Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 20

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Four Killed as Gunmen Abduct Expatriates in Uyo

Gunmen dressed as soldiers, on Friday, kidnapped four Lebanese expatriates working for a construction company in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in an attack that left four people dead after exchange of fire, according to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Walter Rugbere. The four dead include a police officer, a soldier, a civilian and one of the disguised kidnappers, Rugbere added. No group has claimed responsibility but the police took one person into custody. He assured that the Command would ensure the release of the expatriates while the kidnappers would be arrested.

Policeman Killed as Cops Clash in Port Harcourt

One policeman was killed, while two others and a civilian were seriously injured last weekend in Port Harcourt when policemen clashed following arguments on payment for food between a food vendor and one of her customers. The armed scuffle, involving two mobile policemen and three others started when the two policemen tried to intervene in the misunderstanding but the situation got out of control. Before long, gunshots were heard and by the time the shooting stopped, four people were already on the floor and one of them was one Constable Godwin. State Police spokesperson, Rita Inoma-Abbey (SP), confirmed that Constable Godwin held the rifle of another constable, Ego Out, and in the ensuing struggle, the riffle fired, killing Godwin and injuring others.

Expatriate Rapes Minor in Akwa Ibom

An expatriate working for a multinational company in Akwa Ibom State is currently being detained by the police for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl. It was learnt that the family of the victim chose to settle out of court in the interest of the future of the girl. But the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned any out of court settlement, insisting that the suspect should face the law. This comes as another expatriate with Julius Berger Plc allegedly crushed a couple to death, after he lost control of his vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol. The expatriate, who sustained injuries, was quickly rescued, while the victims were left unattended for about an hour before angry witnesses forced another Julius Berger driver at the scene to move them to the hospital.

Mobil Declares Force Majeure as Pipeline Suffers Damage

Oil giant ExxonMobil Corporation has confirmed that its Nigerian subsidiary Mobil Producing Nigeria has declared force majeure on its Qua Iboe crude oil export due to damage to a key pipeline. The company did not specify how much crude oil production was affected, but company sources hinted that about 150,000 barrels per day may have been affected. The company said that there was no incident of sabotage and that the cause of the leak was accidental. Mobil Producing Nigeria recently discovered a leak at one of its pipelines that in Qua Iboe terminal in Akwa Ibom State.

Abducted Baby, Teenager Rescued

The police in Akwa Ibom State have rescued an 18-month-boy and 13-year-old girl from their kidnappers. The command also paraded five suspected kidnappers and armed robbers. The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Walter Rugbere, said one of the kidnappers, dressed in a military camouflage, was shot and arrested by a police patrol team at Ikot Ekpene and the suspect is helping to track down others. The police also said it had dislodged suspected members of an armed robbery gang in Ikot Ekpene and arrested a self-styled pastor, Victor Ekpo, with two locally-made pistols when bandits raided a hotel. Rugbere said that two of the suspects were killed in a shoot-out. Items recovered from them include two locally made pistols, seven live cartridges, three phone handsets, an envelope containing a prayer request and the sum of N44, 290 allegedly stolen from a church they had attacked.

Two Killed in Calabar Council Polls Campaign

At least two persons were on Wednesday killed in Calabar-South Council as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sensitisation campaign team for August 28 council and 2011 polls toured the area. Supporters of various candidates, some of whom were armed, drove recklessly, brandishing posters of their candidates. Unfortunately, a tipper driver caught in the thick of the traffic jam and in an attempt to avoid the rowdy campaign, knocked down a boy, who later died. Instantly, party supporters pulled out machetes and dealt several cuts on the tipper driver. It was gathered that he was mistaken to be a supporters of a rival candidate and thought the man had killed one of their own. But the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, said he had no idea of the incident.

Jonathan Charges Youths on Nation Building
…Assures Continuity of Amnesty

President Goodluck Jonathan, during his maiden visit to the Rivers state on Friday, assured former militants of the continuation of the amnesty programme started by late president Umaru Yar'Adua. Jonathan also pledged to involve young people in his bid to end continued flawed and violent elections in the country. Jonathan made the pledge when he attended the 26th convocation ceremony of the University of Port Harcourt, his alma mater. He charged the youths and young graduates on nation building.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

13 Killed in Benin Cult Clashes

At least 13 persons were killed and others wounded in different parts of Benin City, Edo State, in a renewed cult war believed to be between two confraternities. Three victims, who were killed on Friday, were in their 20s and residents in the area have cried out for protection from the police. Edo State Police Command Spokesman, Peter Ogboi, described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the police had swung into action with a view to curbing the situation.

Man Shatters Mother’s Skull ‘to Fulfil Scriptures’

A 34-year-old man, Raphael Asien, hacked his 64-year-old mother to death, penultimate Thursday, in Benin City, saying that the killing was in fulfilment of the scriptures. Asien, currently being detained by the police, claimed that God revealed to him that his late mother was using him as a sacrifice for the prosperity of her other three children abroad. The suspect after shattering his mother’s skull also attempted beheading his younger sister, who escaped with serious injuries and is now receiving treatment.

MEND Gives Jonathan Ultimatum, Threatens Fresh Attacks

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has given President Goodluck Jonathan “some weeks” grace to begin talks on resource control and other issues affecting the Niger Delta to avoid a fresh wave of attacks on oil installations in the region. MEND refused to take part in the FG’s amnesty programme, though some of its commanders did. Angered at what it said was the slow implementation of the plan, it called off a three-month truce in January but has now vowed to unleash a new wave of attacks on oil installations. But the Coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, Mr. Joseph Evah, cautioned against expecting too much from Jonathan‘s presidency.

JTF Deploys Troops as Gunmen Invade Effurun

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, penultimate Sunday, deployed troops in Effurun, Delta state, after some armed youths seized the town, and engaged in a shoot out, leaving a member of warring sides wounded. The Chairman of the Uvwie LGA said some wanted hoodlums were behind the latest crisis in the area, adding that they were being sponsored by a politician. The Delta State Sector Commander of the JTF, Col. Jamil Sarham, said the troops were deployed to compliment the efforts of the police to restore law and order to the town.

Policeman Kills Colleague at Checkpoint

A police Corporal, Adamu Yakubu, on Monday shot dead a Police Sergeant at a checkpoint in Edo State. Yakubu and his superior were said to have engaged in a heated argument, consequently, the sergeant ordered that Yakubu be disarmed. But other policemen begged the Sergeant to forgive the Corporal, which he obliged, but after 10 minutes, a gunshot and it was discovered that the corporal that had shot the sergeant, who died immediately. Other policemen at the checkpoint immediately arrested Yakubu. Edo State Police spokesman, Peter Ogboi, confirmed the incident.

Herbalist, Others Nabbed for Human Trafficking

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a native doctor and 7 others in his shrine at Ekpan, for alleged trafficking young ladies. State Police spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, on Wednesday, said that one of the girls who escaped from the shrine during an oath- taking ritual, informed the police, and detectives stormed the shrine to rescue four young girls, who were already drugged ready to be moved to Mali. He stated further that the suspects were assisting the State Criminal Investigation Department, Asaba, in the investigation.

Blast Rocks NDDC Office in Warri

An explosion occurred, Tuesday, at the office of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Warri. Shortly after, someone who claimed to be a militant kingpin, identifying himself as the “Udemegun of Niger Delta” said he detonated a bomb at the scene. However, the NDDC Commissioner in Delta State, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi said the explosion was as a result of a faulty air conditioner installed outside the office, but staff of the commission confided that it was a bomb blast, saying that some aggrieved NDDC trainees had been saying that there was going to be a bomb blast in the office if they were not settled. No life was lost.

Community Leader Petitions Police over Ex-Militant's Attack

A community leader in Safarogbo Village in Ovia South-West Council of Edo state, Pius Perewari, on Thursday petitioned the Police, alleging attacks by a former militant in the area, Oomo Etonwerigha. Perewari said he was attacked because he had refused to allow illegal bunkering to take place in his community since all those believed to be involved in the illegal act had embraced the amnesty programme. He claimed that some of the erstwhile militants only pretended to have embraced the amnesty as they have "continued to carry guns and have resumed acts of criminality along the Safarogbo River, engaging in robbery, illegal bunkering, oil theft, harassment and intimidation of fellow Ijaw brothers.

Ekiti Police Rescue Abducted Expatriates

The Ekiti state police command, on Saturday, rescued three expatriates that were abducted at gun point on Friday night. State Commissioner of Police, Kakwa Kasto, who disclosed this, said the expatriates, who are road construction engineers, were abducted by gunmen while they were returning to Ado-Ekiti. The abductors, numbering about four, were sighted by a police patrol team on stop and search duty. According to him, when the abductors noticed that they were being chased by the police, they alighted from the vehicle and escaped into the bush.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Three Killed in Cultists, OPC Clash

Three men were killed in separate clashes between last weekend in Ifo, Ogun state following an inter-cult clash, and another clash involving some suspected cultists and members of the Oodua Peoples Congress. The police arrested four suspects in connection with the incidents. The police said that the clash was between some hoodlums and members of the OPC, but the Chairman of Ifo LGA, Alhaji Sikirulai Ogundele, claimed that the combatants were engaged in a land dispute. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said that only one person died. The PPRO added that over 80 policemen had been deployed in the town.

NLNG Donates Patrol Bikes to Lagos

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) on Monday gave patrol motorbikes to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) to boost the fight against crime. The General Manager, External Relations of NLNG, Mrs. Siene Allwell-Brown, said the gesture was in recognition of the state government’s effort at combating crime, adding that the task of fighting crime should not be left to the government alone. The LSSTF has charged other corporate organisations to be on the alert in the fight against crime.

Police Shoot One-Legged Armed Robber

The police in Ogun State shot and wounded a one-legged armed robber, who had allegedly been snatching cars along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The suspect, Idowu Ayeni, was trying to escape after snatching a vehicle, when he met his waterloo after an anti-robbery team, tried to block the bandits’ path, leading to the exchange of gunfire, during which Ayeni sustained gunshot wounds and he was abandoned by members of his gang, who escaped with the stolen vehicles. According to the police, a pump action rifle, one locally-made pistol and several rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspect. The Police alleged that the suspect hid the arms and ammunition in a pouch attached to his walking stick. Ayeni had also shot one of his victims before the police arrived.

Waiter in Court for Murder of Colleague over Tip

A waiter, Victor Chuekwube, was on Monday arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stabbing his colleague to death in March over what he considered ‘unfair sharing of a tip. The prosecutor, Mr. Gabriel Ekundayo, told the court that Chuekwube, 30, stabbed Lucky Onoh with a knife at a restaurant and that Onoh died on the way to the hospital. The Magistrate, Mrs. Kemi Doja-Ojo did not take the plea of the accused and directed that he should be remanded in prison custody pending the advice of the state Director of Public Prosecutions.

Father Nabbed for Kidnapping Son

A 45-year-old man, Mr. Tanimowo Hunge, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command, for abducting his 16-year-old son, John, and demanded N1m as ransom from the boy’s uncle. The suspect, who confessed to the crime, said he decided to do so when he could no longer endured sufferings as tree fellers had robbed him of the materials with which to make drums.

Police Shoot Construction Worker for Laughing

A policeman in Lagos recently shot and wounded a construction worker, Akwa Jacobson, for allegedly “laughing at him”. Jacobson claimed that he was chatting with his friends when the policeman approached them and accused them of laughing at him. But they explained that they had no reason to laugh at him. He said the policeman insisted that he must follow him or be dealt with. But the victim said he resisted, and the cop allegedly took the pistol from his colleague and shot him in the leg as he attempted to run. The state police spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, said that the officer had been arrested and undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

Police Uncover Fake Document Syndicate in Ibadan

Police detectives in Oyo State have uncovered a place where fake documents are printed and sold to willing buyers. The detectives raided the shopping complex in Ibadan, where some members of the syndicate were arrested. Elated residents described the raid by the police as a relief, saying they had been afraid of reporting their activities to the police. They alleged that they had been operating in the area for the past 20 years.

Driver Commits Suicide after Sack

A driver of a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Information Committee, Mr Kele Bolodeoku committed suicide by hanging himself barely 24 hours after he was sacked. Police authorities said the matter was still being investigated and would come out with their finding as soon as they concluded investigations. Simply known as Dayo, the deceased, was said to have betrayed his boss by leaking some documents to some members of the Assembly who had sympathy for the ousted Speaker and others.

Man Slices Mentally Challenged Woman’s Throat

A 25-year-old man in Lagos has allegedly killed a mentally challenged woman in cold blood. Abiodun Gafar claimed that the woman, popularly known as Iya Ibadan, stepped on his foot and that was the reason he slit her throat, penultimate Sunday. Gafar alleged that he had smoked Indian hemp before going to bed. So, when he left his room to urinate outside, the woman stepped on him, he killed her. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, asked if the suspect was told to kill a deranged woman for something, Gafar said nobody sent him to do it.

GENERAL

Hoodlums Seize Guns, Ammunition from Police Armoury

Over 30 hoodlums, shooting sporadically, attacked the Giza Police Station of Keana LGA of Nasarrawa state, injuring two policemen and carting away five guns and ammunitions. One of the victims, Constable Bawa Dangana said that during the attack, the hoodlums opened the armoury of the station and went away with the four AK 47 riffles and also destroyed some office equipment. The administrator of the Giza Development Area, Alhaji Sanusi Abdul confirmed the incident and said he had already reported the matter to the relevant authorities.

Court Orders IG to Reinstate Men Dismissed over Alleged Protest

A Federal High Court in Akure on Monday ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo, to reinstate seven policemen dismissed from service over alleged planned protest for enhanced welfare package in January 2009. Justice Gloria Okeke held that the dismissal of the policemen, who were fighting for their rights; was unlawful, invalid, unconstitutional, null and void, and that evidence before the court showed that the plaintiffs knew nothing about the faceless publication for which they were punished. Meanwhile, the Police High Command in Abuja has concluded arrangements to pay monetary compensation to the families of all policemen who lost their lives in the line of duty within the past four months. The largest number of such fatalities was recorded in the South-East zone in which at least 24 policemen were killed by armed villains.

Jonathan Picks Sambo for VP, as Ogbulafor Resigns as PDP Chair

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday yielded to the wish of governors and picked one of them, Governor Namadi Sambo of Kaduna State as Vice President-designate. His decision followed a meeting with the governors where they also agreed to withdraw their support for the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Prince Vincent Ogbulafor who is undergoing trial for corruption. Ogbulafor has reportedly caved in to pressure and resigned his position, which he had earlier refused, saying that he would fight it out until proven guilty by a court of law.

President Jonathan gets Military ADC

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday appointed Lt.-Col. Ojogbane Adegbe as his Aide-de-Camp (ADC). The development was in conformity with government protocol, which stipulates that the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces should have a military officer as his ADC, while the Vice-President is entitled to a police officer. The appointment was announced by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro. Adegbe graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna in September 1995. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a Masters in Intelligence and International Security from Kings College, London.

Power Outage Paralyses at MMI Airport

Hundreds of passengers were, penultimate Sunday, stranded at the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos following a power outage that paralysed operations for more than three hours in the evening, causing the terminal to be heated up to more than 48 degrees centigrade and passengers were suffocating. While some passengers lost their luggage, others arriving complained that their bags had been pilfered. The source said the wrong wiring of the terminal and old cables which the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) could not change caused the spark. FAAN had allegedly been warned that such old wires may ignite fire one day. But Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, explained that the outage only affected the terminal building.

Fake Army General Nabbed over N90m Land Fraud

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have picked up a fake Army General for allegedly defrauding some Nigerians with cloned originals of property titles from Abuja Geographical Information Service (AGIS). The commission's Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said that the suspect, Sylvanus Enunche, 62, who is awaiting trial on N17 million land fraud; had been parading himself as a retired Army General but changed his story under interrogation by EFCC operatives that he retired from the Army in 2006 as a major. According to the EFCC, the Army authority had refuted Enunche's claims as his service records could not be traced.

NNPC, Chinese Firm Sign $28.5bn Deal on Refineries

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC), on Thursday in Abuja, signed an agreement for the joint sourcing of funds for the construction of three Greenfield refineries and a petrochemical plant estimated to cost $28.5 billion. Group Managing Director of NNPC, Shehu Ladan, said the NNPC aims to accelerate the construction of new refineries in the country to stem the flood of imported refined products, estimated at $10 billion annually. Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), the Chinese company is expected to source 80 per cent of the funding, while NNPC would provide 20 per cent.

Bangladesh Nationals Arrested over Stolen Vessel

A Nigerian company has commended the International Police (Interpol), for recovering a stolen vessel and arresting six crew members on board the vessel, “Ocean Wave 1”, which was moved from the territorial waters in Lagos, to Cotonou. Ocean Wave 1, belonging to Ocean Waves Marine and Gas, was alleged to have been missing for about seven months, but was impounded with the six crew members from Bangladesh, on April 15, 2010. The Legal Adviser to Ocean Waves Group, George Ohioma, has raised the alarm, claiming his life was under threat from the man in-charge of Maritime Synergy, Mr. Panagis, because of his role in the arrest of Ocean Wave 1. He alleged that Panagis called and threatened to kill him.

Nigeria, South Africa Move for UN Security Reforms

Nigeria and South Africa are now leading efforts to refocus the United Nation’s (UN) Security Sector Reform (SSR). Africans are now also beginning to press for more leadership positions at the UN. The UN Secretariat had come under increased pressures following claims from African diplomats that many of the UN missions in Africa are headed by non-Africans, a situation that is partly forcing some African countries to push back against such UN missions. But UN Secretariat sources also explained that the incumbent Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, is expected to increase the involvement of which African diplomats in leadership positions in UN peacekeeping missions as discussions on the matter continue at the world body.

INEC Gets Soyebi as New Acting Chairman

The Federal Government has named Prince Solomon Adedeji Soyebi as Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Soyebi will oversee the activities of the commission pending the appointment of a new chairman. Then Acting President Goodluck Jonathan had on April 28 asked Iwu to proceed on pre-disengagement leave, pending when they will formally leave the commission on June 13. The National Commissioner in charge of Information and Publicity (IPC) at INEC, Philip Umeadi, was then saddled with the task of overseeing the activities of the commission as its most senior national commissioner.

NUJ Wants Security for Journalists

Owing to the constant threat to life and harassment of journalists, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on the law enforcement agencies to take security of journalists serious and carry out a thorough investigation on the recent killings of journalists in the country. The President of the NUJ, Mallam Garba Mohammed, said the union would no longer tolerate harassment and intimidation in the course of performing their duties. Mallam Mohammed said the union would henceforth ensure that journalists were protected, adding that journalists also had to be security conscious as the nation approached 2011. But the Police have assured media practitioners of their safety, pledging to unravel and apprehend the killers of Mr. Edo Ugbagwu of "The Nation Newspapers", who was shot dead recently.

NJC Retires Judge over Street Fighting

The National Judicial Council on Wednesday ordered Justice Habibu Idris Shall to retire as a judge of the Bauchi State High Court after he was found to have acted in a manner incompatible with his status as a judge. Secretary of the NJC, Mr. Danladi Halilu said the decision followed the approval of the Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, sequel to the recommendation of the National Judicial Council for compulsory retirement of the judge for fighting on the street and attempted abduction of one Kassim Danlami. The NJC had, in February, suspended Justice Shall from office for alleged misbehaviour which breached professional ethics.

Kano Rainstorm Kills 1, Displaces Hundreds

A rainstorm, penultimate Sunday in Kano wreaked havoc, killing an 8-year-old boy and wounding several persons. Scores of houses were also pulled down by the rainstorm, which lasted just several minutes and affected Bachirawa, Sharifai, Katsinawa and Garin Iya localities and environs in Ungogo LGA. The area was struck by darkness as several electric poles were felled by the powerful rainstorm. Other children got buried in one house destroyed by the storm.

INTERNATIONAL

9 Soldiers, 37 Militants Killed in Fierce Battle
…as Suspected U.S. Drones Kill 14 Militants

Nine Pakistani soldiers and 37 militants were killed Monday during a fierce battle in Pakistan's tribal region along Afghan border, officials said. Two military officials said security forces took on more than 100 militants after the security forces were ambushed. The Pakistani military launched operations in Orakzai beginning in mid-March to root out militants who had taken refuge there after an offensive in South Waziristan. In another incident, 14 militants were killed and several others were injured on Tuesday when five suspected U.S. drones fired missiles in Pakistan's tribal region, officials said. The U.S. military does not comment on reported drone attacks. However, it is the only country operating in the region known to have the ability to launch missiles from drones, which are controlled remotely.

103 Killed in Libyan Plane Crash, Dutch Boy Survives

A passenger plane has crashed at Tripoli airport, killing more than 100 people on board, Libyan officials say. The Afriqiyah Airways flight from South Africa crashed as it attempted to land. Officials say 93 passengers and 11 crew members were on board. A sole survivor was a 9-year-old Dutch child, a Libyan minister said. The Dutch foreign ministry has said a number of Dutch nationals were on board.

At Least 85 killed in Iraqi Violence

At least 85 people have been killed and nearly 300 wounded in a string of bombings and shootings across Iraq, Interior Ministry reported late Monday. Attacks were launched in six provinces. Many of the shootings and bombings targeted security forces. The deadliest attack happened in Hilla, in the southern province of Babil, where three bombings killed at least 36 people and wounded 140. The attacks come at a critical time in Iraq, as the country is struggling to form a government after contentious national elections. No one has claimed responsibility for Monday's attacks, but such coordinated assaults bear the hallmarks of al Qaeda in Iraq.

Man Jailed for Murder Released as 'Victim' Reappears after 10 Years

The Higher People's Court in China has pronounced innocent, a 57-year-old man, Zhao Zuohai, imprisoned nearly 10 years for murder after his alleged victim, Zhao Zhenshang, returned alive on April 30. An investigation was under way into the conviction, and Zhao Zuohai will receive about $45,000 in compensation for his wrongful imprisonment, according to reports. The incident raises concerns about police torture, which Zhao Zuohai's relatives say was used to force him to confess even though he was innocent. Torture is believed to be used widely by police and government officials to prove criminal cases. Zhenshang disappeared after an argument with Zuohai in 1997 and Zuohai was arrested in 1999 after a headless body believed to be Zhao Zhenshang was found, according to reports.

Mine Blasts Kill 80 in Russia, China

The death toll from a Russian coal mine accident has reached 60, with 30 people still missing, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said Wednesday. The gas explosion in the Raspadskaya mine occurred penultimate Saturday as 359 people were working. Nearly 300 people were evacuated shortly after the explosion. More than 50 rescue workers had gone into the mine to recover the rest of the victims when a second gas explosion rocked the structure about four-and-a-half hours later, causing more fatalities and destruction, officials said. Dozens of miners and rescue workers were trapped as a result of that second. In a related incident, a mine explosion in southwest China killed 21 workers on Thursday. Rescuers said that 10 workers escaped from the mine after the explosion. Officials are investigating the cause of the accident, Xinhua said.

Egyptian Peacekeepers Killed in Darfur
…Peacekeepers Warn of Rebel Arms Build-up in Sudan

Two Egyptian peacekeepers have been killed by gunmen in Sudan's Darfur region, the United Nations-African Union mission (UNAMID) says. Three other Egyptian soldiers were injured in an ambush near Edd al-Fursan, South Darfur. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. UNAMID has warned of a build-up of Sudanese army and rebel troops in Darfur. UNAMID said that long running clashes had killed 107 people since March and there are reports of an increase in the presence of government troops and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) forces in the Shangil Tobay region. JEM official, Al-Tahir al-Feki, confirmed it had troops around Shangil Tobay and South Kordofan but said they were on "administrative" missions, holding talks with local leaders.

Cameron is British PM

Conservative leader, Mr. David Cameron, became British Prime Minister on Tuesday after Mr. Gordon Brown, former Labour leader, announced his resignation as Prime Minister. Cameron, 43, said he and Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg would "put aside party differences and work hard for the common good and the national interest". He paid tribute to outgoing PM Gordon Brown for his long years of public service and said he would tackle Britain's "pressing problems" - the deficit, social problems and reforming the political system.

70 Dead in Southern China Floods

About 70 persons were killed on Tuesday as torrential rains caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon swept across parts of southern China. Flooding caused by the heavy rains, which started a month earlier than normal, damaged more than 80,000 homes and croplands, affecting more than 10 million people across, the State Flood Control and Disaster Relief Headquarters said. The biggest floods have yet to come," Sun Jun of the National Meteorological Centre was cited as saying. China, Wednesday, marked the second anniversary of its worst disaster in a generation, the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, which still leaves at least 17,921 people still missing. Chinese law says relatives can apply two years after a disaster to have their loved ones registered among the dead.

Gas Attacks Send 30 Afghan School Girls to Hospital

About 30 schoolgirls in Afghanistan were on Tuesday admitted to hospital after two suspected poisonous gas attacks on schools. One of the girls taken ill in Kunduz, said she saw a man in black clothes, with his mouth and nose wrapped in a cloth, throw a bottle near the school. The bottle appeared to release a smelly fume, the girl added. The attacks are the latest in a string of incidents at girls' schools involving an airborne substance which officials say could be poisonous gas. Blood tests taken from girls affected by previous attacks have not yet yielded any results. The UN has begun investigating the cause of their illness, as the president ordered steps to combat what he said could be poisoned gas attacks.

South Korea Confirms RDX in Shipwreck

South Korea's Defense Minister confirmed on Monday that traces of an explosive chemical substance, RDX or Research Department Explosive, used to make torpedoes were found in the wreckage of the naval ship that sank near the border with North Korea on March 26 after an explosion. Fifty-eight sailors were rescued, but 46 were killed. South Korea has not directly blamed North Korea for the sinking, and the North Pyongyang has denied involvement. However, suspicion has focused on the North, given its history of provocations and attacks. The multinational investigation team is analyzing aluminium pieces salvaged from the wreckage to determine whether they are a part of the ship or a torpedo, Kim said.

7 Killed as Filipinos Vote amid Violence

Millions of Filipinos voted in Monday's elections despite scattered violence and glitches with vote-counting machines being used for the first time. The Elections Commission extended voting for another hour to make up for delays. Computer problems and campaign-related violence, which has killed more than 30 people in the past three months, were the main concerns in elections that officials hope will set a new standard for the Philippines' fragile democracy. At least seven people were killed and eight wounded Monday. A marine and a civilian acting as a congressional candidate's bodyguards were also killed in a clash outside a police station.

More Chinese 'Hacked to Death' in School Attack

Seven children and a teacher have been hacked to death at a kindergarten in China, the latest in a series of school attacks, according to reports. Another 11 children were injured in the attack, in which the attacker later killed himself. There have been five violent school attacks in the past two months in China, leaving dozens dead or injured. The attacker was identified as Wu Huanmin, a 48-year-old local man, who was armed with a meat cleaver, commonly used in Chinese homes.

Pirates Hijack 3 Vessels

The European Union Naval Force in Somalia has disclosed that a Taiwanese fishing vessel with a crew of 28 was hijacked in the Indian Ocean penultimate Thursday. This was followed by another hijack by Somali pirates of a Liberia-flagged and Greek-owned ship with 24 people aboard in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday. Similarly, Pirates in the Gulf of Aden hijacked a Bulgarian-flagged chemical tanker carrying a crew of 15 Bulgarians on Tuesday. The European Union Naval Force in Somalia focuses on escorting merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid for the World Food Programme and those of the African Union Mission in Somalia, protecting vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, and deterring and disrupting piracy.

4 Killed as Quebec Home Falls in Sinkhole

Authorities said they have found the bodies of all four members of a family who went missing after their house was swallowed by a gaping sinkhole northeast of Montreal after massive landslide hit Monday night in Saint-Jude. The landslide tore a hole more than four times the size of a football field into Saint-Jude, a verdant village near Montreal. In another incident, the bodies of a groom and two members of his wedding party were found in the back of a truck, along with a threat note to police informants on drug traffickers, four days after being snatched at gunpoint as they left the church in a city across the border from El Paso, officials said Tuesday. Investigators are searching for the gunmen who opened fire on the wedding party in Ciudad Juarez, killing one person penultimate Friday.

Police Kill Militants in Indonesian Raids

Several militants were killed in separate raids in Indonesia on Wednesday, police and local media reported, as part of a wider hunt for members of an Islamist group linked to hotel bombings in 2009 in Jakarta. Security forces raided a group in Cikampek, an area 100 km (62 miles) southeast of Jakarta, national police spokesman Edward Aritonang said. Two of the men killed in the raid had previously been detained in Malaysia between 2003 and 2005 under the internal security act after returning from a militant camp in the Philippines and were important figures in the group, police said. Islamist militants have been linked to last year‘s bomb attacks on two Jakarta luxury hotels.

Suspected Taliban Militants Killed, Arrested in Afghanistan

Afghan and international security forces have killed more than two dozen suspected Taliban militants and captured several others in northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province, NATO's International Security Assistance Force reported on Thursday. ISAF said the security forces were pursuing a senior Taliban leader into the village of Kharid-e Olya Wednesday night, when they engaged insurgents in a firefight. There were no civilian casualties, according to ISAF. In southern Afghanistan, security forces arrested 40 suspected Taliban members in Helmand province, a government spokesman said Thursday.

Troops Fire on Rioting Thai Protesters

Thai troops fired bullets and tear gas at anti-government protesters rioting near the U.S. and Japanese embassies in Bangkok after overnight clashes killed one person. The fighting, which has killed 30 people and injured hundreds since the Red Shirt protesters began camping in the capital on March 12, plunged Thailand deeper into political uncertainty. The Red Shirts believe Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government came to power illegitimately and are demanding he dissolve Parliament immediately and call new elections. A leader of the Red Shirts and renegade army Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdiphol, who is accused of creating a paramilitary force for the Red Shirts, was shot in the head on Thursday evening. The Red Shirts blamed a government sniper for the shooting but the army denied it tried to kill Khattiya.

43 Die in India as Buses Touch High-Voltage Wire

A bus carrying wedding guests caught fire after touching a high-voltage wire in central India on Friday, killing 28 people, police said. The electricity supply wire was overhanging the road in Mandla district in Madhya Pradesh state. It was the second such accident in India after at least 15 people were killed in eastern Bihar state on Thursday when the truck they were riding in touched a high-voltage wire.

US to Fund Israeli Rocket Defence System

United States President, Barack Obama, has reportedly planned to get an extra $200m in military aid from the Congress to help Israel get a short-range rocket defence system in place. The system is designed to shoot down mortars and rockets from Gaza or Southern Lebanon with guided missiles. The system, called Iron Dome, has gone through testing and installation will start later this year. A White House spokesman said that Obama recognised the threat posed by missiles and rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah, and the US is committed to Israel’s security.