Pakistan faces risk of drug-resistant 'superbug' spread

 NEW DELHI: Urgent global action is needed to prevent the spread of a multi-drug-resistant "superbug" after it was found in water supplies in the Indian capital, doctors said in research published Thursday.

The study in The Lancet medical journal said that New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1 (NDM-1) producing bacteria were found in 51 out of 171 samples taken from water pools and rivulets and two out of 50 tap water samples in the city.

The authors said it was unclear whether the data could be applied to other Indian cities but there was an "urgent need" for follow-up studies, including in Pakistan and Bangladesh, which have also been identified as sources.

NDM-1, first identified in 2009, is a gene that enables some types of bacteria to be highly resistant to almost all antibiotics.

Positive samples included those collected in and around the commercial and business hub of Connaught Place and the Red Fort area.

"International surveillance of resistance, incorporating environmental sampling as well as examination of clinical isolates needs to be established as a priority," the team from Cardiff University in Britain wrote.

Mohammed Shahid, from the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state, added that potential for a wider, international spread of the superbug was "real and should not be ignored."

"Coordinated, concrete, and collective efforts are needed, initially to limit widespread dissemination, and finally to combat this emerging threatening resistance problem," Shahid said.

The researchers conducted the study in September and October last year, soon after warning that the superbug could be spread by foreign nationals coming to India for medical treatment.

At the time, the Indian government dismissed the research as scaremongering and criticised the naming of the bug after the Indian capital.

But the World Health Organization later called for monitoring after cases of infection were reported around the globe.

In the latest study, the researchers said the presence of NDM-1-producing bacteria had "important implications" for New Delhi residents who were reliant on public water supplies and sanitation.

NDM-1 was found in the bacteria that cause cholera and dysentery, lending weight to the theory that it was not solely a hospital-acquired infection but present in the environment.

The research suggested that the transfer of NDM-1 between different bacteria was highest at 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) -- within the range of temperatures in New Delhi for seven months of the year.

"This period includes the monsoon season, when floods and drain overflows are most likely, which potentially disseminates resistant bacteria," the authors said.

"Oral-faecal transmission of bacteria is a problem worldwide, but its potential risk varies with the standards of sanitation.

"In India, this transmission represents a serious problem -- 650 million citizens do not have access to a flush toilet and even more probably do not have access to clean water."

Katrina replaces Priyanka in Dostana sequel

 MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra might have won millions of hearts in ‘Dostana’, but she got the shock when she was kicked out of its much awaited sequel ‘Dostana 2’.Tarun Mansukhani’s ‘Dostana 2’, which stars Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Katrina Kaif does not include Priyanka Chopra – the original heroine of ‘Dostana’.

Aussies clinch ODI series against Bangladesh

DHAKA: Shane Watson smashed a record 15 sixes in a career-best 185 not out as Australia clinched a three-match series against Bangladesh with a nine-wicket win in the second one-dayer on Monday.

The explosive opener gave a superb display of power-hitting as he also
cracked 15 fours in his 96-ball knock to help Australia achieve a 230-run target with 24 overs to spare for an unbeatable 2-0 lead.

West Indies' Xavier Marshall was the previous record-holder with 12 sixes against Canada in 2008.

Watson's knock was also the highest by an Australian in one-day internationals, the previous best being 181 not out by Matthew Hayden.

He completed his sixth one-day hundred off just 69 balls, the third-fastest by an Australia after Hayden (66 balls) and Gilchrist (67balls).

The final one-dayer will be played in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Watson looked in excellent touch from the beginning, hammering three fours in the opening over bowled by Shafiul Islam. He raced to his half-century off just 26 balls with the help of four sixes and five boundaries.

He then reduced Bangladesh's bowlers and fielders to a state of
helplessness with his onslaught, once hitting four sixes in an over from left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo.

Watson dominated an unfinished 170-run stand for the second wicket with former captain Ricky Ponting, who contributed an unbeaten 37.

Bangladesh were earlier struggling at 88-5 before crossing the 200 mark, thanks to wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim's unbeaten 81 off 80 balls which contained one six and nine fours.

Rahim's best came in the closing stages of the innings when he smashed two fours and a six off successive deliveries from paceman Brett Lee before hitting two boundaries in seamer Mitchell Johnson's last over.

He played a major role in steadying the innings after Johnson (3-54)and leg-spinner Steven Smith (2-34) had put the hosts in trouble, adding 79 for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Mahmudullah (38).

Shahriar Nafees was the only top-order batsman to offer resistance, scoring 56 off 73 balls with six fours. He fell after completing his 12th half-century in one-dayers, offering a simple return catch to Smith.

Johnson did the early damage when he removed openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes before paceman John Hastings accounted for Raqibul Hasan to reduce the hosts to 28-3 in the opening 12 overs.

Smith bowled skipper Shakib Al Hasan for nine runs and then dismissed well-set Nafees to send the hosts reeling at 88-5.

The textiles sector is one of the key drivers of the Pakistani economy, accounting for 55 per cent of all exports and 38 per cent of the workforce, according to official figures. Experts say 

rising global commodity prices, a government decision to prioritise power supply to industry and currency devaluation has made Pakistani products more competitive and fired an export boom.

Qadhafi accepts African Union peace plan

TRIPOLI: The regime of Libya’s Moamer Qadhafi has accepted an African Union (AU) peace plan designed to end the current conflict, South African President Jacob Zuma said in Tripoli on Sunday.

“The brother leader delegation has accepted the roadmap as presented by us,” Zuma said in a brief statement to journalists at Qadhafi’s Bab Al-Aziziya residence.

Details of the proposed settlement would be laid out in a communique, he added, without saying when it would be made public.

“We also in this communique are making a call on Nato to cease the bombings to allow and to give a ceasefire a chance.”

While other commitments meant he had to leave Libya Sunday evening, the other members of the African Union delegation would be staying over in Tripoli overnight before travelling east to rebel-held Benghazi, he continued.

There they would put the AU plan, which involves an immediate ceasefire, to the opposition leaders.

So far, the leaders of the uprising have rejected any ceasefire plan that involves leaving either Qadhafi or his sons in power.

As well as Zuma, the AU delegation includes three other African leaders: Mali’s Amadou Toumani Toure, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania and Congo’s Denis Sassou Nguesso.

Ugandan Foreign Minister Henry Oryem Okello, representing President Yoweri Museveni, completes the AU team.

Earlier Sunday, the African Union mediators joined Moamer Qadhafi for a photocall outside his Bedouin tent in his Bab al-Aziziya compound in the capital.

Meeting Saturday in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, the mediators had reaffirmed the aims of their mission: an “immediate cessation of hostilities,” bringing in humanitarian aid, and opening of a dialogue between the regime and the insurgents.

All stakeholders should be consulted on HEC devolution: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Monday that all political parties and stakeholders should be consulted to develop a consensus in the devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The Prime Minister met with Senator Raza Rabbani and emphasised that the devolution process was in spirit of the 18th amendment and would benefit the common man.

Rabbani briefed the prime minister on the progress in regards to the implementation of the 18th amendment.

Meanwhile protests continued in Karachi and other urban centers over the governments proposed plans. Students and Professors claim that the devolution will be a major setback for higher education in Pakistan.

CJ asks officials not to follow ` illegal orders`

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said on Saturday bureaucrats were not obliged to follow `illegal orders` of their superiors and instead they must abide by their conscience and the law.

He also called for strengthening national institutions to avoid anarchy in an address to a delegation of civil servants undergoing training at the National School of Public Policy, Lahore. The delegation called on him at the Supreme Court.

The Chief Justice referred to what he called a “permanent principle of bureaucracy” to maintain mutual respect and follow the orders of superiors, but said that “on the other hand officers are not obliged to follow illegal order of their superiors. They have to take all decisions according to their conscience and in accordance with the rules and the law, knowing well that they might have to suffer in the process”.

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said the rule of law required both citizens and government officials to be subject to laws. “However, even an independent judiciary cannot guarantee that government officials necessarily abide and respect the rule of law.”

He said the universal solution to induce executive compliance with the law was to invest the judiciary with the power to define legal limits of executive actions, but added that the judiciary itself cannot solve the fundamental problem of enforcing compliance with laws and rulings.

An independent bureaucracy meant “a civil service not beholden to the executive”, the Chief Justice observed. “Even if the executive has no costs for forming illegal policies, the civil servants have a preference for working on legal policies mainly for the reason that they have different time horizons. “There is a possibility that the government may not be in office in future to provide protection to them against their illegal actions. They have to serve under a future elected government that might have a different policy view. “The uncertainty over who will control the government in future makes them reluctant to implement an illegal policy.”

Another important factor, he added, which could restrain civil servants from implementing illegal decisions was the impact on their career opportunities.

The chief justice cited “political fragmentation” and public support as crucial factors for an efficient mechanism to enforce the rule of law. ”If the executive does not comply with law, the legislature must take action against arbitrary non-compliance. Where the legislature does not have the willingness or the power to react to illegal executive behaviour, political fragmentation does not help enforcing the rule of law.

“In systems such as ours, where the executive has the majority in legislature, the legislature may not induce executive to observe legal limits on their actions. In such a situation, the role of public support for judicial ruling becomes most valuable enforcement mechanism.

“If the general public wants the executive to comply with judicial rulings then the executive will have to comply with the same while anticipating the electoral reaction.”

The Chief Justice said when people lost trust in national institutions, they tended to resolve their problems through other means. “This leads to anarchy in the country. Therefore, it is in the interest of the nation to strengthen institutions by strict and unequivocal recourse to the Constitution and law.”

UN killings raise Afghan transition fears

MAZAR-I-SHARIF: Killings of UN staff in one of Afghanistan’s safest cities have raised fears that plans for Afghans to take control of security from Nato troops in three months are being rushed.

The northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, famed for its opulent “Blue Mosque”, was thrown into turmoil last week when demonstrators took to the streets after Friday prayers to protest the burning of the Quran by an American pastor.The protests spiralled into the attack on the UN compound in Mazar-i-Sharif, which left seven foreign staff dead.

Although peace has since been restored with stepped up patrols and pleas from local leaders, some residents say the attack leaves them worried that Afghan forces are not ready to take control of security for the city.

Those fears accompany growing hostility to foreigners; often all lumped together as Americans in the minds of many uneducated Afghans.

The United States led the 2001 invasion to oust the Taliban and Americans make up two-thirds of the 130,000 foreign troops in country.

A 25-year-old student who took part in last week’s fateful demonstration, but left before it turned violent said the attack on UN staff showed the security forces were “weak.”

“The time is definitely not right for a transition to our security forces in Mazar-i-Sharif,” he said, speaking anonymously due to fears he could be detained by police if identified.

“They are not ready, they are not well trained — we saw what happened on Friday. I am worried, I no longer have confidence in our security forces.”

Mazar-i-Sharif is one of seven areas of Afghanistan which will switch from international to Afghan security control from July, allowing limited foreign troop withdrawals ahead of the planned end of combat operations in 2014.

On March 22, President Hamid Karzai announced that Afghan forces would take over in Mazar and several other areas in the summer in plans that would allow Nato allies, facing domestic opposition to the war, to start withdrawing.

Although Nato is in overall command of Mazar-i-Sharif, where Germans make up the bulk of the mission, Afghan forces are on the front line.

The city’s police chief, General Ismatullah Alizai, admitted the UN attack showed their “weakness” and took the force by surprise.

“The attack on the UN office was unexpected and police was not ready for that,” he said.

“But we have learnt our lesson and are now working hard day and night to prepare the security forces for transition. We will, God willing, be fully prepared by that time.”

Police officials say they have now detained three suspected masterminds of the attack, one of whom allegedly defected from the Taliban and had been living in a safe house.

They also suggest the incident may have been connected to a feud between the provincial governor and powerful rivals seeking to undermine his authority.

Whatever lay behind the tragedy, the protests have spread across Afghanistan leaving at least 24 dead.

Experts say the Quran burning has fuelled discontent over 10 years of war, that living standards are not improving more quickly and anger against foreigners over civilian casualties in international military operations.

“They have burnt our holy book, we don’t want them in our country,” said Hamidullah, a 25-year-old shopkeeper in Mazar-i-Sharif who, like many Afghans, only uses one name.

“We don’t want the Taliban either, but at least they are Muslims, not infidels. These infidels are not here to help us, they are here for their own purposes.”

Some residents worry about the extent to which the Taliban will return when Nato leaves, particularly in relatively peaceful parts of the north, west and centre, believing that they have whipped up the Koran burning for propaganda.

Afghan officials admit they are holding talks with elements from the Taliban to end a war that has cost thousands of lives since 2001, but the prospect of a Taliban return horrifies Mohammad Zekerya, a 42-year-old teacher in Kabul.

“I am deeply worried. We see that the Taliban are actually using this issue of burning the holy Quran to stir trouble and facilitate their return.

“I predict street fighting, massacres, and lots of bloodshed in the absence of the international forces. It has already been proven that we can not bring peace and stability on our own.”

Evidence against 9/11 plotters revealed

WASHINGTON: US prosecutors compiled lots of evidence against the five men accused of having organized the September 11 attacks on the United States, but not until this week have details been fully revealed.

The indictment charging self-professed mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others was unsealed when US Attorney General Eric Holder referred the case to the Defense Department for military trials instead of trials at a US federal court in New York.

Holder said Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali and Mustapha Ahmed al-Hawsawi could have been prosecuted in federal court and blamed Congress for imposing measures blocking civilian trials of Guantanamo Bay inmates.

They will be tried in military courts in the US naval base in southeastern Cuba.

The now-public details show that the United States, nearly 10 years after hijackers flew planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, reconstructed step by step the logistics of the five accused men.

They compiled bank transactions, flight records, visa applications, and dozens of telephone conversations to create the most comprehensive account of the chain of events before the attacks.

Implementation of the plan began in 1999, when Sheikh Mohammed (referred to as “KSM” by US officials) proposed to Osama bin Laden to use commercial airliners as missiles against US targets.

Until the last minute, according to the indictment, Sheikh Mohammed controlled the entire operation.

“From in or about December 1999, through in or about June 2000, Al-Qaeda selected operatives to pilot the airplanes to be hijacked and dispatched the operatives to the United States to obtain flight training and otherwise carry out the plot,” the indictment said.

Walid bin Attash, born in Saudi Arabia in 1979, traveled in first-class between Bangkok and Hong Kong, with a knife in his pocket “and approached the cockpit to test security measures.” He then took several other international flights, each time with his penknife undetected.

Meanwhile, Ramzi Binalshibh in Hamburg became friends with future hijacker Mohamed Atta. Binalshibh, a 38-year-old Yemeni, applied four times for a visa to the United States in 2000 but was denied each time.

So, at the request of KSM, Binalshibh became and intermediary between KSM and the future hijackers.

At the same time, from Dubai, KSM nephew Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, of Pakistan, provided flight simulation software to the hijackers and began transferring money to US accounts. Between January and June 2000, US investigators pinpointed 35 telephone calls between him and the hijackers.

Mustapha Ahmed al-Hawsawi, a 42-year-old from Saudi Arabia, was accused of being the principal financier of the attacks.

Bank transfers were made in small amounts so as not to arouse suspicion and different names were used each time. Tens of thousands of dollars arrived in US accounts, including for Zacarias Moussaoui, who was involved in the plot but was arrested a month before the attacks.

In the United Arab Emirates, al-Hawsawi monitored the operations and discusses them with KSM.

Between July 9-16, 2001, Ramzi Binalshibh met with Mohamed Atta in Spain.

The two men “discussed, among other aspects of the plot, potential targets for

the hijacking attacks.” On July 23, KSM filed a visa application for the United States which was refused. At the end of August, he told bin Laden of the date for the attacks.

Between September 4-10, the men made their way from the UAE to Pakistan.

Walid bin Attash was with bin Laden on September 11, after which the Al-Qaeda leader ordered him to Tora Bora in Afghanistan to prepare for an offensive.

The five men, all of whom were arrested in Pakistan, could face the death penalty if convicted.

One year after the attacks, Pakistani police arrested Binalshibh at a home in a chic Karachi suburb. He was alone and didn’t put up a fight.

In March 2003, al-Hawsawi and Sheikh Mohammed were picked up by Pakistani special forces in a raid in Rawalpindi.

The indictment said the two men were “at a safe house where they possessed false identification and materials related to Al-Qaeda and the planning and execution of the September 11, 2001, attacks.” Bin Attash and al-Aziz Ali were arrested by Pakistani police in April 2003.

All five men disappeared into secret prisons until September 2006, when they reappeared at Guantanamo.

Sheikh Mohammed is known to have been “waterboarded” or subjected to simulated drowning 183 times during his years in US custody, a method widely recognized as torture.

After his arrest in 2003 he was handed over to American agents who held him in secret prisons before sending him to Guantanamo.

Sheikh Mohammed also claims to have personally beheaded US journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 with his “blessed right hand” and to have helped in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing that killed six people.

Portugal bail-out terms discussed by finance inistersm

The European Union will discuss the size and terms of Portugal's bail-out on Friday after receiving a formal request for aid late on Thursday.

EU finance ministers at a two-day summit in Budapest are likely to consider the scope of a potential deal.

But there is doubt about whether Portugal's caretaker government can agree to the austerity measures that would be a prerequisite for the loans.

Jose Socrates' government fell because he could not pass austerity measures.

At the EU finance minister's meeting in Hungary, Spain's finance minister has continued to stress that her country will not need bailing out.

Elena Salgado said that "of course" Portugal would be the last eurozone country that needed a debt bail-out and added that Spain applying for one was out of the question.

The European Commission was clear on Wednesday that it would discuss a deal with the current Portuguese authorities, stressing that with the Irish Republic's bail-out it had spoken to opposition parties, business leaders and trade unions before agreeing to loans.

The Irish Republic's bail-out took six weeks to negotiate, a time period that would take Portugal close to its scheduled elections on 5 June.

Joint mission

The next step in the negotiations on a bail-out will be for the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to send a joint mission to Portugal.

EU rules require such a mission to be sent to a country asking for financial aid, to establish the details of the help needed.

Portugal's cost of borrowing has risen sharply since the minority socialist government resigned last month after its proposed tougher austerity measures were defeated in parliament.

The ECB said on Thursday that it had encouraged Portugal to seek financial aid.

Portugal's problems have been different from those of Greece and the Irish Republic, the other countries that have needed bailing out.

Low economic growth and high wages have meant that the country has struggled to raise enough money through taxation to pay for government spending.

When the banking crisis came, it found itself dealing with the same rising costs of debt that other countries had to deal with, and has finally had to concede that it cannot raise the money it needs through financial markets.

The Republic of Ireland on the other hand, had a much more severe banking crisis, largely as a result of a property bubble that burst.

Greece went on a debt-fuelled spending spree while failing to sort out the public finances to fund it.

Drinking over the limit 'raises cancer risk'

Drinking more than a pint of beer a day can substantially increase the risk of some cancers, research shows.

A large Europe-wide study in the British Medical Journal found that one-in-10 of all cancers in men and one-in-33 of all cancers in women are caused by past or current alcohol intake.

For alcohol-related cancers, one-in-three in men and one-in-20 in women are caused by any excessive drinking.

The Department of Health said it was taking action to target drinking.

Cancer charities say people should limit their drinking to lower the risk.

The study calculated that in 2008, current and past drinking habits were responsible for about 13,000 cases of alcohol-related cancer in the UK, out of a total of 304,000 cancer cases.

Previous research has shown a link between alcohol consumption and cancers of the oesophagus, liver, bowel and female breast.

When alcohol is broken down by the body it produces a chemical which can damage DNA, increasing the chance of developing cancer.

Oil prices surge to fresh highs on supply concerns

Oil prices have surged to a two-and-a-half-year high on concerns about a shortfall in supply.

Brent crude rose by 0.4% to $123.17 in early trade in Asia. Light crude gained 0.5% to $110.82.

There have been concerns that the unrest in Libya and the Middle East will hurt supplies.

Production in Libya, the world's 17th largest oil producer, has been severely affected as fighting between the government and rebels continues.

While there has been concern about a shortfall in supplies from the oil producing nations, the demand for oil has been increasing.

The economic growth of emerging nations is producing a surge in demand, fuelled by a need for oil to power the industrial sector, as well as an ever growing number of vehicles on the road.

Supply trends

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued a warning that the disparity in demand and supply of oil is likely to push prices even higher.

"There is a risk that the tensions between demand and supply trends could intensify again and prices could rise rapidly," said Thomas Helbling an advisor to IMF's research department.

The IMF also warned that the markets are likely to face further scarcity in oil supplies.

"The increase in the trend component of oil prices suggest that the global oil market has entered a period of increased scarcity," the IMF said.

New supplies

As concerns continue about a shortfall in supply, oil companies' efforts to add more supply sources are also being hampered.

"To make matters worse there are considerable constraints affecting the development of new oil supplies." said Rajiv Biswas of IHS global insight

He said the current events in North Africa and the Middle East are forcing companies to rethink their investment strategies.

"Political risks in large, low-cost oil producers like Iraq and Iran mean that companies face considerable difficulties and restrictions in investing in these countries" he added.

Mr Biswas said as these issues continue to affect the markets, oil prices are likely to rise even further.

Nato 'apologises for hitting Libya rebels'

 The commander of Libya's rebel forces has said Nato apologised for mistakenly hitting a column of rebel tanks near the eastern town of Ajdabiya.

Gen Abdelfatah Yunis said the deadly air strike had occurred despite a warning to Nato that the tanks were being moved to the front line.

Nato said it was investigating the claim, without giving further details.

Rebels said four rebels died, while local doctors told the  at least 13 fighters had been killed in the strike.

"We would like to receive answers about what happened. We would like a rational and convincing explanation," Gen Yunis said.

He also said such mistakes must not be repeated and called for better co-operation in the future.

But the general stressed that there was no tension between the opposition and Nato, despite anger among some local residents.

t was the third such incident in recent days involving international forces deployed to protect Libyan civilians.

TheWyre Davies reported chaotic scenes on the outskirts of Ajdabiya, with rebel forces in retreat.

Meanwhile, a relief ship carrying emergency supplies of food and medicine has arrived in the besieged rebel-held city of Misrata, in western Libya.

'Fluid zone'

The rebels hit in the air strike had been moving a group of tanks, armoured vehicles and rocket launchers near the front line between the towns of Ajdabiya and Brega in more than 30 transporters.

One rebel commander told the BBC he saw at least four missiles land among rebel fighters.

As well as those killed, many more were injured, he said.

There is considerable anger among rebel troops at what appears to have been a terrible mistake, our correspondent says.

They are asking why rebel units were hit, he adds, when they could be seen clearly advancing in a westerly direction towards the front line.

"It is unbelievable," said one Benghazi resident. "Nato, with all the equipment they have - is this the second mistake? Is it really a mistake or something arranged secretly?"

Another said: "The allies and the UN Security Council must allow us to be armed. We don't want anything, just to be armed to defend ourselves against this dictator and fascist."

Rebel forces in the area began retreating on Wednesday after heavy bombardment from government forces.

They had been calling for more Nato air strikes in recent days.

Nato said it was investigating the incident, noting that the area where the attack occurred was "unclear and fluid with mechanised weapons travelling in all directions".

"What remains clear is that Nato will continue to uphold the UN mandate and strike forces that can potentially cause harm to the civilian population of Libya," said the alliance in a statement.

Meanwhile, a different rebel spokesman said Thursday's fatal air strike was carried out by pro-government forces rather than by Nato. 

"This was not a Nato air-strike; on the contrary, it was conducted by Gaddafi's brigades using SIAI Marchetti SF-260 planes," Col Ahmad Bani told al-Arabiya television.

'Friendly-fire incidents'

The alliance took over air operations from a US, French and British coalition a week ago, to enforce a UN mandate to protect civilians in Libya.

Last Friday, at least 13 people were reportedly killed when a coalition plane fired on a rebel convoy between Brega and Ajdabiya.

Three medical students were among the dead.

The attack came after rebels reportedly fired an anti-aircraft gun.

In a separate incident, seven civilians died and 25 were hurt in a coalition air strike on a pro-Gaddafi convoy near Brega.

Further west, in Libya's third-biggest city, Misrata, a ship chartered by the UN World Food Programme delivered hundreds of tonnes of high energy biscuits, flour, and water purification tablets, as well as enough medicine to last 30,000 people for a month.

Misrata has been under attack by Libyan government forces for several weeks, and Libyan rebels have complained it would "cease to exist" within a week unless Nato took action to save it.

Obama, Karzai deplore Afghanistan Quran violence

KABUL: US President Barack Obama and President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday deplored an explosion of violence in Afghanistan over the torching of a Quran by an American pastor, after a sixth day of protests.

The two leaders held an hour-long video conference to discuss the wave of demonstrations against last month’s burning of a Quran at a church in Florida which have left at least 24 dead, including seven United Nations employees.

Protests continued for a sixth day Wednesday, while a woman died in a car crash involving a Nato military convoy in the Afghan capital Kabul, triggering a demonstration in which stones were thrown at the international forces.

The White House said that “both leaders deplored the desecration of the Quran, strongly condemned the April 1 attack on (the United Nations compound) in Mazar-i-Sharif and expressed deep regret for the tragic loss of life.”

“The two presidents were clear that to attack and kill innocent people is an affront to human decency and dignity,” it said.

But tensions between Karzai and his Western allies have been growing in recent months, and a statement from the Afghan president’s office differed in nuance to the US interpretation.

The Afghan statement said the presidents discussed “the desecration of the Quran by the American pastor and the subsequent unpleasant incidents that followed in Afghanistan.”

It said that Obama had “strongly condemned the desecration of the Quran by an American pastor and regretted the casualties at protests in Mazar-i-Sharif and Kandahar.” It reiterated that Karzai would investigate the violence.

The White House has this week called the burning “un-American”, after Obama had earlier branded it an act of “extreme intolerance and bigotry.”

There has been little violent reaction in the rest of the Islamic world to the Quran burning, but protests began in Afghanistan eight days after Karzai condemned it as “disrespectful and abhorrent.”

The violence comes as Afghan forces are due to assume control of security in a handful of Afghanistan’s safer areas — including Mazar-i-Sharif — from July, allowing limited foreign troop withdrawals to begin.

Around 130,000 international troops, some two-thirds of them from the United States, are in Afghanistan fighting a nearly 10-year Taliban insurgency.

Afghan forces are due to take complete control across the country in 2014.

Obama and Karzai also discussed progress in the transition, the White House said.

In Afghanistan’s southern Zabul province, around 1,500 people gathered in the town of Qalat for a peaceful demonstration over the Koran burning, deputy provincial governor Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar said.

And in Nimroz province in the southwest, hundreds more protested, shouting anti-American slogans and throwing stones at police in Dilaram district. No-one was injured, said deputy provincial police chief Musa Rasouli.

The road accident in Kabul left one woman dead and another woman and a child wounded, according to city police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai.

“The wounded were taken to hospital. People gathered at the accident site and started throwing stones at the military convoy. After the crowd started forming and throwing stones, the convoy left the area,” he added.

The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed that one civilian had been killed and two wounded in the crash but stressed: “No shots were fired by ISAF service members.” It did not comment on the nationality of the troops involved, but local police said they were British.

Elsewhere in the troubled country, seven insurgents were killed overnight after launching a rocket attack on a military airport in the eastern city of Jalalabad, where the local provincial governor was present.

Also in the east, an ISAF spokesman said that at least 80 insurgents and six international troops had been killed over the last ten days in the strategically crucial Kunar province, which borders Pakistan.

He did not give further details of the operations being carried out, but Pakistan’s border areas are used as rear bases by insurgents.

Separately, ISAF said that two international troops had died in a friendly fire incident in the south of the country. It did not identify their nationality.

Obama, Karzai deplore Afghanistan Quran violence

Afghan university students chanting as they take part in a demonstration against the recent burning of the Quran by a US pastor, at Kabul University in the Afghanistan capital. Afghan fury over the burning of a Quran in the US has been fuelled by disillusion with the West over the war, public outrage by President Hamid Karzai, and the rising voice of radicalism, experts say.

Gates in Iraq as US forces near pullout

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates is met by US Army General Lloyd Austin, commanding general of US Forces in Iraq, after arriving in Baghad, Iraq. Gates is expected to meet with civilian and military leaders in Iraq to discuss the long-term strategic partnership between the two countries.

Gates in Iraq as US forces near pullout

BAGHDAD: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates was set to meet Iraqi leaders Thursday after talks in Saudi Arabia where he sharply criticised Iran for exploiting unrest in the Gulf region and elsewhere.

Gates, who arrived in Baghdad on an unannounced visit Wednesday, will hold talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani, according to officials travelling with him, and visit American troops who ended combat operations in August ahead of a scheduled withdrawal by the end of this year.

Iran and regional developments figured in discussions during his short stop in Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with King Abdullah.

Gates’s discussions with Abdullah took place against a backdrop of unrest and uprisings that have been sweeping the Arab world.

“We talked about how to prevent disruptive actions and extremist organisations trying to take advantage of the turbulences in the region,” he said after the meeting.

“We already have evidence that the Iranians are trying to exploit the situation in Bahrain and we also have evidence that they’re talking about what they can do to create problems elsewhere,” Gates said, referring to Shiite-led protests crushed by the Sunni monarchy.

Gates was also expected to travel to northern Iraq for talks with Massud Barzani, president of the autonomous Kurdish region.

“The secretary will make a powerful case that it’s important that we get a counterpart because we have some stuff to work out and it’s in both our interests to make sure the ISF (Iraqi Security Forces) are in the right place at the end of 2011,” an official said on condition of anonymity.

A senior US defense official said the Pentagon chief would also express support for Iraqi officials to “complete the government formation process, particularly to get security ministries dealt with.”

More than a year after an indecisive general election, Iraq still has no defence, interior or national security ministers, even though Maliki stitched together a deal to form a national unity government in December.

Fewer than 50,000 US troops are currently in Iraq, down from a peak of more than 170,000 and ahead of the planned full withdrawal in late 2011.

Asked about a possible extension of the US military mission in Iraq, the defence official said Gates did not rule that out, but the request must come from Iraq.

“The ball is in their court,” he said. “It would probably be in their interest to ask for it sooner rather than later because we’re starting to run out of months.”

General Babak Zebari, the Iraqi armed forces chief of staff, has warned that the US withdrawal was premature, saying his forces would not be able to ensure full security before 2020.

Gates told the US House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee in February that Baghdad would face sizeable “problems” after the withdrawal.

“There is certainly, on our part, an interest in having an additional presence” above levels set by a 2008 accord, he said.

The defense chief also predicted Iraqis will be unable to protect their own airspace, face intelligence challenges and “have problems with logistics and maintenance.”

US Ambassador James Jeffrey told reporters on Friday that the 2008 agreement could be renegotiated by either side, but that Iraqi leaders had made no such request and Washington was going ahead with the pullout as planned.

The troop withdrawal is expected to accelerate from late summer, the defence official said.

He said Iraq would continue to face attacks by al Qaeda and other militant groups after this year, but that Washington did not see that as “a strategic threat to the overall stability” of the country.

Al Qaeda’s Iraq affiliate claimed responsibility for a March 29 suicide bombing in Tikrit in which 58 people died and 97 were wounded, according to SITE, a US group that monitors extremist websites.

Suicide blast kills one, injures five in Quetta

QUETTA: An explosive laden vehicle rammed into the wall of Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of police, Wazir Khan Nasir’s home on Gulistan Road, killed at least one and injured five others including DIG according to initial reports on Thursday from DawnNews.

DIG Police Wazir Khan Nasir was targeted as an explosive laden vehicle rammed into the wall of his house.

According to CCPO police, Daud Junejo, attacker first opened fire and then blew up his explosive-laden car, killing his guard at the gate. He said DIG was slightly wounded in the attack.

Balochistan has long been the scene of a low-level insurgency by nationalists who say their movement is aimed at getting a greater share of profits from natural resources like natural gas extracted from their province.

Money woes 'linked to rise in depression'

Economic problems may be fuelling a rise in depression in England, it has been suggested.

Prescriptions for anti-depressant drugs such as Prozac rose by more than 40% over the past four years, data obtained by the shows.

GPs and charities said they were being contacted increasingly by people struggling with debt and job worries.

They said financial woes could often act as a "trigger" for mental health problems.

The rise has happened at a time when the government has been increasing access to talking therapies, which should in theory curb the demand for anti-depressants.

In the last year alone referrals for talking therapies rose four-fold to nearly 600,000, Department of Health figures showed.

Toxic combination'

Dr Clare Gerada, head of the Royal College of GPs, said some of the rise in prescribing was also likely to be due to increased awareness about the condition.

But she added: "Of course, in times of economic problems we would expect mental health problems to worsen - and GPs are seeing more people coming in with debts racking up, or who have lost their job and are cancelling their holidays.

"They feel guilty that they can't provide for their family and these things can often act as a trigger for depression."

Mental health charity Sane also said it had seen more people contacting its e-mail and phone advice lines with money worries.

Its chief executive, Marjorie Wallace, said: "It is impossible to say for sure that economic problems are leading to a rise in depression. But we are certainly hearing more from people who are worried where the next meal is coming from, job security and cuts in benefits - many who are getting in touch with us for the first time.

"It is a toxic combination, especially for those who already have darker thoughts and other problems."

The figures, obtained from NHS Prescription Services under the Freedom of Information Act, cover anti-depressant prescribing from 2006 to 2010, during which time the country had to cope with the banking crisis, recession and the start of the spending cuts.

They showed the number of prescriptions for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, the most commonly prescribed group of anti-depressants, rose by 43% to nearly 23m a yea

The data also showed increases in other types of anti-depressants, including drugs such as Duloxetine which tends to be used for more serious cases.

Care services minister Paul Burstow said: "The last recession has left many people facing tough times. If people do experience mental health problems, the NHS is well placed to help.

"We're boosting funding for talking therapies by £400m over the next four years. This will ensure that modern, evidence-based therapies are available to all who need them, whether their depression or anxiety are caused by economic worries or anything else."

Scientists make eye's retina from stem cells

A part of the eye that is essential for vision has been created in the laboratory from animal stem cells, offering hope to the blind and partially sighted.

One day it might be possible to make an eye in a dish, Nature journal reports.

The Japanese team used mouse stem cells - immature cells that have the ability to turn into many types of body tissue.

With the right mix of nutrients, the cells changed and began to grow to make a synthetic retina.

Ultimately, scientists hope they can use this approach to make endless supplies of retinal cells or indeed whole retinas that can be transplanted into patients with visual impairment.

Eventually, it may even be possible to create a whole eye.

A US biotech company has already been granted a license to begin human trials of a stem cell treatment for blindness.

Landmark discovery'

The retina is the name given to a diverse group of cells that line the inside of the back of eye.

Rays of light enter the eye and are focused onto the retina which produces a picture that is then is sent along the optic nerve for the brain to interpret. 

The eye and the brain together produce the images that we see.

Retinal diseases can cause severe vision loss or blindness if left untreated.

Retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the most common causes of blindness in old age, and involve the gradual and normally irreversible destruction of retinal cells.

In the Japanese study, the cultured stem cells spontaneously organised themselves into a complex structure that resembled the developing embryonic eye.

The three-dimensional, layered structure was reminiscent of the optic cup, a two-walled pouch-like structure, which ultimately develops into the inner and outer layers of the retina.

The scientists said they were surprised at how well the cells organised themselves with little intervention from them.

They said: "Self-formation of fully stratified 3D neural retina tissues heralds the next generation of generative medicine in retinal degeneration therapeutics, and opens up new avenues for the transplantation of artificial retinal tissue sheets, rather than simple cell grafting."

Professor James Bainbridge of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: "Generation of a synthetic retina from embryonic stem cells is a landmark discovery that will help enormously our understanding of blinding eye disease. 

"It is particularly exciting that this could also provide a source of cells for transplantation."

Barbara McLaughlan of the RNIB charity said: "This piece of research contributes to the ongoing efforts to harness stem cell research to benefit patients with a number of eye diseases.

"We welcome these efforts particularly where they move from early laboratory research in mice to trials in humans that are an essential part of developing safe and effective treatments."

Australian unemployment rate falls to a two-year low

Australia's unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest since December 2008, easing concerns that twin natural disasters early this year may slowdown growth.

The jobless rate fell to 4.9% in March, according to the latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The bureau said that 37,800 people were added to the Australian workforce in March.

The Australian dollar rose to fresh 29-year high in wake of the jobs report.

It was trading at $1.0489 against the US dollar.

Analysts say that the latest numbers are better than the market had forecast.

"Employment growth over the past year has actually exceeded the growth in the civilian population," said David De Garis of National Australia Bank.

"It shows the employee has some inherent strength, though I would assume some slowing in the next three months," he added. 

Rate hike

On Tuesday, Reserve Bank of Australia said that it will keep interest rates unchanged at 4.75%.

However, analysts say that as the economy recovers from the impact of the flooding and cyclone that hit Australia this year and gather pace again the central bank may be forced to raise the cost of borrowing again.

They say that the rising employment numbers and a shortage of skilled labour will see an increase in wages which will put pressure on consumer prices.

"The jobs machine just keeps on rolling at rapid rate," said Michael Blythe of Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

"I think this is the most convincing indicator about the strong outlook and I think it will also be a little bit of an antidote to consumer caution," he added.

"It's one of the reasons why rates will have to go higher at some point."

Portugal calls for EU financial bail-out

Portugal's caretaker Prime Minister Jose Socrates has said that he has asked the European Union for financial assistance.

Mr Socrates said the country was "at too much risk that it shouldn't be exposed to".

The government has long resisted asking for aid but last week admitted that it had missed its 2010 budget deficit target.

Portugal follows Greece and the Irish Republic in seeking a bail-out.

"I always said asking for foreign aid would be the final way to go but we have reached the moment," Mr Socrates said.

"Above all, it's in the national interest."

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in a statement that Portugal's request would be processed "in the swiftest possible manner, according to the rules applicable".

He also reaffirmed his "confidence in Portugal's capacity to overcome the present difficulties, with the solidarity of its partners".

Borrowing costs

Mr Socrates did not say how much aid Portugal would ask for. Negotiations will now be underway and the 's business editor Robert Peston said rescue loans could amount to as much as 80bn euros ($115bn; £70bn).

Mr Socrates was speaking after Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos said it was necessary to resort to financial aid from the EU.

Earlier, the government raised about 1bn euros after tapping the financial markets in order to repay loans, but will have to pay a higher interest rate to lenders.

Portugal's cost of borrowing has risen sharply since the minority Socialist government resigned last month after its proposed tougher austerity measures were defeated in parliament.

Since then several rating agencies have downgraded the country's debt.

An informal meeting of European finance ministers had already been scheduled for Thursday in Budapest. Portugal was not originally on the agenda but is expected to be discussed.

The UK Treasury Minister Mark Hoban will attend. A source at the Treasury said that the bilateral loan the UK offered to the Irish Republic was "very much a special case" and a similar offer is "not on the table" for Portugal.

Jan Randolph, head of sovereign risk at IHS Global Insight, told the that Portugal might organise "some sort of bridging loan" in the short term.

But he added: "The real big loan over several years will require a medium-term plan and I don't think that can be agreed until the new government comes into place."

Ivory Coast: Gbagbo forces hold off Ouattara troops

Ivory Coast: Gbagbo forces hold off Ouattara troops

Troops backing the internationally recognised president of Ivory Coast have been rebuffed in attempts to oust the country's incumbent leader.

Alassane Ouattara's forces launched an assault on the home of Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to stand down as president.

After hours of fighting, Mr Ouattara's men pulled back in the face of heavy fire from within Mr Gbagbo's residence.

Mr Gbagbo insists he won November's run-off vote, but election officials found Mr Ouattara was the winner.

That result was certified by the UN, but Mr Gbagbo has refused to leave office.

Mr Gbagbo and his family are believed to be sheltering in the bunker of his residence, in an upmarket area of Abidjan, Ivory Coast's main city.

He says Mr Ouattara's troops want to kill him, while they say they have strict orders to capture him alive.

Speaking by phone to French radio and sounding defiant, Mr Gbagbo denied he was hiding in a bunker.

"I am in the residence - the residence of the president of the republic. When it rains, can't one take shelter inside one's house?"

Mr Gbagbo had earlier denied he was surrendering, saying he was only negotiating a truce.

Late on Wednesday, French helicopters evacuated the Japanese ambassador after his home near the presidential residence was invaded by unidentified gunmen, whom he described as "mercenaries".

During the operation, French forces exchanged fire with fighters defending Mr Gbagbo's residence, the French embassy said.

Troops 'in the building'

Gun, rocket and mortar fire was reported around Mr Gbagbo's residence during Wednesday.

Carrying automatic weapons and approaching the compound in pickup trucks modified to carry heavy machine guns, Mr Ouattara's troops attempted to storm the residence to spring Mr Gbagbo from his hideaway

But they faced stiff resistance from inside the property's walls, where Mr Gbagbo's supporters were said to be dug in with mortars and rocket launchers.

After several hours of fighting the sounds of battle died away.

Local residents, Western officials and representatives of Mr Ouattara's forces conceded that Mr Gbagbo's men had held out.

"We retreated but we are preparing for a second assault," a spokesman for the fighters, Yves Doumbia, told the Associated Press new agency.

The  John James, outside Abidjan, says a new standoff appears to be developing, with the anti-Gbagbo forces possibly regrouping for an overnight assault.

"There are still some mortars and tanks in the presidential compound - the offensive was suspended for a few hours," French news agency AFP quoted a French official in Abidjan as saying.

Earlier, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Mr Gbagbo's "intransigence" had led to the collapse of UN-brokered talks aimed at negotiating an orderly departure.

"The conditions set by President Ouattara are very clear: he demands that Laurent Gbagbo accepts his defeat and recognises the victory of the legitimately elected president," he told parliament.

"That's where we stand today, so sadly the arms have begun to talk again."

France - the former colonial power in Ivory Coast - has troops in the country alongside UN peacekeepers. They are attempting to maintain security around Abidjan under the terms of a UN Security Council resolution.

Mr Juppe said neither French nor UN troops were involved in the offensive against Mr Gbagbo.

Civilians under siege

As the two sides continue to battle for the presidency, concern is growing over the humanitarian situation in Ivory Coast.

Following two days of advances in Abidjan by pro-Ouattara forces the city's four million people remain mainly inside their homes.

Soldiers, ex-rebel fighters, militia groups and mercenaries are battling for control of the streets, says the our correspondent. The main banks have been closed for nearly two months and few people have the funds to stock up on food.

The UN and the Red Cross have both voiced their concern for the civilians caught up in the fighting. The Red Cross has described the humanitarian situation as "worsening" and is beginning to distribute 12 tonnes of aid to those judged most in need.

Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes to escape the violence, with the UN refugee agency reporting an increase in the number of Ivorians crossing the border into neighbouring Liberia.

The International Criminal Court says it is preparing to investigate reports of human rights abuses during the fighting.

Last November's election was intended to reunite Ivory Coast which split in two following a northern rebellion in 2002.

The electoral commission pronounced Mr Ouattara the victor, but Ivory Coast's Constitutional Council said Mr Gbagbo had won.

The US, the UN and the EU recognised Mr Ouattara as the winner, but both candidates had themselves sworn in as president and a stand-off ensued.

Skirmishes and battles between the rival forces have since taken place across Ivory Coast, culminating in Mr Ouattara's troops sweeping into Abidjan at the end of March.

Chelsea 0 - 1 Man Utd

Manchester United took a firm grip on the Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea as Wayne Rooney's winner gave them a crucial first-leg advantage at Stamford Bridge.

Rooney rounded off a fine move involving Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs after 24 minutes to put United in the ascendancy as they battle with Chelsea to face Inter Milan or Schalke 04 in the semi-final.After being hit with an Football Association charge for swearing into the camera after scoring in United's win at West Ham United on Saturday, Rooney was all smiles as he delivered the away goal his manager Sir Alex Ferguson had demanded ahead of the all-Premier League confrontation.Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti paired Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres in attack - but it was another fruitless and frustrating night for the Spaniard as his goal drought goes on since his £50m British record transfer from Lverpool.Drogba struck a post and Patrice Evra cleared off the line from Frank Lampard in first-half injury time, while Chelsea and their supporters were infuriated when two penalty claims were rejected by Spanish referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco in the dying seconds.Ramires tumbled under challenge from Evra while Torres went down as he tangled with Antonio Valencia. Chelsea's demands went unanswered - and Torres saw insult added to his injury when he was booked for diving.Sir Alex Ferguson, who had Rio Ferdinand available for the first time since February, was elated at the final whistle as all his pre-match demands were fulfilled in the fight to face Inter Milan or Schalke 04 in the last four.And victory will have tasted sweet for Ferdinand after he was taunted by Chelsea's fans following Fabio Capello's decision to reinstate John Terry to the England captaincy in place of the Manchester United defender.United were industrious and well-organised, with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar presenting a formidable barrier with a performance that once again suggested his decision to retire at the end of the season may be premature.He was outstanding throughout and distinguished himself with one late save from a Torres header that demonstrated his enduring powers of athleticism.Chelsea now face a huge task at Old Trafford to rescue the tie and keep their main hope of silverware alive this season, as well as easing pressure on Ancelotti.

Ancelotti had pinned much of his hopes on the pairing of Drogba and Torres, but they were kept at bay until a late flurry of first-half activity finally unsettled United's defence.Torres made an energetic start and Drogba forced a fine fingertip save from Van der Sar with a rising drive from the angle as Chelsea attempted to apply early pressure.It was United, however, who took the lead with a superbly constructed goal after 24 minutes as they delivered the away goal Ferguson had insisted upon in the build-up to the tie. Carrick, whose range and accuracy of passing was a feature of United's play, found Giggs with a raking ball and when the veteran displayed superb touch and control to find Rooney, he scored with a low finish past Petr Cech.Chelsea offered their increasingly frustrated supporters some hope seconds before half-time when United somehow survived a desperate scramble. Torres failed to apply a touch to Drogba's effort and when Lampard looked certain to score from the rebound Evra made a desperate, and decisive, block.Drogba was trying manfully to spark life into Chelsea and he fashioned a chance for Ramires that the Brazilian, arriving at pace in the area, could only divert wide of the target.United suffered a blow when the unlucky Rafael was hurt in a touchline collision with Drogba and, despite his efforts to play on, was stretchered off and replaced by Nani.

As United held firm, with an ever-present menace on the counter-attack, Ancelotti made a double change with 20 minutes left, replacing Yuri Zhirkov and Drogba with Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka.

Torres almost broke the barren spell he has endured at Chelsea moments after the change with a fine looping header from Ramires' cross that was clawed away to safety by Van der Sar as Chelsea looked to build momentum.Van der Sar had been a model of composure when Chelsea did pierce United's defence and his handling was secure once more when Lampard's free-kick found a way through the defensive wall.

United had anxious moments as they survived two penalty appeals - but their satisfaction at their night's work was evident as they celebrated with their supporters in a corner of Stamford Bridge at the final whistle.