2013 Lahad Datu standoff
Kiram III stated that their objective was to assert the unresolved territorial claim of the Philippines to eastern Sabah (the former North Borneo). Malaysian security forces surrounded the village of Tanduo in Lahad Datu, where the group had gathered and, after several weeks of negotiations and deadlines for the intruders to withdraw, especially after the killing of Malaysian police members, launched a major operation to flush out the militants. At the end of the standoff, around fifty-six militants were killed, together with six civilians and ten Malaysian security force personnel. The rest of the militants were either captured, or escaped back to the Philippines.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Background, National territorial dispute
The Philippines retains a dormant territorial claim to eastern Sabah, formerly known as North Borneo, through the heritage of the Sultanate of Sulu. The basis of this claim is that the dominion of the sultanate has historically spanned from the Sulu Archipelago into parts of northern Borneo.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Background, National territorial dispute
In line with International Court of Justice court decision in the case concerning sovereignty of Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan in 2002, Malaysia views that Sultan of Sulu indisputably relinquished the sovereign rights of all its possession in favour of Spain on 22 July 1878, hence losing any title to its claim of Sabah.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Background, National territorial dispute
It is acknowledged that a request for payment to the defunct-Sultanate of Sulu was revived by the Philippine government during a meeting of Maphilindo in 1963. The Philippine government at the time said they have no problem with the formation of Malaysia but said the Sultan of Sulu wanted the payment of 5,000 from the Malaysian government. The first Malaysian Prime Minister at the time, Tunku Abdul Rahman said he would go back to Kuala Lumpur and get on the request.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Background, National territorial dispute
Since then, the Malaysian embassy in the Philippines issues a cheque in the amount of 5,300 ringgit (US$1,710 or about 77,000 Philippine pesos) to the legal counsel of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu every year in keeping with the terms. Malaysia considers the amount an annual cession payment for the disputed state, while the sultan's descendants consider it as a "rent" payment.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Background, Sulu succession dispute
Another factor behind the standoff is the unresolved status of the Sultanate of Sulu. The Filipino group in Lahad Datu claims to represent Jamalul Kiram III as the Sultan of Sulu. However, his status as sultan is disputed by several other claimants.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Initiation of the standoff
Heirs to the Sultanate of Sulu felt excluded by the terms of the framework of a peace deal between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, as announced on 7 October 2012 by Philippine president Benigno Aquino III. In response, Jamalul Kiram III, claiming to be the legitimate heir to the throne of Sulu, decreed on 11 November 2012 that a civilian and military contingent should assert his territorial rights in North Borneo. He appointed his brother and Raja Muda ("heir apparent" or "crown prince"), Agbimuddin Kiram, to lead the group.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Initiation of the standoff
Months later on 11 February 2013, Agbimuddin Kiram and at least 101 followers arrived in the village of Tanduo, located near Tungku in Lahad Datu District, Sabah from neighbouring Simunul island, Tawi-Tawi, of southern Philippines. Around eighty people fled from 15 homes in Tanduo.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Development of standoff
Malaysian police blockaded roads leading from Lahad Datu to the remote village of Tanduo, where the armed group was encircled. Malaysian police patrol boats also patrolled nearby waters. At the same time, Filipino security agencies blocked off entry from southern Philippines. The Philippines also deployed six naval ships to the seas of Sulu and Tawi Tawi to help stabilise the situation. An additional Philippine naval ship was sent to Malaysian waters off Lahad Datu to provide humanitarian assistance.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Development of standoff
On 26 February 2013, President Aquino appealed to Kiram III to recall his followers and to hold discussions with the government to address his family's concerns. In a press conference held at Malacañang Palace, Aquino said that the longer Kiram's III followers stay in Sabah, the more they endanger not just their own lives, but also those of the thousands of Filipinos living and working there.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Development of standoff
Addressing Kiram III, he said, "It must be clear to you that this small group of people will not succeed in addressing your grievances, and that there is no way that force can achieve your aims". Aquino also reminded him that as a Filipino citizen, he is bound by the Constitution of the Philippines and its laws.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Development of standoff
The president said that he had ordered an investigation into possible violations of laws by Kiram III, his followers and collaborators, citing the Constitution's provision on renouncing war as an instrument of national policy and Article 118 of the Revised Penal Code, which punishes those who "provoke or give occasion for a war...or expose Filipino citizens to reprisals on their persons or property". He said a dialogue to address the country's territorial dispute to eastern Sabah could be arranged after those involved in the standoff came home immediately. Aquino also declined to confirm reports of other parties being allegedly behind the standoff to sabotage the Bangsamoro peace process. The statement by President Aquino was also supported by Senator Francis Pangilinan who urged Kiram III to put an end to the standoff in Sabah. In a statement, he said:


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Development of standoff
This standoff has reached a critical point where the Philippine government must now act decisively and do what is necessary to protect the general interest of the Filipino people. Kiram is essentially declaring war on Malaysia. He must understand that it has never been a policy of the Philippines to take on other countries by force. Regardless of Sulu's rightful claim to Sabah, an armed invasion will unlikely lead to an amicable resolution. This has come at a time when we are so close to achieving lasting peace with our brothers from the South. Malaysia has played a crucial role in brokering talks between the Philippine government and our Muslim brothers in Mindanao. We cannot afford to have a wedge between our country and Malaysia because of one person's whim.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Development of standoff
Kiram III remained defiant, despite a warning of arrest, and said his men would not go back home "until an arrangement has been done by our officials and the president, and if that will be arranged accordingly with a written agreement signed by the parties concerned". He shared that in his last conversation with Agbimuddin over the phone, his brother told him that their followers were firm in their decision to stay in Sabah even though they have little access to food as a result of the food blockade ordered by the Malaysian government.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Development of standoff
The 74-year-old sultan said he was ready to be jailed if the Philippine government filed a case against him and the members of his clan. He said he cannot understand what his violation against the Constitution is, saying he has always respected it and that "coming home to their homeland" is not a crime. Kiram III also asked Malaysia to "sit down in a square table and to diplomatically settle the issue on the claim" stressing the need to "come up with a win-win solution". He reiterated that he and his men "will not initiate the violence...


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Development of standoff
But are prepared to defend our lives and aspirations" and that the Sabah issue "can be peacefully settled without threat, but in a diplomatic way". Sitti Jacel, the daughter of Kiram III, said her father's followers were not in Lahad Datu to wage war but to reside peacefully on what they call their ancestral territory. She added that they would not leave unless they are given a "concrete solution". She also expressed disappointment at the apparent lack of support from the Philippine government, adding that Manila needs to balance diplomatic relations and the interests of its constituents.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Development of standoff
Malaysian Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar advised the public not to be worried, and assured that the standoff would be resolved as soon as possible. He added that the incident was being handled as a national security issue. He also declined to comment on whether there are ongoing negotiations with the group of Kiram III. On 7 March 2013, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry issued a statement that said it now considered Kiram's III forces as a group of terrorists "following their atrocities and brutalities committed in the killing of Malaysia's security personnel".


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Development of standoff
It added that the label had the concurrence of Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario. However, this was denied by the Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia, Jose Eduardo Malaya, who said Del Rosario was "taken out of context". It was clarified that Del Rosario agreed that those responsible for the killing of Malaysian police forces committed "terroristic acts".


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, 1 March skirmish
At around 10:15 am on 1 March 2013, three days after Malaysia's extended deadline for the group to leave Lahad Datu, a confrontation occurred between the sultanate's forces and the Malaysian police, with shots exchanged. According to Abraham Idjirani, Kiram's spokesperson, 10 members of their army were killed with four more injured as a result of the skirmish. There were also two casualties among the Malaysian police officers. The owner of the house where Agbimuddin Kiram and his men had stayed was also killed in the exchange of gunfire. Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein claimed that Kiram's men opened fire and denied that their security forces retaliated.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, 1 March skirmish
Initial reports from the Malaysian embassy in the Philippines had stated that there were no fatalities in the shooting. Ambassador Mohammad Zamri bin Mohammad Kassim told Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario that the "standoff was over" and that 10 "royal army" members had surrendered to Malaysian authorities after the assault. He added that members of Kiram's group had escaped and ran towards the sea. He said a pursuit for them ensued. Idjirani responded that none of their members were in Malaysian custody after the shooting incident. He also denied that their forces fled to the sea after their clash with the police. He said "the standoff is not over, unless there's a concrete understanding or agreement that can be reached" between the sultanate and the governments of Malaysia and the Philippines.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, 1 March skirmish
Idjirani claimed that Malaysian officials wanted "to cover up the truth" when they claimed that no one was hurt in the incident. He also appealed to the Malaysian government to stop the attack, saying Kiram's men were primarily armed only with bolos and knives and only a few had guns. He also claimed that snipers from the Malaysian police were targeting their group. He added that the sultanate is now looking at the possibility of elevating the matter to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations Human Rights Commission. He also said that their men had moved to another location to continue their fight and urged Malaysia to hold talks.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, 1 March skirmish
Sabah Police Commissioner Hamza Taib meanwhile said no one from Kiram's followers surrendered to Malaysian authorities. He added that 12 men from Kiram's group were killed when they tried to break out of the security cordon imposed by Malaysian security forces. Hamza claimed that the Filipinos opened fire at the Malaysian police before they were forced to retaliate in self-defence, resulting in a gun battle. He said they found various weapons, including M16 rifles, pistols and SLR rifles and ammunition from the group. Hamza also denied reports from a foreign news agency that the gunmen had given themselves up and escaped to the sea. He said Agbimuddin's group were still in Tanduo and that the security cordon was being maintained because Malaysia wants the occupation to be resolved peacefully.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, 1 March skirmish
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak later confirmed that two police officers, identified as Inspector Zulkifli Bin Mamat and Corporal Sabaruddin Bin Daud from 69 Commandos, were killed in the shootout. The Sabah police commissioner, in a separate statement, said that 12 of Kiram's followers died. Najib said he had now given Malaysian security forces a mandate to take "any action" against the group. Najib added that "there will be no compromise" for the sultanate's forces and that "either they surrender or face the consequences".


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Presence of armed men in Kunak
On 2 March 2013, a group of 10 armed men were spotted near Kunak, a district between Lahad Datu and Semporna, according to Royal Malaysia Police Inspector-General Ismail Omar. He said that three of these men were in military fatigues similar to those being worn by the sultanate's forces. The Malaysian government began doubling the number of police and army officers, including deploying members of the Royal Malay Regiment, in areas where the sultanate's armed supporters were believed to be present.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Semporna attack
At around 6:30 am on 3 March 2013, armed gunmen believed to be less than 10 in number claiming to be from the Sulu Sultanate ambushed the police during a surveillance operation on a village off the coast of Semporna, Sabah. The Bukit Aman special branch superintendent and four operatives were killed in the action. At 9 a.m., it emerged that the police party remained trapped in the village surrounded by the attackers.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Semporna attack
The superintendent had led three dozen policemen, from the Semporna District Police Headquarters, after having been ordered to carry out an investigation at the village following a tip-off that there was a group of armed men at Kampung Sri Jaya Siminul in Semporna District. The operation in Semporna was launched at 4 pm on Saturday following intelligence reports of the existence of a cache of firearms in the village, and that an uprising by certain groups of villagers believed to be of Southern Philippines origin and residing there was in the making.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Semporna attack
About three hours into the operation, the police officers were fired upon while heading towards a house in the village and returned fire. The superintendent was reportedly the first to be hit and killed during the ambush. Sabah police commissioner DCP Datuk Hamza Taib had said on Saturday the attack may not be related to the Kampung Tanduo standoff. During the ambush, two armed gunmen were also killed. Idjirani, the secretary-general of Sultan Kiram III, said the violence started when Malaysian policemen pretending to round up undocumented Filipinos shot Imam Maas and his four sons.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Semporna attack
Another imam was allegedly shot when Malaysian authorities learned that they were taking care of the sultan's relatives in the area, Alianapia and Amir Bahar. Subsequent police investigations and interviews with the village head, Ramlee Saraman, found that Kampung Simunul, Semporna, had been infiltrated by the Sulu intruders who mingled with the unsuspecting inhabitants, one of whom was regarded as an 'imam' despite a lack of accreditation. It was earlier reported that the intruders had planned to attack Lahad Datu police station and that both Lahad Datu and Tawau Police Special Investigation Divisions had been deployed to the scene.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Semporna attack
During the shootout, a total of 23 police officers were pronounced missing. While captive, four policemen were tortured and had their bodies mutilated, with one beheaded, according to Malaysian authorities, who later found the bodies. The mutilated condition of these bodies led the major Malay-language newspaper Utusan Malaysia to allege the influence of drugs or black magic. Reports came out that a total of six Malaysian police officers and seven assailants were killed in Semporna. Six of the attackers were fatally shot while ambushing Malaysian police while another was beaten to death by villagers after he tried to take a hostage, says Sabah's head of police.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Operation Daulat
On 5 March 2013, Royal Malaysian Air Force fighter jets, reported as F/A-18 and Hawk fighters, bombed the Kiram followers' hide-out. Continuous explosions were being heard in Lahad Datu as the police and army as well as commando forces moved in against the gunmen who were reportedly returning fire.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Operation Daulat
In a Kuala Lumpur rally, Prime Minister Najib said, "We started with air strike by jet fighters of Royal Malaysian Air Forces, followed by mortar strike; and as I'm speaking, the army and police forces, along with other members (of the security forces) following behind, are taking action to arrest and destroy the group which has breached the nation's sovereignty".


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Operation Daulat
According to IGP Ismail Omar and other police sources, the army and police began mopping-up operations codenamed "Ops Sulu" now "Ops Daulat" (Operation Sovereignty). It was believed that rebel leader Agbimuddin Kiram and several of his followers managed to escape the security cordon around Kampung Tanduo. The search for these men was carried out by the joint Malaysian police and army taskforce in the surrounding farmland and FELDA plantations. The Malaysian troops recovered 13 bodies of suspected Kiram followers in Felda Sahabat. Malaysian Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi was unsure on whether the deaths were due to the assault on Semporna or from Lahad Datu.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Operation Daulat
On 9 March 2013, Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that "Ops Daulat", which aimed to flush out the Sulu gunmen, would end only when no intruders were left in Sabah, because the gunmen had not laid down their arms unconditionally. The Malaysian security forces maintained tight security cordons around the operation area and those with no documents such as MyKad were detained for further investigation.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Operation Daulat
Tanduo village was declared secured by Malaysian security forces on 11 March after a week of bombardments and firefights, with the bodies of 22 Sulu gunmen recovered by security forces from the village as the fighting ended. Meanwhile, the security forces engaged in the final stages of sweeping a neighbouring village in which a firefight left a Malaysian army soldier dead. Private Ahmad Hurairah Ismail was killed along with three Sulu gunmen. Another soldier, Private Ahmad Farhan Ruslan was also killed in a road accident near Bandar Cendera-Wasih in the Felda Sahabat area en route from the town of Lahad Datu. The soldier was believed to be part of an army logistics convoy.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Military operations, Operation Daulat
The clash ended on 24 March while Operation Daulat was replaced by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) on 29 June. Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman said ESSCOM was now responsible to enforce security arrangements and undertake operations in the Ops Daulat area. The zone would cover all operations from northern Kudat to south-eastern Tawau to ensure Sabah's eastern sea borders were safe from any threats.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Defacement of Malaysian and Philippine websites
On 3 March 2013, the website of Globe Telecom was defaced by hackers claiming to be from the "MALAYSIA Cyb3r 4rmy". The group left the message, "Do not invade our country or you will suffer the consequences". Global Telecom confirmed its own website had been hacked but assured the public that no sensitive information was stolen. The website was restored at around noon the same day.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Defacement of Malaysian and Philippine websites
In apparent retaliation, hackers identifying themselves as from Anonymous Philippines, attacked several Malaysian websites. They warned Malaysia to "Stop attacking our cyber space! Or else we will attack your cyber world!" The website of Stamford College in Malaysia was also hacked with its front page replaced by a note that said: "The time has come to reclaim what is truly ours. Sabah is owned by the Philippines, you illegally  [sic] claiming it".


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Google search results alteration
On 4 March 2013, a Google search for the word "Sabah" reflected a cached version of the territory's Wikipedia article. It said the Malaysian control of the state is "illegitimate" and that "in fact, [Sabah] is part of the Sultanate of Sulu". A spokesman for Google Malaysia said they have already been informed of the issue.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Protests at a Malaysian embassy
Some 20 Filipinos organised a protest in front of the Malaysian embassy in Makati on 5 March 2013. They called for an end to the violence in Sabah, while some expressed support for the cause of Kiram. At least 50 policemen and a fire truck were deployed in the area. The Malaysian embassy later suspended its operations as a result of the protest.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Allegations of political motives behind the conflict
Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak, sought to investigate the opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, if he was involved in the incident to destabilise the state, which is known to be the ruling party's stronghold for the upcoming 13th general election. This began after Filipino media reported that Mr. Anwar may be involved with the incursion and the evidence of an image showing the opposition leader with Nur Misuari of MNLF began circulating on the internet. Concurrently, Anwar has embarked legal proceedings against government-owned newspaper Utusan Malaysia and television station TV3 for trying to link him to the incursions.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Allegations of political motives behind the conflict
Meanwhile, Malaysian People's Justice Party (PKR) vice-president Tian Chua claimed that the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) had deliberately orchestrated the crisis as a conspiracy to divert and frighten the people of Sabah in favour of the ruling coalition. The allegations made by Tian Chua was met with an outcry by the Malaysian public; there are various calls from the public and many key political personalities such as Ambiga Sreenevasan and Saifuddin Abdullah for both political parties to forge an unprecedented bi-partisan ties to settle the issue.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Allegations of political motives behind the conflict
On the eve of its 2013 general election, Filipino senatorial candidates from the opposition blamed president Benigno Aquino III for sending unclear messages to the Kiram family. They also said that President Aquino III is in danger of facing an impeachment for "betrayal of public trust". Meanwhile, President Aquino himself blamed unnamed members of the previous Gloria Macapagal Arroyo government as conspirators to the current conflict; while Aquino did not name names due to lack of evidence on the alleged conspiracy, Kiram's daughter Princess Jacel challenged Aquino to prove such allegations. Former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales denied that he is the one being alluded by Aquino. Jamalul Kiram III unsuccessfully ran for senator under Arroyo's TEAM Unity during the 2007 Senate Elections.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Utilisation of commercial aircraft by the Malaysian Army
On 5 March 2013, flights of AirAsia were rearranged in transporting Malaysian troops to Sabah. An online debate ensued on whether the move highlighted such patriotism of a Malaysian-based airline or the lack of resources of the military. Some Malaysians wondered why the government requested help from a commercial airline, instead of mobilising its own fleet of C-130 Hercules transport planes. Others lauded AirAsia for its efforts in assisting the armed forces.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Utilisation of commercial aircraft by the Malaysian Army
This came despite the explanations provided by the Defence Ministry that the use of AirAsia jetliners is one that of expediency instead of incompetency on the part of the Armed Forces. The Malaysian defence minister, Zahid Hamidi, pointed out that each of the RMAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft are only capable of carrying up to 90 soldiers each, while airliners of AirAsia are capable of transporting up to 200 soldiers each. The Malaysian Defence Ministry, reiterated by various netizens, also pointed out the fact that chartering civilian jetliners are also a common practice in other countries, including those of NATO.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Assembly at the Philippine embassy
On 8 March 2013, Malaysians held an assembly outside the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The event, called Ops Bunga (Operation Flower), encouraged participants to place flowers at the embassy's doorstep as a show of the Malaysian public's solidarity towards Filipinos in Malaysia. Organisers also urged people to offer prayers to the Malaysian security officers who died in the conflict. Participants used the Twitter hashtag #OpsBunga during the event.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Allegations of police brutality
On 10 March 2013, reports arose of police brutality committed by Malaysian police officials as part of a crackdown on suspected Kiram III supporters, causing a mass migration of Filipinos from Sabah to Sulu. One refugee stated that Malaysian police had shot and killed a large number of Filipino civilians irrespective of their MyKad status and detained many others. Also, it was stated that those detained were not given proper treatment The DFA has yet to receive a formal statement from the Malaysian government. A Royal Malaysian Police official has denied the allegations.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Related incidents, Allegations of police brutality, MNLF reactions to police brutality
An exclusive report by News5 showed that some Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members were undergoing training in Jolo, Sulu for a rescue mission for abused Filipinos in Sabah. Former MNLF leader Nur Misuari has admitted that these MNLF members were not members or allied with the Royal Security Force of the Sulu sultanate. However, the Sulu Province governor, Abdusakur Tan has denied any reports that says MNLF fighters under Nur Misuari were heading to Sabah, he also denied that 1,000 MNLF fighters were able to sneak into the state. Also, according to MNLF chairman, Muslimin Sema, they respect the decision of Sabah joined Malaysia in 1963. He also said he had visited Sabah in 1973 and witnessed the joy that was enjoyed by the people of the state, adding that he also has many relatives in the state.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Arrests and prosecutions
Since Operation Daulat was launched, 443 individuals were held for various offences while 121 were held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), one of the successors to the Internal Security Act. The total number arrested under SOSMA later decreased to 104, with most of them being Filipinos who were suspected of having links to Jamalul Kiram III. These included several family members of Kiram III who had entered the state of Sabah using assumed identities. 149 Sulu gunmen were also arrested with eight being charged under Section 121 of the Penal Code for waging war against the King, a charge which carries the death penalty in Malaysia.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Arrests and prosecutions
On 6 August 2013, the Kota Kinabalu High Court convicted Corporal Hassan Ali Basari, a Malaysian Special Branch officer for intentionally withholding information about the intrusion of Sulu gunmen at Lahad Datu between January and March 2013. The Malaysian Special Branch is the country's main internal security and domestic intelligence agency. The prosecution successfully argued that Hassan's intention not to inform his superiors resulted in casualties and fatalities on the Malaysian side. Hassan was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment, the maximum jail term under Section 130M of the Penal Code, read with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Burials of Sulu militants in Sabah
In 2013 during the ensuing conflict, the Malaysian authorities has announced that those killed militants will be buried in the state if their bodies are not claimed by their relatives in the Philippines based on humanitarian grounds of Geneva Conventions.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Death of the self-proclaimed Sulu Sultanate leader
On 20 October 2013, the group main leader, Jamalul Kiram III died of multiple organ failure in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. His family stated that they will continue their main objective to take over Sabah. The Royal Malaysia Police in Sabah responded by stating that they "would continue to be alert for any intrusion".


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Death of the self-proclaimed Sulu Sultanate leader
On 13 January 2015, Agbimuddin Kiram - who led the group to invade Sabah under the instruction of the late Jamalul Kiram III - died of cardiac arrest in Tawi-Tawi where he had been in hiding since fleeing from Malaysian security forces. Agbimuddin's whereabouts had been unknown until his death was announced.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Trial
On 6 January 2014, 30 individuals (27 Filipinos and three Malaysians) were brought to trial where they were charged with waging war against the King, harbouring terrorists, being members of a terrorist group, and the recruiting of terrorists. All proceedings began at the Kota Kinabalu Central Prison in Kepayan where the charges were read out in English, Malay and Suluk language. Among those being prosecuted were Jamalul Kiram III's nephew, Datu Amir Bahar Hushin Kiram, who abandoned his men in Tanduo but was caught by Malaysian security forces hiding in the swamps around Semporna.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Trial
On 5 February 2016, 19 of the 30 peoples were ordered to enter their defence in the High Court of Kota Kinabalu. Justice Stephen Chung made the ruling after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against 19 of the accused: 16 Filipinos (including a woman) and three local men.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Trial
Nine of the 16 Filipinos: Atik Hussin Abu Bakar, Basad H. Manuel, Ismail Yasin, Virgilio Nemar Patulada @ Mohammad Alam Patulada, Salib Akhmad Emali, Al Wazir Osman @ Abdul, Tani Lahaddahi, Julham Rashid and Datu Amir Bahar Hushin Kiram were alleged to have waged war against the King, an offence which carries the death penalty.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Trial
Six Filipinos, Lin Mad Salleh, Holland Kalbi, Habil Suhaili, Timhar Hadir, Aiman Radie and a Malaysian man, Abdul Hadi Mawan were accused of being members of a terrorist group,  which is punishable with 20 years to life imprisonment and a fine, or both, if found guilty. The sole Filipina Norhaida Ibnahi was also ordered to enter her defence for allegedly willfully harbouring individuals she knew to be members of a terrorist group.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Trial
A local man, Mohamad Ali Ahmad, and a Filipino Basil Samiul were acquitted of waging war and being members of a terrorists group, but were later charged with soliciting or giving support to a terrorist group,  to which they pleaded not guilt. The new charge was made after Justice Chung found the prosecution had shown evidence that they had solicited or given support to a terrorist group, an offence punishable with life imprisonment or a fine. Another Malaysian named Pabblo Alie was charged with soliciting support for a terrorist group, an offence punishable with up to 30 years imprisonment and a fine if found guilty.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Trial
On 23 February 2016, six of the Filipinos pleaded guilty to being members of the terrorist group involved in the intrusion. They were Atik Hussin Abu Bakar, Lin Mad Salleh, Holland Kalbi, Basad H. Manuel, Ismail Yasin and Virgilio Nemar Patulada @ Mohammad Alam Patulada. Another three, Aiman Radie and Malaysians Pablo Alie and Mohamad Ali Ahmad, all Filipinos, also pleaded guilt  On 23 April, one of the Filipino accused, Habil Suhaili died from an asthma attack in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It was reported that the accused had been ill throughout the trial.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Trial
On 25 July 2016, the court convicted that nine Filipino militants who leading the intrusion may facing death penalty. All nine Filipinos identified as Atik Hussin Abu Bakar, Basad H. Manuel, Ismail Yasin, Virgilio Nemar Patulada @ Mohammad Alam Patulada, Salib Akhmad Emali, Al Wazir Osman, Tani Lahaddahi, Julham Rashid and Datu Amir Bahar Hushin Kiram.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Trial
All of them were however spared by the court and were given life sentence instead as the court found no evidence that all of the accused were directly involved in the skirmishes that occurred during the intrusion, nor was there proof that they had killed any member of the security force in cold blood or injured anybody. Other found guilty were local Abdul Hadi Mawan, Filipino Timhar Habil, Habil Suhaili (deceased during trial) and a sole Filipina, Norhaida Ibnahi bringing the total to 13.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Trial
On 8 June 2017, following the appeal by prosecutors to replace nine of the convicted life imprisonment sentence for waging war against the King, the Malaysian Court of Appeal made a decision to sentenced the nine to death for their involvement in the incursion. The court's judge said the men had meticulously executed the planning of the incursion, stating that:


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Trial
The respondents were part of a conspiracy hatched across the border to wage war against the government of Malaysia and/or the King, to dictate its foreign relations with other countries, with intent to weaken the country from within so that they could reclaim Sabah. Such a ruthless attack by foreign enemies was unprecedented in Malaysia. For the reasons, we allow the appeal and set aside the sentence imposed by the High Court against the respondents and substitute it with the death penalty against each of the respondents.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Trial
The following year, the Federal Court of Malaysia upheld the conviction and sentencing of the nine.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Repercussions
Thousands of Filipinos who had illegally resided in Malaysia, some for decades, were deported following the conflict and ensuing security-related crackdown. Some of these were forced to leave behind family members. From January to November 2013, a total of nine thousand Filipinos were repatriated from Sabah, a number that had increased to over twenty-six thousand in 2014. Many overseas Filipinos who remained subsequently faced discrimination. They also became a possible target for retaliation, especially from the local Bornean tribes, because the Malaysian police officers were mainly indigenous Borneans.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Further arrests and the killing of more Sulu militants
On 22 April 2014, a 57-year-old man in Lahad Datu who claimed to have been given the power to manage the Suluk people in Sabah was arrested for raising the Sulu Sultanate flag on his home. Later on 25 June, six suspected Sulu terrorists including a policeman was arrested in Kunak with membership cards, appointment letters by the Sulu sultanate, several documents linked to the sultanate and weapons was seized from them. It was later revealed that one of the suspects who is a police corporal, has family ties in the southern Philippines.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Further arrests and the killing of more Sulu militants
These suspects had allegedly drawn up plans to reform an "army" of terrorists, with plans to mount another incursion and may have linked to the recent kidnappings in eastern Sabah. While on 22 July, three people — a Bajau, a Suluk, and one Filipino illegal immigrant — were held for joining a bid to claim Sabah for the self-proclaimed Sulu sultanate, the three are believed to have been recruiting new members to join their cause.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Further arrests and the killing of more Sulu militants
On 30 October 2014, two men identified as the members of the Sulu militants were shot dead by police in Penampang. Both suspects, have committed robberies to raise funds for their activities and tried to recruit new members to join their fight.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Naturalised locals involvement
On 6 May 2015, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim said some locals together with the Filipino illegal immigrants have provide information to intruders during the invasion of Lahad Datu and other abduction incidents. In his quotation, he said:


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Naturalised locals involvement
Many locals in the east coast of Sabah originated from the Philippines and, therefore, had family or economic ties with their counterparts there. This [locals] have played a part in the intrusion in the east coast of Sabah, abductions and cross border crimes prior to the establishment of ESSCOM and ESSZONE. As a counter-measure, we will try to instill in their mindset that this is our country where we make our living together, where our children are studying and where their future lies, adding that the effort to defend the country was a collective effort.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Economical impacts
The attack by Kiram's III in 2013 have since affected trade relations especially to the Philippines side of Tawi-Tawi where most of their goods source came from Sabah. Therefore in 2015, there was a proposed ban by the Malaysian police over the activities. This was heavily opposed by the Philippine counterparts as it would affect their regions. The ban came into effect in 2016 with a majority support from Sabahan residents, although it was then removed a year later in 2017 following the increase of security enforcements from the Philippines side. Despite the return of barter trade activity, the state of Sabah has maintained they will always be cautious on their trade with the Philippines due to security issues since the incursion in 2013.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Malaysian politician meeting with the daughter of the late Kiram III
On 9 November 2015, the allegation of political motives towards one of the Malaysian opposition parties behind the incursion was strengthened when the daughter of de facto leader of the Malaysian People's Justice Party (PKR) Nurul Izzah Anwar was seen taking selfie with Jacel Kiram by holding a poster "#Release Anwar immediately" as seen from Jacel Facebook account.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Malaysian politician meeting with the daughter of the late Kiram III
Countering the allegation from the public that she was collaborating with Jacel Kiram to give Sabah to the Kiram families if managed to release her father and overtake the Malaysian government, Izzah stressed that she together with Tian Chua was invited by Philippine counterparts as part of the PKR delegation to meet with various stakeholders from the Philippines, adding that they also meet other Filipino politicians such as former Governor and Congressman of Batangas Hermilando Mandanas and Congress lady Regina Reyes among others aside Jacel.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Malaysian politician meeting with the daughter of the late Kiram III
She also stressed her support for Malaysian government initiatives in peace negotiations in southern Philippines, as well defending the sovereignty of Sabah as part of the Malaysian federation and said that any suggestions otherwise are mere wild, unfounded and malicious allegations. Her intention was however still been questioned from various Sabahan politician and residents with one Sabahan politician said:


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Malaysian politician meeting with the daughter of the late Kiram III
As an MP [Member of parliament] in Malaysia, if she was caring for Malaysians and Sabah residents, we would welcome it. But if there is "something deeper" in the meeting, we want her to explain and it should be brought to Parliament.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Malaysian politician meeting with the daughter of the late Kiram III
The Malaysian government has since been referring Izzah to the Parliament to investigate if there is any "hidden agenda" to undermine national sovereignty in the form of deal between them. She was then banned from entering the states of Sabah and the neighbouring Sarawak for failing to show her sensitiveness on the issues that has claimed the lives of both residents in the states involved.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Malaysian politician meeting with the daughter of the late Kiram III
On 22 November 2015, Izzah filed a lawsuit against Malaysian Inspector Police Chief Khalid Abu Bakar and Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob for defaming her by accusing her collaborating with Jacel. On 18 April 2018, Izzah won the case and both are being ordered to pay Izzah a total of RM1 million for all the damages made towards her reputation.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Sulu militants arms discovery
On 4 January 2016, a team of 15-General Operations Force (GOF) members led by two officers discover a cache of weapons comprising two M14 rifles, one Uzi machine pistol, three Colt .45 pistols, one revolver, a pair of handcuffs and 173 bullets of different calibres in Lahad Datu following a tip-off from local villagers when the team was conducting an operation in the area. The weapons are believed to have been buried by surviving militants before they fled across the sea back to the Philippines.


2013 Lahad Datu standoff, Aftermath, Honours
On 11 August 2017, the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) held the 'Daulat Feb 2013' Battle Honour parade and award presentation ceremony at the Merdeka Square, Kota Kinabalu to honour the soldiers who died in the line of duty during the operation against the intrusion. The award was bestowed on 24 teams involved in the operation for their sincerity, efficiency and perseverance when facing tough challenges. Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein presented the 'Pingat Kedaulatan Negara' (PKN) to 61 MAF officers and personnel who were directly involved in the operation.


2013 Lahore bombing
On 6 July 2013, a time-device bomb blast occurred in the food street of the Old Anarkali district, in the eastern city of Lahore, Pakistan. The blast killed five people and injured dozens of others.


2013 Lahore bombing, Background
Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan, an important political, economic and cultural center of the country, and capital of the Punjab province, has been relatively free of violence and terrorism compared to other parts of the country. The food street attack was the first major incident of terrorism in the city in three years. The Anarkali food street area comes under the NA-120 constituency of the National Assembly, from where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, a native of Lahore, contested and emerged victorious in the 2013 general election.


2013 Lahore bombing, Incident
The blast was triggered by a time-device bomb. The blast occurred on the night of Saturday on 6 July 2013. Two people died on the spot while three succumbed to their injuries at Mayo Hospital on Sunday, bringing the death toll to five. The deaths were confirmed by police and Rescue 1122 officials. Mirza Taimoor, a student of GC  university Lahore was also injured severely in this incident.


2013 Lahore bombing, Investigations
Police rounded up over 200 suspects, most of them Afghan nationals, during an operation a day after the incident. Two injured brothers, said to hail from the Bajaur Agency in the northwestern tribal areas, were also interrogated. Late on Sunday, police reported that a group called the Baloch Liberation Tigers (BLT) claimed responsibility for the attack. The BLT is said to be a splinter Baloch militant group involved in the insurgency in Balochistan.


2013 Laikipia local elections
Local elections were held in Laikipia County on 4 March 2013. Under the new constitution, which was passed in a 2010 referendum, the 2013 general election was to be the first where there would be election of county governors and their deputies for the 47 newly created counties. They were also the first general elections run by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) which released the official list of candidates.


2013 Laikipia local elections, Prospective candidates
The following are some of the candidates who made public their intentions to run:


2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake
The 2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake was a magnitude 6.6 earthquake that occurred at 2:31:05  pm (NZST) on Friday 16 August 2013. The epicentre was located about 10 km south-east of Seddon, under Lake Grassmere, with a focal depth of 8 km. The earthquake caused significant land damage in the local area, with landslips blocking roads, including the main highway between Blenheim and Christchurch. Buildings in Seddon were damaged, with some being declared uninhabitable. The earthquake was widely felt in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.


2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake, Earthquake
This earthquake is considered to be a doublet of a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that occurred in Cook Strait on 21 July 2013 and is thought to have occurred on part of the same complex of faults. It started its own aftershock sequence, with several magnitude 5 and one magnitude 6 earthquakes occurring in the first few hours after the main shock.


2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake, Earthquake, Aftershocks
The earthquake generated a significant series of aftershocks, the largest of which had a magnitude of 6.0.


2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake, Earthquake, Aftershocks
Below is a list of all aftershocks magnitudes 5.0 and above that occurred in the region between 16 August 2013 and 5 September 2013.


2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake, Damage
In Wellington, the earthquake caused minor damage to buildings, breaking some display windows and cracking plaster. Many central city office workers left work early, and with all suburban train services cancelled for urgent track inspections, bus services overloaded and traffic gridlock occurred on major roads out of the city for a couple of hours. The City Council ordered the deconstruction of a 30-year-old lift shaft that had been damaged in a previous earthquake in July, after recently installed emergency seismic restraints failed. Several surrounding buildings in the fall zone were ordered to be evacuated.


2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake, Damage, Seddon
The quake caused substantial damage to a number of residential homes in the Seddon area. Eight houses were evacuated by The Marlborough District Council and another 11 allowed only restricted access.


2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake, Damage, Rest of NZ
The quake was felt as far north as Auckland and far south as Dunedin. Damage was reported in the Kapiti Coast, Hutt Valley, Wellington, Blenheim, Ward and the rest of West Upper South Island.


2013 Lakeland Raiders season
The 2013 Lakeland Raiders season was the second season for the United Indoor Football League (UIFL) franchise.


2013 Lakeland Raiders season, Roster
Rookies in italics updated October 29, 20123 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS


2013 Lakoseljac Cup
The 2013 Milan Lakoseljac Cup was an domestic soccer cup competition held in Tasmania which was held from March to June 2013. The tournament which was the 43rd edition of the Lakoseljac Cup featured twenty teams from three regional competitions in a knockout format with the Victory League teams plus four third division teams getting a first round bye.


2013 Lakoseljac Cup
In the final, it was won by Olympia who defeated Tilford Zebras 4–2 in the final to claim their fifth state title.


2013 Lakoseljac Cup, First round
A total of 16 teams took part in this stage of the competition. All matches were completed by 11 March 2013.


2013 Lakoseljac Cup, Quarter finals
A total of 8 teams took part in this stage of the competition. All matches in this round were completed by 1 April 2013.


2013 Lakoseljac Cup, Semi finals
A total of 4 teams took part in this stage of the competition. All matches in this round were completed by May 5, 2013. The draw was as follows:


2013 Lakoseljac Cup, Final
The 2013 Lakoseljac Cup was held at the neutral venue of KGV Park on 10 June. Earlier in the day Clarence United FC won the Women's Cup, and South Hobart FC won the Under 20s Cup.


2013 Lale Cup
The 2013 Lale Cup is a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It is the first edition of the tournament which is part of the 2013 ITF Women's Circuit, offering a total of $50,000 in prize money. It takes place in Istanbul, Turkey, on 22–28 April 2013.


2013 Lale Cup, WTA entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2013 Lale Cup – Doubles
This was a new event on the 2013 ITF Women's Circuit.


2013 Lale Cup – Doubles
Ekaterina Bychkova and Nadiya Kichenok won the title, defeating Başak Eraydın and Aleksandrina Naydenova in the final, 3–6, 6–2, [10–5].


2013 Lale Cup – Singles
This was a new event on the 2013 ITF Women's Circuit.


2013 Lale Cup – Singles
Donna Vekić won the title, defeating Elizaveta Kulichkova in the final, 6–4, 7–6(7–4).


2013 Lamar Cardinals football team
The 2013 Lamar Cardinals football team represented Lamar University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals were led by fourth-year head coach Ray Woodard and played their home games at Provost Umphrey Stadium. They were a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 5–6, 2–4 in Southland play to finish in sixth place.


2013 Lamar Cardinals football team, Media
All Cardinals football games were broadcast on KLVI AM 560 as part of the Lamar Cardinals Radio Network. At least 3 games, including 2 road games, were broadcast on Fox 4 KBTV as the Cardinals completed the fourth year of a five-year deal granting exclusive broadcast rights to select Cardinals games to KBTV. will cover 1 game (with a possible option for a 2nd game to end the season), CSN Houston will cover 1 game, and ESPN3 will cover 1 game in addition to the KBTV games. Cardinals SLC TV games will air locally on KUIL-LD.


2013 Lamar Cardinals football team, Before the season, 2013 recruits
Lamar signed 20 players on national letter of intent day. Recruits are listed here. Player profiles for each recruit are available at the signing day link below.


2013 Lamar Cardinals football team, Before the season, 3rd Crawfish Bowl
The 3rd Annual Red-White Crayfish Bowl was held Saturday, April 16 at 7 PM. The team was divided into a red and white team, and 4 12-minute quarters were played.


2013 Lamar Cardinals football team, Before the season, 3rd Crawfish Bowl
The Crawfish Bowl would need overtime to decide the winner. Just as in 2012, it was a Ryan Mossakowski pass that would determine the winner. In overtime, on 2nd and 10, a Mossakowski pass was picked off by Keith Wilson at the 20-yard line. He returned it 80-yards for the game-winning touchdown.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck
On 3 October 2013, a boat carrying migrants from Libya to Italy sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa. It was reported that the boat had sailed from Misrata, Libya, but that many of the migrants were originally from Eritrea, Somalia and Ghana. An emergency response involving the Italian Coast Guard resulted in the rescue of 155 survivors. On 12 October it was reported that the confirmed death toll after searching the boat was 359, but that further bodies were still missing; a figure of "more than 360" deaths was later reported.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck
A second shipwreck occurred 120 kilometres (75 mi) from Lampedusa on 11 October, within the Maltese search and rescue zone, but closer to Lampedusa. The boat was reportedly carrying migrants from Syria, and at least 34 individuals were later confirmed dead.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, 3 October incident
It was initially reported that over five hundred people were on board the 20-metre-long (66 ft) fishing boat when it began to have engine trouble less than a quarter-mile from Lampedusa, causing the ship to begin sinking. In an attempt to contact nearby boats, a blanket on the ship was set on fire. This fire ignited some gasoline and began to engulf the boat before it sank. To avoid the flames, many people threw themselves into the water or moved away from the fire to the same part of the ship, which then capsized. At least 350 people were initially declared missing.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, 3 October incident
On 7 October, it was reported that 194 bodies had been recovered, and that the final death toll could rise to between 325 and 363 individuals. A total of 155 people had been rescued. A further 108 bodies were reported retrieved by 9 October, after access was gained to the inside of the boat's hull, resting some 47 metres (154 ft) beneath the surface of the water. On 11 October, it was reported that all bodies had been recovered from the boat, and the confirmed death toll had reached 339. About 50 were believed to be still missing, and searches for further bodies in the area would continue using aircraft and robotic devices. A further 20 bodies had been found by 12 October, bringing the total to 359. The total number of dead was later reported as "more than 360".


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, 3 October incident
On 8 November, it was reported that the migrants had each paid at least $3,000 (£1,866) to the Libyan, Somali and Sudanese trafficking group before making the sea crossing from Libya. Women who were unable to pay were said to have been raped, and men who rebelled were tied up and tortured. The alleged captain of the boat, a 35-year-old Tunisian named as Khaled Bensalam, who was reported to have been deported from Italy in April 2013, was arrested under suspicion of being responsible for the sinking. It was reported that he could be charged with manslaughter.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, 3 October incident
On 8 November, a 34-year-old Somali national, Mouhamud Elmi Muhidin, and a Palestinian man, Attour Abdalmenem, were also arrested under suspicion of having been among the traffickers that organized the voyage. Police indicated that Muhidin was facing a series of charges, including people trafficking, kidnapping, sexual assault, and criminal association with the aim of abetting illicit immigration. The two men were detained by the Italian police after a number of the shipwreck survivors spotted and began attacking them.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, Reaction
Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church tweeted "pray [to] God for the victims of the shipwreck off Lampedusa," while Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta tweeted that it was "an immense tragedy". António Guterres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, commended the Italian Coast Guard for their quick reaction to the disaster. The Italian Government launched Operation Mare Nostrum in order to avoid new tragedies.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, Reaction
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Angelino Alfano stated that the incident highlighted the need for European assistance to handle the continuing influx of refugees, declaring the shipwreck "a European tragedy, not just an Italian one[...] The toll is unfortunately a tragic one". A national day of mourning was also announced in Italy.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, Reaction
In response to the deaths, Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, called for the European Union to increase their Mediterranean-wide search and rescue patrols to intercept migrant boats, through the Frontex border agency. She said: "Let's make sure that what happened in Lampedusa will be a wakeup call to increase solidarity and mutual support and to prevent similar tragedies in the future." José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Italian Prime Minister Letta visited Lampedusa on 9 October. Letta announced that a state funeral would be held for the migrants who died, and Barroso said that 30 million euros would be used to help refugees in Italy.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, Shipwreck of 11 October
A second shipwreck occurred on 11 October, 120 kilometres (75 mi) from Lampedusa within the territorial waters of Malta. Reports the following day stated that 34 were confirmed dead; initial unconfirmed reports of at least 50 bodies appeared to be exaggerated. The boat was carrying over 200 migrants, reportedly from Syria and Palestine, and capsized when people on board moved to one side of the vessel as they tried to get the attention of a passing aircraft.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, Shipwreck of 11 October
The rescue operation was coordinated by the Maltese authorities, with the assistance of some of the Italian vessels involved after 3 October shipwreck at Lampedusa. Some 147 survivors were taken to Malta, and a further 56 were taken to Italy. According to some of the Syrian migrants, the boat was fired upon by Libyan militiamen during a trafficking gang dispute.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, Shipwreck of 11 October
After the second shipwreck, the Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, complained of a lack of action from other European countries on the problem of migration across the sea, and said: "As things stand we are building a cemetery within our Mediterranean Sea." United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community as a whole "to take action to prevent such tragedies in the future, including measures that address their root causes and that places the vulnerability and human rights of migrants at the centre of the response."


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, Shipwreck of 11 October
On 8 November, Italian police arrested a 47-year-old Palestinian man, Attour Abdalmenem, for having allegedly been among the traffickers that organized the voyage.


2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck, Shipwreck of 11 October
Two Italian officers are accused of multiple manslaughter by delaying the rescue of the boat. Their trial is scheduled for 3 December 2019.


2013 Lampre–Merida season
The 2013 season for Lampre–Merida began in January at the Tour Down Under. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour.


2013 Lampre–Merida season
For the 2013 season the team changed from using Wilier bikes to Merida bikes. Although Wilier had been contracted through to the end of the 2013 season, they cited that Lampre broke the terms and conditions of the contract, and terminated their technical sponsorship.


2013 Lamu local elections
Local elections were held in Lamu County in Kenya, to elect a Governor and County Assembly on 4 March 2013. Under the new constitution, which was passed in a 2010 referendum, the 2013 general elections were the first in which Governors and members of the County Assemblies for the newly created counties were elected. They will also be the first general elections run by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) which has released the official list of candidates.


2013 Lamu local elections, Prospective candidates
The following are some of the candidates who have made public their intentions to run:


2013 Lancashire County Council election
An election to Lancashire County Council took place on 2 May 2013 as part of the United Kingdom local elections, 2013. 84 councillors were elected from single-member electoral divisions by first-past-the-post for a four-year term of office. Electoral divisions were the same as those at the previous election in 2009. Elections were held in all electoral divisions across the present ceremonial county, excepting Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen which are unitary authorities in a similar way to Greater Manchester and most of Merseyside. The election saw the Conservative Party lose overall control of the council, instead overtaken in number of seats by the Labour Party, without any absolute majority.


2013 Lancashire County Council election
All locally registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) who were aged 18 or over on Thursday 2 May 2013 were entitled to vote in the local elections. Those who were temporarily away from their ordinary address (for example, away working, on holiday, in student accommodation or in hospital) were also entitled to vote in the local elections, although those who had moved abroad and registered as overseas electors cannot vote in the local elections.


2013 Lancashire County Council election
It is possible to register to vote at more than one address (such as a university student who had a term-time address and lives at home during holidays) at the discretion of the local Electoral Register Office, but it remains an offence to vote more than once in the same local government election.


2013 Landskrona BoIS season
The 2013 season was Landskrona BoIS's 98th in existence, their 51st season in the second highest division, their 10th season in Superettan and their 8th consecutive season in the league. They competed in Superettan and Svenska Cupen. The season began with the group stage of Svenska Cupen in March, and league play started in April and lasted until November. Jörgen Pettersson replaced Henrik Larsson as manager in December 2012, and Georg "Rossi" Eterovic replaced Hans Eklund as assistant manager. The captain this season was Linus Malmqvist, with Fredrik Svanbäck as vice captain.


2013 Landskrona BoIS season, Players, First-team squad
This section shows the squad as of the end of the 2013 season.


2013 Landskrona BoIS season, Players, First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2013 Landskrona BoIS season, Players, Youth players
This section shows youth players who made appearances in the first-team squad as of the end of the 2013 season.


2013 Landskrona BoIS season, Players, Youth players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2013 Landskrona BoIS season, Players, Transfers, Winter 2012-13
In:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2013 Landskrona BoIS season, Players, Transfers, Winter 2012-13
Out:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2013 Landskrona BoIS season, Players, Transfers, Summer 2013
In:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2013 Landskrona BoIS season, Players, Transfers, Summer 2013
Out:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2013 Landskrona BoIS season, Players, Goalscorers
The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal and includes all competitive matches.


2013 Landskrona BoIS season, Club officials
This list shows the club officials as of the end of the 2013 season.


2013 Lao League
Statistics of Lao League in the 2013 season. League started on 16 March 2013.


2013 Las Vegas Bowl
The 2013 Las Vegas Bowl was an American college football bowl game that was played on December 21, 2013, at Sam Boyd Stadium in Whitney, Nevada, in the Las Vegas Valley. The 22nd annual Las Vegas Bowl, it featured the Mountain West Conference champion Fresno State Bulldogs against the USC Trojans of the Pac-12 Conference. The game started at 12:30 p.m. PST and aired on ABC and Sports USA Radio. It was one of the 2013–14 bowl games that concluded the 2013 FBS football season. Sponsored by motor oil manufacturer Royal Purple, the game was officially known as the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. The Trojans won by a score of 45–20.


2013 Las Vegas Bowl, Teams, Fresno State Bulldogs
Continuing their conference success from the previous season which saw them finish 7–1 and sharing their conference title with Boise State, the Bulldogs did even better in the 2013 season. Already having won the Mountain West Conference's West Division championship, the Bulldogs went on to win the first Mountain West Conference Championship Game, defeating Utah State by a score of 24–17, advancing to the Las Vegas Bowl by virtue of their victory.


2013 Las Vegas Bowl, Teams, Fresno State Bulldogs
This will be the Bulldogs' second Las Vegas Bowl; they had previously made the bowl in 1999, losing to the Utah Utes by a last-second field goal for a score of 17–16.


2013 Las Vegas Bowl, Teams, USC Trojans
The season was tumultuous by USC standards, having seen head coach Lane Kiffin fired five games into the season, and then interim head coach Ed Orgeron resigning at season's end (Clay Helton will serve as interim coach for the bowl game while Steve Sarkisian takes over for the 2014 season). Nonetheless, the Trojans still managed a 6–3 conference and 9–4 overall record (tied with the rival UCLA Bruins for second in the Pac-12 South Division), leading them to the Las Vegas Bowl at season's end.


2013 Las Vegas Bowl, Teams, USC Trojans
This will be USC's second Las Vegas Bowl; they had previously made the bowl in 2001, losing to future conference foe the Utah Utes by a score of 10–6.


2013 Latakia offensive
The 2013 Latakia offensive, (called The Descendants of Aisha, Mother of the Believers by Salafist jihadists, and the Operation Liberation of the Coast by the Free Syrian Army and its supporters) was a campaign during the Syrian Civil War launched by rebel groups led by Salafi jihadists in the Latakia Governorate. The stated aim of the offensive was to conquer al-Haffah city, but government supporters assumed conquering Mount Nabi Younes was more likely the real aim. A calculated side effect may have been to spark more sectarian violence in Syria by carrying out a sectarian attack on an Alawite-majority area. The offensive began in early August 2013. During the campaign, rebel forces captured a dozen villages. However, in mid-August, the military counter-attacked and recaptured all of the territory previously lost to the rebels.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel advance
On 4 August 2013, an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 rebel fighters, 300 of them foreigners, launched an offensive from the rebel-held town of Salma further into the predominantly pro-government Alawite Latakia province. The offensive started with a rebel attack on 10 Alawite villages in the Jabal al-Akrad mountain area. Rebel tanks were also deployed, firing on the villages. Throughout the day, ambulances rushed wounded government fighters to Latakia city from the frontline. As for rebel casualties, Tunisians, Libyans, Saudis and Jordanians were among those reported killed in the initial attacks.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel advance
In one instance during the fighting, a foreign rebel suicide-bomber detonated his car killing at least 15 NDF militiamen and Army soldiers. By the end of the first day of fighting, rebels had seized five villages and captured 400 Alawite villagers and pro-government militiamen, including a pro-government Alawite cleric, Badr Ghazal. Hundreds of Alawite civilians fled to Latakia.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel advance
On 5 August 2013, rebels further advanced to the outskirts of the Alawite village of Aramo, 20 km from Qardaha, president Bashar al-Assad's hometown which also contains the mausoleum of Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad. Rebel forces were using freshly supplied anti-tank missiles to a reportedly devastating effect with one opposition activist claiming three Army tanks were destroyed on a hilltop overlooking Salma. Later, it was reported that opposition forces had captured Aramo, along with one other village. Rebels also made attempts to advance in the Jabal Turkman mountain area. However, during the second day of the fighting, government forces launched a counter-attack and managed to recapture one of the five villages they lost the previous day, Beit al-Shakuhi. The counter-attack came as fresh government reinforcements started to arrive in an attempt to push back the rebels.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel advance
While the rebel offensive was praised by some of their sympathizers, others were opposed to opening up the front, with one opposition activist noting that the rebels "have a habit of escalating without preparing as soon as they feel they have enough weapons. But they are not ready... and the regime's response will be crazy." The United States, a main backer of the FSA, was against targeting Latakia, because it could spark revenge attacks by Alawites against its majority Sunni population and increase the flow of refugees. Other foreign diplomats said the coastal area and its mountain villages could be the scene of a bloodbath against the Alawites if Islamist radicals end up eventually gaining the upper hand.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel advance
On 6 August 2013, the opposition activist group the SOHR claimed that rebels had overrun 11 Alawite villages in the previous three days. A security source played down the report saying that only two villages were still rebel-held after an Army counter-attack. SOHR also reported that a number of executions had been conducted during the course of the offensive. Four hilltop military posts that were shelling rebel-held villages were also reportedly captured by opposition forces.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel advance
On 7 August 2013, an Alawite cleric confirmed 13 villages were captured by rebel forces, but stated that six of them had already been recaptured by the Army the previous day. He also claimed that the rebels killed more than 100 people in sectarian massacres against the villagers, most of them women and children. Two days later, SOHR confirmed that dozens of Alawite civilians had been killed in the area. Other activists also reported 60 civilians had been killed in the offensive.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel advance
On 9 August 2013, opposition activists reported that FSA commanders had issued orders to their battalions in the province to halt their advances and retreat from villages they had captured, the reason being that arms supplies to the rebels had been halted in the previous hours. However, senior FSA sources denied that a retreat order was issued. One opposition activist stated that rebel fighters actually rejected the FSA’s request to retreat, due to the arms shortage, and resorted to using the ammunition they seized from government forces during the fighting.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel advance
Later during the day, the Syrian Army attacked three villages, with state media claiming the military managed to recapture all three. However, activists stated government forces managed to recapture one village, Qashba, while fighting was still ongoing in the other two. Rebel forces, in turn, claimed in an online video to had managed to capture the village of Kharratah, three kilometers south of Salma. However, the village had already been confirmed as captured by rebel forces at the start of the offensive days earlier. During the night, several air-strikes hit Salma killing 20 people. 10 of them were rebel fighters, including four foreigners, and 10 were civilians.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel advance
By 11 August, reports emerged of mass civilian killings by rebel forces in the captured Alawite villages, as well as the abduction of hundreds of others.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Army counter-attack
On 16 August 2013, the military launched a counter-attack, reportedly quickly capturing two villages.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Army counter-attack
On 18 August 2013, the Syrian Army claimed to have recaptured nine villages over the previous two days. An opposition activist confirmed that the rebels lost seven villages, but stated that they managed to once again capture five of them. Later, the SOHR acknowledged that the military made gains and recaptured several Alawite villages during the day. They added that the Army killed scores of foreign fighters, including a Libyan emir of the al-Qaeda-linked group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The air force bombarded rebel positions in the Jabal al-Akrad mountains, during which a fighter jet was reportedly shot down and its pilot captured by the rebels.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Army counter-attack
On 19 August 2013, state media reported that the Army recaptured all rebel-held positions in Latakia after capturing the Nabi Ashia mountain range and adjoining areas in the north of the province. According to a security source, the only remaining rebel-held area was in and around the town of Salma, from which the rebels launched their offensive. Opposition activists confirmed the Army recaptured nine Alawite villages, but stated that fighting was still ongoing in two more. Government troops had also retaken all of the military observation posts which rebels seized at the start of their offensive. It was later confirmed that all of the villages had been recaptured by the military.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel massacre of civilians
On 26 August 2013, the SOHR reported that the kidnapped Alawite cleric, Badr Ghazal, had been executed by the Al-Nusra Front.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel massacre of civilians
More than a month after the offensive had ended, additional reports emerged of civilian killings by rebel fighters. According to one report, two mass graves were found. Kidnapped women had also been shipped off in trucks to be raped by rebel fighters. 62–140 civilians were estimated to had been massacred, with another 105–199 missing or confirmed as kidnapped.


2013 Latakia offensive, Offensive, Rebel massacre of civilians
On 11 October, Human Rights Watch released a report which stated that, after an investigation, they found grave violations of human rights by opposition forces, for example executions, unlawful killings, and hostage-taking. According to the report, 190 civilians were killed by rebel forces, including at least 67 of the victims being executed or unlawfully killed, although the number could be higher. Human Rights Watch stated that most of those killed were either intentionally or indiscriminately killed by opposition forces. More than 200 hostages, primarily women and children, continued to be held by Islamist forces. Human Rights Watch further stated, that two Kuwaiti nationals, Sheikh Hajjej al-Ajami and Shafi al-Ajami, apparently had a prominent role in collecting financial resources for the operation.


2013 Latin American Series
The 2013 Latin American Series was the first edition of the Latin American Series, a baseball sporting event played by the champions of the professional winter leagues that make up the Latin American Professional Baseball Association (ALBP).


2013 Latin American Series
The competition took place at Estadio Universitario Beto Ávila in Veracruz, Mexico from February 1 to 4, 2013.


2013 Latin Billboard Music Awards
The 2013 Billboard Latin Music Awards were held on April 25, 2013.


2013 Latvian Higher League
The 2013 Latvian Higher League was the 22nd season of top-tier football in Latvia. FC Daugava were the defending champions. The season started on 29 March 2013.


2013 Latvian Higher League
The league comprised ten teams. The champions of this season were FK Ventspils, followed by Skonto FC


2013 Latvian Higher League, Teams
The league had a ten-team circuit like the 2012 season. 2012 Latvian First League champions Ilūkstes NSS from Ilūkste were directly promoted.


2013 Latvian Higher League, Teams
FK Daugava Rīga finished the 2012 season in ninth place and were therefore required to compete in a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off against First Division runners-up BFC Daugava. FK Daugava Riga won the play-off 4–1 on aggregate and therefore stayed in the Higher League.


2013 Latvian Higher League, Teams, Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2013 Latvian Higher League, Broadcasting
As in the previous season most of the matches are being transmitted live via sportacentrs.com online and sportacentrs TV channel. In June 2012 broadcasting rights were also bought by the English company Bet365. Since 2012, the league's homepage futbolavirsliga.lv has been active and since September 2012 this website has been accompanied by the InStat Football system, showing information and analysis of each match individually. Since October 2012, the Virslīga has also had its own analytical broadcast after each round of matches with football experts discussing the games and future events connected to Latvian football. It is transmitted via sportacentrs TV.


2013 Latvian Higher League, League table, Relegation play-offs
The 9th-placed sides will face the runners-up of the 2013 Latvian First League in a two-legged play-off, with the winner being awarded a spot in the 2014 Higher League competition.


2013 Latvian Supercup
The 2013 Latvian Supercup was the first edition of the Latvian Supercup, an annual football match organised by Latvian Football Federation and contested by the reigning champions of the two main Latvian club competitions, the Latvian Higher League and the Latvian Football Cup. It was played at the Celtnieks Stadium in Daugavpils on 9 March 2013, between the 2012 Latvian Higher League winners Daugava and the 2011–12 Latvian Football Cup winners Skonto.


2013 Latvian Supercup, Venue
The Celtnieks Stadium was opened in 1989, and it is the home stadium of Latvian Higher League team BFC Daugavpils.


2013 Latvian Supercup, Venue
The net capacity of the Celtnieks Stadium is 2,000. In October 2011, the next generation artificial turf was laid on the stadium with size: 105 x 68 meters. The last renovation of the stadium took place in 2000.


2013 Latvian Supercup, Match, Details
Assistant referees:Vasīlijs Botošs (Jelgava)Igors Tagijevs (Liepaja)Fourth official:Ivars Caune  (Daugavpils)Additional assistant referees:Vitālijs Liholajs (Jurmala)Arturs Gaidels (Riga)


2013 Latvian municipal elections
Municipal elections were held across Latvia on 1 June 2013. All 119 municipalities and republican cities of Latvia elected their city councils. In Riga, by far the largest city in Latvia, Harmony Centre won an absolute majority.


2013 Laurence Olivier Awards
The 2013 Laurence Olivier Awards were held on Sunday 28 April 2013 at the Royal Opera House, London. The awards were sponsored by MasterCard for the third consecutive year and presented by Hugh Bonneville and Sheridan Smith, with music from the BBC Concert Orchestra. Live coverage of the awards was provided by BBC Radio 2, presented by Ken Bruce and for the first time in over a decade, the awards were televised, with a highlights programme on ITV1.


2013 Laurence Olivier Awards, Winners and nominees
The nominations were announced on 26 March 2013 in 24 categories.


2013 Laurence Olivier Awards, Productions with multiple nominations and awards
The following 18 productions, including three operas, received multiple nominations:


2013 Lazio regional election
The Lazio regional election of 2013 took place in Lazio, Italy, on 24–25 February 2013.


2013 Lazio regional election
Renata Polverini of The People of Freedom (PdL), who was elected president in 2010, was toppled by an expense scandal in October 2012 which led to her resignation.


2013 Lazio regional election
After that, the candidate of Democratic Party (PD) seemed a shoo-in for victory. In December 2012, the Commissioner of the Province of Rome, Nicola Zingaretti, decided to run as Governor of Lazio for 2013 regional election. As Lazio had been a traditional stronghold of National Alliance party, the former president Francesco Storace, secretary of the national-conservative party The Right and supported by Silvio Berlusconi's coalition, was chosen for the center-right coalition.


2013 Lazio regional election
The other candidates were Davide Barillari (M5S), who received the 20% of the votes, Giulia Bongiorno (Civic Choice) and Alessandro Ruotolo (Civil Revolution).


2013 Lazio regional election, Electoral system
The Regional Council is elected with a mixed system: 39 MPs are chosen with a form of proportional representation using a largest remainder method with open lists and a 5% threshold, while 11 MPs are elected with a block voting system with closed lists. One seat is for the elected president.


2013 Le Samyn des Dames
The 2013 Le Samyn des Dames was the second running of the women's Le Samyn, a women's bicycle race in Fayt-le-Franc, Belgium. It was held on 27 February 2013 over a distance of 119 kilometres (73.9 miles) starting in Frameries and finishing in Dour. It was rated by the UCI as a 1.2 category race. The race was part of the 2013 Lotto Cycling Cup.


2013 Le Samyn des Dames, Race
By a miscommunication the race started while some teams were on the stage signing the startlist. The race was controlled for the most part by the teams of Tibco, Specialized–lululemon, Orica-AIS and Hitec. It stayed together until the last third of the race. With about 35 kilometres (21.7 miles) to go Ellen van Dijk attacked over a cobbled section. In the scramble to close the gap, a number of riders went down at the front of the peloton.


2013 Le Samyn des Dames, Race
Emma Johansson and Elisa Longo Borghini managed to avoid the carnage and chased, but van Dijk was too strong and had created a gap of over a minute. Despite hitting the pavement, Shelley Olds bridged up to the pair but the trio could scarcely close down a minute of the large gap to the leader. With a lead of more than three minutes, van Dijk rode solo over the finish line. Behind her, Olds out-sprinted Johansson for the second place, while Longo Borghini claimed fourth place. Tiffany Cromwell led home the main bunch for the fifth place.


2013 League of Ireland Cup
The 2013 League of Ireland Cup, also known as the 2013 EA Sports Cup, is the 40th season of the Irish football knockout competition.


2013 League of Ireland Cup
A total of 22 teams have entered the 2013 competition. The 12 League of Ireland Premier Division and 8 League of Ireland First Division clubs were joined by Ulster Senior League runners up Cockhill Celtic and the Mayo League representative side. For the First and Second rounds of the competition, all participating clubs will be split into 4 regional pools while the further rounds of the competitions will have an open draw. The 2013 competition will commence with the First round on 2 March 2013.


2013 League of Ireland Cup, First round
The draw for the First Round took place on 30 January 2013. The First Round games were played on the 2, 3, 11 and 19 March 2013.


2013 League of Ireland Cup, Second round
The draw for the Second Round took place on 3 April 2013. The Second Round games were played on the 20 and 21 May 2013.


2013 League of Ireland Cup, Quarter-finals
The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 10 June 2013. All of the remaining teams play in the League of Ireland Premier Division; this had not happened since 2005. The tie between Shamrock Rovers and St. Patrick's Athletic was postponed from 1 July due to the latter club travelling to Lithuania for a Europa League fixture.


2013 League of Ireland Cup, Semi-finals
The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 8 July 2013.


2013 League of Ireland Cup, Final
The final, which was broadcast live on Setanta Sports, took place at Tallaght Stadium, the home ground of finalists Shamrock Rovers, on 21 September 2013. The 2012 League of Ireland Cup Final was also contested by Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium. Shamrock Rovers won the game 2–0 with a penalty from Gary McCabe in the 11th minute and Thomas Stewart scoring the second in the 58th minute when he slotted the ball past the goalkeeper after a pass by Paul O'Connor.


2013 League of Ireland First Division
The 2013 League of Ireland First Division season was the 29th season of the League of Ireland First Division. The First Division was contested by 8 teams and Athlone Town won the title.


2013 League of Ireland First Division, Overview
The 2013 First Division featured eight teams. Each team played every other team twice, totalling 28 games.


2013 League of Ireland First Division, Promotion/Relegation play-off
The second and third placed First Division teams, Longford Town and Mervue United, played off to decide who would play Bray Wanderers, the eleventh placed team from the Premier Division. The winner of this play off would play in the 2014 Premier Division.


2013 League of Ireland First Division, Promotion/Relegation play-off
The play-off finished 3–3 on aggregate. Longford Town won 3–0 on penalties


2013 League of Ireland First Division, Promotion/Relegation play-off
Bray Wanderers win 5–4 on aggregate and retained their place in the Premier Division.


2013 League of Ireland Premier Division
The 2013 League of Ireland Premier Division was the 29th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The division featured 12 teams. St. Patrick's Athletic were champions, winning their eighth top level League of Ireland title. Dundalk finished as runners-up.


2013 League of Ireland Premier Division, Overview
The Premier Division featured 12 teams. Each team played each other three times, totalling 33 games. The regular season began on 8 March and concluded on 25 October. St. Patrick's Athletic clinched the title on 13 October 2013, with two games to go, after a 2–0 win against the holders, Sligo Rovers.


2013 League of Ireland Premier Division, Promotion/Relegation play-off
Bray Wanderers, the eleventh placed team from the Premier Division, played off against Longford Town, the winners of the 2013 First Division play off. The winner of this play off would play in the 2014 Premier Division.


2013 League of Ireland Premier Division, Promotion/Relegation play-off
Bray Wanderers win 5–4 on aggregate and retained their place in the Premier Division.


2013 League of Ireland Premier Division, Television coverage
Live coverage of matches in Ireland were shown on RTÉ Two and Setanta Sports. MNS on RTÉ Two showed match highlights and analysis on each Monday night during the season.


2013 Lebanese Elite Cup
The 2013 Lebanese Elite Cup is the 16th edition of this football tournament in Lebanon. The competition started on 25 August through to the final on 14 September. This tournament includes the six best teams from the 2012–13 Lebanese Premier League season.


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal
The 2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal was part of a worldwide FIFA investigation with the intent of cracking down on match fixing. Many players were found guilty of being bribed by betting companies to purposefully lose games, with matches not only limited to domestic leagues in Asia, but also international competitions. 24 players were fined in various degrees, with Ramez Dayoub and Mahmoud El Ali being given the most severe punishment: a lifetime ban from the sport and a $15,000 fine.


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Overview
FIFA held an investigation to crack down on match fixing across the world. Their investigation was concentrated mostly on European football, but it also looked at the problem in Africa, South America and in Asia. In 2012, over 50 countries were under investigation for match fixing—about one quarter of the entire 209 members overseen by FIFA's governing body. The suspicion of a scandal within Lebanese football began in late 2012, when many Lebanese players were accused of purposefully losing games in the Lebanese league and other leagues across Asia. The scandal was not limited only to matches in football leagues across Asia, but included international matches. Players were bribed by large betting companies to throw games or to put the opposing team in favorable position to win the match.


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Overview
Once the scandal broke, the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) began to investigate allegations that had been made against Lebanese football players. The LFA appointed the general secretary of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), Fadi Zreiqat, to lead the investigation. During the two-month-long investigation, involving more than 60 witnesses, Zreiqat concluded there was proof that match fixing was actually occurring.


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Findings and consequences
The Lebanese match-fixing scandal was revealed in a report that led to the suspension of 24 Lebanese players in domestic clubs in Lebanon, Asian clubs, and even the Lebanese national team. In addition to the 24 players, two officials were also involved in match-fixing in Lebanon. Soon after Zreiqat's findings were released, the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) handed out fines and also suspended the individuals involved from playing the sport. 20 Lebanese football players were suspended from playing for one year and given a $2,000 fine, while two players were suspended for three years and given a $7,000 fine each. These 22 players belonged either to the domestic league in Lebanon or other leagues across Asia.


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Findings and consequences
The most severe punishments were given to Ramez Dayoub and Mahmoud El Ali. They were each given a $15,000 fine and banned from playing the sport for life. Dayoub and El Ali both played for Lebanon's national football team and also club teams in Asia. The reason their punishments were more severe than those of the other players was because the match fixing took place on the international level while they were playing for the national team. The pair have been associated with attempting and succeeding at manipulating matches on different occasions. These include 2012 Arab Nations Cup matches in Saudi Arabia, and rumors of a match against Qatar in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Findings and consequences
Lebanon advanced for the first time in its history to the fourth and final round of the World Cup qualifiers. Because of the match-fixing scandal, which led to a crucial loss, however, their hopes of qualifying for the 2014 tournament decreased significantly. Theo Bücker, the German coach who took control of Lebanon's national team in 2011, and took the team from being unsuccessful and transformed it to qualify for the final round of the World Cup Qualification, was extremely disappointed and frustrated. The team's success included defeating Asian football giants Iran and South Korea.


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Findings and consequences
In 2012, Lebanon lost to Qatar in the World Cup Qualifiers 1–0. Dayoub made an extremely bad pass that was intercepted by the Qatar striker Sebastian Soria who gave his team their only goal to defeat Lebanon. After the investigation was complete, Bücker had the following to say: "We were showing some action and then suddenly a (Qatar) player has the ball in a one-on-one situation and you get the feeling that something is wrong. The guy looked paralyzed or something." His frustration with Dayoub continued as he said: "I never came close to the idea that someone could not just sell the game, but sell their country".


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Findings and consequences
Soon after the LFA handed out these penalties to the players involved in the match-fixing scandal, FIFA sent a letter praising the Association's response to the report.


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Details
In February 2013, Ramez Dayoub found himself at the center of a controversy given that, despite the ban suffered by the Lebanese Football Association (LFA), his club, Selangor (India), wanted to field him for the AFC Cup match against Kingfisher East Bengal. At the end of the match, lost by Selangor 1–0, Dayoub, whose name was canceled from the fixture list a few minutes before the start of the game, told Fox Sports: "I am not guilty. They have suspended me and accused me of match fixing without any evidence or proof."


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Details
Two other domestic players, Nejmeh's Mohammad Jaafar and Ahed's Hadi Sahmarani, were banned for three seasons and handed $7,000 fines for their involvement. Twenty more players were banned for a year and each given $2,000 fines; ten were Ahed players, most notably Akram Moghrabi, who played for Churchill Brothers in the 2012–13 I-League, Ahmad Zreik, and Hussein Dakik.


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Details
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) received the summary report from the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) of their investigations and subsequent action against involvement of Lebanese players in match fixing. The AFC had also asked the LFA to provide the full report of their investigation. The LFA informed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the football federations of Malaysia and Indonesia of the sanctions on Lebanese players plying their trade in these countries.


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Player sanctions, Category A
Two players received a lifetime suspension from football and a $15,000 fine:


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Player sanctions, Category B
Two players received a three-season suspension from club football, a lifetime suspension from the national team, and a $7,000 fine:


2013 Lebanese football match-fixing scandal, Player sanctions, Category C
Twenty players received a one-season suspension from club football, a lifetime suspension from the national team, and a $2,000 fine:


2013 Leeds Rhinos season
This article details the Leeds Rhinos rugby league football club's 2013 season. This was the 18th season of the Super League era. The Rhinos enter the 2013 season as champions after defeating Warrington Wolves 26-18 in the 2012 Super League Grand Final.


2013 Leeward Islands Junior Championships in Athletics
The 2013 Leeward Islands Junior Championships in Athletics took place on June 1, 2013. The event was held at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Ground in Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Detailed reports were published.


2013 Leeward Islands Junior Championships in Athletics
A total of 28 events were contested, 15 by boys and 13 by girls.


2013 Leeward Islands Junior Championships in Athletics, Results
The Leeward Islands Junior Championships were held jointly with the BVI Twilight Invitational and the event was covered on Facebook. Complete results for both competitions can be found on the British Virgin Islands Athletics Association webpage.


2013 Leeward Islands Junior Championships in Athletics, Results, BVI Twilight Invitational
The results of the BVI Twilight Invitational were discussed in detail.


2013 Leeward Islands Junior Championships in Athletics, Results, Leeward Islands Junior Championships (Open), Boys
†: Shernyl Burns from  Montserrat was already 22 years old.


2013 Leeward Islands Junior Championships in Athletics, Participation, BVI Twiligth Invitational
According to an unofficial count, 42 athletes from 13 countries participated.


2013 Leeward Islands Junior Championships in Athletics, Participation, Leeward Islands Junior Championships (Open)
According to an unofficial count, 89 athletes from 8 countries participated.


2013 Lega Nord leadership election
The 2013 Lega Nord leadership election took place in November–December 2013.


2013 Lega Nord leadership election, Background and race
In September 2013 Roberto Maroni, who had been secretary of the party for just about a year, announced he would soon step down from the party's leadership.


2013 Lega Nord leadership election, Background and race
A federal congress was scheduled for mid December and five candidates filed their bid to become secretary: Umberto Bossi (the party's founder and former leader), Matteo Salvini, Giacomo Stucchi, Manes Bernardini and Roberto Stefanazzi. Of these, only Bossi and Salvini gathered the 1,000 necessary signatures by party members to take part to a closed "primary" (open only to a selected public of party members), and Salvini collected four times the signatures gathered by Bossi.


2013 Lega Nord leadership election, Background and race
On 7 December Salvini trounced Bossi with 82% of the vote in the "primary". His election was ratified by the party's federal congress on 15 December.


2013 Legends Tour
The 2013 Legends Tour was a series of professional golf tour events for women aged 45 and older sanctioned by the Legends Tour. Based in the United States, it is an offshoot of the main U.S.-based women's tour, the LPGA Tour. The tour was founded in 2001, and is intended to allow women to prolong their competitive golf careers on the model of the successful Champions Tour for men.


2013 Legends Tour, Schedule and results
In 2013, the Legends Tour had its most prolific season to date with 10 events on the schedule. The number in brackets after each winner's name is the number of Legends Tour events she had won up to and including that tournament.


2013 Lehigh Mountain Hawks football team
The 2013 Lehigh Mountain Hawks football team represented Lehigh University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by eighth-year head coach Andy Coen and played their home games at Goodman Stadium. They were a member of the Patriot League. They finished the season 8–3, 3–2 in Patriot League play to finish in a three-way tie for second place.