Pakistan launches military operation near Afghan border

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have launched a major offensive against militants in the northwestern tribal region of Kurram on the Afghan border, Pakistan’s military spokesman said on Monday.

Coalition hit areas in Garyan, Mizdah: Libyan TV

TUNIS: Western coalition air strikes hit civilian and military areas in the towns of Garyan and Mizdah, Libyan television said on Monday, quoting a military official.

US gearing up to pull some vessels from Libya drive

WASHINGTON: The United States is planning to gradually remove some of the vessels it has in the Mediterranean now that NATO is taking command over the air strikes in Libya, a U.S. military official said on Monday.

Libyan opposition’s battle gains tenuous: admiral

WASHINGTON: The opposition fighting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is not robust and the gains they have made on the battlefield in recent days are tenuous, U.S. Vice Admiral Bill Gortney said on Monday.

Arizona shooting accused pleads not guilty

ARIZONA: Jared Lee Loughner, the young assailant in the deadly January 8 mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona has pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder related to the attempt on the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides, reports said on Monday.

As many as six people were killed and 13 injured including Giffords when Loughner went berserk during an open-invitation meeting at a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, arranged by Giffords. Loughner is believed to have nursed a grudge against Giffords after she had apparently failed to satisfactorily answer a question put to her by the youngman earlier.

Among those killed in cold blood were a Federal Judge and nine-year old Christina Taylor Green, who was born on 9/11, when the World Trade Center in New York was targeted.

Loughner appeared in the court of U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns of San Diego accompanied by his counsel Judy Clarke. The defense did not raise any objection when prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Wallace Kleindienst, requested that court proceedings be moved to Tucson.

According to reports, the defendant clad in a bright orange prison jumpsuit and wearing glasses barely uttered a word during the hearing but remained smiling throughout the entire hearing process. He could be arraigned in both state and federal courts which could invite the death penalty if found guilty.

On being asked by the trial judge whether she had any real concerns regarding Loughner”s ability to grasp the trial proceedings, Clarke said she was not raising any issues at the moment. Also, some 25 tapes containing data downloaded from the defendant”s personal computer were handed over to the defense counsel by the prosecution.

Giffords, 40, has since been moved to a rehabilitation center in Houston as she proceeds on the path to recovery.

Nine charged with plotting terrorism offences in UK: police

LONDON: Nine men arrested in police raids a week ago have been charged with conspiracy to cause explosions in Britain and with plotting terrorism offences, police said on Monday.

The nine were among 12 men arrested on December 20 in what police said at the time were counter-terrorism raids essential to protect the public from the threat of attack.

Three of the 12 arrested were released without charge, a statement issued by West Midlands Police said.

The remainder will appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court later on Monday, the statement said.

“I have today advised the police that nine men should be charged with conspiracy to cause explosions and with engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism with the intention of either committing acts of terrorism, or assisting another to commit such acts,” Sue Hemming, head of

Vargas Llosa to oppose Fujimori for Peru president

LIMA: Peruvian novelist and Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa said on Monday he would work to stop the daughter of jailed former President Alberto Fujimori from winning next year’s presidential race.

Vargas Llosa said it would be a catastrophe for Peru if Keiko Fujimori, a popular conservative lawmaker, wins the April 10 vote, and said he would rally against her campaign.

“If the daughter of the dictator who was condemned to prison for being a criminal and a thief has the chance of becoming president of Peru, I am going to be one of the Peruvians that will go out and try to stop it with all legal means possible,” he told reporters.

Keiko Fujimori, 34, is one of three front-runners in the race, along with former President Alejandro Toledo and former Lima Mayor Luis Castaneda.

The elder Fujimori was sentenced last year to 25 years in prison for

Pak ready to co-operate Iran in fight against terrorism: Malik

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said on Monday that Pakistan will co-operate every country including Iran to curb the menace of terrorism.

Malik said this while talking with media persons in a photo exhibition of the founder chairman of Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

He strongly condemned the killing of university teachers in Tehran bomb blast. He further said that his country would fully co-operate Iran to fight against terrorism, if it is required.

“The investigation team will go to Saudi Arabia to probe into corruption during Haj arrangements”, he added. Trend Pk

Pak ready to co-operate Iran in fight against terrorism: Malik

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said on Monday that Pakistan will co-operate every country including Iran to curb the menace of terrorism.

Malik said this while talking with media persons in a photo exhibition of the founder chairman of Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

He strongly condemned the killing of university teachers in Tehran bomb blast. He further said that his country would fully co-operate Iran to fight against terrorism, if it is required.

“The investigation team will go to Saudi Arabia to probe into corruption during Haj arrangements”, he added. Trend Pk

Pakistan criticizes release of secret US cables

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has criticized the release of classified U.S. diplomatic cables that reportedly raise concerns about the country’s nuclear program.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said on Monday that the release of the documents by online whistle-blower Wikileaks was “irresponsible.”

He says the U.S. had warned Pakistan in advance about the release and officials were still examining the relevant documents.

Details about the cables were published Sunday by The New York Times and several other media outlets.

The New York Times reported that since 2007, the United States has mounted an unsuccessful secret effort to remove from a Pakistani research reactor highly enriched uranium that American officials fear could be diverted for use in an illicit nuclear device. AGENCIES

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