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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2029

Afghan Governor Denounces Terrorist Lies, Violence

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2006 – An Afghan governor denounced recent Taliban and Hizb-I Islami Gulbuddin claims that Afghan and coalition forces caused casualties and deaths of local nationals in the Tagab Valley, officials in Afghanistan reported today.
“These claims are false,” Governor Murad said. “The Taliban will use innocent Afghan civilians as human shields and then blame us. Their tactics are truly inhumane and cowardly.”

The Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army and coalition forces have been conducting joint operations in the Tagab Valley of the Kapisa province to deny safe havens to the Taliban and HIG. The terror groups have launched numerous attacks against Afghan civilians.

The groups want to undermine the Afghan government’s ability to provide security and services to the people of Kapisa.

Murad provides 900 police officers from his area to work with ANA and coalition forces in Tagab Valley. The significant number police and Murad’s cooperation demonstrates the intense dedication that the local government has towards ensuring security and services to its citizens.

“Afghan national security forces and coalition forces will intensify offensive operations to rid the region of Taliban insurgents and to set the conditions for stable Afghan governance in Kapisa province ,” said Army Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick, Combined Joint Task Force 76 spokesman. “The futile acts of violence by the Taliban have no effect on the resolve of the Government of Afghanistan.”

(From a Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news release.)

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2032

Iraqis Take Lead Against Bombers, Militia Leader

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2006 – Iraqi units took the lead in capturing suspected bomb-makers and a senior militia leader, officials at Multinational Force Iraq reported today.

Iraqi special forces personnel conducted a raid yesterday in the Jihad district of Baghdad and captured two bomb-makers, officials said. The unit detained seven other suspected cell members and confiscated two Iraqi uniforms.

The cell is suspected of building improvised explosive devices and car bombs as well as training other cells to use the weapons.

In other developments, Iraqi army and Multinational Division- Baghdad troops detained a senior militia leader in Baghdad Nov. 3, coalition officials said.

Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, searched the Al Hassan Mosque in Kadhamiyah, a northern Baghdad neighborhood, after receiving reports that two Iraqi citizens were being held hostage there. Soldiers of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team conducted a cordon of the area to provide security.

A group of concerned Iraqi citizens approached the Stryker Brigade soldiers during the operation to tell them the whereabouts of a senior militia leader suspected of running a murder and kidnapping cell.

The Iraqi soldiers found evidence of foul play, but no hostages, officials said. They then moved to the reported location of the senior militia leader, where they found the suspected terrorist and apprehended him for further questioning.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)