United States/Sudan/Terrorism: Bin Laden's aid gets 14-year sentence

Media reported that a US military jury in the Guantanamo Bay has sentenced Ibrahim Al-Qosi, former cook and body guard of Al-Qaeda’s leader Osama bin Laden, to 14 years in prison.

Al-Qosi, a Sudanese national, pleaded guilty last month in the war crimes court at the Guantanamo Bay US naval base to charges of conspiring with Al-Qaeda and providing material support for terrorism.

According to officials, Al-Qosi acknowledged that he knew Al-Qaeda was a terrorist group when he worked as bin Laden’s bodyguard, helping the Al-Qaeda leader to avoid capture by US forces, and while running one of the kitchens in his Star of Jihad compound in Afghanistan.

He was arrested in Afghanistan in 2001 and transferred to the Guantanamo Bay facility in 2002. It is worth mentioning that Al-Qosi is the first Guantanamo captive convicted under the administration of President Barack Obama.

Mexico/Organized Crime: Kidnappers free journalist

Mexican Authorities stated on Wednesday that Ulises Gonzalez Garcia, the editor of “La Opinion” weekly newspaper in the central Mexican state of Zacatecas was freed earlier on Monday by his kidnappers.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a spokesperson for the state Attorney General’s Office, said that Garcia, who had been abducted on July 29, required treatment at a hospital after his ordeal.

Reportedly, the details of the crime remain hazy because neither the victim nor his family wanted to share them with authorities. There were no immediate comments available from “La Opinion” publication either.

As a reminder, Mexican police raided last month a drug gang safe house and rescued two television journalists kidnapped by cartel members who demanded their networks to broadcast their messages.

Mali/Terrorism: Al-Qaeda kidnaps soldier and one customs guide

Malian Authorities announced on Wednesday that Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) had kidnapped a Malian soldier and a guide working for the Customs Service in the northern part of the country.

An official from the Office of the Governor in Kidal, the northeastern region where the kidnapping took place, confirmed the incident.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official from the Security Ministry said there were others with the two persons abducted who had been spared, while another security source said one of the kidnapped had been injured during the seizure.

It is worth mentioning that last month AQIM had claimed the killing of Michel Germaneau, a French hostage as retaliation to a raid carried by French troops against a base in the Sahara desert.

Rwanda/Insurgency:  Kagame wins poll, grenade wounds seven in Kigali

Media Reported that at least seven people were wounded in a grenade attack in the capital Kigali on Wednesday, shortly after incumbent President Paul Kagame was officially declared winner of Monday’s vote.

According to the police, a grenade was thrown near the main bus station in the capital. Police spokesman Eric Kayiranga said seven people including two children were wounded in a grenade blast.

However, witnesses said about 20 people were injured in the explosion. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

Rwanda’s electoral commission officially declared incumbent President Paul Kagame duly re-elected after saying he won a landslide victory with about 93 percent of the total vote cast.

Russia/Terrorism: One policeman shot, two wounded in Moscow

The Press Service of Russia’s Interior Ministry stated that one policeman was killed and two wounded after unknown assailants opened fire on them early Thursday in the southwest of the Russian capital.

A spokesman for the Moscow police said two suspects opened fire from automatic weapons on a police patrol on the Profsoyuznaya Street, killing one and wounding two policemen. Reportedly, the policemen returned fire wounding one of the assailants while another fled the scene in a car.

Separately, Chechen rebels claimed responsibility on Thursday for a small explosion three days ago near the Moscow headquarters of Russia's state-controlled gas giant Gazprom. However, no one was injured in that explosion.

Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov said Gazprom had been targeted to show that the Kremlin had failed to defeat Chechen insurgents in two wars since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.

Morocco/Security: Moroccan police dismantle 18-member cell suspected of plotting terrorist acts

Morocco's Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday that Moroccan security forces have dismantled an 18-member terrorist cell suspected of plotting attacks in Morocco.

The cell was suspected of planning acts of sabotage and terror attacks on foreign facilities in Morocco, according to the interior ministry statement.

There where three persons who had previously been jailed for terrorist activities among those arrested. The ministry gave no further specific details about the arrests.

Colombia/Organised Crime: Security agency arrests Cuchillo’s chief hit man

Colombian Media reported that Colombia's Security and Intelligence Agency DAS arrested on Tuesday in Puerto Lopez, Meta department, Juan de Jesus Jimenez Pena, alias "Richard," who is believed to be the chief hit man of a drug trafficking organization run by Pedro Oliverio Guerrero, alias "Cuchillo".

Reportedly, Richard was in charge of coordinating extortions and homicides in the eastern Arauca department, as well as for arms and drug trafficking between Villavicencio, Puerto Lopez, and Puerto Gaitan.

Nelson Enrique Bravo Zambrano, alias "El Enano" was arrested alongside Richard. A large quantity of arms and ammunition was also seized.

It is worth mentioning that Cuchillo is one of Colombia's most wanted drug traffickers and that the Colombian Government is offering a reward of COP5 billion ($2.5 million) for information leading to his capture.

Russia/Security: Moscow deploys S-300 air defence system in Abkhazia

Commander of the Russian Air Force Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin announced on Wednesday that Russia has deployed an S-300 Air Defence System in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia.

According to Zelin, its role will be the anti-aircraft defence of the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in cooperation with the air defence systems of the army, as well as to avert violations of state borders in the air.

The advanced version of the S-300 missile system, called S-300PMU1, has a range of over 150 kilometres and can intercept ballistic missiles and aircraft at low and high altitudes, making it effective in warding off potential air and missile strikes.

Indonesia/Terrorism: Arrested cleric is leader of Al-Qaeda

Indonesian Police Stated on Tuesday that prominent radical Islamist Abu Bakar Bashir, who was arrested this week for alleged terrorist activity, is the leader of the local branch of Al-Qaeda.

National police spokesman Edward Aritonang said documents confiscated by police named Bashir, 71, as the leader of a group called Tandzim Al-Qaeda Indonesia - Al-Qaeda Organization of Indonesia - seeking to set up base in Aceh Province.

According to Aritonang, the organization was a merger of several militant groups, including Jemaah Islamiyah, the Islamic State of Indonesia and Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid, an Islamic outfit founded by Bashir two years ago.

Police said Bashir could face the death penalty over his alleged role in terror plots with Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist.

Afghanistan/Terrorism: Three civilians killed in roadside bomb in Ghazni

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan announced on Wednesday that a road side bomb planted by suspected terrorists left three Afghan civilians dead in Waghaz district of Ghazni province on Tuesday.

The province's Police Chief Khialbaz Sherzai said two men and a woman were killed and another two civilians were injured in the blast. Sherzai blamed Taleban fighters for the attack.

It is worth mentioning that a recent UN report said civilian deaths soared 31 per cent in the first six months of 2010 compared with the same period last year.

Sudan/Insurgency: Ambush kills 23 in key southern oil region

Army Officials stated on Wednesday that gunmen in south Sudan had killed 23 people, including police officers, when they ambushed a truck in the key oil producing state of Unity last weekend.

Malaak Ayuen Ajok, from the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army (SPLA) - a former rebel movement that turned the official southern military - said attackers ambushed a truck in the south of Bentiu. Ajok further stated that among the dead were elements of the prison service and wildlife protection forces and that also eight others had been injured in the attack.

Reportedly, the assailants were not known. However, there is a strong suspicion they could be remnants of forces of militia leader Galwak Gai, a renegade colonel who launched a rebellion after alleging fraud in April's national elections.

India/Insurgency: Four killed as curfew re-imposed in Indian Kashmir

Media reported that suspected terrorists attacked an army convoy in Thanamandi near Rajouri in India-administered Kashmir on Wednesday, killing one civilian and injuring one army personnel.

Earlier on Tuesday, three policemen have been killed when heavily-armed terrorists opened fire on them during an attack on the house of Nationalist Political Party (NPP) leader Muhammad Abdullah Dar in the R M Pura area of the Sopore town, Baramulla district.

Reportedly, the police and security forces reached the spot immediately and cordoned the area to nab the terrorists responsible for the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for either of the attacks so far.

Meanwhile, strict curfew and restrictions were imposed in Srinagar and other towns of Kashmir Valley on Wednesday as separatists called for the organization of a march in the Pampore town in order to observe the death anniversary of Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz.

Colombia/Insurgency: Police arrest 100 members of illegal armed groups

Colombian Media reported on Wednesday that police forces had arrested about 100 members of illegal armed groups during the last week of former President Alvaro Uribe's leadership.

Reportedly, 68 people linked to the Medellin-based drug trafficking organization the "Office of Envigado" were arrested, as well as 14 members of the criminal gang "Los de Uraba", 13 members of "Los Paisas" and two members of the "Aguilas Negras". During the operations, police seized 60 firearms, seven grenades, 517 cartridges of ammunition and two motorbikes. It is worth mentioning that most of the arrests took place in the central department of Antioquia, three in the northern Cordoba department, two in northern Magdalena, and three others in Cucuta, Choco, respectively Magdalena Medio.

Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that four men and three women, believed to be members of the guerrilla group ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional), surrendered to the Colombian army in the municipality of Barbacoas, in the restive Narino department.

According to officials, the guerrillas belonged to the Guerreros del Sindagua column of the Comuneros del Sur Front led by alias "Sebitas," who surrendered along with the other six. The guerrillas handed over 45 landmines, 45 kilos of explosives, 946 cartridges of ammunition, and four short-range guns.

Iraq/Terrorism: Bomb kills eight soldiers, wounds four

Iraqi Police stated that at least eight Iraqi soldiers have been killed and four others wounded when a bomb exploded in northern Diyala province on Wednesday.

According to police officials, the bomb went off in the early morning when soldiers raided a house in the town of Sadiya, northeast of Diyala's capital Baquba. Reportedly, the explosion caused the respective building to collapse.

Earlier on Tuesday, explosions and gunmen killed six people across the country, including two members of the Awakening Council (Sahwa) anti-Al-Qaeda group and two policemen and injured 15 others. Amongst a series of blasts, the most serious was an explosion that took place in Baghdad’s neighbourhood of Baiyaa.

Turkey/Terrorism: Two killed in pipeline blast

Turkey's Anatolia News Agency reported that two people were killed and one person was wounded when suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) guerrillas blew up a pipeline near the town of İdil, in south-eastern Turkey’s Sirnak province late on Tuesday.

Reportedly, two people were killed and one was injured as the ensuing fire of a landmine detonation spread to cars passing on the road. According to officials, the explosion was carried out with a remote control device.

The pipeline carries oil from Kirkuk in northern Iraq to the port of Ceyhan on Turkey's Mediterranean coast and is operated by the state-run Botas on the Turkish side.

It is worth mentioning that the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the past.

Philippines/Insurgency: Four killed in fighting among MILF rebels in Maguindanao

Philippine Military announced on Wednesday that four rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were killed ant other seven were injured in a clash between commanders of the rebel group in the barangay (district) New Liong of Datu Piang in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila late on Monday.

Senior Superintendent Marcelo Pintac, a provincial police commander, said the clashes erupted between Commander Adzmie and Commander Abunawas of the fronts 106th and 104th Base Command of the MILF.

Lt. Col. Benjamin Jao, spokesman of the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, said nearly 3,500 families have been displaced by the clashes.

The spokesman said that the encounter between the two MILF groups stopped only after the military launched non-lethal smoke bombs and artillery fire.

Mauritania/Mali/Security: Nouakchott and Bamako to meet on fight against Al-Qaeda

Media reported that in a move to improve cooperation on fighting Al-Qaeda in North Africa, Mauritanian Justice Minister Abidine Ould El Kheir was traveling to Mali on Tuesday.

Officials linked the visit with the ongoing trial in Mauritania of a suspect accused of taking part in the kidnapping of two Spanish aid workers. The aid workers were captured late last year and are being held by an Al-Qaeda affiliated group in northern Mali.

Last month, Al-Qaeda's wing in North Africa, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) killed Michel Germaneau, a French hostage in response to a raid by French troops against a base in the Sahara Desert.

France, which has declared war against the terrorist group, has given support to Mauritania in its recent offensive against Al-Qaeda in North Africa, which includes increased military operations.

Iraq/insurgency: Sahwa leader shot dead in southern Hilla

Iraqi Officials Stated that a leader of an extremist group allied with the Iraqi government was gunned down on Tuesday in the southern city of Hilla.

According to officials, unknown gunmen shot dead Malik Yasin, of the Sahwa or Awakening Councils. Two other members of the group were injured in the attack.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The Sahwa groups regularly face attacks for their role in aiding government and US forces clamp down on radical militant groups.

Azerbaijan/Security: Four jailed over massacre at oil academy

Media reported that three men have been sentenced to life and one to 11 years' imprisonment on Tuesday for their role in the massacre of 12 students at Baku's State Oil Academy in 2009.

Reportedly, the Court for Grave Crimes sentenced Nadir Aliyev, Javidan Amirov and Najaf Suleymanov to life imprisonment and Ariz Gabulov to 11 years in jail. It is worth mentioning that the four men are all Georgian citizens of ethnic Azerbaijani origin and have denied the charges of terrorism, murder and weapons smuggling.

On 30 April 2009, another Georgian citizen of Azerbaijani origin - Farda Gadirov - entered the main State Oil Academy building in central Baku and shot dead 12 people and wounded another 13 before killing himself. However, subsequent investigation showed that the four men were also involved in organizing the attack.

Afghanistan/Terrorism: Three killed in Kabul suicide attack

Afghan Security Officials stated that at least five Afghans have been killed when two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the entrance of a guesthouse run by foreigners in central Kabul on Tuesday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity a government security official said the bodies of at least three Afghans could be seen close to the site of the attack. The official said the target appeared to be an American company next to a guest-house but had no further details.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taleban spokesman, said four suicide bombers equipped with hand grenades, rockets and assault rifles had carried out the attack.

The attack came only hours after the United Nations mission in Afghanistan released a report that said civilian casualties had risen 31 per cent in the first six months of the year.