CONFLICT & TERR0R 12/21

Georgia crackdown 'went too far'Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 7:05amUS-based rights body Human Rights Watch has accused the Georgian government of "crossing the line" in its crackdown on opposition protests last month. Full Story

Army Expansion Plans OutlinedPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 7:06amThe Pentagon will send six new combat brigades to bases in Texas, Georgia, and Colorado in the coming years as part of an extensive plan to increase the size of the Army. As the Army moves to grow by 74,000 Soldiers by 2010, officials Dec. 19 mapped out decisions to add the combat brigades and eight support units around the country, as well an agreement to delay moving two brigades out of Germany until 2012-2013. The overall effort would cost $66.4 billion in 743 military construction projects through 2013. Full Story

U.S., Turkey to Improve Anti PKK PlansPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 7:06amU.S. and Turkish military officials are working to streamline procedures for any future attacks against rebels in northern Iraq after top American officials in Baghdad were angered about how Turkish bombing inside Iraq on Dec. 16 unfolded. Full Story

Fort Dix Suspects Get Bail HearingPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 7:08amThe federal jail holding five men accused of plotting an attack on Fort Dix has promised the men will get better access to evidence in their case as a judge considers letting them out on bail. A bail hearing is scheduled Dec. 20 for the men, charged with preparing to sneak onto the military base and shoot soldiers. Full Story

E-mail threat to blow up Parliament, Taj MahalPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 7:09amAn e-mail purportedly from Al-Qaeda militant outfit threatening to target a few judges and blow up Parliament and the Taj Mahal has been received by the Delhi High Court. Full Story

Manila mutineers 'to be released'Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 8:30amThe Philippines government has ordered the early release of 53 military officers involved in a failed mutiny in 2003, the country's army chief says. Hermogenes Esperon said they were being freed one month early to allow them to spend Christmas with their families. Full Story

Bhutto says Pakistan spies press candidates to quitPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 8:40amPakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto said on Thursday the government had ordered security forces to close her offices, while intelligence agents were pressuring candidates to drop out of a January election. But Bhutto said despite that, Pakistanis were so fed up with inflation and unemployment it would be difficult for supporters of President Pervez Musharraf to rig a victory in the January 8 parliamentary poll. Full Story

Tensions rise at Islamic school protestPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 9:32amAustralian police broke up a large crowd protesting on Wednesday night against plans to build an Islamic school on Sydney's rural outskirts, with some vowing to assault Muslim students and their families if it proceeds. A male protester told local radio outside a meeting called to oppose the school's construction that if it was approved, "about 30 Aussies" would attack any Muslim who showed up. Full Story

Suicide bomber kills 13 Iraqi volunteersPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 9:32amA suicide bomber exploded a belt packed with explosives at a recruiting station for neighbourhood patrols in Iraq's restive Diyala province on Thursday, killing 13 volunteers and wounding 10, police said. Police said U.S. forces may have also been among the casualties in the attack that took place in Kanaan, 20 km (12 miles) southeast of Baquba, the province's capital north of Baghdad. A spokesman for U.S. forces confirmed an incident had taken place there but said he did not have any details. The police said the casualty toll could rise. Full Story

Iran nuclear plant won't start before end-2008:RussiaPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 9:33amIran's first nuclear power plant Bushehr will not be operational until at least the end of 2008, Russian news agencies quoted the head of the company building the facility as saying on Thursday. "I have promised to clear up the date when the construction of the Bushehr power plant will be completed but can say for sure that the station will not be launched before the end of 2008," RIA news agency quoted Sergei Shmatko, the president of state-run Atomstroiexport, as saying during a visit to China. Russia said on Dec. 17 it had delivered the first shipment of nuclear fuel to Bushehr, a step Moscow and Washington said should convince Tehran to shut down its own disputed uranium enrichment programme. Full Story

Gaza fighters die in Israeli raidPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 9:34amIsraeli tanks and troops have raided the central Gaza Strip, killing at least two Palestinian fighters, hospital officials said. They said Israeli forces operating east of Maghazi refugee camp, a few hundred metres in from Gaza's boundary fence, fired on a group of fighters, killing two and wounding several others. The Islamic Jihad group claimed the two dead men as its own. Full Story

Powerful Iraq cleric may extend freeze on militiaPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 9:37amIraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is considering extending a freeze on the activities of his powerful Mehdi Army militia, his spokesman said. "Yes, there is a chance that the freeze on the Mehdi Army will be extended," Salah al-Ubaidy told Reuters late on Wednesday. Ubaidy did not say how long another extension might last or why the group was thinking of extending a freeze that U.S. commanders say has helped ease overall levels of violence in Iraq. Full Story

France holds 'al-Qaeda suspects'Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 10:40amFrench police are questioning five men suspected of links to al-Qaeda's branch in Algeria, reports from France say. They are part of a group of eight held in France earlier this week, reports quoting police officials say. Three other men have since been released. he men are believed to be members of a support network for al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQLIM). The AQLIM has said it was behind bomb attacks on UN offices in Algeria on 11 December that killed nearly 40 people. Full Story

Ceremony marks extended EU borderPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 11:14amA checkpoint between Austria and Slovakia has been dismantled in a symbolic ceremony marking the enlargement of the Schengen area. At midnight, nine new countries will join the pact, bringing an end to border controls from Estonia to Malta. Celebrations are due to take place in all the countries involved. Full Story

Guantanamo detainee freed on bailPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 11:43amA UK resident released by the US from Guantanamo Bay has been released on bail after appearing in court under a Spanish extradition warrant. Magistrates are considering whether to extradite Jamil El-Banna to Spain to face allegations of terror offenses. Spanish lawyers accused him of being part of an al-Qaeda cell and recruiting people to terror training camps. Full Story

Hundreds march for democracy in MacauPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 12:36pmHundreds of workers marched on Macua's government Thursday in a rare protest demanding full democracy in this booming Chinese casino enclave. Protesters said a lack of democracy breeds corruption and prevents the working class from reaping the benefits of Macau's economic growth thanks to the territory's vibrant gambling industry that has lured Las Vegas brands including Venetian, Wynn and MGM. Full Story

Sri Lanka to start oil exploration in volatile northPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 12:44pmSri Lanka plans to invite oil companies to explore for petroleum deposits in new areas in the north of the island, a senior minister said, where Tamil Tiger rebels are active. The petroleum ministry has been given the government nod to kick off exploration in the Sri Lankan side of Cauvery Basin, media minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said Thursday. Full Story

Man cleared of Omagh bombingPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 1:49pmA man accused of carrying out Northern Ireland's worst terror attack in 30 years was cleared on all charges on Thursday. Sean Hoey was found not guilty on 29 counts of murder relating to the August 1998 bombing in the town of Omagh which killed 29 people and wounded more than 300. Full Story

Authorities declare emergency in quake-hit New Zealand cityPosted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 4:06pmA state of emergency was declared on Friday for the centre of the eastern New Zealand city of Gisborne after a powerful 6.8 earthquake flattened buildings and caused widespread damage. No major injuries have been reported after Thursday night's quake, which was felt throughout much of New Zealand, but residents of Gisborne, on the east coast of the North Island, woke to widespread devastation. Full Story

Several feared dead in blast at Pakistan mosquePosted on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 12:28amSeveral people were feared dead after a blast during Muslim Eid festival prayers at a mosque on Friday in northwest Pakistan, police and officials said. "The explosion took place when the worshippers were offering prayers," Bacha Gul Wazir, home secretary of the North West Frontier Province, told Reuters. Full Story

Bermuda Premier Wins AgainPosted on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 12:31amPremier Ewart Brown of the Progressive Labour Party of Bermuda was yesterday returned to office according to the Parliamentary Registrars Office in Hamilton. Results on the Offices website last night showed the ruling party on the wealthy, North Atlantic island with a win of 22 seats compared to the opposition United Bermuda Partys 14. Full Story

14 African nations face meningitis epidemic: Red CrossPosted on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 12:33amRed Cross officials warned Thursday that 14 African countries could face one of the worst meningitis epidemics in recent memory and announced prevention campaigns in the affected areas. "The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching meningitis prevention activities in 14 countries across Africa to get ready for what could be one of the worst meningitis epidemics in a decade," a statement said. Full Story

Bin Laden's driver is not POW, U.S. judge saysPosted on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 12:36amOsama bin Laden's driver is not a prisoner of war as defined by the Geneva Conventions and can be tried by a Guantanamo war crimes tribunal, a U.S. military judge ruled in a decision made public on Thursday. The judge said Yemeni prisoner Salim Ahmed Hamdan is an "unlawful enemy combatant" under the law passed by Congress last year to provide a legal basis to try non-Americans on terrorism charges in a special war crimes court at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Full Story

US Commander Asks Iran to Stop Bomb Supplies to Iraq, AfghanistanPosted on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 12:38amThe commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East has called on Iran to officially stop helping insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. The officer spoke after visiting soldiers at a U.S. military hospital in Germany who had been wounded in Iraq by high-powered roadside bombs supplied by Iran. VOA's Al Pessin reports from Landstuhl, Germany. Full Story

Courtesy Terrorism Research Center, Inc.