Thursday, April 26, 2012

2 killed, 11 wounded in blast in Iraqi capital

BAGHDAD, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A car bomb and a roadside bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad killed two people and wounded 11 others on Thursday, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

A booby-trapped car was detonated in al-Hurriyah district in northwestern Baghdad in the afternoon, killing two people and wounding nine others, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The powerful blast destroyed two nearby houses and caused damages to several surrounding buildings and civilian cars, the source said.

In a separate incident, a roadside bomb went off near an Iraqi army patrol in Baghdad's Shi'ite bastion of Sadr City in eastern the capital, damaging a military vehicle and wounding two soldiers aboard, the source added.

Sporadic attacks still common in Iraqi cities despite the dramatic decrease in violence since its peak in 2006 and 2007 when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.
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33 militants join peace process in N. Afghanistan

PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of 33 anti-government militants gave up fighting and joined the government-initiated peace process in northern Afghan province of Baghlan, a police source said on Thursday.

Taliban fighters attend a surrender ceremony in Herat province of western Afghanistan, on April 26, 2012. A total of 10 anti-government militants gave up fighting and joined the government-initiated peace process in Afghanistan's Herat province on Thursday. (Xinhua/sardar)
"As many as 33 armed rebels handed over their weapons to authorities and joined the peace process in Deh Salah district of Baghlan province today," provincial police chief Assadullah Shirzad told reporters in a ceremony to welcome the former fighters.

The former militants also handed over weapons and ammunition to security authorities, the police chief said, adding "With joining this group to the peace process, the security will be further improved in Baghlan province,"

Earlier Thursday, a 10-member group of armed Taliban fighters surrendered to the government in western Herat province.

Taliban militants have yet to make comment.

More than 3,000 anti-government militants including Taliban militants have laid down arms and joined the peace and national reconciliation process over the past one year.

more photos: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2012-04/26/c_131553940.htm
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ANA killed one ISAF member in southern Afghanistan

sad news again:

KABUL, Afghanistan -- An individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turned his weapon against coalition service members in southern Afghanistan late, April 25, killing one service member.

The individual who opened fire was killed when coalition forces returned fire. A joint Afghan and USFOR-A team is investigating the incident.

It is USFOR-A policy is to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.

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some more info:
Afghan Special Forces had an argument with US soldiers after a joint ops. in result an ASF opens fire & kills 1 US soldier & 1 interpreter
In the cross fire 2 ASF were killed too, late Wednesday, Shahwalokot district of Kandahar: officials tell to Kabul Pressistan
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"In the insider attack in southern Kandahar province, an Afghan soldier opened fire with a machine gun from atop a building, killing a U.S. soldier and an Afghan interpreter and wounding three other coalition service members before he was gunned down, a senior U.S. defense official said.

The U.S. military officially confirmed only that a man wearing an Afghan army uniform turned his gun on coalition service members late Wednesday, killing one. The incident was under investigation, the military said."
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R.I.P. - Spc. Manuel J. Vasquez

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Spc. Manuel J. Vasquez, 22, of West Sacramento, Calif., died April 24 in Paktika province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany.

            For more information the media may contact U.S. Army Europe public affairs in Heidelberg, Germany, by phone at 011-49-6221-57-8628.


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No further information was available.
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3 civilians killed, 4 injured in Afghan Wardak province

Districts of Wardak.
Districts of Wardak. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
MAIDAN SHAR, Afghanistan, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Three civilians were killed and four other women injured Thursday when a mortar hit a house following a clash between Taliban and NATO-led forces in Afghan Wardak province, 35 km west of capital Kabul, the provincial government said.

"A military unit of NATO-led forces was on a regular patrol in Dawran Khil area of Chak-i-Wardak district at about 12:00 p.m. local time today but an unknown number of armed anti-government militants attacked the unit triggering a clash lasting for a while, " the provincial government said in a press release.

The release said that during the clash a mortar round hit a civilian house in the area leaving three women dead and four others injured.

The injured women were transported by Afghan army ambulances to a hospital in Kabul, the release said, adding "So far it has not been clear which side fired the mortar but the government has initiated a thorough investigation into the incident."

The number of civilian casualties has been soaring in Afghanistan as a total of 3,021 Afghan civilians have been killed in 2011, an 8 percent rise in non-combatants' deaths compared with 2010, according to the United Nations annual report released in Kabul in February.

The UN report attributed 77 percent of the civilian deaths last year to the attacks of Taliban insurgents and other armed groups opposing the Afghan government.

Another 14 percent of the deaths were attributed to Afghan and NATO-led forces and 9 percent were unattributed.
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Two bombs hit Nigeria's This Day newspaper offices


UPDATES at the bottom

(Reuters) - Two bomb blasts targeted the offices of Nigerian newspaper This Day on Thursday, in the capital Abuja and the northern city of Kaduna, killing at least three people, officials and witnesses said.

A scene after the blast (thisdaylive.com)

This Day is based in southern Nigeria and is broadly supportive of President Goodluck Jonathan's government, the main target for Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombings.


"Someone, a suicide bomber, ran into the building with the bomb about an hour ago," Nigerian Red Cross spokesman Nwakpa Nwakpa told Reuters at the scene of the Abuja blast.


"We have collected three bodies but before we got here people had already been moved," he added.


A Reuters witness saw the aftermath of the second blast in Kaduna. Police Mohammed Abubakar confirmed on the scene that it was a bomb and said at least one person had been killed.


A Reuters witness saw sirens wailing as police and fire fighters rushed to the scene and grey smoke billowed from the building, whose windows were all smashed.

Soldiers and police cordoned off the area, while emergency workers evacuated wounded on stretchers to waiting ambulances.


"The suicide bomber came in a jeep and rammed a vehicle into the gate," said Olusogen Adeniyi, chairman of the This Day editorial board. "Two of our security men died, and the obviously suicide bomber died too."


Boko Haram has been fighting a low level insurgency against Jonathan's administration for more than two years and has become the main security menace in Africa's top oil producer.


It has killed hundreds in bomb and gun attacks this year, mostly in northern towns and cities.


In August last year, the Islamists carried out a suicide car bombing at the United Nations building in Abuja that killed 25 people and prompted a ramp-up in security measures in the capital of the continent's most populous nation.


This Day's publisher, Nduka Obaigbena, is a prominent celebrity figure in Nigeria and puts on music, art and fashion events in cities in around the world.


(Additional reporting by Joe Brock, Felix Onuah and Afolabi Sotunde in Abuja, Garba Muhammed in Kaduna and Tim Cocks in Lagos; Editing by Tim Cocks)
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update from Xinhua :



LAGOS, April 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 40 persons could be killed when powerful coordinated explosions hit a leading national newspaper in Nigeria, Thisday Newspaper's offices in central north Abuja and Kaduna state on Thursday, rescue officials and witnesses told Xinhua.

The medical director of Safelive Foundation Hospital in Abuja, who is also part of the rescue team Abisola Fernades told Xinhua that about 37 dead bodies were being taken away by emergency workers deployed in the area.

State police spokesperson in northern Kaduna, Aminu Lawan told Xinhua that three lives were lost and several others injured in the attack.

A Xinhua reporter in the restive city said there was an explosion, and men of the anti-bomb squad of the state police command had been mobilized to where the incident occurred.

Xinhua's reporters in the Nigerian capital said suicide bombers attacked Thisday Newspaper's office in Abuja by ramming a vehicle into the premises of the company.

Earlier, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesperson Yushau Shuaib told Xinhua that the agency had mobilized its workers and other security agencies on a rescue mission to the scenes of the explosions.

"Another explosion occurred in Kontagora Road by Ahmed Bello Way in Kaduna State at a building housing some media houses which included Thisday, The Sun and The Moment," he added, noting that response officers were prompt as they were able to contain the situation.


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Five killed as leftist rebels storm S. Philippine militia outpost

Map of the Philippines with Davao del Sur high...
Map of the Philippines with Davao del Sur highlighted (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Five people have been killed in a foiled attack by leftist rebels against a military outpost in southern Philippines, a military official said Thursday.

Four New People's Army (NPA) insurgents and a pro-government militiaman were killed following the assault in the village of Bacungan Davao del Sur province at around 1:45 p.m. local time Wednesday, said Major Jacob Obligado, 10th civil-military operations battalion commander.

About 30 heavily-armed NPA gunmen onboard a hijacked cargo truck swooped down on and attempted to overwhelm the Talusob Cafgu detachment, but were repelled by soldiers and militiamen defending the outpost.

"An intense firefight lasting for more than an hour ensued which resulted in the death of four (rebels) and one militiaman," Obligado said.

The military official accused the leftist insurgents of taking hostage five residents whom they allegedly had been forced to carry their casualties as they withdrew.

Troops recovered at the encounter site two rifles, a fragmentation grenade, several pieces of ammunition, backpacks and other personal belongings left behind by the fleeing rebels.

Obligado said pursuit operations were continuing against the fleeing NPA attackers.

The latest clash came just a day after an ambush by leftist rebels in the northern Philippine province of Ifugao that left a dozen people dead.

The 4,000-strong NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting a 43-year leftist insurgency in 60 Philippine provinces.

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Tanzania: South African Navy in Joint Pirate Bust

SAS Drakensberg (A301)
SAS Drakensberg (A301) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The South African Navy played a key role in a major multi-national operation that saw 12 suspected pirates captured and six Sri Lankan hostages rescued off the coast of Tanzania last week.

Revealing the operation on Wednesday, the navy said a suspected pirate mother ship had coincidentally been spotted off the Tanzanian coast during a search the previous weekend for the South African yacht Dandelion.

South African Navy ship the SAS Drakensberg, which is equipped for anti-piracy operations and was busy patrolling the Mozambican Channel at the time, was helping the French Navy when the pirate suspects were spotted last Monday.

"The pirate mother ship, with a skiff in tow, was identified as the Sri Lankan fishing vessel Nimesha Duwak which was captured by pirates on 9 November last year," the navy said in a statement.

Search and rescue becomes pirate hunt

Around midday on the Monday, Dandelion was found safe and sound off the coast of Mozambique, and the search and rescue operation shifted to a "piracy interdiction operation" involving the SAS Drakensberg, the Tanzanian Navy and European naval units busy operating off Somalia.

By the Monday afternoon, the Tanzanian Navy had given South Africa permission to conduct anti-piracy operations within its territorial waters, and the hunt was on.

Over next 24 hours, the SAS Drakensberg and its South African Air Force helicopter scoured the cluttered Tanzanian coast - applying the crucial pressure from the south that eventually drove the pirates into the hands of the European and Tanzanian vessels closing in from the north.

By midday last Wednesday, the pirates had been forced to split up, and the Tanzanian authorities subsequently found the skiff and arrested five suspected pirates on Songo Songo Island.

Teamwork rewarded

"Wednesday evening saw units from four different countries closing in on the estimated position of the pirate mother ship," the navy said.

"The Spanish warship got there first and managed to capture the vessel by 20:30. Seven suspected pirates were apprehended and the six long-suffering Sri Lankan crew members were finally freed."

The suspects were all handed over to the Tanzanian authorities, who would now start navigating "the legal minefield of prosecuting them for crimes committed in International waters".

The successful operation had sent out a clear message that the South African National Defence Force, as part of the armed forces of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), "will not allow illegal activities within SADC waters," the navy said.

"It is also clear that the tripartite agreement between South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania, and the subsequent deployment of SADC forces to safeguard our sea lanes, is paying dividends in ensuring the safety of our seafarers and their precious cargoes."

from allAfrica
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Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator captured in Wardak

NATO-led International Security Assistance Force following a statement on Thursday announced fghan and coalition security force captured an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator during an operation in Sayyidabad district, Wardak province.

The facilitator, along with senior IMU leaders in the area, was planning future large-scale attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Kabul, Wardak and Logar districts. The security force killed one insurgent and detained two additional insurgents.

The source further added Afghan-led security force conducted an operation to capture a Haqqani leader in Bak district, Khost province, today. The leader organized roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the district. The security force detained several suspected insurgents as a result of the operation.

Finally, in Nadir Shah Kot district, Khost province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a Haqqani leader, the statement added.

The leader plans and directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the province. He also organizes the movement of weapons and ammunition from Pakistan to insurgents operating in Afghanistan. The security force detained several suspected insurgents as a result of the operation.
Anti-government armed militant groups yet to comment regarding the reports.

from KHAAMA
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3 NATO service members injured in Kandahar province


According to local authorities in southern Kandahar province at least 3 NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) service members were wounded in this province.
The officials further added the incident took place around 7:30 am local time at Panjwai district of southern Kandahar province after a convoy of the International coalition security forces struck with an improvised explosive device.
Panjwai district chief Haji Fazal Mohammad confirming the report said at least 3 NATO troops were injured following the incident.
In the meantime Taliban militants group claimed responsibility behind the incident and said at least 5 NATO troops were killed following the explosion.
International Security Assistance Force officials yet to comment regarding the reports.

from KHAAMA
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Bomb explosion near army barracks in northern Nigeria's Kano

KANO, Nigeria, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The military in northwestern Kano State of Nigeria said Wednesday night a bomb allegedly placed inside a gutter adjacent to the Army Barracks in the Bukavu area of the state has exploded.

The site of the explosion was also near a shopping complex, but the explosion didn't cause any injuries as the bomb was a small improvised explosive device and there was no anybody around when the explosion happened, according to the Spokesman of the joint Military task force (JTF) Lieutenant Ikedichi Iweha.

Soldiers cordoned off the site of the explosion barring civilians from entering the area.

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6 al-Qaida militants killed in ambush in southern Yemen

ADEN, Yemen, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Six al-Qaida militants were killed Wednesday evening when pro-government tribesmen ambushed an al-Qaida convoy in the southern province of Abyan, a tribal chief told Xinhua.

The al-Qaida convoy was attacked by dozens of pro-government tribesmen while it was passing through a mountainous road on the outskirts of Lauder town in Abyan province, leaving at least six militants killed, the local tribal chief said on condition of anonymity.

"Just a few hours after the ambush that took place Wednesday evening, the al-Qaida militants tried to retaliate by firing mortar shells on some checkpoints manned by anti-Qaida tribesmen around Lauder town," the tribal chief said.

Yemeni government troops, backed by dozens of armed tribesmen, have been battling al-Qaida militants over the control of Lauder town, about 150 km northeast of Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan, for nearly three weeks, leaving hundreds of people killed or injured from both sides.

In recent months, militants of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch have carried out heavy assaults and deadly suicide bombings against government troops across the lawless southern regions.

Hundreds of al-Qaida militants have built up main strongholds in the mountains in Abyan and Shabwa provinces, seizing control over several regions in the south.

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Gunmen kill tribal elder and his son in Helmand province

According to local authorities in southern Helmand province, unknown gunmen on Tuesday night assassinated a local tribal elder along with his son in this province.
The officials further added Haji Mohammad Shah Khan, resident of Kochnai Darwishan in Garser district was shot dead by unknown gunmen in his own house on Tuesday night.
The gunmen also shot dead an eight year old son of Haji Mohammad Shah Khan, officials said.
Provincial governor Daud Ahmadi confirming the report said the deceased local tribal elder Haji Mohammad Shah Khan did not have any links with the government and he was struggling for the betterment of security situation region.
No group including the Taliban militants have so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.
 from KHAAMA
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Taliban kill four Afghan police, capture 16

The Central Unit is a Quick Reactionary Force ...
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Dozens of Taliban rebels have stormed police posts in the remote northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan overnight, killing four officers and capturing at least 16 others.

Two policemen were injured and three others were missing after an intense battle in the mountainous province's Wardaj district, deputy provincial governor Shamsul Rahman Shams said.

"A big number of the Taliban carried out the attacks. The police were overpowered," he said from the provincial capital town of Faizabad.

"16 police were captured by the Taliban and taken away. Three others are also missing but we don't know what has happened to them," Shams said.

The rebels seized two police trucks and a quantity of ammunition.

Afghanistan's security forces, including about 170,000 police, are being trained, equipped and largely paid by a US-led NATO military coalition that has about 130,000 troops fighting the Taliban.

Mostly American, the force is scheduled to withdraw by the end of 2014 and hand over all security responsibilities to local forces. When the troops leave Afghanistan will have a total police and army force of 352,000.

Compared to their army counterparts, Afghan police are undertrained and underequipped and suffer more casualties in Taliban attacks.

 from RTE

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KHAAMA report:

According to local authorities in north-eastern Badakhshan province heavy casualties were incurred to Afghan national police forces following armed clashes with anti-government armed militants in this province.
Provincial security chief Sakhidad confirming the report said the incident took place at Wardaj district after a number of the armed Taliban militants attacked a police check post.
He also said at least 3 police officers were killed and 3 others were injured following the incident while 16 others were taken hostage by the Taliban militants.
According to Mr. Sakhidad there were 43 Afghan national police service members in the check post and there are no news regarding the 21 other police officers who have gone missing following the clashes.
According to reports Taliban militants did not suffer any casualties.
 
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21 Taliban Insurgents Killed in Clashes

At least 21 Taliban insurgents were killed, one was wounded, and another was arrested in clashes with Afghan security troops on Wednesday, local officials said.

Afghan forces launched an operation in the Chakan district of Waradak province to clear it of insurgents in which 17 Taliban insurgents were killed and one other was wounded last night, spokesman for provincial police chief Abdul Wali said.

There were no Afghan and civilians casualties during the operation, he said.

During the operation the forces seized many weapons, he added.

Meanwhile, four other Taliban insurgents were killed in a clash with Afghan security troops in eastern Kunar province yesterday, spokesman for the 202nd Shamshad Military Corps Ebadullah said.

One other insurgent was captured during the clash.

The incident happened in the Noor Gul district of Kunar when Taliban insurgents attacked a convoy of coalition and Afghan troops, he said.

There were no coalition or civilian casualties during the clashes and the forces seized many weapons, he said.

Kunar province borders Pakistan and has recently seen more insurgent activity, mainly targeting local police checkpoints.

from TOLONEWS
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Apr.26., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Apr. 26) — A combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a Taliban leader in Muqer district, Ghazni province, today.

The Taliban leader planned and supervised roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the district. He also provided weapons and ammunition to insurgents in the area.

As the security force approached the Taliban leader’s suspected location, two armed insurgents fled into a nearby mosque. The security force pursued the insurgents and the Afghan soldiers moved to the entrance of the mosque compound. No coalition troops entered the compound.

As the Afghan soldiers conducted a call out, the insurgents fired on the force from within the mosque compound. The security force returned fire in self-defense. Two insurgents were detained as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

In Now Zad district, Helmand province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a senior Taliban leader today. The leader directs roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the district. He is also suspected of directing insurgent attempts to infiltrate Afghan National Security Forces for assassinations against Afghan officials, Afghan troops and coalition forces. The security force detained two suspected insurgents and seized 30 pounds of opium as a result of this operation.

An Afghan-led security force conducted an operation to capture a Taliban facilitator in Tarnek wa Jaldak district, Zabul province, today. The facilitator supplies weapons, ammunition, and equipment to insurgents in Kandahar province for attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces. He also coordinates the movement of suicide bombers. The security force detained two suspected insurgents.

East

In Sayyidabad district, Wardak province, an Afghan and coalition security force captured an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator during an operation today. The facilitator, along with senior IMU leaders in the area, was planning future large-scale attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Kabul, Wardak and Logar districts. The security force killed one insurgent and detained two additional insurgents.

An Afghan-led security force conducted an operation to capture a Haqqani leader in Bak district, Khost province, today. The leader organized roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the district. The security force detained several suspected insurgents as a result of the operation.

Finally
, in Nadir Shah Kot district, Khost province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a Haqqani leader today. The leader plans and directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the province. He also organizes the movement of weapons and ammunition from Pakistan to insurgents operating in Afghanistan. The security force detained several suspected insurgents as a result of the operation.
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