Yemen’s Defense Ministry claimed that today its forces killed Anwar al Awlaki, the American cleric who serves as an operational commander for al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen. Samir Khan, another American who runs Inspire magazine, is also said to have been killed. The report has not been confirmed.

“The government of the Republic of Yemen announced today the death of Anwar Al Awlaki, the American born terrorist and member of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” the message stated. “Awlaki was targeted and killed 8 KM from the town of Khashef in the Province of Jawf (140KM east of the Capital Sana’a). The operation was launched earlier today at around 9:55 AM, local time.” Al Jawf province is a haven for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

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A Taliban attack in southern Afghanistan killed eight officers and completely destroyed a police post, a provincial spokesman said Wednesday.

At least three more officers were injured in the Tuesday night attack near Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, according to Daud Ahmadi, the spokesman.

An investigation revealed it was an inside job, he said.

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A NATO spokesperson has confirmed that its troops fired on Serb protesters in the Mitrovica region. According to the statement, they were responding to an attack by the crowd.

Figures for the number of wounded vary, but hospital officials say at least six Serb protesters and four NATO soldiers were injured. The Alliance’s representative in Kosovo, Kai Gudenoge, said Serb protesters threw pipe bombs at troops stationed along the border between Serbia and Kosovo.

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Anti-Kadhafi fighters overran the port of Sirte early Tuesday, scoring a strategic victory in their battle for control of the defeated Libyan leader’s birthplace, his loyalists’ most important bastion.

Hundreds of fearful civilians have fled the Mediterranean coastal city in recent days as the new regime’s forces have closed in from east, south and west.

But as the National Transitional Council troops zero in on the centre of the sprawling city where Kadhafi diehards are believed to be holed up, the threat of destructive urban warfare street-by-street hangs over the remaining residents.

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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday said that “the time has come for Palestinian independence,” in a speech to the UN General Assembly, shortly after he officially submitted a request to the world body for recognition of Palestine as a full member state.

“Enough, enough, enough,” Abbas stated, saying that “63 years of ongoing tragedy must end.”

Abbas called the UN vote on the PA request for statehood a “moment of truth,” in which the world must decide if it will continue to allow “the last occupation in the world to continue.” The PA president held up a copy of the official request for full UN membership to raucous applause from the crowd of world diplomats.

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Libyan government troops are clashing with supporters of ousted leader Col Muammar Gaddafi in one of his last strongholds, Sirte, reports say.

Black smoke was seen rising from the coastal city after National Transitional Council (NTC) soldiers reportedly entered from the west.

A BBC correspondent says NTC forces have also moved from the east towards Sirte, Col Gaddafi’s birthplace.

It is not known if the colonel or his family members are in the city.

Sirte, one of two remaining bastions of support for Col Gaddafi, has fiercely resisted attempts by NTC forces to capture it over recent weeks.

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Georgia’s two breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, announced, that they had been recognized by Tuvalu - the tiny South Pacific island nation for which the Georgian government pledged USD 12,000 in financial aid last year.

Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world covering just 26 square kilometers with a population of less than 12,000 people.

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