Mr Mugabe’s current term ends in 2008, but before the interview there had been speculation that he would use his 80th birthday to announce his retirement, and bring the next presidential election forward to coincide with parliamentary elections in March next year.The President said talks with the opposition had been hampered by some Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) officials, whom he described as “shallow”. President Robert Mugabe hinted for the first time yesterday that he is willing to speak to the opposition to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis, but then outraged opponents by announcing in an 80th birthday interview that he will cling to power for five more years.
Speaking to the state broadcaster, Mr Mugabe said he would retire in five years’ time, without giving a specific date. But his critics maintain that five more years under him will put Zimbabwe beyond redemption. They said four people were killed.The embassy spokesman said the crash occurred Sunday morning and there were conflicting reports about casualties.”We have sent the investigation team to the area to find out more,” said Khan Mohammad, the corps commander in Kandahar.Louis Berger is involved in major road construction projects, including in southern Afghanistan where rebels of the former ruling Taliban regime are active..

Pakistan is to mount new operations on its border with Afghanistan aimed at cornering al-Qa’ida terrorists in an area where Osama bin Laden may be hiding, Pakistani military and intelligence sources said last night. It was unclear if the bomber had been on the bus at the time.The Palestinian militant group Hamas had called all its bombers to avenge an Israeli raid of 11 February into the Gaza Strip that left 15 Palestinians dead, though the group did not immediately claim responsibility for the bombing.. Police spokesman Gil Kleiman said the blast killed seven people in addition to the bomber. Rescue officials said at least 60 people were injured.A security agent had boarded the bus a few stops before the explosion, checked it and then got off, Gidi Goldflam, a passenger said.

The windows were blown out, the windscreen cracked and the roof was raised.”It was like an earthquake,” Ora Yairov, who was at the gas station during the explosion, said. We will continue building it because it saves lives.”The Palestinians say the barrier amounts to a land grab because it dips deep into the West Bank in some areas, and disrupts the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinians.Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia condemned Sunday’s bombing and called for “an immediate halt to these actions,” which gives Israel an excuse to continuing building the barrier and carrying out raids against militants, he said in a statement.The explosion came from a medium-sized bomb laced with pieces of iron that exploded in the centre of the bus, police said. Israel hopes the barrier will keep out militants that have killed hundreds of Israelis in more than three years of violence.”This attack proves just how urgent it is to build the fence,” Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said “It is a clear preventive measure … Sniffer dogs were being led around the scene.Israeli officials said the blast proved the need for the barrier, which is being challenged at the International Court of Justice at the Hague. “The station was filled with shattered glass and pieces of flesh.”An hour after the blast, bodies still lay on the sidewalk. Rescue workers wrapped them in white sheets and put body parts in body bags.