The 65 Mexican coal miners that were trapped underground in an explosion have been declared dead. Grupo Mexico say that methane and carbon dioxide were at lethal levels, and there was very little oxygen. No bodies have been recovered, as they are deep in the mine, and blocked by a large amount of debris.
Source: Reuters
Additional Information: Worst Mining Accidents (Reuters)
The Abqaiq oil facility in Saudi Arabia has come under attack from suicide bombers. At least two car bombs were stopped at the perimeter fence by gunfire from security forces. Osama bin Laden urged supporters to hit oil facilities in the gulf last year, and suspicion for the attacks is falling on al Qaeda sympathisers.
Saudi state televisions has said oil output has not been impeded, but crude oil prices rose $2 per barrel on the news.
Source: Reuters, CNN Money, Al Jezeera
After days of rumors and official denials, the Gloria Arroyo has declared a state of emergency and confirmed a coup attempt. Army General Generoso Senga says they have reduced the threat, but not eliminated it. Brig Gen Danilo Lim is accused of being behind the attempt, and has been arrested. Tensions remain high, with check points being erected around Manila and additional security has been added to the presidential palace.
The violence initiated by bombing of the ‘Golden Mosque’ is now reported to have claimed over 130 lives, mostly Sunni. Some are beginning to link Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, to the attacks as an attempt to initiate a civil war. A statement released on the internet from The Mujahideen Council (an alliance of insurgency groups including al Qaeda in Iraq) claims that the Shi’ite leaders committed the bombing to justify violence, and indicated they would deliver a “shocking response”.
Source: Reuters
Six people have been killed, 27 Sunni mosques have been attacked and one imam has reportedly been kidnapped.
Some interesting analysis from Christopher Allbritton, a journalist in Baghdad, can be found here.
Quote: “If this doesn’t spark a much-feared civil war, we’ll be lucky. This is the tensest Baghdad has been in two years, and this attack is especially provocative coming as it does during Arba’een, the 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussayn that follows the Shi’ite commemoration of Ashura.”
Source:AP via news.com.au
A group of men masquerading as Iraqi police damaging the Ibrahim al-Jaafari has declared a week of mourning for the Shiite holy site. The bombing has sparked protests in Najaf, Samarra, and Baghdad, and a possible reprisal attack on a Sunni mosque. Prime Minister al-Jaafari hs called for unity.
Source: CNN, Global Security (Contains images of Mosque pre-bombing including satellite images)
Many stories are currently flying about concerning Ratko Mladic, some reports suggesting he has already been arrested, and others saying that his surrender is currently being negotiated. A UN warcrimes prosecuter has expressed doubt in the story.
Ratko Mladic is accused of commiting ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity in Srebrenica and Sarajevo during the Bosnian war.
Sources: Guardian, AP via CTV.ca, Reuters, UN denial via The Australian
Refugees from the small African nation of CAR have been pouring into their northern neighbour Chad, citing attacks from bandits, rebel forces, and govenment troops believing the refugees were supporting the rebels.
Roughly 30,000 refugees fled to Chad in 2002 after civil fighting, with the nation currently hosting over 200,000 displaced Sudanese as a result of the current Darfur humanitarian crisis.
Source: Reuters
65 Mexican miners have been trapped in a coal mine after a gas explosion. They are believed to have had only 6 hours of oxygen, and it is not known as to if they had access to alternative supplies. The mine is located near the town of San Juan de Sabinas and is operated by Grupo Mexico.
Source: AP via CNNÂ
Fresh violence has broken out in the Somali capital between a group - believed to be backed by local warlords - calling themselves “The Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism” and the militias of the Islamic Courts.
Ten people are believed to have been killed in the fighting on Saturday.
Source: BBC
Image: CIA World Fact Book