BAQUBA: Three powerful co-ordinated suicide attacks in the central Iraq city of Baquba killed at least 33 people and wounded 55 on Wednesday, just days before nationwide parliamentary elections.

The blasts, the deadliest to hit the country in nearly a month, spurred police to clamp an immediate curfew on the city, 60 kilometres (40 miles) north of Baghdad and one of Iraq’s biggest.

The attacks came despite heightened security across the country ahead of Sunday’s vote and after the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, threatened to disrupt the election by “military means.”

Two near-simultaneous suicide vehicle bombs ripped through the provincial housing department’s offices and a nearby traffic intersection at around 9:30 am (0630 GMT), while a man later blew himself up at Baquba’s main hospital where victims were being treated.

“The three bombings killed 33 people,” a security official from Baquba operations command said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“The (third) suicide bomber tried to blow himself up against the police chief when he came to see the wounded in the hospital.”

Police chief Major General Abdul Hussein al-Shimmari escaped unharmed but members of his personal security team, including police Colonel Nabil Ibrahim, were wounded. Diyala provincial health chief Dr. Ali al-Timimi was also injured.

The first vehicle crashed through the entrance to the provincial housing department’s compound, which sits next to a police station, before exploding.

Moments later at a nearby traffic intersection, a suicide bomber triggered the explosives packed into his vehicle, creating a powerful blast. The hospital bombing occurred a short time later.

US and Iraqi security forces have cordoned off the hospital, an AFP journalist at the scene said.

Wednesday’s attack was the deadliest to hit the country since February 5, when 41 Shiite pilgrims were killed on the last day of a religious mourning ceremony on the outskirts of the holy city of Karbala.

Baquba, about 60 kilometres (40 miles) north of Baghdad and capital of Diyala province, was a hotbed of Sunni insurgents in the wake of the 2003 US-led invasion.

Iraqis go to the polls on Sunday 7 in legislative elections, the second such vote since Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003.

The country’s national security advisor told AFP on Sunday that of the groups seeking to strike in the election period, “AQI (Al-Qaeda in Iraq) attacks are the most direct and serious security threat.”

“Al-Qaeda will try to target the whole process, but we do think that it doesn’t have the capacity to reach its goals,” Safa Hussein said.

Hussein added that security forces had found and prevented at least 10 vehicle bombs in the past month.

AQI leader Baghdadi last month condemned the elections as a political crime plotted by Shiites, according to US-based SITE, which monitors Islamist websites.

“(We) have decided to prevent the elections by all legitimate means possible, primarily by military means,” SITE quoted him as saying in a statement posted on an Islamist website.

The election is seen by Washington as a crucial precursor to a complete US military withdrawal by the end of 2011.

The UN’s envoy to Iraq has said that while he was concerned by the level of violence, it had not affected preparations for the election.

“We are concerned about the security of candidates and election organisers,” Ad Melkert said Monday.

“But what one does not see is a general pattern that might really affect also the assessment of whether the campaign as such is enabling the Iraqi people really to express their preference.”

A total of 352 Iraqis were killed as a result of violence in Iraq in February — 211 civilians, 96 police and 45 soldiers — which was nearly double the toll from the previous month.

India News: The three Indian generals who were accused of having an involvement in a land scam have been indicted.
Military Secretary Gen Avadesh, Lieutenant General PK Raj and Major General Ramesh Halgali have been alleged of making a fake NCO of the 70 acres land, adjoined to a military base near Darjeeling, to give it to a private organization.
The military inquiry team appealed for court martial of Gen Avadesh and Lt Gen PK Raj, and court proceeding against Maj Gen Ramesh.
However, the final decision would be taken by Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor in this regard.

India: Indian Generals Guilty of Rs 290-crore Scam, In one of the biggest corruption scandals to hit the Indian Army; now it’s clear that three top generals were involved.
The case involves 70 acres of land, owned by the Army, in Siliguri in North Bengal. An army inquiry has found that the three generals colluded to lease this land to a group of businessmen for a project worth 290 crore. The same project had been rejected by their predecessors on security grounds, pointing out that any building on this land would overlook helipads and other sensitive army installations.
The biggest offender is Lieutenant General Avadesh Prakash, the Military Secretary, one of the eight Principal Staff Officers at Army Headquarters. The court of inquiry says he took undue interest in the Siliguri project, possibly because of old links with businessman Dilip Agarwal. Prakash then pressured the then-Commander of the 33 Corps, Lieutenant General PK Rath to clear the 70-acre. And then there’s Lieutenant General Ramesh Halgali. At the time of the scam, he was a Major General, and deputy to Rath. He’s been found guilty on administrative grounds – not giving his boss the correct advice.
None of them faces any punishment yet as this was only a court of inquiry. The Army Headquarters and Ministry of Defence will have to take a final call whether one or more of them could face a court martial once the report reaches Delhi from the Eastern Command.

The security force’ continue to advance in South Waziristan and have taken the control of Sherongi Nari while gunship helicopters’ bombardment in Makin, Laddah and adjoining areas killed six militants besides destroying their hideouts.

Sources disclosed that that army has narrowed the circle around Makin and Laddah. The militants have been asked to surrender before the forces, sources added. The supply lines and check posts are being established in the areas which have been cleared of the militants. ISPR Director General Major General Athar Abbas told that so far 78 militants had been killed in the operation. Nine officials embraced martyrdom and 35 got injured in the operation. The migration in the fight-stricken areas is still underway.

Security forces take control of Sherongi was first posted on October 20, 2009 at 11:31 am.

ISLAMABAD: The spokesman Pakistan army Major General Athar Abbas has confirmed that the situation outside army General Headquarters (GHQ) has been brought under total control meanwhile, all four terrorists who carried out gun onslaught at army checkpost, have been killed.

According to sources, four terrorists, driving a white Suzuki van and dressed in army uniform, opened firing and hurled hand grenades at army checkpost outside headquarters’ main gate, which security forces retaliated successfully, killing all four terrorists while two were arrested.

Some security guards were also embrace martyrdom during offensive, Abbas said, adding, army commandos had cordoned off the entire area and search operation remained underway to locate other militants who might have fled through adjacent areas.

The miscreants have been overpowered and the situation is under complete control just after one-hour long gunbattle, spokesman ISPR .
According to details suspected militants attacked tightly guarded army headquarters on Saturday, as they were in a white Suzuki vehicle and were intercepted at army checkpost no 1, they opened fire and threw five hand grenades at a main gate, security officials and media said.

“They wore army uniforms and tried to enter the headquarters area but when they were stopped they opened fire and hurled hand grenades and later were killed following a deadly gunbattle,” a security official told media.

Four terrorists were killed and two were arrested during one-hour long encounter and four army men embraced martyrdom, army sources said.

Media sources said firing continued with the two or three gunmen for forty minutes after the attack was launched. Three blasts had been heard, they said.

Soldiers had sealed off roads leading to the headquarters and two helicopters remained hovering over the area.

Somali Militants Kill 14 Peacekeepers To Avenge U.S. Raid, MOGADISHU: Twin suicide bombings ripped through the headquarters of African Union peacekeepers in Somalia Thursday, killing 14 soldiers in the deadliest such attack against the force.

“At least two bombs” exploded at the force’s headquarters in a fortified compound at Mogadishu airport, the AU said in a statement, which condemned what it called a “barbaric attack” in which at least 15 other soldiers were wounded. Rebels claimed responsibility for the attack.

“Among those who died is the AMISOM deputy commander Major General Juvenal Niyonguruza,” who was about to complete his tour of duty in Somalia, Ugandan army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Felix Kulayigye said.

Ten Burundi soldiers were killed, the country’s army spokesman Lazare Nduhayo told media, raising an ealier toll of nine to 14.

“Five soldiers died on the spot and five others succumbed to their injuries,” he said in Bujumbura.

The peacekeepers’ commander, General Nathan Mugisha, who took up his post only last month, suffered minor injuries.

The circumstances surrounding the attack were unclear Thursday but witnesses said the bombers entered the compound using two vehicles with United Nations markings.

Kulayigye, who said Mugisha was about to host negotiations at the compound, said the bombers had got in “with a group that was coming for talks”. He did not elaborate.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the blast in the “strongest terms.” Somali government spokesman Abdulkadir Walayo condemned the “terrorist” attack, which he said was carried out by “two criminals using previously robbed UN cars.”

SWAT: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Army Chief Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani reached Swat.

Major General Ashfaq Nadeem, incharge of operation ‘ Rah-e-Raast ‘ briefed prime minister about Swat operation and IDPs return at Circuit House.

Chief minister NWFP Ameer Haider Hoti, Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani and other ministers also present in the briefing.