World Terrorism: News, History and Research Of A Changing World #6 Disinformation, Inc.

VEVAK learned its methodology from the Soviet KGB and many of the Islamist revolutionaries who supported Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini actually studied at Moscow's Patrice Lumumba Friendship University, the Oxford of terrorism. Documented Iranian alumni include the current Supreme Leader (the faqih) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, under whose Velayat-e Faqih (Rule of the Islamic Jurisprudent) apparatus it has traditionally operated. Its current head is Cabinet Minister Hojatoleslam Gholam-Hussein Mohseni-Ezhei, a graduate of Qom's Haqqani School, noted for its extremist position advocating violence against enemies and strict clerical control of society and government. The Ministry is very well funded and its charge, like that of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (the Pasdaran) is to guard the revolutionary Islamic Iranian regime at all costs and under all contingencies.

From the KGB playbook, VEVAK learned the art of disinformation. It's not so difficult to learn: tell the truth 80% of the time and lie 20%. Depending on how well a VEVAK agent wants to cover his/her tracks, the ratio may go up to 90/10, but it never drops below the 80/20 mark as such would risk suspicion and possible detection. The regime in Teheran has gone to great lengths to place its agents in locations around the world. Many of these operatives have been educated in the West, including the U.K. and the United States. Iranian government agencies such as embassies, consulates, Islamic cultural centers, and airline offices regularly provide cover for the work of VEVAK agents who dress well and are clean shaven, and move comfortably within our society. In this country, because of the severance of diplomatic relations, the principal site of VEVAK activities begins at the offices of Iran's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

Teheran has worked diligently to place its operatives in important think tanks and government agencies in the West. Some of its personnel have been recruited while in prison through torture or more often through bribery, or a combination of both. Others are Islamist revolutionaries that have been set up to look like dissidents - often having been arrested and imprisoned, but released for “medical reasons”. The clue to detecting the fake “dissident” is to read carefully what he/she writes, and to ask why this vocal “dissident” was released from prison when other real dissidents have not been released, indeed have been grievously tortured and executed. Other agents have been placed in this country for over twenty-five years to slowly go through the system and rise to positions of academic prominence due to their knowledge of Farsi and Shia Islam or Islamist fundamentalism.

One of the usual tactics of VEVAK is to co-opt academia to its purposes. Using various forms of bribery, academics are bought to defend the Islamic Republic or slander its enemies. Another method is to assign bright students to train for academic posts as specialists in Iranian or Middle East affairs. Once established, such individuals are often consulted by our government as it tries to get a better idea of how it should deal with Iran. These academics then are in a position to skew the information, suggesting the utility of extended dialogue and negotiation, or the danger and futility of confronting a strong Iran or its proxies such as Hizballah (Hezbollah). These academics serve to shield the regime from an aggressive American or Western policy, and thereby buy more time for the regime to attain its goals, especially in regards to its nuclear weaponry and missile programs.

MOIS likes to use the media, especially electronic media, to its advantage. One of VEVAK's favorite tricks is setting up web sites that look like they are opposition sites but which are actually controlled by the regime. These sites often will be multilingual, including Farsi, German, Arabic French, and English. Some are crafted carefully and are very subtle in how they skew their information (e.g., Iran-Interlink, set up and run by Massoud Khodabandeh and his wife Ann Singleton from Leeds, England); others are less subtle, simply providing the regime's point of view on facts and events in the news (e.g., www.mujahedeen.com or www.mojahedin.ws). This latter group is aimed at the more gullible in our open society and unfortunately such a market exists. However, if one begins to do one's homework, asking careful questions, the material on these fake sites generally does not add up.

Let's examine a few examples of VEVAK's work in the United States. In late October, 2005, VEVAK sent three of its agents to Washington to stage a press event in which the principal Iranian resistance movement, the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MeK), was to be slandered. Veteran VEVAK agent Karim Haqi flew from Amsterdam to Canada where he was joined by VEVAK's Ottawa agents Amir-Hossein Kord Rostami and Mahin (Parvin-Mahrokh) Haji, and the three flew from Toronto to Washington. Fortunately the resistance had been tracking these three, informed the FBI of their presence in Washington, and when the three tried to hold a press conference, the resistance had people assigned to ask pointed questions of them so that they ended the interview prematurely and fled back to Canada.

Abolghasem Bayyenet is a member of the Iranian government. He serves as a trade expert for the Ministry of Commerce. But his background of study and service in the Foreign Ministry indicates that Bayyenet is more than just an economist or a suave and savvy businessman. In an article published in Global Politician on April 23, 2006, entitled “Is Regime Change Possible in Iran?”, Bayyenet leads his audience to think that he is a neutral observer, concerned lest the United States make an error in its assessment of Iran similar to the errors of intelligence and judgment that led to our 2003 invasion of Iraq, with its less than successful outcome. However, his carefully crafted bottom line is that the people of Iran are not going to support regime change and that hardliner President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad actually has achieved greater popularity than his predecessors because of his concern for the problems of the poor and his fight for economic and social justice. To the naive, Bayyenet makes Ahmadinejad sound positively saintly. Conveniently overlooked is the occurrence of over four thousand acts of protest, strikes, anti-regime rallies, riots, and even political assassinations by the people of Iran against the government in the year since Ahmadinejad assumed office. So too, the following facts are ignored: the sizeable flight of capital, the increase in unemployment, and the rising two-figure rate of inflation, all within this last year. Bayyenet is a regime apologist, and when one is familiar with the facts, his arguments ring very hollow. However, his English skills are excellent, and so the naОve might be beguiled by his commentary.

Mohsen Sazegara is VEVAK's “reformed revolutionary”. A student supporter of Khomeini before the 1979 revolution, Sazegara joined the “imam” on his return from exile and served in the government for a decade before supposedly growing disillusioned.

He formed several reformist newspapers but ran afoul of the hardliners in 2003 and was arrested and imprisoned by VEVAK. Following “hunger strikes”, Sazegara was released for health reasons and permitted to seek treatment abroad. Although critical of the government and particularly of Ahmadinejad and KhameneМ, Sazegara is yet more critical of opposition groups, leaving the impression that he favors internal regime change but sees no one to lead such a movement for the foreseeable future. His bottom line: no one is capable of doing what needs to be done, so we must bide our time. Very slick, but his shadow shows his likely remaining ties to the MOIS.

Activities of Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Commander Briefly Outlined

Unattributed report: "Qassem Suleimani"

Originally published on 2/23/2007 by Intelligence Online WWW-Text in English

The pet hate of Americans because of his operations in Iraq, general Quassem Suleimani, boss of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Al Qods force, is one of the most secretive men in Iraq. Aged around 55, he was born in Qom where he pursued religious studies before joining the Revolutionary Guards (Pasdarans) in 1983 to fight in the war against Iraq. Based initially in the south at Dezful, he was sent in 1989-90 to the border with Turkey to train Kurds from the PKK who had taken refuge in Iran. He also traveled abroad on several occasions, particularly to Lebanon and Sudan. In 1996, Suleimani found himself in Bosnia where he recruited and trained Arab fighters.

On his return to Iran, he was assigned to the Iranian border with Afghanistan during a period in which relations between the Taliban and Tehran were under strain. He infiltrated and recruited members of the Hazaras, an Afghan Shi'ite community. In 1997, the appointment of general Yahya Rahim Safavi as head of the Pasdarans opened a new era (IOL 319).

Shortly afterwards, Suleimani was named head of the Al Qods force.

[Think for a minute that President Bush, said these words, would it send all the rabble back underground?

Maybe we would not have communists marching in our streets.

Unknown date of article, but assume it is normal in Iran....
granny]

http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles/rahim_savafi2.html

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE REGIME IS CHALLENGED BY THE MILITARY

TEHRAN 3 MAY (IPS) With the pasdaran (Revolutionary Guards) warning all those who "dared" attack their Commander-In-Chief because of harsh words he used against the government, both the president and the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran are now facing a new, but more dangerous challenge coming this time from the military.

The official communiqué issued by the pasdaran was published in the Sunday press amid report that the ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i, who is also the supreme commander of all the Iranian Armed Forces did addressed a reprimand to general Yahya Rahim-Safavi, the Commander-In-Chief of the Revolutionary Guards, warning him to stop further political statements

In a speech pronounced last Monday in the holy city of Qom and in presence of units of the pasdaran's navy, general Rahim-Safavi warned the president against his foreign policy, particularly his alleged efforts at opening up dialogue with the United States in the one hand and accused two of his most senior ministers, those of the Interior and of the Islamic Guidance and Culture to be responsible for the recent social troubles caused by the arrest of the Mayor of Tehran, on the other.

His remarks immediately triggered a wave of public protest, dismay and reprehension and drew a barrage of sharp criticism from both the moderate press and students, calling on the authorities to dismiss the offending general.

Analysts and observers described the menacing speech as the first coup threat to the president who's efforts to implement law and orders, create a civil society and bring basic freedoms have angered and worried the ruling conservative clerics.

Sources in Tehran explained that the ayatollah Khameneh'i admonition to the commander of the revolutionary guards translates more his fears of the military involved into political affairs getting out of control rather than his support for the president he obviously do not approve the reforms he has promised to introduce.

"We shall find the counter revolutionaries and behead them. We shall cut their tongue and their hands. They are jeopardising our national security. We can not tolerate freedom. Liberals have joined the battle with their heavy cultural canons. They have already occupied the universities. Our students speak of freedom and shouts slogans against oppression and arbitrary. We shall respond to them with our sword", general Rahim-Safavi has told units of pasdaran's navy.

"Inappropriate position", "stepping out of one's responsibility", an "obvious error" etc are some of the adjectives newspapers employed in describing Mr Rahim-Safavi's remarks, observing that none of the points the general touched in his controversial speech were the business of the revolutionary guards.

In an editorial, the left wing newspaper "Salam" suggested the general to change his uniform for a civilian dress if he wants " enter the political arena and start cutting heads, hands, feet and tongues of those he do not like instead of safeguarding the national borders and the territorial integrity of the nation, which is his duty".

"Jame'eh", a newspaper which support the position of the president questioned the role people like Mr Yahya Rahim-Safavi have played in the revolution. "What are this general's back grounds? What has he done for the revolution? His statements being proof to his inexperience as well as to his immaturity, the question which arises is therefore is such a man fit for the responsibility he had been placed on?" the paper points out.

"If the commander of the pasdaran allow himself to behead some, to cut hands, feet and tongues of others, to conduct the cultural, social, domestic and foreign policies of the country, what about our future or shall we never took lesson from other's experiences? Shall not we remember what happened to the Soviet Union?" the paper said in one of its editorials.

On a more satiric tone, "Jame'eh" wrote now that the commanders of the revolutionary guards have created the 20 millions army, the same that voted for Mr Khatami in the presidential elections, that he has eradicated corruption, cleaned the nation from hoards, reduced the US and Israel to ashes, put in jail all the corrupts, have successfully reduced inflation and lowered prices, crashed all the liberals, dealt with the cultural assault and made Iran the strongest nation in the world, he must be careful not to wake up to realities".

Students associations have joined the rank of the critics of general Rahim-Safavi, protesting violently the "unacceptable interference by the military commanders in the political life of the nation", something they are forbidden by law but which they do on orders from the leader.

Others reminded the military that Iran was not Turkey where the general could dictate their wishes to the government.

Coming barely two weeks after a deadly confrontation between the government and the conservatives over the case of the Mayor of Tehran, the menace against the government by the conservative mullah's praetorian guard has this time pit the president against the pasdaran. "This is a Russian roulette, a make it or break it confrontation for the president", commented one expert.

In an interview with the French Radio France Internationale, Mr Iraj Jamshidi, a free lance journalist warned the bellicose general that if by his remarks he meant to stage a coup against the reformist president, he might bear in mind that the 20 millions who voted for him may create brigades in defence of law, of constitution and of the president.

"There should not be the slightest doubt that any unlawful action in this country will face the resistance of the young boys and girls and all those millions who voted for Mr Khatami and I sincerely hope that this not what general Rahim-Savafi wants", Mr Jamshidi said, summing up the general mood in Iran.

Go to home page: Iran Press Service

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Latest Articles, live url at above link...............

[Friday, February 23, 2007]
Protocols of the Mollahs of Qom Aims At Annihilating Sunnis
As religious and sectarian killings in Iraq intensifies, with major Arab nations uniting their forces to stop the growth in strength and popularity of the Sh’ia Muslims, but particularly non Arab that is aiming at becoming the Middle East’s super power, Arab historians, intellectuals, journalists and ulemas have started a vigorous anti-Iranian, anti Shi’a campaign. By Safa Haeri

Latest Articles

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Iran - Ready to AttackIran - Ready to Attack
[Sunday, February 18, 2007] American military operations for a major conventional war with Iran could be implemented any day. They extend far beyond targeting suspect WMD facilities and will enable President Bush to destroy Iran's military, political and economic infrastructure overnight using conventional weapons. By Dan Plesch

Smart SanctionsSmart Sanctions
[Friday, February 16, 2007] Needless to mention, a free and democratic Iran needs rapid development and advanced technology, including nuclear technology. Nevertheless, the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) stubbornly needs this technology for the bomb, and maybe, under appropriate form, to put it in the hands of its Islamist terrorists. Who knows, maybe one day, the brutal IRI regime, in order to defend its “divine” lif, would use atom against our “profane” people. By Jahanshah Rashidian

Ali Akbar Velayati, Advisor To The Leader: “Everything is negotiable”Ali Akbar Velayati, Advisor To The Leader: “Everything is negotiable”
[Wednesday, February 14, 2007] Special Advisor to Ayatollah Ali Khameneh’i, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who as the last word on every major issue, Dr. Ali Akbar Velayati can be considered as the de facto spokesman for the leader. Foreign Affairs minister of the regime for 17 years, he granted an exceptional interview to Bernard Guetta, the special correspondent of the Italian daily “La Republica”, which was also carried out by the French leftist daily “Liberation” and other publications. By Bernard Guetta

Office Of Mohammad Khatami RaidedOffice Of Mohammad Khatami Raided
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Iran Again Double SpeaksIran Again Double Speaks
[Sunday, February 11, 2007] Once again, Iranian clerical leaders resorted to their old “double speak” tactics dear to George Orwell, presenting two versions for one single speech, that of Mr. Ali Larijani at the international security meeting of Munich. By Safa Haeri

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[Thursday, February 8, 2007] Growingly unpopular at home and pressed and isolated internationally, the government of the fanatical Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadi Nezhad is increasing pressures and crackdown on Iranian political dissidents. By Safa Haeri

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Iran's Plans: Sticks & Carrots

Saudi Arabia To Iran: Don’t Interfere In Arab’s Affairs.

Iran To Offer Security Council New Proposals

Iranian, Venezuelan Don Quichote To Fight US Super Power

Seismic Dangers Obstacle To Iranian President's Atomic Dreams

Winds Definitely Turning Against Ahmadi Nezhad

Saddam Was A Captured Dictator.

In Iran the Debate is Over Escalation

Iraq – A Lesson In Abject Political Failure: How To Make A Martyr Out Of A Monster

Risks, Perils and Potential Disasters of 2007

Wounded But Alive: Could Ahmadi Nezhad Become More Dangerous?

Shadow Of Sanctions

The Reformers Are Back

What The Muslim Nations Should Learn From The Holocaust

Circus Of Hate: The Holocaust Conference Shames Iranians

In Iran, All Politics Is Local

Double Standards

“Dictator, Symbol of Discrimination, Get Lost” Students Told Ahmadi Nezhad

Older articles...

Islamic Front of Iraqi Resistance Responds to Rape, Calls for Attacks on Interior Ministry

Originally published on 2/21/2007 by Jihadist Websites -- OSC Summary in Arabic

Terrorism: Islamic Front of Iraqi Resistance Responds to Rape, Calls for Attacks on Interior Ministry

On 21 February, a jihadist website posted a statement issued by the Islamic Front of Iraqi Resistance entitled "We are Here to Answer Your Call Sabrin" in which the group responded to the alleged rape that has caused a great deal of unrest among jihadists. Like the Islamic Army in Iraq before it, the Islamic Front of Iraqi Resistance is also calling on the Muslims to avenge Sabrin by attacking the public safety and Interior Ministry forces and says that it will name all its operations this month in her name. The statement was attributed to the "Political Bureau" of the Islamic Front of Iraqi Resistance and dated 20 February 2007.

A translation of the statement follows:

"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

"'Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of Believers, and still the indignation of their hearts. For Allah will turn (in mercy) to whom He will; and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise' [Koranic verse; Al-Tawbah 9:14-15].

"Subject: We Are Here To Answer Your Call Sabrin

"Praise be to God, the One and the Dominant, and prayers and peace be upon the chosen prophet and upon all his family, his companions, and all the righteous who followed his path.

"Once again, the grandchildren of Ibn-al-Alqami [ a Shia minister who was accused of betraying the caliph during Hulugu's attack on Baghdad in 1258] violate chastity and are now calling to the millions to announce the lowness and the depravity of the hateful sectarian group led by the head of the snake, Al-Maliki, who spat his venom to clear those who assaulted our sister Sabrin in Hayy al-Amil and even honored them for their despicable behavior, and behind the scenes we are certain that he asked them for more of such acts, even though more will not satisfy his hatred, for here is another sister in Tall Afar facing the same fate of her sister. What is hidden must be more cunning and much worse.

"The situation has reached its limit, and the lowly have challenged us and collaborated against us. They released their filthy dogs to sink their teeth in the bodies of our daughters and sisters whose screams are increasing as they call to us for help. Is there any responder?

"Oh sons of Iraq, the grandchildren of Sa'd: Where are you from Sa'd's zealousness? Oh heroes of Baghdad and its surrounding areas, you who are steadfast in your dens rise to restore the glory of our grandfathers. What great lions you are! You are up to the task and the Mu'tasim is now calling you to take back Amuriyah, for the Amuriyah of yesterday is Baghdad of today. Your zealousness is part of his zealousness, and the screams of Sabrin and her sisters are the same old calls: [verses of a poem omitted].

"We say to the world that this call has touched the very heart of us and has moved our ardor and made the blood in our veins boil.

"Be patient Sabrin, for this difficulty is the same as that of yesterday, and those who sold Baghdad yesterday are the same who are violating the honor of our daughters today. Let it be known to you that the masters of the people are licking their filth, faltering in their hatred, and are immersed in their sectarianism. Soon, they will be licking their own blood, by the will of God, the Powerful and the Avenger, and at the hands of your mujahidin brothers in the groups of glory and victory.

"Oh knights in the battlefields: Get them and give them the taste of death. Let them know that our honor is of value to us, and that the tears of our daughters are dear, and that their sighs have a price, and what a price? Show them what they did not see yesterday, defeat them and return them to their Safavid hiding places, terrorized and fearful of speaking loudly. Get their American master, for by God, they are the source of the tragedies and the disease. Defeating them will treat the source of the problem. What they did in Al-Dab'ah village when they killed three young men from Al Khanjar [apparently the name of a family or tribe] is evidence of the extent of their transgressions. Go get them.

"As for you, the soldiers of the relentless Salah al-Din al-Ayubi Brigades, your duty in the month of Safar is set, and with permission from God, your aim will be guided. Get the forces of public safety and the commandos of the Interior [Ministry] first, and then get the occupier. Don't leave them any ground upon which to stand or a hiding place in which to run. Intercept their movements on the roads and eliminate them. Blow up their vehicles with your explosives; shell their dens and snipe them.

"Nobility cannot be protected from harm until blood is spilled on its sides, so, blood, blood, and destruction, destruction. Let your operations for this month be called Sabrin. God is all capable and can make you victorious and support you, for He is the Supporter of every jihadist who is fervent about his religion and his honor. Rise to fight them with the blessings of God.

"God is great. God is great. God is great.

"Oh Lord, defeat them, shake them, and make us victorious over them.

"The Political Bureau

"3 Safar 1428, 20 February 2007"

Poland wants to see Croatia join EU, NATO

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-02/23/content_5764090.htm

Poland wants to see Croatia join EU, NATO
www.chinaview.cn 2007-02-23 03:12:15

BELGRADE, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Poland strongly supports Croatia's
aspirations to join the European Union and NATO, Polish Foreign
Minister
Anna Fotyga said in the Croatian capital Zagreb on Thursday.

"I would like to emphasize Poland's unlimited support to Croatia's
aspirations for membership of the European Union and NATO," Fotyga was
quoted as saying by the Croatian HINA news agency.

Poland was willing to share with Croatia, its most important
partner in southeastern Europe, its experience from the process of
accession to the EU, Fotyga said, after meeting her Croatian
counterpart
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

Fotyga was on her first official visit to Croatia as the two
countries were marking the 15th anniversary of establishing diplomatic
relations in 2007.

Bilateral trade increased 33 percent in the 2005/2006 period and
the number of Polish tourists vacationing on the Croatian Adriatic
coast
rose 14 percent last year, Grabar-Kitarovic said.

"Croatia is interested in Poland's experience in the process of
integration with the European Union, particularly in the use and
implementation of EU pre-accession aid and in the use of cohesion and
structural funds," she said.

In early February, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said that
Croatia expected an invitation to join NATO at the alliance's next
summit in the spring of 2008, and the Balkan country would join the
European Union by the end of the decade regardless of whether or not a
new European Constitution would be adopted.

The two female ministers said that political and economic
relations
between Poland and Croatia were very good and that there were no
outstanding issues between them. They agreed that there was still room
for boosting the bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic
sector.

The ministers also discussed topics relating to global security
and
cooperation between the two countries within NATO and the NATO-lead
ISAF
mission in Afghanistan.

Iranian Envoy to IAEA Says Report Undermines UN Resolution

Originally published on 2/22/2007 by Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran Radio 1 in Persian
Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said the new report by Al-Baradi'i on Iran's nuclear activities contains nothing new and only indicates that all Iran's nuclear activities have been in accordance with the law, therefore the recent UN Security Council' resolution is not legally or rationally justified. In an interview with the news desk in Vienna Mr. Soltaniyeh added:

[Soltaniyeh] The important point in this report is that it repeats the fact that Iran's nuclear activities have not deviated toward banned objectives. This is the point Mr Al-Baradi'i has made several times before and rejects the claims of those countries which accuse us of carrying out non-peaceful activities. This report explicitly says there have been no activities related to recycling, in fact this point seriously contradicts the legality of the UN resolution. This is one of many instances where we dismiss the UN resolution as illegal.

This report also says clearly that all inspections have been carried out according to schedule and without obstruction. Concerning activities at Natanz, the report says clearly that all nuclear material has been accounted for, is sealed by the agency, monitored by cameras, and is under the supervision of the inspectors. Most importantly, the report says the agency's analysis of the samples confirms the Islamic Republic's claim that the enrichment level is less than five percent.

This report reflects the Islamic Republic's success while acknowledging Iran's claims that Iran has transparently communicated the results of its enrichment to the agency. Regarding the Esfahan UCF installations, the report reflects Iran's success in producing more than 170 tons of UF6 and confirms that all this material has been sealed, is under the supervision of the agency, has been measured and stock checked. In fact, this report is a document that rejects all claims [against Iran] and throws into question the UN resolution from a legal and technical viewpoint.

: Tehran Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran Radio 1 in Persian -- state-run radio

slamic State of Iraq Says Coalition 'Disbanding,' Blair More 'Courageous' Than Bush

Originally published on 2/22/2007 by Jihadist Websites -- OSC Summary in Arabic

Terrorism: Islamic State of Iraq Says Coalition 'Disbanding,' Blair More 'Courageous' Than Bush

On 21 February, a jihadist website posted a statement issued by The Islamic State of Iraq entitled, "The Beginning of the Disbanding of the Crusaders Coalition in Iraq" in which the group praised UK Prime Minister Tony Blair for being more courageous than US President George Bush in announcing his plan of withdrawal from Iraq. The statement was attributed to the Ministry of Information, the "official source" of The Islamic State of Iraq, and was copied from Al-Fajr Media Center.

A translation of the statement follows:

"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

"Praise be to God, Lord of all creation. Prayers and peace be upon the master of the first and the last, Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions.

"Here is the Crusaders coalition beginning to disband in the Land of the Two Rivers, the land of heroism. After almost four years of blessed jihad against the armies of the coalition of the Crusaders and their helpers, here is Britain, the main ally, making plans to escape from Iraq by announcing a time schedule for its withdrawal. Blair is being more courageous than the dogs of the Romans 'Bush' when he announces his withdrawal, leaving his friend alone, drowning in the quagmire of Iraq, although the troops of Blair did not face as many catastrophes as the Crusader troops of Bush because they were taking shelter in the arms of their followers, the rejectionists in the south. This decision comes in light of Dick Cheney's statement in Japan, in which he said that America wants to have an honorable departure from the Iraqi quagmire. It also comes in light of the deterioration of the so-called Security Plan of Baghdad, which was announced by Al-Maliki and which is now entering its second week. It also offers the Al-Karamah Plan, which was announced by Amir al-Mu'minin, may God protect him, victory from God. Praise be to God, Lord of all creation, for the kindness and grace He bestowed on the mujahidin.

"In these difficult days for the enemies of the Almighty and after the failure of the plans of the Crusaders in Iraq has become clear to everyone, the need to unite all the jihad groups has become very pressing in order to block the way of the followers of the Crusaders, the hypocrites, the climbers [status seekers], and the highway robbers. This is why the Al-Karamah Plan, which was announced by Amir al-Mu'minin, was a two-fold plan: The military side represented in escalation of jihad operations in Baghdad and the rest of the provinces in order to take advantage of the continuous deterioration of the combat spirit of the enemy, and the political side, which is represented in the serious efforts exerted by the brothers in the 'Ministry of Religious Authorities' to call on the mujahidin brothers in the rest of the jihad groups to join the Islamic State of Iraq's undertaking, so that it becomes the pot that contains all the operating jihad groups in Iraq. Help and guidance come from God.

"God is great. 'Honor belongs to Allah and His Messenger, and to the Believers; but the Hypocrites know not' [Koranic verse; Al-Munafiqun 63:7].

"Ministry of Information

"The Official Source of the Islamic State of Iraq"

Indonesia invites Hamas and Western envoys for talks

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/829629.html

Last update - 09:38 23/02/2007
Indonesia invites Hamas and Western envoys for talks
By Reuters

Indonesia has invited Hamas and Western representatives to talks in
Jakarta next month in a bid to persuade the militant group to moderate
its position and help end a crippling economic blockade of the
Palestinian government.

Indonesia has received assurances from Syrian-based Hamas leader Khaled
Meshal that he would send envoys to Jakarta for the talks, foreign
ministry spokesman Desra Percaya said.

"We want to hear from Hamas their views on solving the
Palestinian-Israeli issue and outside parties have yet to hear directly
from them what it is that they want," Percaya told a news conference.

He did not give an exact date for the meeting but said it would take
place before the end of March.

Percaya said despite the formation of a Palestinian unity government,
the meeting remained relevant because issues surrounding Western
demands
for Hamas to renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept interim
peace deals with Israel would not be resolved any time soon.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, is a strong
supporter of the Palestinian struggle for nationhood and has no
diplomatic ties with Israel.

Percaya said Indonesia had also invited "individuals" from Europe and
the United States to participate in the talks and hoped that a Western
recognition of the Palestinian unity government would ease the economic
blockade. He did not say whether the Western representatives had
accepted the invitation.

Western diplomats have said the agreement between Hamas and Palestinian
Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction widened divisions
within the Quartet of Middle East negotiators - the United States, the
European Union, Russia and the United Nations.

The unity government agreement, which calmed weeks of factional warfare
that killed more than 90 Palestinians, contained a vague promise to
"respect" previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

But it fell short of meeting the Quartet's demands for Hamas to
renounce
violence and recognize Israel.

Hamas took control of the Palestinian government in March after winning
parliamentary elections.

The U.S.-led boycott of the Hamas-led government has pushed the
Palestinian Authority to the brink of financial collapse and raised
poverty rates in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank.

A report by the United Nations World Food Program, released on
Thursday,
estimated that nearly half of Palestinians were unable to produce or
access the food they needed.

[Blood diamonds Balkan style... Hrvatska Vojska was
trained/equipped/led
by MPRI; dm+]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070222-0530-croatia-diamonds.html

Croatia seeks ex-general for wartime diamond theft

5:30 a.m. February 22, 2007

ZAGREB â€“ Croatia has issued a warrant for the arrest of a former
general
on suspicion of stealing diamonds worth about $5 million that were put
up as guarantee of delivery of arms to Croatia in its 1991-95
independence war.

An interior ministry statement said on Thursday police had brought
charges against the suspect, a 44-year old Croatian citizen. It did not
name him.

All local media, including state television, identified the man as
Vladimir Zagorec, who was a top logistics offical at the defense
ministry until 2000.

The Vjesnik daily newspaper said it had contacted Zagorec on a cell
phone 'at an unknown location'.

'I've had no information whatsoever about this investigation, but I
will
certainly show up in court,' he told the daily.

The police statement said the suspect had been a deputy defense
minister
and was overseeing the purchase of arms and equipment when he 'formally
received a quantity of precious stones in his office'.

He deposited the diamonds in a safe but did not enter them in the
ministry books.

'We suspect that after he was removed from his post, he illegally took
the diamonds...estimated at around $5 million,' the statement said. 'As
he has not been available to police, we issued an arrest warrant,' it
added.

The Jutarnji List daily said the diamonds were brought to the ministry
by a foreign arms dealer as his guarantee that he would deliver
anti-aircraft rocket systems worth $5 million, at a time when Croatia,
as part of Yugoslavia, was under an international arms embargo.

Getting around a United Nations ban to obtain weapons was a high
priority after Croatia's secession from Belgrade provoked an armed
conflict between Zagreb and rebel Croatian Serbs backed by the Yugoslav
National Army.

The embargo was broken by all sides and a beefed-up Croatian army
trained by U.S. military experts crushed the Serb rebellion in the
summer of 1995. A peace treaty ended the wars in Croatia and Bosnia
later the same year.

http://www.regnum.ru/english/786634.html

Tair Tagizade: â€œNo relations with Nagorno Karabakh are possible
todayâ€

â€œThe has come to establish relations between Azerbaijan and Nagorno
Karabakh and now the European Union is trying to create ties of trust
between the parties,â€ EU Special Representative in South Caucasus
Peter
Semneby announced at a news conference in Baku yesterday. According to
him, the issue was discussed with the Azerbaijani leadership during his
visit to Baku. Speaking on statements made OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
that initiatives in the frameworks of other international institutions
hamper the process of talks in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement,
Semneby said that he did not think that the EU activity was aimed
against OSCE Minsk Group work. â€œThe European Union backs activity of
the
OSCE Minsk Group,â€ he said.

In its turn, the official Baku believes that at the current stage, it
is
impossible to establish relations with Nagorno Karabakh. In response to
yesterdayâ€™s statement made by Peter Semneby, Azerbaijanâ€™s Foreign
Ministryâ€™s spokesman Tair Tagizade said that residents of Nagorno
Karabakh, both Armenians and Azerbaijanis, are Azerbaijanâ€™s citizens.
So, the relations with them should be the same like with any other area
in the country, as the matter concerns only granting a higher autonomy
status. The status means that the area will have a special status
within
Azerbaijan.

As Trend news agency informs, Tagizade stressed that Azerbaijan
repeatedly said that the relations will be established after other
components of the first stage of the conflict settlement are
implemented. One of the components is measures to restore trust, the
Azerbaijani official believes. â€œWe cannot restore trust and develop
relations with Nagorno Karabakh separately until other components of
the
first stage are implemented. This includes withdrawal of forces from
the
territories surrounding Nagorno Karabakh, demining of communications,
returning of IDPs. After that measures to restore trust can be taken.
The process [of restoring trust] is impossible on its own,â€ Tagizade
said.
Permanent news address: www.regnum.ru/english/786634.html
14:08 02/22/2007

http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=954994

POL-GERMANY-RUSSIA-KOSOVO
Germany, Russia disagree on Kosovo's solution methods

BERLIN, Feb 22 (KUNA) -- Russia Thursday refused imposition of a
solution to determine status of Serbs in Kosovo, while Germany said
coordination was key between all parties concerned to reach a
resolution
acceptable by all.

Reaching a solution for the Kosovo conflict is an issue that concerns
the Serbs and Albanians and "nobody is allowed to impose a solution,"
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said at a joint news conference
with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Lavrov said UN envoy to Kosovo Marti Ahtisaari has no authority to
impose a resolution for the controversial independence bid by ethnic
Albanians in Kosovo.

Steinmeier, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European
Union (EU), disagreed with Lavrov over the solution mechanism. He said
it was important to coordinate between all parties to reach a common
ground.

While working out a solution for Kosovo, which is under UN
administrative rule since 1999, there have to be compromises between
parties concerned in order to tackle ethnic-related problems, said
Steinmeier. (end) sh.
bs

KUNA 221941 Feb 07NNNN

Hezbollah slams US for blacklisting construction firm

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Gulf%2C+Middle+East+%26+Africa&month=February2007&file=World_News2007022294722.xml

Hezbollah slams US for blacklisting construction firm
Web posted at: 2/22/2007 9:47:22
Source ::: Agencies

BEIRUT â€¢ Hezbollah yesterday condemned a decision by the United
States
to blacklist its construction arm as a terrorist group, the Lebanese
Shiâ€™ite fundamentalist movement said in a statement.

â€œWe condemn the American position and consider it a new attack on
Lebanon and its people,â€ it said of the US move to blacklist Jihad Al
Bina (struggle for rebuilding).

â€œWe also consider it a badge of honour for this institution which
plays
a vital and honourable role in cleaning up the consequences of
(Israelâ€™s) aggressionâ€ against Lebanon during last summerâ€™s war,
it said.

On Tuesday, the US government blacklisted Jihad al-Bina which it said
was funded by Iran â€” the main backer of Hezbollah which itself
remains
on the US list of terrorist groups.

Under a presidential order, the US Treasury froze any US assets held by
Jihad Al Bina and forbade US nationals from any dealings with the
company.

UN authorises AU forces in Somalia

UNITED NATIONS â€¢ The UN Security Council unanimously approved
yesterday
the deployment of an African Union peacekeeping force to Somalia, which
could be followed in six months by a UN force.

The British-drafted resolution passed by the 15-member council
authorises the AU force to deploy for six months to help secure and
stabilise the lawless east African nation wracked by civil war since
1991.

â€œOur common objective is to promote reconciliation, peace and
security
in a country that has known little but conflict and instability for so
long,â€ British ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said.

Suicide Bomber Dressed As a Doctor Targets Afghan Hospital (back)

February 20, 2007

NOTE:

Could happen in the US too.

A suicide bomber dressed in a doctor's white coat slipped into a hospital compound in eastern Afghanistan , where he was challenged by police and NATO soldiers before detonating his explosives. Seven NATO troops and a hospital employee were injured, a local official said.

The suicide bomber was initially stopped by Afghan police as he entered the compound of the main government hospital in the city of Khost , where about 150 people had gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open an emergency ward.

The bomber ran off as he was being questioned, and NATO troops shot him several times before one soldier 'wrestled him to the ground, restraining him long enough to allow the crowd of people to move safely away,' a statement from the Western military alliance said.

That soldier was able to break free before the bomber detonated his explosive, and sustained only minor injuries, but two other wounded troops were evacuated to a NATO base for treatment, the statement said. The bomber died.

'The people were running everywhere and it was difficult at first to figure out what was happening,' Cpl. Anthony Rush, who saw the attack, was quoted as saying in the statement.

The alliance gave no details on the troops' nationalities; Khost provincial Gov. Arsalah Jamal said they were American, and that one hospital employee also was wounded.

Most of the NATO forces in eastern Afghanistan are American.

The blast left a shallow crater in the earth a few yards behind the site of the ceremony and left shredded flesh hanging from the backs of guests' chairs.

Last year, Taliban-led militants launched about 140 suicide attacks, mostly targeting foreign and Afghan forces and officials of President Hamid Karzai's elected government part of a wave of violence that made 2006 the bloodiest year here since the ouster of the hardline regime in 2001.

In western Farah province on Tuesday, about 200 Afghan police and soldiers, backed by NATO, retook the remote town of Bakwa that was overrun by Taliban the previous day, provincial Gov. Muhajuddin Baluch said. They met no resistance as the militants had reportedly left the area soon after they staged their attack and police fled.

It was the second time this month that the government has lost control of a district in the region.

Taliban militants overran Musa Qala in nearby Helmand province on Feb. 1, defying a peace deal between the government and elders last year that capped weeks of fighting. The government is negotiating with elders to get them to persuade the militants to leave.

In southern Zabul province, NATO forces shot dead an Afghan civilian and wounded another who failed to stop their vehicle at a checkpoint on a main highway near the site of where a U.S. Chinook helicopter crashed at the weekend, the alliance said Tuesday.

Troops have destroyed the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed Sunday 'to prevent possible exploitation of the site by terrorist groups,' a U.S. military statement said. Eight U.S. troops died in the crash that happened after the helicopter reported engine failure.

Shootings of civilians by foreign forces, particularly at road checkpoints, have increased as Taliban-led militants have embraced the tactic of suicide bombings a comparative rarity just two or three years ago.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2889254

France Defends its Military Contribution in Afghanistan (back)

February 21, 2007

'French air support has already dropped at least one 250 kg bomb in support of Canada '

France says it is not abandoning its Canadian ally in volatile southern Afghanistan and has chided Canada 's Senate for publicly suggesting that.

The French embassy in Ottawa this week sent a letter to Liberal Senator Colin Kenny after the upper chamber's national security and defence committee, which he chairs, criticized France and Germany in a report for not sending troops to southern Afghanistan , where Canadian soldiers are battling the Taliban insurgency.

While Canadian politicians and military officials have complained in recent months some of their NATO allies are not pulling their weight in southern Afghanistan , they have refrained from singling out specific countries.

But French officials decided they could not stay silent after Kenny's committee crossed that line.

'The general message that we want to send is that France has not turned a blind eye to Canada 's call for help,' said a senior French diplomat.

The Senate report urged Canada to send more personnel to train Afghan army and police officers, and it questioned how some countries could contribute to this function because it could expose them to combat.

'Since NATO countries like Germany and France don't want to engage in battle, how will this training get done?' the report says. 'Some of our allies are doing a lot of saluting, but not much marching. So what does this say about the future of NATO?'

In their rebuttal to Kenny, the French point out they are playing an important role in training the Afghan army, with 51 instructors committed to April to training efforts in the volatile southern and eastern regions, and further commitments beyond that to train special forces.

The letter also points out France 's 1,100 ground troops are charged with securing the 'fragile' capital of Kabul , which has also come under attack from suicide bombers and faces threats from Taliban infiltrators.

The letter notes Paris has foot the bill for some very expensive military hardware to support Canada 's efforts, including air support and helicopters.

'Fighting in Afghanistan is not only about having more men on the ground but also air support which we can provide, but you know it represents a high cost,' said the diplomat.

Canada has not deployed fighter jets to the Afghan mission, but has said it would buy large tactical lift helicopters later.

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, with 2,000 troops, is being deployed to the Indian Ocean, to support the NATO mission in Afghanistan . French air support has already dropped at least one 250 kg bomb in support of Canada 's efforts to fight the Taliban, and France has dispatched two EC 725 Caracal transport helicopters.

'We are so heavily committed elsewhere that we can hardly do more neither in Afghanistan, nor anywhere else by the way, although we would like to, of course,' said the French official.

France has 16,000 troops deployed on foreign soil, making it the second largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping and third overall contributor to NATO. This includes 1,650 troops in Lebanon , 3,700 to the West African country of Cote D'Ivoire , 1,100 in Chad to prevent violence from spilling over from neighbouring Darfur , as well as 2,200 in Kosovo.

By comparison, Canada has slightly less than 3,000 troops deployed on foreign soil, with 2,500 of them in Afghanistan . Sudan is the recipient of the next largest contingent of Canadian troops with 44 military personnel attached to UN missions in the country's troubled south and western Darfur region.

'Of course, we end the letter by paying tribute to the courage of the Canadian forces in this country,' the diplomat said.

Since 2002, 44 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan . France has suffered 10 military fatalities in Afghanistan since then, but its embassy pointed out the country has lost 200 soldiers in the Balkans and Lebanon as well as 'dozens' in Africa in recent decades.

Last week, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor backed away from the tough talk that has been directed at some NATO countries, saying the alliance now has the resources it needs to do the job in the south and eastern sections of Afghanistan .

Source: http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id= 5f855462-e063-4fe4-a5d2-671b4acb317a&k=76492

Iran Tests Impenetrable Communications System (back)

February 21, 2007

Ground forces of Iran 's Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC) successfully tested an impenetrable intranet communications network during the second stage of their extensive war games codenamed 'Eqtedar' (Might).

The system has been designed and developed by IRGC experts.

The second phase of the IRGC maneuvers which started in 16 provinces of the country on Tuesday also included test firing of 620 shoulder launch missiles and different types of anti-air defense systems such as anti-aircraft, anti-helicopter and anti-missile systems.

The IRGC ground force units also exercised different tactics for encountering air aggression by the enemy troops at this stage of the maneuvers.

The extensive military exercises of the IRGC ground force started in 16 different provinces of the country on Monday.

During the three-day-long maneuvers, 20 infantry and mechanized brigades of IRGC's ground forces practice different tactics in three different stages while using the most advanced weaponries.

A statement released by IRGC's public relations on Sunday said that the war games have been designed to help forces keep up their preparedness for all-around defense and asymmetric war through practice of the various types of battle tactics.

According to the statement, the maneuvers, code named 'Eghtedar' (Might), are the last in a series of war games foreseen in IRGC's schedule for this year.

Iranian IRGC troops have already staged several other military exercises during this (Iranian solar calendar) year, including 'the Great Prophet' 1 and 2 as well as two other missile war games by IRGC naval forces called 'Ra'd' (thunder) and Sa'eqeh' (lightening).

Iran test-fired its short-range Zelzal and Fajr-5 missiles during its recent maneuvers. While the Zalzal is a solid fuel missile, the Fajr-5 missile, from the Persian word meaning dawn, is an artillery rocket developed by Iran in early 2006. It includes a mobile platform and its primary role is to engage land targets, with a range of 50 miles.

Iran also held three large-scale military exercises last year. In its April exercises, Iran tested what it called an 'ultra-horizon' missile, which is fired from helicopters and jets, and the Fajr-3 missile, which can evade radar and use multiple warheads to hit several targets simultaneously.

Iran regularly holds large maneuvers, often using them to test weapons developed by its arms industry.

Source: http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8512010350

Iran's Nuclear Capability Nears Industrial Scale (back)

February 20, 2007

Iran has mastered 'crucial' nuclear technology since last August and could be six months away from being able to enrich uranium on an industrial scale, the UN chief nuclear watchdog has warned.

In an interview with the Financial Times (FT) newspaper Tuesday, Dr Mohamed ElBaradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that Tehran was overwhelmingly likely to miss a UN deadline tomorrow to suspend enrichment, which can produce fuel and weapons-grade material.

The IAEA chief will meet Ali Larijani, Iran 's chief nuclear negotiator, today, and issue governments with a report on Iran 's compliance with the UN's demands tomorrow.

Dr ElBaradei said Iran had now acquired important technical know-how from running its pilot nuclear programme, and that there was no going back.

'You cannot bomb knowledge,' he warned.

Since last August, Iran has been using centrifuges at a pilot plant in the town of Natanz to enrich uranium.

Although Tehran insists its purposes are purely peaceful, it has refused to halt the process.

The US and Israel have warned that Iran might reach a 'point of no return' in its nuclear programme by mastering uranium enrichment.

Dr ElBaradei added, however, that US and British intelligence estimates said that Iran was still five to ten years away from developing a nuclear bomb.

He told the main business daily in Europe that British Prime Minister Tony Blair's plans to modernise Britain 's nuclear arsenal set a bad example.

'When you see here in the UK the programme for modernising Trident, which basically gets the UK far into the 21st century with a nuclear deterrent, it is difficult then for us to turn around and tell everybody else that nuclear deterrents are really no good for you,' the IAEA chief added.

Dr ElBaradei argued that even if the concern that Tehran might acquire technical knowledge about uranium enrichment was 'relevant six months ago, it is not relevant today because Iran has been running these centrifuges for at least six months.' He said 'There's a big difference between acquiring the knowledge for enrichment and developing a bomb.' The UN inspector said that Iran could install an industrial scale capacity of 3,000 centrifuges, enough to begin producing fissile material for a bomb, within months.

'It could be six months, it could be a year,' he said, emphasizing his desire for negotiations to convince Iran to hold back.

'The ideal situation is to make sure that there is no industrial capacity, that there is full inspection of Iran 's nuclear facilities,' he told the FT.

Dr ElBaradei said that Iran had already installed a 'cascade' of 164 centrifuges in the subterranean facility designed to produce enriched uranium on an industrial scale and that Iran's experiments with two further 164 centrifuge cascades in the pilot programme were functioning.

He said that as long as Iran remained within the nuclear non-proliferation regime, its facilities would remain subject to safeguards and it would not be able to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels.

Dr ElBaradei has been championing the idea of a 'time-out' in which both Iran 's nuclear programme and the sanctions targeted against it would be put on ice.

He acknowledges that the idea would allow the two sides to act simultaneously, rather than demanding that Tehran must halt enrichment as a precondition for any further steps.

'It's just a question of how to get both sides to the negotiating table while saving face.' In conclusion, Dr ElBaradei said 'The Iranian issue will only be resolved when the US takes a decision to engage Iran directly. The nuclear issue is the tip of the iceberg.'

Source: http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/story.aspx?Language=en&D SNO=954133

Janjaweed Militias Massing in Sudan (back)

February 21, 2007

Janjaweed militias have been concentrating forces to the north of el-Geneina, the capital of Sudan 's West Darfur state, an African Union military source said on Tuesday, corroborating a U.N. report.

Janjaweed is the local name for militia forces drawn mainly from the nomadic Arab tribes of the area and blamed for much of the killing in Darfur over the past four years.

The AU source, who asked not to be named, said: 'They are massing (north of el-Geneina) ... They have vehicles with machineguns on top and they're Janjaweed. We can't say what their intentions are.'

The source declined to give numbers, but described the forces gathered as a 'huge amount of personnel', with pick-up trucks, camels and horses, while a U.N. mission spokeswoman said the militia numbered in the hundreds.

The AU source said an African Union helicopter was keeping the force under surveillance.

A spokesman for the Sudanese military said the assembled tribesmen were preparing to migrate from the area, after having come under attack by non-Arab tribes.

'There was a clash between Arab and non-Arab tribes ... and because attacks by non-Arab tribes had increased ... they (the Arab tribe) gathered to leave the area, not to fight.'

A former rebel movement said a separate Janjaweed force had been attacking villages far to the east of the Darfur region for the past two days, killing six civilians.

That Janjaweed activity was north of ed-Da'ein, a town about 450 km (300 miles) southeast of el-Geneina.

A spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), the only rebel faction to sign a May peace accord with the government, said the militia had pillaged food and burned houses in an attack which began on Monday and continued on Tuesday.

Six civilians were killed and two injured, he added.

The military spokesman blamed the violence on intertribal disputes between Zaghawa and Maalia ethnic groups, exacerbated by the involvement of militia from the SLM on the Zaghawa side.

'BLATANT VIOLATION'

'Nine months after (the signing of the peace agreement), Darfur has not lived with stability. We want to affirm that government officials who say the situation is stable in Darfur ... want to deceive the Sudanese people,' SLM spokesman Al-Tayyib Khamis said.

Khamis said the Janjaweed militia were using weapons given to them by the government and the attacks were a 'blatant violation' of the peace agreement.

Rights group and Western governments say the Sudanese government has used the Janjaweed as auxiliaries against Darfur rebels and civilians suspected of rebel sympathies. The government denies this and says the Janjaweed are outlaws.

On Monday, a report by the U.N. Mission in Sudan said 'armed militia had been mobilizing in large numbers over the past five days in the general area of Abou Souroug and Sliea (approximately 50 km north of el-Geneina). The reason behind the massive militia mobilization is so far not known.'

Tribal clashes in South Darfur killed up to 100 people last week, the United Nations said.

Darfur, an arid area the size of France , has been ravaged by violence since 2003, when rebels took up arms, accusing Khartoum of ignoring the region.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has resisted pressure to authorize a deployment of thousands of U.N. peacekeepers to support the 7,000-strong African Union mission, saying the AU force was strong enough and the United Nations could give money and logistical help to a hybrid force.

Experts estimate 2.5 million people have been driven from their homes in four years of conflict in Darfur .

Source: http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldN ews&storyid=2007-02-20T183646Z_01_L20494001_ RTRUKOC_0_US-SUDAN-DARFUR-JANJA WEED.xml&src=rss

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