However, police and law enforcement agencies seem helpless as tension and fear gripped Karachiites following eruption of riots in Malir on Wednesday evening.

The latest incident of target killing took place in Liyari locality where two more persons, activists of a political party, have been gunned down on late night, taking the tally to 19 in some days.

The worst affected areas of targeted killings incidents and riots included Minghopir, Orangi Town, Pak Colony, Sarjani Town, Gardan and Model Colony where as many as seven people were killed by Thursday morning.

Chanthu was upgraded from a tropical storm after gathering strength over the South China Sea. It is forecast to hit Yangjiang in Guangdong province and Qionghai on the resort island province of Hainan, a local news agency said.

Shipping between Hainan and the mainland has already been suspended and dozens of flights cancelled, it added. More than 26,000 fishing boats are also taking shelter in Hainan ports.

At least 701 people have died since the start of the year as a result of torrential rains which have swept large parts of southern and central China, and another 347 are missing, the government said on Wednesday.

The scale of the devastation, with more rain forecast, has raised fear of another mass disaster on the scale of the 1998 Yangtze River floods, when more than 4,000 people died, though the government says it is now much better prepared.

Premier Wen Jiabao, in comments published in Chinese newspapers on Thursday, said the situation was serious and called for greater disaster prevention efforts.

“The country is now at a crucial stage in fighting the floods, with water levels on the Yangtze River, Huai River and Tai Lake surpassing safety limits. The situation is very serious as typhoons are coming,” Wen said.

Typhoon Conson skirted Hainan last week, killing two people, before heading into Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the police have recorded the statement of the nurse. SSP Jamshed Town Amir Foroqui told media that the nurse has told about two more doctors involved in the incident.

The police official has refused to share the statement with the media.

While talking to Geo News, the nurse said that she was thrown out from the window dispelling earlier reports of committing suicide. A nurse, Sajjad Fatima, was also said to be involved in this heinous crime.

Five people were killed in rain-related incidents in Lahore, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib. Heavy showers lashed different areas of Punjab on Tuesday morning. However, water accumulation in low-lying areas disturbed routine life.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif visited rain-affected areas of Lahore and reviews rescue operation. Three persons including two children electrocuted in Shahidra and Taj Park areas whereas two dead in Sheikupura and Nankana Sahib.

Met office predicted more rains in next 48 hours. Rain recorded in Lahore 62 mm, Gujaranwala 86 mm, Mianwali 80 mm, Sialkot 69 mm and Chakwal 25 mm.

“Participants welcomed and endorsed in principle the Afghan government’s peace and reintegration programme,” said the final communique.

Karzai last month won approval from Afghan leaders to start peace talks with insurgent leaders and called on the international community to back his efforts — despite at least initial scepticism from the United States.

Karzai’s programme is open to insurgents, “who renounce violence, have no links to international terrorist organisations, respect the constitution and are willing to join in building a peaceful Afghanistan,” the statement noted.

The world’s most successful bowler, who was eight short of the 800-wicket mark in his final appearance, trapped batting record holder Tendulkar leg-before for eight before stumps on the third day.

The blow left India on an uneasy 140-3 at close after a superb rearguard action by Sri Lanka’s tailenders helped the hosts pile up 520-8 declared in their first innings by tea.

Virender Sehwag hit a typically robust 85 not out to keep India afloat following the cheap dismissals of opener Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar in the final session of play.

Sehwag hit 14 boundaries and a six before play was called off 10.2 overs early due to bad light at the Galle International Stadium.

The sun broke for the first time in two days to allow play to begin after the entire second day had been washed out and 22 overs were lost on the first day due to heavy rain.

India’s seamers had grabbed four important wickets, three of them to the lanky Ishant Sharma, as Sri Lanka slipped from Sunday’s total of 256-2 to 344-6 before lunch.

But Rangana Herath and Lasith Malinga proved unlikely saviours with career-best scores during a rousing stand of 115 for the eighth wicket.

Herath, who had put on 49 for the seventh wicket with Prasanna Jayawardene, remained unbeaten on 80 with 10 fours and a six.

Malinga smashed nine boundaries and two sixes in a breezy 64 off 75 balls before his dismissal, which signalled the entry of Muralitharan to the crease.

Muralitharan, who retires after this Test, was welcomed to the crease by fireworks in the stands as the Indian fielders lined up to applaud him with a guard of honour.

The off-spinner, who led his team onto the field when India batted, came on to bowl the 17th over and removed Tendulkar with his 16th delivery as the batsman missed a sweep shot.

Muralitharan now has two days to add to his record 793 Test wickets as Sri Lanka attempt to push home the advantage.

With the scoreless match inching toward a penalty shootout, and the Netherlands down to 10 men, Andres Iniesta collected a pass from Cesc Fabregas to fire home from close range and break Dutch hearts four minutes from the final whistle.

It was the first time the European champions had reached a World Cup final and a bitter disappointment for the Netherlands who finished runners-up for the third time after previously losing the 1974 and 1978 finals.

It was also the first triumph by a European side outside their continent.

The result caused agony in the Netherlands and ecstasy in Madrid where fans shed tears of joy and fireworks went off all over the city. More than 10O,000 people had gathered to watch on giant screens and many went hoarse with screams of joy.

In contrast, Dutch cities became deadly silent as their dream of finally winning the trophy evaporated. Some 180,000 fans trudged away quietly from Amsterdam’s museum square.

The game was far from the classic final to Africa’s first World Cup that many had hoped for from the two most impressive teams in the tournament.

Spain looked dominant for long passages but a ferociously physical Netherlands broke up their rhythm and their renowned precision passing in midfield, often reducing the game to a sterile stalemate.

BRUISING ENCOUNTER

In a bruising encounter in the huge Soccer City stadium, referee Howard Webb showed 13 yellow cards — a record for the final — and sent off Dutch defender John Heitinga in extra time.

Despite the disappointing quality of the match, it was a triumphant end to a highly successful tournament for South Africa who confounded years of pessimistic predictions that it would be ruined by violent crime and chaos.

To cap their pride, Nelson Mandela, much loved father of post-apartheid South Africa, briefly toured the pitch waving to the 85,000-strong crowd just before the match began.

Mandela, 91, who is in frail health, was driven around in a golf cart surrounded by bodyguards and greeted by an adoring crowd chanting his clan name Madiba.

The former president, who led South Africa out of apartheid in 1994, was unable to attend the opening ceremony because of the death of his great grand-daughter in a car accident the night before.

Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque told television: “It was a very difficult match. We have fantastic players. We could have scored another goal or two. But I think the result was deserved. It’s a very happy day for me.”

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said the better team had won in the end: “It is very sad. These three or four final minutes and then you lose. I really had thought even with 10 we would be able to do the penalty shoot out.

“It is bitter but that is sport. It is harsh.”

Both sides missed good goalscoring opportunities, most notably Dutch winger Arjen Robben who was twice denied by brilliant saves from Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

TELEVISION AUDIENCE

FIFA said a worldwide television audience of more than 700 million had been expected to watch the final.

The victory will raise spirits in Spain which is torn by bitter political infighting over how to address Europe’s highest unemployment and crippling debt.

Despite being the first host nation knocked out at the group stage, South Africans have remained enthusiastic spectators, helping this tournament to be the third best attended, with three million seats sold, behind the United States in 1994 and Germany in 2006. President Jacob Zuma dubbed them true champions.

Chief local organizer Danny Jordaan said the tournament had brought the races together and enabled South Africans to walk tall after being told for years they were inferior.

But African joy at a tournament credited with rebranding both South Africa and the continent was blighted by two bomb blasts in the Ugandan capital Kampala that killed at least 23 people watching the final in bars, police said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Andres Iniesta’s extra-time strike against the Netherlands at Soccer City secured a fourth 1-0 victory in a row for Vicente del Bosque’s side and also means Spain head home as world champions with only three players having managed to score in South Africa.

David Villa’s five goals accounted for over half of Spain’s tally while midfielder Iniesta managed three, leaving La Roja’s goalscoring hero against Germany, Carles Puyol, as the only other player to have made it on the scoresheet.

Brazil’s 11 goals when winning the 1994 title is the second-lowest total while, in contrast, the Selecao managed 18 in 2002.

Diego Maradona’s Argentina scored 14 on their way to victory in 1986 while the then West Germany managed one goal more when lifting the title four years later.

France accumulated 15 goals when winning on home soil in 1998 and Italy only managed 12 when securing a third World Cup four years ago in Berlin.

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