Australian Jailed Over al-Qaeda Cell has Term Halved
An Australian man jailed for three years in Lebanon for trying to set up an al-Qaeda Terrorist cell has had his prison sentence halved on appeal. Mohamad Ramez Sultan, 41, who has joint Australian and Lebanese citizenship, was convicted and sentenced in a Beirut Court in May last year. A Military Appeals Court halved the sentences for Sultan and three other men who tried to set up a Lebanese branch of al-Qaeda, Court officials said. more > >
Bin Laden's Man Warns the West of More Attacks
An audiotape purported to be from Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant aired on Arabic TV stations today taunted US President George W Bush and threatened more attacks on the US. A second tape criticised French plans to ban Islamic headscarves in schools. Portions of separate audiotapes attributed to Ayman al-Zawahri were broadcast a few hours apart on al-Arabiya and al-Jazeera, competing pan-Arab satellite channels based in the Gulf. Officials at both stations said they had aired only excerpts judged newsworthy, and that they had received different tapes. more > >
Girl's Death Linked to Arranged Muslim Marriage
UK Police have begun a murder investigation after finding the body of a British teenager who had resisted plans by her Muslim parents to force her into an arranged marriage. Shafilea Ahmed, 17, vanished six months ago, shortly after returning to Britain from a family trip to Pakistan where she drank bleach after being introduced to a suitor. Police confirmed that a badly decomposed body found in undergrowth near a river in North-West England three weeks ago was that of the teenager. Forensic examinations ruled out the possibility of suicide, they said. more > >
Capture of Zawahiri's Son and Its Implications
One of Pakistan's leading newspapers, the Urdu-language Jang, is reporting that a son of Ayman Zawahiri has been captured. The paper cites unnamed diplomatic sources. US officials have not confirmed the report. His daughters and wife apparently were previously killed. The report comes the same day as a Zawahiri tape makes threats of new attacks against the West. The tape urges President Bush to prepare for new attacks on the US homeland. Coincidentally, CIA Director George Tenet testified yesterday before the Senate Intelligence Committee that `We see al-Qaeda's program to produce Anthrax as one of the most immediate'" threats. While we wait to receive confirmation that his son was captured -- and who even knew he had a son -- it is worth revisiting what is known about Ayman. more > >
Two Captives First to be Charged
The Pentagon charged two Arabs being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with 'Conspiracy to Commit War Crimes' on behalf of Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda Terrorist network, setting the stage for the first U.S. War Crimes Tribunals since the trials of Nazi and Japanese War Criminals at the end of World War II. The prisoners, identified as Ali Hamza Ahmed Sulayman al-Bahlul of Yemen and Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al-Qosi of Sudan, were described in charge sheets as senior members of Al Qaeda who had served in various capacities for its leader, Osama bin Laden. more > >
Australia to Watch UK Terror Law
Australia is closely examine options to be considered by the British Government to strengthen its fight against Terrorism. British Home Secretary David Blunkett released a discussion paper earlier this week canvassing Anti-Terrorism options. Mr Blunkett said the Government had to find a fair and effective balance between security and liberty in the fight that its security chiefs have warned will last for years. more > >
Australia Rotates Iraq Troops and Warships
A team of Australian Military trainers is being sent to Iraq to help rebuild the War-torn country's Army, Defence Minister Robert Hill has said. Hill said two light armored vehicles and extra security personnel will be sent to Iraq to protect the trainers, who will be deployed outside Baghdad. "They will provide training in the full range of professional Military and practical skills, including receiving orders and instructions, marching fitness and weapons training," he said. more > >
SAS Report Exposes Shortcomings
The Australian Defence Force has shone a rare light on the operations of its super-secret special forces in a critique of its operations during the War in Iraq. The heavily censored public version of the lessons the ADF learned from the War also exposes gaps in key information and logistics systems, legal differences with the United States over the rules of combat, and a serious lack of protection for infantry. "[The war] reinforced the argument within the Army that they needed tanks," Defence Minister Robert Hill said.
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