300 Insurgents Killed in Iraq Battle
January 29, 2007 -- IRAQ NEWS
Iraq: 300 Insurgents Killed in Battle
U.S.-backed Iraqi troops on Sunday attacked insurgents allegedly plotting to kill pilgrims at a major Shiite Muslim religious festival, and an Iraqi official estimated some 300 militants died in the daylong battle near Najaf. (AP)
Suicide Bombers Strike In Baghdad
At least 15 people have been killed and 55 injured in twin suicide car bomb attacks in Baghdad. (BBC)
Iraqi Cult Leader Killed In Najaf Battle
The leader of an Iraqi cult who claimed to be the Mahdi, a messiah-like figure in Islam, was killed in a battle on Sunday near Najaf with hundreds of his followers, Iraq's national security minister said on Monday. (Reuters)
Iranian Reveals Plan to Expand Role in Iraq
Iran's ambassador to Baghdad outlined an ambitious plan on Sunday to greatly expand its economic and military ties with Iraq — including an Iranian national bank branch in the heart of the capital — just as the Bush administration has been warning the Iranians to stop meddling in Iraqi affairs. (NY Times)
TURKEY
Turkish Police Detain 46 Al Qaeda Suspects: Agency
Turkish police have detained 46 people on suspicion of links to al Qaeda, the state-run Anatolian news agency said on Monday. (Reuters)
NETHERLANDS
Dutch Citizen Faces U.S. Terror Charges
An Iraqi-born Dutch citizen is facing terror charges in what the Justice Department calls the United States' first criminal prosecution. (AP)
AFGHANISTAN
Taliban Vows Summer Wave of Suicide Bombers
The Taliban is gearing up for a massive summer offensive, with more than 2,000 suicide bombers ready for action and even more preparing, a senior Taliban commander said yesterday. (Washington Times)
EGYPT
Egyptian Paper Accuses Iranians of Complicity in Envoy's Death
A front-page article in Egypt's semiofficial state newspaper on Sunday accused Iranian intelligence of involvement in the 2005 killing of Egypt's ambassador to Iraq. (NY Times)
PAKISTAN
'Three Killed' In Pakistan Blast
Police say the bomber killed himself, a policeman and a civilian after he was stopped at a checkpoint in the town of Dera Ismail Khan. (BBC)
SUDAN/DARFUR
African Snub to Sudan over Darfur
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has again been bypassed in his bid to become chairman of the African Union because of the conflict in Darfur. (BBC)
AL QAEDA
Bin Laden Alive, Active Says Algerian Group
Although he has not been seen or heard since last July, a militant Islamist group in Algeria says Osama bin Laden gave formal approval this week for the group to change its name. (ABC News)
SOMALIA
Police Attacked In Somali Battle
At least two people have been killed, including a Somali police officer, during an hour-long gunbattle in the capital, Mogadishu. (BBC)
RUSSIA
U.S. Missiles in E. Europe Opposed by Locals, Russia
A Bush administration plan to deploy a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe is drawing protests from Russia and from residents who oppose hosting foreign military bases and fear the facilities might make their countries targets for attack. (Washington Post)
Russia Vows to Press Ahead With Nuclear Project in Iran
Visiting Russian security chief said Sunday that his country is committed to launching Iran's first nuclear power plant on schedule, a day after Moscow said it expects Washington to explain its growing military presence in the region. (The Daily Star)
TIJUANA
Tijuana Police Get Weapons Back
Police in the northern Mexican border city of Tijuana have had their guns returned, three weeks after they were all ordered to hand them in. (BBC)
NIGERIA
Nigerian Militants in Jail Raid
About 50 members of a militant group have stormed through the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt and sprung a gang leader from jail, the group says. (BBC)
ON THE WEB
Civil War on Video
A graphic 30-minute video released by one of Iraq's insurgent groups shows what the group claims is a campaign of killing Sunnis by Shiites. The Army of Ansar al Sunna, believed to be one of Iraq's biggest insurgent groups, also claims to show proof of Iran's involvement and support of Shiite militias in Iraq. (ABC News)
ANALYSIS & OPINION
Baghdad Is Key
By Stephen J. Hadley
Any plan that limits our ability to reinforce our troops is a plan for failure - and could hand Baghdad to terrorists and extremists. (Washington Post)
America's New Middle East Strategy: Containing Iran
By David Ignatius
What's America's strategy in the Middle East? US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice this week sketched a new framework based on what she calls the "realignment" of states that want to contain Iran and its radical Muslim proxies. (The Daily Star)
Another Illusion Out of the Iraqi Hat
By Sami Moubayed
Muqtada al-Sadr's alliance with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is back on track. This means Muqtada gets to keep his deadly Shi'ite militia, and the premier gets essential backing for his plan to "secure" Baghdad. Keeping the Sunnis happy is another matter. (Asia Times)
Was 9/11 Really That Bad?
By David A. Bell
The attacks were a horrible act of mass murder, but history says we're overreacting. (LA Times)
National Security Whistle Blowers: The 'Undead'?
By Jeff Stein
You'd think a guy who helped bring down a corrupt congressman would get the thanks of a grateful government. But you, of course, would be wrong. (Congressional Quarterly)
Poll: Young British Muslims More Likely Than Elders To Support Shariah Law
Young British Muslims are more likely than their elders to support Shariah law and admire al-Qaida, but three-fifths of 16- to 24-year-olds say they have as much in common with non-Muslims as with Muslims, according to an opinion poll published Monday. (AP)
The True State of C.S.I. Justice
Modern DNA testing is steadily uncovering a dark history of justice denied. (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 Elizabeth Sprague of the ABC News Investigative Unit. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ABCNEWS.