Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 30

• 
• 

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

MEND Promises To Help Free Hostages

The Movement for Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) says it will facilitate the release of the two German staff of Julius Berger that were abducted on July 11, in Rivers State because the hostages were involved in the construction of infrastructure in the region and Nigerian security forces have been unable to secure their freedom.

Brigidi Calls For Demobilisation and Rehabilitation Of Militants

The Chairman, Niger Delta Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, David Brigidi, has called for an immediate demobilisation, rehabilitation and reorientation of militants in the Niger Delta region.  Brigidi said such measure would help to restore peace in the region and avoid the loss of a whole generation to arms and violence.

MASSOB To Support Fight Against Britain Over N/Delta

Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has warned Britain against sending troops to the Niger Delta, saying that MASSOB will join forces with the militants to fight such foreign troops.

Gunmen Attack Abia Governor, One Killed

A man was killed while three official cars were snatched when the convoy of the Abia State governor, Theodore Orji was attacked by a gang of suspected robbers on Monday. Orji, however, believes that the attackers were assassins. About 10 gunmen opened fire on them in their convoy during the early hours of the day.

JTF Rescues 32 Civilians From Drowning in Bonny River

The Naval arm of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Rivers State has rescued 32 persons on board a sinking passenger boat. The boat was heading to a location off Dawes Island, when it developed some technical faults.

Armed Bandits Attack Stranded Bayelsa, Port Harcourt Travellers

Hundreds of travellers along the East-West road between Mbiama in Rivers and Kaiama in Bayelsa State were last weekend, subjected to robbery and torture by bandits as their trips were cut off due to the blockage caused by two petrol tankers which fell on the road.

Oron, Most Hiv/Aids Endemic Zone In Nigeria

The coastal areas of Oron in Akwa Ibom State have been declared the most HIV/AIDS endemic zone in Nigeria, with a prevalent rate of 14.7percent.

Rivers PFN Chairman Escapes Assassination

The Rivers State President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Apostle Eugene Nwogu escaped death in the hands of assassins when his vehicle was attacked close to his house in Obio/Akpor LGA of the State. His police orderly was hit on both legs. The bullets of the policeman, who swiftly returned fire, reportedly did not penetrate the hoodlums.

MOSOP Lists Benchmark For Oil Exploration in Ogoni

The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni (MOSOP) Ogoni has said it wants to be part of any process that would cause any oil firm to resume oil exploration in their area to avoid any form of conflict, while the leaders of Ogoniland say that they have not been consulted by the Federal Government with respect to the appointment of a new operator to take over Royal Dutch Shell’s interest in the land. They also vowed to resist any plan to impose any operator chosen without their approval.

Three Soldiers, Four Civilians Killed In Bayelsa

Gunmen, penultimate Saturday, killed three soldiers and four civilians along Nembe Creek in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State.  Following the incident, men of the Joint Task Force have begun the search for the villains. Meanwhile five yet- to-be-identified corpses have been found floating along the Creeks. They are believed to be among the seven killed but if the corpses are not those of the slain soldiers and civilians, sources say that it will suggest that more persons were killed on the boat or that another killing took place in the area.

Tension as Army Searches for Killed Soldiers

There were fears of reprisals on Monday as men of the Nigerian Army condoned off Obioko community in Nembe, Bayelsa State where three intelligence corps soldiers were killed penultimate weekend. A similar incident against policemen in 1999 led to the invasion and destruction of Odi community in Bayelsa State by the military. In 2001, the military also destroyed Zaki-Biam in Benue State following the killing of some soldiers by the youths of the community. In both cases, hundreds of people were killed by the soldiers.

Bike Men Rescue Kids, Amaechi Vows To Rid Rivers Of Criminals

Four commercial bike operators, who risked their lives to rescue two children from the hands of kidnappers, penultimate Thursday have been rewarded for bravery by the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, with N7.5million. The governor also restated his commitment to making the state inhabitable for criminals.

MEND Denies $12m Pact With Government, Threatens To Blow-up Pipelines

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Wednesday, threatened to destroy the nation's major oil pipelines within 30 days to counter allegations that it had struck a $12 million deal with the government to protect them. America has ordered its nationals out of areas in and around the Niger Delta following these threats.

Militants Threaten To Shut Down Oil Production

A militant group in the Niger Delta has threatened to shut down oil and gas production in Bonny, Rivers State, unless the army pulls out and its demands for development are taken seriously. Youths from Okoloma Ikpangi, in Bonny Island gave this threat on Wednesday.

First Oil Cargo Expected from Chevron’s Agbami in 2 Weeks

Gulf Agency Company (GAC) said the Agbami export terminal should begin operations by the first week of August. However, Femi Odumagbo, manager, Public and Governmental Affairs of Chevron said that the field will hit First Oil any moment within this third quarter. The Agbami deepwater project is the largest deepwater discovery in Nigeria.

Cameroonian Soldiers Kill 10 Gunmen in Bakassi

Cameroonian soldiers claim that they killed 10 gunmen who attacked them on Thursday in the Bakassi peninsula. Spokesman for the Niger Delta Defence and Security Council (NDDSC), an armed Nigerian group opposed to the handover of the oil-rich territory, said its men had launched Thursday’s attack but said only four of them were killed.

4 Killed, 25 Arrested as JTF Raids Militants

Four lives were lost and 25 civilians arrested in a combined raid by the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the Bayelsa State security outfit on the hideouts of suspected militants, cultists and bunkerers at Alimini-Rumuekpe near Elele in Bayelsa State. The raid, according to military sources, was targeted at those behind the killing of three JTF soldiers and four civilians in Bayelsa state.

Rivers Police Boss Wants Stakeholders To Help Combat Crime

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Bala Hassan, has called on stakeholders, non-governmental organisations and members of the public to join hands with the police to combat criminal activities in the state. Mr. Hassan also called for security networking between the public and police for effective policing of the society.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Delta SSG's Father Abducted

Gunmen, penultimate Sunday abducted, Chief Authur Okorie Okowa, father of the Secretary to the Delta State government (SSG), Ifeanyi Okowa. This is coming 18 days after Uduaghan's convoy was attacked by gunmen, where three persons were killed. Chief Okowa was abducted from his residence.

Uduaghan to Assist Delta Naval, MOPOL Bases

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State on Monday visited the headquarters of the Naval Logistic Command and Mobile Police (MOPOL) Squad 51 base in Oghere, Ethiope West Council with a pledge to assist the organisations in solving their accommodation and logistics problems.  The governor had earlier made a similar promise at the Naval Barrack.

JTF Arrests 12 for Illegal Bunkering

The security Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Delta State, said it has arrested 12 persons in connection with illegal bunkering in parts of the State. Eight of the suspects were reportedly picked up near Morongo Water Side, where they had allegedly filled one truck-load of condensate (gas derivate). The other four were arrested in Sapele.

N’Delta: Presidency Rules out UK Military Support

The President’s Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, has described the idea of securing military assistance from the United Kingdom and other foreign interests as the next option for the troubled Niger Delta as “unfounded”.  There have been wide reports that the presidency has sought military assistance from Britain over the Niger Delta crisis.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Man Watches as Son Is Is Set Ablaze

A yet-to-be identified man watched helplessly as his son, a suspected robber was beaten and later set ablaze. The boy was set ablaze along with two others caught, after they were said to have robbed a business man, by a vigilance group in the area. Luck ran out on them when the victim succeeded in alerting the vigilance team.

Police Clash With Robbers, Kill Two

Police in Lagos killed two members of an armed robbery gang that had laid siege on Wilmer Road in Ajegunle and were robbing some members of the public at gun point. A member of the group was also captured alive.

Two Killed, Scores Injured In Ogbomoso Protest

Tempers flared on Wednesday in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, when some Hausa settlers went on rampage to protest alleged sale of their mosque. At least two persons were killed in the violent protest, while scores of others were injured. An allegation by some of the Hausa men that their leader, Sarkin Hausawa had sold the mosque to a medical doctor triggered the protest. The doctor had allegedly procured the parcel of land to establish a hospital

Robbers Lay Siege To Bank, Attack Customers

Four armed robbers escaped death in Lagos on Wednesday after they laid siege on a bank and attacked two of its customers that had come in to withdraw N2m. The manner in which the robbers crossed the vehicle instantly created a scene and within minutes, passers-by and other motorists had surrounded them. Sensing danger, the robbers sped off on their motorbikes before the mob could pounce on them. They didn’t succeed in taking the money.

10 Die, Scores Burnt In Lagos Tanker Accident

No fewer than ten people were confirmed dead and several others injured at the Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos State on Thursday, as a loaded fuel tanker crashed into another, somersaulted and spilled its content. The flow of its spilled content caught up with a passenger bus close by, resulting in several balls of fire. Eight other vehicles and nine shops were also gutted. The survivors were rushed to hospital.

Police Kill 3 Robbers, Recover Stolen Vehicles In Lagos

Three robbery suspects, belonging to two different gangs, which were on a robbery spree in Lagos, penultimate weekend, were shot dead during encounter with the police. Two vehicles that were initially stolen by the suspects were also recovered.

GENERAL

Police Promote 475 Superintendents

The Nigeria Police Force has promoted 475 Superintendents to Chief Superintendents. This according to the Force spokesman, Agberebi Akpoebi, is in "furtherance to the IGP’s welfare package for the officers and men of Nigeria Police Force."

Army Rules Out Genocide In Niger Delta

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Luka Yusuf has assured that no amount of propaganda and temptation would make members of the Nigerian Army to perpetrate acts of genocide as was the case in Odi in Bayelsa state and Zaki Biam in Benue state. Yusuf maintained that there cannot be development in an atmosphere of conflict and called on Nigerians to have a limit to conflicts.

Bank Robberies: Private Security Companies Refute Connivance

Against the backdrop of reports alleging that operatives of Private Security Companies (PSC) divulge information that lead to high incidence of robberies in banks and other organizations, the management of some PSCs have declared such reports as untrue and misleading, stating that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has ensured sanity in the industry.

444 Expatriates To Be Sacked By 2010

Chevron has agreed to sack 444 of its expatriate workers in Nigeria, 274 of whom would go by December 2009 and another 170 by January 2010. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN), Chevron branch argued that Chevron violates the Petroleum Act that pegs the number of foreign employees. PENGASSAN had directed expatriates to stay at home until the issues were resolved.

$6m Paid To Militants By NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said on Tuesday that it paid Niger Delta militants $6 million in order to allow it repair the Chanomi Crude oil pipeline in Delta State.

12 Killed, Houses Razed In Communal Crisis

Two communities in Apa LGA of Benue State took to violent hostilities over a disputed land. Over 12 persons were killed and many houses razed, while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

Reps Begin Probe Of Oil Sector

The probe of the oil and gas sector in the country kicked off, Wednesday, in the House of Representatives with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) taking the lead among the authorities in the sector scheduled to face the panel. Chairman of the committee, Honourable Igo Aguma, said the ministers of petroleum since 1999 till date would be appearing before his committee to testify.

Nigeria’s Output Falls 60kbd In June

Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate output to the export market in the month of June dropped by 60, 000 barrels per day (60 kbd) to 1.8 million barrels per day (1.8 mbd), making the country one of the members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that missed output targets. The development reflects the impact of militant attacks on the industry in the month.

Police: Reps Query N1.2b Online Recruitment Consultancy Fee

Lawmakers in the Lower Chamber have queried the N1.2 billion the police paid to consultants to handle the online recruitment of personnel. The House condemned online recruitment by federal departments and agencies as well as the military and paramilitary organizations, and the police. It asked them to either revert to the normal method of recruitment or combine both, so as to ensure that Nigerians without Internet access could still apply for recruitment or jobs.

FG Disburses N45b To Petroleum Marketers

The Federal Government has reimbursed petroleum marketers, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the sum of 45 billion naira being subsidy claims for the import of petrol and kerosene for the months of January to May 2008. Government expressed hopes that the settlement of the marketers’ claims will encourage products procurement to ensure availability.

NNPC, Major Marketers Disagree Over Petroleum Products Import

The insistence by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to remain actively involved in the importation of refined petroleum products has pitched it against members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) who say they have the capacity to import and meet local demands. NNPC said it must continue to get involved in the importation of petroleum products in view of lack of capacity by the major marketers and the need to protect the national sovereignty.

China Commits N386.1bn Hydropower Investments In Nigeria

China has committed N386.1billon ($3.3 billion) for 10 projects, which can potentially boost sub-Saharan Africa’s hydropower generation by 30 percent or 6,000 megawatts of installed capacity. Nearly 70 percent of Chinese investments are concentrated in Nigeria, Angola, Ethiopia, and Sudan.

SSS Boss Dragged Before N’Assembly

Over 300 members of staff of the State Security Service who were retired in 2007 by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo have petitioned the National Assembly over the refusal of the service’s Director-General, Mr. Afakriya Gadzama, to reinstate them. The petitioners asked the lawmakers to compel Gadzama to reinstate them immediately.

EFCC Boss Calls For Collaboration With Journalists To Fight Graft

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, has called for collaboration between the agency and the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the fight against corruption. Waziri said the media was central to the fight against corruption

Oil Blocks: FG makes $2.1bn from Bids

The Federal Government collected a total of $2.11bn revenue from oil block bid rounds between 2003 and 2007, a document prepared by the Department of Petroleum Resources has revealed. A scrutiny of the bid rounds is the subject of an investigative hearing by House of Representatives joint-committee on petroleum upstream, downstream and gas. The committee has summoned the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, DPR, and all the oil companies to appear before it.

Shiite, Sunni Clash Causes Panic In Sokoto

Several people were injured in Sokoto on Sunday in a clash between the Shiite and Sunni Islamic sects. The city was thrown into confusion as Shiite members took to the streets demanding the release of their leader, Mallam Kasimu Umar, and 112 others currently in prison custody.

Police Arrest Baby Merchant

The Gombe state police command are on the trail of a group who steal and sell babies. A suspected agent of the group, an 18-year old girl, Felicia Panus, was apprehended with a two-day old baby boy belonging to one Adama Musa, who lives at a sleepy border village between Gombe and Adamawa states. Felicia had concealed the baby in a sack bag.

Genocide Probe Organisation Heads For Nigeria

An organisation that helps the United Nations (UN) to uncover cases of human rights abuses worldwide, Benetech Initiative, has said that it will visit Nigeria to investigate likely cases of genocide and sundry rights abuses by government or institutions. The organisation's investigation led to the arrest of former president of Yugoslovia, Slobodan Milosevic in the 90s.

DPR to Launch ESI Mapping Next Month

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has concluded plans to launch the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) mapping document next month. The ESI mapping standards and protocols has been recently mandated by the Nigerian Government to effectively supervise and monitor activities in oil and gas operations.

Govt to Acquire Gun Boats to Tackle Robbery, Sea Piracy

The Federal Government said at the weekend that it has concluded plans to procure gun boats to patrol the country's waters in order to give the pirates a returned onslaught. Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Shamsudeen Dosunmu said that the issue of piracy and armed robbery on Nigerian waters is a matter of national security.

Seafarers Advocate Duty Free On Nigeria Vessels

Nigerian Seafarers have canvassed for duty free on vessels to promote ownership of vessels among Nigerians. They therefore condemned the incessant arrests of vessels imported by Nigerians to boost their capacity in the cabotage trade.

S/Africa Moves To Refine Petroleum Products

South Africa has moved in to fill the vacuum and bridge the gap created by the non performance of Nigeria’s four refineries to provide the much needed refined products for the continent. Informed sources disclosed that the coming of the South African company would create a huge competition, which may translate to Nigeria losing much more.

Kidnap: Nigeria Seeks French Help

Worried by increasing rate of kidnappings in parts of the country, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mike Okiro, on Thursday in Abuja, begged the French government to assist the Nigeria police with technical equipment that would help in tracking the perpetrators. The IGP, who made the plea when the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Yves Gaudeul, visited him, noted that the Nigerian Police Force, has large manpower capable of policing the country, "but needs assistance in areas of training and equipment".

N150 Million Fraud: Police Arrest 6 In Niger

Niger State Police command has foiled an attempt to defraud the state government of N150million at a new generation bank in Minna, the state capital. Already six persons have been arrested in connection with the fraud involving the state leaders of Motorcycle Express Services Department Association (MESDA) while attempting to withdraw the sum of N50million from the N150million lodged in the account of the association.

Oil Workers Mobilise For Showdown With FG

Oil workers' unions are mobilising members for a total showdown with the Federal Government over what they described as its insincerity. The unions criticized the government's handling of the agitation by the Petroleum Tankers Drivers Union (PTD). Although the Federal Government said it has instructed the Ministries of Transportation and Works to fix the roads leading to depots, the IPMAN insisted on Thursday that the roads are "still as bad as before."

3 Nigerians Die In Pretoria Fire

Five persons including three Nigerians were confirmed dead in a fire that engulfed a block of flats in Pretoria on Tuesday, according to reports. South Africa police spokesperson, Eugene Opperman, confirmed the deaths adding that three suspects would be arraigned before a court for allegedly starting the fire.

EFCC To Reopen Probe Of Freed Ex-Governors

Mrs Farida Waziri, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that the commission will re-open cases of ex-governors that had been probed and let off by its former Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Police Commissioner Promises Adequate Security At Airports

Despite the various criminal activities at the nation's airports, the new Police Commissioner, Airport Command, Mr. Adebayo Ajileye, has vowed to provide adequate security for users. Ajileye declared that the command would not toy with the protection of lives and properties at the airports, and warned criminals operating within the airports' vicinities to beware.

NNPC Probe: Reps Uncover $210m Oil Block Money

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries on Thursday discovered that the whereabouts of the sum of $210 million paid by Shell to the Federal Government as signature bonus for the allocation of an oil block (OPL 245) was yet to be traced. Meanwhile, the DPR has asked for time from the committee to enable it ascertain the payment or otherwise of the money.

FG to Build More Refineries

The Federal Government is considering building more refineries to ensure the availability of adequate petroleum products in the country. The acting Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Alhaji Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua, said government’s decision to build additional refineries is aimed at deriving the full potential of the nation’s hydrocarbon resources.

FG Considers Benin’s Request for Increased Oil Supply

The Federal Government has said that it would consider the request of the Republic of Benin for increased crude oil supply to meet its increasing fuel needs. President Yar’Adua gave this assurance at a meeting with the Beninoise President, Mr. Boni Yayi on Thursday where Yayi requested for an increase from the current 15,000 to 50,000 barrels per day of crude oil.

Oil Blocks: House Queries Discrepancies in DPR Records

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the award of oil blocks by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Thursday queried the discrepancies in the record of payments for oil blocks under the regime of formerPresident Obasanjo. The Committee was told by DPR that there were inconsistencies in the record of payment that was made available to the House and asked that it be given more time to resolve the issue.

INTERNATIONAL

Shell Partners BPZ Energy to Explore Peru

Shell Exploration Company (West) B.V. and BPZ Energy Inc. have signed a preliminary agreement to jointly explore for oil and gas in northern Peru. The agreement calls for Shell to fund a three-phase exploration programme in exchange for a 50per cent interest in parts of three BPZ blocks in northern Peru.

Al-Bashir Spurns ICC Indictment, Offers Peace On Darfur Trip

Defiant Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Thursday danced before supporters on a visit to Darfur bristling with security and dismissed accusations that he masterminded genocide in the region.  Civil servants, tribesmen and students cheered the head of state, pledging allegiance and slamming a bid from the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for al-Bashir's arrest over suspected war crimes.

Rights Group Wants US Officials Probed For Ordering Torture

A human rights group said US officials committed war crimes by ordering what the group says was torture of detainees, and called for them to be probed and prosecuted.

Mugabe Plans Seizure Of Foreign Firms Over Sanctions

Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe, has threatened to seize foreign firms that support Western sanctions against his government and give them to locals and investors from "friendly" countries. Zimbabwe is facing economic crisis, which many blame on Mugabe's policies, that leaves it with an inflation rate of over 2.2 million per cent and shortages of food and other basic needs.

Mugabe, Tsvangirai Sign Zimbabwe Framework Deal

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, on Monday signed a deal laying down the framework for formal talks on forming a power sharing government to end a deep political crisis. It was the first meeting between the two rivals, who are said to detest each other, in 10 years. South African President, Thabo Mbeki, mediated the deal.

Cote D'ivoire Ministers Lose 50% Pay

The Ivoirien government has halved the salaries of its ministers in order to subsidise the price of fuel. Prime Minister Guillaume Soro also said that the managers of state-owned companies would also have their pay cut in half, to pay for a 10 per cent cut in fuel prices.  Cote d'Ivoire had increased the prices of petroleum products earlier in July due to rising global oil prices.

African Ministers Reject Charges Against Bashir

African foreign ministers on Monday urged the United Nations (UN) Security Council to suspend war crimes accusations against Sudan's President, Omar al-Bashir over Darfur. The ministers, under the aegis of the African Union (UN) said the request to charge Bashir would jeopardise the peace process. The International Criminal Court (ICC) accuses Bashir of genocide in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

Addax Gets Extra 7.2% Interest in JDZ Block

Addax petroleum has been awarded an additional 7.2 per cent participating interest in deep water exploration license ‘Block 4’ of the Nigeria/Sao Tome and principe Joint Development Zone (“JDZ”) by an independent arbitration tribunal in London. The award increases its interest in the license area from 38.3 per cent to 45.5 per cent. The company will also be the operator of Block 4.

Iran To Stone To Death Nine For Adultery

Nine women convicted of adultery in separate cases in Iran will be stoned to death. Shadi Sadr a women's rights activist said the trial procedures were not applied properly in the cases. Six of the nine were convicted based solely on judges' decisions, with no witnesses or the presence of their lawyers during their confessions. Her campaign is trying to stop the implementation of their verdicts.

Nine Afghan Police Killed In Friendly Fire

An international military air strike has left nine policemen killed in Afghanistan penultimate Sunday when police and troops clashed after mistaking each other for Taliban.

Schlumberger Profit Climbs to $1.42bn

Schlumberger Ltd., the world's largest oilfield-services provider, said second-quarter profit rose 13 per cent as record crude prices prompted customers to boost exploration and production spending.  According to a report from Bloomberg, the net income climbed to $1.42 billion, or $1.16 a share, from $1.26 billion, or $1.02, a year earlier.  The report also said that U.S. oil futures topped $140 a barrel for the first time.

U.S. Fuel Use Declined in Q1

High prices and slowing economy curbed fuel consumption in the United States down by 3 per cent in the first half of 2008, the biggest decline in 17 years.

Interpol Warns China Of Olympic Unrest

The head of Interpol said Friday that there was a possibility that the Beijing Olympics would be targeted by terrorists or anti-China groups could attack athletes. China has come down hard on anyone they fear could upset the Games, from people protesting against the demolition of their houses for venues to the country's ethnic minorities.

Eight ETA Bombing Suspects Arrested

Spanish Civil Guards recently arrested eight persons suspected of being members of group, ETA, which is allegedly behind the May bombing that killed a Civil Guard, in northern Spain. The agents used explosives to blast open the apartment door of the suspected cell leader, longtime fugitive Arkaitz Goikoetxea in Bilbao.