InfoAnda - Afghans mark New Year amid bloodshed

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Chavez back in Venezuela after more cancer treatment | | 5 April 2012
Tea Party Conservatives Defeat Establishment Candidates In Delaware, New York | 15 September 2010
Suspect in death of Hollywood publicist kills himself | 2 December 2010

Taiwan local polls test pro-China party after shooting | | 27 November 2010

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Afghans mark New Year amid bloodshed

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Search Search: Afghans mark New Year amid bloodshed AFP - Sunday, March 22 MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan (AFP) - - Tens of thousands of people crammed around a shrine in northern Afghanistan on Saturday to usher in the New Year with prayers for peace, as a Taliban-led insurgency rages on. ADVERTISEMENT The celebrations in the northern town of Mazar-i-Sharif came as a series of bomb blasts around the country killed 11 people and NATO said five of its soldiers were among nearly 60 people killed on Friday. In tight security provided by 2,500 men, the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan -- which all use the solar calendar -- headed a list of VIPs in Mazar-i-Sharif for the country's main New Year event. In a message read out at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, President Hamid Karzai said: "I wish that the year 1388 be the year of peace, happiness and prosperity for all Afghans." A large pole adorned with colourful flags was then hoisted -- a key moment broadcast live on television during which some believe prayers can be answered and miracles happen. Many of the estimated 10,000 people who packed their shrine for the event told AFP they would pray for peace. Others like Ahmad Shah asked for good health or prosperity. "I wished that my business would improve. I believe in Ali's miracles," he said. Thousands were up before sunrise to find a spot inside the shrine compound, while others watched the proceedings from rooftops or trees outside. Men fought their way towards the pole to try to rub cloth onto it for good luck and miracles. Afghans say Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam, was buried in Mazar-i-Sharif although it is more widely held that his remains are in the Iraqi city of Najaf. Afghanistan's austere Taliban regime tried to curtail celebrations for New Year, or Naw Ruz, but they have been revived since the 2001 ouster of the hardliners. Thousands of people attended a similar flagpole-raising ceremony in the capital Kabul at a famous shrine with similar gatherings held across the country. A roadside bomb blew up at one of the gatherings where hundreds of men had gathered at a shrine on the outskirts of the eastern city of Khost. Two men were killed and four wounded, police said. In the nearby province of Nangarhar meanwhile, a suicide bomber who intended to entre the bustling city of Jalalabad instead blew up a car bomb at a police checkpost set up for the New Year festivities, officials said. A policeman and five civilians were killed, Karzai said in a statement to condemn the attack, which was claimed by the Taliban. "Enemies of Afghanistan, by conducting this terrorist action on a day that Afghans celebrate New Year in peace, showed that they don't have any aim except to destroy Afghanistan," he said. Two separate roadside bombings in the southern province of Kandahar killed three more Afghan civilians. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force announced meanwhile that five of its soldiers and an Afghan interpreter died in attacks in southern Afghanistan on Friday. A wave of other attacks and clashes on Friday killed at least 19 Afghan security forces and more than 30 militants, according to officials. Last year was the deadliest of the insurgency since the Taliban were removed in a US-led invasion, with more than 2,000 civilians killed, most of them in militant attacks, according to the United Nations. Karzai has pushed various strategies to deal with the spiralling violence, including an international focus against militant sanctuaries in Pakistan and talks with those Taliban who agree to renounce violence and accept the constitution. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (0 votes) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: Asia Pacific Tibetan monks arrested in China riot: state mediaAFP - 1 hour 7 minutes ago After turmoil, Pakistan reinstates chief justiceAFP - 1 hour 18 minutes ago SKorea advance to baseball Classic finalAFP - 1 hour 27 minutes ago Province supplying Beijing water drying up: stateAFP - 1 hour 36 minutes ago Mugabe's wife beats assault charges in Hong KongAFP - 1 hour 44 minutes ago Enlarge Photo Afghans mark New Year amid bloodshed Most Popular – Asia Pacific Viewed Madoff loses bail appeal as victims' rage revealed Obama budget deficit could hit 1.845 trln dlrs Actress Natasha Richardson dies after ski accident Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan Global warming leaving its mark on polar bears View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Sunday, 22 March 2009
Armed clashes kill 21 in Russia's Dagestan | International |
Israel breaks up Arab capital events in Jerusalem | International |
Obama's Afghan task 'tougher' than Iraq
Protesters march by Pentagon, call to end Iraq war
For tourists, seeing Iraq one checkpoint at a time
Israel marks soldier's 1,000th day in captivity
Obama defends Geithner, budget
U.S. hands almost all Sunni guards to Iraqi control
Prince Charles blue over green crusade
Chavez trims budget, adds debt to counter crisis | International |
Afghans mark New Year amid bloodshed
Opel boss hints at closing German plants
11 dead as blasts mar Afghan New Year
Prince Charles blue over green crusade
2 US Navy vessels that collided arrives Bahrain
Canadian kidnapped in Darfur back home
Suspected drug cartel hitman arrested in Mexico
Danish premier hot tip for new NATO chief
Slovak presidential election goes to second round
Thousands march against mafia in Naples
Germany in mourning for victims of school massacre
EU rebuff Russian calls for new security structure
Harrison Ford proposes to girlfriend: report | Entertainment |
Province supplying Beijing water drying up: state
Mugabe's wife beats assault charges in Hong Kong
Depeche Mode prepares for Tour of the Universe | Entertainment |
Philippines, Red Cross clash over hostage release
Fire guts residence of former Japan PM Yoshida
Thai PM rules out cabinet shake-up
Pakistan's top judge back at work after protests
Harrison Ford proposes to girlfriend: report
Pakistan's chief justice reinstated
Tribune sues Warren Beatty over Dick Tracy rights
China quake school toll stirs grim findings and anger
Report: Nissan planning luxury hybrid in 2010
Fire destroys former Japan prime minister's home
'Modest' Japanese CEOs escape public ire
Malaysia's next PM calls for 'massive' change
1 million unemployed expected in Thailand
China sees stimulus package bringing growth
China horseman eyes Bejing to London ride
Minister: Japan needs aggressive public spending
Germany: no sex please we're in recession
SKorea, EU eye conclusion of free trade talks
Harrison Ford proposes to girlfriend: report
China wants to restructure auto industry
Couture's well-kept secret
Berkeley students dominate college TV awards
Nominees for the third Asian Film Awards
Korean Western top contender at Asian Film Awards
British singer Natasha Bedingfield weds in Malibu
Desperate tent city revival for America's homeless
Rachael Ray hosts SXSW party, Hold Steady headline
Turkey could block Rasmussen at NATO
Netanyahu seeks to reassure Egypt over FM pick
Sudan scholars tell president to drop Qatar trip
Lethal air pollution booms in emerging nations
Wife of founder of Iran's Islamic republic dies
Iran sets terms for U.S. ties | International |
Military hangs `Help Wanted' sign in Afghanistan
Pakistan's deposed judge resumes office | International |
Hamas leader welcomes Obama's "new language"
U.S. military, Afghan police dispute deaths in raid | International |
Poland hopes U.S. will not let it down on shield | International |
Hamas leader welcomes Obama's new language: report | International |
Chinese detain Tibetan monks after riot | International |
Pope, in Angola, recalls youths killed in stampede | International |
Israel says car bomb defused at shopping mall | International |
Sudan scholars tell president to drop Qatar trip | International |
Wen urges innovation to fight crisis: state media
'Tug-of-love' pair not in Russia: diplomat
Slovakia's president poll heads for second round
China arrests Tibetan monks after attack on police
British reality TV star Jade Goody dies of cancer | Entertainment |
Tibetan monks held after China police attacked
Chinese detain Tibetan monks after riot
Bomb near Philippine market injures at least 7
Iraqi PM says shoe-thrower had fair trial
Bikers brawl through Australian airport; 1 dead
Pakistan's deposed judge resumes office
India's Tata Motors to launch ultra-cheap Nano car
Pakistan reinstates chief justice
Jackie Chan lends star power to hometown festival
Man killed as bikers brawl in Australian airport
Natasha Richardson to be buried near upstate home
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
British reality TV star Jade Goody dead
South By Kanye West? Rapper plays SXSW
Reality TV star Jade Goody dies after cancer fight
`Hillary: The Movie,' now showing at Supreme Court
British reality TV star Jade Goody dies of cancer
Can't decide which handbag to buy? Rent it first
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01