2 killed, 20 injured in roadside bomb blast in northwest Pakistan

Two persons were killed and nearly 20 others injured when a bus was targeted with a roadside bomb in the restive Kurram tribal region of northwest Pakistan today, security officials said.

The incident occurred in Pir Qayyum area of the tribal district.

The bus was going from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa capital Peshawar to Parachinar, the main town of Kurram Agency.

Two persons were killed instantly and 17 injured persons were taken to a hospital in Parachinar, security officials told TV news channels.

Hundreds of people have lost their lives in sectarian violence between rival Shia and Sunni tribesmen in Kurram Agency over the past four years.

No group claimed responsibility for today's attack.

from deccanherald
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from DAWN:

SADDA: Two people were killed and 17 others wounded when a homemade bomb exploded next to a bus on the outskirts of the town of Sadda in the northwestern Kurram tribal region, near the Afghanistan border, local government officials said.

The Pakistani military has been conducting offensives against militant hideouts in Kurram, and dozens have been killed in intense fighting since the start of the year.

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Six militants killed and injured in Afghan military operations

Afghan Interior Ministry on Monday announced, at least 6 insurgents were killed and injured and 16 others were arrested by Afghan security forces.

According a statement issued by Afghan Interior Ministry, the militants were killed, injured and detained by Afghan National Police forces during the past 24 hours in 6 separate operations.

The operations were jointly conducted by Afghan Police, Afghan Army, Afghan Intelligence and International Coalition Security forces at Nangarhar, Kunar, Kandahar, Helmand, Khost and Farah provinces of Afghanistan.

At least 3 armed insurgents were killed, 3 militants were injured and 16 others were arrested during operations, officials added.

Joint security forces also seized at least 900 Kgs of drugs and weapons including fire arms, rocket launchers, improvised explosive devices, hand grenades, 59 Kgs of explosives, ammunitions, 2 vehicles and a motorcycle during the operations.

In separate military operations at Logar and Herat provinces of Afghanistan on Sunday Afghan National Police forces seized 2 improvised explosive devices and 3 rounds of warheads, officials said.

Anti-government armed militants yet to comment regarding the reports.

from KHAAMA

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Death toll rises to 11 after suicide attack hits church in Nigeria

JOS, Nigeria, March 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people have been confirmed dead after a suicide bomb blast rocked a church in central north Plateau State, sources said on Sunday.

State police spokesperson Samuel Dabia and the Medical Director, Plateau Specialist Hospital Matawwal Bitrus, confirmed this to Xinhua on phone from Jos, the state capital, adding that 22 other people were injured.

The deaths included the two suicide bombers and two motorcyclists who were mobbed at the scene.

The Red Cross said it had taken 22 people injured in the blast to various hospitals in Jos metropolis.

Suicide bombers on Sunday attacked St. Finbar's Catholic Church in Jos by ramming a vehicle into the fence of the Church.

The Church Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Peter Umorem said the attack happened 10 minutes into the 10:00 a.m, local time. "I was at the altar when I heard a loud explosion. Suddenly things were falling all over, and there was pandemonium in the Church," he said.

"Some members grabbed me and rescued me to a safe place. I later learned that it was a suicide attack and that the bomber tried to enter through the gate but was prevented," he added.

There is no immediate claim of responsibility from any group. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has cordoned the scene where the explosion occurred.

A military spokesperson Capt. Markus Mdahyelya said they are responding to emergency issues.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan condemned the suicide bombing, saying the government would continue to progressively destroy terrorists' ability to unleash murderous attacks on peaceful and law-abiding Nigerians.

The Nigerian leader also conveyed his sympathies and condolences to the victims of the odious acts in a statement reaching Xinhua in Abuja.

The president urged Nigerians and friends of the country to keep faith with the government, assuring them that the Federal Government is doing everything possible to end the spate of mindless attacks and killings in parts of the country.

Churches have been repeatedly targeted in Nigeria since late last year, occasionally triggering flare between the Christians who mostly live in the south and the Muslims in the north. The militant Boko Haram sect responsible for the bombings in northern Nigeria burnt down some local assembly churches, a police station and a local government secretariat in an overnight raid early in the month in the west African country's northeastern state of Borno.

In July, Boko Haram gave a three-day ultimatum to Christians to leave the Muslim-dominated north, threatening further bloodshed if otherwise.

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4 policemen killed in attack on government building in north of Baghdad

BAGHDAD, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Four policemen were killed and two others injured Monday in a bomb and gunfire attack on a government building in a town in north of Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source said.

The attack took place at dawn when gunmen in a car threw a hand grenade and opened fire on the guards of the municipality of Tarmiyah, some 30 km north of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The day before, the town was the scene of another deadly attack when gunmen broke into the house of a bodyguard of the mayor of Tarmiyah and shot him dead with his wife, sister and two daughters.

The attackers then planted bombs into the house and blew them up before they fled the scene.

Insurgents continue daily attacks including suicide bombings across Iraq since the U.S. troops pulled out of the country late last year.

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U.S. drones bomb al-Qaida posts in southern Yemen, 3 militants killed

ADEN/SANAA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. drones bombed an army base seized by al-Qaida militants in Yemen's southern province of Abyan as well as several hideouts of the terrorist group on Sunday night, killing three militants, witnesses and senior army officers told Xinhua

Three al-Qaida militants were confirmed killed in the air raid, an al-Qaida spokesman told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"At least five missiles hit the posts of the terrorist group stationing at Khanfar Mountain in al-Qaida-held city of Jaar this night," a witness told Xinhua by phone on condition of anonymity.

"Thick white smoke is rising from the targeted area, and al- Qaida militants are moving to the mountain to check if there are any casualties," said the witness.

After destroying several ammunition stores seized by al-Qaida militants during battles with the army forces, various hideouts and fortifications of the terrorist group in the mountainous area in Jaar city, Abyan's second largest city, were pounded, with no immediate reports of casualties amongst the insurgents, a local army officer said on condition of anonymity.

"The U.S. drones fired missiles targeting the army outpost, which was overran by the extremists last Sunday. All the heavy weapons inside the base were completely damaged," the officer said.

"Huge explosions rocked the al-Qaida arms caches following the air bombing," he added.

However, the al-Qaida spokesman denied any explosion in their weapon stores.

A source close to the militants said they spotted a U.S. drone and two F-16 warplanes when they fired the missiles. He also said that they watched a U.S. warship faraway in the Gulf of Aden and they believed the jet fighters took off from it.

"We are afraid that the shelling could target the place near the Khanfar Mountain where we kept captive 73 soldiers who were captured last week in battles with the Yemeni government troops," said the source, who talked to Xinhua by phone from the coastal city of Jaar, which was seized by the militants in March 2011.

Meanwhile, a security officer in the southern port city of Aden said that "Yemeni armed forces in nearby coastal town of Dovas, off the Gulf of Aden, are attacking targets of al-Qaida after the terrorist group fired a Katyusha rocket on a camp of the troops."

Earlier in the day, the Yemeni army forces in the southern restive province of Lahj captured five Somali militants suspected of belonging to a Somali-based al-Qaida wing known as al-Shabaab.

The Yemeni Interior Ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Sunday that it had information that 300 armed Somalis had been sent by al-Shabaab insurgents in the Somali capital of Mogadishu to fight alongside the al-Qaida group in Yemen.

More than 48 terrorists were killed during the past few days in U.S. drone attacks and Yemen air force's raids against their strongholds in al-Bayda and Abyan provinces, according to government officials.

However, al-Qaida said in a statement obtained by Xinhua that only 17 of its fighters were killed in al-Bayda and no one was injured. It also said that it lost nobody in the air raid in Abyan two days ago.

The Yemeni army and security forces have recently been attacked by the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). After fierce battles last week in the flashpoint province of Abyan, nearly 200 soldiers were killed and 73 others were held captive by the militants.

The AQAP, entrenching itself mainly in Yemen's southern provinces of Abyan and Shabwa, is on the terrorist list of the United States, which considers it as an increasing threat to its national security.

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Drugs and weapons seized in northern Baghlan province

Local security officials in northern Baghlan province on Sunday announced Afghan police forces seized at least 40 kg of opium and drugs along with 16 weapons.

Provincial security chief Gen. Asadullah Shirzad speaking during a press conference on Sunday morning said, Afghan police seized at least 40 kg of hashish, 3 grams of heroin and 16 pistols.

Gen. Shirzad further added, the drugs and weapons were seized from various regions of northern Baghlan province.

Afghan security forces also captured two suspects in connection to the smuggle of the drugs and weapons, Gen. Shirzad said.

According to provincial security officials, at least 40 cases of drugs and weapons smuggle have been registered in this province since the beginning of the Afghan fiscal year where dozens of suspects have also been captured.

Author: Ajmal Omeri, Baghlan province.

from KHAAMA

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Hungary PRT distribute aid to reconciled militants in Baghlan

Around 92 anti-government armed militants who joined peace process received food and winter clothing at Baisqal district in northern Baghlan province.

Provincial police Gen. Asadullah while distributing the aid to the reconciled militants said, the aid package which has been arranged by Hungarian provincial reconstruction team in coordination with the Baghlan high peace council, include 50 kg of wheat, 20 kg rice, 5 liters Ghee, 20 kg beans, 4 bed sheets and some amount of sugar, tea and salt.

Gen. Shirzad further added, a military base has also been formed in the area to maintain security and further bases will be constructed in the future if needed.

In the meantime tribal elders and the reconciled militants urged for the implementation of welfare projects including schools, health clinics, wells and construction of roads in this district.

A member of the provincial peace council Shams-ul-Haq said, rural development officials have vowed to complete the gravel work of the highway which connects Baisqal district with the northern Pul-e-Khumri city.

At least 100 militants have joined peace process in northern Baghlan province during the past 2 months.

Author: Ajmal Omeri, Baghlan province.

from KHAAMA

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At least three killed, 15 injured as bus station explosions rock Kenyan capital

by Daniel and Christine Lagat

NAIROBI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- At least three were killed and 15 others seriously injured as several hand grenades were thrown at a busy bus station in Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Saturday night, local police have confirmed.

A wounded man is brought into the hospital on March 10 after a bomb at a bus station in Nairobi that left at least 6 dead.

Nairobi Provincial Police Officer Anthony Kibuchi said an unidentified man hurled several hand grenades in the middle of commuters who were waiting to board their public passenger vehicles near the Country Bus Station which is usually overcrowded by passengers.

"We can confirm three people have been killed and 15 others wounded in grenade explosions near Country Bus station. The injured have been rushed to the hospital," Kibuchi told journalists at the scene of the incident.

He said the police have launched investigations to ascertain the motive behind the attack which is widely blamed on Al-Shabaab sympathizers.

Initial reports indicated that the grenades were thrown by a person who was on a speeding vehicle at commuters who were rushing home after day-long work and those who were planning to travel up country.

The place where this accident happened has been sealed off by anti-terrorism police who are trying to establish the cause of the attack in downtown Nairobi.

The latest explosions came after two earlier explosions rocked Nairobi in last October near the scene of the current one. Both of them were blamed on Al-Shabaab sympathizers.

In the previous attack, an unidentified man hurled a hand grenade in another bus terminal near the Machakos Bus Station and another was hurled on a nightclub in the centre of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, killing two and injuring more than 25 others.

The Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility of the previous two incidents.

The explosions also came amid intensified security checks in the city in an effort to eradicate Al-Shabaab militia in the east African nation.

Al-Shabaab is a Somali-based terrorist group that at one time controlled large administrative areas of the lawless country. It has claimed links to the global al Qaida terrorist network.

However, the group's territorial control has come under attack in the last six months from the Kenya Defence Forces after a series of abductions targeting tourists and aid workers that were blamed on the group.

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US soldier kills Afghan civilians in Kandahar

A US soldier has killed more than a dozen civilians in a shooting spree in southern Afghanistan before being detained, officials say.

He left his military base in the early hours of the morning and opened fire after entering local homes; women and children are said to be among the dead.

Nato said it was investigating the "deeply regrettable incident".
Anti-US sentiment is already high in Afghanistan after US soldiers burnt copies of the Koran last month.

US officials have apologised repeatedly for the incident at a Nato base in Kabul, but they failed to quell a series of protests and attacks that killed at least 30 people and six US troops.

Local people have reportedly gathered near the base in Panjwai district to protest about Sunday's killings, and the US embassy is advising against travel to the area.

Investigation

The soldier, who has not been named, is said to have suffered a nervous breakdown.

He walked off his base at around 03:00 local time (22:30 GMT Saturday).

According to a resident quoted by Associated Press, he opened fire in three separate houses in the village of Alkozai.

"I heard gunshots and then silence and then gunshots again," Abdul Baqi said.

Local tribal leaders said women and children were among the dead.

A delegation from the provincial governor's office has arrived in the village to determine what has happened, a spokesman said.

After carrying out the killings, the soldier reportedly handed himself over to the US military authorities.

The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said in a statement that US officials in Afghanistan would work with their Afghan counterparts to investigate what happened.

"This is a deeply regrettable incident and we extend our thoughts and concerns to the families involved," Isaf added.

Sediq Seddiqi, the spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry, told Al Jazeera the incident was under investigation. He could not confirm any reports of casualties.

Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith, reporting from Herat, said the soldier entered three houses near the base and opened fire on civilians

Meanwhile, in Kabul, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his government still expects to sign a strategic partnership with the United States in the next couple of months.

In a televised speech, he said discussions would continue on the precise role the US will play in Afghanistan after Nato hands over security responsibility to Kabul at the end of 2014.

On Friday, Kabul and Washington reached a deal to transfer US-run prisons in the country to Afghan control.

from bbc and aljazeera

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ISAF releasse:
2012-03-S-010

For Immediate Release

 Service member detained in Kandahar

 KABUL, Afghanistan (Mar. 11) - A United States service member was detained today in connection to an incident that resulted in Afghan casualties in Kandahar province.

 This is a deeply regrettable incident and we extend our thoughts and concerns to the families involved.

 U.S. Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A), in cooperation with Afghan authorities, will investigate this incident and release additional information as appropriate.

 Requests for information regarding Afghan casualties should be referred to the Ministry of Interior.
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ISAF Deputy Commander Statement on Civilian Casualties in Kandahar

2012-03-CA-005

KABUL, Afghanistan (Mar. 11, 2012) – The Deputy Commander, International Security Assistance Force, Lt. Gen. Adrian J. Bradshaw, released the following statement today:

“In my role as in-theatre Commander of ISAF in General Allen’s temporary absence on duty, I wish to convey my profound regrets and dismay at the actions apparently taken by one coalition member in Kandahar province. One of our soldiers is reported to have killed and injured a number of civilians in villages adjacent to his base. I cannot explain the motivation behind such callous acts, but they were in no way part of authorized ISAF military activity. An investigation is already underway and every effort will be made to establish the facts and hold anyone responsible to account. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with those caught in this tragedy. I wish once again, on behalf of General Allen and all members of ISAF, to convey our deep regrets and sorrow at this appalling incident.

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ISAF Commander Statement on Civilian Casualties in Kandahar

NEWS RELEASE 2012-03-CA-006 WASHINGTON (March 11, 2012) - The Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, Gen. John R. Allen, released the following statement today: "I was shocked and saddened to hear of the shooting incident today in Kandahar Province. I offer my profound regret and deepest condolences to the victims and their families. I pledge to all the noble people of Afghanistan my commitment to a rapid and thorough investigation. In the meantime, we will continue to offer medical care for those who were injured in this shooting. We will maintain custody of the U.S. service member alleged to have perpetrated this attack. And we will cooperate fully with local Afghan authorities as we ascertain all the facts. This deeply appalling incident in no way represents the values of ISAF and coalition troops or the abiding respect we feel for the Afghan people. Nor does it impugn or diminish the spirit of cooperation and partnership we have worked so hard to foster with the Afghan National Security Forces. The men and women of ISAF join me in my sadness and they join me in extending their condolences. I am absolutely dedicated to making sure that anyone who is found to have committed wrong-doing is held fully accountable."

 
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from DOD

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

No. 170-12 March 11, 2012

Statement by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta on the Tragic Incident in Kandahar Province

            “Today I spoke to President Karzai to offer my deepest condolences and profound regret for the tragic incident in Kandahar province that resulted in the loss of life and injuries to innocent Afghan civilians, including women and children.
             “A full investigation is already underway.  A suspect is in custody, and I gave President Karzai my assurances that we will bring those responsible to justice.  We will spare no effort in getting the facts as quickly as possible, and we will hold any perpetrator who is responsible for this violence fully accountable under the law.
             “I condemn such violence and am shocked and saddened that a U.S. service member is alleged to be involved, clearly acting outside his chain of command.  I told President Karzai that the American people share the outrage felt by President Karzai and his fellow citizens.  This tragic incident does not reflect the commitment of the U.S. military to protect the Afghan people and help build a strong and stable Afghanistan.
             “As we mourn today with the Afghan people, we are steadfast in our resolve to work hand in hand with our Afghan partners to accomplish the missions and goals on which we have been working together for so long.  This terrible incident does not reflect our shared values or the progress we have made together.  As I told President Karzai, I am fully committed to ensuring that our cooperation continues.  It is essential to forging a more peaceful future for the citizens of both our nations.”

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Assassination attempt on Malalai Joya, two guards injured

By Associated Press — A prominent Afghan women’s rights activist says gunmen have attacked her office in a western province in an apparent assassination attempt.

Malalai Joya is a former Afghan lawmaker and vocal critic of corruption and criminality in the Afghan government, as well as the Taliban. She says the overnight attack on her office in Farah province was the sixth attempt on her life.

Joya says armed men tried to storm the compound late on night on Saturday. The attackers did not get into the building but two of her guards were seriously injured and are currently in the hospital.

Joya says she was in Kabul at the time but had planned a trip to Farah soon and news of that may have leaked out. She believes the attackers thought she was in the building.

from malalaijoya.com

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