Nigerian car bombs kill many in Kaduna

Two car bombs have exploded in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna, killing several people and injuring many others, officials say.

The Nigerian Red Cross said six people had died. The emergency services had earlier put the number of dead at 18.

The blasts, which caused extensive damage, happened close to restaurants, a hotel and at least one church.

The area has been the scene of a religious conflict in recent years that has claimed hundreds of lives.

There had been warnings of attacks in the region over Easter.

Many of the dead are thought to be motorcycle taxi drivers and beggars.

Witnesses say debris was thrown dozens of metres from the centre of the blast.

No one has yet admitted carrying out the bombing, but the BBC's correspondent in Nigeria, Mark Lobel, says the radical Islamist group Boko Haram recently said it would carry out attacks in the area over the Easter holiday.

Local Christian groups have speculated that the bombers were targeting a nearby church, but that heavy security meant they detonated their explosives in a nearby area instead.

from bbc

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Overnight air strike in southeast Yemen kills 8 al-Qaida militants

Yemen division 2012-3-11 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ADEN, Yemen, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of eight al-Qaida militants, including three foreigners, were killed in an overnight airstrike in Yemen's southeastern province of Shabwa, a government official told Xinhua Sunday.

U.S. drones bombed on Saturday night a convoy of the al-Qaida militants while they were travelling in a desert road between Maarib and Shabwa provinces, killing a total of eight militants, including three foreigners, the local government official said on condition of anonymity.

The al-Qaida militants were heading from Shabwa toward their strongholds in neighboring Maarib province, the official said.

Just after midnight Saturday, aircrafts could be heard soaring through the sky and smoke was seen rising in the pounded area, local residents told Xinhua anonymously.

A tribal leader said that the U.S. missile attack were aiming to target senior leaders of the al-Qaida group inside the convoy, but they survived without hurts.

On Saturday night, a security official said anonymously that Yemeni air forces carried out two airstrikes against al-Qaida sites in the Asaed district, 40 km southwest of Ataq, the provincial capital of Shabwa, causing no casualties.

A sources close to the al-Qaida wing told Xinhua anonymously that "unmanned U.S. drones struck some of our sites in Shabwa, but nobody was killed in the air bombing."

Yemen has experienced a surge of violence in southern and eastern provinces, where the resurgent al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been intensifying armed attacks on the government institutions and the army troops, exploiting security vacuum resulted from the army splits due to prolonged protest.

Local observers fear that security situation in southern and eastern provinces, home to the country's oil and gas stockpiles, may worsen as the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch expands its control over the chaos-ridden areas, despite the government' efforts to reunite the army to intensify battles against the AQAP.

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2 prominent Taliban leaders detained in Baghlan

According to local authorities in northern Baghlan province, Afghan security forces detained two prominent Taliban leaders Mullah Hafizullah and Mullah Abdul Hakim following military operation and cooperation with the local residents, at Ganda-Chashma area in Burka district.

Gen. Syed Zamanuddin Hussaini provincial security chief said the two Taliban leaders were playing vital role in carrying out insurgency activities and were arrested following a military operation on Saturday.

Gen. Hussaini further added, the two detained Taliban leaders were appointed by Taliban militants group to replace Mullah Asadullah son of Mawlawi Haqqani who was previously killed following a night time military operation.

Burka district chief Syed Mahmood Sadat confirming the report said, the two leaders were detained by Afghan police forces while they were looking to ambush and kill 3 Afghan national army officers at Flol area.

He also said, Afghan security forces seized 2 AK-47 rifles along with some ammunitions, explosives and equipments being used to make roadside improvised explosive devices.

Syed Mahmood district chief for Burka urged the local residents of northern Baghaln province to step up actions for implementing further security in their regions.

In the meantime reports suggest the two detained Taliban leaders were involved behind the assassination of Abdul Rahman Syed Kheli provincial police chief for northern Kunduz province however Lal Mohammad Ahmazai a media representative for 303 Pamir Zone Security Commandment said Afghan security forces have launched their investigations in this regard.

Mr. Ahmadzai said the detention of the two Taliban leaders will have a vital impact over security situations in northern provinces of Afghanistan since the two Taliban leaders were plotting and carrying out insurgency activities in Baghlan, Takhar and Kunduz provinces of Afghanistan.

A spokesman for the Taliban group Zabiullah Mujahid said the two detained individuals do not have any connections with the Taliban group.

This comes as a police Ranger vehicle struck with a roadside bomb between Burka-Nahrin districts on Saturday evening but there were no reports of casualties.

Author: Ajmal Omeri, Baghlan province.
from KHAAMA

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USFOR-A, Afghanistan sign memorandum of understanding on special operations

KABUL, Afghanistan — Gen. John R. Allen, commander of United States Forces - Afganistan and Afghan Minister of Defense Abdul Rahim Wardak today "shoulder-to-shoulder" signed an agreement on the process by which Afghan National Security Forces will take the lead on special operations, a critical security responsibility in Afghanistan.

The memorandum means Afghan special operation units will lead the way in effectively targeting insurgents and ensures special operations will continue to be conducted with full respect for Afghan sovereignty, Afghan law and the Afghan constitution.

Allen said the agreement marks a significant milestone in the progress of the Lisbon-based transition process, in the advancement of sovereignty for the people of Afghanistan and in teh shared effort to formalize a long-term U.S.-Afghan strategic partnership document.

"In conjunction with the detention memorandum we signed last month, today's MOU gives tangible expression to the vision of the Afghan Loya Jirga and to the will of the Afghan people," Allen said. "The Afghan special operations units have developed at extraordinary speed and are manned by courageous and capable operators.

"In large measure, this MOU is a result of the professionalism of the National Directorate of Security and the Afghan National Security Forces. We also recognize the growing capacity of the Afghan judicial system, which will play a vital part not only in the implementation of this agreement but also in the lives of Afghan citizens.

"Today we are one important step closer to our shared goal of a secure and sovereign Afghanistan. Together we will realize this vision," he concluded.

The 50-nation NATO coalition of ISAF continues its work alongside ANSF to halt acts of terror and build an enhanced security environment to promote peace and stability throughout Afghanistan.

(Click here for a copy of the memorandum )

(Gen. Allen's as-delivered remarks )

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Apr.08., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani facilitator during an operation in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, today.

The facilitator built multiple roadside bombs for attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the province. He also provided explosive device materials and expertise to other insurgents in the area.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

In Pashtun Kot district, Faryab province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a senior Taliban leader today. The leader is the head Taliban commissioner in the province and is responsible for several kidnappings, suicide attacks, roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan officials and security forces as well as coalition troops. The security force detained two insurgents and seized multiple AK-47s, a grenade, and several explosive device components as a result of this operation.

East
Finally, in Zurmat district, Paktiya province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a Taliban leader today. The leader conducts roadside bomb and indirect fire attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the province. The security force detained two suspected insurgents as a result of this operation.

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Nine armed insurgents killed in Nimroz and Uruzgan provinces

Coat of Arms for the Afghan National Police (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Nine armed insurgents killed in Nimroz and Uruzgan provinces

As a result of conflict between Afghan National Police and armed insurgents, eight armed insurgents were killed and two others were wounded.

The incident took place, while Afghan National Police eradicating the poppy crops in the Kandahari village, Khashroad District of Nimroz province.

In the meantime, in a separate conflict, one armed insurgent was killed and four others were wounded in the Dowan region, Shahid Ahsas District of Uruzgan province, last night.

Also, during the conflict, Afghan National Police confiscated amount of weapons and four motorbikes.

No ANP members were harmed during these conflicts.

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16 armed insurgents killed and 21 others arrested by Afghan National Police

Publish Date: Apr 08, 2012

16 armed insurgents killed and 21 others arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched seven joint clearance operations in Nangarhar, Faryab, Badakhshan, Kandahar, Ghazni, Khost and Paktika provinces.

As a result of these operations, 16 armed insurgents were killed and 21 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated 2090 kilograms of opium and amount of light and heavy weapons.

During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused 12 different types of mines as a result of security operations in Nangarhar, Kandahar, and Farah provinces.

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained ten individuals accused of murder, theft, using fake banknotes and beating in the 1st, 7th, 10th, 13th, and 17th Districts of Kabul-City.

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Roadside mine blast leaves three civilians killed in Paktiya province

Districts of Paktia Province (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Roadside mine blast leaves three civilians killed in Paktiya province

Today at 09:00Am, an anti-vehicle mine which was placed by the enemies of peace and stability hit a civilian vehicle in the Kotikhil village, Zurmat District of Paktiya province.

As a result, three civilians were killed including a child and a woman.

Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs condemns in the strongest terms this act of the enemies of peace and stability and expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

from moi.gov.af

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