Militants kidnap, kill 20 Iraqi soldiers: officials

MOSUL: Militants attacked a military base in north Iraq, kidnapped 20 soldiers and later shot them dead, police and a morgue employee said on Sunday.

The soldiers were abducted by a large group of militants in several vehicles from a small base in the Ain al-Jahash area south of Mosul late on Saturday night, and their bodies found nearby an hour later.

Militants opposed to the Iraqi government frequently target members of the security forces, but it is rare for such a large number of soldiers to be kidnapped at once, especially from a military position.

The killings come as Iraq suffers a protracted surge in bloodshed, the worst to hit the country since the brutal sectarian fighting that peaked in 2006-2007 and killed tens of thousands of people.

The government has repeatedly blamed the unrest on external factors such as the civil war in neighbouring Syria. But analysts and diplomats say widespread anger in the minority Sunni Arab community over alleged mistreatment at the hands of the Shia-led authorities has also played a major role in the violence.

Militants kidnap, kill 20 Iraqi soldiers: officials

MOSUL: Militants attacked a military base in north Iraq, kidnapped 20 soldiers and later shot them dead, police and a morgue employee said on Sunday.

The soldiers were abducted by a large group of militants in several vehicles from a small base in the Ain al-Jahash area south of Mosul late on Saturday night, and their bodies found nearby an hour later.

Militants opposed to the Iraqi government frequently target members of the security forces, but it is rare for such a large number of soldiers to be kidnapped at once, especially from a military position.

The killings come as Iraq suffers a protracted surge in bloodshed, the worst to hit the country since the brutal sectarian fighting that peaked in 2006-2007 and killed tens of thousands of people.

The government has repeatedly blamed the unrest on external factors such as the civil war in neighbouring Syria. But analysts and diplomats say widespread anger in the minority Sunni Arab community over alleged mistreatment at the hands of the Shia-led authorities has also played a major role in the violence.

Iran won´t accept ´nuclear apartheid´: Rouhani

TEHRAN: Iran will not accept "nuclear apartheid" but is willing to offer more transparency over its atomic activities, President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday ahead of new talks with world powers.

Iran and the P5+1 group of nations will start hammering out a draft accord Tuesday aimed at ending a decade-long standoff over suspicions that the Islamic republic is concealing military objectives.

"We have nothing to put on the table and offer to them but transparency. That´s it. Our nuclear technology is not up for negotiation," Rouhani, referring to the West, said in remarks broadcast on state television.

"Iran will not retreat one step in the field of nuclear technology... we will not accept nuclear apartheid," he said.

The self-declared moderate president has faced a battle from domestic critics of his diplomatic outreach since taking power last August. Hardliners accuse Rouhani of making concessions for little gain under talks that have started to reverse the political isolation Iran grappled with under his hardline predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Other sceptics of the nuclear talks, including members of the US Congress, doubt if Rouhani is genuine in seeking a lasting agreement. The world´s leading powers have long suspected that Iran is developing the capability to build an atom bomb, an allegation that Tehran has repeatedly denied.

"We want to tell the world they cannot belittle the Iranian nation; they have to respect it," Rouhani added Sunday. Iran has suffered years of economic hardship exacerbated by international sanctions designed to coerce the country into curbing its nuclear work. A potential deal under discussion between Iranian negotiators and counterparts from the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany -- under the P5+1 grouping -- this week will focus on the scope of Iran´s nuclear activities. Such an agreement will aim to render Iran incapable of making any push toward atomic weapons while removing the sanctions.

The negotiators have a July 20 deadline, set by an interim deal reached in November that put temporary limits on Iran´s nuclear activities in exchange for modest sanctions relief.

 

Iran won´t accept ´nuclear apartheid´: Rouhani

TEHRAN: Iran will not accept "nuclear apartheid" but is willing to offer more transparency over its atomic activities, President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday ahead of new talks with world powers.

Iran and the P5+1 group of nations will start hammering out a draft accord Tuesday aimed at ending a decade-long standoff over suspicions that the Islamic republic is concealing military objectives.

"We have nothing to put on the table and offer to them but transparency. That´s it. Our nuclear technology is not up for negotiation," Rouhani, referring to the West, said in remarks broadcast on state television.

"Iran will not retreat one step in the field of nuclear technology... we will not accept nuclear apartheid," he said.

The self-declared moderate president has faced a battle from domestic critics of his diplomatic outreach since taking power last August. Hardliners accuse Rouhani of making concessions for little gain under talks that have started to reverse the political isolation Iran grappled with under his hardline predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Other sceptics of the nuclear talks, including members of the US Congress, doubt if Rouhani is genuine in seeking a lasting agreement. The world´s leading powers have long suspected that Iran is developing the capability to build an atom bomb, an allegation that Tehran has repeatedly denied.

"We want to tell the world they cannot belittle the Iranian nation; they have to respect it," Rouhani added Sunday. Iran has suffered years of economic hardship exacerbated by international sanctions designed to coerce the country into curbing its nuclear work. A potential deal under discussion between Iranian negotiators and counterparts from the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany -- under the P5+1 grouping -- this week will focus on the scope of Iran´s nuclear activities. Such an agreement will aim to render Iran incapable of making any push toward atomic weapons while removing the sanctions.

The negotiators have a July 20 deadline, set by an interim deal reached in November that put temporary limits on Iran´s nuclear activities in exchange for modest sanctions relief.

 

Suicide car bomb kills 12 soldiers, civilian in Yemen

ADEN: A suspected Al-Qaeda suicide bomber Sunday killed 12 soldiers and a civilian in an attack on a military base in southeast Yemen, officials said, as government forces pursued jihadists in three restive provinces.

The bombing came just hours after three gunmen were killed when they attacked a checkpoint close to the presidential palace in the capital Sanaa, the same post where five soldiers died on Friday in a similar attack.

The two attacks appeared to be in reprisal for an army offensive against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in the contiguous provinces of Shabwa and Abyan, in the south, and Baida in the centre, which has been underway since April 29.

The bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into the military police base in Mukalla, the Hadramawt provincial capital, a security official said, adding that the assailant detonated his explosives next to a barracks.

The attack killed 12 soldiers, the military source said, while a medic said civilian succumbed to wounds sustained in the explosion.

"The suicide bomber belonged to Al-Qaeda," said the military source, without giving further information.

In Sanaa, a dawn attack by "terrorists" on a presidential guard checkpoint at Misbahi roundabout ended in the deaths of three gunmen and a civilian, the interior ministry said.

Suicide car bomb kills 12 soldiers, civilian in Yemen

ADEN: A suspected Al-Qaeda suicide bomber Sunday killed 12 soldiers and a civilian in an attack on a military base in southeast Yemen, officials said, as government forces pursued jihadists in three restive provinces.

The bombing came just hours after three gunmen were killed when they attacked a checkpoint close to the presidential palace in the capital Sanaa, the same post where five soldiers died on Friday in a similar attack.

The two attacks appeared to be in reprisal for an army offensive against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in the contiguous provinces of Shabwa and Abyan, in the south, and Baida in the centre, which has been underway since April 29.

The bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into the military police base in Mukalla, the Hadramawt provincial capital, a security official said, adding that the assailant detonated his explosives next to a barracks.

The attack killed 12 soldiers, the military source said, while a medic said civilian succumbed to wounds sustained in the explosion.

"The suicide bomber belonged to Al-Qaeda," said the military source, without giving further information.

In Sanaa, a dawn attack by "terrorists" on a presidential guard checkpoint at Misbahi roundabout ended in the deaths of three gunmen and a civilian, the interior ministry said.

Malapparambu School: Second accused held

KOZHIKODE:  The police Sunday arrested the second accused in the demolition case of the Malapparambu AU UP School. The Chevayoor Police arrested Ajit Kumar, brother of P K Padmarajan, manager of the school. Padmarajan is still absconding. Ajit Kumar, who fled to Chennai soon after the incident, was arrested when he was proceeding to Kerala. He was trapped by an investigation centering his mobile phone.

Ajit Kumar and his team demolished the school with the help of a JCB on the night of April 10. The school has 53 students. Two years before the management had approached the government seeking the closure of the school.

Malapparambu School: Second accused held

KOZHIKODE:  The police Sunday arrested the second accused in the demolition case of the Malapparambu AU UP School. The Chevayoor Police arrested Ajit Kumar, brother of P K Padmarajan, manager of the school. Padmarajan is still absconding. Ajit Kumar, who fled to Chennai soon after the incident, was arrested when he was proceeding to Kerala. He was trapped by an investigation centering his mobile phone.

Ajit Kumar and his team demolished the school with the help of a JCB on the night of April 10. The school has 53 students. Two years before the management had approached the government seeking the closure of the school.

Seven policemen killed in Naxal attack

Nagpur: Seven policemen were Sunday killed and two others injured when Naxals carried out a landmine blast in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district.

The incident occurred at 9:40 AM when the policemen were moving for an operational task in the forest between Pavimuranda and Murmuri villages in Chamorshi taluka of the district.

Officials said the slain security personnel belong to the specialised C-60 anti-Naxal operations force of Maharashtra and the blast took place when their vehicle was moving along the Murmuri-Chamuri axis of the district.

"We have lost seven of our men in the attack carried out by Naxalites. The incident occurred in Gadchiroli," a senior police officer said.

The injured have been airlifted to Nagpur while additional reinforcements of security personnel have been sent, they said.

After the landmine blast, there was an exchange of fire between the police and Maoists.

Firing is still going on in the forest area, police said.

Seven policemen killed in Naxal attack

Nagpur: Seven policemen were Sunday killed and two others injured when Naxals carried out a landmine blast in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district.

The incident occurred at 9:40 AM when the policemen were moving for an operational task in the forest between Pavimuranda and Murmuri villages in Chamorshi taluka of the district.

Officials said the slain security personnel belong to the specialised C-60 anti-Naxal operations force of Maharashtra and the blast took place when their vehicle was moving along the Murmuri-Chamuri axis of the district.

"We have lost seven of our men in the attack carried out by Naxalites. The incident occurred in Gadchiroli," a senior police officer said.

The injured have been airlifted to Nagpur while additional reinforcements of security personnel have been sent, they said.

After the landmine blast, there was an exchange of fire between the police and Maoists.

Firing is still going on in the forest area, police said.