| Africa North |
| Egypt activists vow more protests, boosted by ElBaradei |
| 2011-01-28 |
| [Ma'an] Protests raged in Egypt for a third straight day Thursday as pro-democracy activists, galvanised by the return of dissident Mohamed ElBaradei, vowed to step up efforts to oust geriatric President Hosni Mubarak. ElBaradei, a Nobel laureate and former chief of the UN nuclear watchdog, arrived from Vienna Thursday evening in Cairo, where according to his brother he will join mass protests planned after weekly Mohammedan prayers on Friday. "It is a critical time in the life of Egypt. I have come to participate with the Egyptian people," said ElBaradei, a vocal critic of Mubarak, as he left Cairo airport. Earlier in Vienna he told news hounds he was ready to "lead the transition" in Egypt if asked. "If people, in particularly young people, if they want me to lead the transition I will not let them down. My priority right now is to see a new Egypt and to see a new Egypt through peaceful transition," he said. His arrival came on the third straight day of angry nationwide protests, which have built into the largest uprising in three decades, during which seven people have been killed -- five protesters and two coppers -- and more than 100 injured. A security official told AFP that around 1,000 protesters had been jugged since the protests began. While a heavy security clamp Thursday prevented protesters from massing in the centre of Cairo as they did Tuesday and Wednesday, violent festivities erupted in the cities of Suez and Ismailiya, and in a Sinai town where a protester was rubbed out by police, according to witnesses. The demonstrations against Mubarak's autocratic rule, inspired by the groundbreaking "Jasmine Revolution" in Tunisia, have sent shockwaves across the region and prompted Washington to prod its long-time ally on democratic reforms. Events on the street sent jitters Thursday through Egypt's stock exchange, which suspended trading temporarily after a drop of 6.2 percent in the benchmark EGX 30 index, a day after it fell six percent. The stock market closed with a drop of over 10 percent on Thursday. The secretary general of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party meanwhile told news hounds Thursday that the authorities are open to dialogue with the country's young people who are spearheading demonstrations. "We have held several meetings with the youth, but in the future we will be more understanding in our approach so that they can be participants," Sawfat al-Sherif told a news conference, without saying more about what he meant. Earlier in the day, members of the pro-democracy youth group April 6 Movement said they would continue to take to the streets, defying a ban on demonstrations announced on Wednesday. "To continue what we started on January 25, we will take to the streets to demand the right to life, liberty, dignity and we call on everyone to take to the streets ... and to keep going until the demands of the Egyptian people have been met," the group said. Opposition groups circulated SMS messages and posted appeals on social networking site Facebook for fresh demonstrations "to demand the right to live with freedom and dignity." "We've started and we won't stop," one demonstrator told AFP. Clashes broke out in the north Sinai town of Sheikh Zuwayed where, according to witnesses and relatives, Mohamed Atef, 22, died when he was shot in the head by police during a firefight. In Suez, east of Cairo at the mouth of the Suez Canal, anti-riot police fired rubber-coated bullets, tear gas and water canon at hundreds of people gathered to demand the release of some 75 people jugged on Tuesday and Wednesday. An AFP photographer said protesters later hurled molotov cocktails at a fire station in the city, setting it ablaze. In Ismailiya to the north, witnesses reported that police were on Thursday firing tear gas at demonstrators, who responded by throwing rocks. The United States, Egypt's chief ally in the Arab world, meanwhile issued a nuanced written statement in Obama's name on Egypt. "The Egyptian government has an important opportunity to be responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people, and pursue political, economic and social reforms that can improve their lives and help Egypt prosper," it said. "The United States is committed to working with Egypt and the Egyptian people to advance these goals," it added. The statement also underlined US support for basic democratic freedoms "including the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly". The protests are the largest in Egypt since bread riots in 1977, four years before Mubarak came to power. Among protesters' demands are the departure of the interior minister, whose security forces have been accused of heavy-handedness; an end to a decades-old state of emergency and a rise in minimum wages. |
| Link |
| Terror Networks |
| Al Qaeda's Secret Correspondence -- Part 2 |
| 2007-10-16 |
| Letters between members of Al Qaeda intercepted by the US Army and published on a website affiliated to the US Department of Defense shows a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the terrorist organization. Among these was a letter written by Abu Hafs al Masri (Mohamed Atef) addressed to Abu Abdullah (Osama Bin Laden). This letter, predating back to the late nineties, has proven to be an invaluable source of information for US intelligence. Abu Hafs was one of the organizations top military commanders before being killed in the Kandahar operations at the end of 2001. In the aforementioned letter, Abu Hafs refers to what may possibly be correspondence between training camps in Somalia and Sudan. Included in the letter is correspondence between two Al Qaeda members whose codenames are Saqr and Badr, in addition to a transcription of radio transceiver exchanges that took place in the mornings and evenings. The content of these exchanges varies in accordance with whether the date of the day was odd or even. Abu Hafss letter also referred to his visit to Luuq Camp, which is located in southwestern Somalia and lies between 52 degrees longitude and 26 degrees latitude. The former commander also indicated that from a topographical perspective, the terrain is ideal for guerilla wars [literally supported guerilla platoons in the original letter], as well as a launch pad zone. He added that it would be difficult for any regulatory forces to seize control of the area while extensively elaborating on the areas landscape citing mountains, thorny trees and roads, in addition to a number of water springs that could be used as a water supply for Al Qaeda members. According to the information gleaned from the letter, the area is inhabited by the Amrihan tribe, which is a breakaway faction of Siad Barres al Daroot tribe. Mohamed Farrah Aidid had tried to seize control of this region but he failed and lost many of his supporters. No secular parties remain in the region, only individuals who had formerly been Siad Barre supporters who, moreover, back the concept of an Islamic Union. In terms of securing the area, Abu Hafs reassures that the region has optimum security conditions and is situated in a prime location that can easily receive supplies from various parties who can deliver them via Kenya or Somalia. Following the word conclusion, Abu Hafs wrote, The area is suitable and can be considered an ideal launch pad for guerrilla bases. Relating to military capabilities, he said, There is a quantity of light- and medium-class weapons and RPJs, in addition to reasonable quantities of ammunition. But, means of transportation are limited to only one truck. Regarding the financial situation, Abu Hafs had said, We have agreed on a fixed budget for the camp, which is attached to this report. It ranges between US $5,000-$6,000 a month. He also pointed out that earlier expenses have been sent in a previous report. Furthermore, Abu Hafs wrote of the trained brothers needs; those residing in Luuq Camp and cited the names: Abu Nour, Abu Haitham, Abu al Fateh, Abu Ammar al Yamani and Abu Humam al Saeedy. He also mentioned the need for a set of large-scale communication equipment and 15 smaller ones. Among the stated objectives of the brothers in Luuq Camp: the formation of guerilla gangs, reconnaissance, an intermittent flow of information about the enemy and a good knowledge of the topography so that, we may always be prepared for action at any time, he said. As for the situation on Ogaden, Abu Hafs said, We have liaised with the brother Seif using Hamds [transceiver] device, and thank God the situation is reassuring. The news reporting that they were trapped was not entirely accurate. We have sent a letter via Sheikh Saleh that includes all the necessary warnings. He also added that the brothers in Ogaden are in dire need of funds because they had only received US $21,000 and that they were equally in need of communication devices. Concerning the situation in Nairobi, Abu Hafs said, Our office in Nairobi is receiving brothers before dispatching them to camps. Two houses were leased for the two brothers Tawfiq and Salem at a cost of US $500. The fixed budget for the house in Nairobi used as the administrative headquarters has been set at US $1,200. There is tight security in Kenya and all Arabs are under heavy surveillance. Relief workers have been arrested on charges of backing Muslim extremists. Abu Hafs reported that Kenya was not a suitable place for families to live in since it had a high standard of living and was corrupt to a large extent, adding that the political situation is unstable and a mutiny is expected. He revealed that brother Salem only had US $7,900 left, also pointing out that transporting the brothers from Nairobi to Luuq would be expensive and that the terrestrial road was not suitable for travel. Attached to the letter was a financial report for the situation in Djibouti, Abu Hafs maintained that the state is vital for their operations and demanded the presence of a brother in the area to coordinate with. However, he specifies that the aforesaid member must be married, moreover requesting the replacement of brother Khaled by Abu Ahmed al Raji (Abdul Salam) along with his Somali wife to fulfill the task. Concerning the financial situation, he reveals that brother Khaleds debts had reached US $4,000, while the remaining funds in Nairobi amounted to US $7,000 and that the camp in Luuq had only one months budget remaining, adding that the brothers in Ogadem were in desperate need of funds. He also revealed that the salaries of Abu Youssef, Abu Khadija and Abu Ahmed were US $150 each. Abu Hafs urged Bin Laden to quickly settle the issue of salaries of the trained members of al Qaeda because the majority of them were thinking about marriage and it is their central preoccupation, he said. He added that they had raised the issue with him and that he had promised them special treatment. But it was not only that letter that was published on the website; there were also other documents that included Abu Hafss passport on which his wife Maimouna and his son were added, in addition to an airline ticket on Kenyan Airways dated November 4, 1997. The return journey was planned as: Nairobi-Khartoum-Dubai-Karachi. |
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| Terror Networks |
| Moussaoui distrusted by KSM, regarded as crazy by Hambali, but favored by Binny |
| 2006-03-28 |
| Zacarias Moussaoui was an Al Qaeda operative who had numerous problems within the terrorist organization but was supported by Osama Bin Laden despite numerous concerns of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, according to testimony Monday at his death penalty trial. Monday afternoon, the jury heard a summary witness report from information that was provided by Khalid Sheik Mohammed. The summary witness substitution was read to the jury since Shaikh Mohammed is in detention and not able to appear in court. The report, which was agreed to by both the defense and the prosecutor, was filled with additional details about Shaikh Mohammed 's planning for the 9/11 attacks which included the revelation that 34 men knew about the 9/11 or "planes operation" before the strikes. According to statements from Shaikh Mohammed, provided to interrogators, Shaikh Mohammed acknowledged that Moussaoui was to be part of a second wave of attacks after the initial 9/11 operation. "Moussaoui was recruited as part of a second wave of attacks," a member of the federal public defender read to the jury. Moussaoui during his nearly 3 hours of testimony detailed how he had "personality problems," with Al Qaeda members. According to the report, Shaikh Mohammed said Moussaoui had "a problematic personality" and was "a problem from the start." The report from Shaikh Mohammed contradicted testimony provided by Moussaoui earlier Monday that he was to fly a plane into the White House as part of the 9/11 operation. According to the statement Shaikh Mohammed said that the original 9/11 plan called for the use of Arab operatives and the second wave of attacks was to include Al Qaeda members with French, Malaysian and Canadian passports so they would draw less scrutiny. Potential targets for the second wave of attacks included hitting the tallest building in California and potentially the Sears Tower, as well as a subway attack and a strike against a nuclear powerplant. Shaikh Mohammed said planning for the second wave was difficult because he was surprised by the security response of the U.S. officials after the attacks. He further realized the use of Malaysians would be more difficult since the home address and true name of a Malaysian national, "Yazid Sufaat" was found in Moussaoui's possession when Moussaoui was arrested in August 2001. Sufaat provided a letter to Moussaoui saying that he was an employee of Infocus Tech. The report said that the 9/11 mastermind was frustrated that Moussaoui called senior al Qaeda planners over the phone numerous times in August of 2001 and that he also sent Shaikh Mohammed a detailed email about how his flight training was going. This included eight calls to Ramzi Binalshibh in Germany who lived with several of the 9/11 hijackers in Hamburg, Germany and wired money to Moussaoui in Oklahoma. Moussaoui's problems with Shaikh Mohammed began in 2000 on a three-week trip he took to Malaysia. During this trip, he met several members of the southeast Asian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah, a group linked to Al Qaeda and mentioned to one of their members, Faiz Bafana, that he wanted to fly a plane into the White House. When Shaikh Mohammed and Mohamed Atef, Al Qaeda's military chief found out that Moussaoui told Bafana about this, they were upset. Moussaoui further outraged Shaikh Mohammed since he was freelancing operations in trying to secure four tons of ammonium nitrate for Jemaah Islamiah. Moussaoui told the jury that after a "review" by senior Al Qaeda members he was recalled to Afghanistan and ended up in an Al Qaeda school in Pakistan, "Then I was approved." he said. "At that point Bin Laden put you back in as the pilot of the fifth plane?" lead prosecutor Robert Spencer asked Moussaoui. "That's correct." Moussaoui responded. Asked by defense Attorney Gerald Zerkin if he was in contact with other members of his crew for the operation Moussaoui said: "Because of what happened in Malaysia, I lost a lot of time I was in a hurry." Intelligence summaries and depositions from some Al Qaeda members have shown that Moussaoui acted strangely. Hambali, a Jemaah Islamiah leader met Moussaoui in Malaysia and "concluded that based on his conduct Moussaoui was crazy. "Cuckoo," a defense brief filed in 2003 and read to the jury noted. During the Malaysia trip, Moussaoui sought $10,000 for flight training from Hambali and Faiz Bafana. Both men are currently in detention overseas. The two men eventually decided to give Moussaoui $2,000 so he would leave the country. "I discussed with Hambali, and Hambali said, 'Just give him $2,000 And let him leave Malaysia,'" Bafana mentioned in a deposition which was showed to the jury in the first week of the trial. Shortly after he left Malaysia, Moussaoui began to make plans to head to the U.S., despite this according to Shaikh Mohammed, Moussaoui "would never have been a replacement [for 9/11] even if one of the hijackers had pulled out of the operation." Although he was arrested three weeks before 9/11 Moussaoui did practice secrecy which prosecutors say led to the 9/11 attacks. The prosecution is contending that if Moussaoui had not lied to the FBI the attacks may have been prevented. A line in the 9/11 Commission report concluded of Moussaoui, "Moussaoui can be seen as an al Qaeda mistake and a missed opportunity." |
| Link |
| The Alliance |
| Zawahri sez America "world's biggest criminal" |
| 2001-10-07 |
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) Egypt has said it will help battle global terrorism, but that campaign is likely to pit it against some of its own, including two Egyptians with strong links to Osama bin Laden and the Sept. 11 terror attacks. One man, Ayman al-Zawahri, has been identified as bin Laden's most trusted deputy. Mohamed Atef is now believed to be the operational mastermind behind the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Both men are Egyptian and former members of Egypt's militant Islamic Jihad. They have been sentenced to death in absentia in Egypt, but have long been out of the government's reach. They are believed to be holed up in Afghanistan along with bin Laden, enjoying the protection of Afghanistan's Taliban government. Sunday marked the first time in years that the world had heard from al-Zawahri, who appeared beside bin Laden in a pre-recorded video broadcast on the Arabic satellite station Al-Jazeera. "America has committed crimes against Muslims that are unbearable. America is the world's biggest criminal. Your government is killing Iraqi children and sponsoring corrupt regimes. Your government is leading you toward certain defeat." The tape, which showed bin Laden and al-Zawahri kneeling side-by-side in a cave, was apparently made sometime after Sept. 11 but before the U.S. retaliated on Sunday. |
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