Yemen says search on for abducted Finns, Austrian

Yemeni soldiers man a checkpoint in Sanaa on Dec. 22, 2012 following the kidnapping of three foreigners. Gunmen suspected of links to Al-Qaeda kidnapped two Finns and one Austrian in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Dec. 21, security officials told AFP. (AFP)

Yemen said on Sunday its security forces were still searching for two Finns and an Austrian whose whereabouts remain unknown since they were kidnapped in Sanaa.

Security services are “carrying out vast search and investigation operations to locate the kidnapped” foreigners, abducted on Friday in Sanaa, official news agency Saba quoted Interior Minister Abdelqader Qahtan as saying as he received an envoy from Finland.

The minister assured the envoy that Yemeni forces will take all steps to ensure the safety of the hostages and secure their quick release.

A security official told AFP that the hostages, kidnapped by gunmen suspected of links to Al-Qaeda, were probably still in Sanaa.

Another official had said Friday that al-Qaeda had threatened to kidnap foreigners and to stage bank hold-ups if the authorities fail to release members of an imprisoned network.

The three hostages -- an Austrian man, a Finnish man and a Finnish woman – were abducted when they were preparing to travel to the southern port of Aden via second city of Taez.

The two men were learning Arabic in Sanaa, while the woman had arrived recently in Yemen.

Hundreds of people have been abducted in Yemen over the past 15 years, many of them by members of the country’s powerful tribes who use them as bargaining chips in disputes with the authorities.

Almost all of them have later been freed unharmed.

But Al-Qaeda is also held responsible for abductions in Yemen, including that of a Saudi diplomat, Abdallah al-Khalidi, who remains in the hands of the extremist network since his kidnapping on March 28 in Aden.

from AL ARABIYA
Last Updated: Sun Dec 23, 2012 17:48 pm (KSA) 14:48 pm (GMT)

Related articles

• Diplomat negotiates release of abducted Finns in Yemen (en.trend.az)
• Two Finns Abducted in Yemen, Finland's Foreign Ministry Says - Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
• Kidnappings of foreigners on rise in Yemen (guardian.co.uk)
• Suspected al-Qaeda kidnap 3 foreigners (bigpondnews.com)

Read More

In Several Joint Clearance Operations, Four Armed Taliban Killed (23.Dec.2012.)

Publish Date: Dec 23, 2012

In Several Joint Clearance Operations, Four Armed Taliban Killed

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched eight joint clearance operations in Nangarhar, Faryab, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Ghazni and Paktiya provinces.

As a result of these operations, four armed Taliban were killed and seven others were arrested by Afghan National Security Forces.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated three AK-47 assault rifles, six anti-vehicles mines and 888 kilos of opium.

Additionally, Afghan National Police during security patrols discovered and defused 12 anti-vehicle mines which were placed by the enemies of peace and stability in Zabul, Helmand, Laghman, Herat and Badghis provinces yesterday.

 

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained a suspect accused of theft in the 9th District of Kabul-City.

Read More

Polish soldiers wounded in Ghazni attack

KABUL (PAN): Three Polish soldiers with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were wounded during a militant attack in the southern province of Ghazni, Warsaw said on Sunday.

The soldiers injured on Saturday morning when their routine patrol came under attack in the southwestern part of the province, the Polish defence ministry said.

A statement from the ministry said unidentified gunmen opened fire on the soldiers, wounding three of them. They were airlifted to a Ghazni City hospital, where they are being treated by Polish doctors.

Since 2002, 37 Polish casualties, including one medic, have occurred in Afghanistan.

from Pajhwok
By Pajhwok Report Dec 23, 2012 - 14:38

Read More

Dec. 23., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a local Taliban leader during an operation in Nad ‘Ali district, Helmand province, Dec. 23.

The leader was in direct contact with senior members of the Taliban in the province and coordinated and conducted numerous direct fire and improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

During the operation, the security force discovered a weapons cache and seized a number of weapons and ammunition.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

In Khanabad district, Kunduz province, Dec. 23, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader who planned and executed improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Additionally, he acquired IEDs and explosives that he then distributed to insurgents in Khanabad and Kunduz districts. During the operation, the security force also detained several suspected insurgents.

South

Afghan and coalition officials confirmed Dec. 23 that a Taliban leader was arrested during a security operation in Tarnek wa Jaldak district, Zabul province, Friday. The leader transported and delivered weapons and ammunition to Taliban insurgents operating in Tarnek wa Jaldak and Qalat districts.

East

In Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, Dec. 23, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader who coordinated attacks in the district. At the time of his arrest, he was helping plan an attack against an Afghan government official in the area. The security force also detained one suspected insurgent as a result of the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force detained a suspected insurgent during an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Hisarak district, Nangarhar province, Dec. 23. The leader is responsible for laundering money used to fund Taliban attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a local Haqqani leader and detained one suspected insurgent during an operation in Khost district, Khost province, Dec. 23. The leader planned, facilitated and executed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province. He also directed the movement of Haqqani fighters and emplaced improvised explosive devices.

An Afghan and coalition force detained two suspected insurgents during a security operation in search of a Haqqani leader in Sharan district, Paktika province, Dec. 23. The Haqqani leader organizes and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

Read More

Dec. 23., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained 15 insurgents and located one weapons cache during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours Dec. 22.

Logar province

Afghan National Security and coalition forces detained one insurgent during an engagement in Pul-e Alam district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktya province

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Dzadran district. The cache contained small arms ammunition, rockets and heavy machine gun ammunition.

Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces detained 14 insurgents during an engagement in Gardez district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

Read More