French gunman reported dead
 

French gunman reported dead

By James Boxell and Hugh Carnegy in Paris and Tom Burgis in London.

Police sources in France say the gunman suspected of killing seven people is dead. The reports on Thursday came after police appeared to have launched an assault on the flat where he had been holed up for more than 30 hours.
Police sources told news agency AFP that three officers had been wounded, one seriously, in the assault. Journalists at the scene reported hearing sustained gunfire and several explosions.

Earlier the authorities said there had been no contact with the gunman since late Wednesday night, nor any reaction from him to a series of explosions set off close to his apartment during the night by security forces.
A series of explosions were heard at regular intervals throughout the night, which the French interior ministry said were part of police action to put the suspect under pressure to surrender.

France has been forced to confront the emergence of homegrown Islamist terrorism on its soil following the brutal killing of seven people, including three children, by a 23-year-old French citizen.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, on Wednesday called for national unity after the slaying of three children and a teacher who were shot outside their Jewish school on Monday and the earlier murder of three Muslim paratroopers. According to the French authorities the suspect claimed to have been trained on the Pakistan-Afghan border.

Speaking after meeting Jewish and Muslim leaders at the Elysée palace in Paris, Mr Sarkozy called for the country to come together. “We must remain united, he said. “We should in no way yield to discrimination or vengeance.”
The killings have shocked the country, prompting a bout of national soul-searching at the height of a bitter presidential election race. Marine Le Pen, Mr Sarkozy’s far right rival for president in the elections that start next month, said France should “wage war” on Islamist fundamentalism.
In Toulouse, an antiterrorist unit raided a house in the early hours in the search for the motorcycle gunman who attacked the school on Monday.
François Molins, the Paris prosecutor in charge of the investigation, said the suspect, Mohammed Merah, told negotiators he had received training from al-Qaeda in Waziristan, a lawless tribal region of Pakistan. But investigators said they were still uncertain whether he was acting alone or as part of a wider plot.

Mr Merah, reportedly of Algerian origin, told police he wanted to “bring France to its knees” in retaliation for French involvement in the Afghan war, the decision to ban the burka and the plight of the Palestinians. He made “no expression of remorse”, Mr Molins said, except that he had not carried out more killings.
He also admitted to have carried out shootings of the soldiers in the area last week.

Two attempts by police to storm the flat had been met with gunfire, the prosecutor said, leaving two officers injured. The suspect told police he would emerge from the flat, just a few kilometres from the Jewish school, on Wednesday night.
He added that the suspect had been preparing another attack on a soldier, and was also planning to target police in Toulouse.
Just after 10pm local time authorities plunged the area round the besieged property into darkness.

Defence minister Gerard Longuet said on TF1 television: “This will not last for days, because of physical and mental fatigue. All the experience with crazed gunmen like this is that they stop at some point.”
“What we want is to capture him alive, so that we can bring him to justice, know his motivations and hopefully find out who were his accomplices, if there were any,” he added.

Unlike its neighbours in the UK and Spain, France has managed to avoid successful jihadist attacks on its home soil since al-Qaeda carried on the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York.

French security services, using tough anti-terror laws, have been praised for rooting out potential homegrown terrorists, but Mr Merah was able to mount the attacks despite being known to the police and security services.
Mr Guéant said the authorities had been tracking the individual’s family since shortly after the school killings after they identified his mother’s internet address as part of the investigation into the killing of one of the soldiers.
The murders have interrupted an election race in which Mr Sarkozy was struggling to keep pace with François Hollande, the Socialist candidate. Security, immigration and the role of Islam in French society had already been an important issue in the campaign.

[URL="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57402124/blasts-where-france-gunman-still-holed-up/"]http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57402124/blasts-where-france-gunman-still-holed-up/[/URL]

6-04-2012
 

[B][SIZE="5"]Missing persons produced before SC[/SIZE][/B]

Quetta: Four out of seven missing persons were recovered and presented in the Supreme Court’s Quetta Registry today after the Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry ordered for their recovery.

The four recovered persons are Javed, Hazar Khan, Mazar Khan and Malik Sher while three are still missing named Mir Jan, Gul Mir and Amir Jan.

A three member bench headed by Chief Justice resumed the hearing the constitutional petition filed by Balochistan Bar Association regarding poor law and order situation in Supreme Court, Quetta Registry.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the Chief Justice directed the Balochistan Inspector General of Police, Rao Amin Hashim, to lodge an FIR in consultation with the provincial minister for home against those ministers who were involved in kidnapping for ransom incidents.

He also directed the IG Police to dig out the matter and find out the names of ministers who were involved in the kidnapping incidents and lodge FIRs against them.

About the seven persons missing from the Saryab Road, Quetta, the CJ said that out of the 10 missing persons on March 1, 2012, three had returned to their homes whereas seven were still missing and directed the IG Police to produce the seven people before the court on Friday (today). The CJ said if the seven people were not produced before the court on Friday morning, then the IG Police, along with all police officials, would be suspended.

The Chief Justice had also summoned Inspector General Frontier Corps Balochistan over the issue of mutilated bodies as some of the FC personnel were accused of their involvement in the case, he further added that police have failed to bring satisfactory report to surface.

Earlier, Balochistan Home Secretary Naseebullah Khan Bazi informed the apex court that 359 mutilated bodies had been recovered from different parts of Balochistan since 2010. The court ordered the arrest of persons involved in the killing of these people.


[COLOR="Black"][SIZE="5"][B]Haqqani given 4 Options[/B][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[B]Islamabad:[/B] The Memo Commission probing Memogate scandal has given four options for Pakistan’s former ambassador to United States Hussain Haqqani to appear before court.

The options include – issuing arrest warrants, filing criminal cases against him, freezing his assets and contempt case against him.

Memo Commission said that if Haqqani didn’t appear before court in next hearing court will carry out any one the above action.

Memo Commission also questioned attorney General why is Haqqani not showing up despite his approval, to which Attorney General replied that he has no information in this regard.

Earlier, Hussain Haqqani’s excuse for not appearing before the commission as he was not well was also disapproved by the commission. The commission was not satisfied with Haqqani’s medical excuse and thus rejected it.

[FONT="Arial Black"][COLOR="Black"][SIZE="5"]PPP workers ends sit-in
[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT]
[B]Karachi:[/B] Leaders and workers of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have ended their sit-in against the killings of their colleagues after the assurance of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

The chief minister came to meet the protestors along with his aides near Shaheen Complex, I.I. Chundrigar Road.

Farhan, Nafees Siddiqui and Omer Yar Khan were shot by unidentified motorcycle riders in Orangi Town earlier in the day. All three PPP activists succumbed to injuries when taken to the Abbas Shaheed Hospital.

The chief minister directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sindh, to take appropriate and immediate measures to arrest the culprits as early as possible.

He also asked him to submit a detailed report in this regard immediately.

Special Assistant to CM Waqar Mehdi told media representatives that the government will announce a compensation for families of the deceased.

Deputy general secretary PPP Karachi, Arshad Naqvi said that unidentified assassins have been killing innocent people and workers of different political and religious parties in Karachi including PPP, MQM and ANP. “We don’t know who the killers are but we know that it is being done under planned conspiracy,” he added.

Naqvi said that after the assurance we are dispersed peacefully. The funeral of the deceased workers will be held after Zuhr prayers in Orangi Town on Saturday.

Earlier, police resorted to tear gassing to disperse the protestors when they entered the “Red Zone” of the metropolis.

Police had cordoned off the area and did not allow the protestors to proceed to the CM House.

Meanwhile, Ghulam Abbas, who sustained injuries during an attack in Malir on Thursday night, succumbed to his wounds. The funeral prayers were offered earlier in the day amid protest by the deceased’s Shia community.


[url]http://saach.tv/category/latest-news/[/url]

[B][U][CENTER][SIZE="4"]Plane crash near Chaklala kills 118: Defence ministry[/SIZE][/CENTER][/U][/B]

[B]06:45 pm 20-04-2012[/B]

ISLAMABAD: A passenger plane of Bhoja Airline on Friday crashed near Chaklala airbase due to bad weather, killing around 118 passengers, Defence Ministry announced.

Emergency has been imposed on the airbase.

Boeing 737 was carrying around 127 passengers from Karachi and was destined for Islamabad, according to initial reports by Civil Aviation Authority (CAA.)

Witnesses close to the Bahria Town residential complex near the airport say emergency vehicles can be seen in the area.

[url]http://dawn.com/2012/04/20/reports-of-a-passenger-plane-crash-near-chaklala-dawnnews/[/url]

30-second symbolic sentence meted out to PM Gilani in contempt case
 

Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has convicted the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani of contempt of court for not implementing the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case for over two years, SAMAA reports Thursday.

Reading out the verdict against the PM Gilani, Justice Nasirul Mulk said the court was willfully ridiculed and its orders were flouted.

The court punished him with confinement over the contempt charge till the rising of the court.

It should be mentioned here that it was the first time in the history of Pakistan that a Prime Minister appeared before the court and was convicted of contempt of court.

Also, it is unique and the first time in the history that a punishment of shortest length was delivered as his punishment is now over with the rising of the court.

The court took five minutes to deliver the verdict and hence, the PM Gilani's punishment of confinement lasted for only 30 seconds. SAMAA

PM Gilani announces to hold Local Bodies polls in Islamabad
 

[CENTER][B][I][SIZE="5"][COLOR="DarkRed"]
PM Gilani announces to hold Local Bodies polls in Islamabad[/COLOR][/SIZE][/I][/B][/CENTER]

[B]ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday announced to hold local bodies elections in the federal capital.

Addressing a ceremony held at Radio Pakistan, the PM Gilani said, “I stayed with the people of Pakistan at every critical juncture,” noting the PPP government implemented 80 percent of its manifesto in four years.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) got 80 percent success in the by-elections held during the last four years, he said.

“The provinces did not accept the Local Bodies elections; but, I do,” the contempt convicted premier said adding, “I will hold the local governemts elections regardless anyone accedes to it or not.” AGENCIES[/B]

[B][I][URL="http://www.urduwire.com/en/news/pm-gilani-announces-to-hold-local-bodies-polls-in-islamabad_nid633343.aspx"]http://www.urduwire.com/en/news/pm-gilani-announces-to-hold-local-bodies-polls-in-islamabad_nid633343.aspx[/URL][/I][/B]

[B][U][CENTER][SIZE="5"]Pakistan tests Hatf III ballistic missile[/SIZE][/CENTER][/U][/B]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j374/madeel206/Arain007/HATFIII.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

RAWALPINDI:
Pakistan conducted a training launch of [B]Short Range Ballistic Missile Hatf III (Ghaznavi)[/B], which can carry nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 290 kilometers on Thursday, a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The launch was conducted at the conclusion of the annual field training exercise of Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC). The exercise was aimed at testing the operational readiness of a Strategic Missile Group.

The field exercise of the ASFC was witnessed by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General Khalid Ahmed Kidwai (R), Commander Army Strategic Force Command Lieutenant General Tariq Nadeem Gilani, Commander Karachi Corps Lieutenant General Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry, Chairman Nescom Muhammad Irfan Burney and other senior military officials and scientists.

Addressing the troops in the exercise area, General Wynne commended the troops on displaying a high standard of proficiency in handling and operating the state-of-the-art weapon system.

He said, “The nation has developed a strong nuclear deterrence capability and expects that the officers and men entrusted with the task of deterring aggression would continue to train hard and maintain professional excellence.”

General Wynne said that Pakistan’s armed forces were fully capable of safeguarding Pakistan’s security against aggression.

[B]Source: [URL="http://tribune.com.pk/story/376690/pakistan-conducts-training-launch-of-hatf-iii-ballistic-missile/"]HATF III Missile[/URL][/B]

US drone targeted al-Qaida deputy
 

[B]US drone targeted al-Qaida deputy[/B]

[IMG]http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2012/6/5/1338876925463/Abu-Yahia-al-Libi-006.jpg[/IMG]

Abu Yahya al-Libi: second-in-command to Ayman al Zawahri, the former Egyptian doctor who took over al-Qaida after Osama Bin Laden's death. Photograph: Anonymous/AP

One of al-Qaida's top strategists, Abu Yahya al-Libi, may have been killed in a drone strike in north-west Pakistan, according to intelligence officials.
If his death is confirmed it would be the biggest blow to al-Qaida since US special forces killed Osama bin Laden in a secret raid in Pakistan in May 2011.

US sources said Libi, a Libyan cleric with a degree in chemistry who has survived previous drone attacks, was a target of a strike early on Monday in the North Waziristan tribal region, home to some of the world's most notorious militant groups.

Some US officials describe Libi, whose real name is Mohamed Hassan Qaid, as number two to leader Ayman al Zawahri, the former Egyptian doctor who took over al-Qaida after Bin Laden's death.

Pakistani intelligence officials told Reuters they believe Libi may have been among seven foreign militants killed in Monday's strike.

One of the officials said Pakistani authorities had intercepted telephone chatter about Libi, an al-Qaida theologian and expert on new media whose escape from a US-run prison in Afghanistan in 2005 made him famous in al-Qaida circles.

"We intercepted some conversations between militants. They were talking about the death of a 'sheikh'," one of the Pakistani intelligence officials said, referring to the title given to senior religious leaders.
"They did not name this person but we have checked with our sources in the area and believe they are referring to al-Libi."

However, a militant commander in North Waziristan closely associated with foreign fighters said: "He has not been killed. This is not the first time claims have been made about his death. The Americans are suffering heavy losses in Afghanistan so they have resorted to making false claims."

It can take months to confirm whether drone strikes have killed an Islamist militant leader because the area of the attack is often sealed off by the Taliban in the lawless north-west of Pakistan. Burials are carried out swiftly in order to hide casualties and identities.
If a drone strike did kill Libi, it would bolster the US argument that drones are a highly effective weapon against militants.

The Pakistan government says that, while the CIA-run pilotless drone campaign has advantages, it fuels anti-American sentiment in the country and is counterproductive because of collateral damage.
Drones are a sticking point in talks between the US and Pakistan aimed at repairing ties damaged by a series of events, including the recent imprisonment of the Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA hunt down Bin Laden.

According to reports from North Waziristan, which American government sources did not contest, US-operated drones launched three attacks along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan between Saturday and Monday.

Reports from Pakistan said nearly 30 people were killed during the sequence of strikes, including four suspected militants on Saturday, another 10 on Sunday, and 15 people in the strike in which Libi was targeted.

Source : [URL="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/05/us-drone-targeted-al-qaida-deputy"]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/05/us-drone-targeted-al-qaida-deputy[/URL]

Oil up in Asia
 

SINGAPORE: Crude prices rose in Asian trade Thursday amid speculation of further monetary easing in the US and as France pledged speedy eurozone mobilization should debt-straddled Spain require its aid.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in July, was up 20 cents to $85.22 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for July delivery gained 20 cents to $100.84.

"Crude oil futures rallied... on growing hopes for a rescue of Spain's troubled banks to ease the eurozone debt crisis, and as a US Federal Reserve official hinted at more monetary easing," Phillip Futures said in a report.

French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici on Wednesday said the eurozone was ready to "mobilise very rapidly" to assist Spain if Madrid requested it, tempering fears of a worsening crisis in the region's fourth largest economy.

In the US, Atlanta Federal Reserve President Dennis Lockhart said the Fed might need to consider more monetary easing if economic growth in the world's largest oil consumer hit more road blocks.

Stating that monetary policy was "appropriate" for the moment, Lockhart said in a speech posted on the bank's website that the Fed would likely consider more action if growth stalled.

"Should it become clear that something resembling my baseline scenario of continued, though modest, growth is no longer realistic, further monetary actions to support the recovery will certainly need to be considered," he said

AFP

Source :[URL="http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=53070"]http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=53070[/URL]

Countrywide CNG strike adds to public woes
 

ShareThis20 17 3 Email0
KARACHI/LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: People across the country are facing a lot of problems due to closure of compressed natural gas (CNG) stations as part of a countrywide strike call given by the All-Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) against government decision to increase tax on CNG sector.

The strike was observed a day before the three-day weekly gas holiday, which is observed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in twin cities. On Tuesday night, almost all CNG stations witnessed an unprecedented rush as they handled four to five queues at a time stretching over and across main roads and disturbing smooth flow of traffic.

Taking advantage of the situation, public transporters as well as taxi drivers charged extra fares from commuters, claiming that they were using petrol as fuel instead of CNG.

Talking to this scribe, a number of people said that the government was creating more and more problems for the general public. They said that Pakistan was facing severe energy crisis and the government was not doing anything to overcome it. “First there was no electricity and water. Now we are not getting CNG,” they added.

They also questioned the government’s strategy of three-day gas load management plan, saying that the plan was excusable in winter when there was a wide gap in demand and supply, but now when the temperature is in 40+ degrees Celsius, there is no reason to follow the plan. They said that an increase of Rs15 in CNG price would put extra burden on the public.

All-Pakistan CNG Association Central Chairman Ghayas Abdullah Paracha said that the joint call of the APCNGA strike would become a shield against the Rs15 increase in CNG price. “This tax will be an extra burden on the public’s pocket so it’s equally lethal for the public and CNG station owners,” he added.

He said that the government has failed to overcome the electricity crisis by closing down CNG station. Now the concerned authorities should announce smooth supply of gas to CNG stations to facilitate the general public. He appealed to the public to support the strike of All Pakistan CNG Association, as it is fighting for reduction in gas price.

Secretary Petroleum & Natural Resources Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry has vehemently denied the position taken by CNG Association for their 'unjustified' strike.

Source : [URL="http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=53069"]http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=53069[/URL]

Bal Thakeray of shevsina passes away
 

Bal Thakeray of shivsina passes away.

courtesy: PTV news, Geo News, ARY News.