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Libya in contact with Austrian hostage-takers: diplomat
Author Archives: Matt Dupee
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US upset with Swiss-Iranian deal
Somalia
A grenade attack against a local official’s office in Mogadishu killed five people and wounded four others. A land dispute in central Somalia resulted in a gun battle that left nine dead and and 18 wounded. Three children were killed and two wounded when the grenade they played with exploded.
Algeria
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb attacked members of a moderate group opposed to the terrorist organization, killing two men will they prayed in a mosque. The deadline for the kidnapped hostages has been extended one week while negotiations ensue. Libya has made contact with the kidnappers.
Afghanistan
Afghan security forces gunned down two insurgents wanted for a recent attack against a mobile phone mast in western Afghanistan, five others were arrested. More than half of the 3,200 US Marines being deployed to southern Afghanistan have landed in Kandahar. Turkey will not send combat troops for the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
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US blamed for missile strike on al-Qaeda bases
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Austria says deadline extended for al Qaeda hostages
Algeria
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is now demanding five million euros ($7.9 million) for the release of two Austrians they kidnapped last February. Austria has now appealed to Libya to help free its two seized nationals. Algeria closed two Christian churches in the southern city of Tizi Ouzou for allegedly engaging in “illegal activities.”
Iraq
A female suicide bomber detonated among a group of Shiite worshippers near a mosque in Karbala, killing at least 39 people and wounding 54. Iraq marked the 20th anniversary of Saddam Hussein’s chemical bombing and gassing of Iraqi Kurds in the northeast city of Halabja. Iraqi forces, advised by US Special Forces, detained the suspected […]
Afghanistan
Four NATO soldiers and three Afghan civilians have been killed by a suicide bomber in Helmand™s Gereshk district, according to regional reports. Two of those killed are listed as Danish troops. NATO has confirmed the death of a Canadian soldier who was killed while on foot patrol in Kandahar province.
Al Qaeda
A purported al Qaeda spokesman says nine al Qaeda commanders have been killed by security forcers in southern Afghanistan recently. Those killed were identified as Abu Anas, Abu Abdullah Al Asmi, Shuaib Sahrayee, and Abu Masaab Al Tami from Saudi Arabia; Khalid and Nauman from Pakistan; Abu Zaki from Kuwait; Jafar from Tajikistan; and Abu […]
Algeria
Islamic insurgents attacked an Algerian military convoy in Jijel east of Algiers leaving at least one soldier dead. The deadline for the fate of the kidnapped Austrian nationals has been extended after Austrian government officials made contact with the al Qaeda-linked kidnappers. In exchange for the Austrians, the kidnappers are demanding the release of five […]
Afghanistan
Four Taliban were killed in Nangarhar province after attacking a police post; three others were killed in Helmand™s Musa Qala district. Students returned back to school the next day following a Taliban attempt to burn down a newly built school in Kandahar. Wireless providers have conceded to the Taliban, shutting down service at night.
Iraq
The US military says the explosive vest is now the weapon of choice among al Qaeda in Iraq members as the rate of suicide attacks continues to climb. Most of these bombers are from abroad, namely Saudi Arabia. Power was restored to Iraq’s largest oil refinery Sunday after an outage stalled production.
Pakistan
Four of those injured in this weekend™s bombing at an Islamabad restaurant were US FBI agents. A series of missile strikes killed up to 20 in Pakistan™s South Waziristan, obliterating two structures used by insurgents as hideouts. Pakistan has extradited three Saudi nationals believed to be al Qaeda terrorists to Saudi Arabia.
Somalia
Insurgent mortar attacks against three military bases around Mogadishu left 33 Ethiopian and government soldiers dead. The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) has taken responsibility for the attacks.
Missile strike kills 20 in South Waziristan
A missile strike destroyed two compounds and killed up to 20 insurgents in the al Qaeda and Taliban safe haven of South Waziristan. This is the second major strike against insurgent hideouts in Pakistan’s tribal states this week.
Somalia
Business leaders in the Somali capital’s main Bakara market held a closed-door meeting Saturday where a proposal to establish a private army was discussed. An officer with the Puntland Intelligence Service (PIS) was shot and killed Thursday night in the region’s port city of Bossaso.
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Somalia’s Humanitarian Crisis Worsens Amid Fears of Widespread Drought
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Canadians have improved security in Kandahar, says Afghan general
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Taliban plan to ‘behead’ Sydney men
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Afghan police discover 4 suicide vests
Algeria
[Update] The kidnapped Austrian pair is said to be held in northern Mali by the Algerian terrorist Abdelhamid Abu Zeid at an al Qaeda base about 95 miles from Kidal town. Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem said Algeria “is not concerned” with the kidnapping issue because “it did not happened inside Algerian territories.”
Afghanistan
A secondary school in Kandahar attended by 1,200 students was burned to the ground by suspected Taliban terrorists. Another cellular tower was severely damaged during an insurgent attack, this time in eastern Laghman province. NATO members could offer more than 1,000 new troops for Afghanistan at the alliance’s April 2-4 summit in Bucharest.
Algeria
Negotiations have begun between al Qaeda kidnappers and Algerian authorities over the demand that incarcerated insurgent members, Amari Saifi alias Abderrezak El Para, and a group of jailed Tunisian insurgents be released in exchange for the two kidnapped Austrian nationals. The al Qaeda group threatened to kill the captives if their demands are not met.
Afghanistan
Afghan and Coalition forces countered an ambush in Zabul province, killing three insurgents including a local commander, Mullah Mohammad Rhain. The Afghan government’s decision to arrest General Rashid Dostum may fuel unrest in the country, especially in the northern provinces. US forces raided a Taliban safe house in Khost and arrested 11 insurgents.
Algeria
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb issued a communiqu
Somalia
A police officer was shot to death in Mogadishu and an Islamic teacher was gunned down by armed men dressed in military fatigues. Separately, a local musician named Adan Hassan Salad was gunned down while drinking tea at a caf
Russia
Russian security forces have killed or arrested over 100 insurgents in the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya since the start of this year, a senior police official said. Chechnya will host its first soccer game in almost 14 years, making it the first time a match will be held in the capital since two wars […]
Unprecedented Coalition strike nails the Haqqani Network in North Waziristan
Military officials have confirmed the March 12 strike against the Haqqani Network took place inside North Waziristan. Phil Peterson, who is currently with the US military in Afghanistan, witnessed the meticulous planning and execution of this unprecedented strike against insurgent positions inside Pakistani territory. Written by Matt DuPee with reporting from Phil Peterson.