British PM David Cameron inspects damage in south of capital

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron visited the site of a building that was destroyed by fire in a third night of rioting in the UK capital.

The House of Reeves in Croydon, south London, was a local landmark furniture store run by the Reeves family for decades.

It was torched overnight during the wave of violence and looting that has raged across London since Saturday.

Cameron met police at the site who explained what had happened.

Cameron described the scenes of burning buildings and smashed windows in London and several other British cities as “sickening,” but refrained from more extreme measures such as calling in the military to help beleaguered police restore order.

Instead the Prime Minister, who cut short his holiday to fly in to the capital, recalled Parliament from its summer recess Tuesday and nearly tripled the number of police on the streets.

Violence in London first broke out late on Saturday in the low-income, multiethnic northern district of Tottenham, where protesters demonstrated against the fatal police shooting of Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father of four who was gunned down in disputed circumstances Thursday.

Duggan’s death stirred old animosities and racial tensions similar to those that prompted massive UK race riots in the 1980s, despite efforts by London police to build better relations with the city’s ethnic communities.

Some 525 arrests have been made in London alone and dozens were arrested in other cities. AGENCIES

World powers raise pressure on Gaddafi to go

LONDON: Britain and the United States stepped up pressure on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to quit on Tuesday, and rebels fighting him promised to build a free, democratic state if they won power in Tripoli.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, opening a conference of 40 governments and international bodies on Libya, accused Gaddafi’s supporters of “murderous attacks” on people in Misrata, Libya’s third largest city.

“As this broad range of countries gathers here today in London, there are people suffering terribly under Gaddafi’s rule. Our message to them is this: there are better days ahead for Libya,” Cameron said.

Cameron urges Pakistan trade link

British Prime Minister David Cameron is to urge EU leaders to support a major new trade partnership between Europe and Pakistan in the wake of the worst floods.
He will tell a summit in Brussels that the scale of the disaster warrants a response far beyond the vital immediate humanitarian effort.
In a letter to the summit chairman Herman Van Rompuy ahead of the one-day meeting, the Prime Minister called for an ambitious new partnership between the EU and Pakistan on serious economic reform and trade, the benefits of which will be worth far more to Pakistan than even a sizeable aid package.
Cameron wants to see a concrete political commitment from the EU to Pakistan to enhance significantly its access to the EU market in the short term.

Blair pelted with eggs at Dublin book signing

DUBLIN: Three people were arrested after protesters threw eggs and shoes at former British Prime Minister Tony Blair when he arrived to sign copies of his memoir at a bookshop in Dublin on Saturday, national broadcaster RTE said.

No injuries were reported and the missiles did not hit Blair.

Some of the 200 activists who had gathered outside Eason, a bookstore on Dublin’s main thoroughfare O’Connell street, clashed with police over a security barrier.

Security at Blair’s first signing of his autobiography had been tight due to opposition by an Irish nationalist group opposed to British control of Northern Ireland and by critics of Blair’s decision to join the war in Iraq.

Readers were not allowed to take photos or ask Blair to write any personal messages in the copies of his self penned volume “A Journey”, which describes what he called the “nightmare”

Cameron, Obama talk for Afghan, Pakistan peace

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron”s office says he and President Barack Obama agreed on the need for urgency on Middle East peace talks in a telephone conversation.

Cameron”s office said he spoke by telephone with Obama Friday, following a meeting with Pakistan”s President Asif Ali Zardari.

They discussed Afghanistan, Pakistan and Cameron”s recent visits to India and Turkey. In India, Cameron accused elements in Pakistan of exporting terrorism.

Cameron”s spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with policy, said that on the Middle East, the leaders “agreed on the need for the parties to move as soon as possible to direct peace talks.”

Cameron discussed the Middle East peace process in talks Wednesday in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Heavy rains expected in flood areas

ISLAMABAD: Heavy rains are expected in areas already hit by the worst floods in 80 years, the meteorological department said on Friday, raising the possibility of more destruction.

“We”re forecasting widespread rains in the country, especially in flood-affected areas,” said Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry, director general of the department.

Rehman warns ‘terrorist elements’ to be ready for stern action

KARACHI: Interior Minister Friday reiterated his warning to the elements involved in the terrorist activities in Karachi to stop violence or be ready for a stern action against them.

He was given a presentation by Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Wasim Ahmed here at Central Police Office on the recent unrest and law and order situation in the metropolis. Provincial Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, IG Sindh Sultan Salahuddin, Babar Khattak and the heads of law enforcing agencies were present on the occasion.

Later, talking to media men the Interior Minister said no criminal who has taken law in his hand will be spared while Rangers have been ordered to ‘shoot on sight’ anyone seen involved in terrorist activity.

“I have directed the police officers to establish peace in their respective areas,” he told the reporters.

On the occasion, Provincial Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza said 195 suspects have been held in Karachi during the ongoing crackdown against criminals.

He said 87 suspects were arrested from West Zone, 12 from South Zone and 87 from East Zone while the Investigation Unit has held 9 accused.

The Home Minister said 9 of these have been identified for involvement in the recent incidents of targeted killings in the city.

He said a task force has also been formed to put a halt on the targeted killings and murder of citizens. The task force will collect evidence from the eye witnesses and have sketches of the accused drawn for the arrest of criminals, he added.

Pakistan, UK vow to enhance cooperation in combating terror

LONDON: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday appreciated the UK’s assurance on assisting Pakistan in overcoming its problems and challenges and to work together in combating war on terror.

Emerging from their hour long talks at Chequers, the country retreat of the British Prime Minister, the Pakistani leader expressed his gratitude to the people and Government of the UK for understanding the situation in Pakistan and extending assistance and support in resolving them. “I am grateful to the UK and Prime Minister David Cameron for support in the flood affected areas of Pakistan. I am looking forward to a relationship with the UK supporting Pakistan in different fields.”

The President said Prime Minister Cameron also has assured him supporting Pakistan’s point of view in the European Union and the USA in securing access to Pakistani goods in these countries.

He spoke of hundred years of relationship with the UK and said they have been allies for the last 62 years. The President said Pakistan and UK will stand together and face difficulties and weather storms to make the world more peaceful and secure.

For his part the British Prime Minister described the meeting ‘as excellent’.

“The President and I have been talking about what we see as an unbreakable relationship between the two countries based on their mutual interests.

“Obviously, we talked about dreaded and devastating floods in Pakistan. The British Government stands ready to help more and as required to make sure that help is given to all.

Above all, what we have been talking lately about “is our strategic partnership and how we deepen and enhance that partnership to make that we do all with the issues where we want to see progress, whether it is trade, education and also in the absolutely vital are of combating terrorism.”

Cameron said both countries want to work together to combat terrorism and ensure global peace. “We want to work with Pakistan in this vast strategic partnership.”

Shahbaz asks Zardari to scrap UK visit

MIANWALI: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has asked President Asif Ali Zardari to cancel his UK visit and spend the money on rehabilitation of the flood affectees.

He was talking to media after visiting the Jinnah Barrage. The CM Punjab also announced compensation of Rs 5 million for the people of Mianwali and vowed to rehabilitate the areas hit by rains as soon as possible.

Kalabagh Dam has enormous economic value but we want to take all provinces along, CM Shahbaz said. He instructed the provincial bureaucracy to left no stone unturned in rebuilding the barrage.

According to an exclusive news item carried by The News today, President Asif Ali Zardari’s official visit to the UK from August 3 to 7 will cost the taxpayers of Pakistan tons of British pounds as sources have revealed the details of what arrangements are being made.

The president will hold a few minutes meeting with the British Prime Minister David Cameron at the Chequers, despite Mr Cameron’s public insults to Pakistan on allegedly exporting terror, but the cost of his visit will be enormous.

Pakistan slaps down Cameron in terror row

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday slapped down remarks by British Prime Minister David Cameron that it is guilty of exporting terrorism, saying close ally London knows the menace has no borders.

“Terrorists have no religion, no humanity, no specific ethnicity or geography. Terrorists” networks, as the UK knows full well, mutate and operate in different regions and cities,” the foreign ministry said.

When asked about regional security issues during a visit to India — Cameron responded with a warning against Pakistan becoming a haven for militant groups.

“We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country is allowed to look both ways and is able, in any way, to promote the export of terror, whether to India or whether to Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world,” he said.

The comments were gleefully splashed on the front page of every major newspaper in India.

Britain has said that 75 percent of extremist plots affecting the country — home to an estimated one million people of Pakistani descent — have links to Pakistan.

But Pakistan hit back, saying it was as much a victim of terrorism as Afghanistan, India or any other country. Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked bombers have killed more than 3,570 people in a three-year campaign of attacks.

“We hope that our friends will be able to persuade India to view this issue objectively and the value of ”cooperation” in counter terrorism,” Pakistan”s foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said.

“Terrorism is a global issue as well as regional and local. Pakistan and the United Kingdom have a robust and comprehensive partnership, including on counter-terrorism.”

“Pakistan has done much more than any other country in combating terrorism. Our people and security forces have rendered innumerable sacrifices,” the foreign ministry said.

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