What a week in Afghanistan ! Canadian soldiers , sailors, and airmen face these things on a daily basis. First a gas attack on a girls school again.
Farzana 8 years old.
For the third time in less than three weeks, Afghan officials are investigating whether scores of schoolgirls who had to be hospitalized Tuesday were poisoned.
Five of the girls briefly slipped into comas after falling ill Tuesday morning at a school in that Kapisa province north of Kabul, the province's chief of public health, Wahid Rahim, told Reuters.
At least 98 people were admitted to hospital after complaining of symptoms like headaches, vomiting and shivering, said Aziz Agha, a local doctor. That number includes 84 students, 11 teachers, two cleaners and the principal.
The students were lining up outside their school in northeastern Afghanistan on Tuesday morning when a strange odour filled the yard, and one girl collapsed, said the principal, Mossena, who was herself in a hospital bed gasping for breath as she described the event.
We took her inside and splashed water on her face, said Mossena, who like many Afghans goes by one name. Then other girls started passing out, and all the students were sent home.
taliban Suicide bombers still wreak havoc:
Suicide bombers and other insurgents attacked government buildings and waged gun battles with security forces in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, leaving at least six dead, officials said.
U.S. and Afghan forces joined to fight the insurgents, some of whom were still at large. One U.S. soldier and an Afghan policeman were wounded en route to where the fighting had erupted.
At least four security personnel, two civilians and an unknown number of militants were killed in the attacks in the main city in the eastern province of Khost, a local doctor said. The chaos, which began at 10 a.m., created mass confusion, and death tolls were expected to rise, officials said.
Dr. Amir Shah Mangal said four security forces and two civilians were killed in the attacks and that 16 others including 14 civilians were wounded. He said there were many other bodies near the municipal building but medical personnel could not reach the area because fighting has not ended.
The attacks began when a suicide car bomb exploded outside the Khost governor's compound, the Interior Ministry said.
Then a team of five suicide bombers tried to attack the nearby police headquarters, but were fought off by security forces and entered the neighbouring municipality building, said Gen. Abdul Qayum Bakizoy, the police chief.
Three bombers detonated their explosives, the Interior Ministry said, while other militants took city employees hostage, Bakizoy said.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed that 30 suicide bombers were behind the strikes. Canadians checking suspected ied area.
In Toronto the Tamil Tiger flag, is still shown by the protesters. The Tamil Tigers are a known terror group. Only in the safety of Canada could these terror supporters protest openly ! Meanwhile in Ottawa, a federal cabinet minister said the Canadian government is concerned about the humanitarian crisis Tamils face in Sri Lanka but officials are not prepared to meet with anyone who might represent the terrorist group Tamil Tigers,.
Bev Oda, the minister of international co-operation, said she visited Sri Lanka last week and was frustrated by what she saw there.
I think right now we've got to pay attention to the humanitarian crisis. Right now it's dire and we have to try and continue asking for a ceasefire, she told CTV's Canada AM in a televised interview from Ottawa.
She said the government shares the concerns of Tamils living in Canada and is prepared to meet with local community leaders.
However, in Parliament on Monday afternoon, Oda said she was concerned when she saw the number of flags depicting the Tamil Tigers logo at several protests that have taken place across the country.
She repeated her concern Tuesday morning.
Our government is prepared to meet with the Tamil community in Canada to share their concerns but we are not prepared to meet with those who represent a terrorist organization, she said, referring to the Tamil Tigers.
Oda also referred to the flags being flown at the protest -- a red flag with a tiger jumping through a ring of what looks like bullets under two crossed rifles.
Protesters have said the flag is that of the Tamil Eelam secessionist movement and not the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
McGuinty said he hoped those attending Wednesday's protest would leave the flags at home.
I would prefer that they not (fly them), he said. I don't think that helps their cause.
Last but by no means the least. MP Laurie Hawn ( Edmonton Center ) certainly let down the side in the vote on bill C-201. This man himself a Veteran made some terrible comments agains both our Veterans and our SERVING Members. SHAME SHAME. I am sure that will have serious repurcussions in the next General election.
So as we read these terrible events let us wear Red on Friday in support of our Troops. I pray that return safely to their loved ones.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
