Angry Left

Pakistan to buy F-16s

2006-01-21T21:07:00.000-05:00

Pakistan is buying a large number of new & used F-16s:Pakistan, which had put off a four billion dollar deal to buy 75 F-16 from the US in the aftermath of last year's earthquake, now plans to buy a mix of both new and used versions of the fighter jets. "We are also considering to buy used F-16s from elsewhere. However, we will prefer a mix of new and old F-16 fighter planes for the PAF,"

Asef Shawkat's assests frozen

2006-01-21T21:02:00.000-05:00

U.S. Freezes Assets of Syria's Intelligence Director:The United States froze the U.S. assets of Syrian military intelligence director Asef Shawkat, accusing him of fomenting terrorism against Israel and backing Syria's role in Lebanon.The move represented increased pressure on Syria to cooperate with a U.N. inquiry of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a Beirut

No nuke with India

2006-01-21T20:00:00.000-05:00

There will be no nuclear deal with India before Bush visits there in March:Indicating that the nuclear deal was unlikely to be implemented before President George W Bush's visit here in early March, the US today said there were "difficulties ahead" and "much more progress" needed to be made in the negotiations unique in nature. After his two-day talks with Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran here on

No German Help

2006-01-19T17:04:00.000-05:00

"A German spy chief and his agents" deny that they helped the US pick out bombing targets in Iraq. A German spy chief and his agents assured members of Parliament that they did not help the United States pick out bombing targets during the invasion of Iraq, but failed to halt demands for an inquiry.Ernst Uhrlau, head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service, or BND, told Parliament's foreign

US, India hold nuclear talks

2006-01-19T16:57:00.000-05:00

India and the US are holding talks on their recent nuclear deal:Seeking to implement the landmark nuclear deal ahead of American President George W Bush's visit here expected in March, India and the US today held talks on the roadmap for completing the process. Meeting nearly after a month of their last parleys, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran held a restricted meeting with US Under Secretary of

Hello, hello? This thing on?

2006-01-19T16:55:00.000-05:00

After 14 months, I think I'm back!

Spotted in Kashmir?

2004-11-04T09:26:00.000-05:00

Rumors that bin Laden has been spotted in Kashmir: The latest rumour emerged via India's Star Television, which has been carrying a report saying a 10-car convoy believed to be carrying bin Laden was spotted in eastern Pakistan by an Indian reconnaissance plane. It sourced the information to intelligence analyst and former US Justice Department Prosecutor John Loftus, who was speaking on Star's

State Upset with Chinese Deputy PM

2004-11-03T09:35:00.000-05:00

The State Department is upset with China's Deputy Prime Minister and has spoken with the Chinese Ambassador in Washington: The State Department yesterday summoned Chinese Ambassador Yang Jiechi to complain about comments by one of China's elder statesman calling U.S. foreign policy "arrogant." The remarks, attributed to former Deputy Prime Minister Qian Qichen, prompted the State Department to

An American soldier in a burqa

2004-11-01T10:17:00.000-05:00

An American soldier in a burqa sparks a suicide-bomb panic in Kabul: A female American soldier wearing a burqa over an ammunitions belt on a walk through a ladies-only bazaar in Kabul unwittingly sparked a security scare yesterday, when Afghan police mistook her for a potential suicide bomber. “A woman entered the Women’s Garden and the security forces got suspicious because she was wearing

"Why not be friendly to Syria?"

2004-11-01T10:14:00.000-05:00

"Syria rejects image as terrorist hotbed and calls for US friendship" To the European cultural tourists who flock here, the place seems an oasis of calm and tolerance - certainly not a hotbed of terrorist sympathisers. Yet this, much to the annoyance of the Syrian authorities, is how they feel they are being portrayed. America has repeatedly warned Syria for harbouring Palestinian terror groups

SK fires on NK naval boat

2004-11-01T09:36:00.000-05:00

South Korea fires on a North Korean naval boat: South Korea says its patrol boats fired on North Korean naval vessels after they crossed a disputed maritime border. In the latest incident along the tense frontier, the South Korean navy says its ships fired several warning shots after three boats from the North crossed the Northern Limit Line. South Korean defense officials say the North Korean

Bilal Hiyari found guilty

2004-11-01T09:33:00.000-05:00

Bilal Hiyari, a "Jordanian businessman," has been found guilty in Jordan for "raising funds to help militant leader Abu Musab Zarqawi carry out assaults on U.S. forces in Iraq." This nation's military court convicted a Jordanian businessman of raising funds to help militant leader Abu Musab Zarqawi carry out assaults on U.S. forces in Iraq, but acquitted him of conspiring in the actual attacks.

Viktor Yushchenko vs Viktor Yanukovich

2004-11-01T09:21:00.000-05:00

The recent election in the Ukraine should lead to a run off between the pro-Russia candidate and the pro-Western candidate. Also, there are report of voter fraud harming the pro-Western candidate. Partial official results in Ukraine's bitterly fought presidential election Sunday gave Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich the lead, but he appeared headed for a runoff with a pro-West opposition leader.

2004-10-29T10:04:00.000-04:00

Ali Ahmad Al-Baghli, columnist for Kuwait's Arab Times, says of George H. W. Bush: "Had this man not been in power in 1990 Kuwait would surely have lost its freedom forever." Al-Baghli goes on to say about George W. Bush: "Coming to Bush, the son, we remember how nicely Clinton was treating Saddam although his mere presence was a problem for us, Kuwaitis. Saddam was a nightmare for us for all

Mohamed Harkat

2004-10-29T09:54:00.000-04:00

Terror suspect, and acquaintance of Abu Zabaydah, on trail in Canada: There still remain two stories about the life of Mohamed Harkat. One account is written by Canadian security agents, who describe the 36-year-old Algerian refugee as a supporter of Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist organization, sent to Canada as a sleeper agent. The other story, told this week to a federal court by

India to US & UN: "No"

2004-10-29T09:40:00.000-04:00

India will not send "its observers nor any officials to train the election staff" to Iraq: India will send neither its observers nor any officials to train the election staff for conducting general elections in Iraq. At a breakfast meeting on Iraq between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the left leaders, including Harkishan Singh Surjeet and A B Bardhan, the consensus emerged that India

UNRWA+Hamas=More Canadian money

2004-10-28T10:08:00.000-04:00

Canada will still give the UNRWA money even though it employs members of Hamas: Canada will continue to fund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees after a week of allegations that the agency is employing members of Hamas, a group officially designated by Canada as a terrorist organization. "UNRWA has a long-standing record of humanitarian aid for the

3 taken in Kabul

2004-10-28T10:05:00.000-04:00

Three foreign election workers abducted in Kabul: Armed men kidnapped three foreign election workers as they drove in a white sport utility vehicle in the Afghan capital on Thursday, the United Nations and Afghan officials said. An election official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the victims were all women and were believed to include one Irish citizen and one Croatian. U.N.

Abu Bakar Bashir

2004-10-28T09:45:00.000-04:00

Abu Bakar Bashir, leader of Jemaah Islamiah, is on trial: Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir went on trial in Indonesia on charges of leading the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist group. Scores of supporters of the 66-year-old Bashir were at the courthouse as the bespectacled, gray-haired preacher was brought by police officers wielding M-16 rifles. Prosecutors have charged Bashir in

Algerian soldiers have heads cut off

2004-10-28T09:39:00.000-04:00

Three Algerian soldiers have had their heads hacked off by "suspected Islamic militants." Suspected Islamic militants decapitated three soldiers in Algeria in an upsurge of violence during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, reports said Wednesday. Security forces killed seven alleged militants in an ensuing operation. La Tribune newspaper said 30 armed men intercepted the soldiers at a roadblock

Abderrezak El Para caught

2004-10-28T09:35:00.000-04:00

Abderrezak El Para, one of the most wanted terrorists in North Africa, has been caught: One of North Africa's most wanted Islamic militant leaders, accused of the kidnapping of 32 European tourists last year, has been taken into custody in Algeria. An Interior Ministry statement said: "Amar Saifi, known as 'Abderrezak El Para', was extradited on Wednesday October 27, 2004, by Libyan authorities

"Brisk activity"

2004-10-27T10:03:00.000-04:00

Abnormal activity spotted at North Korean missile base: The United States, South Korea and Japan have been closely monitoring a North Korean missile base where brisk activity has been spotted in the past several days, a newspaper reported here Wednesday.The three countries have yet to confirm the movements at the base in Jeongju, 100 kilometers (some 60 miles) north of Pyongyang, are for

Enduring Freedom

2004-10-27T09:59:00.000-04:00

The German government approves a 1 year extension for German troops serving in operation "Enduring Freedom." The German government Wednesday approved the extension by one year of the deployment of some 500 soldiers in the US-led war on terror, sources said.The decision, which affects German troops stationed in the Horn of Africa and the Mediterranean, is expected to receive parliamentary

Defection?

2004-10-27T09:45:00.000-04:00

The South Korean Defense Ministry claims that a South Korean has cut through 3 fences along the DMZ and defected to North Korea. But not everyone in South Korea believes this story: Harsh disciplinary measures are expected to follow the Defense Ministry's conclusion Tuesday that an unidentified South Korean defected to North Korea by cutting through three fences in the heavily fortified

Karzai wins

2004-10-27T09:43:00.000-04:00

Karzai wins: Interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai emerged with a clear victory as vote counting was completed in Afghanistan's first presidential election. David Avery, the election's chief technical officer, said about 100 suspect ballot boxes were being examined. But there were not enough votes at issue to affect the result. With 98.4% of the estimated 8.2 million ballots counted,

Syria arrests some Kuwaitis

2004-10-26T09:49:00.000-04:00

Syrian "security authorities" have arrested "some Kuwaitis" trying to enter Iraq to fight US troops. Syrian security authorities recently arrested some Kuwaitis near the Syrian-Iraqi border while they were attempting to enter Iraq to fight a holy war against the US forces in Fallujah, reports Al-Rai Al-Aam daily quoting reliable sources. The same sources said the Syrian authorities had earlier

Abdullah Al-Omari, Saudi emabssy threatened

2004-10-26T09:41:00.000-04:00

Saudi embassy in Pakistan threatened: A top Saudi diplomat has received a parcel disguised as a gift from a former Pakistani premier that contained four grenades and a letter threatening to attack the Saudi Embassy if Saudis do not leave Pakistan, the Saudi ambassador said yesterday. The deputy head of the Saudi political mission in Pakistan, Abdullah Al-Omari, received the package on Oct. 21 at

US dollar in Cuba

2004-10-26T09:39:00.000-04:00

No more US dollars in Cuba: Cuba said Monday that it would end circulation of the U.S. dollar in its territory as of Nov. 8 in response to tightened U.S. economic sanctions. Cubans, foreign residents and tourists will have to use locally printed pesos, equal in value to the dollar, the central bank said. A 10% fee will be charged for exchanging dollars. The ban will, in effect, tax

Iran to agree to freeze?

2004-10-26T09:36:00.000-04:00

Iran "might" agree to extend its freeze on uranium enrichment but warned that it could not be forced to permanently scrap its nuclear technology." Iran's top security official suggested Monday that the country might agree to extend its freeze on uranium enrichment but warned that it could not be forced to permanently scrap its nuclear technology. Britain, France and Germany have offered Iran

"God grant us victory over Israel. God grant us victory over America and its allies"

2004-10-26T09:30:00.000-04:00

Just another Friday at the local Syrian mosque: A central problem faced by President Bashar Assad, and to an extent by all Arab leaders, is that the anti-American fighting in Iraq enjoys wide public support. Taking steps against it could make unpopular governments even more suspect. During the noon sermon in Abu Kamal on Friday, the prayer leader called on God to help Muslims defeat their

Rusman Gunawan

2004-10-26T09:21:00.000-04:00

Hambali's brother has been sentenced to 4 years in prison for his role in a bombing attack. The brother of an alleged South East Asian militant leader has been found guilty of helping to finance a bomb attack in Jakarta last year. Rusman Gunawan, the brother of militant suspect Hambali, was given a four year jail term by a Jakarta court. Judge Adullah Sidiq said Gunawan had sent US$30,000 to

Riots in Thailand

2004-10-25T10:23:00.001-04:00

Riots in Thailand: Dozens of people have been injured in clashes between Thai security forces and hundreds of protesters who tried to storm a police station in Thailand's troubled Muslim-majority south. Thai officials used tear gas and water cannon to break up the protest that turned violent after 3,000 people spent all day camped outside a police station demanding the release of six officials.

Because Iran wants Iraq to succeed

2004-10-25T10:16:00.000-04:00

Iran wants the IMF to add 97.2 billion to Iraq's debt: Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund to add $97.2 billion to its Iraqi debt assessment to cover reparations and reconstruction for the 1980-1998 war between the two states, Middle East Economic Survey (MEES) reports in its latest edition. According to MEES, the Iranian claim covers the non-military cost of the war to Iran, and

750 more

2004-10-25T10:09:00.000-04:00

Egypt wants to move 750 additional border guards to the Israel-Egypt border. Egypt has proposed the deployment of two border guard battalions along its border with Israel in the Sinai to prevent smuggling. The force's 750 soldiers are equipped with sidearms and armored vehicles but not anti-tank rockets or mortars. The Egyptians are proposing a change in the military appendix to the

5 held in Taba bombing

2004-10-25T09:40:00.000-04:00

Egypt has identified those responsible for the bombings in Taba and has arrested 5 "suspects who had lesser roles, including obtaining explosives and the cars used in the attacks." A Palestinian angered by Israeli-Palestinian violence plotted and then died in the nearly simultaneous car bombings of a Sinai hotel and tourist camp that killed at least 34 people this month, the Egyptian government

Sudan being harassed

2004-10-22T11:28:00.000-04:00

Sudan says that the UN is "harassing" them becasue they (the UN) can't settle the Palestine or Iraq issue. Sudan charged Thursday that it was being harassed by the United Nations over the Darfur crisis because the world body was powerless to change the situation in Iraq or the Palestinian territories. "The UN has lost its sense of direction in applying the international charter," said Foreign

Mockery of democracy, independence, and freedom

2004-10-22T11:08:00.000-04:00

Iran says that the US is "wearing out its welcome" in Afghanistan. Iran also says that the US has made a "mockery of democracy, independence, and freedom" in Afghanistan. United States Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said on Friday that U.S. and NATO military forces will undoubtedly continue play an important role in Afghanistan in the near future. It seems that it will take a

Adnan Gul

2004-10-22T10:51:00.000-04:00

Hamas "explosives expert" killed: An Israeli aircraft fired two missiles into a crowded Gaza City street Thursday night, killing a senior Hamas explosives expert who was blamed in the deaths of dozens of Israelis, according to both the military and the Palestinian militant group. Adnan Gul, killed along with a Hamas colleague in the explosion, was the No. 2 man in the group's military wing

International pressure

2004-10-22T09:27:00.000-04:00

Some eight "inmates" that have been released from Gitmo have returned to the battlefield. Says the Pentagon: "international pressure had undermined the U.S. effort to fight Islamic fundamentalism." At least eight inmates released from detention at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have returned to the battlefield against U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan and Pakistan,

American lawn care

2004-10-21T10:04:00.000-04:00

American lawn care and slow dancing caused Islamic fanaticism, or so claims a "documentary" airing on the BBC: COULD 9/11 have its roots in one man's visit to a dance in Colorado in 1949? Could the current terrorist threat stem from the same man's belief that gardening was a selfish Western pastime? Could the invasion of Iraq have its origins in the cowboy TV series, Gunsmoke? Intriguing ideas

Gadhafi to Schroeder: Pay up!

2004-10-21T09:59:00.000-04:00

German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder recently visited Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, hoping to come to an agreeement regarding German investment in Libya. Instead, Gadhafi told Schroeder that Germany must pay compensation for World War Two era landmines planted in Libya. Poor Gerhard Schroeder. Just when he thought he was making progress pushing German business and political interests with the

So they meet, again

2004-10-21T09:48:00.000-04:00

France, Germany and the UK will meet with Iran in an effort to get Iran to give up its "nuclear enrichment plans." Iran would face "possible" UN sanctions if they don't agree: France, Germany and the UK will meet Iranian officials on Thursday (21 October) in a bid to persuade Tehran to give up its nuclear enrichment plans or face possible UN sanctions. Senior officials from the three

100 Chechens detained

2004-10-21T09:43:00.000-04:00

More than 100 "militants" have been caught by local police in Chechnya: More than 100 militants have been detained in special operations involving the local police in Chechnya in 2004, Chechen Interior Ministry press secretary Ruslan Atsayev told Interfax by phone on Thursday. "More than 100 members of illegal armed units were detained in operations of the Chechen Interior Ministry, the

Israel-Egypt rift

2004-10-21T09:26:00.000-04:00

Israel and Egypt are engaged in a diplomatic disagreement: A provision in the U.S.-brokered 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt moved into sharp focus last week, putting senior Egyptian and Israeli officials at loggerheads over each country's security responsibilities in the Sinai Peninsula after three terrorist bombs killed 34 persons, including 13 Israelis celebrating a Jewish holiday,

US, Australia, Japan, France hold naval drills

2004-10-20T10:06:00.000-04:00

The US, Australia, Japan, and France are all holding joint naval exercises near Japan: Australia, Japan, the United States and France will take part in a joint maritime exercise to intercept weapons of mass destruction on October 26 in waters south-west of Tokyo, Japanese officials have said. About 10 naval and coast guard vessels from the four countries and observers from 18 other nations will

Riot in China

2004-10-20T10:04:00.000-04:00

Riot in west China: Rioters in the western Chinese region of Chongqing burned police cars and looted government buildings after a quarrel between residents escalated into a riot involving thousands, residents and officials said. The angry crowds gathered on Monday night during a quarrel between fruit market workers and a delivery boy, after one worker passed himself off as an official and

Lt. Gen. David Barno

2004-10-20T09:58:00.000-04:00

Lt. Gen. David Barno, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, says that 2,000 Taliban have defected as a result of the Afghanistan elections. He also says that OBL is probably alive, although he is not actively controling al-Qaeda. This month's election in Afghanistan marked a "big defeat" for Taliban holdouts, with an estimated 2,000 low-level militiamen defecting, said Lt. Gen. David Barno,

Seized in Russia

2004-10-20T09:55:00.000-04:00

"Highly radioactive material" has been seized in Russia: Security services seized two containers filled with highly radioactive material at a scrap yard in central Russia, Interfax news agency said. Radiation levels at the scene in the town of Saratov, where the containers with uranium-238 were discovered, were 358 times higher than normal, Interfax said. Depleted uranium, where uranium-238

Abu Hamza al Masri

2004-10-20T09:52:00.000-04:00

Abu Hamza al Masri has been charged in the UK for "possessing Al Qaeda literature and inciting the killing of Jews and other non-Muslims." He is wanted in the US for "sending a scout to the United States to explore setting up a terrorist training camp in Oregon, supplying services and recruits to Al Qaeda and to the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and of being an accessory to a kidnapping

Hungary

2004-10-19T10:49:00.000-04:00

Hungary will not make any decision regarding its troop levels in Iraq until after the US election: Hungary will wait until after the US presidential election to decide whether it wants the country's troops to stay in Iraq beyond their current mandate, which expires in December, Defence Minister Ferenc Juhasz said late on Monday."The Hungarian government will only submit its recommendation to

Nuclear reactors to China

2004-10-19T10:37:00.000-04:00

The US is to soon allow the export of nuclear reactors to China: The United States' nuclear regulator said Tuesday it is likely to approve the export of US-designed reactors to China soon, giving American companies access to a multi-billion-dollar market.Nils Diaz, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, told reporters it was reviewing export licenses for Westinghouse's recently approved

General Sir Mike Jackson

2004-10-19T09:41:00.000-04:00

General Mike Jackson, chief of the British army, is visiting the Line of Control along the Indian-Pakistani Kashmir border: The chief of the British army, General Sir Mike Jackson, who began a three-day visit to India, will be touring Indian Army installations close to the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. In

Saudi plan

2004-10-19T09:36:00.000-04:00

A Saudi plan regarding Iraq has been dismissed: Iraqi government officials and commanders of the U.S.-led military coalition killed a proposal by Saudi Arabia for a Muslim peacekeeping force in Iraq, the White House said yesterday, citing concerns over who would be in charge. Responding to reports in two newspapers, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the government in Baghdad had "some

"On Iraq, Italy has very clear ideas"

2004-10-18T10:01:00.000-04:00

Italy will not pull troops from Iraq until "establishment of a new government in Baghdad." Italy plans to withdraw its troops from Iraq but not before elections and the establishment of a new government in Baghdad, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini was quoted in the country's press as saying. "On Iraq, Italy has very clear ideas," Mr Frattini was quoted as saying during a trip to

Karzai with 62.6%

2004-10-18T09:54:00.000-04:00

Hamid Karzai leads the Afghanistan election: Afghanistan's presidential vote count has passed one million ballots with incumbent Hamid Karzai firmly in the lead, according to the country's electoral commission web site. As of 9:30am (local time), the commission had received preliminary results from 30 of 34 provinces for the landmark October 9 vote, about 13 per cent of ballots cast, said the

Likiep v. US?

2004-10-18T09:53:00.000-04:00

Marshall Islands atoll of Likiep is suing the US government: The remote Marshall Islands atoll of Likiep, which was dusted with fallout from nuclear tests in the 1950s, has filed a late suit for compensation, officials said, but chances of a big payout appear remote. The Likiep suit claims the prosperous economic, employment and educational status enjoyed by the mid-Pacific island's residents

Canadian Parliment to vote on MDS

2004-10-18T09:46:00.000-04:00

The Canadian government will hold a symbolic vote regarding whether or not they should be part of the US Missile Defence Shield: Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberals have yielded to opposition pressure and will hold a Commons vote on the controversial U.S.-led missile defence program. The promise to let MPs have their say is said to be the newest concession from a Liberal regime quickly

Abu Musab Zarqawi

2004-10-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

Abu Musab Zarqawi is to be tried in Jordan, in absentia, for "an alleged plot to attack the U.S. Embassy in Amman and Jordanian government targets with chemical and conventional weapons." Jordan's military prosecutor indicted Abu Musab Zarqawi, one of the most wanted insurgents in Iraq, and 12 other alleged militants Sunday for an alleged plot to attack the U.S. Embassy in Amman and Jordanian

"650 crack troops" to shift?

2004-10-18T09:15:00.000-04:00

The US has asked the UK to move troops from South Iraq to areas near Baghdad: U.S. commanders have asked Britain to shift 650 crack troops from southern Iraq to more dangerous positions near Baghdad, freeing American troops for an anticipated large-scale assault on the terrorist stronghold of Fallujah, officials said. Defense Ministry officials said the government had not made a decision on

Canadian troops to Iraq? Maybe some day...

2004-10-15T09:55:00.000-04:00

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin doesn't rule out sending Canadian forces to Iraq in the future: Canadian troops might one day patrol war-torn Iraq, but for now the country's military can be more effective helping bring peace to other global hotspots, Prime Minister Paul Martin said yesterday. "Canada's role has got to be one of significance ... it's got to be one where in fact we can make a

EU's new plan

2004-10-15T09:49:00.000-04:00

The EU has a new plan regarding the "viability of a Palestinian state." The European Union is set to produce a plan to ensure the viability of a Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders, it has emerged. In a bid to step up the EU's engagement in the region, the plan is set to focus on reconstruction as well as ensuring security is brought to the territories. It will also set out the

Iran controls Palestinian terror

2004-10-15T09:40:00.000-04:00

Iran has apparently taken control of Palestinian terrorist operations in Israel: Iran has taken control of many Palestinian terrorist cells from Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, giving them funds and orders to attack Israeli targets, and even rewarding successful missions with "bonuses", according to a senior Israeli security source. For many years, Iran has given

Attacks from Syria

2004-10-15T09:38:00.000-04:00

U.S. troops facing attacks from Syria: American troops stationed along Iraq's border with Syria are coming under increasing attack with mortar shells fired from Syrian territory, but it was unclear who was responsible, U.S. officers said Thursday. The 82-millimeter rounds have been fired at U.S. and Iraqi positions in and around Husaybah in Al Anbar province, said Lt. Col. Chris Woodbridge,

Chinese dies in Pakistan

2004-10-15T09:27:00.000-04:00

One Chinese national has been killed in Pakistan after "Pakistani army commandos" tried to free them from the captors: One hostage and five militants died Thursday when Pakistani army commandos tried to free two Chinese engineers held by followers of a former Guantanamo Bay inmate linked to Al Qaeda. The engineers, who were working on the Gomal Zam Dam project near the border with Afghanistan,

France and Germany say no

2004-10-14T10:33:00.000-04:00

France and Germany don't want NATO to take over "reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan." France and Germany spoke out against a U.S. proposal to put NATO in charge of the military and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, but U.S. and other officials said the alliance would look at options for merging the missions. The issue featured prominently in a meeting of NATO defense ministers at a

Schroeder to Kerry

2004-10-14T10:31:00.000-04:00

Gerhard Schroeder is speaking loud and clear to John Kerry: Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Wednesday ruled out sending German troops to Iraq after his defense minister said a deployment was possible. Defense Minister Peter Struck had said Wednesday that Germany, which opposed the U.S.-led war to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, could eventually send troops to Iraq, although he ruled

Success!

2004-10-14T10:27:00.000-04:00

An "overwhelming majority of ballots" have been "approved" in the Afghanistan elections: An international team investigating allegations of fraud in last weekend's presidential election set aside a small portion of suspect ballot boxes Wednesday but approved the overwhelming majority of ballots for counting. Under pressure to resolve disputes over Afghanistan's first democratic presidential

Boats impounded

2004-10-14T09:49:00.000-04:00

Six South Korean boats have been impounded in Sierra Leone: Six South Korean fishing vessels have been confiscated after crossing into Sierra Leone's territorial waters. A navy spokesman told the BBC the trawlers were caught poaching fish and shrimps in Sierra Leone's waters. They have been held since the weekend in the capital, Freetown, and if found guilty, each vessel faces a $30,000 fine

North Korean submarines

2004-10-14T09:38:00.000-04:00

Hoping to locate two North Korean submarines, South Korea has completed a huge naval operation: South Korea has admitted it has conducted a massive but secret naval operation to find two North Korean submarines. The Defence Ministry says the hunt began on Sunday after the United States warned Seoul that two North Korean submarines were lurking in South Korean waters. Surveillance planes and

2 women to be stoned to death in Nigeria

2004-10-13T09:51:00.000-04:00

Two women are to be stoned to death in Nigeria: Islamic courts in Nigeria sentenced two women to death by stoning for having sex out of wedlock, but two men whom they identified as sexual partners were acquitted for lack of evidence, authorities said Tuesday. Both sentences, which were imposed within the last month in the northern state of Bauchi, must be confirmed by the state governor

Global Anti-Semitism Review Act

2004-10-13T09:46:00.000-04:00

In an effort to combat anti-Semitism, the US Congress has passed a bill requiring the State Department to "start rating governments throughout the world on their treatment of Jewish citizens." In another test of America's frayed relations with France, Russia and other allies, the US Congress has ordered the State Department to start rating governments throughout the world on their treatment of

Kenneth Bigley

2004-10-13T09:21:00.000-04:00

The US military made two attempts "to rescue British hostage Kenneth Bigley and the two Americans he was held captive with." US troops made two failed attempts to rescue British hostage Kenneth Bigley and the two Americans he was held captive with, it has been reported. The American soldiers, possibly joined by US intelligence agents, were deployed on two occasions to locations in Baghdad in an

Top-secret interrogation facility

2004-10-13T09:17:00.000-04:00

The CIA is "secretly" holding senior al-Qaida members in Jordan: The Central Intelligence Agency runs a top-secret interrogation facility in Jordan, where at least 11 detainees who are considered Al-Qaida's most senior cadre are being held, Haaretz has learned from international intelligence sources. Since the war in Afghanistan ended three years ago, reports spoke of these special detainees

A "million American tentacles"

2004-10-12T09:48:00.000-04:00

The Times of India says that they are in possession of documents "detailing the unshakeable grip of a million American tentacles that have an all pervading grip on Pakistan's present and future." There is nothing in history like a hurt and humiliated Super Power. In case you don't have any idea, just look across the border to Pakistan. As its global blitzkrieg against terrorism continue to

US, Europe, Iran

2004-10-12T09:44:00.000-04:00

The US is teaming up with Europe to try to stop Iran's nuclear ambition.: The Bush administration is holding talks with its European allies on a possible package of economic incentives for Iran, including access to imported nuclear fuel, in return for suspension of uranium enrichment activities that are suspected to be part of a nuclear arms program, European and American diplomats said Monday.

Fiji military to protect UN

2004-10-12T09:42:00.000-04:00

Members of the Fiji military will guard the UN headquarters in Baghdad: A 155-strong Fiji military contingent will leave for Iraq on Wednesday where it will provide security for the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, military spokesman Captain Neumi Leweni said Tuesday. He said they expected the unit would take up duties within a week of arriving. The UN closed their Baghdad

Ghauri V

2004-10-12T09:30:00.000-04:00

Pakistan has tested a nuclear capable missile: Pakistan successfully fired a medium-range, nuclear-capable test missile that could strike most cities in India, officials said on Tuesday. The Ghauri V missile has a range of about 1,500 kilometres, reported the Associated Press. An unidentified official told AP that Indian officials knew about the test, which he said was not meant to inflame

Putin to serve more than 2 terms?

2004-10-11T09:54:00.000-04:00

Fears mount that Vladimir Putin could try to change the Russian Constitution, allowing himself more than the current limit of two terms: The buzz in liberal circles these days is that President Vladimir Putin's far-reaching political reform plans could help him retain power after his second and final term ends in 2008. "It's a general feeling," said Vladimir Pribylovsky, head of the Panorama

Move over, NATO

2004-10-11T09:52:00.000-04:00

The EU will take over for NATO in Bosnia: European Union foreign ministers Monday agreed plans to take over peacekeeping duties in Bosnia from NATO on December 2, aiming to put the country "irreversibly on track towards EU membership."The 7,000-strong "Althea" force, which will replace the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR), will be the biggest military operation yet undertaken by the 25-nation

Emergency shut down

2004-10-11T09:35:00.000-04:00

A nuclear power plant has been shut down "in an emergency procedure due to a technical problem." A reactor at a nuclear power plant near the northern Russian city of Saint Petersburg was automatically shut down in an emergency procedure due to a technical problem, officials said Monday.The shutdown occurred Sunday after power in the reactor dropped suddenly, the local branch of the ministry for

"EU's representative in the Middle East"

2004-10-08T10:21:00.000-04:00

The "EU's representative in the Middle East" has admited that Israel's security fence works: The EU's representative in the Middle East has conceded that the controversial wall being built by Israel in the West Bank has stopped Palestinian extremists from carrying out suicide attacks in Israel. His comments, made in an interview with Financial Times Deutschland, make him the first

Y S R Prasad and Ch Surender

2004-10-08T09:49:00.000-04:00

India wants the US to lift its sanctions against two Indian nuclear scientists: The US is "privately" handling India's request to lift sanctions imposed on two of its scientists for allegedly selling weapons and providing sensitive technology to Iran. The US is handling the issue of sanctions imposed on two of India's atomic scientists, Y S R Prasad and Ch Surender, both of whom had headed

"political and religious gatherings" banned

2004-10-08T09:46:00.000-04:00

Most "political and religious gatherings" are banned in Pakistan until further notcie: Pakistan on Thursday banned political and religious gatherings nationwide, except for Friday prayers, after two devastating attacks killed 70 people within a week. Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said the ban had been imposed to prevent further attacks. He did not say how long it would last.

Sadr wants to make another "deal"

2004-10-08T09:30:00.000-04:00

Sadr offers another "deal": A top aide to Muqtada Sadr said Thursday that militiamen loyal to the rebel cleric were willing to hand over their weapons as part of a peace initiative to end fighting in Baghdad's Sadr City slum. But he demanded in return that the fighters not be "persecuted" and that Sadr aides be released from U.S. custody. The proposed deal, which interim Prime Minister

Chirac to end arms ban on China

2004-10-07T10:05:00.000-04:00

Jacques Chirac wants to end the EU arms embargo on China: French President Jacques Chirac, in an interview released Thursday, repeated calls for a speedy end to a European Union ban on arms sales to China.The 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing which sparked the embargo was "another time", he said in an interview with China's state news agency Xinhua.Chirac's office released in Hanoi the

David C. Mulford offers FBI help

2004-10-07T09:27:00.000-04:00

The FBI has offered to help India find the terrorists who carried out recent bombings there: Delhi today said US ambassador David C. Mulford’s offer of FBI assistance to apprehend the perpetrators of the blasts in Nagaland and Assam was in accordance with the bilateral cooperation agreement on counter-terrorism.

Abu Amin

2004-10-07T09:24:00.000-04:00

Man apparently involved with killing a Hamas leader in Damascus is being held in Syria: Arabic-language newspapers have reported in recent days that a Palestinian man identified as "Abu Amin" has been detained for questioning in Syria, on the suspicion that he aided Israel in carrying out a car bombing in Damascus on September 26, in which senior Hamas militant Iz a Din al-Sheikh Khalil was

Assad

2004-10-07T09:19:00.000-04:00

Assad has a change of heart? Syrian President Bashar Assad is offering to make peace with Israel and says he is ready to cooperate with the United States in stabilizing Iraq, a former senior State Department official said Wednesday. "Something is going on in Syria and it is time for us to pay attention," said Martin Indyk, assistant secretary of state for the Near East and U.S. ambassador to

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

2004-10-06T10:21:00.000-04:00

Iran says that the US would not dare attack: Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here Tuesday that he was confident that experience has taught the United States not to dare to attack Iran. “We have no doubts that they (Israel and the U.S.) are our enemies and if they could, they would cause trouble in every possible way. But the understanding of the U.S. has reached such a

Taxing...

2004-10-06T10:17:00.000-04:00

Mohamed ElBaradei says that North Korea is taxing the world's patience. North Korea's two-year-old nuclear crisis has taxed the world's patience, the chief United Nations nuclear regulator said on Wednesday, urging communist Pyongyang to return to its disarmament treaty obligations. Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also said that there was no comparison

Brazil

2004-10-06T10:13:00.000-04:00

Powell says that he has no worries about Brazil: U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell declared Tuesday that the United States was confident that Brazil had no intentions of developing nuclear weapons despite the country's refusal to allow United Nations inspectors to examine key parts of a uranium enrichment facility. Powell said that Brazil's decision to block inspectors with the

"irregularities"

2004-10-06T10:08:00.000-04:00

Safire says that the "defeatists" should not be allowed to downplay the upcoming election in Afghanistan. Let's not be taken in when defeatists try to pooh-pooh the promise of this week's election in Afghanistan. Already the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe - more insecure and uncooperative than usual - has announced that it will refuse to declare this coming election to be

Vetoed

2004-10-06T09:36:00.000-04:00

The US vetoes another anti-Israel resolution at the UN: The United States on Tuesday vetoed a Security Council resolution calling on Israel to end its incursion in northern Gaza, saying it was "lopsided and imbalanced" and not useful in stopping violence in the Middle East. Eleven countries voted in favor of the resolution, which also demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza

Anti-communism rally

2004-10-05T10:05:00.000-04:00

100,000 attend an anti-communism rally aimed toward North Korea: About 100,000 South Koreans staged an anti-communist rally, clashing with police and burning North Korean flags to press their calls for an end to the Pyongyang regime and its purported nuclear arms programs. The rally at Seoul's City Hall plaza drew mostly elderly people, including Korean War veterans and Christians —

Taiwan "jittery"

2004-10-05T10:00:00.000-04:00

Taiwan is nervous about the EU possibly lifting its arms ban on China: Taiwan is getting jittery about a new push within the European Union to lift a 15-year embargo on weapons sales to China — the communist giant periodically threatening to attack this tiny democratic island. Taiwan officials argue that dropping the ban would shake up the delicate military balance in Asia and increase the

Troop reduction, 2008

2004-10-04T10:07:00.000-04:00

US troop reduction in South Korea will not be completed until 2008: The United States has agreed to delay a deadline for its planned troop reductions in South Korea until 2008 at the request of the Seoul government, a news report said Monday.The deadline was pushed back by three years under a tentative agreement to be announced this week, Seoul's Yonhap news agency said.The United States

"a technical error"

2004-10-04T10:04:00.000-04:00

Poland's defence minister claimed on Monday that Polish troops would pull out of Iraq by the end of 2005. Hours later, other Polish government members called the claim untrue: Poland's defence minister sparked confusion Monday by announcing that the country would pull its troops out of Iraq by the end of next year, only to be contradicted hours later by other top government figures.Defense

UK/India to have closer military relationship?

2004-10-04T09:58:00.000-04:00

The UK and India want to forge a closer military/defense relationship: Britain today said it wanted "closer" interaction with India on defence cooperation, combating terrorism and wanted New Delhi to have its due place in a re-structured United Nations. "My visit here is focused on developing a closer rapport with my Indian counterpart as well as formulating closer interaction with New Delhi

Threat

2004-10-04T09:55:00.000-04:00

Bomb threat on a Germany-US flight: A jumbo jet flying from Frankfurt to New York has been diverted to Manchester Airport following a bomb threat, police have said. The Singapore Airlines Boeing 747 landed shortly before 11am without a military escort. A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said the 293 passengers on board and 19 crew members were being taken off the aircraft by security

Putin's plan

2004-10-04T09:47:00.000-04:00

Opposition to Putin's plan is being vocalized: President Vladimir V. Putin may have cowed Russia's national political leadership with his plan to concentrate still more power in the Kremlin, but in regions of the country that stand to lose the most, he has inflamed fierce popular discontent. People in this region along the Volga denounced Mr. Putin's proposal to end direct elections of