Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 25

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Two Killed as Gunmen Seize Monarch in Rivers

Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped a traditional ruler in Rivers State, barely 24 hours after another gang killed the Chairman of the state’s Civil Service Commission, Chief Anthony Egobueze, in his house. Eze Sunday Njoku, the paramount ruler of Umuebele community, was at a Sunday church service, when the gunmen struck and dragged him away. The gunmen, during the operation, shot dead two persons and injured several others who had attempted to prevent them from going away with Eze Njoku. The police have made sixteen arrests in connection with the kidnap. Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers State, Dr. Rita Abbey, said the police team that came to the scene chased the kidnappers into Omagwa in Abia State where they abandoned two of their vehicles.

300 Kidnappers Arrested, Police Deploy 10, 000 Men in South East
…8 Accept Amnesty in Abia

About 300 kidnappers have been arrested in the South East in the past three months, while the police high command has deployed additional 10, 000 policemen to the zone to combat the rising crime wave. The Inspector General of police, Ogbonna Onovo said that the additional 10, 000 policemen are on special operation of stop and search to fish out all the hoodlums in their hideout. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abia State Command has paraded eight repentant kidnappers from Ugwunagbo LGA. The Commandant of the Corps, Mr. Nathaniel Ubong said the kidnappers were among those coming out to surrender on Sunday before the exercise was disrupted. Ubong said the men would be handed over to the steering committee of the State Government's Amnesty Programme.

Army Arrests Fake Officer for Fraud in Ebonyi

A fake Army officer, who is alleged to have defrauded the public, was Wednesday arrested by the military in Ebonyi state. The suspect, Mr. Godwin Awawe, was said to have defrauded the public, using an illegal Army charity support programme card. The fraudster, alongside others said to be operating in fake Army identity cards, uniforms and other materials, had raked in several millions in the illegal business that started around February last year. But luck ran out on Awawe when he tried to dupe the Ebonyi State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dave Umahi, who placed a call to the General Officer Commanding the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Isah, to confirm the programme.

Three Killed as Tanker Spills Content on Road

About three persons were killed, four injured and several vehicles burnt beyond recognition when petroleum tanker fell and spilled it contents and went aflame at the junctions of old toll gate, Intels office complex and Fougerlle company. The incident, which started at about 9 a.m., caused pandemonium around the area as the road was completely blocked to traffic. Two of the victims died on the spot.

Shell to Clean Up 268 Oil Spill Sites

Minister of Environment, John Odey, has asked Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to ensure that its plan to carry out the clean-up of some 268 sites in the Niger Delta conforms to the Federal Government's guidelines on environmental standards. He made these comments while receiving the Managing Director of Shell Mutiu Sumonu over the weekend. According to him, Shell has made reasonable progress in respect of environmental impact assessment. He urged the company to try as much as possible to work together with the government to collectively control oil spill and act promptly when it occurs.

Two Killed in Anambra Kidnap Attempt

Two men were shot dead by the police in Onitsha, Anambra State on Wednesday. While one account said the victims were members of the Onitsha-Ado Vigilante Unit and were ambushed by men who allegedly attempted to kidnap a businessman, another account claimed that they were suspected kidnapper. According to latter source, the kidnappers had invaded the office of the businessman, bundled him into his own vehicle and drove off. But the vehicle was said to have developed fault and they abandoned it with the man after shooting him. They then hijacked a motorcycle to escape, but a police team shot two of them and arrested one while two others escaped. The Police Area Commander, John Nweze, confirmed the incident the shooting with no further details.

MEND Denies Abducting Russian Sailors

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has denied abducting two Russian sailors but claims to know the gang holding them. MEND’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, denied reports that the two Russian sailors, Captain Boris Tersintsev and Chief Engineer Igor Shumik abducted on May 16, 2010 in the Cameroon port city of Douala are being held MEND for a $1.5 million ransom. According to him, “MEND is aware of the pirate gang holding them and their current location but will not intervene”.

NOSDRA, Mobil Disagree over Remediation on Oil Spillage

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and Exxon Mobil on Tuesday traded words over the poor response to oil imparted sites, in Akwa Ibom State. NOSDRA accused Exxon-Mobil of flouting its directives on the handling of oil spill at Usari Idoho community last year. The Director, Oil Spill Response, Mr. Idris Musa, said the authorities of Exxon Mobil have so far exhibited an unwillingness to cooperate with the regulatory agency in ensuring proper clean up of the affected area and payment of compensation. But Mobil's Executive Director, Mrs. Gloria Essien-Danner, said the brownish colour of the water was as a result of cloud casting shadow, stressing that it could not have been as a result of oil spill.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Fear Grips Criminals in Edo over Oba’s Curse

Reports indicate that fear has gripped some armed robbers and kidnappers in Edo State, following the curse placed on them by the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa. It is reported that hundreds of them have stormed the Palace of the Oba to plead for forgiveness, but are yet to be answered. They were, however, advised to change from their ways or die. It is also reported that some bankers who leak information to kidnappers about their customers, have also fled the city for the fear of death.

Delta Police Nab Kidnappers of Mother, Children

Eight men, who allegedly kidnapped a woman and her three children in Warri, Delta State, have been rounded up by the police. The victims were said to be returning from a church before they were abducted. The Commissioner of police, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, said that the woman had already driven her car to the front of her house and they were about alighting from the vehicle when the suspected kidnappers struck. The Policemen quickly swung into action and rescued the mother and children unhurt and arrested the suspects. The leader of the gang confessed that they wanted to take the victims out of Warri and to demand N5 million as ransom from their family. Alkali also disclosed how the command arrested another gang of four men that specialized in kidnapping that had terrorised Anambra state.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Police Constable Dismissed for Murder

The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed a police constable, Mohammed Abubakar, for allegedly killing a security man attached to a branch of Intercontinental Bank Plc. The command’s spokesman, Frank Mba, said that the dismissal followed a directive from the Police Commissioner, Mr Marvel Akpoyibo, after Abubakar was found guilty in an orderly room trial. The suspect is currently being held at the State CID, Panti, and will soon be charged to court for murder. A source said a customer of the bank, who could not cash money through the ATM machine decided to prevent other customers from using the machine. This led to an argument, forcing the late security man, Attah Jacob, 37, to call on the policemen at the bank, but he was shot at by the constable when he knocked at the door.

Police Raid Black Spots in Lagos, Arrest 300

At least 300 suspected street urchins were arrested in Lagos State within the last one week in a move by the Police Command to rid the state of criminals. The arrests were made during a mass raid of black spots executed by the police alongside the state’s Special Task Force following intelligence report on the activities of suspected hoodlums in the raided areas. The raid had been carried out in Mushin, Oshodi and Ikeja and it is expected to continue in other parts of the state. Some residents of Mushin have complained that the police arrested some law-abiding residents of the area in the course of the exercise. However, it was learnt that some of the arrested suspects have been granted bail after they were screened and found innocent of any criminal activity.

Two Crushed to Death in Ijebu-Ode Road Accident

Two occupants of a truck, conveying a flying boat were killed penultimate Sunday at Mobalufon, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State when the flying boat crushed the truck on which it was loaded after it fell into a ditch. It was gathered that the flying boat fell on the front part of the truck, crushing two of the three occupants to death immediately. The Acting Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission in Ogun State, Mr. Segun Akinyemi, confirmed the accident. He explained that flood caused by rain had covered some portions of the road and that the driver did not know that one of the ditches had been covered by water; so the truck ran into it.

Angry Job Seekers Mob Fake Recruitment Officials

An irate mob of job applicants in Ibadan, Oyo State almost lynched two fake officials of a purported Federal Inland Ports Authority (FIPA) for attempting to dupe them of N2500 each, after a radio advert. On the day of the purported screening, hundreds of the job seekers had besieged Olubadan Stadium and waited for several hours to no avail. The “official” had begun collecting the N2500, but could not prove their identities when it was demanded. The fake officials later told the applicants that they were merely friends of those recruiting for the agency. The angry job seekers descended on the two men, stripped them naked and beat them black and blue. They job seekers vowed to use them as example to teach those exploiting the economic hardship of the country to dupe Nigerians.

Court Sentences Man to Death for Murder

A High court in Osogbo, Osun state has sentenced one Hammed Owonikoko to death by hanging for his role in the murder of one Tunde Ojewale in November 2007. Owonikoko was standing trial with three others on a three- count charge of conspiracy to commit felony to wit murder. The accused had all pleaded not guilty to the charges. The presiding judge, Justice O.D.Afolabi, found Hammed guilty of murder and consequently sentenced him to death by hanging. The court also held that the act of the appellant was intentional with the knowledge that death or bodily harm was the probable consequences.

Truck Drivers Protest Killing of Colleague

Truck drivers of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, on Tuesday in Lagos barricaded the Orile-Iganmu Bridge in protest against the alleged murder of their colleague by a policeman. Eye witnesses said trouble started after a staff of the construction firm identified as Wahab Amusa was allegedly pushed down from the bridge by a police constable. The incident sparked off a violent protest as a mob attempted to hold the policeman, but was resisted by his colleagues, who quickly whisked him into their patrol van and zoomed off. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, confirmed that there was trouble but could not give details.

Bank Robbers Kill 5 in Akure

Armed robbers, Thursday, raided a commercial bank in Akure, Ondo State, killing 5 people and injuring at least 10 others. Policemen who had their station close to the robbery scene, disappeared from the area during the duration of the robbery that lasted for about an hour. The headquarters of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Ondo Police Command was also less than five minutes drive from the scene but the robber faced no resistance. The attitude of the police led to a violent protest by youths who carried the remains of one of the victims, a middle-aged woman with a baby strapped at her back who was also shot dead, to the “A” Division Police Station where they were dispersed with tear-gas.

Fake Soldier Assaults Man for Wearing Camouflage

An undergraduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, Oghenetega Encote, 22, has been arrested for assaulting another for wearing a camouflage. Enconte, who was sometimes seen in military uniform, is said to be a fake soldier. The state police spokesperson, Miss. Bisi Okuwobi, confirmed the incident adding that the people at the scene of the incident did not allow Enconte and his allies to escape. Enconte claimed that he was not a military man, but a boy soldier and that he uses the uniform to scare away cultists.

Driver Defiles Two Pupils

A 22-year-old driver, Musa, has been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command for allegedly defiling two primary school pupils. One of his victims is said to be his former lover’s younger sister who had been accompanying her sister to his residence. One of the victims, a 10-year-old, was observed to be sick by her teacher, and she told the teacher that her classmate, 13-year-old Baliki took her to Musa’s house on June 4 and the man defiled her. The suspect is said to have confessed to the crime. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ms. Olabisi Okuwobi, confirmed the incident.

Father Shoots Children over School Fees Receipt

Men of the Oyo State Police Command are currently on the trail of a middle-aged man, who allegedly shot his two children during a disagreement over school fees’ payment and fled on Tuesday. According to a police source, the suspect, simply identified as Rashidi, was said to have been enraged by the inability of his children to produce an evidence of the payment of the school fees he had earlier given to them and he suspected that the children, 27 and 14 years, might have diverted the school fees to other means. Rashidi was said to have seized his Dane gun in rage and shot at the two children. The loud sound from the gun woke up neighbours, who quickly mobilised to rush the victim to the hospital. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ms. Olabisi Okuwobi, confirmed the incident.

NDLEA Nabs Drug Trafficking Native Doctor at MMA

A native doctor who fortified himself with charms to beat security screening at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for attempting to smuggle cocaine out of the country. The suspect, Longe Moshood Adewale, was attempting to board an Iberia flight to Paris, France, with 77 pieces of the substance when he was arrested. An ex-convict, Oliver Uzoaru, was also caught at the same airport for trying to take 915 grammes of cocaine out of the country, after jailed for eight months for a similar offence in 2009. The NDLEA) also arrested a Nigerian based in Spain who tried to smuggle 500g of cocaine inside his sandal.

Woman Arrested For Chaining Son

Officials of the Lagos State Government, withthe support of the police on Thursday, arrested a 35-year old woman, Peace Etim, for chaining her son daily over alleged stealing and waywardness.The woman admitted to chaining her son for four days consecutively, saying that this was the only way to stop him from roaming the streets of Lagos and for staying away from home, thus, giving the parents headache. Eleven-year old Ezekiel Etim, is the victim, he has dropped out of school on his own, according to his mother. The victim will likely be taken away from her and adopted by the state government.

GENERAL

Govt Alleges Plot to Destabilise Jos

The Plateau State government has uncovered a plot by a group of people to import mercenaries into the state with the aim of precipitating another crisis, urging the people of the state to be on alert. The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Greg Nyelong, said the planned attack was being hatched to disturb the prevailing peace in the state, adding that security agencies had been alerted to ensure that any threat to peace and security or threat to life was nipped in the bud and dealt with according to the law of the land. Residents are urged to be vigilant and go about their lawful business and to report any suspicious movement to the security agencies.

IGP Cautions Police against Strike

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, has warned men of the Nigerian Police to steer clear of any form of action that depicts strike action against the government of Nigeria. He said anyone caught in such unionism in the force will be dealt with as he added that the force does not tolerate such behaviour. The ban on union activity in the Police Force was contained in a circular, sent to all Police formations in the country. Onovo recalled that recently an alleged action in some commands and formations, though not announced was hatched. Meanwhile 299 Sergeants were promoted in the command to the rank of Inspectors, 456 Corporals were elevated to Sergeants while 757 Constables moved to the rank of Corporals.

Gunmen Invade Senator Abuja Home

Eight heavily armed men, suspected to be assassins, on Sunday, invaded the Abuja residence of Senator Gbemisola Saraki, searching for her, but she was fortunate to be out of the country at the time. Saraki is believed to be warming up for the governorship of Kwara State in 2011. A domestic aide narrated that the unmasked invaders, on being told that she had travelled, made a phone call to report that she was not around and asked if the persons in the house should be killed to send a message to her. After the phone call, the gunmen beat them, and later made away with cell phones, lap top computers and cash. Senator Saraki had, prior to the incident, allegedly got a text message telling her to advise her father, Dr Olusola Saraki, to steer clear of Kwara politics or face dire consequences.

40,000 Police Constables for Recruitment

The Nigeria Police Force is to recruit 40,000 personnel into the constable cadre, according to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu. The statement said the recruitment would begin on Monday June 14 and end on June 22. It directed prospective applicants to download forms for the exercise from the website of the Nigeria Police, but did not give a breakdown of the number of applicants expected from each state.

Niger Clerics Raise Alarm on Deadly Islamic Sects

The Niger State Forum of Imams has alerted the State Government on the existence of some militant Islamic sects and urged the government to take necessary actions to stop the sects from causing mayhem. Chairman of the forum, Mallam Isah Fari, canvassed the need for peaceful co-existence among all people in the state, irrespective of religious beliefs. The secretary of the group, Alhaji Umar Faruk, commended the state government for taking pro-active action in dislodging the Darul Islam sect from their base but observed that the Kala Kato sect, which is still in operation, “is deadlier than the Darul Islam.”

Nigeria to Strengthen Collaboration with ILO on Child Trafficking

Nigeria is to strengthen collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) towards combating child trafficking and other forms of forced labour.
Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu made this known, at the ongoing International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, pledged the government's determination to bring all citizens under a safety net in a comprehensive social security scheme soon to be announced. The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Iyom Josephine Anenih has also decried the increasing rate of child abuse in Nigeria, and called for immediate attention from all stakeholders. The minister blamed poverty and other cultural for the desperation and ignorance of parents to procure children for trafficking.

NDLEA Decries Hostility against Officials in Nasarawa

The newly appointed Nasarawa State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ishaku Iliya, has expressed worries over the incessant hostilities by drug offenders in the state against his operatives. Iliya noted that in the course of preventing young people from peddling hard drugs, he has seen resistances, but not as high as what was being experienced in Lafia where offenders are bent on wiping out his operatives. He called on those in authority over the young people to take charge and help them stamp out the spirit of impunity that has possessed the offenders who turn violent whenever there was an opportunity to do so.

ICPC Boss Warns against Attacks on Officials

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola (rtd), has vowed to prosecute any individual who inflicts injuries on any ICPC personnel while resisting arrest. Ayoola stressed that the agency would henceforth sue such attackers to court with a view to securing the mandatory one-year jail term without the option of fine.  Ayoola regretted that ICPC officials have either lost their lives or were injured on the job while some suspects tried to resist arrest. The ICPC chief also regretted that the commission had been poorly funded, saying that this had hampered its operations. He urged officials of the National Anti-Corruption Corps (NAVC) to discharge their duties warning that any abuse of duty will attract stiff sanctions.

Man to Die for Killing Wife

The die was cast for a 28-year-old Qur’anic student, Abubakar Goni as a Maiduguri High Court, last week, ordered that he should be hanged for stabbing his estranged 14-year-old wife to death in 2003. The convict was said to have stabbed his wife, Amsa Usman Abdu, severally for refusing to yield to his sexual advances. Justice Abdullahi Sanya Yerima maintained that the 28-year-old man had committed “a grave and a heinous crime” which the law provided no option for.

INTERNATIONAL

Islamist Militants Kill Two for Watching World Cup

Islamist militants belonging to the Hezbal Islam rebel group have killed two football fans and arrested 10 others for watching the FIFA World match between Argentina and Nigeria in Mogadishu on Saturday. Residents say that heavily armed militants stormed a house where World Cup fans were secretly watching the football competition, which was prohibited in Islamist controlled regions in Somalia, according to Halima Ahmed, a mother of five children. Prior to the World Cup opening, the Islamists in Somalia warned people against watching the World Cup, saying that it was not compatible with Islamic law and that those who were caught watching it would be brought before the Islamic court.

Two Colombian Police Rescued after 12 Years in Captivity

The Colombian military on Sunday rescued Gen. Luis Mendieta and Col. Enrique Murillo, two top national police officers held by the FARC guerrillas for nearly 12 years, President Alvaro Uribe announced. A police spokesman said the military operation took place in eastern Colombia in Guaviare province, and that the two rescued hostages are safe. Mendieta and Murillo were both taken prisoner by the FARC in jungle town of Mitu. Mendieta was a national police colonel when captured by the FARC and was promoted by the agency during his time in captivity. He was the highest-ranking officer held by the rebels.

55 Killed in Bangladesh Landslides

Powerful landslides triggered by heavy rains on Tuesday killed at least 55 people and left seven soldiers missing in southeastern Bangladesh, which borders Myanmar. The mudslides struck on Tuesday morning and many victims were buried alive as they slept, according to Giasuddin Ahmed, chief government administrator in the area. Another mudslide in a nearby district killed four members of a family, said police officer Zahirul Hoque. More than 12,000 people have been rendered homeless and are receiving emergency relief in makeshift camps, officials said Thursday. Across the border in Myanmar, 46 have been killed, according to state media. Cox's Bazaar district administrator, Giasuddin Ahmed, said 50 people had died in his district.

Sudan Rebel Commanders Surrender to War Crimes Trial

Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain (Banda) and Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus (Jerbo), both suspected of having committed war crimes in Darfur, Sudan, on Wednesday gave themselves up voluntarily to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for trial following summonses issued by the ICC. Banda and Jerbo are charged with three counts of war crimes allegedly committed during an attack carried out on September 29, 2007, against the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), at the Haskanita Military Group Site.

15 Dead as Flash Floods Hit Southern France

Up to 15 people have been killed by flash floods in south-eastern France, officials said. A number of others were reported missing after torrential rain hit the mountains above the Cote D’Azur region on Tuesday. Meanwhile, heavy rain in Myanmar has triggered floods and landslides, washing away bridges, blocking roads and killing at least 25 people, local officials and an aid worker said on Wednesday. At least 140,000 people were killed in 2008 when a cyclone hit the south of the country.

35 Pakistan Troops Missing after Islamist Militants Attack

Hundreds of Islamist militants attacked a checkpoint along the Afghan border, and nearly three dozen Pakistani paramilitary troops were missing, security officials said on Thursday. The Frontier Corps troops disappeared from the Mohmand tribal region, said the two Pakistani officials. The officials blamed the Afghan Taliban for the attack, but a similar report from Afghanistan raised questions about the identity of the culprits. Afghan officials said Wednesday that nine Pakistani militiamen had been apprehended in that country's Kunar province, which is across from Mohmand.

Dozens Killed In Colombian Mine Blast

Several people were feared dead in a coal mine explosion in north-western Colombia on Wednesday, provincial disaster coordinator, John Rendon, said. Two injured miners managed to escape from the mine. An estimated 70 to 80 workers were in the mine at the moment of the explosion. At least 100 rescue workers were at the scene, said provincial Red Cross director, Beatriz Delgado. The director of Colombia’s state mining institute, Mario Ballesteros, said that the mine passed a routine annual safety check just last month.

2 Killed as Fighter Jet Crashes in South Korea

South Korea's Air Force says a fighter jet crashed into the sea after a training mission and its two pilots were killed. The Air Force said the F-5 jet went missing off the east coast early Friday as it was returning to its base in Gangneung after a training mission. The Air Force said rescuers recovered the bodies of the two pilots.

Gunmen Kill Irrigation Worker, Family in Iraq

Iraqi officials say gunmen killed an employee of a local irrigation department and his family as part of a tribal dispute over water distribution west of Baghdad. Police officials say the driver of a drilling truck, his wife and two young children were slain as they slept in a pre-dawn attack on Friday. Investigator Mohammed Khudair says irrigation department employees have been targeted in the past because of the dispute. The attack comes amid concerns that crime is increasing as sectarian bloodshed has ebbed. Police say two people were killed Friday in a rocket attack elsewhere in Abu Ghraib.

Plane Crash in Sydney Kills 2

Two people were killed after their light plane crashed in a Sydney neighborhood on Tuesday. Police confirmed two people were on the plane and both were killed, federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, said. Debris from the crash smashed into a car with three children and an adult inside. Two of the children and the driver were among the seven people hospitalized for apparent shock. Fuel from the burning wreckage poured into a drain and set fire to a parked car. The plane also brought down power lines, cutting electricity to thousands of homes. While in the air the pilot had told Bankstown Airport traffic control tower he was losing altitude and having trouble spotting a place to land.

Drug Violence Claims 25, as 28 Die in Mexican Jail Riot

Twenty five people were killed in drug related shootings in two Mexican towns on Monday and Tuesday. Suspected drug cartel hit men blocked a highway in Michoacan state and opened fire, killing 10 police officers on Monday, security officials said. While on Tuesday, fifteen suspects were killed in a shootout with soldiers in the tourist town of Taxco, the national defense secretary said. 16 long guns, six pistols, two home-made explosive devices and a vehicle were confiscated. Also in Sinaloa state, 28 prisoners were killed in a gun battle between rival gangs inside a jail. The majority of the prisoners killed were in jail for murder or drug trafficking. At least 70 drug-related killings were recorded in Mexico, penultimate Friday.

Plane Crash in Mexico Claims 8 Lives

Eight people, including members of a local politician's staff, were killed when a small plane crashed in Mexico. The politician, Roberto Borge Angulo, who is running for governor in the state of Quintana Roo, was not on the plane, the agency said. But six members of the politician's staff and two crewmembers were killed in the crash. The Cessna went down in a jungle in the state of Yucatán, Sunday afternoon, the agency reported. It was not clear what caused the crash.

EU Urges Kyrgyz to Vote amidst Violence

With reports suggesting that rioting was deliberately started in Kyrgyzstan, European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) have urged the country not to let ethnic riots derail a key constitutional referendum and parliamentary elections. Riots erupted penultimate Thursday in the southern part of the country, targeting minority Uzbeks. Kyrgyzstan's interim government, which took over when former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was ousted in April, has accused Bakiyev's family of instigating the violence to halt a June 27 referendum on a new constitution. Deadly rampages in the country's south began Thursday, as mobs of ethnic Kyrgyz torched homes and businesses of ethnic Uzbeks. Interim president, Roza Otunbayeva, said Friday that the death toll from the clashes could be near 2,000.

13 Killed in Mexican Train Crash

At least 13 people have been killed in a collision between freight trains in north-western Mexico. Officials said most of the victims were undocumented migrants hitching lifts on the trains, and that at least five more people had been injured. Martin Gastelum, spokesman for Sinaloa's public prosecutor's office, said that Tuesday's crash was caused by human error as "Someone didn't change the tracks correctly". Mr Gastelum said there were fears the death toll could rise. Hundreds of migrants from Central America risk their lives to travel across Mexico by rail, hoping to cross illegally into the US. Many hitch rides on cargo trains, sometimes falling to their deaths.

Earthquakes Shake Indonesia, 2 Killed

A power string of six earthquakes shook the northern coast of Papua, Indonesia, Wednesday, killing at least two people and causing widespread damage on Yapen Island, officials said. "We don't know how bad it is yet, but we have received reports that 200 houses on the coast line were damaged and 227 others were in town," according to Papua police spokesman Wachyono, who goes by a single name. The national disaster coordinating agency will be sending a team to assess the situation, he said. Four of the earthquakes hit the region within an hour's time, starting just after midday. A fifth and sixth quake hit the region a few hours later.

North Korea Threatens War over Torpedo Findings

North Korea on Tuesday rejected international findings that it sank a South Korean ship, warning at the United Nations the dispute could lead to war, if any action is taken against them. North Korean Ambassador, Sin Son Ho, accused South Korea of "fabricating" the results of the investigation into the sinking of the Cheonan and the killing of 46 Sailors in March. U.N. Security Council President Claude Heller said Monday that the U.N. body is concerned over the potential "impact on peace and stability on the Korean peninsula" as a result of the dispute.

British Soldiers Killed in Afghan Shootings

The UK Defence Ministry says two British soldiers were killed Tuesday in separate shooting incidents in the Nad-e Ali district of Afghanistan's Helmand Province. Both were killed by small-arms fire while on security patrol, according to a Task Force Helmand spokesman. In a separate Tuesday incident, a NATO service member died after a small-arms attack in eastern Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force said. ISAF did not specify the service member's nationality.

Gunmen Shoot Israeli Policemen at West Bank

Three Israeli policemen were shot and wounded near Hebron in the southern West Bank on Monday, authorities said. Security forces are searching the area for the shooters, according to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld. The last Israeli shooting victim in the West Bank was 40-year-old Jewish settler Rabbi Meir Avshalom Hai from Shavai Shomron. He died shortly after being shot in the head in December 2009.

Israel Agrees to Probe of Gaza Flotilla Raid

Israel has announced an internal inquiry into its deadly raid last month on a convoy of Gaza-bound aid ships.  Israel earlier rejected a UN proposal for an international probe, but has now agreed to include two foreign observers in its own inquiry. Nine Turkish activists were killed when Israeli commandos stormed the ships in international waters on 31 May. And as Israel plans to ease the Gaza blockade, an Israeli security official, Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin, has warned that lifting the blockade could pose a threat, saying that Gaza militants have 5,000 rockets and lifting the blockade could allow weapons in easily. Meanwhile, Ireland has expelled an Israeli diplomat in punishment for the alleged Mossad use of forged Irish passports to assassinate a top Hamas official in Dubai. Israel has refused to confirm or deny its agents' involvement in the killing.

35 Drown in India Boat Mishap

About 24 people were confirmed drowned and 11 others missing after a boat capsized on the Ganges river in northern India on Monday. The crowded vessel, according to local police official, Shivendra Yadav, was carrying 60-70 people traveling to a temple for a religious function. Passengers on the boat, which was meant to carry about 30 passengers, were mostly women and children from Ujveria village in Uttar Pradesh state, who were going to visit a temple across the river. Twenty-five people managed to swim to safety. Boat tragedies are common in the impoverished state. Vessels used to ferry passengers are generally rickety and overcrowded and people seldom use life jackets.

School Boy Killed in Protest

A security lockdown and general strike was called by Muslim separatists in Indian-ruled Kashmir over the death of a teenager. The 17-year-old boy was killed, penultimate Friday in Srinagar during clashes between anti-India protesters and police. Some witnesses said Tufail Ahmed Mattoo was hit by a teargas shell fired by the police. Mattoo's family said he was not part of the protest and was carrying his school bag when he was hit. About 70 police and protesters have been injured in violent clashes across Srinagar since the death. The Muslim-majority region is in the grip of a 20-year insurgency against rule from New Delhi. The unrest has left more than 47,000 people dead by the official count.

Police Beat up Protesters over Brutality Rally in Egypt

Security forces in Egypt, Tuesday, beat up protesters against a police beating that killed a young man. The protesters were angry over the death of 28-year-old Khaled Said in Alexandria on June 6. Relatives, witnesses and human rights groups say police beat him to death. The victim's brother claimed the beating was in revenge for his possession of a video showing the policemen dividing the spoils of a drug bust. The country’s top prosecutor has ordered a new autopsy on the victim, while the U.S. State Department has called for a transparent investigation. Police officials deny that Said died of torture, saying he was wanted for various legal offenses, and died after attempting to swallow a packet of drugs and choking. The damage to his face in the photograph was due to the autopsy, forensic doctors said.

Kenyan Politicians Arrested for Hate Speech

Two members of parliament and an assistant minister have been arrested in Kenya on charges of hate speech in the turbulent run up to an August 4 constitutional referendum. Preparations for the vote, seen as a crucial step in reforms after post-election violence killed hundreds in 2008, were hit by a weekend attack and grenade blasts on a religious meeting, also a rally for the "No" campaign, that killed six and wounded over 100 more. It is not yet clear who was behind the three grenade blasts in central Nairobi but they have inevitably been linked to the vote despite calls for calm from the government and donors. "The law is very clear about hate speech and so the president ordered that anybody or any politician involved in hate speech should be arrested," Kenyan government spokesman, Alfred Mutua, said.

Police, Soldiers Clash in Somalia Claims 13 Lives

Fighting between Somali government troops and police has killed about 13 people and injured 14 in Mogadishu after soldiers tried to rob civilians. The clash occurred over the weekend in Hamarjajab district, in the south of the capital, Abdullahi Mo`alim Kerow, a police officer, disclosed. Ten civilians were wounded and one of them later died, Ali Muse Abdi, the coordinator of ambulance services in Mogadishu, said. Elsewhere, al Shabaab regained control the strategic central town of Baladwayne from Hizbul Islam.