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Latest News: Training and recruitment is ongoing - Wednesday, 02 March 2011 22:54

week 19

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Bayelsa Recruits over 1000 Youths for State Security Outfit

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has inaugurated a state security outfit code named Bayelsa State Volunteers with a membership of 1000 youths to complement the efforts of other security outfits in reducing crimes and other related vices in the state. The membership drawn from the eight LGAs are to engage in community based intelligence gathering. According to the governor, additional 100 graduate youths would be recruited to support the efforts of the state volunteers. Dickson while inaugurating the outfit in Yenagoa, enjoined the members to work closely with the constituted authorities in their communities to forestall any security breach. He further advised the youths not to allow themselves to be used to foment trouble, emphasizing that government would take appropriate action to bring the full weight of the law to bear on them.

Police Arrest Sylva’s Ex-Chief of Staff over Alleged Murder

Men of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested Mr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Chief of Staff to former Governor Timipre Sylva over a murder he allegedly committed in 2011. Ogbuku was arrested at Igbogene area in Yenagoa. Security sources confirmed the arrest of Ogbuku based on allegations contained in a petition filed by unidentified persons over his alleged involvement in the killing of some persons in 2011. Close friends of Ogbuku, who pleaded anonymity, insisted that his arrest was politically motivated by the present administration of Governor Seriake Dickson. Ogbuku is the fourth close associate of Sylva who has been arrested in recent times. The police, on Monday, confirmed the arrest of Ogbuku. According to the state Police Commissioner, Hillary Okpara, the arrest was due to a petition filed by unidentified persons over his alleged involvement in the killing of some persons in 2011.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Delta Teachers Embark on Strike over Colleague’s Kidnap

Worried by the threat to the security and safety of teachers in Ughelli North LGA, Delta State, occasioned by the kidnap of their colleague, Elizabeth Urevbu, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the area has embarked on a week warning strike, demanding the unconditional release of their colleague. Urevbu was reportedly kidnapped five weeks ago at Awhire Secondary School, Awirhe-Agbarha-Otor during school hours alongside an engineer. The engineer, according to a dependable source who does not want his name in print, was released few days after the incident. The NUT branch council frowned at the way and manner the Delta State security operatives are handling the matter, especially the Delta Police Command, five weeks into the kidnap. The union urged security operatives in the state to step up effort towards securing her immediate release.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Oil Marketers Threaten Strike over Killing of Tanker Driver

The Petroleum Marketers Association in Lagos has threatened to go on a nationwide strike over the killing of a Tanker Driver by a suspected naval man, who is currently on the run following the shooting. The naval officer was said to have shot dead the tanker driver in anger following the refusal of the deceased to part with N500 gratification. The police have since taken away the corpse and deposited it at the morgue, and have commenced investigation. A police said that the police could not make any arrest unless the navy identifies the suspect, arrests him and then hands him over to the police for prosecution. The Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Ovenseri Uwadaie, had earlier stressed that the navy would unravel the identity of the suspect and ensure his arrest and eventual prosecution by the police.

Policeman Assaults 8-year-old Girl in Lagos

An officer of the Police Mobile Force identified as Augustine Gbuchenge, with Force number 400823, who physically assaulted and battered an 8-year-old girl, Amarachi Abakwuru, at their Ketu neighbourhood has since disappeared. The victim was lured into the suspect’s house about 8pm on Thursday, when he tried to rape her. But as she resisted, he exerted his frustration by tying her up and cutting her skull. It was also gathered that a search at the suspect’s house unearthed several clothing items belonging to young girls, fuelling speculation that the items may be souvenirs from possible past escapades with his victims. The police in Lagos state have not been able to identify the suspect as being in the command. The father of the victim, Patrick, said that on the fateful day he had been looking everywhere for his daughter until they discovered her under Gbuchenge’s bed. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident. She said efforts were on to determine if the suspect was indeed a policeman.

Mob Burns Kidnappers to Death

The Osun State Police Command has warned residents of the state against carrying out jungle justice following the burning to death of three suspected kidnappers in Osogbo on Friday. The Police Public Relations Officer in the command, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, disclosed that three suspected kidnappers were set ablaze on Friday in different areas in Osogbo. Odoro said that a suspected kidnapper caught and beaten to a pulp at Alekuwodo area on Thursday eventually died while receiving treatment. The suspect, who some residents claimed was behaving like a mad man, was allegedly caught with three kids. He was beaten and was about to be set ablaze when some policemen arrived at the scene rescued him.  He was said to have eventually died while receiving treatment. Some commercial motorcyclists and other youths who caught the suspect claimed that the suspect said that they were 10 kidnappers in Osogbo. Some of the residents added that the suspects had confessed to them that he had already kidnapped three kids and they were somewhere at Isale Ijebu.

Man Stabs Graduate to Death in Lagos

A 29-year-old graduate, Saheed Badmus, was stabbed to death after he went to a viewing centre on Lamina Street, Egbe, Lagos State, to watch the UEFA Champions League semi-final match between Chelsea Football Club and Atletico Madrid. Badmus was stabbed to death by a barber identified only as Yemi, during an argument that ensued at the viewing centre as most of the Chelsea fans were desperate to see their team qualify. It was learnt that during the match, Saheed stood up and Yemi shouted at him and told him to sit down as he was blocking him from viewing the match on the screen, leading to an argument. The owner of the centre pushed both Yemi and Saheed out of the place and locked them out. It was learnt that once they got outside, Yemi picked up a bottle from a nearby pub and stabbed Saheed. It was learnt that as Saheed ran for his life, Yemi chased him and then stabbed him in the face, leading to his eventual death.

Police Arrest Ogun APC Chief over Wife Battery

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested the All Progressives Congress chief, Bayo Awosanya, who allegedly assaulted his wife, Victoria, at their Sagamu residence on Easter Sunday. He was said to have allegedly hit Victoria’s head against a window glass, in addition to pulling off her weave from her hair. As a result, Victoria was reportedly hospitalised for four days at a hospital in the Sabo area of Sagamu. Bayo, who had gone into hiding since the incident, was reportedly absent at the state’s APC congress which held last Saturday in Abeokuta. Following this development, Women Arise, a non-governmental organisation, had called for Bayo’s arrest in a petition to the Inspector General of Police. However, a statement by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said Bayo was arrested on Monday after he personally reported himself to the Sagamu Police Division.

Hoodlums Kill APC Youth Leader in Lagos

There was tension around Apapa Road, Ebute Meta, Lagos, on Tuesday after the leader of a youth faction of the All Progressives Congress, Kunle Awotunde, was shot to death. Awotunde was killed as a result of a feud between thugs loyal to the late Seyi Rugged’s gang and Skippo’s gang in the area. Seyi Olaleye, aka Seyi Rugged, was stabbed to death by thugs loyal to Skippo on Moore Street in January. It was learnt that the recent killing was a continuation of the fight which the police have described as a supremacy battle. The deceased, who was said to be in his 30s, was alleged to be a member of Skippo’s gang as well as a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers. A woman, who identified herself as the wife of the deceased, described him as a responsible man, adding that he was survived by two children.

Ogun State Police Kill Three Suspected Robbers, Arrest 3

The Ogun State Police Command said it had killed three suspected robbers and arrested an herbalist and two others in two robbery operations in the state. According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) led by Inspector Adeyemi Akeem on Friday, April 25 burst a gang of robbers that specialised in snatching cars, at toll gate in Otta, Ogun State around 6pm, killing two of the robbers and arrested one Yusuf Ahmed. According to him, the syndicate had been on the wanted list of the command for the past one year, having been involved in robberies within and outside Ogun State. The State Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, has ordered the SARS to carry out   a thorough   investigation on the two cases and fish out other members of the two syndicates and their accomplices.

Police Arrest Principal over Rape of 12-Year-Old Student

Ekiti State police command has disclosed that it had arrested the Vice-Principal of St. Mary Girls' College, Ikole-Ekiti, Ajayi Taiwo Ayo, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old student. Ayo, 57, was said to have committed the offence last month inside his office and was reported to the police by a staff of the school who noticed the suspicious entry of the student into the VP’s office. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Victor Babayemi, confirmed the incident. Babayemi said the witness became apprehensive when the student, after spending a considerable period of time in the VP’s office, did not come out. He added that the witness went near the door and discovered it was bolted from inside, she knocked and the movements, sounds and subsequent demeanour of both the suspect and the victim gave him away. According to Babayemi, investigation has revealed that the suspect had a similar case in the past which was not reported. He said, the victim also admitted that the suspect laid her on his table and had carnal knowledge of her.

GENERAL

Military Surrounds Location, Intensifies Negotiations to Free Abducted Girls

The military has tracked down and surrounded the location, where over 200 schoolgirls who were abducted recently two weeks ago from Government Secondary School, Chibok, are being held captive, while exploring various options, including intense negotiations by locals and the Borno State Government to secure their release. Security sources said that the military had identified the various camps in which the girls are being held, but is being cautious about executing a full onslaught against their captors, in order to avoid collateral damage. The source added that the operation was being strategically carried in a very covert manner because the terrorists would not hesitate to use any of the girls as human shields or even kill them in the event of an attack. It has also emerged that in the course of searching for the girls the military has arrested some of the arrowheads behind their abduction and are currently undergoing interrogation.

Civilian JTF Vows to Support Military to End Insurgency

Members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State have vowed to support the military to end terrorism and bring back peace to the state. Two members of the youth vigilance group made the promise in Maiduguri. Chairman of the group in Gomari-Airport Area of Maiduguri, Mr. Abubakar Mamuda, said they were compelled to join the military to fight the insurgents because Borno was their state. Mamuda commended the federal government for deploying the military in the state, adding that the group had gained a lot of experience working with the military. Another member of the Civilian JTF, Mallam Hassan Mohammed, said the group was doing the job because it desired that peace should return to Borno.

Tribal Clashes Claim 34 in Nasarawa State

Clashes between rival tribes in Nasarawa State have left at least 34 people dead with homes and barns torched in a village in the state. The violence erupted penultimate Saturday when a militia from the Eggon tribe attacked the Gwandara village of Egan following a dispute over farmland, according to reports. All the victims were from Gwandara tribe whose village came under sudden attack from Ombatse cult members from Eggon tribe. Several homes and barns were burnt in the attack, sparked by a farming dispute, in which an Eggon man was injured, he said. Armed police were deployed to stop the bloodshed. Ethnic disputes linked to land are frequent in the North-central zone, despite efforts to mend relations between the region’s different groups. An eyewitness revealed that the insurgent had mobilised from neighbouring community with AK47 rifles to attack the Igga community leading to the wanton killing and destruction of properties. The state Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Numan Umar, said only five bodies were recovered from the crisis area while also revealing that the clash was between the Eggon and the Gwandara tribes. He however said it was a mere disagreement between two farmers that degenerated into the crisis.

FG Introduces New Security Measures at International Airports

The Federal Government, in cognisance of terror threats in the country, has introduced new measures to restrict the movement of people, including VIPs, in sensitive parts of the five international airports in the country. The new measures, which took effect on May 1, 2014, require that all visitors to Nigeria, including foreign dignitaries and officials of multilateral institutions to submit themselves to immigration officers for the requisite scrutiny and clearance at the five designated international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu. This was disclosed by the Presidential Committee on Security which was directed by the president to review security and screening structure set up by the federal government in 2013. The president's Special Adviser, Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye, said the new security arrangement at the airports had become imperative because of the prevailing security situation in the country. Monye said from May 1, no protocol officer/aide would be allowed into the arrival/baggage halls of the five international airports in Nigeria, a trend which has existed over the years and sometimes resulted in security breaches.

Navy Hands Over Seized Merchant Vessel to EFCC

The Nigerian Navy has handed over a merchant vessel, MT Good Success, loaded with 1,940 metric tonnes of petrol to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The vessel was arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Andoni, commanded by Captain Chidi Okpala, in Lagos after it was discovered that the vessel contained 1,940 metric tonnes of petrol instead of the 350 metric tonnes of AGO it was licensed to load. During the hand over, the Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Ovenseri Uwadiae, said after the navy's preliminary investigation, a prima facie case was established against the vessel and in line with extant provisions, the NN headquarters gave directives to handover the vessel to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution. Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, has mandated us to ensure the law takes its full course on those found wanting.

Immigration Service to Partner Foreign Agencies on Border Patrol

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), David Parradang, has said the service will collaborate with relevant foreign agencies for possible intervention in the supply of patrol equipment and other technical support. Parradang revealed that already the service had informed the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and other relevant security agencies on the establishment of the border patrol corps. According to him, "we have also informed them about the creation of the additional control posts and patrol bases for necessary collaboration." He pointed out that the agency had equally requested the Office of the NSA for intervention fund for the procurement of additional patrol logistics towards the success of the exercise. The comptroller-general also restated the determination of the service toward improving the welfare of officers and men of the service as well as make border patrol duties very attractive.

Boko Haram: Mark Calls for Full Scale War against Terrorism

Senate President David Mark, on Tuesday, said he had changed his position on previous calls for dialogue with Boko Haram, adding that it was time to confront the insurgents with a full scale war. Mark, who made this declaration after a debate on the abduction of 234 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, said given the absurdity demonstrated by the insurgents in recent times, they should be the ones begging for dialogue when the battle is hot. His position coincided with the protest by parents of the abducted girls, who stormed the National Assembly, demanding the return of their daughters. The leader of the parents, Mrs. Duomi Mukhtar, called on the government as well as the military authorities to ensure that their daughters are immediately rescued.

Military Train 90 in Specialised Courses

The Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information, Col. John Agim, said that 90 officers of the Armed Forces had been selected to participate in a specialised training programme. Agim said the participants comprised 12 Air Force officers, 12 drawn from the Navy and 66 from the Army. The commandant said the training would the soldiers to integrate with the civil community and resettlement after their service. Agim said the training would also make the officers more useful, urging them to work hard to make good grades. The commandant said the officers would undergo six months training in X3 graphics design and printing, including A3 video operation.

PDP Commends Political Leaders for Uniting against Terrorism

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the nation’s political leaders for uniting against terrorism, irrespective of party affiliations. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Olisa Metuh, the party’s National Publicity Secretary. He described the development as unprecedented in contemporary Nigerian history. Metuh said that the development was also a strong message to those behind acts of terrorism and violence in the country. He maintained that the development had restored the confidence reposed in the political class to provide leadership direction for the nation. He said the development was the only way to move the nation forward, adding that it has united the political leaders and rekindled the spirit of oneness among Nigerians. Metuh, however, called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and to continue to stand against actions that encouraged violence and terrorism.

Second Nyanya Bomb Blast Claims 12 Lives

Less than three weeks after a bus station in Nyanya, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was hit by a bomb blast, another bomb explosion ripped through the same neighbourhood, resulting in the death of at least 12 persons and 30 others injured, and fuelling fears that the two successive attacks in Abuja, might be politically motivated. On March 14, a similar blast at the bus station led to the death of 75 victims and several others injured. Security and response agencies confirmed that a Mazda vehicle laden with explosives was detonated about 50 metres away from the bus station, which had been closed since the first bomb attack on March 14. The Thursday night bombing occurred just before 8pm. The busy park, coupled with traffic jam caused by the stringent searches carried out by the military at a checkpoint a few metres away, had lately increased commuters' traffic in the area and made it a soft target for terror attacks. According to him, about 30 persons were affected by the blast and had been taken to the Asokoro General Hospital.

Labour, CSOs, Kaduna Women Protest over Schoolgirls

The abduction of the schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, took the centre stage at several Workers’ Day celebration rallies as organised labour, civil society organisations (CSOs) and women in Kaduna protested the federal government’s inability to rescue the girls, weeks after they were kidnapped from their hostel by members of Boko Haram. As workers in Borno State, CSOs and other interest groups staged a peaceful rally in Maiduguri, the state capital, the protesters who all wore black aprons, were led by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Titus Ali Abana, in a march from the NLC secretariat to the Borno Government House where they registered their displeasure over what they termed the government’s “slowness” in rescuing the girls. Abana said the workers were using the opportunity of the May Day to mourn the victims of the insurgency in the state and the abducted girls of Chibok.

DHQ Concedes Information Dissemination to Borno

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said it had conceded information dissemination on the abduction of some female students from Government Secondary School (GSS) Chibok to the Borno State Government in order to avoid issuing conflicting statements to members of the public. The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said a lot of information had been received in an attempt to secure the release of the girls. Olukolade said despite the fact that some of the information was of no operational value to the armed forces, they would remain disposed to receiving, analysing and applying all relevant information on the issue. Olukolade added that security agencies on ground in the state would continue to interact and support the state government officials in their efforts to inform the public on the Chibok incident and progress in the search without any prejudice. He promised that alongside the search for the girls, the military was currently committed to various security operations in most parts of the northern Nigeria where troops are deployed in forests and mountains, combating terrorists and armed gangs of various descriptions.

Okah Sues Prisons, Demands N500m for Violation of Rights

Charles Okah, who was charged with treason for his alleged role in the October 1, 2010 explosion in Abuja, has dragged the prison authorities to court, seeking N500million compensation for alleged infringement on his right to life. He based his claims on the grounds that the prison authorities locked him inside a solitary cell while the cell was being fumigated. He stated that as a result of the chemicals he inhaled from the fumigation, he became nauseous, weak and was finding it difficult to breathe. Okah said he was not given drugs to treat himself and that when his wife brought the drugs prescribed for him the prison authorities seized the drugs. In the suit filed by his counsel, Festus Keyamo, the plaintiff joined the Minister of Interior, the Comptroller of Prisons and the Nigerian Prisons Service as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants. He asked the court for an order mandating the officers of Kuje Prisons, Abuja to allow him access to proper medication as and when due.

Taraba Communities Sign Peace Agreement

The warring communities of Jukuns, Fulani and Tiv in Wukari, Taraba State, have signed an agreement to permanently live in peace with one another. The peace deal came against the backdrop of the delivery of additional eight trucks of relief materials to the victims of the violent clashes in the area. The peace agreement, which was signed on Thursday after a series of peace meetings, was brokered by the acting Governor of the state, Alhaji Garba Umar and a non-governmental organisation, Taraba Peace Initiative, headed by Bishop Charles Yohana. Umar expressed gratitude to God for making the day a reality just as he expressed the preparedness of the state government to pay compensation to those who lost property. As a result of the gradual return of normalcy to the area, the 24-hour curfew imposed on the restive town has been relaxed to run from 4pm till 6am.  Also speaking at the presentation of the fresh eight trucks of relief materials to the victims of the crisis, the acting governor urged the people of the area to eschew violence and embrace peace.

INTERNATIONAL

Six Killed In China Blast

Six people were killed in an explosion on Monday afternoon in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, local authorities said. The blast took place at a tourist destination in the city of Fushun as two workers were making fireworks. Both staff and four passers-by were killed at the scene in the scenic zone of the “Liaoshen Campaign”, according to the city’s publicity office. The “Liaoshen Campaign”, an abbreviation of Liaoning-Shenyang Campaign, was one of the three major campaigns top the end of Chinese Civil War. Two reenactments show daily use more than 2,000 bullets and 600 mock-up shells. Investigation into the cause of the accident is under way.

Ukraine: Mayor Kharkiv Shot, Critically Wounded

The mayor of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine has been shot and critically wounded amid continuing unrest in the region. Hennadiy Kernes was reportedly shot in the back by unknown gunmen while out jogging, and is undergoing emergency surgery in hospital. This is pro-Russian separatists seized a local government building in Kostyantynivka in eastern Ukraine. The US and EU are preparing to impose fresh sanctions against Russian individuals and companies. Western nations accuse Moscow of supporting separatist gunmen who are occupying official buildings in cities across eastern Ukraine. The separatists continue to hold seven Western military observers who were seized last week in the region. Kernes used to be a supporter of the former pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych. He then dropped his support for the ousted president in favour of a united Ukraine. The head of the hospital where Kernes is being treated, the Surgery Institute in Kharkiv, described his condition as “very serious”. Negotiations were under way to secure the release of the observers, seized near the town of Sloviansk.

3 Children Killed, 11 Injured as Blast Hits Pakistani Mosque

At least three seminary children were killed and 11 others hit a mosque in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Monday. A report said that the bomb exploded inside a mosque located in Frontier More area of Karachi, the capital city of the country’s south Sindh province. Police said the bomb targeted kids who were reading Quran in a seminary located inside the mosque. The nature of the blast has not been determined yet. Report says the injured people include several kids who have been shifted to a nearby hospital, where five of them were in critical condition. No group has, however, claimed responsibility for the attack. Police cordoned off the area and started investigations.

Air Search for Missing Malaysian Plane Called off - Prime Minister

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Monday that airborne search for surface wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines plane has been called off. He said in Sydney that it was highly unlikely that searchers would find any debris on the ocean surface. Abbott said this became imperative because the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 has entered its 52nd day without any result. “None of our efforts have found any wreckage,’’ he said. The Prime Minister said, however, that the underwater search for flight MH370 would continue.

Mexico Begins Disarming Vigilantes

The Mexican Army has begun registering the weapons carried by vigilantes in the western state of Michoacan. The process begins nearly four months after the “self-defence groups” launched an offensive against the Knights Templar drug cartel. The vigilantes will be allowed to keep their weapons, but will be banned from publicly carrying assault rifles. Most of the drug cartel leaders in Michoacan have been killed or arrested since the beginning of January. The vigilantes began the assault on the Knights Templar cartel independently. They took over several towns before federal police and soldiers were deployed in the area, west of Mexico City. The vigilantes were eventually allowed to join the official Mexican forces in the operation against the Knights Templar. Residents of Michoacan say the cartel terrorised them. On Monday, five suspected cartel members were killed in a shootout with vigilantes in the outskirts of Lazaro Cardenas.

Brazilian Military Rule Torturer Paulo Malhaes Found Dead

A former Brazilian army colonel, who admitted torturing and killing political prisoners under military rule up to the 1980s, has been found dead. Paulo Malhaes, 76, was killed by three men who entered his home outside Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, police say. Last month, he said he never regretted killing “as many people as necessary” and tortured “many” prisoners. Almost 500 people disappeared or were killed in Brazil when it was ruled by the army between 1964 and 1985. Thousands more were detained and tortured, including current President Dilma Rousseff. According to his wife, Col Malhaes was suffocated by three men who broke into their home. Police say the assailants stole computers and some guns. Prominent Brazilian lawyer Wadih Damous said the intruders may have been after secret files he held.

Afghan Helicopter Crash, a Tragic Accident -Official

A fatal helicopter crash in Afghanistan which killed all five UK personnel on board appears to have been a “tragic accident”, the MoD has said. An investigation has begun into how the Lynx helicopter came down in the south of the country on Saturday. Commander Joint Helicopter Command, Maj Gen Richard Felton, said it was a reminder of the risks UK troops still face as they withdraw from Afghanistan. Three of the soldiers and an airman were stationed in Hampshire. The fifth, an Army reservist, was based in London. It was the first fatal accident of the Afghan conflict involving a UK military helicopter and the third biggest loss of life of British troops in a single incident in the country since the invasion in 2001. Despite Taliban claims its fighters had shot the aircraft down, sources had suggested the cause of the crash may have been “technical problems”.

Muslims Escorted Out of CAR Capital

Peacekeeping troops have escorted around 1,300 Muslims out of the capital of Central African Republic (CAR), removing one of the last pockets of Muslims from Bangui, in a nation torn apart by religious violence. Peacekeepers stood by on Sunday, as Christians, some armed with machetes and bows and arrows, swarmed into and looted houses in Bangui’s northern PK12 neighbourhood, which had been a Muslim district in the majority Christian south. Foreign troops have escorted thousands of Muslims to relative safety in the north of the Central African Republic. But some leaders fear that will make permanent divisions that have led to talk of partition after 18 months of conflict. Central African Republic’s minister for reconciliation last week criticised the evacuations, warning they would play into the hands of Muslim rebels who want to create an independent state in the north.

Ukraine Crisis: Kerry Urges Russia to Help Free Observers

US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Russia to do all it can to help release European military observers abducted in eastern Ukraine. Kerry also expressed concern about “provocative Russian troop movements” near Ukraine’s border. Pro-Russia militia continues to occupy official buildings in a dozen eastern cities, defying the government in Kiev. EU diplomats are to meet on Monday to discuss fresh sanctions against Russia. Earlier, the G7 group of economic powers also agreed to intensify sanctions against Russia over Ukraine. The West is accusing Moscow of leading a secessionist revolt in eastern Ukraine after it annexed Crimea last month. Russia strongly denies the claim.

South Korea President Apologises over Ferry Disaster

South Korean President, Park Geun-hye, has apologised over the ferry disaster that claimed about 300 lives. Park said that the government had failed to prevent the disaster and bungled its emergency response. Her apology comes amid ongoing work to retrieve bodies from the sunken hull. The ferry sank with 476 people aboard – most of them high school students and teachers – off South Korea on 16 April. A total of 174 were rescued. The others been confirmed dead or missing presumed drowned. Officials have retrieved almost 200 bodies and divers are continuing to search for those still unaccounted for. Park’s apology comes amid mounting public anger and criticism over the disaster. Most of those on board were on a trip from Danwon high school in Ansan, south of Seoul. On Sunday, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won offered his resignation over the disaster.

US-set Middle East Peace Deadline Expires

A US deadline for peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians has ended without an agreement being reached. Direct talks had resumed in July after a three-year hiatus but quickly became strained. The latest round was halted last week after the main Palestinian factions announced a political pact. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who brokered the talks, has meanwhile issued a statement denying he called Israel “an apartheid state”. Negotiations were suspended by Israel after the two main Palestinian factions, secular Fatah and Islamist Hamas, signed a unity deal last Wednesday. The agreement calls for a unity government within weeks. Israel said it would refuse to negotiate with any party that includes Hamas as a partner. Hamas refuses to recognise Israel.

Iraq Goes to Polls amid Violence, Heavy Security

Iraqis are voting amid tight security in the first parliamentary elections since the withdrawal of US troops three years ago. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is hoping to win a third term in office amid a growing insurgency in the west of the country. Iraq is experiencing its worst unrest since 2008, with 160 people killed in the last week alone. Some 22 million Iraqis are registered to vote, with almost 50,000 polling stations open across the country. There is a heavy security presence in the capital, with military helicopters on patrol, says the BBC’s Kevin Connolly in Baghdad. The government has temporarily closed the airport and the main roads in and out of the city in an attempt to reassure voters of their safety. While it is difficult to predict the outcome of the poll, Mr Maliki is still expected to be a pivotal figure in the coalition-building process which will follow the election. The campaign has so far been a violent one, with 50 people killed on Monday when soldiers, police and overseas citizens cast their votes.

Two Soldiers Killed in Libya Bomb Blast

A car bomb exploded on Tuesday at a military base in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, killing two soldiers and injuring several others. The bomb exploded at the main gate of the former Libyan Special Forces 21st Battalion headquarters in the second largest Libyan city, a military official said on condition of anonymity. Camp guards failed to stop the car from dashing toward the main gate and the explosion caused major damage to the barrack’s wall, the official said. Benghazi police said in a statement that they have “rapidly intervened into the case” and will look into the identities of the attackers. Benghazi is the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against former leader Muammar Gaddafi. After the attack on the American diplomatic mission in September 2012, which killed U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, the city witnessed an escalation of violence and has become a major base of extremists in North Africa.

Philippines in Cybersex Blackmail Arrests

Police in the Philippines say they have arrested dozens of suspects linked to an online blackmail syndicate. The suspects persuaded people in foreign countries to expose themselves in front of webcams or send explicit material, police said. They then threatened to send the footage or photos to relatives unless payment was made. Philippine National Police chief Allan Purisima said 58 people had been arrested in a probe involving Interpol. The director of Interpol’s Digital Crime Centre, Sanjay Virmani, said the scale of the network was “massive”. A Scottish police chief, who took part in the briefing, said a Scottish teenager had killed himself after being blackmailed by the syndicate. Cybersex is a growing industry in the Philippines, where there are high levels of poverty and a population that speaks some English.

30 Buried in Colombia Mine Collapse

Rescue workers in Colombia are using large mechanical diggers as they try to find up to 30 people buried under tonnes of mud at a gold mine. Three bodies have been recovered so far but officials say the unstable soil is making the search problematic. It is not clear exactly how many people are underneath the rubble, as the mine was operating illegally. Crowds gathered at the site in the south-western Cauca department after the incident on Wednesday night. The hundreds of miners and relatives watching the rescue efforts have refused to move away despite being warned that they themselves could be buried alive by another landslide. The governor of the Cauca department, Temistocles Ortega, said illegal miners had used machinery to open huge holes to extract gold, and one of them had caved in, burying them. At least seven large mechanical diggers have been working non-stop at the bottom of the large pit and specially trained search dogs have been deployed. But while work continues in the mud below, an official with the firefighters at the scene said it was already too late.