Furore in US over Osamas death

Euphoria engulfed the United States soon after US President Barack Obama announced the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. A large crowd of people gathered outside the White House gates on Pennsylvania Avenue, waving flags and dancing in jubilation.

They sang the “Star Spangled Banner” in unison and chanting “USA USA USA” and “Na na na na — na na na na …Hey hey goodbye” in reference to Osama bin Laden.

The crowd is swelling by the minute. People are running to join the group with American flags and there is lot of dancing and cheering. As the news was finally confirmed, families of those who died in the 2001 attacks spoke through tears of their relief that Bin Laden had finally been killed.
Bush has called the killing a “momentous achievement”. He said, “The fight against terror goes on.”

Former US secretary of state Conoleezza Rice said, “The demise of Osama Bin Laden is a tremendous victory for the American people.”

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said US had kept their promise after the 09-11 attacks to capture or kill Bin Laden.

Firing outside mosque kills 2 in Bahawalpur

Staff Report

BAHAWALPUR: At least two people were killed and four others were injured in a firing incident outside a mosque in Bahawalpur, SAMAA learnt Saturday.

According to sources, people gathered outside a mosque after Fajr prayer in Satellite Town area of Bahwalpur, when a motorcyclist opened fire, killing two people and injuring four.

Rescue officials reached the spot immediately after the incident and shifted the injured to Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur.

Local residents burnt tires in protest and chanted anti-police slogans. SAMAA

Imam may shift planned mosque near Ground Zero

Amid the widespread opposition against the planned mosque near Ground Zero in the US, the cleric leading the effort to build an Islamic centre here may consider shifting its location from the controversial spot.
Our advisers have been looking at every option including that, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf was quoted as saying by the New York Post, when asked whether he would shift the mosque. The embattled Imam also pointed that a future solution needed to be agreed to by all parties embroiled in this debate.
The way we confront our problems in the United States…is watched all over the world, Rauf said. I need a space where the voice of the moderates can be heard. We need a platform where the voice of modern Muslims can be amplified…This is an opportunity that we must capitalize on, he added. Rauf made these remarks today — two days after thousands of people gathered for pro and anti-mosque rallies near Ground Zero on the ninth anniversary of September 11 terror attacks at the World Trade Centre in New York.

Manhattan ESB honored 9/11 and Muslim’s Eid

NEW YORK : The ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York Saturday had seen construction for the new World Trade Center buildings taking shape, including a memorial for the nearly 3,000 people killed by terrorists that day.

But this year, the commemoration was shaken by two particular outside events: A surge of anti-Muslim feelings reeling across the country over plans to erect a mosque and Islamic community center just two blocks from Ground Zero; and the determination of a Christian pastor in Florida to spark a mass burning of the holy book of Muslims, the Quran.

Contrasting with such tensions is the mood of joyful religious celebrations at week’s end. Muslims have ended their holy month of Ramadan with Eid-ul-Fitr, on Saturday, while Jews have celebrated their New Year, Rosh Hashana.

At the Islamic Cultural Center in Manhattan’s Upper East-side,

UK needs global military force post-Afghan: Fox

LONDON: Speaking to a meeting of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) think tank, Fox said pulling British troops from Afghanistan before 2015 would boost militants everywhere, because only by then would British forces, working with the U.S.-led coalition, have achieved their security aims.

Fox told the gathering in Geneva of military officers and strategists that British defence planners conducting a review of military priorities had to take account of the possibility that its forces might have to intervene again elsewhere in the world.

“We’re going to have a long-term battle against transnational terrorism and it will pop up in a lot of different places over a long period and we are going to have to face up to that,” he said.

One of the lessons of recent British defence history, he added, was that combat troops should not be deployed

Indefinite curfew imposed in Kashmir Valley

STAFF REPORT

SRINAGAR: Indefinite curfew was imposed on Sunday in Srinagar city and six other towns of Kashmir Valley in view of several incidents of violence on Saturday .The decision was taken after a high-level meeting of Civil and security forces officials in Srinagar.

An FIR was registered against moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq for inciting people to violence, officials said.

A senior police official said imposition of curfew had become necessary in the wake of the massive violence that followed a separatist march in Srinagar on Saturday that was led by the Mirwaiz, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat group, and Muhammad Yasin Malik, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

For the first time Eid congregations turned into violent pro-freedom demonstrations. A mob on Saturday set afire offices of the state power department

Two story building catches fires in Ghotki

GHOTKI: In the tehsil Mir Pur Mathelo of Ghotki, a two story building in the central market has caught fire, Samaa reported Sunday.

According to sources due to short circuit suddenly a two story building in the central market has caught fire in tehsil Mir Pur Mathelo of Ghotki.

Fire encompasses two homes situated on the first floor. Hundreds of people gathered at the spot after getting the news. People help themselves and managed to take out the entrapped people from the building, however a five year child has been critically burnt. Worth millions of household stuff has been totally destroyed by fire. SAMAA

Sania’s family visits historic places of Lahore

LAHORE: Mother, sister and other relatives of Sania Mirza went to the Data Darbar to pray and lay flowers at the mazar.

Later, they visited Shahi Qilla and other historic places of Lahore.

Looking them at the Data Darbar, people gathered there and greeted them.

Sania’s maternal aunty said that she was very happy to be in Pakistan and she would come here again.

Relatives of Sania, belonging to Moghul family, went also to Shahi Qilla and Badshahi Masjid and were very much impressed by seeing the symbols of Moghul era and the beauty of these historic places.

They also went to the mazar of Allama Iqbal and offered fateha.

Later, they visited Anarkali Bazar, popular for beautiful Lahori dresses, and did shopping there.

A large contingent of police accompanied the guests for their security.

Sania’s mother was looking annoyed with media during this visit.

People take to streets against power outages

LAHORE: Despite the weekly holiday, the prolonged and unscheduled power cuts are underway across the country, especially in small cities.

While enraged people hit by severe heat wave and electricity load-shedding took to streets in many cities.

In Gujranwala, where around 14 to 16 hours of load-shedding is being observed in urban areas and 18 to 20 hours in rural areas, hundreds of people gathered at the Aiwan roundabout and staged demonstration by burning tyres. They also blocked traffic on Islamabad to Lahore road.

Owing to the continued load-shedding, more than 200 small industrial units have been closed in Gujranwala, leaving thousands jobless.

In Multan, chamber of small traders took out a rally against the ongoing power outages and price hike. They staged demonstration at Timber Market and set tyres on fire. The protestors threatened to give a call for shutter down strike on April 14 if their demands were not met.

The duration of electricity load-shedding in Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Khangarh and Dera Ghazi Khan rose to 17 hours.

On the other areas, the Multan Electric Supply Corporation (MEPCO) is faced with power shortfall of 550 MW while overall demand of MEPCO region stands at 2400 MW.

In addition, situation is almost similar in Balochistan, parts of Sindh and northern areas.

Kashmiris Observing Indian Republic Day As Black Day

NEW DELHI: Kashmiris Observing Indian Republic Day As Black Day, Indian Paramilitary soldiers and police set up roadblocks and snipers took positions atop government buildings as India celebrated its national day Tuesday against the backdrop of a terror alert.

Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world are observing Indian Republic Day as Black Day.

India celebrates its Republic Day on Jan. 26 every year, but this year the security measures have been notched up following intelligence reports of a possible terror attack by militants.

Security has also been tightened at all major government telecommunications and power installations, with additional personnel deployed, police said. At least 15,000 paramilitary soldiers were deployed in and around the capital of New Delhi to ensure safety along the route of an annual parade _ the highlight of India’s Republic Day festivities, said police spokesman Rajan Bhagat.

In downtown New Delhi, hundreds of thousands of people gathered to witness the parade a showcase of Indian military and cultural pomp under the watchful eyes of armed police.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who is on a four-day official visit to India, was the chief guest at the parade, which included marching bands and contingents of soldiers and schoolchildren and an aeronautic display by air force planes.

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Kashmiris Observing Indian Republic Day As Black Day was first posted on January 26, 2010 at 12:59 pm.

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