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Area: WoT Background    Non-WoT    Opinion        Politix   
Terror plot: Leaders jailed for Birmingham bomb plan
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
3 20:02 Bright Pebbles [3]
Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Birthday Gam Shot

Anna Mucha [Polish][Filmography](age 33)



Polish Designed Bed Cover

Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 04/26/2013 1:53 Comments || Top||

#2  An a one, an a two, an a three... There is mucha beauty on a Rantaburg this a Morning including Joana Marsha. Vielen Dank!
Posted by: Lawrence Welk || 04/26/2013 7:48 Comments || Top||

#3  Yes. I like when these girls use the bed to show off their, uh, shoes.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 04/26/2013 11:31 Comments || Top||

#4  Djunkuya, GB!
Posted by: Mercutio || 04/26/2013 13:14 Comments || Top||

#5  Nie ma za co
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 04/26/2013 15:09 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Egypt authorities question militant group arrested in Egypt's Sinai
[Al Ahram] Military prosecutors are questioning 11 men locked away
You have the right to remain silent...
last week after attempting to bomb a military installation in Egypt's North Sinai city of Rafah.
Members of the group -- which includes six Egyptians, three Paleostinians and two Lebanese -- were found in possession of automatic weapons, remote-control bombs, satellite telephones, and maps of the Sinai Peninsula showing military zones.

During questioning, members of the so-called 'New Jihadist' cell said they bore no affiliations to any foreign organizations.

The arrested men reportedly told interrogators that the group was formed with the aim of driving the Egyptian military and UN peacekeeping forces out of the Sinai Peninsula and declare the territory an 'Islamic emirate.'

Security authorities plan to carry out further investigations to determine the group's affiliations and financers.
Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Salafists


Arabia
French Embassy - in the firing line -
[Yemen Post] A French official at the Foreign Ministry in Gay Paree confirmed this Wednesday morning that gunshots had been fire near the French Embassy in the Yemeni capital Sana'a, less than a day after Death Eaters in Libya slammed a vehicle loaded with explosives into La Belle France's 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...
offices.

With La Belle France clearly in the firing line, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius made clear at a presser on Tuesday that his country would not stand idly while its diplomats were being targeted by terrorists.

Speaking from Gay Paree a foreign ministry' spokesperson noted the authorities were "carefully monitoring the situation in Sana'a," adding ""This morning a person fired shots into the air near our embassy in Yemen."

While the French Embassy in Sana'a has never suffered any terror attack before, French diplomats are however have suffered Islamists' ire on more than one occasion.

Back in September 2012, the French Embassy had to tighten its security following the publication in in the Charlie Hebdo, a French weekly of anti-Islam cartoons.

The cartoons which coincided with reports U.S soldiers had desecrated the Koran, led to an kaboom of anger across the Moslem world and a series of violent attacks against the U.S Embassy in Sana'a.

While this time no apparent trigger could explain why Death Eaters have chosen La Belle France as their next target, the move could foretell an escalation in terror activities in the capital Sana'a in retaliation to American-led drone strikes.

Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia


Britain
Terror plot: Leaders jailed for Birmingham bomb plan
[BBC] Leaders of a Birmingham terror cell that planned an attack to rival the 7 July and 9/11 atrocities have been jailed.

Irfan Naseer, 31, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years, Irfan Khalid, 28, was given 18 years and Ashik Ali was sentenced to 15 years.

The judge said Naseer wanted to turn part of Birmingham into a "little war zone".

Eight other members of the terror cell will be sentenced later.

The group had planned to set off up to eight bombs in rucksacks, using timers to detonate the charges.

'Skilful bomb-maker'
Detectives believe the terror plot is the most significant to be uncovered since the 2006 conspiracy to blow up transatlantic airliners using bombs disguised as soft drinks.

Mr Justice Henriques told Naseer during sentencing: "Your plot had the blessing of al-Qaeda and you intended to further the aims of al-Qaeda."

In February, the three men were found guilty of 12 counts of preparing for acts of terrorism.

They were arrested in September 2011, amid fears an attack was imminent.

Naseer and Khalid had received training from al-Qaeda contacts in Pakistan and had recorded martyrdom videos there before returning to the UK.

Having recruited others, the group posed as legitimate charity workers on the streets of Birmingham and collected thousands of pounds from unsuspecting members of the public.

Naseer played a key role in sending four other Birmingham men to Pakistan to receive training.

They and four other members of the group pleaded guilty to preparing for acts of terrorism and are due to be sentenced later on Friday.
This article starring:
Ashik Ali
Irfan Khalid
Irfan Naseer
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/26/2013 07:05 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Pakistan

#1  British born Pakis again! how many need to be arrested before the Govt admit we have a problem with that community!.No hope no job but love jihad.Muslim Community leaders remain silent once again!
Posted by: Voldemort Sneremp9970 || 04/26/2013 8:58 Comments || Top||

#2  "The judge said Naseer wanted to turn part of Birmingham into a 'little war zone.'"

No, judge, he wanted to turn Birmingham England in a BIG war zone.
Posted by: Barbara || 04/26/2013 20:25 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Two militants killed in Dagestan
The Russian National Counterterrorism Committee (NAK) says a security operation in the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan has resulted in the deaths of two members of a local militant group.

The NAK said on April 24 that security forces recieved a tip that two terrorists militants were in the village of Sogratl in Dagestan’s Gubin district.

The security forces blocked access to the building the armed men were in and demanded their surrender. The two men “fired indiscriminately” and were killed when security forces returned fire.

They men have been tentatively identified as Gajimurat Khabibov, born in 1986, and Suleiman Gajiomarov, born in 1991, both members of the Kadar criminal group.
Posted by: ryuge || 04/26/2013 02:55 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: WoT
Lawfare: NY Court sends 1st terror financing case to trial
[Jpost] Proceedings will give an unprecedented glimpse into how Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, was funded over the past 10 years.

United States Eastern District of New York Judge Nina Gershon sent to trial late Wednesday a blockbuster terror financing case against major Jordanian financial institution Arab Bank -- the first such case in US history.

In addition to setting major new binding precedents, the historic case could have a "meaningful impact on banks" that finance terror groups "for profit because they are indifferent [and treat these groups as] just another customer and don't care," said lead litigator Gary Osen.

"It will increase the risk for funding groups like Hamas and al-Qaeda" and may change the conduct of "institutions and banks" that do business in "gray areas," he continued.

Allegations involve the transfer of large funds to Hamas leadership, institutions and families of Hamas prisoners and "martyr"-jacket wallahs via Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
and Hezbollah's al-Shahid Foundation.

Arab Bank had tried summary judgment, a last-ditch legal procedure, to avoid a trial, but the court largely rejected the motion, removing the last obstacle that was preventing the case from going to trial.

"For nine years, it's been the stated goal of all of the plaintiffs to have the opportunity to get their day in court," Osen said. "This is certainly not the end of the process, but it vindicates their right to [justice]."

The lengthy list of attacks involved in the case, reading like a horror reel of the worst terror moments from around 2001 to 2003 include the Sbarro Pizza attack in Jerusalem; the Dolphinarium discotheque attack in Tel Aviv; the multiple suicide kabooms on Ben-Yehuda Street in Jerusalem in a single Saturday night in 2002; the Café Moment and Café Hillel bombings in Jerusalem; the Park Hotel Passover Seder bombing in Netanya; and the 2003 bombing at the Sheffield Club in Rishon Lezion, as well as bus bombings in Jerusalem in June and August of that year.

Major judgments have been won against terror entities and third party banks and entities that finance terror, but they have all been by default, meaning the defendants did not attend the trial or denied the court's jurisdiction.

Default judgments do not set binding precedents to the same extent that a case like this would be able to.

The trial will end the history of default judgments and, most importantly, give an unprecedented and highly documented glimpse into how Hamas and its leaders were funded over the past 10 years.

This is the first case in which a bank has been ready to stand and fight to the end of the legal proceedings.

The court's decision was handed down orally from the bench and delved deep into the details and legal principles of how much proof is needed to win a counter-terror lawsuit.

Arab Bank succeeded in getting the court to throw out some of the allegations against it, such as aiding and abetting terrorist attacks, but the majority of charges were approved for trial.

According to the decision, noted Osen, the victims' families must prove at trial that Arab Bank knowingly provided financial services to Hamas in the tens of millions of dollars, and that the 24 attacks listed were a foreseeable consequence of the bank's conduct.

The lawsuit alleges that Arab Bank laundered Saudi payments to the families of suicide bombers and other funds intended for Paleostinian terrorist groups through its Madison Avenue branch in New York City, which is no longer in operation.

The Saudi funds were then rerouted to local branches of Arab Bank in the West Bank and Gazoo Strip, and paid out to the personal accounts of hundreds of gunnies and their families, as well as Hamas front organizations and other Paleostinian terrorist groups.

The lawsuit also seeks damages for openly providing financial services to gunnies through accounts held directly in the name of Hamas and its many front groups.

The complaint describes the scheme by which Arab Bank allegedly administered a comprehensive terrorist "insurance plan" by distributing death and dismemberment benefits to families of suicide bombers and other terrorists.

The first suit filed was Linde v. Arab Bank, brought forth by the widow of an ex-Marine who was killed while securing American diplomats in Gazoo, along with several other plaintiffs. Several subsequent lawsuits have been filed.

The victims range from American tourists -- such as the Goldstein family, who came to Israel for a family wedding, and the Sokolow family, who came for a vacation -- to students studying abroad at Hebrew University and Israeli-American dual citizens who boarded the wrong bus or visited the wrong café.

Osen of Osen LLC is leading the pack and delivered the oral argument, but there are more than half a dozen law firms involved in the cases.

The ATA case, which relates to American victims of terror, involves over 100 families, and the first trial contemplates covering 24 Hamas terror attacks.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  The law allowing such lawsuits has been used for many different litigation initiatives.

Banks in Lebanon and China have been sued.

One of the interesting consequences of this is that American and Israeli banks which directly cooperate with such banks may be vulnerable to secondary lawsuits.

Its too bad we can't just kill all the terrorists instead.
Posted by: lord garth || 04/26/2013 10:34 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Two policemen killed in Karak attack
[Dawn] At least two coppers and two attackers were killed in an encounter in the Barbara area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
's Karak district on Thursday morning.

Police said faceless myrmidons attacked the police in Barbara's Banda Daud Shah area.

As a result, two police personnel -- a sub-inspector and a constable died -- while two attackers were also killed.

Police also tossed in the clink
Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages!
three attackers.

Subsequently, security was beefed up in the area and a search operation was launched. Police confirmed that the attackers were beturbanned goons.

Meanwhile,
...back at the barn, Bossy had come up with a new idea, one that wouldn't require kerosene...
at least four people were maimed in another incident in Parachinar when a tractor was hit by a landmine near Parachinar sports complex. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital.
Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Grenade attack at PPP office in Balochistan injures two
[Dawn] Two persons were maimed on Thursday when Islamic fascisti hurled a hand grenade at the election office of Pakistain Peoples Party in Noshki area of Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
, police said.

The cycle of violence-riding-attackers managed to escape after the incident.

Police said the blast damaged a portion of the election office as well and that the injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Noshki for medical treatment.

Police and levies personnel reached the spot as investigations into the attack went underway.
Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Pak Talibs attack Karachi MQM office
[BETA.DAWN] At least five people were killed and around ten others injured when a blast destroyed an election office of a political party in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
on Thursday night, officials told Dawn.Com.

Initial reports suggest the bomb was planted in a cycle of violence near the election office of Muttahida Qaumi Movement
...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead...
(MQM) in Karachi's Nusrat Bhutto Colony.

The kaboom damaged nearby buildings and vehicles. Police and security agencies have cordoned off the area and an initial investigation is underway.

Injured and dead are shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Sources said that three brothers are among the five deceased.

DIG west of Karachi police, Zafar Abbas Bukhari has confirmed the number of casualties. "Five people have been killed and ten injured. The bomb was planted in a motor-bike," he said.

Party front man Qamar Mansur said that the office was closed following a kaboom on Tuesday which killed five people and injured around 15 at People's Chowrangi in North Nazimabad.

"All the victims were standing outside the office when the bomb went kaboom!," he said.

Taliban claim

Meanwhile,
...back at the comedy club, Boogie was cracking himself up, but nobody else seemed to be getting the non-stop jokes...
the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) has grabbed credit of the attack. Speaking to Dawn.Com over telephone from some holy man's guesthouse an undisclosed location, TTP front man Ehsanullah Ehsan said the outfit has targeted the MQM as they vowed to do so in the past.

The Pak Taliban (TTP) had threatened to target the three secular parties -- Pakistain People's Party, Awami National Party and MQM -- in the wake of historic May 11 polls.

Condemnation

MQM chief Altaf Hussain, Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
(JI) leaders Syed Munawar Hasan and Muhammad Hussain Mehanti and others including Caretaker CM Punjab Najam Sethi have condemned the devastating terrorist attack.

Meanwhile,
...back at the sea battle, the Terror of the Baltic's career had come to an abrupt and watery end...
Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad has ordered a swift probe report of the incident from the authorities concerned.

MQM announces day of mourning

The party has announced to observe day of mourning across the Sindh province on Friday. The business, transport and educational authorities have said that they will support the protest call from MQM and will keep all activities closed on Friday.
Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Two police officials shot dead
[Dawn] An assistant sub-inspector was killed and his colleague maimed in what officials described as a shootout with robbers in district east shortly after a head constable was bumped off in district west of the city on Wednesday night.

The police said head constable Mohammad Atiq was targeted near the bus terminus of W-21 in Sultanabad on the main Manghopir Road.

"Posted in district south, Atiq was targeted in Sultanabad where he had gone to see his second wife," said SSP district west Asif Ajaz Sheikh.

His first wife lived in Haroonabad and the distance between the places was two kilometres, the officer said.

The head constable was in plainclothes and was using his private cycle of violence when he rubbed out, the SSP said.

The victim sustained three gunshot wounds in his chest, the officer added.

'Encounter'

An ASI was killed and his associate was maimed in what police described as an encounter near new Sabzi Mandi on Wednesday night.

The incident took place on KDA Road near new the wholesale vegetable market where two coppers tried to intercept 'robbers' when they came under fire, said SSP east Imran Shaukat.

In the ensuing shooting, ASI Gul Mohammad was killed and head constable Soomar Khan sustained bullet wounds, the police said.

The maimed cop was rushed to a private hospital for treatment, while the body of the ASI was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities, the officials added.
Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


TTP distributes threatening pamphlets against elections
[BETA.DAWN] The outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) gunnies organization distributed pamphlets in Buner, Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
and different areas of Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
warning citizens not to participate in upcoming elections, DawnNews reported.

Leaflets were distributed in various areas of Karachi warning people against attending political rallies and casting their votes at polling stations.

Local administration and security officials were reportedly unaware of any such incident.

The pamphlets warned voters that they would themselves be responsible for their own lives.

Speaking to Dawn.com TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan said that democracy was un-islamic and was the agenda of secular forces in Pakistain due to which they were opposed to it.

He added that the myrmidon organization would continue its fight against secular forces and governments which were backed by external secular countries.

Similar pamphlets were distributed in Peshawar's Badaber, Mattni and Adizai areas.

Earlier today, leaflets were received near a mosque in Shingrai in Shalbandi area of Buner warning residents against taking part in upcoming elections.

Local residents and security personnel confirmed that leaflets were distributed in the area, which had threatened of attacks similar to those taken place in the area during 2008 by-elections.

The pamphlets were issued by Talibs based in Malakand division's Swat
...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat...
area.

Militants had earlier targeted the local population after taking control of the area, as the locals, who were opposed to militancy,resisted the takeover by raising their own lashkars and supporting government forces.

Militants had carried out a suicide kaboom in Buner during the by-elections held for NA-28 after the demise of a local leader, Abdul Mateen Khan in 2008.

At least 45 people had died and 150 were wunded in the attack.

The Taliban had earlier issued a threat to all secular political parties and till recently have carried out various attacks on leaders belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead...
, Pakistain Peoples Party and Awami National Party.
Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Musharraf Formally Arrested over Bhutto Killing
[An Nahar] Pakistain's former military ruler Pervez Perv Musharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
was on Thursday formally incarcerated
Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
over the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto
... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in...
, prosecutors said.

The Bhutto case is the second of three cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule for which Musharraf has been arrested. The latest arrest came a day after a Pak court refused to extend his bail.

Musharraf will remain in his villa on the edge of Islamabad where he is already under a two-week house arrest over his decision to sack judges when he imposed emergency rule in November 2007.

"Today FIA (federal investigative agency) formally arrested General Musharraf in the Benazir Bhutto case," prosecution lawyer Chaudhry Azhar told Agence La Belle France Presse by telephone.

On Wednesday a court in Rawalpindi, the garrison city twinned to Islamabad where Bhutto was killed, rejected Musharraf's bail application.

Musharraf is accused of conspiracy to murder Bhutto, who died in a gun and suicide kaboom in December 2007.

His arrest and disqualification from contesting elections on May 11 have been a humiliating blow for the former ruler of nuclear-armed Pakistain, who returned home last month promising to "save" the country.

Nobody has been convicted or nabbed
... anything you say can and will be used against you, whether you say it or not...
for Bhutto's liquidation on December 27, 2007, despite a long-running court case.

Musharraf's government blamed Bhutto's killing on Pak Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who denied any involvement and who was killed in a U.S. drone attack in August 2009.

In 2010 a U.N. report said Bhutto's death could have been prevented and accused Musharraf's government of failing to give her adequate protection.

Bhutto's son, Bilawal Baby Bhutto Zardari
...Pak dynastic politician, son of Benazir Bhutto and grandon of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. As far as is known, Bilawal has no particular talents other than being pretty and being able to memorize political slogans, but he had the good luck to be born into the right family and he hasn't been assassinated yet...
, who is chairman of the outgoing Pakistain People's Party, has accused Musharraf of her murder.
Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Musharraf will remain in his villa on the edge of Islamabad
Nah, nah,...can't go out and party on the weekend.
Posted by: Skidmark || 04/26/2013 18:07 Comments || Top||

#2  A quick chopper trip, he could be over the border into India. That'd be whatcha call "ironic"...
Posted by: mojo || 04/26/2013 19:45 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Iraqi soldiers retake control of Sunni town
Iraqi soldiers backed by tanks retook control of a Sunni town north of Baghdad on Friday after gunmen withdrew without a fight, although violence continued in other parts of the country.

The Sunni gunmen had seized Suleiman Beg on Thursday after a firefight with security forces, one in a string of similar incidents that have killed more than 150 people in clashes in Sunni Muslim towns in western and northern Iraq over the past four days.

The fighting has raised concerns about the spread of sectarian clashes in Iraq, whose government is now dominated by the Shiite majority which Sunnis charge mistreats them.

Police and military officials said that army units entered the town after negotiations with local tribal leaders.

The recent unrest in the country followed a deadly security crackdown on a Sunni protest in the northern town of Hawija four days ago.
Posted by: tipper || 04/26/2013 09:25 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Iraq Army Prepares to Move into Gunmen-Held Town
[An Nahar] Iraq's army deployed reinforcements around Sulaiman Bek and was preparing Thursday to move into the northern town, a day after it was seized by a group of gunnies, official sources said.

Also Thursday, a front man for now-dispersed protesters near the town of Hawijah in northern Iraq, where the latest wave of violence began on Tuesday, vowed to seek Dire Revenge™ for a "massacre" at the protest site, where festivities killed 53 people.

The unidentified gunnies swarmed into Sulaiman Bek on Wednesday after deadly fighting with the security forces, who pulled back in the face of the offensive as residents fled.

"We withdrew tactically so we can work on clearing the area completely, after we knew that the residents had left," a high-ranking army officer told Agence La Belle France Presse.

"We will clean the region corner by corner, and we will not allow any attack against the safety of citizens," the officer said.

Shalal Abdul Baban, a local administrative official responsible for the area, said that gunnies were still in complete control of the town but that the army was deploying reinforcements on its outskirts.

The attack on Sulaiman Bek came amid a wave of violence, much of it festivities and attacks involving security forces, protesters and their supporters, that has left more than 120 people dead.

The violence began on Tuesday when security forces moved in against anti-government protesters near the town of Hawijah in northern Iraq, sparking festivities that left 53 people dead.

The military said the operation was aimed at the Naqshbandiya Army, a band of Sunni gunnies it said had infiltrated the ranks of the anti-government protesters.

The deadly fighting near Hawijah sparked a wave of Dire Revenge™ attacks in five Sunni-majority provinces that continued into Wednesday, and included heavy fighting in Salaheddin province that saw the gunnies take Sulaiman Bek.
Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq


Southeast Asia
Ten killed in attack on Philippine mayor
Gunmen opened fire on a local mayor and his supporters while they were campaigning in the southern Philippines, killing 10 people and injuring nine others.

The ambush late Thursday targeted a truck carrying Mayor Abdul Malik Manamparan and dozens of supporters. It left the mayor wounded, and killed his daughter.

Officials have no suspects or motive in the attack, and an investigation is underway.

The attack in Nunungan town is the latest in a series of violenct attacks before the local and legislative elections on May 13. Earlier this week, the mother of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona was ambushed and two of her guards killed.
Posted by: ryuge || 04/26/2013 02:24 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syrian Troops Capture Key Town Near Damascus
[An Nahar] Syria's air force carried out air strikes on rebel enclaves near Damascus
...Home to a staggering array of terrorist organizations...
on Thursday, while festivities pitted rebels against troops in the north of the capital, a monitoring group said.

Warplanes also struck villages in the northwestern province of Idlib, rebel-controlled Raqa in the north, Hasake in the northeast and Daraa in the south, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Helicopters, meanwhile, strafed several targets in the Eastern Ghouta area, east of Damascus, a rebel stronghold and scene of intense battles in past months.

Thursday's violence comes a day after an army takeover of the town of Otaybeh, east of Damascus, which the Observatory said "opens the gate for the army into the Eastern Ghouta area".

Warplanes also struck Moadamiyet al-Sham and Daraya, southwest of Damascus, where the army has for several months tried to crush the insurgency.

Rebels have used areas east and southwest of Damascus as rear bases and as gateways into the capital.

The Observatory also reported fierce festivities pitting troops against rebels in the flashpoint Barzeh district of northern Damascus, which rebels have infiltrated from the east.

Elsewhere, warplanes struck Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province, as well as several villages in the Hasake and Daraa countryside.

In Raqa province, fighter jets struck an area near a sugar factory, while "fierce festivities pitting troops against rebels raged near army Base 17", near the placid provincial capital.

Rebels have had the base under siege for several weeks.

Although rebels have controlled the placid provincial capital Raqa since March, troops holed up in the base have held out.

On Wednesday, at least 138 people were killed in violence across Syria, the Observatory said. Among them were 44 civilians, 59 rebels and 35 troops.
Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Hizbullah Denies Responsibility for Drone
[An Nahar] Hizbullah on Thursday denied sending a drone into Israel's airspace, a few hours after the Israeli air force said it shot down an unmanned aircraft several miles off the coast of the northern city of Haifa after it entered Israeli airspace from Leb.

"Hizbullah denies sending any unmanned drone into the airspace of occupied Paleostine," said a terse statement issued by the party.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel's deputy defense minister Danny Danon accused Hizbullah of sending the drone.

"We're talking about another attempt by Hizbullah to send an unmanned drone into Israeli territory," he said to the army radio.

However,
man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them...

Israel's Military front man Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner was cautious, saying the incident was still being investigated.

"We don't know where the aircraft was coming from and where it was actually going," he said, adding that the navy was "searching for the remains of the UAV" as part of the probe.

Israel's military reported: "An unmanned aircraft (UAV) was identified approaching the coast of Israel and was successfully intercepted by the army aircraft five nautical miles off the coast of Haifa at approximately 14:00 (1300 GMT) today."

The Israeli radio said: "The drone was hit by a missile eight kilometers west of Haifa's port."
Posted by: Fred || 04/26/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:



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Two weeks of WOT
Fri 2013-04-26
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Thu 2013-04-25
  Clashes between police and Uighurs in China leave 21 dead
Wed 2013-04-24
  Iraq: 35 dead in clashes, bombing as tensions rise
Tue 2013-04-23
  Two men arrested over 'al-Qaeda inspired' plan to attack a Via Rail train in Toronto area
Mon 2013-04-22
  Al Qaeda intelligence chief reported killed in drone strike
Sun 2013-04-21
  Egypt Police Arrest 39 in Cairo Clashes
Sat 2013-04-20
  Got him! Dzhokhar in custody
Fri 2013-04-19
  Boston: 1 suspect dead, 2nd on loose jugged
Thu 2013-04-18
  Pakistan's Musharraf flees court to avoid arrest
Wed 2013-04-17
  Boston Bombing Suspect Identified, Arrest Made
Tue 2013-04-16
  Feds seek suspects, motive in Boston bombings
Mon 2013-04-15
  Pair of Explosions Hit Boston Marathon
Sun 2013-04-14
  16 killed in attack on Somali Supreme Court
Sat 2013-04-13
  Bomb Near Iraq Mosque Kills Seven
Fri 2013-04-12
  Saleh’s son removed from military posts

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