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Al-Qaida releases video showing body of its slain Afghan strategist
March 2, 2008
CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida has released a new video eulogy on militant Web sites of its top Afghanistan strategist. The video shows the body of Abu Laith al-Libi (ah-BOO' LAYTH ahl-LIH'-bee), who was killed in late January by a missile from a U.S. Predator drone that struck his safehouse in Pakistan. It marks the second video eulogy of Abu Laith, demonstrating the slain commander's importance to the movement.
The video's release coincided with the publication of a book by Al-Qaida's Number-2 man, Ayman al-Zawahri (AY'-muhn ahl-ZWAH'-ree). The book slams radical militants who have disavowed armed struggle and turned their backs on violence.
http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=7954419
Mar 3, 2008 2:29 Suicide bomb attack kills 40 in northwestern Pakistan
3/3/08
PESHAWAR, Pakistan - A bomber blew himself up among thousands of tribal members discussing resistance to al-Qaida and the Taliban, killing 40 people in the third suicide attack in as many days in northwestern Pakistan.
Five tribes were meeting Sunday to finalize a resolution that would punish anyone who shelters or helps Islamic militants, including al-Qaida and Taliban fighters, Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said. A young man walked up to a group of elders and detonated his explosives, said Alam Khan, a tribesman at the meeting in Darra Adam Khel, a town in North West Frontier Province about 40 kilometers south of the provincial capital, Peshawar.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204473063313&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
MI5 has set up a dedicated team to monitor suspected al-Qaeda activists and supporters in Ireland. The Observer has learnt that an eight-strong unit is spying on Islamists based in Belfast, Lisburn and mid-Ulster, but is also liaising via the Police Service of Northern Ireland with the Garda Siochana across the border. The revelation coincides with the arrest yesterday of a suspected Islamist terror unit in Co Kerry. Three Afghans were in custody after the Garda swooped on an apartment in Tralee and found devices they believe could be used to make bombs.
The new unit at MI5's regional headquarters at Holywood, on the outskirts of Belfast, also monitors inbound US military flights to Shannon airport in case of an Islamist terror attack on Irish soil.
All reports on suspected al-Qaeda activities across Ireland are to be handed over to the head of MI5 in Northern Ireland, Trevor Harper. He is based at the new £20m headquarters inside Palace military barracks. Last week The Observer revealed that, in the event of a major terror attack on MI5's HQ at Thames House in London, command of the security services would be switched to Holywood.
Security sources said al-Qaeda 'sleeper cells' in Northern Ireland were being watched in particular, because of suspected links to other cells in Britain. 'They operate a very tight structure, just like the IRA. There are possible links to cells on the mainland,' one source said.
Excerpted
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/02/alqaida.ireland
Algeria - 25 terrorists die
Sun Mar 2, 92008
ALGIERS, Algeria - Two Algerian newspapers say security forces killed 25 suspected members of an al-Qaida affiliate in North Africa in a weekend operation east of the capital.
The two Arabic-language papers, Ech Chourouk and Al Djazair News, said in their Sunday editions that security forces chased some 30 Islamic insurgents planting roadside bombs Friday night back into their refuge. The papers, which sited unnamed, informed sources, said troops then called in helicopters and assaulted the hideout early Saturday with rockets and helicopter fire, killing 25.
There was no official confirmation of the operation between the Tizi-Ouzou and Bejaie regions. Algeria has been fighting an Islamic insurgency since 1992.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080302/ap_on_re_mi_ea/algeria_terrorists_killed
Global Jihad — another day.
Thanks Oorang for the post.