Quicktakes

Fatwa against Rushdie lifted

LONDON: Iran on Thursday announced lifting of the fatwa against Indian-born British author Salman Rushdie, paving the way for London and Tehran to restore their ties at the ambassadorial level, a foreign spokesman said here. The decision was conveyed by Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi to British foreign secretary Robin Cook during their meeting in New York. Kharrazi also disassociated his government from providing any 8220;bounty on the head of the author of the Satanic Verses.8221;

Taslima8217;s arrest ordered by court

DHAKA: A Bangladeshi court ordered execution of an earlier arrest warrant against feminist writer Taslima Nasreen. The author is still in hiding days after her first return to Dhaka after fleeing in 1994 amid death threats over her controversial book quot;Lajjaquot;. Issuing the arrest warrant against her, the Dhaka magistrate court also ordered attachment of Taslima8217;s properties.