Report: Rift Between al Zarqawi and Iraqi Insurgent Groups
IRAQ NEWS
Armed Groups Disagree with Al Zarqawi, In Talks with U.S. Forces
New disagreements have erupted between armed groups in Iraq and Abu Musaab al Zarqawi's group - al Qaeda in Iraq - following two attacks that the group carried out in Karbalaa and al Anbar, sources close to the armed groups told al Hayat. The attacks killed a number of insurgents who intended to volunteer in the Iraqi police force. Sources said they had agreed with U.S. forces - through mediators - to secure that the groups would have control over the police and military in the Sunni areas. According to the agreement, members of the armed groups would gradually enroll in Iraqi security agencies in al Anbar, Salah El Din and al Mosul. The disagreements with al Zarqawi's group, which al Hayat notes could turn into clashes, are because of the targets of the attacks. Armed groups insist that the operations should focus on occupation forces, while al Zarqawi insists on launching a war on Shiites and rarely attacks U.S. forces. (Al Hayat)
U.S. Trying To Widen Iraqi Rebel Split With Al Qaeda
U.S. officials are talking with local Iraqi insurgent leaders to exploit a rift that has opened between homegrown insurgents and radical groups like Al Qaeda, and to draw the local leaders into the political process, according to a Western diplomat, an Iraqi political leader and an Iraqi insurgent leader. (NY Times)
Attack at Iraq Police Celebration Kills 29
Two suicide bombers tried to attack National Police Day celebrations Monday, with police shooting one dead and the other exploding his vest, killing 29 people, police and the U.S. military said. (AP)
12 Killed in Crash of Copter in N. Iraq
An Army helicopter crashed in bad weather in northern Iraq shortly before midnight Saturday, killing all 12 Americans aboard, military authorities reported Sunday. (Washington Post)
Toll Rises in Iraq Ministry Attack
The death toll from a twin bombing in Iraq's interior ministry in Baghdad has risen to 28. (Al Jazeera)
INVESTIGATIONS
Jordan
Western Embassies Shut in Jordan
Canada and Australia have closed their embassies in the Jordanian capital, Amman, amid concerns over security. (BBC)
Iran
Iran Ready to Remove U.N. Seals at Nuclear Sites
Iran confirmed it would resume research on nuclear fuel on Monday, prompting swift warnings by Germany of "consequences" and by the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog that the world was running out of patience with Tehran. (Reuters)
Plane Crash Kills Iran Commander
The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards ground forces and at least 10 other officers have died in a plane crash. (BBC)
Avian Flu
Human Bird Flu Spreads in Turkey
Five new human cases of bird flu have been identified in several Turkish provinces, pushing the number of infected up to 14, officials say. (BBC)
Syria
EU Council to Suggest Imposing Sanctions on Suspects in Al Hariri Assassination
The Council of the European Union will suggest to the EU Parliament imposing sanctions on individuals suspected of being involved in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Al Hariri, diplomatic sources in Beirut told Elaph. The Council will suggest a number of procedures on the January 17th, which will include freezing the assets of the suspects. (Elaph)
Syria Ex-VP Sees U.N. Investigator
Former Syrian vice president Abdel-Halim Khaddam has met with United Nations investigators probing the February bombing death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a Khaddam aide confirmed to CNN Saturday. (CNN)
Saudis Urge Syrian Leader to Cooperate With U.N.
President Bashar al-Assad of Syria rushed to Saudi Arabia and Egypt on Sunday for surprise meetings with their leaders. (NY Times)
Interview with Former Syrian Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam
Former Syrian Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam escalated his criticism of the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad, in response to the campaign against him by pillars of the regime, following his explosive interview with Al Arabiya. (Asharq al Awsat)
Afghanistan
Taliban Scorn Karzai Offer to Mullah Omar
A deputy for fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on Monday rejected an offer from Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai, to "get in touch" if he wanted peace. (Reuters)
Egypt
Egypt Islamists Hit Back At Zawahri
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood responded yesterday to Al Qaeda's accusations of complicity with Washington by charging that the Islamist violence advocated by Osama bin Laden's network was counterproductive. (AFP)
On the Web
'Bin Laden Ordered Rocket Attacks'
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's leader in Iraq, has said in an audio tape put on the internet that rockets had been fired at Israel from Lebanon last month "on the instructions" of Osama bin Laden. (AFP)
LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS
Jordan Backs U.S. on War Crimes Court
Jordan on Sunday approved an agreement that gives American citizens in Jordan immunity against prosecution for war crimes by the International Criminal Court. (AP)
Hamza Faces Court Ahead Of Trial
Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri has appeared at the Old Bailey ahead of his trial for alleged offences committed while imam at a north London mosque. (BBC)
Guantanamo Inmate Pins Hope on Merkel's U.S. Trip
A German lawyer urged Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday to press for the release of his client from the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay when she visits Washington this week. (Reuters)
ANALYSIS & OPINION
Bird Flu Anguish in Rural Turkey
Bird flu has brought anguish and despair to rural Turkish communities, writes the BBC's Gavin Hewitt in Dogubeyazit, eastern Turkey. (BBC)
Democracy in the Arab World and Iraq
The current Iraqi situation poses an important, if rarely discussed or recognized, problem: to what extent can a pluralist democratic system guarantee the rights of the ethnic groups and factions that make up the fabric of Iraqi society? (Asharq al Awsat)
From the Blogs: World Opinion Roundup
Syria's Assad Looks for 'Face Saving Solution'
A daily survey of what the international online media are saying about Syria's President Assad and his potential future. (Washington Post)
The Iraqi Reconciliation, Where Does it Stand?
The most serious fact is that contacts made to cook up the governmental coalition were held without lingering over the forgery issue. (Al Hayat)
Bin Laden Family Values
The people who really knew the world's most wanted terrorist reveal the truth about his early life to Peter L Bergen. (The Sunday Times)
The Insider Daily Investigative Report (DIR) is a summary of major news articles and broadcasts relating to investigative news, including international terrorism and developments in Iraq. The DIR is edited daily from foreign and U.S. sources by Chris Isham, Hoda Osman and Ellen Gustafson of the ABC News Investigative Unit. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ABCNEWS.