The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report

Mar. 12, 2004 -- —Developments since yesterday's deadly attacks in Madrid have only increased the confusion about the perpetrators. A sports bag containing dynamite as well as a detonator attached to a cell phone were found Monday night, the Spanish interior minister said in a statement today. The dynamite was Spanish-manufactured, known as GOMA 2. This comes after ETA, suspected to have been behind the attacks, allegedly called a local Madrid television station denying any involvement. Experts find this highly uncharacteristic of ETA, who usually issue written or video statements.

THE WAR ON TERROR

INVESTIGATIONS

Spain

Investigation of Bombings in Madrid Yields Conflicting Clues

With clues pointing to ETA or al Qaeda, Spanish officials are struggling to identify a culprit in the Madrid bombings. (NY Times)

ETA Denies Responsibility for Train Bombings

A communication reportedly from the Basque separatist group ETA has denied responsibility for the train bombings Thursday that claimed at least 198 lives. (Washington Post)

'Absolutely Crystal Clear' That ETA Behind Blasts

Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio said that it was "absolutely crystal clear" that the Basque separatist group ETA was responsible for the blasts on rush-hour commuter trains in Madrid that killed 198 people. (Sunday Times — South Africa)

France

France Raises Its Terror Alert

France raised its terror alert late Thursday, posting more soldiers on public transport, and also stepped up security along its border with Spain in response to the train bombings in Madrid. (AP)

U.K.

London On Full Terror Alert

London is today on full terror alert amid growing fears that the Madrid train massacre was the work of al Qaeda. (This is London)

Pakistan

Jirga Announces 20 Year Expulsion for Harboring al Qaeda Militants

The tribes of South Waziristan Agency have set up lashkar of 600 armed tribesmen to launch operation against the alleged al Qaeda and Taliban militants and their supporters. (Pak Tribune)

U.K.

Freed Briton Tells of Beatings Guantánamo Bay returnees say police questions were 'charade.' (The Guardian)

AlbaniaAlbanian Police Searching for 25 "Islamic Terrorists" On CIA Tip-Off The Americans have put forward a list with the names of 25 of the most dangerous Islamists considered to be terrorists. Through the CIA and their embassy in Tirana, the Americans have provided the state police with the list of the foreigners, who are on the US wanted list and who are suspected of hiding in Albania. Our newspaper learned this from certain sources in the Public Order Ministry and the police. There is also some information indicating that many of them are circulating with false identities or have more than one passport. Most of the people on the international wanted list are Arabs. They include Egyptians, Malaysians, Pakistanis, Iraqis, and Turks. (From BBC Monitoring Report)

Indonesia

Indonesia Says Bashir Not a Terrorist

The Indonesian Government says there is no evidence to label Abu Bakar Bashir, a Muslim clerk and alleged spiritual leader of a radical Muslim group, as a terrorist. (abc.net — Australia)

PhilippinesPhilippines Fears Major Terror Attack, Seeks Neighbors' Help

President Gloria Arroyo fears a major terrorist attack may be imminent in the Philippines and has asked neighbors for information to help her fight the threat, a top security adviser said. (AFP)

U.S.

Egyptian Sends Letter to Arab Paper from U.S. Prison

An Egyptian fundamentalist called Abdel Aziz Mostafa Nasir, who has been convicted of involvement in the murder of a Jewish rabbi in 1990 and is serving his prison sentence in Colorado, sent a letter to Asharq Al Awsat newspaper. Nasir, who is also accused on involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, said he submitted a request to change his lawyer for the case. Nasir also said he was being kept in solitary confinement out of fear for his safety at the prison. (Asharq Al Awsat)

LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS

U.S.

9/11 Lawsuit Blames Kingdom, Sudan, Syria

The family of a former FBI counterterrorism chief killed in the World Trade Center collapse sued Saudi Arabia, Syria and Sudan on Wednesday, accusing them of aiding terrorists worldwide. (AP)

GUANTANAMO

Saudi Prisoners 'May Be Released Soon'

Although the Saudi government has not yet received an official notice from the U.S., letters sent by the Saudi prisoners held at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba indicate improved treatment and optimism that they may be released soon, according to a Saudi interior ministry official. (Al Hayat)

THE WAR IN IRAQ

Ex-Aide in Congress Charged As Iraq Spy

The government is accusing a one-time journalist and Congressional aide of secretly becoming a paid Iraqi intelligence agent before trying to influence her distant cousin - the White House chief of staff — on U.S. policy. (AP)

G.I.'s May Be Targets of Kidnappers and Rebels Posing as Policemen

The insurgents may make a symbolic spectacle of abducted soldiers or use captives to negotiate the release of Iraqi prisoners. (NY Times)

U.S. Wants Saddam's Assets Returned

The United States said Thursday it was negotiating with other countries to return Saddam Hussein's assets to Iraq. (UPI)

ANALYSIS & OPINION

Press Review: Was it ETA or Al Qaeda?

European media: 'For us, terrorism is no longer a spectator sport.' (CS Monitor)

A New — and Bloody — Style of Attack If Eta is behind the attacks, it would point to a deadly change of tactics. (The Guardian)

Al Qaeda Link is One Possibility

The size and savagery of Thursday's synchronized train station bombings suggest a significant shift in tactics by Basque separatists — or the work of an entirely new player in Spain. (LA Times)

Terror Plain and Simple

It is time to ditch once and for all the old lie that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. No cause, however noble, can justify the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians. It is not a matter of what these people believe in or support. It is what they do. (Arab News)

Is Al Qaeda Now a Role Model for Other Terrorists?

Regardless of who is behind the Madrid bombings, the attacks add new urgency to the fight against bin Laden, writes Tony Parkinson. (The Age — Australia)

To Die in MadridEvents such as yesterday's in Madrid define our age and annotate its calendar. (The Guardian)

Taken for a Ride

An indicted crack-dealing informant told the FBI he could lead agents to bin Laden. Guess what happened next? (Newsweek)

Temporary, in an Endless Framework

Ayatollah Sistani's reservations seem realistic. (Al Hayat)

Iraq's New Constitution Goes a Long Way but Still Falls Short

The soap opera of getting the Iraqi transitional constitution signed made for great theater and ended, fortunately, with all 25 members of Iraq's Governing Council signing the document into law. But no one should mistake this success as anything more than a small step on the very long road to a worthy future for Iraq. (LA Times)

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.