OBL Dead or Alive?
April 29, 2005 --
Islamist Internet Posting Stirs Bin Laden Mystery
A posting on an Islamist Web site stirred speculation over the fate of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and prompted a flurry of denials on Friday that the world's most wanted man was dead. (Reuters)
Egyptian Islamist: New Bin Laden Video Soon
Yasser Serri, an Egyptian Islamist living in London and interviewed by Asharq al Awsat about the recent speculation over the fate of Osama bin Laden insisted that bin Laden was alive and claimed he recently recorded a new video tape that will be aired on an Arab television channel soon. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Al Qaeda Members May Be Looking for Hideout in the Mountains
An investigation of a foreign militant group whose members were arrested last week supports the idea that al Qaeda may be looking for a hideout in the mountainous areas of Algeria, reports al Hayat today. "Informed sources" told the paper that 23 Arab suspects were arrested recently and are believed connected to local groups associated with al Qaeda. The authorities suspect that an al Qaeda member came to Algeria to help the Salafist Jihad Group for Call and Combat re-establish a strong front and train militants who would operate in neighboring countries and attack Arab targets. (Al Hayat)
U.S. Aide Sees Nuclear Arms Advance by North Korea
The Defense Intelligence Agency chief said North Korea is believed to have the skill to arm its missiles with nuclear warheads. (NY Times)
Detainee Questioning Was Faked, Book Says U.S. Military Denies Staging Interviews(Washington Post)
Five Held In France For Recruiting Iraq Fighters
Five suspected Islamic militants have been detained in France by intelligence agents who believe they were part of an operation to send volunteers to fight against the US army in Iraq, officials said Thursday. (AFP)
Iran Hints Talks on Ending Its Nuclear Program Are Near Collapse
A day before major negotiations were to resume in London over Iran's nuclear program, the foreign minister increased the pressure for a quick deal, warning that his country would resume uranium enrichment if there was no progress Friday in the discussions. (NY Times)
Official Pariah Sudan Valuable to America's War on Terrorism
Despite once harboring Bin Laden, Khartoum regime has supplied key intelligence, officials say. (LA Times)
Terrorist Cell Said Linked To Al Qaeda Dismantled, Police
The government of Mauritania claims to have arrested the leaders of a terrorist cell that the U.S. military has linked to Al Qaeda. (Reuters)
On the Doorstep of Islamist 'Ringleader'
Alleged Ressam ally says being called terrorist 'hurts' (National Post)
Hijackers Linked to Library
Seeking to preserve its ability to get records from libraries under the USA Patriot Act, the Justice Department said Thursday that two of the Sept. 11 hijackers apparently used a public computer in a New Jersey state college library to make the reservations for the flights they commandeered. (LA Times)
Insurgent Attacks Kill at Least 20 in Iraq
Insurgents carried out a series of attacks in Baghdad on Friday using car bombs and mortar rounds, killing at least 20 Iraqis and wounding more than 65, officials said. A car bomb killed another Iraqi soldier near the southern city of Basra. (AP)
New Audio Tape From Al Zarqawi
Abu Musaab al Zarqawi reportedly called on the militants to continue attacking US forces in Iraq in a new audio statement that was posted on the Internet Friday. It's not possible to verify the authenticity of the tape, but the voice sounds like the one in previous statements made by al Zarqawi. Al Zarqawi mentions that two years have passed since the fall of Baghdad, indicating that the tape was recorded recently. Although al Zarqawi insists that the militants are winning, his emphasis on the importance of having patience is a sign that at least some of them are losing it. "Victory comes with patience," he says in the tape. The last time al Zarqawi made an audio statement was January 20th. (ABCNEWS Investigative Unit)
Purported Zarqawi Tape Vows More Iraq Attacks — Web (Reuters)
Militants say kill 6 Sudanese hostages in Iraq — Web
Islamic militant group Army of Ansar al-Sunna said it shot dead six abducted Sudanese drivers working for U.S. forces in Iraq, according to a video posted on the Internet on Thursday. (Reuters)
Ex-CIA Chief Eats Humble Pie
Former CIA director, George Tenet, says he regrets telling the White House it was a "slam dunk" that Iraq had WMD. (The Guardian)
U.S. Soldier To Be Executed
US military jury imposes the death penalty on a Muslim soldier who launched a fatal attack on his comrades. (The Guardian)
Photos of War Dead Released by Pentagon
Often, little context is provided and the faces of soldiers carrying coffins are blacked out. (LA Times)
Iraqi Milestone but With Perils
The new government in Baghdad represents a success for the White House in the region, but its fragility poses long-term challenges. (LA Times)
A Crucial Window for Iraq: 15 Weeks to Pull Together
It was a moment for which Iraqis had yearned for generations: parliamentary approval of a government with a mandate won at the ballot box. (NY Times)
Extremists Should Not Be Allowed to Distort the True Image of Islam
They thrive on militancy and violence. They seek to strike terror and they kill and maim, yet they claim to serve the cause of Islam. These misguided people are found everywhere and unfortunately their number continues to swell — thanks primarily to poverty, injustice and the West's double standard. (Arab News)
Iraq, Blair And Al Jaafari
Regardless of the victory of the majority of Tony Blair's party in the parliamentary seats in next Thursday's elections; the British PM's name will still be linked to "lying." (Al Hayat)
We All Now Know the War Would Not Stand Up in Court
The cabinet must never again take a major decision without crucial advice. (The Guardian)
An Islamist Syria Is Not Very Probable
Syria's Muslim Brotherhood — banned for nearly 25 years — has been increasingly vocal recently in its criticism of the regime of President Bashar Assad. Earlier this month, for example, it demanded the organization of free elections, cancellation of the state of emergency and dismantlement of special courts. (The Daily Star)
