Page 647 - War Conflict

Israel dismisses claims Mossad behind Malaysia assassination

Israel's defence minister today dismissed claims the country's spy agency was behind the assassination of a Palestinian scientist in Malaysia, suggesting instead that his killing was a "settling of accounts". Speaking to Israeli radio, Avigdor Lieberman described the dead Palestinian, a member of Islamist militant group Hamas, as "no saint" and said he had been involved in rocket production. Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh, 35, was killed in a Kuala Lumpur drive-by shooting on Saturday, according to Malaysian authorities, with his family accusing Israel's Mossad spy agency of the assassination. Hamas said Batsh, a research scientist specialising in energy issues, was one of its members. "There's a tradition among terror organisations of blaming Israel for every instance of settling of accounts," Lieberman told public radio, noting the reports that Batsh's work involved improving the range and accuracy of rockets. "The man was no saint and settling accounts among terror groups and different ...

Illicit arms trade in Sahelo-Sahara danger to Europe: EU

A report funded by the European Commission has said the Polisario was involved in illegal arms trade and violent acts in the Sahelo-Sahara in collusion with terrorist groups operating in the conflict-ridden northern African desert region, according to Morocco's MAP news agency.

Libyan airstrikes target 'terrorist sites' east of Misrata

The self-styled Libyan National Army says it has carried out airstrikes against "terrorist sites" near the city of Misrata, which is controlled by a rival militia. Spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari said three airstrikes on Saturday destroyed dozens of weapons and vehicles in the town of Sadada, some 76 kilometers east of Misrata. The strikes targeted an al-Qaida-linked group that al-Mesmari says was behind several recent attacks. Libya was plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising and is now split between rival governments, each backed by an array of militias. The LNA supports a government in the east, while the Misrata militia is allied with a UN-backed government in Tripoli.

14 Maoists killed in Maharashtra

In one of the biggest operations, security forces on Sunday gunned down at least 14 Maoists in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, an official said.

Kabul suicide blast kills 31

A suicide bomber blew himself up among a crowd lining up to get access to an election-related registration site in the Afghan capital on Sunday, killing 31 people and injuring 54 others, officials said.

Two suicide bombers kill three in north Nigeria mosque

Two suicide bombers killed three Muslim worshippers in a mosque in a northeast Nigerian town still being rebuilt after virtual destruction by Boko Haram in 2014, sources said today. The bombers, a man and a woman, detonated their explosives inside the mosque during morning prayers yesterday in the town of Bama in Borno state. The pair "blew themselves up in a mosque while people were praying, killing three people," Baba Shehu Gulumba, Bama local government chairman told AFP. A senior military officer in Bama confirmed the death toll, adding that nine people were also injured. "Some of the injured are in a critical condition and may hardly make it. They have been transferred to Maiduguri for better medical care," said the military officer, who asked not to be named. The attack came two weeks after residents began returning to the town which was destroyed by Boko Haram four years ago. Bama, a major trading hub on the road to Cameroon and home to 270,000 people, was captured in September

Police deny Armenia protest leader arrested in clashes

Armenian police said protest leader Nikol Pashinyan was on Sunday "forcibly taken" from a protest rally, dismissing reports of his arrest as riot police and demonstrators clashed in Yerevan. "Despite repeated calls to stop illegal rallies, Pashinyan continued leading a demonstration" in the capital, police said in a statement, adding that he and two other opposition MPs "were forcibly taken from the site" as riot police dispersed the rally. An opposition MP Sasun Mikaelyan earlier told journalists that Pashinyan was arrested. "People must liberate Nikol," he said. As an MP, Pashinyan is protected by a parliamentary immunity and cannot be arrested without the approval of lawmakers, in accordance with the Armenian constitution. Riot police using stun grenades clashed with demonstrators at the march led by Pashinyan in Yerevan's suburban district of Erebuni. It came shortly after new Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian walked out of talks with the protest leader. The televised ...

Roadside bomb kills 5 in Afghanistan

An Afghan official says that at least five people were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in the northern Baghlan province. Zabihullah Shuja, spokesman for the provincial police chief, says four other people were wounded in Sunday's blast in Puli Khomri, the capital of the province. The Taliban routinely target security forces and government officials with roadside bombs, which often end up killing civilians.

Police deny Armenia protest leader Pashinyan arrested

Armenian police said protest leader Nikol Pashinyan was on Sunday "forcibly taken" from a protest rally, dismissing reports of his arrest as riot police and demonstrators clashed in Yerevan. "Despite repeated calls to stop illegal rallies, Pashinyan continued leading a demonstration" in Yerevan, police said in a statement, adding that Pashinyan and two other opposition MPs "were forcibly taken from the site" as riot police dispersed the rally.

Suicide attack on Kabul voter registration centre kills 31: ministry

A suicide bomber killed at least 31 people and wounded dozens outside a voter registration centre in the Afghan capital Kabul today, the health ministry said, in the latest attack on election preparations. The assaults underscore growing concerns about security in the lead-up to legislative elections scheduled for October 20, which are seen as a test-run for next year's presidential poll. "It happened at the entrance gate of the centre. It was a suicide attack," Dawood Amin, city police chief, told AFP. Health ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said 31 people had been killed and 54 wounded. The higher toll could not be immediately confirmed, but a police official told AFP on condition of anonymity that at least 25 people had been killed and 70 wounded. Earlier, interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish put the death toll at nine and 56 wounded. He could not immediately be reached for an update. Afghan officials often give conflicting tolls in the wake of attacks and routinely understate

Death toll in Kabul suicide blast rises to 31: Reports

The Death toll in Sunday's deadly suicide bombing in Kabul has risen to 31, confirmed the Afghan officials.The number of injured has also increased to 50.Afghanistan's Ministry of public health spokesman Wahid Majroh has confirmed the death toll and the number of wounded, reported TOLO News.The explosion happened at an ID distribution and voter registration center at about 10am on Sunday morning in PD6.According to the report, Kabul's acting police chief, Mohammad Daoud Amin, stated that a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in the door way of the offices."I strongly condemn the terrorist attack on voters' registration center in Kabul. I stand with those affected by this coward attack. Our resolve for fair and transparent elections will continue and terrorists won't win against the will of the Afghan people," Afghanistan's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah said, in a tweet.Until now no individual or outfit has taken responsibility for the attack.

Army deployed in Nicaragua after 25 killed

Soldiers have been deployed across Nicaragua after at least 25 people were killed as anti-government protests hit the country.

Toll from Afghanistan bombing rises to 31

Afghan officials say the toll from a suicide bombing in Kabul that targeted a voter registration center has climbed to at least 31 killed and 54 wounded. Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majro confirmed the toll from Sunday's attack, originally placed at four dead and 15 wounded. The Taliban denied involvement in the attack, which indicates it may have been carried out by an Islamic State affiliate.

20 IS militants killed in Afghanistan

At least 20 militants affiliated with the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) have been killed during the operations of the Afghan armed forces in war-torn country's eastern Nangarhar province.The militants have been killed during the operations conducted by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces in three different districts of Nangarhar, namely, Haska Mina, Rodat, and Bati Kot districts, Khaama Press, quoted the Afghan Military, as saying.This comes in tandem with various ongoing counter-terrorism operations in certain northern provinces as the militant and terrorist groups are attempting to expand their insurgency activities in the north.The US military based in Afghanistan also conduct regular airstrikes against the IS, Taliban, and other militant and terrorist groups.The US forces conduct airstrikes by using unmanned aerial vehicles in the province to clamp down the militants, according to the reports.

Kabul blast kills 10, injures 56

At least 10 people were killed and 56 others injured when a suicide bombing blast took place through an election-related registering site in the Afghan capital on Sunday, officials said.

Suicide attack on Kabul voter registration centre kills nine

A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd outside a voter registration centre in the Afghan capital Kabul today, killing at least nine people and wounding dozens in the latest attack on election preparations. The assaults underscore growing concerns about security in the lead-up to legislative elections scheduled for October 20, which are seen as a test-run for next year's presidential poll. "It happened at the entrance gate of the centre. It was a suicide attack," Dawood Amin, city police chief, told AFP. Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said at least nine people had been killed and 56 wounded. Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai confirmed the figures. Health ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said 12 people had been killed and 57 wounded. Afghan officials often give conflicting tolls in the wake of attacks and routinely understate the figures. The centre in the heavily Shiite-populated neighbourhood in the west of the city was also being used by people to register for ...

6 dead, 23 wounded in Kabul blast

At least six persons were killed and twenty-three wounded on Sunday morning in an explosion which reportedly occurred at voter registration centre in the Afghan capital, Kabul.Ambulances are present at the site and police has cordoned off the affected area, Afghan's TOLO News reports.The Afghan media reports it was an apparent suicide bombing.Until now no individual or outfit has taken responsibility for the attack.Further details are awaited..

Suicide attack on Kabul voter registration centre kills four

A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd outside a voter registration centre in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday, killing four people and wounding 15. "It happened at the entrance gate of the centre. It was a suicide attack. There are casualties," Dawood Amin, city police chief, told AFP. Health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh said at least four people had been killed and 15 wounded. The attack -- the latest assault targeting a voter registration centre -- happened in a heavily Shiite-populated neighbourhood in the west of the city. Afghanistan on April 14 began registering voters for long-delayed legislative elections scheduled for October. Election officials have acknowledged that security is a major concern as the Taliban and other militant groups control or contest large swathes of the country. Afghan police and troops forces have been tasked with protecting polling centres, even as they struggle to get the upper hand against militants on the battlefield.

Nine killed in 'anti-terror' raid in Dagestan: Moscow

Nine people suspected of plotting an attack in Russia were killed in a shootout with security forces in Dagestan, the country's National Anti-Terror Committee has said. The "anti-terrorist" operation was launched Saturday in Derbent, Dagestan, after police received a tip off over a group hiding in the city, who allegedly planned to commit an "attack" on May 1, traditionally a holiday in Russia, according to a statement from committee. "Nine outlaw have been neutralised following brief exchanges of fire" with law enforcement, it said. A Special Forces officer was wounded during the operation. Dagestan, which lies immediately east of Chechnya, has seen a number of attacks in recent years, with several assaults against police claimed by the so-called Islamic State group.

11 killed in Afghanistan gunfight

At least 11 people, including 10 Islamic State (IS) militants and a security personnel, have been killed in a gunfight in Afghanistan's Jawzjan province, police said on Sunday.