KARACHI: Two more people were shot dead in Karachi today bringing the death toll in three days of violence in the Pakistani port city to 17, police and hospital officials said. Police found the bullet-riddled body of an MQM activist in the city's central district, while another person died in sniper shooting in eastern Gulshan Iqbal neighbourhood. At least five activists of MQM and a breakaway faction known as MQM-Haqiqi have died in the three days of violence and unrest. Twelve others were killed in various incidents elsewhere in the city on Monday and Tuesday, police and residents said.

China satellite

BEIJING: China has successfully launched an indigenously-built second-generation meteorological satellite using its highly-successful `long March 3 carrier rocket.' The satellite, called the `Fengyun 2,' was launched on Tuesday night from the Xichang satellite launching centre in southwest China's Sichuan province. On May 12, China had launched the `Dongfanghong III' communications satellite from the same site using a China-built long March III-A rocket.

Minister quits

Kathmandu: Nepalese Foreign Minister Prakash Chandra Lohani today resigned from the cabinet accusing Prime Minister Lokendra Bahdur Chand of failure to check violence unleashed by Communist partners of the coalition ministry during recent civic polls in the country. Lohani, leader of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), said he has submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister this morning protesting the ``violence'' carried out against his party workers .

Indian feted

Washington: Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan has been awarded the honorary citizenship of the Nashville city, Tennessee, by Mayor Phillip Bedesen's office in recognition of his cultural contribution. The chamber of commerce gave Khan a membershp to the exclusive Gold Record Club, which is offered only to select visitors to the city.Khan had gone to Nashville with Tanmoy Bose to perform at Vanderbilt University. Khan played ragas in the hindustani musical tradition while bose accompanied him on the tabla.

Algeria ban

ALGIERS: An Algerian court banned seven political parties, including former president Ahmed Ben Bella's Movement for Democracy in Algeria (MDA) party, court and party officials said. The seven parties were banned for failing to abide to a new law banning the use of the Muslim religion, Arab language and regional differences to win political power, they told Reuters. The banned parties are MDA, Algerian Nationalrally for Progress, Popular Association for Labour and Unity, Algerian National Party, Islamic Amaal (Hopes) party, Alliance for Justice and Freedom, and the Ouma Party.

Iraq-China pact

BAGHDAD: Iraq and China signed an agreement to boost their cultural and scientific cooperation, the official Iraqi news agency (INA) said. Under the agreement both states would exchange scholarships and publications on education, culture, media and sports, the agency said. Last week the two countries signed in Baghdad a $1.2 billion contract to develop the Ahdab oilfield in southern Iraq.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.