[Libya Herald] There are reports in Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... today that Sheikh Nadir al-Omrani , the associate of Grand Mufti Sadik al-Ghariani who was kidnapped in Tripoli on 6 October has been murdered.
A man named as Haitham al-Zintani was shown on a video made by Tripoli’s Criminal Investigation Board (CIB) and published on its Facebook page apparently confessing to his role in the Sheikh’s abduction and subsequent killing.
It is alleged that the murder was an act of sectarian rivalry, carried out by supporters of Saudi holy man Rabee al-Madkhali in the south Tripoli suburb of Esbiaa and allegedly linked to the Rada ("Deterrence") forces.
In the video, Zintani claims that a colleague had put Omrani in a hole in the ground and after accusing him of misleading the public with supposedly false religious views, had shot and then buried him.
In a potentially explosive development, he claimed the head the Esbiaa branch of the anti-crime board was the man who killed Omrani and its premises as the place where he was held for a month and then murdered.
He also alledged that Omrani, a member of Ghariani’s Dar al-Ifta, had been chosen because his Salafist version of Islam was different to that of Madkhali, that the kidnaping and murder had been planed three months in advance, and that it had been ordered by a top Egyptian Madkhali holy man and agreed by the group’s mufti in Libya.
Other Dar al-Ifta members were also supposedly on a death list.
Madkahli supporters are known to be ideologically opposed to Ghariani and his followers. It is also claimed that they include numerous members of the Rada forces led by Abdulrauf Kara.
In a statement this afternoon, Rada denied any involvement in Omrani’s death and promised to track down the killers.
"The force condemns strongly this crime but also condemns
suggestions that it was involved in it. We call all relevant bodies
including the General Attorney to open an urgent investigation into the
incident," it stated.
"The person who appeared in the video does not work for us," it added, nor was then any relationship with the man who had supposedly shot Omrani,
For its part, the Dar al-Ifta Dar al-Ifta has called for Omrani and others allegedly involved to be punished as soon as possible, describing them as "deviants".
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Salafists
[Libya Herald] Fighting in Sebha between the Alwad Sulaiman and Qaddadfa tribes which continued into its sixth day today appears to have been brought to an end. Fighting stopped late this afternoon, according to the city’s mayor Hamed Rafeh, following mediation by elders and notables from across Libya. An agreement by the two sides would be signed tomorrow, Wednesday, he told the Libya Herald.
"We hope that all the fighting be over and people will open shops and offices", he said.
He put the number of dead in the festivities in the mid 20s. Of those injured, which included 15 women and kiddies, 26 had been airlifted for urgent medical treatment to Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... and Misrata, he said.
The fighting between the long standing rivals was triggered when a monkey belonging a Qaddadfa shopkeeper supposedly annoyed girls from the Awlad Sulaiman, which then resulted in gunnies from the later killing both the monkey and its owner.
The peace agreement has rendered obsolete a decision on Monday by the House of Representatives (HoR) to set up a committee to mediate between the two tribes and end the fighting. However, some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them... of potentially equally importance, the HoR also created another committee to investigate the wider problems in the city. These will include the current crime wave, policing and the security, as well as Sebha’s healthcare crisis and environmental issues, notably a collapse of the sewerage system.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under: Arab Spring
[Libya Herald] Reports that one of two Tunisian women tossed in the clink Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages! near the Cyrenaican town of Mechili on Sunday was the wife of Mokhtar Belmolhtar, leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), have now been denied by officials in Libya,
They say that there was confusion of the identity of the woman’s husband and that while she is indeed married to a terrorist, it is a different Mohktar.
Her husband is now said to be Mokhtar Ben Omar al-Agouri, a Tunisian who is also a member of AQIM.
It is thought that he is is Jufra, to which the woman caught in an ambush two days ago by LNA forces near Mechili, south of Labraq, was said to be heading.
It is nonetheless believed that Belmokhtar is based in Libya, albeit further south.
...one-eyed militant leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar, once considered the most dangerous man in the Sahara and formerly a top al-Qaida figure in North Africa.
...Asma Kadousi, was arrested on Saturday along with a female companion en route from the militant stronghold of Darna, an eastern city, where she gave birth to a baby. Kadousi was reportedly heading to the central province of Joufra
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[10 views]
Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa
#1
"while she is indeed married to a terrorist, it is a different Mohktar"
Don't tell me -- "Mokhtar" is a variation of "Mohammad".
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
11/23/2016 17:10 Comments ||
Top||
[Libya Observer] The Libyan Fatwa House and the Islamic Research and Studies Council called in a statement Tuesday for exacting punishment on all those who plotted and partook in the murdering of sheikh Nadir al-Omrani.
"Punishment for criminals is an implementation of Allah’s words and a deterrence for other criminals." The statement reads.
"Shiekh al-Omrani was assassinated because of his moderate religious thinking and his renunciation of faceless myrmidons and radicals, who are most likely the ones who killed him based on misleading fatwas coming from outside Libya, just like they did with scholars and preachers in Benghazi." The statement adds.
Relatedly, the Presidential Council of the UN-proposed government said it is following the news about al-Omrani’s death with grave concern, condemning the crime and saying that those who committed it are nothing but immoral culprits who shed the blood of Moslems without batting an eye.
The General National Congress also offered condolences for the family of sheikh al-Omrani and Libyans as well as the Islamic world, saying it hails the current efforts to arrest the perpetrators and calling on all the relevant authorities to do what it takes to reveal the truth behind the murder.
Moreover, the Libyan Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Ministry, Libya Scholars Authority and Libya Scholars Association as well as the Salvation Government, Libya Moslem Brüderbund Group, and others all reacted in condemnation of the crime and urged for immediate investigations to reveal the truth behind his liquidation.
The Head of the UNSMIL, Martin Kobler also condemned on Twitter the killing of al-Omrani, who was kidnapped on October 06, offering condolences and sympathy for his family.
"This is a crime against moderation and a proof that extremism and radicalism have already lost their fight." Many Islamic organizations and scholars worldwide said.
Dr. al-Omrani was a professor of Hadith and Sunna at Libyan universities as well as a member at the Libyan Fatwa House and Secretary General of the Libyan Scholars Organization, in addition to being a vice president of Arab Maghreb Scholars Association, a member of the Moslem Scholars Association and the Head of the Scholarly Committee of the Libyan Commission of Islamic Finance.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under: Arab Spring
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi issued several military changes in Yemen, including the appointment of a new Deputy Chief of General Staff after the truce ended on Monday due to Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ... violations.
The president appointed Major General Ahmed Saif al-Yafei Deputy Chief of General Staff, Brigadier General Saleh Mohammed as first commander of the military district in Hadhramaut.
The changes came in response to criticism of military leaders failing to push forward against the Houthi militias, mainly in Marib ‐ which has seen months-long festivities between Houthis and Yemeni forces backed by the Arab coalition.
Clashes in Hadhramaut
Meanwhile coinciding with the decision to change the commander of Hadhramaut, gunnies dressed in al-Qaeda clothing attacked on Monday the military forces in the area. The gunnies were reportedly captured, however their identities were not revealed.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Arab Spring
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh held the first hearing in the against 13 Saudi women, among them sisters, on charges of participating in rallies, protests and demonstrations in Buraydah in the al-Qassim region.
The public prosecutor said that the women have participated in protests after answering calls on social media with slogans to overthrow the regime and burn photos of the minister of interior.
The public prosecutor asked the warden to legally condemn them and charge them with charges, including imposing a travel ban.
Two lawyers attended the hearing representing four of the accused women. Thirteen other women who were earlier released refused to appear before the judge.
The judge confirmed during the hearing that was attended by Al Arabiya and many other media outlets that the 13 accused should be present in the next hearing as he requested to hear their direct response to the accusations.
When one of the lawyers said that he could not confirm their presence in the next hearing due to the distance beween Qassim and Riyadh, the judge vowed to provide housing and tickets to facilitate their attendance.
After handing them the list of charges, the judge called on the lawyers of the four ladies to have a detailed response within a month.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Saudi Arabia
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] La Belle France is "ready to cooperate" with the International Criminal Court to probe ISIS hard boyz in Syria for war crimes, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Monday.
A new job for Carla del Ponte!
The ICC, founded in 2002, is the world’s only permanent war crimes court. But moves so far to refer Syria to The Hague-based body have been unsuccessful as Russia has blocked them with its veto in the UN Security Council.
The UN go-ahead is needed as Syria is not a member state.
Ayrault told AFP that action "can be launched it they concern (French) nationals who are engaged in the war in Syria alongside ISIS," using another name for ISIS.
"We are ready to cooperate and give our backing if there is a track to follow," he said. "Even if the margin for manoeuvre is limited, it’s a chance to recall that we do not accept impunity."
Russia dealt the International Criminal Court a blow Wednesday saying it was formally withdrawing its signature to the tribunal’s founding Rome Statute.
"The court did not live up to the hopes associated with it and did not become truly independent," Russia’s foreign ministry said, describing its work as "one-sided and inefficient".
Ayrault said the "action is symbolic and political which I regret because it would have been preferable that Russia does the opposite" and ratifies the founding Rome Statute.
He was in The Hague for the annual meeting of the court’s member states who ware discussing among other things how to bring those guilty of crimes in Syria to justice.
In May 2014, La Belle France presented a draft resolution calling for war crimes to be investigated in Syria, but the measure was defeated when Russia and China vetoed the request.
A country that has signed up to the Rome treaty or whose citizens have been the victims of crimes may refer cases to the ICC’s chief prosecutor for investigation.
Cases may also be referred by the UN Security Council, and the prosecutor can initiate her own investigations with permission from the judges providing member states are involved, or a non-member state can agree to accept the court’s jurisdiction.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Islamic State
[RUDAW.NET] The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... has issued an arrest warrant for Salih Moslem, co-leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), for alleged connections to an Ankara bombing last year which killed 28 people.
The state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Tuesday that arrest warrants had been issued for Moslem and 47 others, including some top leaders of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), including Murat Karayilan and Cemil Bayik, both founding members of the group.
Turkey regards PYD as the Syrian wing of the PKK.
February’s bombing targeted military busses during the evening rush hour. The PYD denied involvement after it was accused of the bombing following the attack.
Just days after the attack, another Kurdish group, the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) grabbed credit, saying it carried out the attack to show its opposition to policies of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him... The perpetrator, according to TAK, was a 26-year-old Turkish national from the eastern Turkish city of Van.
The then Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, however, named the Ankara bomber as Salih Necar, a Syrian national and member of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the military wing of the PYD.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Sublime Porte
[RUDAW.NET] Prominent Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk was jugged Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages! in The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... on Monday. He is one of the longest serving Kurdish MPs in Turkey, elected six times since the 1970s and heTurk is the co-mayor of the Kurdish city of Mardin
Turkish security forces blocked a delegation from the German Socialist Party from visiting Turk in prison.
Turk has now joined a number of prominent Kurdish politicians and MPs arrested by security forces in November on charges of conducting propaganda activities for the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under: Sublime Porte
[Daily Excelsior] Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was today briefed by Vice Chief of Army Lt Gen Bipin Rawat on the killing of three soldiers, body of one of whom was mutilated, in Pak action on the Line of Control in Macchil sector of Kashmire.
Defence Ministry sources said Lt Gen Rawat briefed the Minister in detail.
This is the second such incident of mutilation of the body of an Indian soldier on the LoC since October 29.
"Three soldiers killed in action on LoC (Line of Control) in Macchil. Body of one soldier mutilated," the Army said.
It said the "retribution will be heavy for this cowardly act".
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistain Proxies
[ALMASDARNEWS] Assyrian militias have found destroyed Christian iconography and burnt sacred texts after the liberation of the 4th-century monastery of Mar Behnam.
Under ISIS occupation, the monastery was converted into the headquarters for its morality police known as the Hisba, with the monk's bedrooms turned into jail cells.
All crosses were removed, religious scripts scraped off the walls and all references to the Assyrian King Benham who builty the monastery were removed.
"Their fundamental goal was to destroy Christian history and civilisation in the Nineveh plains," Duraid Elias, commander of Assyrian militia Babylon Brigades, told Rooters.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under: Islamic State
[ALMASDARNEWS] On Tuesday afternoon, the Syrian Arab Army's High Command announced the creation of the 5th Corps after restructuring several units in the armed forces.
The 5th Army Corps will be comprised of several newly formed divisions and brigades that will be structured similar to the other 4 army corps in the Syrian Arab Army.
According to a military source in Damascus, the 5th Corps will have training bases all over Syria, with one of the largest camps located in the Rif Dimashq town of Qatana.
Qatana is already home to the Syrian Arab Army's 10th Armored Division, so the additional soldiers in the 5th Corps will likely share the facilities.
The 5th Army Corps will also take over the 15th Special Forces Division base in al-Sweida; this camp has been relatively unused since the special forces moved to Latakia, Damascus, and Tartous.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2016 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[9 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Syria
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Libya Herald] There are reports in 
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi issued several military changes in Yemen, including the appointment of a new Deputy Chief of General Staff after the truce ended on Monday due to 
[RUDAW.NET] Prominent Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk was 
[ALMASDARNEWS] Assyrian militias have found destroyed Christian iconography and burnt sacred texts after the liberation of the 4th-century monastery of Mar Behnam.
