Thirteen policemen including the officer-in-charge of Bhandaria police station were killed and two constables were injured in a landmine blast triggered by suspected CPI (Maoist) at Salho jungle in Jharkhand’s Garhwa district.

Confirming the casualties, Jharkhand police spokesman IG RK Mallik said that the blast was triggered by Maoists when the police team along with the block development officer (BDO) was returning after clearing a road blockade near Badgarh. The BDO who was travelling in his own vehicle is safe.

At the time of the blast, 15 policemen including the driver were in the anti-landmine vehicle.

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Armed groups affiliated to al-Qaeda calling itself as “the Islamic Jihad Group” took over on Saturday night a archaeological town of Rada’a and captured the famous castle of Alamiria and its mosque, local sources affirmed.

Local sources said that armed clashes between the militants and residents are still going, pointing out that the number of casualties are unknown.

Flocks of militants flow to the town, some 150 km southeast of the capital, Sana’a, amid fears of residents who worry of turning their town to a conflict battlefield, added the sources.

Yemeni analysts said al-Qaeda attempts to expand its control on Yemeni areas, pointing out that the capture on Rada’a will help al-Qaeda reach other Yemeni strategic areas.

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The New Mon State Party (NMSP) will not meet with Burmese Minister of Railways Aung Min this month to discuss a ceasefire between the armed group and the central government, as the Tatmadaw continues with its military offensive in Kachin State, according to Mon sources.

“We have no plans to meet Aung Min because they [the Burmese government] have ignored our demand to stop fighting in Kachin State,” said Nai Hong Sar, the secretary of NMSP.

Aung Min requested a meeting with leaders of NMSP during the peace talks in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand, on December 23.

“Our policy is based on the decision of the UNFC [United Nationalities Federal Council]. We will not enter into a ceasefire alone. Instead of having an advantage, we are worried that we will have a disadvantage if we take the ceasefire individually,” said Nai Hong Sar.

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Burma’s government signed a cease-fire agreement Thursday with ethnic Karen rebels in a major step toward ending one of the world’s longest-running insurgencies and meeting a key condition for better ties with the West.

The talks between officials and Karen National Union leaders were part of efforts by Burma’s new, nominally civilian government to seek international legitimacy through democratic reforms after years of military repression.

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The bullet-riddled bodies of the missing 10 were found dumped in Dabori town of the tribal area.

One security official said 23 soldiers were attacked in the late-night attack by up to 100 heavily armed militants.

“They killed 13 soldiers and took away 10. The bodies (of the 10) were found in Dabori today,” said another source on condition of anonymity.

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