The New Nation - Internet Edition

US still considering diplomatic presence in Iran

AFP, Astana

The Bush administration is still considering setting up a diplomatic mission in Iran to improve contacts between the Iranian and American peoples, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday.

Rice poured cold water on a news report that the administration had decided to hand the issue to its successor to avoid sending a negative signal while Iran pursued sensitive nuclear work in defiance of the international community. "We continue to look at the idea," Rice told reporters who asked about a report that plans for opening a US interests section in Iran had been shelved.

"I think it's an interesting idea, but we're going to take a look at it in the light of what it can do for our relationship with the Iranian people," she said on a flight from India to Kazakhstan for talks on separate matters.

When asked again if there is still a chance such an interests section could be set up before President George W. Bush leaves office in January, Rice replied: "We're still looking at the idea."

US officials stress that a US interests section had always been considered in the context of improving contacts between the American and Iranian people rather that between the two governments.

Such a mission would not mark a move to restore diplomatic relations.

Similarly, Rice reminded journalists in July that the presence of the US interests section in Cuba did not indicate a thaw in relations between the United States and the communist island nation.

"We are always looking for ways to relate to the Iranian people to make it easier for them to relate to us, but we're still having that set of discussions," Rice told reporters at the time.

US-Iranian diplomatic ties were severed in the wake of the Iranian revolution in 1979 and the hostage taking of US diplomats.

With China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany, the United States has spearheaded the imposition of three sets of UN Security Council sanctions on Iran for its refusal to suspend the enrichment of uranium.

Washington and western allies suspect the activities are a cover for a nuclear bomb making program, but Iran denies the charge, saying the program is for peaceful nuclear energy.

US policy shifts seen in Asia under new president

AFP, Washington

US policy in Asia is expected to undergo major shifts, whoever wins the race to the White House.

Both presidential contenders senators Barack Obama and John McCain have new ideas on how to handle a resurgent China, a nuclear-armed North Korea and address the rising Islamic militant threat in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

They also have fresh strategies to beef up alliances in Asia, engage the region in energy security and maintain US influence despite the severe effects of the current financial turmoil at home.

Incumbent President George W. Bush may have been credited by some experts for pursuing policies that have boosted ties with major powers such as China, India and Japan but the Obama and McCain campaigns feel amends are in order. "The whole range of relationships are in trouble," warned Obama's top Asia advisor Robert Gelbard. "We have to recognize the real importance of Asia that has developed over the last eight years with a great deal of neglect from this administration," he said.

Obama is expected to push for China's entry into the Group of Eight (G8) major powers and link Beijing to a trilateral nuclear energy cooperation network with the United States and Japan, his strategists said.

"It's ridiculous to exclude one of the world's largest economies, third largest economy" from the G8, said Frank Jannuzi, an East Asia specialist in the Obama campaign.

While Bush has relied heavily on China to help end North Korea's nuclear weapons drive, Republican candidate McCain prefers an aggressive policy to achieve the goal by applying more pressure on Pyongyang through a united front with treaty allies South Korea and Japan.

"The real question will come down to which candidate is ready to make the hard call on issues like trade or on the negotiating process with North Korea and keep a focus on our allies' interests because we need them," said Michael Green, top McCain advisor on Asia policy.

Curfew, arrests ahead of Indian Kashmir rally

AFP, Srinagar

Security forces enforced a strict curfew in Indian Kashmir on Sunday and detained separatist leaders to prevent them from holding a pro-independence rally, officials said.

The curfew was in force in the summer capital Srinagar and other Muslim- majority towns ahead of Monday's planned rally at the main city's Red Square, or Lal Chowk. Policemen used loudspeakers to urge residents to stay indoors after some separatists said they would try to reach Red Square.

"Please do not come out of your homes as strict curfew is in force in Srinagar," policemen announced through loudhailers fitted to vehicles.

Thousands of troops have been deployed around the venue, with all entry points blocked by fencing and barbed wire. Backed by paramilitary forces, police sealed off many neighbourhoods in Srinagar with barbed wire and warned people against defying the curfew.

Late Saturday night police detained senior separatist Yasin Malik in a raid near Red Square, police said. Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who head hardline and moderate factions of the region's separatist alliance, were placed under house arrest and several second rung leaders were detained overnight.

The three have been leading a series of large demonstrations over the past few months, reviving calls for independence from Indian rule.

"The curfew and arrests are to prevent the rally," a police officer who asked not to be named told AFP. On Saturday, Indian Kashmir imposed a one-month ban on public gatherings in a move interpreted as a bid to scupper the rally. The order applied to gatherings of five or more in public spaces, a government statement said.

Over the past few months the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley has been hit by some of the biggest pro-freedom demonstrations since the eruption of an insurgency against New Delhi's rule in 1989.

The protests were triggered by a row over a government donation of Kashmiri land to a Hindu pilgrimage trust and spiralled into anti-India demonstrations that have left more than 40 Muslim protesters dead.

US close to security deal with Iraq: Negroponte

AFP, Arbil

US and Iraqi officials are "very close" to an agreement on a controversial security pact that would decide the future of US forces in Iraq, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said here on Saturday. "Negotiations are still on and there are very few issues still pending," Negroponte told reporters in Arbil after meeting Massud Barzani, the president of the northern Kurdish administration of Iraq.

"We are very close to reaching an agreement. It's not wise to reveal the details until we reach a final agreement, and we hope to reach a final agreement very soon," said Negroponte, who arrived in Iraq on Friday on a previously unannounced visit. Barzani said the deal should be signed as it "was in the interest of both the parties." Washington and Baghdad are trying to hammer out a deal that would lay the framework for the future of US forces in the violence- wracked country after 2008, when a UN mandate governing their presence expires.

But it has been delayed amid differences over certain key issues, mainly concerning the immunity granted to US soldiers in Iraq and who would lead the military operations from next year. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki last month said the two sides have, however, agreed to withdraw US forces from Iraqi cities by June 2009 and from the country by December 2011.

Two US Blackhawks crash in Baghdad

AFP, Baghdad

Two US Blackhawk helicopters crashed in northern Baghdad's Sunni district of Adhamiyah late on Saturday while approaching landing, a US military spokesman said. "Reports we have is that the two heliopters were in the process of landing when they collided," spokesman Captain Charles Calio told AFP.

At least one Iraqi army soldier was killed and four people, including two US soldiers, were wounded, another US spokesman, Lieutenant Patrick Evans, said.

"Two UH-60 Blackhawks have crashed while landing at Combat Outpost Ford in Adhamiyah (northern Baghdad) about 8:55 p.m. (1755 GMT)," Evans said.

"One Iraqi army soldier is killed. Two coalition forces (personnel) and two Iraqi army (soldiers were) wounded," he said, adding that the "situation is under control. Emergency services are on the scene."

It is not known how many were on board at the time of the incident, he said.

"Enemy fire is not suspected at this time," he added. US military officials said they could not comment on local media reports that there had been firing at the aircraft and that persistant gun fire was heard in the area immediately after the crash.

Local residents said security forces cordoned off the entire area and did not allow traffic or pedestrians to get through to the crash site.

The UH-60 is the workhorse of the US military and operates in pairs. Each aircraft crew consists of two pilots and two gunners. Blackhawks routinely throw magnesium flares to deflect any heat- seeking missiles fired at them.

The latest US helicopter incident came 17 days after another US military helicopter crashed in southern Iraq, killing all seven soldiers aboard.

The CH-47 Chinook crashed about 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of the main southern port city of Basra as it formed part of a four- aircraft convoy flying from Kuwait to the northern city of Balad.

The US military had said that they did not suspect enemy activity in the September 18 crash too, but investigation findings have not been published.

The worst single crash was on November 15, 2003, when two Blackhawks collided near the main northern city of Mosul, killing 17 soldiers.

Pakistan troops kill six Taliban near Afghan border

AFP, Khar

At least six Taliban insurgents were killed as Pakistani troops pounded suspected militant hideouts in the troubled tribal district of Bajaur on the Afghan border, officials said Sunday.

The artillery went into action late Saturday night targeting militants in Rashakai and Tang Khata towns in Bajaur, a hub of Taliban and Al- Qaeda linked militants, a security official said.

"The exchange of fire continued until dawn and we have reports that six militants were killed," the official said, requesting anonymity.

The two places, close to the troubled Afghan province of Khost, were considered militant strongholds in Bajaur where Pakistani forces launched a major offensive in August. Separately local tribesmen supporting a government assault against militants in the region killed three Taliban insurgents on Saturday, officials said.

The clash erupted when armed men from the Salarzai tribe torched seven houses belonging to Taliban militants or their supporters in Ghandai town in Bajaur, they said.

Tribal elders say that thousands of their men had signed up to fight the rebels in the area.

The army said last week it had killed 1,000 militants including Al- Qaeda's operational commander in the region, Egyptian Abu Saeed Al-Masri since early August. The military also admitted that the fighting in Bajaur was some of the heaviest since Pakistan joined the US-led "war on terror" in 2001.

Britain's Labour heading for electoral disaster: Poll

AFP, London

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour party is set to lose more than half its lawmakers at the next election and hand control of parliament to the opposition Conservatives, a poll said Saturday. A survey of marginal constituencies for the News of the World newspaper suggests that with current levels of support, Labour could lose 164 of its 349 MPs at the next election, and the Tories would have a 78-seat majority. Brown appeared to be closing the Tories' lead in opinion polls following a well-received speech to his party conference last month and his handling of the economic crisis, but the results suggest he has yet to win over voters. A similar survey for the News of the World this time last year predicted Labour would lose 49 seats in the next election, due by 2010. Pollsters interviewed 1,004 people in 192 Labour-held constituencies where Conservative candidates need a swing of 15 percent or less to win-the marginal seats where elections are usually decided. Forty-three percent of people questioned in those areas said they would vote Conservative, 34 percent would vote Labour and 15 percent for the smaller opposition Liberal Democrats.

Half thought Tory leader David Cameron would make the best premier, compared to 35 percent for Brown. Respondents also said Cameron had the best policies.

But when asked who could best guide Britain through the credit crunch, 43 percent named Brown and 35 percent named Cameron.

This suggests the warning from Brown, who served as finance minister for 10 years before becoming prime minister, that it was no time for a "novice" to be in charge-a clear reference to Cameron-has hit home. The survey was carried out by ICM by telephone between October 1 and 3.

Canadian PM could fail to win majority in Oct 14 vote: Polls

AFP, Montreal

With 10 days to go before Canada's general elections, two opinion polls Saturday suggested the governing Conservatives could fail to secure the parliamentary majority that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is yearning for. Flagging support for the Conservatives in French-speaking Quebec, and the rise of an Anything But Harper campaign ahead of the October 14 vote, is compromising the Tories' overall lead in voter support, pollsters said. An Angus Reid poll for the Toronto Star, Canada's biggest newspaper, put support for the Conservatives at 40 percent, compared with 25 percent for the main opposition Liberals, after a week that pitted the major party leaders in televised debates.

Another public opinion poll-by Ipsos Reid on behalf of CanWest News Service and Global National television news-put the Conservatives at 37 percent against 23 percent for the Liberals.

But both surveys revealed a decline for Harper in Quebec, which accounts for 75 seats in the 308-seat House of Commons, which is elected in a British-style first-past-the-post system. Ipsos Reid put Conservative support in Quebec at 18 percent, far behind 40 percent for the Bloc Quebecois, which promotes Quebec sovereignty and fields candidates only in the province. Angus Reid equally put Bloc support in Quebec at 40 percent, with 28 percent backing Harper's conservatives. Both polling institutes said Harper's setback in Quebec was due in large part to his government slashing 45 million Canadian dollars (30.2 million euros, 41.6 million US dollars) in cultural programs-a move that has rattled Quebec artists. "The actual possibility of the Tories winning a majority might be curbed because of the increased popularity of the Bloc in Quebec, or because if people start to vote strategically," said Mario Canseco, vice president of public affairs at Angus Reid.

Thai flood death toll reaches 26

AFP, Bangkok

The death toll from heavy monsoon flooding across Thailand has risen to 26, the interior ministry said Sunday, with 1.6 million people affected by the bad weather. Flood waters brought by heavy rain have inundated 31 of Thailand's 76 provinces since September 11, wrecking homes and farmland and causing damage worth more than 16 million dollars. "The situation at present has improved in 26 provinces. Only the situation in the other five provinces continues to need monitoring," the interior ministry said in a statement.

It said the floods had destroyed more than 2,700 houses, 3,404 roads, 15 schools, 28 temples, and 1.38 million acres of farmland, with the repair bill put at 16.38 million dollars. Flood waters are dissipating in many places but officials have warned people in low-lying areas to be on the lookout for flash floods and mudslides.