January 20: General Interest
1981 : Iran Hostage Crisis ends
Minutes after Ronald Reagan's inauguration as the 40th president of the United States, the 52 U.S. captives held at the U.S. embassy in Teheran, Iran, are released, ending the 444-day Iran Hostage Crisis.
On November 4, 1979, the crisis began when militant Iranian students, outraged that the U.S. government had allowed the ousted shah of Iran to travel to New York City for medical treatment, seized the U.S. embassy in Teheran. The Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran's political and religious leader, took over the hostage situation, refusing all appeals to release the hostages, even after the U.N. Security Council demanded an end to the crisis in an unanimous vote. However, two weeks after the storming of the embassy, the Ayatollah began to release all non-U.S. captives, and all female and minority Americans, citing these groups as among the people oppressed by the government of the United States. The remaining 52 captives remained at the mercy of the Ayatollah for the next 14 months.
President Jimmy Carter was unable to diplomatically resolve the crisis, and on April 24, 1980, he ordered a disastrous rescue mission in which eight U.S. military personnel were killed and no hostages rescued. Three months later, the former shah died of cancer in Egypt, but the crisis continued. In November 1980, Carter lost the presidential election to Republican Ronald Reagan. Soon after, with the assistance of Algerian intermediaries, successful negotiations began between the United States and Iran. On the day of Reagan's inauguration, the United States freed almost $8 billion in frozen Iranian assets, and the hostages were released after 444 days. The next day, Jimmy Carter flew to West Germany to greet the Americans on their way home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~January 20: General Interest
1981 : Iran Hostage Crisis ends
Minutes after Ronald... more
• Hostage released after two years
• Shia cleric freed as part of deal
• Aid money at heart of abduction
GuardianFilms has exclusively uncovered the story of what happened to the five Britons kidnapped in Iraq Link to this video
The five British men kidnapped in Iraq were taken in an operation led and masterminded by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, according to evidence uncovered during an extensive investigation by the Guardian.
The men – including Peter Moore, who was released today after more than two years in captivity – were taken to Iran within a day of their kidnap from a government ministry building in Baghdad in 2007, several senior sources in Iraq and Iran have told the Guardian.
They were incarcerated in prisons run by the al-Quds force, a unit that specialises in foreign operations on behalf of the Iranian government.
One of the kidnappers has told this paper that three of the Britons – Jason Creswell, Jason Swindlehurst and Alec Maclachlan – were subsequently killed after the British government refused to take ransom demands seriously.
Last night it emerged that part of the deal that led to the release of Moore involved the handing over of a young Shia cleric, Qais al-Khazali, a leading figure in the Righteous League, which emerged in 2006 and stayed largely in the shadows as a proxy of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's elite unit, the al-Quds forces. Khazali was last night handed over by the US military for release by the Iraqi government.
The year-long Guardian investigation can also reveal that:
• Moore was targeted because he was installing a system that would show how a vast amount of international aid was diverted to Iran's militia groups in Iraq.
• The bodyguards' bodies were eventually traded for the release of Iraqi prisoners.
• They had probably been dead for at least 18 months before three of their bodies were handed over earlier this year.
Moore, 37, a computer expert from Lincoln, and the four security guards were taken on 29 May 2007 from the Iraqi ministry of finance's technology centre in Baghdad. He had been a contractor working to install sophisticated software in the ministry to track down billions of dollars in international aid and oil revenues.
A group of up to 100 men entered the building and took the Britons, racing off into Baghdad traffic in a fleet of Toyota Land Cruisers. A sixth man – who the Guardian can reveal was Peter Donkin – was left by the kidnappers after he managed to hide under floorboards.
A former Iranian Revolutionary Guard member, speaking to this paper under condition of anonymity, said the extraordinary kidnap was masterminded by Iran. The man, a former major who worked for 14 years inside the Iranian organisation and claims to have taken part in kidnap operations himself, believes the hostages were held in two al-Quds camps in Iran – one known as Qasser Shiereen military camp, close to the Iraqi border crossing with Mehran, and a second camp known as the Tehran Pars, located near a salt lake north-east of Qom.
"It was an Iranian kidnap, led by the Revolutionary Guard, carried out by the al-Quds force," he said. "My contact works for al-Quds. He took part in the planning of the kidnap and he watched the kidnapping as it was taking place. He told me that they spent two days at the Qasser Shiereen camp. They then took them deep inside Iran."
This claim is backed up by a serving Iraqi minister with close links to Iran. "This was an IRG [Iranian Revolutionary Guard] operation," he said. "You don't think for a moment that those militia groups from Sadr City could have carried out a high-level kidnapping like this one."
A former intelligence chief at the Iraqi ministry of defence has also described to the Guardian how intelligence operatives followed the kidnappers as they took the hostages from a mosque in Baghdad's Sadr City to the Iranian border. "They were hooded and handcuffed, then t• Hostage released after two years
• Shia cleric freed as part of deal... more
The Dutchess County Sheriff's Department says Stissing Mountain High School was under lockdown with a hostage situation Tuesday morning.
At about 10 a.m., the suspect was taken into police custody and no injuries were reported.
According to the Pine Plains Town Supervisor Gregg Pulver, the school's principal was taken hostage at the start of the school day at about 8 a.m.
The gunman is described as a man in his 40s, who has had previous run-ins with the law and may be mentally unstable.
The suspect reportedly walked into the school with a rifle. He first went to the bathroom, then went to the principal's office and took the principal hostage.
Reports also say the gunman graduated from Stissing Mountain High School in the 1980s.
The gunman was in contact with a hostage negotiation team and reports say the gunman and principal were in an isolated location, possibly the principal's office, away from students.
An evacuation plan is underway and some students have already been escorted out. At this hour, some students still remain inside the school.
Parents of students were instructed to go to Stissing House Restaurant and Tavern parking lot at the center of town, where they will be reunited with their children.
Police units are on the scene and unconfirmed reports say the New York State Police requested that several ambulances remain on standby at the Pine Plains school.
Among several other agencies, New York State Police's rifle team and SWAT team are on the scene.
The local fire department has also closed several surrounding streets to traffic.
There are approximately 500 students and 100 staff members at the high school.
The high school is located at 2829 Church Street and shares the same address as the Stissing Mountain Middle School.
Pine Plains is located about 90 miles north of New York City. It is described as a close-knit rural town with a population of about 2,400 people.Update: Gunman taken into custody:... more
"A gunman who held eight hostages at the Workers' Compensation Board building in downtown Edmonton surrendered peacefully around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Edmonton police.
The alleged hostage taker is Patrick Clayton, 38, a carpenter who was out of work because of an injury. Court documents obtained by CBC show a history of drug abuse and financial problems.
When CBC reporter Briar Stewart visited Clayton's home in a highrise building near the University of Alberta, she was able to reach him by buzzing his apartment intercom, which was forwarded to his cellphone. Clayton told Stewart he was at the WCB building and that the media should come down.""A gunman who held eight hostages at the Workers' Compensation Board... more
Peter Moore, who was kept as a hostage in Irag for two and half years has spoken for the first time of his ordeal.
He was regularly beaten and subjected to mock executions. They would handcuff him and hold a pistol to his head before pulling the trigger and firing a loaded gun behind him. At this point Mr Moore said "I just thought I was dead. And then I realised I could still hear laughing, I was still handcuffed and that wasn't the case."
A Guardian investigation reveals allegations that high-ranking Iraqi government officials were involved in the kidnapping of five Britons in BaghdadA Guardian investigation reveals allegations that high-ranking Iraqi government... more
A French attempt to rescue hostages from Somali pirates backfired when a hostage was killed. Two pirates were also killed. It is unknown whether the hostage was murdered or killed accidentaly.A French attempt to rescue hostages from Somali pirates backfired when a hostage was... more
The 24th Day (2004) is a compelling psychological thriller for our times. This independent film stars James Marsden (X-Men) and Scott Speedman (Underworld). The opening scenes immediately start laying the groundwork for this tale of deception while testing our assumptions. Striking performances make this thriller into a drama like experience.
One evening at the bar Dan (Marsden) is enjoying a drink with Isabella when Tom (Speedman) comes into the scene. The three tell stories, laugh, and drink - just having a great time. Later on Dan and Tom are playing a game of knowledge and relaxing and...The 24th Day (2004) is a compelling psychological thriller for our times. This... more
A BRITISH tycoon was killed in the Mumbai massacre moments after making a last desperate phone call.
Yacht hire magnate Andreas Liveras, 73, spoke to the BBC on his mobile, revealing he was among more than 1,000 people trapped in a hotel lounge by Islamic terrorists.A BRITISH tycoon was killed in the Mumbai massacre moments after making a last... more
At least seven foreign hostages seized in Yemen, including at least one child, have been found dead, officials say.
They were reportedly part of a group of nine foreigners, three of them children, who were kidnapped last week in a mountainous northern area.
The group comprised seven Germans, a male British engineer and a female South Korean teacher.
So far no-one has claimed responsibility for the attack blamed by Yemen on a local Shia rebel group.
More than 200 foreign nationals have been kidnapped in Yemen in the last 15 years, often for ransom. But most have been released unharmed.At least seven foreign hostages seized in Yemen, including at least one child, have... more
THE Mumbai killers surfed British websites using BlackBerry mobile phones, according to Indian officials.
The terrorists — at least two of whom are claimed to be from Bradford or Leeds — monitored reports of their murderous spree on sites including the BBC.THE Mumbai killers surfed British websites using BlackBerry mobile phones, according... more
This moment in American History is proof of how to treat A country like Iran ..at times being a Strong President is called for..Not Apoligising or looking back but a Leder who looks forward and sees a America who others look forward to lead them ..and a leader who Country's like Iran who turn their Nose up to the wishes of America the UN and the World As Ronald Reagan spoke this Great Day "ALL" of Americans Hostages were Flying out of Iran ....something jimmy Carter could not Do! once a leader said the Words "Nothing but fear but fear itself" ..at this moment A Country like Iran with Obama in Power has nothing to fear at all!This moment in American History is proof of how to treat A country like Iran ..at... more
"Continuing his titanic workload of EPs and Remixes, seriously this guy doesn't even stop for toilet breaks!, Hostage has just sent me his latest remix for The Prodigy's 'Take Me To The Hospital'. This track's got more wobble potential than a batch of Robinsons' Fruit Jelly, with enough sharp stabs and gunshots to send even more shivers your way!"
Apparently the crew of a hijacked Ukrainian cargo ship, tried to revolt against the pirates by trying to harm two of their captors.
The incident happened on board of MV Faina, the same cargo ship which is carrying 33 tanks and other weaponry and was seized by pirates two and half months ago.
The spokesperson for the pirates said in a phone call:
"Maybe some of the crew are frustrated and we are feeling the same but our boys never opted for violence, this was a provocation."
Another report of the incident, by Russian Ren TV, quoted one of the pirates as saying that the crew responsible would be "seriously punished".Apparently the crew of a hijacked Ukrainian cargo ship, tried to revolt against the... more
Somali pirates hijacked a chemical tanker with two British security guards and dozens of Indian crew members on board this morning, diplomatic sources said.
The ship was flying under a Liberian flag, said the diplomats, who asked not to be named, as they are not authorised to speak to the media.
On board are 25 Indians, two Bangladeshis and two British security guards.Somali pirates hijacked a chemical tanker with two British security guards and dozens... more
As a foreigner living in the US, I was amazed to see how many Americans view Reagan as the person who supposedly "defeated" the Soviet Union. This strange myth and many others are described in the book "Tear Down This Myth: How the Reagan Legacy Has Distorted Our Politics and Haunts Our Future". The writer, Will Bunch, describes how this myth was created largely by Washington conservatives in the 1990s, who wanted a hero who they could associate with the conservative agenda.
As a person who still remembers Reagan "Iran-Contra" affair and his relationship with hard-liner part of the Iranian government, I hope the younger generation reads this book to know more about this horrible disgusting president of the United States, and what he did to this country and to the world.As a foreigner living in the US, I was amazed to see how many Americans view Reagan as... more
A man is holding several people hostage on board a plane in the Jamaican resort of Montego Bay, reports say.
Most of the more than 150 passengers on the Canada-bound charter plane have been released, but several passengers and crew are still on board.
The man reportedly breached security systems using fake ID and boarded the plane as it was preparing to take off at around 2230 local time (0330 GMT).
Negotiations for the release of the hostages are said to be taking place.
The gunman reportedly checked in for the flight then forced his way past security and went on board brandishing a firearm.A man is holding several people hostage on board a plane in the Jamaican resort of... more
The standoff between a man who seized a Canadian charter flight in Jamaica and authorities ended Monday with the capture of the hijacker, police said.
The gunman, described by authorities as "mentally challenged," seized the Boeing 737 Sunday at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, robbed passengers, held several crew members hostage and demanded he be taken to Cuba, CNN reported.
CanJet Airlines Flight 918 originated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was on a scheduled stop at Montego Bay when the incident began, officials said. It was scheduled to fly to Santa Clara, Cuba.
The gunman fired a shot in the boarding bridge to the plane then took a number of passengers and crew hostage, said Elizabeth Scotton, a spokeswoman for the company that runs the airport.
The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members, Kent Woodside, CanJet's vice president, said. The hijacker earlier released all of the passengers, all from Canada, along with two crew members.
Two of the remaining six crew members locked themselves in the cockpit, Jamaican Information Minister Daryl Vaz said.The standoff between a man who seized a Canadian charter flight in Jamaica and... more
"When negotiations over the revamping of Caterpillar’s operations in the French city of Grenoble broke down this week, the workers did what more and more of their countrymen are doing these days: They took their bosses hostage.
It was the fourth such incident in France in the last month.
This week, François-Henri Pinault, the chief executive of PPR, the group that owns Gucci, was trapped by a group of employees who surrounded his car and blocked the road with garbage cans.
In two other incidents last month, workers at a 3M plant held their boss for more than 24 hours in a labor dispute, and workers at a Sony plant held their boss overnight to gain better severance packages.
“The traditional way of holding a strike is to occupy the workplace, showing that ‘it’s our company, too,’ ” said Antoine Lyon-Caen, a professor of comparative labor law at the University of Paris-Nanterre. “It’s not unheard-of that the managers get taken hostage, but it has been very rare.”
“Ordinary people cannot understand how bosses are getting bonuses and golden parachutes while the rest of the population is worried about their jobs,” Mr. Kaspar said. “That has caused a certain radicalization of the social base.”
***
What would happen if we did this in America?"When negotiations over the revamping of Caterpillar’s operations in the... more
Military operation frees former congressman from 'great suffering'
Soldiers on Sunday freed a Colombian lawmaker who'd been held by leftist guerrillas for eight years in the first such hostage rescue since the July liberation of Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors.
Oscar Tulio Lizcano, 62, was rescued in an early morning raid in the remote jungle of western province of Choco, said Henry Murillo, the No. 2 official in Caldas province, where the lawmaker was originally abducted.
Details of the rescue from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, Latin America's last remaining major rebel army, were promised in a news conference scheduled for later Sunday by Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos.
Military operation frees former congressman from 'great suffering'... more
