Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 42

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Gunmen Abduct Expatriate in Owerri

An expatriate worker with a construction company in Owerri, Imo state was on Tuesday abducted by gunmen. The incident occurred barely a week after a knight of Anglican Church and two others were kidnapped by hoodlums at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral roundabout. It was gathered that the victim, a Lebanese with Roy Construction Company was abducted at the construction site. An eyewitness said one of the gunmen, who posed as a staffer of the state Ministry of Works approached the expatriate before three members of the gang emerged from a Toyota Camry and dragged their victim into the waiting car. Meanwhile, the police spokesman in the state, Mr. Linus Nwaiwu, claimed that he was not aware of the incident.

Ex-Deputy Governor to Face Charges on Gun-Running

Two weeks after the former deputy governor of Abia State, Comrade Chris Akomas, was interrogated by security agents over an alleged involvement in criminality and sponsoring of kidnappers, the state government may soon take him to court for alleged gun-running. The action will be based on a 2006 case in Umuahia during which Akomas and three others were taken to a Magistrate Court. While the three were arraigned, Akomas was said to be on the run then. He later became the deputy governor on May 29, 2007 and with his immunity, he could not be charged. Information Commissioner, Chief Anthony Agbazuere, confirmed the development, insisting that Akomas must be brought to book. Agbazuere also said that Akomas claim that as soon as he is elected governor in 2011, he will end kidnapping in Abia State is an open admission that he knows more about the criminality in the state now.

Health Workers Declare War on Quacks

To ensure that lives are no longer lost due to the activities of unqualified medical practitioners in Rivers State, the state chapter of the Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria has introduced a verification exercise for its members. The association’s Chairman, Mr Nengi Brown, said that henceforth members would report quacks to law enforcement authorities for prosecution, insisting that quacks will no longer be allowed to function in the state. He urged members to renew their operating licences and report anybody operating with fake certificates and licence to the union for appropriate action.

Court Proceeding Stalled as Police Orderlies are Withdrawn from Judges

Following the withdrawal of police orderlies from judges and magistrates in Ebonyi State, many courts located outside Abakaliki, the state capital, could not sit on Thursday. The withdrawal of police orderlies was a directive by the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, that policemen attached to unauthorised people should be withdrawn. Proceedings were stalled because most judges did not appear in court citing security reasons, arising from the withdrawal of their orderlies. A former solicitor-general of the federation, Chief Tochukwu Onwugbufor, who was in court to represent the state government in a case, expressed disappointment that the case could not be heard following the absence of the trial judge.

Soyinka Pulls Out of Peace Process

The Niger Delta peace process has suffered a setback with the withdrawal of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, from the Aaron Initiative. The initiative is a concept recommended by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta as an alternative to the amnesty programme of the Federal Government. The AI, which was headed by Soyinka on MEND’s recommendation, met about twice with former President Umaru Yar’Adua before his death in May 2010. This was just as Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Thursday restated government’s determination to punish the culprits and sponsors of the October 1 twin car bomb blasts in Abuja, which claimed 12 lives. Soyinka said he withdrew from the peace process before the twin car bombings.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Kidnappers Abduct Oil Mogul
…Demand N70m Ransom

Abductors of Mr Maxwell Obiajulu, proprietor of Obilink fuel station in Asaba, have demanded a N70 million ransom for his release, according to the Police Public Relations Officer in Delta, Mr Charles Muka. The 38-year-old man was kidnapped penultimate Wednesday. He said that the hoodlums were fully armed and had shot the victim on one leg before whisking him away; adding that the police command had stepped up efforts to rescue him and arrest the kidnappers.

60 Suspected Cultists Arrested in Delta

The Delta state police spokesman, Charles Muka, has disclosed that the police had apprehended 60 young men suspected to be cultists in Aniocha North LGA of the state. He said that the suspects were mainly students from institutions in Benin, Warri and Sapele, and were arrested on a tip-off. Muka said that the cultists were nabbed by a joint team of the police and a vigilance group in the community as they planned an invasion of the town.

Repentant Militant Urges FG to Tackle Insecurity

Ex-leader of the Niger Delta Freedom Fighters, Henry Binidodogha, alias Egbema 1, has called on the Federal Government to tackle the high level of insecurity in the country, just as he disassociated the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) as being behind the October 1 bomb blasts that almost marred the 50th Independent anniversary of the nation. The ex-militant, who now serves as the Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State governor on Surveillance and Waterways Security, stated that MEND no longer exists, as the group had long embraced the Federal Government’s amnesty programme for militants. Binidodogha urged the security agencies to unearth those behind the bomb blasts.

Edo Farmers give NNPC Ultimatum over Oil Spill

Farmers whose farmlands were destroyed by the 2008 oil spill in Auchi, Edo State, have given the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) one month ultimatum to pay their compensation or face “unpleasant measures.” The farmers said the ultimatum became necessary due to the levity with which the NNPC was addressing the issue. Mr Audu Momodu, the secretary of the farmers group said that more than 500 farmers had their farmlands destroyed by the spill. The spill, which occurred in August 2008, was allegedly caused by equipment failure at the NNPC flow station in Auchi and lasted for 42 days.

Bridge Collapses in Delta

Twenty persons narrowly escaped when the old Orogodo Bridge in Agbor, Ika South LGA of Delta State collapsed penultimate Sunday, throwing the community into confusion. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan promised to reconstruct the bridge immediately. He sympathized with the people of Agbor over the collapsed bridge and promised to intensify effort to complete the new one to bring permanent relief to them. Describing the incident as unfortunate, he attributed the collapse to heavy down pour and erosion and promised not to allow them to be cut off from the rest of the town. He directed that heavy duty vehicles should not be allowed to use the temporary bridge so that it would serve the desired purpose.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

NDLEA Arrests 159 Drug Traffickers in Lagos

The Lagos state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that it had successfully apprehended 159 major drug traffickers with a seizure of 4.7 metric tonnes of cannabis between January and September this year. Acting Commander of the NDLEA in the State, Mrs Kenechi Nnoruka, stated that the command is working out modalities to eradicate narcotics from the city of Lagos, adding that they had also won the conviction of 62 drug dealers within the period. Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade who spoke on the increasing rate of the illicit act also warned cannabis distributors in the country to prepare for a showdown.

Lagos Evacuates Flood Victims
…NEMA Approves Relief Materials

Millions of people living in Ajegunle, Asolo and Owode Onirin communities in Ikorodu area of Lagos State were expected to be evacuated and relocated to a relief camp by Lagos State government due to persistent flood that had ravaged the place. The state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said this during his visit to the scene of the flood. Some areas of Lagos and Ogun States were flooded due to the movement of water from Oyan Dam in the last two weeks. Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has ordered the release of relief materials to victims of flood disasters in Lagos and Ogun states. The Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi, approved this after assessments of some of the areas affected in both states.

Oyo NURTW Crisis: Husband, Wife Murdered in Presence of Children

Another member of the crisis-ridden Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has been murdered alongside his wife by a faction of the union. The victim, Olumide Oyelowo and his wife were shot dead, penultimate Sunday, when some armed men, believed to be members of one of the factions of the NURTW, stormed their home. Eyewitnesses said the late Mrs. Oyelowo was shot at close range for identifying one of the assailants, who killed her husband. The lifeless bodies of the duo were left in the pool of their own blood after the attack, which took place in the presence of theirthree kids. The reinstated Chairman of the union, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (a.k.a. Tokyo) named two of the assailants and called on the Inspector-General of Police not to let the matter be swept under the carpet. Akinsola further alleged that the duo belonged to a faction, led by the ousted Chairman of the union, Alhaji Lateef Salako (a.k.a. Eleweomo).

Reps Give IGP Ultimatum to Reopen Ogun Assembly

The House of Representatives has given a seven-day ultimatum to the Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, to ensure the reopening of the Ogun State House of Assembly. The parliament also tasked the IGP to provide adequate security to allow members of the state Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Tunji Egbetokun, perform their constitutional duties. Failure to comply, the lawmakers said the National Assembly will take over, “assume, and exercise all the legislative powers of Ogun State House of Assembly to make laws as the legislature thereof in accordance with section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 until the House of Assembly is able to resume its functions”.

Smugglers Crush School Children in Oyo

Tempers rose at Samonda area of the city on Tuesday, when dare-devil smugglers, who tried to escape the police ran over two pupils, 9 and 7 years old, of the same parents, killing one instantly and injuring the other. Police detachment from the Sango Police Station, had a hectic time, quelling the protest that greeted the early morning incident. An eyewitness said the two brothers were about to cross the road at the Trans Amusement junction, in order to enter their school, when the suspected smugglers in three vehicles ran into them. According to eyewitnesses, immediately the smugglers saw the policemen, they drove against traffic, facing oncoming vehicles from Agbowo.

Fraudster Get 120 Years Jail Term

A suspected fraudster, Olusoji Abiodun Ilori, 48, has been convicted and sentenced to a cumulative 120 years jail term by a High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State. Arraigned on a 40-count charge, Ilori bagged three years jail term for each of the 40 counts. However, he is to spend only three years in prison as the jail terms is to run concurrently. Ilori’s road to jail began when he was arraigned on September 17, 2009 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He has since then been in jail as he was refused bail by the court because of the enormity of the offence. He was arrested in March 2009 at the Dugbe Post Office, Ibadan while posting over 200 scam letters containing forged United Kingdom documents meant to be delivered to unsuspecting victims.

Air Force Officers Accused Of Assault

Femi Adeyemo, an estate surveyor in Lagos, has lamented brutality of men of the Nigerian Airforce.  Adeyemo said that on Monday, October 4, he was beaten to stupor in the Ikeja area of Lagos, by some unidentified Air Force personnel. He explained that on that fateful Monday morning, he was driving his official car towards Oshodi when he ran into traffic. But while he was trying to manoeuvre his car, an unidentified officer of the Nigerian Air Force, in front of the car and ordered him to immediately go back and join the queue. And while he was trying to explain politely that it could not be possible for him at that point in time to go right back and join the queue since there were some cars in front of his, the officer simply walked up to him at the steering and dragged him out of the car and began to beat him with his baton, for trying to argue with an officer.

GENERAL

Boko Haram Bombs Police Station in Borno

Barely a day after President Goodluck Jonathan and Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, resolved to deploy soldiers in Maiduguri to curtail the activities of the Boko Haram sect, members of the sect, on Monday night, bombed the Gamboru Police Station within the city, with four policemen sustaining injuries. It was gathered that the sect members who arrived at the police station at about 9:30pm on Monday, started sporadic shooting to scare members of the public, before breaking into the police station, where they threw a bomb which blew off the roof of the building and shattered all the glass. No life was lost, but four policemen were injured and were receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

10-Year-Old Beheaded in Borno

The headless body of a 10- year-old boy, Adamu Kali, confirmed to be a pupil of a traditional Islamic school, was on Monday found inside an earth dam near a primary school in Dala area of Maiduguri. Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, Mai Mamman, who confirmed the incident, said the boy was an almajiri student and was identified by one of his tutors.  Residents around the scene where the body was dumped said that the boy was killed with some parts of the body missing.

Church to Stage One Million-Man Protest against Kidnapping

The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, penultimate Sunday, commenced a nationwide collection of signature of its members that would partake in a planned one million-man protest rally against the spate of insecurity in Nigeria. The General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who initiated the move, insisted that religious organisations raised awareness over the insecurity in the country.

Bomb Scare in Zamfara

There was palpable fear in Gusau, Zamfara State following a message purportedly being circulated by members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) that President Goodluck Jonathan should expect bombing as he visited the state. It was gathered that special bomb squad was deployed in areas within the state capital. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Zamfara command, Sanusi Amiru, said the command was aware of the security situation in the country and had drafted special squad on bomb disposal to ensure adequate security. He advised the public to remain calm as policemen were on red alert.

Group wants Death Penalty Abolished

As the world, Monday, marked the World Day Against the Use of the Death Penalty; a rights group, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, has called on the Federal Government to abolish death penalty, adding that it was time the country joined other democracies of the world that had stopped the use of the death penalty. LEDAP’s National Coordinator, Mr Chino Obiagwu, said that the FG should immediately pronounce official moratorium on death sentences and executions, while the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly start amendment of the Federal Criminal Code and states’ Criminal Code Law and Penal Code Law, to replace all provisions for death sentence with life sentence or terms of years of imprisonment.

Fire Victims Receive Donations

The committee set up to disburse donations realized for victims of the fire that gutted the Kano textile market, Kantin kwari, in March has disbursed the N499,275,652 realized to the affected persons. Chairman of the committee and former Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Musa Suleiman Shanono, said 788 victims of the fire benefitted from the gesture. Suleiman urged the victims to see the disaster as a test of faith by God and accept the donations as a form of assistance to revive their businesses. The incident occurred on Thursday March 11, 2010 when properties worth millions of naira were lost.

Reps Call for Inquiry in Independence Day Blasts

House of Representatives on Tuesday resumed plenary after 10 weeks of recess, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the October 1 bomb blasts in which over 10 people lost their lives in Abuja. The resolution was sequel to a thorough debate on the welcome speech of Speaker Dimeji Bankole who expressed concern over the blasts and the need for the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, investigate the people behind the blasts and bring them to book. The lawmaker condemned the blasts and all other acts of terrorism and called on security agencies to expedite investigation into the incident to bring the perpetrators to book.

EFCC to Disqualify 54 PDP Aspirants from Contesting Elections

In its determination to stop corrupt politicians from participating in the 2011 general elections, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, identified 54 corrupt aspirants on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The commission said it has forwarded their names to the party to disqualify them from contesting for any public offices. Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment to the EFCC Chairman, Dr. Abubakar Othman, who disclosed this, promised that the same thing would be done for other political parties. Othman said the EFCC was determined to carry out its plan in the best interest of the country.

Abdulmuttallab Seeks Self Representation in Court

Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a US-bound airliner with a bomb sewn into his underwear, last December 25, yesterday, said he wanted to represent himself in court. Appearing in a Detroit court for the first time since January, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab rejected a judge’s advice that he retained a lawyer. Abdulmutallab indicated he intended to plead guilty to some of the charges. He was charged with the attempted murder of 290 jet passengers on December 25, 2009. Abdulmutallab is also charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. In federal court in Detroit on Monday, Abdulmutallab asked US District Judge Nancy Edmunds how he could go about pleading guilty to some of the counts. Abdulmutallab is reported to have co-operated with investigators who have questioned him about alleged ties to violent Islamic extremists.

South Africa Links Okah to Abuja Bombings

South African authorities said that they had found evidence linking militant leader, Henry Okah, to the October 1 bombings in Abuja in which over 10 people were killed. They said Okah, a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), was in contact with his bombing conspirators in Nigeria before and after the twin car blasts in the Nigerian capital. Okah was arrested on October 2 in Johannesburg, where he has been living for the past one year, and was charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act and the detonation of the explosives during Nigeria's 50th independence anniversary celebrations. Okah has, however, denied any   involvement in the attacks, saying he was not a member of MEND.

INTERNATIONAL

33 Trapped Miners Rescued

The 33 Chilean miners trapped underground fro about 67 days were on Thursday rescued and brought to surface, amidst hugs and cheers. All men were pulled out in a problem-free operation in the Chile's Atacama Desert. Their rescue put an end to a national crisis that began when 700,000 tons of rock collapsed on August 5, sealing the men in the lower reaches of the mine. The rescued men were sent to the hospital to be monitored for 48hours before being released to their families. U.S. President Barack Obama praised rescuers, who include many Americans. Chile has promised that its care of the miners won't end for six months at least when they can be sure that each one has readjusted.

US to Probe Kidnapped Briton's Death

US President, Barack Obama, has promised to investigate a failed rescue attempt by U.S. Special Forces that ended in the death a captive British aid worker in Afghanistan. NATO had initially said a Taliban bomb killed Linda Norgrove, 36, during the penultimate Friday's operation to free her. However, the coalition said Monday that, after reviewing surveillance footage, it is possible U.S. forces may have thrown a grenade that killed Norgrove nearly two weeks after she was kidnapped. The U.S. military carried out the raid because she was being held in a region under American command. All six gunmen who fought back against the U.S. force were killed, along with Norgrove. Linda Norgrove was seized in the province of Kunar on 26 September.

Officer Found Guilty of Boy's Murder in Greece

A police officer in Greece has been found guilty of murdering a schoolboy during protests in 2008, in a case that sparked weeks of rioting. The court convicted Epaminondas Korkoneas, 38, of the culpable homicide of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos, who was shot dead during anti-government protests on 6 December 2008 in Exarchia. Korkoneas's patrol partner, Vassilios Saraliotis, 32, was convicted of complicity. The riots that followed the killing saw cars being set alight and shops looted in a number of cities. Further rioting took place on the first anniversary. Korkoneas faces a possible life sentence.

Rwandan Rebel Leader Arrested in France

A Rwandan rebel leader was arrested on Monday in Paris, France, under an International Criminal Court warrant involving mass rape and other crimes committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the court announced. Callixte Mbarushimana, a leader of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR in its French-language acronym, is charged with 11 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes including rape, gender-based persecution and property destruction by the FDLR in 2009. ICC prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, thanked authorities in France, Germany, Congo and Rwanda for their help in the arrest of Mbarushimana, calling it a "crucial step in efforts to prosecute the massive sexual crimes committed in the DRC.

Road Crash in Warsaw Leaves 17 Dead

A road crash south of the Polish capital, Warsaw, has left 17 people dead, police have said. The accident occurred at dawn in thick fog on Monday when a lorry and a minibus collided. Polish police said the minivan was thought to be taking 18 people, probably seasonal workers, to their jobs and was overcrowded. All those killed were travelling on the bus. Police said excessive speed and poor weather conditions may have caused the crash. Police spokesman, Mariusz Sokolowski, added that the vehicle was unsuitable for passengers. The people were not wearing seatbelts. They were sitting on crates.

Tanker, Container Ship Collide off Dutch Coast

A Greek tanker transporting kerosene and a Cypriot container ship collided off the Dutch coast in the North Sea, some 30km from the port of Scheveningen, according to reports. No-one was injured although the tanker's hull was pierced and the highly flammable fuel was leaking out. An oil dispersion ship and rescue vessels are on their way to the site. The tanker is reported to have a crew of 25 people. Twelve people were on board the Cypriot ship. The kerosene posed no public health risk and was evaporating rapidly and was not expected to reach the shoreline, according to another coastguard.

Soldiers Guilty of Killing Civilian

A court in Colombia has found seven members of an elite anti-kidnapping squad guilty of killing a civilian and saying he was a left-wing guerrilla. The soldiers claimed they had killed Eduardo Perez Vega in combat in 2007. They then said he was a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed in such extrajudicial executions.  Many of the victims were dressed as rebel fighters after they were killed. The court found three of the seven soldiers guilty of kidnapping Mr Perez from an internet café and killing him, after which they dumped his body in neighbouring Casanare. The prosecution proved that the reported combat never took place, and linked one of the soldiers to calls made on the victim's mobile phone.

Blast at Guards Base Kills 18

An explosion at a base belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards has killed 18 people and injured 14. The injured were taken to Khoramabad, 300 miles southwest of Tehran. An elite military force, the Revolutionary Guard was set up shortly after the 1979 Iranian revolution to defend the country's Islamic system. It has since become a major military, political and economic force in Iran. The north west of Iran has seen several attacks in recent months by Kurdish

Egyptian Officials Jailed over Van Gogh Theft

An Egyptian court has found 11 culture ministry employees guilty of negligence, after the theft of a Van Gogh painting from a Cairo museum.  The officials include Deputy Culture Minister, Mohsen Shalan, and the museum's director. They have been sentenced to three years in jail but each given bail of about $1,750 (£1,100), pending an appeal. The Van Gogh painting was stolen in broad daylight from the Mahmud Khalil museum on 21 August. The work is valued at more than $50m (£32m). The investigation found that none of the museum's alarms and only seven out of the 43 security cameras were working. In addition, the museum had reduced its security personnel to only one guard on duty. A number of museum officials said they had known about security problems but they were given no budget to improve things.

OPEC Maintains Output Level

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) yet again agreed to keep oil production quotas unchanged, citing a well-supplied market with an ideal price. The cartel at the 157th meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday also adopted a new comprehensive Long-Term Strategy (LTS), which is expected to provide a clear and consistent frame-work for the organisation’s future. The conference appointed Governor for Nigeria (OPEC), Goni Musa Sheikh, as Chairman of the Board of Governors for the year 2011, and also reconstituted the ministerial monitoring sub-committee.

Death Toll Hits 144 in Indonesia Flooding

The death toll from rampant flooding in Indonesia has climbed to 144, emergency management officials said Monday. As of Monday morning, more than 4,300 people were displaced, and about 1,000 houses were destroyed. About 103 people remain missing, according to the national disaster management and mitigation agency. According to the World Health Organization, a flash flood was triggered earlier this month in the Wasior sub district of West Papua following heavy rainfall that broke a dam. Thousands of houses were inundated. Several buildings, numerous bridges, places of worship and schools have been closed down.

Afghan President Seeks Peace with Taliban

Attempting to advance his nation's peace progress with insurgents, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said unofficial negotiations with the Taliban have been taking place and hopes the formation of a peace council will further those efforts. Karzai also spoke on the High Peace Council, an initiative headed by former Afghan President, Buhanuddin Rabbani, and tasked with boosting negotiations with Taliban insurgents. However, the Afghan government will work against groups like al Qaeda, he said.

Experts to Tackle Toxic Sludge
…As Company Head Is Arrested

Experts from the European Union are to begin work in Hungary to tackle the toxic sludge spill that has claimed seven lives and devastated large areas. The civil protection unit will work on restoring affected areas and assessing further risks. The main concern is how to lessen the impact of a new burst in the reservoir, which officials say is inevitable. A protective ring of rock and earth is hurriedly being built to try to beat the expected next torrent. In addition to those killed, some 150 people were injured after up to 700,000 cubic metres of the toxic aluminium by-product burst from the reservoir near Ajka in western Hungary on 4 October. Most of those killed were drowned or swept away as the sludge hit. All life in the Marcal River is said to have been extinguished. The head of the company at the center of the spill, Zoltan Bakonyi, has been arrested.

South Korea to Deploy 50000 Forces for G-20

South Korea will mobilize its largest security force ever in anticipation of widespread protests during the G-20 summit next month in Seoul. Authorities said a total of 50,000 police and riot police will be deployed during the summit on November 11 and 12, according to Reports. Preparing for the country's largest event yet, authorities have banned demonstrations from November 8-12 within 2 kilometers of the summit site. A number of South Korean union and civic groups are gearing up for large protests against the G-20, while other groups are planning unrelated rallies in hopes of drawing international media attention. A special law went into effect this month, allowing Korean police wider authority to restrict demonstrations and to mobilize the military to do likewise, Yonhap said.

Police Uncover Plot to Kill Pakistan PM

Several people have been seized in a plot to kill Pakistan's prime minister, and the suspects claim they were getting orders from a militant in the country, police said. Police official, Babar Bakhat Qureshi, said that officers arrested several suspects who were plotting to attack the compound of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. Shabir Anwar, Gilani's press secretary, had no comment on the alleged plot because it is a security matter. The suspects were planning to use a car bomb for the attack, and that they had acquired large amounts of fertilizer to manufacture an improvised explosive device, since confiscated by police, he said.

Pakistan Flooding Caused $9.7 Billion Damage

The recent floods that ravaged Pakistan caused an estimated $9.7 billion in damage to homes, roads, farms and other parts of the southwestern Asian country, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank announced Thursday. The determination, made after a survey examining damage in 15 key sectors across the country, is more than twice the cost of 2005's 7.6-magnitude earthquake that killed an estimated 86,000 people in northern Pakistan. The flooding began in early August, and floodwaters continued to rage in the countryside more than seven weeks later. More than 1,700 people died due to the flooding, while more than 20 million were displaced.

Somali-American Appointed Prime Minister in Somalia

A Somali-American, former diplomat Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, has been appointed prime minister of the troubled African nation, its president announced Thursday. Mohamed is an educator who specializes in leadership skills, project management and conflict resolution, President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's office said. He has a month to put together a cabinet, the president said. Somalia has been without a functioning central government that controls the country for nearly 20 years. A United Nations-backed government is trying to assert control but much of the country remains lawless or under the control of warlords and Islamist militants.

South Sudan Rejects Gaddafi Warning on Independence Vote

A pro-unity demonstration in Khartoum ended in clashes between supporters and opponents. Southern Sudan has rejected the warning of Libya’s leader, Muammar Gaddafi, that a vote for independence next year could destabilise the rest of Africa. Southern Sudan Information Minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said that the people's choice should be respected, however they voted. Tensions are rising ahead of the referendum due in January. On Sunday, Sudan's President, Omar al-Bashir, criticised Southern Sudan's leader Salva Kiir for saying he would vote for independence and warned of the possibility of renewed conflict.

2 Charged in Ireland after Terror Sweep

Two men arrested in Ireland under anti-terrorism laws have been charged and appeared in court Sunday, Irish police said. They were among a group of 10 people detained in connection with dissident republican activity, police said. Nicholas Kendall of Wexford was charged with unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol, ammunition and a bomb part. The other man, 33-year-old Peter Butterly, was charged with being a member of the Irish Republican Army. The suspects were arrested during anti-terror raids in Ireland, penultimate Friday. Seven other men and a woman were also detained. The arrests came in several different locations in Ireland, including County Louth, which includes Cortown, just south of the border with Northern Ireland. The men arrested are between the ages of 19 and 71.