Kenya Claims Bombing of Somalia Resistance Fighters

Sat, Feb 4 2012

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya’s military has struck al Shabaab targets in one of the most devastating attacks against the al Qaeda-linked insurgents since it launched an operation in Somalia to crush the rebels last October, a Kenyan army officer said on Saturday.

Colonel Cyrus Oguna said two helicopter gunships hit a convoy of al Shabaab in Dalayat village in southern Somalia on Friday evening, following intelligence that the fighters were planning to attack Kenyan forces in nearby Bhadhadhe.

“This is one of the best attacks yet ever because we got them in their vehicles before they could disembark. Several al Shabaab were killed and many more injured,” Oguna told a news conference.

Military spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir said the force estimated that more than 100 al Shabaab fighters were killed in the attack.

Oguna said nine vehicles mounted with weapons, known locally as “Technicals,” and nine lorries were destroyed in the attack. There were no Kenyan casualties, he said.

Kenya began its military campaign against the rebels in southern Somalia after a series of cross-border raids by al Shabaab against targets on Kenyan soil, which threatened the east African nation’s tourism business.

Al Shabaab dismissed the military statements as propaganda.

“Kenya has not destroyed or even attacked al Shabaab strongholds. It is propaganda” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s spokesman, told Reuters.

The rebels said they attacked a convoy of Somali government troops on Saturday morning, near the border and close to El Wak town on the Kenyan side.

“We ambushed Somali troops near El Wak town today, then we fought them and killed one of their soldiers,” Abu Musab said.

Hospital sources on the Kenyan side confirmed they were treating injured Somali soldiers after the attack.

It was not immediately clear if Kenyan troops, who are fighting alongside their Somali government counterparts, were in the convoy. It was also not immediately clear if al Shabaab suffered casualties in the ambush.

Oguna said the capture of Bhadhadhe and Hosungow town, which was also taken this week, would remove sources of revenue for the rebels because they were used for trafficking goods.

“We expect to see more ground being ceded by al Shabaab because they are weakened,” he said.

The campaign against the rebels in the south, together with another by an African Union force in the capital Mogadishu, are aimed at stabilizing Somalia after two decades without an effective central government.

(Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Additional reporting by Feisal Omar in Mogadishu and Noor Ali in Isiolo)

Zimbabwe News Update: Pathologists Differ on Retired General Mujuru’sDeath

Pathologists differ on Mujuru

Saturday, 04 February 2012 00:00
Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

GENERAL Solomon Mujuru was alive when fire gutted his farmhouse and might have died from inhaling carbon monoxide, a local pathologist said yesterday. However, a South African pathologist hired by the Mujuru family said the autopsy was not adequately and professionally done.

The 36th witness in the inquest, Dr Gabriel Aguero-Gonzalez, who is part of the Cuban doctors’ brigade who spoke in Spanish with Mr Lovemore Gwata interpreting, said the presence of carbon monoxide in Gen Mujuru’s trachea showed that he inhaled the gas while he was still alive.

The pathologist, who has 29 years experience, concluded that Gen Mujuru died due to open fire whose origins were not known.

The Mujuru pathologist, Dr Reggie Perumel - through the family’s lawyer Mr Thakor Kewada - argued that the post-mortem was not done properly because the local pathologist did not carry out an X-ray, examine skeleton structures, investigate the identity of the person and come up with the real cause of death.

He says the autopsy did not exclude traumatic death.

In his evidence-in-chief, Dr Aguero-Gonzalez, who has worked at Harare Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa for the past seven months, said on August 16 this year he was called by Inspector Viano at around 8am and told that a retired army general had died at his farm in Beatrice.

He said they got to Ruzambo Farm at around 9:30am and upon arrival, he saw people gathered outside the house.

Dr Aguero-Gonzalez said he was introduced to some policemen before he went to the spot where the remains of Gen Mujuru were in the company of Insp Viano who acted as an interpreter.

“We found the body was completely carbonised and burnt, it was partially covered with a cloth and we removed it completely.

“We found that the body was lying with the face looking downwards, part of the hand was under his chest and legs were spread apart,” he said.

The expert said they tried to move the remains, but they were badly burnt and they realised that some of the parts were shifting.

“Taking into account the state of the body we decided that it should be carried to a place where an examination would be carried properly.

“I instructed them (police) to carry the body, ash and anything around it and in such a way that they did not disturb it,” he said.

Asked what he meant by appropriate place by Mrs Sharon Fero of the Attorney-General’s Office, he said the mortuary.

He said he did not state any specific place, but “we discussed that the body be taken to Parirenyatwa but taking into account the person (Gen Mujuru) they agreed that he be taken to a place where there were no other bodies”.

The doctor said he was told that Gen Mujuru was to be taken to One Commando Barracks, which was a quiet place because it was a military place.

He said he accompanied the remains to One Commando Barracks.

The pathologist said they waited for some time for the mortuary to be adjusted into suitable conditions and their first challenge was that there were no instruments to examine the remains.

“Insp Viano went to Parirenyatwa and brought some tools we wanted,” he said.

He said the tools were not adequate, but this could not affect the examination.

“We started by looking at the skull and observed that parts of the skull had broken due to the intensity of the heat. We did not see anything that was not normal on the skull, on the chest and abdomen it looked like the skins were open as a result of the fire,” he said.

Dr Aguero-Gonzalez said some parts which include the walls of the abdomen were missing.

Asked if he established what happened, he said considering the way he found the body, he suspected that they might have been burnt.

He said the internal anatomy of the body was burnt and they could not find them.

Dr Aguero-Gonzalez said the body was stiff, but there was no indication that it was hurt.

Asked if it was possible to detect injuries with the state of the body, he said it was difficult but not impossible.

The doctor said some parts of the body were burnt to ashes.

He said there was carbon in the trachea, which was black and also dark blood and they cleaned the trachea to find out what it looked like without the carbon.

They also looked at the lungs and saw that they were badly burnt.

He said the presence of carbon monoxide in the trachea showed the General was alive when the fire started and he inhaled the carbon monoxide.

He said the stomach was burnt and destroyed while the teeth were affected by the fire and became fragile.

The pathologist said the aesophagus was destroyed by the fire.

Asked what the cause of death was, he said: “We concluded that death was caused by inhaling gases after fire broke out.”

He said the type of gas inhaled was carbon monoxide.

“We could not establish completely that the inhalation of gases is the main cause of death because we did not have sufficient tools to come to that conclusion.

“We are taking into consideration that we were not able to study blood samples given the state of the body,” he said.

He said if the quantity of carbon monoxide was not high, a person could be intoxicated or become unconscious but if it is high a person dies.

Asked by Mr Kewada if he was a registered medical practitioner in Zimbabwe, Dr Ageuro-Gonzalez said he was part of the Cuban medical brigade serving in the country.

He contended that they carried out a proper post-mortem.

However, he said an X-ray was one of the things to be carried out in an autopsy but it was not possible for him to carry out one because they did not have the equipment.

Mr Kewada suggested to him that a proper autopsy is carried out by removing body parts and examining each part individually and he said it was inconvenient in the case given the state of the body.

The Cuban doctor said they did not cut the skull because it would break into pieces.

Asked how he was going to see internal injuries if they did not open the skull, he said there could not be such injuries in the absence of external ones.

He said the brain was damaged by the fire hence he could not examine it.

The pathologist conceded that he saw a ring on Gen Mujuru’s left finger, but he does not know what happened to it.

He said they could not remove teeth to check for DNA because they were fragile as a result of heat and it was not necessary at the time since everyone was convinced that the body was that of Gen Mujuru.

He said they later took the samples after doubts emerged.

Asked how he could tell that Gen Mujuru was alive when fire broke out he responded: “How then did he inhale the carbon monoxide.”

He said he concluded that it was carbon monoxide because of the colouring that was a product of incomplete combustion when quizzed how he reached the conclusion.

Quizzed further, he said that he was not saying that death was caused by the inhalation of carbon monoxide, but it was a vital point.

He said there was, however, no doubt that Gen Mujuru inhaled carbon monoxide.

Mr Kewada suggested that his expert (Dr Perumel) disagrees that there was no blood to test for the presence of carbon monoxide.
Dr Ageuro-Gonzalez said the blood was contaminated.

Mr Kewada also suggested that Dr Perumel said it was not possible for the stomach to be destroyed considering that the General was lying facing downwards.

He also suggested that it was not possible because the carpet beneath was protected.

Dr Ageuro-Gonzalez said the intestines got out and were burnt and the kidneys were burnt, an assertion doubted by Mr Perumel who said kidneys are found in a protected area.

Mr Kewada said Dr Perumel feels the post-mortem was not properly conducted and the cause of death could not be ascertained in the absence of an X-ray, skeleton structure and brain examinations.

He said the doctor should have differentiated between injuries and heat by separating muscles from bones, adding that he could tell whether there were gunshots or wounds.

“The conclusion is my expert feels that the autopsy was not adequately and professionally done,” he said.

The Cuban doctor maintained the autopsy was professionally done.

Mr Kewada submitted that if his expert was to give meaningful evidence, the body has to be exhumed but presiding magistrate, Mr Walter Chikwanha said exhumation had nothing to do with the inquest.

Mr Chikwanha said he needed to go through Dr Perumel’s statement before he makes a decision to call him as a witness.

Mr Clemence Chimbare of the AG’s Office said Vice President Joice Mujuru was the outstanding witness before agreeing that her evidence be accepted as part of the docket without her testifying.

Mr Chikwanha deferred the proceedings to Monday when he is expected to rule on whether or not to call Dr Perumel.

Iranian Cleric Delivers Major Address Amid Israel and US Threats

Iranian Religious Leader Delivers Speech

TEHRAN, Iran — A fiery anti-Israel speech by Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered shortly after a successful Iranian satellite launch, added to growing global tensions Friday, as Israel warned it might mount a pre-emptive strike against the Islamic republic’s nuclear facilities despite U.S. objections.

“From now onward, we will support and help any nations, any groups fighting against the Zionist regime across the world, and we are not afraid of declaring this,” Khamenei said during a rare Friday prayer lecture at Tehran University.

Most of Khamenei’s rhetoric was not new. But the timing and setting of his speech hardened a standoff that some analysts say has the potential to spark military action. Such a development would disrupt the international coalition that has emerged to confront Iran over its nuclear program and jeopardize oil markets and the fragile global economy.

The Obama administration is increasingly concerned Israel will strike Iranian nuclear facilities in the coming months. The administration also has repeatedly refused to rule out U.S. military action as a last resort.

Israeli leaders delivered blunt new warnings Thursday about what they called the need to stop Iran’s nuclear program. Israel, the U.S. and their allies fear Iran could use its uranium-enrichment labs — which make nuclear fuel — to eventually produce weapons-grade material. Iran insists it seeks reactors only for energy and medical research.

Khamenei’s speech, which comes ahead of a planned resumption of nuclear talks with the West, exemplified his view of Iran as the flag-bearer in battles against the “arrogant powers,” a term used in Iranian political discourse to describe the United States and its allies.

U.S. and European sanctions, Khamenei said, are helping Iran to develop and will never succeed in halting the country’s nuclear-enrichment program. “These sanctions are aimed at making Iran back down, but Iran will not back down,” he said.

Khamenei’s tone Friday differed from that struck recently by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who said last month that Iran is ready for talks with the West.

While Khamenei did not mention the upcoming nuclear discussions, he made clear that compromises, such as suspending uranium enrichment, are not on the table. Iran has the upper hand in its standoff with the West, he indicated, because its opponents are “fading powers.”

Khamenei also said Israel has become “weakened and isolated” in the Middle East because of the revolutions — he called them “Islamic awakenings” — that have spread through the region.

Khamenei’s speech came hours after Iran’s state-run media reported the country had launched a small satellite into space, carried by a homemade rocket.

The launch, planned and announced months ago, is part of a series of festivities celebrating the 33rd anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, which culminated in the collapse of the monarchy Feb. 11, 1979.

State-run television reported the microsatellite carries camera and telecommunication devices and was designed and manufactured in Iran. It is the third small satellite Iran has built and launched in the past few years.

Material from The Associated Press is included in this report.

Zimbabwe, Iran to Strengthen Relations

Zim, Iran to strengthen relations

Saturday, 04 February 2012 00:00
Farirai Machivenyika Herald Reporter

TWO visiting Iranian high-ranking officials have pledged to strengthen ties between their country and Zimbabwe. Iranian Vice President responsible for Management and Human Capital Development Dr Lotfollah Forouzandeh Dehkurdi yesterday paid a courtesy call on Vice President John Nkomo at his Munhumutapa Offices.

He said Iran will assist Zimbabwe in human resources management through scholarships.

He was accompanied by Iran’s Acting vice president for international affairs Mr Behzad Sheikh and Iran’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mohammad Pournajaf.

Speaking in an interview through Ambassador Pournajaf after the meeting, Dr Dehkurdi said Iran and Zimbabwe shared cordial relations.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran and Zimbabwe have profound relations and our meeting emphasised deepening of relations between the two countries and the implementation of various Memoranda of Understanding and agreed points,” he said.

Dr Dehkurdi pledged to assist Zimbabwe with human resources development through scholarships for locals to study in Iran.

He said Zimbabwe and Iran faced similar challenges, especially attacks by the West saying Zimbabweans had the capacity to develop their country.

“Iran and Zimbabwe have shown resistance to global arrogance and only indigenous knowledge should provide basis for Zimbabwe’s development,” he said.

Zimbabwe has been slapped with illegal sanctions by the West for embarking on land reform to correct colonial imbalances in land ownership.

The West imposed the sanctions under the guise of alleged human rights violations.

Iran has been slapped with UN sanctions at the instigation of the US, Britain and their allies over its nuclear programme.

The West claims Iran intends to develop nuclear weapons although various inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency have failed to substantiate these claims.

The US and EU have also imposed illegal sanctions on Iran.

Fresh Clashes Erupt in Egypt’s City of Suez

Fresh clashes erupt in Egypt’s city of Suez

Fri Feb 3, 2012 2:53PM GMT
presstv.ir

Fresh protests have erupted in Egypt’s eastern city of Suez, with police forces using tear gas to disperse the crowd, after overnight clashes that claimed the lives of two people.

Police forces fired birdshot and tear gas to disperse angry protesters in Suez on Friday with the injured being ferried out of the city’s central al-Arbaeen Square.

The new outbreak of violence comes amid general outrage across Egypt over football-related clashes that left scores of people dead on Wednesday.

The incident occurred when deadly clashes broke out in the northern city of Port Said between fans of home team al-Masry and Cairo’s leading club al-Ahly after the visitors were beaten 3-1.

Fans stormed the pitch after the game and clashed with each other. At least 74 people died and more than a thousand were injured in the mayhem.

The ongoing protests continue on the second day of a public show of anger over what people view as the deadly mismanagement of the country’s critical post-revolution period by the ruling military junta.

On Thursday, two protesters were shot dead during clashes with police and more than 30 people were injured after police used live rounds on angry protesters who refused to disperse despite clouds of tear gas.

In Cairo, one person was killed in clashes between the police and angry protesters who demonstrated in front of the interior ministry in the city center and pelted security forces with stones.

South African E.TV to Fight Fine Over Airing Gaddafi Lynching

SA Time: Saturday, February 04, 2012 3:53:47 AM

Gaddafi scenes: e.tv to fight R35 000 fine

February 3 2012 at 01:07pm
By STAFF REPORTER

TV channel e.tv has vowed to appeal against its R35 000 fine from the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) for airing graphic footage of Muammar Gaddafi’s death on their news channel.

The BCCSA said scenes of the brutal attack on the late Libyan dictator, aired in October on e.tv’s eNews channel, was “violent” and contravened the code by
broadcasting “unnecessary detail” of the incident.

It also said the news service was in contravention of the subscription code clause because the channel had failed to show an advisory warning before the images were shown.

A fine of R10 000 was payable. The remaining R25 000 was for fines of R5 000 for each of the five time slots aired on October 22, during which scenes of the attack were repeated.

The channel has also been ordered to air the BCCSA’s finding on the footage before the end of this month.

Patrick Conroy, head of e.tv news, took to Twitter to explain the channel’s next move: “@eNewsChannel and e.TV reviewing BCCSA #Gaddafi ruling with our lawyers. Plan to appeal. Will not be commenting further ahead of appeal.”

janis.kinnear@inl.co.za - Cape Argus

Anti-Putin protesters: Coping with bitter cold and big questions

MOSCOW – By any standard, it was an impressive array of individuals.

In Côte d’Ivoire, UN mission to decide on election certification next week

The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) said today that he hopes to decide next week on the partial certification of parliamentary elections held in the West African country near the end of last year.

Unmanned Drone Falls on IDP Camp in Somalia

Friday, February 3rd, 2012
06:44 pm

SOMALIA: Unmanned drone fell down in Mogadishu

By Abdalle Ahmed

Mogadishu (RBC) Unmanned drone, which is thought to be American surveillance drones has fell down today on Friday in part of Somalia capital Mogadishu, residents told RBC Radio.

The unmanned drone knocked down at Badbado IDP camp which is on Dharkenley district, south of Mogadishu.

“It was this noon, we saw a white small aircraft flying over our camp and in minutes we saw it fell down here”, Ahmed Abdi a resident in Badbado IDP camp told RBC Radio.

No one was hurt at the crash.

Somalia government officials and the African Union forces [AMISOM] reached the camp who then took the crashed drone.

“After we realized that this was a drone we just called the government. They came and took it”, Nafisa Ali, health officer at Badbado camp also told RBC Radio.

There was no immediate comment from Somali government security and the AMISOM command. But local sources insist that the drone was belonged to United States.

It is the second drone crash in Mogadishu in three months time.

Last year Washington declared that it has set up new base for its surveillance drones in the neighboring Ethiopia.

Surveillance drone crashes in refugee camp in Somali capital, African Union soldiers remove weapon

By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, February 3, 6:43 AM

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Witnesses say a surveillance drone has crashed into a refugee camp in the Somali capital.

Drones have been used by the U.S. to attack or observe al-Qaida-linked militants in the Horn of Africa nation.

Refugees and soldiers in Mogadishu’s Badbado camp say they watched the drone crash Friday into a hut made of sticks, corrugated cans and plastic bags.

Sacdiyo Sheikh Madar, a refugee at the camp, says African Union peacekeepers came to remove it.

Police officer Ali Hussein says the drone was shaped like a small plane. A similar drone crashed into a house in Mogadishu last year.

UN backs vaccination campaign after yellow fever outbreaks hit Cameroon and Ghana

The United Nations is backing a mass vaccination campaign under way in northern Cameroon, where a new outbreak of yellow fever has killed at least seven people.