Rich not poor indulge in corruption: Vajpayee

MUMBAI, Apr 8: Attributing corruption mainly to greed, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said it was the rich and not the poor who indulge in corrupt practices.

"The poor and hungry do not indulge in corruption but those who already have their stomachs full indulge in such practices, abusing their system (body)," Vajpayee said addressing the 2600th birth anniversary celebrations of Bhagwan Mahavir here.

He asked people to observe "sanyam" (self restraint) and "aparigraha" (not to accumulate more than required) as professed by great Jain teacher Vardhaman Mahavir to remove the malaise of corruption.

Vajpayee said Mahavir’s message on non-violence (ahimsa) should be spread to the entire world as it was sitting on a stockpile of nuclear weapons capable of destroying it.

Calling upon Mumbaikars to help the quake-hit people, he said "we regard Mumbai as the second capital of India and I am sure that it will not forget Gujarat in its hour of grief."

Vajpayee later gave away "Jain Ratna" awards to 26 prominent persons from Jain community and released a book "Vardhaman".

Activists of Mumbai Pradesh Youth Congress and Nationalist Youth Congress Party greeted Vajpayee with black flags during his day-long visit to the metropolis demanding resignation of his Government in the wake of tehelka expose.

Referring to the black flags, Vajpayee told the gathering at the birth anniversary celeberations of Mahavir: "I have forgiven those who stood on the way with flags of different colours in consonance with Mahavir’s teachings on plurality."

On his arrival, Vajpayee was received at the airport by Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

Vajpayee also emphasised that non-violence as preached by Mahavir centuries ago did not spring from any ‘weakness’ or ‘cowardice’.

The same concept was professed by Mahatma Gandhi in modern times, Vajpayee said adding ‘when Jammu and Kashmir was attacked after independence, Gandhiji said that India should send troop to Kashmir to protect the principle of Ahimsa’.

Vajpayee said, ‘if we remain passive and forgive those who keep subjecting us to injustice and atrocities, then the act of forgiving becomes meaningless’.

The concept of multipolar world, which is hailed today has its roots in the teachings of Mahavir, who propounded ‘Anekatavat’ (plurality), he said.

Elaborating on Mahavir’s message, Vajpayee said Bhagwan Mahavir professed "Asi" (sword), "Masi" (ink) and "Krishi" (agriculture) and condemned ritualism.

Mahavir also professed women’s rights to seek liberation over 2000 years ago, Vajpayee said adding "what he tried to synthesise was the blend of science and spirituality which is relevant to all the ages".

Asking people to practice "Daya", "Kshama" and "Shanti", he appealed to Jain community to continue their liberal assistance to earthquake affected people of Gujarat.

Calling upon Mumbaikars to help the quake-hit people, he said, "we regard Mumbai as the second capital of India and I am sure that it will not forget Gujarat in its hour of grief."

The Prime Minister later gave away "Jain Ratna" awards to 26 prominent persons from Jain community, inaugurated "Jain Confederation document" and released a book titled "Vardhaman".

Speaking on the occasion, Maharashtra Governor Dr P C Alexander Saity was held in high esteem by the entire country as it stood for "moral regeneration".

"Mahavir addressed the whole of humanity and taught them to fight against attachment and hatred while preaching positive attitude of love and compassion," Alexander said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said the state would extend all assistance to the projects by the Jain community as part of year-long celebration of Mahavir Jayanti.

The State has made provision of Rs 25 lakh for "Mahavir Chair" to spread his teachings, Deshmukh said.

C J Shah, chairman of Mahavir Seva Samiti, announced a donation of Rs 50 lakh to Mumbai University for establishment of a chair for the study of Jainism. (PTI)

Second phase of budget session likely to be stormy

NEW DELHI, Apr 8: The second phase of budget session of Parliament beginning on April 16 could be a stormy affair with the Congress planning its strategy on how to rake up the issue to press for the resignation of the NDA Government on the Tehelka expose.

Party president Sonia Gandhi would convene a meeting of senior leaders including CPP office bearers in the next few days to chalk out its strategy on the issue in Parliament taking into account the feedback from across the country of the party’s campaign on the portal expose, AICC general secretary Ambika Soni told PTI.

Claiming overwhelming response to the party’s agitation against the Government, she said the anti-Tehelka campaign by the BJP has turned out to be a damp squib with several NDA partners like Shiv Sena, Janata Dal (U) and TDP distancing themselves from it.

"The BJP has been humiliated, exhausted and exposed and is being compelled to cancel all its national level programmes", she said, adding that even the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had "gone back on his words" about his reported statement that the Assembly elections in five states was a referendum on Tehelka issue.

Soni said it was not for the first time that Vajpayee had retracted his statement. "Earlier too there have been instances that Prime Minister said something and retracted it within 24 hours".

Vajpayee, she said, has gone back on his words because he realised that BJP would not have a foot in the five states going to the polls.

She was also critical of BJP’s decision to exclude its elected representatives in Parliament and State Assemblies out of its proposed code of ethics. "This showed that it is a party with a difference," he said.

On the other hand, she said the code of ethics evolved by ethics committee of Congress headed by senior leader A K Antony had covered all partymen including party MPs and MLAs.

Besides, the code makes it mandatory on all aspirants of party tickets to file affidavit declaring that there were no criminal cases against them. (PTI)

Top militant Nissar, SPO among 4 killed in Doda

Excelsior Correspondent

DODA, Apr 8: Three militants including a ‘tehsil commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen Manzoor Ahmed alias Nissar and his body-guard were gunned down by police in two separate encounters across the district today. A Special Police Officer (SPO) Bodh Raj was also killed in one of the encounter.

Nissar was one of the few longest surviving militants in Doda district. He was active in militancy for the last eight years and was involved in a series of militant activities.

Official sources said a patrol party of Special Task Force (STF) Doda was targeted by a militants’ group led by Manzoor Ahmed at Chinchora Fuklan Dhar in Chinta area of Bhaderwah at 1500 hours today. The STF team had gone to the village on the basis of a specific information that Nissar had sneaked in Chinta area to kill civilians.

In the exchange of firing, STF jawans eliminated Manzoor Ahmed and his unidentified body-guard, suspected to be a foreign mercenary. An ex-serviceman, Bodh Raj, working with police as SPO was also killed in the gun-battle.

Troops of 4 Rashtriya Rifles also rushed to the spot after getting a report of the encounter and cordoned off the entire Chinta area. They started a search operation to liquidate the associates of Nissar, who managed to escape from the scene of encounter.

A massive search and cordon operation was going on in the area when the reports last came in.

SSP Doda Ashkoor Wani, when contacted, confirmed the killing of Nissar, a resident of Thalela, Doda in the encounter. He said Nissar was operating in Doda for the last eight years and was involved in dozens of civilians killings. He was also instrumental in the burning down of Roshar Dar temple about five months back in Doda.

One AK rifle, one pistol, a wireless set, eight grenades and 100 ammunition rounds were recovered from the possession of Nissar and his body-guards. Nissar’s killing was a big setback to Hizbul Mujahideen and a morale booster for STF and Doda Police.

Nissar had recently been elevated by Hizbul Mujahideen leadership as ‘tehsil commander’ of the outfit for Bhaderwah. Earlier, he had been operating as an ‘area commander’ of the outfit.

Meanwhile, another encounter took place between STF Doda and militants along Jang nullah in Gandoh tehsil of Doda district this evening. The encounter was also joined by army personnel of 5 Sikh Li.

Till the reports last came in, one top militant, Tarkeen Ahmed, a resident of Gandoh had been killed in the gun-fight. No casualty was reported on police side.

Another militant was injured in the encounter but he managed to escape from the encounter site. Army and police were hunting the absconding militant.

One AK-47 rifle with ammunition was recovered from the possession of slain militant.

Two jawans killed, JCO injured near Surankote

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Apr 8: Two army jawans were killed and a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was injured when the militants ambushed an army patrol party at village Mehrot in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district early this morning.

Official sources said the militants opened firing on army personnel from atop a hill in Mehrot area at 0800 hours today. Army jawans were returning to their camp after night long patrolling in the villages when they were attacked with heavy fire arms and grenade launchers by a big group of the militants.

Army soldiers also took positions and retaliated. An exchange of firing started between the two sides and continued for about two hours.

According to sources, the militants had advantage of positions atop the hills. As a result of this, two army jawans were killed and an officer was seriously injured. Militants, however, managed to escape without sustaining any casualty.

Deceased army officers have been identified as Lance Naik Laxman Rai and Lance Naik Jasbir Singh. The injured JCO Naib Subedar Jarnail Singh has been evacuated from the firing site and admitted to an army hospital in serious condition. Bodies of two jawans were sent to their native towns this evening.

Re-enforcement of army and police rushed to Mehrot after getting a report of the gun-battle and launched a massive hunt to trace the militants involved in the encounter. Searches were going on in Mehrot and adjoining villages besides forest areas for the militants, who numbered between six to eight with majority of them being foreign mercenaries of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit.

6 injured in Kalakote Arms haul in Rajouri

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Apr 8: A number of families today migrated from two villages of Kalakote tehsil alleging harassment by security forces while army recovered a big consignment of weaponry and Rs one lakh cash from Thanna Mandi.

Reports said six people were injured in security forces action at Daggar Lal and Manma villages of Kalakote. They have been identified as Rafiq Ahmed, Mohd Hussain, Bagh Hussain, Abdul Hamid, Rishi Begum and Abdullah.

Following injuries, a number of people from these two villages deserted their houses and took shelter in the tehsil office demanding action against the accused and security arrangements for them. Local authorities were negotiating with the people to send them back to their houses.

Meanwhile, security forces recovered a large consignment of arms at Loharkam village in Thanna Mandi area early today. Besides arms and ammunition, Rs one lakh cash was also recovered from another hideouts at Tota Gali near Jharan Wali Gali (JWG) in Poonch district.

Recovery made from Loharkam included three 82 mm mortar bombs, 19 nose fuses of motors, 12 anti tank rifle grenades, five smoke grenades, 21 Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGL) grenades, 30 hand grenades, 28 IEDs, 31 detonators, 17 timer switches, one AK-47 rifles with two magazines and 400 rounds, 150 Pika ammunition, eight remote control devices, two I Com radio sets and one 400 mm RL sight.

The seizure belonged to Lashkar militants, whose hideout was smashed by army on a tip off given by local people. No arrest has so far been made in this connection.

Sources said the militants had been using the hideout for dumping arms and ammunition for quite a long time. Local people, however, came to know about the hideout only few days back and immediately sounded army personnel.

SPECIAL REPORT
Focus on troubled northeastern region
Delhi has been forced to hold peace talks

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Apr 8: The Government of India has, at last, been forced to agree to hold peace talks with all the major underground outfits in the northeastern States and extend its cease-fire agreement with the outlawed National Socialist Council of Nagaland to the entire region.

The development took place after the cessation of wrong signals from New Delhi following the Tehelka expose. In fact, pre-Tehelka phase was marked by divergent views from the Union Home Ministry and the then Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, on how to handle the situation in the northeastern States.

Observers attach importance to the Centre’s fresh move vis-à-vis the northeastern States, which followed a meeting the Chief Ministers of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh had with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, after Mr Fernandes’ exit from the Union Cabinet.

The Union Home Minister, Mr LK Advani, after having been pressed by the three Chief Ministers, visited Nagaland recently and met Government representatives and leaders of groups other than the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah). This was followed by Mr Advani’s statement that militant outfits in the northeast "have responded positively to the suspension of operations against them and the call for dialogue".

The Centre had held informal talks with underground outfits such as the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Khaplang) and the Federal party of Nagaland (FPN) in order to tet them involved in the cease-fire. The NSCN (I-M) and the Centre have honoured the cease-fire in Nagaland, which they signed in 1997. Since then the cease-fire was extended a number of times.

At a time when Mr LK Advani stated that the Government would be in a position to announce some approach vis-à-vis holding of talks with major militant groups other than the NSCN (I-M), New Delhi had sought help from the Governments of Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar to contain militant activities. The Khaplang faction of the NSCN, which has been operating from Myanmar, is reported to be keen to join in the truce.

Reports furnished to Mr Advani point out that the Khaplang faction is for a change as it has been in trouble ever since the Myanmar authorities launch an operation against it. May of its camps, reports said, had been raided by the Myanmarese forces.

In their interaction with Mr Advani, the chief Ministers of Assam, manipur and Arunachal Pradesh were said to have explained that limiting the truce to the two NSCN factions would in the long run be detrimental to their States’ interests since they had large Naga populations. The NSCN factions have demanded that the truce be extended to all Naga-dominated areas in the region.

On the other hand, the Chief Ministers of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have argued, during their meetings with Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani, that if the Centre conceded the demand, it would mean accepting the Naga militants’ demand for a "Greater Nagaland". These three States have advanced a specific proposal: Centre should hold a dialogue with all underground organisations in the region, including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), which is among the most potent ones.

However, sources in the Home Ministry told EXCELSIOR that holding a dialogue with all militant outfits could become problematic because the fixing of common ground rules might not be acceptable to all of them. According to these sources, unlike Kashmir, where mainly foreign militant outfits are active, the situation in the northeastern region is more complex. The militant organisations in the region are local ones and each has its own separate demand.

All preparations made for sending SGPC Jatha to Pak

AMRITSAR, Apr 8: All preparations have been made for sending a Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Commitee (SGPC) sponsored ‘Jatha’ of Sikh pilgrims to celebrate ‘Baisakhi’ (April 13) at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak, in Pakistan SGPC officials said here today.

The approximately 3000-strong ‘Jatha’ would leave by three special trains of the Indian Railways from here tomorrow morning. After customs and immigration clearance at the border station of Attari the Jatha would proceed to Wagah, the first railway station across the border.

As per the programme chalked out by the SGPC, the Jatha would go straight to Gurdwara Sacha Sauda and after paying obeisance there would proceed to Gurdwara Panja Sahib. The Jatha would come back to Nanakana Sahib on April 11 and after celebrating Baisakhi, the pilgrims would pay obeisance at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore before returning to India through the rail route on April 19.

The SGPC had stopped sending Jathas to Pakistan in November 1999, when the then SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur objected to the formation of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) to manage the affairs of the Sikh shrines in Pakistan. However, when Mr.Jagdev Singh Talwandi took over in November last year one of the first decisions he took was to reverse the Bibi’s decision on the plea that it was unjust to deprive hundreds of Sikhs from paying obeisance at holy shrines across the border.

According to the SGPC, the Jatha leader would be SGPC member Shingara Singh Lohara and the Deputy leader would be Kirpal Singh Kheerna. The SGPC secretary, Dr.Gurbachan Singh Bachan would also accompany the Jatha.

SGPC members did not rule out the possibility of holding talks with the PSGPC office bearers to sort out the issue regarding the management of Sikh shrines, during the stay of the Jatha in Pakistan. Pilgrims bound for Pakistan tomorrow have already started reaching the SGPC offices here in the Golden Temple complex.

The SGPC would be serving langar for the pilgrims at the Attari railway station, where a great deal of time is consumed due to customs and immigration clearance. As per the railways schedule only after passengers of the first train are cleared at Attari would the second train leave from here and likewise after the clearance of the second train the third would proceed from here. (UNI)

No need of Pak interference in J&K: Farooq

AJMER, Apr 8: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today said that Pakistan’s interference in Kashmir was not required as peace restoration there was an internal issue of the country.

Mr Farooq, who has come here to do Ziarat at the Dargah of Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti, while talking to the reporters, said that in order to maintain peace in his State, the Government, Hurriyat and other organisations active in the Valley could collectively find out a "permanent solution."

He pointed out that Mr K C Pant, deputed by the Centre for holding peace talks, was initiating the process, by meeting all the concerned in the State, from the point where the then Congress Government had left it unfinished.

This would not be objectionable to the opposition parties particularly to the Congress, the Chief Minister maintained.

The Hurriyat and other militant organisations have been unconditionally invited for talks by Mr Pant, he said and added that a positive outcome was expected therefrom.

The Chief Minister felt that Hurriyat itself should come forward to extend cooperation to the Government in restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir. (UNI)

KPs term talks offer as vague

NEW DELHI, Apr 8: Kashmiri Pandits today dubbed as "vague" the Centre’s announcement to hold talks with Kashmiri groups while the State Congress asserted it would have nothing to do with the dialogue if it was concentrated on Hurriyat Conference.

Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Forum, another Kashmiri group, said the Centre’s decision to hold talks came too late.

"We welcome the Government’s announcement to hold talks and nomination of K C Pant for the purpose. But if the proposed talks are to concentrate on Hurriyat Conference, then we are out of it," J and K Pradesh Congress president Mohammad Shafi Qureshi told PTI here.

Asserting Hurriyat was not the true voice of the people of the State and was "non-existent" in most parts of the State, Qureshi said the conglomerate of 23 separatist organisations had contradictry views on various issues.

"Hurriyat does not have any support in most of the state particularly in Ladakh and Jammu," he said, advocating involvement of all mainstream political parties in talks.

Panun Kashmir, an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits, said the Centre’s announcement was "vague as it does not mention whether the minority community will be involved in the talks".

Stating Kashmiri Pandits were an essential party, Panun Kashmir spokesman Ramesh Manvati asserted "without our involvement, any talks will be meaningless and fruitless".

"Ours is an ethnic community whose roots can be traced as far back as 5000 years. We are also the main sufferers, making us an essential party while deciding the future of Kashmir," he said.

Manvati stressed that geo-political reorganisation of the State was the only feasible solution to Kashmir problem.

Kashmiri Pandit United Forum president B L Khachroo said the Centre’s announcement stressed more on Hurriyat Conference and militant organisations and did not name which other organisation it wanted to hold talks with.

"It took the Government more than four months after declaring ceasefire to announce talks," JKDF president Bhushan Bazaz said, terming the decision as "too late".

"The offer would have been more valid and carried both moral and political weight had it come along with the announcement of unilateral ceasefire in November last," Bazaz said.

Complaining that the BJP-led NDA Government did not bother to take other parties into confidence, Qureshi alleged the Centre’s policy on Jammu and Kashmir was "Kashmir valley centric" giving the impression that other parts of the State did not exist. (PTI)

Lily asked to explain ‘compassionate
grounds’ for allotment

MUMBAI, Apr 8: The Government has written to Lily George, wife of Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s Personal Secretary Vincent George, against whom the CBI has filed a case for allegedly owning assets disproportionate to her income, to explain "the compassionate grounds" under which she applied for allotment of a petrol pump.

"Given the fact that during that time, George was attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, it is hard to believe that the couple was in bad position economically," Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Ram Naik told reporters here last night.

Naik said the Government would certainly like to find out if the "compassionate grounds" on which she was allotted the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd’s petrol pump in East Delhi in 1991, still existed even after ten years.

Stating that the file pertaining to the allotment was "missing", Naik said the Government would like to ascertain if the grounds are valid now on which the then Petroleum Minister (Satish Sharma) had allotted the pump.

Naik said Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had cleared the case for allotment of land to Lily George for setting up a petrol pump after drawing lots from all the pending cases.

"I became aware of this allotment only while pursuing allotment of land to Kargil war widows and for setting up gas stations for CNG in the national capital," Naik said.

Naik said after DDA informed the ministry about the clearance of Lily George’s case, he asked officials to give him the file on which sanction for the pump was given.

"Following which I was briefed that it (the file) was missing hence the entire process has been put on hold unless HPCL finds out the details relating to the allotment," he said.

Naik said he expected HPCL to submit its report within 15 days to ensure further course of action in this case. (PTI)

PM has a dig at Shiv Sena

MUMBAI, Apr 8: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today had an apparent dig at NDA ally Shiv Sena, whose reported reluctance to participate in the proposed NDA rally here on Tehelka expose led to its cancellation.

During the course of his speech at Shanmukhananda hall in central mumbai on the occasion of 2600th birth anniversary of Jain Teacher Vardhaman Mahavir, Vajpayee said he was happy to come to Mumbai "which is India’s second capital."

Without mentioning Shiv Sena’s opposition to the entry of outsiders into Mumbai, Vajpayee said "we want Mumbai to be free for everybody. But I don’t know what Mumbaiwale want." "Hum To Mumbai Sab Ke Liye Chahte Hai, Lekin Mumbaiwale Kya Chahte Hai Yeh Malum Nahi."

Notwithstanding the fallout of Tehelka expose, Vajpayee was at his humorous best when he addressed the gathering.

Referring to the slip on the part of the organisers to forget to extend an official invitation to Maharashtra Governor P C Alexander, Vajpayee said the Governnor has "forgiven" the organisers for their oversight, in keeping with the principles of Jainism.

"When Alexander told me about the episode at the airport and wished to be absent in the function I said that he should accept my apology on behalf of the organisers and attend the programme, to which he graciously agreed," Vajpayee said.

Referring to the black flag demonstration staged by youth Congress and Republican Party of India workers along the route from airport to the venue, Vajpayee said "I have forgiven those who stood on the way with flags of different colours in consonance with Mahavir’s teachings on plurality."

The Prime Minsiter’s remarks created peels of laughter in the audience.

To counter the demonstrators, the BJP workers had also lined up with saffron flags to greet the Prime Minister. (PTI)

Pak making no attempts to rein in militants

NEW DELHI, Apr 8: Pakistan has failed to rein in militant groups operating from its soil and made no attempts to retain the operational control of such outfits, media reports said here.

"Pakistan has not shown much resolve to control the groups fighting in Kashmir. The two levels at which it should have exercised control were to force such groups to keep a very low domestic profile and to retain their operational control," the Friday Times said in an article.

However, controlling these groups on the domestic front has proved difficult because they are not purely "military" entities and their (militant groups) political agenda has been the biggest problem, the article written by noted journalist Ejaz Haider said.

On India’s charge that Pakistan has been sponsoring terrorism in this country, the article said "however, there is no denying the fact that certain groups operate from the Pakistani soil."

Stating that Pakistani authorities had failed to distinguish between Kashmir and Afghanistan, the paper said Kargil and the irresponsible statements by various (militant) groups have served to deprive Pakistan of the element of plausible deniability.

On the functioning of these militant groups, the Friday Times said these groups had networked freely and "made inroads into the society....Not only have they been vocal on India, they have also created problems for Pakistan in its relations with the United States and the European Union." (PTI)

No move to get Zaffarwal surrendered

HOSHIARPUR, Apr 8: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said there was no move by the State Government to get KCF chief Wassan Singh Zaffarwal to surrender adding that any person willing to surrender of his own and join the national mainstream, would be welcomed.

Mr Badal said that neither he nor the State intelligence agencies had any knowledge about the reported visit of the dreaded militant to Punjab. "We did not have any information about Zaffarwal being in the State otherwise he would have been arrested," he added.

The Chief Minister replying to questions from the media at village Nangal Khurd, about 28 km from here, this morning, said the State Government had recently approached the Centre to revise the lists of "black listed Sikhs" who were living abroad and not coming to India due to their alleged links with terrorists’ outfits.

"The names of many innocent Sikhs who had no links with any terrorist outfit, had been included in black listed Sikhs on false complaints. However, after the State Government’s intervention the Centre had deleted some of the names from the list," the CM said. (UNI)

Scotland Yard hunt for Laden

LONDON, Apr 8: Britain’s Scotland Yard is engaged in efforts to nab three Tunisians in connection with a London-based terrorist cell reportedly working for international terrorist Osama bin Laden.

The hunt started after evidence of British links in raids against Laden’s organisation in Italy was uncovered, news reports said here today.

The three Tunisians illegally slipped into Britain after undergoing training in explosives in Afghanistan at a camp run by Laden, The Sunday Times newspaper said.

The Milan cell was closely linked to other bases in London, Germany and France, and gave details of secretly recorded telephonic conversations between its members.

Among those who took the calls was Omar Mahmood Abu Omar, an Islamic cleric who has twice been convicted for his role in terrorist acts in London and is described as Laden’s Ambassador to Europe, the report said.

Omar was detained by British Police in February but was released on bail. Also known as Abu Qatada, he has been living in Britain as a political refugee since 1993 and runs an Islamic Library in Willesden, Northwest London.

Britain has turned down Jordan’s requests for his extradition, the report said quoting Jordanian officials.

In video and audio tapes of the Italian-based terrorists, they discuss the situation in London, the report said. (PTI)

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