Monday 17 February 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Kerry, Abbas to meet Wednesday in Paris

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RAMALLAH (AFP) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will meet US Secretary of State John Kerry in Paris Wednesday to discuss peace talks with Israel, US and Palestinian officials said Monday.The top US diplomat has spent months trying to get the two sides to agree on a framework for resolving their decades-old conflict, but the negotiations have shown little sign of progress, with each side blaming the other.A senior Palestinian official said Abbas would leave for France on Tuesday for the meeting, which he said had been requested by Kerry who is currently in Abu Dhabi.The Palestinian positions are known and we have reiterated them at all the meetings with Kerry and his advisers, the official said.State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed the meeting, saying they would discuss the ongoing negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.On Sunday, Abbas struck a conciliatory tone on two of the most divisive issues, saying he did not want to flood Israel with returning Palestinian refugees and that there was no need to re-divide Jerusalem.Resolving the question of the right of return for Palestinian families who fled or were forced out of their homes during the war which accompanied Israel's independence in 1948 is one of the most bitterly disputed issues in the conflict.Jerusalem is also deeply divisive, with Israel viewing the entire city as its eternal, undivided capital and the Palestinians demanding a capital in the mostly Arab eastern sector of the city captured by Israel in the 1967 war.Abbas suggested Sunday there could be two municipalities in the city with a supervisory body to coordinate between them.Israeli President Shimon Peres on Monday hailed Abbas's remarks on the refugee issue, which he said showed the Palestinian leader's seriousness about reaching peace.During his most recent visit to the region last month, Kerry presented both sides with a draft framework agreement addressing the so-called final status issues -- Jerusalem, the refugees, borders and security.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet President Barack Obama in the United States on March 3 to discuss the talks.

Security forces kill 15 militants, retake Iraq town

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KIRKUK (AFP) - Iraqi security forces killed 15 militants in an assault Monday as they retook a northern town and surrounding areas that have repeatedly changed hands in recent days, an official said.Joint army and police forces backed by helicopters attacked Sulaiman Bek from three sides, forcing militants who had seized the Salaheddin province town to withdraw, local official Talib al-Bayati told AFP.Militants initially seized part of the Sunni majority town and nearby areas on Thursday, only to be pushed back the following day.But security forces then withdrew for unknown reasons, Bayati said, and the militants were again in control of part of the town on Saturday and later made further gains.Bayati said four civilians had been killed and eight wounded since Thursday.The situation in Sulaiman Bek was a small-scale version of the crisis playing out in the mostly Sunni Anbar province, west of Baghdad, where anti-government fighters have held the city of Fallujah and part of Ramadi for weeks.The takeovers in Anbar mark the first time anti-government forces have exercised such open control in major cities since the bloody insurgency that followed the US-led invasion of 2003.More than 370,000 people may have been displaced by the Anbar violence, according to the United Nations.Sulaiman Bek has been hit by numerous attacks over the past year, and was briefly seized by militants in late April.In July, some 150 militants struck with mortar rounds, rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons, and executed 14 Shiite truck drivers on a nearby highway.Violence in Iraq has reached a level not seen since 2008, when the country was just emerging from a period of brutal sectarian killings.Foreign leaders have urged the Shiite-led government to do more to reach out to the disaffected Sunni Arab minority to undercut support for militants.But Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has taken a hard line ahead of a general election scheduled for April.

Iran's Khamenei says nuclear talks will 'lead nowhere'

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TEHRAN (AFP) - Irans top decision-maker Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday nuclear talks with world powers would lead nowhere but that he did not oppose them.Iran is due to resume talks on Tuesday in Vienna with the P51 group -- Britain, France, the United States, Russia and China plus Germany -- aimed at reaching a comprehensive accord on its controversial nuclear programme.After a decade of failure and rising tensions, US President Barack Obama has put the chances of an agreement at 50-50, while Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has predicted difficult discussions.I repeat it again that I am not optimistic about the negotiations and they will lead nowhere, but I am not against them, Khamenei said in remarks published on his website Khamenei.ir.Under a landmark interim deal clinched in November, Iran agreed to freeze some nuclear activities for six months in exchange for modest sanctions relief and a Western promise not to impose new restrictions on its hard-hit economy.Western powers and Israel have long suspected Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons capability alongside its civilian programme, charges denied by Tehran.Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday Iran is the only beneficiary of the talks, and accused Tehran of continuing its aggressive behaviour.Under the comprehensive deal now being sought, which the parties aim to conclude and begin implementing by November, the powers will want Iran to scale back its activities permanently.These might include closing the underground Fordo facility, slashing the number of centrifuges used to enrich uranium, reducing its stockpile of fissile material and altering a new reactor being built at Arak, diplomats say.In exchange, Iran would see all UN Security Council, US and EU sanctions lifted.The work that has been started by the foreign ministry will continue and Iran will not violate its commitment, but I repeat it again, it will lead to nowhere, Khamenei said.Iran will never succumb to the bullying and blackmailing of America, Khamenei said.The nuclear issue is an excuse for America (to continue) its animosity. Now, the American spokesmen are bringing up the issues of human rights and missiles.

10 dead, dozens trapped in S. Korea building collapse

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SEOUL (AFP) - Ten people were killed and at least a dozen were trapped after an auditorium collapsed under heavy snow Monday at a resort in the southern South Korean city of Gyeongju, rescue workers said.As many as 450 students were believed to have been attending a concert in the building when the roof caved in around 9:15 pm (1215 GMT).Police officials quoted by the Yonhap news agency said ten people had been confirmed killed in the collapse and at least a dozen were thought to still be trapped inside the building, down from around 50 earlier in the evening.Nine of the dead were college students whilst the tenth fatality was believed to be a party organiser, police said, adding that three students and 11 party organisers remained unaccounted for.A spokesman for the local fire service had earlier told AFP by telephone that 73 people were injured, 15 of them seriously.Rescue workers were continuing to search for any students who were feared trapped inside the collapsed structure, he said.Yonhap reported that police feared the toll could rise throughout the night, with around 400 rescuers on the scene.The collapse appeared to have been caused by heavy snow which had piled up on the roof of the auditorium.

Ethiopian co-pilot hijacks plane to seek Swiss asylum

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GENEVA (AFP) - The co-pilot of an Ethiopian Airlines plane hijacked his own aircraft Monday by threatening to crash it and forced a landing in Geneva so he could seek asylum, igniting what one passenger described as pure fear.The Ethiopian locked himself in the cockpit when the captain went to the bathroom during flight ET-702 from Addis Ababa, which had been due to fly to Rome.He was swiftly arrested in Geneva after scaling down a rope out of the cockpit window and prosecutors said the chances of his demands being met were slim.We thought the co-pilot had gone mad, Francesco Cuomo, a 25-year-old development economist who was on board, was quoted by Italian media as saying.The captain was threatening to open the cockpit door and tried to break it down without success. Thats when we understood that something serious was going on.When we started circling over Geneva, there were moments of pure fear, he said.After landing in Rome from Geneva, another passenger, Diego Gardelli, told the ANSA news agency: At one point a stewardess told us Are you Christian? Then pray to God. Thats what Im doing.Gardelli said the passengers did not realise they had been hijacked until the captain told them after landing. They thought there had been a technical problem.We thought we were going to plunge into the sea, he said, adding that passengers were also told to wear oxygen masks for half an hour during the flight.We feared the worst, said Elda, a 75-year-old passenger, adding that passengers were frisked one by one after coming off the plane because they thought there could be accomplices.A total of 202 passengers and crew were on board the Boeing 767 as the drama unfolded.Head of operations at Geneva airport, Xavier Wohlschlag, told the ATS news agency the hijackers request to land was initially denied.The green light was not given until around 5:30 am (0430 GMT), as the plane, which was first escorted by Italian fighter jets and later reportedly by French ones, circled the region.It emerged later on Monday that no Swiss fighter jets were scrambled as the hijack happened outside the business hours of the countrys airforce, which operate between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.The plane finally landed in Geneva at 6:02 am, about an hour and a half after it was due in Rome.

New Zealand declare at 680-8

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WELLINGTON (AFP) - New Zealand declared their second innings at 680-8 at the Basin Reserve on the fifth day of the second Test in Wellington on Tuesday.India require 435 to win with only two sessions remaining and have 10 minutes to bat before the lunch break.For New Zealand, Brendon McCullum made 302 and Jimmy Neesham was not out 137.Zaheer Khan took 5-170 for India.India were 10 without loss at lunch on the final day of the second Test against New Zealand facing a target of 435 to win in Wellington on Tuesday.Murali Vijay was not out seven with Shikhar Dhawan on two at the Basin Reserve.New Zealand lead the series 1-0.

7 Pakistani pilgrims die in road accident in Saudi Arabia

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JEDDAH (Agencies) - At least seven Pakistani died when their bus collided with a truck along the Makkah-Madinah highway.Only two of the pilgrims had been identified so far. They were Mohammed Hassan and Manahel Fatima. A source said that 13 Pakistanis also sustained injuries in the accident.The bus was carrying Pakistani, Egyptian and Syrian pilgrims from Madinah to Makkah when the accident happened at Al Hijra, about 100 kilometres from Madinah.The injured were transferred to the King Fahd, the Saudi German and the Miqat hospitals in Jeddah.

Special court to hear Musharraf treason case today

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Former army chief, Pervez Musharraf, is due to appear before the special court today (Tuesday) to face treason charges under Article 6 for suspending, subverting and abrogating the Constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts.The special court comprises Sindh High Court’s Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Tahira Safdar of the Balochistan High Court and Justice Yawar Ali of the Lahore High Court.During the previous hearings the Pervez Musharraf didn’t appear before the court but he now faces non-bailable arrest warrants if he fails to appear today.

Olympics: Davis, White give USA first Olympic ice dance gold

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SOCHI (AFP) - Two-time world champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White finally claimed a first Olympic figure skating ice dancing gold for the United States with new world record scores on Monday.Vancouver silver medallists Davis, 27, and White, 26, led all the way to seal the title by 4.53 points following a routine filled with difficult lifts and rapid footwork ahead of reigning Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada.Russias Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov won bronze after the free dance final at the Iceberg Skating Palace.Were so excited, were in shock a little. Im not sure what were feeling, said Davis, after claiming a 15th Olympic gold medal for the United States but the first outside of mens or womens singles.It kind of all came together for us and were so pleased to be here. Were in disbelief.The Americans, who train with the Canadian dancers in Detroit under Russian-born coach Marina Zoueva, completed their medal set after their silver in Vancouver and team bronze in Sochi.They scored 116.63 points for their free skate to Scheherazade -- over two points higher than the previous record they achieved in the team event just over a week ago.After already setting a new record in the short dance on Sunday they scored an overall total record of 195.52, beating their previous best from the Grand Prix final by over four points.The crowd was really alive out there today for all the teams and we fed off the energy, said White. We were well prepared by our coach Marina (Zoueva) in coming here and doing our job.I felt like we had done everything we could from the beginning of this competition, in practice, team event, this event. And 17 years of hard work was justified. To come away with a gold medal is amazing.The Canadians, who Zoueva led to gold four years ago, scored 114.66 points for their skate to Petit Adagio, Waltz in Concerto No. 2 for an overall total of 190.99.That was another great skate for us, said Moir.There was a lot of pressure tonight. We felt it more this afternoon probably than yesterday. We just wanted to go out and have a great skate for us and have our moment and we felt like we did that.Virtue and Moir became the first Canadians to win three Olympic medals in figure skating -- two silver in Sochi in addition to their Vancouver gold.Virtue added: With more experience comes more pressure, more expectation and I think what we had in Vancouver, maybe the benefit was not knowing what the Olympics are really all about and having not experienced it, but I think coming in we knew exactly the magnitude and the scope of it.Ilinykh and Katasalapov had already won gold in the new team event in which the Canadians finished silver medallists and the Americans took bronze.They scored 110.44 for their emotional performance to Swan Lake which earned a standing ovation from their adoring home crowd for 183.48 overall.Frances Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat finished off the podium in fourth.Since it made its Olympic debut at the 1976 Innsbruck Games it is just the fourth time that a non-Russian or former Soviet team have won ice dancing.For Russia it was a sixth consecutive medal in ice dance -- the first time they have medalled in the same event in six straight Winter Games in any sport.Ice dancing is a different discipline and less athletic than pairs skating.It resembles ballroom dancing -- the dancers have to stay close together and there is less lifting and more intricate, rhythmic footwork.

Tennis: Venus Williams takes revenge on Vesnina

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DUBAI (AFP) - Last week's assertion by Venus Williams that she still has what it takes to deliver at the highest level acquired some credence when she impressively settled a score to reach the second round of the Dubai Open on Monday.The 33-year-old seven times former Grand Slam title winner had lost to Elena Vesnina in both their previous meetings but outplayed the world number 33 from Russia by 6-3, 6-2 in little more than an hour.Encouraging too was that Williams, who has to cope with an immune deficiency on a daily basis, maintained her high standard right till the end and finished looking fresh.Every time I played her before she played unbelievably well, she said.I don't think she was at her best today, but I'm thankful there will be more matches.Williams was referring to an early loss in Doha last week after holding match points against Petra Kvitova, the former Wimbledon champion from the Czech republic.To capitalise on tenacious efforts to regain health and fitness she needs to compete as often as possible - but so far this year in four tournaments she has played only nine matches.She struck the ball with controlled aggression off the ground and also served well, perhaps the key to the whole performance.She landed more than 60 percent of her first deliveries, often regarded as the measure of good serving, and won points behind the vast majority of them.Having consolidated that break of serve and closed out the first set, her momentum increased, and she was soon 3-0 up in the second set and motoring. By the end she had secured a double break.The more matches I play, the better I will feel, she said.You know, in moments where I'm controlling the match, the better I will feel in moments where things are close.I feel like I have just gotten a little rusty sometimes in those areas. Yeah. That's pretty much it.Williams, whose younger sister Serena will also compete in Dubai after returning earlier from injury than expected, said that she was staying around because she loved the game.Tennis keeps you young. I love the game. I love being out there and giving my all.Her reward is a second round against either Angelique Kerber, the sixth seeded German who was last week's runner-up in Doha, or Ana Ivanovic, the former world number one from Serbia who beat her in last month's final in Auckland.Serena Williams will play Ekatarina Makarova, Russia's world number 24, in the second round.Another American, Sloane Stephens, is in danger of dropping out of the world's top 20 after a second successive first round loss.Stephens, who was beaten in straight sets by Petra Cetkowska of the Czech Republic in Doha, went down 7-5, 6-3 to another Czech, Lucie Safarova.Some days, you're like, this sucks, my life sucks - but it could be way different and I could be in a completely different situation, said 20-year-old Stephens, who revealed she was now going to return home to Florida.I'm just thankful for everything that I have, and it's nothing to be, you know, too down about.

Tennis: Del Potro refuses to play Davis Cup

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BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro announced Monday he would not be playing Davis Cup tennis for Argentina this year amid an ongoing dispute with his country's federation.I will not be playing in the rest of the 2014 Davis Cup season, the 25-year-old said in a statement.In November, I published a letter in which I expressed my disagreement with the hypocrisy surrounding the Davis Cup. Since then, nothing has changed. It has even got worse, added Del Potro, currently world number 5.Argentina have struggled in the absence of their best player, losing in the first round to Italy and facing a play-off in September to maintain their place in the elite world group.Del Potro has not represented his country in the Davis Cup since a losing semi-final against the Czech Republic in 2012.He complains that the Argentinian federation does not show him sufficient respect and fails to take into account his court surface preferences.

FIFA urges Brazil to keep protests peaceful

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BRASILIA (AFP) - FIFA on Monday recognized Brazilians right to peaceful protest but urged them to eschew violence as Junes World Cup approaches.You can have pacific demostrations, its a right, its a right in any democracy around the world, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said during a visit to Brasilia.But a non-peaceful demonstration, people are just trying to create problems, people are just trying to fight against the authorities, said Valcke, adding it was for the police to keep order.Brazil is braced for protests before and during the tournament, which kicks off on June 12 in Sao Paulo, with many citizens angry at the billions of dollars the event is costing.Last years dress rehearsal event, the Confederations Cup, saw more than a million people take to the streets nationwide to protest the cost of the World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics in a country where many basic public facilities are poor.Although more recent protests have been on a smaller scale, many have ended in violence after becoming more radical with anarchist groups organizing them online.On February 6, a march in Rio against a fresh round of transport fare hikes -- the issue which sparked last years protests -- ended in tragedy with the death of a TV cameraman.Santiago Andrade died after being struck in the head by a flare thrown by a protester.The cameraman was brutally killed, Minister for sport Aldo Rebelo reflected Monday.In response to the ongoing protests and with radicals threatening more during the World Cup the Brazilian government is preparing legislation to deal with violent demonstrators.Congress is also debating anti-terrorism draft legislation which would bring stiffer punishments for acts of vandalism causing damage to public property.In the latest of a series of visits to Brazil, Valcke was visiting Brasilias Mane Garrincha stadium, one of three to suffer fatal accidents during construction in recent months.There have been three fatal accidents in Manaus in the northern Amazonia region and one in Sao Paulo, due to host the June 12 World Cup opener between Brazil and Croatia.After six stadiums missed a FIFA deadline of December 31 for completion Sao Paulo is now scheduled to have pre-event tests in mid-April.More pressingly, Valcke is to reveal Tuesday if the stadium at Curitiba, where construction has been lagging behind schedule, will be retained or dropped.Transport links in the city are also not set to be completed until after the tournament.Curitiba is slated to host four matches starting with the June 13 meeting of Chile and Australia.Having begun his latest tour at the weekend in Manaus, where he praised the Arena Amazonia, Valcke was due Tuesday in the southern city of Porto Alegre before heading to Florianopolis for a FIFA pre-World Cup seminar for the 32 team coaches.

McCullum first New Zealander to score Test 300

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WELLINGTON (AFP) - Brendon McCullum became the latest member of the elite 300 club and the first New Zealander to reach the triple Test century landmark Tuesday in a heroic match-saving innings against India.Skipper McCullum passed the previous New Zealand record innings of 299, set by Martin Crowe 23 years ago, when he cut Zaheer Khan for four at Wellingtons Basin Reserve nearly an hour into the final day of the second Test.Two balls later, with the echoes of the standing ovation still on his mind, he was out for 302, caught behind off Khan.New Zealand were then 625-6, holding a lead of 379 which leaves India little chance of levelling the two-Test series after New Zealand won the first Test by 40 runs.Only 24 cricketers have broken the 300 barrier, four of them twice -- including West Indian Brian Lara who holds the world record for the highest Test innings of 400.Crowe said before the start of the days play that he was willing McCullum to smash his record.Im confident that hell get through. Ive said for a while now that its time New Zealand joined the other Test playing nations in the triple-century list, he told Radio New Zealand.McCullums marathon innings rescued New Zealand after they were staring down the barrel of defeat at 94-5 in their second innings and needing 246 to make India bat again.Along the way, he featured in a world record sixth-wicket stand of 352 with BJ Watling and became only the second New Zealander to score three career double centuries behind Stephen Fleming.McCullum, who resumed the day on 281, batted for just under 13 hours when he reached his 300, in a knock that included 32 fours and four sixes.The 32-year-old took over the New Zealand captaincy 16 months ago in controversial circumstances when popular skipper Ross Taylor was dumped.New Zealand then went through a dark year without a Test success until this summer when McCullum has led them to a 2-0 series win over the West Indies and now the brink of a 1-0 series victory over India.It is only the second time New Zealand has won three consecutive Tests.

Perera leads Sri Lanka to ODI win over Bangladesh

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DHAKA (AFP) - Thisara Pereras brilliant counter-attack inspired Sri Lanka to a 13-run victory over Bangladesh in the first one-day international in Dhaka on Monday, giving the tourists the lead in the three-match series.Perera smashed an unbeaten 80 off 57 balls to lift the tourists from a hopeless 67-8 in the 22nd over to 180 all out after Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field.Sensing an opening, Sri Lanka hit back to bowl out the hosts for 167 in the 40th over of the rain-curtailed match at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.Bangladesh, riding on opener Shamsur Rahmans 62 off 49 balls and 44 from Mominul Haque, were cruising at 114-2 in the 20th over when the batting came apart.Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews claimed three wickets and off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake took another two as Bangladesh lost their last eight wickets for 53 runs.Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim rued three dropped catches when Perera was on seven, 30 and 78.Those catches were important, Rahim said. But Perera attacked very well. I thought 180 was chasable after Shamsur and Mominul batted so well.But we just could not get past the finish line. Losing close matches seems to have become a habit with us, we need to find a way to win.Mathews praised Bangladeshs effort and said he expected them to come back hard in the remaining two games.Credit goes to them, they bowled so well, he said. It was a good effort by Bangladesh. They are a strong team, especially at home, and we must improve our game further.Perera proved to be Sri Lankas hero after the tourists were left in tatters in a match reduced to 43-overs-a side from the stipulated 50 due to bad weather.Perera and Senanayake ensured Sri Lanka did not fall below 147, their lowest one-day total against Bangladesh, by adding 82 runs for the ninth wicket.Perera, who helped Sri Lanka record last-ball wins over Bangladesh in two Twenty20 matches last week, hit six sixes and four boundaries in a superb rearguard action.Senanayake made 30 as Sri Lanka put on 113 valuable runs for the last two wickets after the spectacular collapse by the top order.Bangladesh lost Anamul Haque off the second ball of the innings, caught in the slips off Lasith Malinga, but Shamsur and Mominul put on 79 for the second wicket.Perera, who was named man of the match, broke the threatening stand by having Mominul caught at point for a fluent 44 that contained seven boundaries.Bangladesh moved to 114-2 in the 20th over when their two main batsmen, Shamsur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan, were run out in the space of five runs.Shamsur was given out by the third umpire after television replays showed the batsmans feet in the air after his bat got stuck just outside the crease as he went to complete a second run.Senanayake swung the match Sri Lankas way by removing Nasir Hossain and Mohammad Mahmudullah in three deliveries to make it 133-6 in the 29th over.Mathews grabbed three of the last four wickets to seal the victory which came when Robel Hossain became the third Bangladesh batsman to be run out.The second and third matches will be played at the same venue on Thursday and Saturday.Sri Lanka had won both the preceding Test and Twenty20 series.

Former Afghan Taliban minister shot dead in Peshawar

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PESHAWAR (AFP) - A former minister of the Afghan Taliban who was in favour of peace talks with the Kabul government was gunned down in Pakistan's northwest city of Peshawar on Monday, Afghan Taliban sources said.Armed assailants riding on a motorbike shot Mullah Abdul Raqeeb, a former minister for refugees during the Taliban regime, killing him on the spot, a member of the Afghan Taliban in Pakistan told AFP.Speaking from Afghanistan, another Taliban member said Raqeeb was part of a group in Peshawar which is in favour of making some connection with the Afghan government over possible peace talks.Raqeeb was coming out of a religious seminary where he had been teaching when he was attacked. Senior Peshawar police officer Muhammad Faisal confirmed the murder. A Taliban office in Qatar that opened last June was meant to lead to peace talks, but instead it enraged Afghan President Hamid Karzai after it was styled as an embassy for a government-in-exile.Public efforts at reconciliation have since been frozen.In a written statement, another former Afghan minister Aga Jan Motasim said leaders and jihadi commanders of the Afghan Taliban were being targeted in the Pakistani cities of Quetta and Peshawar.Mullah Abdul Raqeeb was working for a peaceful Afghanistan, said the statement. He praised Raqeeb, terming him a learned scholar, politician, social worker and guardian of thousands of orphans.On Thursday, the Afghan government released scores of alleged Taliban fighters from Bagram prison, leading to criticism from the United States.Some analysts say the releases could help kickstart the moribund peace talks with the Taliban, who were ousted from power in 2001.Pakistan is seen as crucial to peace in neighbouring Afghanistan as it was a key backer of the hardline 1996-2001 Taliban regime in Kabul.Monday's killing in Peshawar came weeks after an influential cleric close to the one-eyed spiritual leader of the Afghan Taliban was killed in Quetta. Senior leaders of the Afghan Taliban have been repeatedly targeted and killed in Quetta and Peshawar but nobody has ever claimed responsibility.
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