Rebels clarify Russian Propaganda

Chechen rebels have denied reports that 17 of their fighters including their Commandar Doku Umarov, had been killed in a Russian airstrike.

Speaking to the rebel alligned Kavkaz News Agency, a spokesperson said that only 6 rebels had been killed in the airstrike while 2 rebels along with 2 Russian Secret Service members, one police officer and one soldier had been killed in gun battles in the nearby town of Upper Alkun.

This is the eighth time that Russian Security Forces have claimed to have killed Doku Umarov. Kavkaz however reported that the leader, who is one of the most wanted people on the planet, was safe and well. Reports that his wife had been killed were also denied by the rebel command who said that she continues to command the Martyr Brigade Riyad-us-Saliheen. They did confirm however that one of the dead fighters was a female.

Rebel sources also confirmed the death of long time fighter Emir Supyan (pictured). Supyan had been an active fighter for the last 17 years and had taken part in both the first and second Chechen wars along with the four sieges and battles for Grozny. Rebels described his death as a great loss.

Cars belonging to Prison Wardens torched in Corsica

Two cars have been seriously damaged after they were set alight in the worn of Vescavoto last night.

The cars belonged to prison officers who worked in Borgu jail. Graffiti on a nearby pillar read "Wardens first warning". Police said they believe the motivation for the attack was linked to a "control operation" which was carried out against a number of cells in the prison. Borgu prison consists of common criminals along with members of outlawed separatists groups.

An investigation into the incident has been entrusted to the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the gendarmerie.

Police Officer killed by IRA Dissidents

Small splinter groups which have broken away from the mainstream Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) have been blamed for the death of a young PSNI officer in Omagh, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.

At about 4pm yesterday the young constable, who had only graduated from college three weeks ago, was killed when an under-car booby trap bomb exploded beneath his vehcile as he left for work. While no group has yet claimed responsibility suspicion has fallen on three small breakaway IRA groups who operate in the north with the main suspects being Óglaigh na hÉireann (ONH). The group has previously used under car booby traps against police officers with a PSNI member losing his legs in a similar attack last year.

The attack has been condemned by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams who said these groups would not undo the recent progress made in the peace process. Gerry Adams' Sinn Féin party is considered the political wing of the mainstram Provisional IRA which called an end to it's violent campaign in 2005. The Provisional IRA killed more than a thousand members of the British Security forces in Northern Ireland between 1970 and 1997.

A peace process which was signed in 1998 was supported by the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland, north and south, however small groups of hardline IRA members broke away claiming the peace process did not achieve enough.