U.S. asks Middle East to help fight terror spread

MANAMA: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Middle East nations Saturday to help fight the spread of violent extremism by funding and training Afghan security forces and reaching out more aggressively to the fledgling government in Iraq. Gates also assured a gathering of Persian Gulf leaders here that President-elect Barack Obama would continue the U.S. commitment to the Middle East, including efforts to fight terrorism and develop a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Gates urged Gulf leaders to set aside old hostilities inflamed in the Saddam era and forge diplomatic ties with Iraq.``All of us have a stake in Iraq's ongoing fight with extremists,'' Gates said. ``Neighbors must lend support and increase their border-control efforts, especially those that have thus far failed to live up to pledges to tighten border crossings.''Gates has persistently pressed Middle East nations to provide political, economic and overall support to Iraq, saying that if that country falls back into extremist control it will be a threat to the entire region.

U.S. asks Middle East to help fight terror spread

MANAMA: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Middle East nations Saturday to help fight the spread of violent extremism by funding and training Afghan security forces and reaching out more aggressively to the fledgling government in Iraq. Gates also assured a gathering of Persian Gulf leaders here that President-elect Barack Obama would continue the U.S. commitment to the Middle East, including efforts to fight terrorism and develop a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Gates urged Gulf leaders to set aside old hostilities inflamed in the Saddam era and forge diplomatic ties with Iraq.``All of us have a stake in Iraq's ongoing fight with extremists,'' Gates said. ``Neighbors must lend support and increase their border-control efforts, especially those that have thus far failed to live up to pledges to tighten border crossings.''Gates has persistently pressed Middle East nations to provide political, economic and overall support to Iraq, saying that if that country falls back into extremist control it will be a threat to the entire region.

New Zealand all out for 365 against Windies in 1st Test

DUNEDIN: New Zealand were all out for 365 runs on the third day of the rain-hit first Test as they collapsed, losing their last six wickets for 139 runs in the morning here on Saturday.In reply the West Indies reached 39 without loss by stumps, with captain Chris Gayle on 29 and Shivnarine Chattergoon on nine.With two days remaining, the chances of a result were fast receding after Friday was rained out and play was unable to start until mid-afternoon Saturday.New Zealand were 226 for four when play got underway in cold conditions at the University Oval with Jesse Ryder's 89 providing the highlight in the middle order after number three Daniel Flynn's 95 on Thursday.After reaching 54 on the first day, the usually aggressive Ryder struggled at times on the slow-paced wicket. But he still hit 12 fours in his four-and-a-quarter hours at the crease before falling 11 runs short of his first Test hundred by pulling Daren Powell to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at midwicket. With Brendon McCullum, who was the day's first wicket to fall after scoring an unusually subdued 25 off 120 balls, Ryder put on 89 runs for the fifth wicket.After McCullum's dismissal, the West Indies maintained their momentum, preventing the home side from establishing any major partnerships.Powell was the pick of the West Indies speedsters, finishing with three for 68, while the relatively expensive Fidel Edwards took three for 91 after taking toll of New Zealand's lower order.Gayle did the damage to the top of the New Zealand batting lineup on Thursday, finishing with three for 42 from 21 economical overs.

Indo-Pak relations to normalise in time: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that global diplomacy helped normalise tension between Pakistan and India.Highlighting the importance of a saner approach in world politics, the PM ruled out the possibility of any Indian air strike inside Pakistan saying India was a responsible state.Gilani said it would take some time to normalise relations between the two South Asian nuclear states.He said India ... Full Story