| Airbornelawyer |
10-11-2005 11:17 |
More from the RFE/RL Newsline:
Southeastern Europe
- EU LAUNCHES MONITORING MISSION ON MOLDOVAN-UKRAINIAN BORDER. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk, Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrey Stratan, and EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner signed a memorandum on 7 October on the launch of a two-year mission by European Commission monitors on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border beginning on 1 December, RFE/RL and Ukrainian and Moldovan news agencies reported. "What we will do is deploy a number of mobile teams, consisting of approximately 50 border guards and customs officials from EU member states, to the most relevant locations along the entire border, including the Transdniestrian segment," Ferrero-Waldner said at the Palanca checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border on 7 October. The EU teams will not operate on Transdniestrian territory. "We are sure this will make it possible to stop all smuggling activities, including trafficking in human beings, drugs, and arms, which take place along the Transdniestrian segment of the Moldova-Ukraine border," Stratan commented on the mission. Brussels will support the mission with 7 million euros ($8.4 million).
Southwestern Asia And The Middle East
- 18 AFGHAN POLICEMEN AMBUSHED, KILLED IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE. An Afghan National Police convoy was ambushed by unidentified attackers in Helmand Province on 10 October, resulting in the death of 18 officers, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Mohammad Yosuf Astanikzai told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan on 11 October. Helmand's deputy police chief, Amanullah Khan, was among those killed, Astanikzai added. Helmand is a hotbed of neo-Taliban activity.
- ATTACK ON PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE INJURES MORE THAN A DOZEN IN WESTERN AFGHANISTAN. An explosive device injured 13 people in a private clinic of Saleh Mohammad Saljuqi in Herat city on 10 October, AFP reported. Saljuqi, who is a candidate for the lower house of the Afghan parliament, the People's Council, escaped unhurt. No one has claimed responsibility for the blast.
- SUICIDE BOMBER WOUNDS FOUR BRITONS IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN. Four British customs officials were injured when a suicide bomber crashed his vehicle into theirs in Kandahar Province, AFP reported on 9 October. Kandahar Governor Asadullah Khaled told AFP that the attack was "the work of the enemies of Afghanistan." The neo-Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on the British workers, AIP reported on 9 October. Neo-Taliban spokesman Mojahed told AIP that Mawlawi Akramuddin, a resident of the Arghandab district of Kandahar, carried out the suicide attack on behalf of the neo-Taliban.
- PRO-GOVERNMENT COMMANDER AMONG FOUR KILLED IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN. Aqil Shah and three others died in an explosion in Kandahar on 10 October, AIP reported. Aqil Shah was an ally of the former Kandahar Governor Gol Agha Sherzai, who is currently the governor of Nangarhar Province. The neo-Taliban claimed responsibility for having killed Aqil Shah, AIP reported on 10 October. Mojahed told AIP that the "Taliban carried out" the explosion in Kandahar in order to kill Aqil Shah because he "was a pro-government commander."
- SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS TWO IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN. A man blew himself up on 10 October in Kandahar, killing at least two other people, AFP reported. The bomber "who had explosives on his body exploded himself when police ordered him to stop," Kandahar Governor Khaled told reporters. According to Khaled, the remains of the attacker have indicated that he was not an Afghan.
- IRAQI GOVERNMENT ISSUES SLEW OF WARRANTS FOR ALLEGED CORRUPTION. The Iraqi government issued arrest warrants for 27 high-level members of the former interim administration of Iyad Allawi -- including former Defense Minister Hazim al-Sha'lan -- for suspected involvement in the embezzlement of more than $1 billion, bbc.co.uk reported on 11 October. Adil al-Lami, who chairs the current government's transparency commission, said warrants have also been issued for the former ministers of transportation, electricity, labor, and housing, Al-Jazeera reported on 11 October. The National Assembly met on 10 October to discuss the lifting of al-Sha'lan's immunity from prosecution so that he might be extradited from Jordan, but no decision was reached, according to Al-Jazeera. London's "Al-Sharq al-Awsat" reported on 10 October that Jordanian authorities have banned al-Sha'lan from any political or media activities on Jordanian territory in light of the corruption scandal. Al-Sha'lan was expected to announce the establishment of a new political party this week, which he has reportedly named "The Parliament." Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher told the daily that Jordan has not yet received an official Iraqi request for al-Sha'lan's extradition.
- GOVERNMENT DECLARES NATIONAL HOLIDAY. The Iraqi government declared a national holiday from 13-16 October as part of a security lockdown in connection with the constitutional referendum, RFI reported on 10 October. The holiday will be much like that imposed during the January elections; border crossings will be shut down, and airports will be closed to commercial passenger flights. Ministries and government offices will be closed, and extended curfew hours will be in place.
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