Nov 18 (Reuters) - Here are the latest developments in
Pakistan on Sunday:
HEADLINES
* U.S. envoy Negroponte prods Musharraf to end emergency
rule, warning it is "not compatible" with free and fair elections
due by early January and could undermine them.
Negroponte praised Musharraf's role in the fight against al
Qaeda and Taliban militants, saying Washington valued its
partnership with their ally, but was blunt in urging him to lift
emergency rule. He also called on Musharraf to release thousands
of opposition figures who have been rounded up and imprisoned,
and to stick to his word to quit as army chief.
* Musharraf, defending emergency rule, says Pakistan's
nuclear arms will not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands
while the military is in control of them.
* The New York times reports that for the past six years the
Bush administration has had a multi-million-dollar to secure
Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
* Two leading private television stations say they have been
forced to shut down.
* At least 30 people have been killed and more than 100
wounds in clashes between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims in a
Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border
QUOTES
"Emergency rule is not compatible with free, fair and
credible elections. Recent political actions against protesters,
suppression of the media and the arrests of political and human
rights leaders, runs directly counter to reforms that have been
undertaken in recent years ... I've urged the government of
Pakistan to stop such actions, to lift the state of emergency and
release all political detainees." - U.S. Deputy Secretary of
State John Negroponte.
"They cannot fall into the wrong hands, if we manage
ourselves politically. The military is there -- as long as the
military is there, nothing happens to the strategic assets, we
are in charge and nobody does anything with them." - Pakistan
President Pervez Musharraf.
"President Pervez Musharraf put tremendous pressure to
silence a media outlet which had refused to bow down to his
dictates" - Geo TV's Web site (www.geo.tv) after Pakistan's
biggest television network was forced to close down.
"Pressure by Gen. Musharraf, a notorious press freedom
predator, on the Dubai authorities constitutes outrageous
interference." - Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, urging
Dubai to reverse the decision to shut down Geo TV and ARY One
World, which broadcasts news from Dubai Media City.
* * * * *
For related stories please click within the square brackets:
NEWS
> U.S. envoy warns Pakistan emergency undermines poll [nCOL23152]
> U.S. helps Pakistan protect nuclear arms - NY Times [nB162233]
> Pakistan's private TVs say forced to shut down [nL1634292]
> Musharraf: army will keep control of nuclear arms [nL17225498]
> Sectarian clashes in tribal area; 30 killed [nL17195871]
MARKETS
> Pakistani money market tight; more discounting [nISL32274]
> Pakistan closing rupee rates in the kerb market [nISLAKRUP]
> Pakistani stocks rise in listless trade [nISL337224]
FACTBOXES, NEWSMAKER AND CHRONOLOGY
> Chronology-Pakistan in crisis [ID:nL13550080]
> Facts about Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf [ID:nL04384506]
> Judges,militants bring out authoritarian nature [ID:nISL211810]
> Pakistan President Musharraf's highs and lows [ID:nB270515]
> Facts on Pakistan's ex-PM Benazir Bhutto [ID:nL03600226]
> TEXT-Key excerpts of emergency rule [ID:nCOL207023]
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(World Desk, Singapore, +65 6870 3817)
Keywords: PAKISTAN/SNAPSHOT AT 0500 GMT