The disaster has focussed world attention on the region
Separatists fighting for Aceh's independence from Indonesian rule feel the tsunami that wrecked the region could eventually help in heralding peace.
Malik Mahmud, a leader of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the region's self-styled prime minister, on Friday said the international focus on Aceh - the area worst hit by the flood waves triggered by Sunday's earthquake - might benefit the rebels.
Mahmud, who lives in exile in Sweden, said Jakarta had tried to prevent the outside world from knowing about Aceh's independence struggle. "But now people abroad know where is Aceh, what is Aceh."
Excerpted
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/97DF8A85-DAA5-43B4-95E1-6376CD5CF806.htm
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) President Bush, speaking in an Arab television interview, says Iran should stay out of Iraqi elections.
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American who lost mom on Sept. 11 presses for more info
http://whatcounts.com/t?ctl=B30613:312D3A4
Who's in charge of hunt for bin Laden?
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/25/schuster.column/index.html
State Dept. Issues Travel Warning for Mexico
AP ^ | 26 Jan 05 | Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department on Wednesday issued a travel warning for Americans visiting Mexico, saying violent criminal activity, including murder and kidnaping, has increased in its northern border region.
"U.S. citizens should be aware of the risk posed by the deteriorating security situation," the department said in a public announcement. It added that the great majority of victims are Mexican citizens.
The announcement attributed the increased crime to a war between criminal organizations struggling for control of the lucrative narcotics trade. It said the leaders of several major criminal organizations have been arrested, creating a power vacuum.
"This has resulted in a wave of violence aimed primarily at members of those trafficking organizations and criminal justice officials," the announcement said.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1329311/posts