Benghazi attack: Hicks 'stunned' at Rice explanation

 

Gregory Hicks, deputy chief of mission in Tripoli, said he was "stunned" by UN Ambassador Susan Rice's comments that the attack was spontaneous.
He also told lawmakers he received a phone call from US Envoy Christopher Stevens, just before he died.
Three other Americans were killed in the attack on 11 September 2012.

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“Start Quote

My jaw dropped and I was embarrassed”

Gregory Hicks on his reaction to Susan Rice's comments

During several hours of emotional testimony before a House of Representatives committee on Wednesday, Mr Hicks described the moment he was informed of the attack.

He said he was in Tripoli watching TV when he received a phone call from Ambassador Stevens.
"Greg, we're under attack," the ambassador reportedly told Mr Hicks by telephone before the line cut.
He later received a phone call from the Libyan prime minister informing him of Ambassador Steven's death.
"I think it is the saddest phone call I have ever had in my life," Mr Hicks said.
After the disrupted phone call with Ambassador Stevens, Mr Hicks said he received calls from Libyans using the ambassador's phone who said they had the envoy with them.

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At the scene

Suzanne Kianpour BBC News, Washington

The Benghazi hearing, billed as sure to be "explosive", was packed.
People lined the walls, including some notable members of Congress not assigned to the committee.
Behind the witnesses sat the mother of embassy attack victim Sean Smith. She has said she blames Hillary Clinton for her son's death.
Since the embassy attack, the incident has been vigorously debated.
Mr Hicks, who was Chris Stevens' deputy on the ground, said he did not speak to UN Ambassador Susan Rice before her ill-fated Sunday chat show rounds where her talking points clashed with his report of a terrorist attack.
But the hearing did not resolve how and why things went wrong.

But Mr Hicks decided not to act on the calls, fearing an ambush.

UN Ambassador Susan Rice has been the focus of outrage from Republicans in Congress, for giving the news media what has been acknowledged as an incorrect explanation for the attack.
She said on a Sunday chat show on 16 September that the attack had grown out of an anti-US protest, while other officials have said they knew at the time it was an organised, armed assault, possibly by an Islamist militant group.
"My jaw dropped and I was embarrassed," Mr Hicks said on his reaction to her interview.
Some Republicans accuse the White House of hiding information about the attack, while Democrats say the issue has become politicised.
The BBC's Jane O'Brien in Washington says Wednesday's testimony will do nothing to dispel Republican concerns that President Barack Obama tried to cover up a terrorist attack in the run-up to a presidential election.
Democrats will continue to say there was no attempt to mislead the public, our correspondents adds.
'Need to evacuate' At Wednesday's hearing, Mr Hicks expressed frustration with the lack of a US military response during the night-time attack, saying one could have deterred a second assault.
The Pentagon has said nothing could have been done to assist the Americans in Benghazi.
Mr Hicks and two other state department employees criticised an official review undertaken after the attack, saying many people with first-hand knowledge of the event were not interviewed and it focused too much on lower-ranking officials.
The review found that poor leadership and management in two state department teams led to a security plan that was "inadequate for Benghazi and grossly inadequate to deal with the attack that took place".
Mr Hicks told the panel he spoke to people at the State Department and to Libyan officials, and had a conversation with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton around 02:00 on the night of the attack.
"Secretary of State Clinton called me along with her senior staff... and she asked me what was going on. And I briefed her on developments," Mr Hicks told congressmen.
"Most of the conversation was about the search for Ambassador Stevens. It was also about what we were going to do with our personnel in Benghazi, and I told her that we would need to evacuate. She said that was the right thing to do."
The ambassador died of smoke inhalation when he was trapped in the burning consulate building, after armed men stormed the compound.
State department employee Sean Smith and former Navy Seals Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty also died in the attack.
Mrs Clinton angrily defended her handling of the Benghazi raid in a series of hearings on Capitol Hill in January.

 

karnatka election result 2013

The Congress is back in power in Karnataka. As per the latest results/trends, the party has secured a clear majority in the Legislative Assembly emerging as the single largest party in the state. The incumbent BJP and the JD(S) are fighting it out for the number two position.

In Central Karnataka, the bastion of KJP leader BS Yeddyurappa, Congress appears to have benefitted due to the vote split caused by the divorce between Yeddyurappa and the BJP.

Here, the Congress appears to have gained much ground leading to its better showing in the Karnataka Assembly Elections.

The vote split between KJP and BJP has impacted both the parties.


In Southern Karnataka, the JD(S) gave a tough fight to the Congress which has emerged as the single largest party in the vote count.

This is the region where Congress lost the most.

In Bangalore too, Deve Gowda's JD(S) gave Congress a run for its money. The national party made small gains here and bagged under 50% of the seats. The JD(S), on the other hand, gained significantly.


It was in Mumbai Karnataka where Congress performed the best, also due to the fact that Yeddyurappa had the maximum impact on the prospects of the BJP here.

The Congress also increased its vote share in the northern region of Hyderabad Karnataka.

In the western and coastal regions, Congress wrested most of the seats BJP had won last time.

Mayweather vs. Guerrero results

Mayweather vs. Guerrero results: Floyd Mayweather remains undefeated

SB Nation's Luke Thomas says Floyd Mayweather and Robert Guerrero were "simply different class fighters."

Despite hurting his right hand in the fight, Floyd Mayweather defended his WBC welterweight title with a unanimous decision win over Robert Guerrero at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night. He's now 44-0 for his career.

Mexican president commemorates Cinco de Mayo

 Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto is commemorating Cinco de Mayo by urging his countrymen to tackle current problems with the same "unity and commitment" that defeated the French 151 years ago.
Pena Nieto says the holiday celebrates principles that, in his words, "encourage the political forces and federal government to pursue a transformative reform agenda that the country demands and needs."
Cinco de Mayo marks the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, when Mexican troops defeated a French army of Napoleon III, then considered the mightiest military in the world.
The anniversary was marked Sunday with a military parade in the city of Puebla, where the battle took place. It is considered a bigger holiday in the U.S., celebrating Mexican heritage with parades and revelry in many major cities.

 

iron man 3

Box office update: 'Iron Man 3' earns HUGE $68.3 million on Friday

Tony Stark has done it again! Iron Man 3, Disney’s $200 million superhero sequel, kicked off its North American run with $68.3 million on Friday, and it’s headed for one of the best opening weekends of all time.
Iron Man 3′s opening day (which includes $15.6 million earned at Thursday night shows starting at 9 p.m.) marks the eighth biggest opening day ever at the domestic box office, slightly ahead of The Hunger Games‘ $67.3 million Friday, which yielded a $152.5 million weekend. Thanks to broader audience appeal, Iron Man 3 is expected to hold up slightly better than Hunger Games over the rest of the weekend.
Where will Iron Man 3 finish? Well, if it performs similarly to The Avengers, which earned $80.8 million on Friday and a record-breaking $207.4 million over the full debut weekend, then Iron Man 3 is headed for a $175 million debut, which would beat Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2‘s $169.2 million haul as the second-best domestic start of all time. If it doesn’t manage such a strong internal multiplier, Iron Man 3 may finish with around $160 million — still an incredible start. EW predicted a $172 million opening on Thursday.
One thing is for sure: Iron Man 3, which has already broken records overseas, will easily trounce the domestic opening weekends of its predecessors, Iron Man ($98.6 million) and Iron Man 2 ($128.1 million). Check back tomorrow to see just how marvelous the Marvel film’s debut really was. Here’s hwo the rest of the chart looked:

karnatka election

Brisk polling in Karnataka elections

  

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  The Hindu Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and his family members at the Government Higher Primary School at Paduvalahippe in Holenarasipur taluk after casting their vote on Sunday. Photo: Prakash Hassan
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  The Hindu Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and his wife Chennamma exercise their franchise at Government Higher Primary School, Paduvalahippe in Holenarasipur taluk on Sunday. Photo: Prakash Hassan
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  A polling official checks out the Braille Electonic Voting Machine (EMV), which is dedicated only for visually challenged voters on the eve of Legislative Assmbley elections, in Bangalore, Karnataka. Photo: V Sreenivasa Murthy

voting

Polling got off to a brisk start across Karnataka on Sunday with voters queuing outside many polling stations to exercise their franchise in the elections to the State Assembly.

Long queues were seen outside polling booths in Bangalore early in the day. In many areas, voters turned up at polling stations even before the booths were opened at 7 am. Party workers, who had set up kiosks, a small distance from the booths, were wooing voters.

But, a few polling booths also witnessed a delayed start to the polling process. In a polling station (No. 92) of the Govindarajanagar assembly constituency in Bangalore, the voting process was delayed by 45 minutes on account of non-functioning of electronic voting machine (EVM).

Several voters stood in a queue impatiently as the officials did not allow any them to enter the polling station due to the malfunctioning of the EVM. Later, an official of the BBMP rushed to the spot and repaired the EVM.

In many booths across Bangalore, the officials had not notified the extension in polling time from to 6 pm. Though the Election Commission on Saturday extended the time till 6 pm, timing displayed outside polling booths said voting hours were between 7 am and 5 pm.

Though the Election Commission has promised to set up kiosks outside polling stations to issue voters’ slips, no such help desks were found in many areas including polling booths at Govindarajanagar in Bangalore. In Hebbal, voters found difficulty in locating their polling stations as Election Commission had not distributed the voter’s slips for the purpose. The help desk personnel were flooded with inquiries so were the volunteers of political parties.

In Malleshwaram in Bangalore, even as parties hired autorickshaws to bring voters to the polling booths, BJP’s senior leader and Rajya Sabha member M Venkaiah Naidu came under criticism for his behavior at the polling station. In a statement, Prasanna Kumar of CITU condemned the “crude and indecent” behavior of Mr Naidu for “pushing aside senior citizens in the queue”.

HASSAN: Voters’ turnout at many booths in politically active Hassan district in the early hours of Sunday was impressive. Voters were seen in queues in polling booths of Holenarasipur and Hassan constituencies. Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda is among those who voted in the early hours.

Mr. Deve Gowda exercised his right along with his wife Channamma Deve Gowda at Government Higher Primary School at Paduvalahippe around 8.45 am. He was followed by former minister and JD(S) candidate for Holenarasipur constituency H.D. Revanna, his wife Bhavani Revanna and their children Suraj R. and Prajwal R.

Mr. Revanna, as he did in the previous assembly elections, changed the position of the table on which the electronic voting machine was placed before voting. He shifted the table little towards a window, to give an impression that he wanted more light to view the EVM. Voters had gathered in large numbers around the polling station where Gowda’s family had arrived to vote. Many aged men and women were seen in the queue.

An EVM at Salagame in Hassan taluk developed a technical snag causing delay in beginning the polling for about half an hour. The polling staff replaced the machine for smooth conduct of the polls.

Congress candidate of Holenarasipur S.G. Anupama was admitted to hospital for a brief period on Sunday morning after she complained of discomfort. It is said she was tired of hectic campaigning in the last few days. She returned home after she was administered glucose.

BELLARY: Polling was halted for sometime at a booth in the Bandihatti area of Bellary after a scuffle between a voter and central paramilitary force personnel on election duty.

KOLAR: Four persons were arrested in booth number 122 in Kolar following violence between supporters of Congress and Independent candidate Varthur Prakash, a Minister in the BJP Government. The Congress workers were reportedly brandishing lethal weapons to scare voters, police said.

Lalu Prasad Yadav injured in freak accident

Yadav was taken to private hospital in city where he was given two stitches on the head and discharged late last night.

RJD president Lalu Prasad sustained injuries on his head and face when the windshield of his car broke and shards of glass hit him when he was going to Vaishali district, his personal assistant said on Saturday.
Prasad was taken to private hospital in city where he was given two stitches on the head and discharged late last night.
His PA Bhola Yadav said that the accident occurred at around 10 pm when his car was crossing a pantoon bridge near Kachchi Dargah on way to Raghopur.
The vehicle got stuck in the middle of the bridge and due to a sudden jerk, the windshield broke. Shards of glass then hit Prasad who was sitting on the front seat, Yadav said.
His condition was stable and he would proceed on his party programme later in the day, the PA said.
Prasad is touring different part of the state to drum up support for his May 15 rally in Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

Cargo plane crashes in Afghanistan, killing 7 Americans

Cargo plane crashes in Afghanistan, killing 7 Americans


A cargo plane crashed in Afghanistan killing all seven crew members on board Monday.

All seven were U.S. citizens, the cargo carrier National Airlines said.

The crash happened shortly after takeoff from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, the U.S.-based company said. The Boeing 747-400 was en route to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

"This was a purely cargo flight and no passengers were aboard," a company statement said. "Cargo consisted of vehicles and routine general cargo."

National specializes in moving freight for the military and businesses, as well as charter passenger service in the Middle East.

The cause of the crash has not been determined.

But Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said his group shot down the aircraft and that "several foreign soldiers were killed."

That claim could not be immediately verified. But in the past, the Taliban has exaggerated casualty figures.

"This is a devastating loss for our family and we'll work diligently with authorities to find the cause," National Airlines President Glen Joerger said in the statement.

"Our focus at this time is on the family members of those we've lost, and on assisting the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority in their investigations."

Six of the victims were from Michigan, National said, and they were identified as Brad Hasler, Jeremy Lipka, Jamie Brokaw, Rinku Summan, Michael Sheets and Gary Stockdale.

The other victim, Timothy Garrett, was from Kentucky.

rail minister's nephew arrested in a bribery scam

CBI arrests Bansal's nephew, three more in bribery scam

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The CBI Saturday arrested Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla and three others here for allegedly taking a bribe to ensure the promotion of a top railway official.

Singla, a multi-millionaire businessman from Chandigarh who is Bansal's sister's son, his friend Sanjay Goyal and two others were taken by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team to New Delhi for investigation, sources in the agency here said.

Two others arrested, who have not been named so far, had carried the bribe money to Singla Friday evening.

Singla was accused of allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs.90 lakh from senior railway officer Mahesh Kumar for his (Kumar's) appointment as a member of the powerful Railway Board.

Kumar was appointed a member of the Railway Board May 2 by Bansal's ministry.

The CBI arrested Kumar from Mumbai airport Friday evening, soon after he landed there on a flight from New Delhi.

Kumar was being questioned by the CBI in Mumbai and is likely to be brought to New Delhi Saturday afternoon.

The CBI teams continued raids through Friday night on the palatial residence of Singla in Sector 28 here, located close to the residence of the railway minister.

Raids were also conducted at the residence of Goyal in Sector 16 and at the office premises of both Singla and Goyal. Documents, laptops and other items were taken away by the CBI.

CBI officials did not produce Singla and others in a court here.

CBI sources said the telephone calls of Singla, Kumar and others were being monitored for the last few days before the CBI decided to make the arrests.

Amid calls from political quarters for his sacking or resignation, Bansal distanced himself from the bribery scandal involving his nephew.

In a statement released in New Delhi, Bansal admitted that a "close relative" was arrested but claimed that he had no business dealings with his nephew.

George Jones Funeral

George Jones Funeral: Alan Jackson, Wynonna, Kid Rock, Laura Bush and More Say Goodbye at Opry Memorial

George Jones performed hundreds of times at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House – whether on the WSM Radio show, or appearing on such shows from the auditorium like the CMA Awards, so it's only appropriate that this morning's funeral has turned out to be a farewell fit for a country king.

Open to the public, fans started lining up yesterday for a chance to say farewell to the artist known as "The Possum." Famous friends who either spoke or performed during the 2 hour, 40 minutes-long service included Kid Rock, Travis Tritt, Alan Jackson, Patty Loveless, former First Lady Laura Bush and others.

PHOTOS: Remembering The Possum • Album Sales Up 1,000%• George Jones Dead at 81• His 20 Biggest Hits • The King of Country Charts • Honored at Stagecoach • Garth Talks Possum• Stars React on Twitter• Jones' Billboard Interview

WSM announcer Eddie Stubbs welcomed the crowd to the Opry House, and proceeded to introduce longtime family friend Tanya Tucker and the Imperials, who performed a beautiful version of the Gospel classic "The Old Rugged Cross," ending the performance by saying "I'm gonna miss you, Possum." Tucker was one of several acts that was slated to perform with Jones on his final concert – which was slated for November 22 in Nashville.
Nashville radio personality Keith Bilbrey spoke next, followed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam who praised the singer for being an ambassador to the state of Tennessee.
Pastor Mike Wilson was next on the hallowed stage, who asked for prayers on behalf of George's family and friends. Bilbrey then introduced a pair of artists who had deep ties to Jones. The first was Randy Travis, who relayed a story to the crowd about a concert date where Jones persuaded Travis to close for him. It was a Travis duet , "A Few Old Country Boys," that brought Jones his final top ten entry on the singles chart in 1990. With simply an acoustic guitar on his lap, Travis performed "Amazing Grace."
The Oak Ridge Boys followed Travis with a performance of "Farther Along." The legendary foursome appeared with Jones on his 1982 top ten record "Same Ol' Me." One of Jones's fellow Texans, CBS News personality Bob Scheiffer, was next to eulogize the singer. He recalled listening to Jones on the airwaves of the Grand Ole Opry, and said that though everybody wanted to sing like George Jones, ‘You couldn't sing like George Jones...if you weren't George Jones.' He also relayed memories of his growing up years as relayed to him by Jones in an interview. Scheiffer also commented that in 2008, Jones was a little concerned about attending the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony where he was going to be celebrated because "He didn't think people in Washington didn't like country music, and wouldn't know who he was."
A couple of Jones' fellow Grand Ole Opry members were next in the program. Charlie Daniels walked onto the stage, recalling the first time he heard the voice of George Jones, and also cited the influence he has had on so many artists over the years. Daniels also told a story about longtime producer Billy Sherrill saying that Jones was "the only singer who could make a five-syllable word....out of ‘church." He then grabbed his guitar, and offered a simple yet moving version of "Softly And Tenderly."
Travis Tritt – one of many stars who appeared on Jones' 1992 hit "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" - was next, performing Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me, Lord," which Jones also recorded. He also spoke of the love George felt for Nancy, recalling a conversation where Jones told him "She's my angel."
One of Nashville's favorite "angels," Barbara Mandrell was next on the stage. Visibly moved, Mandrell – his duet partner on 1981's "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool," told the crowd that Jones would always be the "Greatest singer of all time in Country Music, and there would never be anyone to fill his shoes."  She also shared an anecdote about meeting Jones at age 13. Mandrell – a teenage prodigy on the steel guitar – talked about the fact that Jones didn't have a steel player on the bill – so he asked her to play the instrument during his performance. "George left his lasting imprint on my heart...all of our hearts. He sang for you and me, and now he's singing in glory for the one who gave him that voice. Hallelujah," she said.
Kid Rock might have been an unlikely participant in the ceremony, but the singer about an incident where Jones had asked him to write a song for him – one that he never finished. The singer talked about how difficult it can be to be married to a performer, and performed an original song called "The Best Of Me."
Frequent Jones collaborators Vince Gill and Patty Loveless were next on stage. Jones gave Gill his "Sweet 'Pea" nickname, and Loveless had covered many Jones records over the years – including her first top ten single, "If My Heart Had Windows," from 1988 – which featured Gill on harmony. Gill recalled touring in his early years with Jones and Conway Twitty – and having to perform with Jones opening, and Twitty closing. Loveless talked about covering a few Jones songs on her Sleepless Nights record in 2008 and George and Nancy driving around town trying to find it. A clerk at a record store said 'We'll get on it, Mr. Jones." The two then combined their talents for an emotional performance of "Go Rest High On That Mountain," with both artists crying throughout – bringing the capacity crowd to their feet.
Former First Lady Laura Bush was introduced by Stubbs. Bush thanked Nancy for allowing her to speak at the service. "Nobody made music like a man from East Texas like George Jones," she told the crowd to applause. She recalled putting quarters in the jukebox to hear Jones' 1964 hit "The Race Is On." She also spoke of the meetings between her husband and Jones – in 2003 when he was presented the National Medal of the Arts, and 2008 during the Kennedy Center Honors – recalling the former President working on his treadmill to "White Lightning."
Grand Ole Opry member Brad Paisley was brought to the stage by Bilbrey next, and he encouraged those watching the funeral who weren't familiar with his legacy to seek out his music, and 'find out what this ruckus is about. It's worth it." He then proceeded into Tom T Hall's classic "Me And Jesus."
Opry GM Pete Fisher followed Paisley, adding that "If you were visited by an alien from another planet, and were asked about country music, you would play them George Jones." Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee approached the podium next. He called getting to say goodbye to Jones "One of the greatest honors of my life." He also relayed what it would have meant to his father had he known he had played music with Jones on his FOX TV show. "George Jones did not sing to us.... He sang For us," said Huckabee.
Ronnie Milsap was then introduced next, saying "We're all here because we loved George Jones," before kicking off a soulful version of his 1969 hit "When The Grass Grows Over Me," a song that he called "the saddest song he had ever heard." After Milsap left the stage, Stubbs introduced Kenny Chesney, who recalled the first Jones song he ever heard was "Who's Gonna Chop My Baby's Kindlin" at his grandmother. He cited the singer as father figure, who he opened for early on in his career. "I came here today to tell Nancy I love you....and I will miss him so much."
Wynonna Judd – a neighbor to the Jones family for many years – recalled Jones sitting in the front row at Tammy Wynette's 1998 memorial service while she performed "How Great Thou Art" before  her performance of the song. Judd also recalled that her first concert ever was Jones and Merle Haggard, and also praised...his hair. "The most perfect hair I've ever seen in my life," she quipped.
Wilson appeared on the stage next with closing remarks. He recalled being introduced to Jones as a youngster through his 1985 hit "The One I Loved Back Then (The Corvette Song)." He also recalled when he and his wife adopted two daughters from Haiti, that Jones and Nancy asked them to bring them over. "We talked throughout the years, and no matter how you knew him....life didn't stop for George on Friday. It started." Wilson concluded his message by quoting John 14, ending with a prayer.
Being the funeral of country's most-respected singer, it was fitting that the service ended with a song – but not just any other one. Alan Jackson took to the stage with a somber performance of the song that defined Jones' career - "He Stopped Loving Her Today," ending the song by removing his hat in honor of his mentor.
With that 'wreath upon his door' that the lyric of the song speaks of, Jones made his final exit from the Opry House to the strains of his recording of "When The Last Curtain Falls." A procession would escort his casket to his burial place at Woodlawn Memorial Park, with his band serving as pallbearers. The funeral lasted for over two and a half hours – a fitting send off to one of music's most legendary figures.

Earthquake measuring 5.7 strikes northern India  

May 1  - A shallow earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 struck in northern India on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The quake was only 10 km (six miles) deep and struck at 6:57 GMT, 17 km (10 miles) northeast of Bhadarwah in India, said the USGS. Powerful, shallow quakes are capable of causing extensive damage.

Sarabjit Singh dies in Lahore hospital, family demands martyr status

• 

Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh died of cardiac arrest in a Lahore hospital in the wee hours on Thursday after being comatose for nearly a week following a brutal assault by fellow inmates in a high-security Pakistani jail, officials said.
"I received a call from the doctor on duty (at Jinnah Hospital) at 1am (1:30 IST) informing me that Sarabjit is no more," Mahmood Shaukat, the head of a medical board that was supervising 49-year-old Sarabjit's treatment, told.

Another doctor, who was part of the team treating Sarabjit, said he died of cardiac arrest, adding that doctors made several unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate him.
Officials of the Indian high commission in Islamabad said they had been informed by officials of Jinnah Hospital about Sarabjit's death.
Sarabjit sustained severe injuries when at least six prisoners attacked him in a barrack at Kot Lakhpat Jail on Friday, hitting him on the head with bricks.
In New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed sadness over Sarabjit's death, saying criminals responsible for the barbaric and murderous attack on the Indian national must be brought to justice.
Sarabjit was convicted of alleged involvement in a string of bomb attacks in Punjab province that killed 14 people in 1990 and spent about 22 years in Pakistani prisons.
His family, who had just returned to India after visiting him in Jinnah hospital, always insisted Sarabjit was innocent and he had inadvertently strayed across the border in an inebriated state.
His mercy petitions were rejected by the courts and former President Pervez Musharraf.
The previous Pakistan People's Party-led government put off Sarabjit's execution for an indefinite period in 2008.
Sarabjit's heart was beating "but without brain function" because of the extensive head injuries he sustained during the assault. He was completely unresponsive and unable to breathe without ventilator support.
Shaukat said authorities were yet to decide on conducting an autopsy on Sarabjit's body.
Asked whether the autopsy would be done after getting permission from the government, he said: "At the moment I have no idea.
No decision had been made about handing over the body to Sarabjit's kin or to Indian authorities, Shaukat said.
"These matters will be worked out according to the directions from the government," he said.
The official sources in Lahore had yesterday said Sarabjit had slipped into a "non-reversible" coma and this could lead to "brain death".
His measurements on the Glasgow Coma Scale, which indicates the levels of consciousness and damage to a person's central nervous system, had dropped to a "critical level", the sources said.

Police have booked two death row prisoners? Amer Aftab and Mudassar ? for the attack on Sarabjit. They reportedly told investigators that they had attacked Sarabjit because he had allegedly carried out bomb attacks in Lahore.
No action has been taken so far against officials of the jail for failing to provide adequate security to Sarabjit.
Following the rapid deterioration in Sarabjit's condition, New Delhi had requested that he be immediately released so that he could be treated in India or a third country.
Pakistan had said it was "positively considering" the request to repatriate Sarabjit.
Prime Minister Singh today said the Indian government will make arrangements to bring Sarabjit's remains home and for his last rites to be conducted in consultation with his family.

Sarabjit should be declared a martyr: Family
The family of Sarabjit Singh, Indian prisoner who succumbed to injuries after being brutally assaulted in a Lahore jail, has demanded that his body be handed over to them and he should be declared a "martyr".
The family has set forth demand to the Union home ministry including that Sarabjit's body be cremated with full state honours, Raj Kumar Verka, vice chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes, told PTI.
They have also demanded that the Centre take full responsibility of the family, Verka said.
The government will hold a meeting today to consider the demands of Sarabjit's family, he added.
Verka said Sarabjit's family members, who are with him at his New Delhi residence, are in a state of shock after receiving the news of his death.
He said he has forwarded the demands to the Union home ministry and is in touch with the Central leaders, including home minister Sushilkumar Shinde himself.