InfoAnda - UN chief: Security in Afghanistan has not improved

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

LUKOIL CEO sees $70-90 as fair oil price | 18 December 2008
AP NewsAlert | 24 December 2009
Fiji military leader rejects election ultimatum | 28 January 2009

Fire Kills Two As Young Boy Fails To Save Toddler Brother From Burning Home | 18 June 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : UN chief: Security in Afghanistan has not improved

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America UN chief: Security in Afghanistan has not improved By DEB RIECHMANN,Associated Press Writer - Saturday, June 19 Send IM Story Print KABUL, Afghanistan – A U.N. report released Saturday painted a grim picture of the security situation in Afghanistan, saying roadside bombings and assassinations have soared the first four months of the year amid ramped up military operations in the Taliban-dominated south. The United Nations' findings appeared at odds with Pentagon assertions this week claiming slow-but-steady progress in Afghanistan _ an assessment challenged by U.S. lawmakers during hearings on Capitol Hill. The report, which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon submitted to the U.N. Security Council this week, said Afghanistan's overall security situation "has not improved" since his last report in March. Roadside bombings in the first four months of 2010 skyrocketed 94 percent over the same period of 2009, and assassinations of Afghan officials jumped 45 percent, mostly in the ethnic Pashtun south, which has become the focus of the war, the report said. Suicide attacks occurred at a rate of about three per week, half in the restive south. The increase in complex attacks _ using a combination of suicide bombers and small-arms fire _ pointed to Taliban groups linked with al-Qaida, the report said. The study found some encouraging signs, however, including the government's plan to reach out to insurgents and offer economic incentives to leave the battlefield. It also said the U.N. was working with Afghan officials to prepare for parliamentary elections in September. Nevertheless, the U.N. found the number of security incidents had "increased significantly compared to previous years," in large part because of more military operations in the south early this year. NATO spokesman Brig. Gen. Josef Blotz told reporters in the capital on Saturday despite negative assessments, the international force was making steady strides. "Tough fighting is expected to continue, but the situation is trending in our favor as more forces flow into the area," Blotz said. He said joint NATO and Afghan forces were stepping up the pace of identifying and killing those responsible for attacks. Insurgent commanders were being apprehended by coalition forces, which over time will disrupt the ability to organize suicide and roadside bomb attacks, he said. "It has to be tougher perhaps before it goes easier," said Blotz. Blotz said the number of civilians killed or wounded in operations involving the international force dropped by 44.4 percent in the past 12 weeks, compared with the same period in 2009. "In the same period of time, the number of civilian casualties caused by the insurgency increased by 36 percent," Blotz said. Two Afghan civilians were killed Friday when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Marjah district of Helmand province, the Afghan Interior Ministry reported Saturday. Three Afghan soldiers were killed and two others wounded by a roadside bomb Friday in Paktia province in southeastern Afghanistan, according to the deputy provincial police chief Ghulam Dastagir. Casualties among the U.S. and NATO force also are on the rise this month as thousands of reinforcements stream into Afghanistan _ part of President Barack Obama's plan to try to stem the rise of the Taliban. Five NATO troops including three Americans died in fighting Friday, raising this month's death toll among international forces to 53, including 34 Americans. June is shaping up to be one of the deadliest months for U.S. troops in the nearly nine-year-old Afghan war, as insurgents step up attacks in response to a NATO push into Taliban strongholds in the south. The deadliest month for U.S. troops in Afghanistan was October 2009, when 59 Americans died. The deadliest of the war for the entire international force was July 2009 when 75 troops, including 44 Americans, were killed. Despite the violence, Defense Secretary Robert Gates insisted Wednesday the U.S.-led force was making progress and complained about negative perceptions taking root in Washington about the war. "I think that we are regaining the initiative," Gates told a Senate panel in Washington. "I think that we are making headway." Meanwhile, the relative of a former mujahedeen commander who battled the Soviets was killed in southern Kandahar province. Hamayun Khan was fatally shot outside his home Friday night, Kandahar Police Chief Sher Mohammed Zazai said Saturday. Khan was related to Gul Alai, a major construction contractor in Kandahar who also once served as chief of intelligence in the southern city. __ Associated Press writer Mirwais Khan in Kandahar contributed to this report. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Turkey bombs rebel bases in Iraq after soldiers killed AFP - 27 minutes ago Kyrgyzstan vows to probe ethnic violence AFP - 1 hour 14 minutes ago BP halts oil-capturing vessel, chief exec takes a break AFP - 2 hours 6 minutes ago Poland braces for presidential poll after air-crash death AFP - 2 hours 15 minutes ago Sarkozy rival Villepin launches political party AFP - 2 hours 26 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Red carnations for Nobel laureate as Portugal mourns Russia fears for health of the euro: Medvedev EU chief Barroso says euro is strong Sweden's future queen to wed former personal trainer Caracas asks Interpol to arrest anti-Chavez media mogul More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Aussie man jailed for blowing bubble in court Sweden's future queen to wed former personal trainer Battered BP boss relinquishes duties on US oil spill Caracas asks Interpol to arrest anti-Chavez media mogul Russia serious about change, Medvedev tells West More Most Viewed » Clashes as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid boat: Hamas TV Physicists solve mystery of missing neutrinos More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Sunday, 20 June 2010
Afghanistan hit by 'alarming' rise in bombings: UN
UN alarmed over escalating violence in Afghanistan
Exiled Rwanda general wounded in South Africa shooting |
Sarkozy hails Russia as gas, skyscraper deals inked
Four Armenians and one Azeri killed in Karabakh clash |
UN says security in Afghanistan has not improved
Russia fears for health of the euro: Medvedev
Tropical storm Celia forms in Pacific off Mexico |
UN chief: Security in Afghanistan has not improved
Hopes fade for survivors after Colombia mine blast |
25 Saudi Guantanamo prisoners return to militancy |
Press group urges Kuwaiti ruler to free blogger |
Ghana go top with draw against 10-man Aussies
US envoy Mitchell ends tour with visit to Egypt's Mubarak
APEC agrees to promote nuclear power: reports
Colombians turn to Facebook in final vote push |
China to allow more exchange rate flexibility
Strike ends at Toyota's China-based parts supplier
NeuroSky lets gamers use their brains
Iran's top Sunni rebel hanged
Britain facing biggest budget cuts in decades
Santos seen winning Colombian presidency |
US takes gentle approach in Kandahar
Whales closer to us than thought, say scientists
Iran executes leader of Sunni rebel group |
3 children killed, 23 people hurt in Afghanistan
Murray confident Wimbledon within his grasp
Red carnations for Nobel laureate as Portugal mourns
Obama Welcomes Chinese Exchange Rate Reforms
Danes send Cameroon packing, Dutch into W.Cup last 16
Poles vote for new president after plane crash |
Tropical Storm Celia may become hurricane off Mexico |
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Parents shot in front of daughter in Thai attacks
Death toll from floods in China reaches 132
S.Korea to boost role in anti-arms trafficking club
Malaysia's rescued baby pygmy elephant dies
Bangladesh closes university after World Cup riots
Buzz builds around electric cars as Nissan plans debut
China's Xi hopes to strengthen Australia ties
Bangladesh jute gets boost from plastic bag backlash
Japanese fans deflated after World Cup defeat
'Brand China' takes aim at global electronics giants
Courageous Socceroos no longer an embarrassment
Chinese criticize move to loosen exchange rate
Australian burglar nabbed by sweet tooth
China makes long-awaited currency move
Japan whaling town dreams of glory days
Gambling mogul predicts 30 pct growth in Macau casinos
Asian filmmakers offered $100,000 grants
'Peasant Da Vincis' on show in Shanghai exhibition
Thirsty World Cup fans boosting beer sales: brewers
Big name companies 'ambush' World Cup
Milan fashion for men: '50s retro with a nod to green
Half a million celebrate Gay Pride in Berlin
Conservative Croatia holds its ninth Gay Pride parade
Asian filmmakers offered $100,000 grants
Baghdad suicide bombers kill 26
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01