U.S. military says more than 1000 NATO troops, mostly from the United States, have launched a major offensive against a key Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan. Military officials say Afghan forces are also participating in the operation in Helmand province. The operation comes three days after President Barack Obama promised to deploy an extra 30, 000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, police in Pakistan say gunmen attacked a mosque Friday near the country's army headquarters, killing at least 35 people and wounding more than 40 others. Pakistani state television said authorities still are searching for the attackers. VOA correspondent Sean Maroney reports from Islamabad.

The attack occurred in Rawalpindi, just outside the Pakistani capital Islamabad, at the conclusion of Friday's prayers at the Parade Lane mosque. Regional police officer Aslam Tareen spoke to reporters shortly after the assault. He says when the prayer leader finished his sermon, two to three attackers entered the mosque's main hall and opened fire on the crowd. He says the attackers then threw hand grenades, which caused huge explosions. The mosque is located in a high-security area dominated by Pakistani military personnel, with many military residential complexes and offices nearby. Security analyst and retired Brigadier-General Mahmood Shah tells VOA that retired army officers frequently visit this mosque. He also says that he suspects the country's Taliban militants, who attacked the nearby army headquarters in October, are focusing on so-called "soft targets" to create confusion and strike at the country's military. Sean Maroney, VOA News, Islamabad.

The U.S. unemployment rate dropped in November while the nation's economy lost the fewest jobs since 2007. A closely-watched report from the Labor Department Friday says the U.S. jobless rate declined two-tenths of one percent from a 26 year high.

Chinese state media say a court in the western Xinjiang region has sentenced three more people to death in connection with the violent ethnic riots in July. The official Xinhua News Agency says the court in Urumqi sentenced a fourth person to life in prison. Friday's sentences raised the number of people sentenced to death to 17.


Guinea's military ruler, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, has arrived in Morocco for medical treatment after being wounded in an assassination attempt on Thursday. State-run television in Guinea Friday said Captain Camara was "slightly" hurt and that his life is not in danger. Military sources in the West African country say he has a head wound. Morocco's Foreign Ministry says the country will give treatment to Captain Camara on "strictly humanitarian" grounds.

In India, the leader of a powerful rebel movement in the remote northeastern state of Assam has been detained. His detention could deal a blow to a long-running insurgency in the region. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi.

Officials confirmed Friday that the chairman of the United Liberation Front of Asom, Arabinda Rajkhowa, is in custody. The circumstances which led to his detention are not clear. Police in Assam say he surrendered near the border with Bangladesh along with his wife and two children. But domestic reports say that Rajkhowa was handed over quietly to Indian border guards by Bangladesh where he was arrested days ago. The rebel group, also known as ULFA, has led a bloody campaign for an independent homeland in the remote northeastern state of Assam for nearly three decades. Many of the rebels easily slip into Bangladesh. The detained rebel has made peace overtures to New Delhi in recent weeks, sparking speculations that the powerful rebel group could be ready to commence a peace dialogue. However, the group's powerful military commander is opposed to negotiations with the government.