Iran

• Iran is going to ask Europe for help with enriching uranium.

• British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw doesn't expect Iran to meet U.N. demands. Straw told the BBC that he expects more discussion at the U.N. after Iran refuses to deal.

• Iran has been invited to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a Chinese-led regional security organisation supposedly dedicated to combatting terrorism, religious extremism and separatism.

• Meanwhile, President Bush has refused to rule out the use of nuclear weapons against Iran in an attempt to prevent the mullahs developing nuclear arms.

• An Iranian terrorist group has said it is recruiting British Muslims to become suicide bombers. A member of the Committee for the Commemoration of Martyrs of the Global Islamic Campaignsaid "We understand the suspicion with which Britain, America and other western countries regard their Muslim populations. We don't condemn them for this because we believe every Muslim has the potential to turn into a bomb against the west." Britain's Foreign Office has requested Iran stop sponsoring the group. That'll probably do it.

• Russia has decided to continue aiding Iran in the construction of the nuclear reactor at Bushehr, despite U.S. pressure to stop. On the plus-side, U.S. pressure has led to Russia postponing the delivery of a new SAM system until autumn 2006.

• A U.S. diplomat says he thinks there may be support amongst most of the UNSC for sanctions against Iran. He didn't mention any change in the positions of China or Russia.

• India is shifting its position on Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions, to the point that PM Manmohan Singh says that Iran building nuclear weapons is not in India's national interest.

• New satellite photos show that Iran has reinforced the Natanz underground uranium enrichment plant and expanded Isfahan (a uranium conversion centre). Nuclear research is also being conducted at a Revolutionary Guards university in Tehran.

• Tehran police have been ordered to crack down on women wearing 'un-Islamic dress'. Women wearing loose-fitting headscarves, tight jackets or shortened trousers (thereby forcing men to control lustful thoughts about ankles and lower calves) are to be targeted.

The Middle East

• A suicide bomber murdered nine people in Tel Aviv, prompting the government to reject any extensive military response and instead discuss revoking the residency of three Hamas politicians living in Israel.

• Egypt has broken up a terrorist cell planning attacks against tourists, Christian and Muslim leaders and a gas pipeline. The Interior Ministry has released 22 names of men thought involved, but not how many have been arrested.

• Multiple-murder Marwan Barghouti is apparently planning a ceasefire. Arab media reported that Hamas leader Khaled Maashal met with Fatah terrorist Farouk Kaddoumi in Qatar to discuss the proposal.

• Hamas continues to develop terrorist organisations to fight Israel. Ismail Haniyeh has urged PA 'police officers' to stop pretending and just get stuck in with the other terrorists. Meanwhile, Jamal Abu Samhadanah has been appointed to a senior Interior Ministry post. Samhadanah leads the Popular Resistance Committees, the group that murdered three Americans in an attack on a diplomatic convoy in Gaza in 2003. The PRC has also murdered numerous Israeli soldiers and civilians.

• FM Straw has said that he doesn't expect Hamas to alter their charter, and that Britain wants 'normal relations' with the new Hamas government.

• Lebanon is pushing the U.S. to pressure Israel in to giving up the Sheba Farms region, supposedly Lebanese but previously Syrian. Secretary Rice has already raised the issue with the Israelis, back in July 2005.

• The al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades have threatened to carry out terrorist attacks against Jews outside Israel.

• Hamas may accept the Saudi peace plan, according to an Israeli Arab MK who has met with members of the terrorist group.

• In Lebanese hellholle Ein al-Hilweh, Hamas have been organising rallies against Israel.

• Following Kofi Annan's demand that they disarm, Hezbollah have decided that they're not going to. The Khaleej Times says it all: Lebanon’s Hizbollah dismisses UN demand to disarm.

Iraq and the Gulf

• Our deepest symapthies to the Iraq the Model gentleman, following the murder of a relative by terrorists. They aren't going to cave, though: Kill us, but you won't enslave us.

• Saudis in the Iraqi insurgency - lots of information, focused on the problems the Saudis face when these terrorists (most of whom they were previously unaware of) return home. The situation in Iraq is of particular concern to the Saudis. Facing their own insurgency, and wary of the links between nomads living on the Iraq-KSA border with Iraq-based terrorists, the Saudis are considering an electric fence on that border.

• China and Kuwait have signed a $5 billion energy deal that could lead to the development of strategic ties between the two countries. Kuwait is to build an oil refinery in China and

• One of the 23 al-Qaeda escapees from a Yemeni jail has been arrested by authorities. Zakaria Yafii's peaceful arrest is thought to be the result of negotiations between Yemen's security forces and tribal leaders.

• Saudi Arabia is worried that civil war in Iraq could spill over in to KSA.

• A Sunni tribal leader has called for jihad against foreign terrorists - and he's being a good job, too. He claims to have arrested and killed (as opposed to 'or killed') 300 foreign jihadis.

• A new report claims that 20,000 people have been kidnapped in Iraq since January.

• Saudi forces have arrested five al-Qaeda suspects believed to be closely involved in an attempt to bomb Saudi oil facilities. One of the men is on Saudi Arabia's list of 36 most-wanted.

• You may have seen the story about two school teachers in Iraq being beheaded in front of their students? MSNBC says it is not true.

• U.S. officials say there has been a 60% drop in attacks on 'vital Iraqi infrastructure'.

The Americas

• Terrorist financier and leader Sami al-Arian has admitted to aiding Islamic Jihad and agreed to be deported.

• What's with the State Department's on-again, off-again fling with the Muslim Brotherhood? The Italian embassy is going to sponsor an event at which MB leader Tariq Ramadan will speak, and the Foggy Bottom counter-terror chief just spoke at an MB-sponsored event. And that's just a couple of instances...

• As we try and figure out which option for Iran's nukes is the least catastrophic, are we letting Iran infiltrate terrorists, which makes the choice that much harder?

• Hugo Chavez says that a U.S. naval deployment to the Carribean is a threat to Venezuela and Cuba. The four warships, including an aircraft carrier, are conducting maneouvers in the region.

• A Chinese man arrested in an FBI sting has admitted to planning to ship 200 SAMs to the United States.

• Daniel Pipes reports that at least one government agency isn't sucking up to CAIR.

• The FBI has detained an American Muslim student for over a month, but aren't saying why.

• Oklahoma City has marked the eleventh anniversary of the OKC bombing, in which 168 people were murdered. Perhaps of interest: No Mideast connection? Not so fast

Europe

• A bomb has been found on a TGV railway line in France, prompting a major terrorism investigation. Thus far, no demands have been made or responsibility taken. An official said the bomb could have caused a train to derail.

• Raids in France and Italy have led to the arrest of 12 suspects. The arrests are part of a probe in to the funding of Islamic extremism. All 12 men are of Algerian-origin, and members of the GSPC.

• British Muslims training to be imams are being taught to 'despise unbelievers as filth'. Students at the Iranian funded Hawza Ilmiyya of London brought the matter to light.

• Bosnian authorities have charged three men arrested nearly six months ago for planning to carry out a suicide bombing against a Western embassy. The men, discovered with explosives and a bomb-belt, were linked to a cell in Denmark planning a similar attack. And - yes - al-Qaeda are recruiting white terrorists. One of the men was a Swedish citizen of Serb origin.

• A 20 year-old man has been arrested in Scotland following an investigation involving MI5 and Special Branch. Mohammed Atif Siddique's lawyer told the press that Mr Siddique's beard does not make him a terrorist.

• The British Army is converting an infantry battalion in to a commando unit.

• The assets of all convicted members of the Hofstadgroep have been frozen by the Dutch government. Banks and insurance companies in Holland are barred from letting the men invest, take loans or take out insurance.

• British prison officers have been battling the Muslim Boys gang in Belmarsh jail. The Muslim Boys are housed in the Category A wing of Belmarsh, alongside al-Qaeda terrorists. A prison report revealed that the gang has been recruiting for al-Qaeda.

• The U.S. is pushing Germany to accept 15 Chinese Uigurs ready for release from Gitmo. The U.S. doesn't want them tortured by China, and Germany has an exile community of Uigurs - makes sense, especially given Merkel's position on Gitmo being closed. But Germany doesn't want to upset China by validating American concerns about human rights - hence no movement on the issue.

• The family of a Turkish-German woman want to adopt her son, following her murder by a family member. Hatun Surucu was murdered in an 'honour-killing' by her brothers for leading a Westernised lifestyle.

• A Milan GSPC cell of 15 men, including an imam, is on trial for terrorist offences and other crimes. The cell organised and financed jihadi volunteers who wanted to fight in Iraq.

• Louai Sakka, the A-Q terrorist suspect on trial for various bombings and plots in Turkey, says he presided over the 'trial' of Ken Bigley. Sakka's defence lawyer: 'He was one of the men who interrogated Bigley. He says they put Bigley on trial, found him guilty and executed him'. Bigley was beheaded on video in 2004.

Russia, Caucasus & Central Asia

• Chechnya Weekly: Basayev statement; rights groups protests new disappearances; and observant Muslims in Karachaevo-Cherkiessia beaten by police.

• The Russian Prosecutor General's Office says it has evidence al-Qaeda was involved in an attack on Ingush President Murat Zyazikov in April 2004. Zyazikov was lightly wounded when a car bomb exploded near his convoy.

• Azerbaijan has jailed 16 al-Qaeda terrorists for the murder of a policeman in July 2005, and for illegaly possessing weapons.

• Is Russia having trouble maintaining their ICBM arsenal? A think-tank suggested it a few weeks back, and their Russian opposites are raising hell. The Topol-M is due to replace Soviet-era missiles, but are apparently not being produced quickly enough.

• Kazakhstan says it has uncovered a terrorist plot, targeting strategic infrastructure. Police arrested 10 people and seized weapons, bomb-making instructions, maps of targets and extremist literature. The National Security Committee also said the 'foreign ideologists' were working with an unnamed organised crime group.

• Uzbekistan has returned 63kg of highly enriched uranium to Russia, as part of IAEA efforts to prevent such materials landing up in terrorist hands.

• In Tajikistan, the unstable Ferghana Valley finds itself home to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan - now including Tajik members - and other radical terror groups.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh

• Pakistani troops have killed a suspected Arab al-Qaeda terrorist near the Afghan border. The body will undergo DNA tests.

• The deteriorating situation in Kandahar Province.

• 24 Afghan militias have surrendered 87 light and heavy weapons to the Afghan government. Since June 2005, the Afghan government has collected over 20,000 weapons and nearly 150,000 rounds of ammunition from militias.

• Four men in Waziristan have been murdered for 'spying' for the United States. Three of the men were beheaded.

• The Dutch are to send an extra 200 troops to Afghanistan, bringing their contribution to 1,400. Dutch intelligence believes Dutch troops face an increasing threat from a resurgent and better-organised Taliban.

• The explosive used in the Nishtar Park suicide bombing, which killed the senior leadership of an anti-Wahhabi Sunni group, was C4, not made in Pakistan, according to security sources. They suggest it may have been brought in from Afghanistan. Musharraf says the attack wasn't linked to international terrorism. The fact is, there's a whole lot we don't know right now.

• A rocket has exploded near the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. An Afghan security guard was wounded in the attack. In Ghazni province, the Taliban has banned vehicle movement.

• A veteran Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist leader has been arrested in Kashmir. Gulzar Ahmad Tantray was wanted for involvement in several attacks conducted over a 16-year career.

• A member of the Bangladeshi Jamaat-e-Islami has admitted to the police he was a leader of Jama'atul Mujahideen, the al-Qaeda linked terrorist group responsible for numerous bombings and attacks. During a JMB hearing, prosecution lawyers threw shoes at JMB leader Abdur Rahman.

• Pakistan's Jamaat-e-Islami is going to help fund Hamas.

Far East & South East Asia

• In Sri Lanka, the Tamil Tigers have called off peace talks permanently. An eastern faction of the LTTE wants talks, but a stronger faction based in the north wants to keep fighting.

• How does North Korea fund its nuclear program? Money plundered from North Korea by Kim Il Jong seems to be the likely answer.

• An Australian terrorism expert says there are probably around 50 terrorists in Australia. The ASIO only questioned 10 people 2004-2005 on suspicion of terrorism.

• An Indonesian terrorist awaiting execution for the 2002 Bali bombing says he was tortured in to naming Abu Bakar Bashir as being involved in the attack.

• Indonesian police have arrested Abdul Rasyid, aka Hamdan, a Singaporean believed to be an associate of Noordin Muhammad Top and a member of JI.

• Japanese police have raided Aum Shinrikyo facilities after the death penalty for the group's founder, Shoko Asahara, was upheld by a Japanese court. Aum Shinrikyo released Sarin in the Tokyo underground in 1995, killing 12 and wounding thousands more.

• Muslim terrorists killed a policeman and wounded six others on an attack on election officials.

• Abu Sayyaf has threatened to murder a radio DJ after he accused them of various murders and attacks that they did.

• Indian intelligence agenices believe there are several al-Qaeda camps in various Nepalese provinces.

• While terrorism investigations in the Phillipines focus on Abu Sayyaf, JI and sometimes the MLF, the Rajah Solaiman Revolutionary Movement - a JI-aligned group of Christian converts to Islam - has carried out several major attacks, including the sinking of a ferry. A plot to attack embassies, nightclubs and transit hubs was thwarted in March 2005.

Africa

• Algeria says over 80 terrorists have surrendered under the new amnesty program. Most of the terrorists are members of the al-Qaeda linked GSPC. Former members of the GSPC have voiced support for the amnesty.

• Contrary to reports, the U.S. and Somalia have not signed a deal allowing U.S. warships to patrol Somali waters. Piracy is rife off the Somali coasts, with attacks increasing in contrast to a world-wide decrease of 18%. Pirates have attacked commercial ships as well as U.N. aid-bearing ships.

• Chad's government says that Sudanese government officials led the attack on the parliament building, and that the attackers were armed with Chinese-made weapons. China has several weapons factories in Sudan. Foreign diplomats also said many of the attackers spoke a foreign (ie, non-Chadian) dialect.

• In Darfur, the number of 'no-go areas' has increased. The African Union says the situation requires up to 60,000 troops to adequately protect Darfur from Khartoum's mobs of terrorists. The current number of AU troops stands at 7,000. Meanwhile, China and Russia have blocked even the most symbolic sanctions. As Joe says, the United Nations at work.

• A Darfur rebel group briefly seized the Sudanese embassy in Chad's capital city ,N’Djamena. The Justice and Equality Movement entered the embassy after the Chadian government ordered Sudanese diplomats to leave the country.

• Nigerian militants have promised more attacks on oil facilities. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said it was not satisfied with a government offer of 20,000 jobs and a new highway.

• The Importance of the Western Sahara to Maghrebi Security. Co-operation between regional states, with U.S. advice and intelligence, means Salafi terror groups lose a base of operations for mounting attacks in the region and elsewhere.

• Thousands of people are fleeing Mogadishu as the militias prepare for all-out war. Arms dealers, including those based in the notorious Bakara market, say they have been cleaned out - and demand remains high. That's right - Mogadishu doesn't have enough guns to meet demand. I'd be packing my things, too...

• Uganda has released a man detained after being deported from Gitmo for fighting for al-Qaeda.

International News

• An international investigation in to the ARY of Dubai, owned by Abdul Razzak Yacoub Ghandi, has uncovered business deals with drug traffickers, money launderers and perhaps funding of terrorism. ARY is linked to the criminal-terrorist syndicate of Dawood Ibrahim and the AQ Khan network. Douglas Farah has previously written about ARY, and its involvement of moving Taliban and al-Qaeda assets out of Afghanistan prior to the invasion.

• Asia Times has a fascinating history of the use of car bombs, starting in September 1920 and concluding in Iraq, with all points in between.

• Defence and intelligence officials are gathering information from weblogs. A Defence Department official noted that the U.S. learned of a secret Chinese attack submarine project after a photograph was posted on the Internet.

• The next meeting of the Euro-Arab Dialogue is to be held in Paris April 26-28. The Arab League ambassador to France described the meeting as 'breathing space' for Europe and the Arab world.

• Does power moderate Islamist groups? Well, probably not, if the career of Islamist Ibrahim Gharaybeh is any indicator. A former student of Abdullah Azzam, Gharaybeh's ideas about not killing Jews and concentrating on improving the lives of Muslims earned him the loathing of the MB.

• What Muslims Hear at Friday Prayers - a report on sermons from all over the world. Alas, it isn't all 'inner struggle'...

• The U.N.'s disarmament commission is vice-chaired by Iran's ambassador to the United Nations. The commission has no authority, or links to the IAEA. Not that the IAEA has much authority either, but that's not the point.

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