Singh US-bound

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left on Saturday for his first official visit to the US, stating India attached the “highest importance” to the already deepening strategic ties between the world’s largest democracies. “India attaches the highest importance to further developing and strengthening the strategic partnership with the US,” Manmohan Singh said here before his departure for Washington. — HNS

11 killed in clash

KABUL: Seven Afghan policemen and four Taliban fighters were killed after the rebels attacked a police checkpoint in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar, police said on Saturday. The fighting took place on Friday afternoon in Shor-Abak district, a senior police officer said. Meanwhile, suspected Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan kidnapped and hung a tribal elder Malik Agha in Attaghar district in the latest attack against tribal chiefs linked with the government, an official said on Saturday. — Agencies

Quake in Pak district

ISLAMABAD: A moderate earthquake shook southwestern Pakistan on Saturday but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, officials said. The quake, which measured 5.5 on the Richter scale, was felt in the Barkhan district of Baluchistan province, a seismological department official said. — AFP

Peace Corps’ activities

DHAKA: The US Peace Corps is expanding its activities in Bangladesh and will nearly double the number of volunteers working on youth and community development projects, its top official said on Saturday. “Our programme is moving very positively, we will expand our activities here,” Peace Corps director Gaddi H Vasquez told reporters. — AP

Bid to clear blockade

IMPHAL: The army is expected to launch an operation soon to clear a 26-day-old highway blockade by tribal protestors in Manipur, officials said on Saturday. The army said the personnel of the Border Roads Organisation were being detailed for the task to clear the highway blockade. — HNS

20 prisoners freed

KABUL: The US military on Saturday released 20 Afghan prisoners from its main detention center, where four Al-Qaeda-linked Arab ultras escaped last week, officials said. The release was part of a government scheme to promote reconciliation with the ousted Taliban regime.

— AFP