Heavy rains continue in Maha, Mumbai remains cut-off

Mumbai: Mumbai continued to remain cut-off by land, rail and air links with the rest of the country even as heavy rains continued to lash the commercial capital for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.

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The death toll due to landslides in the worst-affected Raigad and Ratnagiri districts in Konkan region of Maharashtra which remained inaccessible, crossed 60, official sources said. Thousands of office-goers began their day in the office, after being stranded at the workplace overnight as suburban trains and buses did not ply since Tuesday, as several areas of the city continued to be submerged.

Outbound long-distance trains were cancelled and incoming trains diverted, Railway sources said. Suburban Santacruz met office recorded a rainfall of 896 mm in the last 21 hours ending 5.30 am today while Colaba recorded a mere 57.1 mm rainfall during this period. Many suburban areas of the city also remained without power as water entered ground floor flats, forcing power supply to be shut off.

Even mobile and landline phone services were also affected. Flights into and out of Mumbai remained suspended due to heavy water logging of the runway and non-availability of landing aids.

Many international flight have been diverted to other destinations. Meanwhile, as many areas of Raigad and Ratnagiri districts continued to remain affected due to heavy rains and landslides. The state government sought assistance of the Navy, Army and Air Force for the relief and rescue operations, sources added.

Cauvery issue: Central team to visit TN, Karnataka

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday announced that a Central team would visit Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to ensure that the farmers of the region get sufficient Cauvery water to meet their irrigation needs.

In fact, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who met the media here after presenting a memorandum to Singh for the immediate release of 24.32 tmc ft of water (due between June to July 25) from Karnataka, quoting the Prime Minister said the team would be headed by Union Water Resources Minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi.

She reminded Singh that the release of 24.32 tmc ft of water by Karnataka was Tamil Nadu’s legally entitled balance share at this stage, as per the Tribunal’s interim order. She also put up a strong case for convening a meeting of the Cauvery River Authority at the earliest.

Union Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran, who met Singh along with a Tamil Nadu UPA delegation on Monday to discuss the issue, quoted Singh in a statement saying the Prime Minister spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh last night itself.

He told the Prime Minister he would decide on releasing water to Tamil Nadu after holding discussions with Karnataka officials.

Meanwhile, a release issued by the PMO on Jayalalithaa’s meeting with Singh at the Parliament House here said Singh had informed her he had already spoken to Dharam Singh in this regard. He said: “It is our duty to see that justice is done to all farmers.

The farmers’ interests are dearest to me. The Government of India will do all that is possible to relieve the distress of the farmers and ensure their needs are met.“

Jayalalithaa told the media that she had urged the Prime Minister to direct Karnataka to release water from both the Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar reservoirs so that the deficit of 24.32 tmc ft to Tamil Nadu was made good. Presently, only the extra water from the Kabini reservoir is being released.

“As on July 25 this year, Karnataka should have released 45.80 tmc ft of water to Tamil Nadu. As against this, Mettur received only 21.48 tmc ft leaving a deficit of 24.32 tmc ft.”

If the entire quantity of water, as ordered by the Tribunal, had been released by Karnataka, the farmers in the Cauvery delta districts of Tamil Nadu would have been in a position to begin cultivation of the short-term kuruvai crop. “This stark fact should be noted,” she told him.

Jayalalithaa said Karnataka had had a normal monsoon this year and the reservoirs had received good inflows. The total storage in Karnataka’s reservoirs as of July 25 was 70.25 tmc ft. “This is a comfortable storage situation and will easily enable the release of the prescribed quantity to Tamil Nadu as per the interim order of the Tribunal without any deficit,” the Chief Minister added.

The importance of the timely release of water as per the schedule is critical to the delta farmers and “delaying the release is justice denied.” While Kabini is almost full, the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam had 27.491 tmc ft, with the height touching 105.56 ft, she said.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister blamed Karnataka for not releasing water on a monthly basis and according to the weekly schedule as worked out by the Tribunal in 1991. On her attempts to contact Dharam Singh to release the water, she said she had already written letters to him besides meeting him in Delhi during the NDC meeting.

A senior ministerial delegation from Tamil Nadu would once again meet him on August 2 to urge him to release the water. Though the appointment was sought for Tuesday, it was given only for August 2, she charged. She even charged the PMO of giving an appointment to her on Tuesday though she had sought an appointment for Monday.

Jayalalithaa stressed that the Centre should prevail upon Karnataka to release the entire quantity of water at least by August 10 to save the kuruvai crop. “After that it will be too late to save the crops,” she said adding that the water flow must be sustained as per the orders of the Tribunal.

To a question, Jayalalithaa said UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi should do her duty to the Tamil Nadu farmers by directing the Congress-ruled Karnataka Government to adhere to the interim orders of the Tribunal and release water.

India to open 8 more pilgrim centres for Pakistanis

Islamabad, India on Tuesday agreed to open eight more religious centres for pilgrims from Pakistan as the two countries discussed several proposals, including easing visa procedures to facilitate friendly exchanges in the fields of art, culture and tourism.

"India has agreed to some of the proposals put forward by Pakistan especially on religious shrines. We have agreed to open up all the eight shrines for religious tourism," Union Secretary for Culture Nina Ranjan told reporters here after holding talks with her Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas.

About 1,500 pilgrims from Pakistan visit India every year and the number could almost double with the opening of the new pilgrim centres, she said.

India now allows Pakistani pilgrims to visit five religious centres in the country.

On steps to boost friendly exchanges in the fields of art, culture and tourism, she said a Pakistani film festival could be held in India first to be followed by a joint Pakistani Punjabi film festival.

"We are looking into group tourism. We have given a list of 16 tour operators in India who could help Pakistanis in group tourism," she added.

The two-day second round of Cultural Secretaries-level talks were part of the Composite Dialogue process to normalise relations between the two countries.

The first round was held in August 2004 in New Delhi.

The talks were held in a cordial and frank atmosphere, Ranjan said, adding "we have gone ahead on many issues."

Nasa looks into shuttle 'debris'

NASA examining video of debris spotted during liftoff
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida -- Discovery roared into the skies over Florida Tuesday morning as NASA returned to shuttle space flight for the first time since the 2003 Columbia disaster.

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Under a blue sky, the spacecraft lifted off at 10:39 a.m. ET, as scheduled.

"Liftoff of space shuttle Discovery, beginning America's new journey to the moon, Mars and beyond," said George Diller, the voice of shuttle launch control.

The launch followed days of troubleshooting to fix a faulty fuel sensor in its external tank that led to cancellation of a planned launch on July 13.

But video of what appeared to be some kind of debris falling off Discovery during launch prompted questions that NASA officials said they couldn't immediately answer.

The NASA video showed the unidentified debris falling and not appearing to hit Discovery. Falling debris that struck the craft during liftoff was blamed for the eventual destruction of Columbia as it re-entered the atmosphere in February 2003.

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Since then, NASA has taken steps to minimize the amount and size of debris falling off the shuttle's exterior tank during its ascent. But the space agency has said it's impossible to eliminate falling launch debris. NASA experts said they will analyze liftoff video frame by frame in the coming days.

In a departure from previous shuttle liftoffs, 107 ground and aircraft cameras scrutinized this one to observe possible damage to Discovery from falling debris.

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By Sunday, the mission management team will have enough information from the cameras to know whether Discovery is in safe enough condition to return to Earth, a NASA spokesman said before the debris video was released.

In February 2003, Columbia was destroyed during re-entry. Investigators blamed debris hitting the spacecraft during liftoff for damage that led to the disaster. All seven Columbia crew members were killed.

During a post-launch news conference, top NASA officials praised the liftoff.

"It was a very, very clean countdown," shuttle launch director Michael Leinbach, who watched the liftoff from the space center's control room, told reporters. "The mood was just giddy. People were slapping each other on the back."

"My heart has been in my throat all morning," said deputy shuttle program manager Wayne Hale. "It's been a great day."

During its first eight minutes aloft, Discovery accelerated to more than 17,000 mph in its journey to rendezvous with the international space station, the outpost orbiting 250 miles above Earth.

It jettisoned its solid fuel rocket boosters and its external liquid fuel tank before settling into orbit.

Commander Eileen Collins described the ascent as smooth and the crew feeling great.

"I couldn't ask for a better flight," Collins said from space.

The countdown to launch appeared to go smoothly. NASA said there was no sign of the fuel sensor problem that prompted controllers to scrub the mission's first liftoff attempt.

The space agency said it had tightened the electrical grounding on the fuel gauge sensors and made other adjustments.

If the sensor trouble had resurfaced Tuesday, NASA officials said they were considering waiving safety rules and launching regardless, because of the re-wiring and the redundancy of the system's backup sensors.

About three hours before liftoff, Discovery's seven crew members were strapped into their seats.

Collins was the first to board, giving a confident wave to NASA cameras before entering the cockpit.

Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi displayed signs that said: "Get out of quarantine free" and "OUT TO LAUNCH."

"Take note of what you saw here today. The power and the majesty of the launch, of course, but also the competence and the professionalism, the sheer gall, the pluckiness, the grittiness of this team that pulled this program out of the depths of despair 2 1/2 years ago and made it fly," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin told a press conference following the launch.

Among the dignitaries at the space center who witnessed the launch were first lady Laura Bush and her brother-in-law, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

President Bush watched the launch from his private dining room next to the Oval Office, according to a White House spokesman.

"Our space program is a source of great national pride, and this flight is an essential step toward our goal of continuing to lead the world in space science, human space flight and space exploration," Bush said in a statement.

About 10 miles from the launch pad, scores of people who had camped out overnight along the Banana River watched the liftoff. Parked vehicles jammed state Route 528.

"That's the best thing I've seen in forever," said Darrell Pearce, 34, of Nashville, Tennessee. "Yesterday was my birthday and so it was a hell of a birthday present."

"When I saw it I was like, 'I can't believe I was a part of this event,.'" said Tammy Smith, 23, of Morgan City, Louisiana. "I am just overwhelmed right now."

Discovery's crew is scheduled to test a battery of tools and techniques that NASA engineers developed after the loss of Columbia to inspect the spacecraft's heat-resistant exterior tiles for any damage that might occur during liftoff.

On Wednesday, the crew will survey the wings and nose cap using a new orbital boom sensor system -- a 50-foot robotic arm tipped with cameras and other instruments and mounted in the shuttle's payload bay.

Discovery's mission takes it to the space station on Thursday to deliver supplies and conduct repairs.

Bombings police search seized car

Police hunting the men behind the 21 July bomb attacks on London have seized a car and are continuing to search a block of flats for evidence.
Security sources say one of the bombers may have used the white VW Golf, seized in East Finchley, north London.

Officers searching the block where bomb suspect Yasin Hassan Omar lived in New Southgate found what sources called large amounts of "possible explosives".

Five people have so far been arrested in connection with the failed bombings.

None of the five, all held under anti-terror laws, is thought to have been among the bombers.

Earlier, police sealed off part of the A406 North Circular road and the A1000 Finchley High Road while they examined the car.

'Scruffy' car

It was checked for explosives and the security cordon lifted once police knew it was safe.

The vehicle, described as "scruffy", was thought to have been abandoned about a month ago. Officers later removed it from the scene in a covered truck.
Eyewitness Andrew Lim told police had cordoned off the road at about 1030 BST.

He described seeing scores of police officers descend on the scene, along with fire engines and ambulances, while helicopters circled overhead.

About 100 people were evacuated from nearby homes.


In detail: Thursday's attacks

Meanwhile, the family of Muktar Said Ibrahim, 27 - also known as Muktar Mohammed Said - who police believe was the Number 26 bus bomber, have said they knew nothing about his involvement until they saw his picture on the news.

In a statement, they said they were "shocked" when they saw it and immediately contacted police.

The family's home in Stanmore, north east London, is being guarded by police.

Police remain at the 12-storey Curtis House, in Ladderswood Way, New Southgate, which was stormed by armed officers on Monday.

Counter-terrorism sources confirmed a "large amount" of "possibly" explosive material had been found there.

Speaking on the Channel 4 news, Met chief Sir Ian Blair said: "I can say that the finds are significant.

"It's also fair to say that the speeds in this investigation is astonishing. I think my men and women are doing an extraordinary job."

Police believe an underground car park attached to the flats could have been used to store bomb-making materials.

Materials which could have been used for bombs have been discovered in rubbish chutes and bins inside the building.
Detectives are also investigating the possibility some of the bombers may have returned to Curtis House after Thursday's failed attack.

Neighbour Tanya Wright, who lives on the floor below Omar's flat, told BBC News she saw at least one of the suspects there in a group on Friday.

She said: "As soon as they saw me and the dog they looked very suspicious and very worried and just saw me and panicked and jumped back into the flat and slammed the door."

Safe house

Detectives have no evidence the suspects have left the country and believe they may be hiding in a safe house in the capital.

London mayor Ken Livingstone told "There's a very real risk they will have gone straight to a safe house and be just locked into it, perhaps with a lot of supplies there."

He asked anyone who had noticed suspicious "comings and goings" at a house near them to come forward.

police were "optimistic" they would catch the bombers.
"They're still hoping these men will break cover, someone will spot them, it will be a member of the public that phones in and that is how they'll catch them."

Police have linked Omar to the attack on a Victoria line Tube train between Warren Street and Oxford Circus on 21 July.


Enfield Council confirmed he had been a tenant at Curtis House, where he received £75 a week in housing benefit.

Ibrahim has been linked to the same address.

Property searches

Both men have been legally resident in the UK for more than 10 years, having arrived as child dependents of asylum seekers, the Home Office says.

Omar, 24, is a Somali who arrived in Britain aged 11 in 1992 and was granted indefinite leave to remain in May 2000.

Ibrahim is a naturalised British citizen who arrived from Eritrea in 1992, aged 14. He was issued with his British passport in September 2004.

According to Harrow Borough Council, someone called Muktar Mohammed Said attended Canons High School in Stanmore, between 1991 and 1994.

Two other men are being sought in connection with failed bombings - one near Shepherd's Bush, west London, the other near Oval station, south London.

There are also fears a fifth bomber is on the loose after a device was found in Little Wormwood Scrubs, west London, on Saturday.

Margaret Gilmore says police have a "good idea" who the remaining bombers are.

Police have been given extra time to question a man arrested in Tulse Hill, south London, on 23 July.

He can now be held until 27 July, along with two men arrested in Stockwell on 22 July.

The other two detainees were arrested around New Southgate on 25 July.

A sixth man arrested as part of the inquiry was not linked with the 21 July attacks and has been charged with wasting police time.

Non Resident Keralites' meet in August

Thiruvananthapuram: A meeting of Non Resident Keralites will be held here on August 5-6 under the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department (NORKA) to discuss several issues concerning people of the state who are working abroad.
Besides, a meeting of foreign-returnees and Keralites working in other parts of India would also be held in the next two days to make the event a world Malayalis' meet, chairman of the nodal agency Norka-Roots, M.M. Hassan told a press meet here.
A host of issues like air travel needs of NRKs, the labour scenario in the Gulf countries, investment avenues for NRKs and problems faced by women working abroad as housemaids would be discussed.
Though the launch of a low cost budget service by Air India was a fulfillment of their long-pending demand, complaints still persisted of non-availability of sufficient seats in these flights during the peak season, Hassan said.
The registration for the issuance of multi-purpose identity cards for NRKs, to be used when they come home on leave, would begin at the meet, he said. Union Minister for Overseas Affairs Jagdish Tytler, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan would address the gathering.

Kerala Congress retains recognition

New Delhi: The Election Commission's modified criteria for recognition has enabled four regional parties including Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh to retain their recognition as state party.

Besides SP, three other parties from South -- MDMK and PMK and Kerala Congress -- fit into the new criteria to retain their state party status in Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively, EC sources said.

These four parties were among the nine parties which were served show-cause notices by the EC sometime back on the basis of the poll performance in the last Lok Sabha polls. In the meantime, the EC came with the modifications in the criteria for political parties to seek recognition as a national party or as a state party.

These four parties have become eligible under the new criteria to retain the state party status, the sources said. Five other regional parties -- CPI (ML) in Assam, JMM in Bihar, Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann), Meghalaya Hill State People's Democratic Party and Trinamool Congress in Tripura have not fulfilled even the new criteria, the sources said adding the Commission is expected to take a decision on their status soon.

President's rule extended in Bihar; SC notice on dissolving house

New Delhi: President's rule in Bihar was Monday extended by six months, even as the Supreme Court issued notice on the dissolution of the state assembly.

"The cabinet has recommended extension of the president's rule in Bihar by six months," a senior minister told reporters here after a cabinet meeting.

Bihar was placed under federal rule March 7 on the recommendation of the central government because no party or coalition could form a government after the February elections threw up a hung verdict.

The state assembly was dissolved in May and fresh polls are to be held October-November.

The Supreme Court notice to the centre and Bihar Governor Buta Singh came on a petition filed May 31 by four members of the dissolved house.

The petitioners said the assembly had been dissolved at the behest of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad to prevent Janata Dal-U (JD-U) leader Nitish Kumar from staking claim to form a government.

The petitioners had "made out a case for hearing", the Supreme Court observed.

Ram Parvesh Rai (JD-U), Rameshwar Prasad Chaurasia (Bharatiya Janata Party), Anil Kumar (breakaway group of Lok Janshakti Party), and Kishore Kumar Munna (Independent) had filed the petition.

"Dissolution of the assembly within 79 days of its creation without holding any meaningful efforts to explore the possibility of a formation of a popular government itself is unconstitutional," the petitioners said.

US to help India with streamline flights, airport operations

NEW DELHI: After the historic open skies treaty, India and the US are expected to finalise an umbrella agreement on technical assistance in civil aviation soon. The agreement will clear the way for the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to help India revamp its regulatory set-up and introduce new technologies.

The offer was made by the US but it is India, which is now keen on firming up the agreement at the earliest given the pressure from the increasing number of airlines and a forecast of double-digit growth in annual air traffic.

The agreement, sources say, has already been cleared by the ministries of civil aviation and external affairs. Now the Ministry of Law is studying it but the indication is that it will be signed shortly.

Like the Open Skies, the US has this agreement with over a hundred countries. There is widespread concern that the growth in aviation may become stunted due to an outdated regulatory mechanism and poor airport infrastructure. The slackness in technological upgradation that hampers efficient air traffic control complicates matters further.

The agreement will allow FAA experts to train Indians in infrastructure and regulation. Some of the key areas where FAA help is expected are:

* SATELLITE-BASED NAVIGATION: This is the future of air navigation. ISRO and the Airports Authority of India are already working on the GAGAN project, which involves an elaborate network of ground-based systems linked to a designated satellite. FAA will assist India in developing this technology and emerge as the sole provider of such services in the region.

* AIR NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES: While satellite-based systems are the future, India has not upgraded its existing navigation systems like radars, computer hardware etc. Neither has it redesigned its procedures and air traffic routes to meet the current demand. The FAA will bring in its expertise to initiate a transition.

* AIRPORT CERTIFICATION: India has never certified its airports or even drawn up a set of objective standards. The International Civil Aviation Organisation has now made such certification mandatory. The FAA can provide expertise in carrying out the audits.

* AVIATION SAFETY: Besides its long charter of other duties, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is the sole regulator for safety. Streamlining this body is a key recommendation of the Naresh Chandra Committee on Civil Aviation reforms. FAA will share its experience and help train the manpower needed to revamp the DGCA.

Significantly, the signing of the agreement will lead to harmonisation of procedures, equipment, training and safety standards between India and the US. At some stage of this engagement, India can hope to even initiate negotiations on a bilateral air safety agreement with the US that will certify items produced by Indian companies to be used by American aviation companies like Boeing.

It is believed that the FAA is considering opening an India office. Currently, it has a regional office in Bangkok but one in India will help increase its presence in South Asia, the Middle-East and Central Asia. These plans are likely to be firmed up during the visit of FAA Administrator Mario Clifton Blakey in November.

Protests against teenagers' killings rock Valley

KUPWARA P: rotest demonstrations surfaced on Monday in Kupwara district headquarters and other parts of the Valley against the killing of three teenagers by the Army personnel at Bagargund village in the district on the night of July 23.

Police opened fire and burst teargas shells to disperse the protesters in Trehgam and other places. Sensing that there could be more trouble, the authorities have ordered that all educational institutions in the district be closed for two days.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed convened an emergency meeting of the Unified Headquarters to discuss the situation. A special investigation team (SIT) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has been formed to probe the incident. Already a magisterial inquiry and an internal investigation had been ordered by the State Government and the Army.

The largest demonstration was held at Trehgam village where thousands of people from Batargam, Vilgam and Bangargund gathered to protest the killings. A clash ensued as police tried to stop the crowd at Batargam. Police used teargas shells and later opened fire in the air to disperse the protesters. But the demonstrators managed to break the cordon and reached Kupwara town where hundreds of students joined them.

The crowd threw stones and ransacked a hotel and the office of local traders. The irate mob also smashed the goodwill hoardings put up by the Army stating "Jawan Aur Awam Aman Hey Muqam" (The goal is peace for both the soldier and people). The protesters tried to set on fire a CRPF vehicle but the attempt was foiled. The clashes continued for the whole day. Demanding action against the "erring" security personnel student protesters said, "We will not rest till they are brought to book." Several people, including a police officer were injured. The whole town observed the strike.

Minister of State for Home A. R. Veeri, Minister for Forests Mohiuddin Sofi, and the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, B B Vyas, visited the town to take stock of the situation. They announced ex-gratia relief and jobs for the kin of each family. "The situation is well under control but the educational institutions have been closed for two days as a precautionary measure," Mr. Vyas told The Hindu.

In Srinagar, demonstrations were held by various organisations and around 20 activists of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, including senior leader Javed Ahmad Mir, were detained while they were protesting against the murder of the teenagers. They were taken into preventive custody when they were heading for the local office of the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan at Sonawar here.

Lawyers boycotted the courts on Monday in protest against the killings.

Mufti holds meeting


Concerned at the killings, the Chief Minister convened a Unified Headquarters meeting and discussed the situation.

He said the security personnel must observe restraint. All political parties have condemned the incident. The CPI (M) State secretary, M Y Tarigami, said such incidents brought shame to democracy. JKLF chairman Yasin Malik termed the incident as an attempt to derail the peace process.

Police name two bombing suspects

Police have named two of the men they suspect of trying to set off bombs in a co-ordinated attack on three London Tube trains and a bus last Thursday.
Officers are seeking Yasin Hassan Omar, 24, and Muktar Said Ibrahim, 27. Ibrahim is linked to a property in north London, which is being searched.

The bombs were all placed in the same type of food containers and carried in dark rucksacks, police revealed.

Two more people have been arrested, taking the total number held to five.


In detail: Thursday's attacks

The north London flat being raided by police is in Ladderswood Way, New Southgate.

said a number of other London addresses were also being searched.

Meanwhile, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, of the Metropolitan Police, confirmed that a device found hidden in bushes near Wormwood Scrubs, west London, at the weekend was similar to those used by the four would-be bombers.

This device was also packed into the plastic food container, which is manufactured in India and sold in 100 outlets across the UK, he said.

Mr Clarke appealed to shop owners who may have sold five or more of the containers together in recent months to come forward.

Plastic containers

They are described as six-and-a-quarter litre, clear, Delta family containers, with a white lid.

Mr Clarke, the head of the Met's anti-terrorist branch, urged anyone with information on the bombing suspects' whereabouts to immediately call 999 for emergency assistance.

"The public should not approach them," he warned.

In other developments:


An inquest opened into the death of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, who police mistook for a suicide bomber at Stockwell Tube on Friday, heard he was shot eight times - seven times in the head and once in the shoulder.

It emerged the visa allowing Mr Menezes to stay in Britain had expired. In a news conference on Monday, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: "I haven't got any precise information on his immigration status, my understanding is he was here lawfully."

Mr Menezes' family say they may sue the Metropolitan Police over his death.

Tony Blair said he was "desperately sorry" about Mr Menezes' death but urged people to support the police in the "very, very difficult circumstances" they were facing. Police also have also given more details of the terror suspects' alleged movements on the day of the attacks.

Three of the men police want to trace entered Stockwell Tube station, in south London, just before 1225 BST last Thursday, Mr Clarke said.

The first suspect, as yet unnamed, but pictured above, attempted to set off a device between Stockwell and Oval stations, he said.

When this failed he was chased by "extraordinarily brave members of the public who tried to detain him", Mr Clarke explained.

He left Oval station at about 1235 BST and ran towards Brixton, discarding his distinctive New York logo top in Gosling Way as he went. He was last seen at 1245 BST in Tindal Street.

The second suspect, named as Ibrahim, took the Tube from Stockwell to Bank and then boarded a number 26 bus towards Hackney.

"He was carrying a grey and black rucksack and sat on a seat towards the back of the bus with the bag next to him. He too tried to set off a bomb," Mr Clarke said.

Police say Ibrahim might also be known as Muktar Mohammed Said.

The third man, who police named as Omar, entered Stockwell Tube carrying a small purple rucksack.

He allegedly tried to set off a bomb on a northbound Victoria line train between Oxford Circus and Warren Street stations.


Shortly afterwards, he was seen without the rucksack in Warren Street station, where Mr Clarke said he vaulted the ticket barrier and ran towards the exit.

A fourth man believed to be involved in the attacks got on a train from Westbourne Park station towards Shepherd's Bush, wearing a dark baseball cap and carrying a small rucksack.

After allegedly trying to set off his bomb, he got off the train, which was not below ground, probably by climbing through a window at the end of the carriage, police said.

He made his way along the track for 200 to 300 yards before making his way through back gardens, walking past BBC Television Centre in Wood Lane as he made good his escape, said Mr Clarke.

I am sensitive to Kerala's problems, says PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said for states like Kerala, which get fewer allotment from the Centre due to its high social development indices, alternative methods will have to be devised to address their grievances.

"Adequate central funds do not go to states like Kerala that have solved social problems long ago. We must find other ways for compensating such states," Dr Singh told a Malayalam TV channel.

He said the government was trying to address the problems of regional imbalances. "This does not mean that the Centre does not have any interest on development activities in Kerala, which has already taken huge strides in fields like health, education and population control," he added.

Admitting that he was sensitive to Kerala's concerns, Dr Singh said new equations will have to be found to ensure that the state does not have any serious grievances.

The state government must come up with innovative schemes for enterprising Non-Resident Indians who wish to return to the state, he said adding the Reserve Bank of India must ask the banks in the state to lend more for the purpose.

Indo-Pak talks on promotion of friendly exchanges on Tuesday

Islamabad: Issues like easing visa restrictions to host cultural events and promote frequent interaction between artists of the two countries are expected to figure in talks between India and Pakistan here on Tuesday.

A delegation of Indian officials headed by Secretary Culture, Neena Ranjan, would arrive here on Monday for talks with their Pakistani counterparts on Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in different fields, which is one of the eight topics listed under the composite dialogue process.

Indian officials here say that ever since the peace process began last year, Indian High Commission in Islamabad has increased the visa facilities by leaps and bounds. Currently about 10,000 visas were being issued, which included medical as well as business categories.

A number of Pakistani film personalities, musicians and artists were being issued visas to tour India. Currently around 100 Pakistani film artists and technicians were in Mumbai either taking part in shooting of movies, working out tie ups for joint productions or scouting for chances to act in Bollywood.

A number of Indian film stars had also visited Pakistan, including Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif. Local officials in Lahore reportedly refused permission to Saif to perform. On the music front, Pakistan issued visas to Wasifuddin Dagar to perform but his show was cancelled in Karachi by the local authorise. Another Indian artist, Shubha Mudgal, was denied visa despite the Indian High Commission announcing the schedule of her performance here.

Govt may face monsoon heat as NDA, Left roll up sleeves

NEW DELHI: With the BJP-led Opposition and the Left set to take on the UPA government on economic, security and foreign affairs issues, the monsoon session of Parliament beginning on Monday is likely to be a heated affair.

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It would also see some changes in the proceedings of the Lok Sabha. At the all-party lunch meeting on Sunday, which was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, there was a broad consensus on two vital proposals made by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

First, after Question Hour and Calling Attention motions every day, 30 minutes of the House's time will be devoted to discussing matters of urgent national importance. Second, after 6 pm every day, special mentions on important constituency-related issues would be taken up for 30 minutes to an hour.

Hoping that all parties would ensure that the session is orderly and constructive discussions are held, the Speaker said, “There is no difficulty in allowing any matter to be debated subject to rules and availability of time.”

Offering an olive branch to the Left, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “The government has no problem in discussing any matter or any issue of public importance that the Opposition or supporting parties of the UPA want to raise in the House.”

Then, he went on subtly underline what those issues should be: “Floods, drought and other important matters.”

But the Left and the NDA are likely to raise the disinvestment in BHEL, inflation, FDI, WTO, the fuel price hike, the Indo-US joint statement, the PM's statement on the Raj in Britain, the Iran oil pipeline and the Ayodhya attack.

BJP's deputy leader in Lok Sabha, V K Malhotra said, “The Opposition would participate in the proceedings and raise major issues effectively and aggressively. We will create no situation which would disrupt the House. However, if other parties create any disturbance, the Opposition should not be blamed.”

This apart, there was a slight tiff over the length of the session between BJP and the UPA. Malhotra, supported by CPI's Gurudas Dasgupta, complained to the Speaker about the shortening length of Parliamentary sessions, drawing a comment from Chatterjee that he was willing to sit for 365 days, if the Government desires.

Azad, however, was quick to point to out that during the NDA rule, the monsoon session never stretched for more than 19-20 days - the coming session will be of 23 days.

Sunday 's meeting was also attended by Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha C S Atwal, MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri and P R Kyndiah and party leaders including Basudeb Acharia (CPI-M), Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI), Prabhunath Singh (JD-U), D P Yadav (RJD), Ramchandra Paswan (LJP), Kuppuswamy (DMK), S S Dhindsa (SAD), Ramgopal Yadav (SP), Ajit Singh (RLD) and Braja Kishore Tripathy (BJD).

Women's bill meet in 10 days

NEW DELHI: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Sunday that an all-party meet would be organised within 10 days to discuss the introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill.

Citing UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's “keenness” to introduce the bill, Azad said, “In a week to 10 days, a final round of talks will be held with leaders of all political parties and we hope to come to some conclusion.” Azad said that the government would do its best to introduce the bill in the monsoon session.

Nicobar quake: No cause for alarm, says Centre

New Delhi, : The Centre late on Sunday night said there was no cause of any alarm following the earthquke in Nicobar Islands region and it was not issuing any Tsunami alert as that could lead to "unnecessary panic".



"Police and the revenue officials in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are alert and are keeping a close watch on the situation," Union Secretary, Border Management, D K Sankaran, said.



He said the Disaster Management Control Room has been activated and the Home Ministry was in touch with the concerned officials in Andaman and Nicobar and Tamil Nadu.



Sankaran said he had spoken over telephone to Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar, Ram Kapse, and the Relief Commissioner.



"We do not want to create unnecessary panic by issuing any advisory," Sankaran said, adding the control room will continue to remain in touch with authorities in the Islands and Tamil Nadu.



He said the Disaster Management Control room has been activated and would continue to remain in touch with authorities in the Islands and Tamil Nadu.



The quake, however, set off widespread panic among residents in Port Blair who rushed out of their homes here and other parts of the islands where an estimated 10,000 people had been killed in the December 26 Tsunami last year.



The tremors came in the wake of unusually high tide in the sea for the last two days leading to submerging of many low-lying areas.



After the major quake, which was felt in the entire island range, there were repeated aftershocks mainly in the Nicobar group of islands in the south.



Defence sources in Car Nicobar islands also said there was no damage at any place although repeated shocks were felt.



The Indian Air Force base is located at Car Nicobar and it had suffered maximum damage in December tsunami in which nearly 100 defence personnel had died.



Even at Katchal island, which lies between Car Nicobar and Campbell Bay and where maximum casualty was recorded after Tsunami, there was no report of any damage.



Official sources said in Port Blair said people in Cambell Bay, which is located in the southernmost end of Andaman and Nicobar islands, were contacted and nothing alarming has been reported from anywhere.





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'Shoot-to-kill' policy to remain

Police leaders say they will not abandon their "shoot-to-kill" policy and warn more innocent people could be killed in the fight against terrorism.
The message came after Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes, 27, was shot dead by officers after being mistaken for a suicide bomber.

Met Police Chief Sir Ian Blair said "shoot-to-kill in order to protect" would continue, despite the "tragedy".

Police are still questioning three men in connection with Thursday's attacks.

Sir Ian has apologised for the killing of Mr Menezes, but defended the actions of his officers.

Investigation

The shooting is being investigated by Scotland Yard's Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Celio Amorim, Brazil's foreign minister, said Jack Straw had promised a full investigation into Mr Menezes' death.

Mr Amorim, who will meet with Mr Straw on Monday, said: "We can't recover the life of the Brazilian citizen who has been killed, but we can discover the details.

"The Brazilian government and the public are shocked and perplexed that a peaceful and innocent person should have been killed."

Brazilian authorities say they want to know why the 27-year-old was considered to be a suicide bomber.

John Denham, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said the investigation must be carried out quickly and the conclusions made "very public".

In an interview on Radio Four's Westminster Hour Mr Denham, a former Labour minister for policing, said a previous review into fatal shootings blamed poor intelligence or briefing of frontline officers for the deaths of innocent people.

"What we need to know really is whether in this case there's something fundamentally different to other shootings, or whether it's going to be in practice, those same failings."

No connection

Mr Menezes, from Tulse Hill, south London, was killed at Stockwell Tube station on Friday. He was not connected to Thursday's attempted bombings.

Meanwhile, a third man was arrested by police under the Terrorism Act. He was arrested in Tulse Hill on Saturday evening.

Police have been granted more time to question two other men arrested in Stockwell under the Terrorism Act.

Officers are still trying to trace the four men suspected of trying to bomb the Tube and bus network on 21 July.

Sir Ian said there was no reason to believe the suspects have left the country.

Detectives believe it is possible that one or more of the men may have killed themselves.

JEAN CHARLES DE MENEZES

Born 07/01/78, a Brazilian national
Originally from the city of Gonzaga, 500 miles northeast of Sao Paulo in the south-eastern state of Minas Gerais in Brazil
Moved to Sao Paulo at age 14
Lived in London for three years, working as an electrician


Family mourn police victim

Sunday's other developments include:


Alex Pereira retraces the final movements of Mr Menezes, his cousin, in an emotional protest.

Police believe two of the 7 July suicide bombers may have met terrorists involved in the failed 21 July attacks at a Welsh whitewater rafting centre.

Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Brian Paddick met community leaders in Stockwell to discuss the shooting.

Searches continue in Little Wormwood Scrubs where a package, possibly linked to the failed attacks, was found. It was removed for forensic examination after several controlled explosions.

Officers still searching an address raided on Saturday in Streatham Hill, south London, in connection with the attempted bombings.

Brazil's foreign minister Celso Amorim met Foreign Office officials in London seeking an explanation for the shooting. He will meet Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Monday.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke delays his holiday.

Aldgate Underground station - where seven commuters and suicide bomber Shehzad Tanweer were killed on 7 July - will reopen on Monday.
'No conspiracy'

Sir Ian, defending the actions of his officers, said: "What we have got to recognise is that people are taking incredibly difficult, fast-time decisions in life-threatening situations.

"It wasn't just a random event and what's most important to recognise is that it's still happening out there.

"Somebody else could be shot but everything is done to make it right.

"The important thing is there's nothing gratuitous going on, there is nothing cavalier here, there is no conspiracy to shoot people."

Sir Ian said officers had to aim for a suspected suicide bomber's head as a body shot could trigger an explosion as the chest area is where explosives are most likely to be.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke described the shooting of Mr Menezes as an "absolute tragedy".

'Tremendous support'

But he said: "I hope [the family] understand the police were trying to do their very best under very difficult circumstances."

On the ongoing bombings investigation, Mr Clarke said "good progress" was being made thanks to "tremendous support" from the public.

Mr Menezes's family is struggling to come to terms with his death
Mr Pereira, from London, told : "Apologies are not enough. I believe my cousin's death was result of police incompetence."

Describing his cousin as a "person full of life" he said he had been "a victim of government's mistakes".

'Shocked and perplexed'

His grandmother, Zilda Ambrosia de Figueiredo, told Globo TV "there was no reason to think he was a terrorist".

The body of Mr Menezes is to be taken back to Brazil as soon as possible.

'Akale' bags six state film awards

Thiruvananthapuram: `Akale' directed by Shyamaprasad has won six Kerala state film awards including the honour for the best Malayalam film of the year 2004.

`Akale,' based on Tennessee Williams' renowned play `Glas Menagerie' was a moving presentation of the conflict between dreams and reality and also displayed technical brilliance, the state film award jury chaired by Sreekumaran Thampi said.

Shyamaprasad was adjudged the best director for the film which also got awards for best actress, second best actress, art direction and cinematography.

`Kathavaseshan' directed by TV Chandran was chosen as the second best film.

Mammootty was adjudged the best actor for his role in `Kazhcha,' while Geethu Mohandas (Akale, Oridam) and Kavya Madhavan (Perumazhakkalam) shared the best actress award.

Lalu Alex got the second best actor award for his role in `Manhu Poloru Penkutty,' while Sheela was chosen second best actress for the performance in `Akale.'

Blessy was selected as the best debut director for his `Kazcha' which also got the award for artistic film with popular appeal.

Pradeep Nair, who directed `Oridam,' which narrates the tale of a sex worker got a special jury mention.

G. Venugopal was chosen the best male voice (Ullam) and Manjari was adjudged as the best female playback singer for he song in `Makalku.'

The awards were announced by Culture Minister A.P. Anil Kumar here in the presence of jury chairman Sreekumaran Thampi and other members.

Dialogue process a right step: Mufti

aSrinagar: Admitting that there could be ups and downs in the peace process, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said initiation of the dialogue process is a step taken in consonance with the ground realities. The ultimate destination is amity and peace, Sayeed said while addressing a public meeting at Sumbal in North Kashmir on Saturday.

Sayeed said there is no other option to deal with issues other than through reconciliation and talks. He complimented Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for creating a congenial atmosphere for the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service. ''I have asked the Prime Minister to have the fortnightly bus service changed into a daily service,'' he said adding it is one of the major Confidence Building Measures (CBM) with Jammu and Kashmir in focus.

Making a reference to the changed atmosphere in the state, Sayeed said development activities have picked up in every area of Jammu and Kashmir. He said although the fear of the gun has not completely gone, the people are actively involved in matters of governance and development.

He said political rallies are held and public meetings addressed by leaders of different parties. The Hurriyat leadership has also taken the democratic path which is a very good sign, Sayeed added.

Indian fears on Pak nuke plans groundless: Pak

Islamabad: Reiterating Pakistan's commitment to maintain nuclear deterrence, President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday dismissed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's concerns on his country's nuclear programme.

"The government is taking all necessary safeguards to maintain nuclear deterrence capability and no one has the right to speculate about effectiveness and reliability of our command and control structures," he said while chairing a review meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA) in Rawalpindi today.

The NCA is the apex decision making body in Pakistan's command and control structure, which held its meeting against the backdrop of Prime Minister Singh's recent statement.

The Indian Prime Minister had told CNN during his recent US visit that he was worried about the security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenals, which could fall into the hands of jehadi elements.

'N-deterrence fully operational'

The President said Pakistan's command and control predates those in its neighbourhood and were far more efficient, scientific and transparent.

He said Pakistan's nuclear deterrence was fully operational and continues to consolidate and strengthen with time.

The meeting, also attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, armed forces chiefs and a few federal ministers, took stock of recent India-US nuclear and defence framework agreement and decided on appropriate measures.

Pakistani officials believe that the pact would disturb arms balance in the region.

"It is not Pakistan's policy to engage in an arms race, but it will not close its eyes to induction of advanced weaponry in its neighbourhood," the President declared.

Addressing the participants, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government had identified nuclear energy as one of the attractive and alternative sources.

"We will engage with the international community to enhance our peaceful civilian nuclear programme," the Prime Minister said.

Shot man not connected to bombing

A man shot dead by police hunting the bombers behind Thursday's London attacks was a Brazilian electrician unconnected to the incidents.
The man, who died at Stockwell Tube on Friday, has been named by police as Jean Charles de Menezes, 27.

Two other men have been arrested and are being questioned after bombers targeted three Tube trains and a bus.

Police also said a suspect package found in north-west London on Saturday may be linked to Thursday's attacks.

'Tragedy'

Scotland Yard said Mr Menezes, who lived in Brixton, south London, was completely unconnected to the bomb attacks and added: "For somebody to lose their life in such circumstances is a tragedy and one that the Metropolitan Police Service regrets."

The Brazilian government has expressed its shock at the killing and Brazil's foreign minister Celso Amorim is on his way to London to get an explanation from foreign secretary Jack Straw.

In a statement the government said it "looks forward to receiving the necessary explanation from the British authorities on the circumstances which led to this tragedy".

The shooting is being investigated by officers from Scotland Yard's Directorate of Professional Standards, and will be referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The family of Mr Menezes told the Brazilian media there was nothing in his past which would give him a reason to run from police.

Mr Menezes' cousin, Alex Alves, told O Globo television: "I asked that the body be released as quickly as possible, we need to bring him to Brazil, which is what the family wants".

"He does not have a past that would make him run from police," he said.

Mr Alves said Mr Menezes, who was from the city of Gonzaga in Minas Gerais state, had lived in London legally for at least three years and was employed as an electrician. Civil rights groups have called for a full inquiry into the shooting.

Meanwhile Dr Azzam Tamimi from the Muslim Association of Britain told BBC News the police should review their procedures.
"Frankly it doesn't matter whether he is a Muslim or not, he is a human being.

"It is human lives that are being targeted whether by terrorists or whether in this case unfortunately, by people who are supposed to be chasing or catching the terrorists."

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: "The police acted to do what they believed necessary to protect the lives of the public.

"This tragedy has added another victim to the toll of deaths for which the terrorists bear responsibility."

Suspicious package

A package was found by a member of the public in bushes in Little Wormwood Scrubs on Saturday morning.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Explosives officers attended the scene. An initial examination suggests that the object may be linked to devices found at four locations in London on July 21."

Police said it would be subject to "detailed forensic analysis".

Police have also raided a house in Streatham Hill, south London, in connection with the failed attacks.

Meanwhile the News of the World newspaper has offered a £100,000 reward to catch the second wave of London bombers.

Scotland Yard said they had been contacted by over 500 members of the public following the release of CCTV footage of four suspects.

Detectives said they were hopeful of useful lines of inquiry coming from the calls and e-mails

Kerala to promote pilgrim tourism with 'kavukal'

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Devaswom Minister K.C. Venugopal said the Tourism Department was initiating steps to promote pilgrim tourism by linking it with ''kavukals'' (groves) in the Malabar region.

Replying to questions by M. Murali (Cong) and others, he told the Assembly that the ''kavukals'' were in a pathetic condition and the government would take steps to protect the groves so that they can be linked with pilgrim tourism.

Venugopal said that 72 acre of Devaswom land had been encroached by the public and steps were being taken to get back their possession. So far only three acres of land could be recovered and strict instructions had been issued to district collectors to take steps to get back the remaining land.

On renovation work in temples, he said there was a proposal to frame a common guideline for maintaining their sanctity and tradition while undertaking such work.

The government was planning to implement a master plan, including construction of a base camp at Nilakkal, for providing better facilities to pilgrims visiting the Sabarimala shrine and Eco-Smart had been asked to prepare a detailed report in this regard.

Lavalin deal should be discussed in CPI(M): Achuthanandan

Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V.S. Achuthanandan said on Friday that all the aspects relating to the SNC Lavalin deal that became controversial after the Canadian company refused to pay the promised Rs 128 crore to a cancer hospital should be discussed in detail within the CPI(M).

Talking to newspersons here Achuthanandan, the then convenor of the Left Democratic Front(LDF) said ''I don't remember whether the issue was discussed within the party or the LDF during the tenure of previous Nayanar Government.'' The CPI(M) politburo member said he strongly believed that the issue should be discussed within the party.

His remarks assume significance in view of the ongoing tug-of-war between him and CPI(M) State Secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, who was the then electricity minister.

As per the deal, the Canadian company had promised to give Rs 128 crore to the Malabar Cancer Centre in return for awarding the contract for the renovation of hydel projects.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front was alleging that the then Ministers, including Vijayan, were responsible for the failure to get the promised amount. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said a vigilance inquiry was in progress and it would be completed in a time-bound manner.

Difficult days ahead, Left warns UPA

NEW DELHI: Just two days before the monsoon session of Parliament, the Left parties have blasted the UPA government on a number of issues.

The Marxists, who support the government from outside, warned it of difficult days ahead if the promises made in the common minimum programme were not adhered to. They, however, ruled out any immediate threat to the government’s stability.

Criticising the government, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, after a joint meeting of the Left parties here on Friday, said, “The Left parties want the government to introduce the original Women’s Reservation Bill in the forthcoming session of Parliament.” “Any further delay in the matter is unwarranted,” he added.

Expressing concern over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s remarks in the US on India-Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline, Mr Karat said, “The Prime Minister should clarify whether the commitment on the pipeline project has been diluted as a result of his US visit, and it is an acid test for the UPA government to prove that it has an independent foreign policy to serve the national interest. No fourth country has a right to intervene in the pipeline issue. The statements by the Prime Minister are uncalled for and also unfortunate.”

Present at the meeting were CPI’s AB Bardhan and D Raja; Harkishen Singh Surjeet and Sitaram Yechuri of CPI(M); AIFB’s Debbrata Biswas, G Devarajan; and Abani Roy and Manoj Bhattacharya of RSP.

Pak. 'blacklists' Tehelka journalist; sends her back

New Delhi, : Noted journalist Harinder Baweja was deported from Pakistan soon after she landed in Lahore.
Baweja, editor (investigations) with Tehelka Weekly newspaper, who returned to Delhi late last night, said that Pakistani authorities told her at Lahore airport that she had been "blacklisted for visa violations" because of which she could not enter the country.
She said she was sent back although she had a valid seven-day visa.
The scribe said she sought to know the reasons for her being "blacklisted" but the Pakistani authorities did not spell out any.
"I told them that I have travelled to Pakistan at least ten times," she said.
She said that if Pakistan government did not want her to visit that country, its High Commission should not have issued the visa in the first place.

Dozens killed in Egyptian blasts

At least 45 people have been killed and more than 130 wounded in a string of explosions in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, police said.
The first explosion took place in the Old Market area, popular with tourists.

Other blasts followed in the nearby area of Naama Bay, which is packed with hotels. Witnesses said a four-star hotel was heavily damaged.

Britons, Dutch, Qataris, Kuwaitis and Egyptians were among the casualties, police sources said.

Police sources said initial reports suggested there had been at least four and possibly seven car bombs.

The first blast, which took place shortly after 0100 local time (2200 GMT), shook windows some distance away, and smoke was seen rising over the area, residents said.

'Eerie calm'

The Naama Bay explosions followed about 15 minutes later, close to the Ghazala Gardens and Moevenpick hotels.

One witness, Fabio Besone, who was at the nearby Hard Rock Cafe, said there were scenes of panic, with people running to get away.

"There was shrapnel everywhere, the front of the hotel had been completely blown away, a couple of bodies lying down on the front of the road - I have no idea if they were alive or severely injured," he told the BBC.

Samantha Hardcastle, a British tourist, was having a drink on the terrace of the Naama Bay Hotel with her husband when they heard a loud explosion, followed by a second one a few minutes later.

"There's just an eerie sense of calm at the moment," she said.

"Just horrific, I've never been so scared in the whole of my life."

The Sharm el-Sheikh area is popular with tourists from Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Europe.

Last October, 34 people died in car and truck bombs at Red Sea resorts on the eastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula.

Sales Tax revenue touches Rs. 22,662 crore in four years

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Finance Minister Vakkom Purushothaman informed the State Assembly that the total revenue from sales tax during the last four years stood at Rs 22,662.55 crore.

In a written reply to P.K.K. Bava (IUML) and others, he said the tax arrears during the same period was Rs 1,413.12 crore. District Collectors have been directed to speed up revenue recoveries. Besides, officials from the Sales Tax Commissionerate will swing into action where minimum tax collection was reported, he said.

On court stays, he said the government would appoint special pleaders to argue the cases. In February and March last year, through a special ''settlement scheme,'' the department had recovered Rs 2,311.5 crore.

Govt favours mineral sand mining: Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the state assembly on Thursday that the Government did not agree with the suggestion that mineral sand mining should not be allowed.

However, the government had no stubborn stand on mining and the current issues on it would be solved amicably before taking a final decision, he said winding up the discussion on the report of the Justice K John Mathew commission on mineral sand mining.

Chandy said the state should exploit the mineral wealth properly. During monsoon season alone nearly 1.5 feet mineral sand would reach the shore and it could be collected with bare hands not requiring mining, he added.

Moving notice for discussion on the report, Industries Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju said nearly one lakh tonne mineral sand worth Rs 50 crore could be collected from Alappad and Arattupuzha coastal areas.

However, A N Rajan Babu (JSS), opposing the suggestion, said all the existing orders in this regard should be cancelled and a decision on sand mining should be taken only after a scientific study.

T K Devakumar (CPI-M) said no mining should be allowed along the Arattupuzha and Alappad coast.

Left to oppose N-deal with US

New Delhi: Notwithstanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's strong defence of the nuclear deal with the US, the Left parties on Thursday resolved to oppose the agreement both inside and outside Parliament calling it a continuation of the Pro-American shift in India's foreign policy.

In fact, India continues to give more concessions compared to what the US has to offer, the CPI (M) and the CPI said.

Besides there is no clear-cut commitment by the US on India's permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, both the parties said.

''India, as a major developing country, needs to have a balanced and equitable relationship with the US. The Joint statement does not give much credence to this aspect,'' the CPI (M) Politburo said in a statement.

The CPI secretariat said the agreement amounted to a universal reversal of India's earlier nuclear policy without any prior discussion in Parliament, or with the UPA or the Left whereas the US would have to seek agreement from its Congress.

In Washington, the Prime Minister had yesterday asserted that the nuclear pact reached with the US would not lead to any diminution of India's strategic nuclear capabilities, and that it was not a one-sided deal.

Earlier criticising the deal, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee lashed out at the UPA government for ''compromising India's flexibility in regard to its credible nuclear deterrent''.

Musharraf calls for jihad against preachers of hatred, violence

ISLAMABAD: Under pressure after the London attacks and accused of not doing enough to tackle terrorism, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday night called for jihad against the preachers of hatred and violence.

But in the same breath he said there were extremist organisations operating with impunity in Britain and it should do something about it.

In a televised address to the nation, Musharraf said it was unfortunate that Pakistan was either directly or indirectly dragged into all terror attacks and Islam was being denigrated.

Referring to the London terror strikes, he said three of the four accused had Pakistani parentage. But they were British nationals, born, educated and bred in England.

The General said one of the extremist organisations in Britain had passed an edict on his life but continued to operate freely. While a lot needs to be done internally in Pakistan, “a lot needs to be done in the UK” too, he said.

Musharraf argued that if three of the four accused in the London blasts had been indoctrinated as alleged, what about the fourth accused, a Jamaican? Observing that Pakistan was passing through trying times, Musharraf said instead of blaming and accusing each other, the correct strategy would be to support one another in the joint fight against terrorism.

He regretted that Islam was being dubbed as an extremist religion, which was intolerant and backs terrorism and fundamentalism whereas the religion has clearly spelt out that killing of even one human being is against the entire humanity. “But actions speak louder than words,” he said, adding it besmirched the image of Pakistan and Pakistanis living in Britain.

Switching from Urdu to English, Musharraf said he strongly condemned the recent terror strikes in London. “I don't think the perpetrators of this act can be called human beings,” he said. He urged that Britain and Pakistan should “stand together in this struggle and fight terrorism to the end until we emerge victorious against them and eliminate them”. He hit out at the British media for “casting aspersions” on Pakistan.

Musharraf called on Pakistanis on to join a jihad, or holy war, against the preachers of hatred and violence and announced steps to rein in militant Islamic schools and organisations.

Musharraf said all Islamic schools, or madrasas, would have to register with authorities by December.

“I urge you, my nation, to stand up and wage a jihad against extremism and to stand up against those who spread hatred and chaos in the society,” he said.

He said banned militant groups would not be allowed to re-organise under new names or to raise funds and keeping unauthorised arms would be strictly prohibited and action taken against distribution of literature designed to spread hatred.

He said he was hopeful of resolving all disputes with India, including Jammu and Kashmir, peacefully and judiciously.

“We want peace in the region. That is why we are talking to India to resolve all disputes because of which we have fought three wars,” he said.

“We want a judicious resolution of all disputes, above all the Kashmir issue which should be solved as per the wishes of the Kashmiris,” Musharraf said.

Group opposed to G4 submits proposal to UN

United Nations,: Supporters of a plan to expand the U.N. Security Council without adding new permanent members submitted their proposal to the United Nations on Thursday.

The group, called Uniting for Consensus, is vehemently opposed to plans by Brazil, Germany, India and Japan, and the African Union to add six new permanent seats to the U.N.'s most powerful body.

Their rival resolutions were introduced in the 191-member General Assembly earlier this month. Uniting for Consensus said it plans to formally introduce its draft on Monday.

In March, Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged General Assembly members to decide on a plan before a September summit of world leaders. He wants them to do it by consensus, but if that's impossible, by a vote.

There is wide support for expanding the Security Council, whose composition reflects the post-World War II era, to better reflect today's global realities. But after 10 years of discussion and debate, the size and membership of an expanded council remain contentious issues.

The council currently has 15 members, 10 elected for two-year terms and five permanent members _ the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

The Uniting for Consensus proposal would increase the council from 15 to 25 members, but the 10 new members would be non-permanent _ which would mean 20 of the 25 members would be elected by the General Assembly.

Uniting for Consensus said countries could be re-elected indefinitely, but preference should be given to states that contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security.

Supporters include Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Qatar, South Korea, Spain and Turkey.

Brazil, Germany, India and Japan have circulated a draft resolution which would expand the council from 15 to 25 members, including six new permanent seats. The so-called Group of Four have been lobbying for four of those permanent seats, with the other two earmarked for Africa.

They are negotiating with the African Union, which introduced its own resolution earlier this week to expand the council to 26 members, also adding six permanent members with veto power and five non-permanent members.

Any resolution needs the support of two-thirds of the 191 U.N. member states to be adopted.

London attackers 'meant to kill'

Four attempted bombings in London were designed to kill people, the head of the Metropolitan Police has said.
The attacks came exactly two weeks after the explosions in the capital which killed over 50 people.

Again devices were left on three Tubes and a bus but this time it is believed they only partially exploded.

Scotland Yard commissioner Sir Ian Blair said no-one had been taken to hospital after the blasts, which were minor and almost simultaneous.

"The intention of the terrorists has failed", he told reporters.

He added: "There is a report of one casualty at one hospital... who may or may not be connected to this."

A man arrested in Tottenham Court Road was released without charge shortly before 2330 BST on Thursday.

Another man, arrested at Downing Street on Thursday afternoon, remains in custody but is not thought to be directly linked to the blasts.

Sir Ian said evidence left at the scenes could be very helpful to police.

An eyewitness at one of the affected tube stations spoke of hearing a bang and seeing a man with a rucksack flee the scene.

Mayor Ken Livingstone praised the emergency services and said the people of London would "get through this".

The attacks

The attacks took place almost simultaneously, at about 1230 BST.

London's transport system was quickly thrown into chaos, with a number of Tube lines closed and roads shut off as cordons were established.


At Warren Street Tube station witnesses reported hearing a bang at the front of a train, creating some panic among passengers.

Armed officers were twice deployed to nearby University College Hospital, following reports that someone had run away from Warren Street. Three unoccupied rooms in the hospital remained cordoned off on Thursday evening.
Police later said they believed two people who had been arrested in the area were unconnected to the blasts and had been released.


At Oval Tube station about 20 or 30 passengers were evacuated from a train after seeing "white smoke". The RMT union's security meeting was told the suspect used a handgun to try and detonate explosives contained in a backpack, . There were reports that bystanders tried to tackle a man as he fled the station.

At Shepherd's Bush a man was reported to have fled after the attack, on the Hammersmith and City Line.

On a Number 26 bus on the Hackney Road there was an explosion on the top deck. The windows of the bus, which was travelling from Waterloo to Hackney, were blown out, although there was no structural damage.

Tests for chemical, biological and radiological weapons at all four sites proved negative.

Many residents in areas near the Tube stations affected are still not able to return to their homes, with many waiting in community centres for the all-clear.

'Unexploded' devices

Sir Ian said there was a "resonance" with the bomb attacks which killed 52 people two weeks ago, but that it was too early to draw any conclusions about whether they were linked. The four bombers died in those attacks.

He said important information could be recovered by forensics experts. "From what I understand, some of the devices remain unexploded," he said.

Former government intelligence analyst Crispin Black said the possibility of examining the devices was significant: "This, in forensic terms, is bingo, this is as good as it gets."

BBC security correspondent Mark Urban said initial indications were that the devices were put together in a way very similar to those used two weeks ago.

He said there were suggestions that the rucksacks themselves, as well as the choice of three tube trains and one bus as targets, all suggested a similar method of attacks.

There was also speculation that the devices were so similar to those used two weeks ago that they may even have been part of the same batch.

'Someone stop him'

One eyewitness at Oval tube told how she heard a "big bang, like a balloon had popped but a lot louder" and the passengers moved away into another carriage.

"There was a guy still standing in the carriage.

"We pulled into Oval, we all got off on the platform and the guy just ran, started running up the escalator.

"Everyone was screaming 'someone stop him."

Sir Ian warned against "smearing" any particular community with the blame for Thursday's attacks.

"These are criminal acts and we are in pursuit of a set of criminals," he said.

'Normal business'

Prime Minister Tony Blair urged people to carry on as before.

He said: "Everyone is canny enough to know what these people are trying to do....and that is to intimidate people and to scare them and to frighten them to stop them going about their normal business."

Ken Livingstone said he was not surprised London had been attacked again.

"Those people whose memories stretch back to the 70s, 80s and 90s will remember there were horrifying bombing campaigns in London," he said. "We got through that and we'll get through this."

Mr Livingstone backed a police appeal for information on who may have been behind the attacks.

He said religious leaders should remind their congregations of the immorality of what had happened and that people should come forward even if the was only "a remote possibility" that they could help catch those to blame.

Police have asked that any images of the attacks are sent to http://www.police.uk/. The hotline number for anybody with information is 0800 789 321. Witness reception points have been set up near the four scenes.

Manmohan expresses satisfaction over talks

WASHINGTON D.C: .: In a significant development after the meeting that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had with American President George Bush at the White House, the United States, acknowledging India as a nuclear weapons power, agreed to cooperate with it in the area of civilian nuclear energy. This formulation was part of the joint statement to be issued following the talks, according to a highly-placed official source.

At the joint press conference held in the East Room of the White House, in reply to a question on how the prospects of lifting restrictions on nuclear material and high-technology supplies to India looked at the end of his discussion with Mr. Bush, Dr. Singh expressed "great satisfaction" over the manner in which the issue had been addressed. He said they had had "a very constructive and productive meeting" and thanked Mr. Bush for his personal role and interest in facilitating a solution to this complex problem.

Energy demands


In his preliminary remarks at the press conference, he touched on the same issue in the context of the importance of ensuring adequate energy and affordable supplies at a time when oil prices remained high. "Both of us recognise that civilian nuclear energy has a greater role in meeting global energy demands," he said and added that India had an "ambitious and attainable road map" on nuclear energy.

Mr. Bush said cleaner energy resources, including nuclear power, were vital for the future of both the economies. "We have begun an energy dialogue to find ways to work together in this important area," he noted.

In another noteworthy policy nuance, Mr. Bush, in reply to a question on what his view was on the Clinton administration's policy that the sanctity and peace along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir must be maintained, said the U.S. policy had not changed. Indian officials noted that this was the first time that the Bush administration had affirmed the sanctity of the LoC. As for Kashmir, he regarded it as a problem to be solved by India and Pakistan, and the American role was to encourage both the sides to work for a solution.

Mr. Bush, in his remarks at the press conference, said: "We are charting new steps in our defence relationship through the recently-signed new framework that will help our two nations work toward common security objectives. We're working together on counter-terrorism to help protect our people and make the world a safer place." Dr. Singh spoke of Mr. Bush's "steadfast determination and leadership in meeting the challenges of international terrorism" and asserted that there could be no cause that justified the killing of innocent and defenceless civilians. "There must be an international zero tolerance of terrorists," he said.

Reflecting the substantial economic agenda in the talks, both Dr. Singh and Mr. Bush spoke of the importance of the India-U.S. economic dialogue to focus high-level attention on trade, finance, investment and the environment and of the value of the CEOs Forum being inaugurated after the meeting between the two leaders.

The atmosphere when Dr. Singh arrived at the White House could not have been better nor the ceremonial welcome grander. American officials have in recent weeks been speaking of the growing profile of India in U.S. policy and of the importance of this visit. As if to match their words with symbolism, the Prime Minister was received with full state honours and an honour guard on the White House South Lawn by a President who is known to avoid ceremony and usually makes do with a cursory welcome — this was the first grand ceremony at the White House in Mr. Bush's second term.

Abortion Clinic Bomber Gets Life

An unrepentant Eric Rudolph declared Monday that abortion must be fought with “deadly force” as a judge sentenced him to life in prison for setting off a remote-controlled bomb at an abortion clinic that killed an off-duty police officer and maimed a nurse.

“Children are disposed of at will,” the 38-year-old Rudolph said, jabbing the air in a speech that echoed a rambling manifesto he issued in April when he pleaded guilty to four bombings in all, including the blast at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. “The state is no longer the protector of the innocents.”

Rudolph's fiery statement came as his victims confronted him court, branding the anti-abortion extremist a cowardly “monster” and recalling how their lives were devastated by the 1998 clinic bombing in Birmingham.

“It gives me great delight to know you are going to spend the rest of your life sitting in an 8-by-12 box,” said the clinic's director, Diane Derzis.

Under a plea bargain that spared him a death sentence, Rudolph received two life sentences without parole for the Birmingham bombing. Next month, he will receive two more life terms for the deadly Olympic bombing and two other attacks in Atlanta.

Rudolph spent more than five years on the run in the North Carolina wilderness, employing the survivalist techniques he learned as a soldier. He was captured in 2003 while scavenging for food behind a grocery store.

When it was his turn to speak Monday, Rudolph angrily lashed out at abortion and the Birmingham clinic.

“What they did was participate in the murder of 50 children a week,” he said, shackled at the ankles and wearing a red jail uniform. “Abortion is murder and because it is murder I believe deadly force is needed to stop it.”

“He was unrepentant to the end and that surely is not a surprise to anyone involved in this case,” “Like Timothy McVeigh, also a deadly bomber, Rudolph believes he is a noble soldier fighting a sacred war, and I think that's part of the reason why the feds decided to cut a deal and not allow Rudolph to turn his trial into political theatre.”

the nurse who was scarred for life by Rudolph's attack, looked him in the eye and called him a cowardly "monster" who ultimately failed.

PM in talks with Muslim leaders

Prime Minister Tony Blair is to meet Muslim leaders and community workers from across Britain at No 10 to discuss how to respond to the London bombings.
Along with opposition leaders, who are also attending, he will ask how young Britons became suicide bombers and how best to tackle teachers of extremism.

He will offer backing to leaders who expose problems in their communities.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Gordon Brown has pledged an extra £20m to help victims of the bombs and pay for more policing.

Tuesday's meeting at Downing Street is one of several this week aimed at reaching the widest possible consensus on action to deal with terrorism and its causes.

The focus will be on how to fight what the prime minister has termed an "evil ideology".

Money laundering

Of the extra money announced by the chancellor, £10m will go into the criminal injuries compensation scheme to help those wounded by the bombs.

It will be used to help cover the loss of earnings and unforeseen costs suffered by the victims and their families.

It is separate from £1m given by the government to the relief fund set up by London mayor Ken Livingstone and the Red Cross.

A further £10m will go to the Metropolitan Police to help the force with its counter-terrorism work.

The cash is part of a wider package to improve the way terrorist money laundering is tackled.

Mr Brown is asking the Serious and Organised Crime Agency to report on how it plans to respond to a sharp rise in the number of suspicious transactions monitored by financial institutions.

And he is setting up a group of money laundering experts to investigate what more can be done internationally to restrict terrorist cash flows.