Islamabad, Sept 23: On Monday, the first working day in Pakistan after Saturday’s hotel blast claiming 60 lives, streets and shopping centres wore a deserted look and fear was still visible on people’s faces.

All major shopping areas, including Aabpara Market, Melody Market, Super Market, Jinnah Super Market and hotels in Blue Area, which used to be lousy with shoppers from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and other suburban areas, gave the look of some “one-horse town”, reported the Daily Times.

Islamabad, Sept 23: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, which was in Islamabad to hold technical consultations with the Pakistani authorities on the macro-economic stabilisation plan, has reportedly cut short its visit due to "security reasons" after Saturday's hotel blast killing 60 people.

The delegation, which was to stay in Pakistan till Wednesday, flew back to Washington on Monday due to "security reasons", reported the Daily Times.

Lahore, Sept 23: Pakistani intelligence agencies claimed to have arrested a close aide of Al Qaeda’s number two Ayman al-Zawahiri from Gujranwala, in connection with Saturday’s Hotel Marriott suicide attack in which 60 people were killed.

The terror suspect was later shifted to Islamabad for further interrogation and investigation into the hotel attack.

Washington - The next US president could soon be headed on a tour of Asia, if advisors to major-party candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have their way.

At a debate between foreign policy aides to the candidates, sponsored by the National Bureau of Asian Research, advisors to both the Democrat and Republican nominees said they would encourage their candidates to travel to Asia on their first international trip after the November 4 elections.

Pipli (Orissa), Sept 22: Around 16 villages in Pipli district of Orissa continued to grapple with floods which have wreaked havoc in the state for the past few days.

Villages have been inundated and people could be seen wading through knee deep water, while many moved away with their belongings to safer places.

"We are living in deplorable conditions. We have not had anything to eat for past three days. We are waiting for some aid from the government but it is not paying any attention to our plight," said Chittanarayan, a local.

Islamabad, Sept 22: Both former and current Pakistani security officials have indicated that Saturday’s hotel blast in Islamabad was a joint handiwork of Al Qaeda and Taliban. They said that Waziristan was fast developing into a terror zone where tribals were giving refuge to terrorists, including Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and his deputy Az-Zawahiri.