Six Month Extension to Patriot Act Passed

December 22, 2005 --

Senate Passes Patriot Act Extension
Senate passes six-month extension of the Patriot Act, clearing the way for final vote in House. (AP)

Appeals Court Refuses to Transfer Padilla
In a sharp rebuke, a federal appeals court denied Wednesday a Bush administration request to transfer terrorism suspect Jose Padilla from military to civilian law enforcement custody. (AP)

Ten Syrians on Trial for Joining 'Al Qaeda' and Forming a Salfist Group
The Syrian higher security court is trying 10 men for joining 'al Qaeda organization' and establishing a "jihadi group," al Hayat reports. Some members of the group were trained in Iran before going to Afghanistan to fight US forces there. The group's lawyer said they denied all accusations and said they only met to read and discuss religious books. Al Hayat reports that a man called Yasser al Saudi was the one who gave the group money and facilitated their travel. (Al Hayat)

More Terror Charges Laid Against Ottawa Man
An Ottawa man is facing five new terrorism-related charges in a case that will go straight to trial, likely testing Canada's tough new anti-terrorism laws. (CBC)

File the Bin Laden Phone Leak Under 'Urban Myths'
President Bush asserted this week that the news media published a U.S. government leak in 1998 about Osama bin Laden's use of a satellite phone, alerting the al Qaeda leader to government monitoring and prompting him to abandon the device. (Washington Post)

Aussie Cops Nab 20th Terror Suspect
Australia's anti-terrorist sweep has netted its 20th suspect with the arrest of a 21-year-old Sydney man for conspiracy to make explosives for a terrorist act. (UPI)

Lebanon Calm Over US Hijack Plea
Lebanon's PM insists his country will not hand over freed hijacker Mohammed Ali Hammadi to the US. (BBC)

Some Paraguayans Fear U.S. 'Secret Agenda'
Closer ties, including joint military exercises and a visit by Rumsfeld, have sparked rumors of American plans to station troops there. (LA Times)

Britain Suspends Aid to Uganda over Allegations of Human Rights Abuse
The Ugandan government expressed defiance yesterday after Britain and other European countries suspended aid over alleged human rights abuses. (The Guardian)

U.S. Embassy Warns of Threat in Indonesia
The U.S. Embassy warned Thursday that the threat of terrorist attacks targeting Westerners in Indonesia over the Christmas and New Year holidays was very high. (AP)