Fuel tanker explosion kills 200 in Congo: governor

KINSHASA: More than 200 people were killed and 100 injured when a fuel tanker overturned and exploded in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo late on Friday, a local governor said on Saturday.

“Some people were killed trying to steal the fuel, but most of the deaths were of people who were indoors watching the (World Cup) match,” said Marcellin Cisamvo, governor of south Kivu province, where the accident took place.

He said some U.N. peacekeepers were killed as they tried to prevent people from going near the tanker, but could not give further details. A U.N. spokesman said he was trying to check the report.

Pentagon tightens media rules for US military

WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has tightened rules on media relations for the US military, only days after the top general in Afghanistan was sacked over disparaging comments he and aides made in an interview.

In a three-page memo sent to senior military and civilian Pentagon staff, Gates said he was “concerned that the department has grown lax in how we engage with the media, often in contravention of established rules and procedures.”

The former Central Intelligence Agency director said “leaking of classified information is against the law, cannot be tolerated, and will, when proven, lead to the prosecution of those found to be engaged in such activity.”

The memo instructs Pentagon officials to notify the Defense Department”s assistant secretary for public affairs “prior to interviews or any other means of media and public engagement with possible national or international implications.”

Attabad Lake water outflow picks up pace

HUNZA: Water outflow from Attabad Lake has witnessed an increase while a team of experts is due to arrive here to review the spillway’s widening work.

Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) General (R) Nadeem Ahmed has said that efforts would be made to remove three big stones, present in the middle of the Attabad lake spillway.

He said that there are three big stones in the middle of the spillway. If they are removed, water discharge could reach 15,000 to 20,000 cusecs, which will gradually reduce lake level.

Chairman NDM said dynamite will be used for removing stones and the government in this connection has completed precautions.

About return of IDPs, General Nadeem said the decision about returning of IDPs residing in low-lying areas will be taken after removing the stones and reviewing the lake situation.

Hijratullah acquitted in Mawan facility attack

LAHORE: The Anti-terrorism court of Lahore acquitted Hijratullah, the accused of Manawan Police training center, for lack of sufficient evidence.

The ATC court acquitted Hijratullah after declaring the evidence presented by the prosecution against him as insufficient.

It is pertinent to mention here that the law enforcement agencies arrested Hijratullah in the case of attack on Manawan Police Training facility in Lahore.

The jail trial of the accused also went on after his arrest.

Hijratullah said he knew nothing except picking up garbage to earn livelihood.

Detained US citizens refute terror allegations

SARGODHA: Anti-Terrorism Court special judge Mian Anwar Nazir has ordered the prosecution and police officials to present evidence against arrested American citizens on May 21.

The hearing of five American suspects started at the district jail under strict security. Earlier, an American consulate delegation, led by Hillary Andre, had a meeting with American suspects Ramzi Zam Zam, Waqar Hussain, Umer Farooq, Aman and Abdullah at the district jail.

It has been learnt the American accused rejected all allegations against them levelled by police.

The judge put off the hearing until June 9 and ordered Hassan Dastagir advocate to produce witnesses.

Interpol notices sought against Kasab, Ansari

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan has approached the Interpol on Saturday seeking Red Corner notices for arresting Ajmal Kasab and Fahim Ansari, currently undergoing trial in India.

This was stated by Special Public Prosecutor Malik Rab Nawaz Moon as an anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of the seven 26/11 attack accused, adjourned the hearing in the case till April 17.

During the proceedings, the prosecution said the government had been approached to ask Interpol to issue Red Corner notices for Ansari and Kasab.

Court Issues Arrest Warrant of Rehman Malik

KARACHI: The Accountability court has issued arrest warrants of Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday.

Accountability court judge Mir Muhammad Shaikh has issued the warrants in NAB reference. Earlier, NAB had filed a petition in Rawalpindi accountability court for the restoration of references against 19 persons including Rehman Malik.

Ajmal Kasab Denies All Charges

NEW DELHI: Ajmal Kasab Denies All Charges, In a dramatic twist to the Mumbai terror attacks case, main accused Mohammad Ajmal Kasab on Friday retracted from his earlier statement.

Denying all charges against him, Kasab said the statement was made under duress.

The lone surviving accused arrested by the police during the Mumbai attacks was scheduled to give a statement today on evidence introduced against him by the prosecution for his alleged role in the 26/11 terror attacks.

Two Indians, Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, who are facing trial along with Kasab, would also give their statements after the court records Kasab’s version.

All the three accused are charged with murder of 166 persons and participating in the conspiracy.

Amanda Knox Verdict

Amanda Knox Verdict updates :- American university student Amanda Knox arrives in court for her murder trial in Perugia, Dec. 4, 2009. Defendants Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were both found guilty for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in November 2007.

The court has heard final statements from all the parties, but they really weren’t final. A couple of days are set aside for rebuttals.

On Wednesday, the prosecution laid out its case once again. In essence, it’s this:

Amanda was in the middle of a drug-induced sexual assault.

Meredith disliked Amanda, thinking she slept around too much and didn’t clean up after herself, and the hostility was mutual.

The killers staged a clumsy burglary to make it look like someone had broken in the house to kill Meredith.

Amanda accused a man of the murder who she knew to be innocent, Patrick Lumumba.

Amanda is being tried with her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito. Amanda took the stand during the trial, but Raffaele did not.

Rudy Guede, a Ivory Coast native, opted for a speedy trial and was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The defense has argued that there’s no motive for murder, and that there’s no physical proof linking Amanda to the scene of the crime. Specifically, they say there’s no trace of Amanda’s footprints or fingerprints anywhere in the room in which Meredith was killed.

Defense lawyers have hotly contested scientific work showing DNA from Raffaele on Meredith’s bra clasp, and from Amanda on the knife that the prosecution believes to be the one used to kill Meredith.

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Amanda Knox Verdict was first posted on December 5, 2009 at 7:26 am.