Weekly Security Report Weekly Report week 45 week 45
PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS
Aviation Ministry Suspends Officers, Grounds Aircraft over Near Mishap
Aviation Minister, Babatunde Omotoba, Wednesday, announced the suspension of the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) on duty when two aircraft almost collided in the air in Port Harcourt, penultimate Friday. The Federal Government has also grounded the two aircraft involved in the incident. Omotoba however remarked that the avoidance of the incident and the full take-off of the total radar coverage for the nation was sufficient evidence that Nigeria's airspace is safe.
Lawmakers in Imo Veto Bill on Kidnapping
The Imo State House of Assembly on Tuesday exercised its veto right on the floor of the chambers as it approved the bill on death penalty for hostage-taking and kidnapping in the state. The House had passed the bill a few months ago and sent to the state governor, Ikedi Ohakim to assent to it, which the governor delayed. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the high level of criminal activities in the country, the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate in 2007 elections in the State, Uche Onyeaguocha, has advocated that every adult Nigerian should be trained to bear arms for self defence.
RSUST Students Go on Rampage
Students of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, penultimate Friday, went on the rampage, setting campus shuttle taxis on fire and threatening to burn down the Information Technology Centre of the university. They, however, were stopped by the anti-riot policemen drafted in from the State internal security. The students were calling for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Baranue Fakae, whom they accused of mal-administration, running poor relationship with the management of the university. Mr. Tams Ibuluya, the president of National Union of Rivers State Students, called for the arrest of the students he alleged were the brain behind the violent protest, calling them a bunch of criminals.
Okah Hints on Fresh Hostility in Niger Delta
Leader of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Okah, has indicated the possibility of renewed hostilities in the Niger Delta. Okah said his men have pulled out of the amnesty deal with the Federal Government over its failure to fulfil parts of the ceasefire deal. Okah asked the Federal Government to expel the foreign oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to avoid a resumption of hostilities by MEND, hinting that the Niger Delta militants were still in possession of more arms and ammunition. But The Federal Government has dismissed Okah’s claims that more arms are still in the creeks.
Shell Records Increase In Oil Production
Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has disclosed that the production capacity of Bayelsa state increased in the last few weeks due to the peace secured through the amnesty programme of the Federal Government. The management of the SPDC led by the Managing Director, Mutiu Sumonu, on Wednesday, announced to the State Executive Council (SEC) that the production data shows an appreciable increase from 12,000 barrels per day to 100,000 in the state. JTF Tackles Illegal Oil Bunkering
The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) sent out a signal that it would not allow illegal oil bunkering to fester in the Niger Delta. It has therefore decided to step up patrol of the waterways and arrest perpetrators. The Commander of JTF Sector 2, Bayelsa State, Col Victor Ezugwu, gave this hint. He also appealed to various leaders in oil communities to advise to their subjects to desist from the business.
JTF Warns Against Carrying Of Arms in Rivers State
The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Rivers State has said that with the amnesty programme by the federal government, the era of militancy in the Niger- Delta is over, and therefore warned that anyone caught carrying arms in any part of the region would be regarded and treated as a criminal. The commander of the JTF in Andoni LGA, Lt. Ogunrinde gave this warning in Oyorokoto Community when he visited the area. Lt Ogunnride who was reacting to the incessant raid of the community by suspected armed robbers warned those involved to have a rethink, while the Andoni LG Council promised regular patrol by military gunboats.
Ex-Militant Claim Regret in Accepting Amnesty
Former militant leaders have indicated that they regret accepting the amnesty offered by President Yar’Adua, noting that there was nothing on ground to indicate commitment to the development of the region. Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) President, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, made the point on behalf of 15 former militant leaders at a meeting with the Amnesty Panel on Tuesday in Abuja. Defence Minister, Godwin Abbe, who is also Amnesty Panel Chairman, assured of the readiness of government to hasten the development of the region, adding that the FG would soon begin the rehabilitation of 3,000 militants who had accepted the amnesty offer and that the President has approved a number of projects for the region and they will begin soon.
Pa Soludo Regains Freedom, Police Arrest Suspects
Anambra state Police Command on Thursday, said some people had been arrested in connection with the kidnap of Pa Simeon Soludo, the 78-year-old father of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the February 6, 2010 governorship elections in the State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who was released Wednesday night. A deputy Commissioner of Police in the Command, Mr. Oshodi Glover, said that the command was still working on the matter and would discreet about it for the moment.
Okah, Mitee Insist on Foreign Mediators in Amnesty Deal
Leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Okah and the Chairman, Technical Committee on the Niger Delta, Mr. Ledum Mitee, have expressed serious doubts over the effort by the Government to tackle the Niger Delta conflict through the amnesty programme. Okah and Mitee insisted that the current effort to end the restiveness in the Niger Delta is unsustainable unless the FG involves international mediators who command the respect of the parties in the matter. Mitee expressed dismay over government contravention of the committee's recommendations which clearly stipulated that the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme should meet the United Nations' standard.
Fishermen Lament Insecurity in Rivers Waterways
Fishermen in Oyorokoto community in Andoni Local Council of Rivers State have decried insecurity in the waterways. The fishermen lamented that sea pirates still attack them, alleging that the situation has led to the drowning of children and loss of goods worth millions of naira. They demanded for the deployment of gun boats for permanent security patrol in their waterways, especially in Andoni Council.
BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS
Edo Police Probe Rape, Death of Woman
The police in Auchi, Etsako West LGA of Edo State, are investigating the death of a woman who was allegedly raped and murdered in her farm penultimate Saturday. Mrs. Abibah Abdulmalik, 53, was found dead around her farmland with her clothes torn. Family sources alleged that she was tied, raped and strangled to death. Alarm was raised when the woman, who went to her farm in the morning, did not return home at the usual time. Her husband, Mr. Abdulmalik, called for justice. The police in Auchi have promised that the perpetrators would be brought to book.
Gunmen Abduct Senator’s Wife in Benin
Unknown gunmen on Monday abducted the wife of Senator Francis Okpozo, in Benin, Edo state. Mrs. Anna Okpozo was reportedly kidnapped from her house in the early hours of the day after her two sons left the house. According to eye witness, the kidnappers, four in number, also carted away some valuables. They are said to have demanded N5 million as ransom before they could release her.
MEND Maintains Cease-Fire
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has assured that the position of its leader, Mr. Henry Okah on the amnesty programme of the federal government while reflecting the truth of the situation will not lead to resumption of attacks by its commanders. MEND said it would exhaust all channels of dialogue so that when the next phase of attack would commence, no one would blame the group. MEND’s spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, insisted that there were still many unrepentant freedom fighters in the creeks with their weapons and warned that unless the right steps were taken, any gains made by the amnesty programme would be temporary.
Oil Multinationals Laud Amnesty Offer
…Want Speedy Implementation of Post-Amnesty Programme
Multinational oil companies operating in the Nigeria have lauded the Federal Government for resolving the Niger Delta crisis through the recently concluded amnesty programme. They urged the government to hasten the implementation of the post-amnesty programme so as to gain the confidence of the repentant militants. A source disclosed that the concern of the oil firms was to ensure that the nations’ production capacity improves tremendously, adding that they had lost several billions in investments to the crisis.
3 Suspected Drug Traffickers Arrested in Edo
Three persons have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for being in possession of illicit substances suspected to be cannabis at the Lagos – Benin bye pass. The Edo state Commander of the NDLEA, Mr. Okey Ihebom disclosed that the suspected cannabis weighing five thousand, four hundred and thirty seven kilograms, came in five thousand nine hundred and fifty seven bags. The NDLEA Commander said the seizure is one of the greatest single haul made this year. He further appealed to perpetrators to seek legitimate means of livelihood instead of engaging in illegal business that is harmful to human health.
JTF Arrests 50 over Illegal Oil Bunkering
Fifty persons have been arrested by the security Joint Task Force (JTF) in connection with illegal bunkering activities in Delta state. More than 150 illegal refineries were also destroyed in different parts of the state during the operations. It was learnt that the market value of the products seized or destroyed runs into millions of naira. JTF Sector One Commander, Col. Jamil Sarham, disclosed this. The JTF has also impounded four barges, 26 boats and 16 fuel tankers loaded with products suspected to be illegally obtained petroleum products.
Delta Women Leader Seek 50% Derivation for HOSTCOM
The Federal Government has been charged to increase the derivation fund for oil-producing states from the current 13 per cent to 50 per cent for effective development of the areas. Women leader of oil producing communities (HOSTCOM), Delta Central, Mrs. Elizabeth Irorakpor, said the right of the communities had been stepped upon by non-provision of roads, education and healthcare services. Meanwhile, Opuama community has sent an appeal to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for sand filling to save it from flooding and erosion. The Amananaowei of Opuama, Chief Augustine J. Ukulor JP, lamented that the community is in bad situation, as many of the houses are likely to collapse due to its swampy nature, erosion and flooding.
LAGOS AND ENVIRONS
Lagos Recruits Anti-Terrorist Squad
In its efforts to fortify security in Lagos, the state government has procured the services of 15 anti-terrorist guards to monitor the metropolis. The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this, adding that the recruitment of the guards would enable the government to effectively utilize the waterways for transportation. He also said that the government had provided two patrol boats, one fire boat, one search and rescue boats, to monitor safety compliance on Lagos jetties.
Man Killed Attempting to Disarm Soldier –Army
The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lagos, said on Saturday that a man allegedly killed by a soldier on October 27, had attempted to disarm the soldier. Lt. Col. Kingsley Umoh, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations gave the explanation “to correct the wrong reports of the incident”. Umoh said that a team of soldiers from Operation MESA patrol met a couple who claimed they had just been robbed. According to him, the patrol team stopped to investigate the matter, but a scuffle ensued and the deceased identified as Friday Ojeh attempted to disarm the soldier. Umoh said that because the soldiers were out numbered, and it became obvious that the young men might overpower and disarm them, the soldier had no choice than to shoot. He said the Army regretted the “unfortunate incidence’’.
Robbers’ Den Uncovered in Lagos
Neighbours of the Lagos State Fire Safety and Service, Agege Fire Service Station along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway have cried out to the Lagos State government, over the unused vast tract of land belonging to the fire service station, which has become robbers’ den. The land, it was learnt, is being used by robbers to share their loot after their operation on the highway or the nearby communities. It was also gathered that the robbers also use the land as an escape route from security operatives.
Police Investigate Death of Togolese Lady in Lagos
Police in Lagos State have begun investigations into the death of a Togolese lady, Harieta Seidu, 20, who was found dead in a hotel room, penultimate Saturday. The deceased is suspected to have died from complication arising from abortion. The manager of the hotel, Reuben Ape, said they heard a cry from the deceased and they rushed to the room and discovered that the female occupant was in pains, adding that she died before she could be rushed to a nearby hospital. The deceased’s boyfriend, Gambo Musa, claimed that he met the lady 15 days before the incident, adding that he was not responsible for any abortion.
First Case of Swine Flu Recorded in Nigeria
The Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed that the first case of the dreaded Swine Flu (H1N1) has been recorded in Nigeria. A statement signed by the Special Assistant (Communication) to the minister, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, indicates that flu was reported in a nine-year-old American girl residing in Lagos. Ojuolape said sequel to the discovery, medical checks were performed on other members of the girl’s household and the students of the school she attends but none tested positive to the disease. The ministry assured Nigerians that it had strengthened their preparedness and response plans contain any case that might occur.
GENERAL
Airspace Controllers Lament Poor Navigation
Air Traffic Controllers have raised alarm over the poor navigational aids in the nation’s airspace, which may threaten safety. The controllers fear that the existing blind spots in various parts of the airspace if not urgently eliminated through provision of radio communication system may threaten safety of flight operations. President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Jibrin Haske, raised the alarm and stressed that communication was inadequate and that government intervention was needed to address the problem.
FG Sets Up Commission on Small Arms
Federal Government has set up a technical committee to examine the process of institutionalizing a full fledged commission on small arms in the country, the Minister of foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe disclosed. Maduekwe said the creation of small arms commission would help the federal government and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to tackle the increased flow of small arms and light weapons into the region. He said the state of ratification of the ECOWAS convention on small arms and light weaponry was very low with only nine of the fifteen member states having ratified the convention.
DPR Warns Fuel Saboteurs
As fuel scarcity abated and worsened in different parts of the country, industry regulator, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), has pointed accusing fingers at filling stations for hoarding fuel and threatened to confiscate and auction the commodity. Meanwhile, major oil marketers are said to be sabotaging Federal Government’s plan to fully deregulate the downstream sector. The Director of DPR, Mr. Billy Agha, told the marketers that the government had not authorised any increase in the pump price of fuel and that marketers who sell fuel above the official price of N65 per litre would be severely sanctioned.
Yar’Adua Vows to Proceed with Deregulation as House Approves Policy
President Yar’Adua, Thursday, reaffirmed that there was no going back on the planned deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. The policy also received the backing of the House of Representatives, which further urged the sale of the country’s refineries. Yar’Adua said his administration is currently holding consultations and dialogue with all stakeholders to explain the necessity of the action, adding that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), before the National Assembly, was aimed at repositioning the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to become a transparent, accountable and profitable business concern, existing without any budgetary provisions from government, and freed from its regulatory functions.
National Assembly to Okay 10% Oil Equity for Niger Delta
The 10 per cent equity from oil interest proposed by the Federal Government for oil producing communities will be incorporated into the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and passed into law by the National Assembly before its implementation, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Petroleum, Emmanuel Egbogha. Egbogha, who revealed this on Thursday, expressed optimism that the National Assembly would pass the bill before the middle of next year. Egbogha said the 10% oil equity will apply to all the oil assets and businesses in the country.
Two Lawyers Arrested for Alleged Extortion
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested the son of retired Supreme Court Justice Sylvester Oguwuegbe, Mr Obinna, who is an ex-staff of the agency and Mr. Ndubuisi Nnoke, a Special Assistant to the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Abuja, over an alleged N10 million extortion. It was gathered that Oguwuegbe and Nnoke, had told the management of the Customary Court that there was a petition against it and that N10m was required to settle EFCC. The management was said to have invited Oguewuegbe where a demand of N10m was allegedly made to bribe EFCC officials to destroy the files.
Katsina PDP Chieftain Dies in CP’s Office
A prominent member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina state, Alhaji Tasiu Mashi, collapsed and died during a reconciliatory meeting in the state Police Commissioner’s office. The State Police Commissioner, Dan’azumi Doma, said on Monday that Tasiu died during a reconciliatory meeting between him and some aggrieved members of the party, following a bloody clash, penultimate Saturday.
PPPRA Promises Nation-wide Fuel Supply
The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) said on Monday that large volumes of petroleum products had been imported to meet domestic consumption. The Executive Secretary of PPPRA, Mr. Biodun Ibikunle, made the clarification in a statement in Abuja, adding that Petroleum products have been imported into the country in large volumes to meet the national requirements.
Reps Want 13 Nigerians in Libya's Prisons Released
Following the intervention of the House of Representatives, the Libyan government has freed 19 Nigerians from prison. Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who disclosed this, however, lamented that 13 other Nigerians were still been victimized for making information available to the parliament in Nigeria. According to her "some of those still in the prison are the people who sensitized Nigerian authorities on their pitiable plight in Libya prisons before the committee's intervention that saw the amnesty and subsequent release of several of them."
One Killed as Taraba Council Workers Protest Unpaid Salaries
At least one person has been reported dead and several others hospitalised following the protests in Ibi Local Council Area of Taraba State over the non-payment of workers' salaries. Apart from the death and injuries, property worth millions of naira was said to have been razed by the protesting workers. The anger of the workers, it was learnt, was ignited when the chairman decided to pay only half of the salaries for the month of August. On sensing danger, the chairman was said to have taken to his heels but was cornered by the workers, prompting sporadic shootings by policemen attached to the council headquarters. Protests and complaints have recently emanated from other local councils in the state over the refusal of the council chairmen to pay workers' salaries for over three months.
NDLEA Arrests Five Drug Suspects
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested five suspected drug traffickers for allegedly swallowing 410 wraps suspected narcotic substances at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja. According to a statement by the Head, Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, all the suspects were caught attempting to export the illicit drugs out of the country at the airport.
180 Nigerian Hajj Pilgrims Stranded, 3 Die
About 180 intending Muslim Pilgrims from Nasarawa State were stranded at the NYSC Camp in Keffi, venue of the transit camp for this year’s hajj, while three others have died. Among the three deceased pilgrims is Alhaji Musa Doma, a former police DPO in Garaku, Kokona LGA who died at Federal Medical Center, Keffi after falling sick in camp, while one woman and a Fulani man died in Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Available reports from Medina said that the Fulani Man slumped and died in a queue while waiting to change his traveller’s Cheque in Riyad Bank and the one Hauwa died due to illness. Jigawa Denies Politicians’ Involvement in Ritual Killing
Jigawa State government has debunked the notion that politicians were involved in the recent ritual killings in the state. Secretary to the state government, Dr Aminu Abdullahi Taura, said ritual killing was not new in the state. He added that the state governor met with security chiefs in the state for discuss recent happenings and fashion out ways to make the state safer. According to him, they discussed extensively about the recent murder cases in the state.
Cholera Kills 10 in Jalingo
At least 10 persons have been reported dead in Jalingo, Taraba State, following an outbreak of Cholera. The state Commissioner for Health, Mohammed Yusuf Bose, called on the people of the state to maintain a high standard of personal and food hygiene, through vigorous hand washing after the use of toilets or before handling of food items and after touching affected persons. The commissioner advised members of the public not to panic as all measures were being put in place to contain the situation.
Old Malaria Drug Kills Millions of People Yearly –Research
Nearly a million people die from malaria each year because they often buy old drugs which the malaria parasite has become resistant to, according to researches. The study, designed to provide baseline data to allow experts to judge a planned drug subsidy scheme being offered in 11 nations, looked at availability, pricing and volumes for 23,000 malaria treatments sourced from 20,000 outlets.
ECOWAS Police Chiefs Parley to Fight on Kidnapping
Police Chiefs from the Economic Community of West African Sates (ECOWAS) under the umbrella of West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO) are worried about the growing menace of kidnapping in the sub-region and are set to tackle it. The police helmsmen say they have listed the issue as one of the topmost in their agenda as they deliberated, last week, on the security of the sub-region. Among other deliberations, the community will deal decisively with transnational organized crimes like kidnapping, armed robbery, car snatching/theft, drug and human trafficking.
NNPC, Independent Marketers Partner on Fuel Distribution
As part of its strategies to spread the distribution of petroleum products across the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has entered into a partnership with some independent oil marketing companies to use their retail outlets in getting the products to consumers. A top NNPC official, who disclosed this, noted that it was just not enough to embark on massive importation, but was equally imperative to go the partnership with a view to ensuring that the products get to all parts of the country and eliminating hoarding and artificial scarcity.
FG Commences Restructuring of Police
The Federal Government has commenced the restructuring, re-equipping and reforming of the Nigeria police for enhanced performance and commitment to national security. The Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Lame, noted that security occupied a central position in President Umaru Yar’Adua’s seven-point agenda, and as part of its commitment to regional security. According to Lame, collaboration among the various security services and agencies remains crucial and very critical to their success if they must combat the diverse forms of transnational organised crimes plaguing the sub-region.
Yar‘Adua Proposes N352.3bn Budget for Post-Amnesty
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on Wednesday sought the endorsement of the National Assembly for a N352.2 billion supplementary appropriation to enable the Federal Government address emerging challenges of the post-amnesty period in the Niger Delta. The President said that it had become extremely important that the government embarked on projects, which would help deepen and consolidate peace as well as lay foundations for sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
Minister Urges Oil Firms to Obey Environmental Laws
Minister of Environment, John Odey, has asked oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to comply with existing regulatory laws and to ensure that they tailor their operations to conform to the Ministry’s policy on environment. Odey made the charge while inaugurating a technical inter-ministerial committee for the implementation of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement in the environment sector to supervise the construction of Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) for the oil and gas and other industries in the Niger Delta. According to him, the implementation of the waste management facility program was at various stages of completion in selected cities.
Meltdown Causes Loss of N205bn National Revenue
The Budget Office of the Federation has reported a loss of N205.238 billion revenue by the Federal Government. It attributed the development to the continuing global economic crisis, which has adversely affected the patronage of Nigeria's main revenue earner, crude oil. The development also adversely affected the performance or delivery of the capital votes implementation under the quarter which ended in June this year, according to the Director-General of the Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogu. He said, however, that the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) managed to record a below average implementation of 43 per cent of capital votes expected of them during the quarter.
NAFDAC Destroys N1 Billion Worth of Fake, Expired Products
The war against sub-standard and adulterated products recorded another milestone on Tuesday as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC), publicly destroyed fake products worth over N1 billion. The destroyed products included expired drugs, cosmetics and food products, which were confiscated by NAFDAC from importers, manufacturers and distributors at various ports of entry, factories and major distribution outlets, as well as defective or expired products turned in by companies in line with regulatory guidelines. At the event, Director General, NAFDAC, Paul Orhii, assured that NAFDAC would not relent in its clampdown on unwholesome products in line with its mandate.
INTERNATIONAL
Bombings in Iraq Kill 7, Over 45 Wounded
Bombings in central and western Iraq killed at least seven people and wounded 45 others, penultimate Sunday, the Interior Ministry said. In an attack south of Baghdad, a motorcycle rigged with explosives blew up in the predominantly Shiite town of Mussayyab, killing at least five people. Another 37 were wounded, according to the ministry. In another attack, insurgents detonated a pair of car bombs in the western city of Ramadi, the ministry said. There has been increase in sporadic violence in recent months. The previous day, mortars slammed into southern Baghdad, wounding at least nine people, the ministry said.
Six Afghans Arrested for Attack on UN Staff, UN Relocates Staff
Six Afghans have been arrested for planning a guest house suicide attack that killed five U.N staff in Kabul, Afghanistan's chief of national security disclosed. Sayed Ansari also said the three suicide bombers were Pakistani. U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, said that two of the U.N. personnel who died in Wednesday's attack by Taliban gunmen were helping the Afghan government plan for the November 7 runoff election.
Four Killed in North Carolina Shooting, Suspect on the Loose
Four men gathered in a parking lot were shot and killed penultimate Sunday in Mount Airy, North Carolina, and a warrant was issued for a suspect, police said. Mount Airy Police Chief, Dale Watson, described the victims as "four Hispanic males, all shot," from the surrounding Surry County area. He said two died at the scene while the other two were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Australia Oil Well on Fire
An oil well at the centre of a massive spill in the Timor Sea off the north-west coast of Australia is on fire. The company which runs the well, PTTEP Australasia, said the fire broke out as it made another attempt to plug a leak deep underwater at the West Atlas rig. Engineers have been struggling for more than 10 weeks to stop the leak which is spewing out natural gas and oil at an estimated 400 barrels a day. All workers were reported safe. A director of the company, Jose Martins, said the only way to stop the fire was to plug the leak.
Mafia Woman Jailed In China
A woman called the "godmother" of a mafia-style gang in China's Southern city of Chongqing was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday for running underground casinos and bribing government officials. The trial of Xie Caiping is part of a months-long crackdown in the city that has exposed widespread government and police involvement in providing cover to numerous local gangs, or "black societies." Twenty-one others were sentenced to between one and 13 years in prison, according to a notice on the Chongqing court Web site. The crackdown in Chongqing has been extensive, netting more than 1,544 suspects — gangsters, prominent businessmen and 14 high-ranking officials.
Clinton wants Israeli Settlement Permanently Halted
United States (U.S.) Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has said that the US does not accept the legitimacy of the West Bank enclaves and wants to see their construction halted "forever." Still, she said an Israeli offer to restrain - but not halt - construction represents positive movement toward resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Israeli naval commandos on Thursday seized a ship that defence officials said was carrying more than 60 tons of missiles, rockets and anti-tank weapons from Iran to Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. The pre-dawn seizure near Cyprus was a rare interception of a suspected arms shipment by Israel, which has long accused Iran of arming its enemies. Israel offered no evidence to support its claim that the weapons were meant for Hezbollah.
UN Relocates Foreign Staff from Afghanistan
The United Nations (UN) said it has begun relocating its international staff in Afghanistan following last week's Taliban attack against its workers, spokesman Aleem Siddique said. He said they did not know how many would actually be leaving the country. Gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed a private guesthouse where dozens of UN staffers lived, killing five UN workers and three Afghans. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault, saying they intentionally targeted UN employees working on the recent presidential election.
Seven Shot Dead at US Military Base
Seven people were killed and at least 20 others injured in a shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, the US Army confirmed on Thursday. One person has been arrested and at least one more was reportedly on the loose. Fort Hood, located near the town of Killeen, is a large US military base. Local congressman, John Carter, confirmed the shooting at the base, saying the gunfire had erupted during a graduation ceremony. Schools in the area were immediately locked down.
Somali Groups Kidnap British Couple
Rival pirates and militia groups have fought for control over a British couple held hostage for more than a week, an Islamic militia commander and a local elder said on Monday. Elders sent local fighters to thwart an attempt by some of the pirates holding the couple to take them to an extremist Islamic group, said a commander of a rival moderate Islamic militia who gave his name only as Ilka'ase. A pirate claiming to speak on behalf of the group holding the British couple had said on Saturday that they want a $7 million ransom to release Paul and Rachel Chandler. Meanwhile, an American-flagged cargo vessel came under gunfire from suspected Somali pirates but made good its escape, a US Navy spokesman said.
Iraqi Man Run Over, Kills Daughter in Arizona
A 20-year-old woman, Noor Faleh Almaleki, from Iraq has died in an Arizona hospital, two weeks after her father ran her over with a car because she had become "too Westernized", according to the police. Authorities said they expect to change the aggravated assault charge against her father, Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 48, to more severe counts. After the incident, Almaleki's father drove to Mexico, abandoning his vehicle in Nogales, Peoria police said. A friend of the daughter, Amal Edan Khalaf, 43, also suffered serious injuries in the attack, police said.
Equatorial Guinea Grants Pardon to Mercenaries on Coup Plot
President Theodore Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea has granted full pardon to British coup-plotter, Simon Mann and four South African mercenaries who plotted to overthrow his government in 2004. The country’s Supreme Court Chief Justice, Obono Olo, on Tuesday said that Mann and his accomplices were freed and had flown home. Olo said President Nguema gave them "a full pardon for humanitarian reasons". The men were convicted in a trial where Mann implicated Mark Thatcher, son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, as a chief bankroller along with Equatorial-Guinean based Lebanese businessman, Elie Khalil.
North Korea Wants Direct Talk With US On Nuclear
North Korea, Monday, pressed the United States (US) to accept its demand for direct talks on its nuclear programme, warning that it “would go its own way" unless the US agrees. North Korea has demanded direct talks with the US since conducting a series of nuclear and missile tests and quitting six-party nuclear negotiations involving China, Japan, the two Koreas, Russia and the US earlier this year.