Josef Fritzl abuse trial resumes

The trial of Josef Fritzl, the Austrian man charged with crimes against the children he kept and abused for years in a cellar, has resumed in St Poelten.

For a second day, the 73-year-old entered court with his face obscured from view behind a blue folder.

The court is to hear more videotaped evidence from his daughter, who was allegedly locked up for 24 years.

Mr Fritzl has pleaded guilty to incest and "partially" guilty to rape but not guilty to enslavement or murder.

The trial is being held behind closed doors because of the sensitivity of the testimony.

A verdict is expected as early as Thursday, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in St Poelten.

Mr Fritzl is alleged in 1984 to have lured his daughter into a cellar with windowless soundproofed chambers beneath their house, to have imprisoned her there and raped her repeatedly over a number of years.

Defence lawyer Rudolf Mayer argued his client was "a human being not a monster" and he appealed to jurors to be objective.

He added that his client was hiding his face from the media because he was embarrassed.

Hard to prove?

On the trial's opening day, the court began viewing 11 hours of video, with the rest of the material to be shown in segments during the week.

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20 dead in Bangladesh security force headquarters gunfire

DHAKA: Gunfights took place inside the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters here Wednesday morning in which 20 people were killed, a media report said.A rebellion broke out in paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Headquarters in Pilkhana area in Dhaka with witnesses reporting heavy gun battle among the troops at their main barracks.According to the reports, revolt erupted over pay and perks.Many army officers have been held hostage by border guards. Director General of Bangladesh Rifles has also been killed in the firing. Civilians are being evacuated from areas near Bangladesh Rifles Headquarters.Bangladesh Rifles soldiers have taken control of a mall near the headquartersOfficials said that army was called out to crush the rebellion as witnesses reported movement of military convoys and hovering of air force helicopters over the sky of the Pilkhana barracks.Smoke could be seen coming from the complex, with security forces sealing the area off.

General Kayani calls on Gates, Mullen and Casey

WASHINGTON: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani called on Mr Robert Gates, Secretary of Defence, Admiral Michael Mullen and General George Casey.According to ISPR, General Kayani discussed matters of mutual interest with particular reference to security situation in the region. Chief of Army Staff also called on Lieutenant General Mapples, Director Defence Intelligence Agency.During the day COAS also visited Pentagon and held a detailed meeting with Admiral Michael Mullen, CJCS in which they continued their discussions on regional strategic matters. Official bilateral round table talks were also held between the COAS and General George Casey, US Army Chief.As a mark and in recognition of “his superb leadership qualities and for making Pakistan Army a robust and capable fighting force and also keeping with the finest traditions of military service, being great credit upon himself, the Pakistan Army and Pakistan”, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was awarded the Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander).Earlier on arrival at Fort Mayer, an impressive welcome ceremony was held in which a smartly turned out contingent of US Army presented Guard of Honour. COAS also laid wreath at Arlington National Cemetery.

Sharif brothers declared ineligible, Shahbaz no more Punjab CM

ISLAMABAD: The three-member Bench of Supreme Court has disposed off Sharif brothers’ electoral eligibility case by declaring them ineligible for contesting elections in its two-line short order announced here.Shahbaz Sharif under this verdict has lost his seat in the provincial assembly and being no longer member of the Punjab House, he is no more Punjab chief minister, as SC has annulled the earlier notification about his being chief minister.This case was under hearing of the SC three-member Bench headed by Justice Musa K. Laghari for the last eight months, in which, the Attorney General of Pakistan, Latif Khosa giving his arguments said that Punjab chief secretary and speaker were not the party in the case. Attorney General said that all the judges have taken oaths under the constitution and talking about the oath of the interim constitution was irrelevant.He said that Nawaz Sharif’s proposer and seconder could become parties in the case if the court permits them and their becoming parties was not necessary. He further said that it was the discretion of the judge to withdraw from the Bench and no one could direct him to pull out.On conclusion of the arguments, after a short break, the Bench disposing off the Sharif brothers’ eligibility case declared them ineligible.Following the verdict, Sharif brothers’ lawyer, Akram Sheikh told media that the decision was as expected, as the government was giving dictation to the judges. He said that Sharif brothers were declared ineligible on the orders of President Zardari. He said that the judges would be made accountable on the Day of Judgement. Akram Shiekh said that now it was up to the people to decide if the verdict was on merit. He said that he couldn’t comment on the incomplete two-line judgment. This decision would be presented as bouquet to President Asif Zardari on his return from the China tour.ML-N workers in sizable number were present on the occasion of the announcement of verdict raising slogans in favour of long march and Sharif brothers. Security arrangement remain tightened in the capital city here.