3 killed, 35 injured as twin blasts hit Pakistan's Karachi

Pakistani security personnel cordon off the area of blasts in Karachi, Pakistan on, May 4, 2013.

ISLAMABAD, May 4 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 35 others injured when twin blasts hit Muttahida Quami Movement's (MQM) election office in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Saturday night, local political leader said.
Attacks on political parties accelerated ahead country's next general elections that are scheduled to be held on May 11. Main targets of the blasts are MQM, ANP and PPP who ruled the country by forming a coalition government until the dissolution of Assemblies on March 17.

Over 70 people have been killed and about 350 injured in the recent spate of attacks on election candidates, party offices and political rallies across the country since the formal beginning of election campaign on April 11.

Haider Abbas Rizvi, senior leader of MQM, a liberal party mainly based in Karachi, said that some unknown militants planted a bomb outside their election office and later detonated it with a remote control device.

He said that the second bomb was detonated twenty minutes later when police, residents and paramilitary troops arrived at the blast site for the rescue of blast victims.

The first bomb was planted at road side while the second was fixed in a bicycle parked near the election office.

He said that some of their party activists got injured in the blasts.

The injured people including kids and three paramilitary troops were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed hospital where five of them were said to be in critical condition.

MQM chairman Altaf Hussain condemned the blast and announced to observe Sunday as a mourning day in Karachi to express solidarity with the blast victims. He said that militant elements are striving hard to delay the elections but MQM activists would not let them do it.

He said that despite repeated attacks on MQM in the city, his party is resolute to continue its election campaign.

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned that blasts and directed hospital administration to provide best medical treatment to the injured people.

Ateeq Mir, president of traders association in the city said that all business activities would remain closed in the city to condemn the blasts.

Shortly after the blasts, Pakistan Taliban, Tehrik-e-Taliban, claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Police cordoned off the area and kicked off a search operation in the area.

The incident happened in an election office located near MQM's main head office Nine-Zero in Azizabad area of Karachi, the capital city of the country's southern Sindh province.

from XINHUA
2013-05-05 02:44:33   

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Afghan police kill 6 Taliban fighters in southern town

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Units of Afghan police ambushed and killed six armed Taliban militants in the southern Helmand province 555 km south of Kabul on Saturday, a local official confirmed.

"Personnel of police laid ambush against a group of armed Taliban fighters in Sistani area of Marja district at noon time today killing six rebels on the spot," provincial administration spokesman Omar Zawak told Xinhua.

There were no casualties on police, he contended. Taliban outfit has yet to make comment.

from XINHUA
2013-05-04 18:38:38

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In Several Joint Clearance Operations, 15 Armed Taliban Killed (May 04.2013.)

Publish Date: May 04, 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 Nangarhar, Parwan, Baghlan, Kandahar, Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Khost, Paktika, Paktiya and Helmand provinces, as a result 15 armed Taliban were killed, one wounded and 19 other armed Taliban were arrested by Afghan National Security Forces.  

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated some amount of light and heavy round ammunitions and IEDs. During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused an anti-vehicle mine and 10 heavy rounds placed by enemies of Afghanistan for destructive activities in Logar and Laghman provinces.

 

Counter Crimes:

The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained eight suspects accused of murder and theft in the Deh Sabz and 4th Districts of Kabul-City.

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Afghan soldier kills 2 ISAF troops in latest green-on-blue attack

By Bill Roggio - May 4, 2013 - LWJ

An Afghan soldier killed two NATO troops in an attack in western Afghanistan today. The attack is the sixth green-on-blue, or insider attack, in which Afghan security personnel open fire on Western forces, so far this year.
The International Security Assistance Force announced that two "service members were killed when an Afghan National Army soldier turned his weapon against ISAF service members in western Afghanistan today."
ISAF did not disclose the identities or nationalities of the soldiers who were killed in the attack. US, Spanish, and Italian soldiers make up the bulk of the forces operating in western Afghanistan.
It is also unclear if the Afghan soldier was killed or captured after killing the Afghan soldiers, or if he escaped.
So far this year, there have been six green-on-blue attacks in Afghanistan. Five ISAF soldiers and one civilian adviser have been killed in the six attacks since Jan. 1. The first attack took place on Jan. 6 in Helmand province. The last such attack took place on April 7, when two Lithuanian soldiers were wounded after an Afghan soldier opened fire on their vehicle with an RPG.
So far this year, nearly 13 percent of ISAF's deaths have been the result of green-on-blue attacks. Last year, green-on-blue attacks accounted for 15% of Coalition deaths. The attacks have tapered off in recent months as partnering of Afghan and Coalition troops has been reduced.
Since Jan. 1, 2008, a total of 78 insider or "green-on-blue" attacks have been reported against International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) personnel in Afghanistan, killing 132 personnel and wounding 148 more. [See LWJ special report, Green-on-blue attacks in Afghanistan: the data.]

Continue & Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/05/afghan_soldier_kills_4.php#ixzz2SMwrxCR0

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Explosion kill 5 US troops in Kandahar province of Afghanistan

According to local authorities in southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan, at least five US troops were killed on Saturday by a roadside bomb explosion.

Today’s incident was the deadliest attack against the international coalition security forces after Taliban militants announced its summer offensive last week.

Provincial governor spokesman Javid Faisal said the incident took place after a coalition forces patrol hit a roadside improvised explosive device in Maidan district.

Captain Luca Carniel, a public affairs official for the US-led coalition in Kabul, confirmed that all five were Americans. With the deaths, 47 members of the coalition have been killed so far this year including 32 Americans.

NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) following a statement also confirmed the incident and said, “Five International Security Assistance Force service members died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today.”

The statement did not disclose further information regarding the exact location of the incident and nationalities of the deceased soldiers saying, “It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.”

from KHAAMA
By Mirwais Adeel - 04 May 2013, 8:57 pm

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May 04., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and two other insurgents during an operation in Marjeh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, today.

The leader has operational control over a group of fighters responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in multiple districts in Marjeh district. He is also key in facilitation of operations in the local area, procuring and distributing weapons and improvised explosive device components to his fighters for use in insurgent activities.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

East

An Afghan and coalition security force killed a senior insurgent leader, Saleh Abd Al-Aziz Hamad al-Luhayb, during an operation in Waygal district, Nuristan province, Wednesday. Al-Luhayb, also known as Abu Sulayman, also known as Salman, was a known mortar and explosives expert who participated in attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces. He was a key liaison and trainer to local insurgent commanders in Waygal district and led efforts to establish a permanent foreign fighter presence in the area.

Commandos from the 1st Special Operations Kandak, enabled by coalition forces, arrested a mid-level Taliban leader during an operation in Chaparhar district, Nangarhar province yesterday. This mid-level Taliban leader is involved in the narcotics trade and is responsible for improvised explosives device attacks against coalition forces and GIRoA officials throughout the region.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani facilitator during an operation in Gurbuz district, Khost province, today. The facilitator is responsible for trafficking weapons used in insurgent attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in districts throughout Khost province. He supplies multiple cells of Haqqani fighters. The security force also seized three AK-47s, one pistol, 10 magazines and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition as a result of the operation.

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R.I.P.- Spc. Trinidad Santiago Jr., Pfc. Charles P. McClure

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died May 2, in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident.  They were assigned to 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

            Killed were:

            Spc. Trinidad Santiago Jr., 25, of San Diego, Calif., and

            Pfc. Charles P. McClure, 21, of Stratford, Okla.

            For more information media may contact the Fort Carson public affairs office at 719-526-4143/7525 or 719-526-5500 after normal business hours.

---

Pfc. Charles P. McClure, 21, of Stratford, Okla., died May 2, in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. He was assigned to 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. McClure joined the Army on Nov. 1, 2011 and deployed to Kuwait in February. He was serving as a cannoneer. This was his first deployment.

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Spc. Trinidad Santiago Jr., 25, of San Diego, Calif., died May 2, in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. He was assigned to 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. Santiago joined the Army on Oct. 13, 2009 and deployed to Kuwait in February. He had previously deployed to Afghanistan in December of 2010. He was also a cannoneer while deployed to Kuwait. He attended Herbert Hoover High School, Class of 2005. He also attended Coleman University. His military decorations include: the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Ribbon, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.

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May 04., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan National Security and coalition forces killed five insurgents, detained one suspected insurgent and found and safely cleared 13 improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, May 3.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security and coalition forces found and safely cleared
13 IEDs during operations in the Gelan district.

Afghan National Security Forces killed two insurgents during operations in the Giro district.

Kunar province
Afghan National Security Forces killed two insurgents and detained one suspected insurgent during operations in the Manogai district. The suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktika province
Afghan National Security Forces killed one insurgent during operations in the Sharan district.

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At least 18 killed, 36 wounded in attacks in Iraq

BAGHDAD, May 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 people were killed and 36 others injured in attacks on Friday in Iraq, including a car bombing near a mosque in the capital of Baghdad, Interior Ministry and police sources said.
The car bomb exploded near the Sunni mosque in northern Baghdad as worshipers were leaving Friday Prayers. At least five of them were killed and 30 others wounded, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The blast also damaged several cars nearby, he added.

Meanwhile, a total of nine policemen were killed and six others wounded in clashes between armed men and police in Mosul, some 400 km northwest of Baghdad, a local police source told Xinhua.

The armed men had attacked several police checkpoints around the city, he said.

Moreover, four gunmen were killed when they attacked a checkpoint belonging to the Iraqi army in western Mosul, the source added.

Violence is still common in Iraq despite the dramatic decrease since its peak in 2006 and 2007 when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq said Thursday that the death toll among Iraqis from violence in April has hit its highest level since 2008, with 712 people killed in violence across the country.

from XINHUA
2013-05-03 20:09:05

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R.I.P. - Staff Sgt. Michael H. Simpson

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Staff Sgt. Michael H. Simpson, 30, of San Antonio, Texas, died May 1 in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit on April 27, with an improvised explosive device in Arian, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

            For more information the media may contact the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) public affairs office at 910-689-6187.

---

Staff Sgt. Michael H. Simpson, 30, of San Antonio, Texas, died May 1 in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit on April 27, with an improvised explosive device in Arian, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. In the service for 10 years, SSG Simpson had been stationed in Afghanistan only about two weeks when he was wounded by a bomb while riding an ATV.
Simpson enlisted in the Army in April, 2003, as an Infantryman. Upon completion of basic training and Advanced Individual Training, Simpson was assigned to Company D, 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard, as a Rifleman. In 2006, Simpson was assigned to Company C, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and deployed in 2007 as a fire team leader in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Simpson volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in July 2011.
He was assigned to Company C, 4th BN, 1st SFG (A) as a weapons sergeant. He participated in the multilateral exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand in 2012 and recently deployed in support of OEF-A. His military education includes the Special Forces Qualification Course, Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Combat Life Savers Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course, Hazmat Driver Instructor’s Course, Joint Armorers Training Course, and the Basic Airborne Course.
His awards and decorations include, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral “2″ device, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

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The elder Simpson was a career U.S. Ranger and Special Operations officer during his 24 years of active duty, with a “long tour in Iraq with conventional forces” in 2007, followed by “two short tours in Afghanistan with special operations forces.”
His oldest son also deployed to Iraq with Special Forces, and his youngest son, Michael H. Simpson, “deployed during the height of the 'surge' to Iraq for 15 months as an infantryman and is now Special Forces, like his dad and older brother,” the father wrote in the 2011 piece.
The “middle son” was on a second tour of Iraq as an infantryman, Simpson noted at the time.

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Michael W. Simpson said the family was not caught unprepared by the news — he has two older sons also in the military.
“We're warriors,” Simpson said in a previous interview. “We know that these things happen.”

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