30 Injured in Istanbul blast

Up to 30 people, mainly police officers, have been injured in a suspected suicide bomb attack in Istanbul.

The attack took place in Taksim Square at around 4pm this afternoon. The attacker attempted to gain entry into a parked police vehicle but was unable to. He then blew himself up just beside the vehicle. The square usually has a heavy police presence as it is a popular location for protests and demonstrations.

The attack occurred as a unilateral ceasefire, which was declared by the Kurdish PKK rebel group earlier in the year, came to an end.

The Turkish government has been holding talks with rebel leaders in an attempt to end the conflict. But the trial of 150 Kurdish people, including over a dozen elected mayors, on charges of involvement in rebel activities has been a major sticking point.

The PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) are fighting for an independent Kurdish state in southern Turkey. The PKK control most of Northern Iraq where they are the officially recognised local government, they are also active in Iran. With a population of around 25 million people, the Kurdish are considered one of the worlds  largest people's without an internationally recognized homeland.

Israeli settlers firebomb Chritsian Church

Israeli settlers have firebombed a Christian church, completely destoying it's ground floor, it has emerged. The attack took place late last night in western Jerusalem.

Hamas has said that it holds the Israeli Defence Forces fully responsible and condemned the attack calling on the Palesinian people to: " ...stand up to such racist practices," 

They also called on :"international organizations to assume their responsibilities and pressure the IOA [Israeli Occupation Authority - Israeli Army] to halt its incessant crimes against the Palestinian people and their Islamic and Christian holy shrines."

Israeli settlers are provided with weapons, including assault rifles, by the Israeli government for self-defence.

Russian soldier killed in Chechnya

A Russian soldier has been killed and another seriously wounded in a suspected rebel landmine attack in the foothills of the Urus-Martan district of Chechnya.

The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that:


"Yesterday, at about 1 p.m. in a wooded area near Komsomolskoye village of the Urus-Martan District, a military unit of the Internal Troops of Russia was conducting an engineer-sapper reconnaissance mission when a home-made explosive device was triggered. The explosion killed a soldier, and another one was hospitalized with multiple fragmental wounds. His condition is grave." 

The landmine consisted of 600grams of TNT. An investigation into the incident has been opened.


Source: Chechnya.eng.kavkaz

Bombs defused in Northern Ireland

Two bombs have been defused in Northern Ireland this weekend.

The first bomb contained over 40kg's of explosives packed into a beer keg and placed under a railway bridge in the town of Lurgan, south of Belfast. A number of people were evacuated from their homes for almost two days while the device was made safe. The discovery caused the closure of the Dublin to Belfast railway line. It has since re-opened.

Another bomb was left inside a car at Belfast International Airport. The device consisted of a small explosive device and flammable liquid. Air travel was not affected.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks although IRA splinter groups are suspected. The mainstream IRA (Provisional IRA) has renounced violence and it's political wing, Sinn Féin, is now the most popular party in Northern Ireland. However, smaller groups such as the so-called Real IRA and Continuity IRA continue to carry out sporadic attacks. Last year they killed two British soldiers and a member of the local Police Force. Securit Forces say that these groups have almost no-support and less than 300 members between them, however experts have warned that they are becoming increasingly dangerous and have some support among the youth of working class areas.

Three soldiers killed in Afghanistan

One British and two American soldiers have been killed by insurgents in Iraq.

Segeant Adam Dickmyer of the US 101st Airborne Division was killed when his unit was attacked with a roadside bomb in Kandahar. He was originally from Salem in North Carolina.

Specialist Pedro Maldonado was killed in a skirmish with rebel forces in Kandalay. His unit were attacked with a rocket propelled grenade and small arms. Several other soldiers were wounded. Spc. Maldonado was from Houston Texas.

Meanwhile, a British soldier from the London Engineering Regiment was killed in Helmand Province. The soldier had been attempting to defuse a roadside bomb when his unit was ambushed by insurgent forces. The UK Ministry of Defence have not yet released his name.

Russian police wounded in rebel bomb attack

Four Russian police officers have been wounded in a bomb attack in Ingushetia.

The homemade explosive devices exploded at around 12 noon outside a barracks in the town of Ordzhonikidzevskaya. Four police officers and a civilian were wounded in the bomb attack which is the latest in a series of attacks by rebels and militants in the North Caucuses which includes Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia.


Russia has promised a crackdown on rebel groups in the area.

Azerbaijani soldier killed in Karabakh

An Azerbaijani soldier has been killed in a confrontation with Armenian forces in the border area of Karabakh, the Azerbaijani military has said.

It is understood that the soldier, 19 year-old Telman Mustafayev, was part of a unit patrolling the border when they were fired upon. Azerbaijani sources claim the Armenian army were responsible.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a disputed territory which lies on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. A large portion of the areas is controlled by the NKAD rebel group who want to see an independent Karabakh state. Since a 1994 peace treaty the area has largely remained de-facto independent with little interference from Armenian or Azerbaijan. Howeverm in June of this year four Armenian troops were killed in skirmishes with Azerbaijani forces who were attempting to retake parts of the enclave. The NKAD rebel group remains overwhelmingly pro-Armenian.

In the 1988 - 1992 Nagorno-Karabakh war up to 35,000 people were killed before a Russian brokered peace deal saw the enclave gain de-facto independence.

Bomb alert at Belfast International Airport

A bomb alert is ongoing at Belfast International Airport in Northern Ireland.

The alarm was raised at around 2.30pm this afternoon after a suspicious vehicle was spotted in the long-term car park. It is understood that the PSNI and British Army bomb disposal teams are on site. Flights have not been affected.

The alert is not linked to yesterday's bomb alerts on Cargo-planes in Britain and the USA.

Shots fired across Korean border

Shots have been fired across the Korean border in a further escalation of hostilities between the rival states.

South Korea has claimed that two shots were fired at one of their frontline units in Hwacheon. The South Korean military then responded with three rounds. There were no injuries. So far North Korea has not made any statement regarding the incident.

The incident is believed to have been the first cross border shooting in four years, although confrontations at sea are common. Tensions between the two rivals have been high since the South accused the North of torpedoing one of its warships in March, with the loss of 46 lives. Pyongyang denies the charge.

Russia found guilty of Human Rights violations in Chechnya

Russia has been fined €150,000 by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg following the disappearances of two brothers in Chechnya in 2003.

The case was brought to Strasbourg after a local investigation yielded nothing.

Brothers Ilyas and Isa Yansuyev were never seen again after they were abducted from their home by masked individuals who are alleged to have been members of the Russian military. The court ruled that Yansuyev brothers "should be considered dead as a result of the unacknowledged detention by the Russian military."

The only defence offered by the Russian government was that the kidnappers could have been militants who stole Russian uniforms and weaponry. They also failed to present certain documents requested by the court.

The Russian government was ordered to pay the Yansuyev family €27,000 in material damage, €120,000 in moral damage and €8,000 to cover court expenses.

It is estimated that Russia has been responsible for about 5,000 disappearances in Chechnya since 1999.

US soldiers killed in Afghanistan

A US soldier has been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Michael D. Kirspel Jr. died after suffering serious injuries following an IED attack on his patrol by the Taliban.

The 23 year old soldier was from New Jersey and was a member of the 10th Mountain Division.

Meanwhile another US soldier, Lance Cpl. Terry Honeycutt, 19, died after wounds he received on October 21st in a Taliban attack in Helmand province.

Another US soldier, Private David Jones, 21, died of a gunshot wound on Wednesday in his barracks in Baghdad. Initial reports suggest he committed suicide however his family have insisted that he and 5 others were killed in a shooting spree at the barracks. They claim that another soldier based at the same barracks had informed them that somebody had gone on a shooting rampage, killing six people. The US Military initially told the family he had killed himself before retracting this explanation but not offering any other.

When asked whether other soldiers or US officials had been killed or injured at the base, the military refused to comment only stating that Pvt. Jones' death was "under investigation".

David Kilcullen attempts to justify murder of Reuters cameraman

US military strategist David Kilcullen has attempted to justify the murder of two Reuters cameramen in an airstrike in Baghdad in 2007.

When asked on BBC Newsnight whether the soldiers responsible for the killings had "made a mistake", Mr.Kilcullen responded by saying he did not think any mistake was made, despite the killing of up to 18 people (mainly civilians) and the wounding of two children. Following this, the reporter responded by pointing out that two Reuters cameramen were killed Mr. KIlcullen said "cameramen who were standing with insurgents, kind of interesting isn't it?"

He then went on to claim that the US and British invasion which has killed upwards of 100,000 civilians was "good for the Iraqi people".

Kyrgyz politician injured in assassination attempt

The leader of a Kyrgyz opposition party has been injured after a team of gunmen broke into his home and pistol-whipped him.

The attack took place following this months national election which saw Kamchibek Tashiyev's nationalist Ata-Zhurt party gain almost 9% of the vote.

In June ethnic violence erupted in Kyrgyzstan leaving over 400 people dead and thousands injured and displaced. The President was subsequently overthrown and replaced by an interim government who have been accused of vote rigging and cirruption.

Basque youths arrested

At least 13 suspected members of the Basque political youth group SEGI have been arrested in raids this week.

SEGI is classified as an illegal organisation in Spain and is considered to be the youth wing of ETA or at least a "recruiting ground" for the organisation. Most commentators consider SEGI to be little more than a political youth group who are supportive of ETA and Basque Independence.

All of the suspects were in their early 20's and are to be transferred to Madrid for questioning.

Basque separatist group ETA is currently on ceasefire however the Spanish government is thus far refusing to negotiate with the organisation.

Bomb defused in Grozny

A large explosive device was defused outside the State Theater and Concert Hall in Grozny, Chehnya, today.

The device consisted of over 6 kilograms of high power explosives along with shrapnel packed into a metal container.

Recent weeks have seen a massive upsurge in Chechen rebel attacks on Russian security forces.

It is difficult to obtain independent reports on events as journalists are banned from the small Republic but it's estimated that around 12 Russian soldiers, 5 Police Officers and 6 Rebels have been killed this week in Chechnya and neighbouring Dagestan.

Support for Scottish Independence on the rise

Support for Scottish independence was up 6% while opposition to independence was down by 8%, a recent opinion poll found.

While more people are still opposed to independence, the SNP said this opinion poll proved that Scots are becoming increasingly opposed to English interference in Scottish affairs. When asked whether the Scottish government should have more power over taxation and fiscal policy, 56% of voters said that it should.

Support for Independence was highest among younger respondents.

The overall results of the poll where:

In favour of Independence - 34% (+6%)

Opposed to Independence - 50% (-8%)

Don't Know - 16% (+2%)

The poll was carried out by YouGov.co.uk

Three killed in Iraq bomb attack

Two members of the Iraqi security services and a civilian were killed in a militant carbomb attack on a checkpoint in a Sunni area of Baghdad.

Another civilian was killed in booby-trap bomb attack on a pickup truck on the other side of the city.

Sectarian attacks have increased dramatically in Iraq following the fall of Saddam.

British Parliament to remove historical Cornish border

The historical border between Cornwall and England could disappear if a motion to trim the number of sitting British MP's is passed.

The proposals would see at least one MP's seat crossing the River Tamar to the English county of Devon. The six Cornish MP's held a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday in an attempt to block the move. Mr. Cameron said he would ensure the "Cornish question" was debated in Parliament.

Cornwall, which has been campaigning for a devolved government of it's own, is a historical nation with it's own language, traditions and culture. It's constituitional relationship with Britain has been the subject of debate recently after the legality of it's incorporation into the rest of the UK was brought into question.

Cornish nationalism has been on the rise recently with support for the nationalist party, Mebyon Kernow at an all time high. In recent years, arson and firebomb attacks attributed to Cornish militant groups have been carried out against English owned residences and businesses in the area.

Pipebomb found in Antrim town

A number of people have been evacuated from their homes after an explosive device was found in Antrim town, Northern Ireland, today.

The pipebomb was attached to the letterbox of a ground floor flat.

The device has been taken away for examination.

Antrim town is a majority Unionist (Pro-British) town with a large Nationalist (Pro-Irish) minority.

Palestinian man killed by Israeli tanks

 A 20 year old Palestinian man has been killed in Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip today.

The shell was fired by Israeli tanks from across the border and landed close to Palestinian homes.

Israeli media has claimed that the man, who is believed to have been unarmed, was a member of the Islamic Jihad militant group.

Venezuelan troops take over US glass factories

 Venezuelan troops have taken control of two US owned glass manufacturing factories in Caracas after President Hugo Chavez accused them of exploiting workers and being responsible for environmental pollution.

The factories, which are owned by US based Owens Illinois, are to be nationalized.

Owens is the latest manufacturer to be nationalized by the Venezuelan government who have already taken control of oil, food and beverage companies. Chavez said he has a list of other companies who will be faced with similar actions unless they reform their work practices.

Owens Illinois has been operating in Venezuela for nearly 50 years. It is considered the world's largest manufacturer of glass containers and bottles.

Russians deploy soldiers to Chelyabinsk

 

Moscow has sent over 300 hundred troops to the Ural Region of southern Russia following two militant attacks this week which resulted in two Russian troops being wounded, a fuel depot destroyed and a number of Russian weapons stolen.

Reports from the region indicate that at least 12 Armoured Personnel Carriers, 300 combat troops and a number of tanks were deployed in and around Chelyabinsk. A large number of checkpoints have been set up throughout the region and police barracks' defences have been bolstered.

Search underway for body of IRA victim

 
A search is underway on a beach in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, for the body of a man who was allegedly abducted and killed by the mainstream Provisional IRA in 1973.

The man, Peter Wilson, from west Belfast disappeared in August 1973. It has been alleged that the IRA were responsible for his killing although the organisation has denied this.

The Disappeared mainly consist of over a dozen people who were abducted and murdered by the IRA and INLA in Northern Ireland. Most of the dead were accused of being police informants. Some, such as SAS Captain Robert Nairac, were members of the British security services.

Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels arrested

 Sri Lankan authorities say that they have arrested five suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in Colombo.

The rebel group suffered major losses last year as Sri Lankan troops took back their last stronghold in the north of the island. Since then the rebel group has continued to carry out hit and run attacks on government forces.

Bombs target Colombian transport networks

 A bomb has been defused at an airport in north-eastern Colombia, security forces say.

The bomb, which consisted of a gas cylinder packed with explosives, was left near the landing area of the airport. The Colombian authorities have claimed that the device was planted by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a Marxist rebel group.

Meanwhile in Neiva city, another suspected FARC bomb was defused. This time the device targeted a train station.

British loyalsits attack police in Northern Ireland

Up to 100 pro-British loyalists attacked police officers with bricks and petrol bombs and hijacked a number of vehicles in the Northern Irish town of Newtownabbey today. A local councillor said the attacks stemmed from recent raids in the town which were carried out against suspected members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a pro-British deathsquad.

Following the ceasefires of the late 90's, loyalist groups have frequently become involved in organised crime, including drug dealing. Today's raids are believed to have been drugs related.

British loyalists in Northern Ireland have been unhappy with recent changes in the police force following the peace agreement of 1998 which required the service to recruit 50% of it's new officers from the Irish Nationalist community. Until 1998 over 93% of Police officers came from the British loyalist community.

The agreement has also resulted in responsibility for Policing and Justice being transferred from the British government in London to the local government in Belfast.

There has also been unease amongst the loyalist population in Northern Ireland following European elections earlier in the year which saw Sinn Féin, an Irish Republican Army (IRA) linked pro-Irish political party become the first ever Irish Nationalist party to top an election since the Northern Irish state was founded almost 90 years ago.

Sources: BBC News, Irish News, UTV

Israeli forces incursion in southern Gaza

Israeli Defence Forces carried out an incursion into an area surrounding the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis on Monday.

Locals claimed that Israeli forces fired shells at farmland around the area of Al Qarara, there are no reported injuries.

The raid followed an exchange of fire on Sunday evening when militants from Islamic Jihad claim that they opened fire on an Israeli unit which had entered the Gaza strip. The group says it fired four mortars before exchanging fire with troops. No casualties were reported on either side.

Russian Forces come under attack in Chelyabinsk - Security Increased

Two members of the Russian security forces were wounded and a fuel depot is also believed to have been destroyed in separate attacks in the Chelyabinsk region of southern Russia on Sunday.In the first incident it is understood that Uralian militants attacked a fuel storage depot and at least one guard was wounded. His AK-47 rifle was also stolen and it is beleived that the depot may have been set on fire.

In the other incident, a Russian police patrol came under fire from militants at Bishkil Railway Station. At least one Russian police officer was wounded. His weapon and a quantity of ammunition were subsequently stolen.

Russia has since increased security in the area by setting up a number of military checkpoints in the region while other permanent vehicle checkpoints have been strengthened.

The Ural region has been relatively peaceful and has never suffered from the violence which plagues the Caucasus. A small but sizeable portion of the population support an independent Ural state.

Sources: Kavkaz Center, Chelnovosti.ru

FLNC bomb attack in Sant'Andréa Orcino

Corsican seperatist group the FLNC is believed to have been responsible for a bomb attack against the holiday home of a French couple in southern Corsica. The residence was lightly damaged by a bomb which contained explosives packed into gas cylinder.

The attack occurred at around 3.30am on Sunday morning when the house was unoccupied. The house belongs to a French couple. The villa had previously been destroyed in an FLNC bomb attack in 2006.

Sources: CorseMatin, Unita Naziunale