Egypt unrest: Alert as mass protests loom

Breaking News Egyptian security forces are on high alert, with thousands of people expected to join anti-government rallies after Friday prayers.

The government says it is open to dialogue but also warned of decisive measures as the fourth day of violent protests loomed.

Widespread disruption has been reported to the internet and mobile phone messaging services. There are also reports of arrests of opposition figures overnight.

The reported crackdown on the largest opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, came after it said it would back the Friday protests.

On Thursday, Egyptian opposition figure and Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei returned to Cairo, promising to join the demonstrators. Overnight clashes between protesters and security forces have been reported in Suez.

US army begins relief work in Swat

KALAM: US Army helicopters have flown their first relief missions in Pakistan’s flood-ravaged northwest.

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US army begins relief work in Swat

Paradise for sale or rent, with help from Germany

HAMBURG: Marlon Brando started it, Diana Ross and Nicolas Cage picked up the trend and Johnny Depp perfected it.

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Paradise for sale or rent, with help from Germany

NATO attack killed 39 Afghan civilians: govt

KABUL: Afghanistans government says a new investigation shows 39 civilians, all women or children, were killed in a NATO rocket attack last month, fewer than first reported but dozens more than foreign forces have conceded.

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NATO attack killed 39 Afghan civilians: govt

New documents show Swiss sought Polanski data

LOS ANGELES: The Swiss government says it was rebuffed by the U.

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New documents show Swiss sought Polanski data

Spain beat Chile 2-1, topped Group H

JOHANNESBURG: Spain topped Group H on goal difference by edging closest rival Chile 2-1 on Friday.

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Spain beat Chile 2-1, topped Group H

Rahman’s US tour cut short by stage accident

DETROIT: After suffering significant damage to his stage last weekend in Pontiac, Michigan, Indian composer and performer A.

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Rahman’s US tour cut short by stage accident

SAARC ministerial moot opens in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: SAARC Conference of Interior Ministers opened here Saturday to discuss and adopt a joint strategy to eliminate terrorism, drug and human trafficking and address immigration related issues.

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SAARC ministerial moot opens in Islamabad

Blast rocks Kabul’s diplomatic area

KABUL: The Afghan government says an explosion has hit the capital in an area full of foreign embassies and government offices.

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Blast rocks Kabul’s diplomatic area

Kyrgyzstan to hold referendum

BISHKEK: Kyrgyzstan is to vote in a constitutional referendum Sunday that interim authorities insist is vital for easing tensions after deadly ethnic clashes but that some fear could spark new unrest.

Kyrgyzstan”s provisional government, which came to power after former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev was ousted in riots in April, has pushed ahead with the vote despite the violence this month.

The new constitution proposed in the referendum would significantly reduce the powers of the president and make the country Central Asia”s first parliamentary republic moves the interim government says are essential for stability and fighting top-level corruption.

It will also limit any single political party from holding more than 50 seats in Kyrgyzstan”s 90-seat parliament in a bid to prevent the kind of super-majorities that previous leaders enjoyed. The referendum would set the stage for parliamentary elections that authorities this week moved forward by a month, from October to early September, in an effort to bring in a legitimate government as quickly as possible.

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