The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report

May 3 -- Today's report includes several articles on the ongoing investigation behind the allegations of Iraqi prisoner abuse by American soldiers —The Washington Post reports that a top Pentagon intelligence officer is leading an investigation into interrogation practices at the Army-run prison Abu Ghraib where the abuse allegedly took place. And Seymour Hersh writes in the latest New Yorker of a fifty-three page report written by an U.S. Army general, obtained by the magazine, which details the condition of the Abu Ghraib facility, specifically finding that between October and December of 2003 there were numerous instances of "sadistic, blatant, and wanton criminal abuses" at the Iraqi prison. And the BBC gauges world opinion, overwhelmingly unfavorable toward such allegations of abuse.

And police in northwestern Turkey said they detained 16 militants over the weekend believed to be linked to the terror network Ansar al Islam, who was preparing to carry out bomb attacks against a NATO summit in Istanbul next month. President Bush is among those expected to attend the June 27-28 meeting.

THE WAR IN IRAQ

11 Troops Die in Iraq; Contractor EscapesIn a daring escape, American hostage Thomas Hamill pried open the doors of the house where he was being held late Sunday morning and ran a half-mile to a military convoy that was passing by, officials and his wife said. Insurgents attacked U.S. forces across Iraq, killing 11 Americans. (AP)

Prisoner Abuse Probe WidenedA top Pentagon intelligence officer is leading an investigation into interrogation practices at an Army-run prison where Iraqi detainees were allegedly beaten and sexually abused, officials announced Saturday. The move came amid allegations that military guards abused prisoners at the behest of military intelligence operatives. (Washington Post)

Iraqi Prisoner Details Abuse by AmericansA former Iraqi prisoner says the allegations that inmates at Baghdad's notorious Abu Ghraib prison have suffered indignities at the hands of their American guards came as no shock to him. (AP)

7 U.S. Soldiers Disciplined in Abuse at Iraqi PrisonSeven more U.S. soldiers have been reprimanded in connection with the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners carried out by guards at Baghdad's notorious Abu Ghraib prison, a senior military official said on Monday. (AP)

U.S. Official: Abuse Allegations Are 'a Big Deal'The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff acknowledged Sunday that allegations that Iraqi prisoners were abused at a detention facility run by the Army have set back efforts to cultivate a positive image for the U.S. military in the region. (Washington Post)

Images of Iraqi Prisoner Abuse Anger Arab WorldOn the streets of Baghdad, the battle for Iraqis' hearts and minds may have ended with the revelation that Iraqi prisoners have been tortured by coalition forces. (CTV)

Iraqi Prisoner Pictures: Your ReactionWhat is your reaction to the images? Are you a serviceman who has witnessed abuse to prisoners in Iraq? (BBC)

Militiamen Attack U.S. Troops in NajafMilitiamen barraged U.S. forces with mortars in the holy city of Najaf on Monday in one of the more intense attacks on American troops, who have been holding back their full firepower to avoid inflaming the anger of Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority. (AP)