Operation Khanjar proves deadly for international troops

by Abdul Haleem

KABUL, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-led operation code name Khanjar or (strike with sword) launched in July 2 to dismantle Taliban hideouts in their heartland Helmand province has proved deadly as so far at least 56 international soldiers have been killed.

Since launching the massive operation, according to media reports, 56 service members of the NATO-led troops with some 30 of them U.S. service men have been killed.

Meantime, the statistics given of Afghan Defense Ministry put the number of Taliban casualties over 80.

"More than 80 militants have been killed since launching operation Khanjar in Helmand province and another 26, including their group commanders, have either been arrested or injured," Defense Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi told a news conference hereon Wednesday.

The official did not say if there were any high-ranking Taliban leader among those killed or captured.

Aimed at restoring government authority in Taliban-held territories, the troops involving some 10,000 Afghan and international personnel, Azimi said, have regained the Khanshin district.

Five out of Helmand's 14 districts are said to be in the grip of Taliban militants. Azimi said that 70 percent of Nawa districts have been cleanup of militants while the mop up is going to sweep all Taliban-infested areas.

Nevertheless, Taliban purported spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi disputed the report, saying the militants would fight back tooth and nail.

In talks with media via telephone from an undisclosed location, Ahmadi said that militants are conducting roadside bombings which have slowed down troops' advance and caused a large number of casualties.

While the troops are getting deeper in Taliban heartland through Khanjar operation, the militants, in attempt to divert troops' attention and ease pressure on Helmand, have focused their gun to the peaceful northern region.

In their attacks, the militants have targeted government interests in Kunduz province forcing NATO-led troops and Afghan forces to launch joint operation dubbed Eagle since July 18, during which three dozen rebels have been killed, according to officials.

The militants who carried out multiple suicide attacks in the eastern provinces of Paktia and Nangarhar Tuesday, killing a dozen people mostly civilians.

Summer in Afghanistan is traditionally known as "fighting season" and militants often intensify their activities. More military clashes are expected due to the election year. Afghans are going to elect the country's president on August 20 in the post-Taliban nation, the militants have vowed to disrupt the process.

2 Afghan soldiers go missing, Taliban claim responsibility

KABUL, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Two soldiers of Afghan National Army (ANA) went missing in west Afghanistan while Taliban claimed to have abducted them, a local official said Thursday.

"Mohammad Ali and Ghulam Haider, who are two soldiers of ANA, went missing Wednesday afternoon and apparently Taliban kidnapped them," commander of police in west Afghanistan Ikramudin Yawar told Xinhua.

However, he did not provide any more details.

Meantime, spokesman of ANA in west Afghanistan Abdul Basir Ghori also confirmed that two men in military uniform went missing since Wednesday but declined to say if they belonged to army.

Mullah Bashir Kinat, who claims to speak for Taliban outfit, intalks with media via telephone from unknown location said Taliban took away two soldiers from western Afghanistan.

One U.S. soldier, kidnapped by Taliban militants in east Afghanistan weeks ago, is still in custody.

Former Indian president yet to receive personal apology from U.S. air company

NEW DELHI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- One day after the U.S. air company Continental Airlines issued a public apology for frisking former Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at the Delhi airport three months ago, Kalam said on Thursday that he is yet to receive a personal apology from the airlines.

"I have not yet received it and whatever I have to do I have said," Kalam said in a statement to the media.

When asked if he considered it an insult, the former president said, "It has been discussed in the Parliament."

Continental Airlines Wednesday said they regretted the misunderstanding or the inconvenience, after Indian government filed a show-cause notice to it for allegedly breaching Indian aviation rules.

"Continental Airlines apologizes to Dr. Kalam for any misunderstanding and (or) inconvenience related to the security screening on April 21. Our intention was never to offend Dr. Kalamor the sentiments of the people of India. Continental Airlines takes great pride and is honored to have flown a respectable leader such as Kalam," the U.S. airlines said in a statement.

A highly respected nuclear scientist and intellectual, Kalam was reportedly so angered by the rudeness of the U.S. air agents that he refused to comment on this incident and only let it be known recently.

Continental Airlines spokesperson also confirmed that the apology letter has been delivered to Dr Kalam's office on Wednesday. Since Dr Kalam is currently traveling out of Delhi, the letter was delivered to his official staff and they have confirmed the receipt of the letter.

Iran to prepare for any threat: commander

TEHRAN, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hassan Shah-Safi said Thursday that Iran will prepare to tackle any threat, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

The country needs to watch enemies' approach in the region and needs to be prepared to tackle any threat, Shah-Safi was quoted as saying.

Referring to the failure of the U.S. forces in the region, he said that "since the enemy ... feels its illegitimate interests are in danger, we now face many threats and we have a heavier responsibility."

Mighty armed forces guaranteeing national interests and security are regarded as element of power for any country, he added.

In June, Iran started a four-day airforce exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman to enhance operational and support capability.

Tehran has reiterated that the operation aimed at promoting Iran's armed forces' readiness to confront possible threats and testing the country's modern defensive weapons.

The United States and Israel have consistently refused to rule out the possibility of military strikes against Iran over its refusal to halt its nuclear program.

The United States and its allies have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran has denied the U.S. charges and insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

India tries to woo back foreign tourists with promotion programs

NEW DELHI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government has initiated several programs to woo foreign tourists following a sharp decline in the number of foreign tourists arriving in the country in the first quarter of the year, said the Indo-Asian NewsService on Thursday.

The news service quoted Indian Tourism Minister Kumari Selja assaying that her ministry, through its India tourism offices overseas, has launched a series of promotional activities to increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTA).

Selja told the Parliament that the promotions including advertising, participation in travel fairs, exhibitions, road shows, India evenings, workshops, food and cultural carnivals, publication of brochures, inviting media personalities, tour operators and opinion-makers, said the report.

A "Visit India 2009" scheme has also been announced by the tourism ministry, while a Marketing Development Assistance Scheme of the ministry has been expanded to provide financial assistance to service providers for the promotion of medical and convention and conference tourism in the country, the report quoted the minister as saying.

The number of tourist arrivals between January-June 2009 in India stood at 2.47 million, which was 9.3 percent of the number for the corresponding period in 2008, which registered a 5.6 percent increase in the number of FTA over 2007.

Financial meltdown in the Western countries and Mumbai terror attacks last November are considered two major reasons for the sharp decline of FTA in India.

India denies Pakistan's report on Indian involvement in terror attacks

by Wu Qiang, Jit Kumar

NEW DELHI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- India Thursday denied a report by a leading Pakistani newspaper that New Delhi has received a dossier from Islamabad on India's alleged role in unrest in Pakistan's Balochistan province and terror attacks on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March.

Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said that India has not received any such dossier from Pakistan, which blames the country's intelligence agents for involvement in Pakistan's internal affairs to destabilize the neighboring country.

"India has no role in Pakistan's internal matters. India is not interested in destabilizing Pakistan. It is a propaganda by the media in Pakistan," Tharoor told the media in the national capital.

The Dawn newspaper of Pakistan said on Wednesday Pakistan has handed over to India a dossier allegedly containing "comprehensive evidence" of Indian involvement in several terrorist acts on its soil, including the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

The dossier with proof of "India's involvement in subversive activities in Pakistan" was handed over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh during their recent meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, said the Dawn, quoting unnamed sources.

Earlier, some other Indian government officials denied the report detailing Indian involvement in the country's Balochistan province.

"The accusation of the involvement of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in terrorist activities in Pakistan, including the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore last March and on a police academy on the outskirts of the city, is absurd," said the officials on condition of anonymity.

The RAW is the top intelligence agency of the government of India.

These officials also challenged Pakistan to hand over relevant dossier to India to support its accusation.

"This report is totally fabricated. No dossier was handed over to India by the Pakistan side, except the one detailing the steps taken on the Mumbai terror attacks. There is no question of any Indian involvement in Pakistan," the officials said.

The Dawn newspaper also said the dossier included a description of Indian arms and explosives used in the attack on the Sri Lankanteam on March 3, in which several Pakistani policemen were killed.

Pakistani officials, including former President Pervez Musharraf, have in the past also accused India of involvement in the unrest in Pakistan's Balochistan province over the past several years.

Several policemen were killed during the terrorist attack on the Manawan police academy in Lahore on March 30.

Pakistan ex-president consults senior counsel over court notice

ISLAMABAD, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani former president Pervez Musharraf has consulted senior counsel Abdul Hafeez Pirzadain London over the Supreme Court notice, ex-attorney general Mohammad Qayyum said Thursday.

Qayyum said that he himself had a contact with Musharraf after the issuance of the notice. "He has not talked me to defend him inthe court," Qayyum told reporters.

The official Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Qayyum as saying that he has advised the former president to defend himself at court. The former president will also consult over the matter with Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Qayyum said.

Qayyum had stated on Wednesday that he was ready to defend the former president if he was asked.

The court notice asked Musharraf to appear in person or through a lawyer to explain his viewpoint on the measures he had taken as army chief on November 3, 2007.

On that day he had issued a proclamation of emergency, suspended the Constitution and promulgated a Provisional Constitution Order (PCO). Dozens of judges declined to take oath under the PCO and were sacked. The emergency rule was withdrawn on December 15, 2007.

Riots erupt in Pakistani jail

ISLAMABAD, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Inmates at western Pakistani jail rioted inside the prison Thursday and held 15 police personnel hostage, local TV channel reported.

Black smoke rose to the sky from inside Mach jail in Quetta, the capital city of Baluchistan province, after the prisoners set fire on prison barracks, the private TV channel Express reported.

According to sources, the prisoners were protesting for their rights inside Mach prison. They held 15 police personnel hostage and burned down a barber shop and food provisions.

The jail administration resorted to tear gas shelling and aerial firing to bring the situation under control. However, the inmates are not ready to suspend the protest.

Reports said that the negotiation between prisoners and officials fell into deadlock, and prisoners claimed the protest will continue till the higher authorities reach the prison and accept their demands.

France keen to further strengthen ties with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, July 23 (Xinhua) -- France is keen to open a new chapter of relationship with Pakistan for strengthening democracy and its efforts to curb terrorism, French Minister for Foreign Trade Anne Marie Idrac said Thursday.

On her first visit to Pakistan, Anne Marie said France wants to further strengthen the economic and defense ties with Pakistan while addressing a press conference here.

Anne Marie said that main objectives of her visit was to finalize framework on different trade and economic subjects before the visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy late this year.

She said France would cooperate in transportation, energy, food industry and agriculture developmental for the economical progress and prosperity.

France will also provide Pakistan with modern technology including Fennec Helicopter for curbing terrorism, she added.

She said French private companies would sign their agreements after the visit by President Sarkozy to enhance bilateral trade and defense relations between the two countries.

She said that her country had provided 2.3 million Euros for rehabilitation of internally displaced persons, adding that additional 10 million Euros had been given for supplying food to them.

Anne said that France would also provide 300 million Euros during next three years (2009-2011) for social economic development which had been announced in Friends of Democratic Pakistan Conference. (1 U.S. dollar equals about 0.7 Euros )

U.S. accession to amity treaty aims at regaining interests in Southeast Asia

by Ding Yi

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Agreement to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation by the United States indicates America has re-engaged with Southeast Asia and will regain interests in the region, a Chinese analyst said Thursday.

Meanwhile, due to mutual demands between the United States and Southeast Asian countries, the move also will strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and climate change, said Guo Xiangang, a scholar from the China Institute of International Studies.

A U.S. presence in Southeast Asia would complicate and bring uncertainties to regional issues, Guo said.

STRATEGIC DEPLOYMENT

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the friendship pact with member states of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) in Thailand's Phuket on Wednesday in what is seen as America's return to the "critically important" region.

Clinton said the Obama administration wanted to send a strong message of engagement after the region had been neglected by former President George W. Bush during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The new U.S. approach was demonstrated by her first overseas trip as the top U.S. diplomat to Asia in February, Clinton said, adding that Washington views the amity treaty as a symbolic underscoring of American commitment to Asia.

Guo said that the U.S. return to Southeast Asia is part of a multilateral diplomatic policy proposed by the Obama administration, which is considered a revision of Bush's unilateral policy.

The United States wants to participate in the region's development process to show its clout in the area and to help solve problems such as the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and Myanmar's ongoing political instability, the researcher said.

"If the United States does not take part in the process, it can not effectively impose its influence in the region," he said.

MUTUAL DEMANDS

On the one side, the signing of the treaty means the Americans would regain interests in Southeast Asia, the sixth largest U.S. export market and an important strategic stronghold with abundant oil and energy resources.

On the other side, Southeast Asian countries welcomed the U.S. participation in the region's development process, during which they would get the biggest possible interests as they can, Guo said.

"Southeast Asian countries tried to use big powers and strategic balance to seek their own security and stability," the analyst said.

The cooperation between the United States and the four Mekong downriver countries -- Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam -- shows that the Americans attach importance to the region, said Yue Yang, a Vietnamese researcher.

ASEAN leaders have also hailed U.S. accession to the amity treaty.

"We warmly welcomed the impending accession by the United States of America to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia as a strong signal of its commitment to peace and security in the region," said a joint communique issued Monday after the ASEAN ministers' meeting.

POTENTIAL COMPLICATION

The row between the United States and Myanmar over the case of Aung San Suu Kyi, who was facing trial for violating her terms of house arrest by accommodating a U.S. citizen, has been spotlighted since May.

Myanmar's government leaders have frequently said that the legal action against Aung San Suu Kyi is an internal affair which is in accordance with its domestic law, accusing the United States of meddling in its internal affairs.

Clinton called on Myanmar, which has put Suu Kyi, general secretary of the National League for Democracy, under a five-and-a-half-year house arrest, to free her and take other steps to ensure a credible general election next year.

The Myanmar authorities have blamed the U.S. citizen, identified as John William Yettaw, for the current trial involving Aung San Suu Kyi.

Meeting with the press, Myanmar Police Chief Brigadier-General Khin Yi charged Yettaw with illegally intruding into Aung San Suu Kyi's residence which was then under restriction and held him mainly accountable for the case.

Analysts said the U.S.-Myanmar spat brought uncertainty and complication to the region's development.

Clinton views ASEAN as a region of "great diversity where people of different backgrounds, religions and every other diversities of the human experience are working to build a community."

Moreover, Clinton talked about the nuclear issues of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Iran at the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, a sign indicating that the U.S. return to Southeast Asia is broader than expected, analysts said.

16th ASEAN Regional Forum opens in Phuket

The 16th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum is opened in Phuket, Thailand, July 23, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Lianfen)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) and ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan talks before the opening of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum in Phuket, Thailand, July 23, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Lianfen)

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan (1st L, front) and Thailand's Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya (2nd L, front) attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum in Phuket, Thailand, July 23, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Lianfen)

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (C) attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum in Phuket, Thailand, July 23, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Lianfen)

Representatives attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum pose for a group photo in Phuket, Thailand, July 23, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Lianfen)

Representatives attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum pose for a group photo in Phuket, Thailand, July 23, 2009.

Huge wave attracts people to Mumbai

A woman tries to control her umbrella at a sea front in Mumbai July 23, 2009.(Reuters Photo)

People get drenched by a large wave during high tide at Mumbai's seafront July 23, 2009.(Reuters Photo)

People get drenched by a large wave during high tide at Mumbai's seafront July 23, 2009.Some of the highest tides of the season, with waves reaching 5 meters, will be experienced in Mumbai,the meteorological department said.(Reuters Photo)

A policeman patrols a promenade to keep people away from the seafront during high tide in Mumbai July 23, 2009.(Reuters Photo)

People get drenched by a large wave during high tide at Mumbai's seafront July 23, 2009.Some of the highest tides of the season, with waves reaching 5 meters, will be experienced in Mumbai,the meteorological department said.

No need for Indonesia to take foreign assistance in investigating bombing: official

JAKARTA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia does not need to take the assistance offered by foreign countries in investigating the latest bombing attack in the capital city, Indonesian senior official said here on Friday.

"We are confident with the capability of our police to investigate the bombing and hunt down those who were responsible over the bomb attack that claimed people's lives," Indonesian foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said.

No significant security procedure changing has been set after the bombing, he said, adding that the police are still implementing similar procedure in hotels and public centers to anticipate the possible terror attack in hotels and public places.

"What happened last Friday was perhaps a mishap of our security apparatus,"he said.

In the previous bombing cases, Indonesian police were able to arrest the perpetrators. They were the operatives of a terrorist group led by notorious Malaysian terrorist Nurdin Top.

Some of those bombers were already executed by the police after receiving death penalty from Indonesian court. Some others were still imprisoned in high security prison in Nusakambangan, Central Java.

Pakistani army kills 3 terrorists, arrests 6 in operations

ISLAMABAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces killed three terrorists and arrested six suspects while conducting search and clearance operations in northwestern Pakistan's Swat and Malakand districts during the last 24 hours, the army said in a daily press release on Friday.

During exchange of fire between security forces and militants in Swat, one soldier was killed, the army said.

The security forces continued relief activities, as 214,772 cash cards have been distributed amongst the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Malakand in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), and 13 trucks of rations and relief goods have been distributed.

Meanwhile, the repatriation process of the IDPs resumed Friday after a break of one day as displaced families is packing their luggage to return Buner, Lower Dir and militancy-hit Swat from various camps of NWFP.

By Wednesday, more than half of the millions of the IDPs, due to the offensives against Taliban in Pakistan's northwest, have been repatriated to their hometowns from various relief camps.

Over 1,600 militants have been killed since Pakistani security forces launched the military operation against Taliban militants late April after militants in early April entered the Buner district from the neighboring Swat and refused to vacate the area despite their pledge to do so.

Nepali vice president to take oath in Nepali

KATHMANDU, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme Court of Nepal on Friday asked Vice President Parmananda Jha to take oath of office and secrecy for the second time.

Responding to a case filed by advocate Bal Krishna Neupane, a division bench comprising of Chief Justice Min Badahu Rayamajhi and justice Bal Ram KC issued the verdict.

"Jha who used Hindi language while swearing-in was against the legal provision," the verdict said.

The bench ruled that oath-taking in Hindi language could not betaken as constitutional and that if Jha wants to continue at his office, he needs to take oath in Nepali.

A writ petition was registered by Bal Krishna Neupane at the Supreme Court on July 25, 2008, against the Vice President for taking oath in Hindi instead of the national language Nepali.

On July 23, 2008, Vice President Jha took the oath of office and secrecy by translating it into the Hindi language even though President Ram Baran Yadav had administered it in the Nepali language.

Cambodian PM calls for peaceful border with Thailand

PHNOM PENH, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Cambodia and Thailand should try to prevent armed conflicts and to secure a border of peace, security and development, the official news agency AKP (Agency Kampuchea Presse)reported on Friday.

Hun Sen made the remarks when he met with visiting Thai Parliament President and speaker of the House of Representatives Chai Chid Chob on Thursday. The premier stressed that "any dispute could have negative impacts on Cambodia-Thailand trade," according to Ieng Sophalet, assistant to the premier.

Meanwhile, Chai Chid Chob asked Hun Sen to help maintaining good relationship between Cambodia and Thailand and praised him for his right decision to reduce tension between the two neighboring countries.

On the same day, Chai held talks with Cambodian National Assembly President Heng Samrin. During the meeting, Heng Samrin asked once again the Thai Parliament to push the Thai government to accelerate the negotiations by using bilateral existing mechanisms and to withdraw its troops from the Preah Vihear Temple's area.

According to Koam Kosal, cabinet chief and assistant to Heng Samrin, Chai affirmed to bring these recommendations to the Thai government.

During his meeting with Cambodian Senate President Chea Sim, Chai Chid Chob shared the same idea with Chea Sim, especially withCambodia's stance to solve the border dispute peacefully and to avoid confrontations, Pheng Kunthea Borey, head of protocol of Chea Sim, told reporters after the talks.

The delegation of Thai Parliament arrived here on Thursday for a two-day official visit. It was also granted an audience by His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia on Friday.

Two NATO soldiers killed in S. Afghanistan

KABUL, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Two service members with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were killed in clash with militants Friday in southern Afghanistan, a statement of the alliance issued here said.

"Two service members were killed today, as a result of an insurgent attack that occurred in southern Afghanistan," it said.

However, it did not provide any further information as it is ISAF policy not to release the nationality of any casualty prior to the relevant national authority doing so.

Some 219 international troops have been killed in the various violence and conflicts so far this year in Afghanistan as a massive operation engaged by nearly 4,000 U.S. Marine and 600 Afghan security forces is still going on in the restive southern province of Helmand.

Pakistan wants to strengthen cooperation with Thailand: FM

ISLAMABAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has met with his Thai counterpart Kasit Primoya onthe sidelines of the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meetingin Phuket, Thailand.

Qureshi said Pakistan wants to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Thailand particularly in the economic field.

Both sides agreed to hold Joint Economic Commission and Policy Consultations and agreed to expedite the conclusion of Visa Abolition Agreement.

The Thai foreign minister expressed great satisfaction over friendly relations between the two countries and said that Thailand was keen to further develop these ties. He lauded Pakistan's contribution to the fight against terrorism and militancy and said that Pakistan's role was important not only for peace of South Asia but also for global peace.

Referring to economic ties Qureshi said that Pakistan possessesa unique geographic position and Thailand would explore mutually beneficial opportunities to work with Pakistan in viable projects.

Both sides also discussed cooperation in science and technology and defense fields.

Qureshi also had a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart DatukAnifah Hj. Aman on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting.

They discussed bilateral relations and cooperation in different fields. Both sides emphasized the need to broaden economic cooperation to include joint ventures in mutually identified fields.

Qureshi said agriculture, IT, livestock, construction, infrastructure development are potential areas for investment from Malaysia.

Both sides agreed to explore collaboration in the Halal Food Industry and to set up a joint working group for this purpose.

Malaysia and Pakistan also agreed on the early convening of the Joint Commission.

The Malaysian foreign minister said Malaysia intends to host the Developing Eight (D-8) ministerial meeting in Kuala Lumpur and invited Pakistan to attend it.

Pakistan provides proves to India, Afghan governments for their involvement

ISLAMABAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- A Pakistani minister has said that the Pakistani government has given proves to the Indian and Afghan governments regarding their direct involvement in promoting insurgency in southwest Pakistan's Balochistan.

Speaking at the Senate on Friday, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the government for the first time has taken the issue on the record with the Indian government in this regard.

He said that he himself held a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul and provided him proves regarding training camps in Afghanistan where Balochi insurgents are being provided training.

He said Karzai assured to close down these camps which are being run by the Indian intelligence agencies on their soil.

Malik informed the House that President Karzai also agreed to put in place three biometric check posts on the Pak-Afghan border by the first week of August.

The minister, referring the Balochistan issue, said the province and its people have been badly ignored by the previous regimes and the present government is committed to giving them their rights with a view to remove their grievances.

He said the government has taken on board all political leaders of the province to move forward for resolving issues.

The interior minister said all fourteen points recommended by the parliamentary security committee to improve law and order situation in the country are being implemented in letter and spirit.

Pakistani minister: 850,000 IDPs return to homes

ISLAMABAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that 850,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) by offensives against Taliban in the country's conflict-torn northwest have gone back to their homes so far.

Inaugurating two latest facilities at the headquarters of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) here on Friday, Malik said that 25,000 rupees (about 300 U.S. dollars) to each IDP family is being provided through a visa card prepared by NADRA with cooperation of a bank and so far over four billion rupees have been distributed.

He said during the operation in Swat and Malakand, 3.5 million displaced persons have been registered.

The interior minister said that statistics are necessary for security purposes and NADRA is doing wonderful job in this regard. He said the launch of new facilities by the organization would help identify criminals.

He said according to the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, every eligible citizen will get computerized identity cards by August next year.

NADRA Chairman Ali Arshad Hakim said through SMS verification system, law enforcing agencies through their mobile phones can confirm the identity of registered persons. The facility can also be used by common citizens in commercial transactions.

He said NADRA has so far registered 72 million people. He said 72.3 percent more women were registered last financial year as compared to previous year.

News Analysis: Kyrgyz president wins reelection as expected

by Xinhua writers Yu Maofeng, Zhao Yu, Li Bin

BISHKEK, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Preliminary results indicate incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has won a second term with a landslide victory.

The central election commission said Bakiyev won 85.4 percent of Thursday's vote, with 73 percent of the ballots counted. Opposition rival Almazbek Atambayev, who has denounced the vote as rigged, had 7.5 percent.

Bakiyev's victory came as no surprise because his presidency has been generally characterized by achievements in politics, economy and society.

When Bakiyev swept to power in 2005, the capital of Bishkek was the scene of violent protests that toppled his long-serving predecessor. Bakiyev got the administration back on track by carrying out reforms and mediating among government departments.

The Bright Path Popular party, established by Bakiyev in 2007, now holds 71 seats in the 90-seat parliament, enabling the president to push forward his policies.

At the beginning of this year, Bakiyev dismissed a string of senior officials, including his first deputy prime minister and foreign minister, because of poor performances. He also designated opposition leaders as key officials, impressing voters with his commitment to innovation and progress.

Bakiyev said ties with China, Russia, the United States, and other Central Asian countries will remain foreign policy priorities.

"If I am reelected, Kyrgyzstan will adhere to the principle of partnership relations and maintain sound relationships with China, Russia, the United States as well as other neighboring countries," Bakiyev told reporters after voting on Thursday.

Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia, is at the heart of a Russian-U.S. contest for control over the strategically important region near Afghanistan. Both Russia and the United States now operate military bases in the former Soviet republic.

The Kyrgyz government in February ordered the United States to vacate the Manas air base, a key logistic hub for U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan, after receiving more than two billion U.S. dollars in aid and loan guarantees from Moscow.

Bishkek, however, agreed last month to allow the United States to continue using the base as a transit center after Washington promised to triple its rent.

In a move to alleviate Moscow's anger at the decision, Bishkek is mulling Russia's request to open another military base in southern Kyrgyzstan.

Amidst the global economic downturn, Bakiyev has spared no effort to ensure smooth economic growth.

Kyrgyzstan's gross domestic production increased 7.6 percent in 2008, ranking fourth among members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

In the first quarter of this year, foreign investment in Kyrgyzstan surged 30 percent year on year. Funds from Russia and the United States not only play an important role in coping with the financial crisis, but also helped Bakiyev extend his rule by another five years, analysts said.

Bakiyev devotes himself to improving the quality of life for citizens and raising pensions.

The president, who received a traditional Russian education, attaches great importance to education and has allocated sizeable funds to the field.

Kyrgyzs' living standards are comparatively low and their social welfare is limited. During his tenure, Bakiyev raised pensions by developing agriculture and attracting foreign investment.

The president has been been praised for creating job opportunities, building infrastructure, and preserving the country's ethnic culture.

Despite the overwhelming victory, Bakiyev faces a series of challenges ahead, analysts said.

At the top of his agenda will be averting a dramatic economic slowdown, repairing relations with the opposition parties and improving citizens' living standards.

U.S. needs to enhance fiscal aid to Pakistan for IDPs: official

ISLAMABAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. official has said in Pakistan that in his report to the U.S. government he would not only suggest the continuous and uninterrupted financial assistance to Pakistan but would also recommend sufficient increase in it, the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

After visiting the Jalozai camp of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Peshawar of North West Frontier Province (NWFP),the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Eric Schwartz said that his government wants an early dignified and honorable return of the dislocated people to their native homes.

"Extremism and terrorism are threat to the whole world," Schwartz was quoted as saying, adding the U.S. government along with other countries of the world should cooperate with Pakistan in this critical hour.

Schwartz said that he was satisfied with the arrangements made for the IDPs in the camps.

"The facilities are really impressive and disciplined made for such large scale internal displacement in the shortest possible time for which the Government of Pakistan fully deserved appreciation," he remarked.

The process adopted for the return of IDPs is also very effective, safe and coordinated, he maintained. He said that he personally visited the tented camps and enquired after the problems of the inmates.

The IDPs, he said, who had come here from mountainous areas like Swat are passing through extreme hot, which is unexplainable.

"No one leaves his home with joy but it was the extremism and terrorism that forced them to do so for their better future," he said.

According to the APP report, the U.S. official said that government and the law enforcing agencies should now maintain the good results achieved by them after a successful operation in Malakand Division.

On Friday, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that 850,000 IDPs by offensives against the Taliban in the country's conflict-torn northwest have gone back to their homes so far.

Sweden to shut mission in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan officials on Friday confirmed a Swedish government decision to close down its embassy in Colombo.

The Swedish Embassy in Colombo is scheduled to be closed by March 31, 2010, diplomatic officials said.

Sweden's Foreign Ministry said these measures are a necessary part of balancing the ministry's budget and adapting it to its allocated appropriations.

The Swedish government also decided to close its four Consulate General's offices in Kaliningrad, Canton, Los Angeles and New York.

Sri Lanka and Sweden were embroiled in a diplomatic row in April this year when the Swedish authorities claimed a visa for its Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was rejected by Colombo.

Bildt was intending to join British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in a visit to Colombo during the last stages of the government's military campaign against Tamil Tiger rebels.

The Sri Lankan government claimed Bildt was welcome to make a separate visit.

Sweden was a main development partner for Sri Lanka in the 1980s.

Afghan presidential candidate withdraws in Karzai's favor

KABUL, July 24 (Xinhua)-- An Afghan presidential candidate Mohammad Sayed Hashimi withdrew in favor of sitting president and contester for second term Hamid Karzai on Friday.

Addressing a public meeting held here, Syed Hashimi described President Karzai as a qualified person for leading Afghanistan and urged people to mandate him for the second term.

Including Karzai, there are 41 presidential hopeful on the race to secure the country's highest executive post and Syed Hashimi is the first candidate withdrew in favor of sitting president Karzai.

A leading Shiite cleric and leader of his own Islamic faction -Islamic Revolution Movement of Afghanistan, Syed Hashimi, in the gathering where Karzai was present, called on his followers to use their franchise on voting day.

As the date for August 20 presidential election is getting closer, making alliance among some candidates is expected. Days ago, another candidate Baryali withdrew in favor of Karzai's challenger Abdullah Abdullah.

Afghanistan's second presidential election in the post-Taliban country is going to be held amid tight security as Taliban militants have vowed to disrupt it.

UN chief: Korean nuclear issue should be solved through dialogue

BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Korean nuclear issue should be solved through dialogue and negotiations in a peaceful manner, said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon here Friday.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a nuclear test in May and fired several ballistic missiles on June 4, raising international concerns over regional security.

The UN Security Council adopted on June 12 Resolution 1874 that allowed wider sanctions against the DPRK over its nuclear test.

Rejecting the resolution, the DPRK announced it has quit the six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

"The DPRK should comply with the Security Council resolution," said Ban in an interview with Xinhua.

Ban, who is on the four-day visit to China, said he would urge the members of international community to fully engage, "so that (the Korean nuclear issue) can be addressed through dialogue in a peaceful manner".

China has also said that the six-party talks are the effective platform to properly solve the nuclear issue.

"The (Korean Peninsula) nuclear issue should be solved by peaceful means through diplomatic negotiation," Yang said at a press briefing Thursday at the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum in Thailand.

China and the United States would discuss the resumption of the six-party talks and the peaceful resolution of the Korean nuclear issue during the first round of China-U.S. strategic and economic dialogue later this month, said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei on Wednesday.

Pakistani army kills 21 terrorists in operations

ISLAMABAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces Friday killed 16 militants in the search and clearance operations in the northwestern Pakistan's Lower Dir district, military sources said.

The sources said the security forces launched the action on a tip-off about militants' presence in Tehsil Maidan of Lower Dir, killing 15 militants.

A second operation was also conducted in Tehsil Maidan in which one terrorist was killed and arms were recovered in the operation.

The security forces have killed five terrorists and arrested six suspects while conducting operations in neighboring Swat and Malakand districts during the last 24 hours, the army said in a daily press release on Friday.

During exchange of fire between security forces and militants in Swat, one soldier was killed, the army said.

The security forces continued relief activities, as 214,772 cash cards have been distributed amongst the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Malakand in North West Frontier Province (NWFP),and 13 trucks of rations and relief goods have been distributed.

Meanwhile, the repatriation process of the IDPs resumed Friday after a break of one day as displaced families are packing their luggage to return to Buner, Lower Dir and militancy-hit Swat from various camps of NWFP.

By Wednesday, more than half of the millions of the IDPs, due to the offensives against the Taliban in Pakistan's northwest, have been repatriated to their hometowns from various relief camps.

Over 1,600 militants have been killed since Pakistani security forces launched the military operation against Taliban militants late April after militants in early April entered the Buner district from the neighboring Swat and refused to vacate the area despite their pledge to do so.

4.7-magnitude earthquake hits New Zealand South Island

WELLINGTON, July 25 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale struck New Zealand's Southland area early Saturday morning, but there have been no reports of injuries or damage so far, the GNS Science said.

The quake, occurred at 1:28 a.m. (13:28 GMT Friday) hit 80 km west of Te Anau at a depth of 12 km, the New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences reported.

It was a further aftershock of last week's 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Fiordland, the lower South Island, and it was likely to have been felt in Fiordland and Southland, it said.

USGS: Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits off Papua New Guinea

WAHSHINGTON, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Papua New Guinea's Bougainville region early Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

No injuries or damage have been reported so far.

Strong quake hits off Papua New Guinea

CANBERRA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A 6.2-magnitude earthquake rattled Papua New Guinea's island of Bougainville Saturday morning but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualty yet, seismologists said.

The quake, which struck at 11:42 a.m. local time (01:42 GMT), was about 80 kilometers west of Arawa city at a depth of 65 kilometers, according the U.S. Geological Survey.

"At this stage we have not received any reports of any damage," a spokesman for PNG's national earthquakes center said.

"We have not had any report of such activity as a tsunami, but normally (with) earthquakes of about 6.2 we rarely anticipate tsunamis along our coastline," he added.

Papua New Guinea sits on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", where continental plates meet. The region is frequently hit by earthquakes.

Suspected bomber behind Philippine deadly church blast arrested

MANILA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Security forces have arrested a suspect believed to engineer a series of bombings, including a recent one that killed six and injured 50 in front of a Catholic church in southern Philippines, the authorities said Saturday.

Salman Mohamadali, tagged as a member of the Special Operations Group of the Muslim secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), was arrested on Thursday in the town of Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao province.

Mohamadali is blamed for the July 5 explosion in front of the Cotabato Cathedral that killed six civilians and injured 55 others and the Oct. 5, 2007 twin explosions in Kidapawan City, both in the restive Muslim Mindanao region, authorities said.

COTABATO, the Philippines, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government on Thursday suspended its military offensive against armed Muslim separatists in the southern Philippines.

Executive Secretary Educardo Ermita said the suspension of assault against the Moro Islamic liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest rebel group, was aimed at getting the rebels back to the negotiation table. Full story

COTABATO, Philippines, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Four military bomb experts were wounded on Monday in an ambush by unknown gunmen in the restive southern Philippines, a military official said.

Jonathan Ponce, a local Army spokesman, said Major Francis Senoren of the Philippine Army's bomb disposal division and three of his colleagues were attacked by armed men on their way to an explosion site. The blast took place in the morning in North Upi township, Maguidnanao province and left one militia dead. Full story

COTABATO, Philippines, July 20 (Xinhua) -- A homemade bomb went off Monday near military detachment in the southern Philippines, leaving a state militia dead.

Ramon Piang, mayor in the township of North Upi in Maguindanao province, told reporters the victim, Erol Roberts, was checking a bag left by an unknown man beside a detachment around 8 a.m. in the village of Kibleg when it exploded. He was killed in the explosion.

Indonesian President Susilo confirmed re-elected

JAKARTA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The incumbent Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was declared as the winner of the July 8 presidential polls, with landslide victory, the Electoral Commission (KPU) announced here Saturday.

The commission which completed its tabulation on Thursday said that Susilo and running mate Boediono got 60.80 percent or 73.87 million votes, followed by rival former President Megawati Soekarnoputri and running mate Prabowo Subianto with 26.79 percent or 32.55 million votes and Vice President Jusuf Kalla and his Vice Presidential candidate Wiranto 12.41 percent or 15.81 million votes, Secretary General of the commission Suripto Bambang Setiadiannounced at the commission building here.

"The officially declared the final result of tabulation of presidential election is valid," chairman of the commission Abdul Hafiz Anshary said.

The announcement of the ballot tally was attended by President Susilo and running mate, Kalla and Wiranto, but Megawati did not present.

Both Kalla and Megawati rejected the result, saying that irregularities were found during the counting process.

President Susilo signed the final result, but Kalla and Megawati's representatives did not.

They planned to file lawsuit to the country's Constitutional Court. According to the law, it is allowed to file complaint or protest to the court within three days after the announcement.

"We plan to file a suit on Monday," a co-charman of Golakar Party Baharuddin Napitapulu told Xinhua after the announcement.

Should it is found an irregularity, the court would process it for 14 days before making a decision.

The inauguration of the winner will be conducted in October, after the tenure of the current presidency ended in the month.

The commission announced that the total valid votes were 121.50million out of over 176 million eligible voters.

President Susilo will have a greater room to implement his own policies particularly to speed reform, because of the victory of his party on April 9 election, experts said.

Malaysian deputy PM to visit Uganda for Global Dialogue

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is about to make a working visit to Uganda in East Africa on July 26-28 to attend the Global Smart Partnership Dialogue 2009.

According to the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Ministry, the dialogue would be held in Munyonyo with the theme of "Towards a Smarter Globe -- The Smart Partnership Way for realizing socio-economic transformation through regional integration".

Under the theme, participating countries would discuss market access for the developing countries, strategies for building quality infrastructure and Economic Partnership Agreements, and the global financial crisis and integration innovation frameworks in public strategies and business.

Muhyiddin would discuss and exchange views with other representatives of developing countries on various issues of common interests.

The Smart Partnership was a platform for representatives from governments, parliaments, the private sectors, professional organizations, the media and civil society to discuss the contemporary issues that affect the growth and prosperity of the nations.

It carried the concept of consultation, win-win and "prosper-thy-neighbor" outcomes to all partners, the ministry said.

The dialogue was a commonwealth idea originated from the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting in New Zealand in 1995.

Vietnam Deputy PM visits Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong arrived here on Saturday to pay three-day official visit to Cambodia.

During his visit, Truong Vinh Trong, who is also a representative of the Vietnamese prime minister, will attend a signing ceremony on the Declaration of the Establishment of Cambodia National Carrier -- Cambodia Angkor Air -- and the inauguration of the representative office of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) in Phnom Penh, according to the statement of government.

Moreover, Truong Vinh Trong, to be accompanied by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Council of Ministers Sok An, will take the first flight of the Cambodia Angkor Air from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the location of world famous Angkor Wat, on Sunday.

Truong Vinh Trong will also pay courtesy calls on Cambodian National Assembly President Heng Samrin and Prime Minister Hun Sen during his stay here.

Cambodia Angkor Air (CAA) is a joint venture between the government and state-owned Vietnam Airlines. Hun Sen is to preside over CAA's official launch on Sunday.

Only two ATR 72 planes will be first operational and will expand upon demands. It is the first national air carrier since the first of its kind went bankrupt in 2001. Cambodia's national airline Royal Air Cambodge, a joint venture with Malaysia Helicopter Services, closed down in 2001, after it lost about 20 million U.S. dollars since it began operations in 1994.

Over the past few years, Cambodia has been seeking foreign partners to re-establish its own new national airline, but was unsuccessful.

News Analysis: Philippines faces serious threat from Jemaah Islamiayh bombers

By Xinhua Writer Xu Lingui

MANILA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Filipino Muslim militants sheltered them, fed them and helped them evade government troops when they first reached Philippine shores across the Sulawesi Sea. In return, they trained locals to make powerful bombs designed to sow terror.

That's how a handful of fugitive bombers of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), an Indonesia-headquartered militant group with close ties with the Al Qaeda network, took roots and slowly regained clout in the insurgency-infested southern Philippines, officials and analysts said.

But this interaction has apparently entered another level with JI operatives expanding their network and trying to forge an alliance with small groups of local extremists struggling for survival, said Rodolfo "Boogie" Mendoza, a top Filipino counter-terrorism researcher.

"The terrorist threat is real and serious," Mendoza told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

He said around ten Indonesian bombers arrived late last year, bringing the total number of JI operatives hiding in the jungles of southern Philippines to 40, headed by a certain Indonesian national Usman Riesal and two prime suspects in the deadly bombings in Indonesia's tourist island of Bali in 2002.

"But more importantly there are also Filipinos being recruited, and things become complicated," said Mendoza, who retired from the police force last year with nearly 20 years of experience in terrorist investigation.

Aiming to spread its network across the Southeast Asia, JI has set its foot on the Philippine soils as early as 1997 and is believed to have instructed Filipino Muslim militants into setting off five bombs in Manila on Dec. 22, 2002, killing 22 people.

Founded by Islamic extremists in Indonesia in the early 1990s, JI is now seen able to infiltrate into the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia to cooperate with local militants.

A string of explosions rocked southern Philippines in the past three weeks, killing 12 people and injuring over 100 others. While in Indonesia's capital of Jakarta, suicide bombers attacked two posh Western hotels on July 17, leaving nine dead and 61 wounded.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales on Thursday told Manila-based foreign reporters that these blasts, all bearing highly-suspected JI characters, seem to be connected.

"It is not about who made it (the bombing), what is important now is to know what is behind it," Gonzales said, warning that JI resurgence in the region can not be ignored.

Mendoza said the hotel blasts in Jakarta could be duplicated in the Philippine capital of Metro Manila and it would not be surprising if the first Filipino suicide bomber would soon emerge.

"JI operatives will inspire them, induce them and set an example for them," he said.

Tausugs, the ethnic minority in the Sulu archipelago, have the tradition to stage suicide attacks once they feel cornered, as demonstrated during the American occupation of Sulu in the early 20th century, when Tausug warriors attacked Americans in a suicide fashion, Mendoza said.

That tradition, combined with JI bombers' inducement, will give birth to Filipino suicide bombers, he added.

"Twenty years ago, no one would imagine an Iraqi suicide bomber. Terrorism simply breaks all rules."

On July 8, a car bomb was detonated in southern Philippine city of Iligan, leaving 16 injured. Senator Rodolfo Biazon, a former Armed Forces Chief of Staff, said the emerge of car bomb in the Philippines should ring the alarm bell.

He told local media that Filipino militants might have adopted that tactic from JI and if the blast was proved a "test mission",serious attacks are looming.

JI openly has collaborated with the Philippines' smallest but most dangerous militant group the Abu Sayyaf. The group, composed of mainly Tausug guerrillas, was blacklisted by Washington for a series of terrorist attacks in the past decade.

The U.S.-backed military offensives have killed and captured key Abu Sayyaf leaders in the past few years and reduced the group's size from thousands to just over 300 in the southern islands of Sulu and Basilan, army officials said.

But Gonzales said the military is faced with difficulties to finish off the though severely-fraction group soon because of its linkage to JI.

Mendoza said police intelligence have noticed a swing of terrorist hotbed from southern islands to central Mindanao, where most JI fugitives are hiding. The Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon, with his 20 loyal followers, visited central Mindanao more often recently, Mendoza said, citing intelligence reports.

"Even if the Abu Sayyaf is crushed in southern islands, some will escape to central Mindanao to form another terrorist network," he said.

Mendoza said Manila needs to revamp its counter-terrorism strategy to focus on destroying terrorist network than on neutralizing key militant leaders. And without an overall economic development package to go with the military offensives, threats of terrorism would never ebb in Muslim Mindanao, a resources-rich but sadly the most undeveloped region in the Philippines.

Heavy rain leaves five dead, five missing in W Japan: report

TOKYO, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rain hit west Japan on Friday, leaving five people dead and five others missing from mudslides and flooding, Kyodo News reported, quoting local authorities, on Saturday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency called for caution as downpours continued Saturday in northern Kyushu as well as the Chugoku and Shikoku areas in western Japan.

More than 30,000 households in Fukuoka Prefecture in northern Kyushu were advised to evacuate their homes due to rain, NHK and Kyodo News said.

A landslide occurred at around 9:35 p.m. Friday in Fukuchi, Fukuoka Prefecture, burying two houses and killing a 73-year-old resident, according to the local police.

Three people were missing in Fukuoka Prefecture and two people were unaccounted for in Hiroshima Prefecture in the Chugoku area.

Earlier this week, heavy rain left 14 people dead and three others missing in Yamaguchi Prefecture in the Chugoku area.

Firing erupts in Khost, E Afghanistan

KABUL, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Firing erupted in Khost city, the capital of Khost province in east Afghanistan Saturday afternoon, casualties feared, police said.

Tajik president congratulates Kyrgyz counterpart on re-election

BISHKEK, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon on Friday congratulated his Kyrgyz counterpart Kurmanbek Bakiyev on his re-election, according to the Tajik presidential press.

Rakhmon congratulated Bakiyev on his landslide victory in Thursday's presidential election during a telephone conversation, the press said.

He expressed the hope that Bakiyev could make further achievements in his new term, it said.

Bakiyev won re-election on Friday after preliminary results showed he had obtained more than 50 percent of the votes.

It was Kyrgyzstan's fifth general election since gaining independence in 1991.

Minister: India has no role in terror attack in Balochistan of Pakistan

NEW DELHI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram categorically denied on Saturday that Pakistan had given proof to India of the latter's involvement in the terrorist attacks in Balochistan province of Pakistan.

"We are not involved in Balochistan, we have nothing to do with Pakistan's internal problems in Balochistan. In fact, the Balochistan leader has said that he gets no support from India. Besides, why should we get involved when we have enough problems on our western borders with Pakistan," Chidambaram told the media.

"Pakistan must produce evidence before making such allegations," he said.

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Friday that India was interfering in Balochistan and India-run terror camps in Afghanistan were training youth from Balochistan.

Malik made this statement while speaking in the Senate, the upper house of Pakistan's parliament.

"The problems of the people of Balochistan will be solved and the details regarding this would be unveiled in the Senate soon," Malik said.

He also suggested that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agreed to the mention of Balochistan in the joint statement after his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani confronted him in Sharm-el-Sheikh with a dossier detailing India's covert activities in the resource-rich volatile province of Balochistan.

Malik also alleged in the Senate that India was responsible for the attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team and the Manawan police academy in Lahore last March.

India has rubbished both these accusations and in fact, official sources also vehemently denied media reports that a dossier had been given by Pakistan to India which contained "evidence" of India's involvement in Balochistan.

Pakistan to reopen schools in war-scarred soon

ISLAMABAD, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's provincial government announced Saturday to reopen all the schools closed due to military operation in northwest areas from August 1.

Sardar Hussain, education minister of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), said all the educational institutes would be reopened in District Swat from August 1.

"We have made alternate arrangements for students enrolled at destroyed schools," the minister added.

He said the government will spend 8 billion rupees (about 100 million U.S. dollars) on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the schools destroyed in terror activities in Swat and Malakand district in NWFP.

All government and private schools in these areas had been closed days before the launch of military operation in the districts.

The internally displaced persons (IDPs) began to return last week when the government announced the military operation in Swat and Malakand almost ended.

Over 2 million people fled their homes since Pakistani security forces launched the military operation against Taliban militants late April after militants in early April entered the Buner district from the neighboring Swat district and refused to vacate the area despite their pledge to do so.

Indian Navy criticized for delayed acquisition of over-priced Russian aircraft carrier

NEW DELHI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Unsatisfied with the delay of acquisition of Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and its unprecedented increase in the price, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), a watchdog organ of government acquisitions, Saturday rapped the Indian Navy and asked why the acquisition of a second-hand foreign warship took so long and why it was decided to increase its price from the original negotiation.

The price negotiation for the aircraft carrier between India and Russia came in for sharp criticism from the CAG, whose latest report also rapped the Defence Ministry for the cost escalation of72 billion rupees crore (1.82 billion U.S. dollars) in four years.

"The CAG report for 2008, released here on Friday, questions the prudence of the Ministry in buying the second-hand Russian warship, which now comes at half its life-span and about 60 percent more expensive than a new aircraft carrier," A.K. Awasthi, additional comptroller and auditor general of the Indian government told the media Saturday.

"As a result, the Indian Navy's objective of inducting a second-hand foreign aircraft carrier was not met in time to fill the gap in its capabilities," he said.

Gorshkov deal was signed in January 2004 between New Delhi and Moscow.

The Government is now likely to pay 1.82 billion U.S. dollars for the carrier against the original contract amount of 875 million U.S. dollars. This defeats the very objective of inducting the aircraft carrier in time to fill the gap in Indian Navy, the CAG report noted.

"The cost of acquisition has almost doubled to 72 billion rupees in four years after the Navy brought it from Russia in January 2004. Most substantial increase is on account of sea trials which were originally contracted for 27 million U.S. dollars. This has increased by almost 20 times creating doubts about the exercise while estimating and negotiating cost," Awasthi said.

He further said that monitoring and supervision was lax, with no committee adhering to the frequency prescribed.

Indonesian president: election weaknesses not fraud

JAKARTA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhohono on Saturday said the shortcomings or mistakes that occurred in the July 8 presidential poll were not "fraud."

"The irregularities, mistakes or shortcomings that happened cannot be categorized as fraud straightaway, but still all these problems must be settled properly," Antara news agency quoted Yudhoyono as saying on Saturday.

Under the existing election system and law, poll contestants who were not satisfied by the election's final results had an opportunity to lodge a complaint or file a lawsuit through a court, he said.

"We hope the protests will be channeled peacefully, with respect for democracy and the rule of law," he said.

He said his side had also collected findings in the field, tending towards the voting irregularities or mistakes, such as alleged difference of vote count at certain location, but it was not reported to the Constitutional Court (MK) because the difference was not significant.

"After making analysis, we found it showed only hundreds of votes different. Of course, we feel improper to report it to the MK which will not change the National Election Committee (KPU)'s decision (on the final results of vote count)," he added.

Yudhoyono said his side will also give input and suggestion to the KPU regarding the dispute on the permanent voters list (DPT).

On Saturday, The KPU officially announced that the Susilo Bambang Yudhyoyono-Boediono pair won 60.8 percent of the votes cast in the July 8 presidential election. Megawati Soekarnoputri-Prabowo Subianto duo bagged 26.79 percent and the Jusuf Kalla - Wiranto ticket 12.41 percent of the votes. However, the pairs of Megawadi and Kalla rejected the results and filed a lawsuit at the court.

According to Yudhoyono, the press conference he was holding at the moment was not a speech marking his acceptance of the final results of the presidential race vote count, but only to respond the presidential election process that had settled the final vote count process.

"The speech marking the acceptance of the final vote count, will be made later after the MK concludes settling the election problem," SBY cited.

According to the country's law, presidential candidate could be elected after he or she get more than 50 percent votes in the election.

Indian PM to launch first self-developed nuclear-powered submarine

NEW DELHI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will on Sunday launch the country's first indigenously designed and built nuclear-powered attack submarine in Visakhapatnam, south India, reported the private Indo-Asian News Service on Saturday.

The submarine is currently housed in a dry dock, which will be flooded with sea water to mark the launching ceremony, said the report quoting an unnamed defense ministry official.

The submarine will be commissioned in the Indian Navy as INS Arihant, which translates as "destroyer of enemies", after extensive outfitting and sea trial, according to the report.

It is the first of three such vessels to be built in the country. So far, submarines have been built here under license from their foreign designers, said the report.

Indian PM urges businessmen to join fight against poverty

NEW DELHI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday called on India's businessmen to share their wealth with the country's poor and join the fight against poverty, reported the private Indo-Asian News Service.

Singh asked the country's businessmen to learn from Microsoft founder Bill Gates who used his wealth to banish poverty, improve health services and promote education, according to the report.

"I very much hope that many more Indians who can -- more of our business leaders and our wealthy -- will learn to share their wealth with the people of their country, by investing in their education, their health, and the care of the elderly and the disabled, " Singh was quoted as saying.

Singh made the statement at a ceremony of prize granting on a Gates foundation here, at which Gates himself was granted a prize for his contribution to peace and development, said the report.

14 militants killed in NW Pakistan operation

ISLAMABAD, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Security forces killed 14 militants and arrested 27 others in search and clearance operations in northwest Pakistan during last 24 hours, an army press release said Saturday.

Security forces continued search operation in Swat and Buner district in North West Frontier Province, during which 14 militants were killed in exchange of fire and 27 others were apprehended, the Inter Services Public Relations said in a daily statement.

A militant training camp and a cave were also destroyed, and huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered, the statement said.

Relief activities were continued while 217,660 cash cards and 12 trucks of rations and relief goods have been distributed amongst the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Malakand.

More than half of the millions of the IDPs have been repatriated to their hometown from various relief camps, reports said.

Over 1,600 militants have been killed since Pakistani security forces launched the military operation against Taliban militants late April after militants in early April entered the Buner district from the neighboring Swat and refused to vacate the area despite their pledge to do so.

Triple explosions damage 3 U.S. military supplying trucks

KABUL, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Three explosions, apparently well organized, damaged three trucks supplying logistic items to U.S. forces in Afghanistan and hampered the supplying to troops for a while, a press release of Interior Ministry issued here Saturday said.

"At around 2:40 a.m. this morning, three trucks begun journey from Bagram Airbase in Afghan capital Kabul to supply logistic items to the troops in south Afghanistan," the statement said.

It added that one of the three trucks exploded and smashed after a while as two others in span of minutes also blew off and were partially damaged.

Only one driver sustained injuries in the blasts, it further said.

Meantime, three persons have been arrested on charge of involvement in the case, the press release said without going into details.

Bagram Airbase, 50 km north of Kabul, is the main military base of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Numerous local trucks hired by the international troops for supplying logistic items have been attacked by Taliban militants as the militia warned to impose punishment on those having any link with foreign troops.

Int'l troops mistakenly kill 2 Afghan police

Kabul, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The NATO-led peacekeeping force ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mistakenly targeted Afghan police forces in Kandahar province, south of Afghanistan, killing two police officers, police chief in southwestern region Ghulam Ali Wahdat said Saturday.

"The police were on patrol in the north part of Kandahar city Friday night when the incident occurred during which two policemen were killed and three others got wounded," Wahdat told Xinhua.

ISAF forces in Kandahar also described it a mistake, according to the police officer.

Such friendly fires had several times claimed the lives of Afghans including security forces during the past years.

No punishment for J-League racist probe

TOKYO, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Japan's J-League decided not to take punitive action over the J-League racist probe in which Tokyo Verdy's Brazilian striker Leandro's claim that an opponent had called him a "chimpanzee".

The J-League's disciplinary committee launched an investigation into the accusations of racist taunts after Verdy's midweek second division game with Ventforet Kofu.

Verdy expressed disappointment on Saturday after J-League officials said they were unable to verify Leandro's claims Kofu defender Arata Sugiyama had called him a "chimpanzee".

The Brazilian was booked at the final whistle after protesting too little injury time had been played and complained Sugiyama had racially abused him in the subsequent melee.

Sugiyama, who was also alleged to have made ape-like gestures, denied making any remarks to Leandro.

"The Kofu player denied making the remark and the other players said they did not hear him say it," said J-League chief secretary Hideyuki Hanyu.

Incidents of racism towards black players are rare in the J-League, although crowd violence has become a problem at some grounds, notably Japan's best-supported club Urawa Reds.

Shutdown affects normal life in India-controlled Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Normal life in Muslim majority areas of the India-controlled Kashmir Saturday remained affected due to a strike called by separatists against the detention of their leaders, officials and locals said.

The shops, government offices, banks and business establishments in these areas including Srinagar city, the region's summer capital, remained closed in response to the shutdown call. Traffic was also off the roads.

The local government in India-controlled Kashmir has arrested separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Shabir Shah, NayeemKhan and female separatist leader Aasiya Andrabi for organizing anti-Indian protests and booked them under public safety act.

"Though courts have ordered their release but the authorities are booking them in new cases," said a Hurriyat activist.

The anti-Indian demonstrations broke out in the region following the May 30 incident of rape and murder of two women aged17 and 23 years in Shopian town, 50 kilometers south of Srinagar.

Locals alleged the duo were first raped and then murdered. They suspected the hand of Indian troopers in the incident.

Police initially maintained that the duo drowned in the nearby stream, however the forensic experts confirmed rape and murder of the duo.

The incident stirred huge unrest in the whole of region.

A judicial probe has found the police officers on duty in the town responsible for destroying evidence of the case.

Indian left-wing parties to launch agitation against price increase

NEW DELHI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- India's left-wing political parties Saturday said they are planning to launch a nationwide agitation against "unbearable" increase in prices of essential commodities, following the decision to allow hiking of fuel prices by the government, reported the private Indo-Asian News Service.

In a joint statement by its top leaders, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) urged the government to revoke the petrol and diesel price increase and prohibit futures trading in all food-related items, said the report.

"The increase in the prices of essential commodities, particularly of food items, has become unbearable for the people," the CPI-M leaders were quoted as saying in the statement signed by CPI-M Chairman Prakash Karat and others.

The prices of all pulses have shot up to such an extent, with some varieties priced between 80 and 100 rupees (1.7 and 2.1 U.S. dollars) per kg, that the common people cannot afford them any more, said the statement.

"The prices of edible oil, vegetables, rice, wheat and other food items have also been increasing without respite," the statement said.

The Left parties have decided to jointly conduct an anti-price rise agitation to demand that the government take immediate and effective steps to curb price rise of essential commodities, it added.

The Left leaders also expressed concern that the prospects of drought in many states due to deficient monsoon will further put pressure on the prices of food items.

DPRK demands Japan's apology, compensation for slave labor

PYONGYANG, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has demanded that Japan apologize and provide compensation for the slave labor it took from Korea from the 1920s to 1940s, the official KCNA news agency reported Saturday.

The demand was made by "the Association of Korean Victims of Forcible Drafting and Their Bereaved Families" in a survey report released Saturday.

The report said that "a large number of Koreans were forced to perform slave labor at 'the Aso Coal Mines' run by ancestors of Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and horrible damage done to them."

It asked Aso and the Japanese government to "thoroughly probe the truth about all the crimes committed against the Korean people in the past" and "make an honest apology and reparation to the dead and the bereaved families."

France provides Pakistan advanced security equipments

ISLAMABAD, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The French government would provide Pakistan sophisticated electronic security equipments besides sending experts to help training at police academies, the Pakistani interior minister said Saturday.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik made these remarks on the sidelines of the handing over ceremony of bullet proof jackets, which were provided by the French government.

He said the efficiency of law enforcing agencies would be further enhanced after the supply of such security equipments, adding that the equipments would help identify improvised devises and suiciders.

Malik said that these jackets would be provided to police officials deployed in Malakand Division in North West Frontier Province.

All the forces are being equipped with modern and sophisticated gadgets in order to further enhance their capabilities, he added.

Replying to a question, Malik said that consignment of scanners was on the way to the capital city, adding that these scanners would be installed at all the entry and exists points of the capital to enhance security.

Daniel Touanneau, French Ambassador to Pakistan, lauded Pakistan 's effort in rooting-out terrorism, and said that his country would provide all necessary equipments and training to Pakistan's law enforcing agencies for eradicating the menace of terrorism from its soil.

Pakistani court adjourns Mumbai attack case hearing

ISLAMABAD, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A Pakistani court Saturday adjourned the Mumbai attack case hearing till Aug. 29, and accepted prosecution prayer for in-camera trial of the five accused, local media reported.

The official Associated Press Pakistan news agency quoted sources as saying that the trial was held inside Central Adiala Jail in the garrison city of Rawalpindi due to the security reason. Pakistani Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has alleged that the accused Muhammad Riaz alias Shahid Jamil Riaz facilitated transition of money to the Mumbai blast accused Ajmal Kasab.

The other accused in the case include Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu Alqa and Hamad Ameen Sadiq.

As many as ten alleged terrorists were involved in Nov. 26, 2008 carnage. Police killed nine alleged terrorists and arrested Ajmal who was being tried in India.

Nearly 170 people were killed in Mumbai, India's commercial hub, and India had accused Pakistan-based militant organization Lashkar-e-Taiba of masterminding the attacks.

Indian officials accused Pakistan of not being serious in apprehending the culprits. But Islamabad insists no one should doubt its sincerity.

Pakistan has admitted the attack was partly planned on its soil and the two countries have suffered seriously strained relations.

The trial began a few days after prime ministers of both countries met in the Egyptian city of Sharm el Sheikh on the sidelines of the summit of Non-Aligned Movement.

India had put a pause on the "composite dialogue" with Pakistan after the attack and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the parliament on Friday that talks will not be resumed unless Pakistan takes action against the suspects.

IMF approves $2.6 bln loan to Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government said Saturday that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to provide 2.6 billion U.S. dollar loan to Sri Lanka to support the country's reform program.

"The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today (Friday) approved a 20-month Stand-By Arrangement for Sri Lanka in an amount equivalent to 1.65 billion SDR (about 2.6 billion U.S. dollars) to support the country's economic reform program," the Department of Government Information said in a statement.

Under the arrangement, 206.7 million SDR (322.2 million dollars)becomes immediately available to Sri Lanka while the balance will be phased according to quarterly reviews, said the statement.

With the support of the IMF loan, the Sri Lankan government will reduce the island's budget deficit to 5 percent of GDP by 2011, from a target of 7 percent of GDP this year.

The reform program is also aimed at strengthening the country's international reserve position and restoring external viability.

The government said the island's 15 percent population living below the poverty line and the civilians displaced by the long drawn-out civil war will benefit from the program.

To build confidence in the local financial system, the government will take measures to strengthen the banking system by improving the current regulatory framework and enhancing bank supervision.

The Sri Lankan government had requested a 1.9-billion-dollar loan from the IMF in March, two months before the government troops defeated Tamil Tiger rebels.

Economists said the end of the 30-year-old conflict provides Sri Lanka with an opportunity to undertake economic reform and reconstruction that would be crucial for higher economic growth.

The government is expecting the island's economy to grow by 3.5to 4.5 percent in 2009 despite the prevailing global financial crisis.

Sri Lanka joined the IMF in 1950 and has a quota of 413.4 million SDR (about 644.4 million dollars).

Qantas flight grounded in Auckland following malfunction

WELLINGTON, July 26 (Xinhua) -- A Boeing 737 passenger plane of the Australian airlines Qantas, has been grounded in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland while engineers were investigating what sparked a malfunction on a flight to Brisbane on Saturday.

The Boeing 737, bound for Australia, was forced to return to Auckland airport with 91 passengers onboard after the plane started to depressurise, Radio New Zealand reported on Sunday.

Qantas said the jet lost cabin pressure at 25,000 feet, forcing the captain to turn the plane around shortly after take-off.

The airline was playing down the incident, saying the malfunction was not an emergency.

Qantas said there was never a threat to passengers or the crew because the depressurisation was so small it was not necessary to supply oxygen masks.

The plane made it safely back to Auckland and the passengers were transferred to a different flight.

The jet remained grounded while Qantas engineers were investigating the cause and making repairs.

2,000 people bitten by dogs per day in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Two thousand incidents of dog bites are reported each day in Sri Lanka, a local English newspaper reported on Sunday.

The Sunday Island quoted officials from the Health Ministry as saying that 28 patients died of rabies while 205 others suffered from the disease in the first six months of 2009.

Of the 205 patients, 172 had been infected from dog bites while the others had contracted the disease from cats, cows, pigs, goats, polecats and foxes.

The government has to spend 500 million rupees (about 4.31 million U. S. dollars) each year to treat the victims bitten by dogs with an average of 39,000 rupees (about 336.2 dollars) per person.

Meanwhile, the government has allocated 200 million rupees (about 1.74 million dollars) to the Health Ministry's sterilization program to control the growth of dog population in Sri Lanka.

The government said 20,740 surgical sterilizations and 13,557 chemical sterilizations.

Supporters make merit for Thai ex-premier Thaksin

BANGKOK, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Supporters of ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Sunday joined the merit-making ceremony on the occasion of his 60th birthday, local media reported.

Thaksin's brother-in-law and former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat presided over the ceremony at Kaew Fah temple in Nonthaburi province, just north to the capital of Bangkok. Thaksin was expected to make a phone-in address to his supporters later during the day, and had promised to unveil a big surprise to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the website of the Bangkokpost said.

Nonthaburi's Bang Kruay police inspector Prasong Sirithipvanich said two companies of policemen had been deployed to oversee security at the temple.

The United front for Democratic against Dictatorship (UDD), a pro-Thaksin group had planned to hold a birthday party for Thaksin on Sunday at Bangkok's Sanam Luang, which was banned by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

The government was again seeking Thaksin's whereabouts in the run-up to his phone-in birthday address.

Quake hits eastern Indonesia

JAKARTA, July 26 (Cinhua) -- An earthquake with magnitude of 5.2 rocked eastern parts of Indonseia on Sunday, no report of damage or casualty, Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said here.

The quake struck at 10:07 Jakarta time (0307 GMT) with epicenter at 1 kms northwest Manado of North Sulawesi and at 187 kms in depth, the agency said.

Philippine Muslim rebels declare reciprocal truce with government

MANILA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The largest armed separatist group in the Philippines has declared truce with the government, following a similar move of the military and signaling a possible end to the ten-month hostility that killed hundreds in Muslim Mindanao region, local media reported Sunday.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)'s secluded leader Murad Ebrahim has signed the suspension of all military actions against the government and the group's guerrilla fighters are asked to strictly implement the truce, the Manila Times said.

It came two days after Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the military to suspend attacks towards the 11,800-member MILF, to pave the way for the resumption of the halted peace talks since last August.

The MILF has been fighting government troops for decades to establish a self-rule Muslim state in the south of the predominantly Catholic country. A final peace deal with the government will touch the issues of autonomy and the civil settlement of its armed members. But the two sides failed to sign a key agreement in the peace progress last August.

Enraged by the abortion of signing, Rogue MILF fighters, loyal to three field commanders, attacked Christian communities in the Muslim Mindanao, leaving 60 civilians dead. The government immediately scrapped the negotiation panel and ordered troops to aggressively hunt down radical MILF guerrillas.

The military said at least 41 soldiers and 120 rebels were killed in the ten-month-old offensive, and a number of rebels have been apprehended, captured or surrendered.

Afghan troops kill 16 insurgents in East

KABUL, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces eliminated over a dozen Taliban insurgents in mountainous district of eastern Nuristan province, Defense Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

"Troops killed 16 militants in Barg-e-Matal district and seized10 assault rifles," Defense Ministry in the short statement stressed without giving more details.

Barg-e-Matal, a far-flanged district in Nuristan district was changed twice hand-to-hand between government forces and Taliban militants over the past one month.

Currently the district is at the hand of government forces.

6 policemen injured in check post attack in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, July 26 (Xinhua) -- At least six policemen were injured Sunday when their check post was attacked by militants in northwestern Pakistan, according to local TV reports.

The private Express TV said that two policemen were also missing in the incident and might have been kidnapped by the militants who used heavy weapons to attack the check post in the frontier region of Bannu.

Clash leaves 3 Taliban insurgents dead, 2 policemen missing in N. Afghanistan

KABUL, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Clash between Taliban and joint unit of Afghan National Police (ANP) and Provincial Reconstruction Team(PRT) of Norwegian forces in the relatively peaceful Faryab province in north Afghanistan, left three insurgents dead, police spokesman in the province Mohammad Afzal said on Sunday.

"The militants attacked joint unit of ANP and PRT, patrolling in Pashtun Kot district on Saturday night and the forces returned fire, killing three rebels on the spot," Afzal said.

Two policemen with ANP were found missing after the fighting and it is not clear whether they have been killed, he added.

The attackers, armed with machineguns, apparently belonged to Hafizullah who believed to be a Taliban commander in the area, the police official said.

Taliban-led insurgency and violence in northern Afghanistan, has been escalating as the date for Aug. 20 election is drawing closer in the post-Taliban country.

Norway has some 450 troops mostly stationed in respectively peaceful northern Afghan provinces to help bring peace in this part of the militancy-hit country.

Philippines foils ferry bombing ahead of president's national address

MANILA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Philippine coast guard found twelve bottles of home-made bombs hidden in the bathroom of a ferry docked in a northern port, the authorities said Sunday.

The explosives were discovered by police dogs as the boat -- MVBlue Water Princess -- was ready to sail out of the Lucena city in Quezon province Saturday afternoon. About 300 passengers were on board, the Philippine coast guard field commander Gregorio Adel Jr.told local media.

Nails and metals were found stuffed in the bottles, with twelve blasting caps, electrical wiring connected to an improvised detonator, the report said.

The foiled terrorist attack came one day before the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered her annual State of the Nation Address at the Congress. Security forces earlier said they received reliable information indicating that militant groups are planning attacks to spoil the event.

The Abu Sayyaf group, composed of roughly 300 Muslim extremists, bombed a packed ferry in Manila Bay in 2004, killing 116 people and wounding 300 others. The group was listed by Washington as a foreign terrorist organization, but investigators have yet named a suspect for Saturday's foiled ferry bombing.

DPRK vows to fight back against U.S., South Korea

PYONGYANG, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will "deal unimaginably deadly blows to the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppets if they ignite a war," the official KCNA news agency said on Sunday, citing a senior official.

"We will mercilessly and resolutely counter the enemy's sanctions with retaliation," said Kim Yong Chun, vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and minister of the People's Armed Forces, at a national meeting Sunday marking the 56th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.

A touch-and-go situation was now prevailing on the Korean Peninsula, even though more than half a century has passed since the armistice of the war, Kim said, blaming it for "sanctions" and "military provocations" by the United States, South Korea and Japan.

Kim said the Korean people always remember that "the world peace-loving progressive people including the Chinese people positively supported and encouraged the army and people of the DPRK in their fight for justice during the war."

The Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, and ended on July 27, 1953 with an armistice agreement.

Local militant commander killed in NW Pakistan operation

ISLAMABAD, July 26 (Xinhua) -- A local militant commander was killed during the last 24 hours as Pakistani security forces continues search and clearance operations in Swat and Malakand in the country's northwest, according to a military press release Sunday.

Local commander, Maaz of Qambar, was killed in the search operation in Swat.

The forces also arrested nine militants and an Imam Masjid, supporter and sympathizer of militants.

Two security forces personnel were killed when they encountered an improvised explosive device (IED) near Sarkari Qila during their search operation in the tribal area of Bajaur.

About relief activities, the military said that 220,143 cash cards had been distributed amongst the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Malakand.

Over 1,600 militants have been killed since Pakistani security forces launched the military operation against Taliban militants late April after militants in early April entered the Buner district from the neighboring Swat and refused to vacate the area despite their pledge to do so.

Nepali PM denies arms deal with India

KATHMANDU, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Sunday denied the allegation that the government is preparing to strike an arms deal with India.

Addressing the State Affairs Committee under the legislative parliament, which has invited him to discuss on current political issues, M.K. Nepal said that unnecessary rumors have been created about Defense Minister Bidhya Bhandari's India trip and the possibility of arms deal with the southern neighbor.

Nepali Minister for Defense Bidhya Devi Bhandari on July 20 left for India for a six-day official visit, following a request made by her Indian counterpart A.K. Antony.

Prime minister M.K. Nepal's remarks came following the allegations made by major opposition party Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M) in their public speeches.

The largest party in the Constituent Assembly, UCPN-M has been terming the defense minister's India visit a conspiracy to declare a presidential rule with the backing of the army which will hinder the peace process in nation.

However, prime minister M.K. Nepal clarified that the government would not make any move that would run counter to the comprehensive peace process. He added the government is serious about the integration and the rehabilitation of UCPN-M combatants and that the government expects cooperation from all political parties for this.

Wife of Indian PM launches home-made nuclear attack submarine

NEW DELHI, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur launched on Sunday the country's first indigenously designed and built nuclear-powered attack submarine, INS Arihant, in Visakhapatnam, southern India, said a senior Indian navy official.

"It marks a quantum leap in India's ship building capabilities and let the country join the elite club which can build nuclear powered attack submarines -- the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain," said the official on condition of anonymity.

The submarine was housed in a dry dock, which was flooded with sea water to mark the launching ceremony, said the official.

The submarine will be commissioned in the Indian Navy as INS Arihant, which translates as "destroyer of enemies", after extensive outfitting and sea trial, he added.

It is the first of three such vessels to be built in the country.Hitherto, submarines have been built here under license from their foreign designers, said the report.

Motorbike bomb wounds 4 Italian soldiers in W Afghanistan

KABUL, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Four Italian soldiers sustained injuries as a roadside bomb planted by insurgents struck a military vehicle in Herat province, west of Afghanistan, a spokesman of the troops Marco Amorilo said Sunday.

"The explosive device, planted on a motorbike, was detonated by remote control Saturday afternoon wounding four soldiers," the spokesman told Xinhua.

Meantime, Ikramudin Yawar, the commander of police in western region, said that one tank was damaged in the blast.

Some 2,500 Italian troops have been stationed in west Afghanistan as part of NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) in west Afghanistan.