Hundreds escape from Afghan prison

25 April 2011 last updated at 07: 10 GMT prison is under the control of the Afghan security forces more than 470 inmates in a prison in southern Afghanistan escaped through a tunnel hundreds metres long and from the have dug outside the jail.

Officials in the city of Kandahar, said that many of those who escaped were rebelling Taliban.

Kandahar of provincial Governor's Office said some had recovered since then, but gave no further details.

A spokesman for the Taliban said it had the 320 m (1, 050 ft) dug tunnel and, that it is five months to construct.

Zabiullah Mujahid said about 100 of those who provide were Taliban commanders escaped, and most of the others were fighters with the uprising.

Correspondents say the Taliban often make exaggerated claims.

Second jailbreak

"Tunnels hundreds of meters long from the South of the prison in the prison and 476 prisoners escaped last night, dug", said prison Director General Ghulam Dastageer Mayar.

The prison holds about 1,200 inmates

A Escapee told the BBC, that it's him about 30 minutes, the length of the tunnel to go. The flight took most of the night vehicles went and take the body to take prisoners.

It is believed that the tunnel was dug from a house outside the prison walls.

The jailbreak is the second large escape from the prison in three years.

In June 2008 a suicide bomber blew open Kandahar prison fire-prevention gates and a nearby checkpoint, liberation, about 900 prisoners, many of them suspected rebels destroyed.

After millions of pounds have been spent to update prison. A big boost in the violence of the 2008 breakout followed.

The prison is under Afghan control, but NATO led international security assistance force (ISAF) said it was prepared, if requested by the Afghan officials, provides support.

Withdrawal from Afghanistan NATO forces are preparing for the long process. The first level security is the transfer of responsibilities to local forces by July, but Kandahar belongs not to the first tranche of the provinces and cities to the Afghans are passed.

Analysts say that it only to be expected that these regions as the Taliban is intended to take it back will be once again at the Centre of insurgent activity.

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UK female soldier dies after Afghan blast

20 April 2011, last updated at 17: 11 GMT Capt. head served in the Iraq and Afghanistan a female UK has soldier Afghanistan died in hospital of injuries an explosion suffered clearing roadside bombs in Helmand province,.

Capt. Lisa jade head, of 11 explosive ordnance disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, died in Queen Elizabeth NHS hospital, Birmingham, on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old, of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, had broken on Monday was.

She will die only the second female member of the British armed forces in Afghanistan in nearly a decade.

The number of the British armed forces takes her death since 2001 to 364 in Afghanistan killed.

"Very proud"

The Ministry of defence (MoD) said they traveled to camp bastion in Helmand before is in the United Kingdom evacuated taken had been.

Lt Col Tim Purbrick, spokesman for task force Helmand, announced the death of Capt. head - who was born in Huddersfield and attended the University of the city before the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst - "with much sadness".

Capt. head into the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) in the order given and initially trained as an air transport liaison officer, deploying to Iraq in 2006 and Afghanistan in 2007.

Lt Col Purbrick said: "(HSE) was a complex series of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) that was to have been sown in an alley between two connections if one of the devices detonated neutralize."

"First emergency aid has been deployed and a helicopter medical emergency response team was the accident to the military hospital at Camp Bastion."

Read the main story Jonathan Beale defence correspondent, BBC News

Although women may serve as infantry troops on the front line, they are there still in harm's way, a number of specialist roles do.

There are female medics, intelligence agents, members of the Royal military police and disposal bomb experts.

High threat explosive ordnance disposal or EOD operators have already as you described "bravest of the brave". You are small, elite group of highly trained soldiers to fight the single cause of death of the British troops in Afghanistan - the bomb on the roadside.

Much has already been written the men have the task – including those who died, in the process as staff Sgt oz Schmid did. The death of the first female operator is a reminder that both men and women put their lives on the line. About 10% of the army with high risk of EOD operators are women.

They include Capt Judith Gallagher, that last year of the Queen received an award for bravery. On their first day in Helmand province in the year 2010 a marathon 30-hour shift defused it 14 bombs while. On occasion, they tried to clear a minefield under enemy fire. At the time, she said: "It is my job and I get up only with him."

Capt. was head in this form. It is assumed that a bomb was thrown when she began dealing with the minefield, and the force of the explosion knocked her off her feet. Unharmed, they will be hurt again in their task only for hard by a second explosion. You never from the wounds recovered, and died in hospital.

Capt. head, based in Didcot, Oxfordshire, provided to Afghanistan on 27 March and based in patrol was base of 4 in the district at Nahr-e Saraj.

Your team was to sell a bomb found by B company, 2nd Battalion, the parachute regiment in a street of civilians and ISAF (international security assistance force) used troops.

Capt. head was successfully made the device safe, fatally injured when dealing with a second.

Her family - which are respected for their privacy by the media appeal has - filed a statement of the MoD: "We want to say that we are very proud of Lisa."

"Lisa said always, that she had the best job in the world and she loved every second of it." Lisa had two families - us and the army. Lisa had a fantastic life and lived it fully. "No one was more loved."

"Tragic moment"

Capt. initial's Regiment is the British army specialist for anti-terror bomb available, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and the recovery and safe disposal of conventional ammunition responsible.

It employs about 500 specialized soldiers from five individual corps within the British army selected.

It has been hard hit by the Afghanistan war - it is the sixth element of the Regiment, to it are killed.

Her commanding officer, Lt Col Adam McRae, described it as "passionate, robust and sincere individuals, the life in full;" be it at work, on the sporting field or at the bar.

Lieutenant Col McRae pays tribute to Captain Lisa jade head

"it was completely committed to their profession and rightly proud of being one ammunition technical officer." She took in particular pride in the achievement of the coveted "High risk" status, which you at the top of their craft set.

"Lisa provided Afghanistan with full knowledge of the threats, which you would face." These dangers they not discourage, as a confident, highly effective operator and a leading provider of was very popular. Methodological and professional in their work, was always eminently pragmatic and calm under pressure.

"their potential was considerable and they will be a huge loss to us all."

"Miss the Regiment, their colleagues and friends, her infectious smile and dry wit." It sits proudly alongside our recent fallen, some of which you were close friends who I know, inspired providing for Afghanistan.

"Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with her family at this tragic moment." We mourn their loss; She disappeared, but will be forgotten by their Regiment which I know she was proud that part and immensely proud to never.

"Their sacrifice will inspire others to follow their example."

The only other female member of the armed forces to die was in Afghanistan cpl. Sarah Bryant.

The 26-year-old was killed together with three colleagues as their snatch was blown up Land Rover by a bomb on the roadside as she crossed a trench in the area of Lashkar Gah, Helmand province in June 2008.

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Bomber kills Afghan police Chief

15 April 2011 last updated at 18: 14 GMT Khan Mohammad Mujahid has survived previous attempts on his life which police chief died in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar in a suicide attack on his headquarters had.

Khan Mohammad Mujahid was killed and two other policemen injured in the explosion, officials say.

A suicide bomber managed penetrate the defence of the General Headquarters of police by wearing a police uniform, said the Afghan Ministry of the Interior.

Mr Khan survived previous attempts on his life. The police HQ has taken in the past in the line of fire.

"The suicide attacker had strapped explosives to his body" Deputy chief Shir Shah said told AFP.

"He fired at the gates of the Kandahar police headquarters." "Police chief Khan Mohammad Mujahid has tortured have been, [and] two police officers were injured."

Taliban spokesman Yusuf Ahmadi said one of its members carried out the attack, and gave AFP a slightly different account of the events.

"He had disguised himself as a police officer and the police fired head with his pistol, embraced him and then ignited themselves," he said.

The police headquarters in Kandahar became the target of several attacks in the past, which had forced the authorities security arrangements around the facility recently BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul reports check.

Continue reading the most important story Bilal Sarwary BBC News, Kabul

Mr Khan is the most recent victim of an assassination campaign launched by the rebels in recent months.

It has the life of bodies, officials, Governors, police chiefs and works for the National Directorate of security intelligence activists cost.

Most of the victims had a reputation for efficiency in the Administration, and were by their juniors up to saw.

Afghan security and intelligence officials say that the Taliban has several of his commanders in the last raids of the United States carried out lost and Afghan special forces.

This has the Taliban ability to lay ambush crippled or security forces on the battlefield.

It is Afghan officials in the conflict remain relevant targeted.

Khan Mohammad Mujahid had two previous attempts at his life, one on his way home and survived in his motorcade.

Mr Khan was a former mujahideen against the Soviets in the 1980s and then fought the Taliban. He was a powerful militia commander in Ahmad Shah Masoud Northern Alliance battles.

After the fall of the Taliban, Mr Khan worked for the Ministry of defence. He was appointed the police Chief of Balch, Ghazni, and finally the head of the police in his home province of Kandahar soon.

President Hamid Karzai, he had promoted the rank of Lieutenant General.

Our correspondent says a personal loss for the Afghan President, that the killing of an older important tribal and ally, Malik is already Empress, in the eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, mourning his death.

Kandahar is considered the spiritual home of the Taliban, and has experienced in recent years some of the worst of the violence in Afghanistan.

Attacks on Afghan police and troops have increased recently, when the Taliban tried, efforts prepare local police forces, to take over the full security control, as soon as security force leaves undermine NATO.

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Soldier dies after Afghan bomb

9 April 2011, last updated: 12: 27 GMT Col Sgt Alan Cameron joined the Scots Guards in 1989 a soldier injured by a bomb on the roadside in Afghanistan in the last year has died, the Defense Ministry said.

Colour Sergeant Alan Cameron, 42, who became 1st Battalion Scots Guards wounded while on foot patrol in an area north of Lashkar Gah on 13 April 2010.

The father-of-one "suddenly" at home in Livingston on 31 March from his injuries but died was determined after some difficult operations, said MoD.

363 Is now UK personnel in Afghanistan since 2001 died.

Two Scots Guardsmen were injured last year in the same incident.

An MoD spokesman said, the results of a post mortem examination colour Sgt Cameron of death the injury was suffered directly attributable to.

'Father figure'

Colour Sgt Cameron's family paid tribute to him, they say "by the sudden loss of the love of family member, devastated, which unfortunately, has lost his battle to overcome injuries on operations".

She added that he was satisfied "Cammy" his childhood dreams to be a soldier in 1989 the Scots Guards had.

"He was very passionate about army life."

Continuation of the main story of

"it was from a clear blue sky, we heard that he collapsed and died in Livingston." "It has hit us all very difficult."

Lt Col Lincoln Jopp quote end "He loved the challenges in the operation in a business environment", she said.

Sgt Cameron described his commanding officer, Lt Col Lincoln Jopp, color as a "true father figure in the battalion".

He said: "with his greying hair and to know, to someone saw everyone and admired was especially me, smile." "He was a gentleman in the best senses of the word."

He added: "it was from a clear blue sky, we heard that he collapsed and died in Livingston." "It has very hard hit us all."

Royal gatherings

In December last year discussed colour Sgt Cameron of his head injury with the Prince of Wales at a memorial service.

After the event, he said: "from the point where I was hurt to the point where I woke up three weeks later, I remember not everything."

"My colleague was blasted a way and I was blasted to the other."

"Continue reading the most important story

selfless as ever, and Cammy, during his rehabilitation, provided advice and support for others had"

end quote large Rupert Kitching "my recovery was a bit up and down until September, but I have only geweitermacht and will be kept and I am always here now."

Colour Sgt Cameron discussed the MoD Headley Court Gastroenterolo-gie Centre where he was supposedly one "is the inspiration for many, not least the younger soldiers suffer similar head injuries".

Major Rupert Kitching added colour of Sgt Cameron's "Tragic and premature death is felt painfully".

"His recovery was nothing short of remarkable and was testament to his true grit and determination and the tireless support of his family and friends," he said.

"Selflessly as ever, and Cammy his rehabilitation had provided while, advice and support for others, his own recovery offers inspiration and hope to so many."

Match colour Sgt Cameron, which, warrant officer class 1 AI said Mackenzie, a "passionate Rugby enthusiast", were a comrade also the Princess Royal Six Nations was presented at this month between England and Scotland.

WHERE Mackenzie said: "the Calcutta Cup will never be the same for me, had the chance, the last time with Cammy, we hope both spend to our beloved teams finest hour was." "No such luck!"

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Obama condemns Afghan killings

3 April 2011 last updated at 01: 35 GMT the head of Mission of the United Nations said the violence it would not go by Afghanistan President Barack Obama was the murders in Afghanistan described as "outrageous" by the burning of a Quran in the United States last month triggered.

Mr Obama said the desecration of a holy text was "an act of extreme intolerance and bigotry", but it does not justify to kill innocent people.

An attack on a UN base in the city of Mazar-e Sharif on Friday killed 14 people, seven United Nations staff from you.

A top UN official has the parish priest held responsible, which burned the Quran for the violence.

At least 10 people were killed and many others were injured in the Afghan city of Kandahar on Saturday in a second day of protests.

'No justification'

While a service of the dove on 20 March Pastor Wayne Sapp a Quran in a kerosene soaked world outreach center in Florida, staged a "trial" during the Islamic Holy Book of the "crimes against humanity" guilty was found, and set it aLicht.

The incident took place under the supervision of Pastor Terry Jones, who last year drew condemnation of his aborted plan, copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States burn.

Said Pastor Terry Jones (L) and Wayne Sapp (R) not feel for the attack on the UN responsible

Published in a statement on Saturday night, Mr Obama extended his condolences to the families of the victims of the demonstrators in Afghanistan.

"The desecration of a holy text, including the Qur'an, is an act of extreme intolerance and bigotry," he said. "However, is attacking and killing innocent people in reaction outrageous, and an affront to human decency and would."

"No religion condones the slaughter and beheading innocent people, and there is no justification for a dishonourable and regrettable Act."

The President said it was time to "Draw on the common humanity that we share and that came as the UN workers, trying to help the people in Afghanistan".

Continue reading the most important story

we are the fault of the person that produced the message - should the Koran burned "

end quote Staffan de Mistura head, United Nations support mission in Afghanistan earlier, the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama) Staffan de Mistura", said during a visit to Mazar-e Sharif, that the only person who could be made responsible for the violence was American.

"I don't think that we should be all Afghan debt." We should be blaming the person that produced the message - that burned the Koran. "Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from the culture, religion and traditions."

He also insisted that Friday's attack "not the UN presence, activities in this country in this period soft and particularly critical of should".

The UN however temporarily provide would, 11 staff from Mazar-e Sharif to Kabul, while its rebuilt Office was, he said.

"This is no evacuation," he added. "We are ready to go back, once we can create an Office, which sure enough is."

The authorities in Kandahar and Mazar-e Sharif have blamed for the violence of the Taliban. However, the Taliban has rejected the accusation.

The BBC's Paul wood says that the authorities in Kandahar have blamed the Taliban for the protests

Pastor Jones has said, that the Dove world outreach center congregation not "responsible feel" for the attack.

"[The burning of the Qur'an] takes the radical element of Islam as an excuse to promote their violent activities,", he said told AFP.

Witnesses said that the protest in Mazar-e Sharif, which began outside the Central Blue Mosque after Friday prayers, began peacefully, but suddenly violent turned.

The masses moved outside the UN compound, where a small group broke away.

Several protestors were guards on the compound killed, who were then overwhelmed by the mob.

Munir Ahmad Farhad, a spokesman who said Governor of the province of Balkh, the Group seized arms from the guards and stormed the building. Four Nepalese guards, a Norwegian, a Romanian and Swede died.

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