Jan. 29., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Arghandab district, Kandahar province, today.

The leader was responsible for planning and executing improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Prior to his detention, he was planning an IED attack against Afghan civilians, according to coalition officials.

The security force also detained one suspected insurgent and seized ammunition as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

During an operation in Burkah district, Baghlan province, today, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) leader. The leader conducted assassinations directed by insurgent leadership in the province. He coordinated the acquisition and delivery of weapons for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. During the operation, the security force seized an assault rifle with associated gear and ammunition.

South

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, Monday. The leader was directly responsible for constructing, emplacing and distributing IEDs in the district. He also conducted surveillance of Afghan and coalition forces in preparation for executing IED attacks in Kandahar province. He organized the transfer and delivery of manufactured IEDs to other insurgents.

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Jan. 29., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces cleared six improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Jan. 28.

Logar province
Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared four IEDs in Pul-e Alam district.

Khowst province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sabari district.

Wardak province
Coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sayed Abad district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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Suicide bomber kills two near Somali presidential palace

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

(Reuters) - A suicide bomber blew himself up near the Somali presidential palace on Tuesday, killing at least two soldiers in a strike apparently aimed at the country's leaders, a palace guard at the scene said.

Officials working in the palace and guards said Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was abroad at the time of the blast and Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid, whose house was near the site of the explosion, was safe.

The blast was the first this year in Mogadishu, where security has improved greatly since Al Shabaab - Islamist rebels allied to al Qaeda - were driven from the capital by African peacekeepers in late 2011.

The group - which wants to impose its strict version of Sharia or Islamic law - is fighting to topple Mohamud, whose election last year was the first such vote since warlords ousted military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

"The man blew up himself near a wall between the Ethiopian embassy and the Somali PM's residence," Ahmed Ali, a Somali soldier at the presidential palace told Reuters.

The two buildings are inside a sprawling compound that also houses the presidential palace.

"One guard died there and then. Another died of his wounds. They were all the guards of the PM," said Ali. "The man was an al Shabaab defector. He had a gate pass, an identity card of the national security."

Guards at the palace who declined to be named said the blast partially damaged a small room made of iron sheets where the prime minister's guards are stationed, but little else was damaged. Buildings and cars within the compound were untouched.

OUSTED FROM URBAN CENTRES

The guards said the bomber was known to them, and frequently visited the palace. When he came by on Tuesday morning, the guards took the suicide bomber through a routine inspection and found he was clad in an explosive jacket.

The guards tried to prevent him from detonating his device, but it went off - killing one instantly and wounding two others.

Al Shabaab was not immediately available for comment on the attack.

The group fled to southern Somalia after quitting Mogadishu but in late September Kenyan troops forced it to withdraw from the port of Kismayu, its last major urban stronghold in the Horn of Africa nation.

That appears to have ended it as a quasi-conventional military force, though Al Shabaab remains a threat and has vowed to step up suicide bombings and hit-and-run attacks.

On January 17 the group said it had executed a captive French agent after a French commando mission to rescue him failed.

from REUTERS
By Abdi Sheikh
MOGADISHU | Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:17am GMT
(Writing by James Macharia; Editing by Jon Boyle)

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Nigeria: Boko Haram Agrees to Ceasefire As Gunmen Kill Eight in Borno

 The Jama’atul Ahalis Sunna Lida’awati Wal Jihad Islamic sect, popularly called Boko Haram, Monday again said it had agreed to a ceasefire with the Federal Government to pave the way for dialogue.

This will be the second time in months that the group has supposedly called for an end to hostilities, which was predicated on certain conditions being met, and had handpicked a committee that was to be headed by former military head of state, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, to hold discussions with the Federal Government.

However, two persons, who claimed to be representing the major faction of the group led by Sheikh Abubakar Shekau Monday met with the press in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Based on the sect’s antecedent, this is the first time anyone associated with Boko Haram is coming publicly to claim affinity with the dreaded group. On other occasions, communication with or through the media has been conducted via teleconferencing.

But in a swift reaction to the sect’s offer, the Federal Government Monday restated its condition for dialogue, adding that it was in the process of appraising the terms given by the sect.

Coincidentally, just as the representatives were calling for a truce, there were reports that eight persons, including a deputy treasurer of a local government area in Borno State, were in the early hours of Sunday killed by gunmen.

One of the two persons, who met with the journalists Monday, introduced himself as Sheikh Abu Mohammad Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, the commander in-charge of North and Central Borno of the sect.

He said the decision on the ceasefire came after meetings were held with the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.

In the interview with journalists in Hausa language but translated to English, Idris said: “I, Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, the second commander-in-charge of southern and northern Borno, after Imam Abubakar Shekau of Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram; for sometimes now, we the members of Jamaatul ahlil Boko Haram sunna lidawati wal jihad (otherwise known as Boko Haram) have recently had a meeting and dialogue with the government of Borno State, where we resolved that given the prevailing situation, there is the need for us to ceasefire.

Read more, the full article from THIS DAY
Muhammad Bello, Michael Olugbode  and Ibrahim Shuaibu with agency report
29 Jan 2013

Related articles

• Nigeria militant Boko Haram declares ceasefire (talking12.wordpress.com)
• Update: Why We Agreed To Ceasefire- Boko Haram Faction (homezonemedia.wordpress.com)

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Gunmen assassinate district chief in eastern Afghanistan

According to reports unknown gunmen on Tuesday assassinated district chief for Hesa-e-Dowom Kohistan.

The incident took place in Saha-e-Jamal area early Tuesday morning after unknown gunmen opened fire on Syed Mushtaq Sadat.

No group including the Taliban militants has so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

The wave of insurgency has been rampant in northern and eastern Afghanistan during the past one week. This comes as a suicide car bomber has killed five civilians and wounded another 25 in a botched attempt to hit a convoy of NATO supply trucks in eastern Kapisa province on Friday.

In the meantime at least 10 people including two government officials were killed following a suicide bomb blast in northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan on Saturday evening.

At least 18 others were also injured following the blast which took place in a busy market in Kunduz city.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - 29 Jan 2013, 10:04 am

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