Srebrenica killings: Seven Bosnian Serbs jailed

SARAJEVO: Bosnia's war crimes court sentenced seven Bosnian Serbs to prison on Tuesday for taking part in the mass killing of Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica in July 1995.The war crime court sentenced criminals ranging from 38 to 42 years. Some of the killers fired machine guns at prisoners and one threw hand grenades at them. Others guarded the warehouse to prevent prisoners from escaping through windows.

Ceasefire in interest of peace: Pranab

TEHRAN: Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee urged Pakistan and India to respect and maintain the sanctity of the cease-fire that the two countries had agreed to in November 2003 for the sake of peace, stability and future progress in the composite dialogue process.Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee who is visiting Iran these days reacted to the latest violation of the cease-fire on the Line of Control (LoC) in which an Indian Army soldier and four Pakistani soldiers were killed.

Taliban kidnap 30, kill 10 in Pakistan

PESHAWAR: Pakistani Taliban militants kidnapped 30 security forces from a police station in the northwestern Swat Valley on Tuesday, a day after killing ten intelligence men, officials said.The troops and policemen were abducted after Islamist rebels stormed a checkpost in Swat, a former tourist region where a two-month-old peace deal between militants and the government is under threat."Taliban attacked a police station in Kabal area of Swat and kidnapped 11 police and 19 Frontier Corps troops on Tuesday morning," a security official said while talking to an international news agency on condition of anonymity.

High time for judges restoration: Nawaz

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said he is expected to see Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in a few daysto discuss things once and for all.He was talking to media persons at Lahore Airport, where he arrived from London after attending his hospitalized wife.He said the mandate which people gave on February 18 remains still incomplete, as the judges are hitherto unrestored, adding, ‘We realize this problem and stayed throughout in contact with PPP over this issue.’

Obama calls on Gilani

WASHINGTON: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met with Pakistan's prime minister during a mix of private discussions on economic and international issues. Obama conferred with Pakistan's new leader, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, after a telephone call with Paulson, Obama's campaign said. Amid intense security, Obama arrived at the posh Willard Hotel for the meeting with Gilani. The entire street in front of the hotel was barricaded, and a tent had been constructed over its entrance. Reporters were kept on the street and the campaign had no plans to release details of their meeting.

Obama calls on Gilani

WASHINGTON: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met with Pakistan's prime minister during a mix of private discussions on economic and international issues. Obama conferred with Pakistan's new leader, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, after a telephone call with Paulson, Obama's campaign said. Amid intense security, Obama arrived at the posh Willard Hotel for the meeting with Gilani. The entire street in front of the hotel was barricaded, and a tent had been constructed over its entrance. Reporters were kept on the street and the campaign had no plans to release details of their meeting.

Altaf for role of people in Polio eradication

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Chief Altaf Hussain on Tuesday highly appreciated the anti-Polio campaign jointly launched by the government of Pakistan and World Health Organisation (WHO), in the country. Altaf Hussain called upon the parents to actively participate in the anti-polio drive to save their children from Polio disease, said a statement issued by MQM here. MQM Chief also called for an active role of people for complete eradication of Polio disease. He further advised the parents to benefit from the anti-polio drive which will be launched on August 15 across Pakistan and get anti-polio vaccine drops administered to their children.

Laura Bush hosts tea for Begum Gilani

WASHINGTON: US First Lady Laura Bush invited Begum Rukhsana Gilani, wife of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on tea Tuesday afternoon at the White House and discussed with her the state of girl child education in Pakistan.

PTCL union, management reach to agreement

ISLAMABAD: PTCL management has approved all demands of the employees after successful talks between the union representatives and the management.The PTCL has decided to give 35 percent raise in salaries and agreed to provide job security to the NCPG employees like the regular employees. PTCL President Waleed Rasheed and Assistant Vice President Syed Mazhar Hussain have welcomed the agreement with the employees, while Secretary General Muttahida Workers Alliance Hassan Muhammad Rana has also expressed satisfaction with the agreement.

No talks with militants: Gilani

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the suicide attacks have severely harmed Pakistan.Addressing a joint meeting of the US think tank Council of Foreign Relations and the Middle East Institute here Gilani said the there will be no talks with the militants. He said Pakistan need modern weapons in the war against terrorists. Gilani asked the United States not to adopt discriminatory policy for Pakistan and it should also sign deal with Pakistan to provide civilian nuclear technology.He also called for assistance in seeking solution of the Kashmir issue. He said ISI is an organized institution and all intelligence agencies and the military have been operating under the civilian government. The Prime Minister said that Dr. Qadeer’s network has been completely eliminated.