Pakistan army advances in Swat

Pakistan’s army says it has retaken high ground from Taleban militants in a district of the north-west where many civilians died in weekend fighting.

Charbagh district near Mingora, the main town in Swat valley, has been the scene of a major battle since Saturday.

Witnesses said five more bodies were found on Monday, taking the number of dead civilians since Saturday to 25.

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

Somalia’s new chance

How times change. Somalia’s new Islamist president has been feted in Ethiopia, whose army drove him from power two years ago – with Washington’s backing – when he headed a sharia courts movement.

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was greeted with a standing ovation from African Union leaders at a summit in Ethiopia, which pulled the last of its troops out of Somalia last month, leaving the government in control of little beyond parts of Mogadishu. The hardline Islamist al Shabaab militia control much of the rest of southern Somalia.

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

Suicide bomb kills 21 police in Afghanistan

A Taliban suicide bomber killed 21 police in southern Afghanistan Monday, the government said, one of the deadliest attacks on the force in recent months.

The bomber, wearing a police uniform, made his way into a police compound in Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province, and blew up explosives attached to his body, Uruzgan police chief Juma Gul Hemat told Reuters.

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

Sri Lanka civilian situation grave – Aid groups

International humanitarian aid agencies called Monday for increased access to the “nightmarish situation” in northern Sri Lanka, where government forces and Tamil rebels are locked in battle. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are thought to be trapped by the fighting.
A civilian, injured during fighting in rebel territory, lies on a bed at a hospital in Vavuniya on January 16, 2009.

The plea came as artillery shells slammed into a hospital in the northern district of Mullaittivu, where civilians — including a growing number of children are being treated.

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

Deadly strike on Sri Lanka hospital

The UN in Sri Lanka says many people – including children – have been killed by shells landing on a hospital in rebel-held territory in the north-east.

UN spokesman Gordon Weiss told the BBC the shells had hit a crowded paediatric unit. It is not clear who fired them.

Earlier the Red Cross said two people had been killed on a separate strike on the same hospital.

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

Pakistani army kills 16 Taleban

Pakistan’s army says it has killed 16 Taleban militants and injured many more during an operation in the north-western Swat Valley.

Local officials say the number of dead is greater and includes civilians.

The military launched its offensive last week in response to a public outcry over the Taleban’s growing strength in Swat.

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

Israel hits Hamas targets in Gaza

Israeli aircraft have bombed a Hamas security target in Gaza City and tunnels used by the militant group along the border with Egypt.

There were no reports of casualties after the strikes late on Sunday.

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert earlier vowed a “disproportionate” response to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.

Filed under: MidEast, Gaza, Gaza raids, Gaza strip, Hamas, IAF, IDF, Iran, Israel, Middle East, MidEast, Operation Cast Lead, Palestine, Palestinian Authority, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, West Bank