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Lashkar-e-Toiba was blamed for the Indian parliament attack in 2001

The arrests were made during a series of raids on Friday morning in the eastern US and are the culmination of months of investigations by the FBI. 

Those arrested were suspected of providing material support to Lashkar-e-Toiba and will face terrorism-related charges later on Friday, reports say.

Three people were arrested in Maryland, three in Virginia and one in Pennsylvania, an FBI official said. 

Prominent group

The US State Department put Lashkar-e-Toiba on a list of terrorist organisations in October 2001.

India says the group carries out regular attacks against civilians and security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir. 

The Red Fort, Delhi, site of another alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba raid

Delhi has also accused it of involvement in an attack on the Indian parliament in 2001 that nearly led to a war with Pakistan.

There was no immediate evidence that the seven were working on a terrorist plot against US targets.

US authorities have made no special terrorist alert warning in recent days. 

Lashkar-e-Toiba has emerged as one of the most prominent groups that are involved in militant activities in Kashmir. 

It gained more support because of its role in the 1999 Kargil conflict with India and later by sending members on suicide missions in Indian-administered Kashmir. 

The group defines its agenda as the restoration of Islamic rule over all of India. 

In 2000 its activists attacked the Red Fort in Delhi and attempted to assassinate the Bombay-based hardline Hindu leader Bal Thackeray of the Shiv Sena party. 
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. PEACE HOPES Cool heads needed  Is the US mediating?  Diplomatic breakthrough  FEARS OF WAR India's nuclear clout  The nuclear constraint  BACKGROUND Q&A: Kashmir dispute  Who are the militants?  CLICKABLE GUIDES Kashmir's future?  Possible solutions to the deadlock between India and Pakistan - in maps  India-Pakistan timeline  Voices from Kashmir  BBC WORLD SERVICE News in Hindi  News in Urdu  Full in-depth report  RELATED INTERNET LINKS:  FBI  Indian Government  UN mission in Kashmir  Pakistan Government  The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites  TOP SOUTH ASIA STORIES NOW  Gujarat Hindus acquitted  FBI holds 'Kashmir militants'  Vajpayee hails China trip success  US and Afghan soldiers killed  .

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AP
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, second from right, greets participants at the end of a conference "India and China: Challenges and Opportunities in IT Sector"

Chinese and Indian officials say the appointment of top-level envoys should speed the settlement of the difficult and complex border dispute that has tangled their relations for decades.

 The two new envoys are India's national security advisor (Barjesh Mishra) and China's Vice Foreign Minster (Dai Bingguo). Before ending his China visit in Shanghai Friday, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called the dispute "vexing," and said the appointment of the envoys is important. 

The two sides have held talks for years about where their shared 3,500 kilometer border should be placed.

 Mr. Vajpayee also says that a dispute over the territory of Sikkim, sandwiched between the two giants, soon would be over now that China has agreed to allow border trade through the area. He says this will end a point of contention between Beijing and New Delhi.

 China's Foreign Ministry says the Sikkim issue is been a problem for a long time.

 India annexed Sikkim in 1975, but China has refused to recognize the area as Indian territory. 

The two sides also signed several initiatives designed to increase trade, including easier visa rules so their citizens can travel back and forth. 

On Thursday, Mr. Vajpayee called on the two nations to combine their strengths in the computing business. He noted China's computer manufacturing skills complimented India's strong software skills.

 "If countries like India and China were to concentrate on a specific area of their technological advantage, it would benefit far more than competing across the spectrum," he said.

 This is the first visit to China in a decade by an Indian Prime Minister. Both nations say the talks significantly improved relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors which together account for one third of humanity.
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Indian President Visits Kashmir Amid Tight Security Vajpayee Urges Cooperation Between Chinese, Indian Computer Companies

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Mr Vajpayee used the trip's Shanghai leg to boost business ties

Mr Vajpayee, speaking in Shanghai on Friday, said the appointment of special border envoys was a significant step in solving a "vexed problem".

The prime minister praised the "cordial and fruitful talks" with Chinese leaders and said he had achieved his objective of strengthening ties and increasing co-operation. 

The BBC's Sanjeev Srivastava, who has been following Mr Vajpayee on his trip, says relations between Delhi and Beijing are now at their best since the 1962 border war. 

Before leaving for home, Mr Vajpayee called his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, in Beijing to invite him to visit India. 

We have started the process by which Sikkim will cease to be an issue in India-China relations  Atal Behari Vajpayee

Mr Vajpayee rejected suggestions that India had received nothing from the Chinese leadership on the question of Sikkim, the Himalayan state bordering Tibet that Beijing has refused to recognise as Indian territory for the past 28 years.

He said the signing of an accord to re-start trade through the state's historic Silk Route had begun a process that would end the Sikkim dispute. 

As part of the accord, India formally recognised the area known as the Tibetan autonomous region as part of the People's Republic of China.

Pragmatism

India's National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo have been named as envoys to the border talks.

"This is an important step. They will look for ways to move forward," Mr Vajpayee said. 

"It is a long journey but we have made a good beginning." 

The BBC's Asia analyst, Jill McGivering, says the breakthrough on borders represents a quiet shift from political grandstanding to quiet pragmatism. 

The PM was "deeply impressed" with the Buddhas at Luoyang

She says both sides seem to be showing a new willingness to recognise and implicitly accept the status quo, even if they still have ideological reservations about the other country's claim to the territory in question. 

Mr Vajpayee's six-day trip was the first to China by an Indian prime minister in 10 years. 

In a statement concluding the visit, he pointed to the signing of 10 agreements and a joint declaration on the development of relations.

The premier also praised the establishment of a joint study group of economists and officials to help expand economic co-operation. 

The visit, which began in Beijing last weekend, included talks with Mr Wen, President Hu Jintao and former president Jiang Zemin.

Mr Vajpayee then visited the famous carved Buddhas at Luoyang in central China.

Finally, he chose to stress that economic interests were now the driving force in improving relations by ending his trip in China's business capital, Shanghai.

Mr Vajpayee, accompanied on the visit by nearly 100 Indian businessmen, called for his country to form a partnership with China in information technology, combining India's software strengths and China's IT manufacturing skills. 
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. SEE ALSO:  Vajpayee visit under scrutiny  26 Jun 03  |  South Asia  India and China's 'quiet pragmatism'  24 Jun 03  |  South Asia  India and China talk trade  25 Jun 03  |  Business  Deal boosts Vajpayee China trip  25 Jun 03  |  South Asia  Press upbeat over Vajpayee's China visit  23 Jun 03  |  Asia-Pacific  China and the Kashmir crisis  02 Jun 02  |  South Asia  RELATED INTERNET LINKS:  Indian Government  Chinese Foreign Ministry  Government of Tibet In Exile  Tibet Information Network  The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites  TOP SOUTH ASIA STORIES NOW  Gujarat Hindus acquitted  FBI holds 'Kashmir militants'  Vajpayee hails China trip success  US and Afghan soldiers killed  .

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AP
Majida Abbas, right, teaches her son, Omar Najah, center, and his friend Maan Abdul Khalik, in the light provided by two oil lamps

 Basimaa Alnidawi and her family live in a house in the Adamiyah neighborhood of Baghdad. There's a large ceiling fan in the spacious living room. But it's not working, because there is no power.

 Mrs. Alnidawi says they have power for only a few hours a day - off and on. She says it is hard on the whole family, especially the children and older people. She says it was not like that under Saddam Hussein, the electricity was stable, we are wondering why everything is chaos now. 

Many Iraqis feel the same way. They will readily acknowledge that Saddam Hussein was a tyrant they were happy to get rid of, but they also insist that, at least back then, they had electricity.

 With the Iraqi summer in full swing, and temperatures rising well into the 40 degree Celsius range every day, the lack of electricity is fraying nerves. 

Electricity is not just about keeping on the lights and running the fans and air conditioners. Lack of power also affects businesses, as well as water pumping stations and filtration systems. Off in the distance the smoke stacks of the al-Doura power plant spew out thick, black smoke. Only two of its towers are usually in operation. Jinan Mati Behnam, the plant manager for the past 27 years says the power station is working at barely 50 percent capacity. But, he says it has nothing to do with the war. He says the plant is old and badly needs a complete overhaul.

Behnam: There are four steam units and four gas units. Two units are now in operation - 50 percent of design capacity, because it needs full rehabilitation. This start before 15 years.

Pace: So, this was a problem already before the war?

Behnam: Yes, the same as before the war. Nothing changed. You know, since 1991, until before the war, the problem with spare parts.

Pace: Because of sanctions?

Behnam: Yes, … they always refused or delayed to bring spare parts, and until now, it needs maintenance and full rehabilitation.

 Mr. Behnam says the power stations in Baghdad are working, though none at full capacity. He says some of the distribution lines were damaged during the war, but he says about 60 percent of those have been repaired. But even that is not enough. He says Baghdad never generated enough electricity. 

That assessment is echoed by the top U.S. civil administrator for Iraq, Paul Bremer. 

"Baghdad is a net importer of electricity and has been for 20 years," he said. "Under the previous regime, power was taken from the provinces to Baghdad, so that Baghdad could have 18-20 hours a day. We have been able to quadruple the amount of electricity in the last five weeks from 300 megawatts when the war ended, to an average of 1,200-1,300 megawatts. And, we're trying to get that up higher. 

AP
Paul Bremer, left, meets an unidentified employee as he tours the Baghdad Power Plant with US-appointed interim Minister of Electricity, Dr. Karim Hassan

 But the United Nations Development Program said that electricity output had actually dropped due to the sabotage and lack of maintenance.

 American officials agree that sabotage attacks against power plants pose a major problem. They blame loyalists of the old regime for staging the attacks to try to stir popular discontent against the coalition.

 One American military officer, who prefers not to speak on the record, cites another factor. He says that, in many cases, it's a matter of simple looting.

 The officer says that, often, when the Americans repair electricity cables, they come back the next morning and find them gone - cut and looted by people who want to sell the copper wiring inside.

 But all these explanations are not likely to satisfy many Iraqis, certainly not Mrs. Alnidawi, who sits in her living room, wiping the perspiration off her face. 

She says the lack of electricity is the fault of the Americans. She says America is an advanced country, they put satellites into space and a man on the moon, she says, why can't they bring electricity back to Iraq?

 Some Iraqis even say the Americans are cutting off power on purpose, to punish Iraqis. After all, they say, that's what Saddam Hussein used to do.

 Given the general disrepair of Iraq's power plants, sabotage attacks and looting, it could be some time before Iraqis will have a fully adequate and stable supply of electricity.
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World Food Program says Humanitarian Crisis Avoided in Post-War Iraq

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Liberian rebels have called for a new cease-fire, so that a humanitarian catastrophe can be avoided in Monrovia. 

The rebels released a statement Friday declaring a new cease-fire effective immediately to allow the delivery of relief supplies to civilians in Monrovia.

 However, the rebels say they will maintain the forward positions they have gained near the capital in recent days. They have been unable to capture Monrovia during their four-year insurgency to topple President Charles Taylor.
 
 

AP
Charles Taylor

 On Thursday, President Bush called on Mr. Taylor to resign in accordance with a cease-fire deal signed last week by the warring sides, but never respected. Liberian government officials have given mixed signals about the accord, but Mr. Taylor, himself, has said he intends to stay in power, until his elected terms ends in January.

 Rebel spokesman, Bodioh Siapoe said he doubts Mr. Bush's speech will have much effect on the overall situation.

 "One would think that it would add more pressure, but I don't think it will move Charles Taylor at all," he continued. "The man is known to be very recalcitrant, belligerent and doesn't listen to the voice of the people. He's only interested in himself."

 Angry crowds have been bringing dead children to the gates of the U.S. Embassy as a protest to demand direct U.S. intervention. Liberia, which was founded by freed American slaves, has been ravaged by 15 years of nearly continuous civil war since Mr. Taylor launched his own rebellion.

 The Liberian leader also faces an indictment by a United Nations backed court in Sierra Leone for his support of brutal rebels there, making it unlikely he will step down willingly.
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New Fighting in Liberian Capital New Fighting Racks Monrovia Liberian Government Claims to Push Back Rebel Offensive Heavy Fighting Continues in Liberia

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North Korea has sharply criticized a U.S. plan to redeploy its troops on the Korean peninsula. 

Pyongyang's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper says United States force redeployment plans are "a strategy for preemptive attack" on North Korea.

 The article calls the plans "a dangerous military move that should not be overlooked."

 The U.S. Defense Department announced earlier this month it would move some of its forces back from the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea. The soldiers will gradually move from the north of Seoul to south of the capital.

 U.S. military leaders say the move is a revision of the "tripwire" concept, which they now call outdated. Tripwire refers to a strategy of deterring a North Korean attack by ensuring that the 37,000 U.S. troops in South Korea would automatically be involved in defending Seoul.

 Pyongyang has a massive artillery and short-range missile capability on its side of the demilitarized zone. 

U.S. defense planners say pulling forces out of the range of that artillery would strengthen their ability to launch a counterstrike, and would make them more flexible.

 Tensions between North Korea and the United States have escalated since last October. Since then, North Korea has declared it is building a nuclear deterrent to avoid an Iraq-style change of government forced by the United States. 

Ambassador Howard H. Baker, Jr

 The United States says it has no intentions of invading North Korea, but says military action remains among its options in dealing with the North Korean nuclear threat.
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South Korea Paid North $100M to Agree to 2000 Summit Seoul Rally Denounces North Korean Nuclear Weapons US Circulates Statement at UN Condemning North Korea's Nuclear Program US to Reposition Troops in S. Korea

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Nasa strato-plane crashes

A prototype solar plane that could one day lead to cheap "terrestrial satellites" has been destroyed in an accident in the Pacific.

Helios was testing a power storage system based on a fuel cell

Helios set an altitude record in 2001 for a non-rocket-powered winged aircraft when it climbed to 96,863 feet (29.5 kilometres).

Its design was intended to show that squadrons of "eternal planes" could remain aloft for months as low-orbit communications and environmental monitoring platforms.

These UAVs would be launched and maintained at a fraction of the cost of putting satellites into space. 

Inquiry team

 The US space agency (Nasa), which sponsored the Helios research, also sees a role for the technology in future drones to fly over the surface of Mars.

The atmospheric conditions Helios encountered on its record-breaking adventures in 2001 are thought to resemble closely those found in the thin air of the Red Planet. 

Helios crashed about 30 minutes into Thursday's test flight. 

"We were flying at about the 8,000-foot altitude west of Kauai over the ocean and the aircraft simply broke up," said Alan Brown, a spokesman for Nasa's Dryden Flight Research Center.

The cause of the crash was unknown, Brown said. Nasa is forming an accident investigation team. 

Smaller cousin

With a wingspan of 247 feet (75 metres), Helios was wider than a Boeing 747. It looked more like a flying wing than a conventional plane and it was extremely light, weighing 2,400 pounds (1,080 kilograms). 

Current to power its 14 propeller motors and onboard electronics was generated by high-efficiency solar cells spread across the upper surface of the long wing.

The British Zephyr can go higher because it is smaller

Finding the right power storage system is seen as critical to the development of these UAVs. Without it, the planes of the future would have to be brought down during dark hours.

Helios had been flying under the guidance of ground-based mission controllers for AeroVironment of Monrovia, California, the plane's builder and operator. 

Its people, along with those of Nasa and the US Navy, will make up the investigation team.

The Helios altitude mark could be beaten in the next few months by a British UAV that plans to fly to 123,000 ft (40 km). The Zephyr 3, which is much smaller (12-m wingspan; 14 kg), will not set an official record, however.

The UK UAV is being carried aloft for the first 30,000 ft (9 km) by a balloon and therefore does not qualify for an official record.

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. SEE ALSO:  Strato-plane looks skyward  24 Jun 03  |  Science/Nature  Martian aircraft to be built  16 May 03  |  Science/Nature  RELATED INTERNET LINKS:  Helios (Nasa)  QinetiQ 1  The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites  TOP SCIENCE/NATURE STORIES NOW  Nasa strato-plane crashes  More evidence of water on Mars  HIV find could help vaccine makers  'Oil drilling can protect forests'  .

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Palestinian militia leaders say Islamic militant groups have agreed to suspend attacks on Israelis for three months. An official announcement of a cease-fire is not expected before Sunday.

 Confirmation of an agreement came Friday from several sources, after days of speculation that a truce was near.
 
 

AP
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, speaks on the phone at his home in Gaza city

 The militants are also reported to be demanding that Israel halt all attacks against Palestinians.

 Israeli officials have said they oppose the idea of a temporary cease-fire, because it could be used by the militants to regroup and re-arm and continue attacks on Israelis later. 

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said the militant groups must be dismantled.

 President Bush supported that position in a speech this week, and on Thursday his national security adviser, Condolezza Rice, called for Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups to be outlawed.

 Ms Rice is expected in the region in the coming days for meetings with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas Saturday night and with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Sunday.

 During a stop in London, Ms. Rice urged European countries to declare Hamas' political wing a terrorist organization, not just the military wing. She said, the notion that, on the one hand, Hamas is peaceful, and on the other hand, is trying to blow up the peace process is just illogical and will not work.

 Ms. Rice said other radical groups like Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad and what she termed "all of the other rejectionists" should be targeted as well. 

AP
Mohammed Dahlan

 It is believed an agreement would also include an easing of travel restrictions on Palestinians.

 Mr. Dahlan has been meeting at the home of U.S. Ambassador Dan Kurtzer with General Amos Gilad, the coordinator of Israeli military activities in the Palestinian territories. 

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