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Pakistan PM's motorcade attacked
The prime minister had just arrived in Islamabad
Shots have been fired at the motorcade of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, although it is not clear if he was in the convoy at the time.
Interior ministry officials said the car was on its way to collect Mr Gilani from Islamabad's airport.
Earlier, his press secretary told the BBC that unidentified gunman fired on Mr Gilani's car as he was travelling from the airport into the city. The prime minister had just arrived in Islamabad ... more -
Pakistani PM 'survives attack'
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has survived an assassination attempt, officials say.
Two bullets from an unidentified gunman hit his car as he was travelling just outside the capital, Islamabad, his press secretary told the BBC.
Mr Gilani's government is grappling with a growing threat from militants in the country.
In December former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was killed at an election rally in Rawalpindi. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has survived an assassination attempt, officials say. ... more -
Possible plot on Obama?
Denver authorities said last night that a number of arrests had been made of individuals in connection with firearms offences in the city which is hosting the Democratic National Convention.
However they refused to immediately confirm local media reports that linked the arrests to a possible attempt on the life of the Barack Obama who is due to make his key address to the conference on Thursday.
Local TV station KCNC-TV reported that four people had been picked up by police following a traffic stop in the Denver suburb of Aurora. That arrest, which took place on Sunday morning, saw a 28-year-old man taken into custody after he was spotted driving erratically in a rented pickup truck.
The TV station, quoting police sources, said that two high-powered rifles with scopes, walkie talkies, camouflage clothing, driving licences and the drug methamphetamine were found in the truck. Police then traced him back to a local hotel, The Cherry Tree, which led to further arrests, including a man injured while jumping out of a window in order to evade arrest. The wounded man was believed to have ties to white supremacist organisations and was wearing a ring with a swastika, the station said. KCNC-TV said that the men had told police that they intended to kill Obama.
The Denver Post newspaper said that only two men had been arrested, but reported that a news conference was being scheduled for tomorrow afternoon to discuss the case. It reported that authorities were more sceptical of any organised plot to kill Obama.
US officials also told the Associated Press that it was too premature to say if there was any direct threat to Obama. 'It's premature to say that it was a valid threat or that these folks have the ability to carry it out,' an unnamed US government official told the Associated Press. 'It could also turn out that these were nothing but a bunch of knuckleheads, meth heads,' the official added.
Obama, who is seeking to become America's first black president, has been the subject of intense security, unusual even for a presidential candidate. Though specifics have been rare, the Secret Service has been monitoring the activities of white supremacist groups especially on the internet. Denver authorities said last night that a number of arrests had been made of individuals in connection with firearms offences in the c... more -
Mexican drug cartel violence takes aim at higher officials
Mexican Congressman David Figueroa already had survived two assassination tries when federal intelligence officials passed the news to him: They'd heard that another attempt soon would be made.
Figueroa took it seriously. He dropped out of the race for governor of Sonora state, and, with the help of Mexico's president, was quickly confirmed last week as the country's new consul general in San Jose, Calif. Almost as quickly, Figueroa, an up-and-coming politician in the president's political party, relocated.
While drug cartels have long targeted local police officials, they're now striking at higher-level officials, particularly those close to President Felipe Calderón, who has made curbing the drug trade a central policy of his administration.
In recent months, gunmen thought to be tied to cartels have killed the national police chief, Edgar Eusebio Millán Gómez, and Roberto Velasco Bravo, who headed the organized-crime unit of the federal police. Calderón appointed both men to their posts.
A cousin of Calderón's wife was killed and stuffed into the trunk of a car in Mexico City 10 days into Calderón's term, in what was seen as a message from cartels.
In March of last year, Calderón revealed that he and his family had received threats from cartel leaders.
U.S. law-enforcement officials, demanding anonymity given the sensitivity of the issue, say they think that the recent killings are an effort to turn up the heat on Calderón, who has undertaken the most concerted offensive against the drug cartels by a Mexican president.
"There is a strategic focus on sending messages to high-level officials within the government," said a U.S. law-enforcement official familiar with Mexico's drug war. By the count of two leading Mexican newspapers, there have been at least 2,400 drug-related murders nationwide already this year. That almost equals the roughly 2,500 drug-related killings for all of 2007.
Many Mexicans, however, question whether the explosion of violence is worth the effort to crack down on what's widely seen as a U.S. problem. Mexican Congressman David Figueroa already had survived two assassination tries when federal intelligence officials passed the news to... more -
Afghan President Karzai escapes assassination attempt
President Hamid Karzai survived an assassination attempt at a military parade in central Kabul on Sunday, when suspected Taliban insurgents fired mortars and bullets at the dignitaries assembled in the spectator stand.
One person was killed and 11 injured in the incident. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and said that it could carry out an attack anywhere in Afghanistan.
Check out more at the associated link. President Hamid Karzai survived an assassination attempt at a military parade in central Kabul on Sunday, when suspected Taliban insur... more -
Afghan President escapes assassination attempt
Government ministers along with leaders of other political factions were seen ducking for cover after gunfire sounded at the celebration to mark the 16th anniversary of the fall of the communist government to the mujahideen.
I guess they're a little mad about the occupation among other things. Government ministers along with leaders of other political factions were seen ducking for cover after gunfire sounded at the celebrati... more -
Karzai unhurt after parade attack
Gunfire has broken out at a military ceremony in Kabul attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, although it is reported that Karzai was safely escorted from the attack site.
The President was appearing at a parade, in central Kabul, to celebrate Afghan National Day celebrations. The day marks the capture of Kabul from the Soviet-backed government by the mujahideen in 1992.
Sirajudin, a police officer at the scene, told the Associated Press news agency he saw two people firing AK-47 assault rifles from a house toward the area of the stage. Automatic weapons were fired into the crowd and two MPs were seen to be wounded.
This attack on the President's life is one of many attempted since his election. Gunfire has broken out at a military ceremony in Kabul attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, although it is reported that Karzai ... more -
Officials: militants planned assassination of Philippines President Arroyo
According to officials, the plan, which included a sniper attack on Philippines President Gloria Arroyo and bombings of foreign embassies, was hatched by the al Qaeda linked extremist group Abu Sayyaf and its Indonesia-based ally, Jemaah Islamiyah.
Critics of the president, who accuse Arroyo of corruption and are demanding her resignation, said the disclosure of the plot was intended to sabotage the demonstrations planned for Friday. According to officials, the plan, which included a sniper attack on Philippines President Gloria Arroyo and bombings of foreign embass... more -
East Timor president shot at home
East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta is in a "serious but stable" condition after being shot by rebel soldiers at his home. The attack took place early in the morning leaving Mr Ramos-Horta with a gunshot wound to the stomach. He was flown to Darwin in Australia for treatment where he is said to be in a "serious but stable" condition.
His attacker was Alfredo Reinado, a renegade soldier who had threatened the government in the past, Reinado was killed by guards during the attack. The incident is being considered as an attempted coup and so Australia have vowed to send more peacekeepers to East Timor in response to the attack. The picture shows Jose Ramos-Horta on the left with his attacker Alfredo Reinado during a political discussion in 2002.
*Update*
Jose Ramos-Horta is now said to be in a critical condition. East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta is in a "serious but stable" condition after being shot by rebel soldiers at hi... more
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Assassination Attempt
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Assassination Attempt
