Karzai to visit SArabia

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai will visit Saudi Arabia this week, a spokesman said on Monday after the US-backed leader called on the oil-rich kingdom to help bring about peace with the Taliban. “The president will leave Kabul for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and meet the Saudi king, King Abdullah, on Wednesday,” presidential spokesman Siamak Herawi told AFP. He did not give further details but Karzai has long called on Saudi Arabia to use its influence to persuade the Islamist Taliban rebels to lay down their arms and join a peace initiative.

Cops, protesters clash

SRINAGAR: Rock-throwing protesters clashed with government forces in Kashmir on Monday, a day after a police-fired tear gas shell struck and killed a boy. At least 17 protesters and eight troops were injured in Monday’s clashes, said a police officer. Police and paramilitary soldiers again used tear gas to quell Monday’s protests, which took place in several places in Srinagar, Kashmir’s main city, said Hemant Lohia, a top police officer. On Sunday, 14-year-old Wamiq Farooq was struck in the head by a tear gas shell fired by police after a protest against Indian rule.