Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Swiss say legal immunity protects Pakistani leader
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Swiss say legal immunity protects Pakistani leader
By ZARAR KHAN,Associated Press Writer -
Thursday, April 1
Send
IM Story
Print
ISLAMABAD – Switzerland will not reopen a money-laundering case against the Pakistani president as long as he enjoys legal immunity _ a welcome answer Wednesday for the U.S-allied leader after the Supreme Court forced his government to request the case resume.
The Swiss decision marked the latest development in a monthslong struggle between the government and the court since the latter revoked an amnesty that protected President Asif Ali Zardari and thousands of other politicians, bureaucrats and party workers from corruption charges.
Washington has watched the dispute with concern that it could distract Pakistan from its fight against Taliban and al-Qaida militants, some of whom stage cross-border attacks against U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
The court stepped up its pressure on the government in recent days, threatening the head of the anti-corruption agency with prison if he didn't reopen all the cases that had been covered by the amnesty by Wednesday, including one against Zardari in Switzerland.
The government had dragged its feet, arguing Zardari enjoyed immunity as president. But it succumbed to court pressure and sent a letter to Swiss authorities asking they reopen the case, government lawyer Abid Zuberi said Wednesday.
Geneva prosecutor Daniel Zappelli told The Associated Press that he has yet to receive the Pakistani request.
But he said he can't reopen the case against Zardari, who was elected president in 2008 after years of battling corruption allegations, because he enjoys "absolute immunity" as a head of state.
"We could go further only if the competent authorities in Pakistan decide to lift the immunity of the head of state, which I do not know whether it is possible according to their constitution," said Zappelli, speaking in English. "If not, we can't. Absolutely not. Period."
Zardari and his late wife Benazir Bhutto were found guilty in absentia in a Geneva court in 2003 of laundering millions of Swiss francs (dollars). They were handed six-month sentences and fined, but both punishments were automatically suspended when they appealed.
Swiss authorities abandoned the case in 2008 after the Pakistani government asked them to. The case was among the thousands dropped as a result of the controversial amnesty that was part of a power-sharing deal that allowed Bhutto to return from exile and contest elections.
The amnesty was scrapped in December by the Supreme Court, which is led by a judge whom Zardari supporters say his hostile to his rule.
Bhutto was killed in a December 2007 gun and suicide bomb attack and Zardari designated her political successor. He became president after his party won parliamentary elections and forced military ruler Pervez Musharraf to resign.
He has struggled to make much of a dent in the country's myriad problems, but his government has been praised of late in the West for battling the Taliban in northwestern border regions.
The U.S. has pushed Islamabad to keep up its offensives, arguing that militants on its side of the border are involved in attacks on American and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
Earlier Wednesday, six soldiers and 20 Taliban militants were killed when troops repulsed an attack by dozens of insurgents on a checkpoint close to the Afghan border, a statement from Pakistan's paramilitary Frontier Corps said.
Also Wednesday, the army used helicopter gunships and mortar fire to kill 15 militants in the Orakzai tribal region, where many Pakistani Taliban fighters are believed to be based, said local government official Samiullah Khan.
But one of the mortars accidentally hit a house, killing four civilians, said Khan.
Elsewhere in Pakistan's volatile tribal area, at least six alleged insurgents were killed by suspected U.S. missiles in North Waziristan, two Pakistani intelligence officials said.
Two missile attacks one hour apart destroyed an abandoned school near the town of Mir Ali, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.
The U.S. rarely discusses its missile campaign. Pakistan publicly protests it as a violation of its sovereignty, though it is believed to secretly assist in the strikes.
North Waziristan has been the target of the majority of recent missile attacks. It is home to several militant groups who focus on battling U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
___
Associated Press writers Rasool Dawar in Mir Ali, Hussain Afzal in Parachinar and Frank Jordans in Geneva contributed to this report.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Pakistani lawmakers target presidential powers AP - 1 hour 56 minutes ago
Rural tradition eyed after China dead babies find AP - Thursday, April 1
Google: Online attacks aimed at Vietnam's critics AP - Thursday, April 1
Racism and discrimination common in Japan: UN envoy AFP - Thursday, April 1
Kissinger helps Rio Tinto build bridges with China: report AFP - Thursday, April 1
News Search
Top Stories
S.Africa builds its case for mega-telescope contract
Beshir rules out any delay in Sudan vote
New suicide blasts shake Russia
Anglo Irish Bank logs biggest loss in Irish corporate history
Obama plan expands offshore oil drilling
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Burglars tunnel into French bank vault
Toad is a telltale for impending quakes: scientists
What, or who, killed the last mammoths?
Elephants move like 4x4s: scientists
Atom smasher opens 'new era' for science
More Most Viewed »
'Rare' fossil of new dinosaur species found in US
Burglars tunnel into French bank vault
Hollywood stars help prevent suicide after Twitter alert
Prince Philip in strip club gaffe
Junkies and junk-food addicts share craving mechanism
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Thursday, 1 April 2010 World powers to start work on Iran sanctions
European Cold War defence alliance dissolved: official
AMD chips away at Intel market share in Q4: iSuppli
U.S. says weapons from Iran sent to Afghanistan
CERN tackles glitches, pushes new science frontier
Granny fined $1,500 for selling goldfish to child
Internet connects deepest Nepal to 'telemedics'
Iran negotiator visits China amid sanctions pressure
Justin Bieber, Adam Lambert Headline Wango Tango Concert
Small Plane Crash Outside Roanoke Kills Pilot, Seriously Injures Passenger
Coalition wants US privacy law revamped for Internet Age
S.Africa builds its case for mega-telescope contract
World powers to start work on Iran sanctions: envoys
|
U.S. Transportation Department Proposes Texting Ban For Truck, Bus Drivers
IBM nurturing nascent technology startups
Beshir rules out any delay in Sudan vote
China press club says journalists' email accounts hacked
Empire State Suicide Jumper Was Yale Student
Ford, Microsoft align to recharge cars
Anglo Irish Bank logs biggest loss in Irish corporate history
Dozens detained at Russia opposition protest
|
Coalition Of Groups Seeks Overhaul In 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Law
Google faces new book-scanning lawsuit in France
ADP Employment Data Casts Doubt On Jobs Rebound
Turkish court frees 9 officers in army coup plot
|
Obama plan expands offshore oil drilling
Serbia apologises for Srebrenica massacre
Ohio Serial Killer Receives Death Sentence
David Cook Talks Trip To Ethiopia, Participation In "Idol Gives Back"
Zimbabwe's Mugabe names rights, election groups
|
Negative US job report prompts recovery fears
Obama Opens American Seas For Domestic Production, Promoting Efficiency
Obama to announce offshore drilling move
Hutchison Cites Healthcare, Energy Bill In Decision Not To Retire
More countries set emission targets for 2020: UN
Rural tradition eyed after China dead babies find
One missing after US Navy plane crashes into Arabian Sea
Google: Online attacks aimed at Vietnam's critics
Obama to pursue expanded offshore oil drilling
Racism and discrimination common in Japan: UN envoy
US private sector sheds 23,000 jobs in March
Kissinger helps Rio Tinto build bridges with China: report
N.Korea's Kim likely to visit China soon: Seoul presidency
Swiss say legal immunity protects Pakistani leader
US pledges $5 million to Khmer Rouge court
Korean clubs dominate AFC Champions League
Cambodian ex-king returns home from China
Mumbai attack trial ends, verdict expected May 3
VC fund for iPhone app developers doubles to $200 million
|
Google: Online attacks aimed at Vietnam's critics
China mulling proposals to adjust yuan next month: report
Publishers bet future on iPad they haven't yet seen
|
Now comes tough part for Bharti: Making Zain purchase pay
China Web filter rules risky for providers: USTR
|
Pakistan c.bank sells 19.60 bln rupees of T-bills
Sony, Toshiba to sell liquid crystal display plants
AMD chips away at Intel market share in Q4: iSuppli
|
Prosecutors urge rejection of new Polanski request
Kapoor tower to dominate London stadium
Indonesian soldiers beat children over bicycle
Teen star Justin Bieber tops U.S., Canada charts
Thrill seekers flout danger to see Icelandic volcano
Lebanese inmates stitch their way out of prison
Bruce Lee's daughter thrilled by his legacy
Hard-hit journalists seek laughs for good cause
'Nothing like Australia' aims to recapture tourist dollar
New film has Japan vets confessing to Nanjing rape
Teen star Justin Bieber tops U.S., Canada charts
|
The Wire and ER writer David Mills dies
|
Critics sing the blues over Miley Cyrus movie
|
Prosecutors urge rejection of new Polanski request
|
5th Grader returning for Season 2 in syndication
|
TNT taps Justin Timberlake, Jamie Foxx to hype NBA
|
China Web filter rules risky for providers-USTR
Iran envoy in China as sanctions push builds
Amazon strikes twin electronic book deals: WSJ
Obama sends Afghan war report to Congress
Iran envoy in China as sanctions push builds
|
ElBaradei blasts Mideast policy 'failure'
Car blast kills two in Russia's Dagestan: agency
|
Reviews praise iPad battery life, ease of use
World raises nearly 10 bln dlrs for quake-hit Haiti
Six powers to start work on Iran sanctions
Vatican attacks New York Times over abuse coverage
|
Amazon, publishers strike e-book pricing deal: report
US extends tanker deadline to allow EADS bid: Pentagon
Six powers united on Iran sanctions talks
Some Yahoo email accounts hacked in China, Taiwan
Justin Bieber Earns First #1 Album On Billboard With "My World 2.0"
Donors pledge billions for Haiti aid
|
Turkish court frees 9 officers in army coup plot
YouTube redesigns website to keep viewers captivated
Northeast Storms Bring Flooding
No caning sentence for beer-drinking Malaysia woman
|
Obama Proposes Opening Huge Parts of U.S. Coasts to Oil Drilling
VC fund for iPhone app developers doubles to $200 million
U.S. Markets End March On Down Note As Jobs Data Weighs
Reviews praise iPad battery life, ease of use
Vienna Cardinal: Church must accept guilt on abuse
|
US must broaden Myanmar outreach: study
Iceland's erupting volcano forms new craters
|
DC crowd sprayed with bullets had been to funeral
New England flooding drowns homes and dreams
Iran top nuclear envoy arrives in China for talks
U.S. Democrats lie low after healthcare victory
China ready for Iran UN sanctions talks: US
Malaysian ruler commutes caning sentence on woman
US lawyer wants to question pope on child sex cases
NZ says pursuing slight hope of cutting whale cull
Pakistan moves closer to renaming volatile region
Aust. police hunt alleged Balkans war criminal
Chinese rescuers hopeful some miners still alive
Weather prevents dive searches for SKorea sailors
Seoul shares post 10-wk closing high; autos rally
Japanese start buying affordable electric cars
Chinese director secretly makes film on 1994 fire
PAKISTAN
Counting a billion: India begins new census
Cracks mar Berlin Holocaust memorial anniversary
Surveys: China manufacturing accelerated in March
Special Report: iPad striptease: It's what's inside that counts
|
S.Korea March data underscores fragile recovery
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Seoul shares rise on techs, foreign buying
"Mad Men" shaking up Emmy submissions
Oil producers, consumers step up cooperation
Reviews praise iPad battery life, ease of use
|
"American Idol" road to fame ends for Didi Benami
Survey: China manufacturing accelerated in March
Egypt sex selection clinics engender controversy
"Clash of the Titans" set to win box office battle
Japan's business confidence grows for fourth quarter
IMF says NZ dollar overvalued 10-25 pct, kiwi falls
Paul McCartney thrills L.A. crowd with hits, tales
Amazon, publishers strike e-book pricing deal: report
|
Porn accusations shock "Spartacus" producer
Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn gets "Law & Order" role
Clash of the Titans set to win box office battle
|
American Idol road to fame ends for Didi Benami
|
Mad Men shaking up Emmy submissions
|
Paul McCartney thrills L.A. crowd with hits, tales
|
Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn gets Law & Order role
|
Steve Miller records two albums after 17-year break
|
Mars radar could help find water in Mideast: NASA
Medvedev makes surprise visit to Dagestan
US-TECH Summary
New blast in Russia as Moscow victims buried
U.S. envoy in crisis talks after Sudan election pullout
Russia's Medvedev visits North Caucasus after bombings
|
U.S. envoy in crisis talks after Sudan vote pullout
|
Srebrenica survivors lose challenge to UN immunity
Sherpa to carry Hillary's ashes to Everest summit
US extends tanker plane deadline to allow EADS bid
Fourteen killed in India Kashmir clashes
|
IM GAY Advocate Found Dead Two Days After Filing Police Brutality Complaint
Casino Offers "Winner" Breakfast Instead Of $42 Million
Human Remains May Be That Of Missing South Florida Family
Nigeria charges 20 with terrorism in Jos attacks
|
Sri Lanka's president urges Tamil voters to trust him
|
Poll: Alabama Rep. Artur Davis Leads Democrats In Governor Race
Oklahoma Authorities ID Bodies As Kidnapper, Victim
Police Seek Fourth Suspect In D.C. Shootings
US envoy in Khartoum talks to rescue Sudan vote
Indonesian graft busters hail official's detention
Comedian And Director Victor Varnado Discusses New Comedy Special Awkward Comedy Show
Africa must promote investment to develop: Blair
|
Pro-Life Activist Convicted Of Killing Abortion Doctor To Be Sentenced
India begins world's biggest head count
Militia suspect denies he was involved in any plot
Man Accidentally Shoots Himself In The Leg With Bedside Gun
Philippines' Estrada fighting to finish business
Melissa Joan Hart, Nikki Blonsky Among Stars To Appear In New ABC Family Shows
Turkish ambassador to return to US soon: diplomat
Workaholic ICC prosecutor hunts war criminals
|
Iran nuclear crisis needs 'peaceful' answer: Beijing
Six killed in Thailand's insurgency-plagued south
|
Malaysia beer-drinking model 'escapes caning'
Robin Williams' 'rednecks' jibe angers Aussie PM
Astronauts get go ahead for Good Friday launch
India launches what it calls world's biggest census
Pakistani troops kill 28 militants in northwest
Japan to indict activist who boarded whaling ship
China's SAIC Motor 2009 net profit jumps over 900%
EU probes complaint over Indian steel subsidies
China's BAIC wants to invest in Saab: report
China's Sina says reassessing Google partnership
Pakistan stocks at 19-month high on foreign interest
Nokia says wins China deals worth over $2 billion
|
Indian car sales show strong annual growth
Toyota Japan sales booming despite global recalls
Just a Minute: Miley Cyrus on "Last Song", first love
Work starts on hydropower project in Cambodia
UK band Libertines reforms ahead of festival gig
Toyota brand sales up 50.7% in Japan on-year in March
Doherty's ex-band Libertines reforms for UK gigs
Job exposure to chemicals 'boosts breast cancer risk'
Video of smoking, swearing child shocks Indonesia
Just a Minute: Miley Cyrus on Last Song, first love
|
Musician remixes anti-war hit 19 for Afghanistan
|
UK band Libertines reforms ahead of festival gig
|
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