Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 51

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Bayelsa Community Laments Oil Spill

Again, an oil spill has occurred at a pipeline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at Ikarama community in Bayelsa state devastating farmlands, creeks and aquatic lives. The oil spill reportedly occurred at the very spot of a previous spill along the Ughelli/Rumuekpe pipeline of Shell. The chief security officer of Ikarama Community, Mr. Washington Odoyibo, wondered why Shell had not gone to clamp the burst point of the pipeline even after a formal complaint to the latter.

Gunmen Abduct Gov’s Aide’s Daughter

A three-year-old daughter of the Principal Staff to Enugu state Governor was kidnapped by gunmen in Enugu. It was gathered that the hoodlums kidnapped the girl while she was escorting her elder sister for an errand a few meters outside their home. The state governor has asked the police to widen their dragnet with a view to trapping the culprits. Meanwhile, an Enugu-based oil merchant and two policemen have been arrested for alleged complicity in the kidnap of the brother of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Dora Akunyili, Dr. Francis Edumobi, who was rescued last week.

JTF Hands Over 14 Filipinos to EFCC

The four teen Filipinos arrested by the Joint Task Force sometime in July for alleged involvement in oil bunkering have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation and prosecution. The embattled Filipinos were arrested on board MT Akuada by men of the JTF, also known as Operation Restore Hope with 150-160 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil at the Bight of Benin on the Atlantic fringe of Bayelsa State.

Int’l Oil Firms Threaten to Shut Down over Insecurity

International Oil Companies (IOC) in Nigeria have said that if cases of insecurity should continue in the Niger Delta, they may be forced to stop production, just as they urged the FG to better police the explosion zones. The International Oil companies, which expressed their worries over the increasing rate of insecurity and incursion on their facilities, stressed that this has culminated in Mobil Oil Producing Company especially threatening to shutdown production today.

20 Die in Abia as Doctors Embark on Strike

As resident doctors in Abia state embark on a strike, more than 20 deaths have been recorded at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia. The strike started last Friday following the alleged assault on a resident doctor by some person in the area. Residents lamented the action, saying they were caught unawares. They appealed to the doctors to rescind their action in the interest of the masses.

Cult Killings in Awka Rise, Death Toll Rises

The death toll in Penultimate Weekend’s cult clashes between two campus cults in Awka, Anambra State hit seven. The police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Agbo, said that six corpses were picked from different parts of the city. Other sources claim that up to 20 bodies were recovered as at Thursday. The PPRO said the deaths arose from clashes between the Vikings and Black Axe cults. He added that no arrest had been made so far.

Julius Berger Abandons N79bn Road

The management of Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) on Tuesday said that it cannot continue work on the dualisation of the N79.23 billion East-West road owing security threats. The Divisional General Manager of the company, D. Lubaseh, explained that the company has so far spent about N450 million in order to ensure adequate security, while five of its workers have been abducted. Mobilization stopped on the 23rd May 2007, due to security reasons. JBN resumed again to site on the 4th September 2007. The work has been carried out under security and escorts with Joint Task Force soldiers.

Elders Call for Peace in Oil Producing Communities

Elders and Traditional Heads of the Oil Producing Communities of the Niger Delta on Wednesday have called for peace in the resolution of the crisis in the region, saying the use of force will not work but compound the security situation in the area. They also suggested the adoption of the Integrated Community Surveillance Support Scheme to involve the people in tackling the security situation in the region.

PENGASSAN Threatens Strike

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike beginning on Monday, threatening to shut down flow stations conveying fuel to different depots nationwide during the strike. The union is protesting the over eight years of stagnation suffered by staff of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF). The workers are also protesting the decision of the management of PEF that all workers must undergo examinations before promotion.

MEND Gives Condition to Lay Down Arms

Movement for Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) says it will only begin talks with the Federal Government on disarmament in the Niger-Delta only when the it leader, Henry Okah, who is standing trial for gun running and treasonable felony, is released to lead the negotiations. In the meantime, the militant group said it would not dismantle militant camps in the region even if the Federal Government orders the Joint Task Force on the Niger-Delta to make a retreat, saying, that the JTF could be called upon by the government at short notice.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

FG Deploys Anti-Terrorism Squad in Delta

The Federal Government, last weekend, deployed an Anti-Terrorism Squad in Delta State to tackle hostage-takers, pipeline vandals, oil bunkerers, hi-tech robbers and criminals involved in high-profile crimes. It was gathered that the Federal Government is partnering with the United Nations in the anti- terrorism programme, which will receive some funding from the world body. However, 48 hours before the squad arrived, some unknown persons were said to have kidnapped a university don and burnt his car somewhere in the state.

Pipeline Fire: Residents Flee

Residents have fled their homes in Effurun, and parts of Okpe LGA of Delta State because of a raging fire at a pipeline of the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), which reportedly broke out at about midnight on Tuesday as they feared that the inferno could lead to a major disaster. Although what caused the fire was yet to be ascertained, officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) believed it to be sabotage. The fire consumed acres of farmland and damaged vegetations around the Effurun Motor Park.

300 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta - Defence Chief

The military authorities on Tuesday said they had uncovered not less than 300 illegal refineries created in the Niger Delta by the militants. They also disclosed that the refineries had been serving as sources of fund generation by the militants for purchase of arms and ammunition. Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike, stressed that the militants had for long been using the illegal refineries to process stolen crude oil.

Oil Producing Communities Warn Chevron

Authorities of Chevron Nigeria Limited have been advised to be wary of those they deal with in negotiating the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) with host communities in the Niger Delta region. The executive committee of Orere-Yanagho coastal communities in Warri South West LGA of Delta State warned that it would back out of any negotiation, should Chevron fail to invite the "true executives" of the communities. Chevron is prepared to negotiate and implement another offshore GMOU with host communities in its area of operations in the Niger Delta region.

3 Rape 14-Year-Old Girl to Death

A 14-year-old girl, Stella Chinedu, was raped to death by three men on Wednesday in a bush at Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South LGA of Delta State, while the rapists took to their heels. The Police reportedly launched an intensive man-hunt for the suspects and arrested one, who confessed, leading to the arrest of the others.

Police Tighten Noose on Alleged Killers of 11-Year-Old Girl

The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Delta State Police Command has taken over investigations into the beheading of an 11-year-old girl, Loveth Balogun, who was allegedly beheaded by her uncle, penultimate Saturday. The victim’s uncle and three other persons, including two pastors, have been arrested in connection with the incident. One of the suspects, it was learnt, made confessional statements that could help the police unearth the masterminds of several unresolved ritual killings in the Urhobo community.

Kidnap of Don Ignites Tension

There is tension between the Urhobo and the Ijaw in Delta State over the alleged abduction of a University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) don by youths suspected to be Ijaw militants. It was gathered that a get-away car used by the alleged kidnappers was set ablaze at the Ukwagbe waterside in Ughelli South LGA. But the victim’s kinsmen, under the auspices of the Urhobo Monitoring and Development Group (UMDG), are calling for his release and a halt to further attacks on Urhobo by their Ijaw neighbours.

Militants in Delta State Pledge to Cease Fire

Militants in Delta State rose from a meeting, weekend, promising to lay down their arms and support the Power Projects to be embarked upon soon by the state government in partnership with private investors. Four power plants are being planned through the Delta Energy Development Programme. The Delta Energy Power programme will involve the construction of an off grid transmission and distribution lines, which will serve the areas of the state not currently being served by the national grid.

JTF Warns against Trouble in Delta as Ijaw, Itsekiri Feud over Community

The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Tuesday strengthened security around communities and oil facilities in Escravos, Delta State, following growing tension between the Ijaw and the Itsekiri over the ownership of Ijalagha community in Warri South West LGA. The Ijaw have accused their Itsekiri neighbours of beating the drums of war over their claim to the community, adding that it would be resisted.

JTF Accuses Militants of Crime

The Joint Task Force (JTF) has accused militants in the Niger Delta of shifting to criminal activities like armed robbery and kidnapping and using them to terrorise the people in the region. The JTF claimed that following its blockade of illegal bunkering, the spate of other criminal activities had sprung up. The military security outfit therefore asked the people of the Niger Delta to be vigilant this Yuletide season and give necessary "timely information" that would lead to the apprehension of culprits.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Police Gun Down Woman over Robbery, AC, Family Demand Probe

A woman was penultimate Saturday was killed by the police and accused of being a member of a 10-man armed robbery gang in Sagamu, Ogun State. The robbers had successfully robbed a bank and were escaping with their loot when the anti-robbery squad intercepted them. The Action Congress (AC) has called for an independent investigation into the killing to unravel whether the woman was an armed robber or not as her family and employer at Dirmirs Farm have denied that she was an armed robber. The manager of the poultry farm said he asked her to buy fuel at a filling station close to the site of killing when the incident occurred. The Inspector-General of Police has assured of an investigation into the matter.

Fake Deputy Commissioner of Police Arrested

The Police in Lagos are holding a man who has been parading himself as a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). The suspect was arrested at Dopemu Police Station where he sought audience with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO). Onabanjo Tunbosun, a SPY policeman attached to an oil firm on Victoria Island, Lagos, has been impersonating as a DCP, to intimidate, harass and extort unsuspecting members of the public.

Robbers Raid Banks in Ife, 10 Killed

Armed robbers seem to have moved their operations from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to Osun State, as 10 people lost their lives and another 30 were wounded on Monday during a robbery incident involving two banks and a micro-finance bank in Lagere area of Ile-Ife. The casualty figure comprised mostly customers of the banks. One of the robbers and a policeman were killed in the shootout. The robbers abandoned two Sport Utility Vans (SUVs) and took away their wounded colleagues. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Joshua Olayemi, said the police would do everything to fish out the armed robbers.

Police Arrest Bank Robbers

The Leader and two members of a 14 man armed gang that recently robbed some commercial banks in Osun state has been arrested. He also reportedly confessed to taking part in the robbery in Ibadan where four police men were killed. The Police PRO for the state, Mr. Joshua Olayemi said on Tuesday that items recovered from the robbers include ammunitions, guns and other dangerous weapons and charms along with money including foreign currencies.

Dock Workers Paralyse Port Operations

Aggrieved Dock workers on Tuesday paralysed activities at the Marina, Lagos headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and its environs over alleged refusal of the Management of the Ports Authority to implement an agreement on their improved welfare benefits seven months after. The protesting workers also called on the government to direct appropriate agencies to investigate the sum of N500 million allegedly paid on cargo surveyors that did nothing throughout the period of their contract.

Three Children Burnt to Death in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command says it is investigating a mysterious fire that claimed the lives of three children of the same parents. The victims were aged between one and seven years on Thursday. Preliminary police report, it was learnt, indicated that the fire might have emanated from a candle in their room. Despite efforts by neighbours to put the fire out, the children sustained first degree burns.

Suspected Kid Robbers in Police Net

Two boys, 10 and 15, of the same parents have been arrested by the police for allegedly attempting robbery. They were arrested by security guards at the University of Lagos, while attempting to dispossess a man of the money he had gone to withdraw from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in the premises of UNILAG.

Tanker Drivers Boycott Lagos

Petroleum tanker drivers, Wednesday, boycotted Lagos routes. It was gathered that no fuel tanker loaded from any depot in Lagos. Zonal Secretary, Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, said that the tanker drivers took the decision to avoid the constant molestation, extortion, indiscriminate arrests and harassment of their members by agents of the Lagos State Government as tankers have repeatedly been accused of constituting traffic nuisance.

Police in Osun Arrests Robbery Suspects in Army Uniform

The Osun State police command has rounded up 16 persons, suspected to be armed robbers. Among the suspects were some soldiers who claimed that they were serving in Lagos and some students from various institutions of higher learning. One of the suspected robbers, however, died during exchange of gunfire with the police. Meanwhile, some of them, especially, the ones in army uniform have denied the allegation. The Police said one locally made pistol, cartridges, 3 knives, wraps of suspected cannabis, charms and handcuffs were recovered from the suspects.

Drivers Attack Soldier in Akure

A soldier in Akure, Ondo State, was on Wednesday attacked by some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers. This happened just a week after another soldier was stabbed by some bike riders in the state. Commercial activities were paralysed as commercial drivers blocked the Road in protest over an alleged arrest of their leader over the first incident. The soldier was attacked after he decided to give a ride to a corps member and a policeman.

Robbers Terrorise Lagos Residents with Toy, Dummy Guns

Some robbers have resorted to the use of toy guns to dispossess their victims of valuables. On Tuesday, a member of a robbery gang, armed with a toy gun, was arrested after they allegedly robbed a victim. Similarly, on the same day, a team of anti-robbery policemen arrested a robbery suspect armed with a dummy gun.

Thugs Invade Ajah, Unleash Terror on Residents

Hoodlums, brandishing guns and cutlasses, Monday, unleashed terror on residents of Olokonla village, Ajah, and destroyed properties worth millions of naira. The attack was seen as retaliation against the demolition of their hideouts inside the Ajah motor park by residents of Ajah and the police.

Oyo Police Arrest 50 Suspected Robbers

The Oyo State Police Command, Thursday, arrested 50 armed robbery suspects during a raid on a notorious hide-out in Ibadan. Police Commissioner Bashiru Azeez said the arrest was the result of the renewed onslaught against crime.

Police Kill Driver in Lagos

A policeman on Thursday killed a yet-to-be-identified man in Ajegunle area of Lagos State. The man was reportedly driving his car when a policeman in a police van pursued him and shot him for unknown reason. The deceased reportedly had, a few minute earlier, had an argument with policemen at a checkpoint. The image maker of the state police command, Mr. Frank Mba, while confirming the incident, said investigations had started.

GENERAL

Illegal Operation: FG Impounds Foreign Ship

The Inter Agency Maritime Security Task Force, penultimate weekend, impounded a foreign vessel for allegedly operating on Nigerian waters illegally. The captain of the ship and the chief officer Indian nationals were also arrested pending when its owner would regularize its document with the relevant federal agencies. Similarly, three suspected sea pirates were arrested on board a ship identified as MT Lady Doja.

Okiro Warns Police Officers against Extra Judicial Killings

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro has said that police authorities were investigating various allegations of extra judicial killings levelled against his men with a view to punishing erring officers. He warned that stiffer penalties would be meted on officers found to engage in sharp practices. Okiro said the police was doing its best to fight the increasing bank robbery cases in Lagos and Oyo states.

Police Probe Assassination Attempt on Ribadu

The Police have begun investigations into alleged assassination attempt on former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu has reportedly been asked to explain his side of the story and bring the vehicle that was reportedly attacked by gunmen on Jos-Abuja road.

Nigeria Loses N177.5b to Fall in Oil Price

Nigeria has recorded an all - time record of revenue drop, owing to the fall in global oil price. The sum of N177.52 billion revenue was recorded as having been lost to the crisis in November. Prices now hover below $45 per barrel.

Residents Protest as Govt Cedes Taraba Communities to Cameroun

Three communities in Taraba State, on Sunday faced the reality that they have been expunged from Nigeria and handed over to Cameroun. The ceding, according to the state Boundary Commissioner, Philemon Saredau, was in line with the "2002 World Court judgment," which he said gave the right to Cameroun to possess parts of the communities, but the affected communities have vowed to remain in Nigeria.

Obasanjo Laments Pace of DR Congo Peace Project

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has lamented the slow pace of peace project in the embattled Democratic Republic of Congo, where he is mediating talks between the main rebel group and the government. Obasanjo, the UN envoy to Congo, stressed the need for an urgent resolution, especially as the main rebel leader, Laurent Nkunda and his group, have been raising demands that are beyond his mandate and UN intervention in the crisis. The rebel group, however, sees those demands as directly addressing the core issues of the conflict.

SSS Seeks Co-operation with Other Agencies over Security

As terrorist activities continue to wreck havoc in some parts of the globe, the authorities of State Security Service (SSS) at the weekend called for a synergy among security agencies in the country to avert terrorism and adequately confront other challenges of safety in the country. This is even as the authorities assured of the agency's preparedness to provide security to lives and property of citizens in the country.

Nigeria, 20 Others, get $92m Climate Change Package from Japan

Nigeria is among the 21 African countries set to benefit from a $92.1 million programme backed by the Japanese Government. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said last weekend that the programme is designed to support the African countries in their efforts aimed at adapting to climate change.

JUSUN Continues Strike

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has said that the ongoing strike would continue because the Federal Government has not shown enough commitment to persuade the workers to suspend the strike. The JUSUN National Public Relations Officer, Marwan Mustapha Adamu, said that a negotiation team constituted by the Minister of Labour and Productivity did not have the mandate to negotiate.According to him, members of the Negotiation Team told JUSUN after a meeting that it lacked the power to enter into any agreements with the union.

Tinubu Kicks against Removal of Immunity Clause

The former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said the time is not ripe enough to remove the immunity clause for elected public holders as the anti-graft agencies are not strong enough to prosecute the war. He said there were constitutional mechanisms that could jeopardize the entire democratic process.

Police Arrest 2 for Distributing Inciting Cassettes

Kaduna State Police Command has arrested two people for allegedly distributing inciting cassettes that urged Muslims to avenge the killings of Muslims during the recent crisis in Jos, Plateau State. Detectives after listening to the cassette stormed the shop of one of the suspects where the inciting cassettes are being distributed. Many of the cassettes were allegedly recovered.

Suspected Terrorists Arrested in Abuja

Eight Afghanis, suspected to be terrorists were last weekend arrested in Abuja by the police. The suspects allegedly entered the country, using fake passports while the other three hold "Egyptian passports," sources disclosed. "The mission of the suspects is still being investigated by all security agencies. In a related incident, the police arrested six Gambians and two Indians for allegedly preaching violence in their sermons. The six, described as Islamist fundamentalists, were picked up last week at a mosque. None of the men had been charged with any offence and investigations are still going on.

36 Nigerians Die in Mecca – Bankole

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, has said that 36 Nigerians died during the 2008 hajj exercise in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Bankole, who is the head of the Nigerian pilgrims to Mecca (Amirul Hajj), said that more than 25 Nigerian accident victims were in various Saudi Arabian hospitals receiving treatment. He also disclosed that more than 8,000 of the 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims who performed the 2008 pilgrimage to Mecca were back in Nigeria.

Nigeria to Deploy More ECOMOG Soldiers to Somalia

The Federal Government has said due to the insurgence of rebel soldiers in Somalia, Nigeria will deploy three battalions of soldiers of the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) to Somalia before the end of the first quarter of 2009. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, said the troops will be doubled in number and adequately equipped as “peace enforcers and not peace makers.

One Killed, Six Injured In Benue Over Village Headship

Disagreement over who becomes the village head of Ankpechi in Ohimini LGA of Benue State, turned ugly last week, resulting in the death of one and the injuring of six others. The police have warned that anyone caught fomenting trouble would be dealt with.

Igbo Group Claims Losses in Jos Crisis, Alleges 150 Deaths

Chairman of the Igbo Political Forum, Chief Chidi Ndu, has said that about 150 persons of Igbo extraction died in the recent three-day mayhem in Jos, Plateau State. He also said that the Igbo community in Jos lost property worth over N50bn in the crisis. Ndu stressed that the Igbo were always the targets of attack in any upheaval in the state.

FG Set to Reduce Pump Price of Fuel

Special Adviser to President Yar’Adua on Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah, said petroleum products pump prices in the country would be reduced by not less 25 per cent.  Egbogah hinted that the reduction would gradually move from 25 per cent to 40 per cent to reflect the spate of the current fall in global prices of oil, which stood at above $50 per barrel.

Officials to Face Trial over N64b Oil Subsidy Scandal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has submitted a report on its investigations into a N64billion fuel subsidy scandal to President Yar’Adua. It was also learnt that the commission has recommended the trial of some principal officers of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) where the alleged fraud was uncovered. The EFCC has established that the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) was not well managed by the PPPRA. As part of its findings, the anti-graft commission also discovered that the PPPRA spent N856billion on petroleum subsidy between 2006 and 2008, instead of the N550billion approved by the government.

INTERNATIONAL

Palestinians Celebrate Release from Israeli Jails

Israel, Monday, released 224 prisoners in a goodwill gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, prompting joyous family reunions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Abbas greeted them individually, but said Israel should release all 11, 000 Palestinians it was holding and promised to also work to free all prisoners from all factions, including members of the hard-line Islamist group Hamas, which drove his Fatah faction out of the Gaza Strip last year and now controls the territory. Israel had released about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners since last year.

Somalia's Fractured Government Slides into Chaos

Somalia President, Abdullahi Yusuf named a new prime minister on Tuesday, snubbing a vote by parliament to reinstate sacked premier Nur Hassan Hussein and further deepening rifts in the fractured government. Chronic instability in Somalia has uprooted about 1 million people and has fuel kidnappings and piracy off the coast. The African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) have urged the feuding leaders to end their squabbles and focus on finding peace. Kenya, which hosted talks to form the transitional government, said on Tuesday it did not recognise the new prime minister and accused Yusuf of exacerbating Somalia's problems.

OPEC to Cut Production

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil exporters on Wednesday decided to cut production by 2.6 million barrels of oil per day, in a bid to boost prices and producers' incomes. This is largest cut ever and equivalent to about 7.0 percent of its current output quota of 27.3 million barrels a day. But despite the news, oil prices fell, reversing earlier gains.

British-Iraqi Doctor Sentenced over Bomb Plot

A doctor with Britain's National Health Service, Bilal Abdulla, 29, who led failed car bomb attacks in Britain in revenge for U.S.-led military action in Iraq was, Tuesday, sentenced to jail for 32 years. Judge Colin Mackay sentenced Abdulla to two concurrent life sentences - ordering him to serve a minimum of 32 years - and said his fervent opposition to the invasion of Iraq was no justification for his actions.

India-Pakistan Talks Stalled over Attacks

Shaky peace talks between India and Pakistan have stalled over the Mumbai attacks. India said on Tuesday, that talks can only resume if Islamabad takes more decisive action against militant groups on its soil. Pakistan has promised to cooperate in investigations and has denied any official links to the Mumbai attack, although it has also repeatedly said anyone caught in Pakistan would be tried in Pakistan. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947. Fearing another conflict, Western leaders have offered to help them both in the fight against militancy but at the same time have urged India to show restraint and Pakistan to act decisively against militants.

UK Troops to Leave Iraq by July

British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, say UK forces will leave Iraq by the end of July 2009. There are currently about 4,100 UK troops serving in Basra, southern Iraq. The withdrawal announcement comes after at least 18 people were killed and dozens wounded in a twin bomb attack in Baghdad on Wednesday.

Rwanda Genocide Master-mind Jailed for Life

Former Rwandan senior defence official, Theoneste Bagosora, has been convicted of instigating 1994 genocide in the country and sentenced to life in prison by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). It is the first time the Rwanda tribunal has convicted anyone of organising the killings. More than 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda's genocide.

Black US Student Stabbed in Russia

Police say an 18-year-old African-American exchange student, Stanley Robinson, has been stabbed in the Russian city of Volgograd in what could be a racially motivated attack. The head doctor of Volgograd‘s Hospital described his condition on Friday as grave but stable.  NO arrest has been made. At least 85 people have been killed and 368 injured in suspected hate crimes in Russia this year.

15 Planes Shot Down in Peru

With the help of the CIA spotters, the Peruvian air force shot down 15 small civilian aircraft suspected of carrying drugs, in many cases, without warning and within two to three minutes of being sighted, a United States lawmaker said on Thursday. It was the first public disclosure of the number of planes shot down between 1995 and 2001. The wreckages could not be examined to ascertain whether narcotics were aboard the aircrafts.

Bush Pays Surprise Visit to Iraq, Journalist Insults Bush

A surprise visit by US President, George Bush, to Iraq was marred when an Iraqi journalist insulted and hurled shoes at him during a news conference. The soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture. During the trip, Bush and Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki signed the new security agreement between their countries. The pact calls for US troops to leave Iraq in 2011. Bush also said the war in Iraq was not over and more work remained to be done.

Britain, Pakistan Pact Targets Terrorists

Three-quarters of the most serious terror plots being investigated by UK authorities have links to Pakistan, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said. He was unveiling a $6m ($8.9m) deal with Pakistan. British police want to quiz a Pakistani suspect in the Mumbai attacks. They want to interview Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab - the sole gunman taken alive - about terror groups operating from Pakistan. India blames Pakistan-based militants for the Mumbai attacks, which killed at least 170 people. Pakistan denies any involvement, but has promised to co-operate with the Indian investigation.

Bomb Kills Three Policemen in Afghanistan

Three policemen were killed and 12 others were wounded, penultimate Sunday, in a bomb blast in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, a local official said. Five policemen and seven civilians were among the wounded when a wooden cart fixed with explosives was detonated outside the Chinese hospital in the capital of Kandahar province, a spokesman for the governor of Kandahar said.

Hamas Won't Renew Truce with Israel

The exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal was quoted as saying yesterday that the Palestinian Islamist group would not renew a six-month-old truce with Israel that expires on Friday, but other Hamas officials were less definitive. Earlier, Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, had accused Israel of violating the terms of the truce but did not say that Hamas would not renew the agreement made in June.

Zimbabwe Accuses Botswana of Plotting Coup against Mugabe

Zimbabwe has accused Botswana of being involved in a plot to overthrow President Robert Mugabe's government. Zimbabwe Justice Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, said they have "compelling evidence" Botswana was hosting military training camps for opposition rebels. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretary General, Tomaz Salamao, is reported to have said that his organisation is analyzing documents and videos that have been given to them by the Zimbabwean authorities.

About 250 Killed In Darfur Tribal Clashes, Peacekeepers Reveal

Not less than 250 people have died in separate tribal clashes in remote parts of Sudan's south Darfur region over the last week, peacekeepers said on Monday. The reports highlighted the growing turmoil in the region where arms flooding in to fuel a five-year conflict between government and rebels have also intensified long-running tribal rivalries.  Many of Darfur's tribal conflicts have their roots in control over grazing land and other traditional rights. Around 5,000 were forced to flee as their homes were burned to the ground and six police officers were among the dead, according to the United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

51 Killed in Egypt as Bus Plunges into Canal

An Egyptian public bus plunged into a canal, killing at least 51 people and injuring about 10 others. Poor roads and reckless driving are the cause of many road accidents in Egypt. Some reports said the accident happened when the bus driver swerved to avoid an oncoming truck, but others said he lost control while trying to overtake another vehicle.