Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Somali President Safe After Hotel Bombing

Somalia's newly elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud listens to proceedings after winning the election, in Mogadishu, September 10, 2012.
Somalia's new president is safe after two suicide bombers attacked a Mogadishu hotel where he was speaking.
VOA correspondent Gabe Joselow, who was at the site of the attack, says two bombs detonated outside the Jazeera Hotel Wednesday as Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Kenyan Foreign Minister Samson Ongeri talked to reporters inside.
Militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the bombings in a Twitter message about two hours after the attacks.
Somalia map, Mogadishu, Africa, Africa map, North Africa
​​VOA Somali service reporter Seynab Abukar said the first bomb was a suicide blast at the gate to the hotel complex, and the second was a car bomb. She also said AU troops opened fire on several suspected attackers who tried to get in the hotel.
Several people were killed, including the two bombers, and several others injured.
The Somali president and Kenyan delegation were unharmed and later esorted out of the hotel to an undisclosed location.
Mohamud was elected president by Somalia's parliament on Monday. The election was the final step of a U.N.-backed plan to bring a stable central government to Somalia.
The Horn of Africa country has endured two decades of chaos and conflict since the last stable government collapsed in 1991.
Last month, Somali leaders adopted a new constitution and installed a new federal parliament and speaker.
In a statement late Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton congratulated the Somali people for their steps toward a new government. She said the U.S. remains committed to helping the new government strengthen democratic institutions, and improve stability and security.
from VOA News
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Tribal elder, policemen among 13 killed in Afghanistan

KABUL (PAN): Thirteen people were killed, seven injured and three others detained during separate gun attacks and operations in different provinces of the country, officials said on Wednesday.

In central Maidan Wardak province, Afghan and foreign troops conducted a security operation -- codenamed Thunder -- in Syedabad, Chak, Nirkh and Jalrez districts. The offensive would be extended soon to Jaghatu and Daimirdad districts, said the governor's spokesman.

Shahidullah Shahid told Pajhwok Afghan News four armed insurgents, including two Pakistani citizens, were killed and six others injured in the Ambokhak area of Chak district. Three other fighters were detained in Syedabad and some explosives seized near Maidan Shahr, the provincial capital.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said two security personnel were killed and a third injured in the Shamkhel area of Nirkh. Three other soldiers were killed in the Ghazi Mohammad Jan Khan locality of Jaghatu, he said -- a claim rejected by Shahid.

In eastern Kunar, a tribal elder was shot dead along with a grandson by unidentified gunmen in the Sarkano district on Wednesday morning, said Shah Mahmood, the town's administrative head.

Syed Ahmad Khan, also a local council member, came under rebel attack on his way to the district centre.

In northern Faryab, dozens of rebels -- led by Mullah Yar Mohammad, the Taliban-designated governor -- stormed the Tilan neighbourhood of Pakhtunkot district on Tuesday afternoon, said the deputy police chief.

Col. Abdul Rashid Bashir said four fighters were killed and several others injured during a subsequent clash with police. However, he did not provide information about the casualties among security forces and civilians.

The town’s administrative head, Abdul Qadir Qadiri, confirmed the rebels attack, saying three policemen were killed and a fourth injured during the Taliban assault.

from Pajhwok
by Pajhwok Report on Sep 12, 2012 - 14:45   

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US ambassador to Libya, three staff killed in rocket attack

(Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other embassy staff were killed in a rocket attack on Tuesday night that targeted his car in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, a Libyan official said on Wednesday.

"The American ambassador and three staff members were killed when gunmen fired rockets at them," the official in Benghazi told Reuters. Asked about the deaths, a U.S. Embassy employee in Tripoli said: "We have no information regarding this." The employee said the embassy could confirm the death of one person.



The Libyan official said the U.S. ambassador had been on his way to a safer venue after protesters attacked the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi and opened fire, killing a staff member, in protest at a U.S. film that they deemed blasphemous to the Prophet Mohammad.

The official said the ambassador and three other staff were killed when gunmen fired rockets at his car. He said the U.S. Embassy had sent a military plane to transport the bodies to Tripoli to fly them to the United States.

Gunmen assaulted the Benghazi compound on Tuesday evening, clashing with Libyan security forces, who withdrew under heavy fire. The attackers fired at the buildings while others threw handmade bombs into the compound, setting off small explosions. Small fires were burning around the compound.

The assault followed a protest in neighboring Egypt where demonstrators scaled the walls of the U.S. embassy, tore down the American flag and burned it during a protest over the same film which they said insulted the Prophet Mohammad.

from REUTERS
BEIRUT | Wed Sep 12, 2012 5:42am EDT
(Reporting by Samia Nakhoul and Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

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Sep. 12., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition security forces confirmed today the arrest of a senior Taliban facilitator in Talah wa Barfak district, Baghlan province, which occurred Tuesday.

The arrested Taliban facilitator is believed to be a major figure in the region’s improvised explosive device network, which had targeted Afghan and coalition security forces, as well as Afghan civilians.

In the days prior to his arrest, the senior Taliban facilitator is suspected of orchestrating the movement of several IED components to conducting insurgent attacks throughout the district.

The security force also detained one other suspected insurgent during this operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested the leader of a Taliban improvised explosive device cell in Zharay district, Kandahar province, today. The arrested IED cell leader is suspected of being personally responsible for the emplacement of multiple roadside bombs in and around central Kandahar. The Taliban cell leader is also believed to have coordinated the movement of explosives throughout the district and planned to use opium-financed drug money to purchase insurgent supplies and weapons. The security force also detained two other suspected insurgents during the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban improvised explosive device specialist in Kandahar district, Kandahar province, today. The explosives specialist is believed to construct IEDs for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the region. In the weeks prior to his arrest, the Taliban IED specialist is suspected to have directed the movement of IEDs, weapons and ammunition for insurgent use. During this operation, the security force also detained several suspected insurgents and seized multiple explosive components.

An Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents during an operation to capture a Taliban cell leader in Nad ‘Ali district, Helmand province, today. The cell leader is believed to operate as an insurgent trainer, as well as a coordinator for the purchase of weapons, explosives and ammunition for Taliban attacks in the district.

East

Afghan and coalition forces confirmed today the death of Sherzad Khan, a Taliban attack leader, during an operation in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, Tuesday. As the security force approached the Sherzad Khan’s location, he produced a weapon and demonstrated hostile intent toward the Afghan and coalition troops. The security force positively identified the deadly threat and engaged, killing him. Sherzad Khan operated throughout eastern Nangarhar, and is believed to have coordinated attacks against Afghan and coalition forces using rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and heavy machine guns. Sherzad Khan is also suspected of coordinating the movement of weapons and ammunition throughout the region to support Taliban operations. In the weeks prior to his death, Sherzad Khan is believed to have conducted weapons and explosives training for Taliban insurgents. The security force also detained multiple suspected insurgents and safely destroyed a cache of assault rifles, grenades and several kilograms of explosives and illegal narcotics during the operation.

Afghan and coalition security forces confirmed today the arrest of a Taliban leader during an operation in Waghaz district, Ghazni province, Sunday. The arrested Taliban leader is believed to have coordinated the movement of foreign insurgents throughout eastern Ghazni and provided guidance and equipment for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. In the weeks prior to his arrest, the Taliban leader is suspected of providing weapons, ammunition and financing for a series of attacks against Afghans in the province. The security force also detained several suspected insurgents during the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force detained multiple suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in Deh Yak district, Ghazni province, today. The Taliban leader is believed to serve as the senior liaison between multiple insurgent groups operating in central and eastern Afghanistan, including the Taliban and al-Qaida.

An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Haqqani leader in Terayzai district, Khost province, today. The Haqqani leader is suspected of providing insurgents with explosives and firearms to conduct attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the district.

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Sep. 12., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed six insurgents, detained five, located a weapons cache and cleared six improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Sept. 11.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Muqer district.

Kapisa province
Afghan National Police and coalition forces detained an insurgent during an engagement in Tagab district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Kunar province
Afghan Local Police and coalition forces found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Khas Kunar district.

Parwan province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Bagram district.

Wardak province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Maidan Shahr district. The cache contained rockets, small arms, grenades, homemade explosives, fuses and three improvised explosive devices.

Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces killed six insurgents and wounded four during an engagement in Sayyidabad district. The wounded insurgents were provided medical care and transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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