Mashrafe's sudden return

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza made a sudden return to the capital yesterday to visit his ailing mother.

The Bangladesh vice-captain who left Dhaka for Kolkata on Thursday evening reached Mumbai the same night to shoot a commercial for Pepsi as part of promotion for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in England. Prior to flying home the paceman also attended a press conference in Kolkata yesterday.

Mashrafe informed The Daily Star that he was yet to sign his contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders. He flies back to Kolkata this afternoon from where he will set off for South Africa along with other members of the team. He is expected to put pen to paper upon his arrival in Cape Town, the base camp of Knight Riders for the billion-dollar event.

"I am home on a very short visit just to see my mother and there is nothing else. I will return to Kolkata tomorrow afternoon and will fly to South Africa the same day to sign the deal," said Mashrafe over telephone.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful will fly to the Indian city of Mumbai today to join his IPL side Mumbai Indians. He will depart later at night after playing a Premier Cricket League match for his team Gazi Tank against Partex at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

Ashraful will reach Mumbai early tomorrow and depart for Durban in South Africa on April 7, where the Mumbai Indians side will be based.

An excited Ashraful who was at a promotional event for soft drink giant Pepsi yesterday said that the Mumbai Indians were a very strong side in this year's IPL.

"We have players like Jayasuriya, Sachin, Duminy, Pollock, Bravo, Zaheer and Harbhajan and their presence makes our team a strong contenders this year. The team is full of talent and experience and I am sure we will be able to eventually translate that into a big success," said Ashraful.

Mumbai Indians, which is owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, bought the Tigers skipper at his base price of 75,000 dollars on February 6 at the IPL auctions in Goa.

The Mumbai Indians kick off the second edition of the IPL on the opening day (April 18) against last year's runners-up Chennai Super Kings led by Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Link The daily star

Power trips a day after record generation

Power generation saw a new record, 4,148MW, on Friday against the demand for 4,550MW, thanks to an increased gas supply to power plants at appropriate pressure.

The generation however fell to 3,845MW yesterday against a demand for 4,600MW as erratic gas pressure tripped the Tongi 80MW power plant and reduced generation elsewhere. Tongi plant resumed generation yesterday evening.

During the last caretaker government's tenure, Power Development Board (PDB) had achieved another power generation record, 4,130MW in October, 2007, with improved gas supply at good pressure.

Due to inadequate supply of gas and low gas pressure, many power plants of the PDB cannot produce power at their optimum level and some remain idle.

As a result, the PDB could not produce 500-800MW of power despite having the capability.

Against the PDB's demand for around 800 million cubic feet of gas a day, Petrobangla has been supplying between 550 and 650 million cubic feet of gas a day.

Petrobangla suffers from poor gas production, gas supply line and a perennial problem of fluctuating gas pressure.

This situation however slightly improved late March when US oil company Chevron commissioned a "spur line" in Jalalabad Gas Field to boost production by around 50 million cubic feet a day. This increased from March 30 the country's total gas output to 1,850 million cubic feet a day against a demand of 2,000 million.

This enhanced production was supplied for power generation. In addition, the government decided to shut down the gas-fired Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Factory (CUFL) and re-route this gas to power plants.

All this helped Petrobangla's gas supply to power plants, increasing it to 750 million cubic feet a day till Thursday. On Friday, this supply reached 800 million cubic feet but it dropped to less than 750 million cubic feet yesterday.

"One of the major issue is that in the last several years the authorities erratically gave new gas connections in different places. This has now caused instability in the gas supply pressure. The only way to improve this is to install gas compressors in vital gas transmission lines," said a PDB high official.

Gas pressure remains a major issue in power generation in Chittagong, Mymensingh and Haripur.

Due to improved gas pressure and supply in Chittagong Friday, which was possible since many industries remained shut during the weekend, the 420MW Raozan power plant produced 310MW. This plant has been producing only 80-120MW for the last seven-eight months. It produced 200MW yesterday.

LINK by The daily star

Hasina gives up role as BCL guardian

Orders sternest action against extortion, tender manipulation, criminal activities

Staff Correspondent

Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina will no more be the organisational chief of her party's student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), which recently got involved in internal clashes at several educational institutions.

The AL Presidium took this decision at an emergency meeting at Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi yesterday evening.

From the meeting, Hasina directed law enforcement agencies to take stern action against those involved in criminal activities, extortion and tender manipulation, no matter what organisation they belong to, AL spokesperson Syed Ashraful Islam told newsmen after the two-hour meeting.

Ashraf, also LGRD and cooperatives minister, said, "She [Hasina] will no more be the organisational chief of Chhatra League as the (party) presidium has decided so."

Hasina and other leaders of her party are annoyed and worried about the recent violence and criminal activities at different educational institutions, meeting sources said.

The AL spokesperson announced that a countrywide crackdown on violence by students or in the name of students started yesterday.

“She [Hasina] proposed that she would no longer remain organisational chief of BCL, and the presidium meeting accepted it. Even, she doesn't want to see her portrait hung in BCL's offices,”Ashraful said.

The government has directed law enforcement agencies to take stern action against student leaders or activists perpetrating violence, extortion and tender manipulation , or anyone doing these in the guise of students," he told reporters.

"The action starts right now...None would be spared if found involved in criminal activities," he added.

Meeting sources said several presidium members even suggested abolition of the BCL. But the AL leadership did not accept their suggestion.

"Chhatra League is plagued with organisational problems due to inefficiency its central committee leaders," Ashraf said.

BCL factions recently engaged in clashes at Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka University and Jagannath University mainly over establishing supremacy on the campus. These incidents have led to the closure of several institutions, causing embarrassment to the government.

A Dhaka Medical College student was killed in such an internal brawl of the AL's student body.

Hasina's decision to withdraw herself as the organisation's chief came following these recent violence at educational institutions, the meeting sources said, adding that the party presidium supported and approved the party chief's decision.

Hasina asked those involved in criminal activities like extortion and tender manipulation to stop such crimes, saying no one would be spared otherwise.

The AL Presidium meeting also decided that the party would amend its constitution in line with the Representation of the People Order within the timeframe given by the Election Commission.

The meeting presided over by Sheikh Hasina was also attended by Presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Fazlul Karim Selim, Tofail Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, among others.

Earlier also, after a party meeting at the Dhanmondi office on observing Mujibnagar Day on April 17, Ashraf told reporters that the government is worried about the recent violence in public universities.

"Stern legal and organisational actions would be taken against those involved in such criminal activities irrespective of their political affiliations," Ashraf said.

The meeting with AL Presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury took up elaborate programmes to observe the historic Mujibnagar Day.

Link bythe daily star

Arsenal 2-0 Man City

Fabregas and Adebayor proved too much for City to handle

Emmanuel Adebayor returned from injury to score twice as Arsenal turned on the style to overcome Manchester City.

Cesc Fabregas, also back from a long spell out, delivered a superb free-kick for the Togo striker to head his first.

City's Gelson Fernandes almost levelled when he struck the post from eight yards out, while Kolo Toure and Andrei Arshavin went close for the Gunners.

Arsenal sealed the points when Adebayor rounded Shay Given after being played in by Fabregas's exquisite pass.

It was the perfect comeback from the Arsenal pair, who combined to excellent effect throughout - with the returning Theo Walcott also catching the eye.

Fabregas, who had been out for more than three months, was majestic in the middle of the park, his passing and vision proving too much for City.

The visitors, though, were not without their moments, Robinho and Shaun Wright-Phillips showing flashes of play as bright as the glorious spring sunshine.

But City's backline was their downfall - and their disorganisation led to Arsenal's opener.

Fabregas floated in a free-kick from the right and a completely unmarked Adebayor thumped in a downward header in his first match for the club since early February.

Arsenal going from 'strength to strength' - Wenger

It was down the right flank that Arsenal were to enjoy most of their success, and City were not helped by the loss of Wayne Bridge after only 17 minutes.

However, it was Bridge's replacement, Fernandes, who almost restored parity for his side.

Wright-Phillips slipped in a brilliant pass for the Swiss midfielder but his shot struck the outside of the post.

Micah Richards had earlier seen a low shot saved after also being played in by Wright-Phillips, and those chances were warnings for Arsenal that they needed to be careful at the back as they pushed for a second goal.

But the home side came forward with such menace that it appeared inevitable City would concede again.

It took a fine save from Given to deny Toure at close range after the defender had cut in from the right.

And the City keeper produced another excellent stop from Arshavin, who had earned the space by playing a devastating one-two with Alex Song.

When the second goal did come it was again made by Fabregas, whose lofted pass was superbly weighted and left Adebayor the relatively easy task of rounding Given and slotting into an empty net.

Man City lacked energy - Hughes

Shortly after, Arsenal had a chance for a third goal, again with Fabregas the provider - this time the Spaniard swung in a corner that was headed narrowly over by Song.

When Fabregas was replaced by Aaron Ramsey on 79 minutes, the skipper left the pitch to a standing ovation.

By then City's attacking threat had almost completely disappeared.

Robinho had already been substituted, after he had faded badly, and Craig Bellamy cut a lonely figure up front.

Arsenal should have scored more but substitute Emmanuel Eboue blazed high and wide and Walcott tested Given a couple of times.

But it was a comfortable victory for Arsenal, and revenge for the 3-0 reverse suffered at Eastlands in November - their last defeat in the Premier League, 17 games ago.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"Adebayor got on the end of both goals for us but overall it was a very good team performance.

"I am delighted that we have come back strongly after the international break. We go from strength to strength from game to game, and that's very good to see.

"We are motivated. The players are hungry and up for it, and we have quality in the team."

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes:
"It is difficult to take any positives out of the game. We were well beaten.

"We had things to contend with. We lost Wayne Bridge and Vincent Kompany and that affected our gameplan.

"Really, we just didn't have enough energy on the field. Our passing was also poor and we played into Arsenal's hands in the end."

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Fabregas (Ramsey 79), Song Billong, Denilson, Walcott (Eboue 70), Adebayor (Bendtner 70), Arshavin.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Silvestre, Djourou, Gibbs.

Booked: Toure.

Goals: Adebayor 8, 49.

Man City: Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Bridge (Fernandes 17), Wright-Phillips, Zabaleta, De Jong, Kompany (Elano 38), Robinho (Sturridge 76), Bellamy.
Subs Not Used: Hart, Bojinov, Garrido, Mwaruwari.

Booked: Dunne, Zabaleta, De Jong.

Att: 60,097

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

link by bbc

Fulham 0-1 Liverpool

Benayoun's goal keeps Liverpool in the hunt for a first league title since 1990

Liverpool moved top of the Premier League with a dramatic injury-time winner from Yossi Benayoun at Fulham.

The Reds, now above Manchester United by two points having played two games more, struck very late after hitting the woodwork four times in the match.

Andrea Dossena hit the bar twice - each time with a header, Xabi Alonso volleyed against the bar and Fernando Torres dragged a shot against the post.

But on 92 minutes, Benayoun drove in from 12 yards to snatch victory.

Benyoun's strike was met with wild celebrations on the touchline as Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez and his staff released pent-up emotions after they had been frustrated viewers for more than an hour-and-a-half.

It had looked as though Liverpool would fail to win a game they had dominated, particularly in the first half, and that would have seriously harmed their chances of winning their first league title since 1990.

Win puts pressure on Man Utd - Benitez

But instead, they have applied maximum pressure on United, who play Aston Villa on Sunday.

Benitez's players were right to show their relief having cut through their opponents time and again only to be frustrated by the frame of the goal.

Typically, Steven Gerrard and Torres were involved in most of Liverpool's best moments.

The Spain striker set up Dossena for Liverpool's first chance but the make-shift left winger saw his shot tipped over.

From that corner, Martin Skrtel's shot was flicked on by Dossena's head and the ball bounced off the top of the bar.

Fulham looked a different side - despite an unchanged line-up - to the one that beat Manchester United last time out, offering nothing in attack as strikers Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora were cut adrift from their team-mates.

Additionally, Fulham's defensive plan of denying Gerrard the space to work between the defence and midfield lacked execution. It was the England midfielder who played in Torres, but Mark Schwarzer was equal to the striker's low shot.

Schwarzer was beaten soon after when Alonso cracked a thunderous volley from 25 yards but again the bar came to the keeper's rescue.

There was a sense of deja vu when Gerrard and Torres combined again - an excellent one-two cutting open the defence - only to see the Spaniard's shot come back off the post.

And incredibly, Liverpool were denied by the woodwork once more when Dossena met Gerrard's superb cross with a diving header and it smacked back off the bar.

Surprisingly there was little urgency on show from Liverpool after the break.

Fulham's doggedness - which has seen them take points off all the top four sides this season - was again in evidence and seemed to be carrying them to a share of the points.

A weak Torres header was all Benitez's side could produce in the first 25 minutes after the interval.

Then an injection of pace from substitute Ryan Babel - on for Dossena - almost unlocked Fulham, but the Dutchman's cross-shot was cleared by John Pantsil.

Late goal 'bitter pill' for Hodgson

It seemed to wake Liverpool from their lethargy and Schwarzer did well to push away Gerrard's low cross as a host of attackers queued up to add a finishing touch.

And after a goalmouth scramble, Benayoun - who had been on the pitch for only five minutes - flicked a heel at another Gerrard cross and the ball went only inches wide.

Benayoun created another chance for himself in the final minutes, but his near-post shot went wide.

But the Israeli was fortunate to get a chance at redemption and he took it when the ball came his way in the box and he arrowed a shot into the top corner.

link bbc

Roman police find sewer children

The children were found in sewers close to railway stations

Italian police have found more than 100 immigrants, including 24 Afghan children, living in the sewer system beneath railway stations in Rome.

The children range in age from 10 to 15 years and are now being looked after by the city's social services.

They were found when the railway police followed up reports of children living near the city's stations.

The police say they do not speak Italian and broke into the sewers by removing manhole covers.

The charity Save the Children Italy says that more than 1,000 unaccompanied children arrived in Rome last year from various countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Container stowaways

Railway police had been following up reports that groups of homeless immigrants were living in unhygienic conditions in and around Rome's three main railway stations.

Police said the Afghan children appeared to have arrived in the Italian capital as stowaways on board trailer trucks arriving from Turkey and Greece.

Some children were sleeping at night in sewers under the railway station to shelter from the cold, police said.

The number of foreign minors arriving in Italy has risen substantially over the past five years, according to children's charities.

Roman police also recently discovered groups of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and China living crammed 20 or more to a room.

As fast as the authorities find them proper accommodation, their places are taken by new arrivals, the BBC's David Willey reports from the Italian capital.

Link by BBC

Jade Goody: One in a million

BUCKHURST HILL, England — I’ve been to many funerals but none like this before: an intimate service for family and friends but one that was slickly choreographed for those who never met her, as well as the world’s media.

Jade Goody had the ability to touch the hearts of people from all walks of life.

Some media commentators have said Jade Goody’s funeral — along with the flowers thrown at the hearse and doves being released along the route — is reminiscent of Princess Diana’s early death 12 years ago.

The comparison is fatuous in one sense of course — Diana never had to cope with deprivation and appalling drug abuse at home and in her case collective hysteria gripped the country for what seemed like weeks — but both women had the ability to touch the hearts of many people from all walks of life. As Max Clifford said in his eloquent address in church, Goody was “ordinary yet extraordinary” and her legacy may mean more women being tested for signs of cervical cancer, the disease that killed her.

And, for many people too young to remember the princess, Jade, the young woman raised in Bermondsey, in a gritty part of southeast London, meant as much to them — if not more — as Di ever did.

Another comparison is valid: both women left behind two sons, although Goody’s are 10 years younger than Princes William and Harry were were they were bereaved.

The father of Goody’s two young sons certainly spared them an ordeal by keeping them away from the funeral. While they will of course be grieving for their mother in a way that is incomprehensible to us adults, at least they have not had to appear before a battery of cameras, with every gesture and tear being analyzed by Fleet Street’s commentators.

Saturday’s service was certainly less stiff and solemn than Diana’s service in 1997, and there were none of the public recriminations between grieving relatives that electrified Westminster Abbey then.

Jade Goody was above all an entertainer and she realized that, organizing her funeral with meticulous attention to detail. She may not have been Brain of Britain but she made people laugh and she didn’t take herself too seriously. For many of those who attended the funeral service Jade was one in a million.

Link by CNN

At least 30 die in Pakistan violence

At least 30 people in Pakistan lost their lives Saturday in two separate suicide attacks and a suspected U.S. missile strike, according to local security officials.

Tribesmen mourn a suspected U.S. airstrike victim in northwest Pakistan, scene of suicide attacks and airstrikes.

About 12 of them died when security forces fired on a truck packed with explosives approaching a checkpoint in the tribal region of North Waziristan, a local military official told CNN.

The official said the truck blew up before it rammed into the checkpoint, killing bystanders and pedestrians, including five children, around 1:30 p.m.

In a second suicide attack, a bomber walked to a vehicle security checkpoint in Islamabad on Saturday evening and blew himself up. Six people died, police spokesman Bin Yamin said.

Initial reports that the attacker targeted a nearby market were wrong, Yamin said.

From 12 to as many as 18 people died in a suspected U.S. missile strike in North Waziristan, in northwestern Pakistan, on Saturday morning, local political and military sources said.

Based on a CNN tally, Saturday's strike is the 11th suspected U.S. missile strike in Pakistan this year.

The airstrike targeted a home in the village of Datakhel, according to political official Shahab Ali Shah.

One Pakistani military official said as many as 18 people might have been killed.

The U.S-led coalition and NATO -- based in Afghanistan -- are battling militants who are launching attacks from the tribal areas, Taliban strongholds, along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The forces have become frustrated with Islamabad over the years, saying it is not being proactive enough against militants -- a claim Pakistan denies.

The United States is the only country operating in the region known to have the capability to launch missiles from drones, which are controlled remotely.

The attacks, which have claimed dozens of lives, have angered many Pakistani officials.

The U.S. military in Afghanistan never comments on reported cross-border strikes.

Link by CNN

Israeli police return fire, kill Palestinian woman

A Palestinian woman opened fire Saturday on Israeli border police in southern Israel before they shot and killed her, an Israeli spokesman said.

Moshe Fintzy, a border police spokesman, said the woman approached the entrance of the border guards' base and was not allowed to enter. She then opened fire, and the border police responded, Fintzy said.

The incident occurred near Beer Sheva, in southern Israel.

No other information was immediately available.

Earlier Saturday two members of a Palestinian militant group were killed in clashes with members of the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza, security and medical sources said.

The clashes between members of the Salah-a-Din Brigades and members of the IDF occurred east of Jabalya, the sources said.

The Salah-a-Din Brigades is the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committee.

3 officers slain responding to call, Pittsburgh police chief says

Three Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, police officers became the first department fatalities since 1995 Saturday morning while responding to a domestic dispute call, Police Chief Nathan Harper said.

Law enforcement from several jurisdictions respond to a shooting standoff at Pittsburgh home Saturday.

"We have never had to lose three officers in the line of duty at one time at one call," Harper said.

Suspect Richard Poplawski surrendered around 11 a.m. outside the Stanton Heights home he shares with his mother after a standoff that lasted nearly four hours and left two more officers injured.

Wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with an AK-47, a long rifle and a pistol, Poplawski fired about 100 rounds during the standoff, Harper said. Watch officers respond at the scene »

Poplawski was taken into custody after surrendering to law enforcement. He is expected to face charges of homicide, aggravated assault and other related offenses, Harper said.

Officer Paul Sciullo III, a 14-year veteran of the department, was the first to approach the home after responding to the scene around 7:05 a.m. He was shot in the head as he entered the doorway.

When Officer Stephen Mayhle tried to help his fellow officer, he too was shot in the head, Harper said.

Officer Eric Kelly, who rushed to the scene on his way home after finishing his shift, was fatally shot as he attempted to assist his fallen colleagues, Harper said.

The shootings triggered a standoff between Poplawski, who was shooting from his bedroom window, and law enforcement agencies from several jurisdictions, Harper said.

Poplawski opened fire at an Army SWAT vehicle that arrived around 8:30 a.m., preventing them and medics from reaching the wounded policemen.

Officer Timothy McManaway also was shot in the hand, the chief said. Another officer, Brian Jones, broke his leg while trying to get over a fence while securing the rear of the house, he said.

Some neighbors were evacuated during the standoff. Neighbors reported that the family had caused trouble before and Harper said police had responded to calls from the home two or three times.

Link by CNN

American U.N. official freed in Pakistan

An American U.N. worker kidnapped in Pakistan more than two months ago has been freed, officials said.

John Solecki -- abducted near the Afghan border on February 2 -- heads the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees office in Quetta, the southwestern Pakistan city and provincial capital of Balochistan.

"I and all of my UNHCR colleagues worldwide are extremely relieved to learn of the safe release of John Solevki after more than two months in captivity," said Antonio Guterres, U.N. high commissioner, in a statement.

"We are especially happy for John's family and friends who have been so supportive during this difficult ordeal. I am particularly grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to secure John's release, including U.N. and UNHCR security staff, Balochi leaders who have provided consistent support, and the Pakistani authorities," Guterres' statement said."UNHCR looks forward to continuing its humanitarian efforts in Pakistan as part of the United Nations team working on behalf of all of the people."

Fakhar ud Din, head of Balochistan province, said Solecki was found in a cottage in the in the village of Khad Koucha in the Mastung District of Balochistan province and was now in police custody.

State Department spokesman Fred Lash said the State Department got a confirmation from the Pakistani government that Solecki has been freed. He is not at the U.S. Embassy but is no longer held hostage by the kidnappers, Lash said.

According to the United Nations, Solecki's driver was killed in the brazen daylight kidnapping in February.

A video that aired February 13 on Pakistan's Geo TV network appeared to show Solecki.

In the video, the man said: "This is a message to the United Nations. I am not feeling well. I'm in trouble. Please help solve the problem soon so I can gain my release."

Solecki's mother also pleaded for him to be freed in an audio recording released by the United Nations three weeks after the abduction.

Solecki's mother said in the recording that she and her husband are archaeologists who worked in the region when John Solecki and his brother, Bill, were children.

Link CNN

Injury-hit Serena beaten in Miami final

An injury-hampered Serena Williams slumped to a straight sets defeat to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the final of the WTA Tier One tournament at Key Biscayne in Florida.

The strapping on Serena's thigh is clearly visible as she poses before the start with Azarenka.

Williams played with heavy strapping on her left thigh, clearly struggling with her movement in Saturday's final as Azarenka took ruthless advantage for a 6-3 6-1 win.

The 19-year-old Azarenka has charged up the WTA world rankings this year with two victories in lesser-rated tournaments and only two defeats.

The first came to Williams in the fourth round of the Australian Open where the mixture of a stomach ailment and heat exhaustion forced her to retire when leading by a set although trailing in the second.

Williams went on to take the first grand title of the season and move to top spot in the world rankings, but her bid for a sixth victory at this week's prestigious tournament hit the buffers.

A series of tough three-setters, including a semifinal win over sister Venus, had clearly taken their toll on Williams, but despite her incapacity she moved an early break ahead to lead 3-2 in the opening set.

But it proved a temporary reprieve as Azarenka started finding the lines with excellent ground strokes and took the next four games to close out the opener.

Williams was clearly a spent force and after bravely holding her service at the first opportunity was broken as Azarenka took a 3-1 lead.

A further break saw the lead stretch to 5-1 with Azarenka serving for the biggest title of her career.

Williams briefly rallied to save a match point and then force a break point, but it was only a temporary reprieve as a weak shot into the net on the second championship point handed her opponent victory after 72 minutes.

"I'm not one to make excuses, the better player won today," said Williams as she collected the runners-up trophy.

Azarenka, who will move up to eighth in the rankings after the victory, said her improved form this year was down to more self confidence.

"I just think I have improved everything since last year and started believing in myself a bit more," she said.

Williams must now hope she recovers in time to defend her title in the Family Circle Cup in Charleston in a fortnight as she bids to hold on to her top ranking.

Link by CNN

Bangladesh anti-graft chief quits

Sheikh Hasina had accused the commission of abuse of power

The head of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Bangladesh has tendered his resignation, officials say.

Hasan Masood Chowdhury, appointed by an army-backed interim government in January 2007, cited "personal reasons".

Over a two-year period his commission charged dozens of influential political and business figures.

One of those held was Sheikh Hasina, who won December's polls to become PM and who has since accused commission officials of abusing their powers.

Mr Chowdhury sent his resignation to the president, reports said.

Media say Mr Chowdhury will appear before reporters in the afternoon to talk about his decision.

Analysts say he had feared for the independence of the commission following the huge election win of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party.

'Bribes'

The commission was given strong powers by the interim government to root out corruption.

It detained more than 150 people. Along with Sheikh Hasina, another former PM, Khaleda Zia, was held.

But most charges were dropped and the politicians released.

In February, Sheikh Hasina accused commission officials of abusing their powers. She said that the organisation should be reconstituted.

She accused it of harassing innocent people and forcing them to make false allegations. She also told parliament that some detainees had been released after paying bribes to anti-corruption officials.

Mr Chowdhury did not comment directly then on Sheikh Hasina's comments but he did say that the commission was not guilty of political manipulation and had always just been doing its job.

Some analysts said Sheikh Hasina was trying to steer Mr Chowdhury and his colleagues towards resignation as she did not have the power to reform the organisation herself.

Link by BBC

Google sees voice search as core

Analysts believe accurate voice search could boost Google's business

Google has said it sees voice search as a major opportunity for the company in building a presence on the mobile web.

The company's vice president of engineering made the comments during a wide-ranging discussion at the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco.

"We believe voice search is a new form of search and that it is core to our business," said Vic Gundotra.

SearchEngineLand editor Greg Sterling agreed: "If done right, it could be a valuable strategic feature for Google."

Mr Gundotra acknowledged to the audience that "voice recognition in the early days was a nice trick but not very usable".

There were early complaints that Google's offering could not understand accents other than American and that results were often garbled.

"Look how far we have come. I get the advantage of looking at daily voice queries coming in and it's amazing. It's working. It's reached a tipping point. It's growing and growing very, very fast and we are thrilled about it," said Mr Gundotra.

He declined to share figures about just how many queries the company deals with via voice search.

However, Mr Gundotra did say: "It's one of those technologies we think gets better with usage.

"We launched it on the iPhone and have seen a 15% jump in accuracy because, as more people use it, we collect more data and our accuracy gets better."

'Queen's English'

In 2002, Google Labs introduced a service that allowed users to search with a simple phone call. The company admitted it "wasn't very useful because the results were displayed on your computer and Google discontinued it".

Six years later, the search giant introduced an improved feature under the Google Mobile App for the iPhone.

Vic Gundotra says "voice search is core" to Google's future mobile plans

It is also available on the Android based T-Mobile G1 and last month was introduced on the BlackBerry as a free download. The New York Times's Gadgetwise blog rated the BlackBerry version the "App of the Week" earlier this week.

Early iterations that worked best with North American accents had problems understanding other accents, including British. BBC technology cCorrespondent Rory Cellan-Jones reported in November last year that his attempts to use it were "pure gibberish".

For example, his query about the next train, West Ealing to Paddington "delivered some useful information about 'neck strain' - but no train times".

Those problems have since been largely ironed out and Google said it was continuing to work on improving the accuracy of the service. This, Mr Sterling said, is crucial if the company wants it to give them the edge in the marketplace.

"My view is voice search could be a strategic differentiator if it works well. It depends on how much better Google's system is compared to, say, Yahoo's or Microsoft's.

"If they come up with a really great version that is really accurate, it could retain users and likely increase search usage for Google," said Mr Sterling.

"Stay tuned"

At Web 2.0, Mr Gundotra also talked about a web-based version of Google's e-mail service, Gmail.

Google's "technical prototype", coming soon to the public

He demonstrated a "technical prototype" on the iPhone and the G1 and said "Stay tuned" for a release date.

Mr Gundotra said the prototype used HTML 5, an as-yet incomplete version of mark up language of the world wide web.

He revealed that Google would create a whole suite of offline apps using HTML 5 and that "we are going to be leaders in taking advantage of HTML 5".

Mr Gundotra also said that engineers were working hard to bring the Chrome browser to the Mac and that while there was no date for delivery, "we are making progress to get it out as fast as we can".

Twitter purchase

During a question and answer session, Mr Gundotra was quizzed on rumours circulating in the blogosphere that Google is looking to buy the micro-blogging service Twitter.

Google said "no comment" on rumours it may want to buy Twitter

"I'm a big fan of Twitter but we don't as a policy comment on rumour or speculation," he said.

Meanwhile, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone has said that he has been "flooded with requests for a response to the latest internet speculation about where Twitter is headed".

In a blog entitled Sometimes We Talk, Mr Stone wrote: "It should come as no surprise that Twitter engages in discussions with other companies regularly and on a variety of subjects.

"Our goal is to build a profitable, independent company and we're just getting started."

Link by BBC

BJP sets out India poll manifesto

Mr Advani is the BJP's candidate for prime minister

India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its election manifesto which includes a number of key financial pledges.

It says it will retrieve Indian money illegally gained and stashed abroad and will also raise the income tax limit.

The BJP said it would also build a million houses for the poor every year and reduce interest rates to make urban housing affordable.

The BJP's main rival is the governing Congress party.

It released its manifesto last week, appealing for a return to power so it can continue to push economic growth.

The general election will be held in five phases. Polling to elect the new Lok Sabha (lower house) begins on 16 April and runs to 13 May. Counting is due on 16 May.

Nearly four million officials will conduct the elections and 714 million voters are eligible to cast ballots.

'Three promises'

"You will see that this is not a routine programme. We are promising only what we can deliver," the BJP's prime ministerial candidate LK Advani said at the release of the manifesto.

"We are promising three things - good governance, economic development and security for all," he said.

More than 700 million can vote in the world's most populous democracy

Highlighting the main points of the manifesto, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said that all families living below the poverty line would be given 35kg of rice at two rupees a kg every month.

If elected to power, the party said those earning 300,000 rupees a year ($6,000 approximately) would not have to pay any income taxes.

For women and the elderly (those above 60 years), the limit would be 350,000 rupees ($7,000).

The manifesto says the BJP will identify and retrieve billions of dollars of illegally gained Indian money stashed abroad.

The manifesto promises better road connectivity for villages and the creation of jobs in rural areas.

The party also promises a tougher anti-terror law. India has seen several militant attacks across the country in recent years.

The manifesto says the BJP will secure the 4,000km-long coast line of India. The perpetrators of last November's deadly Mumbai (Bombay) attacks are believed to have come via the sea route.

The party, which has often accused Congress of running a soft government, said it would deal strongly with Maoist rebels who were fighting for a communist state in parts of India.

The BJP said it was also committed to building a temple to Hindu god Ram in the northern town of Ayodhya.

In 1992, Hindu hardliners demolished the Babri mosque saying it was built on a temple.

The demolition of the mosque sparked Hindu-Muslim riots in which more than 2,000 people were killed across India.

Link by BBC

Israeli FM questioned over fraud

Mr Lieberman was a controversial choice for foreign minister

Israel's new Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has been questioned by police for at least seven hours over corruption allegations.

Police said Mr Lieberman was questioned under caution on suspicion of "bribery, money-laundering and breach of trust" as part of an ongoing investigation.

Mr Lieberman was sworn in as foreign minister on Tuesday.

He has previously denied any wrong-doing and says the corruption probe against him is politically motivated.

Police confirmed that the interview had been scheduled in advance with Mr Lieberman.

Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman, said Mr Lieberman had been questioned over the long-standing investigation into his business dealings, the Associated Press reported.

The accusations are believed to relate to a company run by Mr Lieberman's daughter.

A spokesman for Mr Lieberman said it was "the same investigation that has been ongoing for the past 13 years and which he has petitioned the courts to have speeded up.

"He co-operated fully with police investigators and answered all their questions and enjoyed drinking their coffee," said the unnamed spokesman.

Controversy

Mr Lieberman, an ultra-nationalist, is one of Israel's most outspoken politicians.

Livni condemns new leaders Palestinian talks suspended Musician ordered out of West Bank Profile: Avigdor Lieberman

He was a controversial choice for a leading ministerial post in the government of right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu, which was sworn in on Tuesday.

As he assumed office, Mr Lieberman raised concerns among some people by saying Israel was not bound by a US-sponsored 2007 agreement to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.

Palestinian officials described him as an "obstacle to peace" whose policies would rebound negatively on Israel.

Israel's former chief peace negotiator, and Mr Lieberman's predecessor as foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, said the remarks showed that the government would not be a partner for peace with the Palestinians.

The BBC's Jo Floto in Jerusalem says Mr Lieberman's supporters are unlikely to be troubled by the police interest in him.

But Wednesday's questioning will do nothing to reassure those people who believe Mr Lieberman is an unsuitable choice for such a prominent role in the Israeli administration, says our correspondent.

Link by BBC

Priyanka's father-in-law hanged himself: Police sources

Rajendra Vadra, father of Robert Vadra, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband, was found dead at a guest house in Yusuf Sarai area on

Priyanka Vadra, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi at the cremation of Priyanka's father-in-law in New Delhi. (PTI Photo) More Pictures

Friday. A source requesting anonymity claimed that it was suspected to be a case of suicide as Vadra was found with an ironing cord around his neck. Police officials, off the record, initially said the death was caused by a heart attack, but later clammed up. No official statement was forthcoming from either the family or the police.

Vadra's body was found by a room attendant at around 9.30 am in City Inn, where he had been staying for the last fortnight. His body was taken to Safdarjung Hospital and a post mortem conducted. Sources within the hospital claimed that there were injury marks around the neck, but declined to be quoted. Neither the police, nor hospital authorities divulged any details about the cause of death.

Vadra, who was in his 60s, was reportedly alone at the time of his death. His body was cremated at the Lodhi Road Crematorium on Friday afternoon in the presence of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka and his son Robert, along with other family and friends. Rahul left early for campaigning in Bihar while the others stayed on with the family. The family of the deceased refused to speak to the media about the incident. The police declined to comment on whether an inquest would be conducted into the allegations of suicide.

Vadra was reportedly undergoing treatment for cirrhosis of the liver and severe diabetes at Max Hospital. He was staying at the guest house even though he owned a house in New Friend's Colony.

About eight years ago, Robert Vadra had issued a public notice stating that his father, Rajender, and brother, Richard, were "duping" people by promising jobs at the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee and other favours. Rajendra later threatened to file a defamation suit against his son. In an interview, he had also expressed displeasure at Robert's marriage with Priyanka.

Rajendra was a resident of Civil Lines area of Moradabad and ran a brass and wood handicrafts business. Robert's brother, Richard Vadra was also found dead in mysterious circumstances in September 2003 at his Vasant Vihar residence, and his sister Michelle died in a car accident in 2001.

While the Vadra family claimed to be a supporter of the Congress Party, Rajendra's older brother Om Prakash had donated his property to a trust in Moradabad, some members of which are affiliated with RSS. A school still stands on that land. The family is originally from Sialkot, Pakistan, and Rajendra's father moved to India at the time of partition.


Link by The times of india

New York gunman kills 13, commits suicide

BINGHAMTON: A lone killer armed with at least two handguns massacred 13 people at a citizenship center in New York state on Friday before

New York state police surround the building in Binghamton where a gunman held dozens hostage. (AFP Photo) More Pictures

apparently shooting himself, police said.
The slayings took place on the main floor of the American Civic Association (ACC) in Binghamton, 135 miles (217 kilometers) northwest of New York City.

The gunman, reported by media outlets to be of Vietnamese origin, had barricaded a car against the back door of the center to prevent escape. He then entered the front of the building and opened fire, apparently committing suicide soon after.

Dozens more people spent four hours cowering in the center's basement, waiting to be told by police that they were safe to leave.

Local police chief Joseph Zikuski said that there were "14 confirmed dead in the building" and that he had "very good reason to believe that the shooter is among the dead at the scene."

"We removed safely 37 people. Four people we removed are wounded. All four are listed in critical condition," Zikuski told a press conference.

However, he cautioned "by no means are we 100 percent sure" about the killer's body being among those at the building.

Zikuski said that the emergency call was made by the first woman shot by the gunman, a receptionist shot in the stomach but who pretended she was dead until she could make her escape.

"A lone gunman entered the building and immediately shot her and another receptionist. Unfortunately that (second) receptionist is now deceased. Then he went into another room and shot several more people."

Two handguns were recovered at the scene, he said.

CNN identified the gunman as Jiverly Wong, in his early 40s, from Johnson City, near Binghamton, where he lived with his mother. Police have searched his home, CNN said.

Zikuski said the gunman had been "recently terminated from a job. He didn't speak English very well," and was feeling pretty low.

US President Barack Obama, on a visit to France, said he was "shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the act of senseless violence."

Many of those in the center, which helps people prepare for citizenship tests, were apparently of Vietnamese origin and did not speak good English.

Eyewitness Richard Griffis told CNN the school was "kind of a melting pot for people."

New York state Governor David Paterson said victims were there to pursue "the American dream."

"There still is an American dream and all of us who are Americans will try to heal this very, very deep wound in the city of Binghamton," he said.

The outburst of violence apparently was over quickly, but hours of tension followed.


Link by the times of india

'Mr. Poopy Pants' and fees frustrate flyers

There was a time when airline travel was a special treat, the kind of occasion that inspired passengers to dress up.

Hordes of travelers pass through airport security en route to their flights.

Now, the awe people once felt about flying through the clouds is tempered by additional fees, cramped seats and horrifying tales of fellow travelers.

Take, for instance, "Mr. Poopy Pants" -- a grown man who allegedly soiled himself 10 minutes into a flight from Florida to Minnesota. And then he just sat there.

"We've all had our flying hell experiences," said Gregg Rottler, creator of FlightsFromHell.com.

The site provides a venue for people to share their tales of woe, said Rottler. "It's therapeutic ... so it benefits them and provides entertainment value for others."

Rottler, a 54-year-old environmental health supervisor in Tampa, Florida, launched the site more than two years ago. Since then, FlightsFromHell.com has attracted submissions from passengers and flight attendants that have run the gamut, touching on categories that include "odors," "attendant issues," "weird people," and "luggage and delays."

Among the story headlines: "Titanic toddler creates tumult," "Wifey punched by elderly 'sleepwalker,' " and "Lip-locked tousle-haired 20-somethings."

"There's something about being scrunched up with strangers ... The seats aren't that big, and once someone starts going wacko, it just creates an extremely stressful environment that was already stressful enough," Rottler said.

TripAdvisor, the world's largest online travel community, recently released survey results from more than 1,500 U.S. respondents asked to discuss what about flying bugs them most.

The purpose was to "allow travelers to air their grievances," TripAdvisor spokesman Brooke Ferencsik said. Sure enough, he continued, "83 percent of respondents said air travelers have gotten ruder over the past 10 years" and the most annoying travelers, earning 59 percent of votes, were "oblivious parents."

Flyers griped about fellow passengers snoring, vomiting and having "excessive flatulence."

But it wasn't just crying babies, heavy perfume and strangers dozing off and drooling on their shoulders that people complained about.

Add-on fees were also a concern. These charges often hit when booking tickets, making particular seat selections and checking bags. Bringing a pet on board or getting food, blankets and pillows can also add fees. But 54 percent agreed on this: No airline fee is more annoying than the one to check luggage.

The trend of ratcheting up fees began in late spring of 2008, explained Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, an online consumer travel publication.

"Everyday it seemed a new fee came out," she said. "The consumer sees it as nickel and diming."

While some add-on charges have fallen by the wayside, such as U.S. Airways ill-fated decision to charge $2 for water, juice and soda, Banas believes other more universally instituted fees that are of great help to struggling airlines, including the ones for checked bags, are likely here to stay.

"Baggage fees get people the most upset because it's the one that's hardest to avoid," she said. "People get upset when there was a status quo and something gets taken away."

To help frustrated travelers, who become even more aggravated because the fees vary by airline, SmarterTravel created a guide to airline fees.

TripAdvisor, which collaborates with SmarterTravel (both are owned by Expedia), also instituted a fees estimator, which allows people to figure out what flights will really cost, removing the element of surprise.

When the company set out to do its survey, Ferencsik said, "We were curious to find out how much people were frustrated," by fees, such as the one for checked baggage. "Does it surprise them? And what are they doing to avoid it?"

The fact that 19 percent of respondents said they don't check bags anymore, and 39 percent said they try their best to avoid it, was proof that they're "modifying the way they travel."

But while they'll bend to deal with change, there are some talked-about fees that may be deal-breakers. Seventy-five percent of those surveyed said they'd draw the line if they were ever charged by an airline to use toilets.

Does that mean "Mr. Poopy Pants" will have company?

"I hope they would just choose a different airline," Ferencsik said.


Link by CNN

RBS chairman: More job losses coming, Goodwin reconsiders pension

British banking giant RBS has revealed it expects to make more job cuts and that former chief executive Fred Goodwin is considering taking a voluntary cut in his pension.

Fred Goodwin is apparently considering a voluntary reduction to his annual $933,000 pension.

New chairman Philip Hampton Friday made a strong apology for the bank's mistakes, which lead to a UK record loss of £24.1 billion ($34.6 billion) for 2008.

In not so veiled comments he also laid the blame for the bank's current situation firmly at the feet of Goodwin, who retired after the government's multi-billion pound bailout last year.

The size of Goodwin's pension -- estimated at £650,000 ($933,000) a year for life -- has provoked outrage but Hampton indicated that RBS's former boss was now considering taking a voluntary reduction.

In a statement released ahead of the group's AGM Friday, Hampton said the "past was done" and could not be changed.

"Only a tiny minority of staff in RBS were in any way responsible for the major credit market losses we suffered in 2008. It is remarkable that there were only a few hundred people responsible in the relevant segments of our businesses chiefly in the financial centers of London, Amsterdam and New York, most of whom have now left the group.

"I don't think there can be any doubt that the key decision that led RBS to its difficulties was the acquisition of ABN AMRO (Goodwin led the nearly $90 billion purchase). That is the painful reality that we can now do nothing to change."

Hampton said the bank had been embarrassed by a series of stories but it was now time to move on. Watch consternation at Goodwin's £16 million pension fund »

"I believe we should bring an end to the public flogging and focus on the good and enduring people and businesses of RBS and allow them to earn our way back to success.

"We have suffered a major financial hit and continued collateral damage from public criticism will compound the problem not resolve it."

He said the bank had many difficult decisions to make.

"Chief among these will be the need to achieve the annual cost reduction targets of £2.5 billion ($3.67 billion) that we have set within the next three years.

"All costs will be scrutinized from our back offices to our highest offices. Clearly this will mean that some of our people will lose their jobs.

"In the UK this year so far we have announced around 2,700 posts will go. We can only be honest and say that this will not be the end of the story and more are expected in the UK and internationally in the period ahead."

Hampton said reforms had already been made to the company's remuneration policies and more would follow this year.

"Reward will be longer term and more directly aligned to shareholder interest rather than short-term return. In addition our new chief executive (Stephen Hester) has, at his own insistence, a clause in his contract ensuring that he will receive no reward if he leaves the company for reasons of his own failure."

Hampton said the company would obviously not be paying a dividend this year but wanted to do so again as soon as possible.

"The operating environment is as tough as any of us have ever known and we are asking our staff to knuckle down for a three to five year project. We can only ask you, our shareholders, for the same perseverance."

Link by CNN

Europe faces greater terror threat than U.S.

Europe is more vulnerable to terrorist attack than the United States, U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday as he arrived in France for a two-day NATO Summit marking the military alliance's 60th anniversary.

U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy take part in Friday's ceremonies.

Obama was addressing an audience in Strasbourg, which is co-hosting the summit with Kehl in Germany on opposite banks of the River Rhine, afterr earlier holding talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Afghanistan tops the agenda at the summit with Obama calling on other NATO members to take on a greater role in thee fight against Taliban and Islamist insurgents.

U.S. forces have borne the brunt of the conflict since leading the invasion that overthrew the Taliban in 2001, following the al Qaeda terror attacks against New York and Washington.

Obama said Friday he had asked other NATO states to provide more military and civilian support and warned that al Qaeda was still plotting terror attacks in the border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"Al Qaeda is still a threat and we cannot pretend somehow that because Barack Hussain Obama got elected as president everything is suddenly going to be ok," Obama said.

"If there is another al Qaeda attack it is just as likely, if not more, that it will be here in Europe, in a European city." Watch Obama describe terror threat »

At an earlier joint press conference, Sarkozy said France would be open to accepting a released prisoner from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility if that helps bring about its closing.

Sarkozy has criticized Guantanamo and said he is "happy and proud" Obama decided to close it. Watch French fans cheer Obama »

Obama reiterated the United States' commitment to NATO, describing it as the "most successful alliance in modern history."

"The basic premise of NATO was that Europe's security was the United States' security and vice versa," Obama told reporters. "That is a pillar of American foreign policy that has been unchanging over the past 60 years. It is something that I am here to affirm."

Obama said the U.S. wanted strong allies and was looking to be a partner with European countries. "The more capable they are defensively, the more we can act in concert on the shared challenges that we face," he said.

"One of my messages to our NATO allies is going to be the more capability we see here in Europe, the happier the United States will be, the more effective we will be in coordinating our activities."

The French president indicated he wanted his country to be strong enough to "stand up to the challenges" that it faced and have defense at the fore.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office said the UK was prepared to consider an increase in troop numbers in Afghanistan on a temporary basis to provide additional security during the forthcoming presidential election -- but said an agreement would be "subject to burden-sharing agreements at the NATO summit." A source familiar with the proposal said the troop increase would be in the "mid-high 100s."

Summit co-host France, which is rejoining NATO's high command this weekend after more than 40 years, has rarely seen eye-to-eye with the U.S. on military matters.

Sarkozy pledged a relatively small group of 150 gendarmes this week to help train Afghan police and observers wonder if Obama will face an uphill battle in bringing other allies on board.

De Hoop Scheffer told CNN that was "too gloomy a conclusion" and said European allies are already starting to contribute more.

"That doesn't happen in one big bang at the summit, but they are beefing up their forces," de Hoop Scheffer told CNN. "Afghanistan should not become President Obama's conflict but should become a collective, coordinated operation of all of us."

De Hoop Scheffer said NATO was also trying to "re-engage" with Russia after relations between the former Cold War military rivals reached a "low ebb" during Russian forces' military invasion of Georgia last year.

Obama made clear at the G-20 summit in London this week that he wants to restart relations with Russia. He said Friday he had a "terrific" meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

"I think that it is important for NATO allies to engage Russia and to recognize that they have legitimate interests in some cases, we've got common interests, but we also have some core disagreements," Obama said.

Calling Obama's plan "excellent news," Sarkozy responded, "The last thing we need is a new Cold War."

But some NATO members are reluctant to agree with him, particularly eastern European countries like Poland and the Czech Republic that used to fall under Russian influence as members of the Soviet bloc.

Pierre Lellouche, an author and NATO watcher, said he believes those countries will come around to Obama's plans.

Saturday's agenda will also see Albania and Croatia welcomed to the alliance as they finalize their accession process at the summit.

Some 300 NATO protesters were jailed Thursday in Strasbourg, Germany, just across the border from the French side of the city, police said, and 105 of them were still held Friday.

Thursday's protest was violent, with demonstrators breaking property and throwing stones. All was quiet Thursday night and Friday morning.


Link by CNN

Dane in running for NATO top job

The Danish prime minister has told his party he is a candidate for NATO's top job, a spokeswoman for the party told Danish TV on Friday.

Rasmussen's possible candidacy for the NATO top job has prompted Turkish protests.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced his aspirations to the Liberal Party Friday morning, party spokeswoman Inger Stojberg said in an interview posted on Denmark's TV2 News Web site.

The prime minister's spokesman, Michael Ulveman, however, would not confirm the announcement to CNN.

Rasmussen's name has surfaced as a possible frontrunner to replace current NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer when he steps down this summer.

But alliance member Turkey has expressed its objection to Rasmussen over his handling of the political cartoon debate and Denmark allowing a pro-PKK TV station, ROJ, to air from its soil.

A Danish newspaper published a series of political cartoons in September 2005 that depicted the Prophet Mohammed. That provoked ire among Muslims around the world because some Muslims believe the Quran forbids showing images of the prophet.

Though other newspapers reprinted the images months later as a matter of free speech, many protesters directed their anger at Denmark.

The PKK are Kurdish militants who have been fighting the Turkish government for a Kurdish homeland.

The process to choose the next NATO leader is confidential, so it is impossible to confirm details with the alliance.

De Hoop Scheffer told CNN on Friday that talks about his successor are going on and will be continued at this weekend's summit in France and Germany.

"When exactly a decision will be taken, when we can see a nomination, I quite honestly do not know and I do not want to know at the moment," Scheffer told CNN.

"But I can assure you that this is being discussed and, as always in NATO, there will be a consensual decision."

Link by cnn

Civilian died in Afghan crossfire, NATO says

NATO-led troops killed 12 insurgents in a firefight Friday in Afghanistan, and a civilian caught in the crossfire was apparently killed by militants, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.

U.S. Marines fire 120mm mortars on Taliban positions on April 3 in Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

The incident occurred south of Kabul in the eastern Afghan province of Logar, when Afghan security forces and ISAF troops were conducting an operation.

It comes as NATO members meet in Europe to discuss the fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and as human rights groups this week urged NATO and the U.S. military to avoid civilian casualties and develop a well-coordinated condolence payment system for civilians victimized in the war.

Troops saw a large group of insurgents placing a roadside bomb. The militants retreated to a compound and attacked ISAF troops with small arms.

Troops surrounded the compound and urged them to surrender peacefully after it was cordoned off. It also asked the people in the compound to release women and children but no civilians left.

Troops assaulted the compound and 12 male insurgents were killed in gunfire. Troops found one woman who was killed in the crossfire by insurgent small arms fire, ISAF said.

An investigation is being conducted by Afghan National Security Forces at the site. Initial indications show that the woman was killed by insurgent small arms fire.

Eight AK47 rifles, two rocket propelled grenade launchers, several rocket canisters, 82mm mortars, and two heavy machine guns were found in the compound.

"ANSF and ISAF are making significant progress against insurgent groups in Logar province who are involved in murdering civilians with IEDs," said Brig. Gen. Richard Blanchette, ISAF spokesman.

"Today's firefight illustrates the difference between ISAF troops who risk their lives to protect civilians, and insurgents who deliberately and tragically place civilians at risk."

Also, ISAF reported the death of a soldier from the NATO-led force Friday in eastern Afghanistan.

The soldier died of wounds and another was injured after what was described as a "hostile incident."

"On behalf of the men and women of the International Security Assistance Force, I offer our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the brave soldier killed, and our support to the soldier wounded in this incident," Blanchette said.

"As we recognize their sacrifice in our battle against a vicious insurgency, we will continue supporting the Afghan National Security Forces so that the Afghan people reap the tangible benefits of peace in their day-to-day lives."

Overnight in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, troops killed four militants in an operation targeting a mid-level Taliban commander responsible for attacks against Afghan civilians and coalition forces.

The commander directed attacks in December in Musa Qala, including one that killed 12 Afghan civilians.



Link by cnn