Prince Harry: I Killed Taliban In Afghanistan

Harry: I Let Myself Down In Vegas

Updated: 12:18am UK, Tuesday 22 January 2013

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

Prince Harry has spoken for the first time about how he believes he let himself down in Las Vegas last year.

The prince has also launched a scathing attack against the media and their treatment of him and his family, calling them an "unstoppable force."

Speaking at Camp Bastion during his five-month tour, Captain Harry Wales argued his naked antics in America's Sin City were "probably a classic example of me being too much 'Army' and not enough 'prince', it's a simple case of that".

The prince was pictured frolicking in the nude with an unnamed woman, and the photos were published on websites around the world, as well as in The Sun newspaper.

"Back home everyone, all my close friends rallied round me and were great," he added.

"At the end of the day I probably let myself down, I let my family down and let other people down, but I was in a private area and there should have been a certain amount of privacy that one should expect."

But the 28-year-old believes some sections of the media behaved irresponsibly when the naked photographs of him emerged: "The papers knew I was going to Afghan anyway. So the way I was treated by them I don't think was acceptable."

A broken news blackout five years ago ended the prince's first tour to Afghanistan.

This time, a different agreement was reached between the Ministry of Defence and the media, one which sits uncomfortably with the co-pilot gunner.

"I never wanted you guys to be out here but there was an agreement made to invite you out on a deal that you, the media, didn't speculate before my deployment. That's the only reason you guys are out here."

Prince Harry says he also excited about becoming an uncle, but is equally unrelenting about the press' handling of the royal parents-to-be.

"Obviously I'm thrilled for both of them, it's about time and I can't wait to be an uncle," he said.

"I think it's very unfair they were forced to publicise it when they were, but that's just the media for you.

"I'm literally am very, very happy, but I just only hope she and him, but mainly Catherine, gets the necessary protection to allow her, as a mother-to-be, to enjoy the privacy that comes with it. I seriously hope that's going to be able to happen."

The third in line to the throne also accused sections of the press of printing stories that were not true.

"I spoke to them both and didn't send a letter of congratulations like most of the papers said," he said.

"How any of the papers think they know the relationship between myself and my sister-in-law is quite remarkable. But they're wrong as always. But, yeah, I spoke to my brother and her, and they're both very well and very happy, obviously."

Harry also has strong feelings about the opportunities available to him, but not Prince William.

He said: "There is a bit of jealousy and not just because I get to fly this but he'd (William) love to be out here.

"To be honest with you, I don't see why he couldn't. His job out here would be doing Chinook missions, just the same as us.

"No one knows who's in the cockpit, yes he'd get shot at, but, you know, if the guys who are doing the same job as us are being shot at on the ground I don't think there's anything wrong with us being shot as well.

"People back home might have issues with that - but we're not special - the guys out there are, simple as that."

Returning to public life brings with it for Harry a sense of foreboding. His mistrust of the press is firmly entrenched.

"I think it's fairly obvious how far back it goes - to when I was very small," said the prince.

"If there's a story and something's being said about me I want to know what's being said. But all it does is upset me and anger me that people can get away with writing the stuff they do.

"I don't believe there is any such thing as a private life anymore. I'm not going to sit here and whinge.

"Everyone knows about Twitter and the internet. Every single mobile phone has a camera on it now.

"You can't move an inch without someone judging you and I suppose that's just the way life goes.

"It's not helped by media, it's an unstoppable force."

14.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bali: Brit Woman Sentenced To Death For Drugs

British woman Lindsay Sandiford has been sentenced to death for drug smuggling on the Indonesian island of Bali.

The 56-year-old grandmother had been found guilty of violating the country's strict drug laws.

Sandiford was arrested in May 2012 at Bali airport when customs officers found 3.8kg of cocaine worth £1.6m in her luggage, but she claimed she had been forced to smuggle the drugs into Bali from Thailand by a criminal gang.

Prosecutors announced in December that they would be recommending a 15-year jail sentence, after Sandiford agreed to co-operate in a sting operation after her arrest in which police swooped on four other suspects.

Sandiford was caught attempting to smuggle 4kg of coccaine into Bali

Delivering their verdict, a judge panel headed by Amser Simanjuntak said that Sandiford had damaged the image of Bali as a tourism destination and weakened the government's programme of drug annihilation.

"We find Lindsay Sandiford convincingly and legally guilty of importing narcotics,"  said Simanjuntak.

In her witness statement, Sandiford said: "I would like to begin by apologising to the Republic of Indonesia and the Indonesian people for my involvement.

Sandiford apologised to the Indonesian people after her arrest

"I would never have become involved in something like this but the lives of my children were in danger and I felt I had to protect them."

The Foreign Office confirmed that the suspects being held include Rachel Dougall and fellow British nationals Julian Ponder and Paul Beales. An Indian man was also arrested.

Dougall, whose young daughter is reportedly being cared for by their maid and gardener on the island, has claimed she was the victim of a "fit-up".

Reprieve, a charity which seeks to enforce human rights for prisoners, said Sandiford was targeted by drug traffickers.

She claimed she was coerced into taking the drugs into Bali

Spokeswoman Harriet McCulloch said: "Lindsay was targeted by drug traffickers who exploited her vulnerability and made threats against her children.

"Following her arrest, she was interrogated by the Indonesian police without a translator, legal representation or the assistance of the British Embassy for 10 days.

A statement by Dr Jennifer Fleetwood, an expert on the coercion of women in the international drug trade, was also read out, which suggested that Sandiford's "vulnerability" would have made her an ideal target for drugs traffickers. 

"There is evidence to suggest that a trafficker would seek someone who was vulnerable. Having reviewed extracts from Lindsay's medical records I know that Lindsay has a history of mental health issues.

"This may have unfortunately made her an attractive target for threats, manipulation and coercion by one or more parties over a period of time, which led to her being stopped at Ngurah Rai International Airport".

More follows...

14.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Algeria Crisis: Missing Brit Hostages Sought

David Cameron is to update MPs on the aftermath of the Algerian hostage crisis - as officials work to establish the fate of the final missing British workers.

Three Britons are now known to have died in a four-day siege at the BP gas plant and three more are believed to be dead. A UK resident is also thought to have died.

The first of the British victims to be officially named was 46-year-old Paul Morgan, from Liverpool.

He was reported to be a former Foreign Legion soldier and Gulf War veteran who was in charge of security at the In Amenas plant.

His mother Marianne, 65, and partner Emma Steele, 36, described him in a statement as a "true gentleman".

Paul Morgan

In a statement they said: "Paul was a true gentleman, a family man, he very much loved his partner Emma, his mum, brothers and sister, of whom he was very proud.

"He loved life and lived it to the full. He was a professional man proud to do the job he did and died doing the job he loved.

"We are so proud of him and so proud of what he achieved in his life. We are devastated by Paul's death and he will be truly missed."

The siege ended on Saturday and Algerian authorities warned the figure of 23 hostages killed at the remote facility would rise sharply.

Another image shown on Algerian TV

Bomb squads searching for booby-trap devices left by the Islamist militants discovered 25 bodies, some so badly disfigured they could not be identified.

Thirty-two terrorists also died and there were reports last night that five others had been captured alive.

Veteran jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar sent a video to a Mauritanian-based news website in which he claimed one of his cells, known as "Those Who Sign In Blood", was responsible for the attack.

Foreign Secretary William Hague branded the militants "cold-blooded murderers" and said reports they had "executed" seven of their hostages before the final battle could well be true.

14.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Woman Dies After Collapsing In Snow In Kent

A woman has been found dead in the snow after collapsing in snow in Kent as the winter weather takes its toll in the UK.

The woman, believed to be in her 20s, was discovered by a man walking his dog in Church Meadow, Deal, Kent, at 7.30am on Sunday morning, police said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A police spokesman said: "The woman's death is not being treated as suspicious but it is unexplained.

"A post-mortem examination will be held later this week."

There has been a spate of accidents as a fresh deluge of snow causes major disruption across parts of the UK, with severe delays expected on the roads, railways and at airports.

One person person died following a crash in snowy conditions on the A12 near Kelvedon, Essex, and drivers are being warned  to take extra care on journeys.

A snowman outside Buckingham Palace

Also in Kent, a man was taken to hospital with broken bones in his face when he was racially attacked after confronting a group of youngsters throwing snowballs at him.

And a teenager was left fighting for his life after suffering head injuries in a sledging accident in Middlesbrough.

Up to eight inches of snow is forecast in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland, while hundreds of schools throughout the country are closed due to bad weather.

In South Wales and the south and east of England, the Met Office is warning motorists of treacherous icy conditions.

Various train operators are reporting anticipated hold-ups for passengers and a reduced service will be in place on routes between London and Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

A reduced number of flights are scheduled in and out of Heathrow Airport,where hundreds of passengers have been forced to camp out in terminals.

Delays are predicted at Gatwick and Stansted, Birmingham and Edinburgh airports and passengers are advised to check with airlines before setting out. Manchester said a "small number" of flights had been cancelled.

:: Insurance firm RSA estimated that the bad conditions meant around a third of the workforce stayed at home - costing the UK economy around £500m a day.

14.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Britain's Big Freeze Here To Stay

Britain faces another week of travel disruption as forecasters warn there is more snow and ice on the way.

With travel chaos across the country and Britain's busiest airport cancelling more than 110 flights, forecasters predicted further misery in the coming days.

Following Friday's deluge of snow, a blanket of snow is expected to fall across more of the nation today, hitting London and the South East of England first before spreading into the Midlands, north east Wales, East Anglia and central England.

Freezing temperatures will ensure icy conditions endure for some time, with more snow in northern England expected as the week begins.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for ice over much of the country - and a red, severe warning for South Wales which experienced the worst of the weather.

"There will be a quite significant accumulation and it will be seen first in London and the South East before moving north later in the day."

BA says it has cut its flights by a fifth because more snow is on the way

The Sky News weather team said: "Central and southeast England will see persistent snow moving in, giving another 2-5cm, locally more near the coast.

"Most other places will be dry, with the best of any sunshine over northern Scotland and Ireland, but there will be a few snow flurries around.

"During the afternoon, snow will push a little further north over eastern England, while another band of rain, sleet and snow will move into Kerry and Cork. It will feel cold again, particularly in the raw wind.

"On Monday, north-east Britain will have snow and strong winds, but elsewhere it will be drier and calmer."

Heathrow Airport in west London said it was reducing the number of flights scheduled for today by at least a fifth after forecasters predicted another 2-6cm of snow and low visibility in the area.

Passengers are being urged to check with their airlines before travelling to the airport - where bosses are warning weather conditions at other European airports could further decimate schedules.

:: Are you stuck at Heathrow? Contact the Sky news desk on news@sky.com

Passengers at Heathrow have been facing disruption after many were stranded on planes for seven hours or forced to spend a night on the floor.

A woman sleeping on the floor at Heathrow's Terminal 5

More than 100 Saturday flights were cancelled and travellers complained about check-in queues of up to two hours as staff battled to clear a backlog caused by 400 cancellations on Friday.

BA and the airport have insisted they were doing everything they could in difficult circumstances.

Travellers at regional airports including Leeds Bradford, Humberside and Newcastle were also frustrated by delays and disruption caused by the wintry weather.

Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester airports were running normally but advised passengers to check with their airlines.
Train passengers did not fare much better, with reduced services across the country.

Virgin Trains cancelled a number of services from the capital to Birmingham and Manchester, and others were delayed.

The freezing temperatures also prompted motoring organisations to issue warnings.

Darron Burness, the AA's head of special operations, said: "With the snow compacting down and turning icy, we're likely to see treacherous driving conditions throughout the weekend. Any fresh snow on top will just add to the problems."

The RAC said it had dealt with nearly 9,000 breakdowns - 10% more than usual.

Some have been making the most of the snow this weekend

 :: Send in your weather photos and videos

A young woman from Peterborough was killed in a crash involving a number of vehicles shortly after 6pm on Friday, Lincolnshire Police said.

It is not known if anyone else was injured in the accident, which happened in bad weather on the A1 at Little Ponton, near Grantham.

Humberside Fire and Rescue said seven passengers were taken to hospital after a double-decker bus collided with two cars and ploughed into a garden.

In Edinburgh, a 16-year-old broke his leg when his sledge ran out of control and he plunged down a 150ft embankment.

14.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Algeria Hostage Crisis Ends, Brits Feared Dead

Five British nationals and a UK resident are believed dead or missing after the Algeria hostage crisis ended in a bloody showdown.

Algerian special forces mounted a "final assault" on the last Islamist militants holding out at the remote BP gas plant at In Amenas on Saturday, bringing to an end the four-day stand-off in the desert.

The Algerian interior ministry later reported that, in all, 23 hostages and all 32 terrorists had died, and 107 foreign workers and 685 local employees had been released.

Sky News understands that 20 British nationals caught up in the crisis are now back in the UK with another four to return home by lunchtime on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Algerian authorities are working to dismantle explosives left by the terrorists who booby-trapped the sprawling plant before the final shoot-out.

Freed British hostages Peter (left) and Alan (right). No surnames available

The interior ministry strongly defended the rescue operation, despite criticism of the high death toll.

"To avoid a bloody turn of events in response to the extreme danger of the situation, the army's special forces launched an intervention with efficiency and professionalism to neutralise the terrorist groups that were first trying to flee with the hostages and then blow up the gas facilities," it said in a statement.

It said that troops had recovered an arsenal of six machine guns, 21 rifles, two shotguns, two 60mm mortars with shells, six 60mm missiles with launchers, two rocket-propelled grenades with eight rockets and 10 grenades in explosive belts.

The state news agency, APS, reported that the terrorists had killed seven of the hostages they were still holding before they were killed themselves by the special forces.

David Cameron said he had spoken to Algerian prime minister Abdelmalek Sellal, who confirmed that the military operation against the terrorists was "effectively ended".

Algerian police escort freed Norwegian hostage Oddvar Birkedal

In a statement, the Prime Minister added: "It is our priority now to get people home as quickly as possible and to look after the survivors. Many are already home or on their way back.

"Let me be clear. There is no justification for taking innocent life in this way. Our determination is stronger than ever to work with allies right around the world to root out and defeat this terrorist scourge and those who encourage it."

Foreign Secretary William Hague said that on the basis of the available information they believed five British nationals and a UK resident were either "deceased or unaccounted for" - in addition to the Briton killed on the opening day of the terrorist attack.

It is thought that two of the Britons feared dead are Scottish.

Mr Hague insisted that it was too early to come to any judgement about the Algerian operation.

Japan's Prime Minister tells reporters 10 Japanese workers remain missing

"I don't want to at this stage enter into criticism or judgement because there will be a lot to be learned yet about this operation," he said.

In contrast, French president Francois Hollande gave his immediate backing to Algeria's tough tactics, saying they were "the most adapted response to the crisis".

Several hours after the troops stormed the gas plant, President Barack Obama said the US was seeking from Algerian authorities a fuller understanding of what took place, but added that "the blame for this tragedy rests with the terrorists who carried it out".

Meanwhile, BP chief executive Bob Dudley said the company was "unable to confirm the location or situation" of four employees at In Amenas and had "grave fears" that they are likely to have suffered fatalities.

The situation at the plant remains unclear and Mr Dudley said that it could be some time before they establish exactly what happened. Two BP employees suffered injuries although they are not life-threatening.

An Algerian army truck in a street of In Amenas, near the gas plant

"Our focus remains on our colleagues, who we have not yet been able to locate, and on supporting their families through a time of agonising uncertainty," he said.

He said 25 of the 56 BP workers in Algeria at the time of the attack have now left in a "staged process" of withdrawing all non-essential staff from the country.

The kidnappers, who call themselves 'Those Who Sign In Blood', had earlier told a Mauritanian news agency they were holding seven foreigners: one British, three Belgians, two Americans and one Japanese.

The drama began on Wednesday when a group of about 30 heavily-armed militants mounted a dawn raid at the plant close to the Libyan border, seizing hostages from among the 700 Algerian and foreign workers at the site. Two workers, including one Briton, died in the initial assault.

The following day, Algerian special forces mounted an operation to take back the plant, to the initial dismay of the British and other governments who were not notified in advance despite offering assistance to the Algerian authorities.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond with US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta

The Algerians, however, insisted that they had to act immediately amid fears that the militants were about to flee into the desert, taking hostages with them.

By Friday it was reported that about 100 foreigners, from a total of 132, and 573 Algerians were freed, with a "provisional" figure of 12 hostages and 18 militants killed in the fighting, although the kidnappers claimed 35 foreigners died.

But it was also clear that a group of militants, still holding hostages, was continuing to hold out.

The kidnappers, part of the Masked Brigade - a terrorist splinter group led by the veteran jihadist, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, which broke away from al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - initially claimed the attack was in retaliation for the French military intervention in neighbouring Mali.

It was subsequently reported that they were demanding the release of two terrorists held in the US, including 1993 World Trade Centre bombing mastermind Omar Abdel Rahman, in return for the release of two US captives.

Algerian police guard the entrance of a hospital located near the gas plant

The plant at In Amenas is jointly operated by BP, Norwegian company Statoil and Algerian state oil company Sonatrach.

As freed hostages began to leave the plant, accounts emerged of their horrific treatment at the hands of the kidnappers.

One Algerian worker, who gave his name only as Chabane, described how from his hiding place he heard the militants speaking among themselves with Libyan, Egyptian and Tunisian accents. At one point, he said, they caught a Briton.

"They threatened him until he called out in English to his friends, telling them 'Come out, come out. They're not going to kill you. They're looking for the Americans'," he said.

"A few minutes later they blew him away."

The family of British survivor Darren Matthews, from Saltburn-by-the-Sea in Cleveland, expressed their relief that he had escaped unhurt.

14.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Algeria Hostage Crisis: Britons Remain 'At Risk'

Algerian special forces are continuing to hunt Islamist militants who overran a BP gas plant, as freed British hostages headed home.

As the stand-off at the remote desert facility entered a fourth day it was thought that around 10 British workers remained "at risk".

The Algerian state news agency APS reported on Friday night a "provisional" figure of 12 foreign and Algerian workers who had been killed in the fighting at the plant at In Amenas.

Among them are one Briton, one Frenchman - named by France's Foreign Ministry as Yann Desjeux - and one American, Frederick Buttaccio.

The news agency said about 100 foreign workers had been released from a total of 132 seized by the militants - along with 573 local employees.

Darren Matthews and two other British hostages released from the gas plant

Eighteen of the militants were also reported to have been killed - suggesting that around a dozen of the original group of about 30 could still be at large.

Footage of several British workers said to have escaped the siege has been shown on Algerian state television.

One man, who gave his name as Darren Matthews, said: "I feel safe at the moment but I won't feel 100% happy until I'm back in the UK, until I see my family."

He said: "My heart goes out to the guys that are still there and hopefully everyone comes home safe because, at the end of the day, it's only work, you know. No one should have to go through all this for a job."

Another of the four Britons who spoke said: "I think they did a fantastic job, I was very impressed with the Algerian army.

"I feel sorry for anybody who has been hurt."

The rescue attempt ended in a number of deaths

A third man said that the Algerian army had "beaten the bad guys".

Irishman Stephen McFaul, who managed to flee from the al Qaeda-linked kidnappers is expected to be reunited with his family later.

The 36-year-old father-of-two from west Belfast is understood to have been able to escape when a vehicle he was in crashed after being attacked by the Algerian army - despite having explosives placed around his neck.

The militants, believed to be under the command of the al Qaeda-linked terrorist Mokhtar Balmokhtar, carried out their dawn raid on the plant on Wednesday morning.

Belmokhtar, is a one-eyed Algerian terrorist, known as The Uncatchable, who specialises in hostage taking and has strong links with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Algerian forces launched their rescue mission early on Thursday fearing an "immediate threat" to the hostages.

A satellite image shows the scale of the sprawling gas complex

The group is said to be demanding the release of two terror figures held in the US, including the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing mastermind Omar Abdel Rahman, in return for American hostages.

The US state department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, responded saying: "The United States does not negotiate with terrorists."

After chairing a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, the Prime Minister told MPs that the situation in Algeria was "continuing" but he hoped it would be resolved shortly.

He said the attack on the complex was "large, well co-ordinated and heavily armed" and appeared to be pre-planned.

He also met the outgoing US defence secretary Leon Panetta and the pair discussed the need to work together to defeat al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

A British plane carrying a "diplomatic team" has arrived in Algeria around 280 miles from the hostage scene.

The In Amenas facility is close to the border with Libya

Meanwhile a US plane is beginning the process of evacuating its citizens, and other nationalities.

The Algerian rescue attempt was launched without consultation with the UK. Mr Cameron was only informed it was under way when he spoke to the Algerian prime minister.

Algerian communications minister Mohamed Said Belaid said the military operation succeeded in "neutralising a large number of terrorists and freeing a large number of hostages".

He added: "But unfortunately, we are sorry to say, there were some deaths and injuries."

The militant group behind the raid Katibat Moulathamine, or The Masked Ones, said it was retaliating for French military intervention against al Qaeda-backed rebels in neighbouring Mali.

14.59 | 0 komentar | Read More