Top Asian News at 4:31 p.m. GMTKATMANDU, Nepal — Nepal’s prime minister fired the army chief on Sunday after accusing him of defying government orders, prompting a key party to quit the coalition government and plunging the Himalayan country into a political crisis that could endanger its peace process. Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets of the capital to demonstrate both for and against the decision by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former Maoist rebel leader. Top Asian News at 7:00 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 6:31 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 6:00 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 5:30 p.m. GMTQINGDAO, China — A future Chinese aircraft carrier may worry neighboring navies because Beijing has not specified what role the warship would play in the region, the U.S. chief of Naval Operations said Tuesday. China, meanwhile, said a more powerful navy would not pose a threat as it mulls adding its first aircraft carrier to an increasingly sophisticated fleet. Top Asian News at 5:00 p.m. GMTKATMANDU, Nepal — Nepal’s prime minister fired the army chief Sunday after a struggle over admitting former Maoist rebel fighters to the military, sparking mass protests and jeopardizing the survival of the country’s first elected government. The army chief’s dismissal prompted a key political party to withdraw from the ruling coalition and frayed already tense relations between the government, dominated by former Maoist rebels, and the military they long fought. Top Asian News at 4:30 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 4:00 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 3:30 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 3:01 p.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — A torturous wait by the families of 23 captive Filipinos ended Tuesday as Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker after holding the crew for more than five months in the Gulf of Aden. Catherine Borretta broke into tears after receiving a mobile phone message that her husband Rodell — a second mate on the Philippine ship MT Stolt Strength — was released with the others. Top Asian News at 2:30 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 2:00 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 1:30 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. Government forces say they rescued thousands of civilians on Monday after they broke through a barrier built by the rebels to protect their territory. By Tuesday evening, the military said 52,000 had escaped. Top Asian News at 1:00 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. As government forces have pushed the rebels into an ever-shrinking sliver of territory, both sides have accused the other of endangering civilians. Rights groups say the rebels are holding many against their will to use as human shields. But those groups have also accused the government of indiscriminate shelling in the tightly packed region in its bid to end the 25-year war. Top Asian News at 12:30 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. The military denied the accusation. As government forces have pushed the rebels into an ever-shrinking sliver of territory, both sides have accused the other of endangering civilians. Rights groups say the rebels are holding many against their will to use as human shields. But those groups have also accused the government of indiscriminate shelling in the tightly packed region in its bid to end the 25-year war. Top Asian News at 12:00 p.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels said Tuesday that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory that the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. On Monday, Sri Lankan soldiers broke through a barrier that the Tamil Tiger rebels had erected to defend their ever-shrinking slice of territory. Some 35,000 civilians then poured out of the area and the exodus continued Tuesday. The government said more than 50,000 have fled thus far, and the figure was expected to rise. Top Asian News at 11:30 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker and its 23 Filipino crew members Tuesday after holding them hostage in the Gulf of Aden for more than five months, the ship owner and officials said. The release came a day after a separate group of bandits freed the Lebanese-owned food aid freighter MV Sea Horse after receiving $100,000 from Somali businessmen. At least 16 other ships with nearly 300 crew remain in the hands of Somali pirates. Top Asian News at 11:01 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker and its 23 Filipino crew members Tuesday after holding them hostage in the Gulf of Aden for more than five months, the ship owner and officials said. The release came a day after a separate group of bandits freed the Lebanese-owned food aid freighter MV Sea Horse after receiving $100,000 from Somali businessmen. At least 16 other ships with nearly 300 crew remain in the hands of Somali pirates. Top Asian News at 10:30 a.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Thousands more civilians fled Sri Lanka’s northern war zone Tuesday, bringing the exodus of the past two days to nearly 50,000 as a government deadline passed for separatist Tamil rebels to surrender. The 24-hour ultimatum expired at noon (0630 GMT) Tuesday without a response from the rebels, who are cornered in a sliver of coastal territory amid signs they are facing total defeat after a 25-year fight for an independent, ethnic Tamil homeland. Top Asian News at 10:00 a.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Thousands more civilians fled Sri Lanka’s northern war zone Tuesday, bringing the exodus of the past two days to nearly 50,000 as a government deadline passed for separatist Tamil rebels to surrender. The 24-hour ultimatum expired at noon (0630 GMT) Tuesday without a response from the rebels, who are cornered in a sliver of coastal territory amid signs they are facing total defeat after a 25-year fight for an independent, ethnic Tamil homeland. Top Asian News at 9:30 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker and its 23 Filipino crew members Tuesday after holding them hostage in the Gulf of Aden for more than five months, the ship owner and officials said. The release came a day after a separate group of bandits freed the Lebanese-owned food aid freighter MV Sea Horse after receiving $100,000 from Somali businessmen. At least 16 other ships with nearly 300 crew remain in the hands of Somali pirates. Top Asian News at 9:00 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker and its 23 Filipino crew members Tuesday after holding them hostage in the Gulf of Aden for more than five months, the ship owner and officials said. The release came a day after a separate group of bandits freed the Lebanese-owned food aid freighter MV Sea Horse after receiving $100,000 from Somali businessmen. At least 16 other ships with nearly 300 crew remain in the hands of Somali pirates. Top Asian News at 8:30 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker and its 23 Filipino crew members Tuesday after holding them hostage in the Gulf of Aden for more than five months, the ship owner and officials said. The release came a day after a separate group of bandits freed the Lebanese-owned food aid freighter MV Sea Horse after receiving $100,000 from Somali businessmen. At least 16 other ships with nearly 300 crew remain in the hands of Somali pirates. Top Asian News at 8:00 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker and its 23 Filipino crew members Tuesday after holding them hostage in the Gulf of Aden for more than five months, the ship owner and officials said. The release came a day after a separate group of bandits freed the Lebanese-owned food aid freighter MV Sea Horse after receiving $100,000 from Somali businessmen. At least 16 other ships with nearly 300 crew remain in the hands of Somali pirates. Top Asian News at 7:30 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker and its 23 Filipino crew members Tuesday after holding them hostage for more than five months, a spokesman for the Philippine ship owner said. Securing the safe release of the crew and the vessel was “difficult and protracted” and the company was “extremely pleased” with the result, Capt. Dexter Custodio, spokesman for Sagana Shipping Inc., said in a statement. Top Asian News at 7:00 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker and its 23 Filipino crew members Tuesday after holding them hostage for more than five months, a spokesman for the Philippine ship owner said. Securing the safe release of the crew and the vessel was “difficult and protracted” and the company was “extremely pleased” with the result, Capt. Dexter Custodio, spokesman for Sagana Shipping Inc., said in a statement. Top Asian News at 6:30 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — A Philippine shipping company says Somali pirates have freed a tanker and its crew of 23 Filipinos after holding them hostage for more than five months. Capt. Dexter Custodio said the vessel was released Tuesday. Custodio is the spokesman for Sagana Shipping Inc., owner of the MT Stolt Strength. Top Asian News at 6:00 a.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Tens of thousands of civilians fled Sri Lanka’s northern war zone in a record exodus ahead of the government’s deadline Tuesday for separatist Tamil rebels there to surrender, officials said. More than 39,000 civilians arrived at military checkpoints on Monday, within hours of a military operation that saw Sri Lankan soldiers break through a barrier that the Tamil Tiger rebels had erected to defend their ever-shrinking slice of territory along the northern coast. Top Asian News at 5:30 a.m. GMTCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Tens of thousands of civilians fled Sri Lanka’s northern war zone in a record exodus ahead of the government’s deadline Tuesday for separatist Tamil rebels there to surrender, officials said. More than 39,000 civilians arrived at military checkpoints on Monday, within hours of a military operation that saw Sri Lankan soldiers break through a barrier that the Tamil Tiger rebels had erected to defend their ever-shrinking slice of territory along the northern coast. |
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