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Saddam playing hard to get: Rumsfeld (Go To Top)

          Washington, Dec15: Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has yielded no intelligence information since his capture on Saturday night (local time), US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has revealed. "He has not been co-operative in terms of talking or anything like that," said Rumsfeld, adding that he was nonetheless "compliant or resigned" to his fate. Hussein is in US custody since his discovery in an underground hideout near his hometown of Tikrit.

          Rumsfeld said that Hussein was being accorded the privileges of a prisoner-of-war under the Geneva Convention although America was "not defining him as such". As for the former President's fate, Rumsfeld said it would be decided at a senior level. "No one would want to turn anyone over until and unless there was a process in place that was acceptable and appropriate and would ensure that he would be brought to justice," he said.

          Trial in Iraq likely: Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, the head of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council (IGC), said Saddam Hussein would be judged by Iraqi judges at a tribunal working and located in Iraq "under the supervision of international experts". In Baghdad, as in other parts of Iraq, celebrations were still on over Hussein's capture and arrest. Informed sources from Baghdad said that the possible charges against Saddam would include his genocidal campaign against the Kurds in the 1980s, including the use of poison gas at Halabja, the suppression of Kurdish and Shia revolts after the first Gulf War, his brutality against the Marsh Arabs, his crimes committed during the wars against Iran and Kuwait and his possible involvement in the recent attacks on U.S.-led coalition forces and other targets in Iraq.

          Adnan Pachachi, another IGC member who saw Saddam Hussein on Sunday when he was taken to Baghdad for further identification, said Hussein appeared "unrepentant and even defiant" and had insisted he had been a "just and firm ruler". Meanwhile, U.S. President George W Bush was quoted by the BBC as saying that the capture had brought to an end a "dark and painful" era for the Iraqi people, but he warned it did not mean the end of violence in Iraq. A special tribunal was set up in Iraq last week to try leading members of the former government. Some human rights groups say an international tribunal - without the power to award the death penalty - would be preferable to a trial in Iraq.

          Arab reaction: In the Arab world, the reactions were mixed. In Kuwait, which was invaded by Saddam Hussein's forces 13 years ago, people termed his arrest as the moment the whole world had been waiting for. In other parts of the region, there was amazement and disappointment that the Iraqi leader had given in to his pursuers without a fight, but also continuing admiration. The U.S. said the operation to capture the former President involved various defence units and was launched within 24 hours of receiving a tip-off from a member of Saddam Hussein's clan.

          Military officials described the sequence of events: About 600 US troops descend on al-Dawr, south of Tikrit, and conduct intensive searches; US forces find a "rural farmhouse" and cordon off an area of about 2 km by 2 km; "Spider hole" or cellar located next to a hut - the narrow hole covered with a rug, bricks and dirt and about six to eight feet (1.8m to 2.5m) deep, with a styrofoam insert; Saddam Hussein found inside "like a rat", armed with a pistol, and arrested at 20.30 local time on Saturday. U.S. said he offered no resistance; Two unidentified people said to be "close allies" of Saddam Hussein arrested and weapons and more than 750,000 dollars cash confiscated.

         U.S. officials said that the former Iraqi leader faces intensive interrogation both over what he knows about the ongoing insurgency against the U.S.-led occupation and about alleged weapons of mass destruction - the basis for going to war. Anonymous US officials who have reviewed transcripts of Saddam Hussein's initial questioning are quoted as saying it is full of rhetoric. Time magazine reported that he talked about the Iraqi people being in bondage but that he has denied possessing weapons of mass destruction.

          Still in Iraq: A member of Iraq's Governing Council said on Monday that Saddam Hussein was still in Iraq. He denied reports that he had been moved to U.S. installation in Qatar, a news agency reported. Earlier, a US television had reported that Saddam Hussein had been moved from Iraq to a U.S. installation in Qatar. The US Central Command has its war headquarters in Qatar. The US commander in Iraq Lieutenant-General Ricardo Sanchez declined to comment on Saddam's whereabouts in an interview.

          UK not for execution: Britain would not support the execution of Saddam Hussein, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw indicated in London on Monday. He acknowledged that any punishment should be decided by the Iraqi people. He also stressed on the importance of giving Saddam a clearly fair trial. "We have abolished the death penalty here, we are opposed to the death penalty and its use in other countries, and we campaign hard to try and extend the abolition of the death penalty," Straw told reporters.

Saddam's 'capture' will stabilize Iraq, hopes New Delhi  (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Dec 15: The capture of Iraq's former President Saddam Hussein would help in stabilization of the war-ravaged Iraq, said External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna here Monday. The US Secretary of State Colin Powell called up External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and apprised him about the situation, he said.

           "US Secretary of State Colin Powell called up External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and shared his thoughts following the arrest of former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein. The Secretary of State expressed the hope that this would bring about a change in the psychology of the whole situation, leading to rebuilding and reconstruction and greater respect for the Iraqi Governing Council. The External Affairs Minister expressed the hope that these developments should contribute to the stabilization of Iraq," the spokesman said while addressing reporters. Notably, New Delhi had opposed the US-led war on Iraq to oust Saddam earlier this year saying that it was a unilateral action outside the United Nations' mandate.

Opposition demands Govt statement on Saddam arrest (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Dec15: Putting pressure on Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's government to use its "clout" in the international comity of nations to ensure that arrested Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein be treated "humanely", the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Monday asked the Government to come out with a statement in Parliament on the arrest. "The Government should make a statement on the situation arising out of the arrest of the former Iraqi ruler. We must do our best to see he is treated in a proper way," S Jaipal Reddy of the Congress, said while putting forth his party's view during zero hour.

          Raising the issue in the House, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) member Dharamraj Singh Patel said efforts should be made to see that Hussein was humanely treated and tried under UN jurisdiction, adding that there were already apprehensions that Hussein may be killed. Lok Janashakti leader Ram Vilas Paswan said Prime Minister Vajpayee or External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha should state the Government's stand on the issue. "It should not be left to the will of the Americans alone," he said.

          Basudeb Acharia of the CPI-M said Government should take note of these developments while Rajesh Ranjan, Independent, wanted that the House be taken into confidence on the issue. Speaker Manohar Joshi said the notice of the Prime Minister should be drawn to the views expressed by the members. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Bhavana Chikhalia said she would convey this to the Prime Minister.

Iraqis should decide Saddam's fate: Pak (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Dec 15: Pakistan on Monday said that the people of Iraq should decide about the fate of former President Saddam Hussein. It fsaid that that peace and tranquility will now return to Iraq. At his weekly briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Masood Ahmad Khan said that some 38 Iraqi nationals had illegally entered Pakistan and were arrested but since then Iraqi government refused to accept them they could not be returned to that country. He said that efforts were being taken now to deport these Iraqis. Regarding sending Pakistani troops to Iraq, he said that the Pakistani stance remains unchanged. To another question regarding the Pakistanis detained in Afghan jails, he said that the government was in touch with the Afghan government. He expressed hope that they would soon return to Pakistan.

Car bomb blasts in Iraq: 10 killed (Go To Top)

          Baghdad, Dec 15: Two car bombs reportedly exploded at police stations in and near Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least 10 people and shattering any hopes of a quick end to violence after the capture of Saddam Hussein. One bomb ripped through the Zuhour police station at Husseiniyah village, 30 km north of Baghdad, killing nine people and injuring more than 20, a police official told a foreign news agency. The other explosives-laden car, with the driver inside, exploded outside Amiriyah criminal investigation department in Baghdad shortly afterwards. The driver was killed and eight people wounded. Four cars were destroyed in the blast. A police officer on the scene said the attack was a suicide bombing. "We were standing outside the police station when a very fast car came, we shouted to try and stop him but he detonated the car," the officer said.

Arms found in Punjab village (Go To Top)

          Tarn Taran, Dec 15: Police claim to have recovered arms and ammunition hidden in a field in Bhakhiwind village in Tarn Taran district on Monday. The arms recovered included seven rocket launchers, two hand-grenades and 30 live cartridges of 9mm pistol. Tarn Taran SSP Gurukirpal Singh said that the arms had the marks of Pakistani ordnance factory. "The police near Khemkaran border recovered seven rockets, four grenades and some bullets. After receiving information we searched the area. This ammunition belongs to Pakistan as they have marks of Pakistani ordnance factory on it," Singh said. He said that these arms might have been hidden during the days of militancy in the state.

Bhutan crackdown on Indian insurgents (Go To Top)
-by Soma Mitra

          Thimpu, Dec 15: The Royal Bhutan Army on Monday launched combing operations to trace militants belonging to Indian insurgent groups like ULFA, NDFB and KLO. These groups have their camps in the dense forests of Bhutan. According to Joint Secretary (Home) of the Royal Government of Bhutan Tsering Wangda, the ULFA millitants have already been removed from their central headquarter in Phukaptong. The operation was started at 9 am (Bhutan time) and was still on.

          Wangda said that the RBA in keeping with the national assembly's resolution, i.e. if all peaceful options, including one last round of talks to get the millitants to remove from their central headquarter failed to produce results, the RBA would have to carry out the responsibility. "And, in keeping with that the RBA today launched operations to flash out ULFA, NDFB and KLO millitants from their camps in Bhutan - The camps of the three separatist groups all the way from Samtse (opposite to Banarhat in India) in the west to Daisam (opposite to Guwahati) in the East and southern Bhutan.

          Wangda confirmed that the ULFA millitants have already been removed from their headquarter in Phukaptong. Action against the other camps are under way. According to reports, the RBA has sustained three casualities in Nganglam and 4 in Kalikhola, who are being evacuated by helicopter for medical treatment.

Karachi-based extortion racket busted in Ahmedabad (Go To Top)

          Ahmedabad, Dec 15: Police claimed to have busted a Karachi- based extortion racket having links with Pakistan-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. According to the police, on December 13 the state's anti- terrorist squad captured two persons accused of extorting money from businessmen in Unjha town in Gujarat. "Anti-terrorist squad has just busted a module of Karachi-based Sharif Khan, an associate of Dawood Ibrahim. Khan had motivated a businessman from Unjha by name Gopal Shivram Patel to work for him. He has been touch with him since 1995," Vipul Vijoy, ATS Inspector General, said. He added: "The style adopted by the Sharif Khan-Dawood gang was that they will approach businessmen who have outstanding recoveries from various business parties and then they offer to get the recovery done on the basis of being paid a part of the proceeds. In this case, Gopal Patel had approached several businessmen, including one from Ahmedabad, and offered to get his Rupees 28 lakhs recovered from a party."

DMK activists protest against Jaya (Go To Top)

          Chennai, Dec 15: At least 3000 Dravid Munetra Kazhagham (DMK) activists, the main Opposition party in Tamil Nadu Assembly, were arrested here on Monday when they were protesting against misuse of an anti-terror law by the state government. It may be recalled that State Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalitha had recently said that her government would arrest some party leaders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) for supporting Sri Lankan Tamil guerrillas. DMK leaders say the state government is misusing POTA for political vendetta. Dozens of DMK lawmakers also protested against POTA outside the Parliament in capital New Delhi. Earlier this year, Jayalalitha had threatened to arrest Union Minister for Non-conventional Energy Resources Kannapan. Kannappan's colleague and head of his Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) party, Vaiko, has been in jail for more than a year on similar charges.

Vaiko permitted to attend Parliament (Go To Top)

          Chennai, Dec 15: The Madras High Court on Monday permitted POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) detenue and Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko to participate in the parliamentary proceedings and vote on the POTA amendment Bill on Tuesday. Justice A. Kulasekaran granted the permission while disposing of a petition filed by Vaiko, who wanted to take part in the debate and put forth his views as an aggrieved person. The Tamil Nadu government opposed permission on the ground that there was no provision in the law to allow a POTA detenu to take part in the parliamentary debate.

Musharraf may have engineered attempt on life to retain US support (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Dec15: Contrary to claims made by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that a bomb blast at a bridge near Rawalpindi was directed specifically at him, highly placed sources here say that he may have engineered the incident to retain Washington's support as key ally in the war against terror and to strengthen his hold on power. The sources said that it was ironical that no one had as yet claimed responsibility for the blast. It was also inexplicable that the incumbent establishment was continuing to maintain a stoic silence about who may have been behind the so-called assassination bid. It was their suspicion that Musharraf may have used the "bid on his life" to convince the United States that he was still their best hope in Pakistan and in the South Asian region for cooperation as far as tackling the menace of global terrorism is concerned.

          Domestically too, Musharraf may have wanted to send a message across to the Bush Administration that attempts to remove him from power at this juncture could damage efforts to usher in a democratic, secular system of government, especially in the wake of reports that religious extremism and militant activity were raising their ugly heads again. On Sunday, Musharraf described the explosion that occurred after his presidential motorcade had passed as a "terrorist act." "When I came back from my tour of Sindh and as I was going back from Chaklala and we crossed the Amar Chowk Bridge, there was an explosion just half a minute or one minute after we crossed. I felt the explosion in my car. That is all that I know, except of course that it was certainly a terrorist act and certainly it was me who was targeted." He described the incident as the work of religious and sectarian extremists within the country itself.

India set 230 to win, require 193 at Adelaide (Go To Top)

          Sydney, Dec 15: India were 37 for no loss in the second innings at close on the fourth day of the second cricket Test against Australia here on Monday. The day began with Rahul Dravid completing the fourth double century of his career, and his first against Australia. Dravid's knock helped India inch within 33 runs of the Australian first innings total of 556. Dravid was the last man out for a mammoth 228. It was then the turn of Ajit Agarkar to stamp his performance and class on the game. The much vaunted Australian batting line-up was skittled by the wiry pacer, who he returned his Test best of 6 for 41. Sachin Tendulkar ably assisted him by chipping in with two wickets. The Australians were bundled out for 196 in their second innings and with a lead of 33, they totaled 229. India now need another 193 to win. Brief scores: Australia: 556 and 196 in 56.2 overs (D Martyn 38, S Waugh 42, A Gilchrist 43; A Agarkar 6-41, S Tendulkar 2-36); India 523 (V Sehwag 47, R Dravid 233, V V S Laxman 148; A Bichel 4-118) and 37 for no loss (V Sehwag 25 batting, A Chopra 10 batting).

Bottomlines

Kutcher asks Demi for a kid! (Go To Top)

          New York, Dec 15: Ashton Kutcher wants to have a child of his own. The "That 70's Show" star has reportedly asked Demi Moore if she will have his baby after the pair decide to get married. According to Teen Hollywood, the "Dude, Where's My Car?" star is completely smitten with Demi but fears if they get married he will never get the chance to be a biological father. Ashton's mother Diane Portwood has already spoken out about the couple's plans to marry in six months and how her son treats Demi's three daughters as his own. But a source close to the 25-year-old told the Daily Star, Ashton is desperate to have a child of his own.

Justin's ex-manager slaps a six million pound racial suit! (Go To Top)

          London, Dec 15: Former manager Ibrahim Duarte spells bad tidings for Justin Timberlake. The axed black tour manager is fighting for a six-million pound payoff, claiming that he was the victim of racist abuse. According to a report in the Mirror, the 22-year-old singer is said to have insulted the manager by telling him: "You ... ain't ..." . Other members of the group have also been accused of mocking and abusing black employees.

          An angry Duarte has now slapped a lawsuit on the singer, claiming he was dismissed because of his colour. "After four years of building them into one of the hottest bands in the world, they treated me less than human. I endured their constant racial slurs, jokes and belittling comments to make it work. But they just threw me to the curb like yesterday's trash," he said. According to the lawsuit filed in New York, band member Lance Bass made Duarte travel in a different bus because he was embarrassed to have a black tour manager. NSYNC Star JC Chasez, 27, would yell at Duarte and his colleagues "You black guys always ... up".

          Duarte claims his relationship with NSYNC deteriorated during its successful 'No Strings Attached' tour between February 1999 and December 2000. As soon as the tour ended, he said, he was fired because the group was embarrassed to have a black as "front man". "I dedicated my life and career to these guys. Their decision to replace me took me by surprise. There was no notice, no warning and certainly no reason. I sacrificed all to help these kids when no one else in the industry was willing to take the risk," he said.

Cruz gives Cruise perfect '10' ... ! (Go To Top)

          London, Dec 15: Movie actress Penelope Cruz has revealed rather proudly that her famous boyfriend Tom Cruise is great in their relationship. The stunning Spanish beauty boasted that Tom gets ten out of ten. Penelope, however, said that she has no plans to tie the knot with the dashing "Top Gun" star. According to the Sun, Penelope said, "On a scale of one to ten, he's ten, but I don't want to go into more details - I'm too shy." Penelope admitted that she does not get much time with her sweetheart because their acting career requires them to travel extensively but claimed, "A long-distance relationship is ok when two people always manage to find time for each other." However, the "Vanilla Sky" star refused to reveal much about the future of her relationship with Cruise. She reportedly told a German newspaper, "We don't discuss marriage. It's not the most important thing in my life. I wasn't brought up to think that way. If there comes a day when that decision is taken then it will be taken entirely in private."

-ANI