CINA

Jamal Abu Samhadana was one of four people killed in the strike on a training camp in the Gaza Strip town of Rafah, which happened shortly before midnight. Ten people were injured.

The 43-year-old was the founder of the Popular Resistance Committees, which has been responsible for regular rocket attacks on Israel.

Hours after his death, two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip, hitting a building in the southern Israeli town of Sderot...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1794089,00.html

The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth wrote just few hours later this:

3 Qassams hit south following IAF killing

..Two Qassam rockets were fired from the northern Gaza Strip toward the southern town of Sderot.

One rocket landed in an apartment building's yard, while the other two fell in an open areas. There were no reports of injuries.

..

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3260700,00.html

..Later around noon in Gaza:

Rafah: 30,000 attend Samhadana's funeral

Thousands of Palestinians arrive in Gaza to take part in funeral, special prayer in honor of Popular Resistance Committees chief assassinated by IDF Thursday; Islamic Jihad official confirms: Samhadana killed while planning terror attack..

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3260777,00.html#n

PM 4:12(Ynet reported)..

12 killed by IDF artillery fire

Palestinian sources report 12 Palestinians, including children, killed by artillery shells fired by navy off Gaza coast; Earlier, IAF fires missile at car carrying Qassam cell, killing 3 PRC members

Twelve Palestinian civilians were killed and dozens were injured when artillery shells fired by the Israel Defense Forces exploded on a beach north of the Gaza Strip on Friday, eyewitnesses said.

According to initial reports, the shells were fired by the navy. But an initial military investigation into the incident revealed that the shells were fired from land canons.

Israel frequently shells launch pads in the Gaza Strip used by gunmen to fire Qassam rockets at Israel.

Among the victims are two women, one of whom lost both her children, a year-old toddler and his three-year-old sister. Dozens others were injured in the attack, which occurred on busy Gaza beach near Beit Lahiya.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of General Staff Lit.-Gen. Dan Halutz ordered a halt to all artillery fire until the circumstances of the deadly incident become clear.

Abbas condemns 'Israeli massacre'

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the incident as an Israeli "bloody massacre".

"No doubt what's going on in Gaza is a bloody massacre against our people, our civilians, without

discrimination," he said. "I call upon the international community, Security Council, the Quartet, to put an end to this Israeli killing policy."

IAF steps up air strikes

Shortly after, medical sources said three Islamic Jihad activists were injured by a missile that hit their car in Beit Lahiya in an apparent Israeli air strike. The army said the men had planned to launch rockets at Israel.

Earlier, two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike in the northern Gaza Strip. A missile fired by an Israeli helicopter slammed into a car traveling in Beit Lahiya, killing senior amas commander Mohammad Abu Sahila and his companion, Ahmad Siam.

Earlier Friday, three Palestinians were killed in an air strike that targeted a car carrying three members of the Popular Resistance Committees who launched a Qassam rocket at Israel.

  
The Israel Defense Forces said it attacked the Qassam cell after its members fired a rocket into Israel, lightly wounding one man. A second airstrike then hit the car carrying the cell members as they tried to speed away, killing the three men, the army said.

Palestinian officials, however, said the airstrikes had targeted separate groups several miles apart from one another.

There were no reports of injuries or damage caused by the Palestinian rocket.

The killed Palestinians were identified as Basel Zaanin, his brother Ahmad and Khaled Zaanin, a relative.

On Thursday night, the Israel Defense Forces killed Jamal Abu Samhadana, the man in charge of one of the strongest terror organizations in Gaza, who was appointed as the general supervisor of the Interior Ministry, the ministry responsible for the security organizations.

An aircraft fired four missiles on one of the organization's training camps. At least four people were killed in a strike planned by the Southern Command and the Israel Air Force, which considered Samhadana to be one of the most wanted Palestinians. He had escaped at least four assassination attempts and has been wanted since the first intifada.

  
Some 30,000 Palestinians arrived in the Gaza town of Rafah Friday afternoon to attend the funeral of Popular Resistance Committees chief Jamal Abu Samhadana.

At the end of the funeral, a special prayer was expected to be held at the local soccer field. Dozens of gunmen deployed across the city ahead of the funeral.

A Popular Resistance Committees spokesman said during the funeral that the organization has elected a new secretary-general. He added that the organization would not publish the replacement's name "for security reasons."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3260826,00.html
 

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala told reporters on Friday that India has agreed to release Nepalese Maoists currently in Indian jails and that India has no objection over the UN monitoring of arms during Constituent Assembly elections in Nepal.

"I am quite satisfied with the outcomes," Koirala told newsmen as he prepared to wind up his four-day-long India trip Friday. "I found them extremely concerned about the situation in Nepal. Everybody has extended their support for peace."

It was not immediately clear when India would release the 150-odd Nepalese Maoists jailed in different parts of India. They also include top leaders Mohan Baidya and C.P. Gajurel, who are jailed in Siliguri and Chennai, respectively.

Billions in financial package

Significantly, the southern neighbour has decided to extend direct budgetary assistance of Indian Rs 1 billion, increase its annual budget outlays for Nepal to Indian Rs 1.5 billion from the present Rs 650 million. Plus, it has decided to extend a soft loan assistance of US $ 100 million, officials said.

Military debts written off

New Delhi has also decided to write off debts worth I Rs 1.5 billion from Nepalese Defense Ministry, which has been receiving non-lethal and lethal military assistance from India since 1964. Besides doubling the quotas of scholarships to Nepalese students, it has also decided to defer the recovery of dues of about IRs 5 billion from Nepal Oil Corporation.

India positive on aviation concerns

After meeting Indian Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel Friday morning, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said the talks were positive. According to him, the Indian side has positively responded to Nepalese demands that "unlimited seat quotas" be granted to Nepalese airlines operating in various Nepal-India sectors.

Hydropower, infrastructure development

The Indian side, according to officials, has also renewed its commitment to develop the infrastructure projects like the 1,500-km Hulaki Highway in the Terai region, Budhi Gandaki hydroelectricity project, the East-West Railways, a Polytechnic School in the Far-Western region. India had announced cooperation in the development of these projects during former premier Sher Bahadur Deuba's India visit in September 2004.

Advani calls on Koirala

Also on Friday, Opposition leader and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran L.K. Advani called on PM Koirala at his hotel. Emerging out of the meeting, Advani told reporters -- echoing BJP chief Rajnath Singh who met Koirala on Thursday:  "Our view is that Nepal stands to gain a lot from Loktantra. We also support constitutional or ceremonial monarchy in Nepal."

Concerns over Maoists

Welcoming the ongoing peace negotiations between the popular parties and the rebel Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in Nepal, Advani said, "Maoists or Naxalites have created a huge crisis from Nepal to Andhra Pradesh [in South India]. Now you are holding talks in Nepal, that's no problem for us."

But he warned, "That should not in any way have any adverse negative affect on India's internal security."

Joint task force to assess mil assistance

At noon, Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee called on Koirala at his Imperil Suit at Janpath. After the half-an-hour-long meeting, Mukherjee ruled out any possibility of immediate military assistance to the Nepalese Army but said, "a joint task force would assess the situation and any future decision would be made on the basis of its recommendations."

Nepal's Shiva Senas at Jantar Mantar

Also on Friday morning, a group of Shiva Sena Nepal activists held a demonstration at Delhi's Jantar Mantar protesting against last month's declaration of Secular -- and not Hindu -- Nepal. Holding placards and chanting pro-Hindu and anti-Koirala slogans they tried to march towards the Imperial Hotel, but the police stopped them.

...

http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=76097