CONFLICT & TERROR 03/03

Italian mayor burnt alive in car Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 8:06am

The mayor of the small Italian town of Cervino, north of Naples, has been found burnt alive in his car, in a Mafia-style killing. Police quoted by Italian media say Mayor Giovanni Piscitelli, 52, was shot and wounded and his feet bound with wire. Then his car was set alight. Full Story

Putin seeks big election turnout Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 8:31am

Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged voters to take part in Sunday's presidential election, which his chosen successor is expected to win. "Every voice of yours will be important... cast a vote for our future," Mr Putin said in a televised address on Friday. Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Mr Putin, is the clear favorite. Full Story

Britain: Harry's Afghan deployment over Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 8:43am

Britain's defense chief decided Friday to immediately pull Prince Harry out of Afghanistan after news of his deployment was leaked on the U.S. Web site the Drudge Report. Air Chief Marshal Jock Stirrup, chief of the Defense Staff, said he decided to withdraw the prince after senior commanders assessed the risks, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. Full Story

Taliban threatens attacks because of Wilders film Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 9:43am

The Taliban has threatened to step up attacks against Dutch soldiers in Afghanistan if Geert Wilders releases his "insulting" anti-Islam film. The PVV MP's film is an "insult to Islam", says Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban, in a telephone interview from an undisclosed location. Full Story

Indonesia warned on radical books Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 12:53pm

Indonesia needs to keep a closer watch on a growing publishing network linked to militant group Jemaah Islamiah, a leading think-tank has said. The International Crisis Group says the Islamist organisation appears to be trying to rebuild and spread its message via the printed word. Full Story

Gazprom to reduce Ukraine's gas Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 1:33pm

Gazprom, Russia's gas monopoly, says it will cut supplies to Ukraine by 25% on Monday after talks between the two sides ended in failure. The state-run Russian company said its efforts to get Ukraine to pay its debts had "reached a dead end". Full Story

U.S., NATO Reaffirm Commitment in Afghanistan Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 2:47pm

The United States and NATO reaffirmed their "long-term commitment" to Afghanistan today, pledging to help the U.S.-backed Afghan government consolidate security despite a growing insurgency by the radical Islamic Taliban movement that is being fueled by a burgeoning drug trade. President Bush and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer stressed the commitment in brief remarks to reporters following a 45-minute meeting in the White House. Full Story

Bombs targeting police kill over 40 in Pakistan Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 3:02pm

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suicide bomber blew himself up among mourners at a police funeral, killing at least 38 people in northwest Pakistan on Friday, intelligence officials said. The attack in Swat district came days after the military said it had cleared most areas in the mountainous region of Islamist militants, who it had been battling there for months, aside from a few pockets of resistance. Full Story

Intelligence chief warns on Afghan insurgency Posted on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 6:47am

The government of President Hamid Karzai controls less than a third of Afghanistan and the insurgency against it has not been contained, the head of US intelligence said on Wednesday. Admiral Michael McConnell, director of national intelligence, said the insurgency had not been contained, with Taliban insurgents in control of 10-11 per cent of the country. Full Story

US army boss slams plans to reduce troops in Iraq Posted on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 6:50am

The top US commander in Iraq will ask President George Bush to wait until as late as September to decide when to bring home more troops than already scheduled. General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are due to return to Washington from Baghdad in April to report to Congress on how the war-fighting strategy is working and how to proceed on troop-level decisions. Full Story

Iran offers Iraq $1bn loan Posted on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 6:52am

Iran is offering a $1 billion loan to Iraq for projects to be handled by Iranian firms, an Iranian official said on Friday, two days before a landmark visit by Iran's president to Baghdad. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will make the first trip by an Iranian president since the 1979 Islamic revolution, a visit analysts say will aim to tell the US that Tehran is an influential player in its neighbour which cannot be ignored. Full Story

Iraq death toll surges 33 percent in February Posted on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 6:53am

The number of Iraqis killed in February rose by 33 percent over the previous month, reversing a six-month trend of fewer casualties, ministerial figures obtained by AFP showed on Saturday. The combined figures obtained from the interior, defense and health ministries showed that the total number of Iraqis killed in February was 721, including 636 civilians, compared with 541 dead in January, the data showed. Full Story

Olmert vows to press on with Gaza offensive Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 5:30am

Israeli aircraft sent missiles slamming into the office of the prime minister of Hamas-ruled Gaza before dawn on Sunday, after killing 54 Palestinians in the highest single-day death toll since fighting erupted in 2000. Full Story

Bombings hit southern Russian town Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 5:33am

Two bombings hit a police convoy Sunday in a town in southern Russia near Chechnya, leaving an unspecified number of dead and injured. Full Story

Philippine Bombing Wounds 6 Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 5:34am

A bomb wounded two Filipino soldiers and four women at a bar near a Philippine military camp where U.S. troops were conducting counterterrorism training, an army spokesman said Sunday. Full Story

East Timor Shooting Suspect in Custody Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 5:35am

An ex-policeman suspected of having shot and wounded East Timor's president last month was in custody Sunday after surrendering to police, military officials said. Amaro da Costa turned himself in without a fight late Saturday, handing over two automatic weapons and some ammunition, Lt. Col. Filomeno Paixao said. Two military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, described da Costa as an ex-policeman suspected in the shooting. Full Story

Suicide bomber kills 30 in Pakistan, scores hurt Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 5:36am

At least 30 people were killed and up to 40 injured when a suicide bomber attacked a traditional tribal meeting in north western Pakistan on Sunday, officials said. Pakistan is in the middle of a wave of violence blamed on al-Qaeda-linked militants based in tribal lands on the Afghan border and there have been three suicide attacks in as many days. Full Story

Eight killed in shooting in Thai south Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 5:38am

Eight people were killed after unknown gunmen stormed into a prominent doctor's home in southern Thailand, but health officials Sunday ruled out any link to an insurgency in nearby provinces. Full Story

Election results cause clashes in Armenia, 8 dead Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 5:39am

Eight people died in clashes between police and opposition supporters that led the president to declare a sweeping, 20-day state of emergency, officials said Sunday. Police fired in the air and let off tear gas to break up Saturday's gathering of some 15,000 protestors upset over alleged fraud in the Feb. 19 presidential election. On Sunday, troops and armored vehicles patrolled the main streets of Armenia's capital. Full Story

U.S., Saudi Arabia jointly put pressure on Syria Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 5:46am

The United States and Saudi Arabia have jointly pressured Syria to end allegedly political interference in Lebanon, including the U.S. military deployment off the Lebanese coast, the Washington Post reported Saturday. Full Story

British soldier killed in rocket attack in Iraq Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 5:47am

A British soldier was killed in a rocket attack in southern Iraq, the defence ministry said. The soldier, who was attached to 903 Expeditionary Air Wing of Royal Air Force, was killed in the attack at an airport outside Basra, the ministry said Saturday. Full Story

Haniyeh's Office Hit by IAF Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 5:48am

The Israel Air Force demolished the office of Hamas PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in a Gaza air strike Sunday morning. The Hamas chiefs office was razed by three missiles from IAF helicopters during the pre-dawn hours. The building was empty at the time. Another office of Haniyehs, as well as a guard post outside his home, have been targeted over the last week. Full Story

Gunmen destroy mobile phone tower in Afghan south Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 11:01am

Gunmen have destroyed two mobile telephone towers in southern Afghanistan, a police officer said on Sunday, after Taliban insurgents warned operators to shut networks at night or face attacks. Full Story

40 Die in Northwestern Pakistan Bombing Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 12:22pm

A suicide bomber blew himself up Sunday at a large meeting called by tribal elders pushing for peace in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 40 people and injuring more than 100, witnesses and officials said. Full Story

U.S.: Al-Qaida leader in Mosul killed Posted on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 4:16pm

A U.S. military helicopter fired a guided missile to kill a wanted Saudi Arabian al-Qaida in Iraq leader who was believed responsible for the bombing deaths of five American soldiers, a military spokesman said. Full Story

Courtesy Terrorism Research Center, Inc.