Maldives bomb blast injures two Britons

Two Britons have been injured in a bomb blast outside a popular tourist park in the Maldives.

At least 12 tourists were wounded when the home-made device exploded about 2.30pm in Male, the Maldives capital.

The British Foreign Office confirmed two British tourists were among the wounded. They were reported to have suffered severe burns, but their injuries were not life threatening.
Two Japanese and six Chinese tourists were also injured. All are believed to be from the Full Moon, Baros and Soneva resorts.

Mohamed Shareef, a Maldives government spokesman, said the blast occurred near the main gate of Sultan Park, a popular garden housing the Maldives national museum.

He said it was the first explosion on the popular holiday archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

"The Maldives has never had something like this before. We are taking this very seriously because tourism is our life blood," Mr Shareef said.

"The two British nationals seem to have suffered more than the others. They suffered extensive burn injuries and are all being treated at the government hospital in Male. They're not critical but we are conducting a full investigation." read more

US Analyzing Purported Bin Laden Video

Image taken from a banner advertisement featured on an Islamic militant Web site where al-Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab, frequently posts messages, 06 Sep 2007
Image taken from a banner advertisement featured on an Islamic militant Web site where al-Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab, frequently posts messages, 06 Sep 2007
U.S. officials say the United States has obtained a new video said to be of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden.

The government is now analyzing that recording.

A posting on an Islamist Web site late Thursday said al-Qaida intends to release the video to mark the sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

The announcement in the name of al-Qaida's media production arm, Al-Sahab, included a photograph of the fugitive terrorist leader, who has not appeared in a video message since late 2004. The last audio message attributed to him was released more than a year ago.

A White House spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, said that six years after the attacks, this week's terror suspect arrests in Germany and Denmark and the battles against al-Qaida in Iraq and Afghanistan are reminders of the continuing threats from extremists.

Bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, are believed to be hiding in the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The United States is offering a $25 million reward for bin Laden.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

3rd Flickr meetup


3rd Flickr meetup
Originally uploaded by maapu
These are the ones that made it to the 4:30 boat on the 31st friday o8/07
almost the same amount of ppl later joined the BBQ at the hulhumale' beach.

The UM has succusfully held their 3rd flickr meetup and It was a BLAST
it was a nice experience and a great oppotunity to meet with so many flickr friends at one place... above all it was a pleasure meeting all the new comers to the group.
This wouldn't had been so succesful without the efforts put in to making this possible by everyone...