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Chadian army: Mokhtar Belmokhtar 'killed' in Mali

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:35:07 GMT

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Mali

Other stories from Mali

5 March 2013: Chadian army: Mokhtar Belmokhtar 'killed' in Mali
3 March 2013: Al-Qaeda commander Abou Zeid killed in Mali by French forces
1 February 2013: British Prime Minister David Cameron makes unannounced visit to Libya
25 October 2012: Obama, Romney battle over foreign policy in final U.S. presidential debate
18 March 2012: Imminent danger of famine in the Sahel

...More articles here

Location of Mali

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Mali, see the Mali Portal

A map showing the main towns and cities involved in the Northern Mali Conflict.
Image: Orionist.

The Chadian army says they killed prominent militant Islamist Mokhtar Belmokhtar in Mali on Saturday. Belmokhtar claimed responsibility for an attack at an Algerian gas plant in January which led to the deaths of 37 hostages.

In a statement read on Chadian national television, an armed forces spokesperson said: "On Saturday, March 2, at noon, Chadian armed forces operating in northern Mali completely destroyed a terrorist base [...] The toll included several dead terrorists, including their leader Mokhtar Belmokhta." The announcement of his death comes a day after the President of Chad Idriss Deby announced the senior Al-Qaeda commander Adelhamid Abou Zeid had been killed by French forces in Northern Mali.

	[His death] would be a blow to terrorism and to the criminal network around this man and other people
—William Hague, British Foreign Secretary

His death, if confirmed, is part of a larger conflict in the area. Islamist rebels have already been pushed back from towns such as Gao in Northern Mali.

The British Foreign Secretary William Hague said "It would be a blow to terrorism and to the criminal network around this man and other people. But it doesn't mean that the problems of Mali would be at an end. There's a lot to do to promote a political process in Mali: elections, legitimate government and so on. That work has to go on".

Chad is working alongside France and other African nations in a force aimed at regaining control of Northern Mali which has been seized by Islamist rebels. Belmokhtar lost an eye whilst fighting in an Islamist insurgency in the 1990s; he has spent over two decades in militant Islamism. Also a former member of the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), he left to create his own militant group.

There are concerns over the fate of seven French hostages taken in Mali; the French government has not confirmed the announcements from Chad of the deaths of prominent Al-Qaeda commander Abdelhamid Abou Zeid and Mokhtar Belmokhtar. Didier Beguin, a member of the support committee for another group of French hostages, said: "This is a rumour that is enormously worrying for the families and those of us who support them".

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Sister links [edit]

In Amenas hostage crisis

Sources [edit]

"Islamist militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar 'killed in Mali'" — BBC News Online, March 3, 2013
"Mokhtar Belmokhtar: Gas Terror Chief 'Killed'" — Sky News, March 3, 2013
AFP. "Belmokhtar death would be blow to terrorism: Britain" — Global Post, March 3, 2013
Ruth Sherlock. "Mokhtar Belmokhtar's death 'could have repercussions for French hostages'" — The Sunday Telegraph, March 3, 2013
Krista Larson (AP). "French, Malian troops regain control of Gao" — Yahoo! News, February 11, 2013

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Al-Qaeda commander Abou Zeid killed in Mali by French forces

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 04:17:45 GMT

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Mali

Other stories from Mali

5 March 2013: Chadian army: Mokhtar Belmokhtar 'killed' in Mali
3 March 2013: Al-Qaeda commander Abou Zeid killed in Mali by French forces
1 February 2013: British Prime Minister David Cameron makes unannounced visit to Libya
25 October 2012: Obama, Romney battle over foreign policy in final U.S. presidential debate
18 March 2012: Imminent danger of famine in the Sahel

...More articles here

Location of Mali

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Mali, see the Mali Portal

A map showing the main towns and cities involved in the Northern Mali Conflict.
Image: Orionist.

The President of Chad Idriss Deby has confirmed that the senior Al-Qaeda commander Abdelhamid Abou Zeid has been killed by French troops in Northern Mali.

Abou Zeid is a senior commander in the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb who are fighting French-backed Malian forces, he was killed along with 40 other militants four days ago in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountain range. He is believed to have been behind the abduction of 20 Westeners as well as the killings of British national Edwin Dyer in 2009 and French national Michel Germaneau in 2010.

President Deby said in a statement on Friday: "Chadian forces killed two jihadi leaders, including Abou Zeid", "On February 22, we lost several soldiers in the Ifogha mountains after destroying the jihadists' base. This was the first time there was a direct confrontation with the jihadists". Chadian troops have been involved in helping to fight off troops as part of a wider African force and they have been playing a key role in trying to free Northern Mali.

A French government spokesperson, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem warned that reports of his death were as yet unconfirmed. Al-Qaeda are currently holding seven French nationals hostages in Sahel and there are no confirmed reports that they have been executed.

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Sources [edit]

"Chad President Deby: Al-Qaeda's Abou Zeid killed in Mali" — BBC News Online, March 2, 2013
Diouara. "Mali locals say no doubt Qaeda commander Abou Zeid dead" — Reuters UK, March 1, 2013
"Chadian troops 'kill' al-Qaeda leader in Mali" — Al Jazeera, March 1, 2013
Ségolène Allemandou. "Al Qaeda silent on French hostages in Mali" — France 24, February 2, 2013

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British Prime Minister David Cameron makes unannounced visit to Libya

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:08:45 GMT

Friday, February 1, 2013

Libya

Sources [edit]

"We want to stand with you, David Cameron tells Libya" — BBC News Online, January 31, 2013
"David Cameron Makes Surprise Trip To Libya" — Sky News, January 31, 2013

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Obama, Romney battle over foreign policy in final U.S. presidential debate

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 22:58:36 GMT

Thursday, October 25, 2012

2012 United States Presidential Election

2012 U.S. Presidential Election stories

7 November 2012: World leaders react to Obama win
7 November 2012: United States re-elects Barack Obama
7 November 2012: Australian Broadcasting Corporation plans to call California for Obama before polls close
5 November 2012: Wikinews interviews former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party
5 November 2012: On the campaign trail, October 2012

2012 US presidential election candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney took part Monday in their third and final presidential debate at Lynn University in Florida. The topic of the debate was foreign policy and the candidates discussed the Arab Spring, Iran, and Mali, among other issues.

Barack Obama
Image: US Senate.

Mitt Romney
Image: Gage skidmore.

Mr. Obama criticised Mr. Romney's foreign policy positions as "all over the map". "Every time you have offered an opinion you have been wrong." "You said we should have gone into Iraq, despite the fact there were no weapons of mass destruction. You said we should still have troops in Iraq to this day. You said we shouldn't be passing nuclear treaties with Russia." Mr. Romney countered saying Mr. Obama had failed to take proper advantage of the Arab Spring: "I congratulate him on taking out Osama bin Laden and going after the leadership of al-Qaeda, but we can't kill our way out of this mess".

Mr. Romney said Mr. Obama was proposing military budget cuts. He said "the highest responsibility of the President of the United states ... is to maintain the safety of the American people, and I will not cut our military budget by a trillion dollars... That in my view is making our future less certain and less secure". Mr. Obama accused Mr. Romney of not properly understanding modern defense priorities. "You mention the navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets. Because the nature of the military has changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers, where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines".

	Well governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets. Because the nature of the military has changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers, where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines".
—Barack Obama

Mr. Romney criticized his opponent for visiting the Middle East on an "apology tour", and said he would be tougher with Iran. "I think from the very beginning, one of the challenges we've had with Iran is that they have looked at this administration and felt that the administration was not as strong as it needed to be. We're four years closer to a nuclear Iran and we should not have wasted these four years." Mr. Obama said he would stand with Israel against Iranian threats but added that the main national security concern was terrorist networks. He said his administration had focused on "those who actually killed us on 9/11" and said that under his leadership, "al-Qaeda's core leadership has been decimated". Mr. Romney said northern Mali had been taken over by "al-Qaeda-type individuals" .

Mr. Romney criticized China for "holding down artificially the value of their currency". He added "on day one, I will label them a currency manipulator, which allows us to apply tariffs where they're taking jobs." Mr. Obama countered saying under Mr. Romney's policy America would be "buying cars from China instead of selling cars to China".

A poll, taken by CBS straight after the debate, indicated 53% of voters thought Mr. Obama had done better, while only 23% thought Mr. Romney had done better.

Both candidates now have plans for continued campaigning ahead of the election on November 6. Mr. Obama is to travel through Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado, and Nevada as well as appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in a two-day "America Forward Tour". Mr. Romney is to hold two joint rallies with his vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan in Nevada and Colorado before going on to campaign in Iowa and Ohio. Mr. Romney's advisers said he would also consider making a speech on government spending and debt in the next few days.

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Sources [edit]

"Obama on the attack in final presidential debate" — Channel 4 News, October 23, 2012
"Obama and Romney in final push" — BBC News Online, October 23, 2012
Ruby Cramer. "Why Mitt Romney Kept Talking About Mali" — BuzzFeed, October 22, 2012

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Imminent danger of famine in the Sahel

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:10:10 GMT

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Lower levels of precipitation in the Sahel region since 1970

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization reports that an estimated number of sixteen million people may soon suffer from food shortages in the Sahel region. UNICEF prepares for a worst case scenario of providing food for 1.5 million children with acute malnutrition.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced that by Tuesday the United Nations had so far only received about a quarter of the US$1 billion required for the imminent food crisis; the United Nations had appealed to the international community for donations.

The situation is further complicated by Tuareg separatists in Mali, which are a security risk to the charities and have displaced residents to other states of the Sahel, as well as by workers in Niger, who have returned from Libya or Nigeria, but found no occupation in Niger. The government of Niger has initiated a program for this group consisting of relief food aid and labor schemes.

"We witnessed last year the situation spiraling out of control in East Africa as the aid community failed to act swiftly," explained Mamadou Biteye, the regional director of Oxfam for West Africa: "The worst can be avoided and thousands of lives will be saved if we act now. It's that simple."

The last food crises were the 2011 East Africa drought in the Horn of Africa and the 2010 Sahel famine.

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Sources [edit]

Abdoulaye Massalaatchi. "Lethal 'cocktail' threatens Africa's Sahel" — Reuters, March 16, 2012
"Disaster is stalking children in the Sahel" — UNICEF, March 16, 2012
George Fominyen, Reuters AlertNet. "FACTBOX-Response to Sahel food crisis" — Trust.org, March 15, 2012

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Wikinews Shorts: November 30, 2010

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:04:10 GMT

A compilation of brief news reports for Tuesday, November 30, 2010 .

President of Cyrpus cancels visit to Kazakhstan due to illness [edit]

The President of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias has cancelled a state visit to Kazakhstan after he fell ill. Christofias was in Libya when he fell ill on Monday. He was attending a European Union–African summit at the time. It has been announced that the President will miss tomorrow's European security meeting in Kazakhstan.

Sources

"Cyprus president falls ill, cancels trip to European security meeting in Kazakhstan" — Winnipeg Free Press, November 30, 2010
"Cyprus President flown home after illness" — Famagusta Gazette, November 30, 2010

Mali immigrant killed in French Taser shooting [edit]

An immigrant from Mali has died after he was shot twice by French police. The unidentified man, 38 was Tasered twice when he attacked police with a hammer in an apartment block after he was asked to show his papers. Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said "From initial reports it seems that, faced with the aggression and violence of this person, police officers were obliged to use an electric charge pistol."

A death inquiry has been opened to investigate the man's death.

Sources

"Mali man dies after French police use Taser" — BBC News Online, November 30, 2010
"Mali immigrant dies after French police Taser him twice" — AFP, November 30, 2010

Italian film director Mario Monicelli commits suicide age 95 [edit]

Italian film director Mario Monicelli has committed suicide in his hospital room. The 95-year-old jumped out of his room's window while he was being treated for prostate cancer. A spokeswomen from the Giovanni hospital announced his death. Monicelli directed numerous films in the 1950s and 60's. Some of his films include Big Deal on Madonna Street and La Grande Guerra.

Sources

"Italian cinema great Mario Monicelli kills himself" — BBC News Online, November 30, 2010
"Mario Monicelli, Italian Director, Dies at 95" — New York Times, November 29, 2010

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Algerian driver released by hostage takers in Niger

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:01:07 GMT

Friday, April 30, 2010

Niger

Sources [edit]

"Kidnapped Algerian driver in Niger is released" — BBC News Online, April 29, 2010
"Algerian freed, Frenchman held" — News 24, April 29, 2010

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Kidnapped Spanish aid worker is released

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:33:50 GMT

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Al-Qaeda

Sources [edit]

"Spanish hostage in Africa freed" — BBC News Online, March 10, 2010
"Spain: Aid worker in Africa released by militants" — The Associated Press, March 10, 2010
"Spain: Aid worker snatched by al Qaeda freed" — CNN, March 10, 2010

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Polio vaccination campaign targets 85 million African children

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:02:17 GMT

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Health

Sources [edit]

"Africa united in fight against polio outbreak" — The Botswana Gazette, 5 March 2010
"85 Million Children To Be Immunized Against Polio In West And Central Africa" — Voice of America, 5 March 2010

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At least fifteen dead after stampede at Mali mosque

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:51:26 GMT

Friday, February 26, 2010

Mali

Other stories from Mali

5 March 2013: Chadian army: Mokhtar Belmokhtar 'killed' in Mali
3 March 2013: Al-Qaeda commander Abou Zeid killed in Mali by French forces
1 February 2013: British Prime Minister David Cameron makes unannounced visit to Libya
25 October 2012: Obama, Romney battle over foreign policy in final U.S. presidential debate
18 March 2012: Imminent danger of famine in the Sahel

...More articles here

Location of Mali

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Mali, see the Mali Portal

According to a government official, at least 26 people were killed in a stampede on Thursday at a historic mosque in the northwestern city of Timbuktu, Mali.

"There were 26 killed and 40 wounded," Oumar Sangare, the Internal Ministry spokesman, told Reuters. However, other news agency reports put the death toll as low as fifteen.

An official, who requested to remain anonymous, said the accident could have begun as a result of renovation work on the Djingareyber mosque—which is made primarily of mud, and was built in the fourteenth century. Construction work blocked off some of the roads, and that could have been a factor in the incident. "The mosque is being renovated, financed by the Aga Khan, and the work is carried out by South African specialists," the official told the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.

"Because of these renovations, the passage on the north side of the mosque is closed off. On that side, to get through, the faithful found an improvised alleyway. But the alley couldn't take the number of people using it. So there was a stampede. Somebody shouted 'someone has died' and panic took over," the same official went on to say.

Others have remarked that rescue services responded "very quickly" to the stampede, and helped the "many injured."

The Xinhua news agency reports the stampede started when an elderly woman fell in one of the town streets near the city's main mosque, where a sermon was being conducted in front of a large crowd; a passersby then rushed to assist the woman, apparently disrupting the crowd's movement and causing the stampede.

"People were circling the mosque, a ritual at each Mouloud [the observance of the Prophet Mohammed's birthday] and there was a huge crowd build up," commented Mohamed Bandjougou, one of the witnesses to the event, to AFP by telephone. "There were at least fifteen dead. The bodies were taken to the morgue."

Authorities warned the number of injured may actually be higher than reported, saying that "we cannot rule out the fact that the number of those injured will increase because some of them are still hiding in their homes instead of coming to the hospital." A hospital source commented that some of the people hurt were in critical condition, and needed to be evacuated to the capital, Bamako, as soon as possible.

The mosque's imam, who gave his name as Asseyuti, commented on the incident. "We're in mourning. What happened is a real trauma. We accept the will of God. He gives us life, he takes it away," he said.

According to an official statement, Malian president Amandou Toumani Toure is traveling to Timbuktu from Bamako in light of the stampede.

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Sources [edit]

"Deadly stampede in Mali mosque" — Al Jazeera, February 26, 2010
"24 people dead in Mali mosque stampede" — Xinhua, February 26, 2010
"26 dead in Timbuktu mosque stampede: gov't" — Reuters Africa, February 26, 2010

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Al-Qaida demands hostage exchange; threatens to kill if demands not met

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:07:50 GMT

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Ménaka, Mali
Image: Dr. Blofeld.

Mali

Other stories from Mali

5 March 2013: Chadian army: Mokhtar Belmokhtar 'killed' in Mali
3 March 2013: Al-Qaeda commander Abou Zeid killed in Mali by French forces
1 February 2013: British Prime Minister David Cameron makes unannounced visit to Libya
25 October 2012: Obama, Romney battle over foreign policy in final U.S. presidential debate
18 March 2012: Imminent danger of famine in the Sahel

...More articles here

Location of Mali

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Mali, see the Mali Portal

The African branch of al-Qaida has demanded the release of four of its members held in Mali in exchange for the French hostage Pierre Camatte, 61 years, kidnapped in November. If their demands are not met they have threatened to kill him.

"Let France and Mali be forewarned that we give 20 days to fulfill our just demand or the two governments shall be fully responsible for the life of the French hostage," stated the group, which started out as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat before joining al-Qaida in 2004, on a website on Sunday.

Gunmen seized Camatte from his hotel in Ménaka on November 25. Four days later in neighbouring Mauritania the group kidnapped three Spanish aid workers. No one has seen them since.

According to CNN, the group executed British hostage Edwin Dyer in June, after failing to obtain the release of the person believed to be Osama bin Laden's European deputy, Abu Qatada. The group also claims to have killed an American teacher in Mauritania in June for spreading the Christian message.

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Sources [edit]

"Al-Qaida threatens to kill French hostage" — United Press International, January 11, 2009
"African al-Qaeda demands swap for French hostage" — BBC News Online, January 11, 2009
"Al-Qaeda 'holds French and Spanish hostages in Africa'" — BBC News Online, January 8, 2009

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Antiglobalization protestors march near site of G8 summit

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:34:40 GMT

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

A large police presence was visible at most of the protests, including the one photographed above.
Image: Muji Tra.

Hundreds of antiglobalization protesters marched on the streets of Sapporo, Japan, around the scene of the current G8 summit. The 2008 G8 summit, a gathering of the leaders of France, United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada, began yesterday in Sapporo, Japan.

Some of the protesters were wearing helmets and masks, and according to NECN.com, were shouting "crash the summit."

There was a large police presence at the scene of the protests, with some of the officers being equipped with riot gear. They claimed that some of the protests violated Japanese law.

In addition to the protests, activists in Mali held the Poor People's Summit at a time to coincide with the G8 summit.

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Sources [edit]

"Japanese protest G-8 Summit" — NECN, July 8, 2008
"G8 Summit vs. Global Crisis" — Prensa Latina, July 8, 2008

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West African cholera claims more than 500 lives, more deaths feared

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 01:27:11 GMT

Thursday, September 1, 2005

Mural in West Africa depicting the effects of cholera.

An outbreak of cholera in West Africa has resulted in the deaths of more than 500 people, and United Nations (UN) health officials are concerned that inadequate health services in the region could result in many more deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that over 31,250 cases of cholera have been reported so far this year in nine West African countries. It has claimed 488 lives at this point. "If we look at this year's trends, the figures are still going up in many countries," said John Mulangu, a senior regional advisor for the WHO. "If cholera is not brought under control in certain regions, we will soon be talking of... 100,000 cases," he said. "And hospitals and health centres will be overwhelmed. Last year we were not on this scale. The problem is getting worse," Mulangu said.

The UN says that the increase could also be related to the fact that due to poverty, many West Africans move around, sometimes out of the country, in order to receive higher wages for their work, and the region has been hit with heavy rains. This helps spread the disease, according to the UN.

"We are about to enter the harvest season where people will be moving around," said Herve Ludovic de Lys, the head of OCHA's West Africa office. "The main goal is to halt the transmission of this disease," he said. "It's not business as usual. This crisis needs a rapid response."

The following West African nations have all been hit by cholera epidemics: Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. The WHO issued a statement on Thursday that more countries were at risk. "Outbreaks are likely to spread to Central Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad - in the next weeks," it said.

Sources [edit]

"Cholera epidemic 'needs attention'" — Associated Press, September 2, 2005
"WEST AFRICA: Cholera kills nearly 500 people, more deaths feared" — IRIN, September 1, 2005

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Neighbours of Niger also facing food crisis

Tue, 26 Jul 2005 22:14:16 GMT

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Nigerian child starving due to nationwide food shortage.

A food crisis is threatening three other countries in the region of Niger — a country facing severe food shortages after drought and plagues of locusts — the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned.

The three — Burkina Faso, Mali and Mauritania — have been affected by drought and plagues of locusts that engulfed the Sahel region of West Africa last August.

About 6 million are short of food and require food aid: 3.5 million from Niger; 1.1 million from Mali; 750,000 from Mauritania; and 500,000 from Burkina Faso.

The United Nations — which has a Consolidated Appeal for West Africa of just under £196 million US dollars in aid for the region this year — is expecting to feed 250,000 people shortly. In May, OCHA made an additional flash appeal for $16,191,000 US dollars.

Over the past few weeks, the media has shown graphic images of the situation in Niger. Jan Egelend, OCHA Under-Secerary General and Emergency Relief Coordinator, claims that the situation in the region prior to this was largely ignored by the international community, saying that: "Over the last few days, the world has finally woken up, but it took graphic images of dying children for this to happen."

Sources [edit]

"NIGER: Fighting for life as a poor harvest makes a difficult situation critical" — IRIN, July 26, 2005
"Niger neighbours also face hunger" — BBC News Online, July 26, 2005
"Emergency response in West Africa" — UN News Centre, July 25, 2005
"Consolidated Appeal for West Africa 2005" — Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, June 29, 2005
"Emergency response in West Africa" — British Red Cross, 2005

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