August 2008

Key Taliban leader among 14 killed in Swat

Prominent Taliban leader Ali Bakht was among 14 militants killed during clashes with security forces in the Swat valley on Wednesday. Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan confirmed Bakht’s killing in the Dewlay area of Kabal tehsil. Locals said that the clash erupted when security forces razed the houses of Ali Bakht, his brother Ibrahim and two other militant commanders, upon which the militants attacked the troops. Locals said that the clash lasted for around five hours. Bakht was head of the Taliban committee holding negotiations with the NWFP government and a key aide of rebel cleric Mullah Fazlullah…….(Daily Times, 7 Aug 08)

Police defuse 80-kilogram bomb in Indian Kashmir

Srinagar, Kashmir - Police in India-administered Kashmir Thursday defused a large bomb planted on a road in a high-security area in the state capital Srinagar, officials said. The bomb was placed in a garbage bin near the road to the airport in the Hyderpora area which is used by civilians, senior officials and the military. ‘It was a powerful bomb weighing 80 kilograms which was programmed to be detonated by a cellular phone,’……(DPA, 7 Aug 08)

Forensic lab seeks US varsity help on terror mail

Hoping to get further insights into the threatening e-mail sent few minutes prior to the serial blasts in Ahmedabad, the city's forensic science laboratory has sought an opinion from an international university on the matter. "We have sent an e-mail to tapped Purdue University Cyber Forensics Lab seeking their opinion on wireless routers but without specifying any other details of the present case under investigation," Rukmini Krishnamurthy, director, Forensic Science Laboratory (Kalina ) said. The cyber forensic lab in Purdue is reputed to be one of the best in the world and their response was presently awaited……(Times of India, 7 Aug 08)

Iraq nets three women would-be bombers in anti-Qaeda sweep

Iraqi forces have arrested three women who were plotting suicide bombing missions against soldiers and police involved in a vast offensive against Al-Qaeda, officials said on Wednesday. In all, Iraqi forces have netted 483 suspects since the start of the operation in the troubled central province of Diyala against Al-Qaeda and Shiite rebels which was launched in late July, an official said. "Acting on information received, our forces uncovered three women in a house in Al-Saada who were preparing to carry out suicide attacks against our forces in the region,"…..(AFP, 6 Aug 08)

Indian state to create special intelligence cell to counter terror

Following the recent serial blasts in Ahmedabad, the government in the western Indian state of Gujarat has decided to set up a special intelligence force to combat terrorism. "The Gujarat government is constituting a unit for intelligence gathering across the state," top Gujarat government official Balwant Singh told Press Trust of India today at Ahmedabad. As many as 21 serial blasts rocked Ahmedabad, Gujarat's main city, on August 26, killing 55 and injuring nearly 200……(KUNA, 6 Aug 08)

India’s Security Agencies Struggle with Probe into Serial Bombings in Gujarat and Karnataka

Intelligence and crime investigation units from eight Indian states as well as three federal agencies - the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) - are busy sifting through evidence for clues to the group or groups involved in the terror attacks in Ahmedabad (the capital of Gujarat state) and Bengaluru (or Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka state) in the last week of July. The half dozen low-intensity blasts in Bengaluru on July 25, followed the next day by 16 blasts in Ahmedabad and the discovery of 22 live bombs with integrated circuits from the “Diamond City” of Surat, clearly show the involvement of a large network of local people (possibly including women and children) aiding the coalition of terror networks that has carried out attacks in different places in India over the past three years (Times of India, August 2). Indian intelligence officials have described for the author the existence of a wide network of supporters, including women, who are assisting the terror groups – one such group even maintains a women’s wing called Shaheen Force……(Jamestown, 5 Aug 08)

Afghanistan: $50 mln to coax farmers away from opium growing in south

The US overseas aid agency and the Afghan agriculture minister on Monday unveiled a 50 million dollar investment project to halt opium production in southern Helmand province.  The project is aimed at encouraging farmers in the province switch from opium to other crops. Part of the cash will be spent on a modern agricultural research centre and a new airport at Lashkar Gah - the first purely civilian-controlled airport in Helmand.  Over half of the world's opium was grown in Helmand in 2007. The joint US-Afghan project will give opium growers incentives to cultivate new crops such as pomegranates, pistachio nuts and almonds instead of poppies. A purpose-built processing centre at the new Lashkar Gah airport will enable the new crops to be properly stored and packaged……(AKI, 5 Aug 08)

Ninety-four militants, 14 troops killed in NW Pakistan

Pakistan's army killed 94 Islamist militants and lost 14 soldiers in fighting in the northwestern Swat valley in the past week and plans a major operation against the insurgents, a senior officer said on Monday. The ferocity of the clashes sounded the death knell for a peace deal between the government and militants seeking to impose Taliban-style Islamic law in the alpine valley that was once one of Pakistan's main tourist destinations.  "More troops are coming and we will launch a major operation and we will go after the militants in their strongholds," Brigadier Zia Bodla told journalists in Mingora, the main town in Swat…….(Reuters, 4 Aug 08)

US, UK, France urge more vigilance on Iran banks

Iran's central bank and other Iranian financial institutions are trying to skirt U.N. sanctions by covering their tracks and must be watched closely, Britain, the United States and France told key U.N. powers. In a letter to the U.N. Security Council circulated to reporters on Monday, the three Western allies warned of "Iran's continued attempts to conduct prohibited proliferation-related activity and terrorist financing."  The 15-nation Security Council has imposed three rounds of sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt sensitive nuclear enrichment activities, which Western states fear could be used to make atomic weapons…….(Reuters. 4 Aug 08)

US-trained Pakistani commandos to move into FATA

A Pakistani Special Service Group (SSG) unit, trained by Americans, is to be deployed in the Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan to take quick and effective action against insurgents. A report in the Los Angeles Times on Sunday said: “The Pakistani commando division, trained by the United States, is an elite special operations force similar to the [US] Army’s Special Forces, or Green Berets. Pakistan has been criticized for sending conventional troops who do not have training in the kind of guerrilla warfare techniques that US officials say are needed to fight the militants in the Tribal Areas. ‘The Americans tell us that they need action now,’ said a senior Pakistani official who was in Washington last week during Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s meetings with President [George W] Bush. Deployment of the special Pakistani force ‘will meet the American demand of immediate action’.”…..(Daily Times, 4 Aug 08)

German forces find huge weapons cache in Afghanistan

 The German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, have reportedly uncovered a huge cache of weapons in Afghanistan. Germany's Der Spiegel news magazine reports that more than 1,100 mortars, rocket propelled grenades and detonators have been found. The secret weapons depot was located about 120 km west of the Bundeswehr's field camp in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Germany's elite commando unit KSK was involved in the operation......(Deutsche Welle, 3 Aug 08)

Interpol Bureaucracy Stymies Terror Sleuths

Indian investigators are convinced terror attacks in the country, including last week’s blasts in Ahmedabad and Bangalore, are masterminded from Pakistan and Bangladesh. But every time they seek an Interpol ‘red corner’ notice so that the suspects are arrested wherever they are found, it is denied due to lack of “personal details”.
“We have clinching evidence that LeT, JeM and HuJI have formed a nexus and carrying out terror attack in the country. HuJI militants travel to LeT bases in Pakistan for training and in turn provide logistic support in Bangladesh territory,” a top intelligence official told IANS. “We strongly suspect that this nexus also involves SIMI and is using SIMI’s widespread network of nearly 20,000 activists to execute bombings in the country,”……(Gulf times, 1 Aug 08)

July 2008

Pakistan army shells Taliban positions to end control over TV booster

Pakistan army Tuesday pounded positions of Taliban who had seized booster of the state-run television in the country's tribal region, authorities said. Armed Taliban on Monday overrun booster of Pakistan television in Bajaur tribal area, which also interrupted the transmission. The local authorities had formed a jirga or council of tribal elders to hold talks with Taliban to end their occupation of the booster…..(Mathaba, 31 Jul 08)

Mumbai ATS arrest three in terror mail case

It is not just the 19 serial blasts, the whole terror operation is an example of meticulous planning -a combination of technological expertise and brute power to strike terror. Sending the threat mail from an unsecured connection was the first step towards creating mayhem in Ahmedabad. At Gunina CHS plot in Sanpada, Mumbai, an uninvited visitor frequently visited. He claimed to be an internet network professional. This was the same flat where a computer network had been hacked into by terrorists to send that terror mail just five minutes before the serial blasts triggered off in Ahmedabad. Investigations carried out by the Mumbai ATS and IB officials reveal that this uninvited visitor was a terror operative in disguise. The operative had tampered with the internet router in the building, made it insecure to allow terrorists to hack into it and send threat mail…..(Times, of India, 31 Jul 08)

Hyderabad police using CDs, phone messages to counter terrorism

From CDs on how to identify bombs to phone messages asking people to be vigilant, police here are coming out with novel ways to involve the common man in countering terrorism. Following last week’s blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, police have embarked on a campaign to alert masses through multi-lingual CDs, which are being distributed free of cost to business establishments. The “Voice Against Terrorism” CD in Telugu, English and Hindi, informing people about what measures to take to prevent terror attacks, will be played over the public adress systems of shopping malls, cinema halls, railway stations and bus stands……(IANS, 31 Jul 08)

Yemen: Arrests and warrants issued for suicide attack on police station

The police in Yemen have arrested 10 people and issued warrants for 12 others in connection with last week's suicide attack against a police station which killed two policemen and wounded at least 18 people. According to a report on the London-based Arabic language daily, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, local officials said that those detained had been investigated by local security forces in relation to a series of attacks in previous months in the region of Abin. The 12 fugitives are believed to be members of the al-Qaeda cell in Yemen and among them are two Arabs who are not Yemeni citizens….(AKI, 30 Jul 08)

Yemen terrorism: Soft approach to jihadists starts to backfire as poverty fuels extremism

…Yemen became an uneasy partner in George Bush's "war on terror" after 9/11, presaged by al-Qaida's bombing of the USS Cole in Aden in 2000, when 17 sailors died. Osama bin Laden's ancestral homeland has long had its own style of handling the men of violence - an Arabian "Sinatra doctrine", the joke goes. Now it has become a target for working with the west. "It is alarming," Abu Baker al-Qirbi, the Yemeni foreign minister, told the Guardian in his Sana'a office. "You can never predict when or where attacks will happen. Al-Qaida's tactic is to undertake these actions to prove that they are still there."…..(Guardian, 30 Jul 08)

NEFA: Aafia Siddiqui Documents Added
Several documents referencing Al-Qaida facilitator Aafia Siddiqui have been added to the NEFA website. Those historical documents have been released by the FBI, Special Court of Sierra Leone, Director of National Intelligence, and federal prosecutors……(NEFA, 29 Jul 08)

U.S. should lead the way in establishing a global anti-terrorism body

… When it comes to building and sustaining a global commitment to combating terrorism, the prescription must include filling a gaping hole by establishing an international anti-terrorism body that would provide a forum for the U.S. to engage, in a sustained manner, with its traditional and nontraditional allies on a wide range of issues related to tackling terrorism worldwide.
During and after the Cold War, the international community recognized that a cooperative approach was needed to address urgent global security problems more effectively. This led to the establishment of a number of organizations that advance shared goals and serve as centers of technical expertise, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency. As the world approaches the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, transnational terrorist networks and homegrown terrorists continue to pose serious challenges to international peace and security.

While several piecemeal efforts have been made, a serious, coordinated global response to deal with the threat of terrorism still has not materialized…..(Baltimore Sun, 29 Jul 08)

Watching The Black Holes

The CIA is having a hard time monitoring nine ungoverned areas around the area, and that's a big deal in the intel world. These "black holes" are ideal hiding places for Islamic terrorists, and some have been found in many of these lawless areas. The most well known black hole is the tribal areas (Pushtun and Baluchi) along the Pakistan-Afghan border. This place, like most black holes, has been one for thousands of years. Alexander the Great spoke (well, complained, actually) about it 2,400 years ago… All these areas get a lot of attention from spy satellites and high flying reconnaissance aircraft. But, as the saying goes, you really have to be there, on the ground, to get an effective feel for the place. And even then, the best you can do is observe. Going in is a major military exercise, even if it's only with commandos……(Strategy Page, 29 Jul 08)

TN intelligence wing busts terror module

After Bangalore and Ahmedabad, Chennai could have almost witnessed blasts in the heart of the city, had alert Tamil Nadu intelligence officials not busted a terror module. The breakthrough has come as a reassurance to people in the state, who have been in panic mode since the serial explosions in two other cities. It was a big catch for Tamil Nadu`s intelligence wing. The arrest of 39 year old Abdul Gafoor in Tirunelveli, has revealed a plot to plant bombs at one of Chennai`s most prominent landmarks, the Gemini flyover. The city`s arterial roads converge at this junction, which is also right next to the American Consulate. The conspiracy was hatched at the Puzhal prison on the outskirts of Chennai by a hard-core Jihadi inmate Ali Abdullah. Trained in Pakistan in 1997 to assemble improvised explosive devices, Abdullah has been in jail from 2003 for causing eight explosions on trains in Tamil Nadu and murdering an Imam in Chennai…..(ND TV, 29 Jul 08)

Israel Backtracks on Charity Raids

It appears a low-ranking Israeli officer overstepped his authority when he ordered the closure of the Nablus Shopping Mall in the northern West Bank earlier in July on the grounds it had ties with Hamas. The officer also ordered the closure of a number of other Islamic charities and businesses, while mosques were raided. However, following protests from international aid organizations and opposition from some senior military officers, the mall was recently given permission to reopen…..(Middle East Times, 29 Jul 08)

Petrol bombs found underneath Indonesia train

Police have launched an investigation after a cache of up to 10 petrol bombs was found stashed underneath a train heading to the Indonesian capital Jakarta, officials said on Tuesday. The petrol bombs were detected on the executive train after it had departed the West Java city of Cirebon, 225 km (140 miles) from Jakarta on Tuesday morning. "There were at least nine bottles with wicks and wrapped in black plastic attached to the train," said Suhartono…..(Reuters, 29 Jul 08)

Afghan TV journalist is detained

The authorities in Afghanistan have detained a prominent journalist after the broadcast of a documentary which was critical of members of the cabinet. Mohammad Nasir Fayyaz was detained, released and has now contacted the BBC to say he is in detention again. Mr Fayyaz is the presenter of an investigative program called The Truth, which recently strongly criticized two government ministries. Officials say they are "working hard" to secure his release…..(BBC, 29 Jul 08)

Fatah arrests pro-Hamas students, lecturers in W. Bank

Security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction arrested dozens of Hamas activists, including university lecturers, in the occupied West Bank on Monday, Hamas sources said. Tensions between the factions spiked after a bombing in the Gaza Strip killed five Hamas militants and a girl on Friday. Hamas responded by launching its biggest crackdown on Fatah in Gaza since the Islamist group's armed takeover of the coastal territory a year ago. Fatah hit back with arrests in the West Bank, where it still holds sway……(Reuters, 28 Jul 08)

Police nab suspected southern insurgents

Two suspected insurgents, one believed to be involved in the killings of State Railway of Thailand workers abroad a train in June and earlier involved in the brutal attack on a woman teacher in 2006, were detained Monday morning by a combined police and military in Narathiwat Province. Police detained Duerapa Je-uma, 24 - suspected of being the leader of a group of gunmen from the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) insurgent group - who was apprehended during a raid on a house in Rangae district. Three mobile phones, modified to set off explosive devices, were seized……(Bangkok Post, 28 Jul 08)

India needs stringent laws to encounter terrorism

Considering the approaching Independence Day and the increasing number of terrorist attacks, security has been beefed up all over the country, particularly in major towns which have always been on top of the militants' hit-list, followed by a number of consecutive bomb explosions in two states that rocked the entire country on Friday and Saturday. State Governments have been said to be alert and augment the espionage system in the entire State. The alert by the Centre had been issued on Friday soon after the Bangalore blasts, but despite that, within 24 hrs second serial blasts, this time in Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat, a more powerful and highly intensified one, stunned the entire country……(News Track India, 28 Jul 08)

'Probe into UK charities funding terrorism in India'

An umbrella organization representing over 300 Hindu outfits in the UK on Sunday appealed to the government to probe into reports about British charities suspected of sending funds to terrorist groups in Pakistan that have been launching attacks against India. The appeal by Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) comes in the wake of serial bombings in Gujarat in which at least 45 people were killed. The HFB requested Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to order a probe into reports of British charities sending funds to Pakistan-based terrorist groups….(Economic Times, 27 Jul 08)

Turkish warplanes bomb PKK targets in Iraq

Turkish warplanes on Sunday bombed 12 Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq, the military said.  The fighter jets attacked the rebel targets on Mount Qandil, on the Iraqi-Iranian border, where the rebel leadership is believed to be based, the military said in a statement posted on its official Web site.  All planes returned to their bases safely and the military was working to determine possible rebel casualties in the raids that began at midnight….(AP, 27 Jul 08)

Empowering “Soft” Taliban Over “Hard” Taliban: Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy

The phenomenal rise of various Pakistani Taliban militant groups since 2004 and subsequent militant activities in both Pakistan and Afghanistan have surprised many. In a short span of nearly three years, the Pakistani Taliban threat has developed into a considerable political and security challenge to both Pakistan and Afghanistan. The presence of figures from al-Qaeda’s senior leadership and other foreign militant groups in the North Waziristan Agency, South Waziristan Agency and Bajaur Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan has provided enormous support to various Pakistani Taliban groups in the shape of ideological, strategic, tactical and logistical assistance, particularly in the development of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and suicide bombings.……(Jamestown, 25 Jul 08)

Top Al-Qaeda leadership apprehended in Hangu, Bara operations: Malik

Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman A Malik said on Friday said upto 40 commanders of Al-Qaeda including Amjad and Rafi had been arrested during operations in Hangu and Bara, while 17 security personnel embraced martyrdom. Malik was talking to journalist at Chaklala Air Base while seeing off the Foreign Minister of United Arab Emirates.  Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah was also present. The Advisor said government would go for negotiations to sort out problems of FATA, but he cautioned of stern actions should peace deals done between NWFP Government and tribals fail. He said operation in Hangu, which was meant for establishing writ of the State there, was conducted on the request of NWFP Government. Malik told that he during his visit upcoming visit to USA would discuss strategies against terrorism. He dispelled the impression that the UAE Foreign Minister came to Pakistan for any kind of reconciliation.......(AP Pakistan, 25 July 08)

Pope: Al-Milki, we condemn terrorism

Benedict XVI and the Iraqi prime minister, Al-Maliki have today expressed a 'joint condemnation' for terrorism and ethnic and religious discrimination. This was said by the prime minister to journalists after a meeting which lasted 20 minutes with the Pope at Castelgandolfo. The Popes worry about the difficult living conditions of Christians in Iraq is well known, and he follows events on a daily basis. Today's meeting took place, according to a spokesperson for the Vastican, Father Federico Lombardi, in a "calm environment". Al-Maliki, who was accompanied by seven dignitaries, met with the secretary of state Tarcisio Bertone. This meeting lasted 45 minutes and was also attended by the secretary for relations with foreign states, Mons. Dominique Mamaberti and the foreign minister for Iraq. In both meetings it was necessary to have an Arabic interpreter. The prime minister have a silver palm to the Pope, a symbol of peace. The Pope's gift was a commemorative pen of the 500 years since the constriction of the Basilica of Saint Peter's........ (AGI, 25 July 08)

Austria arrests 3 members of terrorist organization PKK under charges of human trafficking and forgery

Terrorist organization PKK, which recently intensified acts of human trafficking, drug smuggling and collecting rakeoff in order to raise funds, was busted in Austria while trafficking illegal migrants. Three members of the terrorist organization PKK were arrested in Austria under charges of human trafficking and forgery. Security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AA on Thursday that Austrian police stopped a van on a highway in the city of Offenberg and arrested three PKK members who were helping 9 illegal migrants cross into the country. Illegal migrants were deported and the three suspects were arrested. The suspects sought asylum in Austria in the past but were rejected on the grounds that they were related to the terrorist organization PKK, sources said. The suspects will also be prosecuted for posters and t-shirts of PKK, which were found in the van....... (Turkish Press, 24 July 08)

Panel urges UN to consider anti-terrorism agency

Swiss-led, five-nation panel proposed Thursday that the United Nations assert itself as leader of a global fight against terrorism and establish a new agency or program to coordinate that effort. U.N. ambassadors from Costa Rica, Japan, Slovakia, Switzerland and Turkey suggested that the U.N. General Assembly create an agency for counterterrorism along the lines of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. It also recommended that the U.N. assist counterterrorism officials from individual nations in promoting "a human rights-based approach to counterterrorism" that disdains torture and preserves prisoners' rights. The panel, launched by the Swiss U.N. mission in November, is an attempt to involve more of the General Assembly's 192 member nations in fighting terrorism. It also seeks to shift some of the emphasis away from military or police work and onto grappling with interrelated social, economic and health factors.......(AP, 24 July 08)

Bush uses anti-terror funds to strengthen Pakistan air force

The Bush administration faced congressional criticism today for diverting funds from Pakistan's faltering fight against the Taliban and al-Qaida to pay for upgrades of the US-built F-16 combat planes. Against a backdrop of increased violence in Afghanistan, much of it originating with Taliban and al-Qaida forces based in Pakistan's north-west border region, members of Congress questioned how the switch in funds to the attack planes, intended mainly as a counter to the Indian air force, would contribute to quelling the insurgency. The White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino, today insisted the F-16s had a role in counterterrorism operations. "The F-16s that they have are used in counterterrorism operations," Perino said. "We made them available to the Pakistanis and they need to be maintained."......,(Guardian, 24 July 08)

Move beyond lip service against terrorism– FM tells ARF

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama accompanied by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa participated in the high level segment of Ministerial sessions at the 15th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Singapore yesterday, at which he was joined by ministerial colleagues from the US, Russia, China, Japan, Australia and South Korea, among the other 27 member states. The discussions touched on issues including counter terrorism and trans- national crime, disaster relief, disarmament, maritime security, cyber security and cyber terrorism. Intervening in the deliberations, Minister Bogollagama highlighted the importance of the international community closing ranks and moving beyond the rhetoric of merely paying lip service in combating terrorism, by taking meaningful and tangible action against terrorist organizations and their fronts operating under various innocuous guises....... (Daily Mirror, 25 July 08)

‘NATO has right to hit back Pakistan militants’

NATO will not enter Pakistan to hunt the Taliban insurgents but reserves the right to hit the militants if they attack alliance troops across the border in Afghanistan, NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer said on Thursday. The existence of extremist sanctuaries is unacceptable and Pakistan should be a part of the “regional approach” to eliminate the global threat of terrorism, he said......(Daily Times, 25 July 08)

Alleged participant in Andijon riots to be extradited from Russia

Employees of the FSB [Russian Federal Security Service] in Krasnoyarsk Region have detained a member of the extremist organization Akromilar, which is connected with the international terrorist organization Hezb-e Tahrir. The detained man is an Uzbek citizen, Murod Yuldashev, who has been on the international wanted list for a long time, Stella Alekseyeva, the press secretary of the Krasnoyarsk Region Directorate of the FSB, told Interfax-Sibir agency. "According to the information of Uzbekistan's law-enforcement agencies, in May 2005 Yuldashev took part in an armed rebellion and mass riots in the town of Andijon and participated in seizing the building of Andijon district administration. He is a member of an extremist organization, Akromilar, which is connected with the international terrorist organization Hezb-e Tahrir," Alekseyeva said. She also said that in Uzbekistan the detained man was accused of terrorism, subversive activity, murder and mass riots. Yuldashev was hiding from criminal prosecution on the territory of the Russian Federation......(iStockAnalyst, 25 July 08)

China creates Fortress Beijing

THE Chinese Government is unleashing the equivalent of Mao Zedong's "people's warfare" against potential troublemakers who may spoil the Beijing Olympic Games as its great showcase. Its pre-Olympic focus on security was underlined by Thursday night's announcement by Shanghai Public Security deputy director Chen Jiulong that authorities had foiled a terrorist cell plotting attacks on Olympic football matches in the city - where Australia is scheduled to play Serbia on August 7. Mr. Chen gave no details of the identity of members of the cell, what they had planned or when the authorities had acted. But, he said, "the threat of terrorist attacks is still present"........ (The Australian, 26 July 08)

NATO chief says Pakistan terror sanctuaries not acceptable

The NATO chief called Thursday for Pakistan to be more involved in tackling extremist bases on its soil, as Afghanistan was hit by new attacks with at least 34 Taliban bodies found after one battle. NATO was concerned by a spike in terror attacks but would not enter Pakistan to hunt down militants based there, the alliance's Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer also told reporters in Kabul. Scheffer was visiting amid high tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan over the violence, including the bombing of the Indian embassy here this month that Kabul has directly blamed on its neighbour's intelligence agency........ (AFP, 24 July 08)

Olmert gov't to hold first meeting on global jihad

The security cabinet is to discuss Wednesday morning the threat of global jihad on Israel, the first time the Olmert cabinet has debated this issue thoroughly. The ministers will hear reports by the Mossad, the Shin Bet security service and Military Intelligence focusing on Al-Qaida and affiliated cells operating against Israeli targets and Jewish targets around the world. Terrorist infrastructure and organizations motivated by Al-Qaida have recently proliferated and gained strength in the region........(Ha’aertz, 23 July 08)

Israel eyes spread of al-Qaida

Ehud Olmert ordered Israel's intelligence services to step up cooperation in the global fight against al-Qaida.The prime minister convened his security Cabinet Wednesday to discuss the recent arrests of Israeli Arabs and Jerusalem Palestinians on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks on behalf of al-Qaida, the international Sunni Islamic terrorist network. "Global Jihad elements are utilizing civilian infrastructures, such as the Internet and information transfer technologies, to coordinate, recruit and operate terrorists," Olmert's office said in a statement after the discussions, using Israel's generic term for Osama bin Laden's network and followers.The Prime Minister's Office said Olmert instructed the head of military intelligence, the Mossad and the Shin Bet "to continue their information-gathering and counter-terrorism efforts while coordinating with additional countries that are partners in the war on terrorism.".......(JTA, 23 July 08)

Pakistani spy chiefs to attend briefing on FATA, terrorism

An important meeting of the four-party coalition partners will be held under Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani on Wednesday. Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani and heads of all intelligence agencies will also participate in the meeting. Prime Minster Gillani said that he would try to resolve the issue along with leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, Awami National Party, the armed forces and tribal elders. "We will involve them in process to eliminate terrorism and miscreants from the tribal areas," he said. It is pertinent to mention here that after forming the coalition government, the army chief had briefed the political leaders about the situation, but later on when the armed action was launched in the Khyber Agency, the PML-N and other coalition parties criticized the PPP........(The Post, 23 July 08)

Asian nations agree to form fund against terrorism

Foreign ministers from Japan and other Asian countries agreed Tuesday to set up a 3-million-dollar fund to finance measures to fight terrorism and reduce poverty in the region. The accord was reached at a meeting of foreign ministers from the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their three dialogue partners--Japan, China and South Korea. Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said that establishing diplomatic ties between Japan and North Korea by solving the issue of Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese nationals is essential for peace and security in the region.......(iStock Analyst, 22 July 08)

Terror focus on Pakistan

Australia has offered to help train Pakistani troops in counter-insurgency operations as part of a broader strategy for victory in Afghanistan. Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon told The Age that in his recent talks in the United States he found a new determination to "up the ante" on the diplomatic front with Pakistan. He told US Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte they should feel free to approach Australia about ways it could help in Pakistan. He said Australian military instructors would not be sent to Pakistan's dangerous border areas where they would need their own protection, as happens in Afghanistan."We're not talking about engaging in a military campaign and I'm certainly not talking about sending trainers to areas where force protection would be necessary," he said. "But if there's an opportunity to provide advice and guidance, for example, on counter-insurgency campaigns, we may be in a position to do it."......(The Age, 23 July 08)

Nine ETA suspects arrested, cell dismantled

Spanish police on Tuesday arrested nine suspected members of Basque separatist group ETA, dismantling its most active cell blamed for a string of bomb attacks and killing a civil guard, the interior minister said. Paramilitary police broke into the apartment of suspected cell leader Arkaitz Goikoetxea, 28, early on Tuesday in the northern city of Bilbao, seizing two handguns and false documents, Interior Minister Alfredo Rubalcaba said. Goikoetxea was one of the most wanted men in Spain. The eight others arrested, most in their early twenties, had no criminal record and were working secretly for ETA while leading apparently normal lives, Rubalcaba said. "We can't say this is the only ETA cell, but it was the most active, the most daring and the most wanted," Rubalcaba told a news conference......(Reuters, 22 July 08)

Turkish PM vows to continue to fight against terror

Turkey's fight against terror would continue with same determination and sensitivity, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told on Tuesday at his party's group meeting. Turkey would not neglect the fight against terror and wouldn't be lazy on this matter, he told at the group meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the parliament. Erdogan said acts, like abduction of three German climbers by outlawed PKK separatists in eastern Turkey last week, help the westerners see the real face of the PKK, adding he hopes that similar incidents urge the westerners to be more sensitive to what we say on terror.The PKK held three German climbers hostage in eastern Turkey for more than a week before it released them on Sunday. The outlawed separatists said they took the Germans hostage to protest a German crackdown on supporters of the PKK. "Within our fight against the terrorist organization, we have rendered ineffective 44 terrorists in July. During the operations in the same period, we have lost one commissioned officer, one non-commissioned officer and five privates," he was quoted by the state run Anatolian Agency. "Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) showed that it can stage operations against terrorists under extremely cold weather conditions as well as hot ones," he added."The fight against terror would continue with the same determination and sensitivity. It is out of the question to neglect the fight against terrorists," Erdogan said......(Hurriyet, 22 July 08)

Sri Lankan raid on Tamil rebel base kills 22 suicide bombers

Sri Lankan jets raided a rebel camp in the northern region of Uddayarkattukulam, killing 22 Tamil Tiger suicide bombers, the Sri Lankan Defense Ministry said.  The group of slain members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was rehearsing a ``major suicide operation'' at the time of the attack, air force spokesman Janaka Nanayakkara said in a statement posted on the ministry Web site......(Bloomberg, 22 July 08)

COAS for enhanced special operations to fight terrorism

Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Tuesday said that special operations form an integral and key part of the strategy to fight terrorism. It is therefore, essential to optimize its current potential and to enhance its capabilities. This was stated by him while witnessing troops engaged in training activities near Tarbela, said an ISPR press release issued here today. On a day-long trip to the Special Services Group, he was briefed in detail about all aspects relating to operational capabilities of Special Services Group. The Chief of Army Staff also saw troops engaged in extensive and rigorous training. He took special interest in the specialized equipment being used by these troops. He also met with troops injured during recent operations and inquired about their health and welfare......(AP Pakistan, 22 July 08)

White House says President Bush, PM Gilani to hold wide-ranging talks

The White House Monday said President George Bush and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gailani will hold wide-ranging talks on bilateral cooperation during the Pakistani leader’s visit next week. Press Secretary Dana Perino said the two leaders will discuss cooperation in different areas including counterterrorism at their meeting on July 28. The United States and Pakistan cooperate in a vast array of fields including trade, economic development, education, democratic development, and science and technology under their strategic partnership. “The President and Prime Minister Gilani have a lot of issues to talk about, and certainly the FATA region will be one of them and cooperation in counterterrorism, that will be the first priority in the agenda,” Perino said at the daily briefing.......(AP Pakistan, 22 July 08)

Police arrest 39 members of Egypt's banned Muslim Brotherhood group

Egyptian police say they've arrested nearly 40 members of the country's largest opposition group, the banned Muslim Brotherhood.  A police official says 39 men were arrested Monday during a raid on a camp north of Cairo. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the matter.  The official says the men were training to "revive" the outlawed group.….(AP. 21 Jul 08)

Terrorism Police Are Investigating Theft of Explosives in France

The French antiterrorism police are investigating after 62 pounds of explosives were stolen from a security services bomb disposal depot at Corbas, near Lyon, the police said Friday. France’s interior minister, Michèle Alliot-Marie, said in a statement that the theft stemmed from “known failings within the site’s own security,” adding that the site chief had been “immediately suspended” and a full inquiry ordered. One official said that plastic explosives, almost certainly Semtex, had been taken from the depot along with detonators…..(AFP, 19 Jul 08)

Egypt Finds Weapons Cache In Town Near Gaza Border

Egyptian authorities discovered a weapons cache Friday, a day after two tunnels used by smugglers were found in the Sinai desert close to the border with the Gaza Strip, a security official said. "Authorities discovered a large quantity of munitions, 20 anti-tank mines and shells in a disused cemetery in the town of Sheikh Zoweid, around 15 kilometers from the border," the official said. Automatic weapons were also recovered at the site, which was discovered following a tip-off from a Bedouin……(AFP, 18 Jul 08)

U.S. seeks asset freeze on al Qaeda-linked Algerians

The U.S. Treasury moved to freeze assets on Thursday of four Algerians it said were leaders of an al Qaeda-affiliated group responsible for deadly bombings in Algeria last month. The Treasury said in a statement that the men -- Salah Gasmi, Yahia Djouadi, Ahmed Deghdegh, and Abid Hammadou -- are leaders of al Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb, which has claimed responsibility for attacks in Algeria.  Two bombs exploded at a railway station east of Algiers on June 8, killing 12 people including a French national and eight Algerian soldiers. The Treasury said the attack was among three bombings carried out by the group in early June…..(Reuters, 18 Jul 08)

Israel makes arrests in alleged plot against Bush

Israel accused six Arabs on Friday of trying to set up an al Qaeda cell in Israel and said one of them had proposed attacking helicopters used during a visit by President George W. Bush.  Israel's Shin Bet counter-intelligence agency said one of the suspects had used his mobile phone to film helicopters at a sports stadium in Jerusalem that was used as a landing site for Bush's delegation. The suspect then posted queries on Web sites frequented by al Qaeda operatives, asking for guidance on how to shoot down the helicopters….(Reuters, 18 Jul 08)

Woman would-be suicide bomber caught in Afghanistan

Police arrested a woman and a 13-year-old child they alleged were suicide bombers planning to kill a provincial governor in central Afghanistan, officials said Friday.  The pair were arrested late Thursday as they were fixing explosives to themselves behind the governor's residence in Ghazni…..(AFP, 18 Jul 08)

Afghan secret service alerted India on terror cell

Afghanistan’s secret service, the Riyast-e-Amniyat-i-Milli, provided precision intelligence on the jihadist cell which executed last week’s bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul, highly placed government sources have told The Hindu.  RAM notified its Indian counterparts that an attack on the embassy in Kabul was imminent as early as June 23. Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence Directorate, it said, had instructed Afghanistan-based jihadists to execute an attack on the Indian mission. Based on the available intelligence, RAM said that it expected the terrorist cell to execute a fidayeen (suicide squad) attack, which would use explosives to breach defences at the front gate of the Indian embassy……(Hindu, 17 Jul 08)

The War on Financing Terrorism

The war on financing terrorism: Defense Minister Ehud Barak signed an order outlawing 36 global “Union of Good” Islamic funds which raise money for Hamas institutions in the Palestinian Authority-administered territories. The money supports Hamas in building a political alternative to the PA and maintain a terrorism-supporting system.

Part of a document seized by the IDF in Operation Defensive Shield (2002): the Union of Good table lists the names of suicide bombers who carried out mass-casualty attacks against the Israeli population. The document was used for arranging payments to the terrorists’ families through the Hamas-affiliated Islamic “charitable society” Al-Tadhamun in Nablus….(Right Side, 15 Jul 08)

Thailand uses 're-education' to fight Muslim separatists

Thailand's army is increasingly using controversial "re-education" camps to indoctrinate young Muslim men in the hope of stopping them from joining a bloody insurgency, officials and activists say.  Detained suspects in Thailand's southernmost provinces have been forced to go through re-education programs since the separatist conflict erupted four years ago in Muslim-majority provinces along the Malaysian border.  Last year the government's efforts to force men to attend the camps -- which could include lessons on anything from Thai history to job training -- ended up in court…..(AFP, 16 Jul 08)

US Navy: 30 tons of narcotics seized in Gulf, cutting off possible funds for Afghan insurgents

Coalition warships seized 30 tons of narcotics over five months on Gulf patrols, cutting off possible funds for insurgents in Afghanistan, the U.S. Navy said in a statement on Tuesday.  The Navy said the drug busts along the region's so called "Hash Highway" in the Persian Gulf were largely due to successful operations of the U.K. Royal Navy. Its marines and sailors intercepted 70 percent of the total narcotics haul.  Drugs seized over five months included hashish, opiates, cocaine and amphetamines……(AP, 15 Jul 08)

Britain bans military wing of Hezbollah

British lawmakers voted Tuesday to include the military wing of Lebanese-based group Hezbollah to Britain's list of banned terrorist organizations, charging it supported terror activities in Iraq and the Palestinian territories.  The action by the House of Commons would make it a crime to join or support the military wing of the radical group, which fought a bloody month-long conflict with Israel two years ago.  Britain's minister in charge of fighting terrorism Tony McNulty charged that the movement was linked to insurgent groups in Iraq that had attacked coalition soldiers…..(AP, 15 Jul 08)

China Says Breaks Up 12 Terrorist Cells In Far West

Chinese forces in Kashgar in the restive far western region of Xinjiang have so far this year broken up 12 overseas-based terrorist cells, a report on a government website said on Wednesday.  The report, carried on www.china.com.cn and citing Kashgar's deputy Communist Party boss Huang Sanping, named the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and Hizb ut-Tahrir as two of the groups involved.  The East Turkestan Islamic Movement was listed by the United Nations as a terrorist group in 2002 and has links to al Qaeda. But Hizb ut-Tahrir, which says its goal is to establish a pan-national Islamic state, denies espousing violence…..(Reuters, 15 Jul 08)

U.S. official in Italy on anti-Iran tour

A U.S. official began a European tour on Tuesday aimed at lobbying American allies against doing business with Iran, which Washington accuses of bankrolling terrorism.  The U.S. Treasury Department's Stuart Levey met with officials at Italy's central bank, foreign ministry and treasury ministry.  He was scheduled to fly to Spain later in the day, then to travel to France.  Levey was making his seventh visit to Italy, which, with traditionally good relations with Tehran, is Iran's leading trading partner in the European Union……(AP, 15 Jul 08)

Bill to strip citizenship of terror collaborators

A bill which would allow the minister of interior to revoke the Israeli citizenship from anyone found guilty of violating their national allegiance will soon be brought before the Knesset for its final readings. The Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee approved the bill's formulation on Monday, making it ready for its second and third Knesset readings…..(YNet, 14 Jul 08)

Sri Lanka tightens mobile phone use to fight terrorism

Sri Lanka on Saturday tightened mobile phone regulations and forced service providers to maintain full details of phone users as part of anti-terrorism moves. Phone operators were told to check the identity of subscribers before signing them up, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission chief Priyantha Kariyapperuma said. New and current subscribers also need to keep a certified copy of the letter issued by the operator for inspection by police and military, in order to prove the ownership of the phone connection…..(Daily Times, 14 Jul 08)

Ethiopia says arrests 8 bombers

Ethiopia says it has arrested eight "Eritrean-trained" rebels suspected of carrying out bombings that rocked the capital Addis Ababa and killed eight people earlier this year. A statement by security chiefs late on Saturday said the attacks were sponsored by arch-foe Asmara "and implemented by its stooges in Ethiopia, the self-proclaimed Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)."…..(Reuters, 13 Jul 08)

U.S. Aid Was a Key to Hostage Rescue in Colombia

The United States played a more elaborate role in the events leading up to this month’s rescue operation of 15 hostages in the Colombian jungle than had been previously acknowledged, including the deployment of more than 900 American military personnel members to Colombia earlier this year in efforts to locate the hostages, according to an official briefed on these efforts. At one point in the first three months of 2008, the number of American military personnel members in Colombia passed the limit of 800 established by law, but a legal loophole in the United States allowed the authorities to go above that level since the service members, including more than 40 members of the Special Operations forces……(New York Times, 13 Jul 08)

US helicopters bombard Pakistani tribal area, wound eight soldiers

At least Pakistani eight soldiers were wounded in a US-led coalition force bombardment in the country's border tribal area…The latest incident of territorial violation took place in Angorada area of the South Waziristan tribal agency.  According to security sources, the US-led coalition troops were conducting an operation in the Bermal area of Afghanistan against Taliban militants when more than a dozen mortar shells fell inside Pakistani territory Thursday night……(KUNA, 11 Jul 08)

Citizen arrested for recruiting jihadists

Security officials disclosed that a citizen has been referred to the public prosecutor. They said the man, identified only as MA has been charged with encouraging, mobilizing and recruiting young and impressionable youths to fight US forces in Afghanistan.  The State Security ordered the suspect to be referred to the public prosecutor, where he admitted to recruiting five other citizens who had already left for Afghanistan to engage in jihadist activities. He also confessed to providing the recruits with the sufficient funds required for travel to Afghanistan via Iranian territories. Some of those who traveled to Afghanistan have returned to Kuwait, he added……(Kuwait Times, 11 Jul 08)

Indonesia raises alert for terrorism attacks

Despite a string of successes against allies of Al Qaeda, Indonesia is on alert for fresh attacks as it hunts an escaped extremist and braces for possible retaliation if it carries out the execution of three men convicted in a 2002 bombing. (LA Times, 9 July 08)

Japan: Text of G8 Statement on Counter-Terrorism

"We, the leaders of the G8, condemn in the strongest terms all acts of terrorism, and commit ourselves to take every possible measure to counter this threat to the international community. We have taken cooperative actions against terrorism, particularly in successive G8 Summits since 2001, including strengthening the role of the United Nations, improving information sharing, and combating the financing of terrorism, strengthening the security of land, sea, and air transport, undertaking measures for better control of Man- Portable Air Defence Systems, and launching the Secure and Facilitated International Travel Initiative. Still, terrorism remains one of the most serious threats affecting all countries and peoples in the world.” (Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website, 9 July 08)

Israeli troops raid, shut down Islamic charity facilities

Israeli troops are shutting down facilities of an Islamic charity in the West Bank town of Nablus. The military says the charity is a front for the militant Hamas movement. It was the second straight day of sweeps against Hamas-affiliated charities. The military said the target Tuesday was the Islamic Charity Movement……(AP, 8 Jul 08)

Israel bans British group over links to Hamas

Israel has banned the British Interpal organization from continuing its operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, claiming it has financial links to Hamas.  Interpal, also known as the Palestinian Relief and Development Fund, was designed in 1994 with the stated aim of alleviating the needs of Palestinians in a number of countries including Israel, Jordan and Lebanon.  Since 1996, however, it has faced questions from Israel and the US about its funding network and alleged connections to the Islamists. In 1997, it was labeled an "unlawful organization" by Israel and as a "specifically designated global terrorist" grouping by America in 2003…..(Times Online, 8 Jul 08)

Iraq arrests ministry staff on charges of affiliation with Al-Qaeda

Iraqi Special Forces arrested three employees of the Iraqi Ministry of Science and Technology on charges of affiliation with Al-Qaeda's network in the country, the US Army reported Tuesday. An Army statement said the arrests came on Sunday upon orders of the Interior Ministry and that the three employees worked in the ministry's Risafa headquarters…..(KUNA, 8 Jul 08)

42 day detention will be 'recruiting sergeant for al-Qaida', says peer

Many police chiefs are opposed to the government's plans for 42-day pre-charge detention, a former chief inspector of constabulary said today. Crossbench peer Lord Dear said that the government's plans, which were approved last month by MPs by a majority of just nine, would prove "a recruiting sergeant in the field for al-Qaida". The peer issued a statement in advance of tomorrow's debate on the counter-terrorism bill in the House of Lords. It will be the first time peers have debated the 42-day proposal and, although the Lords will not vote tomorrow, the debate will give some indication of how much opposition there is among peers to the government's plans…..(Guardian, 7 Jul 08)

Lord West keynote speech-- Conference on Homeland & Border Security

The protection and security of the UK is always on my mind. Over the past year as Minister for Security and CT in the Home Office I have been hugely impressed by the hard work and dedication of the men and women in our police and security services and of the many others - in government, private and voluntary sectors - who contribute to the safety of the UK and the wider international community. Countering Terrorism is not just about the work of the police, security service and intelligence agencies - it relies on everyone to play their part……(eGov Monitor, 7 Jul 08)

Political dimensions of counter-terrorism

The PPP government cannot expect support on counter-terrorism and related issues from major political parties and groups without reciprocating with accommodating gestures on their concerns and demands. The recently initiated security operation in Bara and Jamrud areas of Khyber Agency represents a shift in the Government of Pakistan’s disposition towards the tribal areas. While not abandoning the dialogue option, the government has decided to contain militancy in Khyber Agency because it threatened the road link to Afghanistan and challenged peace and stability in and around Peshawar……(Daily Times, 6 Jul 08)

Alleged of planning to join Al-Qaeda fiefs in Algeria and Iraq

Morocco counterterrorism police has managed dismantling yesterday a terror network made up of 35 elements specialized in recruiting volunteers to join Al-Qaeda branches in Algeria and Iraq. Rabat security services assumed that the abovementioned network managed recruiting 30 volunteers, while being charged of planning committing terror attacks in Algeria and Iraq…….(El Khabar, 3 Jul 08)

Indonesian police discover bombs, arrest terrorism suspects

…The first arrests were on June 28, which led police to a house where up to 20 bombs were found in the roof, according to the Kompas newspaper. The report describes 16 of the "high explosives" as being "ready to use" and "even more sophisticated" than those made by Jemaah Islamiah's (JI) master bomb-maker Dr Azahari Husin, who was killed during a raid in 2005. Kompas reports that police say the men are linked to JI and that one of the arrested men is a Singaporean who trained in Afghanistan and met Osama bin Laden……(ABC, 3 Jul 08)

9 Terrorism Suspects Held in Indonesia

Indonesian police transferred nine suspected terrorists, bound and wearing black hoods, to Jakarta on Thursday following their arrest in southern Sumatra. According to the police, a raid on Wednesday in the Sumatran port city of Palembang by an elite Indonesian counterterrorism team turned up more than a dozen homemade bombs and a cache of ammunition. A police spokesman refused to give further details, saying that the prisoners were being interrogated about the nature of their plan and their individual roles within the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network……(New York Times, 3 Jul 08)

Why the Colombian Rescue Mission Matters

… In the interest of full disclosure, Ingrid Bentancourt is a friend of mine, and I have written about her in the past because of her tremendous courage in acting as a beacon of light in a narco-corrupted congress, and in defiance of her own political party. On a personal level, this was tremendously good news. As I wrote in this paper published by the NEFA Foundation just before the hostages were freed, the FARC is in a period of decline that will likely end with its implosion and fragmentation into small criminal groups. Since March the FARC has been pummeled, lost three of its seven members of the directorate, and now, its prize hostages……(Douglas Farah, 3 Jul 08)

More real estate rules for safety's sake

New federal laws and regulations dealing with money laundering and anti-terrorist financing will require real estate associates and brokers to collect and verify more personal information from buyers and sellers. Real estate associates must also now track the source of funds received during a real estate transaction, such as the deposit. The new regulations are a part of federal legislation passed last year requiring a number of industries, including real estate, to do more to help stop money laundering and terrorist financing. Regulations are enforced by the Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).  Real estate associates are now required to ask for proof of identity of all buyers and sellers involved in a Canadian real estate transaction. If the client is a corporation, that information must include corporate documentation and the names of the corporation directors. Real estate associates must also ascertain whether a third party is involved in the transaction…….(Airdrie Echo, 2 Jul 08)

Morocco arrests 35 suspected Al Qaida recruiters

At least 35 members of a gang of suspected Al Qaida recruiters have been arrested in Morroco, the state news agency said on Wednesday. The gang is suspected of sending volunteers to carry out suicide bombings in Iraq or to join Islamist rebels in Algeria. Moroccan jails already hold around 1,000 Islamists on terrorism-related charges……(Gulf News, 2 Jul 08)

UK tightens Hezbollah ban, citing actions in Iraq

The British government said on Wednesday it was amending a ban on Hezbollah to cover its entire military wing, accusing the Lebanese group of supporting terrorism in Iraq and the Palestinian territories. Subject to approval by parliament, the ban replaces a previous one on Hezbollah's "external security organization." It means the group's entire military wing is outlawed in Britain……(Reuters, 2 Jul 08)

Spanish police arrest Islamic terror suspect in Azkoitia

The Interior Ministry says the three men arrested, one in the Basque Country and other two in Huelva, are of Algerian origin and are accused of fundraising for Islamic terrorist activities. Spanish police say they have broken up an al-Qaida-linked cell and arrested three people, including one person in the Basque town of Azkoitia. The Interior Ministry says the three men of Algerian origin are accused of fundraising for Islamic terrorist activities……(Eitb24, 1 Jul 08)

June 2008

US counter-terror raid kills relative of Maliki

A US Special Forces counter-terrorism unit conducted a raid that reportedly killed a relative of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, senior Iraqi government officials said yesterday. The killing touched off a high-stakes diplomatic crisis between Washington and Baghdad as US military officials refused to comment for the second day in a row…The dawn raid on Friday was in the town of Janaja, near Mr Maliki's birthplace in the southern, mostly Shia Muslim province of Karbala.  Ali Abdulhussein Razak al-Maliki, who was killed in the raid, was related to the Prime Minister and had close ties to his personal security detail……(Australian, 30 Jun 08)

Counternarcotics Effort In West Africa Widens Pentagon's Purview

The Pentagon is stepping up its counternarcotics programs in West Africa, in what can be considered the Defense Department's continuing expansion into the traditional territory of a civilian agency. West Africa has experienced "a dramatic increase in drug smuggling and associated corruption and intimidation that turns weakly governed areas into nearly ungoverned spaces," according to Joseph A. Benkert, the nominee to become the first assistant secretary of defense for global security affairs… Benkert provided the often-used link to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in justifying the new Africa initiative, saying: "Global illegal drug trade has connections to terrorism, financial crimes, corruption of governmental systems, weapons smuggling, human trafficking, major gang networks, insurgency and instability in many places worldwide."  As a general premise, he added that "trafficking, whatever the commodity . . . provides trans-national criminal organizations and terrorists revenue to purchase weapons and plan operations that threaten U.S. security interests"…..(Washington Post, 30 Jun 08)

Egypt: Over 100 terror suspects arrested, says report

Egyptian authorities have carried out anti-terror raids over the past few days and arrested 110 suspected terrorists…The Egyptian daily, al-Masri al-Youm, said on Monday that three senior terrorist leaders were believed to be among those arrested. Security sources said that the authorities had disbanded three alleged terror cells which were considered ideologically close to al-Qaeda and active in Egypt and abroad, according to the report.  The alleged leaders of the terror cells are Muhammad Farid Faraj, Ahmad Abdel Hadi and Hisham Muhiy al-Dina…..(AKI, 30 Jun 08)

‘Forces uncover torture chamber’

The Frontier Corps discovered a torture chamber during their searches of the Khyber Agency, Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik said on Sunday. He told reporters at Bala Hisar Fort that troops had also destroyed a radio station run by a mil