Wave of bombings at markets, funeral kill 41 in Iraq
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APBaghdad municipality workers clean up as civilians inspect the site of a car bomb attack near the Technology University in Sinaa Street in downtown Baghdad, Iraq, on Wednesday. A wave of bombings across Iraq striking busy markets and a funeral north of Baghdad killed 37 people, authorities said.
A wave of bombings across Iraq striking busy markets and a funeral north of Baghdad killed at least 41 people Wednesday, authorities said, as the country remains gripped by violence after al—Qaida—linked militants took control of two cities in western Anbar province.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. Insurgent groups, mainly al—Qaida’s local branch and other Sunni militants, frequently target civilians in cafes and public areas, as well as Shiites and members of Iraqi security forces in an attempt to undermine confidence in the Shiite—led government and stir sectarian tensions.
Deadliest attack
The deadliest attack struck a funeral in the town of Buhriz, about 60 km north of Baghdad. That bombing killed 16 people and wounded 26 inside of a mourning tent, a police officer said.
Syria deaths: Family despairs after couple killed in rebel infighting
“Caring”: Amira Ali (right) with friend Kathy Dokas in 2011. Photo: Supplied
Amira Ali and her husband, Yusuf, were not scared of death.
”Preparing for the grave,” Mr Ali wrote in one of several reflective posts on his Facebook page.
”Everything is temporary,” his wife, 22, posted on December 2, a few days after changing her profile picture to a message saying ”Jannah [the Islamic garden of paradise] is the motive”.
Devastated family of the pair were taking comfort in the fact the couple were granted their wish of martyrdom after being killed in suspected infighting in the Syrian town of Aleppo on Saturday.
16 Taliban militants killed, 30 IEDs seized in Afghan operations
By GHANIZADA – Wed Jan 15 2014, 12:00 pm
At least 16 Taliban militants were killed and 3 others were injured during joint military operations by Afghan national security forces.
The interior ministry of Afghanistan following a statement said, the operations were conducted during the past 24 hours in various provinces of Afghanistan.
The statement further added that the operations were conducted jointly by Afghan police, Afghan army and Afghan intelligence operatives in Parwan, Baghlan, Kunduz, Kandahar, Zabul, Logar and Paktiya provinces.
Interior ministry in its statement confirmed that 16 militants were killed, 3 were injured and 7 others were arrested during the operations.
Egypt: Death toll rises on first day of constitutional referendum
(AK) – At least nine people were killed in clashes in Egypt with security forces on the first day of a plebiscite on a proposed new constitution, Al-Ahram daily’s website reported.
Earlier Al-Ahram reported that seven people had been killed but less than two hours before polling stations were due to close at 8pm, two supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohammed Morsi died in clashes with security forces in Giza in greater Cairo, the daily said.
Four people were killed in Upper Egypt’s Sohag, four in Giza and one in Beni Suef, some 115 kilometres south of Cairo.
Turnout in the two-day referendum looked to be high, with long queues reported at polling stations. The day began with reports of an explosion outside a courthouse in Giza, Greater Cairo, but there were no reported injuries.
The Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement to which ousted elected president Mohammed Morsi belongs, has boycotted the referendum, calling it an attempted coup d’etat against the country’s “legitimate” constitution.
North Yemen strife has killed at least 210, Salafis say
SANAA Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:25am EST
Smoke billows from a military truck set on fire during an attack by gunmen on a military post in al-Shihr city of the southeastern Yemeni province of Hadramout January 12, 2014.
(Reuters) – At least 210 people have been killed in two months of fighting between Shi’ite Muslim Houthis and ultra-conservative Sunni Salafis in northern Yemen, a Salafi spokesman said on Monday.
The violence erupted on October 30 when the Houthi rebels who control much of the northern Saada province accused Salafis in the town of Damaj of recruiting thousands of foreign fighters to prepare to attack them.
The Salafis, who follow a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam, say the foreigners are students seeking to deepen their knowledge of Islam in the town’s Dar al-Hadith seminary.
Sudan refugee boat sinks killing at least 200
Tens of thousands have already crossed the Nile in wooden boats to escape fighting around the rebel-held city of Bor
SPLA soldiers sing as they celebrate in Bentiu, Unity state. South Sudan’s army said it had regained the rebel-held town of Bentiu, restoring government control of Unity state where oil production had been halted by fighting. Photograph: Andreea Campeanu/Reuters
First published:Tue, Jan 14, 2014, 15:15
Around 200 people, mostly women and children, have drowned after the boat they were using to flee fighting in Southern Sudan sank on the Nile.
Tens of thousands have already crossed the Nile in wooden boats to escape fighting around the rebel-held city of Bor.
A government military spokesman said the front line continues to shift but it appears fighting is about 45 miles north of Juba, the country’s capital.
In Ethiopia, where peace talks are taking place, a spokesman for the rebels said Ugandan helicopters and fighter jets are bombing rebel positions.
