SC rejects PM Gilani's contempt appeal, to indict Monday

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has rejected the Intra Court Appeal (ICA) filed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani against the verdict of a smaller bench for framing charges of contempt of court against him.

"The appeal is dismissed," Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Chaudhry said in court, reading the decision of the eight-member bench.

PM Gilani will now have to appear before the SC on February 13 (Monday) for contempt proceedings.

The CJ on Friday again said he wanted a clear answer on whether the prime minister would write the letter, telling his lawyer: "We are ready to give you 10 minutes to talk to the prime minister on the phone and let us know."

"I have no mandate to do that," replied Gilani's lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, he confirmed that the prime minister would now appear in court on Monday.

"No one wants unrest. We are exercising restraint," the CJ observed.

"Tell the prime minister this is not in the interests of the country (to defy the court order)," he told Ahsan.

PM Gilani's counsel, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan concluded his arguments today after an extended hearing in the SC before a larger bench. As soon as Aitzaz concluded his arguments, the SC started dictating the order.

An eight-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heard the appeal. Other members of the larger bench included Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Tariq Parvez, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Amir Hani Muslim.

In the ICA moved under Section 19 (1) (iii) of the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 in criminal original No. 06/2012, the counsel pleaded the Court to recall order of its seven-member bench and suspend proceedings for framing of charges on February 13 for the larger interest of justice.

Rabi-ul-Awal

Rabi-ul-Awal (ربيع الأوّل) is the third month in the Islamic calendar. During this month, Muslims around the world celebrate Mawlid - the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Sunni Muslims believe the exact date of birth of Muhammad  (PBUH) to have been on the twelfth of this month, whereas Shi'a Muslims believe him to have been born on the dawn of the seventeenth day. The name Rabi-ul-Awal means the first [month] or beginning of spring, referring to its position in the pre-Islamic Arabian calendar.


Although historians and scholars disagree on the exact date of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) date of birth, it is commonly celebrated on 12th or 17th of Rabi-ul-Awal. The celebration of the Mawlid is done differently depending on the country. In some areas celebrations begin as early as the first of the month and can continue till the end of the month. Muslims generally put coloured lights on roads streets and their homes and put green flags as well to celebrate. In many countries a procession is also conducted on 12th or 17th of Rabi-ul-Awal night and day. On these occasions sweets and drinks are also distributed widely from home to home and to the general public. In some areas Muslims also exchange gifts.

Imran holds Punjab government responsible of drug deaths

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has held the Punjab government responsible for deaths caused by spurious drugs, Geo News reported.

Talking to media here, Imran said the deaths occurred owing to incompetence of Punjab government.

Khan further said PPP and PML-N are scared of the PTI tsunami because they don't want any third power to make them accountable. 

Four killed in Peshawar explosion

PESHAWAR: At least four people were killed as a result of an explosion in the Ring Road area of Peshawar. 

The explosion took place at the office of a property dealer.

Speaking to the media provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar said that terrorism had a new face and attacks were taking place over tribal differences.

WTO approves EU duty waiver for Pakistan

GENEVA: The World Trade Organization has approved a European Union waiver on duties for 75 products from Pakistan, a scheme intended to boost textile exports to help Pakistan recover from massive floods in 2010, a diplomat who was present at a meeting of the WTO's council for trade in goods said on Wednesday.



Other textile exporters, such as Brazil, India, Indonesia and Bangladesh, had opposed the plan but dropped their objections after the EU amended the scheme to use tariff rate quotas on 20 products rather than full liberalisation.


The waiver will apply from Jan 1, 2012, until Dec 31, 2013, but first needs to be rubber-stamped by the WTO's General Council. (Reuters) 

Petrol price fueled by Rs5.37 per litre

ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has revised upwards the prices of all POL products which has made petrol expensive by a staggering Rs5.37 per litre to Rs94.91, Geo News reported Tuesday.

According to OGRA notification to this effect, the revised prices will become applicable from February 1 (Tuesday midnight).

The price of Diesel has been hiked by Rs4.46 per litre to Rs103.46 while the rate of Light Diesel jacked up by Rs3.43 a litre to Rs90.21.

The new price of HOBC has been fixed at Rs118.20 per litre with an increase of Rs6.29 and Kerosene oil at Rs90.02 a litre, up by Rs2.76.

This is a second time in one month that OGR has raised the prices of petroleum products.

10 security officials, 40 militants killed during clashes in Kurrum agency

PESHAWAR: Ten security officials and forty militants were killed during clashes in the Kurrum agency.

According to official sources, thirty two security officials were also injured during the clashes which continue in the Kurrum agency.

AFP adds: Helicopter gunships were mobilised when the fighting broke out in the same Jogi area as clashes that killed six soldiers on January 25 in the district of Kurram, part of Pakistan's lawless tribal belt along the Afghan border.

At the time, security forces claimed to have taken control of Jogi, which is strategically located near Orakzai district.

A senior military official told AFP that "more than 300 Taliban attacked" the checkpost at around midnight in central Kurram, which is on the Taliban route into North Waziristan and onto the Afghan border. 

Drug reaction suo moto: Reports sought on Feb 06

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has sought complete report from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Chief Minister Punjab Inspection Team by February 06.

The SC also instructed the Lahore High Court (LHC) appointed commission to continue the probe in spurious drugs case.

The SC took suo moto notice of the deaths of more than 90 heart patients under treatment at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), either from spurious drugs or due to wrong prescription of blood thinning and lipid lowering medicines.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took notice of a note initiated by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and issued notices to the attorney general, Punjab advocate general, federal and provincial secretaries, DG FIA and IG Punjab.

A three-member bench, headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, heard the case. The Punjab Advocate General apprised the court of the investigation made by the Chief Minister Punjab Inspection Team. He told the bench that a forensic laboratory is also probing the matter.

Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani asked the Advocate General if no one is held responsible why the people are being arrested.

The FIA infomed the court that all the record is under possession of CM's Inspection Team and it is not pessible for them to proceed.

The court then ordered the FIA and CM Inspection Team to submit reports by February 06. 

Kasab death penalty appeal adjourned

NEW DELHI: India's Supreme Court adjourned an appeal hearing on Tuesday into the death sentence handed down to the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Mohammed Kasab, one of 10 gunmen who laid siege to Mumbai in attacks which lasted nearly three days and killed 166 people, has appealed for his sentence to be overturned after he was convicted in May 2010.

The 24-year-old was found guilty of a series of crimes, including waging war against India, murder and terror acts.

One of the two Supreme Court judges due to hear the appeal was unavailable on Tuesday, forcing the adjournment, officials said. No date was immediately set for the next hearing.

Kasab's court-appointed lawyer Raju Ramachandran told AFP that his job was "a call of duty", but declined to talk further about the case.

Kasab's death sentence was confirmed by a state high court in Mumbai last year. If he loses his Supreme Court appeal, he will be able to appeal for clemency from the president.

Ujjwal Nikam, who prosecuted the case in Mumbai on behalf of the Maharashtra state, is seeking to push through the death sentence.

"This is the rarest of rare cases," Nikam told AFP. "He should not be entitled to any mercy."

At the trial, the prosecution produced fingerprint, DNA, eyewitness and television evidence showing him opening fire and throwing grenades at Mumbai's main railway station in the bloodiest episode of the attacks.

Kasab -- who is in jail in Mumbai -- initially pleaded not guilty but later made a confession, admitting to being one of the gunmen sent by the banned LeT militant group.

He then reverted back to his initial denial and said he was framed by the police.

Pakistan has indicted seven alleged perpetrators over the attacks but they have not been brought to trial, triggering Indian accusations that the process is a sham.

Pakistani investigators and lawyers will visit India next month to gather more evidence ahead of any trial in Islamabad.

Most death sentences in India are commuted to life imprisonment, and convicts can sit on death row for years awaiting a final decision. (AFP) 

Three killed in Peshawar suicide attack

PESHAWAR: At least three people were killed and eight injured as a result of a suicide attack in the Pakha Ghulam area. 

Among the eight injured two are children. Five of those injured are in critical condition. 

According to initial reports the explosion took place at an under construction house belonging to the leader of a banned organisation (Ansar-ul-Islam).

Police are gathering evidence from the site of the suicide attack. 

Drug reaction takes three more lives in Lahore

LAHORE: Three persons lost their lives in Lahore due to the drug reaction that has now pushed the toll to 85 on Saturday, Geo News reported.

According to health department, 60-year-old Rasheedan Bibi, 70-year-old Sarwar Begum and 42-year-old Rehmat lost their lives today due to substandard drugs’ reaction, therefore, the toll now stands at 85.

On the other hand, the toll is 109 following the statistics confirmed by Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

The toll is constantly increasing due to the substandard drugs provided at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology. 

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has instructed to widen the scope of probe and even considering the minute details of the case.

The health department is retrieving the contaminated drugs from the patients.


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Suicide car bomb outside Baghdad hospital kills 28

BAGHDAD: A suicide bomber set off an explosives-packed car outside a Baghdad hospital on Friday, killing 28 people in the capital's deadliest day in a month, amid a political crisis that has stoked tensions.

The attack also left 50 people wounded.

The 11:00 am (0800 GMT) attack struck outside Zafraniyah hospital in east Baghdad as a funeral procession was transporting the bodies of a family who had been killed in the capital on Thursday.

Helicopters flew overhead as a heavy security presence cordoned off the site of the explosion, while distraught witnesses screamed in anguish.

A policeman at the scene, who declined to be identified, said: "The suicide bomber targeted the funeral procession. "They were following a tradition that you carry the bodies of the dead from the hospital for a short while before transporting them in a car. At that moment, the suicide bomber attacked," said the policeman, who was unhurt but covered in dust and debris from the bombing.

A medic at Zafraniyah hospital said the attack killed 28 people and wounded 50. At least four women were among the dead. (AFP)

Was PM media coordinator, admits Khurram

ISLAMABAD: The former media coordinator of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Khurram Rasool admitted today that he had been the media advisor for the chief executive.

While recording statement before the Supreme Court (SC), he said my family has been threatened, insulted and my children could not go to school for the past 1 year.

'I was told even PM will be kidnapped, I surrendered as I have confidence in courts. 'Claims of Afghan Carpet are being heard in Sindh High Court (SHC) and only Rs 10-11 million remain outstanding.

Rashid A Rizvi, the businessmen's lawyer said Khurram gave cheques from accounts that had been closed and allegations of threats are wrong.

The former media coordinator Khurram Rasool was presented before the SC today.

Khurram Rasool surrendered himself to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on early Friday morning. He has been convicted in the banking fraud case and Rawalpindi Accountability Court had sentenced Khurram Rasool to three years in jail on Thursday.

The Supreme Court on January 25 directed FIA to immediately arrest Khurram Rasool and produce him on January 27.

The three-Judge bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez, in its order also warned Director General FIA Tahseen Anwar Shah to comply with its directive, otherwise, failure would have serious legal consequences.

The bench was hearing an application moved by Parvez Hussain, a businessman of Afghan carpets, accusing Khurram Rasool of defrauding him of Rs 430 million.

FIA Additional Director General Sajjad Ahmed apprised the bench that they had received statement of Khushnood Lashari Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Waseem Ahmed and Malik Iqbal, former Director Generals of FIA, in which they had denied the allegations of influencing the investigation of case.

Talking to the media after surrendering, Khurram said that he has been receiving life threats, therefore he went on missing. He said that his family was also facing threats and his children could not attend schools for one year.

Khurram Rasool said that he was forced to signed cheques. He showed confidence over judiciary and hoped justice.

PCNS decides to summon Ijaz on Feb 10

ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) met on Thursday and decided to summon Mansoor Ijaz, the central character in the memogate scandal, on Feb 10.

The committee’s meeting, chaired by Senator Raza Rabbani, also expressed its satisfaction over the arrangements made for Ijaz’s security.

The committee was briefed in detail on the US businessman’s security by the attorney general.

Moreover, the committee also went through the correspondence between the attorney general and representatives from Canadian firm Research In Motion (RIM), which makes the BlackBerry.

Suicide attack kills three in Afghan city

KABUL: A suicide car bomber attacked a NATO armoured vehicle in the southern Afghan city of Lashkar Gah on Thursday, killing at least three civilians and wounding 31 others, an official said.

The bomber struck near the education department in what is the provincial capital of Helmand, a focus of attacks by Taliban insurgents.

"A suicide attacker detonated his Toyota sedan vehicle loaded with explosives on an armoured vehicle," Daoud Ahmadi, the spokesman for the Helmand governor, told AFP.

A child was among the dead and several women and children were wounded, he said, adding that the death toll could increase.

The commander of the Afghan forces coordination center in the province, Mohammad Ismail Hotak, said 30 Afghan civilians have been taken to hospital in Lashkar Gah.

He said 15 private vehicles were totally destroyed in the blast while several others caught fire.

Afghan security forces surrounded the area, and body parts of the dead could be seen at the nearby education department compound, a witness said.

British and Danish troops with NATO's 130,000 strong International Security Assistance force operate in Helmand.

Just over a week ago on January 18, two attacks in the province killed 17 people and wounded more than 20 others.

A suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed 10 civilians and two policemen in the first attack at a bazaar, while an intelligence official was among the dead in a second blast caused by a mine, which was claimed by the Taliban.

A day later a suicide bomber killed at least seven people and wounded eight in an attack at Kandahar international airport in neighbouring Kandahar province.

In that attack also, ISAF armoured vehicles were the target but there were no NATO casualties.

The latest deaths come as both sides have made moves towards peace talks, with the Taliban, toppled in late 2001 in a US-led invasion, announcing plans to open a political office in Qatar.

But the Islamic hardliners said this did not mean they had surrendered in the war against coalition forces, only that they would use their political wing alongside their military to achieve their aims.

The United Nations said the number of civilians killed in violence in Afghanistan rose by 15 percent in the first six months of last year to 1,462, with insurgents blamed for 80 percent of the killings.

Veena Malik's name echoes in Senate

ISLAMABAD: Senator Mushahidullah Khan on Wednesday said perhaps Veena Malik's presence in the Senate could make senators attend its meetings, Geo News reported on Wednesday.

Speaking on the floor of Senate, Mushahidullah Khan regretted that although the Senate speaker put to use all 'tactics', neither the Prime Minister nor federal ministers came to attend the Senate sessions.

He said now only one last thing was left to be tried. "Lets, bring Veena Malik from India and make her a senator or a deputy chairman…. perhaps then the ministers might show up."

On this, Senator Jan Jamali snapped: "A more sizzling thing be made the prime minister."

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)'s Senator Haseeb Khan on a point of order lamented what to talk of federal ministers when even the Prime Minister himself did not come to the Senate meetings. "This is because he (Prime Minister) does not own us," he added. 

Three lawyers shot dead in Karachi

Karachi: Three lawyers were killed when unidentified armed men opened fire on their car near then Aram Bagh area of Karachi.

A fourth lawyers is in critical condition and is undergoing surgery at the Civil Hospital. 

The police have described the act as target killing and say the attackers were riding motorcycles and chased the lawyers from the city court. 

Lawyers have announced a nationwide strike in protest of the killings.

According to the MLO of the civil hospital, the lawyers were shot at close range. 

Eyewitness accounts state that the police failed to act and only opened aerial firing after the attack had already taken place. 

The police were also late in cordoning off the crime scene. 

Home Minister Sindh Mansoor Wasan has ordered the suspension of SHO Aram Bagh, while Interior Minister Rehman Malik has summoned a report from IG Sindh. 

Missing persons: SC issues notices to AG, ministry of defence

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday issued notices to Attorney General of Pakistan and Ministry of Defence over the petition filed against mysterious killing of four missing persons, Geo News reported Wednesday.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary conducted the initial hearing of the petition filed by Advocate Tariq Asad against the mysterious killing of four, out of eleven missing persons (former prisoners of Adiyala jail, Rawalpindi).

The court approved the petition for hearing and issued notices to the respondents. The hearing was adjourned till Jan 30. 

Rehman Malik appears before Memo Commission

ISLAMABAD - Chief Justice Balochistan High Court (BHC) Justice Qazi Faiz Eesa expressed displeasure over the statements given by the government’s top executive regarding the security arrangements in line with the judicial order.
Voicing disapproval over the statements given by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Federal Interior Minister Rehman A. Malik, Justice Qazi said, “American-Pakistani businessman Mansoor Ijaz is our witness; hence, his security is our responsibility.”
According to a private television channel, heading a three-member commission formed by the Supreme Court (SC) to probe the controversial unsigned memorandum written allegedly to the US government seeking its imposing clout against any potential coup from the Pakistan Army, Justice Qazi remarked there is a separate forum for someone who does not savor the commission's orders.
Opening proceedings, Akram Sheikh Advocate, the counsel for Mansoor Ijaz, stressed before the three-member probe commission that the Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and the government apparatus is sending his client serious threats.
He referred to Malik’s assertions that his client might be put on exit control list (ECL), if he receives recommendation in this regard.
He went on to express distrust on any person appointed by Malik, emphasizing, “We are furnishing evidences against Malik’s boss. Given the situation, will he not poke hurdles?”
Akram Sheikh also said that he feared that all the possessions of his counsel will be snatched as soon as he lands in Pakistan, adding a contingent headed by a brigadier was pledged; but, nothing such happened on ground.
On this, Justice Qazi said to Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq, “Please tell us the name of the brigadier.” Reacting to this, the AG said he did not give name of any brigadier to the commission.
When questioned about his client's absence, Akram said his client is not being offered satisfactory security; hence, he cannot take the risk.
Akram also argued to the commission that Prime Minister Gilani said that it would be him (PM Gilani) who will appoint an SHO for Ijaz’s security.
Taking notice of the statements of government functionaries, Justice Qazi asked the AG, “Where is Rehman Malik?”
“He is in the federal capital,” answered the AG Haq.
Justice Qazi queried the AG, “Does Malik’s statement stand contrary to your statement?” 
Justice Qazi directed the AG to inform the federal interior minister to appear before the commission, which does not want to give a ruling without giving a chance of explanation to Malik.
The AG told the commission that Malik had said the step could be taken up if the Parliament’s Security Committee proposed so to him. The commission said no order of Malik’s statements published in newspapers came to the fore, adding, "Why are the PM and Malik are giving statements in this connection?"
“What are we sitting here for, if this is to conclude prior to investigations that memorandum was wrong?” he questioned, adding that the lawyers of the parties have made a lot of fuss in the media, as by making their statements public before the commission is informed.
On this Akram requested the commission to ban the media coverage. 
Justice Qazi remarked that during the previous hearing Zahid Hussain Bukhari, the counsel of Hussain Haqqani, opposed this.
“Inquiries are held world over; but, it is being made a mess over here,” Justice Qazi said maintaining that every lawyer and government official is holding the memo true and untrue in the run up to the investigations.
Earlier, Hussain Haqqani’s counsel read out his client’s resignation, saying he voluntarily resigned from his office.
Commenting on Ijaz’s decision not to fly into Pakistan to appear before the commission in today’s hearing, Bukhari said Ijaz was accorded all the opportunities to get his statements and evidences recorded; but, he declined to come to Pakistan; hence, his right to record statement should be revoked.

Mansoor Ijaz will not come to Pakistan: Akram Sheikh

ISLAMABAD: Mansoor Ijaz has expressed his reservations with the security arrangements made in Pakistan for his arrival, and has therefore requested the judicial commission to record his statements in London or Zurich, his counsel Akram Sheikh said on Monday.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Sheikh said that he had held a teleconference with Ijaz after meeting with IG Police Islamabad and had briefed his counsel about the security arrangements that have been made for him.

“No assurance has been given with regards to his [Ijaz's] life or property. It seems like a well-orchestrated trap to hold Ijaz indefinitely in Pakistan… He refuses to knowingly fall into the government’s trap,” he added.

On Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s assurances of arranging the army for Ijaz’s security, Sheikh said: “I don’t trust Rehman Malik. I trust Husain Haqqani more than I trust Rehman Malik… Did Benazir Bhutto not die in this country even after getting security assurances?”

Earlier during the day, Sheikh said he had written another letter to the attorney general seeking details of the security being provided to Ijaz during his visit to Pakistan.

He also met Inspector General of Police (IG) Islamabad, who assured him that security will be provided to Mansoor Ijaz.

The judicial commission probing the Memogate scandal has ordered Ijaz to appear before the court personally to record his statements.

The Pakistani-American businessman had expressed reservations over security when he was summoned by the judicial commission to record his statements. He claimed that he and his family were being threatened.

On Saturday, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq had finalised the security arrangements for Ijaz in consultation with the Defence Secretary.

Sheikh had earlier said that by excluding the army from the security, the government wanted to deprive his client of providing valuable evidence linking President Asif Ali Zardari to the memo, while Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had reiterated on Sunday that the government does not wishes to spend billions of rupees for his securit

Six dead in bomb blasts in Nigeria

KANO: At least six people were killed in a series of bomb blasts in Nigeria's second biggest city Kano on Friday, officials and witnesses said.

One blast gutted the police headquarters for the north of the city, killing at least three people, while another at the passport office also killed three, witnesses said.

At least four other explosions echoed across the city in quick succession, as some residents ran around shouting and screaming. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. (Reuters) 

Indian SC dismisses plea on Gen VK Singh's age

NEW DELHI: The Indian Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a direction to the government to restore the Army Chief Gen V K Singh's date of birth as May 10, 1951 saying it was not maintainable in law.

Singh on Monday dragged the government to the court as he filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court over age row.

Troubles erupted when Singh claimed that his year of birth is 1951 and not 1950 as recorded by the Ministry of Defence.

The official records of the Army show two different dates of birth for Singh.

In one record, his date of birth is maintained as May 10, 1951 and the other shows him to be born on May 10, 1950.

Singh is likely to retire from his post in 2012 as the Ministry rejected his application seeking a correction of his date of birth.





Video Link:
               Age-row-SC-dismisses-PIL-favouring-Gen-V-K-Singh

Earthquake hits northeast Iran, 100 injured

TEHRAN (Reuters) - About 100 people were injured when an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale hit northeastern Iran on Thursday, state television reported.

The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 4:05 p.m., was 10 km (6 miles) outside the city of Neyshabur, some 70 km from the holy city of Mashhad, the official IRNA news agency said.

There had so far been 36 aftershocks since the main quake, IRNA said, adding that some buildings had been damaged and windows shattered in villages near Neyshabur.

"So far 100 people have been injured. Most of them were treated quickly and some have been hospitalized," state television quoted a local official as saying, adding that rescue workers were in the area.

The news agency ILNA reported that the quake lasted seven seconds and was the strongest felt in the region for 10 years.

Many parts of Iran are prone to earthquakes. At least seven people were killed in a 6.5-magnitude quake that jolted the southeast in 2010, the same region where a huge tremor killed some 31,000 people in the city of Bam in 2003.

(Writing by Zahra Hosseinian, Editing by Tim Pearce)

Turkey works to cut dependence on Iranian oil

GENEVA/LONDON: Turkish refiner Tupras is working on a plan to cut its dependence on imports of Iranian oil as Western powers aim to crack down on the Islamic Republic's oil sales, industry sources familiar with the company's strategy said on Thursday.
Turkey imports more than 30 percent of its daily consumption from Iran and has so far given no indication that it will comply with a planned EU import embargo on Iranian crude.

One source said that Tupras was planning to meet Saudi Arabian oil authorities this month with a view to switching to alternative crude sources by the summer.


"I think the meeting is to learn the supply capacity ahead of (state oil company Saudi) Aramco's other clients," said a second industry source, adding that Iranian threats to shut the Strait of Hormuz had prompted Tupras to approach new suppliers.

Tupras declined to give an immediate comment.

A Saudi source said the kingdom's oil authorities were getting more orders to replace Iranian crude, but declined to comment on specific requests.

Suicide attack kills six at Afghan airport: police

KANDAHAR: A suicide attack killed at least six people on Thursday at Kandahar international airport in southern Afghanistan, one of the deadliest flashpoints in a 10-year war, police said.

"Six civilians were killed in a suicide attack close to the gates of Kanadahar airport today," said Kandahar police chief General Abdul Razeq.

The Taliban, the militia leading a 10-year insurgency against the Afghan government and tens of thousands of NATO troops, claimed responsibility.

Spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said the target was "the bullet-proof vehicles of foreign forces".

The army commander for southern Afghanistan, General Hamid Wardak, said earlier that three civilians died in the attack, which was "on foreign special forces at the entrance gate of Kandahar international airport".

A spokesman for NATO forces in Afghanistan said there were no casualties among foreign troops in what he called a "vehicle-born suicide attack".