Boko Haram terrorist network has been waging a bombing campaign. — AP