US Military: 11 Iraqis Killed in Mosul Raid
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The military says five terrorists were killed during the raid, along with three women and three children; Another child was injured
The U.S. military in Iraq says five militants, three women and three children were killed during a U.S. raid in which a suspected insurgent detonated a suicide vest.The military says its soldiers came under gunfire Sunday after entering a house in Mosul believed to be holding a suspected terrorist. A militant then detonated a suicide vest.In a statement, the military says five terrorists were killed during the raid, along with three women and three children. Another child was injured. Soldiers later found weapons and explosives in the building.On Saturday, the U.S. military said two American (Black Hawk) helicopters collided while landing at a base in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.The military said one Iraqi soldier was killed in the crash, and two Iraqi soldiers and three U.S. soldiers were injured. It is not clear what caused the accident, but hostile fire is not suspected. Iraqi police reported clashes between gunmen and Iraqi forces at the crash site, but the U.S. military denied the claims.The incident comes just two weeks after another U.S. military helicopter crashed in Iraq, killing all seven soldiers on board.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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NATO: Senior Taliban Leader Captured in Afghanistan
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NATO announced that Mullah Sakhi Dad Mujahid, along with another insurgent, was caught without a shot being fired four days ago in the province of Uruzgan
A Taliban field commander has been recaptured after breaking his pledge not to fight Afghanistan's government. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from Kabul this marks the third time the Taliban figure finds himself nabbed by his foes. The International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan says NATO-led troops have captured a Taliban field commander with close links to the insurgency's senior leadership. NATO announced that Mullah Sakhi Dad Mujahid, along with another insurgent, was caught without a shot being fired four days ago in the province of Uruzgan. Mujahid was the leader of a "significant" number of insurgents, according to NATO and Afghan officials.A high-ranking Interior Ministry official tells VOA News Mujahid had been covertly directing a guerilla group conducting suicide attacks in and around the provincial capital, Tirin Kot. The official, who did not want to be named, says Mujahid "broke his word" to reconcile with the democratically-elected government and sever ties with the Taliban, following his release after capture and interrogation in 2004. At that time, Mujahid was apprehended with a satellite phone containing the numbers of top Taliban figures, including the head of the movement, Mullah Omar. Mujahid is said to be the brother-in-law of Omar.Wahid Mazhada, former Taleban government official and author, Kabul, 05 Oct. 2008A former foreign ministry official during the Taliban's five-year rule, Wahid Mazhda, tells VOA news that many of the captured Taliban, professed to having reformed themselves, are actually returning to their previous life as combatants. "Yes, this is common with the Taliban. When they are released from jail and they go back to the front line. I know some of these type of Taliban, released from Guantanamo, and they go back to the battlefield," Mazhda said. The Taliban were driven out of Kabul in 2001 by U.S.-led forces but have regrouped in the southern part of the country. Mujahid's latest detention marks the third time he has been captured. He was held by the Northern Alliance for several years in the late 1990's. He was released in a prisoner exchange deal and reportedly was named to a prominent position in the Taliban government.
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Afghanistan Says International Force Promises to Reduce Civilian Casualties
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A strategic review of the war will also be conducted as Afghanistan gets permission to increase the number of its own troops
Afghanistan's Defense Minister on Sunday said the Pentagon has pledged to take steps to reduce civilian casualties from aerial attacks against insurgents in the country. A strategic review of the war will also be conducted as Afghanistan gets permission to increase the number of its own troops. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from Kabul. Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak speaking at a news conference at Ministry of Defense in Kabul, Sunday, 05 Oct. 2008With domestic and international criticism mounting as the civilian death toll rises, Afghanistan's Defense Minister says the United States and other international forces have promised to "do their best" to avoid such casualties from aerial bombings. Abdul Rahim Wardak spoke to reporters on the grounds of the Defense Ministry about his recent visit to the Pentagon, where he met his U.S. counterpart and other American officials. "There has been an understanding to strategically review the conduct of war and other efforts in Afghanistan and also in the region," Wardak said.Wardak is calling for less emphasis on heavy weaponry, better shared intelligence and greater use of Afghan forces to search for insurgents. The former Mujahideen commander also announced that the international community has authorized an increase in the size of the Afghan army to 134,000 troops. There are more than 60,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan. "There is definitely a need for more boots on the ground based on the present security situation," Wardak said.The resurgent Taleban, ousted by U.S.-led forces in 2001, are active in large parts of southern Afghanistan. Defense Minister Wardak told reporters that the current war against them cannot be won only by military means. The Sunday Times in London quotes the British commander in Afghanistan as also saying the Taleban cannot be defeated on the battlefield. The newspaper says Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, in an interview, told the newspaper that a political settlement is the best way to bring an end to the conflict. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has asked the king of Saudi Arabia to mediate such talks. But a senior Taleban commander has rejected such negotiations with what he termed Afghanistan's "puppet" government.
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Rice Says Diplomatic Relations with Iran Still Being Considered
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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calls the idea of setting up a diplomatic mission in Iran 'interesting'
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gestures during a press conference in New Delhi, India, 04 Oct 2008U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the Bush administration is still considering setting up a diplomatic mission in Iran.Rice refuted an Associated Press report that the administration had decided to hand the issue to its successor. She told reporters that Washington continues to look at the idea. On a flight from India to Kazakhstan for talks on other matters, Rice called the idea interesting. She did not comment further.The United States and Iran are at odds over the Middle East country's nuclear program.Iran has ignored U.N. resolutions demanding that it stop uranium enrichment. U.S. and European governments fear that Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb. Tehran denies that and says it wants only to produce low-grade fuel for nuclear energy. The same enrichment process also could be used to produce highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons.Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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Republicans Assail Obama's Ties to Former Domestic 'Terrorist'
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Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, based her charge on newspaper story about Senator Obama's relationship with William Ayers, now college professor in midwestern US state of Illinois
Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has stepped up efforts to portray Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama as unacceptable for American voters -- accusing him of being friendly with "terrorists."Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin Palin -- the governor of Alaska -- based her charge Saturday on a newspaper story about Senator Obama's relationship with William Ayers, now a college professor in the midwestern U.S. state of Illinois.Forty years ago, Ayers helped found the Weather Underground, a domestic militant group opposed to the Vietnam War. The group claimed responsibility for bombings of U.S. government buildings.In the 1990's Obama and Ayers served together on a Chicago schools project and on a charitable board. The Democratic senator has denounced Ayers' radical activities.The Obama campaign called Palin's comments offensive and accused her of trying to deflect voters' attention from the nation's economic troubles. In campaign remarks Saturday, Obama said Republican presidential candidate John McCain's health care plan is "radical" and could cause millions of Americans to lose their benefits.Obama told a rally Saturday in Virginia that his plan offers Americans more choices and more protection. Republican Party officials say Obama is lying.With just one month to go before the U.S. presidential election, senior aides say the Republican candidate is also changing his campaign strategy.They say McCain plans to focus more on his opponent's character and liberal political views.Obama and McCain are preparing for the second of their three debates, Tuesday in Nashville, in the southern state of Tennessee.Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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Rice Holding Security, Energy Talks in Kazakhstan
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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is meeting with Kazakh President and is also expected to discuss security political and economic reforms in the former Soviet republic
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (file photo)U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Kazakhstan Sunday for talks on security and energy cooperation.She is meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev and other government officials and is also expected to discuss security political and economic reforms in the former Soviet republic. Rice said Sunday that U.S. efforts to build closer ties with Kazakhstan are not intended to undermine Russian influence in Central Asia. President Nazarbayev has maintained close links to Moscow, while also allowing major U.S. corporations a substantial role in the Kazakhstan's burgeoning oil and gas industry. Secretary Rice's arrival in Kazakhstan follows her trip to India where she had been set to sign a landmark nuclear trade agreement. However, the signing of the pact was delayed. Rice told reporters administrative -- not substantive -- details had to be resolved before the pact ending a 34 year ban on civilian nuclear trade with India can be signed. U.S. lawmakers have already approved the agreement. Rice called the pact a "done deal," saying U. S. President George Bush would sign the agreement into law very soon. The deal allows Washington to share civilian nuclear technology and materials with New Delhi if India opens some nuclear facilities to inspection.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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Thai Police Arrest Key Anti-Government Protest Leaders
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Former Bangkok governor Chumlong Srimuang is among anti-government protesters arrested on charges that carry a maximum penalty of death if convicted
Thai police have arrested key leaders of protests who have occupied a main government building in Bangkok since August 26. But as Ron Corben reports for VOA, analysts warn the arrests mark a setback in efforts to reconcile anti-government protesters and may lead to heightened political tensions in Thailand.Anti-government supporters gather during a protest at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, 05 Oct 2008Former Bangkok governor Chumlong Srimuang is the second anti-government protest leader arrested on charges of insurrection. Thai police have issued arrest warrants for nine people on the charges that carry a maximum penalty of death if convicted.The nine have been leading demonstrations for several months, but since August 26 protesters have occupied the main government administration building in Bangkok, forcing the government to relocate to temporary offices.A member of the opposition Democrat Party, Kraisak Choonhavan, says the arrests mark a setback in efforts to negotiate with the government."The arrest of Mr. Chumlong, in fact both, has intensified the politics of Thailand and that the reconciliation, which I thought was going well, but this is a major hiccup in a way that could in fact bring us to the brink of a crisis. The heat is really up and I truly feel very saddened by the situation," said Kraisak Choonhavan.Chumlong also played a key role in anti-government protests in 1992 that led to a bloody crackdown by the military, leading to dozens killed and hundreds injured. The current protests are led by the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy, which has accused the government that was elected last December of acting as a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He fled Thailand in August while facing charges of corruption. Courts have since issued five arrest warrants for Thaksin.Protests and street violence in early September led to a two-week state of emergency being declared in Bangkok. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was forced to surrender the leadership in September on court charges of conflict of interest.The new government leader, Somchai Wongsawat, a brother-in-law of Thaksin, had promised to promote reconciliation and talks with the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy. The Alliance, known as PAD, is reported to be calling for further protest support following the arrests. An author and commentator on Thai politics, Chris Baker, says the arrests could be attributed to Thaksin looking to re-exert his influence over the governing People's Power Party."The transition from Samak [Sundaravej] to Somchai [Wongsawat] was very much the reassertion of Thaksin's influence. So, one possibility is that Thaksin is driving a harder line on the PAD. It is certainly very strange given the way they were talking about reconciliation," said baker.Thailand has been deeply divided politically since Thaksin came to power in 2001 backed by his populist policies that won strong support from the urban working class and rural low income earners.But the urban middle class accused Thaksin, ousted in a 2006 coup, of acting in an authoritarian manner by looking to concentrate power as well as widespread corruption in government.
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Pope Opens Synod Meeting at Vatican
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More than 250 bishops to discuss the relevance of the Bible for contemporary Catholics in meeting
Pope Benedict celebrated mass Sunday to open a worldwide meeting of prelates at the Vatican. Over 200 bishops are attending the gathering that will discuss the relevance of the Bible for contemporary Catholics. But no bishops from mainland China will be present. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome
Pope Benedict XVI leaves the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Roma after celebrating a mass for the opening of a Roman Catholic synod of bishops 05 Oct 2008To mark the opening of the second synod of bishops since his election in 2005, Pope Benedict celebrated mass Sunday at Rome's Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. More than 250 bishops from around the world will be taking part in the three-week meeting to discuss the relevance of the Bible for contemporary Catholics. The Vatican said this week that no bishops from mainland China would be attending the meeting, a clear sign there has been no breakthrough in the Vatican's efforts to improve relations with Beijing.The synod is a consultative body created in 1965 to facilitate contacts among bishops and to help the pope set policies for running the Church. At this meeting, bishops will exchange their views on "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church."In his homily, the pope called on the Lord to assist all those taking part in the meeting to question themselves on how to make announcing the Gospel more effective in these times.A document prepared for the synod rejects a fundamentalist approach to the Bible and says a key challenge is to clarify for the faithful the relationship of scripture to science.For the first time, a non-Christian will be addressing the assembly. Israel's Shear-Yashuv Cohen, Grand Rabbi of Haifa, will speak on Monday about how the Jewish people read and interpret the Holy Scripture.Cohen has said his invitation to address the synod of Catholic bishops was a "signal of hope bringing a message of love, coexistence, and peace for generations."Protestant and Anglican prelates are also attending the gathering as observers. For the first time, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church Bartholomew the First will be giving a speech on October 18.
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Nigerian Official Appeals for Assistance for Bakassi Returnees
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Thousands of Bakassi returnees overcrowd camps in Nigeria, say they flee persecution by Cameroonian soldiers
Tens of thousands of Nigerian residents in the disputed Bakassi peninsula have fled to southern Nigeria, creating what has been characterized as a growing humanitarian problem. We hear more from Gilbert da Costa in Abuja.Locals move their property from Archibong, a disputed area of southern Bakassi Peninsula, Nigeria, (File)An estimated 200,000 Bakassi returnees live in temporary shelters in southern Nigeria. Overcrowded camps in Akwa Ibom state are receiving a steady influx of newcomers fleeing what they said were persecution by Cameroonian soldiers who now control the oil-rich territory.A spokesman for the Akwa Ibom state government, Aniekan Umanah, says providing assistance to the returnees is straining state government resources. He called for urgent federal government intervention."We have camps in three local government areas. At the first instance, we recorded up to 75,000 [returnees] and took steps in providing emergency feeding and medical relief, clothing supply and so on to support them. Only three days ago, we had another batch of about 20 buses with new returnees. We are handicapped and we don't know when it would end. International intervention, federal intervention - whatever supports that can come the way of the state that is what we need," said Umanah.Some 300,000 Nigerians, mostly fishermen, lived in Bakassi before its transfer to Cameroon in August, in compliance with the International Court of Justice ruling in 2002 that the long-disputed peninsular belonged to Cameroon.A transitional arrangement, brokered by the United Nations, was to allow Nigeria and Cameroon jointly administer the territory for five years after the formal handover. Nigerian residents, fearing harassment by Cameroonian security forces, have besieged makeshift relief camps in Akwa Ibom and neighboring Cross River states and are in desperate need of help.To meet the resettlement and rehabilitation needs of the returnees, a presidential task force set up by the federal government has come up with a budget of about $200 million. The federal government has so far provided less than $20 million.
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Zimbabwe's Leaders Fail to Agree on Unity Government
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Political leaders fail to agree on unity government, threatening power-sharing deal aimed at pulling country out of its political and economic turmoil
Political leaders in Zimbabwe have failed to agree on a unity
government, threatening a power-sharing deal aimed at pulling the
country out of its political and economic turmoil.Zimbabwe's new Deputy PM Arthur Mutambara, President Robert Mugabe, new PM Morgan Tsvangirai pose after signing power-sharing accord in Harare, 15 Sep 2008President
Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai took part in the
meeting Saturday, along with the leader of an opposition party splinter
group, Arthur Mutambara.The talks ended without a deal, but all
the parties agreed to have their negotiators continue to work on
settling their differences. One sticking point has involved the
distribution of key ministry and government positions.Mr.
Mugabe of the ruling ZANU-PF party and Mr. Tsvangirai of the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) signed a historic power-sharing
deal in September. That agreement calls for Mr. Mugabe to remain
Zimbabwe's president and Mr. Tsvangirai to become prime minister.Zimbabwe
has been without an official government for months following disputed
presidential elections. Mr. Tsvangirai won the most votes in the first
round, but he pulled out of the runoff because of alleged
state-sponsored violence against his supporters.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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