The Star Online: World Updates
The Star Online: World Updates |
- Pakistani Shi'ites receive death threat text messages
- Sudan makes arrests after foiled "sabotage attempt" - report
- Sudan makes arrests after foiled "sabotage attempt" - state-linked media
| Pakistani Shi'ites receive death threat text messages Posted: 21 Nov 2012 09:23 PM PST ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani Shi'ites, targeted in three explosions which killed 16 people on Wednesday, are now receiving death threat text messages on cellphones ahead of a key event in their religious calendar that has been tainted by violence in the past. "Kill, Kill, Shi'ites," say the text warnings to members of the minority sect. Hardline Sunni militant groups linked to al Qaeda have in recent months stepped up attacks against Pakistan's Shi'ites, whom they regard as non-Muslims. Pakistan's Taliban claimed responsibility for Wednesday's violence and said it would stage more attacks on Shi'ites over the next few days. More than 300 Shi'ites have been killed in Pakistan so far this year in sectarian conflict, according to human rights groups. "Genocide against Shi'ites is already taking place in Pakistan so the text messages don't really matter that much," said Jalal Haider, who received a text threat. Hardline Sunnis are expected to strike again this weekend, the climax of the Shi'ite mourning month of Muharram. Radical Sunni groups have staged high-profile suicide bombings against processions on that occasion before. Muharram marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala where the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad and his family members were killed. About 50,000 people are expected to march through the streets of Islamabad on Saturday and thousands of security personnel are expected to be deployed in a bid to avoid attacks. Any large-scale sectarian violence could hurt Pakistan's efforts to show it has improved security as it hosts the leaders of eight developing countries at a summit in Islamabad. Pakistani intelligence officials say extremist groups, led by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, or LeJ, have escalated their bombings and shootings of Shi'ites to trigger violence that would pave the way for a Sunni theocracy in U.S.-allied Pakistan. The schism between Sunnis and Shi'ites developed after the Prophet Muhammad died in 632 when his followers could not agree on a successor. Sunnis recognise the first four caliphs as his rightful successors. The Shi'ites believe the prophet named his son-in-law Ali. Emotions over the issue are highly potent in modern times, pushing some countries, including Iraq five years ago, to the brink of civil war. Pakistan is nowhere near that stage but officials worry that LeJ and other groups have succeeded in dramatically ratcheting up tensions and provoking revenge attacks in their bid to destabilise the nuclear-armed country. (Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Michael Perry) Copyright © 2012 Reuters |
| Sudan makes arrests after foiled "sabotage attempt" - report Posted: 21 Nov 2012 07:27 PM PST KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan's security services thwarted a "sabotage attempt" led by opposition forces and arrested a number of civilian and military figures in connection with the incident early on Thursday, state-linked media reported. Witnesses told Reuters they saw tanks and armoured vehicles moving down a major street in central Khartoum, the capital, around midnight. A Reuters reporter said security in the area appeared normal in the early morning. Sudan, ruled by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir since he seized power in a 1989 coup, has avoided the massive political upheaval that has convulsed other Arab countries over the last two years. But the secession of oil-producing South Sudan last year and an ensuing economic crisis emboldened some opposition activists to call for protests and, analysts say, exacerbated divisions in the government. Small demonstrations against cuts in fuel subsidies and other austerity measures broke out across the country in June but petered out after a security crackdown and the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Sudan's security and intelligence agency "foiled a sabotage plot this morning aimed at bringing about security disturbances in the country led by figures from the opposition forces," the Sudanese Media Centre reported on Thursday. Quoting a security source, the media centre said authorities had arrested "military and civilian figures" in connection with the plot. It did not identify them. Officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the report. The Sudanese Media Centre earlier reported in a text message to mobile phones that the security and intelligence services had "frustrated a sabotage attempt". Witnesses said they had seen military vehicles in a main street in central Khartoum during the night. "We saw something unusual in Khartoum before midnight yesterday. Four armoured vehicles and two tanks on Abeid Khatim Street heading in the direction of downtown," one witness said, asking not to be named. Security at the defence ministry, intelligence headquarters and other buildings associated with military and security authorities appeared normal early in the morning, a Reuters witness said. Sudan has been plagued by political conflicts and crises for most of its history since independence from Britain in 1956. Decades of civil war between the north and south culminated with South Sudan's independence in July last year under a 2005 peace deal. Tensions have remained high since then. The two countries accused one another of incursions in disputed border zones on Wednesday, a setback to recent security and border deals. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Alexander Dziadosz; Editing by Paul Simao and Christopher Wilson) Copyright © 2012 Reuters |
| Sudan makes arrests after foiled "sabotage attempt" - state-linked media Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:49 PM PST KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan's security services thwarted a "sabotage attempt" led by opposition forces and arrested a number of civilian and military figures in connection with the incident early on Thursday morning, state-linked media reported. Witnesses told Reuters they saw tanks and armoured vehicles moving down a major street in central Khartoum, the capital, around midnight. A Reuters reporter said security in the area appeared normal early in the morning. Sudan's security and intelligence agency "foiled a sabotage plot this morning aimed at bringing about security disturbances in the country led by figures from the opposition forces," the Sudanese Media Centre (SMC) reported. Quoting a security source, SMC said authorities had arrested "military and civilian figures" in connection with the plot. It did not identify them. Officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the report. SMC earlier reported in a text message to mobile phones that the security and intelligence services had "frustrated a sabotage attempt". Witnesses said they had seen military vehicles in a main street in central Khartoum during the night. "We saw something unusual in Khartoum before midnight yesterday. Four armoured vehicles and two tanks on Abeid Khatim street heading in the direction of downtown," one witness said, asking not to be named. Security at the defence ministry, intelligence headquarters and other buildings associated with military and security authorities appeared normal early in the morning, a Reuters witness said. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Alexander Dziadosz; Editing by Paul Simao) Copyright © 2012 Reuters |
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