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--- South Asian News, October 1, 2002 --- (International)

Nine people are killed and several injured in violence as third phase of polls begins in Indian Kashmir. Meanwhile, observers from several international bodies arrive in Pakistan to monitor the upcoming parliamentary polls. Fifteen people are reported killed in a collision between two Indian Navy cargo planes in the western state of Goa.

Africa


* Militants suspected of poll attack in Kashmir (Business Day)
* 15 die as planes crash in Indian air show (Independent Online) (News 24)

Americas


* Indian fighter jets collide; 14 dead (The Star)
* Pakistan party vows to undo changes (The News Mexico)

Asia-Pacific


* Seven die in bus attack as round three of Kashmir polls starts (Channel News Asia) (Xinhuanet) (Japan Today) (Australian News) (Daily Telegraph)
* Militants attack power grid station in Jammu, Kashmir (Xinhuanet)
* 15 killed in plane collision in south India (Xinhuanet) (Channel News Asia) (Japan Today) (Australian News)
* India to establish strategic forces to manage nuclear arsenal (Channel News Asia)
* Pakistani police arrest alleged Indian spy linked to Lahore bombing (Channel News Asia)
* Pakistan to continue "war against sectarian terrorism" (Xinhuanet) (People Daily)
* Pakistan warns observers against early verdicts (Malaya Star)
* Pakistan hails world support for resumption of Indo-Pak talks (Xinhuanet)
* Japan to send team to monitor Pakistani general elections (Xinhuanet)
* Pakistan's chief opposition party unveils election manifesto (Channel News Asia)
* 15 anti-gov't guerrillas killed in Nepal (Xinhuanet)
* Dhaka spends 2.15 billion US dollars in current fiscal to reduce poverty (Xinhuanet)

Europe


* Kashmir polls rocked by attacks (BBC) (Swiss Info) (Independent) (Reuters)
* India navy planes collide in mid-air (BBC) (Swiss Info) (Ananova)
* Poll observers arrive in Pakistan (BBC)
* Nepal schools disrupted by strike (BBC)
* Bangladesh tackles 'village of thieves' (BBC)

Middle East


* Polling for third phase of J&K assembly elections begins (IRNA)
* Low voter turnout likely amid mounting violence (Arab News)
* Five killed in attack as Kashmir polls begin (IRNA)
* Kashmir elections a turning point: Vajpayee (Arab News) (IRNA)
* APHC urges US to shun support to Kashmir polls (IRNA)
* India rejects Pak comments on Gujarat incident (IRNA)
* First NA session on Oct. 16 (Arab News)
* Bhutto party vows to teach army 'a lesson' (Gulf Daily News)
* Indian 'agent' arrested (Gulf Daily News)
* National Conference may quit NDA (Arab News)
* India to get nine AWACS helicopters from Russia (IRNA)

Editorial


N/A

Business/Technology


* Ericsson sells Indian unit to Wipro (BBC)

Africa


* Militants suspected of poll attack in Kashmir

Srinagar, India -- Suspected Islamic militants tossed a grenade at a polling booth in Kashmir yesterday, a day ahead of the third round of state elections that have been marred by violence. A polling official, a paramilitary policeman and two other people were wounded in the attack at Pampore town, Pulwama district, 30km south of Srinagar, a police officer said on condition of anonymity. Elsewhere in Kashmir, two civilians were injured in a grenade explosion in Awantipora, south of Srinagar, and a soldier was injured when militants fired a rocket at a Border Security Force camp in Tral, about 55km south of Srinagar. Police blamed both the attacks on Islamic militants who have called for a boycott of the polls, which they claim have been rigged in favour of the pro-India governing party.

http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,,00.html

* 15 die as planes crash in Indian air show

Two Indian Navy transport planes flying in an air show collided in mid-air on Tuesday in the western state of Goa, killing 15 people and injuring another 15, officials said. The two planes, each carrying six crew members, took off from the resort state's main airport in Panaji and hit each other in mid-air at around 10am local time (0430 GMT) in the nearby area of Zuarinagar, police said. "Fifteen people have been killed, including the 12 crew members and three civilians on the ground," Pradeep Srivastava, a senior police official at the scene, told AFP by telephone. "The rescue operation is now over," he said. "There were people trapped in a house that was under construction but we believe that most of them have been rescued."

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=126&art_id=qwB253&set_id=1
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Asia/0,1113,2-10-20_1265372,00.html

Americas


* Indian fighter jets collide; 14 dead

Two Indian navy planes flying in formation collided and crashed in a coastal resort area today, killing all 12 crewmen aboard the planes and two people on the ground, police said. One plane fell onto a house under construction in a residential area, and the other crashed into a field near a road, said Karnal Singh, the general inspector of police for the state of Goa, a tourist resort on the Arabian Sea. The planes carried six crewmembers each and all were believed to have died, said Singh. "Apart from the crew, two civilians are dead," he said. Nine others were injured when one of the planes crashed into a two-storey house, including four in serious condition, he said.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=&call_page=TS_World&call_pageid=&call_pagepath=News/World&col=

* Pakistan party vows to undo changes

Islamabad, Pakistan -- The party of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto unveiled its platform Monday, pledging to overturn constitutional changes imposed by Pakistan's military ruler and improve relations with neighboring India. Raza Rabbani, general secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party, harshly criticized President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, whose decision last month to extend his tenure and grant himself sweeping powers has proved a rallying point for Pakistani opposition parties ahead of the Oct. 10 vote. "We will undo all the unconstitutional steps taken by Musharraf," Rabbani said.

http://www.thenewsmexico.com/noticia.asp?id=36465

Asia-Pacific


* Seven die in bus attack as round three of Kashmir polls starts

Suspected militants have gunned down at least seven people in an attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims in Indian-ruled Kashmir. The killings mark a bloody start to the third round of voting in state assembly elections. Extremists also struck at four polling stations in two districts with grenades and landmines, injuring 10 more people. It is unclear if the violence has disrupted Tuesday's elections. Turnout has been mixed, with less people voting in urban areas. The bus attack took place at the town of Hiranagar, just inside the state border of Indian-administered Kashmir.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/20530/1/.html
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-10/01/content_582246.htm
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=7&id=232529
http://theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,5205544%255E401,00.html
http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5205544%255E401,00.html

* Militants attack power grid station in Jammu, Kashmir

Militants Tuesday attacked a power grid station in Hiranagar area of Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, where polling for the third phase of assembly elections began, police said. They said that a group of militants, believed to be part of a suicide squad,d fire on the station around 06:45 a.m. Security personnel deployed there retaliated and exchange of fire was continuing on both sides when reports last came in. Reinforcement has been rushed to the area to track down the militants, police said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-10/01/content_582244.htm

* 15 killed in plane collision in south India

Two cargo planes belonging to the Indian Navy collided mid air in south India Tuesday morning, killing 12 people on board and three others on the ground. "All the 12 personnel on board are dead. There are also casualties on the ground," Chief of Indian Air Fore S. Krishnaswamy told the media here after speaking to his naval counterpart Madhvendra Singh. According to Press Trust of India (PTI), 19 people on the ground were also injured following the falling down of the debris of one of the two Russian-made IL-38 transport aircraft, which collided while flying in formation during a demonstration near Dabolim airport in the southwest state of Goa around 10 AM (0430 GMT) on Tuesday. The ill-fated aircraft, with six personnel on each of them, were flying to celebrate silver jubilee of the naval base "INS Hansa" when they collided near India's coastal city of Panaji, 1,910 kilometers southwest of here, PTI said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-10/01/content_582401.htm
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/20512/1/.html
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=7&id=232540
http://theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,5205651%255E401,00.html

* India to establish strategic forces to manage nuclear arsenal

India is to soon establish a strategic forces command to manage its nuclear arsenal. The special unit will include personnel from the three armed wings. Authorities say the country is in the process of raising a central command for all the strategic nuclear assets. "I mean it just defies logic that a country of this size which has all these things does not have a command-control set up. As I said we have not got on top of the roof tops and announced it but let me assure you that it is there," said Lieutenant General Pankaj Joshi, India's Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/20533/1/.html

* Pakistani police arrest alleged Indian spy linked to Lahore bombing

Pakistani police have arrested a man whom they say is an Indian intelligence agent. Bijil Ramji is suspected of being involved in the planning of a deadly bomb attack two years ago in the western city of Lahore. Ramji was arrested late Sunday while taking photographs of a Karachi exposition centre frequently visited by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Police said the suspect is behind the deadly November 1999 Lahore bombing that claimed seven lives and injured 14 people.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/20511/1/.html

* Pakistan to continue "war against sectarian terrorism"

Pakistan will continue its war against terrorism, particularly sectarian terrorism and will not surrender to the will of terrorists. This was stated by Minister for Information and Media Development Nisar A Memon here on Monday while receiving Chairman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Ali Larijani, who is on a four-day official visit to Pakistan, according to the Associate Press of Pakistan. "Pakistan is waging a war against sectarian terrorism with determination and will not yield to any pressure," he said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-10/01/content_582069.htm
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200210/01/eng20021001_104215.shtml

* Pakistan warns observers against early verdicts

Islamabad -- Two Pakistani ministers have cautioned foreign observers of next week's elections against making pre-poll judgements, after an apparently critical European Union briefing paper was leaked to a local newspaper. Foreign Minister Inamul Haq and Information Minister Nisar Memon, while stressing that observers from the EU, Commonwealth and other countries were welcome, have asked them not to reach conclusions before the October 10 vote, the first since a military coup three years ago.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/10/1/asia/pakob&sec=asia

* Pakistan hails world support for resumption of Indo-Pak talks

September 30 -- The international community supports the peace talks between Islamabad and New Delhi, PakistanMinister of State for Foreign Affairs Inamul Haq said on Monday. Inamul Haq made the remarks while addressing a news conference in the capital on return from New York after attending General Assembly meeting. During his visit, he held talks with 30 foreign ministers, met with 150 permanent representatives at the United Nations and attended ministerial meetings of the Oganization of the Islamic Conference.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-09/30/content_581792.htm

* Japan to send team to monitor Pakistani general elections

Japan plans to send an observer team to monitor the general elections set to take place in Pakistan on Oct. 10, Kyodo News reported Tuesday. The observer team to the polls is expected to comprise around 10 officials, Kyodo said. Observers from the 15-member European Union, from the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) and from the Commonwealth, comprising 54 developed and developing nations, havealready arrived in Pakistan to monitor the elections.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-10/01/content_582370.htm

* Pakistan's chief opposition party unveils election manifesto

The opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of banned ex-premier Benazir Bhutto has unveiled its election platform, vowing to undo recent constitutional changes imposed by President Pervez Musharraf. Mr Musharraf last month extended his tenure and gave himself sweeping powers, including the power to sack an elected parliament.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/20481/1/.html

* 15 anti-gov't guerrillas killed in Nepal

September 30 -- At least 15 anti-government guerrillas were killed in the last two days by the government security forces in Nepal, according to a press release issued by the Nepali Defense Ministry Monday. At least five anti-government guerrillas were gunned down on the spot Sunday in Kalikot district in western Nepal and another one was killed in the eastern district of Sunsari, while five others were killed last Saturday in the western district of Bajuraand four in other districts, the press release said. The guerrillas were killed when they exchanged fire with the government security forces, it said, adding that two security personnel were killed and some others were wounded in the fighting.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-09/30/content_581862.htm

* Dhaka spends 2.15 billion US dollars in current fiscal to reduce poverty

The Bangladeshi government spends about 125 billion taka (2.15 billion US dollars) in the current fiscal to reduce poverty through various poverty reduction programs. Out of this amount, 82.56 billion taka (1.42 billion dollars) will come from current year's ADP (Annual Development Program) and42.18 billion taka (727 million dollars) from other sectors of thebudget for eradication of poverty, said the official Economic Survey 2002 released here Monday. In addition, micro credit programs both at official and non-government level would also be encouraged.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-10/01/content_581906.htm

Europe


* Kashmir polls rocked by attacks

Violence has broken out across Indian-administered Kashmir as votingd in the third round of state elections. Three gunmen flagged down a bus near the southern town of Hiranagar beforeng fire and hurling grenades inside. At least nine people were killed and more than 10 injured in the attack and gun battle which followed between the suspected militants and security officials. In the Anantnag district, pre-election violence continued with rocket and grenade attacks on polling stations where voters were expected to cast ballots for representatives to the state assembly. Polls across Kashmird on Tuesday with more than 45,000 extra troops deployed to guard voters after a violent election campaign which saw six people killed in assassination attempts on candidates.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2289302.stm
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=1370004
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia_china/story.jsp?story=338361
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=worldnews&StoryID=1517868

* India navy planes collide in mid-air

Two Indian navy planes have collided in mid-air in the western state of Goa, killing several people. The two Russian-made planes, IL-38 transport aircraft, were flying in formation during practice for anniversary celebrations for their squadron. One of the planes crashed to the ground and the other into a building construction site, officials said. All 12 crew members - six on each aircraft - are believed to have died, and as many as three on the ground. At least one person is reported to have died and several were injured at the construction site.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2289429.stm
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=1369977
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_681756.html?menu=news.latestheadlines.worldnews

* Poll observers arrive in Pakistan

Election observers from several international bodies including the European Union (EU) and the Commonwealth have arrived in Pakistan. They are planning to observe the parliamentary polls scheduled on 10 October. Pakistan's junior Foreign Minister, Inamul Haq, while welcoming the foreign observers, advised them to hold their comments until after the elections. He said issues should not be pre-judged. His comments came a day after an internal briefing document by European Union election observers was leaked in a local newspaper.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2288750.stm

* Nepal schools disrupted by strike

School and college classes in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, and neighbouring areas have been disrupted by a strike. Schools and colleges remained but normal classes were not held. The school and college authorities had asked students to stay home - apparently for security reasons. The Maoist rebels student wing called the two-day strike to protest what it says is the commercialisation of education. The Revolutionary All Nepal National Independent Students' Union is also calling for drastic reforms in education system and better facilities in public schools.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2289603.stm

* Bangladesh tackles 'village of thieves'

Authorities in Bangladesh say they have introduced new measures to curtail the criminal activities of a remote community known as "the village of thieves". For more than 100 years, the village of Jehanpur in the north-eastern district of Sunamganj has had a reputation for being a hot-bed of crime. But officials now say that an increased police presence nearby the village has led to a significant reduction in offences.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2289191.stm

Middle East


* Polling for third phase of J&K assembly elections begins

The crucial polling for the third phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, covering 27 constituencies in four districts, began on Tuesday morning amidst tight security. An estimated 1.8 million voters are expected to cast their votes across Anantnag, Pulwana, Udhampur and Kathua districts to choose their representatives from among 227 candidates. Indian security personnel took positions in and around nearly 2,000 polling stations to instill confidence among the voters and foil militants from disrupting the electoral process. Balloting in nine polling booths in Poonch, Budgam and Jammu districts, where repolling was ordered, also began on Tuesday simultaneously with the third phase poll.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* Low voter turnout likely amid mounting violence

Though security forces have made elaborate arrangements to ensure a safe election and reduce voters' fear, it is widely believed that the voter turnout will be poor in the third phase of polling in Kashmir today. Some 1.81 million voters, including 30,000 migrant Hindus, are due to vote today in the violence-prone districts of Pulwama, Anantnag and Udhampur, and the relatively peaceful Kathua district. The districts voting today - the first anniversary of an attack on the assembly in Srinagar that left dead 38 people - include areas where candidates have not dared to hold rallies for fear of militant attacks.

http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=19080

* Five killed in attack as Kashmir polls begin

Five people were killed and over 25 injured when unidentified gunmen in a police uniform fired upon passenger buses on Kathua-Pathankote highway in Jammu region where assembly elections began Tuesday, official sources said. In another incident, militants attacked four places in Anantnag and Pulwana districts where polling is held for 16 assembly seats. Reports are still awaited.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* Kashmir elections a turning point: Vajpayee

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday lashed out at Pakistan, saying the international community must hold Islamabad accountable for its continued support of "terrorism" against India. He hailed the ongoing assembly elections in Kashmir as a "turning point" on the road to peace despite militant efforts to derail it. "We will intensify our diplomatic initiatives to remind the leading nations of the international coalition against terrorism that they must redeem their pledge to combat and defeat terrorism everywhere, irrespective of the cause it espouses," Vajpayee told a police conference here.

http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=19072
http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* APHC urges US to shun support to Kashmir polls

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) on Tuesday urged the United States to shun support to state assembly polls on their third phase in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir. "The US and other leading nations should understand that plebiscite, not polls, is the solution to the issue of Kashmir for which Kashmiris have laid down over 80,000 lives," he said. Talking to IRNA here, APHC leader Yousaf Nasim called on the US leadership to comprehend why the Kashmiris were sacrificing their lives, honor and property.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* India rejects Pak comments on Gujarat incident

India rejects as "gross interference" Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's comments on the Gujarat temple attack and said it was time Pakistan "set its own house in order." India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao voiced India's reaction to reporters when asked about Musharraf's remarks on the Gujarat temple incident. "We have seen gross interference in our internal affairs on the part of Pakistan."

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* First NA session on Oct. 16

The National Assembly to be elected after the upcoming Oct. 10 elections will meet on Oct. 16 and the first session will be presided over by either Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan or a judge of the Supreme Court, a senior official told Arab News yesterday. According to a tentative schedule, the president will convene the assembly on Oct. 16 and in the first session members will take oath under the amended constitution. An official notification about the returned candidates would be issued by Oct. 13, the official said.

http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=19073

* Bhutto party vows to teach army 'a lesson'

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto vowed yesterday to teach the country's army about democracy if elected to power in October's parliamentary elections. Unveiling its manifesto for the October 10 polls, which are aimed at returning the country to civilian rule, PPP acting secretary general Raza Rabbani said the military had to learn to respect the ballot box. "The educational curriculum in defence institutes was prepared to train an officer cadre that could uphold the forces of military rule," Rabbani said.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Articles.asp?Article=33796&Sn=WORL

* Indian 'agent' arrested

Pakistani police yesterday produced a man whom they claimed had been recruited by India's intelligence agency RAW to execute deadly bomb attacks in two cities. "RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) ... pressured him to work for them against Pakistan and he agreed," Sindh provincial police chief Syed Kamal Shah announced. Bijal Ramji, a Pakistani, was arrested while taking photographs of the Expo Centre exhibition venue, Shah said.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Articles.asp?Article=33810&Sn=WORL

* National Conference may quit NDA

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said here yesterday that he would quit the federal Cabinet of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee after Kashmir Assembly elections end next week. Abdullah, who has taken over the party's leadership from his father, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, said he did not support keeping a minister in Vajpayee's Hindu extremist-led coalition after his resignation as minister of state for external affairs. But he said it was his personal opinion and he would seek his party's view on ties with the National Democratic Alliance, which includes some two dozen parties and is headed by Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party.

http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=19074

* India to get nine AWACS helicopters from Russia

September 30 -- Russia is to start deliveries of nine Kamov K-31 AWACS helicopters to India by the end of this year, under two separate contracts signed in 1999 and 2001. The Indian Navy would start receiving the K-31 helicopters, which are fitted with 'Oko' (Eye) radar, by the year-end, reported Press Trust of India on Monday. With their 'Oko' radar, K-31 helicopters are capable of detecting upto 200 aerial targets at a time with simultaneous tracking of 20 of them at the range of 110-115 kilometers and surface ships at the range of 200 kilometers.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

Editorial


N/A

Business/Technology


* Ericsson sells Indian unit to Wipro

India's position as a global centre for high technology has received another boost with news that its third-largest software company is planning to buy a chunk of Swedish mobile network giant Ericsson. The deal sees Wipro - take over Ericsson's research and development units in Hyderabad, New Delhi, and Bangalore, India's main centre for hi-tech. Wipro will then run the whole concern under an outsourcing contract, in effect taking responsibility for running a sizable portion of the Swedish company's software research team. Wipro is already doing about $5m of business each quarter with Ericsson, and should pick up more as a result of the deal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2289976.stm

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