The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report

Apr. 16, 2004 -- A company based out of Denver was regularly paying al Qaeda-linked group Abu Sayyaf and other terror groups in the Philippines in exchange for protection of its gold-mining operations, an ABCNEWS exclusive report revealed on Thursday. Allan Laird, a former mining executive with the Denver-based company, comes forward to tell the story of how the company for whom he formerly worked, Echo Bay, was regularly paying Abu Sayyaf and other terror groups in the Philippines in exchange for protection of its gold-mining operations.

And at a White House press conference today, Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush displayed a strong sense of unity on matters of re-building Iraq. The authority of the coalition backed by the United States will expire on the June 30 deadline previously set, Bush said, adding that "coalition forces will remain in Iraq to help the new government succeed."

THE WAR ON TERROR

INVESTIGATIONS

Philippines

Blood Money

Former exec: American company paid terrorist group to protect overseas interests. (ABCNEWS)

Saudi Arabia

Americans Told to Leave Saudi Arabia

The United States ordered nonessential diplomats out of Saudi Arabia on Thursday and warned all Americans they should leave, citing fresh signals that attacks had been planned. (Reuters)

2 Terrorists Reported Arrested

The Ministry of Interior would not confirm a report published on the Elaph website Wednesday night that Saudi security forces arrested two wanted terror suspects in Onaiza, Qasim. (Arab News)

6 Militants Arrested, Three Security Personnel Killed

Security forces yesterday arrested six wanted militants after a five-hour shootout in Riyadh which left three members of the security forces dead. (Al Riyadh — Saudi Arabia)

U.S.

CIA Warned of Attack 6 Years Before 9-11

Six years before the Sept. 11 attacks, the CIA warned in a classified report that Islamic extremists likely would strike on U.S. soil at landmarks in Washington or New York, or through the airline industry, according to intelligence officials. (AP)

Administration Considers a Post for National Intelligence Director The White House may pre-empt the Sept. 11 panel's final report by creating a new post of director of national intelligence. (NY Times)

9/11 Panel Looks at MilitaryThe commission has put the CIA and FBI under a harsh light. Sources say it is also gathering facts on a Pentagon failure to confront al Qaeda. (LA Times)

Jordan

Cell Planned To Target Intelligence Building Using Chemical Bomb — Sources

Members of a cell arrested last week in Jordan were planning to attack the building of the Jordanian Intelligence Agency using a chemical bomb, informed Jordanian sources told Al Hayat newspaper. Investigations revealed that the cell was connected to Abu Musaab Al Zarqawi, according to the sources. Two cell members who were arrested purportedly established the cell which was run and financed by Al Zarqawi through associates in Iraq and Iran. (Al Hayat)

Indonesia

Indonesia Police Declare Bashir a Suspect Over Terror

Indonesian police have named Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir a terror suspect and are focusing on possible links to the Bali blasts and his alleged leadership of an al Qaeda-linked militant group, officials said on Friday. (Reuters)

Afghanistan

U.S. May Cut Afghan Force Size Despite Al Qaeda Hunt

The United States, which has increased its troops in Afghanistan to hunt for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda militants, may reduce their number after the country holds elections, the top U.S. military officer said on Friday. (Reuters)

Australia

Australia Probes Student's Links to Frenchman's "Terror Cell"

Australian police are investigating whether a student accused of training with terrorists was part of a Sydney-based cell being set up by French terror suspect Willie Brigitte, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says. (AFP)

Pakistan

Paper Interviews Canadian Al Qaeda Suspect

The son of alleged al Qaeda member Abdel Rahman Khadr, known as Al Kanadi, who was killed in operations in Waziristan in early October was interviewed by Asharq Al Awsat through a mediator. Abdullah Khadr denied reports that he had been in charge of an al Qaeda training camp and said he was waiting for the green light to return to Canada to join his family. He admitted however to having received training on light weapons at Khaldan Camp, but denied that his family, including the father, had connections to al Qaeda. In the interview, Khadr also reveals that Pakistani border security took bribes to allow al Qaeda members to pass. Khadr, who was also reported to have carried a suicide operation against Canadian peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan, said he left the country in January 2002 and never returned. (Asharq Al Awsat)

THE WAR IN IRAQ

Bush Signals Support for U.N. Iraq PlanBush signals support for U.N.'s interim Iraq government plan at news conference with Blair. (AP)

U.S., Fallujah Leaders Open Negotiations

U.S. military and civilian officials met Friday with leaders from Fallujah, the first known direct negotiations between Americans and city representatives since the siege of the city began April 5. (AP)

Iraq's Sadr Says Will Not Disband Mehdi Army

Iraq's rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said Friday he would not disband his Mehdi Army militia under any circumstances. (Reuters)

Iraqi Nuclear Gear Found in Europe Large amounts of nuclear-related equipment, some of it contaminated, and a small number of missile engines have been smuggled out of Iraq for recycling in European scrap yards, according to the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog and other U.N. diplomats. (Washington Post)

Diplomatic Efforts Press Forward in Najaf

An Iraqi leader said he saw "flexibility" on the side of an anti-American cleric amid diplomatic efforts to end a standoff with U.S. troops in one of the holiest Shiite cities. (AP)

Sistani Draws Red Line Around Najaf

Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani the leading Shi'ite Muslim cleric in Iraq , has told the United States not to enter the holy city of Najaf in pursuit of Moqtada al-Sadr. (Aljazeera.com)

U.S. Open to a Proposal That Supplants Council in IraqThe U.N. proposal would dissolve the Iraqi Governing Council and replace it with a caretaker government regime. (NY Times)

Dane Missing in Iraq; Chinese Man Freed

Dane believed kidnapped in Iraq after Japanese hostages freed; Chinese man reportedly released. (AP)

Japanese Captives Freed

Three Japanese hostages were freed yesterday by their Iraqi captors hours after another group killed one of four Italian security workers being held hostage. (Arab News)

Gunmen Rule in A City Gripped With Fright Rory McCarthy reports from Najaf on an atmosphere shaped by fear. (The Guardian)

Group Says It will Join Al Mahdi Army

"The Brigades of the Iraqi Mujaheddin" will fight the occupation in Baghdad and is willing to cooperate with Al Mahdi Army of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr, said a statement received by Al Quds Al Arabi newspaper. The statement also advised Baghdad residents not to go out of their homes for a period of one week. (Al Quds Al Arabi)

ANALYSIS & OPINION

Tape Shows New Side of Warfare by Al Qaeda

Bin Laden's adaptable propaganda machine seeks to exploit political dissent by appealing to Europeans. (Washington Post)

Seen One Killer, Seen 'em All?Bush's lumping together of dissimilar militant groups is a dangerous mistake. (LA Times)

Citizen Khadr

The right to express personal opinions, no matter how obnoxious those opinions may be, belongs to all Canadians — even the Khadr family of Toronto, some of whose members appear to have been more than socially acquainted with Osama bin Laden. (Globe and Mail)

This is Bush's Vietnam: The Wrong War in the Wrong Place

This has been a rough time for Americans. Just a year ago, Americans and Iraqis triumphantly pulled down the statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. A year later, a spreading anti-American insurgency ripped across Iraq, accompanied by Iraqi mobs mutilating dead Americans and shouting hatred of the occupiers. (The Independent)

The Vietnam AnalogyIraq isn't Vietnam, but by some parallels, it looks worse. (NY Times)

Lifeline to Grab in Iraq

The Bush administration is making two important moves to blunt the violence and anger that threaten the U.S. occupation and all of Iraq. The first is relying on Iranian diplomats to help end the uprising of Shiite rebel cleric Muqtada Sadr. The second, and more significant, is turning back to the United Nations. (LA Times)

Focus On Iraqi Politics

It is time for a fundamental reassessment of our policy on Iraq — not because of the spiral of violence in recent days but because the current approach is simply not working. (Washington Post)

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.