NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday that the attacks in Mumbai which killed more than 100 people were probably plotted by a group based in a neighbouring country. The Indian government often blames Pakistan or sometimes Bangladesh for supporting or harbouring militant groups which have launched attacks on Indian soil. * A little known group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the blasts. On the surface, it could be presenting itself as an offshoot of the Indian Mujahideen group, domestic Muslim militants blamed for a series of bomb blasts on cities this year and last. But the sophisticated and well-coordinated nature of the attack suggests the group received training either from a military group or a well established Islamist organisation like al Qaeda. * The use of heavily armed "fedayeen" or suicide attackers bears the hallmarks of Pakistan-based militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed, blamed for a 2001 attack on India's parliament. Both groups made their name fighting Indian rule in disputed Kashmir, and were closely linked in the past to the Pakistani military's Inter Services Intelligence agency, the ISI. It is hard to imagine Pakistan's government supporting such an attack, but militants, possibly backed by rogue elements in the ISI, might want to undermine the India-Pakistan peace process and Pakistan's civilian government of President Asif Ali Zardari.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday that the attacks in Mumbai which killed more than 100 people were probably plotted by a group based in a neighbouring country.
The Indian government often blames Pakistan or sometimes Bangladesh for supporting or harbouring militant groups which have launched attacks on Indian soil.
* A little known group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the blasts.
On the surface, it could be presenting itself as an offshoot of the Indian Mujahideen group, domestic Muslim militants blamed for a series of bomb blasts on cities this year and last.
But the sophisticated and well-coordinated nature of the attack suggests the group received training either from a military group or a well established Islamist organisation like al Qaeda.
* The use of heavily armed "fedayeen" or suicide attackers bears the hallmarks of Pakistan-based militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed, blamed for a 2001 attack on India's parliament.
Both groups made their name fighting Indian rule in disputed Kashmir, and were closely linked in the past to the Pakistani military's Inter Services Intelligence agency, the ISI.
It is hard to imagine Pakistan's government supporting such an attack, but militants, possibly backed by rogue elements in the ISI, might want to undermine the India-Pakistan peace process and Pakistan's civilian government of President Asif Ali Zardari.
But experts have agreed that they appeared to combine local grievances and international inspiration. A previously unknown group calling itself Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the co-ordinated attacks on hotels, a busy train station and a cinema. Some analysts said those who carried out the attacks appeared to be an offshoot or followers of al-Qaeda, the jihadist movement founded by Osama bin Laden. They argued that the choice of civilian targets and witness accounts that gunmen were looking for US and British nationals suggested they wanted to grab international attention. Other experts cautioned against linking the terrorists to al-Qaeda, pointing out they did not use the suicide tactics that are the movement's hallmark. Several agreed that the shootings may have been aimed at disrupting ongoing elections in the disputed region of Kashmir and the upcoming Indian general election. One analyst suggested the radical Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) group could be behind the attacks on Mumbai.
But experts have agreed that they appeared to combine local grievances and international inspiration.
A previously unknown group calling itself Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the co-ordinated attacks on hotels, a busy train station and a cinema.
Some analysts said those who carried out the attacks appeared to be an offshoot or followers of al-Qaeda, the jihadist movement founded by Osama bin Laden.
They argued that the choice of civilian targets and witness accounts that gunmen were looking for US and British nationals suggested they wanted to grab international attention.
Other experts cautioned against linking the terrorists to al-Qaeda, pointing out they did not use the suicide tactics that are the movement's hallmark.
Several agreed that the shootings may have been aimed at disrupting ongoing elections in the disputed region of Kashmir and the upcoming Indian general election.
One analyst suggested the radical Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) group could be behind the attacks on Mumbai.
... in a reflection of the poverty that sits cheek-by-jowl with the upmarket shops and restaurants in the city, hundreds of people were stretched out asleep on pavements and handcarts near the scenes of fighting. The sea-facing Marine Drive in front of the Oberoi-Trident is a favored spot for early morning walks, and some regulars came out for their constitutional despite the tension. "I hear they (the security forces) have relaxed the rules a little so I came for my morning walk but I did not see any of the regulars," said Raja Ram Patil, 54, a local businessman. <...> On Thursday, a militant holed up at the center phoned an Indian television channel to offer talks with the government for the hostages' release. He complained of abuses in Muslim-dominated Kashmir, over which India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars.
... in a reflection of the poverty that sits cheek-by-jowl with the upmarket shops and restaurants in the city, hundreds of people were stretched out asleep on pavements and handcarts near the scenes of fighting.
The sea-facing Marine Drive in front of the Oberoi-Trident is a favored spot for early morning walks, and some regulars came out for their constitutional despite the tension.
"I hear they (the security forces) have relaxed the rules a little so I came for my morning walk but I did not see any of the regulars," said Raja Ram Patil, 54, a local businessman.
<...>
On Thursday, a militant holed up at the center phoned an Indian television channel to offer talks with the government for the hostages' release. He complained of abuses in Muslim-dominated Kashmir, over which India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars.
MOSCOW, November 27 (RIA Novosti) - The terrorist groups who attacked the Indian city of Mumbai are closely linked to al-Qaeda, a high-ranking Russian secret service source said Thursday. "Russian secret services have information suggesting that the groups that attacked Mumbai had had contact with al-Qaeda," the source said. "In particular, the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. This group's militants undergo special training in al-Qaeda camps on the border between Pakistan and India." The source also said that the Indian authorities had earlier considered the group an ordinary "criminal" gang. He also said that Russian secret services had not so far received any request to assist their Indian colleagues in the investigation into the attacks.
MOSCOW, November 27 (RIA Novosti) - The terrorist groups who attacked the Indian city of Mumbai are closely linked to al-Qaeda, a high-ranking Russian secret service source said Thursday.
"Russian secret services have information suggesting that the groups that attacked Mumbai had had contact with al-Qaeda," the source said. "In particular, the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. This group's militants undergo special training in al-Qaeda camps on the border between Pakistan and India."
The source also said that the Indian authorities had earlier considered the group an ordinary "criminal" gang.
He also said that Russian secret services had not so far received any request to assist their Indian colleagues in the investigation into the attacks.
Indian security authorities, however, believe the group is actually a front for the Muslim terrorist organization Lashkar a-Tayeb ("army of believers"), established in 1989 by Pakistani intelligence. This assessment is based partly on the interrogation of nine members who were arrested. They revealed that 60 to 70 terrorists, some of whom came to Mumbai by boat, carried out the current attacks. Weapons and a stash of grenades were found in one of the boats after its passengers came ashore. Pakistani intelligence founded, aided and cultivated this and other militant organizations as part of its battle against India in the contested region of Kashmir. It was only in 2003, after 9/11 and under heavy pressure from India and the United States, that the organization and similar ones were outlawed in Pakistan. Experts believe the main goal of Lashkar a-Tayeb is to destabilize India by damaging its economy and its fragile ethnic mix while fomenting dissent among India's large Muslim minority.
This assessment is based partly on the interrogation of nine members who were arrested. They revealed that 60 to 70 terrorists, some of whom came to Mumbai by boat, carried out the current attacks. Weapons and a stash of grenades were found in one of the boats after its passengers came ashore.
Pakistani intelligence founded, aided and cultivated this and other militant organizations as part of its battle against India in the contested region of Kashmir. It was only in 2003, after 9/11 and under heavy pressure from India and the United States, that the organization and similar ones were outlawed in Pakistan.
Experts believe the main goal of Lashkar a-Tayeb is to destabilize India by damaging its economy and its fragile ethnic mix while fomenting dissent among India's large Muslim minority.
COLMES: And why the timing? Why do you think -- at this particular time, Thanksgiving in the United States, certain time of the day, 10:00 at night, their time. Is there anything to that? John BOLTON: I don't think it has any association with us. My guess is it's just the timing of this particular operation, but as you say, there's much that we don't know about this for the moment and probably won't until the hostage situation is cleared up and perhaps some of these terrorists are apprehended and can be questioned. COLMES: What do you think -- what does it take to put together this kind of operation? It seemed very highly coordinates, sophisticated, and probably in the planning stages for quite sometime. John BOLTON: Well, you know, many in India believe that a lot of the terrorist attacks that we've seen across the country really have been financed, organized, directed by extremists in the Pakistani government, particularly the Inner Services Intelligence director or ISI. The main flashpoint between Pakistan and India over the years has been Kashmir, where a lot of these terrorist attacks have occurred. Obviously, it's premature to conclude anything about where this group may have been supported, but this is the kind of suspicion that can lead to an increase in tensions right there on the subcontinent very quickly if this is not cleared up.
COLMES: And why the timing? Why do you think -- at this particular time, Thanksgiving in the United States, certain time of the day, 10:00 at night, their time. Is there anything to that?
John BOLTON: I don't think it has any association with us. My guess is it's just the timing of this particular operation, but as you say, there's much that we don't know about this for the moment and probably won't until the hostage situation is cleared up and perhaps some of these terrorists are apprehended and can be questioned.
COLMES: What do you think -- what does it take to put together this kind of operation? It seemed very highly coordinates, sophisticated, and probably in the planning stages for quite sometime.
John BOLTON: Well, you know, many in India believe that a lot of the terrorist attacks that we've seen across the country really have been financed, organized, directed by extremists in the Pakistani government, particularly the Inner Services Intelligence director or ISI.
The main flashpoint between Pakistan and India over the years has been Kashmir, where a lot of these terrorist attacks have occurred. Obviously, it's premature to conclude anything about where this group may have been supported, but this is the kind of suspicion that can lead to an increase in tensions right there on the subcontinent very quickly if this is not cleared up.
Laugh or cry?
KABUL, Nov. 27 -- Four Afghan nationals were killed and 17 injured in a suicide car bomb attack near the U.S. Embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul Thursday morning, U.S. state department officials said. This StoryFour Killed in Blast Near U.S. Embassy in KabulAfghan Leader Demands Plan For Foreign Forces' Departure The attack occurred around 8:30 a.m. when a man driving a Toyota Corolla detonated a load of explosives about 200 yards from the U.S. Embassy. Witnesses said a line of what looked like U.S. military vehicles had just passed by, an may have been the intended target of the attack. Witnesses and Afghan police said the military convoy, however, was well out of range of the blast and no American soldiers were injured. The powerful explosion, in busy rush hour traffic in the heart of Kabul, damaged cars and blew out the windows of several apartments in a nearby high-rise building. There were no visible signs of damage to the heavily fortified embassy compound. The U.S. State Department said no coalition forces were injured or killed in the attack, and all embassy personnel had been accounted for and were unharmed.
KABUL, Nov. 27 -- Four Afghan nationals were killed and 17 injured in a suicide car bomb attack near the U.S. Embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul Thursday morning, U.S. state department officials said. This Story
The attack occurred around 8:30 a.m. when a man driving a Toyota Corolla detonated a load of explosives about 200 yards from the U.S. Embassy. Witnesses said a line of what looked like U.S. military vehicles had just passed by, an may have been the intended target of the attack. Witnesses and Afghan police said the military convoy, however, was well out of range of the blast and no American soldiers were injured.
The powerful explosion, in busy rush hour traffic in the heart of Kabul, damaged cars and blew out the windows of several apartments in a nearby high-rise building.
There were no visible signs of damage to the heavily fortified embassy compound. The U.S. State Department said no coalition forces were injured or killed in the attack, and all embassy personnel had been accounted for and were unharmed.
Commandos are fighting to clear the last gunmen from two luxury hotels in Mumbai, more than 24 hours after a series of attacks across the city. The Taj Mahal hotel was nearly free of gunmen, officials said, but operations continued at the Oberoi-Trident hotel. At a third stand-off, at a Jewish centre, seven hostages were freed, a security official said. Indian PM Manmohan Singh vowed to track down the attackers, who have killed at least 119 people and injured 300. Gunmen targeted at least seven sites in Mumbai late on Wednesday, opening fire indiscriminately on crowds at a major railway station, the two hotels, the Jewish centre and a cafe frequented by foreigners. The attacks are the worst in the city since 260 people were killed in a series of bombings.
Commandos are fighting to clear the last gunmen from two luxury hotels in Mumbai, more than 24 hours after a series of attacks across the city.
The Taj Mahal hotel was nearly free of gunmen, officials said, but operations continued at the Oberoi-Trident hotel.
At a third stand-off, at a Jewish centre, seven hostages were freed, a security official said.
Indian PM Manmohan Singh vowed to track down the attackers, who have killed at least 119 people and injured 300.
Gunmen targeted at least seven sites in Mumbai late on Wednesday, opening fire indiscriminately on crowds at a major railway station, the two hotels, the Jewish centre and a cafe frequented by foreigners.
The attacks are the worst in the city since 260 people were killed in a series of bombings.
The Iraqi parliament has voted to accept a deal on the future presence of US troops in the country. The decision, praised by US President George Bush, means US troops will leave Iraqi streets by mid-2009 and will quit Iraq entirely by the end of 2011. The agreement is the result of a year of negotiations with the US, with the Iraqis requesting several changes. Some groups fiercely opposed the pact in parliament and at mass rallies, demanding that US troops leave earlier. Iraq's Presidential Council must still ratify the deal but its approval is expected. Iraq's government has hailed the parliamentary session as the prelude to the return of full sovereignty to the country.
The Iraqi parliament has voted to accept a deal on the future presence of US troops in the country.
The decision, praised by US President George Bush, means US troops will leave Iraqi streets by mid-2009 and will quit Iraq entirely by the end of 2011.
The agreement is the result of a year of negotiations with the US, with the Iraqis requesting several changes.
Some groups fiercely opposed the pact in parliament and at mass rallies, demanding that US troops leave earlier.
Iraq's Presidential Council must still ratify the deal but its approval is expected.
Iraq's government has hailed the parliamentary session as the prelude to the return of full sovereignty to the country.
The Iraqi parliament has voted to accept a deal on the future presence of US troops in the country. The decision, praised by US President George Bush, means US troops will leave Iraqi streets by mid-2009 and will quit Iraq entirely by the end of 2011. -snip- After last-minute negotiations that had delayed the vote for a day, MPs passed it on one significant condition: that a referendum is held on the pact in the middle of next year. If that fails to endorse the withdrawal plan, US troops may have to leave earlier, possibly by the middle of 2010, our correspondent says.
-snip-
After last-minute negotiations that had delayed the vote for a day, MPs passed it on one significant condition: that a referendum is held on the pact in the middle of next year.
If that fails to endorse the withdrawal plan, US troops may have to leave earlier, possibly by the middle of 2010, our correspondent says.
It's interesting that the compromise was to keep US troops that long.
No mention of the permanent bases.
The Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has said he will take action to end anti-government protests in Bangkok's two main airports. In a TV address, Mr Somchai said the police would be assisted by some military units in halting the protests. Emergency rule has been declared around the two airports. Thousands of passengers have been left stranded by the protest action, just the latest stand-off in a long-running political struggle gripping Thailand. Protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) occupied a government complex in the capital for months. At the start of this week said they were embarking on the "final battle" of their campaign to unseat the government, and they have vowed to resist attempts to disable their airport protests.
In a TV address, Mr Somchai said the police would be assisted by some military units in halting the protests.
Emergency rule has been declared around the two airports.
Thousands of passengers have been left stranded by the protest action, just the latest stand-off in a long-running political struggle gripping Thailand.
Protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) occupied a government complex in the capital for months.
At the start of this week said they were embarking on the "final battle" of their campaign to unseat the government, and they have vowed to resist attempts to disable their airport protests.
It will be interesting to see how committed the police and military will be to a violent suppression of the protests. So far, they have been less than enthusiastic.
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev toured a Russian warship visiting Venezuela's Caribbean on Thursday, a boost for President Hugo Chavez's mission to weaken U.S. influence in Latin America. Medvedev boarded Russia's anti-submarine destroyer, Admiral Chabanenko, along with Chavez, who has hailed a growing friendship with Moscow, that includes nuclear cooperation, as a sign of fading U.S. influence in the region. "Not so long ago, Russia's strategic bombers visited Venezuela. Now warships are here," Medvedev said while showing Chavez the ship's weaponry. The warships, including Russia's nuclear-powered battle cruiser, Peter the Great, will carry out joint exercises with Venezuela's small navy this week. "Such actions and our coordination are one of the factors of the regional and global stability," Medvedev said. Chavez signed a deal while on the ship to buy two Russian Ilyushin II-96 300 jets, a model sometimes used for travel by Russian presidents. "I'm overwhelmed with emotion," said the former soldier and vocal critic of the U.S. "empire." Chavez insists the naval exercises are not meant to provoke the United States. His foreign policy is based on strengthening regional powers. "Our mission is a mission of peace, you are leading us to the balanced multi-polar world," he told Medvedev.
Medvedev boarded Russia's anti-submarine destroyer, Admiral Chabanenko, along with Chavez, who has hailed a growing friendship with Moscow, that includes nuclear cooperation, as a sign of fading U.S. influence in the region.
"Not so long ago, Russia's strategic bombers visited Venezuela. Now warships are here," Medvedev said while showing Chavez the ship's weaponry. The warships, including Russia's nuclear-powered battle cruiser, Peter the Great, will carry out joint exercises with Venezuela's small navy this week.
"Such actions and our coordination are one of the factors of the regional and global stability," Medvedev said.
Chavez signed a deal while on the ship to buy two Russian Ilyushin II-96 300 jets, a model sometimes used for travel by Russian presidents.
"I'm overwhelmed with emotion," said the former soldier and vocal critic of the U.S. "empire." Chavez insists the naval exercises are not meant to provoke the United States. His foreign policy is based on strengthening regional powers.
"Our mission is a mission of peace, you are leading us to the balanced multi-polar world," he told Medvedev.
Peter the Great is the largest warship in the Russian Navy, and is just one notch below nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. It was also situated much more conveniently than a significantly smaller Admiral Chabanenko. Russian media speculates it was an attempt by Medvedev not to rile USA too much, as a joint visit to Peter the Great would have been just too bellicose.
ITAJAI, Brazil - Flood victims waded through waist-deep water into mud-filled houses Thursday in a devastated part of southern Brazil where neighbors set up patrols to keep looters away and lined up by the thousands for government food handouts. As waters from torrential rains receded after causing at least 99 deaths, returning residents hurled soaked furniture and damaged electronic goods into the streets of this coastal city at the mouth of the swollen Itajai-Acu River. Hunger and thirst were so widespread in the city of 170,000 that police were ordered to let residents take food and water from stores because they were "driven by despair to steal," said state public safety spokesman Joao Carlos Santos. - snip - Like many in Itajai, the 19-year-old furniture repairman saw his house flooded. After taking refuge for days with relatives who had a home on high ground, de Carvalho returned to his neighborhood to help form a civilian looting watch. "We're all guarding our houses, because there are a lot of robberies," Carvalho said. "They're breaking in and taking whatever they can grab." Twenty-three people were arrested for looting and breaking into homes, but police only targeted suspects who took alcohol, plasma TVs and other nonfood items, Santos said. Local newspapers on Thursday published photos of men up to their waists in debris-filled water gathering goods floating outside flooded supermarkets.
As waters from torrential rains receded after causing at least 99 deaths, returning residents hurled soaked furniture and damaged electronic goods into the streets of this coastal city at the mouth of the swollen Itajai-Acu River.
Hunger and thirst were so widespread in the city of 170,000 that police were ordered to let residents take food and water from stores because they were "driven by despair to steal," said state public safety spokesman Joao Carlos Santos.
- snip -
Like many in Itajai, the 19-year-old furniture repairman saw his house flooded. After taking refuge for days with relatives who had a home on high ground, de Carvalho returned to his neighborhood to help form a civilian looting watch.
"We're all guarding our houses, because there are a lot of robberies," Carvalho said. "They're breaking in and taking whatever they can grab."
Twenty-three people were arrested for looting and breaking into homes, but police only targeted suspects who took alcohol, plasma TVs and other nonfood items, Santos said.
Local newspapers on Thursday published photos of men up to their waists in debris-filled water gathering goods floating outside flooded supermarkets.
SAN'A, Yemen - Yemeni security troops opened fire on Thursday on thousands of protesters calling for a boycott of April parliamentary elections and wounded about two dozen demonstrators, the organizers of the rally said. An Interior Ministry official said the troops fired into the air to disperse the "illegal" demonstration in the capital San'a, but he refused to comment on any injuries. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. The Yemeni Socialist Party said it had called the protest with several other opposition groups because they believe the balloting next April will not be fair, mostly because a 9-member electoral body overseeing the vote is all-appointed by the country's president and its members are closely linked to the ruling party. - snip - Yemen is an impoverished country in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, with strong tribal rules and lawless areas. It's also the ancestral homeland of Osama bin Laden. President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been in power since 1978, ruling North Yemen and then continuing in power after North and South Yemen united in 1990. In the 1999 elections, Saleh won overwhelmingly amid opposition boycotts, claims of vote-rigging and clashes at polling booths that left several dead. The Socialists are Yemen's second biggest party and ruled southern Yemen before the unification. The country's opposition bloc has 60 members in the 301-seat parliament.
An Interior Ministry official said the troops fired into the air to disperse the "illegal" demonstration in the capital San'a, but he refused to comment on any injuries. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.
The Yemeni Socialist Party said it had called the protest with several other opposition groups because they believe the balloting next April will not be fair, mostly because a 9-member electoral body overseeing the vote is all-appointed by the country's president and its members are closely linked to the ruling party.
Yemen is an impoverished country in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, with strong tribal rules and lawless areas. It's also the ancestral homeland of Osama bin Laden.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been in power since 1978, ruling North Yemen and then continuing in power after North and South Yemen united in 1990. In the 1999 elections, Saleh won overwhelmingly amid opposition boycotts, claims of vote-rigging and clashes at polling booths that left several dead.
The Socialists are Yemen's second biggest party and ruled southern Yemen before the unification. The country's opposition bloc has 60 members in the 301-seat parliament.
Mr. Yang said he had been wrongly accused of stealing a bicycle and been beaten by the Shanghai police in October 2007; the police have acknowledged that they questioned him about riding an unlicensed bicycle but denied beating him. Mr. Yang wrote to the Shanghai police and demanded compensation for psychological damage. He eventually called his assault at the police station a revenge attack.To many Chinese, he became a symbol of the little guy standing up against police harassment and government injustice. During his two trials, supporters gathered in crowds outside the courthouse in Shanghai. Some wore T-shirts with Mr. Yang's image; some called him a hero. Outside of Shanghai, some Chinese newspapers published sympathetic portraits of Mr. Yang.
Mr. Yang said he had been wrongly accused of stealing a bicycle and been beaten by the Shanghai police in October 2007; the police have acknowledged that they questioned him about riding an unlicensed bicycle but denied beating him. Mr. Yang wrote to the Shanghai police and demanded compensation for psychological damage. He eventually called his assault at the police station a revenge attack.
To many Chinese, he became a symbol of the little guy standing up against police harassment and government injustice. During his two trials, supporters gathered in crowds outside the courthouse in Shanghai. Some wore T-shirts with Mr. Yang's image; some called him a hero.
Outside of Shanghai, some Chinese newspapers published sympathetic portraits of Mr. Yang.
... A British Navy ship then approached the trawler, but the pirates "brought out our crew and used them as human shields," Mr. Wicharn said. The warship backed away, he said. "They said they couldn't do anything because they feared for the safety of the crew." But about 7 p.m., with darkness closing in, the Indian warship Tabar, which had been escorting Indian merchant ships in the gulf, approached and demanded that the trawler stop to be investigated. It was not clear on Wednesday whether the Indian Navy had received any of the alerts about the hijacking. <...> He added, "We're looking for some kind of responsibility now from India, something." He said Foreign Ministry officials and diplomats from both countries were discussing the matter. "The Indians claim we were a pirate ship," Mr. Wicharn said. "They say they have pictures, and we've asked them to show them. Maybe there's some misunderstanding."
But about 7 p.m., with darkness closing in, the Indian warship Tabar, which had been escorting Indian merchant ships in the gulf, approached and demanded that the trawler stop to be investigated.
It was not clear on Wednesday whether the Indian Navy had received any of the alerts about the hijacking. <...>
He added, "We're looking for some kind of responsibility now from India, something." He said Foreign Ministry officials and diplomats from both countries were discussing the matter. "The Indians claim we were a pirate ship," Mr. Wicharn said. "They say they have pictures, and we've asked them to show them. Maybe there's some misunderstanding."
A court inside Myanmar's notorious Insein prison sentenced a comedian who has criticized the government's cyclone response to 14 more years Thursday, bringing his total prison term to 59 years, his lawyer said. Comedian and activist Zarganar was given a 45-year prison sentence last week after he was convicted on charges related to interviews he gave to foreign media outlets. In the interviews, he said the government was too slow in responding to a May cyclone that killed more than 84,000 people. Myanmar's military, which has held power since 1962, tolerates no dissent. It frequently arrests artists and entertainers regarded as opposing the regime.
Comedian and activist Zarganar was given a 45-year prison sentence last week after he was convicted on charges related to interviews he gave to foreign media outlets.
In the interviews, he said the government was too slow in responding to a May cyclone that killed more than 84,000 people.
Myanmar's military, which has held power since 1962, tolerates no dissent. It frequently arrests artists and entertainers regarded as opposing the regime.
Burma and China recently signed a US $2.5 billion project for the construction of oil and gas pipelines between Burma's southwestern port of Kyaukpyu and China's Yunnan Province. Work is due to start in early 2009. According to analysts, Burma is important for China economically and strategically as a trading outlet to the Indian Ocean for its landlocked inland provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan and as a factor in its "two oceans" objective."Myanmar [Burma] is part and parcel of China's grand strategic design to achieve its goal of becoming a great power in the 21st century," said Poon Kim Shee, a scholar in international relations, in a paper, Political Economy of China-Myanmar Relations: Strategic and Economic Dimension. (...) During Burma's current period of military rule, China has also become one of the junta's main business partners. Chinese migration to Burma has grown steadily since 1988 following the opening of the border to trade. Economic life in Burma's second largest city, Mandalay, and other towns in the north is now heavily influenced by Chinese businessmen, leading in some circles to an increase in Burmese nationalistic sentiment and resentment of Chinese influence. Burmese writers and cartoonists sometimes reflect on the situation directly and indirectly. Published short stories and cartoons have noted ironically that that there are more Chinese than Burmese in central Mandalay, where the Chinese language is widely spoken and an increasing number of signs are written in Chinese. "If you want to see and hear Burmese, you should go outside of Mandalay," a famous Burmese cartoonist commented in one of his drawings.
Economic life in Burma's second largest city, Mandalay, and other towns in the north is now heavily influenced by Chinese businessmen, leading in some circles to an increase in Burmese nationalistic sentiment and resentment of Chinese influence.
Burmese writers and cartoonists sometimes reflect on the situation directly and indirectly. Published short stories and cartoons have noted ironically that that there are more Chinese than Burmese in central Mandalay, where the Chinese language is widely spoken and an increasing number of signs are written in Chinese.
"If you want to see and hear Burmese, you should go outside of Mandalay," a famous Burmese cartoonist commented in one of his drawings.
Aafia Siddiqui was once considered a brilliant scientist. Then the US government called her the new face of al-Qaida -- a Pakistani woman who ranked among America's top terrorism suspects. Now the MIT-educated mother of three is in custody, claiming her long disappearance was a wrongful abduction by the CIA. On July 17, 2008, men coming from evening prayers at the Bazazi Mosque in Ghazni, a provincial capital south of Kabul, paused when they saw a woman outside the building. They formed a circle around the stranger, who was wearing a blue burqa. She was cowering on the ground, with two small bags at her side, holding the hand of a boy of about 12. One of the men, fearing that this peculiar woman could be carrying a bomb under her burqa, called the police. A short time later, more than 11,000 kilometers (6,800 miles) away, a telephone rang at the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) in Washington. Someone crossed the name Aafia Siddiqui from a list of suspects and wrote the word "arrested." After two weeks Aafia Siddiqui was flown from the US Air Force's Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan to New York. She was now wearing a tracksuit, had two bullet entry wounds in her abdomen and weighed around 40 kilograms (90 lbs.). Siddiqui is 1.63 meters (5'4") tall.
Aafia Siddiqui was once considered a brilliant scientist. Then the US government called her the new face of al-Qaida -- a Pakistani woman who ranked among America's top terrorism suspects. Now the MIT-educated mother of three is in custody, claiming her long disappearance was a wrongful abduction by the CIA.
On July 17, 2008, men coming from evening prayers at the Bazazi Mosque in Ghazni, a provincial capital south of Kabul, paused when they saw a woman outside the building. They formed a circle around the stranger, who was wearing a blue burqa. She was cowering on the ground, with two small bags at her side, holding the hand of a boy of about 12. One of the men, fearing that this peculiar woman could be carrying a bomb under her burqa, called the police.
A short time later, more than 11,000 kilometers (6,800 miles) away, a telephone rang at the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) in Washington. Someone crossed the name Aafia Siddiqui from a list of suspects and wrote the word "arrested."
After two weeks Aafia Siddiqui was flown from the US Air Force's Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan to New York. She was now wearing a tracksuit, had two bullet entry wounds in her abdomen and weighed around 40 kilograms (90 lbs.). Siddiqui is 1.63 meters (5'4") tall.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in Cuba to revive ties with the former Soviet Union's Cold War ally on the last leg of his tour to boost Russia's reach in Latin America. Mr Medvedev was due to meet Cuban president Raul Castro and visit a new Russian-Orthodox cathedral in Havana on the last stop in a four-nation trip that included Peru, Brazil and Venezuela.It was unclear whether Mr Medvedev, on the first visit by a Russian leader to Cuba since 2000, would also meet ailing former president Fidel Castro, 82.Mr Medvedev's Latin America tour primarily sought to boost trade, despite the global economic downturn, but was also seen as a rebuff to US moves to install missile defence facilities in former Communist-ruled parts of Europe.The Russian leader arrived from Venezuela, where he signed a string of accords, including a nuclear energy deal, with left-wing president Hugo Chavez.
Mr Medvedev was due to meet Cuban president Raul Castro and visit a new Russian-Orthodox cathedral in Havana on the last stop in a four-nation trip that included Peru, Brazil and Venezuela.
It was unclear whether Mr Medvedev, on the first visit by a Russian leader to Cuba since 2000, would also meet ailing former president Fidel Castro, 82.
Mr Medvedev's Latin America tour primarily sought to boost trade, despite the global economic downturn, but was also seen as a rebuff to US moves to install missile defence facilities in former Communist-ruled parts of Europe.
The Russian leader arrived from Venezuela, where he signed a string of accords, including a nuclear energy deal, with left-wing president Hugo Chavez.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev opened his visit to Caracas with the signing of a nuclear energy deal that will deepen Moscow's ties with left-leaning Venezuela.The nuclear cooperation accord involves civilian and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Mr Medvedev, who arrived on Wednesday for the first visit by a Russian head of state to Venezuela, received an ornate welcome featuring spear-wielding soldiers singing the two countries' anthems in a palace courtyard decorated with palm trees, fountains and statues of classical gods. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was first to propose nuclear cooperation with Venezuela when Mr Chavez visited Moscow in September. The nuclear deal coincides with joint Russian-Venezuelan naval exercises about to begin in the Caribbean, which Washington dismissed as insignificant.
The nuclear cooperation accord involves civilian and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Mr Medvedev, who arrived on Wednesday for the first visit by a Russian head of state to Venezuela, received an ornate welcome featuring spear-wielding soldiers singing the two countries' anthems in a palace courtyard decorated with palm trees, fountains and statues of classical gods.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was first to propose nuclear cooperation with Venezuela when Mr Chavez visited Moscow in September.
The nuclear deal coincides with joint Russian-Venezuelan naval exercises about to begin in the Caribbean, which Washington dismissed as insignificant.
Mikhail Gorbachev has urged President-elect Barack Obama to 'muster his courage' and bring change to the US once he reaches the White House. Mr Gorbachev, the former Russian president who led the country out of the Soviet era, said that "America needs its own perestroika" (or restructuring) to rebuild its reputation around the world. Some Russians call Mr Obama "the American Gorbachev" because of his promises to bring change to his country. Mr Gorbachev, 77, said of the US election: "The entire world felt that America wanted change and was expecting change.
Mr Gorbachev, the former Russian president who led the country out of the Soviet era, said that "America needs its own perestroika" (or restructuring) to rebuild its reputation around the world.
Some Russians call Mr Obama "the American Gorbachev" because of his promises to bring change to his country.
Mr Gorbachev, 77, said of the US election: "The entire world felt that America wanted change and was expecting change.
