Two civilians killed, one ALP injured in explosion near mosque in Kunar province

Districts of Kunar. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - An insurgent-placed improvised explosive device detonated in front of a mosque in Sar Kani district, Kunar province today, killing two civilians and wounding one Afghan Local Police.

The explosion occurred while people were leaving the mosque after Friday prayer.

This is the second time in a 24-hour period insurgent-placed explosives have been found near mosques in eastern Afghanistan. National Directorate of Security personnel found and detonated three rocket-propelled grenades installed for explosion near Al Jahad mosque in Ghazni City, Thursday.

Governor Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi, the provincial governor of Kunar, condemned the "inhuman" attack in his province stating "such attacks are forbidden in Islam." Wahidi also expressed his sympathies for the families of the killed and his prayers for the swift recovery of the ALP member.

Al Ahmadi, deputy governor of Ghazni, also condemned the insurgent practice of emplacing IEDs near mosques.

"The enemies of peace not only kill and harm people; they even disrespect the people's beliefs. There is no forgiveness for such a big crime and sin," he said.

For more information about this incident or the Afghan casualties, contact the Kunar and Ghazni provincial governors' offices.

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

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Feb. 15., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan forces cleared four improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 14.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Ghazni City.

Nangarhar province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Mohmand Darah district.

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Behsud district.

Kapisa province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Tagab district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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Somali Islamists execute Kenyan hostage, threaten five more

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

Somalia’s Shebab insurgents claim to have executed a captured Kenyan soldier and repeated threats to kill five other hostages, the extremists said Friday.
“While the mujahedeen have executed the serving KDF (Kenya Defense Force) soldier, there is still a chance of securing the release of the remaining five prisoners,” the Shebab said in a statement.

The claims could not be verified.

Last month the Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents issued a February 14 deadline ordering Kenya -- whose troops are fighting the Shebab inside Somalia -- to release “all Muslim prisoners held on so-called terrorism charges in Kenya.”

The Shebab, who have previously released videos of Kenyan civil servants they have kidnapped, have said they would execute five hostages within three days unless the Kenyan government buckles to their demands.

Kenya has been hit by a spate of attacks including hand grenade and bombs since it invaded southern Somalia in late 2011 to attack Shebab bases, following a string of kidnappings inside Kenya blamed on the Islamists.

Many of the attacks in Kenya -- including hand grenade blasts in the capital Nairobi -- are blamed on Shebab supporters or Kenyan sympathizers, although the Shebab have not claimed the attacks themselves.

But the once powerful Shebab are on the back foot inside Somalia, having fled a string of key towns ahead of a 17,000-strong African Union force -- which includes Kenyan troops -- which is also fighting alongside Somali soldiers.

Ethiopian troops are also battling the Shebab in the southwest of Somalia.

On Thursday, AU troops and government forces seized the towns of Janalle, Aw Dhigle and Barire, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of the capital Mogadishu, the latest Shebab bases to fall.

However, the Shebab remain a potent threat, still controlling rural areas as well as carrying out guerrilla attacks in areas apparently under government control.

from AL ARABIYA
Last Updated: Fri Feb 15, 2013 09:44 am (KSA) 06:44 am (GMT)

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Suicide attack kills three police officers in Dagestan

Dagestan is currently the most unstable region in the Northern Caucasus, with rebels staging attacks against the pro-Kremlin local authorities almost every day. — Photo by Reuters/File

MOSCOW: A suicide car bomb attack in the volatile Russian Caucasus region of Dagestan killed three police officers and wounded six other people Thursday, the local interior ministry said.

The attacker blew up his car at a checkpoint at Khassaviurt, in northern Dagestan, a statement said. It said the blast left a crater that was two metres in diameter and 1.5 metres deep.

The North Caucasus, the southwest Russian region where Dagestan is located, witnesses near-daily violence that officials blame on militants seeking to establish an Islamic state across the impoverished territory.

Dagestan is currently the most unstable region in the Northern Caucasus, with rebels staging attacks against the pro-Kremlin local authorities almost every day.

from DAWN

Related articles

• Suicide attack kills three police officers in Dagestan (dawn.com)
• Three Police Dead in Dagestan Blast (voanews.com)

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Bridge blown up in Laghman

Districts of Laghman. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

JALALABAD (PAN): A bridge has been blown up by unidentified miscreants in the Alingar district of eastern Laghman province, an official said on Thursday.

Built three years ago at a cost of $700,000, the bridge in Abuzai area was used by a large number of district residents, the governor’s spokesman, Sarhadi Zwak, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Governor Dr. Fazlullah Mujaddedi said he had directed security personnel to bring the perpetrators of the blast to justice as soon as possible.

from Pajhwok
By Mahbob Shah Mahbob Feb 14, 2013 - 15:31

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Feb. 14., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition detained four suspected insurgents, cleared four improvised explosive devices and discovered one weapons cache during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 13.

Nangarhar province
Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache and detained two suspected insurgents during an operation in Chaparhar district. The cache contained 30 kilograms of homemade explosives, and the detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Kapisa province
Afghan forces found and safely cleared two IEDs in Tagab district.

Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs and detained two suspected insurgents during an operation in Sabari district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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