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Showing posts from March 14, 2010

GAZA Attack

March 18, 2010 — Israel has threatened a "strong" response against Palestinians after a rocket attack from Gaza killed a man. It was the first deadly attack launched from the Strip since the end of Israel's war on Gaza in January 2009. The attack came as the EU's foreign policy chief Katherine Ashton was visiting Gazajoined the UN in condemning the violence. Jacky Rowland has this report.

Anti-pirate actions off Somalia net results

Source: CNN blog Two anti-pirate actions off Somalia have thinned the ranks of the would-be marauders, a European Union project reported Wednesday. The latest incident occurred early Wednesday, when would-be pirates in two skiffs approached a vessel off Somalia at high speed, the European Union Naval Force (EU-NAVFOR) reported on its Web site. But they appear to have picked the wrong target: the vessel turned out to be a Royal Netherlands Navy warship, the HNLMS Tromp, which was patrolling the region, EU-NAVFOR said. The warship fired warning shots as the skiffs approached and deployed its helicopter to track down the suspects, who had turned tail, it said. An EU NAVFOR maritime patrol aircraft from Sweden tracked a third boat, the suspected pirates' mother ship. Authorities found ammunition and rocket-propelled grenades in the skiffs, EU NAVFOR said. Ten suspects were held aboard the warship, then released to one of their boats, it said. The warship then destroyed the skiffs. We

Somali Pirates Release Tanker with N.Korean Crew

Source: Chosun A chemical tanker with 28 North Korean sailors on board which had been held by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean since November was released Tuesday. According to the East African Seafarers Assistance Program, the tanker was freed after a US$3.5 million ransom was paid. The Virgin Islands-owned and Singapore-operated MV Theresa VIII was seized on its way to Mombasa, Kenya. It had been moved to the pirates' stronghold, the coastal village of Haradhere in northern Somalia. The European Union naval force said they will continue to monitor the situation as the ship heads out to sea. Arirang News / Mar. 18, 2010 11:45 KST

Sudan: As Another Darfur Ceasefire Deal is Signed, UN Envoy Voices Hope

Source: All africa The top United Nations official in the war-wracked Darfur region of western Sudan today welcomed an agreement between the national Government and a rebel group, calling it "another important milestone" on the path towards a comprehensive peace pact to end the deadly conflict that has engulfed the region for seven years Ibrahim Gambari, the Joint Special Representative of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), said it was critical now for Khartoum and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), which signed the framework agreement today, to implement its contents. That agreement includes taking steps towards a ceasefire between the two sides in Darfur, a region roughly the size of Spain where an estimated 300,000 have been killed and 2.7 million others displaced since 2003. "This will impact on the security for the people on the ground," said Mr. Gambari, speaking from Doha, Qatar, where the framework agreement was signe

Nigeria: Warri Blasts, Result of Failed Amnesty Deal -Militant Leader

Source: All africa Akure — A militant leader in Ondo State, Ayebi Otegha, has described the Monday bomb blasts at a post amnesty dialogue for all stakeholders in Niger Delta as a strong indication that the whole amnesty programme of the Federal Government was a ruse. The conference was organised by Vanguard Newspapers, in Warri, Delta State, to promote sustainable peace and development in the region. Otegha, in a text message to our correspondent in Akure on Wednesday, said the bomb blast "is to signal to those our Niger Delta governors and stakeholders that the amnesty programme being put on ground is a cabalistic and jamboree programme. The simple truth is that justice delayed is justice denied." He frowned at the handlers of the post-amnesty programme designed by President Umaru Yar'Adua last year, stressing that many of the leaders from the region are not sincere and committed to the genuine success of the programme. The militant leader, who claimed leadershi

Bomb blast in mini bus in Bihar; Naxal hand suspected

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Source: NDTV Thursday March 18, 2010, Jamui Twelve passengers have been injured in a bomb blast in a  mini  bus going from Barairpur to Jamui in Bihar on Thursday. Police say the bus might have been targeted for running during a bandh. As soon as the minibus carrying passengers from Sangrampur to Jamui reached a petrol pump near Lakshmipur, a crude bomb kept in the vehicle went off, police sources said. The attack they said might be an act of retaliation. Naxals had called for a bandh a few days ago, but this particular bus continued to ply in that area. Four of the injured people were admitted to Sadar hospital here where their condition was stated to be critical while others were given first aid at the spot.    

Iraqis Arrest Terrorism Suspects

Source: defence American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 18, 2010 – Iraqi forces arrested suspected al-Qaida in Iraq and Kataib Hezbollah terrorists today during three operations with U.S. advisors. The operations were conducted in accordance with the U.S.-Iraq security agreement and in coordination with the Iraqi government, U.S. Forces Iraq officials said. Iraqi forces with U.S. advisors today arrested a man believed to be an associate of a suspected Kataib Hezbollah brigade leader they were seeking on a warrant in northern Baghdad. The brigade leader is believed to be responsible for carrying out attacks against security forces. In western Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched a building for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member who is planning upcoming attacks against Iraqi government officials, officials said, citing credible intelligence. Following preliminary questioning and an initial examination of the evidence at the scene, the Iraqi forces identifie

Indonesia, Philippines link arms to fight terrorism

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Source: Manila times Manila, PHILIPPINES : Philippines President Gloria Arroyo (L), Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Romulo (C) and Ali Abdussalam Treki, President of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (R) listen to speeches during the opening of the Special Non-Alligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development (SNAMM) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila on March 17, 2010. The NAM meeting this week is focused on inter-faith dialogue and is expected to culminate in the adoption of a Manila declaration aimed at strengthening government and civil society cooperation, including faith-based organisations, officials said. AFP Indonesia continues to harness its tough stance against terrorists and to work with the Philippines on counter-terrorism efforts, a top foreign ministry official said Thursday. Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. R.M. Marty Natalegawa stressed that while Jak

U.S.-funded Detachment 88, elite of Indonesia security

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Source: Reuters Ed Davies  and Olivia Rondonuwu JAKARTA Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:25am EDT (Reuters) - Indonesia has won praise for cracking down on Islamist militants behind a string of deadly attacks and at the core of the fight have been the heavily armed black-clad officers of its anti-terrorism unit -- Detachment 88. WORLD   |   INDONESIA A symbol of improved security cooperation with Western nations, the unit has gained somewhat of a cult status among many Indonesians, particularly after live television images of dramatic sieges ending in a hail of gunfire. "They've been pretty good on the investigative side and intelligence side and being able to crack down on these rings," said Ken Conboy, a Jakarta-based security analyst and author. Police have succeeded in killing or capturing hundreds of suspected militants in recent years. Last week, Detachment 88 officers shot dead Dulmatin, a wanted militant with a $10 million bounty on his head who was tracked to a Jakarta Inte

Indonesia's War on Terrorism Bears Fruit

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Source: Asia sentinnel THURSDAY, 18 MARCH 2010 Aceh Terror Suspect Surrenders With US President Barack Obama due in Jakarta next week, Indonesia's counterterrorism forces seem to be doing a creditable job rolling up terrorists in advance of his visit. A demoralized suspect named Abu Rimba turned himself in to police Wednesday night, carrying with him an AK 47, five magazines and 238 bullets, police said. Indonesian authorities said the Obama visit is likely to go ahead as planned and described it as a confidence vote in the Indonesian counterterrorism fight. Obama, his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha are expected to visit Indonesia, where Obama spent several childhood years going to school, through March 22. Rimba said he had left an alleged terrorist camp in Aceh before police raids began there on February 22 and had hidden in remote villages before deciding to turn himself in. Police are still searching for six other suspects. Breaking up the Aceh network

Five American Students Face Terrorism Charges in Pakistan 2010-03-18 11:28

Source: NDTV   A Pakistani court has formally charged five young Americans with plotting terrorism in the country. The students, in their 20s from the U.S. state of Virginia, were detained in December in the town of Sargodha, southeast of Islamabad, accused of contacting militants over the Internet and plotting attacks. The charges also include raising funds for terrorist acts. The students' defense lawyer said the men pleaded not guilty, describing the charges as "lies." [Hasan Nazir Dastagir, Defense Lawyer]: "After the framing of the charges, the judge is now going to ask the learned prosecutor to produce the witnesses. The Court may issue summons to the witnesses, or ask the Prosecutor to summon them himself so that they can come and give their evidence in the court." Police say the men wanted to go to Afghanistan to join the Taliban and fight joint Afghan and Western forces in the country. But the five men told the court they only wanted to

Brown Calls Attacks on Hemet Authorities "Urban Terrorism" In December, Gang task force noticed their office was flooded with natural gas

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sOURCE: nbcloseangles Updated 5:08 PM PDT, Thu, Mar 18, 2010 Atty.  Gen Jerry Brown  sought the publics help Thursday to find those responsible for the attempted killings of a  Hemet  gang member task force, according to the  LA Times . Brown called it a form of "urban terrorism" and offered a $200,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. "It is incredible and even unprecedented for police officers here to be subject to terrorist attack," Brown was quoted in the Times. "We have seen it south of the border but not here yet." In December, Gang task force noticed their office was flooded with natural gas  in an apparently deliberate attempt to cause a deadly explosion, police said. "It was basically designed so that once somebody came in and moved around a little bit, it would have gone off," said Hemet police  Lt. Duane Wisehart . "At the very least, it would have leveled the building and killed whoever was inside

The changing face of terrorism

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Source: seattle times Consider the case of "Jihad Jane. " Divorced twice (first marriage at 16), Colleen LaRose was arrested for drunkenness in Texas. She ended up living... Syndicated columnist Colleen LaRose, also known as Jihad Jane Consider the case of "Jihad Jane." Divorced twice (first marriage at 16), Colleen LaRose was arrested for drunkenness in Texas. She ended up living with a boyfriend in a Philadelphia suburb and taking care of his elderly father. Let's say that LaRose was not one of life's winners under conventional definitions. But thanks to the Internet, LaRose could transform her drab self into an international woman of mystery: Jihad Jane. With her blond hair, blue eyes and American passport, LaRose became a very useful creature to radical Islamists. They told her to go kill a Swedish cartoonist, and she said OK. And so who is Jihad Jane? Is she a real terrorist, or is she a disturbed woman who never played the cards of life very well —

American Known As "Jihad Jane" Pleads Not Guilty To Terrorism Charges

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Source : Allheadlinesnews March 18, 2010 12:47 p.m. EST Linda Young - AHN News Editor Philadelphia, PA, United States (AHN) - The American woman who allegedly called herself "Jihad Jane" entered a plea of not guilty to terrorism related charges in a federal court in Philadelphia on Thursday. Colleen LaRose, 46, was indicted on four counts of conspiracy to support terrorists and conspiracy to kill a person in a foreign country. United States officials have identified the target as cartoonist Lars Vilks in Sweden. Vilks offended some Islamists by drawing Muslim prophet Mohammed with the body of a dog in 2007, prompting Al Qaeda to offer a reward for anyone who killed the cartoonist. LaRose, of Montgomery County, PA, was also indicted on charges of making false statements to a government official and attempted identity theft. The indictment further charged LaRose with recruiting women on the Internet who had passports and who were able to travel in Europe for the purpose

As time goes, truth of Gaza War fades out

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Source: Xinhua A migrant worker from Thailand in Israel died on Thursday after being wounded by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip.(Xinhua/AFP) by David Harris JERUSALEM, March 18 (Xinhua) -- These days it is pretty rare for visiting dignitaries to want to or to be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip from the Israeli border. Either Israel makes the area off limits, or visitors choose to boycott Gaza because it is run by the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement, which many in the West deem to be a terror organization. Things change. Within a couple of weeks, Israel is giving access to the area to both European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Ashton entered Gaza on Thursday, and Ban is slated to be in the region soon. The arrival of the VIPs in the Palestinian coastal enclave comes as UN High Commissioner for Refugees Navi Pillay said on Wednesday that neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians are taking seriously internationa

India seeks access to Headley's wife, ex-wife Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Mar 19, 2010, 03.41am IST

Source: TOI NEW DELHI: With India failing to gain access to US-based jihadi David Coleman Headley, agencies here have now sought access to his wife (of Pakistani origin) and ex-wife (American) to ascertain whether they had any knowledge about his activities in India. Though FBI has already grilled them along with Headley's other relatives and shared whatever information it could with National Investigation Agency (NIA), India has asked the US to explore possibility of giving it access to both these women. A senior official said, "Access to these women does not seem to be difficult as they, unlike Headley, are not under any detention. If US agrees, our sleuths can also question them to find out more about the terrorist's past activities and his source of income." Headley's wife Shazia lives with their children in Chicago. Though agencies here do not have much information about her, sleuths have come to know that she had never accompanied Headley during his m