Gillani sworn in as Pakistan's 25th PM

Islamabad, March 25 : Yousuf Raza Gillani, a Bhutto loyalist, was today sworn-in as Pakistan's 25th Prime Minister and he vowed to strengthen Parliament, as two top US envoys held talks in an apparent attempt to seek the new government's support for the 'war on terror'.

Clad in a black traditional sherwani, the 55-year-old journalism post-graduate from Punjab province was administered the oath of office by President Pervez Musharraf, who faced fresh calls from former premier and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to step down.

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher held talks with both Musharraf and Sharif. But Sharif's remarks after the meeting appeared to suggest that the new government would not toe the US line when he said Pakistan wanted to see peace everywhere in the world but not at the cost of its own security.

Both Gillani and Sharif spoke of Parliament's supremacy and that it would decide all national issues.

In a snub to Musharraf, key coalition leaders including Benazir Bhutto's widower Asif Ali Zardari, her son Bilawal and Nawaz Sharif, stayed away from the swearing-in at the central hall of Aiwan-e-Sadr or presidency.

After the stiff ceremony, the new premier said Pakistan's 160 million people had voted for change in last month's elections in which PPP emerged as the single largest party.

"It's a reflection, the way people voted, of what kind of manifesto and government they wanted to bring to power," said Gilani who appeared to take on Musharraf yesterday when he ordered the immediate release of judges detained by the President under emergency rule in November.

But he added that he would "like to strengthen parliament and the presidency is part of it." Musharraf on his part said "I will always extend my fullest cooperation to him(Gillani) I congratulate him."

Thimphu, Mar 25: The new democratic Bhutan government led by Druk Phuensum Tshogpa party, which has promised to pursue 'exemplary and mutually beneficial' ties with India, is likely to be in place within a month, party leaders said here today, while vowing to 'consolidate' the monarchy's policies.

"We are in the process of finalising our team which will be endorsed by the executive committee of the party," former prime minister Yeshey Zimba said, a day after the Himalayan kingdom became world's youngest democracy.

The government will consolidate on the policies adopted by the kings over the years, Zimba said adding, "we don't need a change in our policy because that is the best policy and we want to continue it." Headed by former prime minister Jigme Thinley, the new government will have 10 ministers, he said.

The party, which won 44 out of 47 seats in yesterday's polls, thrashing the People's Democratic Party, had vowed in its election manifesto to "carry forward the exemplary and mutually beneficial cooperation that is the hallmark of relations between India and Bhutan and deepen economic ties." Former foreign secretary Ugyen Tshering, who emerged victorious from the North Thimphu seat, attributed the party's huge victory to the 'well-planed approach to the elections'.

The party will attach highest importance to bilateral and multilateral relations and play an active role in promoting regional and international understanding and cooperation, Tshering added.

Meanwhile, DPT spokesman Palden Tshering said there will be female representation in the council of ministers. Four women candidates from the party have won seats.

Gillani says he'll work with Musharraf to tackle Pak problems

Islamabad, Mar 25:Pakistan's new Premier Yousuf Raza Gillani today said he would strengthen Parliament and work with President Pervez Musharraf to tackle problems confronting the country, a day after taking on the former military ruler by ordering release of judges sacked and detained during last year's emergency rule.

Noting that last month's general election had thrown up a "split mandate", Gillani said "the job of pulling Pakistan out of the crises confronting it is not the job of one party. All forces have to come together to tackle these problems." Speaking to reporters along with Musharraf after he was sworn-in by the President, Gillani made it clear he would work with everyone to tackle pressing issues like the fight against terrorism and Pakistan's economic problems.

"For this we need the support of everyone. What is Parliament? Parliament is the President, the National Assembly and the Senate. We will work for the supremacy of Parliament so that we can unite to pull the country out of crises," he said. "As an old parliamentarian and from my personal experiences, I have learnt that institutions must be strengthened." Hours after the 55-year-old Gillani, a Bhutto loyalist, was elected Premier by Parliament yesterday, deposed chief justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry was freed from house arrest after over four months. "I order all the detained judges to be released immediately," Gillani had said.

Musharraf today assured Gillani that he would always have his support. "If all forces move together in a balanced manner, it will be very good. But in this, the Prime Minister will have a greater role and he will always have my support," he said.

Washington, Mar 25 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee met US President George W Bush here at the White House and discussed the entire gamut of bilateral ties, including the civil nuclear deal.

The 35-minute meeting, held at the Oval Office yesterday afternoon, was described as one in which the atmospherics were said to have been excellent and cordial.

Bush and Mukherjee are said to have exchanged not only pleasantries but also discussed the width and depth of the United States-India relations that included the civilian nuclear initiative.

Specific details of the meeting have not been made available to the media excepting the point that the Indian Minister would like to describe them first hand at the press conference, now scheduled for today.

"You will know tomorrow from the Minister" was all that a senior official would say when asked of the details of the Mukherjee-Bush meeting.

Apart from the Minister, the Indian delegation at the Oval Office were the Ambassador of India, Ronen Sen, the Foreign Secretary Sivshankar Menon, the Deputy Chief of the Indian Mission here Raminder Singh Jassal and the Joint Secretary( Americas) of the Ministry of External Affairs, Gayatri Kumar.

Present with Bush were his Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and his National Security Advisor, Stephen Hadley.

Beijing, March 25: China today slammed as "shameful" the attempt to disrupt the Greek torch lighting ceremony for the Beijing Olympics and said the countries through which the flame will pass had an "obligation" to ensure the relay is smooth.

China, which has invested billions of dollars and high prestige into the Olympics, said it was "not embarrassed" by the incident yesterday at the archaeological site that played host to the Olympic Games in ancient Greece when some demonstrators sympathetic to the Tibetan cause broke police cordon and tried to disrupt the torch lighting ceremony.

"The holy fire represents the goodwill and pursuit of mankind. Any acts aimed at disrupting the torch relay and the Olympic Games is shameful," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular news briefing here.

He said the attempt was a violation of the Olympic spirit and common will of the people of the world. "It (embarrassment) should not be on the Chinese side. It should be for those who tried to disrupt the torch relay." Qin said China has confidence and the capability to ensure a smooth torch relay and the success of Olympics.

He also said that the plan to take the Olympic torch to the summit of Mount Everest remains unchanged despite attempts to disrupt the ceremony in Greece.

"It (disruption) does not speak for the world's people. People around the world welcome the Olympic torch relay and support the successful Beijing Olympics and smooth relay," he said.

Qin said competent authorities in countries where the Olympic torch will pass through had an "obligation" to ensure that it was smooth.