Insider 12/21/04: Mosul Attack

Dec. 21, 2004 -- Rockets struck a mess tent at a military base in Mosul where hundreds of U.S. soldiers had just sat down to lunch Tuesday, and a Pentagon official said at least 24 people were killed and 50 were wounded, news wires reported today. An Islamic militant group, the Ansar al-Sunnah Army, claimed responsibility. Jeremy Redmon, a reporter for the Richmond, Va., Times-Dispatch embedded with the troops in Mosul, said 13 soldiers were killed in the attack at Forward Operating Base Marez, including two from the Richmond-based 276th Engineer Battalion. More than 50 people were wounded, and civilians may have been among them, he said.

Attack on U.S. Base in Mosul Kills 22
Rockets struck a mess tent at a military base in Mosul where hundreds of U.S. soldiers had just sat down to lunch Tuesday, and a Pentagon official said at least 22 people were killed and 50 were wounded. A radical Muslim group, the Ansar al-Sunnah Army, claimed responsibility. (AP)

New Jail Abuse Allegations Hit U.S.

Fresh allegations have emerged of serious mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by US military personnel. (BBC)

Blair On Surprise Baghdad Visit

Tony Blair has held talks with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad during the UK prime minister's first trip to the city. (BBC)

Five Arrested For Planning Assassination of U.S. Ambassador

Mauritanian authorities arrested five men suspected of planning to assassinate the U.S. ambassador and carry out attacks against American participants in the Paris-Dakar Rally. Mauritanian authorities had announced two days ago that a person called Mohammed Atta Al Shankiti was arrested. They claimed he was receiving orders from wanted terrorists in Saudi Arabia and was associated with al Qaeda. Sources close to the security agencies told Asharq Al Awsat about alleged contacts between the arrested men and radical groups abroad to receive financing and weapons. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Philippines Says May Have Killed Abu Sayyaf Leader
The leader of Philippine Muslim militant group Abu Sayyaf may have been killed in a raid by military helicopters in southern Mindanao province last month, an army commander said on Monday. (Reuters)

Group Says FBI Ruse Used at Guantanamo

The Pentagon is investigating new allegations by a civil liberties group that military interrogators at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay posed as FBI agents while using abusive techniques to question detainees. (AP)

Guantanamo Review To Free Second Man
Prisoner to Be Sent to Home Country. (Washington Post)

Report: Iran Says it Has Uncovered Spy Ring for Israel

Iran said Sunday its intelligence serThe leader of Philippine Muslim militant group Abu Sayyaf may have been killed in a raid by military helicopters in southern Mindanao province last month, an army commander said on Monday.vices have uncovered a spy ring that collected intelligence information for Israel, according to a report by Israel Radio's Persian language program. (Haaretz)

Thai 'Proof' of Malaysia Camps

Thailand says it has photographic proof that militants in the south of the country are being trained in Malaysia. (BBC)