The Iraq Kurdistan Region’s security agency, or asayesh, seized a large arms cache belonging to the Ansar al-Islam group in the outskirts of Arbil province and arrested a member of the group, according to a statement by the agency.

“The asayesh anti-terrorism department seized a cache containing weapons belonging to terrorists of the Ansar al-Islam (Supporters of Islam) group and arrested one of its members,” read the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

The explosives had been brought from outside the Iraq Kurdistan Region and were carried gradually into Arbil, it added.

The News:
http://en.aswatalira … ticle_page&id=140545

Juba- Minister of Information, Dr. Barnaba Benjamin Marial confirmed that four Gatluak Gai militias were killed and 26 captured by Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in Unity state on Saturday as vote for southern Sudan independence opened across the region.

In a press statement at the late Dr. John Garang’s Mausoleum, the minister said the militia group aimed to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the voting.

He said that the government of Southern Sudan will not tolerate such behavior during this referendum exercise.

“If you are citizen or non citizen with an aim of disrupting this exercise, you should be informed earlier that once you were caught there will be no other solutions but to bring you to justice”.

The News:
http://jubapost.org/ … atest-news&Itemid=67

Basque separatist group ETA called a permanent ceasefire on Monday, Basque regional newspaper Gara said on its website, three months after the weakened group announced a halt to armed attacks.

The group, which has killed more than 850 people in half a century of armed struggle for an independent state in northern Spain and southwest France, has been crippled by arrests and a rise in support among Basques for legal politics.

“ETA has decided to declare a permanent and general ceasefire which will be verifiable by the international community,” the group said in an English-language statement on www.gara.net.

ETA Declaration sent to newspaper Gara:
http://www.gara.net/ … 0108_declaration.pdf

The News:
http://www.nytimes.c … html?_r=1&ref=europe

Anarcho-greeces insurgents announced to have accepted the proposal launched in the past by italian Fai (Informal Anarchist Federation), to create a “international anarchist net” designed to ‘armed attacks against regime’ in different countries.

In a document widespreaded on internet, Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire (Spf) affirmed that new structure will include national anti-authoritarian organizations that will can act also with armed actions.

The News:
http://www.ansa.it/w … html_1642266856.html

South Sudan army signed a permanent ceasefire agreement with insurgents loyal to General George Athor who rebelled following allegations of fraud and rigging during gubernatorial elections in Jonglei last April.

The renegade general accused recently tow senior Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) leaders from his region of hindering efforts to reconcile with Juba and end his rebellion before a referendum on independence the semi autonomous region will hold within four days.

The end of violence in the largest southern Sudan state will allow a peaceful referendum. The General who is accused of being supported by Khartoum repeated several times to Sudan Tribune he was supportive the historical vote.

The News:
http://www.sudantrib … and-Athor-sign,37511

On December 31 2010 a bomb killed at least 21 people outside a church in the Egyptian city of Alexandria early on New Year’s Day and the Interior Ministry said a foreign-backed suicide bomber may have been responsible.

Dozens of people were wounded by the blast, which scattered body parts, destroyed cars and smashed windows. The attack prompted Christians to protest on the streets, and some Christians and Muslims hurled stones at each other.

Egypt has stepped up security around churches, banning cars from parking outside them, since an al Qaeda-linked group in Iraq issued a threat against the Church in Egypt in November.

The News:
http://www.reuters.c … dUSTRE6BU2VR20110101

Yemen has released hundreds of Houthi rebel prisoners as part of a ceasefire in its long-running conflict with the northern Shia group.

Rebels and government officials said more than 400 Houthi detainees were released on Thursday as part of a truce mediated by the Gulf nation of Qatar.

Of those, 270 were set free in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and the rest in the northern city of Saada, the centre of the Houthi rebel movement, a security official said.

In return, officials said the rebels were expected to “surrender weaponry seized during the armed conflict” with the government.

In a statement on Thursday, the rebels said they had returned 10 military vehicles to authorities and had so far received 428 freed prisoners.

The News:
http://english.aljaz … 230183224974178.html