Tamil deputy shot dead

COLOMBO Dec 31: Unidentified gunmen sfiot and killed the deputy of a pro-government Tamil political party just outside the, Sri Lankan capital Colombo on New Year's eve. a party spokesman said. Gunmen aet off a minor expfostse device and opened fire, killing Karavai Kanriaaamy. the vice president of the Democratic People s Liberation Front (DPLF) and wounding his daughter. DPLF chief Dharmaliiigaai Sidhathan said, reports AFP

OIC urges Afghan factions to accept ceasefire

DUBAI. Dec 31: The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) urged warring Afghan tactions today to accept a ceasefire to enable a UN peace envoy to visit Afghanistan An CMC statement said its Secretary General. Hamid Alghabtd. "requested all Afghan parties to accept and abide by the ceasefire appeal Issued by the United Nations to enable the UN special mission ... to visit various parts of Afghanistan", reports Reuter.