Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 26

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Discharged Corps Members, 24 Others Die in Enugu Road Accident

Four newly discharged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and 24 others, died in a road accident along Enugu-Makurdi expressway. The accident recorded two survivors. Witnesses said the mishap was as a result of a head-on collision between two buses coming from opposite directions. The former corps members, some of who were indigenes of Akwa Ibom State, were said to be travelling home after last Thursday’s passing-out programme.

Abducted Corps Members Regain Freedom

Security operatives, penultimate Sunday, rescued 5 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were kidnapped over two weeks ago by unknown hoodlums in Rivers state.  The corps members -four females and a male- were all serving at Omademe in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. The police in Rivers, rescued the corps members, but did not succeed in nabbing their abductors. Police spokesperson, Ben Onwuegbulem, confirmed their rescue and that the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga, had received the five rescued corps members, who are said to be in good state of health.

Sea Pirates Kill Two Policemen in Bayelsa

Two policemen were reportedly gunned down by pirates operating along Ogu creek in Bayelsa State. It was gathered that three other police officers were injured in what was described as a surprise attack on the police. The deceased policemen were believed to be carrying out a routine patrol of the waterways when the pirates spotted and opened fire on them. The patrol team, it was gathered, were ambushed by the hoodlums. The Bayelsa Police Command has begun the manhunt for the suspected sea pirates. The Police spokesman, Eguaveon Emoakpe, confirmed the beef up of security.

Kidnappers Demand N100m Ransom for REC’s Daughter

Kidnappers of Miss Utibenbasi Ikoiwak, the 11-year-old daughter of the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Aniedi Ikiowak, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen, her father said the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N100m.  Miss Ikoiwak was kidnapped during a church service on Sunday by hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers in Eket, Akwa Ibom State. The REC said he had established contact with the kidnappers of his daughter. It was gathered that the gunmen held the pastor of the church at gunpoint and asked him to release the REC, who is a member of the church, to them. However, when Ikoiwak was not found inside the church, the kidnappers seized his 11-year-old daughter.

Mob Sets Robbers Ablaze in Imo

Four robbers were, on Monday, burnt to death at Amakohia, near Owerri, while attempting to rob staff of Mary Sumner Primary School of their valuables. Vanguard investigations revealed that the gang of about six robbers stormed the primary school, owned by the Anglican Diocese of Owerri, at about 9am. A witness said that six men stormed the school premises on four motorcycles and started terrorising the teachers who were mainly women. She added that people on rescue mission gave the robbers a hot chase and nabbed four of them, while two escaped.

2 Policemen Die in Training

Two policemen at the Mopol 11 in Calabar training ground were reported to have died few days to their passing out, after about three weeks of training. Two others were also said to have slumped at different times during training. The authorities confirmed the deaths, but did not state reasons. It was alleged that policemen from different states who came for training as mobile policemen lack adequate support from the police authorities, but the police authorities have disputed this claim. Force spokesman, Olusola Amore, said that the police authorities had paid the trainee mobile policemen all their allowances, and did not expect.

Vigilante Groups Worry over Rising Crime in Anambra

More than 500 local security groups in Anambra State have expressed worry over the steady rise in violent criminal activities in the state. The groups were shocked after statistics showed appreciable decline last year following some strategic security changes in operative mechanisms, and apparent engagement of the hoodlums in various forms of political activities. The Chairman of the Anambra Vigilance Service, (AVS), Chief Patrick Anyaegbu, after a joint meeting with the state police authorities, said the meeting with the police became necessary because the citizens were no longer comfortable with the resurgence of kidnappings and violent robberies.

Fake Journalists Arrested in PH

The Rivers State Police Command arrested two suspected fake journalists in Port Harcourt after they had extorted the sum of N25, 000 from an elderly man that visited the state for the 27th convocation ceremony of the University of Port Harcourt. Presenting themselves as foreign journalists from South Africa, the arrested men had told their victim that the N25000 given to them would not be enough for them to travel back to their country. Armed with three identification cards of three different media organisations, the suspects entered the Presidential Lounge of the Rivers State Government House. An aide to the elderly man, Miss Ann Izi, suspecting the two young men, asked to see their camera and verify the interview with her principal. To her amazement, the video camera did not even have tape or battery.

Navy Vows to End Crime in N’Delta

The Nigerian Navy, last Weekend, vowed to end criminality in the Niger Delta to ensure the quick return of companies that had folded up in the heat of the activities of militants. The Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor, who spoke at the end of his bi-annual sea patrol in the region, noted that the Navy had considerably cut down illegal oil bunkering in the area. Ogbor said the sea patrol was also meant to test the combat readiness of his men in case of the need to take up peculiar challenges. He maintained that the Navy would continue to protect the lives and properties of invest in businesses in the Niger Delta region, pledging to make maritime business in the area ‘very safe’.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Customary Court President Kidnapped, Released in Delta

A female Customary Court President was, on Sunday, kidnapped by five gunmen. The woman, identified as Ufuoma Lordson Egebule was abducted at Ohwrode in Udu LGA of the state while she was on her way to Warri from Ughelli in company of her two children and a sister-in-law. Security sources disclosed that the kidnappers singled her out of the car, took her car key and drove her away to an unknown destination, leaving the children and sister-in-law stranded. She regained freedom on Tuesday after negotiations with the kidnappers. The kidnappers were said to have initially demanded a ransom of N20m, but later reduced to N15m after negotiations with her family.

Commercial Motorcyclists Attack Police Station in Edo

Commercial motorcyclists in Ibillo, Akoko-Edo Local Council of Edo State, last protested the alleged killing of one of their members by a policeman at a checkpoint, as they searched for uniformed policemen to attack. The protesters vented their frustration on the police station in Ibillo where they set ablaze some vehicles and released detainees. According to an eyewitness, “The policemen attached to Ibillo Police Divisional Headquarters shot a motorcyclist to death at a checkpoint in Ekpesa Junction when the motorcyclist refused to pay the normal N20 to the men at the checkpoint. The motorcyclists complained that the police extort too much money from them.

Guard Kills Two over Recharge Card

A private guard attached to the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Mr. Ovouzorie Macaulay, last weekend shot and killed two persons for allegedly stealing recharge cards being sold by the guard’s wife.  The security guard, identified as Mr. Atoma Umukoro, had confronted one of the deceased, Henry Obona, 20, accusing him of stealing his wife’s cards. In the ensued argument, Umukoro was said to have opened fire on Obona. In the heat of the tension that ensued, one Odhegba Ujiro, 27, who also approached the rampaging guard in a bid to calm frayed nerves was also killed by the security guard, who fired the second shot at close range. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Charles Muka, who confirmed the incident, noted that the culprit had been arrested.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

5 Killed in Lagos Area Boys Clash

Five persons were killed, several others injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed when street urchins popularly known as Area Boys clashed at Mushin, Lagos last weekend. The fight was between Mushin and Fadeyi boys, who were fighting over who would collect the lion share of money extorted from trailer drivers who were offloading goods from their containers. It was gathered that during the fight, guns, machetes, broken bottles, acid and other dangerous weapons were freely used. Confirming the killings, the state police spokesman, Mr. Samuel Jinadu said only two persons were killed. He said the police had taken over the zone and advised members of the public to go about their normal businesses.

23-Year-Old for Stabs Friend to Death

The police in Lagos State have arrested a 23-year-old man, who, penultimate Sunday, stabbed his friend to death over an argument during a game of ludo. The suspect and the deceased, an 18-year-old victim, Olu Afolabi, were reportedly playing the ludo game when a fierce argument ensued on who was the winner of one of the rounds of the game. Police image maker, Samuel Jinadu, stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased died of broken bottle wounds. The suspect confessed to have killed his friend but insisted that it was in self defense.

Customs Intercept US Dollars at Tincan Island Port

Operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) at the Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) Command, Apapa, on Monday discovered a sack loaded with United States of America (USA) dollars. The foreign currency which was neatly packed inside a sack was concealed among other items in a container inside the terminal. Though the exact amount could not be immediately ascertained, the amount is said to be in the range of thousands of dollars. The Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), TCIP Command, Mr. Chris Osunkwo who confirmed the development said a licensed customs agent who was in the process of clearing the consignment from the port has been arrested while the consignee is on the run.

Armed Men Kill Man, Pregnant Woman in Ekiti

A man and a pregnant woman have reportedly been killed by armed bandits, suspected to be nomadic herdsmen in Ekiti State. It was gathered that the victims were killed on Sunday in Ijan-Ekiti by bandits suspected to be herdsmen who they claimed were found in large numbers in the area, always carrying locally-made guns of various sizes and cutlasses. The unidentified pregnant woman was reportedly being conveyed on a motorcycle from Ilupeju community in Gboyin council area to Ado Ekiti when they ran into the armed gang.

Blood Bath Averted as Police, Soldiers Clash Again in Lagos

A bloody clash between both security agencies was Thursday, averted in Lagos. It was revealed that trouble started when a soldier driving a Vehicle took a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane, which is restricted solely for the BRT buses. But the soldier was stopped by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and police officers. The soldier allegedly refused to leave the BRT lane culminating in the police officers beating him. A colonel who was driving by was said to have stopped and rebuked the soldier for flagrant disregard of traffic rules. But when the LASTMA officials attempted to tow the soldier’s vehicle, the soldier was said to have called for reinforcement. Members of the task force, the police officers fled the scene on sighting the approaching soldiers.

Seven Die in Ibadan Auto Crash

At least seven persons lost their lives in an accident along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday. The accident involved a mass transit commercial bus heading to Lagos from Kano. An eyewitness said the bus driver, who was on top speed, lost control of the vehicle and the bus fell from the bridge top. A combined team of policemen and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was drafted to the scene. The Federal Road Safety Corps, Oyo State, Sector Commander, Mr. Godwin Ogagaoghene, confirmed the crash and the casualty figure.

Driver Arrested with 486kg of Marijuana

A 25-year-old man, Joseph Itodun, was caught with 54 bags of weeds which weighed 486 kilograms suspected to be marijuana by the officials of the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ogun State. The bags which weighed 9 kilograms each was concealed in a Cabstar lorry in such a way that it would have been difficult to detect without intelligence for the agency. The dangerous weed, which was concealed in bags were kept on the engine part of the lorry and later sealed with welding machine. The state Commander of the (NDLEA), Mr. Mohammed Mohammed, who described the arrest as a major one assured that his agency would continue to sensitize and education members of the public about the danger associated with the abuse, taking and trafficking in dangerous drugs.

GENERAL

Police Arrest 5 Armed Robbery Gang in Military Uniform

A five-man robbery gang that usually operates between Minna and Abuja was smashed at the weekend by the Kalgara division of the Niger State police command. It was gathered that the suspects were arrested in military camouflage uniform along Tegina-Kontogora road, last weekend, after a gun duel with the police. The suspects had confessed that they purchased the military uniform from one of their links known as “Captain” while they purchased the guns at Ilorin. The robbery suspects have allegedly confessed to have killed six persons in one of their operations. The divisional police officer in charge of the Kalgara division, Sani Salihu, CSP, confirmed their arrests.

25 Killed in Borno Beer Parlours Attacks

Bomb attacks believed to be carried out by Islamist extremists, Boko Haram, killed at least 25 people and wounded 12 in Maiduguri on Sunday. Police said two men riding motorcycles threw bombs into three beer gardens in the state. The group is seeking to impose Shariah law in the country's north. The state of Borno is one of a dozen in Nigeria that has adopted Shariah law, but beer gardens remain open there. Security forces killed the group's leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and hundreds of his supporters in Maiduguri in 2009 in response to attacks on police stations.

Bomb Blast: Internal Probe Begins

Fears have gripped policemen and officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja as some of them have been directed to write statements on the security breach that led to the bomb that exploded at the car park of the expansive building on Thursday. About eight people were killed, scores injured and 77 vehicles destroyed in the bombing that an Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility. A suspected suicide bomber had allegedly breached the security of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, driving a Honda Civic into the police headquarters after joining the IG’s convoy unsearched.

Gunmen Shoot NSCDC Officer, Plant Bomb in Borno

Unidentified gunmen, Monday, shot an operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Maiduguri, while another set of gunmen planted a bomb at Galadima junction in the city. Witnesses said the gunmen manoeuvred their way into the narrow street where the house of the officer is located and fired several gunshots at him before disappearing. Shortly after the shootings, members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) arrived at the area and in the process of searching for exhibits; they discovered a bomb that was hidden close to a residential building.

FBI Agents Arrive Abuja to Investigate Bomb Blasts

Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from the US have reportedly arrived Nigeria to help in the investigation of the June 16 bomb attack on the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force in Abuja. It is being argued that the attack was not carried out by a suicide bomber as reported by the police, owing to the fact that he would have forced himself into the building and detonated the bomb rather than following the traffic officer to the car park. Islamist sect, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile, the sect struck again on Monday in Katsina State, killing six policemen and one civilian in a bomb blast at a police station. Among the dead was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

Police to Arraign Officers over 2009 Killing of Boko Haram Killing

The Nigeria police said have disclosed plans to arraign the officers accused of the 2009 killing of the Boko Haram sect leader in court. Police spokesman, Olusola Amore, said that seven officers who were charged with “unlawfully killing one Mallam Mohammed Yusuf and his followers” will appear in a Federal High Court Abuja on July 13 and 14. Amore said the suspects were first arraigned in court in late February and they pleaded not guilty to the charge. Boko Haram’s leader, Yusuf, died while in police custody in July 2009 and one of the conditions given by the sect members to stop the killing of policemen and violence in the northern states was for justice to be done for the killing of their leader.

Police Confirm Arrest of 8 Suspected Killers

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that eight suspected killers of an army officer and a soldier in Guma LGA have been arrested. Police spokesman, Alaribe Ejike, said the suspects were believed to be mercenaries hired to cause trouble in the ongoing Tiv/Fulani crisis in the state. Ejike noted that the 72 Paratroop Battalion, Nigerian Army, Makurdi arrested the suspects on June 21, 2011 and handed them over to the police. Items recovered from them include one AK47 rifle, one locally made single barrel, Mark 4 rifle with 59m rounds of 7.62mm (special), 27 rounds of 0.303 (Mark 4 rifle ammunition) and some charms.

Heavy Rains kill 26 in Kano, Sokoto

Twenty-four people have died in Nigeria's northern city of Kano as heavy rains triggered floodwaters, sweeping 100 houses in one of the city's neighborhoods. The rare heavy downpour hit Kano's densely populated Fagge neighborhood overnight Tuesday, also leaving dozens of people injured and up to 300 others displaced. Local elders say the area has never witnessed such torrential rains in the past 30 years.  Nigeria's emergency services unit has so far confirmed the death of six people, most of them children aged between 2 and 14 years. Meanwhile, two girls were, last Sunday in Nakasari Ward in the Sokoto South LGA, killed in their sleep when a building housing them collapsed during a heavy downpour. The two sisters have since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

Terrorism is a Passing Phase -CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, has assured Nigerians that the spate of killings and bombings in some parts of the country is a passing phase which the country will overcome like other issues in the past. The defence chief observed that terrorism was a new thing in Nigeria. He noted that it was a temporary thing and the nation will overcome it, “just as we have overcome other issues of this nature in the past”.

Navy Ready to Crush Insurgency -Naval Boss

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice- Admiral Ola Sa’aid Ibrahim, has disclosed the Navy’s preparedness to crush any insurgency in the country whenever and wherever it rears its head. The naval boss gave the assurance on Monday at a communication seminar held at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS QOURA), Navy base, in Lagos while reacting to the spate of bombings in the country in the recent times. He noted that though bombing was a global criminal phenomenon, with effective communication, such insurgencies could be effectively crushed.

Two Soldiers Killed in Renewed Benue Attacks

Two soldiers of the 72 battalion of the Nigerian Army, Makurdi and 10 villagers were on Tuesday killed in a renewed attack by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, while scores sustained serious injuries in Udei community in Guma LGA of Benue State. The attackers, whose identities could not to be ascertained, have also taken over the community while the inhabitants have fled their homes. The state government pleaded for calm in the affected communities, assuring the inhabitants that those behind the dastardly attack would be apprehended and brought to justice.  Meanwhile, the police in Makurdi have intensified patrols across the state capital to forestall a possible spill over of the crisis in the town.

Army Modifies Training to Tackle Boko Haram

Following the increasing rate of bomb blasts allegedly perpetuated by a religious sect known as Boko Haram in parts of the country, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, on Monday said the army had modified its training to tackle the emerging development. Ihejirika also assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Army was up to the task of confronting security challenges in the country. Meanwhile the Training and Doctrine Command of the Nigerian Army, Minna, Niger State, commenced a shooting exercise last week, according to a statement by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Texas Chukwu. He said though there would be heavy use of fire arms during the exercise, there is no cause for alarm.

ECOWAS Calls for Vigilance over Illegal Arms

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for vigilance among member states following what it described as a worrisome trend of the illicit movement of arms and mercenaries across the region. The ECOWAS Commission expressed concerns over reports of the illicit movement of sophisticated weapons and mercenaries across the region’s borders, a situation largely attributed to the ongoing crisis in Libya and the recent conflict in Cote d’Ivoire.  The regional block said the situation portended grave danger to the stability of the region.

Undergraduate Shot Dead by Cultists

A student of the Bauchi State-owned polytechnic, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Abba Sabo Mohammed, was killed on Monday night by suspected cultists in the school premises. The Police spokesman, Mohammed Barau, who confirmed the incident, said the deceased was shot dead at about 11.30pm while relaxing with his girlfriend, who fainted following the shock of the attack. According to the police, five unidentified young men approached Abba and demanded for something which the deceased could not provide and this led to an argument during which Abba was shot.

Court Fixes January 2012 for Okah’s Trial

A South African court, Tuesday, set a tentative date in January next year for the trial of Henry Okah, the alleged mastermind of the October 1st bomb blasts in Abuja. Okah, a Nigerian national with permanent residence in South Africa, has been in custody since he was arrested at his Johannesburg home on October 2, 2010. Okah would appear in court again on August 24 while a preliminary trial date of January 30, 2012 was set. Magistrate Hein Louw postponed the case for further investigation so that an indictment with further charges could be served on Okah. Okah’s lawyer, Rudi Krause, objected to Okah’s solitary confinement at Johannesburg Prison and claimed Okah was prevented from speaking to anyone and sleeping on a “concrete slab with a little foam mattress and no windows.”

Gunmen Raid Katsina Police Station, 5 Policemen

Armed militants, on Monday, attacked the divisional police station in Kankara LGA of Katsina State, killing the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), four other policemen and a civilian after robbing a commercial bank. An eyewitness said that the incident lasted for about one and a half hours. The source added that the militants, who were dressed in traditional attire, fired sporadically into the air and threw part of the stolen money on the streets. According to the eyewitness, the armed men also ensured the release of all the suspects in the police station before the blast. He added that the militants went away with fire arms which they loaded into their car.

7 Soldiers Face Court-Martial over Escape of Suspects in Bauchi

Seven soldiers of the 3 Armored Division of the Nigerian Army are being court martialled for allegedly aiding the escape of some suspects from Bauchi and Maiduguri military formations. General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Armored Division in Jos, Major General Sunday Udoko, said that the soldiers were brought down from Maiduguri and Bauchi military formations for their trial.

INTERNATIONAL

Obama Orders Withdrawal of 33,000 Troops from Afghanistan

US President, Barack Obama, has announced the withdrawal of 10,000 US troops from Afghanistan this year and another 23,000 by the end of September 2012, according to reports. The reductions are larger and faster than military commanders had advised. They told the president that the recent security gains were fragile and reversible, and had urged him to keep troop numbers high until 2013. Nevertheless, about 68,000 US troops will remain in Afghanistan. All US combat troops are scheduled to leave by 2013. French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, also announced the phased withdrawal of its 4,000 soldiers serving in Afghanistan. A statement said the French would follow the timetable of US withdrawals announced by Obama.

Suspected al Qaeda Members Escape from Yemeni Jail

Dozens of suspected al Qaeda militants escaped a Yemeni jail on Wednesday. An Interior Ministry official said 63 members of al Qaeda had managed to break out of Almakla prison, but three were killed and another two arrested and that a prison guard was killed. Some of the escapees had already been convicted; others were awaiting trial. They escaped by digging a 35-meter (115-foot) tunnel, he said. Witnesses said armed militants began attacking the prison at about 8 a.m. and fired heavy artillery before the escape. The prison break comes two days before Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is being treated in Saudi Arabia after an attack on his compound, is to return to Yemen.

S/Korean Military Apologizes for Shooting at Commercial Jet

The South Korean military apologized Monday for shooting at a commercial airplane carrying 119 passengers and crew. The Asiana Airlines flight was preparing to land Friday morning at Incheon International Airport, 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of Seoul, when two soldiers fired at the aircraft after mistaking it for a North Korean military jet. The soldiers were on Gyodong Island near the North Korean border. After firing 99 rounds, they reported the incident. The South Korean military claims the rounds were only warning shots from K-2 rifles, and there was no damage to the aircraft because it was out of range.

175 Killed from China Floods

At least 175 people have died from flooding this June in southern and eastern China, the country's Ministry of Civil Affairs said Monday. Another 86 people are missing. The ministry said 13 provinces have been affected, more than 1.6 million people have been evacuated, and the direct economic losses have reached 32.02 billion yuan ($4.9 billion). More than 4.4 million have been affected by the flooding in Zhejiang. The direct economic loss in Zhejiang has reached 7.69 billion yuan ($1.18 billion), the agency said. Zhao Fayuan, director of the Zhejiang Flood Control Office, said rain continued falling in the province on Monday, though it was not as heavy as the rainfall over the weekend.

Over 43 Million Worldwide Forced from Their Homes –UN

The number of people forced from their homes worldwide has risen to 43.7 million, the highest level in 15 years, according to a United Nations refugee agency report. Of those displaced, the report classified 15.4 million people as refugees forced to flee their country and 27.5 million as displaced persons within their own country, forced to leave their home because of conflict or natural disaster, the report said. The release of the annual report comes amid increasing reports of people fleeing conflict in Syria, the Sudan and Libya.

Plane Crash Kills 44 in Russia

Forty-four people have been killed and eight injured in a plane crash in north-western Russia on Monday. According to reports, the aircraft attempted to land on a motorway, but crashed and caught fire. The Tupolev Tu-134 operated by RusAir was carrying 43 passengers and nine crew members. The plane came down while flying from the capital, Moscow, to Petrozavodsk. The emergency situation ministry's office in Karelia said radio contact with the pilot was lost at 2340 local time. There was no immediate explanation for the crash, but the airport's director said there had been "unfavourable weather conditions". The plane's flight recorders have reportedly been recovered. RusAir is a privately-owned, Moscow-based airline that specialises in charter flights.

Court Sentences Ex-Tunisian President, Wife to Jail

A court in Tunisia has sentenced ousted President, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and his wife to 35 years in prison after finding them guilty of embezzlement and other charges. Their conviction in absentia came after a day-long trial before the Tunis criminal court.  The couple fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14 after a month-long revolution that sparked a string of other uprisings in the Arab world.  Ben Ali has denied the charges against him and says his departure was part of the plot against him. He denied giving orders for security forces to shoot at protesters demanding that he step down. The couple will also have to pay more than $65 million in fines. The verdict on other charges, including illegal possession of drugs and weapons, will be pronounced on June 30.

21 Convicted for Anti-Government Protests in Bahrain

A Bahrain court sentenced eight Shiite opposition activists to life in prison after finding them guilty of plotting to overthrow the country's Sunni royal family. They were among 21 people who were convicted on terrorism-related charges in connection with the anti-government protests in the country. Rights groups have urged Bahrain to halt the special military court proceedings, with Human Rights Watch deeming them a violation of international law.

Somalia Jails Britons, American over Ransom to Pirates

A Somali court has jailed three Britons and an American for illegally bringing in millions of dollars in ransom for pirates, but the judge suggested the convicts could buy their freedom. The Somali government says it is illegal to pay off armed gangs plaguing the strategic shipping lanes linking Europe and Asia, though the practice is common. The three Westerners were among six foreigners to face prison in a precedent-setting case. The charges were illegally bringing money into the country, carrying cash intended to pay ransoms for hijacked ships and landing in Mogadishu without proper papers. The cash and planes were now the property of Somalia's government, Elmi said.

Bombs Kill 11 in Misratah

Libya’s city of Misrata was hit by a salvo of rockets, allegedly fired by pro-Gaddafi fighters on Monday, according to revolutionary fighters. NATO warplanes also bombed the home of a senior official in the suburb of Sorman, close to Tripoli, killing at least 19 people, according to government sources. NATO has defended its deadly attack, calling it "a legitimate military target."  Also on Sunday, NATO said one of its missiles struck a residential area due to what it claimed as an apparent weapons failure. Meanwhile, reports say that at least 20 more soldiers have deserted Gaddafi's army, further boosting the morale of the revolutionaries. Libya has been the scene of fierce fighting between pro-Gaddafi troops and anti-regime forces since mid-February.

22 Killed in Iraqi Car Bombing

At least 22 people were killed in two car bomb attacks in Diwaniya in central Iraq, officials say. The attacks targeted police barriers outside the compound of provincial governor Salim Hussein Alwan, who was unharmed. Most of the victims of the attacks in Diwaniya are reported to be policemen. Dozens more were reported to have been wounded.

NATO Drone Goes Down in Libya

NATO said Tuesday that it lost contact with a U.S. unmanned helicopter flying surveillance for the organization over the central coastal area of Libya. Libyan state television reported that an "Apache helicopter was downed in the area of Majr in Zliten". An Apache is a manned attack helicopter.
The loss for NATO came as the military chiefs of the 15 nations participating in the Libya campaign met in London and two influential U.S. senators introduced a resolution expressing support for limited U.S. involvement in Libya.

Mexican Authorities Capture Top Cartel Leader

Mexican authorities captured the top leader of one of the country's most violent drug cartels on Tuesday, officials said. Federal police captured Jose de Jesus Mendez Vargas, also known as "The Monkey," in an operation in the state of Aguascalientes. Security spokesman, Alejandro Poire, called Mendez the "principal head" of La Familia Michoacana cartel and said his capture was the federal government's "most overwhelming blow" to the group. Mexico's Attorney General's Office had offered a 30 million peso ($2.5 million) reward for information leading to his arrest.

Syrian Forces Kill Seven Protesters

Syrian security forces have shot dead seven people in two cities as anti-government clashes continue, according to reports. The violence followed rallies organised by authorities in several cities in support of President Bashar al Assad. Reforms he pledged on Monday have been dismissed as inadequate by protesters who have been challenging his 11-year rule for three months. Activists said people were killed when army and security forces intervened on the side of President Assad's supporters in the city of Homs and the town of Mayadeen in the tribal Deir al-Zor province. Al-Assad has faced growing criticism from leaders in the United States, Europe and elsewhere over a violent government clampdown on demonstrators.

Israel Approves Building Project in Gaza

Israel has authorised construction of 1,200 new homes in the Gaza Strip, in what would be one of the largest housing projects in the trouble seaside territory in years, military authorities said on Tuesday. The Jewish state‘s Civil Administration, the military body that oversees civilian matters in the Palestinian areas, said it has authorised the construction of the 1,200 homes, as well as 18 badly needed schools, in southern Gaza. Israel, which controls the cargo crossings into Gaza, has largely banned the entry of construction materials into the coastal strip since Hamas militants seized control of the area in 2007. Israel fears items like cement, metal and glass could be used for military purposes by Gaza’s Hamas rulers.

German Convoy in Afghanistan Attacked

A suicide car bomber struck a German military convoy in northern Afghanistan last weekend, killing three Afghan civilians and overturned at least one armoured vehicle. Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the attack. Three civilians were killed and 11 were wounded in the blast, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The attack comes after a particularly violent day for Afghan and NATO security forces. Eight NATO service members were killed in Afghanistan the same day. Four died in fighting in the south and east, while another four died in a vehicle accident in the south.