200 feared killed in Taipei crashBEIJING: AT least 200 people were feared killed when a Chinese airliner with 196 passengers and crew on board burst into flames after it hit residential homes while landing at the Taipei international airport causing casualties on the ground, media reports said. The China Airlines A-300 Airbus was attempting to land at Chiang Kai-Shek en route from the Indonesian island of Bali when it burst into flames at 5.37 pm IST. Witnesses said the plane hit at least three residential buildings and a hall as it came down.PM calls off tourNEW DELHI: Prime Minister I K Gujral has called off his day-long tour of Maharashtra tomorrow due to ``indisposition'', it was officially stated here today. ``The Prime Minister is indisposed and has called off his tour tomorrow on the advice of his doctors,'' an official said. Gujral was to visit Nanded, Hingoli, Wardha and Nagpur. Polling in Maharashtra is scheduled for February 22 and 28.Vajpayee onSoniaDUM DUM: BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee, today demanded that Sonia Gandhi withdraw her statement that he had lied about Rajiv Gandhi receiving commission in the Bofors deal if she failed to prove it. Regretting that the language used by her was not uttered in a civilised society.Family suicideTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Driven by utter penury, a Gulf-returned electrician fatally electrocuted himself, his wife and four children at Parottukonam near here last night, police said. A suicide note left by Joseph John (45) said he had no other means but to take the extreme step. A note was found on the door cautioning anyone from entering the house without switching off the mains.Players' securityHYDERABAD: Indian cricket team skipper Mohammed Azharuddin today demanded better security for players saying it should be of prime importance for the host country and host association at domestic and international matches. Azhar said organisers should make elaboratearrangements, in a veiled reference to the roughing up of Pakistani cricketers in Johannesburg and the incident at Jamshedpur, where a spectator allegedly stole his cap.
