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Showing posts from April 15, 2012

3 Killed, 17 Injured in Bomb Attacks in Iraq

2012-04-21 21:49:26 Xinhua Web Editor: Liuyuanhui Three people were killed and 17 others injured Saturday in separate bomb attacks in Iraq, the police said. In the morning, two roadside bombs went off almost simultaneously near two minibuses at the Shiite neighborhood of Chikook in northwestern Baghdad, killing three people and wounding 12 others, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. In eastern Iraq, Hisham al-Hiyali, governor of Diyala province, survived a roadside bomb explosion near his convoy while travelling near the provincial capital city of Baquba, some 65 km northeast of Baghdad, a source from Diyala's operations command anonymously told Xinhua. Three of Hiyali's bodyguards were wounded by the blast, which also damaged one of his convoy's vehicles, the source said. In the western province of Anbar, two policemen were injured when a sticky bomb attached to their car detonated near the provincial capital city of R

Syria bomb blast kills at least 21

Saturday April 21, 2012 At least 21 people, including 10 soldiers, have been killed in Syria on Friday, according to opposition and state media reports, as massive anti-regime protests calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad took place in several parts of the country. At least 10 security personnel were killed in a bombing in the area of Quneitra near the Syrian border with Israel, reported state television, blaming the attack on what it called 'a terrorist group.' Opposition activists said military forces on Friday carried out shelling attacks on the districts of Al Khalidiyeh and Al Kussair in the dissident central province of Homs. 'At least 11 people were killed in the shelling on Homs,' Omar Homsi, a Syrian activist from the area, told dpa. The bombardment casts fresh doubts on the fate of a United Nations-brokered ceasefire that went into effect on April 12. Ahmad Fawzi, the spokesman for UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, said the truce was i

AR continues crack down, 6 more rebels held for violating truce pact

IM retaliates, 'arrests' JCO with arms Source: The Sangai Express Imphal, April 19 2012: The stand off between the Naga rebel groups in peace talk with the Government of India and the Assam Rifles has taken a new twist with the NSCN (IM) 'arresting' a Junior Commissioned Officer of the Army along with arms and two of his colleagues. Talking to The Sangai Express, a reliable source said that peeved with the crackdown launched by the Assam Rifles on their cadres on alleged ground of violating the ceasefire ground rules, cadres of the NSCN (IM) captured a JCO of the Indian Army along with two of his colleagues and held them captive at Camp Hebron, a few days back. Efforts to contact the Officer-in-charge of the media cell of the Army at Rangapahar drew a blank as the officer did not respond to calls made from the office of The Sangai Express this evening to get an official version. A SMS message sent was also not entertained. An NSCN (IM) cadre on sentry dut

Army foils infiltration bid, rejects UG claim

Source: The Sangai Express Imphal, April 19 2012: Troops of 39 Assam Rifles of Red Shield Division, reportedly foiled another infiltration bid by UG groups along the Indo-Myanmar border under Singhat sub-division, Churachandpur district on April 18 . According to a PIB (DW) statement, the incident was the second major attempt to infiltrate by UG groups this year alone, with a similar infiltration bid repulsed on January 12 in the same said area. Based on specific intelligence report, a reconnaissance patrol was sent out to dominate general area of Zou Khunou. At around 10.15 am on 18 April, the patrol was fired upon by the UG groups. Undeterred by the situation, the officer leading the patrol took charge of the situation and fought back with effective fire causing injuries to the UG groups, claimed the statement. Stating that the retaliatory action unnerved the UGs who fled back to Myanmar side, the release maintained that a thorough search carried out after the incident l

Bomb blast near BSF camp at Heirok

Source: Hueiyen News Service Imphal, April 19 2012: Unidentified miscreants hurled a bomb near the outpost of 116 battalion of BSF at Heirok Part II under Thoubal district at around 7 this morning. No one was injured in the incident. The bomb exploded 150 metres to the east from the BSF outpost. A large crater was formed at the site due to the impact of the explosion. Another bomb was also found at a distance of 30 metres to the south of the blast site. Police reports confirmed that the bomb was electronic detonator bomb. After the blast, OC of Heirok Police and Manipur Police Commandos attached with the Police Station rushed for inspection. The other bomb which was recovered by the police was without detonator. The bomb was later detonated by the police at a safer place at around 10 am. Meanwhile, a cadre of KCP (KK Nganba) was apprehended by Manipur Police Commandos, Bazaar Unit toady at around 11:30 am from near Imphal Polo Ground. The arrested cadre has been

Bomb blast near BSF camp at Heirok

Source: Hueiyen News Service Imphal, April 19 2012: Unidentified miscreants hurled a bomb near the outpost of 116 battalion of BSF at Heirok Part II under Thoubal district at around 7 this morning. No one was injured in the incident. The bomb exploded 150 metres to the east from the BSF outpost. A large crater was formed at the site due to the impact of the explosion. Another bomb was also found at a distance of 30 metres to the south of the blast site. Police reports confirmed that the bomb was electronic detonator bomb. After the blast, OC of Heirok Police and Manipur Police Commandos attached with the Police Station rushed for inspection. The other bomb which was recovered by the police was without detonator. The bomb was later detonated by the police at a safer place at around 10 am. Meanwhile, a cadre of KCP (KK Nganba) was apprehended by Manipur Police Commandos, Bazaar Unit toady at around 11:30 am from near Imphal Polo Ground. The arrested cadre has been

Bomb Blast Kills One Person In Myanmar's Northern Shan State

YANGON, April 20 (Bernama) -- An immigration officer were killed in a bomb blast at 105th Mile border trade zone in Muse township, in Myanmar's northern Shan state on Friday early morning, sources said. In the explosion that occured at border trade vehicle check-point at about 5.20am (local time), two light trucks were slightly damaged and police found some electric wires and eight batteries at the spot, Xinhua news agency reported quoting sources. Source said that the cause of the bomb blast is under investigation, while a local witness claimed that the bomb is a time bomb. Muse (105) mile trade zone,which is the biggest border trading point between Myanmar and China, is about six miles far from Muse township. Source http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsworld.php?id=660657

US and China Prepare Cyber Defenses in Face of Increased Hacking Threat

BY MARY KAY MAGISTAD ⋅ APRIL 19, 2012 ⋅ China’s in a rush to catch up with and surpass the United States, and evidence suggests that hacking into and stealing data from the computers of strategic US companies, research labs and government departments is one of its favored tools. Hackers in China are now considered among the world’s best, and certainly most prolific, and Washington is amping up its efforts to thwart the threat. A cramped little office, in a hastily developed area of Beijing that still feels half-rural, is home to one of China’s first self-described “patriotic computer hackers.” He talks about how it all began, in college, a couple of decades ago. “When I took a computer class, and I found an interesting thing called a ‘computer virus.’ A computer virus is a small-size program. If I can learn how to make a computer virus, I can get a special skill,” said Wan Tao. Wan’s now edging up to middle age, and is, these days, a cyber-security consultant to a large west

Pentagon sees progress, challenges in cyber warfare

Reuters 18 April 2012 13:41 The Pentagon says it is making progress in developing weapons for its newest battleground - cyberspace - but still faces funding, technology and policy challenges. US Air Force Lieutenant General Michael Basla, vice commander of Air Force Space Command, told industry officials on Monday the service was approaching its work on cyber capability as it would any other major weapons system. "We have made measurable progress in defensive and offensive capabilities" in the past year, Basla said at a space conference, Reuters reports. He talked about teams of cyber "hunters" and listed several new programs - all part of the Pentagon's new drive to be more transparent about its work on cyber warfare and push back against daily attacks on its computer systems. A watershed U.S. intelligence report in November said China and Russia are using cyber espionage to steal U.S. trade and technology secrets. Last week, the head of intelligence

No revolution in Lebanon

By DIANA MUKKALED Friday, 20 April 2012 The community of bloggers and cyber-activists in Lebanon recently hailed the courage of internet hackers who crashed websites belonging to ministerial and state bodies, temporarily suspending their activities. Their celebration of this hacking attempt was akin to a visceral reaction stemming from a strong desire to do something, or at least engage in some action – even negative action – in order to shake off the stagnation and lethargy that has plagued life in Lebanon for years. Perhaps this hacking operation has tapped into the daring and dynamic “revolutionary” ambition of the Facebook page “We are all Khaled Said”, and its role in mobilizing the Egyptian masses and igniting their revolution. The Lebanese hackers posted a message on the websites that they hacked, which seemed to resemble a general statement, entitled “raise your voice”. The message expressed general frustration at living conditions in Lebanon, and called for action and

Analysis: Violence sidelines Syrian moderates

By BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press – 20 minutes ago BEIRUT (AP) — The militarization of Syria's uprising has strengthened the most radical elements on both sides of the bloody, 13-month-old conflict, sidelining the moderate voices that many see as the best hope for Syria's future. The shift is clear in the images pouring out of the country: Gunmen prowling the streets, tanks rolling through cities and hails of mortar fire are more common scenes than protesters carrying olive branches and chanting for peaceful democratic change. Members of the Syrian opposition want nothing less than the removal of the Baath party regime, while the government appears determined to crush the uprising no matter how many Syrians lose their lives. This could make it even more difficult for the already faltering peace plan of international Arab envoy Kofi Annan, which calls for a dialogue over Syria's future. "Activists who have wider visions, open minds and represent the revolution'

Two Tibetans burn themselves to death: rights group

(AFP) – 3 hours ago BEIJING — Two more Tibetans died after setting themselves on fire in a restive southwestern region of China, a rights group said Friday, the latest in a wave of such protests against Beijing's rule. A total of 34 Tibetans, many of them Buddhist monks and nuns, are now reported to have attempted to kill themselves in the same way since the start of 2011 over what they see as Chinese repression of their culture. Many of them have reportedly died from severe burns. The self-immolations by a pair of young Tibetan men occurred Thursday in the prefecture of Aba, in a rugged area of Sichuan province, overseas Tibetan rights groups said. The US-based International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and a Tibetan Buddhist monk in the area said both had died. The incidents sparked increased security in the town of Barma, where the immolations took place in front of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, rights groups said. Local authorities either refused to comment when contacted

Assam: High alert after blasts ahead of PM's visit

Guwahati: Assam has been put on high alert and extra security has been deployed ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's one-day visit. Two blasts rocked the state on Thursday evening just hours ahead of the Prime Minister's visit. The Prime Minister will be in Guwahati to inaugurate the platinum jubilee celebration of the Assam Assembly. The Home Ministry has asked the state to keep a strict vigil as intelligence hints at low intensity blasts by insurgents. The anti-talks faction of the ULFA has called a 12-hour bandh protesting against the Prime Minister's visit. Earlier on Thursday, two separate blasts rocked Assam. While the first blast occurred at a power station in Jorhat in Upper Assam, the second blast was carried out at Sibsagar in Upper Assam. Source http://ibnlive.in.com/news/assam-high-alert-after-blasts-before-pms-visit/250432-3.html

Clashes continue in southern Yemen, 7 militants killed

Thursday, 19, April, 2012 Yemen Post Staff Clashes continued Thursday morning between al-Qaeda militants and army/security troops in the southern war-torn province of Abyan, killing 7 of al-Qaeda operatives and wounding some of others.In a statement posted on its website, the Ministry of Defense has said that seven terrorists were killed in clashes with the 111th armored brigade in Lawdar of Abyan. It has noted that 4 of those who were killed are Somali nationals.Scurity forces together with the local tribal committees launched attacks on militant group's held-posts in the outskirts of Lawdar, which has been the scene of deadly clashes between the two warring sides for the past couple of weeks, a security official said.The clashes lasted for a number of hours and that the government forces and the tribal committees managed to kill 7 militants and wounded 5 others, added the official.Six soldiers were injured during the battles, the official noted.Separately, a suicide bomber on

Spanish ship frees Yemeni fishermen held by Somali pirates

Thursday, 19, April, 2012 Yemen Post Staff Spanish military ship set free on Thursday nine Yemeni fishermen along with their fishing vessel from Somali pirates off the International territorial water in the Arab Sea. Yemen Coastal Guards (YCG) department in Aden confirmed that a Spanish maritime military ship freed the nine Yemeni hostages and their fishing vessel and noted that communications with the Spanish ship are underway in order to hand over the fishermen to Yemen. Somali pirates took prisoners the fishermen on April 15 whilst they were fishing in the territorial water off the Gulf of Aden. Piracy has thrived in Somali in the past few years, dealing a blow to Yemen and many other neighboring countries like Nigeria. Many Somalis have escaped the impoverished conditions of their country by working as pirates. Hundreds of millions of dollars were paid as ransoms to the pirates by the international community to free their boats and oil tankers. Many ships have diverted their

The Crisis of Zionism: Undeterred by unavoidable realities

On my first trip to the West Bank, I was struck with a strange sense of familiarity. I left my apartment in Jerusalem and set off driving south, passing Bethlehem on my left and Israeli settlement blocks on my right. Driving through the Occupied West Bank, I stopped at an Israeli petrol station, just like the ones in my neighbourhood. I stopped at an Israeli national grocery chain and was almost apprehended by Israeli traffic police for speeding as I rejoined the well-maintained road. Despite the fact that I was in the middle of Occupied Palestinian Territory, I felt as though I was still in Israel and, according to the Israeli legal system, I was. On the surface, every sector of Israeli society, except religious settlers and the military establishment, understand the occupation to be an ephemeral security measure necessary only in the absence of a peace agreement with the Palestinians. Likewise, many in the international community, especially American Jews, believe that Israel is d

Pirates' southern shift torments new victims

Gavin du Venage Apr 20, 2012 Amid the rough-clad longshoremen offloading containers, the docks at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, were until recently also bustling with tourists in gaudy shirts. No longer - since Somali pirates started operating further south, the visitors have stayed away. According to Tanzanian government figures, 57 attacks have occurred off its territorial waters over the past year. Up to 300 attacks, some as far south as Mozambique, have taken place over the past six years off the African coastline. The cost to the east African economy is vast. Fishing, a mainstay of coastal communities, has fallen by a third, according to the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation for Southern Africa. The Seychelles, which derives 40 per cent of its income from fishing, has seen its economy lose almost 10 per cent of its GDP as a result of Somali buccaneering. Conversely, for some however, the pirates have been a windfall. "Piracy is a relatively sophisticated business requiring s

War planes strike suspected Somali pirate base: coastguard

(AFP) – 2 days ago MOGADISHU — War planes fired several missiles at a suspected Somali pirate base in the north of the war-torn country, wounding two civilians, a coastguard official said Tuesday. "Unknown military jets fired several missiles near the village of Gumah, elders told us at least two civilians were injured," said Mohamed Abdirahman, a coastguard. Witnesses said the aircraft struck the north-eastern coastal village, which lies some 220 kilometres (140 miles) east of Bossaso, the main port of Somalia's breakaway Puntland state. "Two aircraft attacked the village, which is between Hafun and Bargal towns...it came from the sea, and I think they were targeting pirates," said Muse Jama, an elder. Several other witnesses confirmed the bombardment, but could not give further details of the planes. "Officials in the area are investigating the incident," Abdirahman added, speaking from Bossaso. Kalashnikov-wielding pirates prowl far out acr

Militants shoot police officer in Jammu and Kashmir

IANS | Apr 20, 2012, 10.45AM IST SRINAGAR: A police officer was critically injured Friday when separatist guerrillas shot at him near a police station in this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital, police said. "Separatist guerrillas fired from close range at Sukhpal singh, assistant sub-inspector of police, near the Bagyaz police station in the city Friday. He has been moved to hospital for treatment," a police officer told IANS. Hospital sources added that Sukhpal Singh received two bullet injuries and was in a critical condition. No separatist group has accepted responsibility till now. With the mountain passes reopening as spring begins, security sources have been put on high alert to thwart infiltration into the Kashmir Valley. Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Militants-shoot-police-officer-in-Jammu-and-Kashmir/articleshow/12742583.cms

More egg on faces of Nepal's Maoist leaders

Utpal Parashar, Hindustan Times Kathmandu, April 19, 2012 After being forced by circumstances beyond their control to hand over control of their former Peoples' Liberation Army combatants to Nepal Army in a sudden move last week, Nepal's Maoist leadership was trying to take credit and perhaps hoping for a happy ending. But that saving grace was also denied to them by their former colleagues this week. Exasperated with their leaders for falling back of promises and 'deserting' them at a crucial time, most of them chose retirement with monetary benefits to joining the Nepal Army. Though parties in Nepal had agreed on integrating the former rebels to the army as part of the peace deal six years ago, how many would join NA and the details of the important process was always a bone of contention among the players. While Maoist leaders wanted a significant chunk of their 19,000 PLA men to integrate, other parties and also NA opposed this. The ensuing stalemate le

2 Soldiers Wounded in Leftist Rebel Ambush in S. Philippines

2012-04-20 09:17:30 Xinhua Two soldiers were wounded in an ambush by leftist rebels in this southern Philippine city early Thursday evening, the military said on Friday. Troops on a two-vehicle convoy on their way to fetch doctors and other local health workers for a three-day medical mission were attacked by an undetermined number of New People's Army guerrillas in East Kibalang sub-village, Marilog district, Davao City, over 30 km from the city proper, around 6 p.m., said Major Jacob Obligado, commander of the army's 10th civil-military battalion. "A firefight erupted lasting for about 30 minutes. Two personnel from the 84th Infantry Battalion were wounded," Obligado told Xinhua by text message. He said the wounded soldiers were now being treated at a local hospital while pursuit operations against the attackers was underway. Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Viray, 84th IB commander, said that despite the incident, his troops would continue their mission of

Terror links to Axis Bank fraud?

April 20, 2012 By Kiran Tom Sajan DC Kochi Sheikh Rehan Ali alias Etisham (left) and Mirza Jaffer Baig alias Hameed being taken from Kochi central station to the Chief Judicial Magistrate on Thursday. — SUNOJ NINAN MATHEW The Kochi City police, which has met with some success in cracking the Axis Bank online money scam with the recent arrest of two men from Hyderabad, suspects the racket may have been used to fund terror operations or some such dangerous activity and may soon request the state government to transfer the case to a Central investigating agency considering its seriousness. The two men, Mirza Jaffer Baig alias Hameed (28) of Agapura Nampally and Sheikh Rehan Ali alias Etisham (34) of Chanchalguda Bazaar, were arrested on Tuesday for their alleged role in the scam reported from several countries in Asia, by a squad led by Kochi central police circle inspector, Suneesh Babu . On March 30, Dr R. Shabbir Khan of Lakeshore hospital lost nearly Rs 11.14 lakh from his Axi

Ulfa enters into drug smuggling

April 20, 2012 DC Pak plotter reveals more Credible information, developed over the last few months, by field operatives of Central intelligence agencies in Northeast, Bangladesh and Burma has confirmed that Ulfa top commander Paresh Barua is now using his terror network to smuggle narcotics into India. A highly-classified report prepared by intelligence agencies, details of which have been accessed by this newspaper, states that, “The ULFA is not only helping drug cartels use India as a transit point but also pumping narcotics into the country for local consumption.’’ The report further reveals that the terror outfit is using its formidable network in the Northeast for narcotic smuggling as it has yielded them high returns. The Ulfa has been taking both money and arms in return for helping the drug syndicates. “As India is an important transit point in the Golden Triangle of narcotic smuggling involvement of terror groups in India in this business is an extremely dangerous tr

Maoists target `5K cr revenue

April 20, 2012 Raipur The outlawed CPI (Maoist) has set a target to generate revenue of `5,000 crore this fiscal, intelligence sources said on Thursday. The reds’ funds have reportedly doubled in the past two years swelling to around `3,000 crores in 2011-12. Seven Naxal-infested states — Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Maharashtra — have become major sources of red funds in the past several years, documents seized by security forces during raids in Naxal camps have revealed. “Several documents, seized in recent raids in Naxal camps in Bastar region, including those in Abujhmad areas where the security forces made incursions for the first time in the post-Independence period, has provided vital clues on sources of revenues and size of funds, they generate in the country. If the documents seized are to be believed, then the reds’ revenue figure is astronomical, reaching around `3,000 crores last fiscal,” a senior police officer dealing with

Maoists produce MLA in 'praja court'

BHUBANESWAR/KORAPUT: The Odisha government on Thursday indicated possible release of abducted BJD legislator Jhina Hikaka by the Maoists anytime. "We hope to get some positive response from them (Maoists) today (Thursday)," state home secretary Upendra Behera told media persons in Bhubaneswar. The government's hope reportedly stemmed from reports reaching the state capital that the Maoists began their much-hyped "praja court" (people's court) in the morning to decide whether or not to release Hikaka. Sources said the court was held at a place about 2 km from Balipeta in Koraput district's Narayanpatna area. Family members of incarcerated Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) activists also participated in the "praja court", sources added. They said the Maoists had all but decided to leave Hikaka, but they were waiting for CMAS leader Nachika Linga to reach there. Linga was reportedly not interested to be part of the Maoist praja court becaus

Maoists neither down nor out

Author: Ajai Sahni A dip in fatalities should not be interpreted as the Indian state winning the war on Left-wing extremism. Evidence shows the state is as vulnerable as before. In quick succession, three disruptive incidents have shocked India out of the complacency that had set in, as the policy establishment celebrated sharp declines in violence and fatalities engineered by the Communist Party of India (Maoist) over the past year. The worst of these incidents was, of course, the improvised explosive device attack on a CRPF transport at Pustola in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, on March 27, which killed 12 and injured 28. In their enthusiasm during CRPF Director-General Vijay Kumar’s visit to Fulbodi Gatta to inspect a community outreach programme, the jawans had ignored standard operating procedures, driving over a road that had not been sanitised in advance. The Maoists were quick to take bloody advantage. A loss of lives among security forces personnel, however,

Police probe 'Maoist' attack on CISF jawans

KORAPUT: A day after two Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawans were reportedly shot at by suspected Maoists at the Panchpatmali bauxite mining hills belonging to Nalco in Damanjodi, police initiated investigation into the case on Thursday. A CISF vehicle came under heavy firing on Wednesday night while returning from the Panchpatmali mining area after dropping jawans on night duty. The two injured jawans, R K Meena (driver) and Kisan Vallabhi (constable), were shifted to a hospital at Vishakapatnam on Thursday for treatment. Their condition is stated to be stable. "Though the possibility of the involvement of Maoists in the incident can't be ruled out, other angles are also being looked into. We can't jump to any conclusion," said DIG Saumeyendra Priyadarsi, who visited the crime spot on Thursday. "We recovered at least seven empty bullet cases from the spot. The bullets were fired from either an AK 47 or a 303 gun. Two bullets hit two CISF personn

UN chief denounces seizure of oil-rich Heglig by South Sudan

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:53PM GMT The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has criticized South Sudan’s seizure of the disputed oil-producing Heglig region in neighboring Sudan, calling it an “illegal act.” “This is an infringement on the sovereignty of Sudan and a clearly illegal act,” Ban said on Thursday, urging South Sudan to immediately withdraw its forces from the town of Heglig. Ban further called on both Sudan and South Sudan to settle the dispute through negotiation in order to avoid additional escalation of tension. “The last thing the people of these two countries need is another war, a war that could claim countless lives, destroy hope and ruin the prospects of peace and stability and prosperity of all Sudanese people,” Ban said. Meanwhile, Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir had earlier on Thursday promised to retake Heglig. South Sudan captured Heglig last week, triggering border clashes that have edged the A

Norwegian terrorist says English mentor inspired him

Apr 19, 2012 10:0AM GMT Norwegian terrorist Anders Behring Breivik has told Oslo District Court that he was inspired by an “English mentor” that ranked among “the most brilliant political and military tacticians" in Europe. The anti-Islam Christian fundamentalist said that he met the British guide, who was among the founding members of the "Knights Templar", in London during his visit to the UK in 2002. During the visit with members of the far-right group, Breivik jotted down 50 pages of notes on how the members would "seize power in Western Europe.” "I did not fully comprehend at the time how privileged I was to be in the company of some of the most brilliant political and military tacticians of Europe," he said in his hate-filled manifesto. While attending the third day of his trial, Breivik, charged with committing "acts of terror" by slaughtering 77 people in Norway last year, strongly refused to name the participants. “I unders

Syrian rebels urge foreign military intervention

Apr 19, 2012 6:26PM GMT Armed groups fighting against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have called for foreign military intervention in the country even without the approval of the United Nations Security Council. In a video posted online on Thursday, head of the rebel Free Syrian Army General Mustafa Ahmed al-Sheikh called for "the formation of a military alliance of countries friendly to the Syrian people, without UN Security Council approval, to carry out surgical strikes on key installations of the regime," AFP reported. He also accused Damascus of violating the ceasefire brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. Rebels' call for military intervention comes as 12 anti-Syrian countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and France, are holding a ministerial meeting in Paris. Russia, who has boycotted the third gathering of the so-called ''Friends of Syria'', says the meeting aims at fueling unrest in Syria rather than findi

Norwegian terrorist says English mentor inspired him

Apr 19, 2012 10:0AM GMT Norwegian terrorist Anders Behring Breivik has told Oslo District Court that he was inspired by an “English mentor” that ranked among “the most brilliant political and military tacticians" in Europe. The anti-Islam Christian fundamentalist said that he met the British guide, who was among the founding members of the "Knights Templar", in London during his visit to the UK in 2002. During the visit with members of the far-right group, Breivik jotted down 50 pages of notes on how the members would "seize power in Western Europe.” "I did not fully comprehend at the time how privileged I was to be in the company of some of the most brilliant political and military tacticians of Europe," he said in his hate-filled manifesto. While attending the third day of his trial, Breivik, charged with committing "acts of terror" by slaughtering 77 people in Norway last year, strongly refused to name the participants. “I unders

Security forces kill 9 militants in northwest Pakistan

Apr 19, 2012 5:53PM GMT At least nine militants have been killed in clashes with security forces in Pakistan's rugged northwestern tribal region close to the border with Afghanistan, Press TV reports. Clashes broke out on Thursday after Pakistani military soldiers fired artillery shells at militant hideouts in Jogi area of the remote mountainous Kurram region. During the gun battle, security forces killed nine militants and wounded 16 others. Government troops also destroyed three militants' hideouts. Kurram is considered a main base for the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Scores of high-profile militants are believed to be taking refuge there in recent years after fleeing military offensives in the nearby tribal regions. Despite the Pakistani government's operations against TTP militants and associated groups, they have still been able to spread their influence in various regions of the country and have killed thousands of people. Over 35,000 people have lost

Pakistani militants demolish 220-KV power tower

Apr 19, 2012 5:38PM GMT Unknown assailants have attacked a gas plant in Pakistan's conflict-plagued southwestern province of Balochistan amid a surge in violence sweeping across the Asian country, Press TV reports. The attackers used explosive materials to demolish the 220-KV electricity tower in the small Dera Allah Yar city of the Jaffarabad district, situated some 300 kilometers (186 miles) north of the provincial capital Quetta, on Thursday morning. There were no reports of casualties. However, the explosion disrupted electricity supply to several areas, including Kachi, Mach, Quetta and Sibi. The miscreants later fled the scene and their whereabouts remain unknown. Law enforcement forces cordoned off the area after the incident, and launched an investigation. Local police and security officials blamed the Baloch Republican Army, a separatist group, for the attack. Despite the Pakistani government's operations against militants and terrorists, they have still b

Bulgaria offers citizenship to Gorani community

SOURCE: TANJUG BELGRADE -- Bulgaria is intensifying efforts to provide citizenship and other benefits to the poverty-stricken Gorani community in Kosovo and Albania, SETimes writes. A view of Sofia However, critics say the country is misusing its EU member state status to advance long-standing assimilatory policies of other ethnicities. The Gorani, most of whom are Muslim and identify as Macedonians, live in 18 villages in the region of Gora as well as in the adjacent Zhupa and Prespa regions in the Albania-Macedonia-Kosovo border area. Macedonian-Gorani Association President Avnija Rahti said that the Bulgarians, accompanied by a lawyer, were trying to persuade the Gorani of the benefits of Bulgarian citizenship, including potential employment in EU countries as well as free schooling in Sofia and Plovdiv. “All the Gorani need to do is sign documents declaring they have Bulgarian origins and are Bulgarian,” he explained. The Bulgarian Constitution provides the option

Minister for Kosovo calls for extremists to be disarmed

SOURCE: BETA, TANJUG ZVEČAN -- Kosovo Minister Goran Bogdanović has urged international troops in Kosovo to disarm ethnic Albanian extremist groups in the north of the province. KFOR troops are seen in northern Kosovska Mitrovica (Beta) Serbs are the majority north of the Ibar River, rejecting the authority of the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština, as well as their unilateral declaration of independence made in early 2008. Speaking on Wednesday, Bogdanović was commenting on video footage that had been broadcast by television outlets both in Priština and the north, and was also posted on the internet. It shows "armed Albanians in northern Kosovo", and was first aired on Top Channel Albania on April 13, according to reports. Priština's "adventurism", warned the minister, "could lead to unforeseeable consequences". "The emergence of armed groups in the north of the province is the result of the drive, above all of Priština,