Sunday 1 February 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Grant summoned by Scots after assault case not proven

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EDINBURGH, Scotland: (AP) - Ryan Grant has been called up to Scotlands squad for the Six Nations, days after assault charges against the prop were found not proven.Grant was left out of coach Vern Cotters original 32-man squad while the Glasgow front-row forward faced the charges.A Scottish court said this week that the assault charges could not be proven.Grant has made 19 appearances for Scotland since his debut in 2012.

Horror in Japan as video purports to show hostage beheaded

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TOKYO: (AP) - Appalled and saddened by news of journalist Kenji Gotos purported beheading by Islamic State extremists, Japan ordered heightened security precautions Sunday and said it would persist with its non-military support for fighting terrorism.The failure to save Goto raised fears for the life of a Jordanian fighter pilot also held by the militant group that controls about a third of both Syria and Iraq. Unlike some earlier messages delivered in the crisis, the video that circulated online late Saturday purporting to show a militant beheading Goto did not mention the pilot.Jordan renewed an offer Sunday to swap an al-Qaida prisoner for the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, who was seized after his F-16 crashed near the Islamic State groups de facto capital, Raqqa, Syria, in December.Government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani told The Associated Press that we are still ready to hand over Sajida al-Rishawi, who faces death by hanging for her role in triple hotel bombings in Jordan in 2005.Al-Momani also said his country spared no effort to free Goto.The slaying of Goto, a freelance reporter whose work focused on refugees, children and other victims of war, shocked this country, which until now had not become directly embroiled in the fight against the militants.I feel indignation over this immoral and heinous act of terrorism, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters after convening an emergency Cabinet meeting.When I think of the grief of his family, I am left speechless, he said. We are filled with deep regret.Threats from the Islamic State group prompted an order for tighter security at airports and at Japanese facilities overseas, such as embassies and schools, government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said.He said it would be inappropriate to comment on the status of the Jordanian pilot.With no updates for days, al-Kaseasbehs family appealed to the government for information on his situation. But for Gotos family and friends, the beheading shattered any hopes for his rescue.Kenji has died, and my heart is broken. Facing such a tragic death, Im just speechless, Gotos mother Junko Ishido told reporters.I was hoping Kenji might be able to come home, said Gotos brother, Junichi Goto, in a separate interview. I was hoping he would return and thank everyone for his rescue, but thats impossible, and Im bitterly disappointed.According to his friends and family, Goto traveled to Syria in late October to try to save Haruna Yukawa, 42, who was taken hostage in August and who was shown as purportedly killed in an earlier video.He was kind and he was brave, said Yukawas father Shoichi. He tried to save my son.Its utterly heartbreaking, he said, crying and shaking. People killing other people its so deplorable. How can this be happening?Abe vowed to continue providing humanitarian aid to countries fighting the Islamic State extremists. Bowing to terrorist intimidation would prevent Japan from providing medical assistance and other aid it views as necessary for helping to restore stability in the region, he and other officials say.But the government spokesman, Suga, said Abe would not link the hostage crisis to his efforts to expand Japans military role in collective self-defense with the U.S. and other allies.The White House released a statement in which President Barack Obama also condemned the heinous murder and praised Gotos reporting, saying he courageously sought to convey the plight of the Syrian people to the outside world.The White House said that while it isnt confirming the authenticity of the video itself, it has confirmed that Goto has been slain. Japan also has deemed the video highly likely to be authentic, said the defense minister, Gen Nakatani.Highlighted by militant sympathizers on social media sites, the video bore the symbol of the Islamic State groups al-Furqan media arm.Though it could not be immediately independently verified by The Associated Press, it conformed to other beheading videos by the group.Many Japanese expressed dismay over the news.I feel so sad and angry. Why didnt the government rescue Kenji? said Mayuko Tamura, 31, a pediatrician who along with her husband and their 8-month-old baby joined a few dozen people gathered in front of Abes official residence Sunday afternoon to show their sympathy for the hostages.In Jordan late Saturday night, relatives and supporters of the pilot held a candlelit vigil inside a family home in Karak, al-Kaseasbehs hometown in southern Jordan.We decided to hold this protest to remind the Jordanian government of the issue of the imprisoned pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh, said the pilots brother Jawdat al-Kaseasbeh, holding picture of Muath with a caption: We are all Muath.Al-Kaseasbehs uncle, Yassin Rawashda, said the family just wants to be kept informed.We want to know how the negotiations are going ... in a positive direction or not. And we want the family to be (involved) in the course of negotiations, he said.Jordan and Japan reportedly conducted indirect negotiations with the militants through Iraqi tribal leaders, but late on Friday the Japanese envoy sent to Amman to work on the hostage crisis reported a deadlock in those efforts.The hostage drama began more than a week ago when the militants threatened to kill Goto and Yukawa in 72 hours unless Japan paid $200 million.Later, the militants demand shifted to seeking the release of al-Rishawi, who survived the 2005 attack that killed 60 people when her explosive belt failed to detonate in the worst terror attack in Jordans history.The deadline for that exchange passed without word, leaving the families of the pilot and journalist waiting in agony. Al-Rishawi has close family ties to the Iraq branch of al-Qaida, a precursor of the Islamic State group.The U.N. Security Council issued a statement Sunday demanding the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all those who are kept hostage by the Islamic State group. Council members underlined the need to bring those responsible for Gotos heinous and cowardly murder to justice and stressed that the Islamic State group must be defeated and that the intolerance, violence and hatred it espouses must be stamped out.

Arsenal beats Aston Villa 5-0 without star player Sanchez

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LONDON: (AP) - Mesut Ozil scored a goal and created another in Arsenals emphatic 5-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday as the London club earned its biggest Premier League win this season.Olivier Giroud put the home side ahead in the eighth minute after a sublime backheel pass from Ozil sent the striker through on goal. With only Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan to beat, Giroud chipped it over the onrushing American.Ozil doubled Arsenals lead in the 56th, finishing off a quick counterattack by slotting the ball into the low right corner in the midfielders first league start since returning from injury.Theo Walcott added a third and his first league goal of the season after exchanging passes with Santi Cazorla before firing inside the far post.The finish was great, but it is all about three points, Walcott said. Everyone, the whole crowd is buzzing (and) that happens when a team is at the top.It was Walcotts first league start since returning from a knee ligament injury sustained last season against north London rival Tottenham, which the Gunners face next weekend.Cazorla converted a penalty after substitute Chuba Akpom was fouled by Guzan, who got a hand to Cazorlas shot and nearly saved it, prompting the goalkeeper to kick a post after the penalty went in.Hector Bellerin scored a fifth in added time, side-footing from just outside the area after Cazorlas slick pass set up the right back.The resounding win was even more remarkable because it was accomplished without star player Alexis Sanchez, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury. It leaves the Gunners in fifth place, a point behind Manchester United.It was the first time Arsenal has won three consecutive league matches this season.We have maybe found a better consistency, manager Arsene Wenger said. Lets show we can win more.Ozil, who has been criticized by some sections of the Arsenal support, looked to have benefited the most from the win. He looked lively and creative, and threw his shirt to applauding fans in the stands before heading into the tunnel.Villa, on the other hand, struggled throughout to create chances and collapsed after Ozil scored.The disappointing thing was the second goal, manager Paul Lambert said. You cant lose the ball with 80 yards and then they score.The defeat left the club without a win in eight matches, and Villa is now in 16th place, just three points above the relegation zone. Villa has only scored one goal during the poor run of form, on Dec. 20 against Manchester United.The visitors had only two clear chances in the entire match, nearly equalizing as the first half was coming to a close, but Andreas Weimanns header was well-saved by Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina, who was once again preferred to Wojciech Szczesny. Ashley Westwood tested Ospina in the final action of the match with a strong shot that Ospina had to parry.New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is considering a run for the White House, was sitting in the VIP box as part of a three-day visit to London.

Forget Wimbledon, Andy Murray's new burden is in Australia

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MELBOURNE, Australia: (AP) - Andy Murray now has another burden to bear, and its not in Britain.The 27-year-old Scottish player earned the dubious distinction Sunday of becoming the only man in the Open Era to lose the Australian Open final four times.For years, Murray lived under the pressure of intense expectations in Britain until he finally won Wimbledon in 2013 and ended a 77-year drought for British men. He had to beat Novak Djokovic to clinch that title.Djokovic is now making Murrays life very difficult in Australia.On Sunday, the No. 1-ranked Djokovic beat Murray 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0 to win his fifth Australian Open title and once again relegated Murray to the role of runner-up. Murray lost twice before to Djokovic at Melbourne Park in 2011 and 2013, and to Roger Federer in 2010.Murray stood stone-faced at the trophy ceremony beside an exuberant Djokovic inside Rod Laver Arena, with the 76-year-old Rod Laver himself sitting in the stands, and again hoisted the runner-ups silver plate.Ill try and come back next year and hopefully have a slightly different outcome in the final, Murray told the crowd, which had spent much of the match jumping to its feet and exploding in cheers at the end of intensely athletic rallies.On a bright note for Murray, who entered the tournament ranked sixth, he will return to the No. 4 ranking and rejoin the so-called Big Four of mens tennis alongside Djokovic, No. 2 Roger Federer and No. 3 Rafael Nadal.His performance showed that he is in excellent physical shape, as was Djokovicmost of the time.The reason I lost the match was not a physical thing, Murray said.At times in the first half of the match, Djokovic stumbled on the court and appeared to be limping. He also received treatment on his right thumb. In the third set, Djokovic appeared to be cramping, Murray said.The third set was frustrating because I got a bit distracted when he, like fell on the ground after a couple of shots, Murray said.After struggling with apparent injury, Djokovic came back to win 12 of the last 13 games.He was moving unbelievable at the end of the third set, sliding and chasing everything down, Murray said. If someone is cramping in the final of a Slam, with such a long way to go, youre feeling pretty good about yourself. Maybe I dropped off for 10, 15 minutes there, and he got back into it.At Murrays post-match news conference, he was repeatedly asked if he thought his opponents stumbling was a deliberate tactic.I dont know, Murray paused. I dont know... I would hope that wouldnt be the case.Djokovic later said he wasnt cramping but went through a roughly 20-minute crisis after too many long, exhausting rallies.I was just weak. I went through a physical crisis, Djokovic said, finding himself on the defensive after winning his fifth Australian Open title.Djokovic shrugged when asked about Murrays loss of focus. In a match like this a lot of emotions go through, a lot of tension. Its not easy to keep the concentration 100 percent all the way through.Despite the loss, Murray said he felt upbeat about his physical condition and a new level of confidence and calm during matches.Obviously I would have liked to have won today, but you cant win all of them, unfortunately, Murray said. Novak has won five times here now.Theres no disgrace obviously in losing to him. So yeah, a lot of positives for me to take from it.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN SCENE: Expletive warning at Murray final

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MELBOURNE, Australia: (AP) - There was a chance the Australian Open mens final could contain explicit language, and so came the warning.Andy Murrays fiancee, Kim Sears, dressed for Sundays final in an oversized T-shirt with a message that poked fun at the widespread attention paid to her use of colorful language during Murrays semifinal.Videos of her apparent expletive-laden outburst during Murrays win over Tomas Berdych on Thursday went viral online and were then picked apart by the British press which tried to read Sears lips to analyze exactly what she had said.Rather than shy away from the issue, Sears T-shirt for the final showed a sense of humor. It read: Parental Advisory Explicit Content.Murray, who is no stranger to outbursts on the court, defended his finacee after the semifinal by saying the match had been tense.In the heat of the moment you can say stuff that you regret, he said when asked about Sears use of some Angle-Saxon adjectives.Sundays final against No. 1 Novak Djokovic was tense, too. Murray lost 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0, becoming the only man in the Open Era to lose four finals at the Australian Open.Cameras panned several times to Sears, who was on her best behavior.Murray, on the other hand, threw his racket and shouted at himself between points with words that are not fit for print. Occasionally he muffled his language by screaming into a towel.

Hungarians protest against premier's dealings with Putin

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BUDAPEST, Hungary: (AP) - Thousands of protesters in Budapest are demanding the ouster of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans government a day before a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.Around 3,000 people attended the rally Sunday, which organizer Balazs Gulyas said was meant to show that the majority of the country does not support (Orbans) policies going closer to Vladimir Putin.Orbans dealings with Moscow, including an agreement for Russia to build new reactors at Hungarys nuclear power plant and a loan of 10 billion euros ($11.3 billion) to help finance the project, are expected to be on the agenda at Mondays meeting between the Hungarian and German leaders.Protester Zsuzsa Cegledi complained about corruption, and how everything is winding up in the pockets of Orban and his entourage.

US toddler wounds both parents with 1 shot from handgun

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ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: (AP) - A 3-year-old boy found a handgun in his mothers purse and fired just one shot that wounded both his parents at an Albuquerque motel on Saturday, police said.According to investigators, the toddler apparently reached for an iPod but found the loaded weapon. Police believe the shooting to be accidental.The bullet first struck his father in the buttock and then hit the right shoulder of his mother, who is eight months pregnant, police said. His 2-year-old sister was present but unhurt.Both injuries are non-life threatening, authorities said.Justin Reynolds told KOB-TV that he and his girlfriend, Monique Villescas, were getting ready to order pizza when the toddler fired the shot.It was like if I was to get up, shake your hand and sat back down. Thats how fast it happened, Reynolds said. All of a sudden we heard a gun go off and the next minute I realized my girlfriend was bleeding. Then, I sat down and realized I was shot, too.Reynolds said he called the emergency dispatcher and grabbed some towels to try to stop her bleeding.I was more worried about my girlfriend than myself and anything else that was going on. And my son because I didnt know if he had shot himself or not, said Reynolds. He was shocked and crying. It was traumatizing.Police said in a statement that the father was treated and released, while the mother was hospitalized in stable condition.This case will be forwarded to the DAs office and pending charges of felony criminal negligence will be reviewed on both parents, Albuquerque police spokesman Simon Drobik said.The Albuquerque Journal reports that the family was living in a room at the Americas Best Value Inn where the shooting occurred.Police said child care officials are taking care of the children.Jonathan Hutson, a spokesman for the Washington-based Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said the shooting should serve as a reminder to all parents to keep guns locked away securely.

Yemen rebels give politicians 3 days to fill power vacuum

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SANAA, Yemen: (AP) - Rebels who control Yemens capital have given a three-day ultimatum for political forces to fill a power vacuum, otherwise they will take over themselves, they said Sunday.The rebels, known as Houthis, announced the decision on their al-Masirah television station, as the final statement from a political summit they have been holding in a sports stadium since Friday to organize a peaceful transfer of power.Impoverished Yemen, home to a formidable al-Qaida affiliate, has been leaderless since Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi resigned the presidency last month after the Houthis pressured him for a greater share of power and besieged his home.A day earlier, an official close to Hadi said he would not reconsider his resignation, despite pressure for him to do so by the Houthis, who he said are holding him at gunpoint. They have kept him under de facto house arrest since earlier this month.The Houthis control all major government buildings in Sanaa, as well as a number of key military facilities including the headquarters of the paramilitary special forces and air force.A main movement representing southerners has already withdrawn from a U.N. sponsored dialogue with the Houthis, calling them absurd and demanding that the rebels release Hadi and allow the countrys parliament to convene normally.Later in the day, armed Houthis, who have controlled Sanaa since September, broke up a protest against them at the citys main university, detaining several people. They hold around a dozen activists in the capital, after releasing some two dozen others in recent days.In the southern city of Ibb, witnesses said two men on a motorcycle shot dead a Houthi leader, Abdullah al-Ayani. They declined to give their names for fear of retribution.The governor of the southern port city of Aden said in a statement that he rejected any calls for separatism or sectarianism.

Providing petrol at cheapest rates in the region: Pervaiz Rashid

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ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid said that Pakistan is providing petrol at the cheapest rates in the region and though the government could have earned Rs. 40 billion more by selling it at higher rates, it has decided to pass the benefits of reduction in oil prices on to the masses, reported Dunya News.Talking at a press conference on Sunday in Islamabad, Pervaiz Rashid said that when Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) took over the government in 2013, petrol was Rs. 108 per liter. “Now the price is Rs. 70 per liter”, he added.Information Minister said that the government wants to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He said that establishment of the anti-terror force was part of the same policy.Rashid said that gas crisis will be reigned in during 2015. He said that the overseas Pakistanis believed in the leadership of PM Nawaz. “Foreign investment has increased by 19 percent and economic indicators are also improving”, he told.

Rangers' claim regarding killing of 'Sheraz Comrade' proven wrong

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KARACHI: (Dunya News) – The Rangers’ claim regarding killing of Lyari gang war suspect Sheraz Comrade has been proven wrong as the man who was killed in the encounter near Maleer Lake earlier on Sunday was Sheraz Ibrahim aka Sheraz Comrade ‘Junior’, reported Dunya News.Rangers’ spokesperson had earlier claimed that highly wanted suspects of Lyari gang war Sheraz Comrade, Akbar Maleeri, Khalid Lashari, Gulab Hassan aka Peeru and Yousaf Pathan were murdered. These suspects were wanted in several heinous cases including murder and terrorism. Spokesperson also told that Sheraz Comrade belonging to Baba Ladla Group was involved in over 200 cases. Sindh government had also set prize money on Sheraz Comrade’s arrest.However, the claim proved wrong when postmortem of the dead bodies was carried out. The dead Sheraz Comrade is Sheraz Comrade Junior actually, who belonged to Suhaila Dada Group.Situation is strained in various areas of Lyari including Kalakot and Baghdadi after the death of gang war suspects.

Truck gets out of control, breaks into house, kills 2 kids in Lahore

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LAHORE: (Dunya News) – In a terrible accident on Sunday, a truck went out of control in Malipura, Shafiqabad area of Lahore killing two kids by breaking into a house after blowing its wall down. 8-year-old Sher Ali and 1-year-old Hassan died on the sport while injured Fahd has been shifted to the hospital, Dunya News reported.Driver fled the scene leaving the truck there. Relatives of the deceased kids blocked the Bund Road as a protest and jammed the traffic causing problems for the citizens.Taking notice of the issue, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has ordered immediate arrest of the truck driver and has expressed grief over the demise of the innocent kids.

Biggest fraud in Pakistan's history unearthed

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LAHORE: (Dunya News) – The biggest fraud in the history of Pakistan has been unearthed by Dunya News that reveals that several of the oil wells in Pakistan have been emptied in the name of test production. Oil and gas worth Rs. 134 billion have been sold illegally during the last three years while two companies named as OMV and Mole have sold oil and gas worth Rs. 40 billion in 2014 alone.Billions earned in the name of gas development surcharge and petroleum levy have also been eaten up. Rs. 48 billion out of these 134 billion were recovered but 86 billion rupees have already been eaten up by the companies.According to Dunya News investigation, some of the companies which got oil exploration licenses did not even dig a single well in during last ten years. Dunya News has obtained the list of 40 companies that are involved in this scandal.According to the report, one of the companies did not give any account of the Rs. 4.19 billion that it received in the name of petroleum levy. Audit report and other important documents in this regard have been obtained.Both the governmental gas companies are also involved in these mass irregularities.

Ready for punishment if proven part of 'London Plan': Ch Sarwar

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LAHORE: (Dunya News) – Former Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has said that he will readily accept punishment even if he gets proven part of ‘London Plan’ after five years. He said that he will not be accepting citizenship of any other country and will always be a Pakistani citizen, reported Dunya News.Talking to media on Sunday in Lahore, Sarwar said that he thoroughly considered the pros and cons before resigning. He said that all the issues that he highlighted in his resignation speech were real. He said that the rumors about him joining Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) were false and baseless. He also said that he never joined Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N). “I am on good terms with leaders of all the political parties”, he said. “I don’t want to stain my relationship with PML-N”, he added.Responding to a question, Chaudhry Sarwar said that he will be ready for any punishment if proven part of ‘London Plan’. He said that he wanted the matters to be resolved through negotiations.Ex Governor Punjab said that he was a Pakistani citizen and will not accept citizenship of any other country. “I will return to Pakistan and will take active part in politics upon my return”, he said.He said that the people of Pakistan were brave and oppressed. “Things will improve with the devolution of power”, he opined. Chaudhry Sarwar said that the powers should not be limited to a few people only. “5 percent of the population is controlling the remaining 95 percent”, he said. He said that the terror-stricken country could not afford collision of political parties. Things will only improve once the powers are devolved to common people.Talking about the land mafia, Chaudhry Sarwar said that every third Pakistani was a victim of land mafia. “Not only should the land be awarded to its real owners but the land-grabbers should be forced to pay the rent to them as well for the time period during which they kept the land occupied”, he added.Sarwar said that the culprits of Model Town tragedy must be brought to the book.

Indian PM Modi to visit China in May: foreign minister

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NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China in May, the foreign minister said Sunday during her own three-day visit to Beijing.Mr. Modi is going to come in May. I will give them dates today. This is a preparatory visit, Sushma Swaraj told Indian reporters in Beijing, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.Swaraj is holding three-way talks with her Chinese and Russian counterparts during the trip, her first official visit since she took office last year.US president Barack Obama last week paid a high-profile visit to India aimed at bolstering ties between the two countries, which share an interest in curbing Chinas growing regional influence.Although neither side mentioned China by name during Obamas three-day visit, the US president welcomed what he called a greater role for India in the Asia-Pacific and said freedom of navigation in the region must be upheld.Beijing claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea.Modi is widely seen as taking a more assertive line on China than the previous government.But experts say he will be careful not to alienate China, whose investment he desperately needs as he tries to boost Indias economy.PTI said Chinese President Xi Jinping was expected to take Modi to his home province of Shaanxi to repay the hospitality he received in the Indian premiers home state last September.

British mosques hold open day after Paris attacks

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LONDON (AFP) - Some 20 mosques in Britain were opening their doors to the public Sunday in an unprecedented gesture of reassurance following last months Islamist attacks in Paris.Visitors will be served tea and cakes by members of the mosque community who will answer questions about Islam, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) umbrella group which is organising the initiative said in a statement.Participating mosques include Finsbury Park in north London, where Abu Hamza -- jailed in the US last month for the deadly kidnapping of Western tourists in Yemen plus terrorism offences -- was once imam.The Finsbury Park Mosque has since undergone a change of leadership and ethos and now stresses community relations and interfaith dialogue.But in the wake of the Paris attacks which killed 17 people, it has received a string of threatening letters and emails, its secretary-general, Mohammed Kozbar, told Sky News television recently.Prime Minister David Camerons government sent a letter to Muslim leaders following the Paris attacks urging them to explain and demonstrate how faith can be part of British identity and suggesting there was more work to do in fighting extremism.This prompted an angry response from the MCB, which questioned whether the government was aligning itself with the far-right by suggesting that Muslims were inherently apart from British society.Around five percent of people in England and Wales are Muslim, according to a 2011 census, and there are around 1,700 mosques across Britain.
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