Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 9

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Army Raids Militant Camp

Nigeria's army raided a militant camp in the oil-producing Niger Delta on Friday, recovering arms and ammunition in what it said was part of an offensive to flush criminals out of the creeks. Colonel Rabe Abubakar, spokesman for the joint military taskforce (JTF), said the camp in the state of Bayelsa had belonged to criminals who were behind attacks on oil facilities, soldiers and civilians.

Gunman Attacks Agip Helicopter

A gunman in Bayelsa state, Wednesday, shot at a helicopter travelling to an oil facility operated by Agip Oil Company, but the aircraft landed safely, the military said.  Lieutenant-Colonel Nkana Efik, commander of the joint military taskforce (JTF) in the state, said the helicopter was travelling to the Tebidaba oil flow station operated by Agip when it was hit by a single shot.

10 Cultists Feared Dead As JTF Swoops On Cult Initiation

Ten members of a suspected cult group are feared to have drowned in the Elelenwo River following a raid by security men, penultimate Sunday.  Eye witness said the victims were among others believed to be undergoing initiation rites when members of the Swift Operation Squad, SOS and the Joint Military Task Force, (JTF) swooped on them.  In the stampede that followed according to our source, 10 of them made for the river and drown as they could not swim.

Gunmen Engage JTF Troops in Fresh Shootout in Bayelsa

Gunmen, suspected to be working for some oil thieves, penultimate weekend engaged the troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta in a shoot-out at the National Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Terminal in Bayelsa State. According to the JTF reports, some of the gunmen escaped with injuries. Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of the Task Force (JMCC), Colonel Abubakar Rabe, who confirmed the shoot-out, said the troops were deployed to guard the Twon-Brass Terminal of the company.

UN Team Promises Quick Clean-Up of Ogoniland

The Technical Team of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has promised to complete the cleaning up of the impacted sites in Ogoniland in good time. The team, led by the Director of UNEP, African Regional Office, Mr. Mounkaila Goumandakoye, spoke when it met with the members of the Presidential Implementation Committee on the Clean-Up Ogoni project.

MEND Claims Fierce Fighting With Military

There has been fierce fighting between the militant camp of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, in Ke River, Rivers state and the Joint Task Force, JTF. This is just as the militants claim responsibility for the attack of a Nigerian Agip Oil Company helicopter, in Tebidaba, Bayelsa state. Although the Commander of the JTF in Bayelsa state, Colonel Nkana Efik, confirmed the attack on the Agip oil helicopter, he, however, was silent on the alleged fighting between JTF and the militants. The Spokesman of MEND, Jomo Gbomo said that the JTF attacked one of their camps in Ke River, with three gunboats.

Six Militants Killed in Bayelsa

Men of the Nigerian Army on Thursday invaded the camp of Woki Godswill Ibralayu (a.ka) Kitikata who last week attacked the multi-billion dollar Brass Oil Terminal belonging to Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC). Six militants were reportedly killed during the invasion, but Kitikata himself escaped with gun wounds. The Joint Task Force (JTF) invaded the Ewoama community base of the ruthless killer who murdered three soldiers along the Nembe Creek in July last year. Kitikata and his men were caught off guard as the soldiers over-ran their camp. Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Center (JMCC) of the JTF, Col. Rabe Abubakar, confirmed this.

Five Killed in Fresh Round of Shooting in Bayelsa

Five persons were feared dead in Yenogoa, the capital of Bayelsa State on Friday when two armed groups engaged themselves in a prolonged shootout. Eye-witnesses said sporadic shootings started on Friday at the Kpansia primary school field.  No group has owned up to the shootings as at the time of this report. The Joint Task Force (JTF) joined the police to wade off the gunmen suspected to be cult groups. Corpses of the victims were taken to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) mortuary by the police. Mr. Ibonkete Iniobong, the police image-maker in the state, who confirmed the incident, however, said the situation was under control as the police had taken control of the area.

MEND Threatens to Sabotage Sahara Gas Pipe

Nigeria's main militant group on Saturday threatened to sabotage a multi-billion dollar plan to pipe Nigerian gas to Europe across the Sahara desert, a scheme that has attracted EU and Russian energy majors. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which has shut down more than a fifth of Nigerian oil output since launching attacks on the industry three years ago, warned that the planned project would be a target.

Kidnappers Abduct CBN’s Deputy Gov’s Mother in Imo

The aged mother of the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Ernest Ebi was kidnapped Saturday night by unknown persons from her residence in Imo State.  Madam Ebi said to be over 70 years, was kidnapped by a six-man gang,  who stormed her home at about 7 pm Saturday in two unmarked private cars, a Toyota Cressida and a Mazda.

SPDC to Resume Production Activities in Bayelsa

Residents of Obotobo community in Egbema clan of Ekeremo LGA of Bayelsa State have given their nod to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) as it resumes production activities in the state. The SPDC, which shut down its Ogbolobo- Agbaya flow stations since 2006 due to the youth restiveness, has now concluded plans to commence production activities. The community spokesmen Bomiagba Geoffrey, who disclosed this, however condemned the action of the miscreants that blasted the Agbaya well head due to obvious misinformation. Geoffrey also stated that SPDC promised not to compromise quality as they go about community development projects.

Woman, Student Kidnapped in Port Harcourt

Two people, Madam Amala who owns Amazing Grace Farms and a final year student of Madonna University, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejuku, were penultimate weekend kidnapped in separate incidents in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. While Madam Amala was allegedly abducted by gunmen in front of her residence, Ejuku was kidnapped from his father’s compound in the full glare of wailing family members whose pleas fell on deaf ears. Both kidnaps were confirmed by the Spokesman of the Joint Task Force in Rivers State, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa, who said every effort was being put in place to ensure the release of the victims.

N’Delta: Stakeholders Urge Militants to Embrace Peace

Some stakeholders of the Niger Delta have urged militants in the region to sheath their sword and support the efforts of the Federal Government for lasting peace in the region. The speakers also identified insensitivity to the plight of the people of the region by past administrations as responsible for the escalation of hostilities, particularly against the oil exploration companies in the area.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Eight Killed In Cult Clash In Edo

Two days of clashes between rival cults in Edo state have left at least eight people dead, Edo police spokesman Peter Ogboi, confirmed on Thursday. Earlier media reports hold that 15 people, mostly students of the University of Benin and Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma were killed in the clashes on Monday and Tuesday. However Ogboi said those involved in the clashes were not students but "street cult members", adding that police reinforcements had been deployed to contain the violence.

JTF Hails Conviction of 13 Filipinos

The Joint Military Task Force (JTF), Tuesday, commended the Federal High Court’s ruling that sentenced 13 Filipinos to 65 years in prison for crude oil theft. JTF spokesperson Col. Rabe Abubakar said the judgment has vindicated the task force. The 13 foreigners were arrested on November 14, last year aboard a vessel, MT AKUADA, with 12,000 metric tones of illegally bunkered crude oil off the coast of the Niger Delta. They were arrested around the Escravos River in Warri South West LGA of Delta State by JTF troops, and later handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Gunmen Kill 8 Soccer Fans

Eight fans of Ocean Boys Football Club of Brass, Bayelsa state, were killed, penultimate Saturday, on their way to Ughelli in Delta state to watch a match between their club and Bayelsa United Club of Yenagoa. The fans were attacked at noon a few kilometers to the Ughelli township stadium. A survivor, Yenima Yousua, said that the fans, about 14 in number, were in an 18-Seater bus when occupants of a Jeep painted black, opened fire on them. Mr. Samuel Obiora, Area Commander of Delta Central Police Command, who was at the hospital, confirmed the attack and said the police have begun investigation into the matter.

Gunmen Threaten Crew Members over Seized Barges

In Delta State, some gunmen trailed a of the crew members of the MT Adamawa, a Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Warri vessel used by the JTF in towing some barges seized from oil thieves to his residence in Warri with a view to eliminating him. It was learnt that before the siege on the vessel, the crew members who worked with the JTF to bring the impounded barges to Warri were threatened on their return voyage from Forcados by hooded gunmen.

NPDC Discovers Huge Gas Fields in Edo
•Oil output hits 63, 000 barrels per day

Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has confirmed that it has discovered three fields with huge gas deposits at Oredo near Benin in Edo State.  It was also learnt that NPDC has increased its output from about 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 63, 000bpd. The oil is mostly coming from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 119 and other small marginal fields. The Managing Director of the NPDC, Mr. Kunle Olaosebikan, who disclosed, said the present drive would help to reposition the company as a national oil company (NOC), which could compete with other international players.

N300m Oil Theft: EFCC Arraigns 6 Ghanaians, Nigerian

Six Ghanaians and their Nigerian accomplice who were arrested last December for illegal oil bunkering were on Tuesday arraigned at a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). All seven suspects pleaded not guilty to a two count charge of conspiracy and illegal dealing in 4,000 metric tonnes of crude oil, illegally bunkered in a vessel of 3,800 metric tonnes and 400 cubic metres, marked MT HOPE. The case has been adjourned to 19 March, 2009, for consideration of bail application and commencement of trial, while the suspects are presently being remanded at the Benin prisons.

Five Suspected Kid-Robbers Caught In Benin

Five suspected kid-robbers have been paraded by the Edo State Police Command for allegedly stealing a bus. They are between ages 10 and 12. The bus was reportedly kick-started with a pair of scissors, and it was driven by one of the suspects for more than five hours. The suspects said they decided to take possession of the bus when one of them complained that it belongs to a driver he had worked for. The driver, he alleged, refused to pay him after the day’s work.

JTF Boss Advocates Total Eradication of Illegal Bunkering, Seeks FG Support

The Commander of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Brig.-Gen. Wuyep Rimtip, has said peace can only be restored if illegal crude oil bunkering is eradicated.  Rimtip said that Militancy thrives because militants take part in illegal bunkering and use the proceeds to acquire arms. The commander noted that the act is meant to cripple the nation’s economy through revenue loss and cost of repairing damaged facilities. He further urged the Federal Government to commit resources to the fight against illegal bunkering to curb militancy and ensure the resumption of unhindered operations by oil multinationals.

Nigeria Oil Exports Rise in April, Exceed OPEC Target

Nigeria’s crude oil exports were expected to rise to about 1.88 million barrels per day (bpd) in April from 1.70 million bpd in March, reports indicate. The expected April export figures exceed the implied target of 1.67 million bpd set by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that came into effect on January 1. Loadings of six Nigerian blends were up by one cargo compared to March, with Forcados crude expecting an extra three.  Around 285,000 bpd of Forcados crude were expected to be shipped in April, up by 100,000 bpd from March.

Police Arrest Suspected Killer of Nursing Mother

Police in Benin have apprehended the suspected killer of a nursing mother, Mrs. Helen Arhia 35, who died after she was hit on the head with a pestle on Tuesday, February 3, 2009. Admitting the killing, Omo Onozuze, 22, now in police net, stated that he took a pestle and hit her several times on the (deceased’s) head, leading to her death on the spot, and that his motive was just collect the money he thought she had in her bag.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Police Recover 159 Cans Of Petrol From Alleged Vandals

The police in Lagos recently paraded four suspected vandals for siphoning petroleum products. The suspects deny being vandals, claiming that they were sleeping close to a creek at the Bariga area, when police swooped on them. The suspects further claimed that they were six persons arrested but that police had given bail to two. They alleged that they were only being paraded because they couldn’t pay for bail. According to the police, Anti-robbery men were on patrol when they smelt fuel coming from the direction of the creek, and decided to check out the source of the smell. They found six men sleeping and surrounding them were 159 50-litre kegs, filled with substance suspected to be fuel.

Kidnappers Free Portuguese Engineer

A Portuguese engineer who was kidnapped in southwestern Nigeria was released after spending three weeks in captivity, his family and Portuguese officials said Wednesday. Jose Luis Rosa, an engineer with the construction firm Picolo, had been working on a road project in Ondo state when he was kidnapped by armed men on February 7. The office of the secretary of state for Portuguese communities confirmed the man's release, but it did not say how he was freed.

Robbers Kill Three, Injure Two in Abeokuta

Dare devil armed robbers Tuesday evening struck in Abeokuta killing no fewer than three persons with two others suffering gun shot injuries. One of those injured was a former General Manager of the Ogun State Television, Mr. Jare Dada. Three persons were feared killed during the raid. The bandits, who shot sporadically into the air, allegedly carted away an undisclosed amount of money. Eyewitness accounts also said they stole four vehicles during the operation. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, denied knowledge of the robbery attack.

Bomb: Osun AC Leaders Remanded in Prison Custody

Osun State Chairman of Action Congress (AC) Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, the party secretary, Prince Gboyega Famodun, and the Director of Publicity to Rauf Aregbesola Campaign Organisation, Mr. Gbenga Fayemiwo,   have been remanded at the Ilesa Prison custody on the order of an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly bombing Osun State Government Secretariat, Abere.  But AC gubernatorial candidate in the 2007 election, Rauf Aregbesola, condemned the decision of the court, alleging conspiracy with the ruling party in the state. Aregbesola also called on the Federal Government to set up an independent probe panel to unravel the mystery behind the bomb blast in the state.

15 feared Killed In Ugbo Crisis

Fresh crisis over the Olugbo of Ugbo stool in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State, Wednesday, claimed not less than 15 lives and destroyed property worth millions of naira and houses razed. There have been series of clashes in Ugbo over who occupies the stool, following the deposition of Prince Adebanjo Mafimisebi by the Supreme Court in 2007. The crisis peaked when some traditional rulers in the community proclaimed the chairman of Obat Oil, Prince Eniti Akinruntan as the Olugbo-elect.  A source said the crisis began at noon when Akinruntan drove into the town, proclaiming himself as the monarch.

GENERAL

Murder Case: Police Defy Court Order

The Police in Abuja on Monday defied the order of a Federal Capital Territory  High Court that a forcefully arrested witness in a murder case, Mr. Adeyemi Oni, be produced in Court unfailingly and alive. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mike Okiro, also ordered to produce and bring his commissioner in charge of FCT command, Mr John Haruna, before the court to explain the rationale behind the shooting in the court premises did not do so.  Oni, who was arrested by mobile policemen shortly after giving unfavourable evidence in a police case, was not brought to the Court as ordered.  The Police rather asked the court to vacate the order on Police because the earlier order was difficult to obey.  The court will rule on the issue on March 3 when trial will resume.

Oil Firms to Pay N222.45 Trillion

The House of Representatives adhoc committee investigating operations in the oil sector in the last nine years has directed oil companies to pay outstanding signature bonuses amounting to $1.483 billion (about N222.45 trillion) within six weeks or have their oil blocks' licenses revoked. According to the report as at August 31, 2008, the number of oil blocks awarded from 1999 stands at 45 from which 13 have a total of $648.2 million signature bonus outstanding. The report also said that on the remaining 32 oil blocks, an additional $835 million was due and recoverable from delayed payment and understatement of signature bonus.

Mercuria Energy Partners Nigeria on Oil Sector Development

Mercuria Energy Group, one of the world's five largest private oil and petroleum products traders, has opened its Nigerian operations office with a pledge to partner with other stakeholders in developing the sector. Spokesman of the organisation, David Ensor, expressed delight at the development, adding that as a growing market, Nigeria could be tapped for the benefit of other countries. Mercuria Energy Group Limited is an international group of companies that has been active over a wide spectrum of global energy markets, including crude oil and refined products, petrochemical products, natural gas, power, vegetable oils, and carbon emissions.

Aircraft Engineers May Shut Down Nigeria’s Airspace

The National Association of Aircraft Engineers (NAAE) has resolved to withdraw its services from the airports in protest against disparity in allowances. Consequently, the association has warned local and international airlines operating in Nigeria not to fly into the country's airspace as from Thursday when the seven-day ultimatum that the union handed down to government expires.

Sokoto Speaker's Convoy Kills Man and Drives Off

The callousness and outright disregard for other road users by the political office holders was once again brought to the fore Saturday afternoon as the convoy of the Speaker of Sokoto State House of Assembly hit a vehicle along Keffi Road, killing one of the occupants and leaving the other in critical condition. The survivor called on the government to put an end to the reckless killing of innocent citizens by those who are supposed to protect them. It would be recalled that a similar incident occurred a year ago in one of the North Central states where the convoy of a top government official rammed into a pregnant woman, killing her on the spot.

FG Removes Subsidy on Petroleum Products

Following the recommendation of the presidential steering committee on global economic meltdown, the federal government, Thursday, approved the deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector.  The government also said it would be considering privatising the country's four refineries because it was not ready to put in any more money as a result of leakages in the system.  It has also stopped further subsidy on petroleum products, saying it could no longer bear the burden. Another decision taken was the review of the current template used by the pricing agency, Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), which the government said has been compromised.

NNPC Signs Modified Carry Agreement With IOCs

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has signed a ``Modified Carry Agreement'' to the tune of $1.69 billion with Shell Petroleum development Company, (SPDC), Total and Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), designed to finance their joint venture upstream project in Gbaran-Ugbie, in Bayelsa state. The three oil giants are operating in Nigeria under a joint venture arrangement with NNPC, in the NNPC/SPDC/TOTAL/NAOC joint venture.

Bauchi Religious Crisis Claims 11

Police in Bauchi, Penultimate Sunday, confirmed that 11 people were killed during the religious crisis which engulfed the state capital the previous day. Mr Mohammed Barau, the State Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the figures, also said that seven persons arrested in connection with the crisis were helping in the investigation.  The two churches were burnt by irate youths even after the state governor had imposed a 6pm to 6am curfew in the affected areas. The crisis was caused by a disagreement over a parking space between a Church and a Mosque at the Federal Low Cost Housing Area of Bauchi metropolis.

EU to Boost Nigeria Aid, Assist in Security

The European Union plans to boost aid to Nigeria in the next five years with a large portion aimed at supporting the OPEC member's security forces, a senior European official said on Friday. The EU has proposed increasing its financial grants to Africa's most populous country to 580 million euros through 2013, up nearly 30 percent from the existing aid package of 450 million euros, said Denis Thieulin, head of development for the European Commission in Nigeria. As part of its aid package, the EU could for the first time provide funding for training and technical assistance for Nigeria's police and military deployed both within the country and abroad on peacekeeping missions in Africa.

6,000mw: NNPC Guarantees 2bn Cubic Feet of Gas Daily

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced specific plans to deliver about two billion cubic feet of gas daily to support the delivery of the 6000mw of power targeted by the federal government by end of 2009.  In another development, the NNPC on Tuesday signed a $1.691billion joint venture agreement with Shell Producing Development Company for the Gbaran Ugbie gas project in Bayelsa State.

Police Commissioner Arrested For Extortion, Abuse of Office

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Force Criminal Investigations Department, Annex, Adeniji-Adele Road, Lagos, Mr. Keffas T. Gadzama, has been arrested. Gadzama was arrested following petitions written against him across the country, most of which bordered on alleged gross abuse of office, fraud, conspiracy, forgery and abuse of public trust. Sources said that the police chief was arrested with some members of his team.

Economic Meltdown Forces NNPC to Review Projects' Costs

All agreements on major projects in the oil sector, which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) entered into with its key partners, are to be reviewed. The corporation, Tuesday, said that the action was informed by constraints in funding the prime projects as a result of the present global economic crunch. To keep the projects on course, NNPC said that it had adopted austerity measures in its capital expenditure and reviewed the cost of the affected projects. NNPC Group Managing Director, Mohammed Barkindo, said the corporation's response was similar to measures taken by its contemporaries in the face of the global economic crisis.

Investors Jittery over Oil Sector Reform Bill

The delay in the passage of the Oil and Gas Sector Reforms Bill by the National Assembly is slowing investments as potential foreign investors are said to be jittery over the shape the reforms will take when the bill is finally passed into law. Investors also are said to be concerned about the spate of revocation of oil contracts signed during the last administration and needed to be reassured that the Federal Government is capable of providing a stable regulatory regime.  This is just as the Federal Government said for the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry to attract substantial investment and introduce healthy competition that will guarantee availability and affordability of petroleum products, the sector must be fully deregulated.

Shell Warns FG Over Energy Reform Plans

Ann Pickard, the head of Royal Dutch Shell in Africa, has warned the Federal Government that uncertainty over a planned radical programme of reform in the oil and gas industry was slowing investment. Oil companies are particularly concerned by the contents of a new Petroleum Industry Bill which they fear will significantly increase the amount of taxes they have to pay to the Nigerian government. Pickard said Shell was in favour of the government’s plan to restructure the NNPC, but said questions over the future shape of the tax regime were hurting new investment.

Total Expresses Interest in $12bn Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline Project

French oil giant, Total, has expressed interest in participating in the $12 billion Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project. With the execution of the project, Nigerian gas is expected to get to the European market by 2015. Already, Niger Republic had been admitted as a co-sponsor of the pipeline project, which is about 4,400km long, while Russian gas giant, Gazprom and the Algerian National Oil Company (SONATRACH) had indicated interest in the project. Managing Director of Total Exploration and Production in Nigeria, Guy Maurice, said the pipeline would be a long-term strategic investment for Nigeria, adding that “Total is ready to be involved in this project”.

Suspected Ritualists in Gombe Pluck out Woman’s Eye, Kill 18-month-old Baby

The right eye of a female corpse in Gombe, the Gombe State capital was recently plucked out by unknown person, creating panic that ritualists have made their way to the state. Officers and men of the Gombe State Police Command have swung into action to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the right eye of the dead woman. In another part of the State an attempt was made to steal an 18-month-old toddler, Deborah Gayauna Phinehas, in front of her parents’ house. The toddler later died in the hospital due to severe injuries inflicted on her during the attempt to steal her.

Police Promote 3,178 Inspectors to ASP

The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Mike Okiro, has announced the promotion of 3,178 inspectors to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) as approved by the Police Service Commission (PSC) with effect from January 1, 2009. Okiro urged those promoted to see their promotion as a motivation which calls for more commitment in service. Meanwhile, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea has pledged to partner with the Nigeria Police in unarmed combat training, information technology, fingerprints technology and e-policing.

INTERNATIONAL

74 Die In China's Mine Blast

Seventy-Four workers were confirmed dead and dozens trapped underground after a gas blast penultimate Sunday at a colliery in northern China, the worst accident... to hit the nation's mines in over 14 months. More than 400 workers were on the job when the predawn explosion ripped through the mine, the official Xinhua news agency reported. A number of victims died after being rescued

OPEC Implements 65% of Output Cuts

Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said at the weekend that its members have implemented nearly two-thirds of the production cuts of 4.2 million barrels per day (bpd) agreed last September.  In its monthly market report, the Vienna-based oil producers' group also indicated further reduction in its global demand estimates for 2009.  OPEC members, excluding Iraq, have reduced their total oil output by 2.7 million bpd so far, 64.7 percent of the volume they agreed to cu back in two tranches since last September.

South Korea Accuses North of Deploying More Missiles, Troops

North Korea has completed deployment of new medium-range missiles and expanded its military to 1.2 million, according to South Korea, calling the threat from its neighbour "direct and serious."  The intermediate-range missiles can travel up to 3,000 kilometres (1,860 miles) - enough to cover most of Asia - and carry a warhead of up to 650 kilogrammes (1,430 pounds), Seoul's defence alleges.  This comes as the North steps up threats against the South and continues apparent preparations to launch its longest-range missile.

Somali Pirates Free 18 Filipino Seamen

Somali pirates have released a Japanese-owned oil tanker with 18 Filipino seamen on board. Bayani Mangibin, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman, said the Filipinos were among the 23 crewmen of MT Chemstar Venus seized by heavily-armed men last November in the Gulf of Aden in Somalia. Five of the crew members are Koreans. With this development, 35 Filipino crewmen on board two ships remain in the hands of Somali captors. Mangibin said he was not aware of any ransom payment, reiterating that the government would never pay ransom nor negotiate directly with kidnappers as a policy. But owners of ships are said to have paid huge amounts to secure the release of their ship and crew. Meanwhile, a Turkish frigate set sail Tuesday to join an international coalition against Somali pirates.

FBI: Mumbai Attacks Possible In The US

Attacks that killed 172 people in Mumbai in November last year could happen in the United States, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director, Robert Mueller, has warned. Mueller said the Mumbai attacks showed that terrorists "with large agendas and little money can use rudimentary weapons to maximize their impact." He added that although Al-Qaeda remains a threat to the United States, US officials "must also focus on less known terrorist groups, as well as homegrown terrorists. He stated that the FBI is also concerned with pockets of people that identify with Al-Qaeda and its ideology even as some may have little or no actual contact with Al-Qaeda.

13 Die as Insurgents Attack AU Forces in Somalia

In the heaviest fighting in the Somali capital, Mogadishu for weeks, about 13 people were, last week, killed and scores wounded as Islamist rebels attacked police and African Union (UN) peacekeepers.  Workers at the city's main hospital said about 45 wounded had been admitted. The Islamist group al Shabaab said it would mount more attacks on the AU troops after killing at least 11 Burundian soldiers. Meanwhile, the new Somali foreign minister, Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar, said that the rebel attack should not distract the world's attention from other encouraging progress for Somalia.

Iraq Claims U.S. Soldier Killed by Terrorist, not Policeman

The deaths of a U.S. soldier and an Iraqi interpreter Tuesday in Mosul were carried out by a terrorist dressed as a policeman, according to Iraqi officials, disputing U.S. military accounts. The shooting took place in Nineveh as U.S. troops met with Iraqi police at a police station. Initial reports suggested four U.S. soldiers and their interpreter were killed, but the U.S. military later said the four were wounded, but one later died of his injuries. Maj. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf, a spokesman for Iraq's Interior Ministry, confirmed that an interpreter was killed. Khalaf said Iraqi security forces know the assailant and where he lives and a serious effort was being mounted to find him.

9 Dead as Turkish Plane Crashes

A Turkish Airlines jet with 135 people on board, Wednesday, crashed into a field as it approached Amsterdam's international airport, killing nine people and injuring at least 50, airport authorities and Turkish officials said. The Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800, which had 127 passengers and seven crew members on board, broke into three pieces on impact in a field near Schiphol Airport. The injured included both crew and passengers, said Assistant Local Mayor, Michel Bezuijen. The cause of the crash could not be ascertained immediately as the crash took place in calm weather with a light drizzle, he said.

OPEC Governors Move against Planned Output Cut In March

The majority of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) governors are opposed to a new output reduction being planned for a scheduled conference of the group in March. Indications are that the governors, who do not have a decision-making role but do influence policy in the group, are considering lending their support for a further 1.6 million barrels per day output cut later in the year. At the end of their meeting last week, the governors opted not to add the possibility of a new output reduction on the March agenda even as the price of crude oil continue to be unstable in the international market.

UN: 15,000 Flee Southern Darfur

Thousands of people have fled recent violence in south Darfur, seeking security and shelter at a refugee camp in north Darfur, the United Nations said Wednesday. The U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that fighting in Muhajeria and Shearia between Sudanese government forces, and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) drove over 15,000 people north to the Zam Zam camp. The water supply to the camp is becoming strained with displaced people arriving there every day, OCHA has said.

Obama Seeks $200 Billion for War Spending

President Barack Obama will ask Congress for more than $200 billion to fund U.S. war efforts for the next year and a half, according to defense officials. The request will be for $75.5 billion for 2009 to cover the cost of sending more troops to Afghanistan this year and an additional $130 billion for the rest of fiscal 2009, according to the sources. War spending for 2010 will be part of the president's overall defense funding request.

Sierra Leone Rebel Leaders Guilty of Crimes against Humanity

Three former leaders of Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front guerrilla movement were on Wednesday found guilty of crimes against humanity including murder, rape, sexual slavery and forced marriages, the Special Court for Sierra Leone announced. The charges stemmed from a civil war in the diamond-rich West African nation that lasted more than 10 years and stood out for its viciousness. The RUF rebels were known for hacking off civilians' hands and feet during the war, which lasted from March 1991 until January 2002. Amnesty International said more still needs to be done to bring hundreds of other perpetrators to justice.