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
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
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
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
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:
Voters head to polls in Indian Kashmir
By AIJAZ HUSSAIN,Associated Press Writer AP - 1 hour 21 minutes ago
SRINAGAR, India - Voters cast their ballots in the fifth phase of state elections in Indian Kashmir on Saturday as thousands of government forces patrolled the streets and guarded polling stations amid scattered clashes with protesters.
Police fired warning shots and swung batons to drive away protesters in Koil, a village 16 miles (25 kilometers) south of Srinagar, the region's main city, a police official said.
Anti-India sentiment runs deep in Kashmir, where most people either favor independence or a merger with Pakistan. Kashmir is divided between the two rival countries and both claim it in its entirety.
Militant separatist groups have been fighting since 1989 to end Indian rule. The uprising and a subsequent Indian crackdown have killed about 68,000 people, most of them civilians.
The police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy, said hundreds of protesters chanting anti-election and pro-independence slogans besieged police on two sides and hurled rocks and other objects at them.
There were no immediate reports of serious injuries.
The violence halted voting at polling booths in Koil, he said, and protests were also reported at two other nearby villages.
Muslim separatist leaders have called for a boycott of the elections, saying they will only entrench India's hold on the restive region.
However, early voting turnout was high, despite the security and the chilly temperature.
More than 800,000 of the state's 6.5 million eligible voters live in the 11 areas where voting was talking place Saturday.
The elections come after some of the largest protests against Indian rule in Jammu-Kashmir, the country's only Muslim-majority state, and a tough crackdown on separatist leaders.
The elections for the state legislature started Nov. 17 and are to be held in seven phases through Dec. 24. Voting has been largely peaceful during the previous four phases with a higher than expected turnout of more than 60 percent.
The staggered balloting allows the government to deploy thousands of security forces in each area in an attempt to prevent a repeat of deadly violence during the 2002 elections and thwart separatist attempts to enforce the poll boycott.
More than 30 leaders who called for an election boycott have been detained in recent months under a law that allows police to hold people for up to two years without trial.
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
Asian powers seek action on economy, NKoreaAFP - 12 minutes ago
Taiwan media urge fair trial for indicted ex-presidentAFP - 46 minutes ago
Sri Lanka says 10 rebels killed in fightingAP - 53 minutes ago
Voters head to polls in Indian KashmirAP - 1 hour 21 minutes ago
Japan, SKorean leaders regret NKorean talks failureAFP - 1 hour 30 minutes ago
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
US carmakers mull options as White House vows aid
US Senate fails to reach deal on auto bailout
Autism, other disorders linked to post-natal factors: study
Muslim pilgrims stone Satan at the hajj
Sarcasm finds medical use in dementia detection
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular