GUWAHATI: Indian security forces killed six tribal separatists Tuesday in the restive northeastern state of Assam, officials said.The six militants belonging to the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) were killed in a lengthy shoot-out with troops near the district of Karbi Anglong, about 290 km (180 miles) east of Assam's main city of Guwahati. The operation was conducted "based on specific intelligence about the presence of six to eight NDFB militants," said army spokesman Rajesh Kalia. A few of the militants may have escaped in the dark, he added. Police said a large quantity of arms and explosives were recovered from the dead rebels. The NDFB is a rebel group that has fought for a separate homeland for the Bodo tribe in Assam since 1996, although the outfit agreed to a ceasefire with New Delhi in 2005. Despite the truce, the Assam government has repeatedly blamed the NDFB for numerous attacks. More than 10,000 people have been killed in a two-decade long insurgency in Assam, where several separatist groups are active.
Sunday, February 28, 2010 HAVANA: Hundreds of wealthy merchants and cigar aficionados from all parts of the world gathered in Havana this week to bid high stakes for humidors full of premium cigars. Cuba's annual Habanos festival ended on Friday night with an auction of ornate humidors of cedar and mahogany stacked with hand-rolled stogies that raised 800,000 euros ($1.09 million dollars). Habanos S.A. executives this month said cigar sales fell 8 percent to $360 million in 2009, so they have created the Julieta, a smaller, milder version of the Romeo y Julieta cigar, aimed specifically at female smokers. Women now make up only 5 to 10 percent of customers for Habanos. But even with the creation of the Julieta, Garcia said Habanos has only modest hopes for 2010 sales, due largely to a weak economy in Spain, the biggest market for Cuban cigars. The flavor of premium tobacco relies on the soil and climate in which it is grown. The western province of Pinar Del Rio, famous fo...
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