Afghan factions move closer to solution

ISLAMABAD, Mar 2: Warring Afghan factions meeting here moved closer today to a compromise solution to end fighting around the capital Kabul, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary said. T’hcrc has been considerable advance on some issues, while differences still persist on some basic points including the question of legitimacy" of President Burhanuddin Rabbani's two year term, Shahryar Mohammed Khan said, reports AFP

Japanese opposition parties boycott budget debate

TOKYO, Mar 2: Japanese opposition parties boycotted the 1993 budget debate today because the ruling party refused to agree to their demands for tax cuts. Faced with one of the most stubborn economic downturns in decades, opposition parties urged^the government and ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to revise the draft budget to Include 4.26 trillion yen (36.7 billion) In income tax cuts and other tax breaks, reports Reuter.