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Posted on 03/01/2007 8:28:33 PM PST by nwctwx
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_940.html
Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today, Wed Mar 07 2007 03:04:01 GMT-0800.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
March 6, 2007
This Travel Warning is being re-issued to remind Americans of ongoing security concerns, despite the recent signing of a cease-fire with some rebel groups. It supersedes the Travel Warning for the Central African Republic issued December 19, 2006.
American citizens are strongly advised not to travel to the Central African Republic (CAR) until further notice. Active rebel movements are still present in the northern and northeastern regions of the country. In northern prefectures from Ouham to Gribingui, rogue army troops and robbers are still present and pose a threat to road travel. The Central African Republic held peaceful elections in March 2005, but the country’s economic and security situations have not improved markedly. The rebels wish to overthrow the constitutionally-elected president and seek new elections.
The Central African government is unable to guarantee the safety of visitors to any part of the country including the capital. Outside the capital many areas are lawless; some rebel groups remain active in the western, northern, northeastern, and southeastern provinces despite a cease-fire signed in early February. The U.S. Embassy advises its personnel to exercise caution in traveling to all parts of the country. Two World Health Organization physicians were murdered by unidentified assailants in central CAR in April 2006. In the past two months, visitors traveling with armed escorts experienced several attacks. The Embassy now advises Americans traveling outside the capital not to travel with a CAR military escort, or any armed escort, as the armed escort may draw fire from rebel troops.
U.S. citizens already in the Central African Republic should contact the American Embassy in Bangui to verify their locations and contact points. They should avoid travel outside the capital unless absolutely necessary and exercise caution at all times, particularly at public gatherings.
In Bangui, tensions remain high due to unpaid civil servant salaries and skirmishes between government forces and opposition groups, as well as due to aggressive police actions. There are approximately 300 peacekeeping troops from neighboring member countries of the Economic and Monetary Union of Central Africa (CEMAC) that move in and out of the capital. CAR security forces, sometimes with French military assistance, staff checkpoints throughout the city. Some crimes are perpetrated by uniformed CAR security and military personnel.
The U.S. Embassy in Bangui has just four American officers and can provide only limited emergency services to U.S. citizens at this time.
U.S. citizens in the CAR are strongly urged to register on the State Department’s web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in Bangui. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.
The U.S. Embassy in the CAR is located at Avenue David Dacko, B.P. 924, Bangui; tel. (236) 61-02-00; fax (236) 61-44-94. For additional information on safety and security in the CAR, contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon, at telephone (237) 223-4014, (237) 223-0512, or 223-0581; fax (237) 223-0753; web site http://yaounde.usembassy.gov/. Americans may also obtain updated information from the American Embassy in N'djamena, Chad, at telephone (235) 51-70-09, 51-92-33 or 51-90-52; fax (235) 51-56-54; web site http://ndjamena.usembassy.gov/.
U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's most recent Consular Information Sheet for Central African Republic and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, which are located on the Department's web site at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on safety and security is also available at 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers from other countries, on a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3373529,00.html
Sheikh Salah arrested during protest in east Jerusalem
Published: 03.07.07, 11:55 / Israel News
Islamic Movement leader Sheikh Raed Salah was arrested Wednesday for inciting violence, during a protest in east Jerusalem. Another protestor was also arrested.
The two are currently being questioned by the police in Jerusalem. (Efrat Weiss)
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_922.html
Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today, Wed Mar 07 2007 03:08:52 GMT-0800.
ISRAEL, THE WEST BANK AND GAZA
January 17, 2007
http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=1030&p=front&a=1
"Court tries 36 suspects on terror charges"
Yasser Al-Mayasi
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The suspects accused of forming a terrorist gang, plotting to disrupt national security and stability and carry out offensives against public institutions between February and October 2006.
SANA’A, March 4 — The State Security Specialized Penal Court on Sunday began trying 36 suspects accused of forming a terrorist gang, plotting to disrupt national security and stability and carry out offensives against public institutions between February and October 2006.
The prosecutor charged the terrorist suspects, ranging from No. 1 to 34, with being involved in an armed band plotting vandalism acts with the aim of disturbing security and stability and exposing lives to risk. He added that the terrorists planned to attack foreign guests at the Shahran and Hadda hotels, located in southwest Sana’a, as well as Yemeni businessmen.
Additionally, the suspects are accused of bombing natural gas installations in Marib and Hadramout governorates using missiles and car bombs, which killed guard Mohammed Saleh Al-Makhzomi and damaged the two oil installations."
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_936.html
Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today, Wed Mar 07 2007 03:12:08 GMT-0800.
YEMEN
October 13, 2006
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Wed Mar 07 2007 03:15:09 GMT-0800.
Worldwide Caution
October 11, 2006
PERSECUTION.ORG
http://www.persecution.org
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=taiwan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1796600/posts
"Taiwan tests missile as tension with China flares"
The Australian | 3/7/07 | the australian
Posted on 03/07/2007 3:28:56 AM PST by Flavius
Note: The folloiwng post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1796603/posts
Military plans 'robust' assistance at 2010 Games
CanWest News Service via National Post ^ | 2007-03-07 | Peter O'Neil
Posted on 03/07/2007 3:45:55 AM PST by Clive
OTTAWA — The Canadian military will provide "robust and wide-ranging support" to the RCMP to combat potential terror attacks against the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, according to newly released internal documents.
An analysis by one of Canada's most senior military officials says international terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda will likely see the Olympics as an opportunity to target Canada and other countries.
"Canada was ranked the fifth most important 'Christian' target, behind the U.S., Britain, Spain and Australia by an al-Qaeda document in 2004, and is the only nation amongst this group yet to be attacked," wrote Lt.-Gen. Marc Dumais, commander of Canada Command, in an Oct. 26, 2006, document obtained by the Montreal newspaper La Presse.
"As a visible participant in the international campaign against terrorism, Canada could become a direct or indirect target for terrorist attack."
The 2010 Games, according to the analysis, "could offer opportunities for terrorists (international and domestic) and extremists to further their agendas at a high profile event either against Canada or another participating nation(s)."
The document also warns that the Games could draw interest from organized crime groups, who could "take advantage of the large volumes of funds being disseminated to make illicit profits."
Dumais stressed that the RCMP is taking the lead security role, and noted that the Mounties "must be understand [as] a sporting event, not a security one."
So military support for security "will need to be discrete to the general public," though the Canadian Forces will be publicly visible at ceremonial functions.
A separate briefing note, also obtained by La Presse under the Access to Information Act, said the Canadian Forces (CF) will be working closely with the RCMP in security planning.
"Given heightened post-9/11 security measures for major international events of this nature, the CF can expect requests from the RCMP to provide robust and wide-ranging support."
Thank you, Cindy.
MD: Thanks; I appreciate the update. Jim, as always, is in my prayers. Prayers also for his wife and children during this time.
Thanks for updating me, Ian. Your background is proving to be an interesting one and one that will ensure you a comfortable future. I knew you would never forget the Arabic component.
I am glad to hear you met Laura; she is doing great work.
The best to you.
placemark
Mo. indictment: 5 sent money to Iraq
3/7/2007, 1:35 p.m. ET
By MARIA SUDEKUM FISHER
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Five associates of a Missouri-based Islamic charity were indicted on charges that they illegally sent money to Iraq, the U.S. attorney's office announced Wednesday.
The five men, associated with Columbia-based Islamic American Relief Agency-USA, are charged in a 33-count indictment that alleges they stole government and public money and falsely represented their fundraising goals to the public.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment Tuesday charging the men with illegally transferring $1.4 million to Iraq from March 1991 to May 2003. Federal agents raided the group's headquarters in 2004 as part of a criminal investigation, and the charity's assets were later frozen.
The charity has denied the allegations that it has financed terrorism and has repeatedly tried to distinguish itself from the Islamic African Relief Agency, a Sudanese group suspected of financing al-Qaida. A federal appeals court in Washington ruled last month that the link was legitimate.
The men indicted were identified as Mubark Hamed, 50, of Columbia, executive director of the agency; Ali Mohamed Bagegni, 53, of Iowa City, Iowa, a former board member; Ahmad Mustafa, 54, of Columbia, a former fundraiser; Khalid Al-Sudanee, 55, of Jordan, the regional director of the group's Middle East office; and Abdel Azim El-Siddiq, 50, Palos Heights, Ill., a former agency vice president.
Three of the five were in custody Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Bradley J. Schlozman said. Mustafa, Hamed and Bagegni were arrested Wednesday. El-Siddiq was expected to be arrested later Wednesday in Illinois. Al-Sudanee was being sought in Jordan.
http://www.nj.com/newsflash/war/index.ssf?/base/national-81/117329305325830.xml&storylist=njterror
Jordan: Militants plotted to kill Bush
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — A Jordanian military prosecutor on Wednesday revealed a previously unannounced plot by three alleged militants to assassinate President Bush during his last visit to the kingdom.
The military prosecutor has charged the three Jordanians — Nidhal Musleh al-Momani, Sattam al-Zawahrah and Tharwat Daraj — with plotting to carry out terrorist attacks and illegal possession of explosives. They also were planning to attack the American and Danish embassies in Amman, the prosecutor alleged.
The three were apparently unaware Denmark has no embassy in Jordan. According to the indictment sheet, they also planned to attack a Jordanian brewery in the northeastern city of Zarqa.
They were arrested on Nov. 28, one day before Bush's arrival in Amman for talks with King Abdullah II and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The prosecutor told the court the defendants were found with homemade bombs made by filling large plastic bottles with gasoline.
According to the prosecutor, the three met in Zarqa in October to plan their attacks. The prosecutor described them as followers of the Takfiri extremist doctrine which regards even non-militant Muslims as infidels.........
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-03-07-jordan-plot_N.htm?csp=34
NYC counter-terror chief urges stiffer subway protection
BY CAROL EISENBERG
March 7, 2007
WASHINGTON -- New York City's counterterrorism chief said Tuesday he wakes every morning braced for another terrorist attack -- most likely from satchel bombs blown up near-simultaneously in the city's subways.
"The threat to New York City's transit system is not just theoretical," Deputy New York Police Department Commissioner Richard Falkenrath warned House lawmakers in sometimes apocalyptic testimony. "It is real. There have been 22 bomb threats and 31 intelligence leads related to subway attack plots this year."...........
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-usrail0307,0,1308522.story?track=rss
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0750120020070307?src=030707_1331_ARTICLE_PROMO_also_on_reuters
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1173173950675&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP47303
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP72304
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17312636/site/newsweek
Thank you freeperfromnj.
This is intereresting.
I learn something new every day.
Thank you very much, CallMeJoe.
You're welcome Cindy. What I found most interesting is the "Columbia-based Islamic American Relief Agency-USA" connection.
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