Man admits plot to behead soldier A 37-year-old Birmingham man has pleaded guilty to plotting to kidnap and kill a British soldier. Parviz Khan, an unemployed charity worker, intended to seize and behead the unnamed Muslim serviceman "like a pig", Leicester Crown Court was told. Three other men, Basiru Gassama, 30, Mohammed Irfan, 31, and Hamid Elasmar, 44, have admitted other offences connected with Khan's plot. The court heard Amjad Mahmood, 32, and Zahoor Iqbal, 30, denied involvement. He would be taken to a lock-up garage and there he would be murdered by having his head cut off like a pig Nigel Rumfitt QC The jury was told how Khan, of Alum Rock, intended to kidnap the soldier while on a night out, behead him in a lock-up garage and then release footage of the killing on the internet. Nigel Rumfitt QC, prosecuting Mr Mahmood and Mr Iqbal, who both deny two offences relating to the plot, told the court that Khan had planned to seize the serviceman in Birmingham's Broad Street entertainment quarter. "He would be taken to a lock-up garage and there he would be murdered by having his head cut off like a pig," he said. "This atrocity would be filmed... and the film released to cause panic and fear within the British armed forces and the wider public." Terrorist equipment Khan, who also admits intending to supply equipment to terrorists on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, pleaded guilty to the plot earlier this month, but his plea can only now be reported as the trial of Mr Mahmood and Mr Iqbal has begun. Mr Mahmood denies knowing about Khan's plot and failing to disclose information about it, while Mr Iqbal denies possessing a computer disc called Encyclopaedia Jihad, which would be likely to be useful to a terrorist. Both men have also pleaded not guilty to helping Khan supply equipment to terrorists in Pakistan. Irfan and Elasmar have pleaded guilty to helping Khan supply the equipment, while Gassama has admitted knowing about the plot and not telling anyone about it. The men were arrested in a series of high-profile raids in Birmingham at the end of January last year after an investigation led by West Midlands Police Counter-Terrorism Unit. Khan was later charged with plotting to kidnap and kill a member of the British armed forces between 2 April 2006 and 1 February 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7215081.stm

Turkish MPs plan headscarf reform Two major parties in Turkey say they will submit a joint plan to parliament to ease a ban on the Islamic headscarf in universities. The Islamist-rooted governing AK Party and the nationalist MHP say it is an issue of human rights and freedoms. The two parties have enough votes in parliament to overturn the constitutional ban on headscarves. Headscarves were banned in schools and universities in 1980 after a coup by the pro-secular armed forces. This is a controversial matter in a mainly Muslim country whose secular elite - including the military - sees the scarf as a symbol of political Islam, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says. The move has been criticised by judges and university officials. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli said the joint plan would be submitted to parliament later on Tuesday. Chadors, veils and burkas will not be allowed - no-one will be allowed to use headscarves as political statements against the state Devlet Bahceli, MHP leader "Solving the headscarf issue would relax a large segment of the society," Mr Bahceli was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. "It is a question of rights and freedoms," he added. The reforms are a compromise though, our correspondent says. The proposed changes state that only traditional scarves will be permitted in universities, tied loosely under the chin. Headscarves that cover the neck, like those worn by many Turkish girls, will still be banned, as will the all-covering burka, or chador. Power struggle Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stressed that this reform will be restricted to universities. It will not apply to women civil servants, including teachers, who are still banned from covering their heads. A power struggle last year between secular forces and the governing AK Party ended with the AKP being comprehensively re-elected in July. So far, there has been no comment from Turkey's powerful army, which sees itself as the guardian of the secular tradition laid out by Kemal Ataturk - the creator of the modern Turkish state. Opinion polls suggest there is strong public support for lifting the ban. And some women refuse to go to university because of it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7214827.stm

^^Well done and good luck!

Somalia: Ethiopian Troops Abandon Key Military Base Email This Page Print This Page Comment on this article Visit The Publisher's Site Garowe Online (Garowe) 28 January 2008 Posted to the web 29 January 2008 Garowe Ethiopian troops backing Somalia's transitional federal government withdrew from a key military base in the central regions on Monday, witnesses and residents said. Since early 2007, the Ethiopian army maintained a 1,000-strong garrison in a base east of Beletwein, the capital of the central Hiran region. Ethiopian army trucks were seen leaving the base on Monday and were reportedly heading west, towards the Somali-Ethiopian border. Ethiopian army The exact number of troops and trucks could not be confirmed, but our Beletwein correspondent reported that the army base was "completely vacant," save for some "explosives material" that worried residents. Three Somalis who were jailed by the Ethiopian army at the base were also released. Before leaving, the Ethiopian commanders met privately with Hiran regional officials, including Governor Yusuf Daboged. No report emerged from that meeting and Somali officials declined comment on these latest developments. But the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from the Beletwein area coincides with increasing attacks on their position. The Ethiopian army still maintains a small contingent in Kala-Beyr village, near the border, local sources said. Last week, heavily-armed insurgents battled joint Somali-Ethiopian forces in parts of Hiran region. Meanwhile, targeted killings of Somali government officials continued when Hiran regional intelligence boss Mohamed Ali "Gabow" was shot and killed. Witnesses said three men armed with pistols killed Mr. Gabow in front of a hotel in Beletwein town. Relevant Links East Africa Arms and Military Affairs Conflict, Peace and Security Ethiopia Somalia One civilian was wounded during the attack. The killers escaped before police arrived on the scene and began questioning potential witnesses. No group has thus far claimed responsibility for the killing, but it becomes the first successful targeted killing of a government official in Hiran region. Regional officials have been attacked several times, including Governor Daboged who was attacked at least two times in the past year. http://allafrica.com/stories/200801290024.html

When all is said and done, no party is 100% innocent on these pages.

^^Hear Hear

^^Its bit far to go for a football tournament saxib. Mind you we did drive from northern England to central Italy just for a football tournament :cool: Besides, I'm too good to play with amateurs

LoL Waar bal yaabkan eega! JB Lee, stop being mischievous. :mad:

LoL@Cadaan Serenity, was it the theory you passed again or the practical?

Originally posted by -Serenity-: Guess who has passed their driving test a second time around? You passed twice? As in a 2nd time? Or at the 2nd attempt? Congrats don't say a word, don't say a word

Be sure to visit Dubailand Sales Center. You might see me walk past the two tigers

^^not only watch but play from time to time. I would give you a good wooping on the court!

LooooL Just picturing the scene is funny

^^your point being?

^^We ate there last year and the food was very good. Sadly I cant quite remember where it was :confused: Welcome to Dubai! Be sure to see everything.

^^I'll look into it.

^^All the mod cons? In Sharjah? You dont want to stay in Sharjah if you will be going to Dubai every day. Your week will be spent sitting in thick thick traffic!

^^Do you know any Arabs who want to buy any Camels by any chance?

Motty can be annoying and so can that anti LFC Andy Grey on Sky Sports. I have to contend with Robbie Earl (who is a good 2nd commentator), John Chmapion (anti LFC) and Efan Ekuku (anti LFC) my commentators for LFC games. I have ART Primesport for the English commentary but they are poor. Can't miss Star Academy on LBC LoL.

Not to the extent he is claiming and he wrote a little too much for my liking but the idea of nipping anything in the bud is a good one.

Arab commentators :rolleyes: Do you still have ART? I will stick with the black beebal to win

Complaints and letters through the media to Ministers On a serious note, there might actually be some truths in the letter.

^^Did he get booked for that? Ivory Coast all the way (hope Kolo makes it back in time for the next round) Ghana vs Morocco tonight should be a good game. Angola are a decent side I tell ya. They will cause an upset soon.

^Good draw for the MIGHTY MIGHTY reds.

Originally posted by NGONGE: Stuff and nonesense... Ila fahan saxib, ila fahan