The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report

May 28, 2004 -- Troops from countries serving with the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq are accused of abusing prisoners, witnesses told army investigators, according to the Associated Press. The only country named in the witness statements obtained by AP was Poland, which was quick to deny the allegations. The documents also include other new details about the involvement of U.S. military intelligence soldiers in the abuse.

And, Iyad Allawi, a Shiite Muslim physician who spent years in exile, has been nominated by the Iraqi Governing Council to become the prime minister of the transitional Iraqi government. Allawi was endorsed unanimously by the council, but the White House stressed the nomination was only one of many recommendations being made to U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who is expected to announce the final lineup by Monday.

THE WAR IN IRAQ

U.S. Allies Also Accused in Prison AbuseAP Exclusive: U.S. allies also accused of Iraq prison abuse; Polish official condemns allegations. (AP)

Allawi Nominated As Transitional Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi, a Shiite Muslim physician who spent years in exile, has been nominated by the Governing Council to become prime minister of the new government to take power June 30, a Governing Council member said Friday. (AP)

Al-Sadr Gunmen Fire on U.S. Troops Gunmen opened fire on a U.S. patrol Friday near the mosque stronghold of a radical cleric, wounding two American soldiers and raising fears over an agreement aimed at ending the bloody standoff around this Shiite holy city. (AP)

Bodies Found After Reporters Attacked in IraqJapan urges its journalists to leave after two bodies found in Iraq are identified as Japanese citizens. (The Guardian)

Sources: Iranian Office Established to Send Suicide Bombers to Iraq and Other CountriesAn Iranian intelligence unit established a new center to replace the Revolutionary Guard's office responsible for supporting and training revolutionary forces around the world, reports Asharq Al Awsat. The new center started registering the names of volunteers for suicide operations in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon. Asharq Al Awsat obtained a tape of a speech by "H.A." a member of the Revolutionary Guard speaking about the secret strategy to control Arab and Islamic counties through revolutionary forces. The speaker heavily criticized Khatami and the reformers for calling for dialogue between civilization and talked about destroying the Anglo-Saxon culture. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Sensitive U.S. Military Equipment Leaves IraqAn estimated 100 semitrailers carrying material for oil rigs and water plants have left Iraq traveling to Jordan. (NY Times)

For South Koreans, Deployment to Iraq Is a Tough SellSeoul has pledged to send 3,600 troops. But violence and the Abu Ghraib prisonscandal are turning the public against the mission. (LA Times)

THE WAR ON TERROR

INVESTIGATIONS

PakistanPlotter in Pearl Murder Linked to BombingOfficial says plotter in Pearl murder linked to bid to assassinate Pakistani leader. (AP)

U.S.White House Divided Over Terror AlertThe FBI and Justice Department insist that warning the public about a possibly devastating terror attack in this country was justified by intelligence and may avert a repeat of the Sept. 11 attacks. But some Bush administration officials and lawmakers aren't so sure.(AP)

Saudi with Suspected 9/11 Ties Arrested in Calif.A Saudi Arabian national who is believed to have roomed with a friend of two of the Sept. 11 hijackers was arrested on Thursday on immigration violations, U.S. authorities said. (Reuters)

Holiday Airport Security Stepped Up The federal official in charge of the nation's airports said Friday security has been ``stepped up a notch'' in the face of renewed terror warnings this holiday weekend and said authorities are asking the public to be vigilant. (AP)

U.K.U.S. Seeks Extradition of Radical ClericU.S. evidence in cleric case unavailable to British investigators, minister says. (AP)

Indictment: United States v. Mustafa Kamel Mustafa a/k/a Abu Hamza al-Masri (Findlaw)

Profile: Abu HamzaSheikh Abu Hamza al-Masri is one of the most distinctive radical Islamic figures in Britain. (BBC)

Saudi Arabia2 Surrender, Another Hurt in ShootoutTwo suspected terrorists were arrested and another suffered leg injuries during a shootout with police early Wednesday in Derieya province, 20 kilometers north of Riyadh. (Arab News)

TurkeyU.S. Issues Terrorism Alert Over June NATO Summit in Turkey The U.S. issued an alert for its citizens visiting Turkey during next month's summit in Istanbul of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, saying it may be the focus of terrorist attacks. (Bloomberg)

YemenUSS Cole Trial Postponed Due to Differences with U.S.The trial of the suspects believed involved in the attack on the USS Cole will be postponed because of differences between Yemen and the U.S., sources told Elaph. While Yemen wants to begin the trial, the U.S. authorities, according to the sources, believe the files are not ready yet and are pressuring Yemen to postpone it. The Yemeni interior minister had announced in parliament last week that two of the suspects are in U.S. custody, including Abdel Rehim Al Nasheri, who was handed over to the U.S. after being arrested by an Arab Gulf country. (Elaph)

GuantanamoBid to free Guantanamo BritonsA new bid to secure the release of two Britons held at Guantanamo Bay has been launched at the High Court. (BBC)

Australia to Push for Trials of its Guantanamo Bay Detainees Australian Prime Minister John Howard will push for the trials of two Australian terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay during meetings with U.S. officials next week. (Bloomberg)

ANALYSIS & OPINION

Iraq and a Hard PlaceCivil war may be on the horizon; should Iraq be split into three entities? (ABCNEWS)

Freedom and Fear Just Over the HillApril was the deadliest month for U.S. forces in Iraq, with 137 killed and about 1,000 wounded. (LA Times)

Catch-22 Revisited The horrors of American military conduct are being documented every day. But one aspect of the leaked US report into prison abuse in Iraq has been little noticed. General Taguba, head of the investigation, painted a picture of an army which can be not only brutal, but is also riddled with incompetence. (The Guardian)

Gaining The Iraqis' Toleration With all the disastrous news coming out of Iraq, increasing numbers of Americans are starting to believe the United States is doomed to failure and must soon get out. (Washington Post)

Credible Intelligence Hard to Pin Down In recent years, the government has told Americans it has credible evidence of impending terror attacks, of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and of collaboration between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. But "credible" doesn't mean the same thing to every government official and even credible information can be wrong. (AP)

A Case For ProcessAbu Hamza's calls for a holy war against the west have appalled many throughout Britain. The fact remains that very little hard evidence against him seems to have emerged. (The Guardian)

Homeland Defense Must Become a Higher PriorityNew reports point out growing terrorist bands and porous borders despite post-September 11 scramble. (Detroit News)

Crackdown on Terrorists Has Bolstered Pakistan's ImagePakistan's efforts to root out terrorism have won international recognition and accolades. A far better understanding prevails in the US now of the problems Islamabad is facing in dismantling terrorist networks (Arab News)

Al Qaeda's Strength Highlights Urgent Need For Changes In U.S. PolicyBefore the United States invaded Iraq, wise heads warned that far from being a decisive blow in the U.S.-led global "war on terror," this latest adventure would only fuel international terrorism. (Daily Star)

The Insider Daily Terrorism Report (DTR) is a summary of major news articles and broadcasts relating to international terrorism and the war in Iraq. The DTR is edited from foreign and U.S. sources by Chris Isham, Hoda Osman, and Brinda Adhikari of the ABCNEWS Investigative Unit. The outside views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ABCNEWS.