Strong democratic institutions vital to get rid of terrorism: Zardari

Addressing a ceremony in the Aiewan-e-Sadr to distribute the apartments and plots to the families of the martyred, the president said that terrorism would be wiped out of country at every cost. He said that the government took steps for the rehabilitation of families of the martyred who were deployed at the security of the Benazir Bhutto. He said that plots can not be a compensation of sacrifices however it was the duty of the government to give honour to the families of the martyred.

French FM expresses grief over crash

PARIS: Bernard Kouchner, French Foreign Minister on Wednesday expressed shock and grief over the crash of an aircraft on the Margalla hills.

In a statement issued by French Embassy in Pakistan, the French FM said he was moved by the news of the tragic plane crash that killed today numerous people near Islamabad and has plunged Pakistan into mourning.

“In those particularly tragic and painful circumstances, I want to express my solidarity to the Pakistani Authorities and to the Pakistani People. I also want to convey my condolences to the families of the victims and their loved ones so brutally plunged into mourning,” Bernard Kouchner said.

Three miscreants killed in Swat

Three militants were killed during a clash with the security forces in Matta, Swat on Friday.
According to sources, the miscreants belonged to Matta and adjoining areas.
On the other hand, the security forces made the families of the militants holed up in Kabal to leave the area.The dislocated have been given refuge in relief camps established in Mardan and Malakand Agency.

Clinton meets families of American hikers held in Iran

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Wednesday for a second time with families of three American hikers being held in Iran since July 2009 and discussed ongoing effort to win their release, officials said.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said the meeting took place as officials sought to explain to the families “steps that we are taking to do everything possible to gain their release.”

Washington, which has no diplomatic relations with Tehran, has asked Austria to help in the matter, Crowley noted.

The meeting came less than a week after the families expressed concern over the health of the detainees, who have not been formally charged by Iran.

Relatives of Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27, said last week that Swiss diplomats that visited the detainees for the first time in nearly five months found them weak and demoralized.

Tony Blair Defends Saddam’s Removal

Tony Blair Defends Saddam’s Removal, Former British prime minister Tony Blair has said that the plan to remove Saddam from power was justified despite the fact that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
He said there were many reasons, which justified the decision to dethrone Saddam as he was becoming a biggest threat for the region.
He rejected the notion that he helped US just because of being a Christian. Blair said that most of the families of troops who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan feel proud of them but the opinion of those who oppose the wars is also respected.

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Tony Blair Defends Saddam’s Removal was first posted on December 12, 2009 at 3:54 pm.