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Weekend Independent

Friday, 17 February 2012

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China Calls for Dialogue Regarding Syria

China wants an immediate halt to the spiraling bloodshed in Syria and an "inclusive dialogue" between the Syrian government and opposition protesters, an official said.
"We are following closely the situation in Syria and we hope that the violent activities can be put to an immediate stop," said Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, who is accompanying Vice President Xi Jinping on a US visit. "We hope that Syria can initiate an inclusive dialogue to solve all the problems it faces."
China and Russia have faced a barrage of criticism for blocking a UN Security Council resolution condemning the bloody crackdown on protests in Syria, including from Arab nations with which Beijing normally has good ties.
Tiankai said China attaches "great importance to the role played by the Arab League in seeking a political solution to the Syrian issue."

Federal Cabinet Backs Pak PM

The Pakistani cabinet on Tuesday expressed “full confidence” in Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as he prepares to go on trial for contempt of court, which could cost him his job. “The cabinet unanimously applauded the conduct of the prime minister in the Supreme Court and reposed full confidence in his leadership,” his office said in a statement.
Gilani thanked the cabinet and said he was premier “due to the support of members of parliament, his cabinet colleagues and of the coalition partners”.
The prime minister was on Monday charged with contempt by the Supreme Court for refusing to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
He pleaded not guilty and the court adjourned until Feburary 22, the first step paving the way to a trial that could see him jailed for six months and disqualified from office.

Singer Whitney Houston Dies at 48

Whiney Houston who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday night. She was 48.
The Beverly Hills Police Department responded to an emergency call at the Beverly Hilton hotel Saturday, Lt. Mark Rosen of the Beverly Hills Police Department said.

India Says Man in Attack On U S Site Has Terror Tie

The main suspect in an attack this week ten years ago, outside an American diplomatic office in Calcutta has denied that he was the mastermind behind it and has contended that he falsely claimed responsibility in phone calls at the time to puff up his reputation as a gangster, officials said. But the suspect, Aftab Ansari, who won his reputation as a kidnapper, has told officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation that in 2000 and 2001 he gave substantial sums of money to Ahmed Omar Sheikh, a Muslim militant who is a suspect in the kidnapping of Daniel Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter.