Pakistan in Afghan border threat

12 July 2011 Last updated at 15:46 GMT Pakistan is a vital ally for the US, but ties have deteriorated Pakistan's defence minister has said the country could withdraw troops from the Afghan border in response to a US cut in military aid.

Ahmed Mukhtar said Pakistan "cannot afford" to keep troops in the remote region without the financial support.

The US has said it is cutting $800m (?500m) in aid over "difficulties" in its relationship with Pakistan.

On Monday, Pakistan said the cuts would not affect is operations against al-Qaeda and other militant groups.

The money is about a third of the total annual US military aid Islamabad receives. Much of the aid is intended to reimburse Pakistan for deploying troops along the Afghan border, where militants seek sanctuary.

"If at all things become difficult, we will just get all our forces back," Mr Mukhtar told Express 24/7 television in an interview to be aired on Tuesday night.

"If Americans refuse to give us money, then okay. I think the next step is that the government or the armed forces will be moving from the border areas.

"We cannot afford to keep military out in the mountains for such a long period."

Public anger

The BBC's Ilyas Khan in Islamabad said that while the defence minister's statement does worsen the ongoing row between the US and Pakistan, there is no likelihood of the army being pulled out.

Pakistan is currently engaged in two major military operations in Mohmand and Kurram, and recently reasserted its commitment to combating terror groups in the region.

Continue reading the main story 2 May: US announces Bin Laden's death and says Pakistan not warned of raid14 May: Pakistan MPs demand review of US ties26 May: US announces withdrawal of some US troops at Pakistan's request27 May: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits to try to soothe relations2 June: Top US military chief Adm Mike Mullen admits "significant" cut in US troops in Pakistan10 June: CIA head Leon Panetta visits Pakistan; US admits "slow progress" in healing ties8 July: Adm Mullen says Pakistan sanctioned killing of a journalist; Pakistan angrily rejects this10 July: US suspends $800m of military aidIf the army were to withdraw, it would create a security vacuum in the border region and would complicate US plans to gradually withdraw troops from Afghanistan, our correspondent adds.

Pakistan is a vital ally for the US, but ties have deteriorated following the killing of Osama Bin Laden in May.

Islamabad is angry that it was not told about the US raid in advance, while the US has questioned how Bin Laden was able to live undetected in a major garrison town.

There is also growing public anger in Pakistan over the US use of drone attacks on suspected militant targets, which often cost civilian lives.

Pakistan recently expelled more than 100 US military trainers and has threatened to shut down a CIA base.

On Sunday, White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley said the US was holding back "some of the money that the American taxpayers have committed to give" until the two countries had worked their way through "difficulties" in their relationship.

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Zimbabwe PM 'a security threat'

23 June 2011 Last updated at 10:38 GMT Morgan Tsvangirai urged army chiefs to stay out of politics to allow a level playing field A top army officer in Zimbabwe has accused Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of being a security threat.

"He takes instructions from foreigners who seek to effect illegal regime change," Brig-Gen Douglas Nyikayaramba told the state-run Herald paper.

His comments come after Mr Tsvangirai urged military chiefs to remove their uniforms if they wanted to challenge him politically in forthcoming polls.

Mr Tsvangirai joined a unity government with President Robert Mugabe in 2009.

The coalition, which took power after disputed elections in 2008, has helped stabilise the economy and reduced political violence.

But the administration has been fraught with squabbles over introducing reforms.

Mr Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party have been pushing for polls this year, but human rights activists have been worried about reports of increased political harassment of his opponents.

The prime minister's party - the Movement for Democratic Change - wants security forces to stay out of politics and to not publicly support Mr Mugabe in the next election.

Many of Zimbabwe's security chiefs fought with President Mugabe during the 1970s guerrilla war against white minority rule and remain fiercely loyal to him.

The army was said to have been involved in systematic attacks on Mr Tsvangirai's supporters after he won the first round of the 2008 election.

According to the AFP news agency, Brig-Gen Nyikayaramba has recently been removed from the constitution-making body after saying Mr Mugabe should remain in power for life.

'Nonsense' Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the 2008 run-off vote against Robert Mugabe because of political violence

He repeated his view to the Herald: "President Mugabe will only leave office if he sees it fit or dies. No-one should be talking about his departure at the moment. We will die for him to make sure he remains in power.

Brig-Gen Nyikayaramba dismissed Mr Tsvangirai's comments at a rally over the weekend as "nonsense".

"Tsvangirai doesn't pose a political threat in any way in Zimbabwe, but is a major security threat," he said.

"We are dealing with a national security threat, which can only be dealt with by people in uniform.

"If it was a normal political environment, one would hope to retire at some point and join politics."

The MDC argues without a new constitution and electoral reforms, forthcoming polls would not be free and fair.

Mr Mugabe and his allies say Zimbabwe's economic problems are the result of a plot to oust him because of his policy of seizing white-owned land.

His critics accuse him of turning what used to be be on Africa's most developed economies into a basket case.

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State under threat

21 June 2011 Last updated at 07:41 GMT By Jonah Fisher BBC News, Maiduguri At least six people were killed when the police HQ was bombed Last week's bomb attack by Boko Haram in the capital Abuja has raised questions about Nigeria's ability to defend itself.

But a reassessment is also being made of the nature of the enemy they are confronting.

Having long regarded the Islamist sect as a localised problem, security sources have told the BBC that they now believe the radical Islamist group to be receiving training and expertise from outside Nigeria.

Boko Haram have, until recently, focused their activities in the far north-east of the country and as you approach the city of Maiduguri there are checkpoints at regular intervals.

At each a security officer, clad in bulletproof black and clutching a machine-gun peers into your vehicle.

Continue reading the main story

In the next couple of weeks and months Boko Haram will become a thing of the past”

End Quote Kashim Shettima Borno State governor This is part of "Operation Flush", the Nigerian authorities' attempt to clamp down on the Islamist sect.

So far there has been little sign that it works.

In the last few weeks Boko Haram appear to be bombing police stations at will.

No longer are the attacks confined to the north-eastern state of Borno either.

Last Thursday in their most high-profile strike yet, they detonated a vehicle in the parking lot of national police headquarters in Abuja.

Trained in Somalia?

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan urged people not to panic but questions are starting to be asked about Boko Haram's recent upsurge in activity.

The police are Boko Haram's main target but they have also bombed churches and assassinated Islamic clerics.

Rev David Bridley says St Patrick's Cathedral was targeted because of its focus on education

St Patrick's Cathedral is Maiduguri's largest with close to 1,000 people regularly packing its pews.

But many of the congregation are making plans to leave.

The compound has just been bombed for the second time in two weeks, with five people dying in the street outside.

"My guess is that because the church is behind education - behind enlightening people we are being targeted," Reverend David Bridley tells me.

"Boko Haram is, I would say, an expression of the al-Qaeda movement and the attack on Christianity. So here, we are the ones taking the heat."

Several Islamic clerics who dared criticise Boko Haram have been assassinated. The only cleric willing to speak to me would only do so on condition that we not film his face or use his voice.

Security sources told the BBC that they believe Boko Haram fighters are travelling to Somalia for training, with some thought to have gone to Afghanistan too.

That information has been been partially corroborated by statements claiming to be from Boko Haram, and unconfirmed reports that Somalis have been detained in Nigeria.

If the links are confirmed, it is worrying news for the authorities who still talk as if the problems is about to resolved.

Continue reading the main story 2002: Founded2009: Hundreds killed when Maiduguri police stations stormed2009: Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf captured by army, handed to police, later found deadSept: 2010: Freed hundreds of prisoners from Maiduguri jailDecember 2010: Bombed Jos, killing 80 people and blamed for New Year's Eve attack on Abuja barracks2010-2011: Dozens killed in Maiduguri shootingsMay 2011: Bombed several states after president's inaugurationJune 2011: Police HQ bombed"In the next couple of weeks and months Boko Haram will become a thing of the past," says Borno state Governor Kashim Shettima.

"Those who are willing to talk to us - the government is willing to enter into dialogue with them. But you cannot negotiate from a position of weakness, you have to negotiate from a position of strength."

And that is why more armoured personnel carriers and troops are pouring into Borno state.

President Jonathan's much vaunted "carrot and stick" solution is seemingly getting ever lighter in the vegetable department.

It is hardly surprising that Boko Haram has shown little interest in the two "carrots" on offer - dialogue and amnesty.

Memories are still fresh of how its leader Mohammed Yusuf was captured alive two years ago - and then shot dead by security forces.

The increased military presence will not help the authorities with their biggest obstacle, the lack of co-operation from the local population. Boko Haram members live among the community but people are either too scared or unwilling to inform on them.

Islamic government

In the back room of a mobile phone shop Abubakar tells me that as he is not a target for Boko Haram, he just tries to steer clear of them.

"The only thing people are scared of is being in an area when they attack - like for example the security forces so we try and stay further away from there."

The police have banned motorbikes at night after a spate of ride-by shootings

Harassment from checkpoints or as some residents call them "toll booths" has helped alienate the police from the Maiduguri population.

"I'm not scared of Boko Haram," Zakaria tells me.

"I am scared of security; whenever they come they bully us all the time."

Like many in town, Zakaria leaves work early to avoid going through checkpoints in the dark.

Despite the increased frequency of their attacks, Boko Haram's message is being blurred by the emergence of more than one people who claim to speak for them.

One spokesman, Abu Abdurahman, told me their aims now go far beyond their initial gripes with Western education.

"We are demanding an Islamic government be established in the northern states. Not this kind of democratic government," he said.

"There is not real Sharia in northern states."

Pressed on foreign support, he said they were inspired by al-Qaeda and the Taliban but that they could not say where they were training for security reasons.

Financial support, he said, was coming from "brothers inside Nigeria".

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Mascherano wary of Man Utd threat

Focus Forum - Javier Mascherano

Javier Mascherano says there is nothing to choose between Barcelona and Manchester United ahead of Saturday's Champions League final at Wembley.

"In a final, there are no favourites," the Barcelona midfielder told Football Focus. "It is one game so it depends how the teams are on the day.

"We will try to do everything we can to win, in the 90 minutes, or 120 minutes.

"We don't know how long it will take but we have confidence in ourselves."

Manchester United and Spanish giants Barcelona won their domestic league titles this season and are both looking to capture Europe's top club prize for the fourth time.

United are also seeking revenge for their 2-0 defeat by a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona in the 2009 final in Rome.

Mascherano, who did battle with United on several occasions during his career with Liverpool, expects another tough encounter with Sir Alex Ferguson's team.

"They are a very good team, very strong," said the 26-year-old midfielder, who joined Barca in a ?22m deal in August 2010.

"They have a fantastic manager. He has a lot of experience in Europe and in the Premier League.

"They are one of the biggest teams in the world. We have to be careful because they know how to play finals. It will be really, really difficult."

Mascherano, who was part of the Liverpool side that lost 2-1 to AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final, is particularly wary of United forwards Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez, who have scored 35 goals between them this season.

"Rooney is one of the best strikers in the world," said Mascherano. "He is a key player for them.

"Hernandez is a very, very good player. I knew him when he was in Mexico but it was a big surprise when he came to England.

Continue reading the main story The midfielder helped his country win gold medals at both the 2004 and 2008 OlympicsHe is the only Argentine footballer to achieve the featLionel Messi was also part of the victorious 2008 team.

"He is having a fantastic season. We have to be careful with both of them because they are really good players and really dangerous."

Mascherano played in both legs of Barcelona's Champions League semi-final victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid. But he was used as a makeshift centre-back and now that French defender Eric Abidal is available again, the midfielder is likely to start Saturday's showpiece as a substitute.

"I don't know if I will play but it doesn't matter," said Mascherano, who began his career in England with West Ham. "The main thing is the team will be in the final and will do everything to try to win."

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