India, Pak. must move beyond stated positions, says Lone
The senior Hurriyat leader, Mr. Abdul Gani Lone, who returned from Pakistan yesterday, has once again suggested that the minimum that the Vajpayee Government could do to take the ``ceasefire'' initiative forward was to restore the passports of the Hurriyat leaders, and let them travel freely to Pakistan where they could explain their perceptions about the Kashmir conflict.

Army officer killed in gunbattle
Two militant outfits, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, struck again today claiming the lives of an Army Major and a jawan, besides causing injuries to six, including four Border Security Force personnel and a child.

Ayodhya panel summons RSS chief, Basu
Concerned at the recent utterances of the RSS chief, Mr. K. S. Sudarshan, that the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992 was caused by a bomb blast, the Justice Liberhan Commission today summoned him to adduce evidence as a witness on December 20.

Rao's 'kitchen cabinet' guided blast: Sudarshan
The RSS chief, Mr. K. Sudarshan, has said that his statement about a bomb explosion causing the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, was based on a fax message sent to the then Prime Minister, Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao, by a member of his Cabinet, hailing from Maharashtra.

Bush, Gore continue 'vigil'
The fate of the U.S. presidential election today was awaiting a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that could determine whether the Texas Governor, Mr. George W. Bush, or the Vice-President, Mr. Al Gore, would move into the White House.

CBI court asks Hindujas to appear on Jan. 19
A special court for CBI cases today rejected the plea of the three Hinduja brothers that they have a right to be heard before issue of process in the chargesheet filed against them in the Bofors payoffs case.

J.H. Patel passes away
Senior Janata Dal (U) leader and the former Karnataka Chief Minister, J. H. Patel, died here in the early hours of today. He was 71.

Move to declare postal strike illegal
Spurred by the Delhi High Court's observations, the Government machinery was activated today to tackle the eight- day-old postal strike.

VIP movement affected
Movement of senior political leaders has been restricted in Manipur with their security guards joining the five-day old `arms down' strike by Manipur rifles'jawans, official sources said today.

Stones arrive in Ayodhya
Stones intended for use in the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) of the controversial Ram temple, which the Vishwa Hindu Parishad proposes to build at the site of the demolished Babri mosque here, were unloaded from trucks today after a ritual puja.