Woman jailed for shouting and screaming during sex

A WOMAN has been jailed for breaching court orders that she stop shouting and screaming during sex with her husband. 

Caroline Cartwright, 48, was remanded in custody until May 5 charged with three breaches of an Anti Social Behaviour Order which banned her from "making excessive noise" during sex anywhere in Britain. 

Houghton le Spring Magistrates' Court heard that police arrested her on April 18, on April 22 and again on April 26 after reports from neighbours she was flouting the ban with husband Steve. 

Cartwright was arrested yesterday and charged with the third breaching order offence. 

Prosecutor Claire Ward said neighbours had complained to police on three separate occasions about early morning noises of shouting, moaning, groaning and a bed banging against the wall coming from the Cartwrights' home. 

Accompanied by two dock officers, she spoke only to confirm her name, age and address and enter her not guilty pleas. 

Cartwright, whose husband sat in the public gallery, elected to be tried by jury and the case will be transferred to Newcastle Crown Court at a later date. 

A bail application from defence solicitor Peter Lothian was refused. 

During an earlier hearing, neighbours including one who was partially deaf said they had not enjoyed a solid night of sleep for two years because of the Cartwright's sexual encounters. 

After a series of complaints, the local council's environmental health department placed recording equipment in the flat next door to the couple's house in Tyne and Wear. In the subsequent 23 recordings that were made - through a soundproofed wall - and played to Sunderland magistrates, the sound of slapping and screaming was clearly audible. One neighbour said: "I heard sounds of a sexual nature, they were really loud, and there was a lot of moaning and groaning and screaming as if in pain. It wasn't just the woman, it came from both parties." 

North Korea: Ready to go to war with U.S., South Korea

This undated photo shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left,
with a senior military officer at an undisclosed location 

Seoul:  North Korea said it's ready to fight a war with the United States and South Korea, as the two allies kicked off their annual joint military drills Monday, according to state-run media. 

"Hundreds of thousands of troops are poised for a war carrying nuclear war equipment," North Korea's KCNA news agency reported, saying Pyongyang considers the drills to be practice for a preemptive strike on the North.

The international community has been negotiating with North Korea over its nuclear program for years.

The most recent talks between North Korea and the United States ended Friday with little visible progress. They were the first high-level talks since the death of North Korea's longtime leader, Kim Jong Il, in December and the subsequent transition of power to his youngest son, Kim Jong Un.

Kim's death threw into flux U.S. plans for renewed diplomacy with North Korea, including formal talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear program and possible resumption of U.S. food assistance.

The North Korea government was expected to suspend its uranium enrichment in exchange for food assistance as part of a deal that was to be announced around the time of Kim's death.

The annual Key Resolve military drills that began Monday involve 2,100 U.S. troops with their South Korean counterparts. Washington insists the exercises are defensive in nature and unrelated to any geopolitical events.

The current military drills are scheduled through March 9, with a second set of overlapping exercises beginning March 1 and running through the end of April.

South Korea and the United States regularly hold military drills, and just as often North Korea denounces them as a provocation.

KCNA reported Saturday that Kim Jong Un, the new North Korean leader, visited military units in the southwest of the country, including one that fired upon a South Korean island in November 2010, killing two civilians and two marines. North Korea said its forces were responding to a South Korean military drill in the area.

While visitng the troops, Kim Jong Un "ordered them to make a powerful retaliatory strike at the enemy, should the enemy intrude even 0.001 mm into the waters of the country where its sovereignty is exercised," KCNA reported. 

Facebook flooded with fury

KATHMANDU, MAR 18 -

As the outrage against the government’s decision to provide Rs 20 million to an Everest expedition to be led by Prakash Dahal intensified from all quarters, social networking sites Facebook and Twitter became the most vibrant spaces for popular frustration at the move.

Apart from annoyance over the stalled peace process and news of corruption, many observed the decision as yet another case signifying the “gradual decline in the so-called socialist principles” of the Maoist party.

While the country witnessed protest rallies throughout the day, Sushil Adhikari reacted by posting a line on his Facebook wall—it would be wise to dissolve the Constituent Assembly if climbing Everest were to ensure timely peace and constitution.

On a humorous note, referring to the recent super hit movie Loot, Kosmos Biswokarma, editor of Face To Face, an environment magazine, wrote, “Nischal Basnet, director of Loot, is planning a sequel called ‘Loot 2’ with Dr Baburam in the main role.”

The public also spilled its fury by recalling a number of incidents from the past when the government refused to provide funds even if the requests were worth heeding. Many recalled how the government had rejected cyclist Puskar Shah’s request for tax exemption while climbing the tallest peak last year.

Expressing his frustration, Shah himself wrote on Facebook, “This is the same country that had rejected me of support with just a bottle of drinking water when I was about to climb the Everest carrying flags of all the nations across globe.”

Some, on the networking sites, were found seeking connections with the filial relations of Prakash, who was given the grant. Referring to the pressure Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal could have put on the prime minister to okay the amount for his son, Saloja Dahal, commented on Facebook, “Only if my dad was a politician like Prachanda …” “I don’t believe this is happening in the party that claims to carry the communist agenda,” said Gopal Pandey, a shopkeeper at Baneshwor, who hails from Sarlahi. “These leaders are virtually looting the taxpayers’ money.”

Meanwhile, opposing the media reports “defaming” Prakash, his supporters also created a page on Facebook. The page, liked by 529 users until late Saturday evening, was filled with comments and posts that stated it was a conspiracy of opposition parties to defame Prakash.

Students protest decision

Sister organisations of two opposition parties, Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, staged demonstrations in various districts to protest the government’s decision to provide Rs 20 million to a UCPN (Maoist) team involving Prakash,

son of Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, to climb Mt Everest.

The UML-affiliated All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU), the NC-aligned Nepal Students’ Union and another student union took out a protest rally in Kohalpur, Banke. The rally starting from Pipal Chautara went through Kohalpur bazaar before converging at New Road, where the protesters burnt a portrait of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. Earlier, they had halted vehicular movement for one hour. They chanted anti-government slogans saying that the government had misused taxpayers’ money by providing a huge amount to the Everest expedition. They also demanded that the government roll back its decision immediately and punish those who okayed it.

Banke President of ANNFSU Surya Rokaya warned of a series of protests if the government did not revoke the decision. Bageshwori Multiple Campus Unit President Bhola Sharma accused the government of misusing state funds on unnecessary things.

In Dolakha, student unions affiliated with the NC and the UML rallied in Charikot against the government decision.

India Budget 2012 : Delhi pledges IRs 2.7b in grants to Nepal

KATHMANDU/NEW DELHI, MAR 18 -

India will give IRs 2.7 billion in grants to Nepal in 2012-13. This is what Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced on Friday while unveiling the budget for 2012-13.

New Delhi had given grants worth IRs 1.5 billion in 2011-12 and IRs 1.67 billion in 2010-11 to Nepal.

India’s proposed loans and grants to foreign governments amount to IRs 51.48 billion this year. In South Asia, Bhutan continues to top the list of countries receiving Indian grant. While Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are ahead of Nepal in terms of the Indian grants amount, Bangladesh and Maldives will receive relatively less amount than Nepal.

On concerns about the Indian budget’s incentives for agriculture that may impact Nepal’s exports and imports, experts here said the budget had no major policy shifts to make a big difference.

Given Nepal’s dependence on India, with over 60 percent of trade being done with the southern neighbour, the Indian budget is closely watched by Nepali policymakers and business community.

Nepal is basically concerned about Indian policies on agriculture, as Nepal’s agriculture is less competitive than India, and more facilities to Indian farmers mean Nepali farmers’ misery. Nepali farmers have always been suffering from the import of cheap Indian agriculture products through porous border between the two countries. “India has not increased direct subsidies to farmers, which is our concern,” said Rameshwor Khanal, economic advisor to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.  “However, a number of missions announced in the areas of horticulture to food processing may affect our agriculture sector.”

The Indian budget has announced a number plans to increase agriculture productivity, including National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Plm, National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology and National Horticulture Mission.

Besides these programmes, the budget also reduced customs duty on the import of agriculture machineries and other inputs to enhance productivity. Basic customs duty on sugarcane planters, root or tuber crop harvesting machines, weeders, and tillers has been slashed to 2.5 percent from 7.5 percent earlier. Customs duty on specified coffee plantation and processing machineries has been reduced to 5 percent from 7.5 percent.

Although the budget has announced slashing subsidies on petroleum products and fertilisers, it has made it clear that it would continue providing subsidies on food to enhance India’s food security situation. “More subsidies and benefits to Indian farmers may affect Nepali farmers’ interests at a time when Nepal is all set to remove agriculture development fee on imports,” said trade expert Ratnakar Adhikari.

Nepal has pledged to the World Trade Organisation that it would remove such a fee from the next year.

The Indian budget has raised standard excise duty from 10 percent to 12 percent. “As most of the goods imported from India, including vehicles and tobacco products among others, are subject to the increased excise duty, the price of imported goods may go up due to increased production cost,” said Khanal.

As no excise duty is imposed on goods imported to Nepal from India, it will not affect vehicle prices here. “Automobile price will not go up here due to a hike in excise duty in India,” said Saurabh Jyoti, president of Nepal Automobile Dealers’ Association. India has raised excise duty on small cars to 27 percent from the current 22 percent.

An increase in the income tax exemption threshold to IRs 200,000 from the current IRs 180,000 is expected to increase Indians’ disposable income. “This will create more demand and fuel price rise in India,” said Khanal. “The rise in Indian inflation may also catalyse Nepal’s inflation.”

Sibchu firing toll goes up to three

KUMANI/DARJEELING/KOLKATA: The Sibchu firing that catapulted the Dooars and the Darjeeling Hills into a state of unrest took a new turn on Saturday as a third victim, Nita Khawas, 23, died in a Siliguri hospital in the afternoon.

The death added to the tension in the Hills that may explode any day.

The hotspot, however, was Kumani in Kalimgpong where central interlocutor Lt Gen (retd) Vijay Madan held talks with GJM leaders only to be told that there was no question of talks without the inclusion of Gorkhaland in the agenda.

Madan tried hard to reason with the GJM team, led by its president Bimal Gurung and comprising Roshan Giri and H B Chhetri during the meeting at Khumani, near Sibchu.

He asked them to give peace a chance, especially after three-way talks seemed to have made headway, with GJM almost agreeing to the interim arrangement: a Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council with more powers.

Madan asked them not to jeopardize the tripartite talks, but GJM leaders ruled out the Council, harping on the formation of Gorkhaland with inclusion of Dooars and Terai.

As the meeting was being held, Adivasi Vikash Parishad spokesman John Barla said: "We shall never allow Dooars and Terai to be part of Gorkhaland. Nor will we allow GJM to hold rallies here."

Amid the Centre's efforts to broker peace, state home secretary G D Gautama said: "The state government will not succumb to pressure in dealing with the violent mode of agitation." His statement came after Gurung, against whom an FIR has been lodged, said any attempt to arrest him "will put the Hills on fire".

GJM president Bimal Gurung threatened to intensify the stir if any attempt was made to arrest him, but chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee made a last-ditch attempt to buy peace. Addressing a public function on Saturday, the CM said: "The problem in Darjeeling can be sorted out through peaceful political talks and we are ready for that... We cannot compromise with violence." The CM was speaking at the annual combined parade of West Bengal and Kolkata Police Force here.

Meanwhile, GJM's indefinite strike call since February 9 demanding a CBI inquiry into the Sibchu police firing on February 8, which left two of its supporters dead, seemed to have had no effect in the plains. In the Hills, the situation was tense as the 23-year-old Nita, a resident of Sitong II block under Mongpu Latpanchar constituency, died around 2.30pm on Saturday. The police firing victim and GLP member was brought to the Siliguri hospital from Darjeeling on Tuesday. She is the third police firing casualty. Three others are admitted in hospitals.

Ahead of Madan's visit, the GJM put off its elaborate agitation programme, which included gheraoing police stations, in the Hills. GJM members restricted themselves to squatting on the road at Chowk Bazaar. The fourth day of the bandh was generally peaceful even as police continued extensive raids since Friday night, and arrested GJM members Puran Loreng, Sanjay Tamang and Bikas Rai from Bojonbari. The arrests were in connection with the burning of the Bijonbari block office on Tuesday. The three were produced in court and given 14 days' judicial custody.

Meanwhile, Lakshman Prasad, owner of a garage, was brought back to Malbazar on Saturday in custody of the police. On Thursday, he had gone to Kumani to repair a truck, but was beaten up by GJM supporters.

People’s war anniv: ‘UML should honour pact’

KATHMANDU: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has stressed that the seven-point agreement between the CPN-UML and his party remains the cornerstone of Jhala Nath Khanal’s election as prime minister. His party, therefore, expects UML to abide by the letter and spirit of the bilateral agreement.

Dahal attributes the continued deadlock over the Cabinet expansion, 10 days into the prime minister’s election, to UML’s failure to take ownership of the agreement, which says that the Home, Defence and other important ministries will be “distributed appropriately and in a spirit of mutual respect.”

The Maoist party, however, is open to discussing an explanatory document to clarify various aspects of the Feb. 3 agreement whose legitimacy has been questioned by the Nepali Congress and a section of the CPN-UML. Two senior leaders in the prime minister’s party, former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and K P Oli, have strongly objected to the Maoist claim for the Home portfolio on grounds, among others, that the seven-point deal was “a secret one” between Khanal and the Maoist leadership.

“I had hoped that Jhala Nath Khanal had taken the consent of his party leaders before signing the agreement,” the Maoist chairman said in an exclusive interview to The Kathmandu Post on Saturday evening, on the eve of the 15th Anniversary of the Maoist “People’s War.” Dahal and a number of senior Maoist leaders were scheduled to leave for Thawang, Rolpa, on Sunday morning to mark the anniversary.

“Jhala Nath Khanal was elected as the prime minister on the basis of the agreement. So we can’t accept any amendment to the agreement,” he said. “First, the amendment should be owned up by the UML. Once that’s done, we can discuss its language and offer explanation if required. But we can’t compromise on the terms of the agreement.”

Asked if and when the Khanal Cabinet would take full shape, Dahal was hopeful the task would be completed in a day or two and expected his party to get the Home Ministry. UML Chairman Khanal was elected prime minister on Feb. 3 with the support of the Maoist party after 16 rounds of failed election which started

last July. But the absence of the Maoist party in the Cabinet now has put a new question mark over the long-term stability of the Khanal government and peace and constitution processes.

Dahal dismissed suggestions that the UML-Maoist deal was a secret one, adding that a number of UML and Maoist leaders were involved in the drafting process, which, by implication, meant that the process had come under purview of the larger party machineries.

"We had agreed to expand the (UML-Maoist) alliance. If we look at the inherent spirit of the deal, nobody in Nepal has the capacity to break it-because we have a clear majority. If we remain determined to implement the deal we will get two-thirds in the House."

Prime Minister Khanal polled 368 votes in the prime ministerial race early this month. There is now talk of MJF-Nepal (25 seats) and TMLP-Nepal (9 seats) joining the ruling coalition. Dahal, however, said: "There are efforts to break the alliance from those inside and outside the country. They want instability and indecision in Nepal,"Lauding the achievements of "People's War," Dahal said there had been many ups and downs in national politics since his party launched it in February 1996, but establishment of "republic and commitment to federalism were historic gains."

"We are neither dogmatic nor have we compromised entirely with reactionaries. We have brought about epochal changes in this period. It may seem obvious to us and for those who have lived through these changes but history will judge differently."

Dahal expressed confidence that the peace process will be completed by May 28. "As far are issues of constitution writing are concerned, some may remain unsettled until May 28, such as restructuring of the state and forms of government. Those issues can be resolved through referendum. If parties make remarkable progress, people will likely give us additional time to settle remaining issues."

‘Ultra-leftist govt can’t guarantee peace, statute’

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) Central leader Prakash Sharan Mahat said on Sunday that the government formed with an ultra-leftist agenda cannot guarantee peace and timely statute in the nation.

Mahat, who is in Japan at present to mark his presence in a programme, claimed that the government fortified by secret deals cannot steer the nation in an appropriate direction.  

He added that the NC will not participate in the current government with leftist polarisation, reiterating that the party is committed to piloting the peace process to a logical conclusion.

In another context, Mahat appealed to the Nepalese abroad to assist the economic development in the nation.

US official here on 3-day visit

KATHMANDU: U.S. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday for a three-day visit.

During her visit, she will meet Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, political leaders, senior government officials and civil society representatives, address a disaster risk reduction symposium and discuss human trafficking and refugee issues. “On Monday, Otero will address the Disaster Risk Reduction Symposium titled “Be Aware, Be Prepared: Implementing lessons learned from other earthquakes” at Hotel Yak and Yeti,” a US embassy release said.

Speaking with reporters upon her arrival in Kathmandu she congratulated the newly elected government in Nepal and offered to work closely with it.

The purpose of the event, hosted by the Government of Nepal in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy and the United Nations, is to raise awareness among key decision-makers about Nepal’s vulnerability to a catastrophic earthquake; demonstrate the commitment of the Government of Nepal and the international community to disaster risk reduction and review lessons learned from recent disasters to form policy and planning in Nepal.

Pakistani prosecutors accuse Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court issued an arrest warrant for ousted military leader Pervez Musharraf on Saturday over allegations he played a role in the 2007 assassination of an ex-prime minister and rival. It was a major setback for the onetime U.S. ally, who was plotting a political comeback from outside the country.

Musharraf, who has not been charged, described accusations that he had a hand in the attack on ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as a smear campaign by a government led by her aggrieved husband.

The stunning allegation that Musharraf — a self-declared opponent of Islamic militancy — was linked to extremists accused in the attack was likely to keep him out of Pakistan, at least in the short term.

His possible arrest abroad did not appear imminent, but Pakistan's information minister, Firdous Ashiq, Awan said the government will contact Interpol about seeking Musharraf's detention if the court requests it.

Musharraf's spokesman said the former leader was in Dubai, with no plans to go to Pakistan. Speaking from London, where Musharraf has lived in self-imposed exile, Fawad Chaudri quoted him as saying that the accusations were "absurd and ridiculous."

Musharraf left Pakistan for Britain in 2008 after being forced out of the presidency he secured in a 1999 military coup. Though Musharraf does not have a large support base in Pakistan, he has vowed to return to lead a new political party.

Bhutto was killed Dec. 27, 2007, in a gun and suicide bomb attack after returning to Pakistan to campaign in elections Musharraf reluctantly allowed. Musharraf blamed the Pakistani Taliban for the attack, but government prosecutors now say he was part of the plot.

"A joint investigation team, in its report to the court, has found Musharraf guilty of being involved in the conspiracy" to kill Bhutto, said Zulfikar Ali Chaudhry, the lead prosecutor.

He said evidence that Musharraf was "completely involved" has come from the Pakistani Taliban, and that prosecutors are seeking a murder trial.

Chaudhry did not elaborate, but the new accusations and arrest warrant stem from a case against two security officials accused of not adequately protecting Bhutto.

Musharraf has always denied any role in Bhutto's death and scoffed at critics who said he did not do enough to protect her. The Pakistani Taliban also denied targeting Bhutto.

Musharraf's lawyer said his client was innocent but had no plans to contest the allegations in court, where he's been ordered to appear Feb. 19.

"This is just a drama. It is all politics," Mohammad Ali Saif said.

Musharraf has not been indicted. The court is conducting preliminary hearings about the accusations, and prosecutors say Musharraf will have an opportunity to defend himself.

A U.N. investigation into the assassination said Musharraf's government didn't do enough to ensure Bhutto's security and that a sloppy investigation may have erased or missed evidence. The U.N. was not tasked with finding out who was behind the killing.

After her death, Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party rode a wave of public sympathy to garner the most seats in 2008 elections. It then forced Musharraf to step down by threatening impeachment. He left for London, and has spent a good deal of time on the lecture circuit, including in the United States.

Analysts say Musharraf's plans of re-entering politics would be unlikely to succeed, but the arrest warrant gives a government accused of ineffectiveness the ability to show movement on the long-delayed investigation.

"They have not been able to find out who the real culprits are despite the fact that this has been going on for three years," said retired Pakistani Gen. Talat Masood.

Masood said that unless the evidence is particularly substantial, it will be difficult to get Musharraf back for a trial.

Britain does not have an extradition treaty with Pakistan, but the British government can decide to extradite suspects on a case-by-case basis.

Washington backed Musharraf for much of his military rule because he was, at least officially, a close ally in its fight against militants, including those who used Pakistan's soil as a hideout to prepare attacks in neighboring Afghanistan.

But many in Pakistan resented his alliance with the U.S., and his domestic missteps, including attempts to fire the chief justice of the Supreme Court, hurt his popularity, leading to mass protests that ultimately forced Musharraf to bend and allow fresh elections.

The new Pakistani president and head of the ruling People's Party is Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower. He also supports the U.S. and has backed offensives against militants on Pakistani territory.

6 dead, 37 injured in attack on Mexican nightclub

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO: Armed men opened fire and hurled a grenade into a crowded nightclub early Saturday, killing six people and wounding at least 37 in a western city whose former tranquility has been shattered by escalating battles among drug cartels.

The attack in Mexico's second-largest municipality took place just hours after a shootout between soldiers and presumed cartel gunmen left eight people, including an innocent driver, dead in the northeastern city of Monterrey. Monterrey is Mexico's third-largest city.

In the Guadalajara attack, assailants in a Jeep Cherokee and a taxi drove up to the Butter Club, located in a bar and restaurant district popular with young people, and sprayed it with bullets.

Some of the men then got out of the taxi and threw a grenade into the nightclub entrance, said a police official, who spoke to news media at the scene and left without giving his name. The gunmen fled after the pre-dawn attack, he said.

Three were killed at the scene and three more died later in hospitals, said Medical Services Director Yannick Nordin. A Venezuelan and a Colombian were among the dead.

In a press conference led by state Attorney General Tomas Coronado Olmos, authorities said the attack may have been the result of a fight between two groups hours earlier in the trendy disco. Some of the people left and returned to attack the others.

State authorities said they are studying surveillance video from inside the nightclub to help determine what happened.

While there have been isolated grenade attacks around the city, Saturday's was the first to be thrown into a crowd and cause so many injuries.

The U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara recently warned U.S. citizens not to drive at night in parts of the city after suspected drug-gang members burned vehicles and blocked streets.

Such alerts have become common for highways in some areas of northern and western Mexico, but not for Guadalajara, which is known more for its mariachi music and tequila than as a focal point of a drug war that has claimed nearly 35,000 lives since 2006.

But in recent months the picturesque colonial city has come to resemble embattled areas of northern Mexico — including the state of Nuevo Leon, where Monterrey is located.

Seven presumed cartel gunmen were shot dead by soldiers near Monterrey during a chase and shootout just after midnight Friday. A civilian was also killed when the gunmen crashed into his car as they tried to flee soldiers.

A soldier and a state police officer were wounded during the clash in the suburban city of San Nicolas, the military said in a news release.

Soldiers also freed a woman who is presumed to have been kidnapped and was traveling in one of the vehicles. Two other vehicles, carrying an unknown number of attackers, escaped, and there were no arrests, said a spokesman for the state public security office, who was not authorized to give his name.

Nuevo Leon has been hit by a wave of drug-fueled violence in recent years as the Gulf Cartel battles a gang of its former enforcers known as the Zetas.

The cartels have staged a bloody turf war over drug peddling points and smuggling routes to the U.S. border 125 miles (200 kilometers) to the north, and clashes with the military and police have become almost a daily occurrence in and around Monterrey.

In Guadalajara, the violence has heated up just in the past few months from cartels warring for turf. The city is key to western drug routes once controlled by former Sinaloa leader Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel, who was killed in a gunbattle with soldiers in July.

Egyptians Celebrate Mubarak Departure, Look to Future

Egyptians are cleaning up after celebrations that followed the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's leader of nearly 30 years. The military, which assumed control of the country,  on Saturday said Mr. Mubarak's Cabinet will remain in place for now while Egypt transitions to a democratic system. The military also vowed to "remain committed to all regional and international" accords including peace treaties, confirming Egypt's landmark 1979 peace treaty with Israel would remain intact.

Saturday was a day of cleaning at Tahrir Square and throughout Central Cairo even as celebrations were going on.  Groups of people went to the streets and to the square with brooms and dustpans in hand to help clear up the filth and debris that built up during the 18 days of demonstrations. 

Some wore banners on their clothing that said “yesterday I was a demonstrator, today I am building Egypt.”

24-year-old architect Rania Tamoum says it was important for her to show she wants to be a part of the rebuilding process.  “It's our country. It's our responsibility, so we have to clean it,” she said.

Tamoum joined thousands of others in celebrating Hosni Mubarak's resignation.   She said she has not thought about a blueprint for the future, since her only goal while demonstrating was to see Mr. Mubarak go.

“Actually, I cannot say what clearly I want.  I can say that I want a better Egypt. I really want a new government.  We don't want any of the icons or the symbols of the old government,” said Tamoum.

The mood was jovial Saturday, even as celebrations were winding down.  A group of men sang an Islamic song, as they walked off the square. Some people began taking down the tents where they have been camping out, and preparing to go home.  Some are staying.

Abdel Hamed Taha, an imam, said Mr. Mubarak's departure was only the beginning of the changes he wants to see.  He will remain on the square.

He says he is at the square to follow up on what he says was the victory of the revolution.  He said demonstrators have achieved only one of the demands, and he wants a dialogue with the army.

The transition is now in the hands of the military, which has promised to hand over power to an elected civilian government. The demonstrators demanded  free and transparent elections in which all groups - including the banned Islamist Muslim Brotherhood can participate.  They also want a lifting of emergency laws, and a re-writing of the constitution.

A spokesman for Egypt's supreme council of the armed forces on Saturday said it has asked the existing Cabinet to stay in a caretaker capacity. He also said Egypt will respect its existing international agreements that include a peace treaty with Israel.

Over the past few days, the army has emerged as heroic in the eyes of many Egyptians for not cracking down on the demonstrators.  On Saturday, tanks stayed in their positions throughout central Cairo. People took pictures with soldiers, and children handed them flowers.

Now, Egyptians are counting on the military to take the country to the next step, and deliver on the promises of a change for the better.

Egypt Begins 1st Working Day Since Mubarak's Ouster

CAIRO: Egypt is beginning its first working day since a popular uprising forced authoritarian president Hosni Mubarak to step down Friday and hand power to the military. 

Shops and businesses were expected to reopen Sunday as many Egyptians try to return to normal following two days of celebrations of Mr. Mubarak's ouster and 18 days of anti-government protests that preceded it.

Celebrations in central Cairo continued throughout Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday, with Egyptians filling Tahrir Square and surrounding streets, where they danced to loud music and enjoyed a performance by a live band.

Many Cairo residents also spent Saturday cleaning up the square, while pro-democracy protesters largely retained the tent city they had set up to accommodate huge anti-Mubarak rallies during the uprising.

A coalition of youth groups that organized the protests kept up the pressure for a transition to democracy by issuing a list of demands to Egypt's new military rulers.  The coalition called for the dissolution of the ruling party-dominated parliament and the lifting of a deeply unpopular emergency law installed by Mr. Mubarak when he took office in 1981.

The Egyptian military's Supreme Council said Saturday it remains committed to a transition in which a civilian authority will build a "democratic nation."  It also said a reshuffled Cabinet appointed by Mr. Mubarak after the protests erupted on January 25 will remain in place until a new government is formed.

The military also vowed to "remain committed" to all of Egypt's regional and international treaties and other agreements, a pledge welcomed by Israel, which had been concerned about the fate of its 1979 peace treaty with Cairo.  That agreement was the first between an Arab nation and the Jewish state.

U.S. President Barack Obama also welcomed the military's pledges Saturday, during telephone conversations with his counterparts in Britain, Jordan and Turkey.

The White House says Mr. Obama expressed a belief that democracy will "bring more - not less - stability" to the region.  It says he also pledged to provide "necessary and requested" financial support and other assistance to Egypt as it moves toward free and fair elections.

Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman announced Mr. Mubarak's resignation Friday evening in a brief televised statement, an abrupt end to the president's nearly 30 years in power.  Mr. Mubarak flew out of Cairo earlier Friday to his Red Sea holiday retreat at Sharm el-Sheikh, as the nationwide protests against his rule reached their peak.

Egyptians Celebrate Revolution, Get Back to Work

On the streets of Egypt, people are doing three things: celebrating their revolution, memorializing those who died in it and getting down to the nitty-gritty work of building their country’s future.

For the past three weeks, Farah El Moataz’s frantic father wouldn’t let her out of the house. He said a revolution was no place for a 15-year-old girl.

"In the beginning I kept begging him to go, but he kept telling me no, it’s dangerous," said Farah. "I kept telling him, at school they keep saying, you have to say your opinion. Today, finally he told me yes you can go downstairs, go to Tahrir Square. Finally I’m here."

But Farah didn’t bring a camera to capture the moment, and she didn’t even come with friends. She rode the bus down here alone - with a only a broom, to sweep the streets where her country’s protesters held vigil for 18 days. "Because it’s my country. I want it to be the best country in the world," he said.

Families stroll downtown Cairo waving Egyptian flags. Parents balance infants on the side of idling army tanks and snap photos for posterity. 18-year-old Doaa Sabry says Egypt’s youth is ready to take on the world.

"We inspired everyone in this revolution, and we want to do something that will inspire every human being in this world, because we can do it," said Doaa.

Amin Abu Hashem describes his feeling of empowerment. "They feel a sense of hope. It’s gushing from everyone here, like we can do anything now. Everyone has this feeling of a new Egypt - making it a better tomorrow for everyone," said Amin.

But underneath the euphoria, there seems to be a sense of responsibility.  More than 115,000 people have signed onto a Facebook group called "Egypt’s Rebuilding Campaign."

Farah El Moataz picked up her broom, but others don’t know where to start.  Cairo resident Karen Kamel says that after 30 years of authoritarian rule, the idea of freedom can be a bit overwhelming.

"We’ve been used to that for 30 years and maybe people prefer stability rather than something new. I think every person is afraid of change and something very new, but I think it’s in the hands of the people to make a better Egypt," said Kamel.

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Much remains undecided - who will lead Egypt long-term? What constitutional changes are coming?

There’s also the question of what will become of Tahrir Square, where dozens of unarmed protesters died in clashes with security agents before President Hosni Mubarak resigned. Fafette Mazloum says she wants to see a memorial built in the square.

"It’s for the people. It’s going to be a place where people can come and remember what happened here, how Egyptians were able to bring about a revolution peacefully. This is a symbol for the rest of the world, that things don’t need to be violent," said Fafette.

 The future holds many big questions for Egyptians, who are just returning to normal life after 18 days of uncertainty. For now, perhaps it’s easier to pick up a broom and start sweeping.

We wont’ join govt without Home Ministry: Maoist Secy

KATHMANDU:  UCPN (Maoist) General Secretary CP Gajurel clarified on Friday that his party will not join the CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal-led government unless the letter and spirit implementation of the seven-point agreement signed before the government formation is guaranteed. He added that his party is not in a position to be a part of the government without the Home Ministry.

Speaking at the Reporter's Club in the Capital today, the Maoist leader revealed that there was a deal to allocate 15 ministries including the Home to the Maoists on the basis of proportional representation.

"The current government was formed on the basis of the seven-point pact, but the grounds of the agreement will collapse if it is not implemented in letter and spirit,” said Gajurel. "Then we will decide whether to keep our support to the government intact or withdraw."

Saying that serious doubts have surfaced after the UML Standing Committee meeting nominated its candidate for Home Ministry against the seven-point agreement, Maoists General Secretary Gajurel added that the problem created by the UML should be solved by the party itself.

However, he made it clear that his party is not in favour of immediately toppling the government formed with its backing.

"We are not in favour of toppling the government formed after a long effort," said the Maoist leader. "We should not strive to overthrow the government now as our country was defamed in both national and international arenas in the absence of legitimate government."

'NC will hold govt if Maoists back down'

KATHMANDU: Hot on the heels of UCPN (Maoist)’s refusal to join the new government, a Nepali Congress (NC) leader has hinted at lending support to sustain the Jhala Nath Khanal-led government.

NC member Bhishma Raj Angdembe said that his party will play the role of a responsible party for peace and constitution by saving the government from toppling.

The NC leader tried to rekindle hopes of the CPN-UML a day after the UCPN (Maoist) decided not be a partner in the UML-led coalition after they remained at odds over a plum ministry.

“The NC will take an appropriate decision for peace and constitution building by playing the role of a responsible party,” said the NC leader at a programme organised in the Capital today.

Newly elected Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal is having a hard time after the UCPN (Maoist)—whose support played a crucial role in electing him as the prime minister—decided not to join the government following a power-sharing row in the new Cabinet.

The NC leader went on to claim that the secret seven-point pact between UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Chairman Khanal has betrayed the country rather than resolving the country. He added the pact has stymied the path to consensus.

“The agreement to become the prime minister in tandem and the issue of army integration has pushed the country towards confusion,” he said. “This has provoked the obstructionist politics. It has further pushed back the country from the road to institutionalising the historic achievement,” said Angdembe.

The negotiations between the two parties broke down on Sunday after the former.

UCPN (M) reiterates it won't be part of govt until UML commits to 7-pt pact

Kathmandu: The UCPN (Maoist) has reiterated that it won't join the government until the UML expresses its commitment to implement the seven-point agreement signed between the two parties just before last week's prime ministerial election.

A meeting of the Maoist standing committee on Friday approved the decision of the party leadership not to join the government.

"The party has decided to ask the UML to clarify its position on the seven-point agreement," Maoist spokpesrson Dina Nath Sharma told reporters after the meeting held at the party headquarters, Peris Danda, Koteshwor.

Following several rounds of failed negotiations for sharing of portfolios, the Maoist party yesterday decided to stay out of the government and continue support from outside.

Meanwhile, the Standing Committee also decided to resume the cadre training programme which had been cancelled following internal dispute. It also decided to mark the 'people's war day' on February 13.

College student killed in attack

Kathmandu: A college student has died of head-injuries he sustained in an attack by students of another college in Birgunj on Friday. A college student has died of head-injuries he sustained in an attack by students of another college in Birgunj on Friday. The deceased identified as Prabin Kumar Singh, 18, of Birgunj-18 died while being rushed to the Narayani Hospital today morning. He was studying in grade 12 at the National Academy. According to eyewitness accounts, Singh and his friend engaged in a heated argument with a gang that stopped them at Panitanki chowk. One of the gang members then hit Singh on the head with an iron rod and fled from the scene. Doctors at the hospital said Singh died of excessive blood loss from the wound sustained on his head. Police arrested Vicky Gupta of Siddhartha International College for his involvement in the incident. Other members of his gang are apparently on the run and police said they are trying to locate them. Meanwhile, a group of students have closed down Birgunj bazaar to protest the incident. Police have been deployed to make sure the situation doesn’t spiral out of control.

Three UML ministers sworn in without portfolios

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal unveiled a three-member cabinet on Thursday, comprising ministers from his party, CPN-UML, in the wake of dispute with the main coalition partner, UCPN (Maoist), over key portfolios which prompted the Maoist decision not to join the government.

PM Khanal administered oath of office and secrecy to Bharat Mohan Adhikari as Deputy Prime Minister and Bishnu Poudel and Ganga Lal Tuladhar as cabinet ministers. The newly appointed cabinet members are yet to be given portfolios.

The low-key swearing-in ceremony took place in Shital Niwas in the presence of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav with no key leader from the UCPN (Maoist), and even the UML, showing up.

Earlier this week, the UML had proposed Adhikari as Deputy PM with finance portfolio while Poudel and Tuladhar were named as home minister and education minister respectively.

Khanal unveiled the cabinet soon after the UCPN (Maoist) decided not to join the government. However, UML leaders said they were hopeful of the Maoist party coming into the cabinet when it gets full shape "within a few days".

US man Raymond Davis shot Pakistan pair 'in cold blood'

A Pakistani police chief has said a US citizen in custody over the deaths of two men in Lahore last month was guilty of "cold-blooded murder".

Lahore city police chief Aslam Tareen told a news conference that one of the men was killed while running away.

He spoke after Raymond Davis was remanded for another 14 days following an appearance in a Lahore court.

Mr Davis, 36, has admitted he shot the men, but says he acted in self-defence because they were trying to rob him.

The court has ordered the Pakistani government to clarify US embassy claims that Mr Davis has diplomatic immunity.

He is charged on two counts - murder and possession of illegal weapons.

'Tremendous pressure'

Mr Tareen told a news conference: "The police investigation and forensic report show it was not self-defence.

"His plea has been rejected by police investigators. He gave no chance to them to survive. 

Mr Tareen also said that forensic evidence did not support Mr Davis's claim that one of the motorbike riders had approached his car window, cocked his gun and pointed it at him.

No fingerprints had been uncovered on the triggers of the pistols found on the bodies of the two men, he said.

And tests had shown that the bullets remained in the magazine of the men's gun, not the chamber.

"It was cold-blooded murder," said Mr Tareen. "Eyewitnesses have told police that he directly shot at them and he kept shooting even when one was running away. It was an intentional murder."

Police officials have previously said that the two men were street robbers, although conspiracy theorists have suggested that the pair were members of Pakistani intelligence.

Mr Davis was taken to court very early on Friday to avoid the media and possible protests, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says.

The American has reportedly been sent to the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore. His next hearing is scheduled for 25 February.

He is said to have told police that he acted in self-defence during the incident on 27 January because the motorcycle rider and his pillion passenger tried to hijack his vehicle at gunpoint.

As his colleagues came to his aid, their vehicle ran over and killed a third person.

Mr Tareen said police had written five times to the US consulate in Lahore, requesting access to the consulate vehicle involved in that collision.

It is not clear what Mr Davis's role in Lahore was - American officials in the capital Islamabad have said only that he was an US embassy employee who was part of the "administrative and technical staff".

The Associated Press news agency says Pentagon records show that Mr Davis is a former Special Forces soldier who left the army in 2003 after 10 years of service.

BBC correspondents say the case is threatening to derail relations between the US and Pakistan, a crucial ally in the fight against militants.

Islamabad is under tremendous pressure at home, with demands that Mr Davis must stand trial in Pakistan and not be handed over to the US government.

Earlier this month, the Lahore High Court barred officials from freeing Mr Davis and ordered them to place his name on the "exit control list" to stop him leaving Pakistan.

Last weekend tensions rose further when the widow of one of the men shot dead by Mr Davis killed herself by taking poison.

In her dying statement, she said she feared the American would be released without trial, police and doctors said.

Tiger Woods storms up Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard

Tiger Woods is in the hunt for his first title in 14 months after shooting a six-under-par 66 in the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday.

The former world number one shot a bogey-free round to move to seven under, with South African Thomas Aiken the early clubhouse leader on 10 under.

Woods was tied second with Michael Hoey and Anders Hansen with overnight leader Rory McIlroy yet to finish his round.

World number one Lee Westwood shot a 70 and was five shots off the lead.

Martin Kaymer, the world number two, was a shot behind Westwood on four under after his round of 71.

Resuming on one under par following his closing eagle yesterday, Woods birdied the 12th, 13th and 18th to reach the turn in a three-under 34.

The American added yet another birdie on the second despite driving into the rough and continued his charge with a 25-footer on the short fourth.

And a wondrous approach to two feet at the 485-yard par-four sixth brought him his sixth birdie of the day.

After five holes of his first round yesterday he was two over and tied for 96th.

"I played myself right back into the tournament. I felt I hit the ball a lot better and the greens were absolutely perfect," said Woods.

"It was steady. I didn't make as many mistakes as yesterday and I felt it was important to post a number."

Westwood, who missed the cut last week, is still searching for his sparkling best, with the Englishman hitting four birdies and two bogeys.

"I'm a bit disappointed with the way I've hit it the first two days," he commented. "You have chances out there - you've just got to be on your game."

Aiken, who started on the 10th, birdied his first hole of the round and was to add a further five with his only blemish a bogey on the par four 16th.

Beyonce to headline Glastonbury

Singer Beyonce Knowles will be one of the headline acts at Glastonbury this year, her record company has announced.

The US pop star will perform on the Pyramid Stage on the last day of the event in Pilton in Somerset, Columbia Records revealed in a statement.

"I'm pumped just thinking about that huge audience and soaking up their energy," the 29-year-old star said.

Organisers of the festival, which runs from 22 to 26 June, have yet to officially announce 2011's line-up.

Tickets for this year's event went on sale in October and sold out in around four hours.

"This really is the biggest festival in the world and I cannot wait to perform there," said Knowles.

"Everyone who attends is really appreciative of music and is in such a good mood that entire weekend."

Last year's line-up included Stevie Wonder, Kylie Minogue and Gorillaz, who stepped in when U2 were forced to pull out.