Free Republic

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- The chiefs of Thailand's army, navy and air force met with King Bhumibol Adulyadej to declare they were taking over the country, according to a televised statement early Wednesday. The coup is being led by Thai army chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, who announced that the military and opposition Party of Democratic Reform were taking over while Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was in New York for a U.N. meeting. Sonthi said Wednesday he would meet in the morning with government officials and leaders of other institutions, such as universities Thaksin canceled a scheduled Tuesday evening speech to...

Israeli forces have captured a leader of the militant Islamic group Hamas in a raid in the West Bank, sources say. Troops moved into the town of Ramallah and seized Ibrahim Hammad, 41, the alleged head of Hamas' armed wing in the West Bank, the military said. He is accused of masterminding a string of suicide bombings on Israelis, including attacks at cafes and at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Israel had been trying to catch him for eight years, army radio said

A US reporter held hostage in Iraq for more than two months has been freed. Jill Carroll, who works for the Boston-based Christian Science Monitor, was abducted by unknown gunmen in west Baghdad on 7 January. She told Iraqi television she had been treated well and was looking forward to being reunited with her family. The US ambassador to Iraq said no ransom was paid by the US embassy. Ms Carroll's release came a week after three other Westerners were freed. [The kidnappers] just came to me and said: 'We're letting you go' Jill Carroll "I'm just happy to be...

'Bin Laden tape' warns of attacks Opinion is divided as to whether the voice really is Bin Laden's Arabic TV station al-Jazeera has broadcast an audio tape it says is by the al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden. In it, the speaker says new attacks on the US are being planned, but offers a "long-term truce" to the Americans. If confirmed, it would be the first time Bin Laden has been heard from since December 2004. People familiar with Bin Laden's voice are divided as to whether the voice really is his. US experts are trying to determine the tape's authenticity....

Syrian security forces have clashed with Islamist militants in Hasaka, north-eastern Syria, killing one and detaining two others, reports say. The Syrian authorities have so far refused to comment on the reports, from human rights activists in the region. The incident came days after Syrian forces killed five alleged members of the militant group Jund al-Sham in a gun battle in the north-west. The authorities accuse the group of planning bomb attacks in Damascus.