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US democracy law may target Pakistan

     Islamabad: US lawmakers are drafting a legislation to create a specific office in the State Department meant for spreading democracy across the world which will have a direct impact on the state of affairs in Pakistan. The "office of democracy movements and transitions" in the State Department is to serve as a "point of contact for democratic movements within individual countries," the Daily Times quoted Lynne Weil, spokeswoman for Democratic Representative Tom Lantos of California, as saying. According to officials quoted by the paper, the idea behind the bill is to spread democratic practices in countries like Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, maybe even China or Russia. If the legislation gets approval stamp, dissident groups across different countries would get direct access to Washington, which is likely to anger the above governments, as these countries might see it as an American interference in their internal political matters, reported the paper. The paper also reported that the bill being drafted jointly by Lantos and Republican Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia, both of whom co-chair the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, would also ask Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to publish an annual global report on democratic progress. Currently, annual reports on religious freedom and human rights are published by the US State Department, which works as a key guide for US policy makers.

Ceasefire declared between Israel and Palestine (Go To Top)

     Sharm El-Sheikh: Both Israel and Palestine have agreed for a joint ceasefire. This was announced during a press conference at the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Shiekh which was participated by Palestinian President Mehmood Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and Jordan's Shah Abdullah.Earlier peace talks for the middle east were held between Abbas and Sharon at Sharm El-Shiekh. These are the first peace talks between Israel and Palestine after four years. Both leaders analyzed the Palestine-Israel ceasefire agreement during the talks.The Palestinian delegation was represented by Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, Foreign Minister Nabeel Shaz and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erkat, reports The News. Earlier President Abbas met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. During the meeting both leaders discussed the Sharm-El-Shiekh conference along with the peace process in the Middle East.

Nepal Army bombs Maoist training camps (Go To Top)

     Kathmandu: The Nepalese Army has launched air strikes on Maoist training camps and shelters in the jungles near Nepalgunj. Immediately after the royal coup, the Army indicated that fresh offensives against the rebels would be started to pressurise them and bring them back to peace talks. The Maoists have threatened a blockade and traffic strike across the country on February 13 if democracy is not restored again. The King had sacked the Deuba government and clamped emergency in a sudden move a week ago. According to some analysts, he took this step to give a free hand to the army against the rebels to end nine-year old rebellion to topple the monarchy system and establish a communist state. More than 11,000 people have been killed - almost a third of that number since late 2003 when the last round of peace talks collapsed. Late on Monday, domestic and international lines began working again for the first time in a week. Dissident groups plan to protest against king`s move on Thursday and have called their supporters onto the streets for a "black flag" protest outside the sprawling complex housing parliament and the Prime Minister`s office.