Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Disclosure of 32 mass graves of al Qaeda in Diayala

February 1

Shafaq News/ The director of the Iraq organization Talib Khazraji said in a statement "Shafaq News" has been informed "The security forces in Diayala province found since 2008 till today 36 mass graves scattered in different parts of the province," he said, adding that "32 cemetery belong to the victims of terrorism who were killed by the hands of armed groups during the period of the security deterioration that has occurred between the years 2006-2008, ". "The tombs contain some 360 bodies belonging to women and children, and their presence is concentrated in the south and east of Baquba," He said noting that " some of the tombs have been opened under the formal decision issued by the Iraqi judiciary." "The security services in the province found three mass graves containing the bodies of other elements and leaders of al Qaeda in southern Buhriz, south of Baquba," Khazraji added ,pointing out that "these graves contain the bodies...

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No probe for illegally disposed bodies of riot victims

February 1

Ahmedabad: Suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, on Monday, claimed the Supreme Court-appointed SIT has not made any efforts to probe into allegations of bodies of the Naroda Patiya riot victims being illegally disposed of in a well despite specific documents supplied by him. The allegation was made in a letter written by Bhatt to SIT chairman RK Raghavan. Bhatt also reiterated his request to get his statement recorded before a magistrate under the provisions of Section 164(1) of CrPC in the missive. Along with the letter, Bhatt has also annexed copies of the letters issued by State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) intimating the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner about reports of foul smell purportedly emanating from the decomposed bodies of the riot victims that were allegedly disposed of in the abandoned well on an open ground behind the State Transport Workshop in Naroda Patiya area. "I had submitted detailed information and documents to the...

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Remains of '17 roses' exhumed from mass grave in Spain

February 1

GERENA, Spain - Archaeologists are unearthing the remains of 17 women who were shot during Spain's 1936-39 civil war and dumped in a mass grave, one of the conflict's most notorious events. Since the exhumation began last week, the remains of 14 of the 17 women have been discovered at the cemetery in the southwestern town of Gerena, said 25-year-old Lucia Socam, whose great-aunt Granada Hidalgo was among one of the victims. The skeleton of one of the women was removed from the mass grave Monday so her descendants can give her a proper burial, she added. The women, dubbed the "17 roses", were rounded up and shot by General Francisco Franco's forces in 1937 for being relatives of people on the opposing Republican side. The exhumation, which is expected to take another week, comes as top Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon prepares to testify for the first time on Tuesday at his trial for abuse of power for trying to prosecute atrocities of...

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Stay extended on exhumation case against Setalvad

February 1

The Supreme Court on Monday extended the stay on criminal proceedings pending before a Gujarat trial court against social activist Teesta Setalvad for her alleged role in exhuming the bodies of post-Godhra riot victims at Pandarwada and surrounding villages in 2006. A Bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Desai posted the matter for final hearing in July. Earlier, Justice Alam asked the Gujarat Government how it annexed the statements of witnesses when the Supreme Court had granted a stay. However, counsel Hemantika Wahi clarified that “the witnesses' statements which supported the allegation of “fabricating” evidence, purportedly at the behest of Ms. Setalvad, were recorded prior to the stay on proceedings.” Counsel said: “The investigation was carried out by the police and the statements of witnesses were recorded on the orders of the [Gujarat] High Court.” Ms. Setalvad's appeal was directed against a May 27, 2011 High Court order,...

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Costa Concordia: Divers End Hunt For Bodies

February 1

Divers have officially abandoned their search for bodies still missing inside the wrecked Costa Concordia. The decision has come despite there being 16 people unaccounted for after the cruise ship disaster...

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