Weekly Security Report Weekly Report week 16 week 16
PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS
SSS Arrests Senator over NASS Polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) admitted that its declaration of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as the winner of Bayelsa West Senatorial District election was done in error, while the State Security Service (SSS) operatives Monday arrested the senator. Lokpobiri was arrested following the confusion trailing the result of the senatorial district and alleged ballot box snatching. INEC had weekend announced the senator as the winner of the election, but in a statement rescinded its decision, saying the announcement was done in error as the election was fraught with “widespread irregularities”. INEC’s Public Affairs Officer, Priscilla Imoudu Sule, confirmed this in a statement. Lokpobiri has threatened to challenge the nullification in court.
Akwa Ibom to Refund Money to Rivers State
Following a Supreme Court judgment which gave the ownership of 86 disputed oil wells to Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State will have to refund the revenue collected on the wells to Rivers State. To ensure the payment and the enforcement of other rulings on the case, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has inaugurated an inter agency technical committee on the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment. The chairman, RMAFC, Mr Elias Mbam, disclosed that the committee is to work out modalities for the implementation of the judgment which gave the 86 oil wells to Rivers State and examine the implications of the judgment.
Abducted Imo Rep-elect Regains Freedom
Winner of the Okigwe-North Federal Constituency seat in Imo State, Chikwem Onuoha, who was kidnapped during the National Assembly election, has been freed. Onuoha, who won the election, said he was at the polling centre near his home when a group of armed men stormed the area and whisked him away to the home of a governorship candidate in the state, where he was beaten to stupor. Similarly, the country home of the re-elected member representing Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia Federal Constituency, Uche Ekwunife was on Tuesday morning, invaded by armed men suspected to be assassins. The lawmaker’s security guard, Musa Amjero said the hoodlums, entered the compound through the fence at about 2.30am, moved into the house, breaking doors and anti-burglary devises.
JTF Denies Allegations of Oil Theft
The Joint Task Force (JTF) has refuted allegation in WikiLeaks linking the military to illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta. The JTF said it had arrested over 50 suspects involved in oil bunkering in the Niger Delta since January till date. JTF spokesperson, Lt Col. Timothy Antigah, said the men of the task force were rather committed to ending the nefarious act of illegal oil bunkering. Antigah alleged that foreigners were colluding with criminals in the Niger Delta to perpetrate illegal oil theft and that the JTF was determined to stop the illegal acts.
Lawmaker, Two Others Arrested over Printing of Ballot Papers
Three persons including a House of Assembly member in Akwa Ibom State have been arrested by the State Security Services (SSS) for allegedly printing fake ballot papers ahead of the April 26 House of Assembly election. Those arrested were the House of Assembly member formerly in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) now in Congress for Progress Change (CPC), Bassey Willie; the Managing Director/Proprietor of the printing press, Leats Concepts, Emmanul Edoho; and the Manager, Bright Etuk. The State Director of SSS, Toma Minti, said the trio were arrested following a tip off that the printing firm was allegedly printing fake ballot papers.
Gunmen Abduct ex-VC’s Son
Son of the former Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University, Prof. S.O Igwe was on Tuesday kidnapped at Umudike in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State by unidentified gunmen. It was learnt that the three-man gang trailed him and took him to an unknown destination. The spokesman for the Abia State Police Command, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident on Wednesday. He assured that the command would rescue the hostage and apprehend his abductors
Police Arraign LP Candidate, 35 Others for Electoral Offences
The Enugu State governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Chief Okey Ezea, was on Tuesday arraigned in Court for alleged electoral offences. Ezea was arraigned alongside the party’s House of Assembly candidate in Igbo-Eze South LGA, Mrs. Bene Ukwueze, and 34 others. The offences were allegedly committed at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission at Ibagwa during the collation of the National Assembly election results. All the accused persons pleaded ‘not guilty’. The Magistrate, Mr. Emmanuel Ezema, adjourned the case till June 2, but granted the accused persons bail with one surety each.
INEC Officials Arrested over Anambra Stalemate
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Anambra State, Prof. Emeka Onukaogu, and two Returning Officers (RO) in Anambra central senatorial district, Dr. Alex Anene and Professor Charles Esimone, were on Thursday arrested by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) and taken to Abuja for interrogation. The arrested trio, who are at the centre of the crisis that erupted in the district after the National Assembly elections on Saturday, have also been grilled by a special panel in Anambra State that was set up by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Dr. Chris Ngige of the ACN and Prof. Dora Akunyili of APGA have been laying claims to victory following the confusion that arose over the results of the election.
BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS
Varsity Don Remanded in Prison
A lecturer at the University of Benin and Returning Officer in the controversial National Assembly election in Ovia South West LGA of Edo state, Paul Iroghama, was on Wednesday, remanded in Prison custody. Iroghama who was arraigned at the Magistrate Court 2 in Benin City before Magistrate I.V Iyoha was charged with tampering with results of the election in the LGA.
Ibori Extradited to UK for Trial
Ex-governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, has been extradited from Dubai to the United Kingdom. Ibori was reportedly extradited by Interpol. A report said Ibori was re-arrested on Thursday night in his Dubai mansion and taken to an extradition processing centre from where he was later flown to the UK. He was expected arrive in London at about 1pm local time (2pm Nigerian time). Ibori will face three separate trials in the UK relating to money laundering and theft. Ibori‘s extradition was granted in December 2010 by the Court of Cessation in Dubai.
Kidnapped INEC Offical Escapes
The allegedly abducted Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Returning Officer for Ika federal constituency in Delta State, Dr Godwin Avwioro, has escaped to Abuja. He was reportedly abducted a day after the National Assembly polls at Ika collation centre, where he announced the cancellation of the result because of electoral malpractices. According to him, trouble started when he publicly announced that some chieftains of a political party changed all the youth corps members sent to the area, prepared uniforms for fake corps members believed to be brothers and sisters of party candidates and made him to sign the result under duress. The Delta State police command had arrested one suspect in connection with the kidnapping.
1 Killed, Several Injured as Robbers Cause Accident
A motor accident caused by armed robbers on Thursday claimed the life of one person in Benin, while 14 others where injured. The accident reportedly occurred at the Benin bye-pass when two buses had a head-on collision while trying to escape from armed robbers who were operating on the road.
LAGOS AND ENVIRONS
50-Year-Old Impersonates ACP to Free Suspects
The police in Lagos State have arrested a 50-year-old mechanic, Mr. Akin Omole, for parading himself as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and influencing the release of criminals. Besides, he was also accused of obtaining money under false pretence. The spokesperson for the Federal Anti-robbery Squad, ASP Lekan Ogundare, said Omole was a fraudster that specialised in getting criminals released under the guise of a senior police officer. He added that Omole had at different times paraded himself as a Chief Superintendent of Police and later claimed to be an Assistant Commissioner of Police attached to Force CID Annexe, Alagbon, Lagos. He said he started parading himself as a policeman since 2008 after his friend helped him to design and print the fake police documents.
400 Ondo Militants Embrace Amnesty
At least 400 militants in Ondo state, on Thursday, joined the rank of those who accepted the amnesty programme of the Federal Government as they surrendered their arms and ammunition. The militants, from Digbigbene AMG Lion Camp in Ese Odo LGA, voluntarily surrendered about 150 heavy and sophisticated weapons that included one artillery gun, three cannon guns, 60 single barrel guns, one double barrel gun, 60 machetes, 21 locally made spears and several rounds of ammunition. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Aderotimi Adelola, during the handing over of the arms, commended the militants for the bold step.
NDLEA Nabs Suspected Drug Kingpin
Following the arrest of a suspected drug kingpin, Ajah Philemon Osi, 57, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, has assured of world-class screening at the nation’s airports. The drug suspect, with a United States international passport on Qatar Airways flight, was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on his way to deliver 1.670kg of methamphetamine in Japan, through Doha. Giade disclosed that investigation has commenced on the drug networks of Osi in America, Germany, Ireland and Japan. NDLEA Airport Commander, Alhaji Hamza Umar, commended his officers for the successful undercover operation that led to the arrest.
Police Probe Death of 16-Year-Old Student
Police detectives in Lagos have commenced investigation into the death of a 16-year-old Secondary School boy, whose lifeless body was found dangling from the roof of an uncompleted building in Badagry last weekend. The deceased, Emeka Ejiofor, was reportedly found with a bed sheet tied to his neck, near his hostel at about noon by one of the teachers. There was reportedly no suicide note left to suggest the reason why he could have committed suicide. Police are investigating if it was actually a suicide or murder.
Two Schools Shut in Ibadan over Clashes
Following Tuesday’s bloody clash between pupils of Ibadan City Academy, Ibadan and Community Grammar School, Kudeti-Ibadan, the Oyo State Government has ordered that the affected schools be closed down indefinitely. At least two persons were killed in the violence, several others were injured. Several cars and other valuables were also vandalised. The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, added that security agents have been put on the red alert to maintain peace in the two schools and their vicinities. Though, it was reported that two students died, the Police spokesman, Tunji Ajimuda, said only one person died. He also disclosed that six suspects had been arrested for their alleged role in the melee that led to death of a female student in the school.
11-Year-Old, Abducted and Forced into Marriage Rescued
A 14-year-old girl, who was abducted by a man, when she was 11 years has been rescued by the men of the Lagos State Police Command. The girl was kidnapped in 2009 in Ondo State and was allegedly taken to Edo State, by her abductor, Sunday Akpan, who also turned her into a sex slave. A police officer disclosed that a few days after, another case of missing 13-year-old girl was reported in Benin, where one Akpan was alleged to be involved. Akpan was trailed to Lagos and was arrested and the girl found in his custody. The suspect confessed kidnapping the girl because her father refused to give him his eldest daughter for marriage. He disclosed that his mode of operation was to kidnap his victim in a town and relocate with her to another state.
Man Arraigned for Pouring Acid on Corps Member
The police in Lagos on Monday arraigned a businessman who allegedly poured acid on a corps member who refused to marry him. Ifeanyi Udeh (32) was accused of pouring acid on Blessing Agu at Badagry where she was on her primary assignment. Udeh, who is facing a one-count charge before an Ebute Metta Magistrates’ Court, pleaded not guilty, and was granted bail by Magistrate Kemi Doja-Ojo in the sum of N250,000 and two sureties in like sum. According to the prosecutor, the accused claimed that Agu had agreed to marry him but changed her mind after her tertiary education. Udeh claimed that the corps member dumped him for another man.
Retired Army Major in Custody for Shooting During Polls
A retired Major in the Nigerian Army, Oluwole Olukanni (60), has been remanded in Ilesa prison by an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly shooting into the air during the National Assembly elections and disrupted the polls at Ilesa. The two-count charge said Olukanni shot into the air and also incited some people to act unruly at the ward. The Magistrate, Mr. Emmanuel Aluko, refused the Olukanni’s lawyer’s oral bail application and remanded him in prison.
GENERAL
18 Burnt to Death in Niger
At least 18 persons were burnt to death in an auto crash in Tafa, along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway in Niger on Tuesday. The Police spokesman, Richard Oguche, said irate youths, protesting against the accident, burnt a police patrol vehicle and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) office in the area. He said the 18-seater bus, which was conveying the passengers from Lagos to Kaduna ran into an articulated vehicle parked by the roadside, killing all the passengers and the driver as it burnt beyond recognition. He said the police officers drafted to the scene, were trying to remove burnt corpses to Suleja General Hospital, when one Abdulkassim mobilised the youths to attack the FRSC officials in protest against the accident.
Gunmen on Rampage in Zamfara, Kogi, Kill Three Policemen, Others
A gang of suspected armed robbers killed three policemen and a driver in Zamfara. Police spokesman in Zamfara, Abdullahi Lawal, said on Thursday that the police were on the trail of the robbers. It was learnt that the chief driver to the commissioner of agriculture, was travelling with 3 policemen at about 11pm on Wednesday when the gunmen opened fire on them, killing all four. On Tuesday, a gang of suspected armed robbery also attacked the deputy governor’s wife on Anka Road, where they shot and wounded her daughter, Fatima, and her driver, Abubakar Yahaya. In Kogi state, the branch Manager of First Bank Plc, Paul Serelous, and two cashiers, were killed in an armed robbery attack at the bank on Wednesday.
Jonathan in Early Lead
Early results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shows that the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is leading in at least 20 states of the 29 states so far announced. He is trailed by the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) General Muhammadu Buhari, and the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Both Buhari and Ribadu have said that they will not challenge the results of the Presidential Elections which took place on Saturday April 16.
9 Docked for Arms Possession, Ballot Box Snatching
Nine persons are now standing trial in Bauchi State for allegedly snatching ballot boxes from electoral officials and thumb-printing ballot papers in private residential houses as well as possession of firearms. Police arraigned seven of them on Wednesday before the trial Magistrate, Isa Mohammed. The Police prosecutor further alleged that the suspects, while armed with dangerous weapons attacked electoral officers.
149 Ex-Militants Enroll in Russian, Malaysian Varsities
One hundred and forty nine ex-Niger Delta militants have enrolled in universities in Russia and Malaysia to pursue degree courses, just as 26 others commenced training in aviation technology in March. Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Head of the Amnesty Office, Kinsley Kuku, said that 74 of the students are studying in Malaysian universities and another 75 in Russia. Kuku urged people of the zone to embrace education, which government was providing through the amnesty programme. According to Kuku, the 26 former agitators who were sent to South Africa on March 26 would have the privilege of studying in one of the best aviation schools in the world. While some of them would be trained as pilots, he said, others were being trained as aeronautic engineers.
23 Nabbed Over Clashes in Minna
Twenty-three villagers protesting alleged brutality of police were, Thursday, arrested in Kabogi village in Niger State. The clash between the villagers and the police left two policemen and some villagers severely injured. A police patrol vehicle was also damaged. It was gathered that the villagers went on rampage after they learnt that one of them was hit by police while riding on a motorcycle. But Police spokesman, Richard Oguche, said that some mischievous youths had misunderstood the police officers’ act of conveying an injured motorcyclist to the hospital for culpability.
30 Injured in Zamfara Polls Violence
At least 30 people were seriously injured in a clash between the supporters of two political parties in Zamfara state. Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar, disclosed on Sunday. The police chief said the 30 injured people; mostly supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) were receiving treatment. He said the police have arrested 17 people in connection with the fracas. According to him, there were few cases of ballot box snatching in Mafara, Gusau and Bukkuyum areas of the state.
Foreign Experts Probe Abuja, Kaduna, Maiduguri Bombings
Suspected political thugs threw an explosive at a police patrol in Maiduguri and fought a gun battle with security officers, police said. Nobody was hurt by the blast, the second in two days in the city. There was a blast on Saturday at a Maiduguri office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Police Commissioner Mike Zuokumor, said. Earlier in the day two people, including a soldier, were killed and seven others injured when unknown gunmen opened fire on residents in the city. International security experts have joined a team of Nigerian security operatives investigating the bombings that occurred across the country shortly before and during the general elections. Already, the Police have arrested four Nigeriens and three others in connection with the bombings in Kaduna, Kaduna States.
Police Kills Katsina Youth
Commercial areas in Katsina, Katsina State, were cordoned off on Sunday after youths went on the rampage to protest the killing of a young man in the Kofar Marusa area of the city by police. Angry youths blocked major streets with bonfires and burnt cars parked outside a Catholic church. Relative calm returned after security was beefed up around the city. The Sabo-Layi commercial centre was cordoned off with riot policemen to stop the looting that followed the riots. The Police commissioner in charge of the Katsina Police Command, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, said the riot was not in any way political. Mohammed confirmed that a police corporal, together with others on illegal duty, on Sunday morning had shot and killed a youth and injured two others.
Army Arrest Man over Bomb Threats
Men of the Nigerian army in Nasarawa State have arrested a middle age man, Mohammed Wawo, for allegedly threatening to bomb the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) zonal collation centre. Wawo was arrested with knives and cutlasses on Tuesday when he threatened to bomb the collation centre if result was not declared. The suspect who was later taken away by the army officers was alleged to have made the threat in the crowd who were waiting for the announcement of Senate election for the Nasarawa West Senatorial District. Security men were also able to rescue the Toto LGA electoral officer, Mrs Felicia Aygo, who was held hostage by irate youths for accepting result in Karmo polling units. Augo said that she cancelled the result under duress.
39 Killed, 165 Arrested during NASS –INEC
About 39 people were killed and 165 others arrested across the country during the National Assembly elections on April 9. Among the arrested persons is the Aide-de-Camp to the Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, Olu Power. He was held for allegedly arresting security men who were on duty during the election in the state. According to an INEC list of offences, five AK47 rifles, 2GB rifles, one Pump Action Guns, four live jackets, one smoke canister and 18 launcher bullets are listed as exhibits against Power. Apart from Power, a deputy superintendent of police, two other policemen were arrested for various electoral offences and unlawful possession of firearms. The INEC paper also shows that two soldiers were arrested in Abuja. INEC says Imo, Delta and Bayelsa states topped the list for electoral frauds.
Iranian Rejects Evidence by SSS
An Iranian suspect, Azim Azaghani, who is on trial in Nigeria for illegal importation of arms, has opposed a document that the State Security Service (SSS) sought to be admitted as evidence. A witness, Kingsley, a clearing and forwarding agent, claimed that his firm had been contracted by Nigerian clearing agent, Abbas Usman Jega, and co-accused, to handle the transhipment of a consignment of building materials to the Gambia. According to him, the name on the Bill of Lading sent to his email box by Jega was different from the name on the manifest, and with no indication showing that the consignment was meant for transhipment. But the defence maintains that the consignments were not meant for Nigeria but for transhipment to the Gambia.
Appeal Court Stops Guber Polls in Five States
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Friday, upheld the judgment of a Federal High Court which barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from holding governorship election in five states because the tenure of the governors had not yet come to an end. The affected states are Kogi, Sokoto, Adamawa, Cross River and Bayelsa. With the judgment, the tenure of the five governors will expire at various times other than May 29 this year. Justice Paul Galinje pointed out that the implication of the nullification of the governors’ April 2007 election was that no election ever took place and that they were never governors for the purpose of determining when their tenure would expire. The court also said the amendment to the 1999 Constitution could not operate retroactively so as to deny the governors their right to complete their tenure.
Police Arrest Borno Lawmaker, Two Others for Polls’ Misconduct
Three persons, including a member of the Borno State House of Assembly, have been arrested by the police for perpetrating electoral offences over alleged misconduct during the National Assembly polls. They are accused of improper use of voters’ cards, incitement and disorderly conduct at the elections in Borno. The state Police Commissioner, Michael Zuokumor, all the suspects are to be prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) once the police complete their preliminary investigations on their offences.
421 Face Trial in Zamfara over Polls’ Offences
About 421 students from three tertiary institutions in Sokoto State were on Tuesday arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Gusau, Zamfara State for allegedly attempting to disrupt the National Assembly elections in Zamfara. All the accused appeared before the court with the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) agent tags for the National Assembly election in the state. The prosecutor, Daniel Hangwa, said the accused were arrested on Saturday, April 9, 2011, at 12:30 p.m. at road blocks along the three major boundaries of the state with Sokoto. Daniel said the accused were charged for the offences of criminal conspiracy and attempt to incite public disturbances.
Kidnapped Candidate: OPC Leads Protest March
The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) on Sunday criticised the lukewarm attitude of security agencies over the abduction of the Labour Party (LP) senatorial candidate in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The organisation said it would mobilize its members on a peaceful protest to the FCT Police Command to protest against Ajulo’s abduction. The FCT coordinator of the OPC, Chief Oluwole Adedeji, said the Police and the State Security Services had not shown interest in the case despite series of complaints. The OPC had called on the abductors of the LP candidate to release him within 24 hours before the National Assembly election or else they would see the other side of the Yoruba.
Police Nab Armed CPC Youth Leader
A suspect, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed, who claimed to be a youth leader of the Congress for Progressive Change party in Bauchi State, has been arrested by the police with a revolver pistol with six rounds of ammunition. Parading the suspects with 18 others for offences bordering on attempted electoral fraud, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Amana Abakasanga, said the suspects were arrested at different areas in the state in connection with cases of criminal conspiracy, multiple registrations, possession of offensive weapons, impersonation, snatching of ballot boxes as well as giving false information to mislead the public.
Police Nab Vehicle with Presidential Ballots in Abuja
The Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday arrested five persons conveying over 100, 000 ballot papers for Saturday, April 16, 2011, presidential polls to an unknown destination. The vehicle, a bus with the National Labour Congress (NLC) inscribed on it, was intercepted by police officers attached to the Utako Police Division on a Stop and Search. Information revealed that the said ballot papers which were labelled, “tendered ballot papers,” were allegedly procured by a top Northern politician in the Presidency intended to be circulated during the polls. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Utako division, Usman Umar, confirmed the arrest.
INTERNATIONAL
AU Wants End to Somalia’s Crisis
The African Union Mission on Somalia (AMISOM) has pleaded with the African heads of state to show more commitment to restoring peace to troubled Somalia. The mission also called on African countries, which made pledges to contribute troops to the peace mission in Somalia to redeem their pledges, stressing that the situation in the troubled nation had continued to deteriorate. Deputy Special Representative of the chairman of the African Union (AU) to Somalia, Mr. Wafula Wamunyinyi, on Monday noted that some countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, South Africa, Guinea and Sierra Leone made pledges to contribute troops for the restoration of peace in Somalia in 2007, but regretted that only two countries, Burundi and Uganda fulfilled their promises. Somalia has not known peace since the removal of President Siad Barre in 1991.
Spain Makes Record ETA Arms Haul
Spanish police seized 1.6 tonnes of explosives in the biggest ever seizure in a single operation against the Basque separatist group, ETA, the interior ministry said on Thursday. Three people were arrested. The explosives were seized from five locations, including the homes of two men detained on Tuesday. Police on Tuesday found 850 kilogrammes (1,874 pounds) of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, 13.5 kilogrammes of the explosive pentrite and detonators in their pre-dawn raid at an isolated farm in Legorreta in the biggest explosives cache to be confiscated by police in Spain since 1999. ETA in January declared a "permanent and general ceasefire" but Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero rejected the declaration, saying he wanted nothing less than ETA's dissolution.
Suicide Blast Kills Afghan Police Chief
The police chief in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar was killed by a Taliban suicide bomber on Friday along with two of his bodyguards, officials said. The killings at the police headquarters in Kandahar city are a serious blow to security in the province, a battleground in the war against the Islamist militants. A spokesman for the interior ministry in Kabul, Zemarai Bashary, confirmed that the police chief, Khan Mohammad Mujahid, had died and said his two bodyguards were also killed. The killing is the second claimed by the Taliban of a provincial police chief in just over a month.
Group Alleges Gaddafi Forces Execution of Prisoners
Captured rebel Libyan fighters have been found shot in the head with their hands tied behind their backs, Amnesty International said on Tuesday. Forces loyal to Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, had also deliberately killed unarmed protesters and attacked civilians fleeing fighting, Amnesty said. The rights group said Gaddafi’s troops appeared to have executed captured rebel fighters close to the town of Ajdabiyah. Its researchers in eastern Libya had in recent days seen the bodies of two opposition fighters who had been shot in the back of the head after their hands had been bound behind their backs. Amnesty said it had received reports of four similar cases, where bodies of captured fighters were found with their hands tied behind their backs and multiple gunshot wounds.
France Bans Islamic Veil for Women
Muslim women, on Tuesday, in France protested against the ban on Islamic face veils by the French government. Two of them were detained for taking part in an unauthorized protest. France became the first country to ban the veils anywhere in public. French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, set the wheels in motion for the ban nearly two years ago, saying the veils imprison women and contradict this secular nation’s values of dignity and equality. The ban enjoyed wide public support when it was approved by parliament last year. But many Muslims see the ban as a stigma against Islam. About a dozen people, including three women wearing niqab veils with just a slit for the eyes, staged a protest in front of Notre Dame, saying the ban is an affront to their freedom of expression and religion.
NATO Airstrikes Hit Gaddafi’s Strong Hold
NATO, Wednesday, launched new airstrikes on targets held by Moammar Gaddafi as rebel leaders urged a stronger air campaign that will allow them to advance on his territory. A NATO official confirmed a strike on at least one ammunition bunker outside the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Airstrikes were reported in three other places: Misrata, Libya's third-largest city; Sirte, a Gaddafi stronghold and home to the Libyan leader's tribe; and Aziziyah, about 22 miles south of Tripoli.
Pakistan Wants Restriction of CIA Activities
Pakistan has asked the US to reduce the number of CIA agents in the country and to limit drone strikes along the Afghan border. Relations between the two countries have been frayed since a CIA contractor shot dead two men in the city of Lahore earlier this year. The case stoked anti-American feeling across Pakistan and led to angry demonstrations when it emerged that he worked for the CIA. The continuing diplomatic strains emerged as CIA director Leon Panetta met the head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence directorate, Ahmed Shuja Pasha, in Virginia. Only American forces have the capacity to deploy drone aircraft in Pakistan.
12 Killed in Belarus Subway Blast
Authorities in Belarus have detained several people in the probe into a subway bombing Monday that killed 12 people. Belarus Deputy Prosecutor General, Andrei Shved, made that announcement, but did not say how many people were arrested. Police have created composite photographs of two suspects who may have been involved in the blast, said Belarus Interior Minister Anatoly Kuleshov. Preliminary findings suggest the blast was caused by a radio-controlled device, and that no suicide bombers were involved, Belarusian officials said. The blast rocked a subway station in Minsk. The incident occurred Monday when a handmade bomb planted under a bench exploded while a train stood at the Oktyabrskaya metro station.
Mubarak, Sons Detained as Corruption Probe Begins
Egypt's prosecutor general has ordered the detention of former President Hosni Mubarak, over allegations of corruption and abuse. His sons Alaa and Gamal have also been detained amid allegations of corruption and violence, police say. Mubarak stood down in February after a popular uprising against his 30-year rule. Since then, tens of thousands of protesters have staged weekly Friday protests in Cairo, demanding that he stand trial. At least 360 people are thought to have been killed during the protests, as police opened fire and cracked down on the crowds. Rights groups say the figure is much higher. There are also widespread allegations of corruption and abuse of power under Mr Mubarak's rule.
Ivory Coast's Gbagbo's Captured
After a week of heavy fighting, forces backing Ivory Coast's internationally recognized leader, Alassane Ouattara, on Monday arrested Laurent Gbagbo, who had refused to leave the presidency despite losing the November 2010 elections. The dispute over the presidency had claimed the lives of nearly 1000 persons. Gbagbo’s capture came after French military forces deployed tanks near a bunker where Gbagbo had reportedly been holed up with his family, but French ministry of defence maintain that it was Ouattara’s forces that captured him. Ouattara has urged restraint and promised Mr Gbagbo a fair trial. Meanwhile, Army Generals previously loyal to Gbagbo have pledged the loyalty to Ouattara. This is as French troops discovered large arms caches belonging to Gbagbo. The weapons, stored at villas in Abidjan, included mortars, cannons and rockets.
Iran Expels Kuwaiti Diplomats
In a fresh blow to already tense relations across the Gulf, Iran has expelled several Kuwaiti diplomats in retaliation for the expulsion of its diplomats accused of spying in the emirate. Kuwait announced on March 31 that a number of Iranian diplomats would be expelled for alleged links to an espionage network working for Tehran, reportedly ever since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Sabah claimed the diplomats had proven links to the suspected ring of which three members, including two Iranians, had been condemned to death by a Kuwaiti court.
5 Killed in Iraqi Violence
Five Iraqis, including three police officers, were killed Tuesday. Col. Mustafa Saeid, an Interior Ministry official and police officer, was shot to death by gunmen while driving on a highway in Baghdad, officials said. Roadside bombs attached to civilian cars also killed drivers in southern and western Baghdad.More bombings in Baghdad injured some civilians as well. In Falluja, two sticky bombs attached to two different police cars killed two officers and wounded bystanders. Falluja is located in Anbar province, west of Baghdad. On Monday, violence across Iraq left 20 people dead and wounded 37, authorities said.
Suicide Bomber Kills Kunar Elder
A suicide bomber has killed at least 10 people in an attack on tribal elders in eastern Afghanistan, the interior ministry has said. Pro-government tribal elder Haji Malik Zarin was killed in the blast in Kunar province near the Pakistan border. Mr Zarin, a close ally of President Karzai, died along with his son and another family member. A Taliban spokesman denied the group carried out the attack. Mr Zarin was a former military commander in the civil war in the 1990s. He had survived a previous assassination attempt. He was killed as a village shura, or meeting of local elders, came to an end in Asmar district. "The suicide attacker approached them, hugged Malik Zarin and then detonated the explosives strapped to his body," district police chief, Mohammad Shoaib, disclosed.
Drug Gang Blamed for Mass Killing of 116 in Mexico
The Mexican government accused the Zetas drug gang of killing 116 people whose corpses have been found in a series of mass graves near the US border. Police have detained 17 suspects, Attorney General, Marisela Morales, said. Los Zetas, founded by deserters from the Mexican Special Forces and thought to have many corrupt former officials and ex-police on its payroll, is at the heart of the narcotics trade and organised crime in Mexico. The cartel was blamed for the massacre of 72 migrants in August in Tamaulipas. Mexican officials say that, aside from drug smuggling, the Zetas use extortion and kidnapping to raise money.
Opposition Alleges Death of 200 in Protests
Syria's main human rights movement said the death toll from pro-democracy protests against President Bashar al-Assad had reached 200 and urged the Arab League to impose sanctions on the ruling hierarchy. Syria has witnessed unprecedented protests for the last three weeks. Assad has responded with force as witnesses say security forces have opened fire on protesters. The Damascus Declaration group said in a letter sent on Monday to the secretary general of the Arab League that over 200 persons have died in the protest. The Damascus Declaration is named after a document signed in 2005 by prominent civic, Islamist and liberal leaders calling for the end of 41 years of Assad family rule and its replacement with a democratic system.