Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt relieved Yawar Saeed of his duties at Saeed’s own request, the board said.
The 75-year-old Saeed had hinted about stepping down before the tour began in June and denied that his decision to go was connected to the allegations that marred the team’s tour of England.
The allegations surfaced after British newspaper News of the World claimed that alleged bookie Mazhar Majeed paid several Pakistani players to deliberately bowl no-balls during last month’s Lord’s Test against England.
Scotland Yard raided the team’s hotel in London, and interrogated Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir and Wahab Riaz.
So far no charges have been brought against Pakistani players.
The International Cricket Council has provisionally suspended Salman, Asif and Aamir.
“I had requested the PCB chairman to relieve me of the duties before the England tour... nor it is linked to the tour of England,” Saeed told reporters.
Saeed is the son of Mian Mohammad Saeed, who led Pakistan in their first unofficial Test in 1948, and brother-in-law to the late fast bowler Fazal Mahmood.
Pakistan’s next assignment is a neutral venue series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates, starting next month.
Saeed is likely to be replaced by Shafqat Rana, assistant manager on the England tour.
Two Apache helicopters from the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan are said to have taken part in the weekend's operation.
It followed an attack by insurgents on an Afghan security outpost in Khost.
The BBC's Ian Pannell in the Afghan capital, Kabul, says that although manned military raids over the border are not unprecedented, it will no doubt prove controversial in Pakistan.
In a statement, Isaf said Afghan forces in the eastern province of Khost were attacked on Friday by "a significant number of insurgents".
"An air team in the area observed the enemy fire, and following International Security Assistance Force rules of engagement, crossed into the area of enemy fire."
Isaf told the BBC its aircraft killed 49 insurgents.
On Saturday, two Apache helicopters came under small-arms fire from the same area and again crossed the border, killing four to six insurgents, said Isaf.
Pakistani media said fighters from the Haqqani network, a branch of the Afghan Taliban which operates in Pakistan, died in the Nato air raids.
An Isaf spokesman, Sgt Matt Summers, confirmed the helicopters had crossed into Pakistan.
But he did not reveal the location of the operation or say which Isaf countries' forces were involved.
American forces regularly use drone aircraft for missile strikes in Pakistan's tribal belt, but manned air raids across the border are rare.
Isaf's force was established by the UN in late 2001 with a stated mission of promoting security and development; it is also training Afghan soldiers and police.
Chennai produced a dominant performance to beat South Africa's Warriors by eight wickets in the Champions League final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg and collect the $2.5 million prize.
The Indian team cruised to 132-2, and a convincing win, after restricting the home favorites to 128-7.
Spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and man-of-the-tournament Ravichandran Ashwin combined for five wickets, and openers Murali Vijay and Mike Hussey made half-centuries in a near-perfect, all-around performance from Chennai in the decider.
''Winning the IPL and now the Champions League, it's a very emotional moment for us,'' Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said.
''The senior players have really done a good job. The environment has been superb ... it can't get any better than this.''
Muralitharan's superb 3-16 and Ashwin's 2-16 killed off the Warriors' hopes of posting a competitive total.
Vijay hit 58 to become competition's highest run-scorer and put on a 103-run opening partnership with Hussey, who made 51 not out. It was the Indian team's second win over the Warriors at the tournament.
Dhoni fired a four down to long-on for the winning runs.
''We're disappointed,'' Warriors skipper Davy Jacobs said. ''They beat us twice in the competition and they deserve to win it. We couldn't get over the line but we're still happy.''
Chennai swept the awards as Ashwin's two wickets ensured he topped the wicket-takers, with 13 in six matches. He finished ahead of teammates Muralitharan (12) and Doug Bollinger (9).
''There's nothing more special than finishing the tournament with a victory,'' Ashwin said.
The offspinner's victims in the final included Jacobs for 34. The Warriors skipper finished second in the run list behind Vijay.
Jacobs hit eight fours in a rapid start but was out lbw to Ashwin. Muralitharan then grabbed two wickets in an over, dismissing Mark Boucher and Justin Kreusch in the 14th as the Warriors fell away.
Craig Thyssen made 25 from 18 balls before he was out to Muralitharan as the Port Elizabeth-based team limped to 128-7.
Chennai waited until the 13th over before the first six of its innings, from Vijay, as it cantered rather than raced to the victory target.
Vijay overtook Jacobs as overall top run-scorer when he reached 51. He was finally caught on the long-off boundary by Kreusch off spinner Nick Boogie, to finish with 296 runs in six innings _ at an average of 49.00.
''After we limited them to 120-odd, we just wanted to go out there and play our natural game,'' Vijay said. ''Hussey and I just tried to play naturally and we did it.
I've been working hard and it's a great tournament to be part of.''
Suresh Raina also fell attempting a big hit for the Warriors' second wicket, but Dhoni ended the encounter with a six and two fours in the 19th over as Chennai powered home for its second major Twenty20 prize in 2010.
The game was also South African umpire Rudi Koertzen's last major appearance. The 61-year-old Koertzen, who retired from international cricket in July, stood in 108 tests, 209 ODIs and 14 T20 internationals in an 18-year career.
All eyes are already focused on the Supreme Court for Monday morning when the judiciary resumes hearing the all-important cases of the 18th Amendment, implementation of its judgment on the NRO, appointment of NRO beneficiaries at key posts and missing people. Each one of them has a bearing on the survival of the PPP-led political dispensation. The fireworks are predicted to start in the courtroom where a summary prepared by the law ministry and approved by the prime minister will be presented.
It says that the government cannot comply with SC’s directive of writing to the Swiss authorities to reopen a case against President Asif Zardari because he enjoys immunity under Article 248(2) of the Constitution. Part of the tense drama, however, will be played out at a meeting between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the army chief, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, set for the afternoon and a dinner hosted by President Zardari for all PPP MNAs and senators.
SC’s renewed attention to implementation of the NRO verdict, particularly reopening of the Swiss case, appears to have started to get on the nerves of the Pakistan People’s Party leadership.
This much was evident from recent statements by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and outbursts of certain PPP leaders, including some cabinet members, against the judiciary. Only this can explain Saturday’s statement by defence production minister Abdul Qayyum Jatoi who, perhaps after getting encouragement from his leaders, went to the extent of harshly criticising the chief justice and the army and ended up losing his cabinet position. Despite the prime minister’s decisive step to reprimand and sack Mr Jatoi, he spent most of the past week defending the party position of protecting President Zardari -- even at the cost of his government. More than once, he openly questioned SC’s powers to amend the Constitution. Speaking in the National Assembly, he categorically stated that the government “will respect the decisions of the judiciary but within the limits of the 1973 Constitution”. And for those who may still have some doubts about his mood, he threw the proverbial gauntlet in the Senate on Friday, when he declared that parliament had given powers to institutions, including immunity to the president, through the Constitution and only it could withdraw these. But his words were not accepted quietly; these merely added to the intensity of the battle of nerves already playing out.
Before long, Prime Minister Gilani’s words were contested by the opposition PML-N’s chief Nawaz Sharif who said the SC had the power to interpret the article of the Constitution dealing with the president’s immunity. Mr Sharif, whose party had voted for the 18th Amendment currently under scrutiny at the apex court, declared that his party would side with the SC in the event of a confrontation between the judiciary and the government. This appeared to have no impact on Mr Gilani; talking to a select group of TV anchors on Sunday evening, he ruled out any change in the present set-up though he did express the hope that the SC would not create an atmosphere of instability while delivering verdicts in the important cases. In a bid to sound confident and in charge of the situation, he told those present that he had held a meeting with the chief justice recently.
When some TV channels relayed this report, a spokesman for the Supreme Court clarified that “no formal meeting” had taken place between the two and that the chief justice and the prime minister had only exchanged Eid greetings. It turned out that the prime minister was referring to his Eid day embrace with the chief justice at Faisal Mosque. The prime minister also disclosed that he had talked to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif over telephone to discuss the situation. However, the prime minister’s multiple media appearances and condiment assertions did not stop the electronic media from spending the entire evening conjecturing what bouts of instability or worse the new week would bring. That the government may also share some of this apprehension is obvious from the measures being considered by the PPP. Sources told Dawn that the party leadership was contemplating getting resolutions adopted by the National Assembly, the Senate and all the four provincial assemblies saying that President Zardari enjoyed immunity under the Constitution.
However, a group within the party was opposed to this idea; in their opinion the step could worsen the already tense relationship between the judiciary and the government. Moreover, the party was also not sure of the support of some of its allies. In fact, it is believed that the prime minister had contacted the Punjab chief minister to discuss the plan with him and to seek his help.
The Boeing 777 landed safely at Stockholm’s Arlanda airport and was parked at a ramp away from the terminals as Swedish police prepared to board the aircraft and remove the man.
“We are not evacuating the plane,” Stockholm police spokeswoman Sussie Illum said. “We are going in to apprehend this person.”
Another police spokesman, Janne Hedlund, said the suspect was a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin.
“He is not on any list (of people banned from flying) and he’s been through the security check in Canada,” Hedlund said. “We’re in contact with the pilot. Everything is calm on board.”
Bomb technicians were heading to the scene but police didn’t see an immediate need to evacuate because the plane and the passengers had cleared security checks in Toronto.
The plane was on its way from Toronto to Karachi, Pakistan, when the pilot requested permission to land in Stockholm, Arlanda airport spokesman Anders Bredfell said. The airport remained open to air traffic.
In Pakistan, a spokesman for state-run Pakistan International Airlines confirmed the incident involved flight PK782 to Karachi.
“The plane has landed at the Stockholm airport due to security reasons, airline spokesman Sultan Hassan said.
Calls to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada’s public safety department were not immediately returned.
Abdullah made his remarks Thursday night during an appearance on the "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."
"If we fail on the 30th [of September], expect another war by the end of the year. And more wars in the region over the coming years," Abdullah said.
Abdullah was referring to the next round of peace talks that could start around the same time the moratorium on building Israeli settlements in the disputed West Bank territory is due to expire.
Tensions have been growing over the issue of possible new Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Israel has been under pressure from the Palestinians and the Obama administration to extend a 10-month moratorium on building Israeli settlements in the disputed West Bank territory.
That moratorium is set to expire Sunday.
Palestinians have said the construction would torpedo the talks, but Israel says some construction is likely.
Abdullah said he hoped this issue of settlements could be solved.
"If the issue of settlements are still at the table on 30th, then everybody walks away. If they do, how are we going to get people back in the near future. I don't see that happening," Abdullah told Stewart. "We are at a defining crossroads of whether we are going to go down in the abyss or not."
The Japanese authorities had accused Zhan Qixiong of deliberately ramming two patrol vessels near disputed islands in the East China Sea.
China had been demanding his immediate and unconditional release.
The move came after four Japanese men were detained in China on suspicion of illegally filming in a military area.
A Japanese foreign ministry spokesman said its embassy in Beijing had received confirmation that the four were being held, but he said he did not want to speculate whether it was linked to Japan's detention of a Chinese fishing boat captain.
Officials said the four men were employees of a Japanese construction company who were in China to bid for a project to dispose of chemical weapons from World War II.
“I don’t think it is a cultural thing. When you agree to host (a Games) you are required to provide the basics in terms of health and hygiene for the athletes,” Australia Olympic Committee president John Coates said.
“The Games shouldn’t have been awarded to Delhi in hindsight.”
As athletes begin arriving in Delhi, authorities are still working on completing Games venues, forcing some teams to take up temporary accommodation at hotels.
Cyclist Greg Henderson earlier on Friday became the first New Zealand athlete to withdraw over concerns about health and security.
Olympic cycling champion Geraint Thomas and three other Welsh riders also opted out of the Games, due to start on October 3.
India had hoped to use the Games to display its growing global economic and political influence, rivalling China.
Instead, they have become a major embarrassment for the government, which is trying to fend off criticism of poor construction, inadequate security and dirty accommodation.
The Games, held every four years for mostly former British colonies, are estimated to have cost $6 billion.
The Delhi Games may turn out to be the most compromised since a 1986 boycott of the Games in Britain, when 32 nations stayed away because of then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s government’s position over apartheid South Africa.
Several nations have voiced concern over the state of the Games. India, Asia’s third largest economy, was awarded the Games in 2003 but did not begin proper preparations until two years ago.
Australian and New Zealand prime ministers said they understood if their athletes decided not to take part.
But England said it would send 551 athletes to the Games because there were signs of improvement on the ground in New Delhi, and said the first group of 22 was leaving on Thursday.
Kenya said it would send a 240-strong team after receiving security assurances from India, officials said, though several of its top athletes have withdrawn because of illness or fatigue.
Wales also gave its team the all-clear to go.
New Zealand, Canada and Scotland have opted to delay their arrivals because of poor athletes’ accommodation at the New Delhi Games village, with heavy monsoon rain and a dengue epidemic adding to images of filthy apartments and roaming stray dogs.
Suspected militants shot and wounded two foreign visitors in New Delhi on Sunday.
“SECURITY IN PLACE”
Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Mike Hooper said he was hopeful the Games would get off the ground, given a new sense of urgency among Indian officials.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reviewed preparations with senior ministers, an official in his office said, in what was seen as a last-ditch effort to avoid teams withdrawing.
England said in a statement that its advance party “are now seeing the improved levels of resourcing which are required” but added that it would monitor the situation daily “to ensure the village and stadia are safe and fit for purpose”.
Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Delhi organising committee, said no team would pull out.
“I can assure you that security is well in place. Now if some people have their own conception (of security), I can’t help,” he told reporters.
In a sign of desperation, the federal government ordered the organising committee to hand over management of the Games Village, which will house 6,500 athletes, to the government.
By contrast, preparations for November’s Asian Games in China, which held a successful Olympics in 2008, are on track, with organisers in Guangzhou handing over the athletes’ village to the Asian Games authorities for sign-off this week.
Many sporting events have hit trouble before opening, such as the 2004 Athens Olympics, and some of Delhi’s infrastructure projects, including a new metro and airport, have won praise.
But polls in newspapers show that a vast majority of Indians are ashamed. Singh has been accused of failing to recognise that events like the Games carry huge international prestige. Much of the Congress-led government remains focused on its rural vote.
Organisers have sent more than 1,000 workers to clean the Games Village apartments.
New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie said organisers had ignored problems. “Every time we raised an issue (we were told) ‘yes that will be fixed tomorrow’, but you know clearly that it won’t be fixed tomorrow,” he said. “And they weren’t.”
World discus champion Dani Samuels of Australia pulled out because of concerns, as did England’s world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu. Four other champions have quit for various reasons, including injuries.
Triple Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt of Jamaica is the highest-profile athlete to skip the event.
A portion of false ceiling in the weightlifting venue caved in on Wednesday, a day after the collapse of a footbridge by the main stadium, injuring 27 workers.
KARACHI: One-day Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi Friday called Pakistan’s scandal-marred tour of England the “most difficult” of his career as the team staged a low-key return home after four gruelling months away.
An exhausted-looking Afridi flew in to Karachi with three team-mates while the rest of the squad arrived in Lahore in the early hours, with a phalanx of gun-toting policemen escorting the players out of both airports.
“It was tough because of the controversies and became very difficult to cope with, because every time we went out of the hotel people passed remarks against us,” Afridi told a scrum of reporters in Karachi.
“Because of the controversies on the tour, it was the most difficult tour of my 14-year career,” the explosive all-rounder added.
The tour ended on Wednesday with Pakistan losing the one-day series 3-2.
England also took the Test and Twenty20 series.
The tour will be remembered less for the on-field play and more for the off-field revelations by British tabloids that sparked investigations by Scotland Yard and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Allegations of spot-fixing in the Lord's Test against England engulfed Test captain Salman Butt along with bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif. All three were questioned by British police and returned home early to Pakistan.
The ICC launched another probe into a suspicious scoring pattern by Pakistan in the third one-day match at The Oval on September 17, prompting Pakistan's cricket chief to hurl corruption allegations in turn against England.
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday hired lawyers to reply to a legal notice filed by English officials demanding an “unreserved apology” over the allegations by PCB chairman Ijaz Butt.
Butt had accused England players of deliberately losing The Oval match in return for “enormous amounts of money”, prompting passionate denials by England. There was also an off-field altercation between rival players.
Afridi said team unity had remained intact despite the storm of controversy.
“The best part of the whole tour was that the players showed unity even in difficult times and gave a good fight in the one-day series against England,”he said, while also hinting at a return to Test cricket.
“I will think about it and if the team needs it, I may consider playing the Test series against South Africa,” he said, ahead of the Proteas encounters starting late next month on neutral turf in the United Arab Emirates.
Foreign teams have shunned tours of Pakistan since Sri Lanka were attacked by gunmen near Lahore's Gaddafi stadium in March 2009. Seven Sri Lankan players and a coach were wounded in the attack, which killed eight Pakistanis.
Pakistan began their troubled summer tour with matches against Australia in England, winning both Twenty20 matches and squaring the two-Test series 1-1.
Waqar, one of Pakistan's greatest bowlers, said the tour's length had taken its toll.“If you take into account the tour to Sri Lanka before we went to England, it was four months on the trot and the tour of England was difficult both on and off the field,” the coach said on his arrival in Lahore.
“We had successes against Australia which were pleasing,” Waqar added.
“But because of the controversies it was tough against England, because you need to go to extra effort to gee up the players when you see a report in the newspaper every other day.”
The provocative comments prompted the US delegation to walk out of Ahmadinejad's UN speech, where he also blamed the US as the power behind UN Security Council sanctions against Iran for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a technology that can be used as fuel for electricity generation or to build nuclear weapons.
Delegations from all 27 European Union nations followed the Americans out along with representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Costa Rica, an EU diplomat said.
Ahmadinejad said the US has allocated $80 billion to upgrade its nuclear arsenal and is not a fair judge to sit as a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council to punish Iran for its nuclear activities. Iran denies it is seeking a nuclear weapon.
The Iranian leader _ who has in the past cast doubt over the US version of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks _ also called for setting up an independent fact-finding UN team to probe the attacks. That, he said, would keep the terror assault from turning into what he has called a sacred issue like the Holocaust where ''expressing opinion about it won't be banned''.
Ahmadinejad did not explain the logic behind blaming the US for the terror attacks but said there were three theories:
_That a ''powerful and complex terrorist group'' penetrated US intelligence and defenses, which is advocated ''by American statesmen.''
_''That some segments within the US government orchestrated the attack to reverse the declining American economy and its grips on the Middle East in order also to save the Zionist regime. The majority of the American people as well as other nations and politicians agree with this view.''
After Ahmadinejad uttered those words, two American diplomats stood and walked out without listening to the third theory: That the attack was the work of ''a terrorist group but the American government supported and took advantage of the situation.''
Mark Kornblau, spokesman of the US Mission to the world body, issued a statement within moments of the walkout.
''Rather than representing the aspirations and goodwill of the Iranian people,'' he said, ''Mr. Ahmadinejad has yet again chosen to spout vile conspiracy theories and anti-Semitic slurs that are as abhorrent and delusional as they are predictable.''
Ahmadinejad said the US used the Sept. 11 attacks as a pretext to invade Afghanistan and Iraq, killing hundreds of thousands of people. He argued that the US, instead, should have ''designed a logical plan'' to punish the perpetrators and not occupy two independent states and shed so much blood.
He boasted of the capture in February of Abdulmalik Rigi, the leader of an armed Sunni group whose insurgency in the southeast of Iran has destabilized the border region with Pakistan. He praised Iranian security forces for capturing him in an overseas operation without resorting to violence. Rigi was later hanged.
Ahmadinejad's attacks on the United States and the dispute over Iran's nuclear program dominated the opening of the General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned kings, prime ministers and presidents in his keynote address of the growing political polarization and social inequalities in the world and implored UN members to show greater tolerance and mutual respect to bring nations and peoples together.
''We hear the language of hate, false divisions between 'them' and 'us,' those who insist on 'their way' or 'no way,''' he said.
In times of such polarization and uncertainty, Ban said, ''let us remember, the world still looks to the United Nations for moral and political leadership.''
President Barack Obama, speaking soon after, echoed the secretary-general, warning that underneath challenges to security and prosperity ''lie deeper fears: that ancient hatreds and religious divides are once again ascendant; that a world which has grown more interconnected has somehow slipped beyond our control.''
The US president's 32-minute speech _ more than twice the allotted 15 minutes _ covered global hotspots from Iran and Afghanistan to the Mideast and North Korea.
Obama said Iran is the only party to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty ''that cannot demonstrate the peaceful intentions of its nuclear program'' and as a result the UN Security Council has imposed four rounds of increasingly tough sanctions.
''The United States and the international community seek a resolution to our differences with Iran, and the door remains open to diplomacy should Iran choose to walk through it,'' he said. ''But the Iranian government must demonstrate a clear and credible commitment, and confirm to the world the peaceful intent of its nuclear program.''
LONDON (Reuters) – The Titanic hit an iceberg in 1912 because of a basic steering error, and only sank as fast as it did because an official persuaded the captain to continue sailing, an author said in an interview published on Wednesday.Louise Patten, a writer and granddaughter of Titanic second officer Charles Lightoller, said the truth about what happened nearly 100 years ago had been hidden for fear of tarnishing the reputation of her grandfather, who later became a war hero.
Lightoller, the most senior officer to have survived the disaster, covered up the error in two inquiries on both sides of the Atlantic because he was worried it would bankrupt the ill-fated liner's owners and put his colleagues out of a job."They could easily have avoided the iceberg if it wasn't for the blunder," Patten told the Daily Telegraph.
Patten, who made the revelations to coincide with the publication of her new novel "Good as Gold" into which her account of events are woven, said that the conversion from sail ships to steam meant there were two different steering systems.
Once the mistake had been made, Patten added, "they only had four minutes to change course and by the time (first officer William) Murdoch spotted Hitchins' mistake and then tried to rectify it, it was too late."
Patten's grandfather was not on watch at the time of the collision, but he was present at a final meeting of the ship's officers before the Titanic went down.
There he heard not only about the fatal mistake but also the fact that J. Bruce Ismay, chairman of Titanic's owner the White Star Line persuaded the captain to continue sailing, sinking the ship hours faster than would otherwise have happened.
"If Titanic had stood still, she would have survived at least until the rescue ship came and no one need have died," Patten said.
An international forum held in Moscow Wednesday aimed to "present the world community with a picture of the region's future as it is seen by the Russian experts," according to Sergei Shoigu, the President of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS) who is also the country's Emergencies Minister.
The Arctic contains a vast wealth of untapped oil and natural gas, according to a report released in July 2010 by the U.S. Geological Survey.
It estimated that the amount of "undiscovered, technically recoverable" oil north of the Arctic Circle was more than double the amount that had been previously found in the Arctic. It added that the Arctic contained more than three times as much undiscovered gas as oil, most of which was in the Russian Arctic.
Russia has long sought to claim rights to the waters of the Arctic Ocean off Russia, including its much-publicized expedition to plant the Russian flag on the Arctic sea floor in August 2007.
He said it would include descriptions on potentially dangerous areas in the Arctic which may be of interest to companies working in the region.
Along with having the largest land mass in the Arctic, Russians account for half of the Arctic's population and the most populous towns above the Arctic Circle lie in Russia, according to the Russian Geographical Society.
"Russia is distinct from other Arctic nations in that a large share of its population actually lives in the Arctic region," Russian Presidential Advisor for Climate Alexander Bedritsky told the Arctic Forum.
While Russia counts for the bulk of Arctic land, seven other states have land in Arctic territory: Canada, Denmark (Greenland), the United States (Alaska), Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
No single country owns the geographic North Pole or the Arctic Ocean, which covers around one third of the total area. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the eight states have jurisdiction over waters extending 12 nautical miles from their shore, and their exclusive economic zones stretch up to 200 nautical miles into the Arctic Ocean.
Russia is among a number of countries seeking to extend their jurisdiction by gathering scientific data to back their case for consideration by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
Russia and Canada clashed as recently as last week over which country controls the Lomonosov Ridge, a mountain chain running underneath the Arctic.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russian explorers had confirmed that the ridge was a continuation of Russia's continental shelf, despite Canada's claims otherwise.
"The decision should be based on scientific facts. The Commission will solve who is right," Lavrov said, according to Russian news agency Itar-Tass News.
In August, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said establishing sovereignty in the Arctic was the country's "top foreign-policy priority."
"That is why we are making new and targeted investments, be they patrol ships, a new polar-class icebreaker, reinforcements to our Canadian Rangers, better monitoring of our airspace and seas and the list goes on," he said.
The melting of ice in the Arctic through climate change has opened up a region that was once inaccessible.
In mid-September, the U.S. National Ice and Snow Data Center at the University of Colorado reported that this summer the Arctic sea ice reached the third lowest level ever recorded.
"We are still looking at summers with an ice-free Arctic Ocean in perhaps 20 to 30 years," said Mark Serreze, University of Colorado geography professor and director of the NISDC.
Environmental group Greenpeace says Russia's decision to assemble international experts at a Moscow forum was a further attempt to stake its claim on the region's resources.
"The more people talk about it the better it is but I think the reality is that the gunfight has already started," said Charlie Kronick, group's senior climate advisor.
He said rather than "chasing the last drop of oil" governments would do better to spend their time and money making greater efforts to curb energy demand.
"What we would say is 'don't even think about digging this stuff up -- it is crazy at the moment and the first thing we need to do is to reduce demand,'" he said.
He added: "However big the notional oil and gas reserves are up in the Arctic, we have already got more oil and gas than we can afford to burn if we don't want to cook the climate."
But he insisted helping poor nations was in the US national interest.
He said the US would do its part to help lift millions out of poverty.
But with five years left to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Mr Obama said the world "must do better".
The eight MDGs were adopted in 2000, and include improving health care, increasing access to education and promoting equal rights for women.
"If the international community just keeps doing the same things the same way, we will miss many development goals," Mr Obama said.
He said it was in America's, and other rich nations', interests to help the world's poorer countries, despite the economic downturn.
"In our global economy, progress in even the poorest countries can advance the prosperity and security of people far beyond their borders, including my fellow Americans."
He said: "When millions of fathers cannot provide for their families, it feeds the despair that can fuel instability and violent extremism."
This would be done by working with co-operative nations to develop their economies over the long term.
Countries that were willing to create attractive environments for investment and trade would be helped, Mr Obama said.
He also said democracy and good governance would be encouraged and corruption fought.
"We know that countries are more likely to prosper when governments are accountable to their people. So we are leading a global effort to combat corruption.
"We will reach out to countries making the transition from authoritarianism to democracy, and from war to peace. The people of Liberia show that even after years of war, great progress can be achieved," Mr Obama added.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says this was a restrained, even humble speech, suggesting an America that wants to listen to others whilst still willing to lead on the global stage.
Earlier, US Deputy PM Nick Clegg confirmed that the UK was committed to increasing the money it gave in overseas aid, and called on other rich nations to follow its lead.
Mr Clegg told the UN that the UK would raise its spending on aid from 0.5% of annual economic output to 0.7% from 2013.
Earlier in the day the UN launched a $40bn (£25.5bn) health initiative aimed at saving the lives of 16 million women and children over the next five years.
Announcing the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said women and children "play a crucial role in development".
Dozens of people were wounded in the blast, which occurred during an annual military parade in the northwestern Kurdish town of Mahabad, Arabic-language television channel Al-Alam said.
“The explosion happened in the morning as people were watching the military parade and it left nine dead and dozens wounded, mostly women and children. The explosives were in a bag,” Al-Alam said.
Provincial governor Vahid Jalalzadeh confirmed the casualties to the official IRNA news agency.
“Counter-revolutionaries committed this savage act with the aim of taking revenge on the people of Mahabad” in West Azarbaijan province, he said.
The attack took place as Iran marked the 30th anniversary of the start of the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, during which army parades are traditionally staged across the country.
Western Iran, which has a sizeable Kurdish population, has seen deadly clashes in recent years between the Iranian security forces and Kurdish militant groups, mainly the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) operating from bases in neighbouring Iraq.
In Tehran earlier in the day, Iran's top military commander insisted that the Islamic republic's military power was for defensive purposes only.
“The increased military capability of Iran is only a deterrent against aggressors and for defending our country against enemy threats,” chief of staff Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said in a speech.
“We can confidently tell people that our military might is superior in the region but our military superiority is not limited to the number of planes and material calculations,” he boasted.
Firouzabadi, flanked by Iran's top military commanders, made the speech at a military parade where Iran's long-range Sejil, Shahab-3 and Ghadr-1 missiles were also showcased.
With a range of 1,800 to 2,000 kilometres, the missiles are theoretically capable of hitting Iran's archfoe Israel.
Iraq's Saddam Hussein attacked Iran on September 22, 1980, shortly after the Islamic revolution, starting an eight-year war during which an estimated one million people were killed on both sides.
During the Tehran parade, Iran also showed off five of its “bomber” drones Karar (“Assailant”), first unveiled in August and said to have a range of 1,000 kilometres. Iran touted the aerial drone as its home-grown capacity to resist attack.
Iran also paraded for the first time Wednesday a “Blue Beret” unit of 180 men as well as several armoured personnel-carriers emblazoned with UN insignia.
Iran's army chief Ataollah Salehi said that Iran “has been ready for several years to provide a group of peacekeeping soldiers to the United Nations”.
Iranian peacekeepers have already been “involved in several places such as Somalia and Eritrea,” he told reporters, without elaborating.
The United States and Israel accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons and have never ruled out a military strike to thwart its atomic programme, which Tehran insists is solely aimed at peaceful purposes.
Iranian officials have vowed a crushing response in the event of an attack, targeting US bases in the region and Israel, and threatening to block the oil passage in the Gulf.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during a New York meeting with US media on Tuesday warned that an attack on his country's nuclear facilities could spark a war with “no limits”.
As Iran presses on with its nuclear programme and stages regular war games showing off missiles and domestically-developed weaponry, it has also sought to allay concerns of its Arab neighbours across the Gulf that it poses no threat to them.
Saudi Arabia, however, is planning a 60-billion-dollar arms deal of advanced warplanes and helicopters with the United States, according to US defence officials this week.
Analysts say the purchase — which would represent the largest ever US arms deal — is to help counter the perceived threat from Iran.
The United States voiced concern, saying Iran's arms build-up would backfire as its neighbours gang up against it.
England to a crushing 121 run-victory against Pakistan as they took the five-match one-day series 3-2
Success meant England had won consecutive Test (3-1), Twenty20 (2-0) and limited overs series against a Pakistan side whose tour was overshadowed by 'spot-fixing' allegations.
Morgan made 107 not out in a total of 256 for six after England had slumped to 47 for three following captain Andrew Strauss's decision to bat first.
Former Ireland left-hander Morgan had previously made an unbeaten 103 as England beat Australia by four wickets in the first one-dayer at the Rose Bowl in June.
Shoaib Akhtar, in what could be the 35-year-old Pakistan fast bowler's last international in England, gave fans something to remember him by with three wickets for 40 runs, including an impressive opening spell of two for 17 in six blistering overs.
Pakistan, who had been 2-0 down in this series, saw openers Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez put on fifty in just 47 balls featuring 10 boundaries.
But Stuart Broad took two wickets in two balls to leave Pakistan 63 for two.
Hafeez went for 29, courtesy of the latest brilliant backward point catch by Paul Collingwood and fast bowler Broad then had Asad Shafiq caught behind by wicketkeeper Steven Davies.
Mohammad Yousuf survived the seamer's hat-trick but England had regained control of the match.
England then had a massive slice of luck when Kamran Akmal was given out lbw for 41 to medium-pacer Luke Wright by home umpire Ian Gould, despite edging onto his pad.
Off-spinner Graeme Swann, whose fifth delivery had seen Fawad Alam bowled in classic style, struck twice in two balls to remove Yousuf and Shahid Afridi - the Pakistan captain like Asif out for a first ball nought - to leave the tourists all but beaten at 104 for six.
Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 135 with 13 overs still left, Broad taking three for 25 and Swann three for 26.
Earlier, Morgan had a reprieve when on 31 he chipped off-spinner Hafeez down the ground and Yousuf held a fine catch over his shoulder.
But Yousuf, realising he could not stop himself from going over the boundary, threw the ball in-field to prevent a four only to turn his ankle as he slipped in the process, an injury that later meant he batted with a runner.
Morgan, on 91 when the last over started, struck off-spinner Saeed Ajmal straight for six and four off successive balls to complete a 97-ball century.
Jonathan Trott, whose pre-match confrontation with Wahab Riaz ahead of the tourists' victory at Lord's on Monday had fanned the flames of the 'fixing' controversy, walked out to a chorus of jeers.
And it wasn't long before Trott, cheered by England supporters as much as he was booed all match by Pakistan fans, was out for three after Akhtar's express off-cutter demolished his stumps.
Akhtar then had Strauss caught by diving wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.
Severe delays in the completion of the athletes’ village led Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell to contact the Indian government Tuesday and urge them to finish work on the accommodation – which many have described as “unlivable” – in time for the October 3-14 games.
“Many nations that have already sent their advanced parties to set up within the village have made it abundantly clear that, as of the afternoon of September 20th, the Commonwealth Games Village is seriously compromised,” Fennell said in a statement.
“The CGF has asked the Cabinet Secretary to immediately deploy the necessary resources to fix all the outstanding issues to an acceptable level.”
The athletes’ village is due to open to the first 7,000 athletes and officials on Thursday. The Times of India newspaper reported that only 18 of 34 residential towers at the village are complete.
New Zealand team manager Dave Currie said the games may not go ahead.
“In the time frame that is left, unless there is tremendous effort and energy and problem-solving ability to get it done, it’s going to be extremely hard to get across the line,” Currie told New Zealand radio network newstalkZB. “If the village is not ready and athletes can’t come, obviously the implications of that are that (the event) is not going to happen.”
Currie said New Zealand would consult with other countries before making a final decision on whether it will take part in the games.
“That’s not a decision that we’ll make (alone), but there are some realities,” he said.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key also weighed in.
“The areas (of concern) aren’t insurmountable although there are real concerns about whether they can be achieved in the timeframe,” he said, adding that it was “unlikely that New Zealand would make a call that other countries weren’t prepared to make.”
The build-up to the Commonwealth Games has been plagued by problems with construction of venues and infrastructure falling behind schedule, causing concern over the safety and quality of the buildings and speculation of corruption in the awarding of contracts and structural compliance certificates.
But the delays in construction have been overshadowed more recently by safety concerns, heightened on the weekend after two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle shot and wounded two tourists near the Jama Masjid, one of India’s biggest mosques.
Other countries also voiced concern about the athletes’ village.
Commonwealth Games Scotland said the area allocated to the team was “unsafe and unfit for human habitation,” while Commonwealth Games England said “there is a lot to be done in the village and this needs to be done with some urgency so that it is ready for the arrival of our first athletes on Friday.”
Australia’s chef de mission, retired marathon runner Steve Moneghetti, said that Indian organizers “have got two days to do what’s probably going to take about two weeks.”
Fennell said advance parties from the international Commonwealth Games Associations had been impressed with the international zone and main dining area within the village, but the condition of the residential zone shocked the majority of them.
“Despite (the CGAs) attempts to work with the organizing committee in a constructive manner since arriving on Sept. 15, significant operational matters remain unaddressed,” Fennell said. “The problems are arising because deadlines for the completion of the village have been consistently pushed out. Now, the high security around the site, while vital, is slowing progress and complicating solutions.”
CGF chief executive Mike Hooper said organizers had not lived up to promises on delivery dates.
“The conditions continued to be appalling and so we felt the matter needed to be elevated. That is why our chairman spoke to top Indian government officials,” Hooper said Tuesday in New Delhi. “Organizing committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi now tells me that the cabinet secretary took a round of the village and assured that everything possible would be done.”
Hooper said newspaper reports of human excrement around the village were true.
British bookmaker William Hill i offering 5-1 odds that the games will fail to go ahead as scheduled, and 2-1 that either England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will pull out.
“Environment and accommodation are key components in the preparations of athletes. Should reports from Delhi be true, it is understandable why governing bodies would want to stay away,” Hill spokesman Joe Crilly said.
Reports said the incident started when Trott accidentally struck Riaz with his pads as he took them off.
“When Riaz was returning after warming up Trott called him a ‘match fixer’ and that he (Riaz) was up to harming Test cricket and hit his face with the pad,” Afridi told Geo television in London.
“It could have been a police case because it is crime to hit someone, but we showed a big heart and did not press for it.”
Trott was also involved in an ugly exchange of words with Pakistan wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal during the first one-day game at Chester-le-Street on September 10.
Riaz, 25, was one of four Pakistani players interviewed by Scotland Yard earlier this month over claims in the News of the World that spot-fixing took place during last month’s Lord’s Test.
The three others were Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif. That trio have been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
No charges have yet been levelled against any Pakistani player.
“The case is being investigated by the ICC and its anti-corruption unit and there are efforts to pressurise the Pakistan team on that,” said Afridi.
After the altercation between Trott and Riaz, Afridi confirmed that there were suggestions Pakistan should not play the match in protest.
“But we finally decided that it wouldn’t be appropriate,” said Afridi, praising his team for their spirit.
“There is a conspiracy to finish the Pakistan team, but Pakistani people are different, they rise under such a situation,” said Afridi.
Pakistan are facing fresh charges of spot-fixing during the third one-day at The Oval on Friday. British tabloid The Sun reported it tipped off the ICC that pattern of Pakistan’s scoring was pre-arranged with the book-makers.
The ICC has launched a separate inquiry on these claims.
PCB chairman Ijaz Butt’s claims that according to bookies, England players took enormous money to fix the Oval match, strained relations between the two boards and teams.
“More than a hundred thousand (have) been displaced. Not only houses, but boats were also found in pieces (in the affected areas, and) crops are completely washed away,” Giuliano said.
Jam Saifullah Dharejo, the provincial irrigation minister said: “The burst in the lake has affected a large population in Jamshoro district, but we cannot estimate the exact number of people affected, they are in thousands.”
“Sindh continues to host the largest number of flood-displaced people, in addition to experiencing the worst of the current flooding,” a UN statement said separately.
The UN estimates that there are currently 1.2 million people in 6,300 camps and settlements across Pakistan with more than 80 per cent of them in Sindh.
Scottish officials found their original accommodation to be "unsafe and unfit for human habitation".
England are "optimistic" they will compete, but say urgent work is needed before the Games begin on 3 October.
But Welsh officials are content with their headquarters and believe that organisers "should be able to do it."
Northern Ireland's first representatives are leaving for India on Tuesday and have lined up alternative accommodation in case their scheduled quarters are not ready.
Building works have fallen well behind schedule in the build-up to the Games and Thursday's official opening of the village to 7000 athletes and officials now looms large.
Safety fears were heightened after at least one person was injured as a pedestrian bridge collapsed near the event's main stadium on Tuesday.
Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell, who has written to the Indian government expressing his concern over progress, has warned that security around the site has delayed improvements.
"Many nations that have already sent their advanced parties to set up within the village have made it abundantly clear that, as of the afternoon of 20 September, the Commonwealth Games Village is seriously compromised," he said.
However Randhir Singh, vice-president of the event's organising committee, is confident that the village will be delivered as promised.
"There were some flats that the labour force was working on and they had dirtied certain other flats," said Singh.
Scotland have called on the Commonwealth Games Federation "to make a realistic decision as to at what point and under what conditions...the Games will be able to go ahead should the village issues not be resolved".
India's monsoon weather has revealed new plumbing and electrical problems ahead of the arrival of England's first athletes on Thursday.
"Commonwealth Games England remains optimistic that England participation at the Games can go ahead," read a statement.
"However there is a lot still to be done in the Village and this needs to be done with some urgency."
Wales have previously lodged a formal complaint over conditions in the village, however chef de mission Chris Jenkins is now confident his team's accommodation is on track.
"It's in a good state now: it's clean, the plumbing's working, the wiring's working, the electric is working, the air conditioning works, the medical clinic is pretty much set up," he told BBC Sport Wales.
Unless there is tremendous effort and energy and problem-solving ability to get it done, it's going to be extremely hard to get across the line."
However New Zealand Prime Minister John Key played down the implications of Currie's downbeat assessment.
"I think he was just reflecting the frustrations we had expressed to us overnight," he said.
"I wouldn't say that means the Commonwealth Games would be off. It's unlikely that New Zealand would make a call (to pull out) that other countries weren't prepared to make."
Australia and Canada are the other two teams to have set up camp in Delhi at the earliest opportunity.
Australia's chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said his officials "didn't seem that concerned about the overall condition of the village", but claimed organisers "have got two days to do what's probably going to take about two weeks".
BEIJING: China’s main nuclear energy corporation is in talks to build a 1GW atomic power plant in Pakistan, a China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) executive said on Monday.China has already helped Pakistan build its main nuclear power facility at Chashma in Punjab, where one reactor is running and another nearly finished, and it has contracts to build two more there, despite the qualms of other governments. Qiu Jiangang, vice president of the CNNC, told a meeting in Beijing that the company was already looking beyond those deals to an even bigger plant.“Both sides are in discussions over CNNC exporting a 1GW nuclear plant to Pakistan,” he said. Qiu confirmed the two countries had signed contracts to build the No 3 and No 4 reactors of about 300MW each at Chashma. He did not give details about who was involved in discussions for the bigger plant and how far the talks had progressed.A senior Pakistani government official familiar with discussions between Pakistan and China on nuclear cooperation said, “We are facing acute energy shortages and these nuclear power plants are important for us to overcome these shortages.” “We as well as China have said time and again that all this cooperation is under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency and there should not be any worries or concerns about it,” said the official, who demanded anonymity.
Committee member Khalid Mehmood said Zahoor could appeal against the ban.
Zahoor competed in the 2004 Athens Olympics, but failed to get out of her heat in the 1,500 meters.
Pakistan will not compete in any of the track and field event at next month’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
According to sources, President Zardari, who is the Patron in Chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, expressed concern over the match fixing allegations and said the blame game should be stopped by both sides. Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar refused to comment on the matter discussed at the meeting. The president also asked Mr Thomson to convey his request to the UK authorities to complete investigation in Mr Farooq’s murder case as soon as possible.
The spokesman said the president called upon the British government and EU countries to further pursue the progress recently made at a foreign ministers’ meeting of the European Union for grant of market access to Pakistani goods in Europe’s markets. “The grant of trade concessions to Pakistan will enable the government to generate employment opportunities and look after the flood-affected people,” he said. He thanked the UK and EU and said the market access would help the country to revive its economy which had been badly hit by the war against extremism and the devastating floods. “In order to ensure transparency, a foolproof system has been developed for utilisation of flood aid. All information about the aid received and disbursed will be put on the web and accessible to everyone,” he said. Matters regarding rehabilitation and reconstruction of flood-hit areas, revival of economy, bilateral relations, war against militants and regional situation were also discussed. President Zardari stressed the need for starting a ‘strategic dialogue’ between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Among those the committee found liable is the then-Philippines National Police Chief Jesus Verzosa; then-Manila Police District Chief Rodolfo Magtibay, who served as ground commander; and hostage negotiator Manila Superintendent Orlando Yebra.
The report also recommended charges against three broadcast networks and two journalists by name, the president said.
Another tourist was critically wounded and six others were hospitalized with less serious injuries.
The standoff dragged on for 10 hours, during which some journalists were able to interview the hostage-taker. Some local news outlets broadcast the event live.
The media later came under fire from authorities and the public, who accused them of endangering the hostages' lives and of hindering police operations. Authorities also were heavily criticized for not better containing the scene and accused of myriad other missteps.
The hostage-taker had TV access on the bus and was able to watch police operations unfold. He also watched his brother being arrested at the scene, which officials later said appeared to set him off and may have prompted him to open fire.
Hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza was a former police officer who had been dismissed a year earlier for extortion. He wanted his case reconsidered.
State media previously said the Korean Workers' Party would assemble in early September, but had not reported a date.
The party has not convened its delegates in decades, and speculation that North Korea's political leaders are working to set the stage for a possible handover of power from Kim Jong Il to his youngest son is widespread.
"The conference of the WPK for electing its supreme leadership body will take place in Pyongyang on Sept. 28," KCNA reported the Worker's Party of Korea said.
Little is known about prospective heir Kim Jong Un. It's not clear whether he holds an official position, yet he's widely expected to succeed his father.
Iranian border guards detained seven U.S. troops as they tried to illegally enter the Islamic state, a local news agency reported on Sunday, without giving a source. "Recently seven American troops were detained by Iranian guards in a southeastern province of the country ... Two Iranians accompanying the troops were also arrested," said the news agency. No other news agency reported the incident.
Betancourt, a former presidential candidate in Colombia, was held for more than six years by Marxist rebels before the Colombian military rescued her and 14 others in 2008.
"Meme le Silence a une Fin," or "Even Silence Has an End," will go on sale around the world, the publishing house Gallimard said.
In June, Betancourt filed a suit, asking for about $7 million from the Colombian government for the years she spent as a hostage.
Betancourt and her family members say the government did not do enough to protect her.
Betancourt was freed in a high-profile helicopter rescue mission in July 2008. Colombian commandos posed as humanitarian aid workers to free the group, which included three U.S. military contractors and 11 Colombian police and military members.
In a memoir published last year, the U.S. military contractors rescued along with Betancourt painted an unflattering portrait of the dual citizen of France and Colombia, describing her as someone who hoarded belongings and let her temper flare during their time in the rebel camp.
“The international community will not be able to pick up the full cost of reconstruction,” Holbrooke said.
“There will be a need for continued international assistance, but what we need to stress is that at a time of scarcity in other countries, a reconstruction effort cannot be financed completely by other countries.”
The US envoy called on the Pakistani government to redouble its efforts to help the 21 million people the UN estimates have been affected by the disaster, including 12 million needing emergency food aid.
“They have to take the lead. Pakistanis know they have to do more and how much they do remains to be seen, and what the needs are remain to be seen,” Holbrooke said.
USAID chief Rajiv Shah warned Monday that the risk of diseases such as cholera is increasing as people return to their homes.
“The first and most critical priority is to prevent the spread of water-borne illnesses,” Shah said.
“In a flood of this magnitude, even as the flood waters recede, the likelihood of water-borne illness and cholera... actually increase as people go back to their homes but do not have effective and safe sanitation environments, and water doesn't completely recede.”
Pakistan paceman Umar Gul had the best bowling figures of 4-32, while England captain Andrew Strauss top-scored with 68.
The match went ahead despite England's outrage at Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt's accusation that England players threw Friday's match at The Oval, which Pakistan won to keep the series alive. The last match is in Southampton on Wednesday.
Abdul Razzaq's entertaining end-of-innings flourish, during which he bludgeoned eight fours and a six to score 44 off 20 balls, gave Pakistan a challenging total of 265-7 to defend.
England got off to a flyer in its reply thanks to a 113-run opening partnership between Strauss and Steven Davies (49). The stand came off 123 balls, ending when Davies chopped a ball from Saeed Ajmal onto his own stumps.
Jonathan Trott followed him after playing on off Shahid Afridi for 4.
The jitters really set in when Strauss slashed a wide ball from Shoaib Akhtar straight to Fawad Alam at point in the next over.
With Afridi looking menacing and Akhtar steaming in under the floodlights, Pakistan was in the ascendancy. And when Gul bowled Collingwood for 4 and Bell drove straight at Azhar Ali for 27, England was on the ropes having lost four wickets for 36 runs and with the required run rate up to 7.75 an over.
England still had hope with limited-overs specialist Eoin Morgan at the crease but he was running out of partners, Michael Yardy becoming the third England batsman to play onto his own stumps, out for 9.
When Morgan departed for 28, the game was up for the hosts as the tail surrendered.
Earlier, Graeme Swann helped England stem the tide after a strong start from Pakistan but Razzaq's late blitz had given the tourists a slight edge.
Pakistan's first wicket fell on 62 when Kamran Akmal hooked Stuart Broad to Strauss on 28. Swann then entered the scene to slow the run rate and take the next four wickets.
Swann bowled Asad Shafiq for 11 and then had Mohammad Yousuf on 3 caught behind in his next over to leave the score at 94-3.
A rash heave by Hafeez, frustrated at England slowing Pakistan's run rate, was caught from a top-edge off Swann to end a 100-ball knock that included five fours and a six.
Swann bowled Alam for 29 in his last over but Pakistan prospered in the spinner's absence _ Afridi hitting 37 off 22 balls and Razzaq coming to the fore in the final 12 overs.
Razzaq's cameo featured five successive fours off Bresnan to finish the innings.
KARACHI: At least nine people were killed in incidents of violence in Karachi on Monday. 
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