Elections before Feb 15: President Musharraf (Updated at 1640)
ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf said that the general elections will be held before February 15, 2008.He also announced to take off his uniform before taking oath as the president for the second time."General elections in the country would be held by February 15 next year," Musharraf was quoted as saying after chairing a meeting of the National Security Council. "The tenures of the national assembly and provincial assemblies were ending on different dates and after studying the option whether to hold elections on separate dates, it was decided to go for holding the election simultaneously on or before February 15, 2008," it quoted him as saying. Musharraf said he was "committed to holding general elections and the transition to full democratic civilian rule in the country," it added. State television also reported that Musharraf renewed his pledge to quit as army chief before taking the oath for his second term in office, but did not give a date, state television said. The report came after the attorney general, Malik Mohammad Qayyum said earlier on Thursday that the polls would be in February following Musharraf's declaration of a state of emergency on Saturday. "Elections will be held in February, it has been decided," Qayyum said. "The emergency will be lifted in one or two months."Earlier, National Security Council met with President Musharraf presiding over to discuss the overall situation of the country.Among those who attended the meeting included Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Chairman Senate Mohammedmian Soomro, NA Speaker Ch. Ameer Hussein, Punjab CM Ch. Pervez Elahi, Sindh CM Dr Arbab Ghulam Raheem, Balochistan CM Jam Mohammed Yousuf, NWFP Caretaker CM Shamsul Mulk, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed, Pak Air force Chief Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir. On this occasion, Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Governor NWFP Ali Mohammed Jan Orakzai, Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani and Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah were alos especially invited on this occasion.
Pakistan’s thrilling win over India at Mohali levels series (Updated at 2235)
MOHALI: Pakistan defeated India by four wickets in a thrilling second One-day International to level the five-match series 1-1 here today (Thursday).Chasing a difficult target of 322 runs, they achieved it with one ball to spare when Shahid Afridi hit a four on penultimate ball.The main architects of the victory were experienced Younus Khan and in-form Misbah-ul-Haq. Younus scored 117, his third ODI century and the first against India while Misbah missed his fifty by just one run.Younus faced 110 balls and hit nine fours and two sixes while Misbah played 44 balls and struck three fours. Both added 102 runs for the fifth wicket.Among other scorers, opener Salman Butt made 37 while Shahid Afridi was unbeaten on 29 off just 14 balls with three fours and one six. He was well supported by Suhail Tanveer who hit 14 off 10 balls.Earlier, a 173-run second wicket partnership between star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir helped India amass a huge score of 321 for nine in the allotted 50 overs. Tendulkar scored 99 and Gambhir made 57 while Shoaib Akhtar captured three wickets and Umer Gul and Suhail Tanveer claimed two wickets each.Pakistan now have a daunting task of chasing 322 runs to level the five match series 1-1.Winning the toss, India decided to bat first but lost opener Sourav Ganguly in the very first over of the match when he was bowled by fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for 6 off just three balls.Then, Gambhir joined Tendulkar and both carried the score to 179 before Tendulkar was caught behind off Umer Gul to miss his 42nd ODI century by just one run.Pakistan went into the match with Tanvir replacing Abdur Rehman, assigning the spinning duties to Shahid Afridi and captain Shoaib Malik - who went for twelve and ten runs respectively in their first overs - while India decided to include Virender Sehwag in place Murali Karthik, the pitch not expected to favour spin.
Fazl holds opposition breakup responsible for present situation (Updated at 2230)
ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Secretary General Maulana Fazlur Rehman said Thursday all the opposition parties would work out joint strategy against emergency in a couple of days.Talking to Geo News, Maulana said the country is facing the present situation owing to the disintegration of the opposition.Fazl said the different calls of protest by various parties could not receive public support; therefore, joint strategy needs to be adopted.Maulana Fazlur Rehman said in MMA Supreme Council meeting would be called after meeting PPP leadership and all options including waging a joint protest campaign against emergency would be mulled over.He said the contacts with PPP are being made and there are developments in it, adding he himself is in contact with other political parties and recently he contacted Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour.
News channel to be soon on air: Durrani (Updated at 2200)
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani said all those TV channels have been permitted to be on air after they settled their affairs in negotiations with PEMRA.Addressing a news conference, he said media freedom is the hallmark of their government and it should be at all maintained.Durrani said the negotiations of CPNE, APNS, PBA and PFUJ with interior ministry are under way and PEMRA is reviewing all these matters.He said the PEMRA is an independent institution and the list of re-opened channels is being issued.The interior minister said President Musharraf will take oath after the notification of the Election Commission.Ali Durrani said Benazir Bhutto is not aware of the ground realities and she should look for the
candidates for the next elections, instead of launching on long march.
Deposed judges should decide Musharraf’s case: Benazir (Updated at 2140)
ISLAMABAD: People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto said Thursday that the deposed judges should decide regarding President Musharraf’s eligibility.Addressing a press conference after the PPP central Executive Committee and Federal Council, She said all those judges who did not take oath under new PCO should be restored including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.She warned the government to announce the election schedule by tomorrow (Friday), if it fails to do so, PPP would proceed to act upon its program of long march, adding that her party would at all hold a public gathering at Liaquat Bagh tomorrow, even though no permit was given for it.Benazir said that the intelligence agencies are being used against them. On this occasion, she urged the students to come out and become a part of protest process.PPP chairperson said, “I want that all important cases including National Reconciliation Ordinance should be heard by those judges that did not take oath under PCO.”She said that her talks with Musharraf went into abeyance as soon as the constitution was suspended and they can be restored only after the restoration of the constitution.
Courts boycott continues in NWFP including Peshawar (Updated at 2040)
PESHAWAR: The lawyers in Peshawar continued the boycott of the courts across the province including Peshawar on Thursday.The lawyers are on protest in Peshawar High Court and all lower courts in NWFP province. The lawyers are not taking part in the judicial proceedings, which has given rise to troubles for those people who are turning up to courts for hearings.The lawyer fraternity of NWFP province said that the protest would continue until the emergency is lifted and the constitution is restored.Contingents of policemen are deployed around Peshawar High Court and other lower courts and the spell of arrests is underway with various political leaders and workers are put behind bars.
100-index comes below 13,500 points in KSE (Updated at 1945)
KARACHI: Today, the recession trend was seen in the Karachi Stock Exchange and the KSE index-100 came below the level of 13,500 points at the end of the day’s trading.
Trading began on a negative note today and on one occasion a decline of 343 points was seen in index but it rose by 267 points after the announcement of the prime minister’s meeting with brokers and representatives of the financial institutions.
Index after a decrease of 76 points closed at 13,423 points at the end of trading today.
The overall trade volume was 217,000,000 shares today. The largest trading was seen in Arif Habib Securities shares, price of which closed at Rs.157.75 after it lowered by Rs.7.50.
Prices of OGDCL and Pak Oil Fields shares after a decline of 40 paisa and 60 paisa, respectively, closed at Rs.115.85 and Rs.333.30, respectively.
Today, KSE 30-index after a recession of 166 points closed at 16,013 points.
Morgan Stanley loses $3.7b in two months (Updated at 1930)
NEW YORK: The second largest company in Securities market, Morgan Stanley went down by losing $3.70 billion.The company said it has suffered a $3.7 billion loss stemming from its U.S. subprime mortgage exposure during the two months, which it expects will reduce fourth-quarter earnings by about $2.5 billion. The Wall Street investment bank said the loss occurred in September and October, and might change before its fiscal quarter ends this month.Meantime, two other large securities companies including Merrill Lynch have suffered more than 40 per cent loss.
Envoys of UAE, China meet Benazir (Updated at 1915)
ISLAMABAD: The ambassadors of United Arab Emirates and China came to see Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto here on Thursday.Talking to the envoys of UAE and China, Benazir Bhutto apprised them of the political situation of Pakistan and standpoint of PPP on the current situation.She said the image of Pakistan has received a serious setback all over the world owing to the imposition of emergency.Benazir Bhutto said the restoration of the constitution and lifting of the emergency is very necessary, adding if so does not happen, the country is likely to face a great crisis.
12 dead in clashes around Yemen oilfield (Updated at 1845)
SANAA: Clashes between Yemeni tribesmen and security personnel protecting a Ukrainian oil company left 12 people dead on Thursday in Shabwa province, east of the capital, a security source said. "Six civilians and six soldiers died in the clashes which broke out this morning between members of the Al-Harith tribe and an army unit charged with protecting a Ukrainian oil firm," the source said from Shabwa. The unit's commander Abdullah Alwan and his driver were among the dead, provincial governor Mohammed Ali Rwishan was quoted as saying by the website of the defence ministry newspaper September 26. Witnesses said that the clashes began when tribesmen, angry that the oil firm had rejected their requests for employment, prevented staff from working. Armed tribesmen set fire to a military vehicle and held six soldiers hostage for several hours before finally releasing them. "Tribal leaders were contacted by very senior officials in Sanaa, who gave assurances that they would intervene to end the clashes and settle the problem," a tribal source said while talking to a French news agency.
Tendulkar, Gambhir help India amass 321-9 against Pakistan (Updated at 1800)
MOHALI: The 173-run second wicket partnership between star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir helped India amass a huge score of 321 for nine in the allotted 50 overs against Pakistan in the second One-day International being played here today.
Tendulkar scored 99 and Gambhir made 57 while Shoaib Akhtar captured three wickets and Umer Gul and Suhail Tanveer claimed two wickets each.
Pakistan now have a daunting task of chasing 322 runs to level the five match series 1-1.
US lauds Musharraf decision regarding elections (Updated at 1800)
WASHINGTON: USA said that it is very good that President General Musharraf has clarified the date for the next general elections.This was said by the White House sources on Thursday, who told that Bush welcomed the decision by Musharraf regarding the next general election.Earlier today, US President Bush asked President Gen. Musharraf to quit the military office and hold the general elections.“We think it is a good thing that President Musharraf has clarified the election date for the Pakistani people,'' press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement given to reporters who were accompanying the president on a trip to Texas later Thursday. The administration issued the statement welcoming the election the day after President Bush exhorted the embattled Musharraf in a telephone call to hold elections and to step down as head of the military that has been riddled by unrest for the past several days.
Bhutto demands Musharraf to quit army post by Nov. 15 (Updated at 1755)
ISLAMABAD: People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto said Thursday the intelligence agencies are being used against the political forces in the country.Addressing a press conference after the party meeting in Islamabad, she said it is the dictatorship that would be benefited by the mutual criticism of the opposition.“The government failed in getting over the extremism,” she added.Speaking on the occasion, Benazir Bhutto denounced a pledge from Pakistan's military president Thursday to hold elections by mid-February as insufficient and said he should step down as army chief within a week. She remarked, ``We want an election date, we want a retirement date'' for President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to quit his powerful military post,'' Bhutto said at a news conference. ``This is a vague statement. We want the uniform off by Nov. 15.''
US military helicopter crashes in Italy, five killed (Updated at 1745)
ROME: A US military transport helicopter crashed Thursday in northern Italy, killing five and injuring five, a local news agency reported.The helicopter, a Blackhawk on a training flight, went down near the northeastern city of Treviso, had taken off from the nearby US military air base of Aviano at around 11:30 am (1030 GMT), the news agency said. The aircraft crashed in open ground near the town of Santa Lucia di Piave, north of Treviso and southwest of Aviano. The helicopter was in flames when firefighters arrived, putting out the blaze and airlifting the injured to hospital. The cause of the accident was unknown. The crash happened some 200 metres (yards) from an overpass on a highway, which has been closed to traffic, the news agency said. The local media said "at least five" died in the crash.
Mutual opposition censure to benefit dictatorship: Benazir (Updated at 1710)
ISLAMABAD: People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto said Thursday the intelligence agencies are being used against the political forces in the country.Addressing a press conference after the party meeting in Islamabad, she said it is the dictatorship that would be benefited by the mutual criticism of the opposition.“The government failed in getting over the extremism,” she added.
ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf said that the general elections will be held before February 15, 2008.He also announced to take off his uniform before taking oath as the president for the second time."General elections in the country would be held by February 15 next year," Musharraf was quoted as saying after chairing a meeting of the National Security Council. "The tenures of the national assembly and provincial assemblies were ending on different dates and after studying the option whether to hold elections on separate dates, it was decided to go for holding the election simultaneously on or before February 15, 2008," it quoted him as saying. Musharraf said he was "committed to holding general elections and the transition to full democratic civilian rule in the country," it added. State television also reported that Musharraf renewed his pledge to quit as army chief before taking the oath for his second term in office, but did not give a date, state television said. The report came after the attorney general, Malik Mohammad Qayyum said earlier on Thursday that the polls would be in February following Musharraf's declaration of a state of emergency on Saturday. "Elections will be held in February, it has been decided," Qayyum said. "The emergency will be lifted in one or two months."Earlier, National Security Council met with President Musharraf presiding over to discuss the overall situation of the country.Among those who attended the meeting included Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Chairman Senate Mohammedmian Soomro, NA Speaker Ch. Ameer Hussein, Punjab CM Ch. Pervez Elahi, Sindh CM Dr Arbab Ghulam Raheem, Balochistan CM Jam Mohammed Yousuf, NWFP Caretaker CM Shamsul Mulk, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed, Pak Air force Chief Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir. On this occasion, Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Governor NWFP Ali Mohammed Jan Orakzai, Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani and Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah were alos especially invited on this occasion.
Pakistan’s thrilling win over India at Mohali levels series (Updated at 2235)
MOHALI: Pakistan defeated India by four wickets in a thrilling second One-day International to level the five-match series 1-1 here today (Thursday).Chasing a difficult target of 322 runs, they achieved it with one ball to spare when Shahid Afridi hit a four on penultimate ball.The main architects of the victory were experienced Younus Khan and in-form Misbah-ul-Haq. Younus scored 117, his third ODI century and the first against India while Misbah missed his fifty by just one run.Younus faced 110 balls and hit nine fours and two sixes while Misbah played 44 balls and struck three fours. Both added 102 runs for the fifth wicket.Among other scorers, opener Salman Butt made 37 while Shahid Afridi was unbeaten on 29 off just 14 balls with three fours and one six. He was well supported by Suhail Tanveer who hit 14 off 10 balls.Earlier, a 173-run second wicket partnership between star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir helped India amass a huge score of 321 for nine in the allotted 50 overs. Tendulkar scored 99 and Gambhir made 57 while Shoaib Akhtar captured three wickets and Umer Gul and Suhail Tanveer claimed two wickets each.Pakistan now have a daunting task of chasing 322 runs to level the five match series 1-1.Winning the toss, India decided to bat first but lost opener Sourav Ganguly in the very first over of the match when he was bowled by fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for 6 off just three balls.Then, Gambhir joined Tendulkar and both carried the score to 179 before Tendulkar was caught behind off Umer Gul to miss his 42nd ODI century by just one run.Pakistan went into the match with Tanvir replacing Abdur Rehman, assigning the spinning duties to Shahid Afridi and captain Shoaib Malik - who went for twelve and ten runs respectively in their first overs - while India decided to include Virender Sehwag in place Murali Karthik, the pitch not expected to favour spin.
Fazl holds opposition breakup responsible for present situation (Updated at 2230)
ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Secretary General Maulana Fazlur Rehman said Thursday all the opposition parties would work out joint strategy against emergency in a couple of days.Talking to Geo News, Maulana said the country is facing the present situation owing to the disintegration of the opposition.Fazl said the different calls of protest by various parties could not receive public support; therefore, joint strategy needs to be adopted.Maulana Fazlur Rehman said in MMA Supreme Council meeting would be called after meeting PPP leadership and all options including waging a joint protest campaign against emergency would be mulled over.He said the contacts with PPP are being made and there are developments in it, adding he himself is in contact with other political parties and recently he contacted Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour.
News channel to be soon on air: Durrani (Updated at 2200)
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani said all those TV channels have been permitted to be on air after they settled their affairs in negotiations with PEMRA.Addressing a news conference, he said media freedom is the hallmark of their government and it should be at all maintained.Durrani said the negotiations of CPNE, APNS, PBA and PFUJ with interior ministry are under way and PEMRA is reviewing all these matters.He said the PEMRA is an independent institution and the list of re-opened channels is being issued.The interior minister said President Musharraf will take oath after the notification of the Election Commission.Ali Durrani said Benazir Bhutto is not aware of the ground realities and she should look for the
candidates for the next elections, instead of launching on long march.
Deposed judges should decide Musharraf’s case: Benazir (Updated at 2140)
ISLAMABAD: People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto said Thursday that the deposed judges should decide regarding President Musharraf’s eligibility.Addressing a press conference after the PPP central Executive Committee and Federal Council, She said all those judges who did not take oath under new PCO should be restored including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.She warned the government to announce the election schedule by tomorrow (Friday), if it fails to do so, PPP would proceed to act upon its program of long march, adding that her party would at all hold a public gathering at Liaquat Bagh tomorrow, even though no permit was given for it.Benazir said that the intelligence agencies are being used against them. On this occasion, she urged the students to come out and become a part of protest process.PPP chairperson said, “I want that all important cases including National Reconciliation Ordinance should be heard by those judges that did not take oath under PCO.”She said that her talks with Musharraf went into abeyance as soon as the constitution was suspended and they can be restored only after the restoration of the constitution.
Courts boycott continues in NWFP including Peshawar (Updated at 2040)
PESHAWAR: The lawyers in Peshawar continued the boycott of the courts across the province including Peshawar on Thursday.The lawyers are on protest in Peshawar High Court and all lower courts in NWFP province. The lawyers are not taking part in the judicial proceedings, which has given rise to troubles for those people who are turning up to courts for hearings.The lawyer fraternity of NWFP province said that the protest would continue until the emergency is lifted and the constitution is restored.Contingents of policemen are deployed around Peshawar High Court and other lower courts and the spell of arrests is underway with various political leaders and workers are put behind bars.
100-index comes below 13,500 points in KSE (Updated at 1945)
KARACHI: Today, the recession trend was seen in the Karachi Stock Exchange and the KSE index-100 came below the level of 13,500 points at the end of the day’s trading.
Trading began on a negative note today and on one occasion a decline of 343 points was seen in index but it rose by 267 points after the announcement of the prime minister’s meeting with brokers and representatives of the financial institutions.
Index after a decrease of 76 points closed at 13,423 points at the end of trading today.
The overall trade volume was 217,000,000 shares today. The largest trading was seen in Arif Habib Securities shares, price of which closed at Rs.157.75 after it lowered by Rs.7.50.
Prices of OGDCL and Pak Oil Fields shares after a decline of 40 paisa and 60 paisa, respectively, closed at Rs.115.85 and Rs.333.30, respectively.
Today, KSE 30-index after a recession of 166 points closed at 16,013 points.
Morgan Stanley loses $3.7b in two months (Updated at 1930)
NEW YORK: The second largest company in Securities market, Morgan Stanley went down by losing $3.70 billion.The company said it has suffered a $3.7 billion loss stemming from its U.S. subprime mortgage exposure during the two months, which it expects will reduce fourth-quarter earnings by about $2.5 billion. The Wall Street investment bank said the loss occurred in September and October, and might change before its fiscal quarter ends this month.Meantime, two other large securities companies including Merrill Lynch have suffered more than 40 per cent loss.
Envoys of UAE, China meet Benazir (Updated at 1915)
ISLAMABAD: The ambassadors of United Arab Emirates and China came to see Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto here on Thursday.Talking to the envoys of UAE and China, Benazir Bhutto apprised them of the political situation of Pakistan and standpoint of PPP on the current situation.She said the image of Pakistan has received a serious setback all over the world owing to the imposition of emergency.Benazir Bhutto said the restoration of the constitution and lifting of the emergency is very necessary, adding if so does not happen, the country is likely to face a great crisis.
12 dead in clashes around Yemen oilfield (Updated at 1845)
SANAA: Clashes between Yemeni tribesmen and security personnel protecting a Ukrainian oil company left 12 people dead on Thursday in Shabwa province, east of the capital, a security source said. "Six civilians and six soldiers died in the clashes which broke out this morning between members of the Al-Harith tribe and an army unit charged with protecting a Ukrainian oil firm," the source said from Shabwa. The unit's commander Abdullah Alwan and his driver were among the dead, provincial governor Mohammed Ali Rwishan was quoted as saying by the website of the defence ministry newspaper September 26. Witnesses said that the clashes began when tribesmen, angry that the oil firm had rejected their requests for employment, prevented staff from working. Armed tribesmen set fire to a military vehicle and held six soldiers hostage for several hours before finally releasing them. "Tribal leaders were contacted by very senior officials in Sanaa, who gave assurances that they would intervene to end the clashes and settle the problem," a tribal source said while talking to a French news agency.
Tendulkar, Gambhir help India amass 321-9 against Pakistan (Updated at 1800)
MOHALI: The 173-run second wicket partnership between star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir helped India amass a huge score of 321 for nine in the allotted 50 overs against Pakistan in the second One-day International being played here today.
Tendulkar scored 99 and Gambhir made 57 while Shoaib Akhtar captured three wickets and Umer Gul and Suhail Tanveer claimed two wickets each.
Pakistan now have a daunting task of chasing 322 runs to level the five match series 1-1.
US lauds Musharraf decision regarding elections (Updated at 1800)
WASHINGTON: USA said that it is very good that President General Musharraf has clarified the date for the next general elections.This was said by the White House sources on Thursday, who told that Bush welcomed the decision by Musharraf regarding the next general election.Earlier today, US President Bush asked President Gen. Musharraf to quit the military office and hold the general elections.“We think it is a good thing that President Musharraf has clarified the election date for the Pakistani people,'' press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement given to reporters who were accompanying the president on a trip to Texas later Thursday. The administration issued the statement welcoming the election the day after President Bush exhorted the embattled Musharraf in a telephone call to hold elections and to step down as head of the military that has been riddled by unrest for the past several days.
Bhutto demands Musharraf to quit army post by Nov. 15 (Updated at 1755)
ISLAMABAD: People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto said Thursday the intelligence agencies are being used against the political forces in the country.Addressing a press conference after the party meeting in Islamabad, she said it is the dictatorship that would be benefited by the mutual criticism of the opposition.“The government failed in getting over the extremism,” she added.Speaking on the occasion, Benazir Bhutto denounced a pledge from Pakistan's military president Thursday to hold elections by mid-February as insufficient and said he should step down as army chief within a week. She remarked, ``We want an election date, we want a retirement date'' for President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to quit his powerful military post,'' Bhutto said at a news conference. ``This is a vague statement. We want the uniform off by Nov. 15.''
US military helicopter crashes in Italy, five killed (Updated at 1745)
ROME: A US military transport helicopter crashed Thursday in northern Italy, killing five and injuring five, a local news agency reported.The helicopter, a Blackhawk on a training flight, went down near the northeastern city of Treviso, had taken off from the nearby US military air base of Aviano at around 11:30 am (1030 GMT), the news agency said. The aircraft crashed in open ground near the town of Santa Lucia di Piave, north of Treviso and southwest of Aviano. The helicopter was in flames when firefighters arrived, putting out the blaze and airlifting the injured to hospital. The cause of the accident was unknown. The crash happened some 200 metres (yards) from an overpass on a highway, which has been closed to traffic, the news agency said. The local media said "at least five" died in the crash.
Mutual opposition censure to benefit dictatorship: Benazir (Updated at 1710)
ISLAMABAD: People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto said Thursday the intelligence agencies are being used against the political forces in the country.Addressing a press conference after the party meeting in Islamabad, she said it is the dictatorship that would be benefited by the mutual criticism of the opposition.“The government failed in getting over the extremism,” she added.
