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Pakistani Army begins Waziristan offensive

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- At least 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed early Saturday as the army moved into South Waziristan in an offensive against Taliban strongholds.

Tanks backed by helicopter gunships rolled into the region from the east, south and west, The Daily Telegraph of London reported. Generals promised the offensive would be "the mother of all battles."

Before the troops began moving, Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani. chief of Army staff, summoned leaders of opposition parties to a meeting Friday at the house of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, where they were asked to support a strong offensive targeting Pakistanis, officials said. Recent Taliban attacks, like the one on the Army headquarters in Rawalpindi, had led to reduced political opposition to a drive against the Taliban.

In the weeks preceding the offensive, thousands of residents left South Waziristan. Those who remained behind were kept at home by a curfew.

"We heard sounds of planes and helicopters early Saturday. Then we heard blasts. We are also hearing gunshots and it seems the army is exchanging fire with Taliban," Ajmal Khan told the Telegraph in a telephone interview.

Karzai waits for election report

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Foreign leaders have reportedly been pressuring Afghan President Hamid Karzai to accept a second-round vote in the presidential election.

Officials told the BBC the tactic may have backfired, angering Karzai. The president has threatened to delay a new vote.

Under Afghan election law, a winning candidate must get at least 50 percent of the vote. Election officials say 55 percent of those who cast ballots Aug. 20 voted for Karzai, while former Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Abdullah, the most successful opposition candidate, got only 28 percent.

The Electoral Complaints Commission, supported by the United Nations, is expected to release its report on alleged election fraud Sunday.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner were both in Afghanistan. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked to Karzai and Abdullah by telephone Friday.

Clinton told CNN she believes Karzai would win a second round vote.

Fight against poverty hits critical time

NEW YORK, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The fight against poverty is at a critical point, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Saturday.

The day has been designated as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

"At a time of multiple global crises, the poorest and most vulnerable have a special claim on our attention," the secretary-general said in a message. "We know that, in any recession, those hurt first -- and worst -- are the poor."

In a release, the United Nations said recent estimates indicate the global economic crisis has claimed at least 50 million jobs this year and as many as 100 million people are expected to fall below the poverty line in 2009. Climate change further compounds the problem.

"Now is the time to amplify the voices of the vulnerable and ensure that the world follows up on its pledges," Ban said.

The Day's theme this year is "Children and Families Speak Out against Poverty," and U.N. Children's Fund Executive Director Ann M. Veneman noted poverty and malnutrition as well as lack of education have a heavy impact on young people in particular.

South Korean: North has prison camps

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- A South Korean lawmaker contends North Korea still operates six prison camps holding 154,000 inmates, even though the North denies holding political prisoners.

Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling Grand National Party says the North had around 10 such prisons with about 200,000 political prisoners until the late 1990, closing four of them because of pressure from other countries, Yonhap reported.

North Korea says it is innocent of any human rights abuse.

Yoon claimed political prisoners are forced to work more than 10 hours a day, receive only 200 grams of food a day and are denied access to medical care.

Besides political opponents or those who lost out in power struggles, the prisons hold ordinary people who made disrespectful remarks about the country's leader Kim Jong-il, Yoon alleged.