Disputing Theories on Hariri
INVESTIGATIONS
Al Hariri Assassination
Dispute Erupts Over Existence of Connecting Tunnel
A furious row has erupted between the Saint George Yacht Club and Hotel and a Dignity Block MP over whether a tunnel exists near the hotel that could have housed the bomb that killed Rafik Hariri and 17 others. (The Daily Star)
Asharq Al Awsat reports that further evidence presented by Lebanese MP Mohammed Qabbani to support the theory that the bomb was buried underground include testimonies by experts who examined the color of the fire resulting from the explosion. They believe the bright color suggests there was sodium in it, which would indicate it contained seawater and imply that the explosion came from underground. (Asharq Al Awsat)
Family Still Searching For Missing Body
The number of people killed in the blast that killed former Premier Rafik Hariri has risen to at least 18. However, the body of Abdel-Hamid Mohammed Ghalayini remains missing since the day of the accident on Feb. 14. (Daily Star)
Kuwait
Arrested Suspects Were Preparing a Video
Two brothers, Ahmed and Nasser Weheish, who were arrested Saturday in a Kuwait City suburb for allegedly being connected to a terror group planning to attack Americans and Kuwaiti security forces were preparing a video to send to television stations, Asharq Al Awsat reports today. The suspects confessed and provided valuable information about the terror group, sources told the paper. They said the video was going to show masked men calling for the ousted of Arab leaders. (Asharq Al Awsat)
U.K.
An Algerian Infiltrated Fundamentalist Groups For Six Years
An Algerian who infiltrated fundamentalist groups in London for six years, during which he provided British and French intelligence with information is worried about the new laws which are expected to permit the release of Abu Qatada, who is often described as al Qaeda's spiritual leader in Europe, and place him under house arrest. Reda Hasayn claims that Abu Qatada issued a religious edict (fatwa) to kill him because he provided British intelligence with information that led to Abu Qatada's arrest. Abu Qatada's lawyer however claimed that the Algerian may be mentally disturbed. She said she has no knowledge of a fatwa issued by her client from prison. (Asharq Al Awsat)
LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS
Yemen
Al Moayad Linked To Bin Laden
A former FBI informant testified at the terror-funding trial for a Yemeni sheikh and his assistant that the defendant had supplied arms, money and fighters to Osama bin Laden. (Yemen Times)
IRAQ NEWS
Britain Convicts 2 in Iraq Abuse; Sex Photos Unsolved
Britain convicted two soldiers Wednesday for abusing Iraqi detainees, but failed to punish anyone for making prisoners pose for simulated sex pictures similar to those in the U.S. Abu Ghraib scandal. (Reuters)
Insurgents Wage Precise Attacks on Baghdad Fuel
Insurgent attacks to disrupt Baghdad's supplies of crude oil, gasoline, heating oil, water and electricity have reached a degree of coordination and sophistication not seen before, Iraqi and American officials say. (NY Times)
Allawi Challenge For Top Iraq Job
Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi says he is forming a new coalition to oppose the Shia alliance that won last month's election. (BBC)
Shiites in Iraq Back Islamist to Be Premier
Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a Shiite doctor with an Islamist bent, was chosen Tuesday by the victorious Shiite alliance as its candidate to become Iraq's new prime minister. The decision may well open a period of protracted and rancorous negotiations with a coalition of secular leaders intent on sharply curtailing Dr. Jaafari's powers or blocking him and his clerical-backed coalition. (NY Times)
Politician Assassinated in Northern Iraq
On the day a Shiite Muslim-led bloc picked its candidate for Iraq's prime minister, insurgents assassinated an official in Diyala province who was a member of that nominee's political movement. (CNN)
A List of Iraq's Most-Wanted (AP)
ANALYSIS & OPINION
U.S.' Prewar Visions Get Further Out of Focus
Two years ago, as the U.S. planned to march into Baghdad, many in the Bush administration had a vision for Iraq's first freely elected government in decades. It would be a pro-U.S. regime that would support American military bases, embrace U.S. businesses and serve as a model for democracy in the region. (LA Times)
Choosing Iraq's Prime Minister
Yesterday, the bloc of Shiite parties that won the most seats in Iraq's election chose Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the leader of one of the two main Shiite Islamic parties, as its candidate for prime minister. That now makes him the leading contender. (NY Times)
From Resignation to Assassination
What has taken place in the hours and days, following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, was "round one" of the elections. (Al Hayat)
Beirut's Berlin Wall
"Enough!" That's one of the simple slogans you see scrawled on the walls around Rafiq Hariri's grave site here. And it sums up the movement for political change that has suddenly coalesced in Lebanon and is slowly gathering force elsewhere in the Arab world. (Washington Post)
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 Brinda Adhikari of the ABC News Investigative Unit. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ABCNEWS.