Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 39

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Militants Declare Ceasefire in ‘Oil War’

The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Sunday September 21, declared a ceasefire for three months. The ceasefire followed a series of attacks on oil facilities in what MEND calls “oil war". It declared that the ceasefire will hold unless they are provoked by the military. But Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Danjuma Yussuf, said that if MEND wants to be taken seriously, it should show it by laying down their arms "for the sake of national interest." But MEND says its decision may not foreclose attacks by other groups as it does not wield any influence on other groups.

JTF Arrests 69 Suspected Militants

Sixty-nine suspected militants were picked up in an operation carried out, penultimate Sunday, by the Joint Task Force (JTF) at the water front of the old town, Port Harcourt. Eight AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, five locally made pistols and some Dane guns were recovered. The JTF Commander, Brig.-Gen. Sarkin Bello, also revealed that they have located over 99 per cent of militant camps in the state and would destroy them soon.

Militants Allege Air Raid on Their Camp by JTF

The recent ceasefire by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was on Wednesday threatened, following alleged air raids by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) on the camps of two militia groups, the Niger Delta Patriotic Force (NDPF) and the Niger Delta Vigilante Movement (NDVM). MEND condemns the action and says it will not play into the hands of the military by retaliating and putting the peace process in jeopardy, as it accused the JTF of being desperate to showcase its relevance as they will be quickly out of business in an atmosphere of peace.

Crashed Beech craft: AIB Takes Black Boxes to UK for Examination

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), “black box” of the Beech craft that allegedly crashed at Obudu in Cross River state was, penultimate Sunday, taken to Air Accident Investigation Branch, United Kingdom to examine the contents to ascertain the cause of the crash. The Director of Engineering of AIB, Emmanuel Diala, expressed hopes that vital information would be decoded from the components.

15 Bakassi Returnees Die

About 15 Bakassi returnees in Akwa Ibom State have been reported dead. The Chairman of Esit-Eket LG, Victor Isangedighe, said that many of the returnees were brutalised by the Cameroonian gendarmes, while others suffered from poor feeding and lack of medical care. He appealed to state and the Federal Governments to assist them. Meanwhile, over 800 returnees, Monday, stormed Government House, Uyo to protest alleged neglect in their camp. Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Elijah Asuquo alleged that someone from the Deputy Governor's office had come to their camp and told them to quit.

Ex-Army Officer Canvasses Arms Buy-Back, Amnesty in N'Delta

The Federal Government has been urged to declare amnesty for all armed groups in the Niger Delta and institute an arms buy-back process to mop up illegal weapons in the region. A former Army officer, Gen. Anthony Daniel Etukudo, who canvassed this position in Uyo, said the Niger Delta crisis stemmed largely from disaffection engendered by years of neglect by the government.

Flood Destroys 235 Houses, Others In Imo Community

About 235 houses in Orsu Local Council of Imo State have been submerged by flood following torrential rainfall in the area, penultimate weekend. The rains also destroyed food and economic crops in the farmlands. Following this, the member representing Orsu, Stan Dara and the newly appointed Transition Committee Chairman of the council, C. O. C. Akaolisa, have called on the government to declare the area a disaster zone.

Illegal Bunkering: JTF Arrests 18, Seizes Crude Oil

The Joint Task Force in Rivers State on Monday stormed Rumuekpe in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State and arrested 18 illegal oil bunkerers and seized 3,000 litres of crude oil and 65,000 litres of condensate. The JTF also recovered four locally made pistols, two Dane guns, three pinches for puncturing pipelines, and three large wooden boats.

Troops Uncover Plot to Cause Mayhem

The Joint Task Force deployed in the Niger Delta, said on Tuesday that it had uncovered a plot by militants to cause mayhem and destabilise Rivers state. Its spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, said that militant groups had started recruiting youths to replace those already killed by men of the task force.

JTF Arrests 2 Suspected kidnappers

The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Bayelsa State has arrested two suspected kidnappers and killed a third while he attempted to escape in Boluo- Orua community, Sagbama LGA. The JTF raided the community in a bid to arrest those fingered in the kidnap of Pa Anderson Zidafamo, father of Bayelsa State accountant general, kidnapped and released late 2007. The JTF commander, Lt. Col Chris Musa, confirmed the story.

Goldman Sachs to buy Brass LNG

Goldman Sachs, a global investment banking, securities and investment management firm, is interested in buying volumes from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) equity production in the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Trains 1 and 2.

Amaechi Backs JTF Operations to Flush out Criminals

The Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has thrown his support behind the military operations by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), to flush out criminals in the state. He insists that it was a necessary task that must be accomplished. This is coming just as eminent citizens of the State have shown their support for the security initiatives of Governor Amaechi, and called on Rivers people to join in the fight criminality to allow for an environment conducive for businesses to thrive in the state.

Police Killed 54 People in Khana Community, Rivers Truth Commission Told

The Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission was, Wednesday, told that about 54 people were killed in Teyor-Kaani community, Khana Council when mobile policemen, loaded in 15 Lorries, invaded the town on the order of former Governor Peter Odili in 2004. Paramount ruler of the town, Mene Jimmy Barine Ngbor, said Odili allegedly sent the security men to kill the people because the community was branded to be members of the All Nigeria Peoples Party.

Police Recover Stolen Tanker, Arrest One

The police in Enugu, penultimate weekend, smashed a gang of petroleum tanker thieves that steals trucks under false pretence of hiring from transporters. One of the suspects arrested, Jerome Mejeh, a PTD General Supervisor, said his accomplices took to their heels when the police arrived. One of the stolen trucks, loaded with adulterated diesel, was recovered in Enugu.

Robbers Terrorise Abakaliki Residents

Despite the efforts of security operatives in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital to put an end to the incessant harassment by men of the under world, armed robbery has been on the increase on daily basis in the metropolis. The residents have called on the police to device strategies to combat crime in the state.

Niger Delta Crisis Is Invitation to Anarchy – Women Group

A women’s group, Mothers of Peace International, has condemned the escalation and militarisation of the conflict in the Niger Delta. The National President of the organisation, Mrs. Ethel Diete-Spiff, described the wanton destruction of innocent lives and properties as an avoidable consequence of a full scale military operation in the Niger Delta and also an invitation to anarchy. Diete-Spiff stated that a high-powered delegation of women had visited the hot spots and called for an end to violence and killings in the Niger Delta.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

NUPENG Threatens Fresh Nationwide Strike

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Monday at Warri, Delta state threatened a nationwide strike to protest alleged casualisation of workers by Chevron Nigeria Limited. NUPENG handed a 14-day ultimatum to the management of Chevron to revisit the fate of all the casual workers in the company. The union threatened to cripple the oil industry in the country after the expiration of the ultimatum.

11 Arrested over N60m Oil Bunkering Deal

The Joint Military Task Force (JTF), last weekend, impounded about 400 metric tons of substance suspected to be diesel worth about N60 million in Warri, Delta state. 11 suspects associated with illegal bunkering were arrested.

Jail Break: Inmates Escape from Oko Prison

Twenty-three inmates have reportedly escaped from Oko Maximum Security Prison, in Edo State, following a jail break on Tuesday. Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Dega, who confirmed the development, said that one of the inmates had been arrested while efforts are being made to comb the surrounding villages in order to get the others. However, the Prisons Public Relations Officer, Mrs Teresa Idiake, said only three inmates escaped and two had been captured while efforts are being made to apprehend the last.

Chevron, Communities Broker Truce over Oil Spill

The Management of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and communities hosting its Otunana Platform have taken a step towards resolving a face-off over crude oil spill in August. The face-off had threatened Chevron’s activities in Warri South West LGA, Delta State. The leaders of Kokodiagbene and other communities on Monday reached an agreement with the company on the issue of relief materials.

Private Security Firms Seek Arms, Prosecutorial Rights

Private security companies in the country have charged the Federal Government to allow their personnel to bear arms and prosecute offenders arrested by them. They canvassed this position in Benin City, Edo State. In a presentation by Col. Victor Obaseki (rtd), the security firms hinged their stance on their experiences with the Police, whom they alleged often set free offenders arrested by the private security outfits without prosecution.

19 Feared Killed in Benin, Lagos Auto Crashes

About 19 people lost their lives last weekend in two separate auto crashes in Benin and Lagos. In Benin, all the occupants of a 14-seater bus travelling along the Benin-Agbor road were killed when the bus ran into a burning fuel tanker.  In Lagos, a soldier and four civilians were killed in separate accidents. The soldier was crushed, Sunday, by a trailer when he attempted to cross the road, while the four civilians were killed by another trailer on Monday at the Agege area.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Robbers Kill 2 Cops in Ekiti

Tragedy struck in Ekiti State last Thursday when suspected armed robbers killed two policemen and an old woman in Igede-Ekiti. The state Police Command said the remains of the policemen had been deposited at the mortuary. In a related incident, robbers stormed a Catholic Church at Isolo, Lagos state, penultimate Sunday, where they killed a security guard and carted away money and other valuables.

Robbers Raid Cyber Café, Kill Two

Armed bandits stormed Ikenne LGA of Ogun State, killing a mobile policeman along with a commercial bike rider. The robbers had robbed a Cyber Café and carted away a large sum of money, exotic phones and a Toyota Corolla Car. They were trying to escape when they saw the policemen on the motorcycle and opened fire on him and the bike rider.

28 Nigerian Soldiers Petition UN over Trial

The 28 Nigerian soldiers who returned from Liberia after serving in the United Nations Peace Keeping Operations, but are being prosecuted by the Nigeria Army for allegedly protesting over their unpaid allowances, have petitioned the United Nations, over their trial, arguing that they are being tried for exercising their right to freedom of expression. The military court martial, Tuesday, granted them bail on very stringent conditions, which they are unlikely to meet.

Army Arraigns Five over Payment of Allowance to 800 Soldiers

Five officers of the Nigerian Army, who made the mistake of paying operations allowances to 800 soldiers of the 72 Battalion deployed to in Liberia between September 2007 and April 2008 have faced a court martial. Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division, Col. Dapo Otiki, explained in Ibadan that the battalion was not entitled to the money, as it was not meant for it.

Assault on Journalists: NUJ Petitions Daniel

Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has petitioned the state Governor, Gbenga Daniel, over the alleged assault on some journalists by Commissioner for Sports, Mr Bukola Olopade. The NUJ also placed an indefinite media black-out on the state-run Gateway United, until Olopade apologises for the assault on two journalists, penultimate Saturday.

Police Arrest Fake Officer in Lagos

The Airport Police Command has arrested 25-year-old Loveday Erondu at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, while attempting to travel to Sweden, for allegedly impersonating a police inspector and forging police documents. Erondu confessed that he spent more than N500, 000 to procure his travel documents.

Teenage Robbers Kill Policemen in Bank Raid

A gang of about 15 armed robbers, aged between 16 and 18, invaded a commercial bank in Oyo state and killed two mobile policemen. The Police Public Relations Officer, Miss Olabisi Okuwobi, who confirmed the incident, however, said she could not ascertain the number of casualties. It was learnt that the hoodlums made away with an undisclosed amount of money, including foreign currencies.

Two Killed as Robbers, Police Exchange Fire

Two people were killed when dare-devil armed robbers stormed Union Bank Plc, Matori branch in Lagos state on Tuesday. A policeman attached to the bank was fatally wounded from gunshots fired by the robbers. The robbers, numbering about 10, met stiff resistance from the police. During the exchange of fire, one of the robbers was killed while a policeman was wounded. Two cars were recovered after the robbers fled the scene.

Osun Oba, Others in Court for Attempted Murder

A traditional ruler, the Olugbon of Igbon, Oba Azeez Olanrewaju, alongside seven others, was on Tuesday arraigned at an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court attempted murder, conduct likely to cause breach of peace and trespass. The accused allegedly attempted to kill two persons Adeyemi Odeyemi and Bolanle Yekinni over chieftaincy tussle and land dispute.

Man Shot Dead at Oba’s Palace

The palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, experienced horror last weekend, when a man was killed during a peaceful procession. The victim, Kehinde Awoyelu, was shot dead by an unidentified gunman. Oba Aromolaran, who confirmed the incident, declared that only the police could find Awoyelu’s killer.

Teenager Drowns In Lagos

A teenage boy, Monsuru Abdulateef, Wednesday got drowned in a River at Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA of Lagos state, when he fell into the River from a canoe alongside his friend, who was later rescued. They were passengers in a canoe ferrying from the Tin Can Island. The Police confirmed the incident, while the survivor is receiving treatment.

GENERAL

8 Nigerians Worker Die in Lebanese Firm
…30 on danger list in hospital

Eight Nigerians working with Maikano Engineering, a private Lebanese company that deals on heavy duty generating plants and other heavy equipment in Abuja, on Wednesday, lost their lives mysteriously, while thirty others are on danger list at the National Hospital. Most of the victims were vomiting and stooling profusely. Although, no one could actually say what was responsible for the tragic incident, some medical workers suspect an epidemic outbreak of which the management of the company may have known, but refused to contact the appropriate health authorities for help. Some of the workers told of the harsh condition and unconducive environment under which they have been forced to work by their Lebanese bosses.

PRONACO Urges Conclusion of Suit against Mobil

The Pro National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) has decried the delay in concluding the case a Nigerian inventor of an anti-corrosive special paint, Dr. Clem Uwemedimo, instituted against Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited. PRONACO said that the Nigerian judiciary had allowed the matter to drag for too long and urged the Bench to avoid being perceived as conniving to frustrate the legal tussle over patent rights and royalties.

Man Trapped at Excavation Site

A middle aged man was, on Monday, trapped thirty feet underground at the Adarawa sand excavation centre in Sokoto State, when a portion of the excavation centre collapsed. Special Adviser Sokoto Urban and Regional Board, Alhaji Sanusi Tukur Faruk, said that men had already been mobilised to rescue the victim, but the operation was delayed owing to a mechanical fault in the machine. He said that efforts were being made to repair it.

Senate to Make Law against Electronic Fraud

Electronic fraudsters are in for a tough time as the Senate is set to pass a bill titled ‘Prohibition of Electronic Fraud in all Electronic Transactions in Nigeria and for other related matters’. The bill, when signed into law, will make it an offence for anybody to access a computer or other electronic devices or exceed the permission given by the owner of the devices without authorisation.

Nigerian Firm, MRS, Acquires Chevron Downstream Company

Chevron Corporation has announced that it had sold Chevron Nigeria Holdings Limited to MRS Holdings Limited and Petroci Holdings. The two companies had bidded for Chevron Nigeria Holdings under the consortium name, Corlay Global S.A.  Chevron’s upstream operations in Nigeria were not affected by the sale. With this MRS and Petroci consortium will control over 400 gas stations in Nigeria, currently under ChevronTexaco brand.

Police Parade 12 Suspected Robbers, Kill Four

Police authorities in Abuja on Tuesday paraded 12 suspects arrested for allegedly robbing a bank of the sum of N215 million. Also in Lagos, four armed bandits were killed after they raided a bank in the city. The robbers, according to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro, were among those who robbed an Onitsha bank on September 17, 2008.

16 Firms to Invest N116b in Power Sector

Nigeria's efforts to reposition its energy sector has received a boost from a German firm, Solar Centre Baden, and its 15 partners. They agreed to invest about N116 billion in the solar sub-sector to be used to generate 10,000 megawatts from solar sources.

DPR Blames Fuel Crises on Distribution Chain, Vandals

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) blamed persistent fuel crisis on the ‘cumbersome’ distribution chain. According to the DPR, the process, which mostly involved some uncertified players in the downstream sector, has continued to take its toll on the prices of petroleum products and finally on the end users.

Govt Seeks Investors for 176 Marginal Oil Fields

The Federal Government has called on local financiers to take up indigenous oil and gas firms in their bids to venture into any of the 176 marginal oil fields available in the country. The Acting Director of DPR, Aliyu Sabobirni, said that the fields had huge potentials with the reserve ranges between one and five million barrels of oil that would definitely guarantee returns on investments.

Police Nab Four Robbers, Recover Fire Arms

The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of police, CP Haruna John has said that a gang of four armed robbers, who resides in Masaka in Karu L.G.A of Nasarawa State, has been arrested. The FCT police boss said that the suspects broke into one Engineer's house, shot him on the head and robbed him of 200,000 dollars, N70, 000 and five GSM phones.

DPR Warns Marketers against Illegal Transfer at Sea

Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has warned petroleum marketers to desist from illegal transfer of petroleum products from one vessel to another on the high sea, and allow vessels to come to the jetty for proper inspection. According to the Head of Products, Depots and Jetties, Mr Olarewaju Buraimoh, anyone caught in the act would face heavy sanction.  He added that illegal transfer of products could cause contamination, thereby causing explosion and fire outbreak.

Police Give Banks, Others Deadline on Special Cameras

Banks and other financial institutions in the country were, on Wednesday, given up to January 1, 2009 to install surveillance cameras in their banking halls and premises. After the ultimatum, no policemen will be posted to defaulting banks, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, has said.

MoU: House C’ttee Queries N42bn Gas Project

The House of Representatives Committee probing the activities of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries since 1999 has said the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) over the N42 billion gas pipeline project with Gazprom of Russia did not follow due process. Chairman of the committee, Hon. Igo Aguma, said though the project was provided for in the 2008 budget for the front end engineering only, the MoU signed contravened the Due Process Act.

Govt Suspends PPPRA Scribe

The Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Oluwole Oluloye has been suspended indefinitely. The suspension of Oluloye is to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) carry out its investigations on the PPPRA without undue interference. The EFCC is investigating the PPPRA’s mode of payments to oil marketers on importation of petroleum products and the amount of funds, running into billions of naira it received on behalf of the Federal Government to subsidise fuel.

22 Inmates Granted Amnesty

Twenty-two prisoners awaiting trial in Gombe Prisons have been granted amnesty by the Chief Judge, Justice Hakila Heman's Criminal Justice Committee. Those freed included inmates who have been standing trial for long, those with minor offences for which they could have been bailed and those who otherwise ought to have served out their terms if they had been promptly convicted, among others.

Hisbah Uncovers Hideout of Abducted Girls

The Sharia law implementation committee, Hisbah, in Kebbi State has uncovered a hideout in Bulasa, where abducted girls are kept for illicit business. Four persons were arrested. Hisbah called on parents, guardians and the public to be wary of such deviants.

Army Officer, 10 Others Die in Road Crash

An Army officer and 10 others were killed in a fatal motor accident on the Gashu'a Damaturu road, penultimate weekend in Yobe state. The accident occurred when the driver of a Mass Transit Bus with 18 passengers on board, suspected to have been blinded by a powerful beam from an on-coming vehicle, lost sight and ran into a lorry.

Kidnap Saga Spreads to Okene

Protracted crisis in Okene LGA of Kogi State has taken a new dimension as suspected political thugs who have been killing and burning houses have resorted to'' kidnapping for ransom.'' An Igbo trader, Chukwudi Kaduchi, recently became a victim to the hoodlums, but the prompt intervention of the police saved the situation.

EFCC Recovers Fake $2.1m from Fraudster

A fraudster, 30-year-old Emmanuel Okoro, was, last Tuesday, arrested, while in possession of fake $2.1 million by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Okoro, also known as Davidson and an indigene of Imo State, specialises in the printing of fake currencies, is being interrogated by operatives of the EFCC in Kano zone.

FG to Unveil New Disaster Management Strategy

Federal Government has said it would unfold a fresh policy framework for search, rescue and epidemic evacuation operations in the country.  National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that a new disaster management plan would be formally launched by the Vice President on Thursday.  The agency said that it would require about N6 billion to undertake the immediate and short-term repositioning of its disaster readiness and emergency response.

FG Targets $62 per Barrel Benchmark for 2009 Budget

The Federal Government is basing its proposal for the 2009 budget on projected oil production of below 2.5 million barrels per day at a benchmark price of $62 per barrel. According to the Budget Office, the 2009 projection was based on the current pricing of oil in the world market. Although, the oil price reduced further in the last two weeks, it is expected that it will pick up around December.

Immigration Nabs Human Trafficker with 22 Victims

The Sokoto State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service has arrested one Mr. Monday with 22 trafficked persons. The victims, males and females, were aged between 18 and 25 years. Comptroller of Immigration in the state, Alhaji Muhammadu Dangoggo Argungu, said the suspect planned to cross over to the Niger Republic with the victims.

US Lists Nigeria, 18 Others as Drug Transit Points

The United States has placed Nigeria and 18 other nations on a list of major drug transit or illicit drug producing countries. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Burma and India also figured among the countries.

N85.2bn Lost to Six-Day ‘Oil War’ by Militants

Total revenue loss to the September 2008 six day "oil war",  in which Niger Delta militants destroyed oil facilities at unprecedented scale, has been put at over N85.2 billion ($728 million). During the period, Nigeria’s daily crude oil loss rose to one million barrels per day from an average of 730,000 barrels per day. But for the prevailing high price of crude oil, the country’s revenue profile and budget projections would have been seriously disrupted.

INTERNATIONAL

Gunman, 10 Others Die In Finnish School Massacre

About 11 people died on Tuesday after a hooded man opened fire at an adult school in western Finland, before shooting himself. The shootings happened almost a year after another gunman killed eight people and himself at a school in southern Finland.

Mauritania Finds Bodies of Missing Soldiers

The decapitated bodies of 12 Mauritanians, missing since an ambush on a patrol team last week, have been found in the desert. The defence ministry, penultimate weekend, said the attack was launched by an Al-Qaeda linked outfit called the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). The ruling junta declared three days of mourning from Sunday. The dead men, 11 soldiers and one civilian, were reportedly beheaded.

UN Hails Afghanistan's Non-Violence Observance during Peace Day

The United Nations (UN), penultimate Sunday said guns fell silent across much of Afghanistan for an international peace day that saw pledges by the United States (U.S.), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the Afghan government and the Taliban to halt attacks. Government officials reported no violence on that day.

Explosion at Pakistan Hotel Kills 40

A massive suicide truck bomb devastated the heavily guarded Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital, penultimate Sunday, killing at least 40 people and wounding at least 250. The blast targeting the U.S. hotel chain appeared to be one of the largest terrorist attacks in Pakistan, leaving a vast crater 30 feet deep.

Blasts Kill 40 in Somalia

About 40 people were killed, Monday, in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, when shells were fired on the busy Bakara market. Witnesses said Ethiopian troops fired mortars after insurgents launched simultaneous attacks on the two main African Union (AU) peacekeeping bases. The Ethiopian troops are backing government forces against Islamist insurgents.

Mogadishu Death Toll Hits 13

The death toll of the heavy fighting between Somali insurgents and African Union (AU) forces in southern Mogadishu, during the week rose to 13. The AU deployed troops in March 2007 to help President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed control the nation, but the Islamists have mounted persistent resistance. The latest fighting comes a day after clashes between Islamists and Somali forces killed at least 29 civilians and left dozens wounded.

North Korea Expels UN Monitors from Nuclear Plant

North Korea has expelled United Nations (UN) monitors from its plutonium-making nuclear plant, accelerating moves to restart an atomic bomb project it had renounced under a disarmament-for-aid deal. But the United States (U.S.) on Wednesday called on North Korea to reconsider its action, warning that they only further isolated the secretive regime. Last month, North Korea said it planned to restart the plant because it was angry with the US for not taking it off its terrorism blacklist.

Aso unveils new Japanese cabinet, pledges war on terror

Japan's new Prime Minister Taro Aso has unveiled his new cabinet and pledged to fight to renew a domestically unpopular naval mission providing support in the Indian Ocean to the United States (U.S.)-led "war on terror." Aso, Wednesday, took charge as Japan's new premier.

Motlanthe Assumes Office, Experts Hail Mbeki

The African National Congress (ANC) Deputy Leader, Kgalema Motlanthe, Thursday emerged as the third president of South Africa, after Thabo Mbeki resigned as President. Motlanthe is to stay in office as interim President until the country’s next parliamentary election in 2009. He has sworn in by the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.

Israel Accuses Iran of Fanning Global Terror, Violence

President Shimon Peres of Israel has sharpened his attack on his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, accusing him of "taking the world for a fool" in his statements to the UN General Assembly. Peres reportedly said Iran was "at the centre of violence and fanaticism" and had "built a danger to the entire world."  Israel has long considered Iran its greatest threat. Israel and the United States accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons, while Iran insists that its programme is peaceful and vowed to proceed despite three rounds of UN sanctions.