12 February 2006 Military News

Iraqi Army Leads Operation; Weapons Cache Found, Destroyed AFPS 12 Feb 2006 -- Iraqi soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, cleared the rural village of Subiyhat of insurgents yesterday, marking their second independent operation, officials said today.

Russia: Hamas Talks Anger Israel RFE/RL 12 Feb 2006 -- Israel's politicians continued today to criticize Russia's plan to invite Palestinian election-winner Hamas to Moscow for talks.
Israel Criticizes Russian Invitation to Hamas VOA 12 Feb 2006 -- Israel has sharply criticized Russia's decision to open a dialogue with the Islamic militant group Hamas, following its victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections last month. Israel is seeking an international boycott of Hamas.
Hamas Delegation Continues to Look for Arab Support VOA 12 Feb 2006 -- The political bureau chief of radical Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas is in Sudan as part of a trip to gain the support of Arab nations.

Nepal gov't hits back at international criticism over recent polls IRNA 12 Feb 2006 -- Strongly rejecting the international criticism over the recent Municipal polls, Nepal's Royal government asked the countries to refrain from making 'insolent', 'baseless' and 'unacceptable' comments on its 'domestic' matter.
Pakistani Shi'ites, Sunnis Reach Cease-Fire VOA 12 Feb 2006 -- Rival Muslim groups in northwestern Pakistan have ended an armed standoff after two days of violence that killed 38 people and injured dozens more.

In Algeria, Rumsfeld Welcomes Counter-Terrorism Cooperation VOA 12 Feb 2006 -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visited Algeria Sunday, in what his aides believe was the first such visit by anyone in his position.

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