MOUs with Iran, Afghanistan to isolate Pak: Report

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (UNI): The recent Memoranda of Understanding that India has signed with Iran and Afghanistan bolsters its broader goal of encirclement and isolation of Pakistan, according to a report by Strategic Forecast.

Key among the MOUs, which covered trade, transportation and other economic issues, was an agreement to open a transport corridor between India and Afghanistan via Iran's Chabahar Port.

As part of the arrangement, Tehran agreed to reduce by 90 per cent taxes on all non-oil goods shipped from the port to Afghanistan, as well as to cut warehouse and portage fees by up to 50 per cent.

While the deal represents one element of Iranian-Indian cooperation in Afghanistan's economic reconstruction, it also might lay the groundwork for a north-south corridor that earlier was proposed, stratfor, a leading geopolitical analytical firm, said.

"Such a link would connect India with Russia via Iran and the Caspian Sea, saving shipping time and costs.

But in the broader sense, the new shipping route to Afghanistan serves New Delhi's regional strategic goals, giving India greater access and stronger ties to nations such as Iran and central Asian states that surround Pakistan." For India, the MOUs and associated discussions serve two goals, the report said.

First, New Delhi has been looking to expand economic and political ties to its west, in the middle east and on up to Russia.

Officials in the past had floated an idea about the creation of a so-called north-south corridor, which would create a trade route from Bombay to Bandar-e-Abas in Iran, then by land through Iran to Bandar-e-Anzali on the Caspian.

From there the route would cross to Russia's Astrakhan, and then by land to Moscow and points further west.

While that route once seemed a distant hope, the current deal with Iran might breathe new life into the idea of a land and sea bridge to Russia that would be much shorter than the current sea paths to Europe, Stratfor said.

"But more than brightening the prospects for expanded trade routes for Indian goods, the recent agreements aid another, broader goal of New Delhi: The encirclement and isolation of Pakistan." India, report said, has worked hard to strengthen ties with Iran and the central Asian states, particularly following the launch of the US-led war against terrorism.

"Stronger ties in central Asia provide a buffer against China and help India further surround Pakistan.

And ties with Iran offer India strategic options on Pakistan's western flank while opening the potential for new energy sources for India.

Ultimately, New Delhi's expanding economic ties slowly are facilitating India's underlying goal that of becoming a true regional power," the report added.

Powell says US ready to attack Iraq alone DAVOS, (BAGHDAD), Jan 26 (REUTERS): The United States has said it was ready to attack Iraq alone if allies peeled away, and Britain declared UN inspectors should have time, but not months, to decide if Baghdad was cooperating with them.

Kicking off a week that could hasten or delay a US-led war to disarm Iraq, US secretary of state Colin Powell sought to win over a cagey Europe for a possible assault on Baghdad.

He mixed reassurances that the Bush administration would be patient and consult its allies with warnings that time was short and the United States would not wait for ever.

"Multilateralism cannot become an excuse for inaction," Powell told the World Economic Forum in the Swiss town of Davos.

"We are in no great rush to judgment today or tomorrow, but it is clear that time is running out." The UN inspectors report to the Security Council today on their 2-month hunt in Iraq for any banned nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Baghdad denies having such arms.

Powell promised to work "patiently and deliberately" with US friends and allies, but added: "Let the Iraqi regime have no doubt, however.

If it does not disarm peacefully at this juncture, it will be disarmed at the end of the road." King Hussein of Iraq's neighbour Jordan hit a pessimistic note, saying in davos it would take a miracle to find a diplomatic solution to avert a US-led war on Baghdad.

"Unfortunately I believe that we're now a bit too little, too late to see a way out, a diplomatic solution between Iraq and the international community," the King said from the same stage Powell had used hours earlier.

"Today I think the mechanisms are in place.

I think it would be very difficult, it would take a miracle to find a dialogue and a peaceful solution out of the crisis." French foreign minister Dominique De Villepin told France 3 Television for a Sunday broadcast that weapons inspections should continue for several weeks or a few months.

France's prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said conflict with Iraq was not inevitable, but president Saddam Hussein must cooperate with inspectors or face "a war of incalculable consequences".

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana was quoted as saying the inspectors should get more time if they wanted it and there should be a new resolution before any war on Iraq.

UN chief arms inspector Hans Blix says Iraq has not filled holes in its arms declaration, is blocking confidential access to scientists and is balking at U-2 surveillance flights.

Blix has said Iraq meets queries about data on anthrax, deadly VX nerve gas and scud missiles with blunt denials, not evidence or documents to account for any missing material.

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency, Mohamed Elbaradei, will tell the council his teams have not proved that Iraq is trying to develop atomic bombs, as Washington suspects.

"Elbaradei's report won't reveal any prohibited nuclear arms programme," said Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"If we were to find a smoking gun, we wouldn't wait for an update report.

We'd go straight to the Security Council." Iraq's influential newspaper Babel warned the United States that invading troops would go home in body bags, while ordinary Iraqis said they expected war whatever the inspectors say.

"Even after 100 years, the inspectors still won't be convinced that Iraq does not have weapons of mass destruction.

America wants war today, not tomorrow," Khazem Mansour, a 28-year-old engineer, told Reuters in Baghdad.

The US military said US and British warplanes bombed five Iraqi communications sites on Sunday in a "no-fly" zone in southern Iraq that they enforce.

Iraq said civilian targets were hit but reported no casualties.

Teams from the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission and the IAEA searched 10 sites on Sunday, including a former research laboratory suspected of developing the deadly biological agents anthrax, botulium and ricin.

British prime minister Tony Blair said Iraqi non-cooperation would breach Resolution 1441 that gave Iraq's president Saddam Hussein a last chance to scrap any arms of mass destruction or face serious consequences.

"I don't believe it will take them months to find out whether he is cooperating or not, but they should have whatever time they need," Blair said on BBC television.

Britain has sent thousands of troops to join a US military build-up in the Gulf, but many of its european partners and other nations around the world want more time for UN inspections.

Blair is due to meet US president George W.

Bush in camp David on Friday to consider their next move in the crisis.

"We will not shrink from war if that is the only way to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction.

We continue to reserve our sovereign right to take military action against Iraq alone or in a coalition of the willing," Powell said.

He said Iraq had "clear ties to terrorist groups including Al Qaeda" and had made no strategic decision to obey last November's UN Disarmament Resolution.

The United States has provided no evidence for its assertion that Iraq has links to Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaeda network, which it blames for the September 11, 2001 attacks on US cities.

Washington is facing opposition at home and abroad to a swift unilateral move against Iraq.

The leader of the opposition Democrats in the US senate, Tom Daschle of south Dakota, told the CBS, "face the nation" programme yesterday that Bush had more to do to make the case for war and that the arms inspectors should be given more time.

"The president needs to make a compelling case that Iraq poses a very imminent threat to the United States and...That he has worked through the international community and exhausted all other options," Daschle said.

Pak stocks up 3.5 pc after steep falls KARACHI, Jan 27 (REUTERS): Pakistani stocks were up more than 3.5 percent at 0700 GMT on Monday as domestic institutions bought blue chips at lower prices after steep falls last week, brokers said.

The benchmark Karachi Stock Exchange's 100-share index.

KSE was up 92 points, or 3.5 percent, at 2,701 by 0702 GMT.

Gainers led losers 182 to 16 on turnover of 192.2 million shares.

The index rose more than 4 percent at one stage.

"There is some active support by the local institutions at lower attractive levels after sharp falls last week," said a broker at IP Securities.

The KSE index slid more than 11 percent last week on selling by retail investors who had panicked because of high rates for traditional carry-over financing, known locally as "Badla" financing, where investors borrow from private lenders to finance trades.

Israel hints at reoccupation of Gaza Strip JERUSALEM, Jan 27 (UNI): The complete closure of all Palestinian areas which came into effect from yesterday following threats of terror attacks during the keenest elections is likely to be lifted on Wednesday Defence minister Shaul Mofaz meanwhile has hinted over a possible reoccupation of the Gaza Strip following a series of attacks and counter attacks.

Israel has imposed a "total closure" over the West Bank and Gaza Strip in preparations for the upcoming elections tomorrow.

"The option of taking control of the Gaza Strip has been weighed in the past and is still being considered," Mofaz said.

He said that efforts have been accelerated in recent days to distribute IDF weapons ahead of the elections to citizens living along the seam line and in the territories.

Mofaz pointed out that efforts have also been stepped up to prepare citizens to the possibility of an Iraqi attack following US offensive.

"Every family will receive an information booklet on the home front command in regard to protecting citizens, as part of the preparations ahead of the expected US-led war on Iraq," he said.

Earlier, the human rights organisation B'tselem had reported that thousands of suspected Palestinians had been rounded up during the past weeks during the preparations for the elections on grounds of preventing terror attacks.

Sabotage of pipelines plunges Pak into energy crisis ISLAMABAD, Jan 26 (UNI): The suspected sabotage of gas pipelines to Punjab and the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) yesterday has plunged Pakistan into an energy crisis.

The incident, the third in a row within a week, took place in Balochistan where tribal feuds have created a violent situation.

Initial reports suggested the saboteurs dug out the subsurface supply line and blew it up with a bomb, reports the news.

Complete suspension of gas supply is expected today, it said.

The gas supply could be restored within a day or so, it added quoting officials.

This main supply line catered to around 45 per cent needs of the total gas requirement of the Punjab and the NWFP.

Former head of weapons inspectors in Iraq says war without UN illegal LONDON, Jan 27 (DPA): The former head of the United Nations weapons inspectors, Richard Butler, said today that Iraq certainly had weapons of mass destruction but that any US-led attack without Security Council approval would be illegal.

Butler, who headed UNSCOM until it was withdrawn in 1998, told the BBC that action to deal with Iraq's weapons had to take place within the rules of the UN charter.

"I am astonished at the nonsense taking place about whether or not Iraq has a weapons of mass destruction programme.

That's beyond doubt.

Anyone with any expertise in the field knows that," the Australian weapons expert said.

"I believe that enforcement of the law that is the decision of the Security Council should only be conducted in accordance with the law," he added.

"The law here, the UN charter, makes abundantly clear that no state must attack another state other than with the blessing of the Security Council," Butler said.

He added that any "unilateral action," whether by the United States, Britain or his own country, Australia, "would actually be illegal".

Former UN representative in Iraq, Denis Halliday, warned that hopes the pressure on Saddam was undermining his support in the country were unfounded.

Halliday, who is currently in Iraq, told the BBC: "I think many Iraqis have reservations about the president, about the government, in this country." "But thanks to Bush and the UN, Saddam Hussein enjoys more support in Iraq than he ever has before.

We have done exactly what I understand the US doesn't want to see happen - made the president of this country stronger," Halliday said.

The comments came ahead of a report by the new UN weapons inspectors, headed by Hans Blix and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed Elbaradei, to the UN later today.

One dead, several injured in Turkish quake PULUMUR, (TURKEY), Jan 27 (REUTERS): one person died and several were reported injured early today when an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the richter scale struck Pulumur, a sparsely populated area in eastern Turkey, the state-run Anatolian news agency said.

Several buildings were damaged by the tremor and aftershocks were felt in several major cities of the region.

Interior minister Abdulkadir Aksu told Anatolian bad weather conditions were hampering rescue efforts.

"There are 45 villages in Pulumur.

We have managed to reach nearly all them," he said.

Three people were injured in the nearby city of Erzincan after they panicked and jumped from buildings during the tremor, the agency reported.

Two major earthquakes struck northwest Turkey in 1999 killing tens of thousands of people.

"I was just about to send our children to school when we were shaken by powerful tremors," one local resident told Reuters.

The Turkish Red Crescent has sent tents and other equipment to the region, Anatolian said.

Dubai Police suggests closure of India Club DUBAI, Jan 27 (UNI): The Dubai Police has suggested the closure of the India Club where Sharad Shetty, an alleged close associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was shot dead, and asked the authorities concerned to act against clubs suspected to be involved in organised crime and intelligence activities.

Major-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, said it was apparent that some community clubs had been attracting gangsters rather than performing cultural, social and entertainment roles.

Sharad Shetty, the Indian businessman, was shot dead at India Club on January 19 allegedly by Dawood's rival the Chhota Rajan gang.

Dubai Police had arrested 4 people, 3 Indians and a Nepalese in connection with the murder.

The foursome have also confessed to the crime during the police interrogation.

"We have strong evidence that some community clubs have become a fertile ground for criminals and gangsters as well as intelligence activities," Maj.

Tamim was quoted as saying by the Khaleej Times.

The police chief said the four suspects in the Shetty murder case had obtained the club membership though they were in Dubai on temporary visit visas.

He disclosed that the four had planned to leave the United Arab Emirates with marine outpasses issued in Liberia.

This, he said, showed that the organised criminal gangs were involved in the murder.

Sources said a list of "undesirable" expatriates with suspected underworld activities outside the country is being prepared for deportation.

Iraq accuses Powell of lying, says free of WMD BAGHDAD, Jan 27 (Reuters) Iraq's foreign minister Naji Sabri today accused US secretary of state Colin Powell of lying and reiterated Iraq was free of any banned weapons.

Sabri said Powell, "Repeated lies that no one believes anymore" when he accused Iraq over the weekend of developing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

Sabri hoped a report by chief UN weapons inspectors to the security council today would confirm Iraq was free of banned weapons and find its cooperation with inspections was "super." "We hope that they will be fair and that they would present the facts as they are on the ground that there are no banned weapons or activities...And the Iraqi authorities had cooperated effectively on a wide scale with inspection teams," Sabri told a news conference in Baghdad.

Sabri also denied charges by Powell that Iraq had ties to Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaeda network and other "terrorist activities." "Powell and the US administration know well that Iraq has no links to these organisations," Sabri said.

UN chief inspector Hans Blix and head of the UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed Elbaradei will deliver a report to the security council today, which could begin a countdown for a possible US invasion to force Iraq to disarm.

The United States has made clear it would go to war against Iraq alone if it could not muster support among a deeply divided international community.

"The ball is in their court," Sabri said.

"We have done everything possible to let this country and the region avoid war...Death and destruction.

They are the ones escalating this situation, making threats and fabrications," he said.

Don't panic: Indian embassy to workers DUBAI, Jan 27 (UNI) The Indian embassy has advised Indian workers in Saudi Arabia not to panic or leave the country in a hurry because of the possible United States-led attack on Iraq.

"Saudi Arabia will extend the fullest possible support for the welfare of our countrymen in the event of a deterioration of the regional situation," said Indian ambassador Talmiz Ahmed, commenting on contingency plans in the event of a war.

He appealed to the 1.5 million Indian expatriates in Saudi Arabia to remain calm and avoid panic, and advised them to continue to perform their normal duties, Arab News reported.

The Philippines embassy has already developed a contingency plan for its workers living in West Asian countries, including the kingdom, in the event of war in the region.

No other diplomatic missions have announced any evacuation or contingency plans for their nationals as of now.

Divided EU struggles to forge common stance on Iraq BRUSSELS, Jan 27 (Reuters) The 15-nation European Union struggled to bridge divisions over Iraq today, hours before UN arms inspectors report on efforts to track down Baghdad's alleged weapons of mass destruction.

EU member Britain has followed the United States in sending troops to the Gulf, but France and Germany have been pushing for the inspectors to be given much more time.

Many EU states share their reluctance to use force, at least for now.

"Obviously the arms inspectors need more time and I think we should give them the time they need," swedish foreign minister Anna Lindh told reporters in Brussels as she arrived for the EU foreign ministers meeting.

"But at the same time we ask Iraq to comply fully with all the demands the arms inspectors have," she added.

British foreign secretary Jack Straw repeated a US-British line that Iraq has little time left to avert a military attack.

"Time is running out for Saddam Hussein, he has had a lot of time, 12 years, to fully comply (with UN resolutions on disarmament).

We'll make decisions on exactly how much time later today in the light of the UN report," he said.

Echoing comments made yesterday by US secretary of state Colin Powell, Straw said Washington and London knew Iraq had thousands of tonnes of chemicals and nerve agents when arms inspectors last left the country in 1998.

"Iraq has yet to explain what happened to that," he said.

the foreign ministers of the four EU nations on the UN Security Council Britain, France, Spain and Germany held talks before the full meeting.

They were joined by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and the ministers of current EU president, Greece, and of the bloc's next president, Italy.

Spain, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands are viewed as close to the US-British position on Iraq, but most other EU states back or are close to the Franco-German line.

Belgian foreign minister Louis Michel said,"I think there is a critical mass of European countries following our line.

It is necessary that they express this line, that they spell it out." He added, "they have to indicate that European countries which endorse an American attack without a second resolution, for example, will bear an enormous responsibility." The United States and Britain say they would prefer a second U.N.

resolution endorsing military force, but they reserve the right to act without one.

They fear Russia or even France might Veto such a resolution.

Diplomats said they expected a "Lowest Common Denominator" position to emerge from Monday's EU meeting.

This would include a reiteration of the U.N.'s primacy in defusing the crisis, a demand that Iraq cooperate fully with the inspectors and disarm, and a pledge of support for inspectors to complete their work.

Putin tells Blair Iraq inspectors' work must go on MOSCOW, Jan 27 (Reuters) Russian president Vladimir Putin told British prime minister Tony Blair today that U.N.

arms inspectors should continue their work in Iraq, a Kremlin spokesman said.

"Putin...stressed the need for international inspectors to continue their work in Iraq in accordance with the U.N.

Security Council Resolution," the spokesman said.

Putin spoke to Blair by telephone.

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