IRAQ EVENTS IN BRIEF 12/23 & CONFLICT & TERROR

Baghdad

- Around 6:30 a.m. a roadside bomb targeted civilians in Zafaraniyah, killing two civilians including one woman and injuring two civilians.

- Around 11 a.m. a roadside bomb targeted a joint U.S. and Iraqi convoy in Al Ghazaliyah, no casualties were reported.

- Police found three bodies in Baghdad, one in Sadr, in Doura and Amil.

Diyala

- Gunmen attacked Iraqi army checkpoint in Saqr village near Al Khalis, five gunmen were killed and two soldiers were injured.

Nineveh

- Around 1:30 p.m. a parked car bomb targeted Iraqi police convoy in Al Mashriq neighborhood, killing one civilian and injuring five others.

Kirkuk

- Gunmen attacked police patrol in Al Zarga town south of Kirkuk yesterday, two gunmen were killed and two police officers were injured.

- An IED targeted a house in central Kirkuk. The explosion caused damages to the targeted house. Police said the house belong to Ahmed Zeinal who works with U.S. forces.

Baghdad

- Around 2 p.m. a roadside bomb targeted civilians near Al Madaen hospital, injuring five people.

- Around 3 p.m. a suicide car bomb targeted joint Iraqi police and army checkpoint in Al Ghazaliyah, killing one soldier and three civilians and injuring two soldiers, two police officers and two civilians.

- Police found two bodies in Baghdad, in Saidiyah and Sadr.

Courtesy McClatchy Newspapers

(Iran) Iran reactor 'to open late 2008'

(India) 12 Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants surrender in J & K

(Lebanon) Lebanon's opposition threatens to boycott presidential vote absent deal on future government

(Gaza) Gaza's Christians Keep Low Xmas Profile

(France) Twin bomb attacks injure two in Corsica

Update: Sri Lanka says kills 22 rebels, destroys bunkers

(Iran/Iraq) Iran 'restraining Shia militias in Iraq.'

Also US praises Iran curbs on Sadr militia in Iraq

(Saudi Arabia) Ministry: 28 arrested in Saudi Arabia

(Gaza) Olmert rules out truce talks with Hamas

(Pakistan) Bhutto says some madrasas groom killers

(Afghanistan) Three Canadian soldiers injured

Update: Turkish aircraft in fresh raid in northern Iraq - report

Bombing, gunmen leave 5 dead in Iraq

Saudi says arrests 28 al Qaeda militants

Suicide bomber kills nine in Pakistan

5 Somalis killed in the capital

(UK & Afghanistan) NHS volunteers treat Taliban in frontline hospital

Pakistan agents ‘staged escape’ of terror suspect - Sunday Times: Friends of Rashid Rauf say he kidnapped by Pakistan’s ISI, not escaped

CIA obstructed 9/11 investigators: report and CIA says it cooperated with 9/11 panel

Iraq Qaeda Group Confirms Top Figure Killed: Web - Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, leader of Islamic State in Iraq, hailed Abu Maysara, killed last month

Iraq government vows to disband Sunnis and In a Force for Iraqi Calm, Seeds of Conflict

Turkey bombs Kurd rebel bases in Iraq and

Turkish air strikes targeted 9 camps and 3,500 armed PKK terrorists

(Iraq) Al-Qaeda operative accused of Killing nine U.S. soldiers nabbed in Iraq

Iraq bombs kill one U.S. soldier and wound 11 -- double roadside bomb attack in Kirkuk

(Iraq) Suicide car bomb kills Iraqi in western Baghdad

(Pakistan) Several arrested in Pakistan suicide attack: officials -- Pakistan looks for clues to ID bomber -- and --

'Pakistan bomber loaded with ball bearings'

Pakistan's Islamic Parties Struggling

(India) Two Islamic militants arrested over Indian Lucknow court blasts: police -- believed to be with Bangladesh-based militant group Harkatul Jihad al-Islami

Indian officials clash on terrorism causes

(U.S.) Gitmo Detainee Charged In Terrorism Plot -- Brother-In-Law Of 9/11 Hijacker 4th Guantanamo Detainee Charged -- Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi's charges relate to plans to attack vessels off Yemeni coast

(U.S.) Judge defers ruling on Guantanamo tapes inquiry

(U.S.) Judge: 1992 papers relevant in 9/11 lawsuits -- Judge says organizations must turn over evidence, including Muslim World League, the International Islamic Relief Organization and Wa'el Jelaidan

(U.S.) FBI prepares vast database of biometrics

(U.S.) NYT: CIA intentionally impeded Sept. 11 inquiry, officials say

Iran Educates Children to 'Seek Martyrdom'

Hizbullah reports death of member while on 'jihad mission'

(Iran) Wife of missing ex-FBI man gets no news in Iran

Saudi Arabia: Al Qaeda planned haj attacks

Algerian army surrounds armed group

(Nigeria) Militant group to observe Christmas Day cease-fire in Nigeria's oil region

Somali authorities say kidnapped French journalist expected to be freed; may face charges

Uganda announces arrest of 20 suspected Rwandan rebels

Belgium Releases 14 Terror Suspects -- after a court decided there was insufficient evidence to hold them for more than 24 hours

Belgian authorities on high terrorism alert

Germany drops probe of man who was accused of recruiting for terrorism -- "Tolga D." was suspected of having recruited a fellow citizen for terrorism in Pakistan

(UK) Pair face terror charges -- inciting terror in Pakistan - involvement with Baluchistan group

(Sri Lanka) 14 LTTE rebels, 1 trooper killed in separate clashes in Northern Sri Lanka

(North Korea) US expert on Korea returns from trip to NKorea: officials

Rice: US has 'no permanent enemies'

Saudis bust ring planning hajj attack: Al-Arabiya television - Saudi authorities arrested Al-Qaeda linked group planning terrorist attacks during annual pilgrimage

(Pakistan) Gates: Al Qaeda has regrouped in Pakistan border area

Pakistan: Bomb attack on ex-minister lastest in militants' unrelenting campaign

PBS Dispatches - Pakistan: The New Taliban

Hamas TV says group has new anti-aircraft unit in Gaza

(Israel) Gov't releases tape of Hizbullah captive

(Indonesia) Captured JI leader hints at more terror attacks

Libya May Escape Final Judgment in Pan-Am 103 Case

Iraqi Shiite leader urges checks on anti-Qaeda groups

(Iraq) American Army says Thursday's attack northeast of Baghdad targeted US troops

(Afghanistan) 11 Tons of Opium Discovered in Taliban Town of Musa Qala

(Pakistan) At least 50 dead in Pakistan suicide attack: police -- at mosque in northwest Pakistan, bomber detonated as prayer leader said "Allahu Akbar" -- targeting former interior minister Aftab Sherpao, who was also former anti-terrorism official

(Pakistan) Taliban outfit faces ban -- Government may ban Tehrik-i-Taliban

(Pakistan) Benazir Bhutto vows to stop Balochistan military operation

(India) 'Qaida' threatens Delhi High Court -- and -

Al Qaeda threat to courts seems a hoax: police

(India) Engineer shot at by militants in Manipur

(India) 12 police missing in Chhattisgarh -- after gunbattle with Maoists

(U.S.) New York Court: State law won't protect terror author from libel judgment -- regarding Khalid Salim A. Bin Mahfouz suit against Rachel Ehrenfeld

(U.S.) White House faces hearing on CIA tapes

(U.S.) Al-Qaeda DVD sparks dispute over Ft. Dix 5

(Al-Qaeda) Behind Al Qaeda's latest publicity tactic

(Iran) Powers fail to reach deal on Iran sanctions

(Iran) Former CIA official: 'Israel will ultimately decide to attack Iran on its own'

(Gaza) Palestinian militant shot dead near Gaza border

(Gaza) Two IDF soldiers lightly wounded by bomb detonation on Gaza fence

(Israel) Kassam falls north of the Gaza Strip; no casualties

Saudi paper: Hamas asked terror groups to stop rocket attacks

(Bahrain) At least 7 Bahraini Shiite Islamist opposition activists rounded up, group says

Russia to veto UN Security Council resolution granting independence to Kosovo

(Uzbekistan) Leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan: 'Allah Willing, America Will Soon Be Annihilated....'

Belgium arrests 14 in Islamic jail break plot -- plan to break out convicted Al-Qaeda suspect arrested in September 2001 for plotting attacks on U.S. targets -- and -- Belgium steps up security after terror threat

Germany agrees to pass passenger data to FBI

(UK) Vanessa Redgrave helps Guantanamo suspects -- helps terror suspects walk free by putting 40,000 pounds toward their bail fee

(Canada) Terror suspect granted bail -- Yasin Mohamed

(Australia) Restrictions for Australia terror supporter -- convicted terrorist David Hicks to be released from prison next week

(Australia) Haneef wins court battle to return to Australia -- and -- Australia: Govt orders inquiry into Indian doctor's terror case - former suspect in London car bombing plots

(Thailand) Security forces on alert for New Year festival

(Sri Lanka) 12 Tamil Tiger rebels killed in Sri Lanka

(Sri Lanka) LTTE trying to take Prabhakaran abroad for treatment: report

(Sri Lanka) War crimes inquiry into Tamil rebel living in UK

(North Korea) Report: Uranium found on North Korean tubes --- WP report

(North Korea) Rice does not rule out North Korea visit, speaks of 'normalization' -- and --

US says North Korea won't meet deadline

China taps into U.S. spy operations -- gained access to a secret National Security Agency listening post in Hawaii

Colombian rebels confirm planned release of three hostages

(U.S.) Judge: Gitmo trial for bin Laden driver -- denies POW status for Salim Ahmed Hamdan

(U.S.) CIA to turn over videotape documents

(Iraq) More than 30 killed in restive Iraqi province of Diyala -- and -- Bombings mar peaceful holiday in Iraq - death toll increased, includes U.S. soldier

(Italy) Milan imam convicted for promoting jihad -- Abu Imad

(Germany) Interior Ministry Warns of Radicalization of Muslims -- says 6% of 3 million Muslims in Germany have "violent tendencies"

(Northern Ireland) Judge says man not guilty of IRA bombing

(Iraq) 17 suspected al-Qaida fighters killed in Iraq: Police

Hat tip Counter Terrorism Blog