Page 170 - War Conflict
Iraq PM asks MPs to fire governor over deadly ferry capsize
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi made a formal request to parliament on Saturday to fire the governor of Niniveh province where 100 people were killed in a ferry capsize. Most of those killed in Thursday's sinking on the Tigris River were women and children headed out of Iraq's second city Mosul for a Mother's Day picnic on the Kurds' Nowruz New Year holiday. In a letter to the speaker of parliament, Abdel Mahdi said there was clear evidence of "negligence and concrete failings" that merited a vote on dismissing governor Nawfel Akoub. "An ongoing investigation has found evidence of the misuse of public funds and the fraudulent abuse of his office," the prime minister alleged. Akoub has already been subjected to the anger of victims' relatives and their supporters over alleged corruption and cronyism. When he visited the scene of the tragedy on Friday stones were thrown at his convoy by protesters demonstrating against perceived corruption and neglect. There is widespread anger in
Twin blasts, gunfire near Somalia government ministries: police, witnesses
Two explosions followed by gunfire were heard on Saturday along a road housing government ministries in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, witnesses and police told AFP. "There were two blasts at the vicinity of government ministries in Mogadishu and there is gunfire sporadically going on," police officer Abdukadir Mohamed said. Witnesses said there was a major blast followed minutes later by a smaller one near the ministries of public works and labour. "There was heavy blast at the entrance to the ministry building and a few minutes later there was another blast," said Mohamed Adan, a witness. It was unclear whether the attacks caused any deaths or injuries. The violence bore the hallmark of the Al-Shabaab Islamist group, which is fighting an armed insurrection in Somalia against what it sees as heretic and foreign influence. Earlier this month, at least 20 people died in an attack in Mogadishu which saw Al-Shabaab jihadists battling security forces for nearly 24 hours. The group also ...
Explosion heard in Somali capital Mogadishu
An explosion was heard Saturday in the Somali capital, scene of frequent attacks by Islamic extremist fighters. Witnesses said the blast was heard near the headquarters of the Somali intelligence agency in Mogadishu. Somali police didn't immediately provide more information. The Somali Islamic extremist group al-Shabab frequently carries out suicide bombings targeting public places and government offices. Hotels and restaurants are also attacked. The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, Africa's most active Islamic extremist group, has been fighting for years to take power and create an Islamic state in the Horn of Africa nation. The group has carried out many attacks in neighbouring Kenya in retaliation over Kenya's deployment in 2011 of peacekeepers in Somalia. Al-Shabab continues to mount lethal attacks despite being pushed out of Mogadishu. It mostly operates from rural areas in the country's south. The US military has carried out a number of deadly airstrikes in recent months against ...
Twin bombing at Afghan ceremony kills 3, wounds a dozen
An Afghan official says a twin bombing at a public ceremony attended by local officials in the southern Helmand province has killed three people and wounded a dozen others. Omar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor, says Saturday's bombings targeted a celebration of Farmer's Day in a sports stadium in the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. He did not say whether any officials were among those killed or wounded. No one immediately claimed the attack, but the Taliban control much of the province and frequently target government officials and the security forces.
US-backed Syrian force declares victory over Islamic State
US-backed forces in Syria announced Saturday they have liberated the last area held by the Islamic State in the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz, declaring victory over the extremist group and the end of its self-declared Islamic caliphate. "Baghouz is free and the military victory against Daesh has been achieved," tweeted Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, referring to the group by its Arabic acronym. Elimination of the last IS stronghold in Baghouz marks the end of the militants' self-declared caliphate, which at its height blanketed large parts of Syria and Iraq. The campaign to take back the territory by the US and its partners has spanned five years and two U.S. presidencies, unleashed more than 100,000 bombs and killed untold numbers of fighters and civilians. But the weekend announcement, in a tweet, was anti-climactic, and on the ground sporadic gunfire continued. A day earlier, President Donald Trump declared that Islamic State militants .
Omar condemns 'selective outrage' in Kashmir
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday hoped that there was equal condemnation against rights violations by militants in the state as when the security forces are accused of it.
French govt gets tough on 'yellow vest' demos
France's "yellow vests" are expected to stage further anti-government protests Saturday despite the authorities vowing a "zero tolerance" approach after major riots in Paris last week. Paris police have banned the protesters from a large area in the west of the city, including the famed Champs-Elysees avenue, scene of last week's rampage by hundreds of anarchists, as well as the presidential palace and National Assembly. Similar bans have been announced in the centres of Toulouse, Bordeaux, Dijon, Rennes and the southern city of Nice where Chinese President Xi Jinping is to meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron this weekend. Macron is under pressure to avoid a repeat of last week's sacking of the Champs-Elysees, where over 100 shops were damaged, looted or set alight during seven hours of rioting by mainly masked, black-clad protesters. The government has announced plans to redeploy soldiers from its Sentinelle anti-terror force Saturday to guard public buildings to free up the .
Two men arrested over mosque attacks in UK
Two men were arrested Friday on suspicion of "racially aggravated criminal damage" after a series of attacks on mosques in the British city of Birmingham this week. The attacks are believed to be linked after officers were called to reports of a man smashing windows with a sledgehammer at the Jame Masjid in Birchfield Road and then soon after to a mosque in Erdington area of the city with reports of a similar attack on Wednesday night. A34-year-old man from Perry Barr has handed himself into a police station. A 38-year-old man from Yardley was arrested earlier after being detained by members of the community. Both men were being held on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage, West Midlands Police said. Britain's Counter-Terrorism Unit officers have joined forces with local police to investigate the matter. The force began instant patrols in areas with mosques and came across further damage at similar Islamic places of worship in other areas. In the wake of the terrorist ...
Accomplice of Paris attacks mastermind sentenced in Poland
A Moroccan accomplice of the suspected mastermind of the deadly 2015 terror attacks in Paris was sentenced to nearly four years in prison on Friday by a Polish court for belonging to the Islamic State group. Mourad T pleaded not guilty to the charges of being a member of a terror group, but the court in the southern Polish city of Katowice found him guilty, sentencing him to three years and eight months behind bars, the PAP news agency said. "I swear that I'm not affiliated with any terrorist organisation. I don't have any connections with terrorism, I'm against terrorism," Mourad T., whose surname cannot be released for legal reasons, told the court in closing testimony before the verdict, which is subject to appeal. The Katowice trial is the first of its kind in Poland, one of the few European Union members which has not experienced an attack by jihadists. The suspect was detained in Poland on September 5, 2016. Prosecutors found that "between December 2014 and September 2016 Mourad
2 Pak nationals among 6 militants killed in separate encounters in J&K: Officials
Six militants, including two of Pakistani origin who killed a 12-year-old boy held hostage by them, were gunned down in separate encounters with security forces on Friday in Bandipora and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir, taking the number of ultras killed since Thursday to eight. Two militants were killed in an overnight gunfight in the Hajin area of Bandipora district, officials said. The operation started on Thursday but the security forces had to proceed with caution as the ultras had taken two civilians hostage, the officials said. While one civilian was rescued Thursday evening, the other -- a 12-year-old boy -- was killed by the militants, they said. "Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in the Hajin encounter...they were identified as Pakistani nationals, Ali and Hubaib," a police spokesman said. He said while one hostage, Abdul Hameed, was rescued Thursday evening, the second captive, Aatif Ahmad, "could not be saved and was brutally killed by terrorists". Two ...
Pak army resorts to fresh ceasefire violation in J-K's Poonch
Pakistani troops on Friday resorted to fresh mortar shelling along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, while two Army soldiers were injured in overnight shelling from across the border in Jammu and Rajouri districts, officials said. "At about 1545 hours, Pakistani army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along LoC in Mendhar Sector in Poonch district," PRO defence said. The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly, he said. Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Army Commander, Northern Command accompanied by White Knight Corps Commander Lt Gen Paramjit Singh on Friday visited forward posts in Rajouri and Reasi sectors to interact with soldiers and review the operational preparedness. Pakistani troops continued night-long mortar shelling and firing in Pallanwala, Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors, officials said. The two Army jawans, who were injured in Pallanwala sector, were admitted to a hospital, they said. On Thursday, an ..
Two American soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Two American soldiers stationed in Afghanistan were killed on Friday during an anti-terror operation, the US mission in the country said.
Northern Army commander calls for need to be prepared for meeting security challenges
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh Friday visited forward areas along the LoC and hinterland in Jammu region and called for the need to be prepared for effectively meeting current emerging security challenges. Singh, accompanied by White Knight Corps Commander Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, visited forward posts in Rajouri and Reasi sectors to interact with soldiers and review the operational preparedness, officials said. He reinforced the need to be prepared for effectively meeting current emerging security challenges along the Line of Control and hinterland. He also exhorted all ranks to remain vigilant to counter the nefarious designs of the enemy and anti-national elements. The Army commander appreciated the preparedness and high morale of soldiers in the hinterland. During the visit, he was briefed about the current operational situation on the LoC, ceasefire violations, actions being taken to ensure a robust counter infiltration grid and use of new generation technology for ...
Two terrorists gunned down in Shopian encounter, search ops underway
Security forces on Friday gunned down two terrorists, believed to be behind the killing of a woman Special Police Officer (SPO) six days back.The terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Gadapora area of South Kashmir's Shopian district, police said."There were reports that two to three terrorists were trapped inside a house in the residential area. As the searches were going on, the hiding terrorists fired on the security forces. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were gunned down and their bodies have been retrieved from the encounter site," the police said."Prima facie, this group was believed to be responsible for the killing of lady police official Khushboo Jan earlier this week in Shopian," the police said.After the encounter, some locals resorted to stone-pelting in the area in which a policeman and three civilians were injured."Police personnel Tariq Ahmad and three civilians, who sustained injuries during stone pelting, have been hospitalized for ..
Cop shot at by militants in J-K
Militants shot at and injured a policeman in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said. The injured cop, Arshid Ahmad, was rushed to a hospital, they said. "Terrorists opened fire on a police official near Court Road at New Townhall in Anantnag district," a police spokesman said. He said local police unit visited the spot and is investigating the incident. A case has been registered in this regard, police added.
JeM terrorist Sajjad Khan held in Delhi
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Sajjad Khan, said to be a close associate of Pulwama suicide attack mastermind Mudassir Ahmed Khan, was arrested near the Red Fort while disguised as a shawl trader, police said on Friday.
Five militants, boy held hostage by ultras killed in separate encounters in J&K
Five militants, including two of Pakistani origin who killed a 12-year-old boy held hostage by them, were gunned down in separate encounters with security forces on Friday in Bandipora and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir, taking the number of ultras killed since Thursday to seven. Two militants were killed in an overnight gunfight in Hajin area of Bandipora district, officials said. The operation started on Thursday but the security forces had to proceed with caution as the ultras had taken two civilians hostage, the officials said. While one civilian was rescued Thursday evening, the other -- a 12-year-old boy -- was killed by the militants, they said. "Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in the Hajin encounter. From incriminating material, they were identified as Pakistani nationals, Aliand Hubaib," a police spokesman said. He said while one hostage, Abdul Hameed, was rescued last evening, the second captive, Aatif Ahmad, "could not be saved and was brutally killed by .
Drone sighted at airport, VSSC, beach; security on high alert
A drone was sighted at the airport, the highly sensitive Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and nearby Kovalam beach early Friday morning, prompting Southern Air Command and Military Intelligence to go on high alert. Southern Air Command and Military Intelligence are on high alert after the drone was sighted, defence sources said. "We are always on high alert. The present sighting of the drone is in the civilian area. We are not intervening in the current situation, but are monitoring the entire scenario," a defence spokesperson said. The drone was first sighted at Kovalam beach early Friday morning by a night patrolling group of Kerala police, who searched the area for its operators. As it started flying towards the north, where the airport is located, the team informed the airport authorities. However, after two hours, the CISF team at VSSC found the drone flying there and informed the authorities concerned. Police and the central intelligence agencies visited the VSSC and ...
Twenty-three soldiers in Chad killed in Boko Haram raid
Twenty-three soldiers were killed in southwestern Chad on Friday when they came under attack from Boko Haram jihadists, a military official told AFP. "Boko Haram elements attacked the Chadian army position at around 1 am, killing 23 troops," the official said. It is the deadliest attack on the Chadian military by Boko Haram, a jihadist group which launched an insurgency in Nigeria nearly 10 years ago that has spread to neighbouring Niger and Chad. The Boko Haram revolt has claimed more than 27,000 lives and uprooted more than 1.7 million people. The attack took place at Dangdala, on the northeastern bank of Lake Chad. The assailants crossed over from Niger before launching the raid and "made off with military equipment," the source said. In southeastern Niger, meanwhile, eight civilians were killed late Thursday in a Boko Haram attack in Karidi, in the Gueskerou district, a local official told AFP Friday. Gueskerou lies in the Diffa region, which borders Lake Chad, and is one of the ..
Erdogan urges fight on Islamophobia 'like anti-Semitism after Holocaust'
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday called on the world to fight back against Islamophobia in the same way it responded to "anti-Semitism after the Holocaust", following the deadly attacks on two New Zealand mosques. The Turkish leader has presented the mosque attacks, by a self-avowed white supremacist who killed 50 people, as part of a wider assault on Islam and demands the West do more against anti-Muslim sentiment. "Just as humanity fought against anti-Semitism after the Holocaust disaster, it should fight against rising Islamophobia in the same determined fashion," Erdogan told an emergency meeting of ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. "Right now we are facing Islamophobia and Muslim hatred," he said. During the March 15 attack, alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant killed 50 men, women and children -- the victims aged between three and 77 years old -- in a massacre that sparked global revulsion. He livestreamed much of the killing and ...