Former Philippines President Corazon Aquino has died at the age of 76, her family has said. She had been suffering from colon cancer for more than a year and recently announced she was refusing further treatment. Her family had said she was leaving her fate to God, prompting church services offering prayers for her health. Mrs Aquino became president when the 1986 “people power” uprising deposed former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. “Our mother peacefully passed away at 3.18 AM (1918 GMT Friday) of cardio-respiratory arrest,” Mrs Aquino’s son, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr, told the media. She had recently been admitted to hospital suffering from a loss of appetite related to her condition.
Civilian casualties in Afghanistan must be reduced, the newly appointed commander of US and Nato-led troops Gen Stanley McChrystal has told the BBC. He said both preventing and investigating incidents where civilians were hit would be a priority. Earlier, a UN report said the number of civilians killed so far this year had risen 24% on the same period last year. The UN said insurgent bombings and air strikes by international forces were the biggest killers. There has been widespread concern in Afghanistan about civilian death tolls. In June the US military called for better training in an effort to reduce the numbers of civilian deaths. The Taliban also issued a new code of conduct earlier this week which says fighters should minimise civilian casualties. See civilian casualties in graphics Gen McChrystal, the new commander of US and Nato-led troops in Afghanistan, said civilian casualties were “deeply concerning” and something he “would love to say we’d get to zero”. He said he was trying to build this into the culture of his forces, but admitted it was very hard to balance this with their own protection. It’s a balance for the young soldier on the ground Gen McChrystal “It’s very hard because it’s a balance for the young soldier on the ground, who is in combat. One of the assets that he has that might save his life might be air power or indirect fire from artillery or mortars and we don’t want to take away that protection for him,” he said. But that “must be balanced against the possibility of hurting anyone”. He said he wanted his forces to be seen both to work actively to prevent civilian deaths, and to investigate civilian deaths openly when they did occur. On the possibility of talks with the Taliban after presidential elections in August, Gen McChrystal said the US was willing to talk to anyone ready to seek a political solution – including local fighters and senior Taliban figures. But he pointed out that ultimately those decisions were up to the Afghan government. There is enormous pressure on the new commander, says the BBC’s Lyse Doucet in Kabul. The US defence secretary Robert Gates has made it clear that foreign forces have a year to show clear progress on the security front or will lose support here and at home. Civilian targets The report, by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama), says insurgents were responsible for more deaths than government-allied forces. But it also notes that two-thirds of the deaths caused by government-allied forces came in air strikes. The rising death toll was partly due to the fact that militants were deliberately basing themselves in residential districts, the report’s authors concluded. The increasingly sophisticated tactics used by insurgents were also highlighted. This is the third year the UN has counted civilian deaths and the numbers have risen each year. Election fears The UN warned more civilians may be killed in the coming weeks as militants fight back against a major offensive by US forces ahead of key elections next month. Elections are due to take place amid tight security on 20 August, when President Hamid Karzai is hoping to secure a second term. However, in the past week alone there have been two attacks on Afghan election campaigns. On Tuesday a campaign manager for presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah was wounded when his vehicle was attacked in Laghman province. Two days earlier there was an assassination attempt on Mohammed Qasim Fahim, a running mate of Mr Karzai. Back to top
The UN food agency says it is facing critical funding shortages that have forced it to cut aid deliveries to millions of people facing starvation. The World Food Programme (WFP) said it could have to close parts of its airway, used to fly aid workers to humanitarian trouble-spots. Deliveries have already been suspended to north Uganda, Ivory Coast and Niger. The organisation has issued similar warnings in the past when facing funding shortages. The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), operated by WFP, has a budget for 2009 of $160m (?96m) but has received less than $90m in fees and contributions this year. WFP spokesman Greg Barrow said UNHAS was “a vital component of humanitarian operations across the world”. “But because of a funding shortfall there is now a grave risk that the air service … could literally be grounded in the next few weeks due to a lack of funds,” he said. Closures Millions of people depend on WFP aid deliveries WFP said funding for the airline’s Chad service will run out on 15 August and needs $6.7m (?4m) to continue flying to the end of the year. Spokeswoman Emilia Casella said the single-plane service flies an average of 4,000 humanitarian passengers to and from Chad each month. She said the cancellation would not stop food deliveries taking place, but would mean that aid workers would not be able to reach communities that need them most. The service supplying Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea needs $3.3m (?1.9m) to continue flying to the end of the year. Pierre Carrasse, Chief of WFP’s Aviation Branch, asked how workers could reach the often remote areas affected by conflict without the airline. “How will WFP reach the hungry? How will doctors reach their patients? How will people have clean water if the engineers who help to build wells can’t get there,” he asked. Shortages have already led to UNHAS closing its service in Ivory Coast in February. The Niger service, also suspended that month, is expected to resume in August after a recent donation from the UN Common Emergency Relief Fund. The UN says 102 million people in 78 countries received food aid last year.
A series of bombings outside mosques in the Iraqi capital Baghdad have killed at least 29 people, Iraqi police sources say. More than 130 people were injured when the six apparently co-ordinated bombs struck five Shia mosques. Worshippers were leaving the mosques after Friday prayers at the time. The number of those killed and injured is still rising but it is already clear that this is one of the deadliest attacks in recent weeks. MAJOR ATTACKS BEFORE AND AFTER US PULLBACK 31 July: At least 27 dead in string of bombs outside five mosques in Baghdad 9 July: 50 killed in bomb attacks Talafar (near Mosul), Baghdad, and elsewhere 30 June: US troops withdraw from Iraqi towns and cities. Car bomb in Kirkuk kills at least 27 people 29 June: Four US soldiers killed in combat in Baghdad 26 June: 13 killed, dozens hurt in bomb attack at Baghdad motorcycle market 24 June: 70 killed, 130 injured in marketplace blast in Sadr City, Baghdad 22 June: Wave of bomb attacks in Baghdad and elsewhere kills at least 29, wounds 75 20 June: At least 72 dead and 200 injured in lorry bombing outside mosque in Kirkuk The bombings come exactly one month after the US troops pulled out from cities across Iraq, handing over security to Iraqi forces. They also come just days after US defence secretary Robert Gates said, during a visit to Iraq, that the security situation there had improved “amazingly” in the past three years. He said the US might be able to withdraw troops a little more quickly than planned. Near simultaneous The attacks took place within a short period of time at mosques in northern, eastern and south-eastern Baghdad. The deadliest attack struck a mosque in the Shaab area of northern Baghdad, killing at least 23 people and wounding about 107. At least four people died in almost simultaneous twin blasts near Rasoul mosque at Diyala bridge in the south of the city, while 17 were injured. One died in Zafaraniya, while several more were hurt in the Kamaliya and Ilam areas of the city, reports said. Local anger Following the Shaab explosion, bloodied prayer mats and discarded slippers could be seen on the ground outside the mosque. Witnesses said worshippers had had suspicions about a parked car, and tried to warn local security forces, but were assured the vehicle was safe. This was one of the deadliest attacks in recent weeks The car exploded minutes later, and witnesses told AFP news agency that panicked local police began firing their guns randomly, inadvertently causing three of the deaths. The explosions have strengthened Iraqis’ concerns that their police forces are unable to offer adequate security now that US forces have withdrawn. In the aftermath of the Shaab attack, AFP reported, local residents shouted abuse at police officers and later demanded they leave. Nevertheless, Iraqi casualties in bomb attacks have dropped substantially since June, when 437 people died in the run-up to the US pullback of forces, AFP said – the deadliest toll in 11 months. According to an AP tally, 306 people died in July.
Nigerian Islamic sect leader Mohammed Yusuf was alive when he was captured, the commander of the operation against the militant group has told the BBC. The comments by Col Ben Ahanotu appear to contradict police statements that Mr Yusuf, 39, was killed in a shootout as he was being detained. Human rights campaigners have alleged Mr Yusuf was executed by the police. Mr Yusuf’s Boko Haram group has been blamed for days of violent clashes with security forces in which hundreds died. His bullet-riddled body was shown to journalists on Thursday just hours after police said they had captured him in the northern city of Maiduguri. Col Ahanotu, the commander of the operation against the Boko Haram group, said he had personally captured Mr Yusuf and handed him over to the chief of police. He said Mr Yusuf had been unarmed when caught, hiding in an empty building a short distance from his enclave, and that he gave himself up willingly. “All I know is that in the attack, I was able to pick him up from his hide out and hand him over to police,” he told the BBC. “I asked him why he did what he has done and his response was that he would explain to me later.” Col Ahanotu said Mr Yusuf had a wound on his arm which had already been treated. “But he was OK. As I got him alive, I handed him over to the authorities,” he said. Investigation call Regional police assistant inspector-general, Moses Anegbode, had earlier told Nigerian television Mr Yusuf had been “killed by security forces in a shoot-out while trying to escape”. No surprise at Nigeria killing In pictures: Clashes aftermath Nigeria’s ‘Taliban’ enigma Islamist death: Your reaction A BBC reporter in the city was among journalists shown two films – one apparently showing Mr Yusuf making a confession, the other showing what appeared to be his body, riddled with bullets. One policeman told AFP news agency Mr Yusuf had “pleaded for mercy and forgiveness before he was shot.” Rights groups have condemned the alleged manner of Mr Yusuf’s death. Human Rights Watch said there should be an immediate investigation into the case, which it has described as an “extrajudicial killing”. Amnesty International called for a full investigation into Mr Yusuf’s detention and killing and said that anyone responsible for or tolerating illegal killings should be brought to justice. Information Minister Dora Akunyili earlier told the BBC that the government “does not condone extrajudicial killings” and that she was concerned about the death However, Mohammed Yusuf’s demise was “positive” for Nigeria, she added. Boko Haram – also known locally as Taliban – wants to overthrow the Nigerian government and impose a strict version of Islamic law. Troops had stormed Boko Haram’s stronghold in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri on Wednesday night, killing many of the militants and forcing others to flee. The BBC’s Bilkisu Babangida says the city is now returning to normal, with shops and banks re-opening. She says many residents are happy that Mr Yusuf is dead. ‘Excessive force’ The violence began on Sunday night in Bauchi state, before spreading to other towns and cities in the north-east of the West African nation. AT THE SCENE Bilkisu Babangida BBC News, Maiduguri At about 1600 I was about to leave for home with the rest of the journalists. We received a phone call to return back to the government house because the man, Mohammed Yusuf, had been captured. So we rushed up to that place. We heard some gunshots from somewhere, then we were told that the man had been “executed” at the police headquarters, at about 1900. They kept us waiting, they kept all the newsmen away from the scene. I saw a video and after that I rushed to the police headquarters and I saw the corpse. I even photographed the corpse of Mohammed Yusuf. Crowds of militants tried to storm government buildings and the city’s police headquarters, but dozens of them were shot dead by security forces. Several days of gun battles between militants and Nigerian security forces ensued, culminating in the assault on the militant’s stronghold. It is thought more than 300 people have died in the violence – some estimates say 600, although there has been no official confirmation. The Red Cross said about 3,500 people had fled the fighting and were being housed in their camp. Witnesses and human rights groups have accused the military of excessive violence in quelling the militants, but the army says it used a minimal amount of force. Police say Mr Yusuf was a preacher from Yobe state, who had four wives and 12 children. They described him as a inspirational character. His sect, Boko Haram, is against Western education. It believes Nigeria’s government is being corrupted by Western ideas and wants to see Islamic law imposed across Nigeria. Sharia law is in place across northern Nigeria, but there is no history of al-Qaeda-linked violence. The country’s 150 million people are split almost equally between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south.
The space shuttle Endeavour has safely landed at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, ending a 16-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The seven-strong crew touched down at 1548 BST (1048 EDT) in near perfect weather conditions. During the mission, the combined shuttle and ISS crews set a new record of 13 people on the orbiting outpost. Nasa plans seven more shuttle missions to complete construction of the space station by the end of 2010. Nasa’s new administrator Charles Bolden was on the tarmac of runway 15 to greet the crew as they performed the traditional post-flight “walkround inspection” of the shuttle. Endeavour blasted off on 15 July with its crew of seven astronauts after weather concerns scuppered five launch attempts. The ISS, now about the size of a four-bedroom house, has been under construction for more than a decade. Space ‘porch’ Endeavour’s crew delivered and installed fresh batteries, large spare parts and a “porch” for Japan’s $1bn Kibo science laboratory. This addition to the onboard lab is designed to hold outdoor experiments. The crew also deployed two pairs of small satellites from canisters in the shuttle’s payload bay. Five spacewalks were undertaken during the course of the mission. Crew members also shared some unexpected inconveniences, most notably a flooded toilet aboard the space station. The station hosted 13 crew members for the duration of the mission During testing on Thursday, one of the shuttle’s thrusters failed to fire but Nasa said it would not be needed during re-entry. Endeavour has brought home Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who has spent 138 days in space and has been a member of three separate space station crews. Mr Wakata returned to Earth in experimental underwear that he has been wearing for a month. The hi-tech garments were designed in Japan to be odour-free. US astronaut Tim Kopra, who was carried into space aboard Endeavour, has remained on the station. Nasa plans seven more shuttle missions to complete construction of the ISS before the scheduled retirement of the shuttle fleet in September 2010. Discovery will be next to fly to the ISS; its launch is scheduled for 25 August. Earlier this week, a senior Russian space official was quoted by a news agency as saying that delays to the schedule of US shuttle launches to the space station were resulting in extra work for Russian rocket crews without financial compensation. The exposed facility aboard Kibo will have space for 12 scientific experiments
The US economy shrank at an annualised rate of 1% in the April-to-June quarter, government figures have shown. The data was better-than-expected, with many economists predicting a slightly bigger contraction of 1.5%. The pace of decline seems to be easing, after a revised 6.4% fall in GDP in the previous quarter, the Commerce Department said. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve’s influential Beige Book said US economic activity had “begun to stabilise”. Although, the second-quarter data was better than forecast, the Commerce Department said that the economy had shrunk by more than initially thought in the first quarter. It has previously estimated a contraction of 5.5%.
At least 10 people have been killed in a series of car bombings outside mosques in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, police sources say. One report says that three Shia mosques were targeted and 19 people killed. More than 30 people were injured in the attacks, the reports say. One attack struck a mosque in the Shaab area of northern Baghdad. Worshippers were leaving the mosques at the time of the attacks.
British hacker Gary McKinnon has lost his latest High Court bid to avoid extradition to the United States. The US wants to try the 43-year-old, from Wood Green, north London, for what it calls the biggest military computer hack of all time, in 2001 and 2002. Mr McKinnon admits hacking, but denies it was malicious or that he caused damage costing $800,000 (?487,000). Whether or not he can appeal to the UK Supreme Court will be decided at a later date, Lord Justice Burnton said. He said it was a matter which should be dealt with “as expeditiously as possible”. ‘Lawful and proportionate’ Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon had challenged refusals by the home secretary and the director of public prosecutions (DPP) to try him in the UK. The home secretary insists he has no power to demand the trial take place in the UK. The DPP refused to order a UK trial, saying the bulk of the evidence was located in the US and Mr McKinnon’s actions were directed against the US military infrastructure. He’s very ill, he’s got really bad chest pains, it’s affected him emotionally, mentally, every way, he’s terrified Janis Sharp Gary McKinnon profile He had also asked the court to rule on whether his Asperger’s Syndrome meant he could not be extradited to the US. His lawyers argued extradition was “unnecessary, avoidable and disproportionate” and had not taken place in other cases. But, in a 41-page ruling, the judges said extradition was “a lawful and proportionate response to his offending”. Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: “Mr McKinnon is accused of serious crimes and the US has a lawful right to seek his extradition, as we do when we wish to prosecute people who break our laws. “The court judgement has also made absolutely clear that the DPP’s decision not to prosecute in the UK was the right one. “My predecessor has already sought and received clear assurances from the US that Mr McKinnon’s health and welfare needs would be met, should he be extradited. “It is open to Mr McKinnon to seek to appeal to the House of Lords.” UFO search Mr McKinnon faces up to 70 years in prison if convicted in the US of what prosecutors have called “the biggest military computer hack of all time”. He has always insisted he was looking for classified documents on UFOs which he believed the US authorities had suppressed. Speaking outside the High Court, his mother, Janis Sharp, said her son – who did not attend court – had been “naive enough to admit to computer misuse without having a lawyer and without one being present”. “We are heartbroken. If the law says it’s fair to destroy someone’s life in this way then it’s a bad law.” She said she feared for his health. “He’s very ill, he’s got really bad chest pains, it’s affected him emotionally, mentally, every way, he’s terrified,” she said. US-UK EXTRADITION TREATY 2003 treaty, agreed in aftermath of 9/11 attacks Offence must be punishable by one year or more in jail in both countries US has to prove “reasonable suspicion” for extradition of a British citizen To extradite an American from the US, British must prove “probable cause” Since 2004, 56 people have been sent from the UK to the US for trial, and 26 for US to UK US courts have granted about 70% of UK extradition requests, while nearly 90% of US requests have been granted Send us your comments In a statement, his lawyer Karen Todner, asked: “What does it take to make this government sit up and listen to the clear public view that Gary McKinnon should not be extradited? “The extradition treaty with America was brought in to facilitate the extradition of terrorists and it must be clear to anyone following this case that Gary McKinnon is no terrorist. “Why aren’t they stopping the extradition of a man who is clearly vulnerable and who on the accepted evidence suffers from Asperger’s? “Gary is clearly someone who is not equipped to deal with the American penal system and there is clear evidence that he will suffer a severe mental breakdown if extradited.” Mr McKinnon accessed 97 government computers belonging to organisations including the US Navy and Nasa. In February the Crown Prosecution Service refused to bring charges against Mr McKinnon in the UK. The decision followed a ruling last October by then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to allow his extradition. Mr McKinnon has already appealed unsuccessfully to the House of Lords and the European Court of Human Rights and his latest judicial reviews in the High Court are likely to be his last chance. His lawyers say the authorities have not given proper consideration to his Asperger’s Syndrome, which could have “disastrous consequences,” including suicide, if he was to be extradited. They argued he was “eccentric” rather than malicious and should be tried on lesser charges in the UK to protect his mental health.
A Nigerian government minister has expressed relief at the death of an Islamic sect leader whose capture police announced on Thursday. But Information Minister Dora Akunyili told the BBC the government “does not condone extra-judicial killings”. Human rights campaigners have voiced concern at Mohammed Yusuf’s death. The group he led has been blamed for days of violent unrest. Hundreds of people have died in clashes between his followers and security forces. His group – known as Boko Haram or Taliban – wants to overthrow the Nigerian government and impose a strict version of Islamic law. The bullet-riddled body of Mohammed Yusuf, 39, was seen hours after police announced he had been captured in the northern city of Maiduguri. The BBC’s Bilkisu Babangida says the city is returning to normal, with shops and banks re-opening. She says many residents are happy that Mr Yusuf is dead. ‘Shocking’ Information Minister Dora Akunyili told the BBC’s Network Africa that she was concerned about the death and that the government would find out “exactly what happened”. AT THE SCENE Bilkisu Babangida BBC News, Maiduguri At about 1600 I was about to leave for home with the rest of the journalists. We received a phone call to return back to the government house because the man, Mohammed Yusuf, had been captured. So we rushed up to that place. We heard some gunshots from somewhere, then we were told that the man had been “executed” at the police headquarters, at about 1900. They kept us waiting, they kept all the newsmen away from the scene. I saw a video and after that I rushed to the police headquarters and I saw the corpse. I even photographed the corpse of Mohammed Yusuf. However Mohammed Yusuf’s demise was “positive” for Nigeria, she added. “What is important is that he [Yusuf] has been taken out of the way, to stop him using people to cause mayhem.” She accused Mr Yusuf of “brainwashing” youths to cause trouble. Ms Akunyili praised the security forces, saying they had managed to stop the violence spreading even further and that normality was returning to the region. Human Rights Watch staff said there should be an immediate investigation into the case. “The extrajudicial killing of Mr Yusuf in police custody is a shocking example of the brazen contempt by the Nigerian police for the rule of law,” said Eric Guttschuss, of the New York-based rights group. Another Human Rights Watch researcher, Corinne Dufka, told AP news agency: “The Nigerian authorities must act immediately to investigate and hold to account all those responsible for this unlawful killing and any others associated with the recent violence in northern Nigeria.” ‘Trying to escape’ Troops had stormed Boko Haram’s stronghold in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri on Wednesday night, killing many of the militants and forcing others to flee. Nigeria’s ‘Taliban’ enigma Eyewitness: Nigeria attacks Fear and tension after attack Nigerian attacks: Your reaction Mr Yusuf was arrested the following day after reportedly being found hiding in a goat pen at his parents-in-law’s house. Later, a BBC reporter in the city was among journalists shown two films – one apparently showing Mr Yusuf making a confession, the other showing what appeared to be his body, riddled with bullets. “Mohammed Yusuf was killed by security forces in a shoot-out while trying to escape,” the regional police assistant inspector-general, Moses Anegbode, told Nigerian television. A spokesman for the state governor was also quoted as saying that Mr Yusuf had been trying to escape. One policeman told AFP news agency Mr Yusuf had “pleaded for mercy and forgiveness before he was shot.” ‘Inspirational’ The violence began on Sunday night in Bauchi state, before spreading to other towns and cities in the northeast of the West African nation. Crowds of militants tried to storm government buildings and the city’s police headquarters, but dozens of them were shot dead by security forces. Several days of gun battles between militants and Nigerian security forces ensued, culminating in the assault on the militant’s stronghold. It is thought more than 300 people have died in the violence – some estimates say 600, although there has been no official confirmation. The Red Cross said about 3,500 people had fled the fighting and were being housed in their camp. Witnesses and human rights groups have accused the military of excessive violence in quelling the militants, but the army says it used a minimal amount of force. Police say Mr Yusuf was a preacher from Yobe state, who had four wives and 12 children. They described him as a inspirational character. His sect, Boko Haram, is against Western education. It believes Nigeria’s government is being corrupted by Western ideas and wants to see Islamic law imposed across Nigeria. Sharia law is in place across northern Nigeria, but there is no history of al-Qaeda-linked violence. The country’s 150 million people are split almost equally between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south. Are you in Nigeria? Have you been affected by the violence? Send us your comments. Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional): Comments The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions
