If necessary, India will tackle cross-border terror on its own

LONDON, Nov 26: India has asserted that its restraint against cross-border terrorism should not be seen as a sign of weakness and if necessary, it will tackle the scourge on its own.

"We have for a long time exercised restraint but it should not be construed as a sign of weakness," India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ronen Sen said here last night.

"We are not going to wait indefinitely, and if necessary, if we see there is no other option, we will tackle the situation on our own," said Sen after delivering a lecture on `India’s foreign policy’ in the Ambassador’s Hour series at the London School of Economics.

We sincerely hope this is an issue which should be tackled through international cooperation, he added.

Referring to the spate of terror attacks in temples, Sen said terrorists aim to undermine the territorial integrity of India, target its democracy and create communal discord, "as is evident from the pattern of attacks on places of worship in Ahmedabad and elsewhere, and most recently, in Jammu."

He, however, made it clear that India was not preparing for war with Pakistan. "We are not preparing for war. But we can face any and we are prepared to defend ourselves."

He admitted there was a sense of frustration among people that India has not taken decisive action despite the 60,000 people dying in Jammu and Kashmir in the "proxy war" which is still continuing to bleed the country.

Asked why India did not wage war, he said India acted with responsibility and restraint because of promises made. "We always hope...That at some point of time and hopefully in the near future, the promises will be kept."

Sen said India wants to see "a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pakistan" and is prepared to settle all outstanding differences with it including on Jammu and Kashmir, through a process of composite bilateral dialogue.

"However, we are not prepared to accept Pakistan’s continued use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy."

"Those who look for the `root causes’ of terrorism should not shy away from recognising that the sponsorship of terrorists, or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, is more often than not carried out in totalitarian regimes or countries where the army is in effective control," he said.

"We are convinced that UN Security Council resolution 1373 and related resolutions should be enforced by all States, without exception."

Sen said he found it very difficult to explain how one can "with a straight face tolerate the equation of a dictator with a democrat, a victim with a sponsor of terrorism".

"We should recognise that the September 11 atrocities in New York and Washington, the December 13 attack on the Indian Parliament, the October 12 attack in Bali and the attack later that month in a Moscow theatre were all manifestations of international terrorism. It can be tackled effectively only in a comprehensive manner, on a global basis," he said.

Terming India’s commitment to democracy and rule of law as major pillars in its foreign policy, Sen said in the few months he had been in London, he had come across "a number of misconceptions about India’s approach in tackling terrorism." Turning to other foreign policy issues, Sen said India fully supported the peace process in Sri Lanka, and hoped that the legitimate aspirations of all communities will be met within the framework of the unity and integrity of that country.

"We are concerned about developments in Nepal, and are extending all possible assistance to the Himalayan kingdom in overcoming the challenges it confronts," he said.

Sen said India has resumed its traditional ties with Afghanistan and it was participating actively in the reconstruction of that war-ravaged country, assisting the transitional administration in Kabul. (PTI)

Nepali Congress tells king to restore democracy

KATHMANDU, Nov 26: In the first formal opposition to the Royal sacking of the democratically elected Government in Nepal, the Nepali Congress today held a massive rally here and called upon the king to return power to the people.

Led by former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, top leaders of Nepali Congress challenged the October 4 sacking of the Sher Bahadur Deuba Government by king Gyanendra and called for a broader political alliance to resolve the present political problem.

Terming the sacking of Government as "unconstitutional", Koirala asked the king to follow the path of democracy chosen by his predecessor the slain king Birendra.

"King Birendra had handed sovereign power to the people, whereas the present king has assumed himself all the executive powers," Koirala said at the rally seen as the largest public gathering in Kathmandu since the imposition of emergency last year.

Koirala also gave a clarion call to the youth to launch a struggle for democracy at the rally held amidst heavy deployment of forces and fears that he would arrested for attacking the king.

Nepali Congress CWC member Krishna Prasad Sitaula said at the rally the king’s proclamation on October 4 has put a question mark on the fundamental principle of the constitution that the sovereign power lies with the people.

NC spokesman Arjun Narsingh K C said the king’s step has taken back the people’s sovereign power established through the 1990 people’s movement.

Criticizing the formation of the caretaker Government headed by Lokendra Bahadur Chand, he said the team of "technicians" cannot solve the political problems plaguing the country.

Koirala also said the crisis in the Himalayan nation cannot be solved without resolving the Maoist issue and the party was ready to make necessary changes in the constitution to bring the rebels back into mainstream.

"The present crisis cannot be solved without resolving the Maoist problem," he said adding that his party was ready to support any change in the constitution to bring the Maoists in the mainstream.

He, however, said that there could not be any compromise on multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy, the fundamental principles of the constitution.

"The Maoist problem can only be solved within the Parliament, so there is no option to the revival of the Parliament dissolved in May," he said calling for a broader democratic alliance with all the political parties that believe in parliamentary democracy for resolving the present political problem.

Koirala also rejected the Maoists’s demand to hold election to a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution warning that it could be a "setback" to the present democratization process.(PTI)

Pak awaits Vajpayee’s participation at SAARC

ISLAMABAD, Nov 26: Maintaining that participation by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in SAARC summit here in January could pave the way for reducing tensions between the two countries, Pakistan today said it would take all steps necessary to improve ties with India.

"The Indian Prime Minister’s participation in the summit is the only way to lessen the existing tension and confusion between the two countries," Foreign Minister Kurshid Mahmud Kasuri said in an interview to BBC here.

"We want to establish peace in the region and want to improve our relations with India. But it is hard to achieve the objectives unilaterally", he said.

Expressing the hope that Vajpayee would attend the summit, proposed to be held from January 11 - 13, Kasuri said "we feel that the strengthening of SAARC is in the interests of the entire region."

Talking to reporters after taking charge today, he said "Pakistan will take all steps that are necessary to improve its relations with India and other neighbouring countries."

He pointed out that solution to the Kashmir issue would ensure lasting peace in the region. "We feel the future prosperity of 1.3 billion people of the sub-continent depends on Indo-Pak relations," he said hoping that the his Indian counterpart would "respond to my sentiments."

"Pakistan would like to ensure stability and peace both within and on its borders," he said maintaining that it would be in the economic interests of the two nations and its people to improve bilateral ties.

Kasuri however rejected Indian allegations of Islamabad sponsoring terrorism in India stating that "it does not suit Pakistan to have instability across its borders."

Accusing India of being in the "habit" of hurling allegations at Pakistan, he reiterated Islamabad’s suggestion to have international monitors to verify the allegations.

"If the Indian Government is convinced that Pakistan is behind the terrorist attacks then it should accept the suggestion by Pakistan for deployment of neutral observers," he said.

Condemning the recent attack on temples in Jammu, Kasuri said, "no religion allows killing of innocent people. The Government of Pakistan condemns the attack in strongest term." (PTI)

Bush signs terrorism insurance law

WASHINGTON, Nov 26: President George W Bush signed a law today to provide federal Government insurance to cover losses from any future terrorism attacks, a measure aimed at helping the fragile US economy.

The administration estimates that the new Terrorist Risk Insurance Act of 2002 will spark 15 billion dollars worth of construction projects that have been stalled for lack of insurance coverage and create 300,000 jobs.

"Today we’re taking action to strengthen America’s economy, to build confidence with America’s investors and to create jobs for America’s workers," Bush said after signing the law.

"Should terror strike America again, we have a system in place to address financial losses and get our economy back on its feet as quickly as possible."

The law, voted by Congress last week, allows for federal funds to cover up to 90 per cent of the cost of terrorist attacks that are not covered by insurance companies.

Last year’s September 11 attacks in New York and Washington caused huge losses for insurance companies, officially estimated at between 36 billion dollars and 54 billion dollars.

Insurers have since heavily increased anti-terrorism premiums and in many cases refused cover. This has frozen many major construction projects.

The new law is not retroactive and so does not cover the destruction of New York’s World Trade Center towers in the September 11 attacks which killed almost 3,000 people. (AFP)

UN to "freeze" suspect sites picked for inspection

BAGHDAD, Nov 26: UN experts will "freeze" sites they choose to inspect in Iraq to prevent their disarmament missions being disturbed, a UN team leader said here today.

"When we arrive at a site, the first thing that we do is the freezing of movement," Demetrios Perricos told a press conference at the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

"We do not want cars and people to go out of this site carrying things. We do not want cars entering this site bringing things. We want to see the status of the site as it is, and this is what we call freezing of that particular site," the Greek national said.

Perricos said inspectors will be informed ahead of time through satellite images of the number of entries and exits of each site due to be inspected and would thus bring in the required number of vehicles to block access to it.

"We will also use helicopters which are due to arrive in mid-December and we will use them to overfly the site and control the permimetre," he said.

Perricos heads an 11-strong UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) team which resumes inspections on Wednesday along with six experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Under UN Security Council resolution 1441 adopted November 8, the teams have unprecedented powers to search Iraqi sites and question local scientists about President Saddam Hussein’s arms programmes.

Iraq has strongly denied having any weapons of mass destruction and says the inspectors will find nothing incriminating. (APF)

Nigerian state says Miss World reporter should die

KADUNA, NIGERIA, Nov 26: A Nigerian Muslim state said today it had issued a "Fatwa" urging a death sentence for the author of a newspaper story on the Miss World pageant that sparked deadly riots in Northern Nigeria.

More than 200 people died in the violence in the northern city of Kaduna.

Muslims were enraged by the November 16 article which suggested the Prophet Mohammad would probably have married one of the contestants in the pageant, which has been relocated from Nigeria to London because of the bloodshed.

"What we are saying is that the Holy Koran has clearly stated that whoever insults the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad, should be killed," Zamfara State Commissioner for Information Umar Dangaladima Magaji told Reuters.

Asked to clarify the Government’s pronouncement, Magaji said the state had "passed a Fatwa".

"It’s a Fatwa. It is based on the request of the people," he said, adding that this did not contradict the authority of Islamic clerics who have the powers to decree death sentences.

"Being a leader you can pass a Fatwa," Magaji said.

Magaji said a number of Islamic associations in the state had asked the Government to take action. The Government had decided a fatwa was appropriate and could defuse anger that might otherwise lead to further bloodshed.

The Kaduna-based new Nigerian newspaper said the "Fatwa" was issued by Zamfara’s Deputy Governor Mamuda Aliyu Dallatun Shinkafi, who compared Daniel with British author Salman Rushdie, sentenced to death by Iranian Muslim clerics.

"Like Salman Rushdie, the blood of the Thisday writer can be shed," the paper quoted its reporter, who attended rally at which the Shinkafi made the pronouncement, as saying. (AGENCIES)

UN rejects Israeli report about shooting of
aid worker in Jenin

GENEVA, Nov 26: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) today rejected an Israeli Army’s report about the circumstances under which UN aid worker Iain Hook was killed by Israeli soldiers in the Jenin refugee camp last Friday.

Mr Hook had been shot in the back by an Israeli soldiers, said UNRWA spokesman Rene Aquarone, who also refuted other crucial aspects of Israel’s version of the incident.

Contrary to Israel’s claims, there had been no exchange of gunfire between soldiers and militant Palestinians near the UN’s site, he said.

No Palestinians had been hiding in the UN complex nor had shots been fired from the site as claimed by the army, he said. The only thing that 53-year-old Hook had been carrying was his mobile phone, he said.

Mr Aquarone also reiterated previous complaints that Israeli soldiers blocked an ambulance which had been called to the site.

In a preliminary report, the Israeli Army Saturday said that their soldiers had been under gunfire from the UN site. Two soldiers had then identified a man holding an object resembling a gun.

The soldiers had opened fire and injured the man, the report claimed, adding that subsequently the immediate evacuation of the injured man had been prepared.

The Army had earlier rejected claims that the UN worker had been hit by Israeli gunfire. (DPA)

French police detain eight in ‘shoe bomber’ inquiry

PARIS, Nov 26: French Police were today holding eight people, including six Pakistanis, in connection with the attempt by Briton Richard Reid to blow up a transatlantic flight with explosives in his shoes, a source close to the inquiry said.

The detentions followed dawn raids by anti-terrorist police on targets in the Paris area, including a mosque, a prayer-hall and a restaurant frequented mainly by Pakistanis in the capital’s high-immigration 1oth arrondissement, or district.

The Imam of the ali mosque was among those being held, the source said, adding that the operation was aimed at "wrapping up the investigation into Richard Reid’s entourage".

Under French anti-terrorist laws, the suspects - six of whom are Pakistanis - can be held for four days before seeing a judge, and it was unclear if the police held evidence against the men or wished to interrogate them to verify other leads.

Police also found a large sum of money, Islamist literature and counterfeit documents in their raids, they said.

Reid, 29, pleaded guilty in October in a US court to trying to blow up a Paris-to-Miami American Airlines flight on December 22, 2001, declaring himself a disciple of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and an enemy of the United States. He will be sentenced in January by a US court. (AFP)

War can be avoided in Iraq, says Annan

PARIS, Nov 26: War with Iraq can be avoided if Saddam Hussein cooperates with UN Weapons Inspectors, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today said on the eve of the first inspections in four years.

But his experts on the ground warned that Baghdad would have to offer strong proof to back its claim that it had no nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.

"(War) is avoidable if President Saddam Hussein honours his commitments made at the United Nations and cooperates fully with the inspectors," Annan told the French newspaper Le Monde.

In Baghdad, UN experts from Australia, Britain, Egypt, Finland, France, Greece, Russia and the United States prepared for first checks on suspected arms sites in nearly four years.

The first 11 inspectors from the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and six from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) went straight into working meetings at their Baghdad headquarters.

A UN team leader said in Baghdad his experts would "freeze" sites they chose to inspect to prevent their mission being disturbed.

Kofi Annan said in his interview: "If Iraq does what it has to, the arguments in favour of war will be considerably weakened. But should Saddam Hussein defy the inspectors and the UN, then the (Security) Council will assume its responsibilities."

He urged the United States not to be over-hasty in its determination to go to war, warning this could split a now-United Security Council. (AFP)

Bhutto calls party rebels ‘liars’ for claiming her support

LAHORE, Nov 26: Pakistani ex-premier Benazir Bhutto has rejected as "absolute lies" claims by rebel lawmakers from her party that they voted for a rival candidate as Prime Minister with her consent.

Ten Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) legislators defied the party and crossed the floor last week to vote in favour of Zafarullah Jamali from the army-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), rejecting the PPP candidate.

They have since claimed that Bhutto gave them the go-ahead to join the PML-Q-led Government. The dissenters have not quit the party and have stated that they still consider Bhutto their leader.

"No one has my confidence, they are all speaking lies," Bhutto said in a telephone address to PPP officials in the eastern city of Lahore late yesterday.

Bhutto warned the rebels could be expelled from the PPP. They were served show-cause notices last week ordering them to explain their moves to Bhutto.

Jamali’s election as Prime Minister would have been impossible without the PPP rebels, whose 10 votes nudged him over the minimum 165-vote mark he required. He ended up with 172 votes in Thursday’s open ballot on the floor of the house.

Jamali rewarded leaders of the group with the powerful portfolios of defence and interior affairs.

Bhutto told last night’s meeting she told the party MPs that the rebels "betrayed the party and deceieved its leadership."

"They shall be acted against in accordance with the relevant laws and the party constitution," she added. (AFP)

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