NEWS: SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi Arabia elects first female politicians

At  least four women have won seats in Saudi Arabia's municipal polls, the country's first-ever elections open to female voters and candidates, local reports said.

The female candidates were elected to three councils - two in Ihsaa governorate and one each in Tobouk and Mecca, as votes were still being counted on Sunday.

Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi was elected to the council of Madrakah, a region in Mecca, the official SPA news agency reported, citing election commission president Osama al-Bar.

Congratulations to Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi. First woman Councillor in #Saudi ???? #SaudiArabElection #Mecca pic.twitter.com/YdlMADm6hH
— هند الإرياني (@HindAleryani) December 13, 2015

Saturday's municipal poll, which was hailed by many as historic, saw a turnout of about 25 percent, correspondents in Riyadh Saad al-Saadi reported.

The fact that this was only the third time that Saudi citizens voted in an election meant that there was still little experience with the electoral process, Saadi said. The first local election was in 2005, and the second in 2011. Women were excluded in both.

Low turnout in Saudi Arabia's first poll open to women

Women are banned from driving and must cover themselves in public in the conservative kingdom, which was the world's last country to give its women the right to vote.

The official results in the latest election were expected to be announced on Monday.

More than 900 women ran for seats. They were up against nearly 6,000 men competing for places on 284 councils whose powers are restricted to local affairs including responsibility for streets, public gardens and rubbish collection.

"I am happy for having voted for the first time in my life," a woman, who declined to give her name, told the DPA news agency after leaving a polling station in the capital Riyadh.

Another female voter, Najla Harir, said: "I exercised my electoral right. We are optimistic about a bright future for women in our homeland."

Hatoon al-Fassi, a Saudi womens' rights activist and writer, said in a tweet: "This is a new day. The day of the Saudi woman."

انتخبت ?????? ??VOTED #مبادرة_بلدي #انتخابات_السعودية #الانتخابات_البلدية @abuhamad1 @baladi_jeddah @baladiwomen pic.twitter.com/CYLLEFH6CQ
— د.هتون أجواد الفاسي (@HatoonALFASSI) December 12, 2015

Fahda al-Rwali, a female voter, explained why the election was significant for her.

"As a woman, I need some services, some needs in my neighbourhood, like nurseries. I need social centres for youth and retirement, like this. So maybe the woman can concentrate more than the man on those needs."

Reports from Riyadh after the polls closed, described the elections as "momentous".

"People here are hoping this is a significant step on the paths towards having a more inclusive society, not only for women but also for youth because the voting age has been reduced from 21 to 18," he said.

Landmark elections
A strict separation of the sexes in public facilities meant that female candidates could not directly meet the majority of voters - men - during their campaigns.

Women also said voter registration had been hindered by bureaucratic obstacles, a lack of awareness of the process and its significance, and the fact that women could not drive themselves to sign up.

One-third of council seats are appointed by the municipal affairs ministry, leaving women optimistic that they will be assigned some of them.

'Not running to win'

Electioneering was low key, with rules preventing photographs of candidates applied to both men and women. But win or lose, the female contenders said they were already victorious.

"We have legal controls, which forbid the publication of women's photos - during elections and in all our work. And if women's photos are not allowed, it would only be right, fair and equal to ban photos of all candidates", Jadie al-Qahtani, the head of the election's executive committee, said.

"What's more important are the programmes of candidates from both sexes," he was quoted by the Okaz newspaper as saying.

Speaking to the press hours before polls opened, several women said they felt excited and positive that women were participating, with the hope that society as a whole would benefit from more diversity in public affairs leadership.


 "Women here are doctors and engineers - it's not like women aren't there," Lama al-Sulaiman, a candidate in Jeddah, told correpondents.

"The international media sometimes has narrow views; they only report the bad stories. We have them, we have weaknesses and every citizen goes through challenges - those shouldn't be belittled.

"But to think that 50 percent of the population is going through those challenges is also ridiculous."

Mona Abu Suliman, a media personality and consultant in Riyadh, said that even if women don't win many seats, just going through this process is important.

"Recognising women's votes in decision-making is a step towards equality," she said.

"There are people who see women voting and running in the election as another step towards Westernisation. They dislike seeing women in public-facing roles. But I don't think they are in the majority. The majority is either neutral or accepting."

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BOXING: Lol - McGregor wins UFC belt with record 13-second KO

Conor McGregor stopped Jose Aldo with one spectacular punch just 13 seconds into the first round, backing up his bravado and claiming the undisputed featherweight title at UFC 194.

McGregor (19-2) finished the fight in Las Vegas with an electrifying exchange shortly after the opening bell, slipping Aldo's lead right and cracking Aldo on the jaw with a huge left hand.


Aldo (25-2) actually finished his punch and hit McGregor with a left, but the champ fell senseless to the ground and McGregor pounced, only to be pulled off in victory.

Aldo had won 18 consecutive fights over the last 10 years, but nothing seems to slow McGregor.

The loquacious Irish brawler goaded Aldo throughout the promotion of their delayed bout, only to back up every word he said.

"He is already beaten," McGregor said prior to the fight. "I look in his eyes, and I see someone who knows his era is over. It's a new era. It's my era. I almost want to comfort him. I want to say, 'Don't worry. It will all be over soon.'"

Aldo was the only featherweight champion in UFC's short history. The Brazilian was widely considered the pound-for-pound best mixed martial artist in the world. He had not lost a fight in 10 years.

'Green Christmas in Las Vegas'

Aldo and McGregor traded innumerable insults and menacing glares during the build-up to this injury-delayed showdown.

"I get in there, and I put on a show," McGregor said. "I come to fight, and this fight will be a performance. I'm not just going to beat Jose. I'm going to embarrass Jose in there. I don't need to gather any more intel, any more research. It's done. He has already lost."

"I feel the Brazilians will come out to support. They're going to be swallowed by the Irish, though. It's going to be a green Christmas in Las Vegas, that's for sure."

Aldo could say little when he was injured in training shortly before he was originally scheduled to meet McGregor in July, scrapping an elaborate promotional campaign and providing more fodder for his challenger.

McGregor took on the highly regarded Chad Mendes instead, scoring a second-round stoppage and earning an interim belt.

That honour didn't satisfy McGregor, whose plans for world domination aren't confined to one weight class or even one endeavour ("Hollywood is screaming for me," he said).

McGregor has attracted global attention to the grateful UFC, which has heavily showcased his magnetism and verbosity.

He has become a fan favourite - particularly among his countrymen, who filled Vegas' casinos with songs and revelry before and after his victory over Mendes.

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NEWS: NIGERIA - 2015 elections: How Nigerian musicians, artistes sent PDP packing – Buhari

KADUNA-President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the electoral victory of All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015 general elections would not have been made possible save for the contributions of Nigeria’s musicians and artistes.

He said that the musicians during the campaigns drove home the change message which permeated the nooks and crannies of the country.

Declaring the Kaduna Music Festival (KADAMFEST) open, on Saturday in Kaduna, the president stated that the performers activities helped in mobilizing Nigerians to vote out the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

The president therefore expressed his appreciation to the industry, saying that it has earned recognition in his government.

“Many were the efforts made to build a strong party and persuade people that an alternative exists to the incompetence of the PDP. We politicians did our best. But the story of 2015 cannot be honestly told without acknowledging the contributions of creative people to the APC’s success.

“Many actors, musicians and writers – from different strands and in various styles- drew Nigerians to the banner of change. In speaking the language of the people, enlightening and mobilising them with words and images they could understand, I doubt if any politician surpassed the likes of Dauda Rarara and other musicians.

“You – our artists gave hope to our people and persuaded them to believe that things could really change. Musicians and actors across the length and breadth of Nigeria mobilized the citizenry to stand up for peaceful, orderly and transparent elections. You preached both peace and hope leading to democratic change.

“This application of creative talent to the cause of political change in a dire moment for our country deserves eternal gratitude. As President, I say a formal thank you today on behalf of myself, the APC and our victorious candidates.

“In appreciating talent, we have a duty to ensure that we do not turn our backs, or reduce the creative sector to something that we engage only during elections. We who have been inspired or benefitted in other ways from creative talent owe an obligation to help ensure that the talented can live on their gifts. Those who identified with us, sang, danced and rapped for us when we were seeking office have earned the right to our recognition.

“It is in this spirit that I commend the Kaduna State Government for organising the Kaduna Annual Music Festival (KADAMFEST) which offers a platform to acknowledge musicians from all over the country for helping to make 2015 the year of change.

“KADAMFEST also reflects the Kaduna State Government’s approach to giving momentum to the growth of the creative industry in the state. In creating jobs, government often has to provide funds and facilities to catalyse the opportunities.

“It is noteworthy, however, that the Kaduna State Government has attracted private sector sponsorship for this festival, and did not have to put in its own resources,” President Buhari said.

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NEWS: NIGERIA - Steer clear of Benue S/Senatorial rerun, Mark cautions external forces, interests

MAKURDI – Former Senate President, Senator David Mark has cautioned external forces and interests to steer clear of the forthcoming Benue South senatorial district rerun election or be ready to face resistance from the people.

Mark also warned that the people would not also accept any form of manipulation of the process.

Sunday Vanguard recalls that the he Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, had weeks back nullified Mark’s victory and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to organise a rerun election in the district within 90 days.

Mark who spoke weekend, when he was received at a grand reception at the palace of the Ochi’ Idoma, Elias Ikoyi Obekpa, in Otukpo, Benue state, said he had taken the nullification of his victory by the appellate court in good faith and was ready for the rerun election.

The former Senate President said, “it’s the Idomas who will vote on the day of the election, no one can impose anyone on us. No one outside Idoma land can manipulate or impose a candidate on my people in my life time. It will never happen.

“We have advanced so must that no one can come and dictate to us. Our people will always do that which will uplift our land and not according to the dictates of anyone from outside.”

Receiving the former Senate President, the Ochi Idoma who said his subjects had accepted the verdict of the Court of Appeal urged the people of the area to queue behind the candidate with the requisite experience, clout and pedigree in the election.

The royal father said further that, “The way our people came out today to received you clearly shows that they are solidly behind you.”

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NEWS: NIGERIA - Rivers: APC dedicates Appeal Court’s verdict to victims of election violence

Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), has dedicated Friday’s Court of Appeal ruling that sacked two senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the family of late Chief Christopher Adube and others killed before, during and after the 2015 general elections in the State.

This is even as calm pervaded the state, after the annulment of elections of two senatorial and 12 House of Representatives seats

It also ordered re-run elections for those seats in 60 days from the date of judgment.

The APC said it believed that there could not be a better way to bid farewell to victims of electoral violence in the state, than to dedicate the “recovery of our stolen mandates to the ultimate sacrifice the late Chief Chris Adube, his three children, younger brother and driver made, when they were murdered in one fell swoop in the late Chief’s home on Good Friday, April 3, 2015”.

In a statement issued yesterday, by the Publicity Secretary of APC, Chris Finebone, the party said: “We dedicate these victories to Police Corporal Ifeanyi Okorie killed when the APC Governorship Campaign Team was attacked at Okrika, and close to 100 others killed before, during and after the 2015 elections in Rivers State.

“We acknowledge the fact that, despite being slow and cautious, the wheel of justice has started its tortuous journey and will not stop until those behind the entire debacle that took place in Rivers State either as direct killers or manipulators of the electoral process, are held to account by the law of the land.

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NEWS: NIGERIA - Lack of internal democracy, card reader ruined PDP –Adeola-Akande, former House leader

Former leader, House of Representatives, Mrs Mulikat Adeola-Akande has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to give the women folks, their rightful position in his administration.

Adeola-Akande, who spoke to journalists in Lagos recently, on the sidelines of a town hall meeting for PDP women in the South West, said the party is mobilizing women across the country, so that they can play an effective role in the politics of the nation. Excerpts:

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women in the South West held a town hall meeting recently, what informed that programme?

I am sure you know that as women, we do a lot; before, during and after elections. And with the result of the last election we believe we need to come together once again and re-strategise and begin to think about what we need to do to move ahead politically.

We have been the ones doing so much work during elections; mobilizing, singing, clapping and all that. Once it comes to benefits, the women don’t really get what they deserve especially in terms of numbers. We have been advocating for 35 percent affirmative action. I am sure it was only the Jonathan administration that gave us about 13 women ministers. And then in the National Assembly we have not been able to get that number, what do we need to do? Do we still continue to follow hook, line and sinker or blindly?

So, the women are beginning to say if truly the men believe that we do so much, why can’t they, from the party level begin to change this and begin to ensure that the women get the 35 percent that they deserve. It is not about being the women leader. They can give it to a man, if a man can play the role. Let us have a very important position too that can make other women say, yes if I am in this party, I can rise to that position. Because being a woman leader, you are just there as if you are just there for the women, you don’t even contribute to most of the decision being taken; one woman among how many men, just like when I was a leader of the house of Representatives, it was just one woman among 10 people. So, there is very little you can do.

We are thinking ahead. We don’t want it to be business as usual like in the past that is why we are putting up this town hall meeting. This town hall meeting will go round the six geopolitical zones of the country, sensitizing the women on the need for them to come together. And you know the congresses are coming up in March. So, we are beginning to put our heads together so that we can vote for the women.

The women will follow a woman this time around. That is exactly what we want to do.

When you come to an election you see a woman standing in to be elected, you don’t see other women giving her support. Are the women not their own problem?

The entry of women into politics in Nigeria you cannot say is the same as that of the men. The men have been at it for a very long time. If you look at other countries like Rwanda, Uganda, most of these countries in Africa they have employed quota system and they are getting the action. If we don’t do that we won’t get the number.

Look at the House they have 360 members, but we never had more than 24 women. Why? Because there is no quota. There should be reserved quota for the women. We form more than half of the population.

So, it is not about whether women are supporting women or not. And then when we are talking about women, we are not just saying put a woman there; put a qualified and competent woman there. We have so many women who are educated, who are competent, who can do this job even better than the men. But the men keep using one thing or the other to relegate women to the background.

Let me come to the point where you say women don’t support women, that is part of this sensation, so that they will begin to know that if you don’t be your sister’s keeper you can never get anywhere. The men will never give it to you on a platter of gold. So, why don’t we team up and wrestle it from them?

In your view how can we achieve the 35 percent affirmative action for women in politics?

We have to do it by constitutional amendment. We have tried it. We have continually pushed for it; but the party can start it by saying for every office we want so, so and so number of women to contest. From there you have more people going to the House and from there you begin to increase the number of women. I am not saying this should happen now but they need to do it by constitutional amendment. For instance, the Senate, in every state there are three senatorial zones, which zone are we going to say vote for women? The three zones may not have capable women. They have to screen them and see who is better. If the woman is better than the man, then let the woman go for the seat.

Some persons saying that the performance of your party in the last election was as a result of women not giving prominent role in the campaign. Do you agree?

Not really. A lot of things caused it (PDP loss). First and foremost, we had lack of internal democracy. Because a lot of candidates that emerged in some places, they are not candidates that majority of the people wanted, so people voted according to their conscience. On a larger scale too, there is the issue of the card reader.

You will agree that the card reader did not really work well in most parts of this country. That card reader issue was used to manipulate election in different places too; that I can tell you, because I contested election and I know exactly what happened in my place. For me, I will say PDP won that election. Yes! And I am sure a lot of people believe that PDP won that election, but for the card reader and other behind-the-scene things that took place.

How would the mobilization of women across the country, which your party is doing through the town hall meetings help your party regain power?

I am sure you know the role of women when it comes to voting at least as party members. If these women are properly mobilized and sensitized and they are in support of your party, they will definitely make a difference. That is what we are saying. It is not just the town hall meeting that will bring the party back. But this is one of them.

How do you assess the number of women that are holding positions in this administration. We have seen only six women ministers. What does that portend?

I will not say whether it portends anything, because that is not the only thing we are expecting. Let us wait and see the other positions. That is when you can really compare. Because when you are talking about six female ministers compared it with when Jonathan got into office initially and how he later increased the number.

We can’t be talking on ministerial positions alone. It is not the yardstick to measure the inclusion of women. But I will hope that this government will acknowledge the importance of women in governance and allocate to us what is due.

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NEWS: NIGERIA - 10 killed in Shi’ite, soldiers’ clash in Zaria

Ten persons were yesterday killed in a bloody clash between the Shi’ites and soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna State.

But the army authorities said it was an attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai.

“Shi’ites attempted to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff in Zaria,” Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman stated in Zaria, yesterday.

An eyewitness told Sunday Sun that the clash occurred following a hot argument be­tween Shi’ite sect members and the soldiers over alleged removal of roadblock mounted by the group on the main road from Sabon Gari to Samaru, to allow Gen. Burutai to pass, to enable him to attend the passing out parade of 72 Regular Recruits intakes at the Army Depot, Zaria.

The eyewitness, Yusuf Abubakar said, “I saw two soldiers pleading with the Shi’ite members to remove the roadblock but they refused and later the soldiers opened fire.”

The leader of the sect, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, was said to have left his home imme­diately after the incident to an undisclosed area.

The Army spokesman, Colonel Usman in a statement, alleged that the Shi’ite sect on the orders of El-Zakzaky attacked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff while on his way to pay homage on the Emir of Zazzau and attend the passing out parade of the Army recruits.

Col Usman stated further, “The sect numbering hundreds carrying dangerous weapons, barricaded the roads with bonfires, heavy stones and tyres. They refused all entreaties to disperse and then started firing and pelting the convoy with dangerous objects. The barricade was obviously a deliberate attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff and members of his entourage while on a legitimate official assignment as special guest of honour at the passing out parade which has earlier been widely publicized.

“The troops responsible for the safety and security of the Chief of Army Staff on hearing explosion and firing were left with no choice than to defend him and the convoy at all cost as well as open up the barricaded road for law abiding citizens. This is in line with the Nigerian Army Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct. This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated from any individual or groups and should not be allowed to repeat itself.

“We wish to implore all Nigerians to continue to be law abiding and remain conscious of other people’s right to life, freedom of movement and passage. The Chief of Army escaped unhurt and continued with his duties.”

But members of the Shiites contradicted the Army’s position and that of the eyewitness.

Although the leader of the group, El-Zakzaky, could not be reached, one of his aides, Mallam Ibrahim Usman emphasized that their brotherhood was seriously opposed to the use of violence.

He said that some eyewitnesses among their members said about 10 innocent persons were shot, adding that there was no way one could know the exact number because the corpses of slain members were taken away to an unknown place by soldiers.

“It is a complete lie that our unarmed members wanted to assassinate the Chief of Army staff. In fact, I was surprised when Sani Kukasheka (Army spokesman) stated this.

“I am at the place where the alleged incident occurred. We have a programme and we were raising a flag because of Eid-el-Maulud, the birthday of the Holy Prophet is coming and we want to usher in the month.

“So, our people started gathering and we were aware that yesterday, some influential persons in Zaria Emirate had contracted hoodlums to cause disruptions and we became aware, so we gave warnings.

“This is the type of thing that the military men did to us in 2014 and we don’t trust anybody here in Zaria.

“So, they just bulldozed their way, started shooting, killed some of our people and packed all the corpses away and now, they have surrounded the area where we were to do our programme.

“We can’t say exactly how many people were shot because we do not even know how many or where they took those packed in military vehicles to. An eyewitness I spoke with said he saw not less than 10 bodies being taken away.

“People were just shot and their bodies taken away but Sheikh El-Zakzaky will soon tell you our position on this. If you can recall, they once killed his three sons but whatever he says is okay for all of us.

“We are now trying to recover our dead and the injured,” Mallam Ibrahim Usman stated on telephone. “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life, sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility,” he added.

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NEWS: NIGERIA - Buhari, Dangote bag KASU doctorate degrees

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday bagged an honorary Doctor of Letters, PHD alongside business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote who was honoured with a Doctor of Science, DSC by Kaduna State University (KASU).

President Buhari was decorated amidst cheers at the main campus of the university in Kaduna yesterday, during its second convocation ceremony which saw 38 students of the institution graduating with first class honours majorly in Mathematics and Arabic studies.

The honorary doctorate degree, according to the university, was awarded President Buhari not for his position as the number one citizen of Nigeria, but in recognition of his numerous contributions to the development of the country as an officer of the Nigerian Army, Minister, Head of State and currently democratically elected Nigerian President.

Responding to the honour done to him and ‘Africa’s Richest Man’, Aliko Dangote, President Buhari commended the University for finding them worthy of the award, saying the award would only challenge them to strive harder at bettering the lot of Nigerians.

The President, who spoke extempore on entrepreneurial education, stressed that security challenges confronting Nigeria cannot be separated from poverty and unemployment which was why his administration is working round the clock to put modalities in redressing the situation in place.

According to him, job creation and youth employment were top priorities of his administration, after security and the fight against corruption.

“One of the focal points of this administration is job creation, because job creation helps in the achievement of other objectives of the government such as poverty reduction and security, which are the major challenges this administration is confronted with. In­security cannot be divorced from unemployment and poverty, because an idle mind, they say is the devil’s workshop.

“This administration will ensure that youths in the country are gainfully employed and youth restiveness curtailed.

“The declining Internally Generated Revenue and over dependence on equally declining oil revenues, there is the need to seek other ways of diversifying the economy so as to boost the internal revenue. One of the ways we can achieve this is through reorientation of our youths towards having entrepreneurship mindset. You should therefore promote and enhance the teaching and learning of entrepreneurial skills in all schools and tertiary institutions such as yours.” he stated.

He however noted that it was in recognition of the importance of entrepreneurial skills that the federal government through the National Universities Commission made it mandatory for all universities to teach entrepreneurship skills, so that graduates can become job creators instead of job seekers after schooling.

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NEWS: US - AFGHANISTAN; US strike on Afghan Kunduz clinic 'killed 42', MSF says

Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) says a US attack on its clinic in the Afghan city of Kunduz killed at least 42 people - far more than first reported.

The medical charity had earlier said at least 30 people died in the 3 October attack by a US military gunship.

MSF said the figure was revised after a detailed investigation, complicated by the extensive damage to the clinic.

A US military inquiry said the attack was the result of "human error" but MSF has called it a war crime.

The charity is campaigning for an independent international inquiry into the bombardment, which took place as US-backed Afghan forces were battling to reverse the Taliban's seizure of Kunduz.

A statement released by MSF on Saturday said the dead included 14 staff members, 24 patients, and four relatives of patients who were helping in their care.

The charity said it had carried out extensive efforts to identify the dead, interviewing staff members and patients and checking figures with other hospitals that treated MSF patients following the attack.

Many records held at the clinic had been destroyed in the initial attack, the charity said, and human remains had been found in the rubble of the hospital over the past two months.

The US military's investigation into the attack, released on 25 November, concluded that the crew of the AC-130 gunship mistook the clinic for a nearby government building that had been seized by Taliban fighters.

The gunship fired 211 shells at the MSF compound over 25 minutes, the US military said, insisting that the attack was a "tragic mistake".

Shortly after the incident, the medical charity disputed initial US justifications for the attack, which said US forces had struck the hospital because they had come under fire in the area.

Meanwhile, a UN report has concluded that at least 289 Afghan civilians were killed and 559 wounded during the Taliban's brief seizure of Kunduz in September, and the campaign to retake the northern city.

The report detailed a climate of chaos in the city, with food shortages and allegations of human rights abuses by fighters on both sides.
Differing US statements on hospital strike

Saturday 3 October - Col Brian Tribus, spokesman for US Forces in Afghan

US forces conducted an airstrike in Kunduz city at 2:15am (local), Oct 3, against individuals threatening the force. The strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility. This incident is under investigation.

Sunday 4 October - Pentagon press office

US forces conducted an airstrike in Kunduz city at 2:15am (local), Oct 3, against insurgents who were directly firing upon US service members advising and assisting Afghan Security Forces in the city of Kunduz. The strike was conducted in the vicinity of a Doctors Without Borders medical facility.

Monday 5 October - Gen John Campbell, US military chief in Afghanistan

We have now learned that on October 3, Afghan forces advised that they were taking fire from enemy positions and asked for air support from US forces. An airstrike was then called to eliminate the Taliban threat and several civilians were accidentally struck. This is different from the initial reports, which indicated that US forces were threatened and that the airstrike was called on their behalf.

Tuesday 6 October - Gen John Campbell to the Senate committee

On Saturday morning our forces provided close air support to Afghan forces at their request. To be clear the decision to provide aerial fires was a US decision, made within the US chain of command. A hospital was mistakenly struck. We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility… I assure you that the investigation will be thorough, objective and transparent.

Wednesday 25 November - Gen John Campbell statement

The US strike upon the MSF Trauma Centre in Kunduz... was the direct result of human error, compounded by systems and procedural failures. The US forces directly involved in this incident did not know the targeted compound was the MSF Trauma Centre. The medical facility was misidentified as a target by US personnel who believed they were striking a different building several hundred meters away where there were reports of combatants.

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NEWS: Syria conflict: 'Islamic State' Homs bomb attack kills 16

The so-called Islamic State (IS) says it was behind a bomb attack that killed at least 16 people in the government-controlled Syrian city of Homs.

The group said one of its militants set off the car bomb among "rafidis" - a derogatory term for Shia Muslims.

The attack comes just days after rebels began evacuating the area under a ceasefire deal with the government.

IS has been expanding towards Homs in recent months.

"Abu Ahmed al-Homsi parked his car in the Zahra neighbourhood and exploded it among the 'rafidis' before detonating his explosives belt," IS said in a statement.


It claimed to have carried out two blasts, killing more than 25 people and wounding 70. Officials say 16 people were killed in a single explosion.

The vehicle used was filled with 150kg (330lb) of explosives and caused a gas cylinder to blow up in a nearby shop shortly after, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (Sana) said.

The first bomb exploded near a hospital in the al-Zahra area on Saturday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said.

Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi condemned the attacks, saying they would "not discourage the Syrian people", according to Sana.

Government forces were able to tighten control of Homs following the implementation of a UN-backed truce deal in al-Wair, the last rebel-held area in the city.

About 700 people, made up of rebels and their families, are thought to have left Homs and travelled to rebel-held areas of Idlib province on Wednesday.

Fighters linked to al-Qaeda were among those due to leave, but moderate groups who accepted the ceasefire were expected to remain.

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