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New thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1947527/posts |
Posted on 12/01/2007 8:47:13 PM PST by nwctwx
Here’s the updated thread to go with the assassination of Bhutto:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1944663/posts
Thank you, Cindy.
Tragic news this morning.
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ned=us&q=bhutto+%2B+shot&btnG=Search+News
#
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070037032&ch=12/27/2007%207:19:00%20PM
“PPP leader Benazir Bhutto shot dead”
ALSO READ:
PAKISTAN: POLITICS WITHIN
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For latest headlines SMS NEWS to 56388 (in India) 6388 (in UAE), to 63880(in UK)
Munizae Jehangir
Thursday, December 27, 2007 (Islamabad)
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “PPP leader Benazir Bhutto has been shot dead following a suicide attack on her rally in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan interior ministry had earlier declared a high alert across the country post the attacks that marred rallies of both main opposition leaders, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto.
The blast occured minutes after Benazir Bhutto finished her speech.
‘’We are traumatised. People all over are crying. Everyone is saying that this Army has killed Benazir. There is going to be more bloodshed. Will the world now finally wake up? said a distraught Asma Jehangir, Chairperson, Pak Human Rights Commission.
According to reports, 20 people have been killed and 42 others injured in the attack.
PPP Information Secretary Sherry Rehman has also been injured in the attack and taken to a hospital.”
From your link, Oorang:
“ISLAMABAD - An intelligence report that terrorists may strike in the capital and target politicians and religious leaders has led to a high alert in the city, sources told Dawn.”
Looks like they had their obligatory “warning”.
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The Tali/AQ are prime suspects in this. Keep the country in chaos and it diverts attention from the outlands that they’ve established themselves in. The only benefit would be if Musharraf can divert the anger against the tali/aq rather than himself.
Things will certainly be tense all over for at least the next few days. Massoud was killed 2 days before 9/11. Hopefully this murder will not be a triggering event.
well, we knew this was probably coming but it’s extemely unfortunate and sad.
big time assissination in the hot zone... major up and coming opposition leader that could have actually challenged AQ in the FATA.
musharraf knows his army is filled with AQ supporters and in some way this has to be keeping him ‘on their side’ so to speak...
2007/08’s Ahmad Shah Mossoud?
About ten years late. Thanks for the post MamaD.
Thanks for the update and link Godzilla.
ABU DHABI & DUBAI — Too shocked to react to Pakistani political leader Benazir Bhutto's assassination yesterday, the Pakistani community in the UAE says that the present government in their country has failed to provide security to the citizens. Akram Farooqi, Acting President of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) UAE, said he was too shocked to speak on the subject. 'I am not feeling well at all since I have heard the news and am in no position to comment,' he said.
Businessman and prominent community leader Tanvir Khawaja said, 'I strongly condemn the attack. President Pervez Musharraf should take responsibility of the attack and resign because his government has not been able to provide the required protection to the people. If the politicians of the country are not safe, then what will happen to the common man. This assassination has been planned so as to sabotage the elections.'
Another prominent businessman, Mian Saeed, said, 'It is indeed extremely bad news. We are stunned. Pakistan is not going to survive such incidents because we are fighting each other. The political system is the victim of deep conspiracy. I see no sensible leader who can take over the country. This is a sabotage so that elections are not held in the country. I have no words to condemn the incident.'
Excerpted
Four supporters of Pakistan's Sharif killed
Dec 27, 2007
Islamabad - At least four supporters of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif were killed when unidentified gunmen fired at his party's procession on the outskirts of Islamabad, police said. Sharif was due to address election rallies in the city of Rawalpindi near Islamabad in few hours.
A procession was taken out to welcome Sharif when unidentified gunmen opened fire from a house at Karal Chowk on the main Islamabad airport road, Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party said. Around 16 other supporters of Mr Sharif were also injured in the attack. Seven are listed as critical condition, the (PML-N) said.
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-16/0712277418181120.htm
New Delhi - India-Mammoth Islamic Meet-Uttar Pradesh Seraimeer town of Azamgarh district in eastern Uttar Pradesh will witness one of the biggest congregations on December 29, with hundreds of thousands of Muslims from across the globe expected to participate in a mammoth Islamic meet.
Excerpted
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0712277799172613.htm
Police recover six crude bombs in bus (India)
Dec. 26
RAIGANJ - The police recovered six crude bombs from a Raiganj bound bus on NH 31 near Panjipara under Goalpokhar police station of North Dinajpur district this morning. The bus was travelling from Siliguri.
According to the North Dinajpur police superintendent Mr SB Purnapatra, the police had prior information that criminals were importing arms and ammunition to North Dinajpur district from Siliguri to commit a major crime. “Accordingly, the police conducted the raid and recovered the bombs from an abandoned bag in the bus. The bombs have been defused.
Interrogating the bus driver and conductor, the police learnt that the bomb carriers got down from the bus near the Islampur bus terminus. There is rumour, however, that Maoist militants or some Naxalite groups may have been behind the act of importing the bombs to the district. The rumour has gathered force since Maoists posters urging the people to avenge the Nandigram killings were found all over Raiganj town last night.
The North Dinajpur SP, however, ruled out the possibility of Maoist involvement behind the recovery of the crude bombs today. The SP emphasised that it was the handiwork of criminals. “The police are sparing no means but to identify the carriers and arrest them,” he assured.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=10&theme=&usrsess=1&id=182685
This is even more likely after the murder of Benazir Bhutto. But the military is still talking about educational and employment initiatives, as if they will make the jihad go away. This despite the fact that study after study has shown that jihadists are generally better educated and wealthier than their peers. "US military beefs up Pakistan force," by Bruce Loudon for The Australian:
US Special Forces are to increase their presence in Pakistan amid assessments that the country is to become the central battlefield for al-Qaida as it is driven from Iraq. "Pakistan should be carefully watched because it could prove to be a significant flashpoint in the coming year," US think tank Strategic Forecasting said in an evaluation of al-Qaida's tactics as the Islamist group comes under mounting pressure in Iraq.
With the "rapid spread of Talibanisation" in Pakistan's insurgent northwest, the country would become "especially important if the trend in Iraq continues to go against the jihadis and they are driven from Iraq", the assessment said. "As the global headquarters for the al-Qaida leadership, Pakistan has long been a significant stronghold on the ideological battlefield. If the trend towards radicalisation continues, the country could become the new centre of gravity for the jihadi movement on the physical battlefield."
The Stratfor assessment coincided with reports from Washington suggesting US Special Forces would expand their presence in Pakistan in the new year.
Excerpted
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/019343.php
On MEMRI TV: Hamas TV Children Show Features Hamas Bee Nahoul Weeping For "Martyred" Family, Host Sara: This is Your Wedding, Oh Martyr
View clip at link:
Swiss authorities have dropped an investigation into a Saudi businessman suspected of financing al-Qaida-linked terrorism networks, a lawyer said Thursday.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office halted the six-year probe into Yasin al-Qadi, who was alleged to have used Swiss bank accounts to transfer funds of over US$1 million to individuals tied to al-Qaida, said his lawyer Marc Bonnant. "All accusations were dropped," Bonnant told The Associated Press.
Al-Qadi was designated a global terrorist by the United States in October 2001 and his name also is on the United Nations terror blacklist.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1198517228132&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
At least 10 killed in violent protests in Pakistan
12/27/2007
ISLAMABAD -- At least 10 persons have been killed and vehicles put on ablaze in several parts of the country in protest to the tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto on Thursday, said police.
In eastern Lahore city about 13 police and seven private vehicles were set on ablaze, a local journalist Muhammad Nawaz told KUNA by telephone. He said violent protestors also put on fire buildings of different banks, a medical college and of several government offices. He said further that police used gas shells to disperse violent protesters that wounded several of them.
Also, in Hyderabad, Larkana, Karachi and other main cities of Southern Sindh province, the stronghold of Benazir, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) supporters came on street and set on fire tyres and several buildings. Police sources said at least five persons including a policeman were killed and several were wounded in different violence incidents in Sindh province. Near Larkana, angry protesters also put on fire a train heading toward Karachi. However, no casualties were reported.
Similar reporters were also received from Gujranwala and Sialkot cities of eastern Punjab province, and Peshawar in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). Police sources said about six protestors were killed in NWFP and Punjab provinces. PPP supporters tried to hold protests in Islamabad but police dispersed them. Army has been called in to maintain law and order situation. All education institution in NWFP and Sindh has been closed for indefinite period.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1870970&Language=en
Tiny Balkan state of Montenegro says that it has uncovered a network of over 100 Islamic extremists with connections to Taliban and al-Qaeda. The Director of the Agency for National Security of Montenegro, Dusko Markovic, says that the Agency is monitoring over 100 well organized Islamic extremists.
Markovic says that the extremists belong to the militant Wahhabi sect of Islam and the Montenegrin Security agents were able to video tape the training camp these extremists use. The camp is located in northern Montenegro near border with Serbia and Bosnia.
Montenegrin intelligence says that the extremists meet at a restaurant in a village of Ostrvo near Plavsko Lake. The meetings are regular and include extremists from Montenegro, Bosnia and Kosovo. The Islamic extremists also regularly meet in a village of Babino near Montenegrin border with Kosovo.
Excerpted
http://www.serbianna.com/news/2007/03143.shtml
Islamabad/Karachi/Lahore - A red alert has been sounded in entire Pakistan after the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in a suicide bomb and sniper gun attack in Rawalpindi on Thursday evening. The shocking and tragic development here has sent a shockwave of grief and anger, with her supporters going on rampages in cities of Karachi and Lahore.
Sounds of gunshots were reportedly heard in Karachi with some terming it as a bomb blast. Banks and Government buildings, including a post office, were set on fire by a mob here. Most of the roads have been blocked with burning tyres. Parts of Sindh faced blackout and mobile network were jammed following the news of Bhutto's assassination. In Hyderabad, another city in Sindh, dozens of vehicles were torched by angry mob.
In Peshawar police had to use tear gas and batons after angry demonstrators blocked the main highway and torched billboards and posters of the former ruling party. Furious protesters took to the streets in groups, some of them opening fire in the air and screaming. One local police station was pelted with stones, reported The News. Incidents of rioting have also been reported from Lahore.
Noted human rights activist Asma Jehnagir blamed Musharraf and the army for today's tragic incident, and urged the world leaders to 'wake up' to the happenings in Pakistan. Meanwhile, the government in Pakistan's Punjab Province today declared 18 districts of the region as the most sensitive in view of terrorism hazards and confirmed the reports that army will be called in these districts.
Geo News quoted Punjab Home Secretary Khusro Pervaiz Khan as saying that the provincial government has called in the army and contingents of the Rangers to help the police maintain the law and order in these districts. The armed forces would undertake flag marches through the districts, which include Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur.
In a brief televised address to the nation, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said that terrorists were responsible for the suicide attack on Bhutto's rally in Rawalpindi that left 30 people dead and close to 50 others injured. He also urged people to maintain peace and calm.
Good point about diverting the attention.
In addition, I’m sure both Tali/AQ are positioned among the ISI.
Echoing your sentiments.
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