DUBAI ( 2008-04-05 01:18:52 ) :
A US military aircraft crashed in the Gulf state of Qatar on Friday, the satellite news channel Al-Jazeera reported, without any immediate word on any casualties.
The B-52 bomber crashed on landing at Al-Udeid airbase in the desert 35 kilometres (22 miles) south of the capital Doha, the Qatar-based channel said, adding that crew had experienced technical problems.
COLOMBO ( 2008-04-02 13:37:22 ) :
At least 13 Tamil Tiger rebels and one government soldier have been killed in fresh fighting in Sri Lanka's north, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.
Security forces said they captured a long string of rebel defence bunkers in the northwestern district of Mannar early Wednesday, with the fighting also leaving 40 guerrillas and 12 government soldiers wounded.
The latest casualty claims brings to at least 2,533 the number of rebels killed by security forces since January, according to defence ministry data.
The ministry has reported losing 152 of its soldiers in the same period.
Casualty figures given by both sides cannot be independently confirmed because Colombo bars journalists and rights groups from front-line areas.
The ministry also said its fighter jets bombed and inflicted "extensive damage" on a rebel base in Mullaittivu district in the northeast on Tuesday.
There was no immediate comment from the Liberation Tigers of Eelam (LTTE), who are fighting to carve out an independent homeland for minority Tamils in the ethnic Sinhalese-majority island's north and east.
The pro-rebel website Tamilnet.com, however, said the Tigers beat back an army offensive in Mannar on Tuesday, killing 15 soldiers and injuring 25 others. It did not give details of LTTE casualties.
WASHINGTON: Top US envoys are in Pakistan to show Washington intends to work with the new government in fighting extremism, while still working closely with President Pervez Musharraf, a US official said.
Deputy US Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher flew into Islamabad for talks Tuesday focusing on Pakistan's cooperation in efforts against al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.
"It's really to reinforce with the new government that we look forward to working with them, certainly talk about our interests and certainly we're going to hear back from them on their interests," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. "Our primary interest there is helping the Pakistani people broaden and deepen the political and economic reform process that has begun in that country and also to work with them to combat the threat that exists to Pakistan and the Pakistani people as well as to us and others in the region from terrorists and violent extremists," McCormack said.
"These two things are linked in our view," he added.
Asked whether Washington could ever support negotiations with rather than military action against extremists, he replied it was important to listen to the new government's views.
"Let's hear what they have to say first rather than try to play this game in public, that's the reason why the deputy secretary went there to talk to this new Pakistani government and political leadership how they see the way forward," he said.
But he did not say whether Washington considered him indispensable when asked to repeat an adjective used here in the past.
"He's clearly an important person in Pakistani political life and he's done a lot of very positive things for his country and put them on an important course for its greater political and economic openness," McCormack said.
ISLAMABAD ( 2008-03-25 21:07:33 ) :
Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday greeted his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on assuming the office of Prime Minister of Pakistan.
According to foreign office, the Indian Prime Minister in his message to Prime Minister Gilani said, 'I re-affirm the government of India's commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Pakistan."
He said, "We see a stable, prosperous and democratic Pakistan as being in the interest of India and the region."
The Indian Prime Minister said, "There is a strong public sentiment in both our countries in favour of accelerating the peace process and establishing a cooperative framework for our bilateral relations."
"There is a common desire to establish a neighbourhood of peace and progress based on greater linkages between our two people, trust and mutual understanding," said the Indian Prime Minister.
Manmohan in his message to Prime Minister Gilani further said, "Leading personalities of the coalition that will form your government have been strong advocates of friendly ties between our two countries and have made important contributions to the peace process."
He said, "I hope very much that we can build upon the progress already achieved and work expeditiously, though the dialogue process, towards agreed solutions of pending issues."
The Indian Prime Minister said, "We have an opportunity to transform our relationship into a close, cooperative and mutually beneficial partnership that should be normal between neighbours like India and Pakistan. I look forward to working closely with you towards an objective that I am confident you share."
