Report: Chicago Gangs in Iraq

May 3, 2006 -- IRAQ NEWS

Gangs Claim Their Turf in Iraq

The Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings and Vice Lords were born decades ago in Chicago's most violent neighborhoods. Now, their gang graffiti is showing up 6,400 miles away in one of the world's most dangerous neighborhoods -- Iraq. (Chicago-Sun Times)

Violence Flares as Iraqi Parliament Convenes

Violence flared across Iraq as the country's Parliament held its first regular business session today. (NY Times)

Iraqi Insurgents Negotiated with U.S. Ambassador, Says Member of Insurgent Group

Iraqi insurgents met with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad seven times, a member of one of Iraqi's "most prominent" militant groups told Asharq al Awsat. The source said negotiations had started earlier this year in Amman, Jordan and claims there's a secret negotiating team representing "the Iraqi resistance." He said the groups presented "a memorandum of agreement" two months ago proposing a solution to end the violence in Iraq but has not received an answer yet. (Asharq al Awsat)

Iraq Reconstruction -- Mix of Progress, Problems and Uncertainty

New Report From Inspector General Finds Gains for Schools, Utilities. (ABC News)

Video Shows Mistreatment of Hussein Official's Body

The dead body of one of Saddam Hussein's top lieutenants was kicked and insulted after U.S. forces transferred it into Iraqi custody, according to a video of the incident that aired on al-Arabiya television on Monday evening. (Washington Post)

Video: Preparing for War: A Mock Iraq

Dexter Filkins reports on the Army's mock villages in Fort Irwin, Calif., used to train soldiers headed to Iraq. (NY Times)

Analysis: Iraq: If Not Now, When?

If there is an endgame to the American presence in Iraq, it is now. (StratFor)

AL LIBI HAND-OVER

Al Libi Handed Over to Libya

A prominent "Arab Afghan" who ran the Khaldan training camp in Afghanistan, which was used by al Qaeda members, was handed over by the U.S. to Libya last month, "informed Western sources" told al Hayat newspaper. Ibn Sheikh al Libi is believed to have been arrested end of 2001 in Pakistan. Al Libi had been named by the U.S. before the war on Iraq as the source of information about Saddam Hussein training al Qaeda members on use of poisons, which later turned out to be untrue, according to al Hayat. Al Libi never joined al Qaeda himself, notes the paper, but allowed different groups to get training at the camp. (Al Hayat)

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban Threat Is Said to Grow in Afghan South

The Taliban, counting on the imminent departure of U.S. troops, appear to be increasing their insurgency in southern Afghanistan. (NY Times)

U.S.

FBI Sought Data on Thousands in '05

First official count of "national security letters" outlines agency's attempts to gather personal information from banks, Internet providers and other companies. (Washington Post)

Polygraph Results Often in Question

CIA, FBI Defend Test's Use in Probes. (Washington Post)

PAKISTAN

Pakistan Detains al-Qaida Fugitive Nasar

Al-Qaida Fugitive Detained by Pakistan, Possibly Handed Over to Americans, U.S. Official Says. (AP)

E.U./SERBIA

EU Tells Serbia: No Mladic, No Entry

The EU suspends membership talks with Serbia over Belgrade's failure to deliver Ratklo Mladic to the war crimes tribunal in The Hague. (The Guardian)

FRANCE

'French Watergate' Threatens Chirac

Alleged plot with PM against Sarkozy. Call for De Villepin to quit or hold early elections. (The Guardian)

DARFUR

Sudan Says It Will Weigh Deal On Darfur

Sudan appears ready to make concessions to rebels over the Darfur region, a government spokesman has said. (AP)

Analysis: A Deadline in Darfur

Just about everyone knows what it will take to stop the slaughter of innocents in Sudan. (LA Times)

NEPAL

Nepalese Cabinet, Rebels Declare Cease-Fire

Nepal's Cabinet declared a cease-fire with communist rebels Wednesday and will no longer designate them as a terrorist group, the deputy prime minister said. (AP)

INTERVIEWS

Married to the Godfather of Jihad

Asharq Al-Awsat interviews Umm Mohammed: The Wife of Bin laden's Spiritual Mentor. (Asharq al Awsat)

ANALYSIS & OPINION

This High-Octane Rocket-Rattling Against Tehran Is Unlikely To Succeed

Ringed by nuclear states, Iran's atomic programme is scarcely unreasonable. So why has Washington manufactured this crisis? (The Guardian)

Under The Gun

The FBI is struggling to prove it can learn counterterrorism four-plus years after 9/11. Some say a culture clash between law enforcement and intelligence inside the FBI won't be solved for "a decade, maybe even a generation." (Congressional Quarterly)

Calm at the Center of the Storm

In Iraq, if things go well, or at least better, Babil Province will have been a major reason for the success. (NY 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.