Officials in Tajikistan say two suicide bombers in an explosives-packed car slammed into a police station in the northern city of Khujand, killing two police officers and wounding some 25 others.
It would appear to be the first suicide bombing in the Central Asian country.
Reports said the toll could rise as investigators continued to search the rubble of the building for the bodies of missing officers.
Interior Ministry officials blamed the attack on elements with ties to the banned Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), whose leadership purportedly has links to Al-Qaeda.
Thirteen Gaza militant groups have joined forces to launch a wave of attacks against Israel, Reuters reported on Thursday.
Hamas reportedly announced after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas launched peace talks that the 13 groups would step up “more effective attacks” against Israel.
When asked if the renewed attacks would include suicide bombings, the Hamas spokesman reportedly answered: “All options are open.”
Uganda has deployed an additional 750 peacekeepers in volatile Somalia out of the 2,000 troops, a figure that was agreed to by African Union (AU) to boost the 6,100 strong peacekeeping force in Somalia, a Ugandan army commander said on Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala, Commander of Land Forces of the Uganda People’s Defense Force, told reporters here, 40km south of the capital Kampala, that 750 troops were already deployed and another 250 will be deployed soon.
He said the deployment was in fulfillment of the country’s pledge following a decision by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in July this year.
Al-Shabaab Islamic Movement has announced “final massive” attacks against the transitional government and the AU peacekeepers in Mogadishu as “more militants” from southern and southwestern regions arrive in Mogadishu, reports privately-owned independent Radio Simba.
The additional forces meant to “reinforce al-Shabaab fighters in Mogadishu arrived from Lower, Middle Shabeelle, Juba, Bay and Bakool regions”.
Hisb al-Islam’s district commissioner in Buur Hakaba, southwestern Somalia, has said “many of his fighters left the district and have arrived in Mogadishu to reinforce their brothers fighting against the transitional government”.
Azerbaijan and Armenia are blaming each other for the latest clash over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which reportedly killed five soldiers on Tuesday.
Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry says the Armenians tried to attack Azeri forces. The government in Yerevan denies that Armenia was at fault.
Three Armenians and two Azeris are said to have died in an exchange of fire on the front line.
Despite attempts to reach a peace deal, tension has continued to simmer in the conflict that began after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
USA President Barack Obama has announced that the U.S. combat mission in Iraq is over. The president said Tuesday America’s new mission is to advise and assist Iraq’s security forces.
Seven-and-a-half years after U.S. forces invaded Iraq, President Obama thanked the troops for their service and announced that their combat mission has concluded. “Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country,” he said.
In only the second Oval Office address of his presidency since taking office, Mr. Obama did not declare victory, but said the move to a new mission is underway. “Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page,” the president said.
Four israelis were killed on Tuesday night when gunmen opened fire on their car at the entrance to Kiryat Arba, near Hebron, in the West Bank.
The attack occurred around 7:30 P.M. on Route 60, when shots were fired at a private vehicle near the Bani Naim junction, south of Kiryat Arba. Preliminary reports showed the gunmen approached the vehicle and shot the victims multiple times at point-blank range.
Magen David Adom reported that the victims were two men aged 25 and 40 and two women, also aged 25 and 40, one of whom was pregnant.
The victims were all residents of the settlement of Beit Hagai in the southern Hebron Hills.
Hamas’ military wing has claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes just a day before the White House effort to re-launch Mideast peace talks.
A statement from the armed wing of Hamas, a group that opposes any dialogue with Israel, said the “Qassam Brigades announces its full responsibility for the heroic operation in Hebron”.
