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Security forces kill 80 insurgents in Iraq

     Baghdad: At least 80 insurgents have been killed by Iraqi special forces backed by US troops in a raid on a training camp near the city of Tikrit, officials say. An Iraqi commando unit engaged in heavy fighting before seizing control of the camp, 160 km north-west of Baghdad, on Tuesday. Iraqi officials confirmed that at least seven Iraqi commandos died, alongside insurgents from a number of countries. According to the BBC, it is the heaviest blow to the insurgency in months. Iraqi special forces attacked the training camp, at Lake Tharthar, on the border between the troubled mainly Sunni provinces of Anbar and Salaheddin. After encountering heavy fire, they called in US ground and air reinforcements. Iraqi officials said the insurgents included recruits from across the Muslim world, including Moroccans, Algerians, Sudanese, Saudis, Syrians and an Egyptian. "Special forces in the Interior Ministry attacked a training centre and had a fierce battle with the terrorists," Sabhah Kadim, a ministry spokesman, told the foreign news agency. The US military confirmed the operation, but was unable to say how many insurgents were killed. Spokesman Maj Richard Goldenberg said Iraqi forces now had complete control of the site. "An early assessment of the site indicates a facility for training anti-Iraqi forces," he said.

Organisers at Bangalore go ga ga over ticket sale (Go To Top)

     Bangalore: Organisers of the third test match at Bangalore are going ga ga over the rush for tickets outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. There was a lot of talk and debate that there was not a full house at the Eden Gardens on any of the five days of second Test between Pakistan and India, but waking up to the true sense of cricket fanaticism, the residents of Bangalore are thronging the stadium for the tickets. "People have watched India and Australia play here two months ago but there is still a lot of interest since Pakistan is playing here after a long time," The News quoted a senior official of the Karnataka Cricket Association as saying. Long queues of people was seen outside the stadium to purchase tickets, besides the usual number of autograph and photo seekers in and outside the stadium waiting to catch a glimpse of the Indian and Pakistani players. "But still, we are not sure if we will have a full house on all five days of the Test because it is hot and humid and the examinations are just concluding. But definitely there is interest and hype for the Test match," said R.P.Nagaraj. One of the reasons being pointed out by the local authorities for the long lines for tickets is the superb performances of local boys Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble in the second test at Kolkata. Pakistan last played a Test match in Bangalore in 1987 when it won an exciting but low scoring match by 17 runs.

ICC needs to examine 'doosra', says Woolmer (Go To Top)

     Bangalore: The Pakistan cricket coach, Bob Woolmer has said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) needs to closely examine the so-called doosra ball bowled by off-spinners amid growing scrutiny by critics who claim it is often an illegal delivery. He said that the sport's world body will have to analyze the delivery - which sends balls drifting away from the batsman instead of breaking into him. "In my opinion the doosra delivery is a metamorphic change in cricket. I don't think it's a throw, but a new skill started by Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq some years ago, and later picked up by others," The Daily Times quoted him as saying. "To get your wrist in a position to bowl the doosra involves some elbow, the ICC will have to consider if that's acceptable ... and to what extent", he added.

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