News For December 25, 2009

Taliban Video of US POW Bowe Bergdahl on Christmas Day

Video Original uncut

The man in the film, identifying himself as Private Bowe Robert Bergdahl, criticises the US over the Afghan war and relations with Muslims. Continue

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Yemen air strikes kill 30 al "Qaeda suspects": Yemen's military hit suspected al Qaeda hideouts Thursday and targeted a gathering of top militant leaders, possibly killing a radical cleric linked to the U.S. Army major accused of the Fort Hood mass shooting, in strikes carried out with U.S. intelligence help, officials said.

Extrajudicial Killing US reiterates support for Yemen forces after Qaeda raid: The White House on Thursday reiterated its support for Yemeni authorities after "Yemeni aircraft" killed 34 suspected Al-Qaeda members.

Relatives: US-born Yemeni cleric alive and well: Friends and relatives of a U.S.-born Yemeni radical cleric say he is alive and well following reports he may have been killed in a Yemeni airstrike against suspected al-Qaida hideouts.

18 killed in Iraq violence: Eighteen people including six Shiite worshippers died in attacks across Iraq on Friday, despite intensified security for Christmas Day and Shiite Ashura rituals.

At least 27 killed in Iraq blasts: Thursday: Fears raised ahead of Shi’ite holiday: Bombs hit Shi’ite pilgrims in Baghdad and a central Iraqi city, killing at least 27 people and wounding scores more, in the latest attack in the lead-up to Ashoura, the sect’s most solemn annual rite.

Twelve militants killed in NW Pakistan: Gunship helicopters and warplanes bombed the hideouts of the militants in Ferozkhel Mela region of Orakzai tribal agency, as a result eight militants were killed and 10 others injured, the private channel ARY News reported.

8 killed after man detonates bomb, Afghan police say: A man driving a horse-drawn cart laden with explosives detonated the cache Thursday outside a guesthouse frequented by foreigners in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing at least eight people including a child, police said.

Canadian, Afghanistan Soldiers Killed By Roadside Bomb: Lieutenant Andrew Nuttall, along with an Afghan soldier, died when an improvised explosive device detonated in the town of Nakhoney, the military said early Thursday - Christmas Eve.

'No proof Iran nuclear program is military': Moscow is not convinced that Iran plans to weaponize its nuclear program, and has not been shown evidence convincing it otherwise, deputy Russian foreign minister Alexander Saltanov told The Jerusalem Post this week.

Senior US senator promises vote on new Iran sanctions: US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pledged Thursday to move forward to a vote legislation allowing President Barack Obama to sanction companies that export gasoline to Iran.

Egypt blamed for Gaza convoy delay: British politician George Galloway has criticised Egypt for denying a humanitarian aid convoy permission to enter the Gaza Strip.