Cuba celebrates 51st anniversary of Revolution victory.

MEXICO, January 2 (Itar-Tass) -- The Cubans celebrate with mass
gatherings the 51st anniversary of the Cuban Revolution victory on Friday,
January 1. The 21-salvo artillery salute was launched in Havana on
Thursday midnight local time on occasion of the festive event.

The Cuban authorities did not hold mass events dedicated to another
Revolution victory anniversary this year in contrast to the previous
years. The traditional multi-thousand demonstration was not held for the
first time in many years on the central Havana Jose Marti Square.
Meanwhile, the Cuban government did not address the country's population
with official congratulations that made many Cubans confused.
However, despite this fact the population celebrates the New Year
actively. The streets of the cities and towns are decorated with national
flags, revolutionary slogans and garlands with the national symbols.

.Dagestan law enforcers curb terrorism funding of gunmen.

MAKHACHKALA, January 2 (Itar-Tass) -- Dagestan's law enforcement
agencies cracked down on the funding of terrorism and extremism-related
activities of the gunmen in this Russian North Caucasus republic, the
press service of the Federal Security Service department in Dagestan told
Itar-Tass on Friday.
"Four gunmen driving a VAZ-21114 car were destroyed when putting up
armed resistance in Khasavyurt on Thursday evening. The so-called
Dagestani emir Umalat Magomedov and other two warlords were among them,"
the press service said. According to the detectives, Umalat Magomedov, 30,
nicknamed Al Bara was appointed as commander of Dagestan's militants by a
leading Al Qaeda figure Mohanned and Doku Umarov. A notebook was found on
Umalat Magomedov. This notebook contained an accounting report on the
spending of the funds extorted from Dagestani well-known businessmen by
bandits. According to the report Magomedov has had several dozens of
millions of roubles since April 2009. The funds were partially distributed
between the warlords of the terrorist groups rampaging in the Khasavyurt,
Derbent, Gubdent and Gimra districts. The remaining funds were spent for
equipping dugouts, purchasing weapons, ammunition, technical and optical
devices, medicines, foodstuffs, as well as for the financial support to
the families of the killed gunmen.
"Magomedov has made some marks in his notebook pointing to the channel
of funding from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan," the press
service reported. "The destruction of Umalat Magomedov, the major
mastermind of the system of extorting plotted by the gunmen, has actually
thwarted the funding of terrorism and extremism-related activities of the
gunmen," the press service said.
Other three destroyed gunmen were identified. Among them is Shamil
Magomedov, nicknamed Kupa-Shamil, a warlord of the terrorist group, which
is looting in the Karabudakhkent and Sergokala districts of Dagestan.
According to the detectives, Shamil Magomedov has been a member of illegal
armed units that were fighting in Chechnya since 2002. Ibragim Ibiyev, 30,
nicknamed Iba, was a warlord of the terrorist group, which is acting in
the Kazbek district of Dagestan.
One more destroyed gunman is Anvar Baidullayev, 25, has been a member
of illegal armed units since 2009. All foresaid gunmen, except for the
last one, were on the federal wanted list for the participation in illegal
armed units, the illegal circulation of weapons and ammunition and
attempts on the life of law enforcers.
During the search of the car, which the gunmen were driving, the
operatives have found a Kalashnikov assault rifle of a 7.62-mm caliber
with two loaded magazines, which the police registered as lost at the
Karabulak district police department in Ingushetia on June 13, 1998; a
traumatic pistol IZH-79 converted into a combat shotgun, 15 hand grenades,
four projectiles for an under-barrel grenade launcher, six loaded
magazines for a submachine gun, more than 100 cartridges, detonating fuses
for grenades, 45 mobile phones marked with the names of the gunmen and
seven flash cards.
A criminal case was instituted over the destruction of the gunmen. No
law enforcers and civilians were reported killed or injured in the
operation.
-0-baz