The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report
July 12 -- — Iraqi insurgents threatening to kill a Filipino hostage unless the government agrees to an early troop withdrawal from the Middle East country have extended the deadline until Tuesday, an official said. The group that abducted truck driver Angelo dela Cruz, 46, near Fallujah initially gave the Philippines until 11 p.m. Sunday Baghdad time to agree to pull its troops out of Iraq by July 20. But the Philippines said its 51 soldiers and police would leave Aug. 20, as scheduled.
And following Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's warning last week, the Bush administration has discussed the idea obtaining the authority to delay the November presidential election in case of an attack by al Qaeda. U.S. counterterrorism officials are looking at an emergency proposal on the legal steps needed to postpone the presidential election in case of such an attack, Newsweek reported on Sunday.
IRAQ NEWS
Deadline for Filipino Hostage Extended
Iraqi captors of Filipino hostage extend deadline to kill him, official says. (AP)
Blair Accused Over WMD Evidence
Two ex-intelligence officers have cast doubt over the way Tony Blair went about trying to justify war with Iraq. (BBC)
France, Iraq Re-Establish Diplomatic Ties
France and Iraq re-establish diplomatic ties after 13 years. (AP)
Iraq Says Zarqawi Likely Seeking WMD Materials
Iraq's national security adviser said Sunday unconventional weapons material might have gone to neighboring states in the war and Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is probably trying to get some. (Reuters)
Zarqawi Group Claims Suicide Attack in Samarra
The group led by suspected al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has said it carried out an attack in Iraq last week that killed five U.S. soldiers and two Iraqis. (Reuters)
Nations Slow to Deliver Iraq Aid
Little of the $13 billion promised for rebuilding has been donated and countries are hesitant to waive debt, frustrating the new government. (LA Times)
Iraq to Consult Iran On Saddam Charges
The Iraqi lawyer organizing the trial of Saddam Hussein will visit Tehran soon to discuss the charges which Iran wants to bring against the former Iraqi leader, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said yesterday. (Reuters)
THE WAR ON TERROR
INVESTIGATIONS
U.S.
U.S. Mulling How to Delay Nov. Vote in Case of Attack
A senior House Democratic lawmaker was skeptical on Sunday of a Bush administration idea to obtain the authority to delay the November presidential election in case of an attack by al Qaeda. (Reuters)
White House Urged to Pick CIA Chief
President Bush is facing pressure to nominate a permanent CIA director quickly after a Senate Intelligence Committee report revealed serious breakdowns in U.S. intelligence-gathering and analysis. (AP)
