Iraqi Kurds send more troops into standoff with Iraq army

Iraqi Kurds send more troops into standoff with Iraq army Sat, Nov 24 19:19 PM EST ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) Iraq's Kurdish region has sent reinforcements to a disputed area where its troops are involved in a standoff with the Iraqi army, a senior Kurdish military official said, despite calls on both sides for dialogue to calm the situation. The second military buildup this year illustrates how far relations between Baghdad's central government, led by Shi'ite Muslim Arabs, and ethnic Kurds have deteriorated, testing Iraq's federal cohesion nearly a year after U.S. troops left. Baghdad and Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region earlier this week began sending troops to an area over which they both claim jurisdiction, raising tensions in a long-running feud over land and oil rights. More Kurdish troops and tanks were mobilised on Saturday and headed towards the disputed areas, the deputy minister for Kurdish military affairs said late on Saturday, adding that they would hold their positions unless Iraqi forces made a move. "If they overstep the line, we will strike them," Anwar Haji Osman said. The Iraqi army and Kurdish troops have previously come close to confrontation only to pull back at the last moment, flexing their muscles but lacking any real appetite for a fight. Iraq's speaker of parliament, who visited Kurdish President Massoud Barzani on Friday, said "significant progress" had been made towards defusing the standoff and that a meeting between military leaders from both sides would be held on Monday in the Defence Ministry in Baghdad. Washington intervened to end a similar standoff in August and is again in contact with Iraqi and Kurdish officials to ease tension mounting over the formation of a new command center for Iraqi forces to operate in the disputed areas. Kurds say the Dijla Operations Command is a threat to them and an attempt by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to seize control over the oil rich territories along the internal border that demarcates the Kurdish region from the rest of Iraq. Maliki says the Dijla Operations Command is necessary to keep order in one of the most volatile parts of the country. Barzani on Saturday turned down an invitation from Shi'ite cleric and lawmaker Moqtada al-Sadr to meet with Maliki to discuss the situation. In a statement posted on the Kurdistan regional government's website, Barzani's spokesman said he had refused because the matter was not personal, but rather a result of Maliki's "constant non-commitment to the constitution". The latest flare-up began one week ago when Iraqi troops went after a fuel smuggler who had taken refuge in the office of a Kurdish political party in Tuz Khurmato, 170 km (106 miles) north of the capital, sparking a clash with Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in which one passerby was killed. Maliki has sparred more aggressively with Barzani since the withdrawal last year of U.S. troops who had served as a buffer between the federal Baghdad government and Kurdistan. (Writing by Isabel Coles; Editing by Paul Simao)

More then 15 killed in D.I. Khan

Four killed in attack on Pakistan Shi'ite gathering, dozens hurt Sun, Nov 25 02:07 AM EST 1 of 3 By Saud Mehsud DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (Reuters) - A bomb killed at least four people and wounded about 70 near a Shi'ite procession in Pakistan on Sunday, police said, as the sect braced for major sectarian attacks by Sunni militants during a critical event in their religious calendar. Television footage showed the wounded being carried away in the northwestern city of Dera Ismail Khan, where a bomb targeting Shi'ites killed at least seven people, including four children, on Saturday. "Four bodies have been shipped here and more than three dozen are wounded. The death toll will likely rise because many of the injuries are serious," said Khalid Aziz Baloch, a doctor at a district hospital. The bomb, planted in a shop beside a street market, also wounded five security officials, said senior police official Malik Mushtaq. Hardline sectarian Sunni groups, which are becoming increasingly dangerous, have threatened more attacks as the Shi'ite mourning month of Muharram comes to a climax on Sunday. Security officials say organizations such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) are stepping up attacks on Shi'ites, who they regard as non-believers, in a bid to destabilize nuclear-armed, U.S. ally Pakistan and establish a Sunni theocracy. Al Qaeda, which is close to LeJ, pushed Iraq to the brink of a sectarian civil war several years ago with large-scale suicide bombings of Shi'ites. More than 300 Shi'ites have been killed in Pakistan so far this year in sectarian conflict, according to human rights groups. The campaign is gathering pace in rural as well as urban areas such as Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city. Shi'ites account for up to 20 percent of this nation of 180 million. Washington, a critical source of financial aid for cash-strapped Pakistan, has been pressuring the South Asian nation to crack down on militants based in tribal areas who cross the border to attack American-led forces in Afghanistan. Pakistan, meanwhile, faces major domestic security challenges from a wide range of groups, including the Taliban, who capitalize on issues such as unemployment, official corruption and poverty to recruit people. (Additional reporting by Jibran Ahmad in PESHAWAR; Wrtiting by Randy Fabi; Editing by Michael Georgy and Nick Macfie) ============== At least 7 killed in attack on Shi'ite procession in Pakistan Sat, Nov 24 11:42 AM EST 1 of 3 By Mehreen Zahra-Malik ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A roadside bomb killed at least seven people near a Shi'ite procession in Pakistan on Saturday, police said, with security forces on high alert over fears of large-scale sectarian attacks on the minority sect across the country. Pakistan, a nuclear-armed U.S. ally, is suspending phone coverage in many cities this weekend, an important one in the Shi'ite Muslim calendar, after a series of bomb attacks on Shi'ites triggered by mobile phones. Hardline Sunnis have threatened more attacks as the Shi'ite mourning month of Muharram comes to a climax. More than a dozen people have already been killed this week observing Muharram. Some Shi'ites have been receiving text message death threats. Saturday's attack occurred in the city of Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan's northwest, a stronghold of al-Qaeda-linked Sunni militant groups who regard Shi'ites as non-Muslims and have stepped up sectarian attacks in a bid to destabilize Pakistan. Four children were among those killed by a 8-10 kg bomb set off by a television remote control device because cellphones were not operational, police said. Khalid Aziz Baloch, a senior medical official, said 30 people were wounded. The explosion was so powerful that it hurled a young boy onto a rooftop from a street, where a man later carried away half of his body, as a policeman with a bomb detector and residents stood near blood stains. In neighboring Afghanistan, clashes between Shi'ites and Sunnis on Saturday left two students dead and wounded two more, police said. The fighting took place at Kabul University when Shi'ites were blocked from commemorating Ashura day inside a mosque on the campus. Mohammad Zahir, head of the criminal investigation department, told Reuters that gunshots were fired close to the university when Hazaras, a predominantly Shi'ite ethnic group, tried to carry out a revenge attack. Students were seen climbing on to police pickup trucks carrying bags and suitcases. Following the violence, the Higher Education Ministry announced the closure of all universities for 10 days from Sunday. Intelligence information indicates more attacks have been planned for the coming days in the capital, Islamabad, Karachi and Quetta. Mobile phone service will be suspended for hours in the three cities and dozens of others over the weekend. For the most part, Shi'ites and Sunnis live in harmony, but extremist groups have increased tensions. This week's violence against Shi'ites prompted Amnesty International to criticize the Pakistani government. "Amnesty International has recorded at least 39 attacks on Shi'a Muslims since the start of 2012," it said in a statement. "But despite the frequency of such violence, the Pakistani government has a poor track record of bringing the perpetrators - and those who incite them - to justice." In Pakistan's biggest city Karachi, more than 5,000 police are expected to patrol the streets during Muharram events over the next two days. Tens of thousands are expected to take part in processions in Islamabad. Muharram marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala, where the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad and his family members were killed. Western intelligence agencies have mostly focused on anti-American groups like al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan, paying far less attention to sectarian hardliners who are becoming an increasing deadly and effective force. Pakistani intelligence officials say extremist groups led by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi have intensified their bombings and shootings of Shi'ites in the hope of triggering conflict that would pave the way for a Sunni theocracy in U.S.-allied Pakistan. The schism between Sunnis and Shi'ites developed after the Prophet Muhammad died in 632 when his followers could not agree on a successor. Sunnis recognize the first four caliphs as his rightful successors. The Shi'ites believe the prophet named his son-in-law Ali. Emotions over the issue are highly potent in modern times, pushing some countries, including Iraq five years ago, to the brink of civil war. Pakistan is nowhere near that stage. But officials worry that LeJ and other groups have succeeded in dramatically ratcheting up tensions and provoking revenge attacks in their bid to topple the U.S.-backed government, which faces a host of other challenges as well which fuel instability. Pakistan's economy is weak, chronic power cuts cripple vital industries like textiles, and frustrations are growing over a lack of basic services and crumbling infrastructure. (Additional reporting by Mirwais Harooni in KABUL; Reporting by Jibran Ahmad in PESHAWAR and Mustansar Baloch in DERA ISMAIL KHAN; Writing by Michael Georgy) ================ Bomb kills three Yemenis marking Shi'ite Muslim Ashura festival Sun, 25 Nov 2012 06:08 GMT Source: reuters // Reuters (Corrects number of casualties in headline) SANAA, Nov 24 (Reuters) - At least three Shi'ite Muslims were killed on Saturday in a bomb attack targeting the first public commemoration of the anniversary of the death of a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad in the Yemeni capital in half a century. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but al Qaeda and its affiliates, comprising Sunni Muslim militants, have targeted Shi'ites in the past. Medics and local officials said 13 other people were also wounded in the attack on a hall where the Shi'ites were leaving the ceremony in Sanaa after the Ashura rituals which recall the death of Imam Hussein in Iraq in the year 680 AD. "Fourteen people were brought to hospital, and three of them have died," one medic at the Saudi German Hospital told Reuters. A statement issued by the Houthis, a Shi'ite armed group based in northern Yemen, said the attackers also sprayed the crowd with gunfire and fled. "We condemn this attack and consider the safety of Yemeni citizens the responsibility of the so-called national unity government," the statement said. Yemeni Shi'ites, who follow the Zaydi creed, have gained strength in Sanaa since President Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced to step down following an uprising against his 33 years in office earlier this year. Saleh kept the rebels in check in northern Yemen, launching repeated campaigns against them. Ashura rituals, which in other countries also involve self flagellation to express deep sorrow over the death of Imam Hussein, have been banned in Yemen since the 1,000-year Zaydi Imamate rule was overthrown in a coup in 1962. Analysts and diplomats say the ascent of the Houthis has turned Yemen into a new front in a long struggle between Iran and Western powers, centred on a nuclear programme that Israel and the West say is aimed at making atomic weapons. Iran denies those charges. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari; Writing by Sami Aboudi; Desking by Paul Simao) ============ Youth guard Ashura: 'I may be tired, but I am not afraid' By Rabia Mehmood Published: November 25, 2012 A young girl offers prayers on burning coals during Muharram. PHOTO: APP LAHORE: Shivering from a mixture of adrenalin and nerves, Farwa Sajjad took up guard duty outside the Jamia-tul-Muntazir in Lahore’s Model Town, the evening of Muharram 6. The petite 18-year-old was on edge after news reached of the attack on Rawalpindi’s Dhok Syeddan, which claimed 23 lives just hours earlier. However, when she saw a woman charging toward the gate of the Imambargah, knew what she had to do. “Farwa went after her, thinking she is a bomber, the shock has left her with a fever now,” explained Zahra Naqvi, one of the three young women on volunteer security outside the Jamia. Fortunately for all concerned, the woman was not a suicide bomber but an over-enthusiastic mourner eager to hear the Majlis. As Pakistan grapples with a surge in sectarian violence, hundreds of young people in Lahore, like Farwa are placing themselves in harm’s way amid growing doubt that the state is capable of providing security. The trust in the police to afford any kind of protection is at an all-time low. Inside the small tent like make-shift partition, set up for the women devotees’ body search, Farwa took rest while her two friends strictly checked each woman and even their babies. “Aunty you cannot bring a huge handbag and please next time, use a transparent bag for Niaz (food for distribution among mourners and devotees) too,” said Zahra Naqvi with an authoritative tone, to the slightly annoyed woman attendee of the Majlis. “We do not care what people think about us being strict, this is for their own good and protection, they must understand and follow the rules,” Naqvi said, in between the alert body searches. Meanwhile, Saba Syeda Naqi, one of the trio on duty, and their course mate at the religious school of Shia Islam inside the Jamia-tul-Muntazir, explained how the girls ended up working security. “We were asked by our teachers at school, because after the Gamay Shah attack, we needed to protect our own and there is a huge difference between our security and police’s,” she emphasised. “We cannot trust the police, you see they just fulfill the formality, and we satisfy our hearts through this security too.” The Karbala Gamay Shah Imambargah, the main site of Shia Muslims’ procession, saw suicide bombing which killed at least 18 and injured scores, on the death anniversary of Caliph Ali (RA), on Lahore’s Lower Mall, in September 2010. After this attack, on the following Ashura in 2011 and at the current one the community has made a concerted effort to call young volunteers for security. “We were at the procession and the security was not enough,” said Naqvi. “That is why my cousins and I volunteer in different parts of the city during Muharram.” Right outside the women’s security tent on the main road, two male students of the Jamia, were on duty checking male attendees. On the main road, leading toward the Jamia, armed policemen were standing on pickets, but the final and thorough check was being done by the youth volunteers. Lahore has had a Haidri Scout Volunteers group for years, but the primary job of the group had been providing first aid to the mourners during the Ashura procession, and then help distribute sabeel or food. Nabeel* a 21-year-old volunteer for the Nisar Haveli, one of the central sites of Lahore’s main Ashura procession discusses the trust deficit towards the state. “We do not trust the police’s body search at all. So we ensure that we should at least do those ourselves,” he said. Other than the Ashura procession of Nisar Haveli which concludes at Karbala Gamay Shah, Model Town has been the site of another procession attended by thousands since partition in Lahore. Rakhshanda Zaidi or Baji Rakhshanda as she is known by those who visit the Jamia-tul-Muntazir regularly is the organiser of security in the women’s section and looks after administrative affairs. Baji Rakhshanda said, “The government is soft on the Taliban and groups attacking the Shia Muslims, there is definitely a lax in security somewhere, which leads to the sectarian groups attacking us.” Media creates fear: Rana Sanaullah The Punjab government has been criticised for their inability to control sectarian outfits like the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) with roots in the province and now operating in their midst. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah holds the media responsible for the prevailing fear among the people of Pakistan and especially the Shia Muslims. “We have had bombings with very high death tolls in Punjab, but now the tolls are not as high, but the entire nation is scared, which is primarily due to the media’s focus on terrorists’ conquests.” Sanaullah adds that the image of the terrorist as the winner and the security forces and government as the losers is constructed by the media. “We try our best and have increased the security. The routes are well-guarded. But in an open arena, with thousands of people gathered at one place, ensuring that the security is foolproof is not possible,” Sanaullah says. “It is not that the rituals of Ashura take place within closed walls, where it would be easy for us to provide foolproof security, but we do try our best.” Sanaullah lamented that the policemen on security duty need people’s support instead of criticism. Attacks on Shias to persist, fear analysts Human rights organisations at home and abroad have repeatedly stated that the Pakistani state has failed to protect Shia Muslims. Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi said that since Pakistan’s religious discourse is sectarian and since the state is in retreat in the case of terrorism already, the country would need a generational process to undo the process of religious orthodoxy in politics. The matter of protecting the vulnerable sections of the society has gone beyond the domain of the police or just one government department, opined Wajahat Masood, Assistant Professor at BNU and political analyst who has written extensively on secularism in the country. “Security cannot be ensured in a compartmentalisation. The political and economic patronage of every armed group needs to be taken away. Such views, that a group involved in militant activity in Afghanistan or Kashmir, serves a purpose for Pakistani state, need to be forsaken altogether.” Masood added that the roots of sectarianism run deep, and the ensuing violence may eventually extend to all Pakistanis. “Saying that just one outfit like the SSP is sectarian is not correct; every outfit with arms like the Taliban are anti-Shia and religious minorities. My fear is that yesterday they came for Ahmadis, the Christians, today they are coming for Shias and tomorrow they will come for me.” Despite the imminent threat during Ashura, volunteers like Farwa and her friends keep guard with the help of one lady police constable at the Jamia. As an afterthought, Farwa added, “I might be tired, but please do not think that I am scared because I am the servant of my Imam and I will not deter ====================

Ardeshir Cowasjee passes away

Ardeshir Cowasjee passes away By Mahnoor Sherazee Published: November 24, 2012 Cowasjee had documented the country's history for generations to come through his outspoken columns. PHOTO: NEFER SEHGAL/FILE KARACHI: One of Karachi’s most prominent citizens, Ardeshir Cowasjee, passed away on Saturday. He was born on April 13, 1926 in Dr Kanga’s Hospital in Saddar to Rustom Faqir Cowasjee and Mucca Rustomjee. His legacy is a fairly straightforward one. The scion of a wealthy Parsi family, he completed his schooling at Bai Virbaijee Soparivala (BVS) Parsi School and later pursued further education at DJ Science College. After World War II he joined his family business – primarily merchant shipping, among other interests. In the later years of his life Cowasjee tried to keep it as lively as possible often seen cruising the streets of Karachi top down in his metallic powder blue convertible Mercedes. Cowasjee had documented the country’s history for generations to come through his outspoken columns. He is survived by two children, his son Rustom and daughter Ava. Cowasjee was the eldest of three brothers. His younger brother RF Cowasjee passed away in 2011 and the youngest brother Cyrus R Cowasjee along with Ava, who replaced R F after his death, are trustees of the philanthropic Cowasjee Foundation. He also has a sister Zenia who lives in Canada. Cowasjee the columnist, however, was a different man. He spoke up and wrote against what he perceived to be wrong, in the country at large and on the developments in his beloved Karachi in specific. Cowasjee voiced his blunt opinions over 30 years through his columns in daily Dawn. Cowasjee was also a man of extreme likes and dislikes. He had a good friendship with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) but later on he developed differences with him.

Shiites mix Ashura rituals with politics in Iraq

KARBALA, Iraq (AFP) - Shiite Muslims marching during Ashura rituals in the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala on Saturday mixed mourning the death of Imam Hussein over 1,300 years ago with chants condemning modern politicians. Hundreds of black-clad Shiites walked toward the mausoleum of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed who was killed in 680 AD by the armies of the caliph Yazid, ritually beating their chests as a sign of mourning for the slain imam. But they also chanted about the current politics of Iraq, an unusual occurrence in commemorations that mainly focus on the past. In one chant, the marchers lamented that Iraq's prime minister, parliament speaker and president are all "chasing after positions, and the people's share is only troubles," concluding: "O Hussein, we are with you until death, until death with you." In another, they said that "the effect of financial corruption is the same as terrorism," and that "our leaders are corrupt from the top." "You took everything, and you want to take my vote; I won't let you, even on my death," they shouted. Iraq has vast oil wealth, but basic services such as clean water and consistent electricity are still lacking, and corruption is rampant. And while security has improved significantly, bombings and shootings remain a constant threat. Staff Lieutenant General Othman al-Ghanimi told AFP that 30,000 security forces personnel were deployed at the northern, southern and eastern entrances of Karbala to protect the pilgrims. Mass-casualty attacks on pilgrims that have blighted Ashura commemorations in the past have been absent so far this year. Tradition holds that Hussein was decapitated and his body mutilated in a formative event in Shiite Islam. Millions of people flood Karbala for the peak of the Ashura rituals, which comes on Sunday this year. Karbala provincial governor Amal al-Din al-Har told AFP that there were about two million pilgrims currently in the city, among them 200,000 from abroad. He added that the number could reach three million on Sunday.

How Strip Club Leveled on 9th Moharram Friday: Mass. natural gas explosion damaged 42 buildings

Nov. 24, 2012 4:58 PM ET Mass. natural gas explosion damaged 42 buildings By SUSAN HAIGH, Associated Press AIM Share Inspectors stand in debris, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, at the site of a gas explosion that leveled a strip club in Springfield, Mass., on Friday evening. Investigators were trying to figure out what caused the blast where the multistory brick building housing Scores Gentleman's Club once stood. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) 1 of 5 More News Video Gas explosion levels Mass. buildings; several hurt Nov. 23, 20128:07 PM ET Authorities: 2 buildings flattened, 3 damaged beyond repair in Mass. gas blast; no fatalities Nov. 23, 20128:03 PM ET Indiana home explosion investigated as homicide Nov. 20, 20129:38 AM ET Left with tornado damage, Ala town blaming FEMA Nov. 18, 201210:30 AM ET West Texas town begins recovery after train crash Nov. 17, 20122:49 PM ET Advertisement Advertisement Buy AP Photo Reprints SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Preliminary investigations show more than 40 buildings were damaged in a natural gas explosion in Massachusetts that injured 18 people, building inspectors said Saturday. A strip club was flattened and a day care center was heavily damaged in the massive explosion Friday night in Springfield, one of New England's biggest cities. No one was killed in the explosion. Investigators were trying Saturday to figure out what caused the blast that could be heard for miles, left a large hole in the ground where the multistory brick building housing Scores Gentleman's Club once stood and scattered debris over several blocks. Officials already had evacuated part of the entertainment district after responding to a gas leak and odor reported about an hour before the explosion. Gas workers venting a gas leak got indications that the building was about to explode and they ducked for cover behind a utility truck — along with firefighters and police officers — just before the blast, said Mark McDonald, president of the New England Gas Workers Association. Most of the injured were in that group, and the truck that saved their lives was essentially demolished, he said. "It really is a miracle and it's an example of our public safety officials, each and every day, putting themselves in harm's way, taking what could have been considered a very routine call of an odor of gas, but they took the proper precautions," State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said. "And thanks to God that they did." Officials also marveled how the 5:30 p.m. blast occurred when a day care center next door was closed. The center's building was heavily damaged. Lt. Gov. Tim Murray and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno were attending a tree-lighting ceremony when the explosion occurred. Sarno said some people mistakenly thought the boom was part of the holiday event. The explosion blew out windows in a three-block radius, leaving at least three buildings irreparably damaged and causing emergency workers to evacuate a six-story apartment building that was buckling, police said. Pieces of broken glass littered streets and sidewalks. It was unclear how many residents had been evacuated. A shelter was set up at a school, but city officials said no one stayed there overnight. Omar Fermin, manager of the Punta Cana Restaurant two blocks from the explosion site, found the floor-to-ceiling windows blasted out when he came to check on the property Saturday morning. "It looks like an earthquake hit," said Fermin, a native of the Dominican Republic. "I've never seen anything like it." He said he was waiting for someone to come and assess the damage. He worried the restaurant would remain closed for weeks while the owner seeks to replace the massive custom-made windows. Authorities cordoned off the center of the explosion Saturday as building inspectors worked to identify unsafe structures. Anxious residents gathered at the perimeter, waiting for permission to visit their buildings. Preliminary reports show the blast damaged 42 buildings housing 115 residential units, said Thomas Walsh, spokesman for Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. Three buildings were immediately condemned, and 24 others require additional inspections by structural engineers to determine whether they are safe, Walsh said. Dogs trapped in abandoned buildings barked loudly Saturday as building inspectors fanned out across the area. One inspector said he wished he could get a ladder and permission to retrieve a dog that was barking in the upper floor of one building sealed off from residents. Authorities are opening an animal shelter for pets affected by the explosion, Walsh said. Coan, the fire marshal, said his office is investigating the cause of the blast and its possible origin. The state's Department of Public Utilities was also investigating. Sheila Doiron, a spokeswoman for Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, said the company will continue to monitor for any potential leaks within several blocks of the blast site. So far, she said, the company hadn't yet found any measurable readings. The utility will keep at least 30 workers at the scene, along with a so-called sniffing car mounted with sophisticated gadgets capable of detecting low levels of gas leaks, Walsh said. Doiron said the company also didn't find in its records any gas odor calls to the area where the strip club was located. Authorities also deployed police officers throughout the area to prevent looting, Walsh said. The victims were taken to two hospitals in the city. Those injured were nine firefighters, two police officers, four Columbia Gas workers, two civilians and another city employee. Springfield, which is 90 miles west of Boston and has about 150,000 residents, is the largest city in western Massachusetts. It's known as the home of the Basketball Hall of Fame, which is not near the blast site. The city has been rebuilding from damage caused by a tornado in June 2011. Wayne Davis, who lives about a block from the destroyed building, said he felt his apartment shake. "I was laying down in bed, and I started feeling the building shaking and creaking," he said. The Navy veteran said the boom from the explosion was louder than anything he'd ever heard, including the sound of a jet landing on an aircraft carrier. The blast was so loud it was heard in several neighboring communities. Video from WWLP-TV showed the moment of the explosion, with smoke billowing into the air above the neighborhood. ======= Inspectors stand in debris, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, at the site of a gas explosion that leveled a strip club in Springfield, Mass., on Friday evening. Investigators were trying to figure out what caused the blast where the multistory brick building housing Scores Gentleman's Club once stood. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) People keep a perimeter, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, around the area where a gas explosion leveled a strip club in Springfield, Mass., on Friday evening. Investigators were trying to figure out what caused the blast where the multistory brick building housing Scores Gentleman's Club once stood. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) Robert Spano, left, and Alan Hugley clean up broken glass, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, outside of Punta cana Restaurant & Bar, a few blocks from the site of a Friday-evening gas explosion that leveled a strip club in Springfield, Mass. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) ___ Associated Press writers Rodrique Ngowi, Bridget Murphy and Bob Salsberg in Boston and Jessica Hill in Springfield contributed to this report. =========================== Gas explosion levels building, injures 18 in Springfield, Massachusetts Sat, Nov 24 09:14 AM EST 1 of 4 (Reuters) - An explosion triggered by a gas leak destroyed a strip club in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, on Friday, injuring 18 people, although none seriously, authorities said. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said the building, a Scores Gentlemen's Club, exploded at about 5:25 p.m. as gas company workers, police officers and firefighters were responding to a leak in the area. The 18 injured people included nine firefighters, four Columbia Gas of Massachusetts employees and two police officers, Sarno said. "Through God's mercy, we are not aware of any fatalities," Sarno told reporters, adding none of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries. The club had been evacuated before the explosion due to the gas leak, which may have saved the lives of patrons and employees who had been inside, said Thomas Walsh, a spokesman for the city. Images on a local CBS affiliate showed buildings with shattered windows, debris scattered in the street, and emergency services entering the area. Witnesses described to local media a massive explosion that shook the ground and produced a huge cloud of smoke. The explosion was powerful enough to be felt in neighboring towns, Sarno told reporters. At least 15 to 20 buildings in Springfield's downtown section sustained extensive damage in the blast, including a six-story residential building where a number of units have been condemned due to damage from the explosion, Walsh said. The city established an emergency shelter to accommodate residents displaced by the blast, Sarno said. Officials said state and local investigators were trying to determine the cause of the gas leak and subsequent explosion. Last year, Springfield was hit with a tornado that cut a path several blocks wide, ripping apart trees and damaging buildings. Springfield has a population of about 150,000 people. (Reporting By Tim Gaynor, Alex Dobuzinskis and Nick Carey; Editing by Peter Cooney) ========================== Several hurt, none killed in massive downtown gas explosion Firefighters, police among the injured Updated: Saturday, 24 Nov 2012, 8:45 AM EST Published : Friday, 23 Nov 2012, 4:41 PM EST Ryan Walsh Anthony Fay Barry Kriger Yoojin Cho Shannon Halligan SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A massive gas explosion destroyed a downtown Springfield bar, sent glass and bricks flying down Worthington Street, and injured several people, including nine Springfield firefighters and two police officers. Fortunately, all those injured are expected to survive. "It really was a miracle on Worthington Street that no one was killed," Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray said during a news conference in Springfield Friday night. Dozens of people have been forced from their homes due to the blast, and police are preventing any non-emergency personnel from getting near the blast area. Injuries: Mayor Domenic Sarno says that they know of a total of 18 injured people, nine of whom are Springfield firefighters, two are Springfield police officers, four are Columbia Gas workers, one is a Springfield Water and Sewer Commission worker, and two are civilians. Jane Albert of Baystate Medical Center told 22News that ten patients were brought to their Emergency Room due to the explosion, but none of them are in critical condition. She said that she does not anticipate that any additional injured people will be coming in. Five of those brought to the ER will be admitted to the hospital, and none of the injuries were burns. Mary Orr from Mercy Medical Center told 22News that they are treating eight patients, including two firefighters. All of them are expected to survive. Dennis Leger, Aide to the Springfield Fire Commissioner, said that some of their injured firefighters have already been sent home. He said that the worst injuries at this time appear to be facial cuts, but they are worried about some concussions. One firefighter had fallen into a nearby manhole following the blast. The Explosion:

Several hurt, none killed in massive downtown gas explosion

The explosion happened after a gas leak in the area, which was reported around 4:20 P.M. The loud boom, which came just after 5:00, could be heard and felt as far away as Hardwick, Granby, Belchertown, and Monson. In downtown, the explosion sent a huge cloud of smoke into the air, and people standing nearby were knocked to their feet. The Scores gentlemen's club was destroyed in the explosion. The bar was not open for business at the time of the blast. All Springfield fire companies reported to the area following the explosion, and ambulances from nearby communities like Agawam and Wilbraham were also called in. Shattered glass and bricks can be seen strewn on the sidewalks on Worthington Street. Windows were broken as far away as the Hampden Bank building on Harrison Avenue. 22News reporter Ryan Walsh witnessed several people cut or bleeding, and put onto stretchers. Buildings in the area of the earlier gas leak had been evacuated prior to the explosion, but after the blast, firefighters and police went to nearby buildings to get remaining people out. The Situation Downtown: Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant says that there are 12 buildings in all with significant damage, and about 12 others with minor damage. At least 40 apartment units in the area near the explosion were evacuated, and police are not allowing people within a perimeter they have set-up close to the explosion site. Civilians are not being allowed inside the area between Harrison, Bridge Tyler, Worthington, Chestnut and Spring Streets. Residents of the area may go to a shelter that has been set-up at Central High School. Mayor Domenic Sarno says that food and transportation will be provided. For those who have damage, the city's Housing Division will be staffing its phones starting at 7:00 Saturday morning. You can call them at (413) 787-6731 or 787-6732. Columbia Gas crews informed Captain Cheryl Claprood that they are now finding "higher than normal" levels of natural gas readings still underground some the the streets in the area. ==================

Factbox: Imambargah Deputy Zahid Husain, Chak, Allahabad

Nauha "Husain Padhte Hain Ro Ro Ke Marsiya Ran Mein" by Anjuman-e-Husainia Qadeem at Imambara Deputy Zahid Husain, Chak, Allahabad on 9th of Muharram, 24th of November 2012. Kalam Janab Shamim Allahabadi. Alvida Wazeerjan Kallu Ka Imambara at Meerganj, Allahabad | 9th Muharram, 24th November 2012 Yeh bil-yaqueen Husain hai by Hafiz Jullundhari libaas hai phata hua, ghubaar mein ata hua tamaam jism e naazneen, chida hua, kata hua yeh kaun zeewaqaar hai, bala ka shahsawaar hai ke hai hazaaron qaatilon, ke saamne data hua yeh bil yaqeen Hussain (A.S.) hai, Nabi(SAW) ka noorey ain hai ke jiski eik zarb se, kamaal’e fann e harb se kai shaqi girey huey, tarap rahe hain karb se ghazab hai teighay do-sarr, ke eik eik waar par uthi sadaa’e "alamaan", zabaan e sharq o gharb se yeh bil yaqeeN Hussain (A.S.) hai, Nabi(SAW) ka noorey ain hai yeh kaun haq parast hai, maey redha se mast hai ke jiske saamn’e koi, buland hai na pust hai udhar hazaar ghaat hai, magar ajeeb baat hai ke eik se hazaarha ka hausla shikast hai yeh bil yaqeen Hussain (A.S.) hai, Nabi(SAW) ka noorey ain hai aba bhi taar taar hai, to jism bhi figar hai zameen bhi hai tapi hui, falak bhi shola baar hai magar ye mard e teigh zann, ye saff shikan, falak figan kamaal e sabr o tandehi se mahwe kaarzaar hai yeh bil yaqeen Hussain (A.S.) hai, Nabi(SAW) ka noorey ain hai dilawari mein fard hai, bara hi sheir e mard hai ke jiske dabdab’e se, dushmanon ka rung zard hai habib e Mustafa(SAW) hai ye, mujaahid’e Khuda hai ye jabhi to iske saamney, ye fauj gard bard hai yeh bilyaqeen Hussain (A.S.) hai, Nabi(SAW) ka noorey ain hai udhar sipaah’e Shaam hai, hazaar inteqaam hai udhar haiN dushmanaan’e deeN, idhar faqat Imam hai magar ajeeb shaan hai, ghazab ki aan baan hai ke jis taraf uthi hai teigh, bas Khuda ka naam hai yeh bilyaqeen Hussain (A.S.) hai, Nabi(SAW) ka noorey ain hai

Saudi Grand Mufti warns Gulf public against unrest

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 13:47 GMT Source: reuters // Reuters JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti, the highest religious authority in the birthplace of Islam, issued a condemnation of demonstrations that appeared to blame Iran for unrest among Shi'ite Muslims in Gulf Arab states. "The Arab Gulf is being targeted by attacks seeking to discredit religion and eliminate the material interests and wealth it holds," Al-Watan newspaper quoted Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al al-Sheikh as saying in his Friday sermon in Riyadh. Al-Sheikh warned people not to follow "enemies" who called on them to protest, saying they aimed to divide the people of the region. Unrest has erupted among majority Shi'ites in Bahrain and minority Shi'ites in Eastern Saudi Arabia in the last two years. Sunni authorities have repeatedly blamed Shi'ite Iran, which denies involvement. Tension has also run high over Iran's disputed nuclear programme, which Gulf Arab rulers fear could help Iran acquire nuclear weapons. The al-Saud dynasty rules in alliance with clerics who back the royal family and have wide influence over Saudi society. Al-Watan said al-Sheikh also lashed out at what he called "satellite channels that broadcast evil" and urged owners to use them to promote security and obey their country's