West Trains Spies to Hunt Taliban Infiltrators in Afghan Forces
13 April 2011
Western forces in Afghanistan have begun to train counter-intelligence agents to help root out Taliban infiltrators in the Afghan army and police, as concern mounts over killings by rogue security personnel. U.S. Lieutenant General William Caldwell, head of the U.S. and NATO training mission in Afghanistan, said on Tuesday 222 agents had been trained since the program began last summer, and there was a target of 445 agents by the end of the year....
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Thousands of Kandaharis Protest Peacefully against Qur'an Burning
13 April 2011
A protest against the burning of a Qur'an by a Florida pastor remained peaceful Wednesday despite fears it would erupt in violence like similar demonstrations did two weeks ago. Afghan police were out in force in anticipation of trouble, and some stores and offices in Afghanistan's second-largest city stayed closed. As many as 3,000 people took part in the protest, some waving the white flag of the Taliban. While the protest was aimed at the Qur'an...
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13 April 2011
Violent attacks against humanitarian workers have tripled over the past decade, resulting in more than 100 deaths annually, former U.N. humanitarian chief Jan Egeland said Tuesday. The highest tolls are in conflict areas such as Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia. In a report released Tuesday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, Egeland says that neutrality, impartiality and independence can help protect aid workers. Egeland,...
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Suicide Bomber Strikes Meeting of Elders, Kills Notable Tribal Leader, 11 Afghans
13 April 2011
A suicide bomber on foot detonated himself on Wednesday as tribal elders left a meeting in a remote mountain village in eastern Afghanistan, killing one of the most senior local figures and 11 other people including five schoolboys. The meeting, which was being held to resolve local disputes in Asmar village of Kunar Province, included some of the most powerful local leaders, including Haji Malik Zareen, a commander who was renowned for fighting...
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