Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 5

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Girl, 13, killed as Gunmen Abduct School Boy in Rivers

A 13-year-old girl was, Thursday, shot dead in Port Harcourt when she resisted attempts to kidnap an eight-year-old boy, Emmanuel Awosho, whom she was escorting to school. The boy has been identified as a son of an employee of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The police PRO disclosed that the gunmen shot the girl severally while she was resisting taking the boy away.

Total Staff, Catholic Priest Abducted

The increasing spate of kidnap of Oil workers continued in Port Harcourt, as one Ngozi Ile, a worker with Total was, penultimate Sunday, kidnapped by unknown gunmen, who are asking for N10 million as ransom. This was followed on Monday with the kidnap of a Catholic priest and former Chairman of the Universal Basic Education in Rivers State, Reverend Father Pius Kii. Father Kii regained freedom on Wednesday, just as Catholic Priests enjoined the state government not to pay any ransom, while militant warlord, Ateke Tom, gave the kidnappers a 48-hour ultimatum for the release of the priest. Details of the release remained sketchy. Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Mrs. Rita Abbey, confirmed the incident.

Port Harcourt Airport Downgraded

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has downgraded the Port Harcourt International Airport from grade eight to seven, citing lack of adequate fire fighting equipment to serve wide-body aircraft during an emergency until the airport meets the condition specified by NCAA. It also gave 21-day ultimatum to FAAN to upgrade fire facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to avoid its downgrade.

CPC Destroys fake Products at Aba Market

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Wednesday, raided the Cemetery Road market, popular  for provisions in  Aba, Abia state and seized fake products estimated at over  N100 million. The council said the raid came after six months of surveillance. The raid was led by the Council’s Director of Surveillance and Enforcement, Dr. Fred Ifechi, backed by policemen. However, before the team arrived at the market, some shop owners fled and abandoned their products. Three young women working for the fakers, were however, arrested.

Robbery: JTF Raids 10 Communities in Abia

Residents of 10 villages in Abala Community, Obingwa LGA of Abia State, have allegedly been sacked from their homes by operatives of the Joint Task Force JTF). The troops were said to be carrying out a reprisal over a bullion van robbers, who overpowered security agents and burnt five of their operational vehicles on January 20. Armed robbers, who attacked a bullion van on Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, were said to have gone to a farmland on the outskirts of the community, to share their loot. But the JTF authorities have denied raiding the village, even as it claimed that the communities were notorious in crime.

Lecturer, Daughter Killed in Awka

A female lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, simply identified as Dr. Okoli, and her daughter were killed in their home in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Sunday. Though details of the events surrounding the killings were still sketchy on Sunday, the killers were said to have invaded her home and hacked them to death. The Director of Public Relations of the university, Mr. Emma Ojukwu, confirmed the incident but said he was still trying to get details about the incident.

Halliburton to Pay $559m over Bribery Scandal

United States energy services group, Halliburton, has agreed to pay $559 million to settle federal charges for its employee’s bribing of officials in Nigeria. The settlement, still awaiting formal approval from the US Department of Justice (DoJ), would be the biggest fine by a U.S. company in a bribery case. The investigation stems from the construction of a giant liquefied natural gas plant on the Nigerian coast near Port Harcourt from 1996 through the mid-2000s.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

50 Crude Oil Dumps Destroyed in N'Delta

The media Coordinator of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Colonel Rabe Abubakar said, penultimate weekend, the JTF has destroyed 50 crude oil dumps in large plastic and metal tanks and seven illegally run refineries along the bank of the river running through Obi-Ayagha in Ughelli, Delta state. Abubakar revealed that two wooden bunkering boats loaded with AGO and crude oil, were intercepted at loading point along the river, along with several drums and jerry cans filled with petroleum products were among the items recovered. He said six suspects were arrested.

Three Suspected kidnappers Arrested, Killed in Delta

Nemesis caught up with three suspected kidnappers in Effurun, Delta State on Tuesday barely few hours after they abducted a Lebanese working with a construction firm, Niger Cat Nigeria Limited. An AK-47 rifle, a shot pump action gun and unspent cartridges were recovered from the suspects. The suspects were arrested at a neighbouring Okuokoko community, where they were hiding the foreigner. It was the first time a foreigner would be abducted in the state in last one year. But in a turn-around incident, the bodies of the arrested suspects were found dead at the corner of a street in the early hours of Wednesday. Details of their death remain a mystery.

N-Delta Leaders Threaten Legal Action over FG Appointments

Niger Delta leaders under the auspices South-South Elders’ Forum have protested the appointments of northerners as minister of petroleum resources and the group managing director of NNPC and vowed to institute legal action against the Federal Government for the lopsided appointments, which defied the principle of the Federal Character.

Four Die, 3 Injured in Auchi-Benin Road Accidents

Four persons were weekend killed while three others seriously injured in a road accident that occurred along the Benin-Ehor-Auchi road. Eye witness said that the accident occurred as one of the vehicles was overtaking another vehicle at a sharp bend and suddenly ran into an oncoming vehicle.

5 Suspects Nabbed over Pa Odivwri’s Murder

Five persons, believed to have had a hand in the kidnap and murder of Pa Jacob Odivwri Edjesa, have been nabbed in Delta State. Police sources said the suspects would be arraigned soon as investigations are concluded. Pa Odivwri, 82, was kidnapped from his bedroom, in Emonu-Orogun, Delta State, on December 16, 2008, and his corpse found within the neighbourhood, six days after the kidnap.

Nine Die in Auto Accidents on Lagos-Benin Road

About nine persons were feared killed in two accidents which occurred on the Lagos-Benin Road, penultimate weekend, with eight others severely injured. The zonal sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission in Benin, Mr. Zakari Ndah, who confirmed the accidents, attributed the cause to route violation and driving against traffic on the part of the driver of the Mercedez Benz.

Divert N444bn Security Vote to N’Delta Ministry —IYC

The Ijaw Youth Council on Monday called on the Federal Government to divert the N444bn security vote on the Niger Delta to the new Niger Delta Ministry as a sign of its commitment to the development of the region. The IYC said since there had been no major crisis in the region in the previous year, the FG should give the money to the Niger Delta Ministry to fortify its budgetary allocation.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Tanker Drivers Begin Strike

Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) in Lagos, Thursday, embarked on a strike action to protest the seizure of four trucks attached to Total Nigeria Plc for allegedly siphoning fuel from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines and dispensing same to a Total Filling Station.  Zonal Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, reported that about seven tanker drivers were being detained over the Total face-off, even after relevant documents had been shown to prove that the products were duly lifted for PPMC depots. Consequently, he said the tanker drivers will not lift products until their members are released.

Tanker, Trailer Drivers for Reorientation

The Lagos state government says it is set to re-orientate tanker and trailer drivers in the state to reduce loss of lives and property. Several oil tankers have fallen on the road or caught fire in the last few months in the state, leading to serious traffic jams and deaths. In its bid to sanitise the transportation industry, the state government is holding a one-day seminar to address decorum and safety.

Pipeline Vandalism: NNPC, Total Trade Blames

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Total Oil Nigeria Plc are trading blames over a pipeline vandalism, which occurred along Mile 2 – Badagry Expressway, penultimate weekend. The Pipeline Products and Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of NNPC, said they trailed a foot path, which led to a hose that leads to a nearby Total Filling Station, while Total accused the NNPC, the Police and Civil Defence Corps of shielding the actual perpetrators of the vandalism. Meanwhile, the Police have arrested the Station Manager of the filling station, Mr. Edhwru, and three others.

Apprentice Tailor Stabbed To Death

A 29-year-old apprentice tailor, Taofeek Ajisafe, has been stabbed to death in Lagos by a suspect, Okechukwu, who is currently being detained by the Police. Trouble started when the suspect and one of his friends, identified as Lekan, disagreed over an issue. The deceased was said to have told the quarrelling duo not to come near him, Okechukwu allegedly used a chisel in his hand to stab Taofeek.

Police, Army Clash In Ikorodu

Pandemonium broke out at Agric Bus Stop, Ikorodu, Lagos, when some soldiers, attached to the 174 Battalion, Odogunyan, clashed with some policemen, from the Owutu divisional headquarters that were on patrol. Trouble started when the soldiers, in a vehicle stopped by the police team, were discovered to have 50-litre jerry cans of petrol in the booth of their car.  When asked to explain where they got it from, the soldiers got angry and they attempted to move, but one of the policemen raised his gun. This action forced further anger the soldiers and one of them took the gun from the policeman, fired into the air, which caused a commotion. It took the effort of the DPO of Owutu station to calm down the soldiers before the gun was returned to him.

Arsonists Set the News Editor’s Residence Ablaze

The Ado-Ekiti residence of the Managing Editor of The NEWS magazine, Mr Babafemi Ojudu, was, Penultimate Sunday night set ablaze by unidentified arsonists. The suspects were believed to have thrown the fire from the rear with the extension which houses many artefacts totally razed down. Ojudu appealed to the people of the state to allow the police conduct their investigation and refrain from making comments that may pre-empt investigation saying government is on top of the situation.

Police, Robbers in Gun Battle

var sburl1528 = window.location.href; var sbtitle1528 = document.title; Policemen in Lagos, weekend, engaged a 10-man robbery gang in a shoot-out while the robbers were said to be carrying out a house-to-house robbery operation at a street, in Ijaiye Ojokoro area of Lagos, resulting in the arrest of a suspected member of the gang. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, said a locally made pistol with 20 live cartridges was recovered. Mba said that the suspect is helping the police in their investigation.

Woman Strips to Protest Rape By Policemen

A woman, Queen Okoye, went naked at the Area ‘G’ Police Command in Ogba, Lagos, in protest over allegations that she was raped by three policemen attached to the division, when she had gone to solicit their support to recover some money from her boyfriend. She alleged that they asked her to wait until late in the night when the suspect would be at home. They then charmed her and she became unconscious, and when she recovered, at about 2.30 am, she discovered that she had been raped and blood was dripping from her vagina. The Area G. Commander, Mr. Mobolaji Odesanya (ACP), stated that if the allegation was true, the lady should report the incident to him, promising to bring the culprits to book.

Lagos Okays New Measure on Traffic, Security

Another step was taken on Tuesday by the Lagos State government to free the state of traffic jams and enhance security. Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) ordered that all streets with gates should be opened so that traffic can flow better, lamenting that the security purpose for which most of the gates were erected in the first instance had been defeated since it had not reduced the spate of armed robbery in the areas.

WHO Confirms New Polio Cases in Lagos

There were fears on Tuesday among health officials that the country might fail to eradicate the Wild Polio Virus (WPV) in the near future with the confirmation of three WPV cases in Lagos State by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Meanwhile, the Minister for Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, has said that polio would be eradicated in Nigeria in the next one year.

Ondo Boosts Security System

An Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-driven security system and intelligence gathering mechanism to provide round-the-clock surveillance for selected spots in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has been launched by the state government. Designed to assist security agencies in monitoring activities through installed Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at hidden strategic places, the system is expected to achieve a significant reduction in crime rate and improve the capacity of law enforcement agencies in tracking down criminals.

GENERAL

Aviation Fuel Now N86 Per litre

Aviation fuel marketers have agreed to a 44 per cent cut in the price of JET-A1. Aviation fuel will now sell for N86 instead of N156 and N170 per litre. The marketers' action was the outcome of a series of consultations among members of the House of Representatives, local airlines, oil industry regulators and the marketers.

Families of Victims of Extra-Judicial Killing, Others Seek Justice

Families of victims of police brutality and extra-judicial killings on Thursday demanded justice and appealed to the government to order the release of the bodies.  The aggrieved families deplored the inhuman activities of the security agents and restated the call for the reform of the police.

Reps Pass N3.087tr Budget

The House of Representatives, Thursday, passed the 2009 budget, recommending the sum of N3.087 trillion budgets for the year. The Senate had in December, 2008 passed its own version of the budget put at N3.04 trillion. Both chambers of the National Assembly will have to harmonise the two versions of the budget before presenting a common version for presidential assent.

FG Revokes 2 Oil Blocks

The Federal Government has cancelled an oil exploration deal it signed with a Korean Consortium, according to statements issued on Thursday by the consortium. The Korean consortium is now exploring legal option against the Federal Government to seek redress over the cancellation of its exploration rights at two major offshore oilfields awarded to the consortium in 2005. The cancellation of the rights is a gain for India’s top energy explorer, Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), as the Federal Government restored its right as the winning bidder for the two highly prospective deep-water oil exploration rights in the Gulf of Guinea.

Nigeria, Sao Tome Worry over Oil Exploration Delay in JDZ

President Umar Yar'Adua and his counterpart from Sao Tome and Principe, Fradique de Menezes, have registered their displeasure about the delay in oil explorations from the Joint Development Zone (JDZ). The duo said that they would put pressure on oil firms to forge ahead with exploration in the zone jointly operated by both countries. They said that licensing agreements were in place for four of six blocks in the zone but that there were still some unresolved issues over rights to the two remaining blocks.

15 Footballers Die in Jos Road Accident

Fifteen footballers of the Jimeta Football Club, Yola, including their coach and another official, lost their lives, when their bus crashed into a gully while near the road, along Hawan-kibo Hill, close to Jos city. The players who left Jos on Sunday morning ran out of luck when the bus driver lost control while trying to manipulate through the notorious corners along the hill.

Anenih Appointed NPA Chairman

Former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, has emerged Chairman of the Board of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) as the Federal Government announced the reconstitution of the governing boards of some federal institutions and agencies on Monday.

Nigeria, Potential Dumping Ground for Toxic Waste – Customs

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Monday, said that it could not effectively monitor the influx of different kind of chemicals into the country through the nation’s borders, owing to lack of technical capabilities. The Acting Comptroller-General of NCS, Dr. Bernard-Shaw Nwadialo, said that this could make the country a dumping ground for toxic waste. He said that the service had made proposal for the establishment of chemical testing laboratories at the borders eleven years ago but such had not been approved by the necessary authorities.

Oil Workers Reject New Fuel Price
States shut stations over N65 rate

Discordant tunes have trailed the N65 per litre of petrol announced by the Federal Government recently. And unless the matter is promptly settled, oil workers, who have rejected the price, seem set for a showdown with the government. The workers, who described the new pump price as still too high, said it was the unilateral decision of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). Already, state governments have begun shutting down filling stations that were still selling the product at the old price of N70 per litre or above. To address this, the FG agreed to raise a committee to address the complaints advanced by the two oil industry unions––National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

Police Vow to Deal with Erring Officers, as Junior Officers Threaten Strike

As Junior Police Officers threatened a strike action nationwide over outstanding issues, the Police Authorities on Tuesday vowed to deal decisively with anyone who attempts to rubbish the force. It warned “the threat of a strike has its consequential effect of outright dismissal. The Junior Police Officers had given the Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, 21-day’s ultimatum to release the names of short listed candidates for the commencement of the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) course in Jos without delay or face a strike action.

Nigeria wants US to Back African Standby Force, Dump AFRICOM

Citing a lack of conceptual clarity surrounding the United States African Command (AFRICOM), Nigeria says it will be in the interest of Nigeria and the US if the US gives a nod to the idea of the African Standby Force (ASF) being put together by the African Union (AU) to deal with political crises on the continent, and abolish the idea of AFRICOM. Nigeria also wants the various existing multi-sectoral bilateral agreements to be implemented in order to boost relations between both countries.

Agency Shuts 13 Stations in Edo, Taraba Over Fuel Price

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is moving round the country to enforce the fuel price cut to N65 per litre, even as the product dealers remain adamant. From its clampdown on erring retail outlets, the DPR was shocked to discover that major marketers were the worst offenders. The DPR had to shut down 13 filling stations across Taraba and Edo states for selling above the N65 per litre rate.

Reps Give Military, Police, Others Conditions for Use of siren

The House of Representatives, Wednesday, gave conditions under which the military and the police could use siren in the country. It also removed deputy governors from the list of personalities that are eligible for possession of diplomatic passports. In the new directive, the military can only use siren in the period of war, civil commotion or situation warranting urgent intervention, while the police could only use siren when pursuing criminals and other similar situation warranting urgent intervention.

U.S. Names Nigeria, Others in Fresh Illicit Deals

American investigators have detected a pattern of foreign firms using bogus business consultants to facilitate bribery and corruption abroad, including Nigeria, where official sources indicated that most of the over 100 cases being probed by the U.S. government are found. Sources close to the United States (U.S.) Justice Department disclosed that Nigeria has come up the most in the probes set up by the American government based on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Nigeria, China Seal Deal on New Satellites

Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat-1) and its Chinese technical partners, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), have sealed a deal for the replacement of NigComSat-1, which became faulty last November and the building of two other satellites - NigComSat-2 and NigComSat-3. Officials of NigComSat said at the weekend that the reason for the building of two additional satellites was principally to serve as backup and forestall a situation where businesses crash along with a failed satellite.

Immigration Arrests Four Suspected Human Traffickers, 61 Victims

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) have arrested four suspected human traffickers along with 61 victims, between ages 16 and 18, to be trafficked to Europe and some North African countries at Banki, a Borno border town with Cameroun. The leader of the four suspects, Osagie Agbiagbe, confessed to the immigration officials that, he has been in the business of helping many young Nigerians find jobs and other economic opportunities in foreign countries.

Army to Withdraw from Jos

The Nigerian Army has said that it would withdraw its troops from the streets of Jos over the next few days.  The new General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 3 Armoured Division, Jos, Maj.-Gen. Saleh Maina, said this, but several Jos residents have kicked against the move, alleging that there is an arms build-up in the troubled town. Maina claimed that the security situation had improved in Jos, hence the decision to withdraw the army troops, to be replaced by policemen.

New Helmsman is Sworn in at Yobe, as Governor Dies in Florida

The deputy governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam, has been sworn-in as governor of the state, following the death of the erstwhile governor, Senator Mamman Ali. The late Governor died on Monday while away on a medical check up in far away Florida, USA.

Agency Rescues 2,537 Trafficked Persons

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) rescued 2,537 victims in 2008. Its Executive Secretary, Mrs. Carol Ndaguba, also disclosed that 24 traffickers were convicted, while sixty cases are still pending in court. She said the agency would focus more on awareness and rehabilitation of victims this year, noting that the agency did well on prosecution and arrests last year.

INTERNATIONAL

UN Launches $613m Appeal to Help Gaza Resident

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, on Thursday launched a 613 million dollar ($613m) humanitarian appeal to provide emergency aid to the people of Gaza in the aftermath of Israel's military offensive in the region. The money is needed to provide food, water, shelter, health care and other assistance after the conflict which left at least 1,300 dead, and caused widespread destruction in the area.

Iraq Bars U.S. Security Firm over Civilian Deaths

Authorities in Iraq have moved to bar Blackwater Worldwide from providing security protection for United States (U.S.) diplomats because its contractors used excessive force, sanctioning a company whose image was irrevocably tarnished by the 2007 killings of 17 Iraqi civilians. The move will deprive American diplomats of their main protection force in Iraq. Blackwater allegedly has a reputation for aggressive operations and using excessive force in protecting American officials.

AU Chief Accuses ICC Court of Selective Justice

Ahead of the African Union (AU) heads of state meeting next week, the body's Chairperson, Jean Ping has launched a blistering attack on the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of seeking to perpetuate the myth that Africans government and leaders are inherently criminal and incapable of any good. He accused the ICC of selective justice as it had so far failed to take decisive action on leaders in the West, who have committed worse crimes that some African leaders are being accused of.

Africa Union Moves against Coup Plotting

African leaders due to meet in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia next week are expected to brainstorm on the resurgence of military coups on the continent and propose new measures to deal with erring persons. African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ramtane Lamamra, said the continent's Peace and Security Council (PSC) has forwarded a proposal to the AU Commission on measures that should be taken against coup plotters.

Hutu Rebels Clash with Congo-Rwanda Force

Congolese Hutu rebels said on Sunday they had clashed for the first time with a Rwandan-Congolese force deployed to crush them and civilians expressed fears they would be caught up in the violence. Congo's army said late on Saturday the joint force had killed nine rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) in two days of fighting in violence-ravaged North Kivu province. Congo's United Nations peacekeeping mission has so far been unable to confirm the army's statement.

Israel Promises Troops Legal backing over Gaza war

International calls to investigate Israel over alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip, Monday, prompted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to promise military personnel state protection from foreign prosecution. The military censor ordered the media in Israel to blur the faces of army commanders in photos and video footage of the Gaza war for fear they could be identified and arrested while travelling abroad.

Imminent Retooling in NNPC Triggers Job Loss Fears

Fear of imminent job loss has gripped workers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), following a reorganisation exercise initiated by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman. The delay in the exercise, aimed at re-positioning the entire oil and gas industry, as a commercial self-sustaining industry, has given rise to lobby from different quarters over who should be retired or appointed in the new dispensation.

Afghans Protest against U.S. on Civilian Deaths Report

Thousands of Afghans protested against President Hamid Karzai and the United States over reports of fresh civilian deaths caused by U.S.-led troops during a raid against Taliban militants. Issue of civilian casualties is sensitive in Afghanistan and has eroded public support for Karzai's government and the foreign troops backing it. The U.S. military said on Saturday that troops, backed by air support, had killed 15 militants in an overnight operation, but a Karzai adviser investigating the deaths said that 16 civilians were killed in the operation.

Israel Resumes Gaza Bombings

Prompted by the killing of two Israeli soldiers at Gaza border on Tuesday, Israel carried out an air attack in the Gaza Strip and launched an incursion with tanks and bulldozers across the border barely a week after ceasefire was brokered. Israel resumed bombings and airstrikes in Gaza even as the United States President, Barrack Obama’s envoy on Middle East, Mr. George Mitchell, travelled to the region to facilitate the on-going peace process. Israeli officials said Israel had closed border crossings into Gaza because of the attack on the patrol, stopping the flow of aid supplies to Gaza's 1.5 million residents.

Zimbabwe's Opposition Rejects Unity Govt Deal

The opposition in Zimbabwe has dismissed Southern African leaders' declaration that the country's rival parties had agreed to form a unity government. Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders were pushing, Monday, for a unity government, agreed to four months ago, that leaves Mugabe as president and creates a new prime minister post for Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader. South African President Kagalema Motlanthe, chairman of the SADC, said that the opposition had agreed to the coalition government.

Sri Lanka Captures Last Rebel Stronghold

Sri Lankan forces have announced the capture of the Tamil Tigers' last major stronghold in the country's north, leaving the remaining rebel fighters confined to the tiny slice of jungle they still control. Sri Lankans greeted the news with wild jubilations. While the major conventional battles appeared to be over, analysts said the army had a hard fight ahead of it to finish off the rebels, who are reportedly holed up in the nearby jungles among hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced by the fighting. Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) has voiced concern over Sri Lankan fighting, saying "many" civilians have been killed.

OPEC Predicts Decrease in Oil Demand

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said that demand for its crude would fall by 4.2 per cent this year as the deepening recession reduces spending on fuels. According to its monthly report released recently, the 13 oil country cartel said that consumption of crude was likely to shrink by 1.4 million barrels a day to 29.5 million barrels a day in 2009. That level of demand is 720,000 barrels less than it predicted last month.

Obama Reverses Bush's Climate Policies, Seeks U.S. Oil Independence

United States (U.S.) President, Barack Obama, has begun reversing former President George W. Bush's climate change policies with steps to raise fuel efficiency standards and grant states authority to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars. Obama called for U.S. energy independence, saying reliance on foreign oil and global warming posed threats to the country.

Congo Warlord Denies War Crimes, as Child Soldier Testifies

Former Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga has pleaded not guilty to charges of using child soldiers, at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He faces six charges of recruiting and using hundreds of children aged fewer than 15 to fight in DR Congo's brutal five-year conflict, which ended in 2003. Meanwhile, a former Congolese child soldier recanted his testimony, forcing the Court adjourned for consultations. The young man had told the court that armed troops plucked him off the street but later said “That is not what I intended to say.”

Sudan Launches Fresh Air Strikes in Darfur

The Sudanese military has launched an assault on insurgents’ positions in South Darfur, according to a rebel group.  The Justice and Equality Movement said the attack had targeted the town of Muhajiriya, which war planes reportedly also bombed last weekend, the British Broadcasting Corporation stated on Monday. Peacekeepers said explosions and war planes had also been heard around the North Darfur capital of El Fasher.

New Clashes Kill 12 in Pakistan

At least 12 people have been killed in two days of fighting between troops and militants in Swat in north-western Pakistan, officials and militants say. The killings in Swat, a former tourist resort, come amid rising tensions in the area. Hundreds of people have died in battles between security forces and militants led by local cleric, Maulana Fazlullah. Those killed in the latest fighting in the Kabal area of Swat are reported to include eight militants who were shot dead on Sunday morning.

Man Kills Wife, Five Kids, Himself After Being Fired

A man apparently despondent about losing his job, allegedly killed his wife and five children before turning the gun on himself, officials said Tuesday. Ervin Lupoe apparently called 911 and contacted a television station before committing suicide, authorities said.