KINSHASA: Gunmen killed a Pakistani peacekeeper in an ambush on a UN convoy in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a spokesman for the UN mission said yesterday. The attack took place in the province of South Kivu and comes as the UN reinforces its mission with an aggressive force to defeat rebels at the heart of two decades of conflict. “We can’t say who was behind the attack but it appears that the convoy was specifically targeted. An investigation is under way,” said Biliaminou Alao, spokesman for the 17,000 peacekeeping mission in South Kivu. The incident occurred some 200km away from territory controlled by Tutsi-led M23 rebels. Alao said two other peacekeepers were wounded. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the Congolese authorities to bring those responsible to justice.
Kayani orders poll security
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani yesterday directed the army, civilian law enforcement forces and intelligence agencies to work as a team and implement a security plan to ensure law and order during the general election on Saturday. He reviewed arrangements in Karachi and the rest of Sindh during a meeting with top police officials. Director General ISPR Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said a 10,000-strong contingent of army personnel, backed by helicopters, had been deployed as Quick Response Force in addition to 39,000 policemen and Rangers in Karachi.
Nato probes into ‘abuse’
KABUL: The US-led Nato force fighting Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan said yesterday it had launched an investigation into alleged misconduct by its soldiers. An International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) statement said the probe would examine a clash on April 28 in the southern province of Zabul where four insurgents were killed. “I have informed the Afghan government of the situation. ISAF will do a very thorough investigation, and if appropriate, we will take action against the personnel involved,” US General Joseph Dunford, the ISAF Commander, said. “We take all allegations of misconduct by our personnel very seriously.”
Afghan blast claims three
Kabul: Three Afghan civilians were killed and five, including two women, injured when a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in the southern province of Helmand in Afghanistan. The incident took place early in the morning in Baghranian in Nahr-e-Saraj district after a civilian vehicle struck the bomb, according to Khaama Press. A provincial government spokesman said the Taliban planted the bomb to target Afghan and coalition forces.
Ex oil-gas chief sentenced
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s accountability court yesterday sentenced former chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, Tauqir Sadiq, to three years imprisonment for not appearing in the court during proceedings in a corruption reference against him. The court also issued a perpetual warrant for his arrest and ordered National Accountability Bureau to confiscate his assets and properties. agencies
