"President George W. Bush's national security adviser on Friday defended his lightning trip to Baghdad, denying it was a political stunt that inadvertently highlighted the chaos still blighting Iraq," reported the AFP news service.
"Andrew Wilkie - who resigned from Australia's top intelligence assessment agency, the ONA, last March in protest over involvement in the Iraq campaign - was awarded the United Nations Association of Australia's inaugural Whistleblower of the Year Award at a ceremony inCanberra. Wilkie, who accuses the Australian government of misleading the public to justify war on Iraq, said the award vindicated his actions," reported the AFP news service.
"Unknown assailants ambushed and murdered two Japanese diplomats in northern Iraq, piling new pressure on the Tokyo government as it weighs a decision on sending troops to help rebuild that country. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed not to cave in to terrorism despite the deaths on Saturday - the first of Japanese in Iraq since the US-led war began there in March," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Spain put aside political divisions yesterday to mourn seven intelligence agents killed in the deadliest single attack on Spanish personnel in Iraq. However, in a country where public opinion was generally against the war, the deaths also reignited longstanding doubts about the role of around 1,300 Spanish troops helping to control south-central Iraq. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, like his British counterpart Tony Blair, has been willing to sacrifice popularity at home to support the US-led attack on Iraq," reported the Reuters news agency.
"The US Central Intelligence Agency has acknowledged it lacked specific information about alleged Iraqi weapons of mass destruction when it compiled an intelligence estimate last year that served to justify the US-led invasion of Iraq. But it said this and other uncertainties surrounding the case had been fully presented to President George W. Bush and other US policymakers in the October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate, a document often referred to by members of the Bush administration as a basis of their claim that Iraq had an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction," reported the AFP news service.
"Guerillas attacked an American convoy west of here with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades on Saturday, killing two US soldiers and wounding one, the US Army said yesterday. The attack brought to 187 the number of US soldiers killed in action in Iraq since May 1, when Washington declared major combat over," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A Turkish man who allegedly ordered the start of a suicide truck bombing attack against an Istanbul synagogue has confessed to having ties with the al-Qaeda terrorist network, Turkish newspapers reported yesterday. The man, whom police said was captured last week while trying to slip into Iran, has been charged with trying to overthrow Turkey's constitutional order- a crime equivalent to treason," reported the AP news agency.
"The United States has plans to release scores of prisoners at its Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba for al-Qaeda and Taliban detainees," reported the AFP news service.
"Saudi Arabia's King Fahd has granted a greater legislative role to the kingdom's consultative Shura council as the absolute monarchy cautiously presses ahead with political reforms called for by Saudi and Western critics," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Gunmen shot and killed two South Korean workers and wounded two others north of Baghdad, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said," reported the AP news agency.
"Two key Palestinian officials who negotiated a symbolic Mideast peace agreement have cancelled their participation in a signing ceremony in Switzerland this week, Palestinian officials said yesterday. The decision of Qadoura Fares, a Palestinian Cabinet minister, and Mohammed Horani to pull out of the signatory ceremony - along with a protest in the Gaza Strip - raised doubts about the Palestinian public's support for the document," reported the AP news agency.
"Palestinian officials involved in the negotiations of the document have been threatened by militant elements warning them not to sign it. Masked gunmen fired shots last week at the home of former Palestinian minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, a key architect of the agreement. In a further sign of opposition, about 200 Palestinians attacked Palestinian negotiators travelling yesterday to Geneva for the signing ceremony," reported the AP news agency.
"The US military said 54 Iraqis were killed in the northern city of Samarra as US forces used tanks and cannons to fight their way out of simultaneous ambushes while delivering new Iraqi currency to banks. But residents said yesterday that the casualty figure was much lower and that the dead were mostly civilians. By the American account, Sunday’s fighting was the bloodiest combat reported since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in a US-led invasion," reported the AP news agency.
"Syria has handed over to Turkey 22 people suspected of involvement in deadly suicide attacks in Istanbul, Anatolian news agency reported on Sunday, a day after another suspect was charged with seeking to topple the state. The suspects fled Turkey after the November bombings in which 61 people died, the state-run agency said, quoting a statement from the Ankara security services," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Palestinian and Israeli opposition figures unveiled an alternative peace initiative here yesterday despite fierce denunciations back home as their conflict claimed four more lives yesterday, including that of a nine-year-old boy. About 700 people attended the glitzy ceremony marking the formal launch of the Geneva Initiative, presided over by Hollywood movie star Richard Dreyfuss and attended by other celebrities and former leaders," reported the AFP news service.
"Japan and South Korea voiced determination yesterday to proceed with sending troops to Iraq despite weekend killings of several of their nationals there and popular doubts about taking part in the operation. Neither of the two North Asian nations plans to send large numbers of soldiers or to take part in combat operations, but their participation marks an important step for the US-led coalition forces in persuading more countries to join," reported the AFP news service.
"The US military denied reports that Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the most wanted man in Iraq after Saddam Hussein and alleged mastermind of guerilla resistance, had been captured in a raid yesterday. Confusion surrounded the outcome of a large-scale operation by US troops and Iraqi police near the northern city of Kirkuk, still underway after nightfall yesterday," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Nearly four out of five Iraqis have little or no confidence in occupying US and British forces, according to initial findings published on Monday from a survey of public opinion in Iraq. The study, conducted across Iraq between mid-October and mid-November, also showed that almost three-quarters of respondents lacked confidence in the American-led Coalition Provisional Authority," reported the AP news agency.
"Workers yesterday began dismantling the four giant bronze busts of Saddam Hussein that have long dominated Baghdad's skyline, in yet another move aimed at eradicating the former leader's influence. US officials announced last month that they would dismantle the 4m-high busts and carefully lift them off their pedestals in order not to damage the roof and the structure beneath. It was not immediately clear how long the operation would last," reported the AP news agency.
"The US government has warned its citizens yesterday of possible attacks on compounds housing Westerners in the Saudi capital and a potential terrorist attack on two hotels in downtown Nairobi in Kenya," reported the news Agencies.
"An American soldier has been reprimanded and will be discharged for taking a break from a foot patrol in Baghdad to marry an Iraqi woman. His lawyer Richard Alvoid said He is guilty of falling in love," reported the AP news agency.
"A baby born in Bethlehem is drawing crowds by the thousands. Palestinians in the West Bank town revered by Christians as Jesus' birthplace have been thronging to the adjacent Aida refugee camp for a glimpse of the 12-day-old infant many are calling a miracle baby. The boy has gained attention for being born with a large birthmark across his cheek that roughly forms in Arabic letters the name of his uncle, Ala, a Hamas militant killed by Israeli troops after he was alleged to have planned a suicide bombing," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A world-renowned plague researcher was convicted of 47 charges but acquitted of 22 others related to a bioterrorism scare that was prompted when he reported plague samples stolen from his Texas Tech University lab. Dr Thomas Butler, 62, appeared stunned as the verdicts were read on Monday after two days of jury deliberations. The report sparked a bioterrorism scare, and President George W. Bush was briefed about the incident," reported the AP news agency.
"The US government said yesterday it was scrapping a controversial control on foreign visitors, mainly men from the Middle East, introduced after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, saying resources could be better used in the war on terrorism. The Department of Homeland Security said that with immediate effect, men from 25 nations, who would still be photographed and fingerprinted on arrival, would no longer have to re-register after 30 days and then one year after entering America," reported the Reuters news agency.
"US President George W. Bush has put his stamp of approval on a bill allocating millions of dollars for research into new types of nuclear weapons and for bolstering readiness at the Nevada nuclear test site. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said on Monday that Bush had signed the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2004. The Act contains funds for the Department of Energy and its nuclear programmes," reported the AFP news service.
"Hours before the US-led war on Iraq began, the nation's former dictator Saddam Hussein withdrew more than US$1bil from its central bank, funds US officials believe he and supporters are using today to support armed resistance to coalition forces, ABC News reported on Wednesday. The money was removed on March 19 on three flatbed trucks, after Saddam requested the money's release from the bank in a simple, handwritten letter found by US agents in Iraqi Central Bank files," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Palestinian factions kicked off a fresh round of talks in Cairo yesterday to agree on a suspension of anti-Israeli attacks as Israel said it could curb its military crackdown if a truce was reached. Participants said the representatives of the 12 factions met with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who last June brokered a Palestinian truce that collapsed seven weeks later," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Australia said yesterday it would join a controversial US-led programme designed to shoot down ballistic missiles, strengthening its military ties with a key ally despite a likely backlash in Asia. Announcing the decision, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the system would deter rogue states from acquiring missile technology but he gave no details of possible costs or how Australia would participate," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A suspected suicide bomber killed at least 40 people aboard a packed commuter train near rebel Chechnya yesterday in what President Vladimir Putin called an attempt to destabilise Russia just before key polls," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Judges at The Hague war crimes tribunal jailed a former Bosnian Serb general yesterday for 20 years for the shooting and shelling of civilians in Sarajevo during the 1992-95 Bosnian war. Stanislav Galic is the first suspect to be tried by the UN war crimes tribunal exclusively in connection with the 44-month siege of the Bosnian capital. He was found guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faced a rift with Washington yesterday over an unofficial peace plan he opposes and an opinion poll showing his popularity had dipped to its lowest point since he took office. In another possible challenge to the right-wing leader, Sharon's deputy and political ally, Ehud Olmert, suggested in a newspaper interview Israel may have no choice but to give up most of the West Bank if it hopes to maintain a Jewish majority," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Members of the Baath party, the former political base of ousted president Saddam Hussein, have started to regroup, according to Britain's special representative to Iraq," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Companies scrambling for lucrative deals to rebuild Iraq complained on Thursday of a chaotic, unfair tender process with the new ministries and unrealistic bid times for a mass of US government contracts," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A bomb targeting a US convoy killed at least four Iraqis and one US soldier in a crowded street here yesterday, just as a large pro-US demonstration in the capital condemned growing terrorism against Iraqis and American troops," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Rebels attacked a US military convoy north of here, leaving an armoured personnel carrier burning on the side of the highway, witnesses said yesterday. In the capital, a blast near a mosque injured 20 people," reported the AP news agency.
