The Ayatollah’s return

It was one of the key events of the 20th century. Thirty years ago, religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran from exile and launched an Islamic revolution. The BBC’s John Simpson was on the plane that flew the Ayatollah to Tehran.

In the village of Neauphle-le-Chateau, outside Paris, not an awful lot has changed in the past 30 years.

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43 civilians die in Taliban crossfire – Pakistan

At least 43 civilians were killed Sunday when they were caught in the crossfire between Pakistani forces and Taliban militants, a Pakistani military official said.
Pakistan: 43 civilians die in Taliban crossfire

The official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the incident happened in Charbagh, a district of Swat Valley in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province.

Filed under: Asia, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Children, Islamabad, Islamic law, Kabul, Militants, Pakistan, Sharia, Taleban, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, War

Challenges for Somalia’s new Islamist leader

Somalia’s first Islamist president will need outside financial support and must placate the nation’s myriad clans to have any chance of stabilising the country after 18 years of violence.

Unless President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, 42, starts to deliver on his pledges soon, the promise of a bright new chapter in Somali history will flounder, like the 14 other attempts to form a unity government since a dictator was ousted in 1991.

Filed under: Africa, Aid, Foreign affairs, Islamist, Somalia, Suicide bomber, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal

Hamas upholding ceasefire

“Hamas have internalized the extent of the physical and moral blow inflicted upon it. Unlike arrogant statements sounded in the media, the organization is conducting serious soul-searching on its strategic mistakes and operational failures,” Military Intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin said Sunday in the weekly cabinet meeting.

“Two weeks after the cease-fire began, terrorists not belonging to Hamas are challenging the organization and carrying out attacks in order to bring on another escalation.

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Iraqi Sunnis join the political movement

Turnout in Saturday’s provincial elections in Iraq was 51%, according to figures from the electoral commission.

This was lower than some had predicted, but Iraqi officials told news agencies turnout had jumped in some mainly Sunni areas which previously boycotted polls.

US President Barack Obama hailed the largely peaceful vote, which he called “an important step forward”.

Figures provided to AFP news agency suggest January was the most peaceful month since 2003’s US-led invasion.

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Rwandan, Ugandan troops to quit Congo

Rwandan and Ugandan troops deployed in Democratic Republic of Congo to fight rebels will return home by the end of February, Congolese President Joseph Kabila told journalists in the capital Kinshasa on Saturday.

Thousands of soldiers from Congo’s eastern Great Lakes neighbours, which attacked the giant central African country in a 1998-2003 war, launched joint operations with the Congolese army in December and early January.

“It was a difficult decision, but a decision was needed… The deadline must certainly not go beyond the month of February,” Kabila said.

Filed under: Africa, African Union, Aid, Civil war, Congo, Genocide, International, International Criminal Court, Rwanda, Terror, The Terror Journal, U.N, Uganda, War, War Crimes, World

Sri Lankan troops seize LTTE black tiger base

Sri Lankan troops fighting their way into Tamil Tiger -held areas in the island’s north have captured a “Black Tiger” camp complex along with a large haul of heavy weapons left behind by the fleeing guerrillas, military said Sunday. The Black Tigers were responsible for the assassination of former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi.

The military said that 58 Division troops have captured the Black Tiger camp complex consisting of administration and logistics compartments at Vishwamadhu area Saturday. Black Tigers were also known as suicide Tigers.

Filed under: Asia, Australia, Canada, Chennai, Colombo, Elephant Pass, Guerrilla Group, Guerrilla war, India, Jafna, London, LTTE, Madras, Mahindra Rajapaksa, Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka, Tamil, Tamil Nadu, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, Toronto, UK, Velupillai Prabhakaran, War

Hamas agrees to year long Gaza truce

Hamas has accepted an Egyptian proposal for a year-long truce with Israel in Gaza starting on Thursday, Al-Arabiya TV Sunday quoted sources in the Islamist militant group as saying.

A Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo on Monday in order to give the group’s final answer to the initiative.

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Israel vows response as rocket fire continues

At least two rockets fired by Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip struck southern Israel on Sunday, causing no damage or casualties, police said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the salvo from armed factions in Gaza, which is still reeling from a 22-day Israeli offensive billed as punishing Islamist Hamas for such cross-border attacks.

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Sri Lanka warns International community against ‘bias’

Sri Lanka has warned diplomats, aid agencies and media, including the BBC, that they will be expelled if they seem to favour the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said bias among some foreigners was damaging security forces as they dealt the “final blow” to the rebels.

The warning comes amid growing concern for civilians trapped in the war zone during the army’s latest offensive.

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