CONFLICT & TERROR 08/20

Twin car bombings hit Algerian hotel, barracks20/08/2008
http://www.aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=13786


Dozens dead in attack against Algerian police academyPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 6:37amThe Algerian Interior Ministry says a suicide car bombing targeting a police academy has killed at least 43 people and injured 38. Full Story

Ten French soldiers killed in AfghanistanPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 6:39amTen French soldiers were killed in battles with the Taliban near the Afghan capital, a French presidency source said Tuesday, as troops thwarted a second attack on a key US military base in as many days. Full Story

At least 23 dead in Pakistan hospital blastPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 6:39amA suicide bomber blew himself up at a hospital in a north-western Pakistani town that has been plagued by sectarian violence, killing at least 23 people, police said. Full Story

Pakistan coalition meets on Musharraf successorPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 7:59amLeaders of Pakistan's ruling coalition met Tuesday to discuss a replacement for President Pervez Musharraf and begin tackling both rising Islamic militancy and a spiralling economic crisis. Full Story

Zambia's president dies in French hospitalPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 10:42amZambian President Levy Mwanawasa died Tuesday at a hospital in Paris nearly two months after suffering a stroke, Zambian and French officials confirmed. Full Story

Military: U.S. soldier killed in Iraq rocket attackPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 10:43amThe U.S. military says an American soldier has been killed in a rocket attack on a military base in southern Iraq. Full Story

Tamil Tigers tacitly admit losing ground to Sri Lankan govtPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 10:45amSri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday tacitly admitted they were losing ground in the face of a major military offensive by warning that thousands of civilians in the north were at risk. Full Story

Iraqi soldiers storm Diyala governor's office, killing onePosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 11:27amIraqi soldiers stormed the governor's office in the restive province of Diyala before dawn on Tuesday, killing his secretary and firing on local police, the governor told AFP. Full Story

Gulf to replace import duty systemPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 12:43pmThe six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council plans to end its system of charging import duty for the country of final destination and may replace it with a simpler mechanism, a UAE official said. Full Story

Suicide car bomb kills 5 in western IraqPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 12:44pmA suicide bomber detonated a car bomb at a police checkpoint in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi on Monday, killing five policemen and wounding seven, police said. Full Story

Iran preparing to build more nuclear power plantsPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 12:46pmIran's official news agency says the country is preparing to build more nuclear power plants. Full Story

Iraq plans less intrusive security stance in NajafPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 12:48pmIraq is to install 300 closed-circuit television cameras in the Shiite holy city of Najaf as it seeks to adopt a less intrusive security stance in the pilgrimage centre, a provincial official said on Monday. Full Story

Israel warns activists against breaking Gaza blockadePosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 12:50pmIsrael has warned a group of pro-Palestinian activists sailing for the Gaza Strip to break a year-long blockade to steer clear of the territory, the Israeli embassy in Athens said on Tuesday. Full Story

10 French Paratroopers Killed in Ambush Near KabulPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 12:55pmIn unusually large and well-coordinated operations in eastern Afghanistan Monday, Taliban fighters killed 10 French soldiers and at least six suicide bombers attacked a base of NATO alliance troops, NATO and Afghan officials said Tuesday. Full Story

Fire breaks out at Egypt's parliamentPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 1:03pmA massive fire broke out at Egypt's upper house of parliament on Tuesday, injuring six people, police and fire department officials said. Full Story

India places $2 bn missile order with RussiaPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 1:15pmIndia has placed missile orders worth $2 billion with India-Russia military joint venture BrahMos, the firm's managing director was quoted as saying by Russia's Interfax news agency on Tuesday. Full Story

Russian soldiers take prisoners in Georgia portPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 1:19pmRussian soldiers took about 20 Georgians in military uniform prisoner at a key Black Sea port in western Georgia on Tuesday, blindfolding them and holding them at gunpoint, and commandeered American Humvees awaiting shipment back to the United States. Full Story

Polish government approves missile dealPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 1:28pmPoland's government gave formal approval to a missile defense deal with the U.S. on Tuesday before a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the deputy prime minister said. Full Story

Soft-drink bombs: SIMI's new weaponPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 1:28pmHaving used ammonium nitrate-based bombs to devastating effect in serial blasts across the country, the Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was experimenting with a new concoction using hydrogen peroxide to make liquid bombs. Full Story

Iran's satellite launch a dramatic failurePosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 3:20pmIran's attempt to launch a dummy satellite into orbit was a "dramatic failure" that fell far short of the country's assertions of success, a US official said on Tuesday. Full Story

Inflation fears send markets tumblingPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 3:22pmShares suffered a renewed battering on both sides of the Atlantic today as edgy investors took fright over the twin threats of stubbornly high inflation and further fallout from the credit crisis. Full Story

Sarkozy flying to Afghanistan after French deathsPosted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 12:58amPresident Nicolas Sarkozy prepared to fly to Afghanistan on Tuesday after 10 French soldiers were killed and 21 wounded in a clash with Taliban insurgents, and declared France remained committed to its mission there. Full Story

Pirates 'seize ship' off SomaliaPosted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 1:01amPirates have hijacked a tanker with more than 20 crew on board in the Gulf of Aden near Somalia, a global maritime watchdog has said. A distress signal was received and the ship is now thought to be en route to coastal waters near Somalia. Full Story

Pakistan to review anti-terror policyPosted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 1:06amPakistan will review its policy in the war on terror after former president Pervez Musharrafs departure. A key aim is to discourage people from turning to militancy by giving them greater social and economic support. Full Story

Medvedev commits to Friday pull-out as NATO feud eruptsPosted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 1:07amPresident Dmitry Medvedev has issued a fresh commitment to withdraw almost all Russian troops from Georgia before the weekend as NATO-Russia relations plunged to their lowest ebb in years. Full Story

Afghan War escalates with Taliban raidPosted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 1:10amTaliban insurgents mounted their most serious attacks in six years of fighting in Afghanistan over the last two days, including a coordinated assault by at least 10 suicide bombers against one of the largest American military bases in the country, and another by some 100 insurgents that killed 10 elite French paratroopers. Full Story

UN envoy set to meet Suu Kyi: partyPosted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 1:36amUN envoy Ibrahim Gambari was expected to meet Wednesday with Myanmar's detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, sources in her National League for Democracy (NLD) party said. Full Story

Suicide Attack in Algeria Kills DozensPosted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 2:54amAlgeria's Interior Ministry says a suicide car bombing in front of a police school near Algiers has killed more than 40 people and injured dozens more. Ricci Shryock has more from our West Africa regional bureau in Dakar. Full Story

Rebel commander declares 'all-out war' against PhilippinesPosted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 2:59amA Muslim rebel commander behind deadly raids in the southern Philippines declared on Wednesday an "all-out war" against the government, saying his fighters were willing to die in battle. Full Story

UK accused of Musharraf exit dealPosted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 5:09amOne of Pakistan's most prominent pro- democracy leaders, Aitzaz Ahsan, has accused a senior British diplomat of undermining his country's rule of law. He said Sir Mark Lyall Grant urged the government to reach a deal with former President Musharraf: his resignation in return for immunity from prosecution. Full Story

India airport strike hits flightsPosted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 5:10amMany domestic airline flights have been cancelled in India after some airport workers went on strike against the government's economic policies. The strikers, belonging to communist unions, are particularly opposed to the privatisation of airports. Full Story

Resilient Sunni stronghold tests Iraqi armyPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 5:45amTwo Iraqi soldiers stumbled out of the thick, black smoke, their faces bathed in blood that glistened in the sun. They clutched their heads, mumbling "Hamdullah" -- "Thanks to God."

They had survived the explosion. A third Iraqi soldier was being carried on an olive-green stretcher. He was unconscious, curled like a baby. Full Story

Pakistan's Musharraf announces resignationPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 6:42amPakistani President Pervez Musharraf said in a televised address to the nation on Monday that he had decided to resign. Full Story

Turkey, African countries begin cooperation summitPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 6:46amHeads of state and other dignitaries from African countries and Turkey started an economic cooperation summit in Istanbul on Monday. Full Story

Georgia: 'No Signs' Of WithdrawalPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 6:46amGeorgia's foreign affairs ministry said that the troops were moving south from the central city of Kashuri towards Borjomi and Sachkhere. Full Story

9 Afghan Civilians Killed in Suicide Attack in KhostPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 6:47amU.S. and Afghan officials say a suicide bombing outside a U.S. military base in eastern Afghanistan has killed nine Afghan civilians and wounded 13 others. Full Story

India fears Musharraf exit will unleash new tensionsPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 7:47amCoincidence or not, as Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's influence waned this year, there was a spike in firing across the Indian border, a bomb attack on India's Kabul embassy and diplomatic spats over Kashmir. Full Story

Russia promises 'crushing response' to any aggressorPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 7:48amRussian President Dmitry Medvedev, whose forces have rolled into Georgia in support of pre-Moscow separatists, warned on Monday that any further aggression against Russian citizens would face a "crushing response". Full Story

Experts say U.S. is losing its ability to patrol Arctic watersPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 7:59amA growing array of American military leaders, Arctic experts and lawmakers say the United States is losing its ability to patrol and safeguard Arctic waters even as climate change and high energy prices have triggered a burst of shipping and oil and gas exploration. Full Story

Shiite cleric killed, 17 wounded in Baghdad violencePosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 8:14amA Shiite cleric was shot dead and 17 people, mostly Iraqi policemen, were injured in a wave of bombings in Baghdad on Monday, security sources said. Full Story

Moscow says troops withdrawingPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 8:15amRussia said its troops began withdrawing from the conflict zone in Georgia on Monday, including the strategic central city of Gori, according to the peace plan that sought to end fighting has reignited Cold War tensions. Full Story

Arroyo: Defend every inch of Philippine territoryPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 8:17amPresident Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the police and military to defend every inch of Philippine territory against forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Full Story

Protesters march on U.N. offices in KashmirPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 8:37amTens of thousands of Muslims waving green and black protest flags marched through Indian Kashmir's main city on Monday and gathered in front of U.N. offices demanding freedom from India and intervention by the world body. Full Story

U.S. at risk of cyberattacks, experts sayPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 10:17amThe next large-scale military or terrorist attack on the United States, if and when it happens, may not involve airplanes or bombs or even intruders breaching American borders. Full Story

Pentagon doubts Iranian rocket test succeededPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 11:29amThe Pentagon does not believe an Iranian rocket test over the weekend was successful, despite reports in the official Iranian media saying the Islamic Republic had launched its first vehicle capable of placing a satellite in orbit. Full Story

Musharraf eased out of power, may go into exilePosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 11:30amPresident Pervez Musharraf was on Monday virtually forced out of power, resigning in the face of imminent impeachment to bring to an end nine turbulent years at the helm amidst speculation that he may be exiled to Saudi Arabia. Full Story

Jihadis shift attention to war in AfghanistanPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 11:52amIn the wake of setbacks suffered by Al Qaeda in Iraq, Afghanistan is becoming the preferred destination for Muslims, particularly from Arab nations, seeking to wage jihad against the West. Full Story

Thailand and Cambodia optimistic on border talksPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 11:52amThai and Cambodian leaders expressed optimism that a thorny border dispute around an ancient temple can be peacefully resolved through talks that begin Monday night. Full Story

Musharraf exit unlikely to undo militantsPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 12:19pmThe resignation of Pervez Musharraf removes a favorite bogeyman of Islamic militants both in and outside of Pakistan, but the government that forced him out is unlikely to change the policies that keep the jihadists fighting. Full Story

War reveals Russia's military might and weaknessPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 1:33pmRussia's lightning war against Georgia looks like a military triumph: An armada of Russian tanks easily crushed Georgia's modest army in a show of muscle intended to punish its U.S.-allied neighbor, scare others and reaffirm Moscow's influence on its former Soviet turf. Full Story

Argentine drug law plan sparks debate in slumsPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 5:21pmGovernment plans to decriminalize drug use are stirring controversy in Argentina's slums, where residents blame a crack-like drug called paco for fueling crime, violence and desperation. Children as young as 10 smoke paco in Ciudad Oculta (Hidden City), a ramshackle neighborhood in Buenos Aires. Full Story

Hit men kill 13 at party in Mexico tourist townPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 5:22pmSuspected drug hit men opened fire on a family gathering at a tourist town in northern Mexico killing 13 people including a baby. The masked hit men sprayed the party with bullets on Saturday as they drove past the dance hall where the family was gathered outside in Creel, Chihuahua state, near the U.S. border. Full Story

Venezuela to sign cement dealsPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 5:28pmVenezuela is proceeding with plans to nationalise its cement industry. Multinational cement firms Holcim and Lafarge will sign agreements with the country to transfer shares of their local subsidiaries. Full Story

Bomber Kills 10 on Afghan Independence Day Outside U.S. BasePosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 10:28pmAfghan leaders celebrated Independence Day with a small ceremony inside a fortified military compound, in marked contrast to the parade and public festivities a year ago and another sign that Taliban militants are bearing down on the government. Full Story

Bolivian Opposition Agrees to Meet With MoralesPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 10:37pmFive Bolivian opposition governors have agreed to meet with President Evo Morales in La Paz for a dialogue on the political crisis that threatens to divide the country. Full Story

Gunmen Ambush Bus in IraqPosted on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 10:40pmMasked gunmen ambushed a bus carrying election workers in southern Iraq on Monday, killing two of them, including an official known for resisting interference by Shiite religious extremists, authorities said. Full Story

Nukes unlikely to be affected by Musharraf leavingPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 12:06amPervez Musharraf's departure from the presidency is unlikely to have a significant impact on how Pakistan's nuclear weapons are controlled. Full Story

Suicide bombers attack US base in AfghanstanPosted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 1:47amOfficials say a team of suicide bombers have tried to storm a U.S. military base near the border with Pakistan. Six suicide bombers detonated their vests after being surrounded outside the base. Full Story

Sri Lanka fighting kills 56, rebel base capturedPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 11:24amAlmost 50 Tamil Tiger fighters and seven soldiers have been killed and an important rebel training base has been captured in fighting in Sri Lanka's north over the past two days, the military said on Sunday. Full Story

U.S.' Gates dismisses Russian warnings to PolandPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 12:15pmPentagon chief Robert Gates dismissed as "empty rhetoric" on Sunday Russian warnings that Moscow would target Poland for a possible military strike because Warsaw agreed to host part of a U.S. missile shield. Full Story

Taliban threaten more attacks on CanadiansPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 12:16pmThe Taliban issued an open letter to Canada Sunday saying more Canadians will be killed like the aid workers who were gunned down near Kabul last week if troops are not pulled out of Afghanistan. Full Story

88 die in Afghan violence; police deploy in KabulPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 12:17pmAfghan police commanders on Sunday ordered 7,000 officers onto the capital's streets, including the country's youngest cadets, to secure Kabul ahead of Independence Day celebrations. Full Story

2 bombs explode in Spanish resorts; no injuriesPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 12:47pmTwo small bombs blamed on Basque separatist group ETA exploded at tourist resorts in southern Spain on Sunday, authorities said. No injuries were reported, but more than 10,000 people were evacuated from a harbor area. Full Story

Regional security body to deal with Zimbabwe crisis: MbekiPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 12:48pmSouth African President Thabo Mbeki said a regional body on security issues will discuss Zimbabwe's crisis on Sunday after the end of the Southern African Development Community summit. Full Story

In 8 months Mexico drug-linked killings top 2007 totalPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 1:18pmDrug-related violence in Mexico killed 2,682 people across Mexico since the start of the year, more than all of 2007 (2,673), with nearly half occurring in northern Chihuahua state, El Universal daily reported Saturday. Full Story

Weapons smuggled into Mexico fuel drug warsPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 1:19pmHigh-powered automatic weapons and ammunition are flowing virtually unchecked from border states into Mexico, fueling a war among drug traffickers, the army and police that has left thousands dead, according to U.S. and Mexican officials.Full Story

Pakistan weak as militancy surgesPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 1:19pmMian Azif has stood praying by his older brother's hospital bed every night since the father of four was wounded by a suicide bomber who killed eight people and injured 30. Full Story

US drawdown raises security fears in Iraqi cityPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 2:01pmA series of bombings in this small but strategic northwestern Iraqi city is stoking fears of a return to sectarian conflict here and raising questions about a strategy of handing urban security to Iraqi police. Full Story

Suicide bomb kills 15 at Baghdad checkpointPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 2:48pmA suicide bomber on a motorcycle struck a checkpoint manned by U.S.-backed neighbourhood guards in Baghdad on Sunday, killing 15 people and wounding 29, police said. Full Story

Grenade kills 2 at Azerbaijan mosquePosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 4:15pmA grenade exploded during evening prayers at a packed mosque in Azerbaijan's capital Sunday, killing two people and injuring up to eight others, police said. Full Story

Iran launches satellite carrierPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 5:01pmIran says it has successfully launched a rocket capable of carrying its first domestically built satellite. Officials said only the rocket had been fired, correcting state media reports that the communications satellite itself had been sent into orbit. Full Story

Gunmen kill 13 at party in northern MexicoPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 5:20pmMexican authorities say gunmen killed 13 people at a family party in the border state of Chihuahua. Full Story

Sudan court sentences 8 Darfur rebels to death for attackPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 6:17pmA Sudanese court convicted and sentenced to death two senior members of a Darfur rebel group and six others for their role in an attack near the capital three months ago, court officials and a lawyer said Sunday. Full Story

As violence grows, Afghan police ordered to secure KabulPosted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 6:19pmAfghan police commanders on Sunday ordered 7,000 officers onto the capital's streets, including the country's youngest cadets, to secure Kabul ahead of Independence Day celebrations. Full Story

Chavez calls Georgia's leader a US 'puppet'Posted on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 8:00pmVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he considers Georgia's leader a "puppet" of Washington and is backing Russia in its conflict with the former Soviet republic. Full Story

Courtesy Terrorism Research Center, Inc.