Indian PM in Saudi

RIYADH: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday on the first visit by an Indian premier to the oil kingpin in 28 years with energy imports, Middle East peace and Islamic militancy on the agenda. He was greeted by Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the official Saudi Press Agency said. Singh said in a newspaper interview published ahead of his arrival that he will seek to strengthen cooperation on fighting terrorism and promoting regional stability. "India and Saudi Arabia belong to the same extended neighbourhood," he told the Saudi Gazette. "During my visit I propose to discuss with King Abdullah how we can promote greater stability and security in the region," he said.

Religious rally attack

PESHAWAR: Gunmen opened fire on a religious procession in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday, killing a man and wounding several others, officials said. The attack came as thousands of Muslims staged rallies across the country to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi, which marks the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday. Two or three armed men hiding behind the trees opened fire on hundreds of people carrying banners and reciting hymns in the Dhaki More neighbourhood of Dera Ismail Khan district, senior police officer Bashar Khan said. The rally was organised by a Sunni Muslim party.

Iran hangs three

TEHRAN: Iran has hanged three men who were convicted of killing several policemen in the eastern city of Birjand, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday. The report said the executions were carried out in front of the families of the dead policemen. It did not say whether the three were hanged inside a prison or in public. The latest hangings bring to at least 20 the number of people executed in Iran so far in 2010.