Wednesday, May 22, 2013

7 people killed in Ghazni suicide blast on Wednesday evening

Map of Afghanistan with Ghazni highlighted
Map of Afghanistan with Ghazni highlighted (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
GHAZNI CITY (PAN): Seven people were killed and several others, including women and children, were injured when a suicide bomber struck a restaurant in southern Ghazni province late on Wednesday, an official said.

The attack took place around 7:30pm in the Town of Maqur, killing three members of a public uprising members, who were the target and four civilians, deputy governor Mohammad Ali Ahmadi told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The target was members of the uprising movement in the district, he said, adding 15 people, including women and children, were injured.

Mir Ali, a resident, said the bomber wanted to kill Habibullah, commander of the uprising group.

He said the attack took place when Habibullah emerged from a shop. As a result, four civilians and two guards of the commander were killed, he said, putting at 28 the number of people injured, including women and children.

Severely injured people were taken to an ISAF clinic in the nearby Gilan district, the resident said.

It was a second suicide blast in Ghazni on Wednesday. The first attack involved a cyclist, who blew up himself in Ghazni city, the provincial capital, currently serving as the Asian Capital of Islamic Civilisation. Five people on a rickshaw were injured in the blast aimed at a police van.

Ghazni Civil Hospital head Dr. Baaz Mohammad Himmat confirmed reciveing the dead body of the attacker and five injured civilians from the scene, the Kabul Bus Stand. Two of the injured are in critical condition, he said.

from Pajhwok
By Saifullah Maftoon May 22, 2013 - 21:50

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15 killed, 90 wounded in fresh attacks in Iraq

BAGHDAD, May 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 people were killed and 90 others wounded in violent attacks across Iraq on Tuesday, said the police.

A car bomb went off near the Abu Ghraib Grand Mosque, a Sunni mosque in Abu Ghraib area, 25 km west of the capital Baghdad, on Tuesday evening, killing eight people and injuring 15 others, a police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The explosion also caused damage to a number of civilian cars and buildings nearby, he added.

Earlier in the day, three Iraqi soldiers were killed and seven others wounded in an attack by an armed group at a base of the Iraqi army in Tarmiya, some 30 km north of Baghdad, according to a police source.

Meanwhile, at least three people were killed and more than 43 others wounded when two car bombs exploded in the Hussein district in Tuz Khormato, some 170 km north of Baghdad, the source said.

Also, a civilian was killed and 25 others were injured when three bombs exploded in quick succession in a sheep market in the Auraba district of Kirkuk, some 250 km north of Baghdad, the source added.

Tuesday's violence came amid escalation of sectarian tension between the Sunni and Shiite communities, which has been at its highest level since the U.S. troops pulled out from the country at the end of 2011.

On Monday, a series of car bombs and shootings mainly targeting Shiite areas across Iraq killed at least 70 people, including several Iranian pilgrims, and wounded over 200, apparently in an attempt to stir up sectarian strife among Iraqis.

from XINHUA
2013-05-22 05:22:25
Editor: Chen Zhi

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In Several Joint Clearance Operations, 32 Armed Taliban Killed (May 22.2013.)


 
Publish Date: May 22, 2013
 
Counterterrorism:
In past 24 hours, Afghan National Police conducted several joint clearance operations with the cooperation of Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces to clean some of the areas from terrorists and enemies of peace and stability of Afghanistan.

The operations were conducted in Kunar, Kapisa, Kandahar, Logar, Ghazni, Herat and Helmand provinces, as a result 32 armed Taliban were killed, 18 wounded and 14 other armed Taliban were arrested by Afghan National Security Forces.
                                                                                    
Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and defused some amount of light and heavy rounds ammunition and IEDs.
 
During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused five different types of mines placed by enemies of Afghanistan for destructive activities in Paktika and Paktiya provinces.

Counter Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained three suspects accused of murder and theft in the 2nd and 6th Districts of Kabul-City.
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Explosion rocks Ghazni city in eastern Afganistan

A relatively heavy explosion rocked Ghazni city in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday morning.

Deputy provincial governor Mohammad Ali Ahmadi confirming the report said the incident took place in a bus station.

Officials in Ghazni state hospital said at least six people killed or injured following the blast have been taken to the hospital and the health condition of a number of individuals injured are critical.

According to reports the incident took place after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in the bus stop, however local officials are saying it is yet not clear if it was a suicide attack.

No group has so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

from KHAAMA
By Sayed Jawad - 22 May 2013, 10:58 am

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Ansar al-Din spokesman surrenders to Mauritania

A spokesman for Malian Islamist group Ansar al-Din surrendered to Mauritanian forces on Saturday (May 18th), near the Mali border.

Sanda Ould Bouamama (aka Abou Mohamed) "was transferred at the week-end to Nouakchott, where he is currently being questioned by the police", ANI reported.

Last month, Ould Bouamama told ANI that he was close to the border between Mali and Algeria and was going to surrender to Algerian authorities.

"This surrender had been expected for several weeks because the Ansar al-Din spokesman had expressed a desire to surrender to Algerian forces on April 17th and had implored the Mauritanian president to request his extradition so that he could stand trial in Mauritania," terrorism expert Sidati Ould Cheikh said.

"Since the beginning of the French intervention in Mali, it has been a case of every man for himself within terrorist groups," he added.

On April 19th, El Watan reported that three Ansar al-Din leaders were in Algeria.

The refugee "emirs" were identified as Wathik (aka Abderrahman Gouli), Abou Abida (aka Mourabiti Ben Moula) and Athman Ag Houdi, Ansar al-Din chief Iyad Ag Ghaly's cousin.

Although Algeria denied rumours that Ansar al-Din leaders intended to seek refuge in the country, El Watan underlined that other members of this small group could surrender.

"Algeria is loyal to its principles with regard to its foreign policy, based on respect for legitimacy," Algerian foreign ministry spokesperson Amar Belani told APS on April 21st.

"It will continue contributing in order to achieve peace and security in the region and particularly in Mali by working closely based on international legitimacy," Belani said.

"Ould Bouamama's surrender follows intervention by senior members of his tribe, the Barabiches, who negotiated with Mauritanian authorities for almost a month," explained journalist Jidou Ould Sidi.

The delegation of tribal senior members "accompanied a special Mauritanian task force to a locality in Mali, about 30 kilometres from the Mauritanian border", he added. "There, Ould Bouamama laid down his weapon, abandoned his vehicle and mobile phones and gave himself up without a fight."

He was taken to Bassiknou and was then transferred to Nouakchott aboard a military aircraft, according to Ould Sidi. "All signs are that Sanda will be very co-operative with the investigators," he noted. "The Mauritanians have a real mine of information on their hands."

Ould Boumama is from the city of Bassiknou, Mauritania, where his family and business are located. He studied at the University of Nouakchott.

He was known for his intransigence.

"The enforcement of Sharia is a divine obligation for any Muslim," Ould Bouamama told French daily Sud-Ouest last August. "If that shocks some people, we don't care."

"We are already an Islamic emirate, and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan is our model," he added at the time.

By Bakari Gueye in Nouakchott for Magharebia – 21/05/2013
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May 22., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and four other insurgents during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, today.

The leader plans, directs and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He is also instrumental in producing and emplacing improvised explosive devices in Nahr-e Saraj, in addition to engaging in reconnaissance and intelligence gathering operations for local insurgents.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

East

An Afghan and coalition security force killed four insurgents during an operation in search of a senior Haqqani leader in Zurmat district, Paktiya province, yesterday. The leader serves as an intelligence operative responsible for providing information to senior Haqqani leadership about attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He is also involved in coordinating mine and improvised explosive device emplacement in the local area, providing military equipment to insurgents and organizing kidnappings in order to extort money.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested two insurgents during an operation in search of a senior Taliban leader in Sayyidabad district, Wardak province, today. The senior leader has operational control of a group of approximately 70 insurgent fighters responsible for numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Sayyidabad district involving rocket-propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices and small arms. He also oversees weapons trafficking in the local area and reports on insurgent operations to ranking Taliban officials in Wardak province. The security force also seized one AK-47 and ammunition as a result of the operation.

Afghan Local Police and coalition forces found and destroyed a large explosives manufacturing laboratory during a joint patrol near Kashmiri Bala village, Baraki Barak district, Logar province, yesterday. The lab contained 36 kilograms (80 pounds) of potassium chloride, 34 kilograms (75 pounds) of ammonium nitrate, several hand grenades and two rocket-propelled grenade warheads. The joint force destroyed the structure and explosives after ensuring the safety of all civilians nearby.

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May 22., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan National Security and coalition forces killed 10 insurgents, detained four suspected insurgents and safely cleared six improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, May 21.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security and coalition forces killed eight insurgents during operations in the Andar district.

Coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Muqor district.

Kunar province
Afghan National Security and coalition forces killed one insurgent during operations in the Bar Kunar district.

Laghman province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared three IEDs during operations in the Alingar district.

Afghan National Security Forces killed one insurgent during operations in the Mehtar lam district.

Logar province
Afghan National Security and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED and detained four suspected insurgents during operations in the Pul-e Alam district. The suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Nangarhar province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Jalalabad district.

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26 attackers killed in Sangin battle

LASHKARGAH (PAN): As many as 26 Taliban insurgents and four policemen were killed during fierce gun-battles entering a second day on Tuesday in southern Helmand province, an official said.

Hundreds of Taliban fighters, including foreigners, launched cooperated attacks on police posts in the Sangin district around 5am on Monday, the governor's spokesman said.

Omar Zwak said the clashes that involved around 1,000 militants were still ongoing in various parts of the town. A number of attackers and five policemen were injured.

He said Arab, Chechen, Iranian and Pakistani insurgents were fighting alongside the Afghan Taliban using both heavy and light weapons.

He said the insurgents launched cooperated attacks on security posts in Sarwan Qala, upper and lower Qalawal, Mian Rodi, Fatehzai and other areas. Zwak said the security forces were putting up stiff resistance and they had no support from foreign troops.

However, the US-led coalition said the Taliban force totaled 80 to 100 fighters and managed to launch only sporadic attacks on outlying police posts in the district.

Ten groups of between 8 and 10 Taliban fighters were “doing drive-by shootings against five police checkpoints,” said Col. Thomas Collins, a coalition spokesman. “None of the checkpoints were overrun."

A Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi claimed nearly a dozen policemen were killed and a dozen more injured and two police vehicles destroyed in the attacks.

from Pajhwok
By Shams Jalal May 21, 2013 - 19:31   

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ISAF statement on media report of 500-1,000 insurgents in Helmand attacking checkpoints

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan –


“The International Security Assistance Force is not seeing anywhere near the reported 500 – 1,000 insurgents. Our reporting shows there were about 10 groups of four to five fighters each doing drive-by shootings against five police checkpoints. Local Afghan security forces called for ANSF reinforcements and none of the checkpoints were overrun.”

- Col. Thomas Collins, an ISAF spokesperson

Date Taken:05.21.2013
Date Posted:05.21.2013 05:56
Location:KABUL, AF

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Roadside bombing kills 6 police in Herat

HERAT, Afghanistan, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Six Afghan police were killed as a roadside bomb went off in Herat province 640 km west of Kabul on Tuesday, a local official said. 

"The ill-fated policemen were on the way to Obe district this morning when their vehicle ran over a mine on the road leading to Salma dam, leaving all the six aboard the van dead,"district police chief Shir Agha told Xinhua.

He blamed the enemies of peace, a term used against Taliban militants by Afghan officials, for the killing. However, the outfit fighting the government has yet to make comment.

Taliban militants who launched their spring offensive on April 28 had claimed the responsibility for carrying out a suicide attack that left 14 people including a ranking official dead in northern Baghlan province on Monday.

from XINHUA
2013-05-21 13:35:37

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