India, France should join hands to avert Iraq war: French PM

New Delhi, February 7: France on Friday joined India in its efforts to avert a war against Iraq saying that the two countries should extract a joint message of peace in the region since their position was similar on the issue.

"I think it is important for India and France to extract a joint message for peace in the region (Iraq). The positions are extremely similar," French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin told reporters after the ceremonial welcome on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. Raffarin, who arrived in Delhi on Thursday night from Bangalore after attending the air show there, said the two sides will discuss all issues with special emphasis on the fight against terrorism and that the French position is "there is no such thing as a good terrorist."

The French leader who is heading a high-powered delegation including four key ministers and a large business delegation said the "visit promises to be extremely positive as friendship between India and France was long-standing and a strong one. The visit will enable us to promote our cooperation still further."

Raffarin, who was received by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and senior officials and diplomats will be holding talks with his counterpart and also be calling on President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhwat and meeting other leaders. Raffarin and Vajpayee will be holding wide-ranging discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations besides exchanging views on Iraq crisis, Afghanistan, Middle East developments and other regional and international issues.

The French Prime Minister is accompanied by his Finance, Economy and Industry Minister Francis Mer, Transport and Housing Minister Gilles De Robien, Science and Technology Minister Claudie Haionere and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Renault Muselier. New Delhi has been appreciative of France emerging as a very important interlocutor and as a member of P-5, G-8 (of which it is the current President) and the European Union. Significantly, France has been extremely supportive of India's candidature for permanent membership of an enlarged UN Security Council and that New Delhi should take its rightful place in the emerging new world order.

France is India's 15th trading partner and ranks 9th indirect foreign investment in the country. India has a trade surplus of 500 million us dollars annually with France, exporting goods and services worth 1.5 billion US dollars. -keralamonitor.com

CBI has no information on detention or release of Dawood men

New Delhi, February 6: Dubai has reportedly released associates of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim who were taken into preventive custody but the CBI says it has no information about their detention or release. Informed sources here said reports from the port city indicated that Dubai Police had released the underworld don's associates and also asked them to leave the country immediately.

The sources said Dubai Police had sent a clear message to the underworld gangs not to indulge in criminal activities in the port city. Reports had said at least five associates including brother of Ibrahim, Noora, were detained three days ago. The others included Mohammed Dossa, Ejaj Pathan, Mustafa Majun and Salim Talwar, all accused in the Mumbai blasts. The sources said all the five were travelling on Pakistani passports and were reportedly deported back there.

Meanwhile, the CBI was yet to receive any official communication from the Interpol Abu Dhabi on either the arrest or release. "...In case of any substance in these reports, the same may be deported here as they have already a pending red corner notice against them," the CBI request had said and added that "or they should continue to be put under detention till an extradition request could be forwarded to that country (UAE)." India had handed over a list of criminals to the UAE authorities during the deportation of Aftab Ansari, main accused in the shooting incident at American Center at Kolkata in January last year. keralamonitor.com