Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 41

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

8,299 Niger Delta Militants Surrender Arms -Panel

The Federal Government Inter Agency Coordinating Committee on Amnesty, Thursday said about 8,299 of militants have so far surrendered their weapons. The coordinator of the programme, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Lucky Ararile said the number could rise to between 14,000 and 15,000 as the figure given excluded the followers of Tompolo, Dagogo and that of Ateke Tom. The breakdown showed that Bayelsa with 4,869 repentant militants topped the chart, followed by Rivers with 1047, Delta 1ith 1061, Ondo with 750, Edo with 250, Akwa Ibom with 162, and the least Cross River with 160.

FG Sets Up Committee on Arms Verification

There are indications that some of the arms and ammunition surrendered by the ex-militants originally belonged to the Federal Government, and were either stolen, bought from the services or seized by the militants during clashes with men of the armed forces. The Federal Government has reportedly set up a verification committee to examine the arms collected from the militants with a view to identifying their possible sources. Defence Minister, General Godwin Abbe (rtd), said the collection of weapons from the militants was still in progress, and that the nation would be properly briefed on what government intended to do with the arms.

70 Burnt Dead in Anambra Tanker Explosion

At least 70 people were burnt to death and many others injured in a multiple crash involving a loaded fuel tanker and eight vehicles in Anambra state. The accident occurred on Friday when the tanker fell as the driver was negotiating a failed section of the road, spilling its content, resulting in a fire, which engulfed the vehicles behind the tanker. The 17 occupants of two other buses far behind jumped out of the vehicles and escaped unhurt, while injured were taken to the hospital. Mr. B.N. Ekenna, of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said that his men could not do much when they got to the scene of the accident as the victims had already been burnt beyond recognition.

Anambra Police Arrest 23 Suspected Armed Robbers, Kidnappers

Anambra State Police Command has arrested 23 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers and car-snatchers. The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Philemon Leha, listed some of the items recovered from the hoodlums as bunches of car keys, drivers license, international passport, bank passbooks, cheque, handsets, automatic pump action gun, one locally made double barrel pistol, an axe, two live cartridges, five AK 47 rifles, one rocket launchers, one incomplete rocket launcher, 53 AK 47 magazines loaded with 32 rounds of live ammunition each, 14 empty magazines of AK 47, one long range rocket propelled grenade tear gas, and cash.

Militants Drag Yar’Adua to Court over Amnesty

Some members of two militant groups, the Niger-Delta Peoples' Salvation Front and the Niger-Delta People's Volunteer Force, have dragged President Yar’Adua before a Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding to know which section of the constitution gave him powers to unilaterally grant amnesty to people. The militants, lead by Mujajid Asari Dokubo, want the court to nullify the amnesty granted them and others for being unconstitutional, null and void. They also want the court to determine whether the President can exercise his powers to grant pardon to a person without specifying the particular offence created by an Act of the National Assembly.

Ebonyi Governor’s Aide Abducted

The Ebonyi State Governor’s political strategist and brother-in-law, Chris Nwankwo, was, Wednesday, abducted by suspected kidnappers. The suspected kidnappers were said to have whisked off the man from his farm in his Izzi community, Izzi Local Government area and taken to Cross River State. Details of the incident remain sketchy.

Attempt to Kidnap Lawyer Foiled

Security agencies in Anambra State, on Monday, apprehended some kidnappers at Okpuno, Awka, while attempting to abduct Chief Ozoemena Onyali (SAN) in the early hours of the day. Eyewitness account said the hoodlums accosted him after locking his car and used the butt of their guns to break the windows, the shattering sound of which was said to have attracted the attention of security men who instantly swooped on the suspects and engaged them in a gun duel. During exchange of fire, one of them was killed and one arrested, while others ran into the bush.

Oil Spillage: Firms to Face Stiffer Penalties

Stiffer penalties await oil multinationals for violations of the nation's environmental laws, under a planned review of the enabling Act of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). The Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey, said that the nation had in the past suffered much losses from oil spillage, hence the need for strict monitoring and compliance enforcement.

Man Kills Motorcyclist over Girlfriend

A jealous lover, Solomon Cyril Effion, has stabbed a man to death in Cross River State on the suspicion that the victim was dating his girlfriend. The victim, simply identified as Ernest, however, turned out to be a commercial motorcyclist taking the lady, Eno Victor, to her destination. Solomon’s dastardly act sparked a reprisal attack, which consumed the life of Effion’s close friend. Effion has since been arrested by the Police, but insists that he did no wrong as he claimed the deceased was carrying his girlfriend on a motorcycle.

Bayelsa Youths Dump Corpse at Police Station

Angry youths in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, have protested the alleged killing of an unidentified man by the police, and dumped the corpse at the ‘A’ Division of the police in Yenagoa. The deceased had reportedly jumped into the Swali River, on Wednesday, following a chase by some policemen. But police spokesman, Thaddeus Nkoko, denied involvement, saying the police did not chase the deceased.

Group Supports Imoke’s Anti-Cult Crusade

The National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, has challenged the National Assembly to ensure that a federal legislation to clearly outlaw membership of all secret societies is enacted. He gave the challenge while commending the campaign against cultism by the Cross River state Governor, Liyel Imoke. HURIWA also challenged the Federal Government to administer a similar public oath of non-membership of secret cults on all public office holders.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Yar'Adua Proposes Security Agency for Niger Delta, Group Opposes

President Yar'Adua has asked the National Assembly to approve the creation of a maritime security agency that will protect ships, oil facilities and ports in the Niger Delta. The agency would be authorised to inspect ships, arrest suspects and carry firearms. Funds for the agency will be through a 1 per cent levy on annual profits from companies using Nigeria's waterways. But the Niger Delta Professionals for Peace and Development has said that the proposed agency would be a threat to the freedom of the people and would create more problems than envisaged as the security agency will carry firearms.

Onovo Orders Arrest of Police Officers over Death of INEC Staff

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonaya Onovo, has ordered the immediate arrest of policemen from Aideyan Police Station in Benin following the death of one Miss Amanda Uhunagho, in September. It was gathered that Amanda had gone to the Police Station to persuade the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) to testify in a case which had suffered several adjournments in the court. But policemen at the station, including the IPO, were said to have allegedly given her the beating of her life and charged her to the court for insulting a police officer on duty. But the Zonal Police image-maker, Mr. Ebi Orubi, denied knowledge of the arrest.

Boy, 17, Commits Suicide

A seventeen-year-old, who had just completed his secondary school education in Edo State, was found dead hanging on a rope behind his father's house. The boy, identified as Aruku Afe, was said to have been reported missing penultimate Thursday. Aruku, who was said to have made his final papers, at credit level, except Physics, was allegedly chided by his parents that he was not committed to his studies. This reportedly hurt Aruku, who then left the house to commit suicide. The Divisional Police Officer of Igarra Police Station, Jimoh Akindele, said he has received the report of the incident.

MEND Vows to Return to Battle, JTF Warns MEND

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) warned on Wednesday that it would soon resume hostilities in a more deadly fashion. In a statement by Jomo Gbomo, MEND said that in its next phase of the campaign, infrastructure would not only be attacked but would also be burnt down. Several militant commanders have accepted the presidential amnesty, but MEND stuck to its hard-line-stance, reiterating that the amnesty was a ruse and that the surrendering of its commanders with their boys was a charade. The Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger-Delta vowed, on Thursday, to consume the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, should the group make good its threat to commence fresh attacks on oil installations.

Militants Assure Oshiomhole on Peace in Edo

The Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhle, on Wednesday got assurance from repentant militants in the state to end kidnapping during a meeting, after the protest by the militants over alleged neglect by the Committee on Amnesty and Disarmament. Oshiomhole said the head of the Presidential Amnesty Committee and Defence  Minister, General  Godwin  Abbe (rtd), had assured that all the  450  militants would  be  registered and  sent  to  the  rehabilitation  centre, after payment of their outstanding allowance. The demonstrators had barricaded major streets in the city, and disrupted movements.

Delta Militant Leader Threatens to Pull Out of Rehabilitation Centre

Camp 15 militant leader in Delta State, Mr. Austin Oges, has threatened to pull out his boys from the rehabilitation centre for alleged poor living conditions, acute hunger and low remuneration. The Niger Delta Welfare Committee (NDWC) urged the government to take proper care of the repentant militants and not allow them to roam around the streets in hunger and called on the federal government to immediately commence the re-building of all destroyed communities in the region.

Delta Police Lose 5 Officers to Kidnap Gang

Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr. Yakubu Alkali disclosed on Thursday that his command lost five men in an attack from a 13-man kidnap syndicate.  Alkali further said his that the command also recovered 360 live ammunition of very high caliber and 139 cartridges from robbers during operations and arrested 16 suspects over murder charges.  Meanwhile, incessant kidnappings in Edo State have made the special anti-kidnapping squad to undergo an intensive operational and intelligence training, to equip them with the capacity to deal with the challenges.

2 Die in Edo Road Accident

A road accident occurred on Thursday along the Benin-Agbor bye pass, claiming two lives and seriously injured eight others.  According to an eyewitness,   the accident occurred when a commercial bus, which was over-speeding, ran into the rear of a trailer carrying iron rods. The Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Henry Olatunji, confirmed the accident.

Man Arrested for Cloning Governor’s Phone Number

Operatives of the State Security Services (SSS), Delta State, have arrested a 34-year-old Information Technologist, Charles Taribolou Gbendu, for allegedly cloning the Zain number of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. The State Director SSS, Mr. Christian Ojobor disclosed that the suspect was arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after a thorough investigation. The suspect confessed to committing the crime, adding that he had not received any payment as the governor discovered the scam on time.

JTF Accused of Extortion, Threat to Amnesty

The Niger Delta Professionals for Development (NIDPRODEV) has raised an alarm about activities of men of the Joint Task Force it considers as capable of derailing the amnesty programme and threatening the fragile peace in the Niger Delta. Founder and Executive Director of the group, Mr. Joel Bisina, alleged that men of the task force were into brazen extortion of money and dehumanizing treatment of persons plying the waterways in the Niger Delta. Bisina explained that his staffs were among several other hapless persons that are daily subjected to part with money before allowed passage on the Delta Waterways. He called for strict surveillance on the conduct of the military personnel deployed in the Niger Delta.

JTF Remains in Niger Delta -Commander

Maj-Gen Sarkin Bello, the Commander of the Joint Military Task Force, says the troops are still deployed in the Niger Delta in spite of the expiration of amnesty deadline. Bello said the JTF was still guarding vulnerable points and key oil installations in the Niger Delta and that instructions to defend the installations before the heightened tension in the area was still in place.

AC Express Concern over Rate of Kidnapping in Edo

Leaders of the Action Congress in Bayelsa State on Tuesday expressed concern over the rising incidence of kidnapping in Edo State, saying the recent upsurge was retrogressive and should be checked by security agencies in the state. The state Secretary of the party, Comrade Miriki Ebikibina, said though the state government has done much in the area of providing logistics to the Nigerian Police and created an environment for possible empowerment and employment of youths in the state, it remains to be seen whether the police would reciprocate the gesture and secure the state.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Woman, Children Die in Lagos Inferno

A 50 year old woman, Mrs Shakirat Kapo and her 12 year-old son, Lukman, were on Monday burnt to death in a late night fire incident at their residence in Lagos. Efforts to save them proved abortive as they were trapped in the bedroom upstairs. A team of fire fighters from the state fire service and policemen were said to have raced to the scene in a bid to put out the fire. In a similar incident, on Wednesday, a one-year-old baby, Lateef Bello, burnt beyond recognition as attempts by his mother and neighbours to rescue him proved abortive as an inferno raged in their building in Lagos.

Oil Well Explodes at Igbokoda

An abandoned oil well belonging to Chevron Nigeria PLC, has reportedly exploded at Igbokoda in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State. Oba Kola Ikuesan, the Olubo of Obenla-Ilaje, who confirmed the incident, said the explosion occurred at about 1 p.m. on Sunday. He recalled that the community had on several occasion, informed Chevron on the need to reopen the well, but the company did not respond. Ikuesan said the explosion had caused serious damage to the community and urged Chevron to come and put out the fire on time.

Graduate Shot Dead by Vigilante Guard

A 26-year-old University of Lagos graduate, awaiting his call-up letter for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme, Anthony Anukandinachi Akaeze, has been shot dead by a security guard, Alhaji Waidi. The incident occurred when Akaeze, was seeing off two friends at about 11.30pm. His friends were not harmed, but Akaeze slumped and died on the spot before he could be rushed to a hospital.

Mimiko’s Convoy in Crash, Six Feared Killed

Six persons have reportedly died in an auto crash which involved the convoy of the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on the Okitipupa- Akinfosile road. Three persons including two journalists and the driver of the Governor’s Press Crew bus died on the spot while three other persons reportedly lost their lives in the other commercial vehicle. Gov. Mimiko, who helped in the rescue of the accident victims, expressed his condolence to the families of the deceased.

NCS Impounds Arms, Others in Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service has impounded a container loaded with accessories for assembling arms and ammunition at the Apapa port in Lagos. The Customs Area Controller, Akinade Adewuyi, said that the officials were shocked when they discover that the container was filled with armaments and their manuals. Apart from weapons which were impounded by the government agency, 20 containers of vegetable oil, which were being smuggled into the country, were also impounded.

Armed Robbers Kill Three in Ekiti Bank Raid

Dare-Devil armed robbers on Wednesday struck in Ifaki-Ekiti, killing three persons and injuring a policeman while trying to rob a first generation bank. Staffers and workers present scampered for safety to avoid being hit by gunshots in the operation lasted for several minutes. It could not be confirmed whether the robbers made away with any money. When the robbers got hint of the presence of men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), they made away in a vehicle belonging to a former chairman of Ido/Osi Council, which they snatched at Ifaki to escape.

Reps Want Honour for Slain Corps Member, Orders Probe

House of Representatives on Thursday voted in favour of a motion seeking leave of the Federal Government to confer post humus national honours on a female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Miss Grace Adie Ushang. The lawmakers also urged the Inspector General of Police to promptly investigate, identify and arrest those persons behind the dastardly act. Ushang was allegedly attacked, raped and murdered by some yet-to-be -identified hoodlums in the neighbourhood of her place of primary assignment in Borno state.

Ogun Police Beef Up Security around Expatriates

Ogun State Police Command has beefed up security around expatriates in the state over a recent kidnapping and murder of a French national, Christian Pelarmorgues, a staff of Lafarge Cement WAPCO on Tuesday. The State Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Patrick Dukumor, said the incident could have been avoided if he had availed himself of the services of the armed policemen permanently stationed at WAPCO premises.

GENERAL

Senate Considers Bill on Compulsory Treatment of Gunshot Victims

The Senate, Tuesday, took the second reading of the bill seeking compulsory treatment of victims of gunshots. The lawmakers criticized the Nigeria Police Force for treating harshly victims of gunshots and those who volunteer to take them to the hospital for treatment. The bill, when passed into law, would render production of police reports before treatment of gunshots unconstitutional and illegal. The bill prescribes a six-month jail or a fine of N100, 000 for any doctor or medical worker who refuses to treat gunshot victims without police report.

UN Deplores Nigeria’s APCs

United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has described Nigeria’s Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to be deployed in Darfur as substandard, saying they are not made for the desert and cannot protect the troops. The UN military team led by Lt. Col Frank Leonhardt, which was in Nigeria for a pre-deployment visit to inspect the APCs for the mission, said it was also disappointed in shortfalls in the medical requirements. But the Chief of Training and Operations (CTOPs), Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. Ishaku Pennap, while confirming the visit, said Nigeria had earlier informed the team that it was not ready for the inspection.

Governors Advocate Stiffer Penalties for Kidnappers

The governors of the 36 states of the federation, on Monday, called on the Federal Government to bring the full weight of the law on kidnappers. The governors said the time had come for the federal authorities to act decisively on the criminality in order to restore sanity and general security. They also promised their support for all necessary measures aimed at consolidating the gains of the amnesty exercise, but urged the FG to mete out appropriate punishments to kidnappers henceforth.

400 Nigerians in Turkish Prison for Drug Offences

Over 400 Nigerians are currently serving jail terms in Turkish prison for drug related offences, the Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey, Ahmed Mallammadori, disclosed on Tuesday in Istanbul.  He said at least one Nigerian is arrested daily for drug deals. He further lamented that the embassy is facing serious problem with the development because it has no budget to obtain flight ticket for those deported to Nigeria.

Suspected Bandits Arrested in Bauchi, Kano

In its effort to rid the state of political thugs known as Sara-Suka and other forms of criminality, the Bauchi State Police Command has arrested six suspected hoodlums with dangerous weapons. The state Commissioner of Police, Atiku Yusuf Kafur, disclosed this, while parading the suspects. In Kano, the police nabbed a 25-year-old man, Kabiru Abubakar, for allegedly raping his sister, and also arrested 20 notorious car thieves with 22 different cars recovered from them, but lost one Sergeant Lawal Tambai, who was killed by persons suspected to be members of local miscreants group called Yandabas.

Killer Police Charged to Court

Police Constable, Solomon Maikeffi, has been charged before an Abuja court over the murder of his colleague and a carpenter on October 1, during a scuffle. A senior police officer said that Maikeffi, who shot dead the command’s operation administrator Sergeant Harrison Aigbobgo Ajayi and a carpenter Michaal Oturah in a brawl was charged with two murders.

Austria Deports 24 Nigerians

Twenty-four Nigerians were on Wednesday deported from Austria. The deportees comprise 20 males and three females, including one infant. According to an immigration source, all the deportees were sent packing for flouting the country’s immigration laws. This comes a few days after 734 Nigerians were deported from Libya.

Oando Selected for Gas Project in Ghana

Oando Nigeria Plc has been selected as a Strategic Partner to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to develop assets and infrastructure to harness the gas that would be produced from the offshore Jubilee oilfield. The oil field is rated as West Africa's current largest offshore deepwater discovery in over a decade, with proven reserves in excess of 300 million barrels of recoverable oil and a potential for 1.8 billion barrels. The US$1 billion ultra-modern facility is planned to commence operations soon.

Police to Tracking Device for Kidnappers

The Nigeria Police is set to acquire a new state-of-the-art technology to track down spots from where suspicious telephone calls are made. It was gathered that the devices are compact and will arrive in the country in a few weeks. The police further disclosed that the new equipment would replace the three sets of XRY mobile phone forensic tool kits, software and hardware facilities donated by the Italian government to Nigeria in 2004 to perform the same task. Meanwhile about 600 policemen have been deployed in Anambra state to fight crime.

CBN Mops Up N48.9bn from Circulation

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it has mopped up N48.904 billion from the economy. The CBN, Monday, said it did so through the sale of 91-day tenor bills and 182-day tenor bills it put on offer October 1. The apex bank said the two bills were oversubscribed as investors demanded N34.907 billion and N41.45 billion of the bills respectively.

Gastro Intestinal Disease Kills 35 in Taraba

The current suspected cholera outbreak in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, has reportedly claimed 35 lives as at last count. But state health officials have disputed the figure, saying that only six people have so far died in the epidemic. State health officials could not confirm if the deaths were actually from cholera, as results of laboratory tests carried out some victims were still being expected.

Gunmen Slay Benue Official

In the early hours of Wednesday, dare-devil gunmen murdered Gideon Adoor, a relative of Nigeria's former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Victor Malu, in his home in Makurdi, Benue State. The gunmen, said to number three, had stormed the home of Adoor and shot twice in his chest and waist, and quickly retreated without removing anything from the House. Adoor was an estate surveyor with the Benue State Ministry of Lands and Survey. The Benue State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Mohammed, confirmed the killing.

Commercial Bike Riders Attack Police, FRSC in Benue

A week after they protested a clampdown on them by government officials over the purchase of state-branded crash helmets, commercial motorcyclists on Wednesday chased policemen and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) off the streets of Makurdi, and assaulted some operatives. The Benue State Police Command successfully mobilised the Joint Police Military Patrol team from neighbouring local councils to help the mobile unit bring the violent protests under control. The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Samuel Jinadu, denied allegations that the police harass the motorcyclists over the state-branded helmet.

69-Yr-Old Man Kills Wife over N7, 000

A 69-year-old man has been arrested in Kaduna for allegedly killing his wife. The suspect was said to have killed his wife, Edna Albert, 60, for allegedly tampering with N7, 000 he gave to her to handover to their landlord. The suspect was said to have given the deceased the money to deliver to their landlord on October 1, but the woman spent N2, 500 from the amount, which infuriated the husband.

10 Feared Dead in Adamawa Auto Crash

Ten persons have been confirmed dead in an auto crash that occurred on Wednesday at Sangere Village about 20 kilometres to Yola, the Adamawa State capital, while 20 others sustained various degrees of injuries. The accident involved a luxury bus and a lorry. The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Adamawa State, Habu Dauda, explained that the lorry was parked by the road side without alert signs and that the luxury bus, on top speed, rammed into it, when a fuel tanker suddenly surfaced.

U.S Commends Nigeria on Drug Control

Nigeria has received commendation by the United States government over its drug control efforts in the past 12 months. The US certified the effort of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the fight against the menace of controlled substances in the country. The U.S. Narcotics agency said NDLEA had had adhered to international counter narcotic agreements and conventions.

Senate Dumps Police Act Amendment Bill

Senators on Thursday kicked against the Police Act (Amendment) Bill, forcing it to be withdrawn. The Police Act is one of the six electoral reform bills sent to the Senate by President Umaru Yar'Adua in May. The rejected amendment was to further empower the police to provide security for electoral materials and ballot boxes as well as ensure safety of candidates and electoral officers, but majority of the senators argued that the bill was unnecessary.

Senate Urges FG to Work against Lake Nyos Collapse

Worried by the impending disaster posed by imminent collapse of the Lake Nyos natural dam, the Senate, Thursday, urged the Federal Government to take precautionary measures to avert it and hasten timely release of the amount of money meant for the Kashimbilla Buffer Dam project, which would contain waters from Lake Nyos. The Senate further advised on the initiation of other immediate steps such as installation of early warning devices, commencement of drills and sensitization exercises to respond to the impending natural disaster.

Nigeria, Britain Sign Prisoner Exchange Pact

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bagudu Hirse, Thursday, disclosed that the Federal Government had signed a Prisoner Exchange Programme (PEP) with the British government with a view to swapping prisoners between both countries. Hirse disclosed that the Foreign Affairs Ministry was working on getting the records of Nigerians serving jail terms or on death row abroad with a view to initiating dialogues with the countries involved, and that Nigerian Missions abroad have been detailed to investigate the growing trend of deportations involving Nigerians.

Nigeria, Benin Republic Collaborate on Polio Eradication

As part of efforts to halt the transmission of Wild Polio Virus (WPV) across the country's borders and eradicate the virus, Nigeria and Benin Republic have formed a Joint Border Implementation Task Force (JBIT) to enforce a synchronised vaccination campaign between the two countries. Meanwhile, it was revealed that a total of 376 Nigerian children spread across 27 states are paralysed by polio. Though this figure represents a decline from last year, which stood at 613, experts have described the current situation as unacceptable, saying it is a national emergency.

INTERNATIONAL

Pakistani Taliban Owns Bomb Attack on UN Office

Pakistani Taliban militants on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack on the UN's office in which five people died. A suicide bomber dressed as a paramilitary soldier blew himself up in an office of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in the capital, Islamabad, on Monday killing five persons. The United Nations temporarily closed its office in Pakistan after the blast. The militants accused the United Nations of turning a blind eye to atrocities in ethnic Pashtun tribal regions on the Afghan border, militant strongholds that the army has been attacking and where U.S. drone aircraft have launched deadly missiles.

17 Die as Suicide Bomber Detonates Bomb in Afghan Capital

A suicide car bomber on Thursday detonated his vehicle outside the Indian Embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing 17 people. The Afghan Foreign Ministry hinted at Pakistani involvement, a charge Pakistan has denied. The blast occurred as United States (U.S.) President Barack Obama was deliberating a request by the top commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, for up to 40,000 more troops. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Wildfire Forces Evacuations; Destroys Homes in California

California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, declared a state of emergency, on Sunday, in San Bernardino County as a fast-moving wildfire burned through a national forest, threatening homes. A mandatory evacuation order is in effect for the entire community of Wrightwood and parts of Lytle Creek in San Bernadino County, the U.S. Forest Service said Sunday afternoon. Some 4,000 people live in Wrightwood. High winds, with gusts up to 45 miles an hour, were making conditions even tougher for more than 1,000 firefighters battling the blaze.

Ban Ki-moon Calls for End to Nuclear Arms

United Nations (UN) Secretary- General, Ban Ki-moon, on Monday called on world leaders to display political will towards genuine control of nuclear weapons. Ban said there were five central challenges confronting the international community on scrapping nuclear weapons, four of them substantive issues of disarmament and the shape accords should take. The September 24 Security Council resolution called for efforts to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.

Indonesia Stops Search for Missing Quake Survivors

Rescue workers on Monday called off the search for life under the rubbles left by a massive earthquake. A spokesman for the Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency, Gagah Prakoso, said the chances of survival under the rubble for so long were impossible. The death toll from penultimate Wednesday's temblor is expected to be in the thousands once the missing people are declared dead. The UN has said 1,100 people died, while the government puts the toll at 603. The undersea quake devastated 10 districts in the Western Sumatra province including Padang. The quake also triggered huge landslides and where entire villages were wiped out.

Israel Forecloses Immediate Peace Deal with Palestine

A top Israeli official has ruled out immediate final accord with the Palestinians any time soon. Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, suggested that the two sides come up with a long-term interim arrangement that would ensure prosperity, security and stability, and leaving the toughest issues "to a much later stage." Meanwhile, an Israeli cabinet minister has called off a visit to Britain because of concerns he could be arrested on suspicion of committing war crimes under the legal principle of "universal jurisdiction," which says that some crimes are so heinous that they can be prosecuted locally. Palestinian organisations have used the principle to pursue Israeli officers suspected to have taken part in operations against Palestinian militants in which civilians were reportedly killed.

Police, Anti-IMF Protesters Clash in Turkey

Police and anti-capitalist protesters clashed in central Istanbul on Tuesday, to stop demonstrators marching to the congress centre housing the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings. Reports said over a 100 people were taken into custody, some for throwing stones and petrol bombs, as they tried to break through a police cordon and march towards the conference centre. Calm however, returned later, with people walking around outside. Amidst lingering anxiety over the global meltdown, the IMF has agreed that there is cause for cheer as the world is on the path of recovery. The Managing Director of IMF, Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, however cautioned that the crisis is not over as recovery will be sluggish, and private demand is not yet self-sustaining.

Uganda Apprehends Rwandan Genocide Suspect

Police in Uganda, Monday, arrested one of the most wanted suspects from Rwanda's 1994 genocide, Idelphonse Nizeyimana. Nizeyimana, a former army captain and senior intelligence officer, had been extradited to Arusha, northern Tanzania, to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), he added. A spokesman for the court confirmed the arrest. Nizeyimana was among the dozen most wanted suspects sought by the UN court over the genocide in which about 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus were killed.

British Experts Discover Genetic Cause of Cancer

British scientists have recorded a major breakthrough in the battle against cancer, identifying that a faulty gene is linked to over half of all breast, bowel and prostrate cancer cases and one in four ovarian and bladder cancers. The NRG1 gene is present in everyone's DNA, but becomes damaged in some people, allowing cancer to develop. Experts are yet to discover why the gene is damaged in some people. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has restated its confidence in the H1N1 flu vaccine, calling on everyone who has access to the vaccine to be inoculated.

Germany Raids Suspected Violent Islamic Extremists

Police in Germany on Wednesday conducted a search in Berlin, targeting "potentially violent Islamic extremists". Police spokeswoman said that the raid was targeting people suspected of being involved in jihad training. Germany's capital has been on high alert after al Qaeda and the Taliban released threatening videos, warning voters against leaders who want to keep German troops in Afghanistan. The raid also followed an announcement last week by German prosecutors who said a 24-year-old German-Turkish man was arrested on suspicion of spreading al Qaeda propaganda online and for procuring materials which could be used to make a bomb.

Iran Indicts U.S. over Missing Nuclear Scientist

Iran has accused the United States of involvement in the disappearance of an Iranian nuclear scientist, Shahram Amiri, in Saudi Arabia during a pilgrimage in May. Amiri researches medical uses of nuclear technology at a Tehran university. His disappearance was months before the revelation of a second uranium enrichment facility that Iran has been building, raising speculation that Amiri may have given the West the information. Iran has asked Saudi Arabia for information on Amiri's whereabouts but has received no reply, Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hasan Qashqavi, said.

World Powers Press Sudan on Peace Deal

Envoys from the United Nations (UN) Security Council's top powers have called on Sudan's feuding parties to urgently implement a 2005 peace accord and prepare for 2010 elections. The world powers also "urged the parties to reach agreement as soon as possible on arrangements for free and fair national elections in 2010 and the 2011 referendum, as well as on a work-plan to address issues of shared interest that will arise after 2011. South Sudan's president has blamed the military in the north for a major escalation in violence in his semi-autonomous region emerging from decades of civil war. Long-standing tribal tensions in the south over cattle raids have escalated into more organised attacks on villages, which the United Nations estimates have killed 1,200 people this year.

Opposition, US, Urge Camara to Step Down

Opposition coalition in Guinea has asked the country's military leader, Capt. Moussa Camara, to step down before it would participate in talks with the ruling junta. While the United States (U.S.) Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said Guinea's military leaders should quit after soldiers went on a rampage at a protest rally, killing more than 150 people and raping women. The opposition also called for the arrest of soldiers who fired at the protesters. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore to mediate between the government and opposition groups.

Ethnic Groups Re-arm Ahead of 2012 Polls in Kenya

Rival ethnic groups in Kenya have begun rearming in readiness for violence at the 2012 poll. Investigations have reported that villagers in Rift Valley province are moving from traditional weapons to machine guns. Although government officials insist they are tackling the influx of illegal arms, they have been widely criticised for failing to punish the ringleaders of violence after the 2007 election, in which 1,300 people died. Former UN chief, Kofi Annan said the people expect to see concrete action. Kenya's new grand unity government said it would introduce an updated constitution, reform the police, judiciary and electoral process, as well as tackle festering disputes over land ownership that fuelled much of the violence.