BANGLADESH PRESIDENT REJECTS MERCY PETITIONS OF SIX MILITANTS

Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed has rejected the mercy petitions of six of the seven top militants of the banned Jamaatul Mujaheedin Bangladesh (JMB) facing the gallows for killing two judges in November 2005. With the rejection of the mercy petitions, there will be no obstacle to the executions of the militants, official sources said. The executions were likely to take place by mid-April, however there was no official word on the decision.