Shoot me before I am caught: Osama
Riyadh, Nov. 21. Osama bin Laden has told aides to kill him before he is captured by American troops, a newspaper reported today.

ICC rejects Indian board's ultimatum
London, Nov. 21. The International Cricket Council (ICC) tonight outrightly rejected the ultimatum of the Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) for sacking Mr. Mike Denness, the match- referee for the third and final test between India and south Africa starting on Friday, setting the stage for a confrontation that could jeopardise the remaining part of India's tour of south Africa.

Al-Badr wiped out: DGP
Srinagar, Nov. 21. With the killing of six top militants including its chief Dr. Nayeem and the arrest of 13 others of the pro- Pakistan Al-Badr, police today claimed to have wiped out the outfit. They also said they had arrested a militant allegedly involved in the blast outside the State Assembly on October 1.

Whatever VHP did was wrong: Advani
New Delhi, Nov. 21. The Ayodhya dispute could be solved either through mutual consensus among all the parties concerned or on a verdict by the court on it. However, the courts may take a long time in arriving at any decision, the Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, said in the Rajya Sabha today.

Indian team holds talks with Rabbani
New Delhi, Nov. 21. India today established a permanent diplomatic presence in Afghanistan with the despatch of a high- power official delegation to Kabul.

SC directive on Taj security
New Delhi, Nov. 21. The Supreme Court today directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to implement its contingency security plan envisaging to make the Taj Mahal out of bounds for protestors and rallyists.

Tamil periodical reporter held
Mysore, Nov. 21. Mr. Shiva Subramanyam, reporter of the Tamil periodical, Nakkeran, was arrested at the Yedaayarahalli Reserve Forest area in Karnataka's Kollegal taluk on Tuesday.