Thursday 6 October 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Pakistan get day-night Test warm-up in Australia

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BRISBANE (AFP) - Pakistan will warm up for their first day-night Test against Australia with a match under lights in the tropical city of Cairns, Cricket Australia said Friday.The world number one Test team will play a Cricket Australia XI in Queenslands far north from December 8-10.The match will feature a pink ball and provide Pakistan with their major lead-up game to the first Test against Steve Smiths Australians at Brisbanes Gabba stadium from December 15-19.Day-night Tests using a pink ball are a central part of Australias home international schedule for 2016-17, which also includes hosting South Africa.It will be the first international match in Cairns since the resort town hosted Tests against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in 2003 and 2004.Cricket Australia head of operations Sean Cary said Cairns was an ideal venue to host the tour match.The lighting at Cazalys Stadium is very good and the overall playing conditions are first-class, he said.The pitch has had a very good reputation and we are confident it will provide a competitive environment.

Pattoki: 4 killed as goods train crashes into bus

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PATTOKI (Dunya News) – According to details, a goods train hit a bus near Landa Phattak area in Pattoki on early Friday morning, killing at least four people, Dunya News reported.At least 13 people were critically wounded in the accident. Rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the dead and injured to a nearby hospital.Note: This is an initial story and will be updated soon.

Our position on Kashmir hasn't changed: US

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WASHINGTON (Dunya News) – Briefing the newsmen in Washington on Thursday State Department spokesperson John Kirby said that United States position on Kashmir has not changed, Dunya News reported.John Kirby further said that the US wants to see the tensions that exist between Pakistan and India right now be brought down.He also said that we want to see a meaningful dialogue between the two countries to try to address these issues.Answering a question regarding Pakistan nuclear weapons, John Kirby said that we are confident that Pakistan has the security controls they need to have in place on their nuclear arsenal.

Karachi: 7 terrorists arrested in CTD raid

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Crackdown against criminal elements continues in Karachi as Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested seven terrorists during a raid in the city on Thursday, Dunya News reported.According to details, CTD personnel conducted a raid in North Karachi Sector 5-B during which the terrorists opened fire. The CTD personnel returned the fire and apprehended seven terrorists.According to CTD in charge, Umar Khattab, the arrested terrorists belonged to a banned organization. The CTD personnel also recovered huge cache of arms from them.The arrested terrorists were shifted to some undisclosed location for further investigation.

Football: Saudis deny Australia with late equaliser

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JEDDAH (AFP) - Saudi Arabias Nassir Al Shamrani scored late to deny Australia a crucial victory in Thursdays World Cup 2018 qualifier between the top two sides in Asian zone Group A.The entertaining 2-2 draw ensured both sides maintained their unbeaten start after three matches in the final round of qualifying for Russia.Shamrani struck in the 79th minute, sweeping home from close range just eight minutes after Tomi Juric had finished a well-constructed move to put the Socceroos on the verge of claiming victory.Shamrani was playing his first game for Saudi Arabia for 18 months.The fact he was the man who scored the equaliser would have been especially annoying for Australia as Shamrani was a central figure in an infamous confrontation between his club side Al Hilal against Western Sydney Wanderers during the 2014 AFC Champions League final.The home side, roared on by a partisan crowd of more than 51,000, could have even snatched victory in the closing minutes but were denied by a fine save from Australian goalkeeper, Matthew Ryan.Australia also had a chance to take all three points but the opportunity was spurned by Matthew Spiranovic.The match sprung to life early on when a fine Saudi move resulted in the home side taking the lead in the fifth minute.Taisir Al Jassim finished smartly from 10 yards after Yehya Al Shehri opened up the Australian defence to secure an early advantage for the Saudis. Australia overcame their poor start, gradually forcing their way back into the game but it took until the 45th minute for them to draw level.The equaliser came from a corner when Trent Sainsbury glanced home.The result leaves Ange Postecoglous team top of the group with seven points, the same number as the Saudis, but with a better goal difference.Close behind on six points are Japan who narrowly beat Iraq 2-1 earlier in the day, and the United Arab Emirates who defeated Thailand 3-1.Thursdays results set up an intriguing round of matches next week when Australia play Japan and the Saudis, now managed by Bert Van Marwijk, take on the UAE.The top two sides from the group automatically qualify for the finals in Russia, while the team which finishes third will head to a play-off.

Golf: Noren leads Dunhill with record-equalling round

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CARNOUSTIE (AFP) - Alex Noren continued his fondness for Scottish links golf in equalling the Carnoustie course record on the opening day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday.The 34-year-old Swede joined nine other players in the past 22 years to have recorded an eight-under par 64 at Carnoustie.It handed Noren a one-stroke lead in the bright but windy conditions, and on one of three host venues this week.The reigning Scottish Open champion capped his effort in birding four of his closing five holes.There was a good few mistakes but it was my lucky day and it just seems that I play well in Scotland, so its nice to come off the course here with a 64, he said.In July, Noren captured a fifth European Tour title in sealing victory in the Scottish Open on the Castle Stuart links course to the east of Inverness.Noren recorded just 24 putts on the course that last played host to the British Open in 2007 when the Swede failed to qualify.Ive played plenty of rounds in the Dunhill here at Carnoustie but never in The Open, so hopefully when The Open returns here I will qualify, he said.The Old Course at St. Andrews is beautiful but then I like all the Scottish links venues we play.Englands Ross Fisher is in second place with a seven under par 65 at Kingsbarns to the east of St. Andrews.Fisher, 35, was one under par after 11 holes but then played the closing seven in six under par and starting with an eagle three at his 12th hole.Spains Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Thomas Pieters of Belgium were the best of the seven European Ryder Cup players competing this week with rounds of 70 at Carnoustie.And unlike the pro-USA atmosphere at the Ryder Cup, Pieters was delighted to enjoy home support.Its great to be back in Europe as everybody is on my side here so that nice, he said.I had an interesting start. Im still very tired mentally but I started off with a drive at the 10th and then shanked my 4-iron but managed to get up-and-down from a hundred yards for a par.So it was a weird way to open the championship.Masters champion Danny Willett was two over after just three holes before signing for a one over par 73 and also at Carnoustie.It was good out there as we had nice little following all day, said Willett.

Tennis: Roland Garros work halted again -- after three days

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PARIS (AFP) - The expansion of Roland Garros, the historic but cramped home of the French Open, suffered a new legal blow Thursday when the Paris High Court ordered a halt to building work.In the latest setback to the long-running saga involving the 400-million-euro ($448 million) redevelopment of the site in the plush western sector of Paris, the Tribunal de Grande Instance (TGI) ordered an interim suspension.It came just three days after a different court had given the green light.On Monday, the French Conseil dEtat (Council of State) overturned a March ruling that blocked development of a new 5,000-seat stadium in the Serres dAuteuil due to protests over the impact the work would have on the botanical gardens historic greenhouses which date back to the 19th century.It was the heirs of the architect of the greenhouses, Jean-Camille Formige, who successfully sought the latest stoppage to the work with the TGI ruling that the Council of State had breached an earlier legal judgement.Our goal is to block the works. If everything is destroyed, our actions have no sense, Philippe Zagury, the lawyer of the Formige descendents, told AFP.Since Monday, work had already started on some demolition as well as tree-felling at the Serres dAuteuil.Part of the redevelopment of Roland Garros will also see a roof built on the central Court Philippe Chatrier but that is not expected to be finished before 2020.The sports other three Grand Slam events -- Wimbledon and the US and Australian Opens -- all have covered stadiums.The French Tennis Federation reacted angrily to the latest delay claiming in a statement the decision was taken in dubious circumstances and demanded an annulment of the latest legal decision.

Karachi: Gang war accused killed in encounter with Rangers

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, Rangers conducted an operation in Mir Naka area of Malir in Karachi on Thursday on a tip off that gang war accused area present in the area during which gang war accused opened fire at raiding party. Rangers personnel returned the fire as a result one gang war accused was killed and two other managed to escape.Sources said that the dead accused named Younus was member of Ustad Taju group of Lyari Gang war while two of his accomplices managed to escape from the scene.Separately, a gang war accused was arrested in injured condition after an encounter with Rangers in Baghdadi area. A Rangers spokesman said that the arrested person was involved in several cases of extortion.On the other hand, police carried out a search operation in areas near Cantt Station and apprehended at least 11 suspects. The arrested persons were shifted to police station for further investigation.

Football: De Rossi saves outclassed Italy against Spain

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TURIN, Italy (AFP) - Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi levelled from the spot eight minutes from time as Italy grabbed a lucky point in a 1-1 World Cup 2018 qualifying draw with dominant Spain on Thursday.Italys 2-0 defeat of La Roja in the last 16 of the European Championships this year ended Spanish hopes of challenging for a record third consecutive title.But only three months on, and in spite of failing to win, the former world champions appear to be back with a bang.Italy were outclassed throughout a one-sided performance at Juventus Stadium, where Spain enjoyed 77 percent possession in the opening half.It took only 10 minutes of the second half for the Azzurri defence to buckle, keeper Gianluigi Buffon rushing out to close down Vitolo when he ran on to Sergio Busquets through ball and completely missed it.Vitolo slid the ball into an empty net on 55 minutes but spurned a great chance to put the match beyond reach soon after.Spain were fully deserving of victory, but when Inter Milan striker Eder fell under slight contact by Sergio Ramos following a great low cross by second-half substitute Andrea Belotti, Italy were awarded a penalty.De Rossi stepped up to send Manchester United keeper David De Gea the wrong way.Italy spurned a great chance to snatch the win in the end when Ciro Immobile, a late and effective substitute for the ineffective Graziano Pelle, flashed a drive across the goalmouth that found no takers.The result means Italy protected their record of never losing a World Cup qualifier at home.Only the group winners automatically qualify for the finals in Russia and with Albania, Israel, Macedonia and Liechtenstein included Italy are expected to battle Spain for top spot.On this performance, the Azzurri will be up against it when they face Spain away next year.Jelun Lopeteguis side dominated in the opening half, midfield maestro Andres Iniesta testing Buffon with a shot after waltzing across the area to complete a one-two with Manchester City forward David Silva.It took 11 minutes to come, but in that time Spain had enjoyed 90 percent of the possession. By the end of the half, Italy had enjoyed just 23 percewt possession and 122 passes to Spains 375.Silva and Diego Costa were a constant threat in and around the Italy area, although Spains best chance of the opening half came from Gerard Pique.The Barcelona centre-back was yards from goal when Dani Carvajals cross found Sergio Ramos at the back post, but after he nodded on for Pique the big defender headed straight at Buffon.It took Italy until the 40th minute to elicit a positive roar from the crowd, Leonardo Bonuccis interception on the edge of the area sending Eder on his way up the left flank before he was closed down.Only 10 minutes after the restart, Vitolo ran on to Busquets superbly-weighted through ball to beat the onrushing Buffon. It was a timely reminder that Buffons time as Italys number one, as he admitted Wednesday, is running out.The introduction of Immobile made a huge difference for the hosts, the Lazio forward injecting a much-needed dose of pace and creativity into a wilting attack.But Immobile slid in late when Eder offloaded to the right after being set up by Alessandro Florenzi.Vitolo should have doubled Spains lead on 69 minutes when he was sent free but with three defenders in hot pursuit the 26-year-old fired inches wide of Buffons far post from just inside the area.Italy claims for a penalty on 80 minutes were initially waved away by referee Felix Brych, but after consultation with his official, the German pointed to the spot.De Rossis penalty did the trick, but after a poor performance has left coach Giam Pietro with more questions than answers.

Security Council backs Portugal's Guterres as UN chief

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The Security Council on Thursday unanimously backed Antonio Guterres, the former prime minister of Portugal who was the UNs refugee chief for a decade, to be the next secretary-general.The 15 council members adopted a resolution formally presenting Guterres as their choice to be the worlds new diplomat-in-chief and requesting that the General Assembly endorse him.Applause rang out during the closed-door meeting as the council recommended Guterres for a five-year term from January 1, diplomats at the session told AFP.Speaking in Lisbon after the vote, Guterres expressed gratitude and pledged to work with humility to serve those that are most vulnerable in the world.To describe what I feel at the present moment two words are sufficient: gratitude and humility, he said in remarks delivered in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.The 67-year-old politician pledge to serve especially those that are most vulnerable: the victims of conflict, of terrorism, the victims of the violation of rights, the victims of poverty and injustices.The General Assemblys 193 member-states are set to vote next Thursday on endorsing Guterres as the successor to Ban Ki-moon, the former South Korean foreign minister who steps down after two five-year terms on December 31.Guterres will become the ninth secretary-general of the United Nations, but the first who has served as a former head of government.The unanimous backing followed an informal vote on Wednesday during which 13 of the 15 members supported his candidacy and none of the five veto-holding permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States --blocked him.Speaking in Rome, Ban hailed Guterres as a superb choice, saying that his wide knowledge of world affairs and lively intellect will serve him well in leading the UN in a critical period.The outcome however confounded some UN diplomats who did not expect such an outspoken candidate with strong political experience to win support from the five permanent council members.Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, this months council president, told reporters after the vote that Guterres was a great choice.As UN high commissioner for refugees, a post he held until December, Guterres traveled the world and saw some of the most gruesome conflicts we have to deal with, he said.Churkin cited his experience as prime minister and described him as a person who talks to everybody, speaks his mind, a very outgoing, open person.Guterres will inherit some of the most complicated challenges to peace, security, human rights and development that the world has known, said US Ambassador Samantha Power The war in Syria, now its sixth year, has raged on as the council has been bogged down in deep divisions between Russia, which backs President Bashar al-Assad, and Western powers supporting opposition rebels.With a record 65 million people displaced globally, the United Nations has been struggling to provide humanitarian aid and ensure that the rights of refugees are protected.Peacekeeping operations, at the heart of the United Nationss mandate, have been clouded by a string of allegations of sexual abuse by the blue helmets sent to protect civilians in Africa.Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko said Guterres must return leadership to the United Nations to address so many urgent crises.The role of the UN has never been as important as it is today and for that Mr Guterres is the right leader, said Ambassador Francois Delattre of France, which strongly backed Guterres throughout his campaign.Guterres, a socialist who served as Portuguese prime minister from 1995 to 2002, won the number-one spot in all of the informal votes held by the Security Council.There were 13 candidates in the race, two of whom dropped out, including seven women who stepped into the fray amid calls from civil society and some countries for a woman to take the top post for the first time, after eight men.Guterres has promised to ensure gender parity at the United Nations -- a tall order given that women currently hold only 25 percent of its senior leadership positions.Expectations are that a woman will be appointed to be the UNs number two, its deputy secretary-general.With the arrival of a new secretary-general, the world body is headed for a shakeup of its top positions, which have traditionally been held by nationals from the powerful countries on the Security Council.Churkin on Thursday addressed speculation that Russia had traded its support for Guterres in exchange for a Russian-backed appointee to a plum post, possibly as head of the UNs political affairs department.There were no under-the-table deals, he said. There were questions asked. No direct promises given.

England to host their first day/night Test against West Indies

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LONDON (AFP) - Edgbaston will host the first day/night Test ever staged in the United Kingdom when England face the West Indies in Birmingham in August next year, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced Wednesday.England are now in line to become the third nation to stage a five-day Test under floodlights, following Australias day/night Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last year and with Pakistan due to play the West Indies in a day/night Test in the United Arab Emirates next week.A pink ball will be used, with players wearing traditional whites rather than coloured clothing. The aim, as with all floodlit matches, is to encourage those who are at work during the day to attend.Subject to confirmation from the International Cricket Council (ICC), the August 17-21 match between England and the West Indies, the first of a three-Test series, will have playing hours of 2:00pm-9:00pm local (1300-2000 GMT), rather than the English standard Test times of 11:00am-6:00pm (1000-1700 GMT).Test matches in England, unlike many countries, are generally well supported and there are concerns the English climate may not be conducive to spectators sitting out to watch for several hours late in the day.Given that the English cricket season also coincides with the UKs longest daylight hours, questions have also been raised about whether theres much to be gained from having a floodlit Test in the country. But ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said in a board statement issued Thursday: Were excited by the prospect of staging our first ever day/night Test match.Its a great opportunity to attract more fans to the game and see how staging Test cricket in the afternoon and evening fits with working patterns and modern lifestyles, whilst maintaining the deep tradition of Test match cricket.We think it can help attract different fans and families to Test cricket and the innovation will certainly put the five-day game under the spotlight in a very busy summer for the game.He added: A number of Test nations are looking at day/night Tests as a way of building further interest in our most traditional format. Were glad to be supporting that and adding to the understanding of how this might develop in different countries.Our partners can also see the clear opportunity and have been supportive as we build towards this big occasion next AugustWarwickshire chief executive Neil Snowball added: Edgbaston staged the UKs first day/night domestic match in 1997 and has a great history of hosting and selling out some of the biggest fixtures in the game. In turn, the Edgbaston atmosphere and match day experience has become iconic, with England having a fantastic record of victories here.Marking our 50th Test anniversary with a game of this magnitude will be a great occasion.Thursdays announcement follows a successful pink ball trial match between Warwickshire and Worcestershires 2nd XIs at Edgbaston in August and previous use of a pink ball in the traditional English season curtain-raiser between MCC and the champion county.Next Augusts match will also mean England have experience of a day/night Test should at least one of the fixtures in the 2017/18 Ashes in Australia be staged under lights. In order to help the West Indies prepare, their three-day tour game against Derbyshire in Derby from August 11-13 will be played under floodlights with a pink ball.

Syria's Assad says 'no option' but to expel rebels from Aleppo

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DAMASCUS (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday warned rebels in Aleppo that unless they agreed to a deal with the government, his forces would have no option but to expel them from the city.The Syrian leader made the comments in an interview with Danish broadcaster TV2 aired two weeks after his forces announced an all-out offensive for second city Aleppo.UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura warned on Thursday that eastern parts of Aleppo could be totally destroyed before the years end.In his interview, Assad said the best option for Aleppo would be reconciliations (like) in other areas, referring to towns and districts where opposition groups had agreed to local truces with the regime.Otherwise, he said, he would continue the fight with the rebels till they leave Aleppo.... Theres no other option.Syrias armed forces announced a large-scale assault on rebel territory in eastern parts of Aleppo on September 22.Since then, government troops backed by Syrian and Russian warplanes have chipped away at opposition territory inside the city and on its outskirts.The Syrian military said late Wednesday it would reduce air strikes on rebel territory to allow civilians in the city to flee.The aerial component of Assads campaign had come under fierce international scrutiny in recent days, particularly after a series of air strikes on hospitals in opposition-held quarters.On Monday, the largest hospital in Aleppos east was completely destroyed in bombardment.But Assad denied his forces deliberately target medical infrastructure or restricted aid to civilians in the city.We never prevented any medical supply or food supply or any other thing from entering east Aleppo. Theres no embargo, if thats what you mean, he said in the interview.As a government, we dont have a policy to destroy hospitals or schools or any such facility, he said, adding that such an attack would be like shooting ourselves in the foot because it would boost support for anti-regime groups.But Assad also denied any non-jihadist rebel groups even existed in Syria.Do you know the unicorn, the animal thats like a horse, has a long horn? Its a myth. And the moderate opposition is a myth.

UN envoy warns east Aleppo faces total destruction

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BEIRUT (AFP) - The UNs Syria envoy Thursday warned east Aleppo faces total destruction, as government forces made their biggest gains in years against rebels inside the opposition-held part of the battleground city.Staffan de Mistura said eastern Aleppo could be totally destroyed by years end, and called on the government to halt strikes if jihadist fighters left the city, even offering to escort them out himself.The envoy said eastern Aleppo risked joining the ranks of the 20th centurys worst tragedies including the Srebrenica massacre and the Rwandan genocide.His plea comes two weeks into an all-out government assault on opposition parts of Aleppo following the collapse of a short-lived truce negotiated by Russia and the United States. Diplomats said the UN Security Council would hold an emergency meeting on Syria Friday, at the request of Russia, with De Mistura expected to brief the council via videoconference from Geneva at 1400 GMT.President Bashar al-Assad, meanwhile, warned rebels in Aleppo that unless they agreed to a deal with the government, his forces would have no option but to expel them from the city.Loyalists have made significant advances in the Bustan al-Basha district near the centre of Aleppo, divided between government fighters in the west and rebels in the east, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said it was the biggest and most significant advance inside the city since 2013.The offensive by Assads forces has seen rebel-held areas pounded relentlessly with air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery fire that the Observatory says have killed more than 270 people.On Wednesday, the army said in a surprise announcement it would reduce its bombardment to allow civilians who want to leave to reach safe areas.Anyone who does not take advantage of the opportunity to lay down their arms or leave will meet their inevitable fate, it said.The Observatory reported fewer air strikes but heavy clashes on several fronts including Bustan al-Basha on Thursday, with the army now controlling key vantage points and half the neighbourhood.Regime forces also seized buildings on the edges of the nearby Sakhur district, it added.And 11 people were killed in rebel rocket fire on the government-controlled district of Al-Jamiliyeh, the Observatory said.State news agency SANA earlier said at least eight people were killed and dozens wounded there.Analysts dismissed the army announcement.The regime and its allies have made a decision to conquer as much of eastern Aleppo as possible and theyre moving ahead on that, said Emile Hokayem of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.I think such announcements are actually marginal. They are a PR gimmick.Syria expert Thomas Pierret said the move could be intended to undercut growing international pressure for action over the plight of civilians in east Aleppo.The bombardment has damaged or destroyed several hospitals, including the largest facility serving the more than 250,000 remaining residents, who have been under near-continuous siege since mid-July.A temporary halt or reduction of bombings could prevent interventionists from gaining further influence, said Pierret, a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. Washington said this week it was suspending talks with Moscow on Syria over Russias involvement in the Aleppo assault.But the US acknowledged Secretary of State John Kerry had called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss Syria despite the announcement.Moscow blames Washington for the truces collapse and has shown no signs of easing its support for Assad.De Mistura warned the ongoing assault would have dire consequences: In maximum two months, two-and-a-half months the city of eastern Aleppo may be totally destroyed.He urged fighters from the former Al-Nusra Front, now known as Fateh al-Sham Front after breaking with Al-Qaeda, to leave Aleppo under a deal to halt the regimes attack on the city.If you decide to leave with dignity... I am personally ready to physically accompany you, said the envoy.Russia said it was ready to work on a French-drafted UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Aleppo.More than 300,000 people have been killed since the conflict began with fierce repression of anti-government protests in March 2011.It has since evolved into a complex multi-front war that has drawn in regional and international forces including, most recently, Turkey.Ankara launched an offensive on August 24, saying its forces and allied rebels would fight both the Islamic State group and Kurdish militia in northern Syria.Thursday, at least 29 rebels involved in Ankaras operation were killed in a blast claimed by IS at the Atme border crossing with Turkey, the Observatory said.

UN Security Council to meet Friday on Syria: diplomats

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Friday on Syria after a UN envoy warned that eastern Aleppo may be totally destroyed in the next few months by the Russian and Syrian air campaign.Russia requested the meeting to hear from UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, who will brief the council via videoconference from Geneva at 1400 GMT, diplomats said.De Mistura earlier took aim at Russia, suggesting that Moscow was indiscriminately bombing a city with hundreds of thousands of civilians to flush out just a few hundred jihadists.We are talking about 900 people, basically, who are becoming the main reason for which there is 275,000 people actually being attacked, said de Mistura.Would this, he asked, be the excuse for the destruction of the city?In maximum two months, two-and-a-half months, the city of eastern Aleppo may be totally destroyed, he told reporters.The envoy urged fighters from the former Al-Nusra Front -- which renamed itself Fateh al-Sham Front after breaking with Al-Qaeda -- to leave Aleppo under a deal to halt the regimes attacks on the city.If you decide to leave with dignity... I am personally ready to physically accompany you, he said.Security Council members were discussing a French-drafted UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Aleppo.After holding talks in Moscow on the proposal, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will head to Washington on Friday to discuss the measure, which calls for ending all flights over Aleppo.French Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters that we have a strong determination to go to a vote on the draft resolution, which could lead Russia to use its veto power as a permanent member of the council.

Thousands of Afghans flee fighting in Kunduz

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KABUL (AFP) - Thousands of Afghan civilians have fled the northern city of Kunduz to escape days of fighting between the Taliban and government forces, with dozens arriving daily in Kabul with little more than the clothes on their backs, recounting stories of horror.The insurgents launched an assault on Kunduz on Monday, triggering intense fighting with Afghan forces backed by NATO and sending frightened residents fleeing to other cities including the capital.Those who arrive in Kabul after a journey in an overcrowded taxi head for the lawn outside parliament, where their children were shivering in the dark late Thursday after their hasty departure.Abdullah paid 10,000 afghanis (more than $150), a sum equivalent to the monthly salary of a senior police officer, for a taxi to ferry his family to Kabul.He had left Kunduz in September 2015 after a previous attack on the strategic northern city close to the border with Tajikistan.Mohammed also arrived with seven relatives. The situation is terrible. We couldnt even take clothes. There was a barrage of rockets, shelling, he said.Up to 10,000 civilians have fled Kunduz, the UN said Thursday, to escape fighting which was ongoing despite government claims that Afghan forces had retaken the city on Monday night.The government on Monday said Afghan forces had repelled the assault but Taliban reinforcements had apparently arrived and fighting flared up even in the city centre, according to Mohammed, who managed to leave on Wednesday morning.Like the other men around him, he received hourly calls from relatives still in Kunduz who reported continuing rocket attacks in the streets of the city centre.Kunduz is on fire, said one young woman in a burqa, Parmin, her voice shaking with indignation. The Taliban are there destroying and burning everything. There is a barrage of rockets and prices (of food) are rising. Its total chaos, she said. Everyone in town is trying to flee. The Taliban warned: If you leave your home you will be shot. They burned the homes of those who refused them shelter.A new convoy arrived as the night wore on. On the lawn outside parliament they are welcomed by Kunduz lawmaker Fatima Aziz.Mobile phone in hand, she takes hundreds of call from her constituents and negotiates a little support from compassionate businessmen to find shelter for the night and some food.It gets worse and worse every minute, she said. The Taliban are taking up positions in every house, every street.People are still trapped there and suffering a food shortage, but there is not enough transportation, even when the people can afford to pay up to 15,000 afghanis, a lifes savings.Aziz sought help from the minister for refugees, but he was in Brussels, she says, for a conference where international donors pledged $15.2 billion to Afghanistan for the next four years, hoping for peace in exchange.But the country is struggling to manage the flow of displaced people fleeing the proliferation of conflict across the country from north to south and in the east, and the insecurity that results.A total of more than 1.2 million displaced people, including 270,000 just since the beginning of the year, swell the basic population of major cities including Kabul.The OCHA said Thursday it was deeply concerned about large scale displacements as a result of the recent fighting in Kunduz city, which has been attacked by the Taliban for the second time in a year.Amnesty International also said the Afghan government and Taliban forces should urgently facilitate swift and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief into Kunduz, where thousands of civilians are trapped in increasingly dire conditions.It said the civilian hospital had run out of medical supplies and sustained rocket and gunfire attacks on Wednesday.The same hospital, then run by Medecins Sans Frontieres, was hit by a US air strike during the fighting in October last year, killing 42 people.
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