CONFLICT & TERROR 03/25

Gas leak in Singapore mall puts 18 in hospitalPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 8:23am

A leak of an unknown gas in a Singapore shopping centre on Monday sent 18 people to hospital complaining of breathing difficulties, a government official said. Full Story

Protest as Olympic torch is litPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 8:45amA lone protester managed to breach the tight security during the Olympic torch lighting ceremony in Greece Monday. The man rushed behind the podium as China's Olympic chief was speaking. He tried to unfurl an unidentified banner, but was quickly apprehended by security who escorted him away. Full Story

Dutch anti-Koran film's Web site shut downPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 9:13am

A Web site promoting a Dutch lawmaker's film critical of Islam has been suspended by its host company after the firm received unspecified complaints about its content, the company disclosed Sunday. "This site has been suspended while Network Solutions is investigating whether the site's content is in violation of the Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy," the company said in a posting on the Web site set up to promote the film. "Network Solutions has received a number of complaints regarding this site that are under investigation." Full Story

250 Tibetan protesters detained in NepalPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 9:15am

Nepali police have broken up an anti-China rally by Tibetan exiles in Kathmandu, detaining 250 protesters in the latest in a series of demonstrations. Police holding plastic shields dragged the protesters into iron-meshed vans and trucks and drove them to detention centres, witnesses said. Full Story

Pakistan sets to elect new Prime MinisterPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 9:16am

Pakistan is set to elect on Monday Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani as the country's new Prime Minister, the man considered as strong opponent to President Pervez Musharraf. Full Story

Hopes fade for sailors trapped underwaterPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 9:20am

Eighteen Ukrainian sailors were feared dead Monday after they were trapped underwater in their capsized tugboat in Hong Kong for nearly two full days amid strong currents, rescue officials said. The sailors would have survived 12 hours since the accident late Saturday based on the current water temperature of 17 degrees Celsius (63 Fahrenheit) at the 37-meter (120-feet) depth of the wreck, Roger Tupper, director of Hong Kong's Marine Department, told reporters Monday. Full Story

Austrian hostage deadline looms as Mali sends more troops into regionPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 9:24am

A deadline to secure the release of two Austrians believed to be held in northern Mali drew closer Sunday, as the African nation sent more troops to battle rebels in the volatile region. More Malian troops were deployed as the security situation in the north has deteriorated following further clashes on Saturday with Tuareg rebels. Since Thursday at least eight people, five of them civilians, were killed by landmines and 33 soldiers were abducted by the rebel forces. Full Story

Five Afghan deminers shot deadPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 9:34am

Gunmen killed five Afghan mine clearers in an ambush on their convoy in northern Afghanistan, their UN-funded company said on Monday, in one of the bloodiest attacks on non-government workers in months. Full Story

SKorea wants its POWs in exhange for aidPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 9:40am

South Korea's president has asked North Korea to consider sending home prisoners of war and captured civilians in return for receiving humanitarian aid from Seoul. Full Story

Bhutan goes to polls to end absolute monarchyPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 10:39am

The secluded Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan was on its way to becoming the world's newest democracy Monday, as voters cast ballots to select a parliament and end more than a century of absolute monarchy. Full Story

Drunk passenger causes emergency landing in PolandPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 10:40am

A Lufthansa passenger jet made an emergency landing in the southern Polish city of Katowice on Monday after a drunk, unruly passenger began shouting that he was a terrorist, border guards said. The middle-aged, Russian-speaking passenger offered no resistance when an anti-terrorist squad boarded the plane to remove him, border guard spokesman Cezary Zaborski said. The passenger was due to be questioned later when he sobered up. Full Story

Spain's interior minister predicts long period of violence from ETAPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 11:39am

Spain's interior minister says the country is headed for a long period of violence from Basque separatist group ETA. Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba believes ETA has been dramatically weakened by years of arrests and a lack of support, and will seek to give an appearance of strength by staging attacks. Full Story

Arrests at Belgian Nato protestPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 12:46pm

Police in Belgium have detained about 150 demonstrators as they tried to climb security fences outside Nato headquarters in Brussels. Organisers of the protest said they wanted to draw attention to what they called Nato's role in promoting war. Full Story

Thousands 'still hit by floods'Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 12:48pm

More than 10,000 people are still unable to return to their homes after last summer's flooding, figures obtained by BBC Radio 5 Live suggest. Councils in England confirmed around 5,000 households remained affected, but added many may not be on lists because they rented or stayed with relatives. Full Story

Pakistan's new prime minister frees detained judgesPosted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 2:50pm

To thunderous applause from fellow lawmakers and a packed visitors gallery, the newly chosen prime minister of Pakistan on Monday immediately released all the judges detained by President Pervez Musharraf when he imposed emergency rule last year. Full Story

Blast kills soldier from NATO force in Afghanistan Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 8:04am

An explosion killed a soldier from NATO-led forces in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said in a statement on Friday. Violence has surged in Afghanistan in the last two years, with some 6,000 people killed in 2007, the deadliest year since U.S.-led and Afghan forces toppled the Taliban in 2001. Full Story

Major earthquake strikes sparsely populated western ChinaPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 8:10am

A major earthquake struck western China early Friday, but there were no reports of casualties. The 7.2 magnitude quake hit at 6:33 a.m. (2233 GMT Thursday), about 140 miles (225 kilometers) southeast of the city of Hotan in southwest Xinjiang province, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. Full Story

Thai police abandon Bangkok blast probePosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 8:17am

Thai police have given up their investigation into deadly bombings across Bangkok on New Year's Eve in 2006, saying that they had failed to find any clues to the culprits. Full Story

Bhutan gears up for historic general electionPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 8:25am

Bhutan plans to seal off its borden with northern India this weekend as a precaution ahead of Monday's historic general election. In the past three months, the usually peaceful Himalayan kingdom has been rattled by a handful of blasts largely claimed by rebel groups based in nearby Nepal. Full Story

Pakistan shuts down 3 radio stationsPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 8:28am

Pakistani troops shut down three FM radio stations Friday and arrested eight employees after the stations aired a speech by a pro-Taliban cleric, the military said. Weapons, ammunition, audio cassettes and "provocative literature" were seized, and troops dismantled the stations' transmission equipment, the military said in a statement. Full Story

Sporadic clashes in Sri Lanka claim 30 more lives: militaryPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 8:33am

Sporadic fighting across Sri Lanka's war-torn north has left at least 29 Tamil Tiger rebels and one government soldier dead, the defence ministry said Friday. Full Story

Suspected Abu Sayyaf rebel killed in S PhilippinesPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 8:43am

The Philippine military on Friday morning clashed with a handful of members of the extremist group Abu Sayyaf in southern Philippine province of Sulu, killing at least one rebel, local Tv channel ABS-CBN News said. Full Story

Peace talks on Cyprus to restartPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 8:58am

The Cypriot president and the Turkish Cypriot leader have agreed to resume peace talks on reunifying the island. The deal was struck at a meeting between Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat in Nicosia - the first such high-profile talks since 2006. Full Story

Greece passes pension reform billPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 9:06am

Greece's parliament has narrowly passed the conservative government's controversial pension reform bill that triggered mass public protests. The bill passed with 151 votes in favour, 13 against and 136 abstentions. Full Story

Police uncover bomb stash likely dumped by ETAPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 10:00am

A garbage bag containing more than 10 kilos of explosives found by a walker in the province of Ciudad Real this week was probably dumped by Basque terrorist group ETA, Spanish counterterrorism officials said Thursday. The explosives, which police said consisted of around 10 kilos of ammonal and 1.5 kilos of a chlorate-based compound, were stashed in two old lunchboxes inside the bag along with a jumble of wires, batteries and what appeared to be a timer. Some of the material had been stamped with ETA's snake and axe logo. Police suspect that the explosives stash was dumped by ETA sometime during 2005 before the group declared and then broke a ceasefire in 2006. Full Story

China: Separatists behind jet crash plotPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 10:33am

A failed attempt to crash a commercial jet in China was an act of sabotage by foreigners seeking independence for the country's Xinjiang province in Central Asia, the region's top politician said in comments published Thursday. Full Story

Taliban release video of German who targeted US Afghan basePosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 10:40am

German-born Cuneyt Ciftci, also known as Saad Abu Furkan, blew himself up in a delivery truck near a US base in the Sabari district of Khost province on March 3. Full Story

France to reduce nuclear warheadsPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 11:05amPresident Nicolas Sarkozy has said France will reduce its number of airborne nuclear weapons by one third. Mr Sarkozy said the reduction to fewer than 300 missiles would leave France with "half the maximum number of warheads we had during the Cold War". Full Story

Brown criticised over embryo billPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 11:31am

The leader of the Catholic church in Scotland has urged Gordon Brown to rethink "monstrous" plans to allow hybrid human-animal embryos. Cardinal Keith O'Brien will use his Easter Sunday sermon to launch a scathing attack on the government's controversial proposals. Full Story

Clinton pulls out of conferencePosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 11:39am

Former US President Bill Clinton has pulled out of a conference in Belfast next month to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. President Clinton was to attend the event on 10 April along with other key players in the 1998 agreement. Full Story

Millions strike in Greece to protest plan to overhaul pensionsPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 11:55am

Millions of Greeks walked off their jobs Wednesday in a show of defiance against a pension overhaul. The national strike - the third since December - capped nearly a month of labor unrest that has brought power blackouts, heaps of uncollected garbage and transport disruption. Full Story

Germany warns China Olympics at riskPosted on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 1:43pm

Germany's foreign minister has warned China that its response to the crisis in Tibet may jeopardize the Summer Olympics in Beijing, a newspaper reported on Friday. Frank Walter Steinmeier criticized the Chinese government's lack of transparency in the ongoing conflict, according to an interview with the newspaper Bild that will appear in Saturday's edition. Full Story

Several thousand demonstrate in Amsterdam against anti-Quran filmPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:04pm

Demonstrators of all races and colors crowded Amsterdams central square Saturday, braving wind and sleet to show their opposition to anti-immigration lawmaker Geert Wilders. Full Story

Pakistan's New Leaders to Hold Talks With Militants, NYT SaysPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:05pm

Pakistan's new coalition government will hold talks with militants believed to have carried out suicide bombings and will use military force as a last resort, the New York Times reported, citing political party leaders. Full Story

Iraqi Shiites Given Grim WarningPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:06pm

Shiite leaders warned followers in Friday prayers to brace for more violence following a gruesome attack by a female suicide bomber earlier in the week and continued clashes between Iraqi security forces and followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Full Story

Tigers sink Sri Lanka craft, heavy land battles eruptPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:06pm

Tamil Tiger rebels struck back against a mounting Sri Lankan military offensive on Saturday by sinking a naval fast attack craft, leaving 10 sailors missing, officials said. Full Story

US military says hits Al Qaeda propaganda unitsPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:07pm

The US military said on Saturday it had hampered Al Qaedas ability to recruit new members in Iraq by capturing or killing many of the people who make slick videos used to attract disaffected young Muslims. Full Story

Peru says Chavez backs domestic revoltPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:08pmHugo Chavez has been accused of using Venezuela's oil riches to meddle in Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia and Nicaragua. Now, Peru's president says the Venezuelan leader may be doing it here by funding militants and anti-poverty centers that preach populist revolution. Full Story

Bhutto party names Gilani as Pakistan PM candidatePosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:09pm

Slain former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto's party on Saturday named ex-parliamentary speaker Yousuf Raza Gilani as prime minister candidate. Full Story

Clashes end at Palestinian refugee camp in LebanonPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:10pm

Quiet returned to Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp on Saturday after a ceasefire between Islamic militants and fighters of the mainstream Fatah faction ended heavy clashes. Full Story

Police clamp down on Kurdish protests in TurkeyPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:11pm

Dozens of people were injured and scores detained as police used truncheons and tear gas to break up violent Kurdish protests in several Turkish cities on Saturday, media reports said. Full Story

Serbian minister proposes Kosovo's ethnic division to UNPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:12pm

A Serbian minister proposed the ethnic division of Kosovo to the UN mission in the disputed territory which proclaimed independence from Serbia last month, a newspaper reported on Saturday. Full Story

China posts wanted list for TibetPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:14pm

Chinese authorities have issued a list of 21 people wanted for their alleged role in anti-China riots in the Tibetan city of Lhasa last week. Full Story

Three U.S. soldiers die in Iraq, toll nears 4,000Posted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:15pm

A roadside bomb killed three U.S. soldiers in Iraq on Saturday, pushing the U.S. death toll closer to the 4,000 mark at the start of the sixth year of the war for U.S. troops. Full Story

Ecuador warns tension with Colombia could worsenPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 5:17pm

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa warned on Saturday that diplomatic tension with Colombia will rise if an Ecuadorean was among the dead in a bombing raid on a rebel camp inside its territory this month. Full Story

Cuba condemns criticism of ChinaPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 6:09pm

Cuba on Saturday rejected criticism of China for its crackdown on recent riots in Tibet, which has led to calls for a possible boycott of this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. Full Story

Over 100 anti-war protesters arrested at NATO HQPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 8:22pm

Around 100 anti-war protesters were arrested trying to force their way into NATO's headquarters in Belgium on Saturday, police said. Full Story

Palestinian talks in Yemen seen stalledPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 8:23pm

Reconciliation talks between Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas appeared to have stalled on Saturday, as the two sides wrangled over proposals about the future of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Full Story

London newspaper owner 'kidnapped by Russian far right'Posted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 8:40pm

The search for a missing millionaire executive of a UK newspaper has entered its second week after Latvian police failed to make any headway on his disappearance last week. Full Story

US amends Kenyan travel warningPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 9:27pm

The United States has amended a travel advisory cautioning against travel to parts of Kenya, saying threats of violence have "dramatically receded" following a political power-sharing deal. Full Story

Gunmen kill 5 in attack on Mexico policePosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 9:46pm

Suspected drug cartel gunmen killed five people in an attack on a police station in central Mexico and during their subsequent escape, authorities said on Saturday. Full Story

Colombia's Rebels Face Possibility of ImplosionPosted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 9:47pm

Hungry, desperate and afraid for his life, Pedro Pablo Montoya shot the commander he was supposed to protect. He then severed the commander's right hand -- as proof he'd killed one of Colombia's most wanted men -- and deserted the once-powerful rebel group to which he had pledged allegiance. Full Story

France expected to send extra troops to AfghanistanPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 2:07am

France is tipped to promise 1,000 extra troops for international forces fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, as President Nicolas Sarkozy moves his country closer to its NATO allies ahead of a key summit. Full Story

Green Zone hit by barrage of artilleryPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 2:08am

The heavily fortified Green Zone was hit by a sustained barrage of rocket or mortar fire early this morning, one day after a roadside bomb killed three American soldiers north of the capital, pushing the US death toll in the five-year conflict to nearly 4,000. Full Story

Heavy fighting reported in Sri LankaPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 3:18am

Ferocious battles raged in Sri Lanka's embattled north over the weekend as security forces tried to break into territory held by Tamil rebels, the two sides said Sunday. Full Story

Dozens of militants killed in Afghanistan: defence ministryPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 3:18am

Dozens of Taliban militants were killed in an operation by Afghan and NATO forces in troubled southern Afghanistan, the Afghan defence ministry said Sunday. Full Story

At least 42 killed in attacks across IraqPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 4:03pm

A suicide car bomber penetrated tight security to strike an Iraqi military base on Sunday in the deadliest of a series of attacks that killed at least 42 people across Iraq. In Baghdad, the U.S.-protected Green Zone came under heavy fire by rockets or mortar rounds. Full Story

Dutch anti-Koran film's Web site shut downPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 4:04pm

The Web site where Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders was promoting his not-yet-released anti-Koran film has been suspended by its U.S. hosting service. Full Story

China protest draws hundredsPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 4:04pm

More than 1,000 protesters took to the streets of Toronto today to denounce China's occupation of Tibet. Full Story

Mali battle hinders hostage effort, deadline nearsPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 4:07pm

Fighting between army and rebel Tuareg nomads in remote northern Mali is complicating efforts to free two Austrian tourists held hostage deep in the Sahara ahead of a Sunday midnight deadline to meet al Qaeda demands. Full Story

Egypt releases 33 Hamas members, holds onePosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 4:08pm

Egypt released 33 members of Hamas who had been detained after Palestinian militants breached the border in January, security sources said on Sunday. Full Story

Kurdish man dies in clash with Turkish policePosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 4:09pm

A Kurdish man was killed on Sunday during clashes with Turkish police in the southeastern city of Yuksekova, hospital officials said, in the second day of violence between Kurdish demonstrators and police. Full Story

India test fires nuclear-capable missilePosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 4:14pm

India on Sunday test fired a medium-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile capable of hitting most targets in neighbouring Pakistan, a defence official said. Full Story

Green Zone attack originated in Sadr City, say witnessesPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 4:46pm

A barrage of rockets hit the Green Zone  landing near the US Embassy  in Baghdad on Sunday morning. Full Story

Pakistan to meet militantsPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 5:56pm

Pakistan's newly elected government will seek to negotiate with Islamic militants and demilitarise the campaign against them to end the violence racking the country, leaders of the major coalition parties who will take power next week have said. Full Story

Lebanon speaker says could call for crisis talksPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 7:37pm

Lebanon's parliament speaker said on Sunday he would invite rival Lebanese leaders for direct talks if an Arab summit in Syria this week failed to find a solution to the country's political deadlock. Full Story

Colombia defends hitting "terror" camp in EcuadorPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 7:38pm

Colombia sought to ease rising tensions with Ecuador on Sunday by saying its March 1 military raid into its neighbor's territory was carried out against a rebel camp used to launch terrorist strikes. Full Story

Sri Lanka claims 85 killed in fresh fightingPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 7:41pm

At least 80 Tamil rebels and five government soldiers were killed in fresh fighting as Sri Lankan security forces tried to break into rebel-held territory, the defence ministry said Sunday. Full Story

Musharraf vows to support new Pakistan governmentPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 7:47pm

President Pervez Musharraf on Sunday pledged his full support to Pakistan's new coalition government led by his political opponents, who have vowed to take on the embattled US ally. Full Story

Bomb attack hits U.S. fuel trucks at Afghan borderPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 8:09pm

Twenty-five trucks carrying fuel to U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan have been destroyed in a possible bomb attack on the Pakistani border. Officials say that dozen of people have been injured. Full Story

Hezbollah calls for Beirut rallyPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 9:01pm

Hezbollah is to hold a rally in Beirut to mark the end of the 40-day mourning period for its assassinated commander Imad Mughniyeh. Full Story

Sunni fighter looks to politicsPosted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 9:38pm

A pistol holstered to his hip and a Cartier watch on his wrist, Ali Hatem al-Suleiman is part of a new generation of leaders demanding a bigger role in Iraqi politics. Full Story

Courtesy Terrorism Research Center, Inc.