40 Taliban militants were killed and 14 injured in Paktika

Gomal district (blue) of Paktika Province (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SHARAN, Afghanistan, July 28 (Xinhua) -- About 40 Taliban militants were killed and 14 injured when militants launched a cross-border attack against police checkposts in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province Saturday, a provincial government spokesman said.

"Dozens of militants crossed the Afghan-Pakistan border and stormed Afghan border police checkposts in Nahmat Abad area of the Gomal district at about 2 a.m. local time Saturday and the police repelled the attack. As a result 40 militants were killed and 14 injured," spokesman Mukhlis Afghan told Xinhua.

He said the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force ( ISAF) or coalition's helicopters supported the police in the fight against militants.

An Afghan Taliban key commander named Zanzer was among the killed, he added.

The spokesman said that two policemen were slightly injured and no civilian was harmed in the clash in the province bordering Pakistan.

The Taliban insurgents, who have been waging an insurgency of more than one decade, have yet to make comments.

Violence has been on the rise since Taliban launched an annual spring offensive on May 3.

Earlier in the day, the NATO-led ISAF confirmed losing two soldiers in an insurgent attack also in eastern Afghanistan earlier Saturday.

The ISAF statement did not provide the nationalities of the victims and details on the attack under the ISAF policy.

Troops mostly from the U.S. stationed in eastern Afghan provinces within the frame work of the ISAF and more than 260 foreign soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan so far in 2012.

from XINHUA
2012-07-28 19:49:34

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Roadside Bomb blasts in Somalia kills 4 soldiers

BAIDOA (Sh.M.Network)- At least four soldiers have been killed and many others injured in two bomb blasts in Somalia’s third largest city of Baidoa, 250 kilometers north-west Mogadishu.

Witnesses said Friday that at least four Somali government soldiers were killed and several civilians sustained variety of wounds in roadside explosions at a checkpoint in Baidoa town, the capital of Bay region of southern Somalia.

“Huge explosions were heard and smoke plumes rose across the city’s sky following twin blasts planted near a checkpoint by Somali army, killing at least 4 soldiers,” A witness said.

Afterwards, Hassan Mo’alin Bikole, the district commissioner of Baidoa under TFG, told presses that the security forces thwarted other organized blasts aimed to detonate government installations in the city.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the Al Shabaab has launched similar acts of violence in Baidoa, since pulling out of the capital this year in a bid to consolidate its control over other parts of Somalia.

from Shabelle Media Network

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Nigeria: JTF Arrests 26 Boko Haram Members in Maiduguri

The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) said on Friday that it had arrested 26 suspected Boko Haram sect members during a raid in Maiduguri.

Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, the JTF spokesman stated this in a statement in Maiduguri.

"Following intelligence report, a special operation was conducted on Thursday, July 26, and early hours of Friday, 27 July, 2012 in Maiduguri.

"The operation led to the arrest of 26 suspected terrorists believed to be members of Boko Haram sect at Biafra Bula-Bulin, Kasuwan Shanu and GRA in Maiduguri metropolis."

Musa said that the suspects were believed to be the brains behind the killing of two Indians on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

"Some of the suspects were responsible for the killings of two Indians, a cleric and several others in Maiduguri in the recent past."

Musa said that two AK 47 Rifles, three magazines, 200 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition were also recovered during the raid.

"We also recovered a primed Improvised Explosive Device, which was detonated by the Bomb Disposal Unit of the JTF as well as cutlasses, daggers and charms.

"There was also a blood stained cloth used during the killing of a cleric in Kasuwan Shanu, Maiduguri."

Musa said that the items and suspects were kept in the custody of the JTF for necessary action.


from allAfrica/Leadership

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Taliban Financier Killed in Afghan Raid

Districts of Kunduz. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Taliban financier Maulawi Abdul Rahman was killed in joint Afghan and Nato operation in Balkh province on Saturday, Isaf said.

Afghan and Nato troops were conducting an operation to find Rahman, and during the operation he threatened the security force, Isaf in a statement.

"The force responded to the threat, killing him," the statement said.

Rahman co-ordinated the transfer of money, weapons and explosives to other insurgents to facilitate attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region.

Separately, an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan explosives expert was arrested in a joint operation in the Archi district of Kunduz province on Saturday.

This follows the arrest on Thursday of another Taliban explosives specialist in southern Kandahar province. The man, who was not identified, is alleged to have planned and directed improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, and provided IED emplacement training to insurgents, Isaf said.

from TOLONEWS
Saturday, 28 July 2012 16:25  

---
news said Rahman joined the peace-process in July:

2 July 2012,
from the UNAMA website:

AFGHAN MEDIA
Hasht-e-Subh Daily  :


A Taliban commander, Maulawi Abdul Rahman, known as Maulawi Palang-e-Takhari, joined the peace process in Kunduz. 

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Four Taliban killed, one wounded and 11 arrested by ANP (Jul.28.2012.)

Publish Date: Jul 28, 2012

Four Taliban killed, one wounded and 11 arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched six joint clearance operations in Nangarhar, Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul, Ghazni, Helmand and Laghman provinces.
  
As a result of these operations, four Taliban were killed, one wounded and 11 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated one rocket launcher, one PKM machine gun, one pistol, 13 heavy rounds, 4785 light rounds, nine different types of mines, six hand grenades, 8kg of opium, 80 kilograms of explosive materials, four magazines, two motorcycles and one vehicle.

Meanwhile, Afghan National Police discovered and defused four drums full explosives, 20kg each drum and one remote control mine a as a result of security operations in Faryab and Kandahar provinces.
 

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5 Afghan police killed or injured in Herat province

According to local authorities in western Herat province of Afghanistan at least five Afghan national police officers were killed or injured following attacks by Taliban militants in this province.

The officials further added the incident took place after a number of armed Taliban militants attacked a mobile phone tower at Zarghoon Pashtun district on Friday night.

Provincial security chief Abdul Hamid Hamidi confirming the report said a number of Afghan national police officers were on their way to quit the fire while they were attacked by Taliban militants.

Mr. Hamidi further added Taliban militants managed to flee the area after attacking Afghan police forces convoy.

Taliban militants group claimed responsibility behind the incident.

In the meantime a local security official said at least 2 Afghan national police officers were killed at Keshk-e-Rabat district.

The source further added the incident took place after an Afghan national police vehicle was attacked by Taliban militants while they were patrolling in the area.

According to reports two Afghan police vehicles were also damaged following the incident.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Sat Jul 28, 2:01 pm

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July 28., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of the Taliban financier Maulawi Abdul Rahman in Chimtal district, Balkh province, today.

During the operation Rahman threatened the security force. The force responded to the threat, killing him.

Rahman coordinated the transfer of money, weapons and explosives to other insurgents to facilitate attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition security force detained numerous suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan explosives expert in Archi district, Kunduz province, today. The IMU explosives expert directs improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in northern Kunduz and manages the construction and placement of explosive devices throughout the province.

South

An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, arrested a Taliban explosives specialist in Kandahar district, Kandahar province, Thursday. The weapons specialist planned and directed improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, and provided IED emplacement training to insurgents.

In Kajaki district, Helmand province, today, an Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents and seized several firearms during an operation to arrest a senior Taliban leader. The leader controls dozens of insurgents and plans and directs their attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout northern Helmand.

East

An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in Surkh Rod district, Nangarhar province, today. The Taliban leader directs the placement of improvised explosive devices in and around Chaparhar district. During the operation the security force killed an armed insurgent and detained one suspected insurgent.

Today in Jani Khel district, Paktiya province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Haqqani leader. During the operation, the security force engaged a group of heavily armed insurgents with a precision airstrike. After the strike, the security force conducted a follow-on assessment and confirmed the strike had killed several insurgents. The assessment also confirmed the strike had not injured any civilians or damaged any civilian property.

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Nigeria: Suspected Sea Pirates Attack AGIP Boat in Bayelsa, Three Staff Killed

Bayelsa State in Nigeria. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A boat belonging to the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) was yesterday attacked by suspected Sea Pirats along the Tarabora creek in the Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State, leading to the death of three persons.

While one of the Staff was reported to have drowned following his bid to escape the attack and dived into the river, two others sustained gun -shot injury. Three others were reportedly killed by the volley of shots fired by the Pirates.

The Operatives of the Joint Military Task Force, according to the Media Coordinator of the Task Force, Lt. Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu were immediately deployed to the scene and are in search of the suspected pirates.

The corpse of the dead staff of the Agip company including one identified as Hector Abbey have been recovered, while two others have been declared missing .

The boat identified as MV Terra was ambushed by the gunmen when it was heading to the firm's Clough Creek flow station along Egbema-Angalabiri .The sea Pirates shot the driver of the boat on the leg and three others .

A security source told LEADERSHIP that the recovered corpse of Abbey and others have been deposited at a private mortuary in Port Harcourt, while the driver of the boat is also receiving medical treatments in an undisclosed hospital. It was gathered that the Agip boat was not escorted by security men when it was attacked.

When contacted, spokesman of JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the incident to our correspondent saying that the NAOC boat was conveying staff of the firm to its Flow station before it was attacked by sea pirates,"the boat conveying some staff of AGIP was attacked by suspected sea robbers and one of the staff of the company died when he was attempting to escape into the river and drowned".

"Nwachukwu said the security outfit was on the trail of the armed men as investigation continued.

from allAfrica/Leadership
By Osa Okhomina, 28 July 2012

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