Open Source Daily INTSUM: Monday, Nov. 28, 2005

[Airbornelawyer]

From Various Sources:

Middle East

Security incidents in Iraq, Nov 28 (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28765778.htm) (Source: Reuters (http://www.alertnet.org))
Ongoing operations (http://www.mnf-iraq.com/releases.htm) – Miscellaneous releases from Multi-National Force Iraq (http://www.mnf-iraq.com/).
Ongoing operations (http://www.mnf-iraq.com/releases.htm) – Miscellaneous releases from U.S. Central Command (http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/release_list.asp).
Private Security Crews Add to Fear in Baghdad (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/27/AR2005112700816_pf.html?) (Source: Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com))
Operation "Euphrates" (http://www.piomndcs.mil.pl/index.php?vhost=mndcs&akcja=news&id=534&limes=) "Iraqi soldiers detained 10 men suspected of terrorism. The cordon and search operation called “Euphrates” was conducted unaided by 2nd Brigade 8th Iraqi Army Division. Operation began on Saturday 26th of November and finished on Monday 28th of November. Operation was conducted in Al Hillah city. As a result of operation Iraqi soldiers seized also around 60 machine guns. It was the next successful operation conducted by 8th Iraqi Army Division. Last week soldiers from 2nd brigade 8th IA Division conducted Cordon & Search operation in western part of Babil province detaining three wanted men suspected of terrorism. Such kinds of actions weaken terrorists and prevent them from acting effectively. Successful operations conducted by 8th IA Division prove the growing level of efficiency and combat capabilities." (Source: MND-CS (http://www.piomndcs.mil.pl/))
Suspected Men Captured (http://www.piomndcs.mil.pl/index.php?akcja=news&id=535&limes=) "MNDCS soldiers captured 20 suspected men. They were detained in northern part of Babil province. The cordon and search operation was conducted on Monday, 28th of November. Suspected men were armed. MNDCS soldiers seized also machine guns, ammunition and other equipment which was secure for investigation." (Source: MND-CS (http://www.piomndcs.mil.pl/)). The soldiers in question were Polish, as noted in Polish media reports (http://www.irak.pap.pl/cgi-bin/irak.pl?grupa=1&dzien=0&ID=21615) on the operation and on the operation by Iraqi troops in the previous item.
Gaza gunmen storm Fatah primaries (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4477460.stm) "Palestinian gunmen in Gaza have stormed polling stations and fired in the air during primary elections for the main Palestinian political group, Fatah. Polling stations in central Gaza and some in Khan Younis were briefly shut.…" (Source: BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/))
Pakistan, Saudi Navies to Hold Exercises (http://www.arabnews.com/services/print/print.asp?artid=73848&d=28&m=11&y=2005&hl=Pakistan,%20Saudi%20Navies%20to%20Hold%20Exerci ses) "Pakistani and Saudi Arabian navies will hold joint exercises in the Arabian Sea off Karachi from today, Pakistani ambassador said yesterday. “The two navies will engage in war games and other exercises aimed at enhancing technical know-how, communications, understanding and war techniques, Ambassador Rear Adm. (retd.) Abdul Aziz Mirza said.…" (Source: Arab News (http://www.arabnews.com))

South & Central Asia

Sri Lanka: Security Situation Report (http://www.army.lk/news/index.html). (Source: Sri Lanka Army (http://www.army.lk))
South Asia Terrorism Update (http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=11/28/2005) (Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal (http://www.satp.org))

East Asia & the Pacific

Philippine troops kill 4 militants in the south (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAN105381.htm) "Philippine soldiers killed four suspected members of a Muslim militant group linked with al Qaeda in an operation to flush out militants from the remote southwestern island of Jolo, an army general said on Monday. The Abu Sayyaf militants were resting in a wooded area when an army patrol hunting their one-armed, horse-riding local commander ran into them and opened fire.…" (Source: Reuters (http://www.alertnet.org))
No coup d'etat, confirms Armed Forces chief (http://www.bangkokpost.net/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=64596) "There will never be another coup d'etat in Thailand, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Ruengroj Mahasaranond confirmed here on Monday. Responding to journalists over continuing rumours on a new coup, the supreme commander affirmed that the Thai military now has no idea of staging any coup d'etat. "The rumours are definitely groundless, the Thai military in this modern age has no idea about any coup," he told journalists before attending a National Security Council (NSC) meeting. Gen. Ruengroj was asked for his comments on a reported claim by an academic recently that some military officers had sought for his advice on how to stage a new coup, citing their dissatisfaction with the government's performance.…" (Source: Bangkok Post (http://www.bangkokpost.net))

The Americas

USSOUTHCOM Headline News (http://www.southcom.mil/pa/News/AOR%20News/Today's%20News.doc) (Microsoft Word format)
Opposition leads in Honduran poll (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4475240.stm) "Early results in Honduras' presidential election point towards victory for Liberal candidate Manuel Zelaya. Mr Zelaya, with 51% of the vote, is leading lawyer Porfirio Lobo who has 45% support, according to the preliminary results. Mr Lobo, of the ruling National Party, has refused to admit defeat. Both candidates have vowed to cut crime in Honduras, which is wracked by gang violence, 30% unemployment and widespread poverty.…" (Source: BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/))
Positivos resultados de nuevas operaciones militares (http://www.ejercito.mil.co/?idcategoria=88870&PHPSESSID=42bc16196e7083df00174308a3aeb6bb) (Positive Results of New Military Operations) "Como resultado de las operaciones adelantadas en diferentes sectores del país, el Ejército Colombiano reporto la baja en combate de un terrorista del Eln, la captura de siete violentos y la entrega voluntaria de un sujeto de las Autodefensas ilegales.…" (Source: Colombian Army (http://www.ejercito.mil.co/))

Africa

Protests hit Nigerian oil state under army watch (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28339567.htm) "The two opposing groups -- about 1,500 young men calling for Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha to step down, and about 1,000 women wanting him to stay -- remained peaceful under the watch of soldiers deployed to the state capital Yenagoa overnight. Armoured personnel carriers moved around town and about 50 riot police stood in front of the state government headquarters. Troops manned check points fortified with sandbags and military helicopters circled overhead. Military commander Elias Zamani said that armed militants had moved into the state, which pumps a quarter of Nigerian oil output, and he feared fighting could break out unless soldiers were deployed to prevent it.…" (Source: Reuters (http://www.alertnet.org))
Pirates Release Ukrainian Ship Seized off Somali Coast (http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-11-27-voa22.cfm) "Ukraine's foreign ministry says pirates have released a Ukrainian cargo ship that was seized last month off the coast of Somalia. The ministry says the crew of the vessel is safe after being freed late Saturday. The pirates hijacked the ship on October 18 and demanded a ransom of $700,000. It is not clear if the ransom was paid. Piracy has been rampant in the waters off Somalia, which is torn by fighting among various militias. At least 23 hijackings have been reported since March.…" (Source: VOA (http://www.voanews.com))
Mercenaries to Police Somali Coast (http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htseamo/articles/20051127.aspx) "The growing piracy problem off the Somali coast has been solved by the hiring of private contractors to operate as a coast guard. The American firm, Top Cat Marine Security (), has previously provided counter-terrorism and coastal security services for the Department of Homeland Defense, and other government agencies. The firm also designs and builds high speed patrol boats.…" (Source: [url=http://www.centcom.mil/]Strategy Page (http://www.TopCatMarineSecurity.com[/url))

Europe

Euro-Med stutters on 'terrorism' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4477054.stm) "A summit of EU nations and their Mediterranean neighbours is said to be struggling to agree a definition of terrorism and how to combat it. Spain and the UK, who are chairing the Barcelona meeting, want to announce an agreed position when it ends on Monday. But correspondents say Arab delegates object to a proposed definition that would allow no exceptions for those fighting occupation.…" (Source: BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/))

[Airbornelawyer]

From the RFE/RL Newsline (http://www.rferl.org/newsline/):

Transcaucasus and Central Asia
GEORGIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY BRANDS SOUTH OSSETIAN LEADERS 'CRIMINALS'
The Georgian Interior Ministry posted on 26 November on its website materials accusing the top leadership of the breakaway Republic of South Ossetia of engaging in smuggling, arms-trafficking, and abductions, Civil Georgia reported the following day. Those materials further accused the Russian peacekeepers deployed in the South Ossetian conflict zone of providing weapons to armed Ossetian groups. Also on 26 November. Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili named in an interview with the independent television station Rustavi-2 five men he claimed were responsible for the abduction in South Ossetia three months ago of an 11-year-old Georgian boy, Caucasus Press reported. Merabishvili said the boy was taken to Tskhinvali in a vehicle belonging to the South Ossetian Defense Ministry. He said the child was recently released by the same people who originally abducted him. Merabishvili further challenged South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity to return to their families four Georgian men abducted in the conflict zone in early June, and who are presumed to have been killed.
GEORGIA, RUSSIA DISCUSS SOUTH OSSETIA CONFLICT
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed during talks in Moscow that a meeting between Noghaideli and South Ossetian President Kokoity would contribute to alleviating tensions and pave the way for a solution of the South Ossetian conflict, Noghaideli told journalists in Moscow on 25 November, RIA-Novosti reported. Noghaideli added that he explained to Lavrov the details of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's most recent three-stage draft plan for resolving the conflict, the first stage of which entails demilitarization of the conflict zone. Noghaideli called for holding a meeting of the Joint Control Commission that monitors the situation in the conflict zone to discuss that demilitarization. In Tskhinvali, Yurii Dzitsoity, deputy speaker of the South Ossetian parliament, implicitly rejected the call for a meeting between Noghaideli and Kokoity, arguing that a meeting of the presidents of Russia, Georgia, and North and South Ossetia could best overcome the "stagnation" in the conflict resolution process, Caucasus Press reported on 26 November. Russian diplomat Valerii Kenyaikin proposed at a JCC session in Ljubljana 10 days ago convening such a meeting of the four presidents.
AUTHORITIES ACCUSE GEORGIAN GUERILLAS OF TARGETING ABKHAZ
In a statement released on 28 November, the Interior Ministry of the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia blamed Georgian guerrillas for having laid the radio-controlled mine that blew up a car in which three Abkhaz, including a customs official, were driving between the villages of Tagiloni and Chuburkhindji in Abkhazia's southernmost Gali District, apsny.ru and rustavi2.com reported. The White Legion guerrilla formation, which voluntarily disbanded two years ago, announced earlier this month plans to resume its activities.
KAZAKH SECURITY BODY WARNS OF POSSIBLE 'CONFLICT' BY 'MARGINAL YOUTH'
The National Security Committee issued a statement on 25 November warning of the threat of a "conflict situation" by "marginal" youth groups, according to Interfax. The statement added that the security forces were alarmed by reports of "provocative" youth groups organizing to disrupt the 4 December presidential election. The warning follows a recent statement by Interior Minister Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov alleging that "radical forces" are planning to "stage mass disturbances" during the election period.
NEW TURKISH-KYRGYZ MILITARY AGREEMENT SIGNED
Kyrgyz Deputy Defense Minister Major General Boris Yugai signed a new agreement on military cooperation on 25 November with a visiting Turkish military delegation in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Television reported. The new agreement calls for a new package of Turkish military assistance worth over $800,000, as part of a broader bilateral protocol reached in October. The aid includes equipment and supplies for the Kyrgyz armed forces and facilities for Kyrgyz border-guard units. In 2002, Turkey presented Kyrgyzstan with weaponry worth $1.1 million.

Southwestern Asia And The Middle East
SWEDISH SOLIDER KILLED IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN
A Swedish soldier serving with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) died on 26 November from wounds received on 25 November when the vehicle he was traveling in was caught in an explosion in Mazar-e Sharif, an ISAF press release indicated on 26 November. The explosion injured three other Swedish soldiers as well.
POTENTIAL BOMBERS ARRESTED IN KABUL
Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zaher Azimi said in Kabul on 27 November that seven men were arrested in Kabul with explosive-laden vehicles, Pajhwak Afghan News reported. Azimi did not discuss the possible targets of the would-be bombers. A unidentified senior Afghan official said on 27 November that the men, whom he described as would-be suicide bombers, were all Afghans. In the past, Afghan officials have tried to portray suicide bombers as foreigners.
IRAQI BORDER GUARDS STOP 11 CARLOADS OF INFILITRATORS
Interior Minister Bayan Jabr told reporters on 27 November that border guards stopped 11 cars transporting would-be insurgents into Iraq the day before, Iraqi media reported the same day. Jabr said two other vehicles eluded capture and returned to the country from which they came, which he refused to identify. Jabr said the authorities of that country were notified about the incident. He declined to identify the nationalities of those in custody. Meanwhile, IRNA reported on 26 November that three armed men were arrested upon entering Iran from Iraq on 25 November. The men were reportedly carrying three machine guns and two bombs when they were arrested.
FOUR WESTERN AID WORKERS KIDNAPPED IN IRAQ
Two Canadians, a Briton, and an American aid worker have been kidnapped in Baghdad, Reuters reported on 27 November. The employer of the aid workers refused to be identified publicly. The news agency reported that the workers were thought to have been abducted in a violent neighborhood of western Baghdad on 26 November; a representative of their humanitarian group said the group has received no word on the condition of the aid workers. The Canadian Foreign Ministry confirmed that two Canadian nationals were missing in Iraq on 27 November. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said it is looking into reports that an American was abducted. The British Foreign Office identified the missing Briton as Norman Kember from London. Kember's wife said he worked for a number of aid groups in Iraq, Reuters cited the BBC as reporting.