Thursday, December 20, 2012

Gunmen kill 2, abduct French man in Nigeria's Katsina State

Katsina State Nigeria
Katsina State Nigeria (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
KATSINA, Nigeria, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and a French national was kidnapped in northwestern Nigeria, local police reported on Thursday.

Police Commissioner of Katsina State Abdullahi Magaji told reporters here that the French citizen Francis Colump, who works with S.A. Vergnet France, a French power company, was abducted after the gunmen diverted attention by razing a police station in the Rimi local government area late Wednesday.

A private security guard and a passerby were killed and one police officer sustained gunshot injuries, according to Magaji.

"The gunmen used a gas cylinder to bomb the police station, and their purpose was to kidnap the expatriate," said the senior police officer, adding that security agents have launched an operation to rescue the French man and bring the gunmen to justice.

The attackers numbering 30 were later split into two groups after storming the area in three vehicles, the police chief explained, noting that a gun belonging to one of the hoodlums was recovered after the attack.

While a group of the gunmen attacked the police station, members of the other group forced their way into the French man's house in the area and abducted him.

The spate of kidnapping in Nigeria has increased tremendously in recent times as expatriates and oil workers are usually the targets of kidnappers operating in the west African country.

Most of the kidnap victims often regain their freedom unhurt after a huge ransom have been paid for the release, while some others, especially foreigners, often lose their lives during rescue missions.

In the past 10 days, five other kidnap incidents involving mother of a serving Nigerian minister, wife of a retired army general, an actress cum government worker, four expatriates and two other local workers working with a South Korean company and the most recent abduction of five Indians had been recorded in Nigeria.

Kidnapping, gunmen attacks and suicide bombing have become more frequent in Nigeria in recent years.

from XINHUA
2012-12-20 21:26:24
Editor: Fang Yang

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7 killed as bomb hits police vehicle in SW Afghanistan

Districts of Nimruz.
Districts of Nimruz. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
ZARANJ, Afghanistan, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Five civilians and two policemen were killed Thursday afternoon when a bomb hit a police mobile in Zaranj, the provincial capital of southwestern Afghan Nimroz province, police said.

"A police unit was on routine patrol in police district 3 of Zaranj city at about 3:30 p.m. (local time) when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detonated through a remote control device, killing two policemen and five civilians near the scene," police chief of the district Abdul Haq told Xinhua.

He said two policemen were also wounded in the attack and the police mobile was destroyed in the incident in the province 790 km southwest of Kabul.

The police have rolled out a search operation to find the people behind the attack, the police official added.

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Taliban suspects routinely claim responsibility for such attacks.

The insurgent group, who ruled the country before they were ousted by a U.S.-led invasion in late 2001, renewed armed insurgency, staging ambush and suicide attacks, killing combatants as well as civilians.

from XINHUA
2012-12-20 19:47:48

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NATO-led Georgian soldier missing Afghanistan

According to a statement released by Georgian Ministry of Defense, a Georgian soldier serving in NATO-led international coalition forces operations in Afghanistan “is missing” since December 19.

The source further added, “Circumstances are not known yet.”

A search and rescue operation has reportedly been conducted by Regional Command Southwest, whose area of responsibility is Helmand and Nimroz provinces to find out the missing solider.

Georgian Defense ministry following the statement said, “All Georgian units in theater are moved to the highest security alert posture.”

The statement also added that it was not appropriate to give more details due to ongoing search and rescue operation.

Georgia currently has two battalions in the Helmand province of Afghanistan – 12th battalion of the first infantry brigade and 32nd battalion of the third infantry brigade; for the latter it is a second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

At least 18 Georgian troops have been killed in Afghanistan since Georgia started its mission in Afghanistan under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Mission in 2009.

from KHAAMA
By Meena Haseeb - December 20 2012, 2:47 pm


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Dec. 20., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force killed Taliban leader, Mahjur, along with one other insurgent, during a security operation in Nari district, Kunar province, Dec. 19.

Mahjur was responsible for planning attacks against Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials, as well as, Afghan and coalition forces. He acquired and facilitated the movement of improvised explosive device components, weapons and ammunition utilized in attacks.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

East

During a security operation in search of a Taliban facilitator, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested 15 insurgents in Bati Kot district, Nangarhar province, Dec. 19. The facilitator is responsible for manufacturing and emplacing IEDs throughout Nangarhar province.

In Alingar district, Laghman province, Dec. 18, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban leader who is responsible for attacks against Afghan government officials as well as Afghan and coalition forces. During the operation, the combined force killed one insurgent and detained one suspected insurgent.

Afghan and coalition officials confirmed Dec. 19 that a Haqqani leader was arrested during an operation in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, Monday. The leader purchased weapons and ammunition for insurgents, and was directly involved in planning and coordinating attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

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Dec. 20., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained two insurgents, located one weapons caches and cleared five improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Dec. 19.

Khowst Province
Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Sabari District. The cache contained small arms and ammunition, grenades and one IED.

Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Bak District.

Afghan Border Police and coalition forces detained one insurgent during an engagement in Gurbuz District. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Laghman Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs in Qarghah'I District.

Logar Province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces detained one insurgent during an engagement in Muhammad Aghah District. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Wardak Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Jalrez District.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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