CONTENTS:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

1. World
2. Africa
3. Americas
4. Asia Pacific
5. Europe
6. Middle East
7. South Asia
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
9. Finance
10 Human Rights
11. Law and Legal Issues
12. Transportation
13. Weapons of Mass Destruction
14. Recently Published

FEATURE ARTICLE:
Beslan: One Year After the Siege

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

1. World

Hurricane Katrina struck the US states of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi last week. The death toll is projected at 10,000, most resulting from the flooding of New Orleans and grossly inadequate emergency response. Insured losses are now estimated at $35 billion, and uninsured at least $65 billion. The US Congress approved a $10.5 billion relief bill. Nearly a week after the disaster, a large-scale response is underway, but many people have not received emergency supplies or been evacuated. There have been reports of violence and looting, which is common in areas where there is a proliferation of small arms. In addition to the lack of emergency preparedness and response, the disaster has revealed to the world the level of poverty and racism that exists in the world's richest country.

Relief organizations accepting donations or volunteers include:

The US National Preparedness Month launched on 1 September.
http://www.ready.gov/npm/index.htm

A report commissioned by the UN's relief agency prior to Hurricane Katrina finds many limitations in worldwide preparedness for major disasters and the ability of governments, non-governmental agencies, and donor organizations to respond quickly. Gaps in "water and sanitation, shelter, camp management and in food aid, nutrition and livelihoods" are magnified when a crisis outstrips available capacity. Providing international examples that are reflected in the situation seen now in New Orleans, Darfur provides an example in which armed protection required "special and urgent attention" both for security and to "restore dignified conditions of human life". In crises, a lead organization must take control and assistance must be based on need, not on external benchmarks. Disaster response, including central controls, must be adopted system-wide. The 112-page report is divided into four chapters that review benchmarks for accountability and performance, preparedness and response capacity, coordination, and financing.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900SID/EVOD-6FUDKN?OpenDocument

In other disasters last week, a typhoon in China killed at least 54 people despite the evacuation of more than 790,000 along the east coast. Storms in Ethiopia have killed at least 12 people, and flooding has destroyed crops in some areas. Another disaster - the death of hundreds of pilgrims during a stampede in Iraq - is covered in Middle East, below.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that the deadly strain of H5N1 avian influenza that has hit several Asian countries is likely to be carried by wild water birds to the Middle East, Europe, South Asia and Africa. When birds from Asia mingle with those from northern Europe, the virus can travel, and poor countries in southeast Europe may not have the capacity to detect or defeat an outbreak. This international problem requires international solutions.
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/107405/index.html

2. Africa

Burundi's new President Nkurunziza has formed the first post-war government. Two vice presidents, including one woman, were sworn in. Key ministerial posts went to members of his Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) party. Of the 20 ministries, seven went to women. The new constitution requires the cabinet contain 60 percent Hutu, 40 percent Tutsi, and at least 30 percent of positions going to women.

Democratic Republic of Congo renegade rebel leader General Laurent Njunda has threatened a new invasion to bring peace and accused the government of promoting ethnic hatred. Some government soldiers in the east are reported to have defected.

Ivory Coast's situation is deteriorating. Rebels with the New Forces rejected South Africa as a mediator, accusing them of partisanship. South Africa says it will maintain its role. Last week the New Forces said that it would be impossible to hold free and fair elections in October in a country still bifurcated. This week the four largest opposition parties joined this criticism, and called for a transition government. President Gbagbo has issued new laws on electoral and nationality codes, angering the opposition and rebels. The nationality issue is one of the main causes of the outbreak of war in September 2002. A UN peacekeeper from Morocco was stabbed and killed. The UN is considering sanctions against anyone, including the New Forces, that is found to be hindering the peace process. There are signs that rebel militias are rebuilding their armed strength.

Kenya's former president Daniel arap Moi has rejected the draft constitution. Some cabinet ministers have also called for a rejection of the new constitution in the November referendum.

Namibia has begun its first expropriation of a white-owned farm. Expropriation orders have been served on 18 commercial farms, on which the government plans to settle nearly 250,000 landless people. About half of Namibia's commercial farms are owned by whites.

In Somalia, harassment of minorities and human trafficking remain rampant, as the fledgling transitional government has not yet established its authority or the capacity to deal with such issues. These are among the findings by UN Independent Expert Ghanim Alnajjar. He also pointed to the lack of protection of the coastline that is diverting much needed fishery resources to illegal foreign vessels. Illegal fishing amounts to about $300 million each year.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6FU47X?OpenDocument&rc=1&emid=ACOS-635PL7

Sudan's first post-war parliament has opened. The situation in Darfur is unchanged, and officials are considering opening talks with the separate conflict with the rebel Eastern Front.

In Tanzania's semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar and Pemba there have been a number of violent clashes among rival political groups. During the 2000 elections, 40 people were killed. Now the presidential candidates from the two main political parties have committed to encouraging their supporters to be tolerant and stop encouraging violence.

Uganda's Ministry of Health estimates that 1,000 displaced people in the north die form violence of disease each week. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has been targeting civilians in the northern Acholi subregion for 19 years, in one of the most brutal and bizarre conflicts in the world.
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=48792
http://www.health.go.ug/

Zimbabwe's parliament has approved sweeping constitutional changes to restrict property rights and deny passports in the national interest, opening the way for seizure of white-owned farms.

3. Americas

The World Bank reports that aging infrastructure and under-investment are reducing growth and increasing poverty. The region is falling behind China and Korea. In the 1980s Latin American countries were ahead of such rivals by a factor of three to two.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20632565~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html

Brazil's health ministry reports that for the first time in 13 years there has been a fall in gun deaths. The eight- percent drop is attributed to innovative disarmament efforts, including a gun buy-back offer.

Canada is not regarded as a terrorist haven by most people in the US, according to a survey conducted for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/08/28/1191852-cp.html

Colombia's Justice and Peace law came under criticism from Amnesty International that warns that it will in effect provide an amnesty that will allow the paramilitaries to act with impunity. http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr230192005 The UN warned the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels responsible for the death of 14 farmers last weekend that such acts could be taken up by the International Criminal Court.

In Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, a UN investigation has revealed that a group armed with machetes and firearms killed at least nine people in a football stadium. The incident on 20 August included attackers wearing Haitian police uniforms. Investigations continue, and the UN is working with local police to prevent further occurrences and address other reports of summary executions.

The US Census Bureau reveals that despite economic growth last year another 1.1 million people fell below the poverty line, an increase of 12.7 percent to 37 million.
http://www.census.gov/

Department of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld approved changes to military commission procedures that make them more similar to a traditional US courtroom, but do not address all issues regarding the tribunals, which are being used for so-called enemy combatants held at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. These measures follow widespread criticism of the procedures and another hunger strike underway by as many as 200 detainees.
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050831-4608.html
http://www.ccr-ny.org/v2/reports/report.asp?ObjID=ahsL1Kdgp2&Content=622

An internal Pentagon investigation has found no proof that the program "Able Danger" identified al Qaeda operatives in 2000. Congressional hearings into the matter are planned for later this year.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2005/20050901_2595.html

The Center for Immigration Studies released two reports, "Immigration and Terrorism: Moving Beyond the 9/11 Staff Report on Terrorist Travel"
http://www.cis.org/articles/2005/kephart.html,
and "Keeping Extremists Out: The History of Ideological Exclusion, and the Need for Its Revival" http://www.cis.org/articles/2005/back1005.html.
Findings in the first report include:

From 24-16 September two major antiwar coalitions are organizing demonstrations that, for the first time in more than ten years, will be allowed to assemble around the White House.
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/

Venezuela's President Chavez says his government will take legal action, possibly including extradition, against US television evangelist Pat Robertson, who called for US agents to kill Chavez.

4. Asia Pacific

In Australia, a new grassroots organization called "Get Up!" has organized a campaign to free citizens from Guantanamo Bay. Their letter to foreign minister Alexander says, "All Australians have the right to receive a fair trial. The British, Spanish, and French Governments have all refused to allow their citizens to be tried in Guantanamo Bay. Even the Americans have removed their citizens from Guantanamo Bay and ensured they face a fair trial at home. As Australian Foreign Minister you should have the courage to do the same".
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign.asp?campaign_id=5

China plans to establish a regional center to train police from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in counterterrorism operations. They are primarily concerned about the perceived threat from Muslim Uighurs in western China.

China marked the 40th anniversary of its assumption of rule over Tibet.

East Timor and Indonesia have begun to mark out their common border.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned that a big terrorist attack by domestic cells was likely to happen in Jakarta in the next couple of months, and ordered an increased security alert.

Indonesia has freed nearly 1,500 people linked with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) from prison, under the terms of the recent peace deal. This is one of a number of confidence-building measures.

Investigations into the Ambon market bombing led to a shootout with key suspect, "Aden", who was seriously injured and subsequently died. Three other suspects are being questioned and three more are still being sought.

Malaysia has delayed deportation of 131 Thai Muslims who took refuge from violence in southern Thailand. Thai officials believe some of the group are Islamic militants.

North Korea's foreign minister says military drills between South Korea and the US have delayed 6-party talks regarding the nuclear program to mid-September at the earliest.

Papua New Guinea's police minister has admitted to rampant police violence documented in a Human Rights Watch report.
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/08/31/png11659.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4203506.stm

The Philippines congress has thrown out most impeachment complaints against President Arroyo. Barring enough signatures to send the complaint directly to the Senate, the charges will fail.

National Security Advisor Norberto Gonzales warned of a major threat in September, particularly in Metro Manila, following a 6-month attack cycle. In Mindanao, a security official said that part of the country was a "terrorist academy" where Jemaah Islamiah militants tested new designs and tactics. There have been several small bomb attacks, associated with minor injuries. In fighting between rebels and Philippine government soldiers, four people were killed before Malaysian peacekeeping troops intervened. In Basilan, a major manhunt is underway for the perpetrators of last Sunday's ferry bombing in which 30 people, including children, were injured.

In Thailand, the ink had barely dried on tough new anti-terrorism laws before a strong of bombings erupted in the south, killing three people and injuring more than 20.

5. Europe

Albania's Prime Minister Fatos Nano has submitted his resignation following confirmation that his long-term rival, Sali Berish, won the July election. The Central Election commission delayed results pending review of voting irregularities. The new parliament convened on 2 September.
http://www.osce.org/item/16141.html

In Northern Cyprus, a Turkish Cypriot plane carried a 100-member delegation directly to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The flight defied an international embargo and was the first to a destination other than Turkey. Northern Cyprus is not a recognized republic, but its government hopes that their new relationship with Azerbaijan will help end some 30 years of international isolation.

Danish police investigated Said Mansour, a Moroccan-born Danish citizen, for instigation of terrorism after he circulated CDs with inflammatory speeches and images. Reports suggested he would be the first charged under new Danish terrorism legislation. After review, the head of the Danish police intelligence service says there is no reason to suspect Mansour on the basis of the material they have in their possession at this time.

In Kosovo, two Serbs were killed in a drive-by shooting on August 28. The deaths were blamed on Kosovo Albanians. New checkpoints have been established and additional police put in place.

Trans-Dniester has marked its 15th anniversary of independence from Moldova, although it has not been internationally recognized and, guarded by Russian peacekeepers and home to a massive weapons stockpile, the breakaway region poses a significant international risk of weapons and other trafficking.

Poland commemorated the 25th anniversary of the birth of the Solidarity movement and its peaceful movement for democracy.

In Russia, a bomb exploded outside a military barracks in Dagestan, killing at least one soldier and two other people, and injuring 11 others.

In southeastern Turkey, Kurdish protestors demanded the release of six suspected separatists killed in fighting the military last week. About a thousand protestors clashed with police, killing one man and injuring five police officers. This fighting came a week after the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) announced a unilateral ceasefire.

British investigators are analyzing a video broadcast on al Jazeera in which one of the 7/7 suicide bombers delivered his message in a calm native Yorkshire accent. He said he was a soldier fighting a war and that as Britain is a democracy, its citizens are responsible for atrocities committed against his people, including British actions in Iraq. This video was followed by a second from Al Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri. Although a seemingly effective propaganda message, analysis so far indicates the two tapes were connected after the fact, to help create a stronger connection to al Qaeda and the 7/7 attacks than may in fact exist.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4208250.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4206800.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4207158.stm

Research from the University of Ulster finds that suicides in Northern Ireland are higher than during the Troubles, because " We believe that civil unrest led to extreme polarization of communities and the ghettoization of large parts of Northern Ireland, these ghettos becoming an oasis for the population resident in them, and ??no-go?? areas for outsiders. In effect, polarized political civil unrest has the potential to foster and develop a sense of community in these pockets, drawn together by a common desire to survive together and a perceived sense of injustice. This appears to have buffered the population from the excesses and psychiatric morbidity possibly resultant from the troubles and protected them from suicide".
http://www.ulster.ac.uk/news/releases/2005/1806.html

Sectarian attacks, including attacks against schools during the past week, have been attributed to very young people. At least one has been detained and investigations continue.

The Irish Republican Army is expected to begin decommissioning next week.

6. Middle East

Al-Shall Economic Consultants find that revenues of Gulf producers have shot up as world oil prices increase, but warn that the windfall must be used to ensure long-term economic growth, rather than bubble economies.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=14419

Egyptian candidate Wahid al-Uqsuri has been banned from standing in the presidential election because he had been challenged for his leadership of the Egypt Arab Socialist Party. Although his candidacy was not considered a significant challenge, barring a successful appeal this reduces the field to nine candidates. Judges and civil organizations have criticized rules and directives issued by the Presidential Election Committee regarding electoral supervision. A judicial boycott is possible. Independent monitors have been banned.

Egypt and Israel have agreed that Egyptian troops will control the border with Gaza, although Israel says it will retain overall control of all of Gaza's borders, including the air and coast. Palestinians have asked for Egyptian help to allow easier movement at the border, and for Israel to withdraw from Palestinian land on the coastal strip and at border crossings. Israel has already begun construction of a new border crossing terminal, despite objections by both Palestinian and Egyptian authorities.

In Gaza, Hamas has made public details of its military leaders. Seven commanders were featured on their website and in a newspaper. Such details had been kept secret for fear of assassination, and this action is seen as a further attempt to strengthen their claim to credit for the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Judges in Iran have been given approval to carry guns for their own defense following three attacks against judges in recent weeks.

In Iraq, sectarian tensions are more frequently being expressed by violence. Last week a major disaster occurred during a Shiite religious ceremony. Early in the morning, Sunni group, Jaish al-Taifa al-Mansoura (Army of the Victorious Sect) fired mortar shells into the crowd near the shrine, killing at least seven people and injuring 36. Later in the day, as thousands of people crossed a river bridge to go to the shrine a message was spread that there was a suicide bomber in the crowd. As the falsehood spread, people panicked and a stampede ensued. During the crush to flee, iron railings gave way and hundreds of people fell into the water. At least 1,000 people died. Most were women, children or the elderly, who were crushed or drowned.

US and Iraqi forces have launched strikes against suspected militant targets near the Syrian border, leaving at least 47 people dead. Two homes were destroyed and it is reported that al Qaeda operative Abu Islam was also killed.

"The Iraq Quagmire" is a comprehensive study by the Institute for Policy Studies and Foreign Policy in Focus. It highlights the costs to Iraq, the US, and the world, and finds that:

Israel's Defense Ministry has ruled that families of four Israeli Arabs shot dead by an Israeli army deserter - an act deemed Israeli terrorism by Prime Minister Sharon - are not considered terrorist victims because their killer was Jewish. Instead of lifelong monthly payments given to Israeli victims they have been offered an unspecified 1-time payment. Arab and left-wing members of the Knesset are seeking a change in the law.

Israel has suspended temporarily plans to expand a settlement to link it to Jerusalem and indicated control of some West Bank settlements could be relinquished in a final agreement.

Israel and Pakistan have for the first time held public talks. The landmark meeting did not involve formal recognition of Israel, but is a step towards further discussions. Pakistan's main Islamic opposition party and Palestinians objected to the meeting, saying such approaches are premature.

Lebanon's state institutions were rocked by the revelation that four senior security officials have been detained in connection with the murder of former Prime Minister Hariri. While they are being questioned, the UN investigation continues, and the head of the International Independent Investigation Commission has asked for an extension of up to three additional months to complete their work.

The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has asked Ukraine to withdraw its contingent following financial misconduct.

Saudi forces exchanged fire with suspected militants, killing one and injuring a second in the eastern oil city of Dammam.

Syrian troops clashed with Islamic militants in the central province of Hama. Syrian troops targeted a hideout of militants with the Jund al-Sham ("Soldiers of Syria"). All five were killed, and two government soldiers were injured.

7. South Asia

Afghanistan's Election Complaints Commission has already vetted 5,800 electoral candidates and printed ballots, but as many as 20 of the candidates may be disqualified if they are confirmed to be commanding militia groups.
http://www.jemb.org
Security in the run-up to the elections remains a major concern. Last week the Taleban took credit for several kidnaps and murders, as well as the murder of at least one electoral candidate. Today Taleban attacked and killed eight Afghan police in two separate attacks.

Bangladesh is attempting to develop a coordinated response to the 17 August bombings that involved some 400 attacks that affected all but one of the country's 64 districts.

Three Bangladeshis allegedly attempting to enter India illegally were shot dead by Indian border officials in what Bangladesh calls an unprovoked attack against its citizens who were working on the river on Bangladesh territory.

India's national Disaster Management Authority is reviewing a proposal to make civil defense training compulsory for citizens above the age of 18.

In Bihar, state elections will be held in four phased in October and November. Delhi had dissolved the previous minority assembly and assumed direct control of the restive state. In Chhattisgarh state a landmine believed planted by Maoist rebels, was triggered as an armored military vehicle passed by. 24 paramilitary police were killed, and at least three injured.

Infiltration along Kashmir's Line of Control continued, with a number of militants killed. Militant attacks also took a toll. Indian officials reported casualties since June that include a trend towards indiscriminate use of explosives that have killed 27 security personnel and 11 civilians, with many others injured. They also say there are about 1500 militants, 43 percent foreigners, active in Kashmir.

India and Pakistan have held talks on trafficking, tourism, and prisoners. They exchanged most-wanted lists and have agreed to release civilians in each other's jails once their identities have been established and who have completed prison terms by 12 September. Tensions between the two countries have often led to prisoners being held beyond their sentences.

Nepal's major opposition party, the Nepali Congress, reelected former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala president for the next three years, following a party decision to remain neutral rather than support a constitutional monarchy. Press reports in India say that India's Communist Party India - Maoist (CPI-M) and Nepal's Maoist rebels will join in the fight for communism and socialist in the two countries. Other press reports say that Maoist rebel leader Prachanda has declared a unilateral 3-month ceasefire. A rebel-affiliated trade union has reached agreement with Unilever to resume operations at the factory.

Pakistan held public talks with Israel for the first time. Pakistan's main Islamic opposition party objected to the meeting as premature. In Balochistan, a bomb placed in a hand cart exploded and killed one man. Gunfire killed a local tribal leader. Responsibility for the two attacks is unknown.

Sri Lankan authorities have arrested two Tamil men believed to have planned the assassination of foreign minister Kadirgamar. Tamil Tigers are believed responsible, but the investigation is ongoing.

8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

F-Secure has developed new anti-virus software for mobile phones.
http://www.f-secure.com

Webroot Software reports on a malicious program called 2search that hijacks some Google searches with false results in the middle of genuine ones, leading to auctions and other sites from where spyware could gather personal financial or other data.
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.2search.html
http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0901dotcom01-ON.html

Creative Technology Ltd found that 3,700 Zen Neeon players sold in Japan that contained the Wullik virus that runs on Windows operating systems and has offered to collect any infected devices.
http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/337/C4573/

Information Week published their new security survey in the 29 August issue, finding that "The Threats Get Nastier".
http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=170100709

The British Standards Institute has published a set of new biometric standards to which any British national ID card will have to comply.
http://www.bsi-global.com/ICT/Biometrics/bsisoiec19794-5.xalter

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has discontinued examination of bullet lead following a National Research Council that results could be misleading.
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel05/bullet_lead_analysis.htm

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports on "Data Mining: Agencies Have Taken Key Steps to Protect Privacy in Selected Efforts, but Significant Compliance Issues Remain".
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-866

9. Finance

U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York Nina Gershon denied six of eight counts in Arab Bank's motion to dismiss litigation by the families of the victims of Palestinian bombers. This ruling allows three lawsuits that claim Arab Bank administered the Saudi Committee in Support of the Intifada Al Quds insurance fund that pays $5,500 to families of those Palestinian bombers killed during their attacks.

A US federal court in Rhode Island has frozen all US assets of the Palestinian Authority (PA) following a determination that the PA had not complied with a 1996 ruling to compensate relatives of a Jewish couple shot dead by Hamas militants.

In Long Island, New York, Judge David Gross has been arraigned on federal money laundering charges. He and three men associated with organized criminal operations were arrested following a gambling investigation.
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nye/pr/2005aug30.htm

Vladimir Kuznetsov, a Russian Foreign Ministry official and chair of the UN budget advisory committee, has been arrested by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and charged with money laundering. UN and US investigators found a secret bank account in Antigua and traced funds to bribery in UN procurement contracts. A second UN official, Alexander Yakolev, pleaded guilty to similar charges last month.
http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=2375161&PageNum=0

The 14 Arab state embers of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENA FATF) have committed to putting new world standards in place next month. At their second meeting 26-7 September they will set up systems to review each others AML/CFT measures and discuss control of hawala cash transfers, charities, and cash couriers.
http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=18131

The Republic of Congo has agreed to provide verifiable details of its diamond production and controls to allow it to be readmitted to the Kimberley Process, a certification scheme to prevent trade in conflict diamonds. A French delegation will conduct a review to certify output.
http://www.congo-site.com/pub/fr/v4x/actualites/article.php?num=3763 (in French)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4198408.stm

The Belgian Financial Intelligence Processing Unit (CTIF-CFI) annual report finds the conversion to the Euro has reduced the number of money laundering cases detected at the placement stage.
http://www.ctif-cfi.be/en/index.htm

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) newest report finds that the world drug trade of $322 billion is larger than the gross domestic products of 90 percent of the world's countries. Substantial efforts have been made to eradicate illegal crops and develop alternatives, but more needs to be done in these areas and in law enforcement, asset confiscation and drug prevention. In Afghanistan, land for poppy cultivation has fallen by 21 percent but a bumper harvest reduced the opium yield by only two percent. Afghanistan supplies 87 percent of the world supply of heroin and opium.
http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/60/130

The US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) determined that Bank Secrecy Act regulations requiring a written anti-money laundering program and maintaining certain transaction records does not have to be written or maintained in English. However for examination or review purposes English translations should be made available within a reasonable period of time when needed.
http://www.fincen.gov

10. Human Rights

Iraq has resumed executions. Three convicted murderers were hanged. They were the first so killed since the Saddam Hussein's government was displaced. Iraqi President Talabani is opposed to the death penalty. Rather than sign the death warrants, he authorized Vice President Mehdi to do so.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour expressed guarded optimism following a visit to China in which the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding moving it closer to ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and implementing UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recommendations. She expressed concern over the widespread use of the death penalty and raised specific cases regarding political detentions and treatment of minorities.
http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/54AF64AF3083ABB7C12570700036E932?opendocument

The International Day of the Disappeared was marked on August 30. The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) has sent 50,000 cases to 90 governments and says, " These figures are only the tip of the iceberg. On a number of occasions the WGEID has expressed concern over the number of cases it has received from certain countries, which seems low when seen against the negative human rights situation of those countries". They highlighted the problem of under-reporting and gave examples in Algeria, Colombia and Nepal.
http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/14597CA0F8E8683EC125706C004A9097?opendocument

The European Commission has adopted a major package of EU-wide rules for common standards related to immigration and asylum in the areas of integration, regional protection, and migration and development.
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1080&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en&guiLanguage=en

In the Spanish North African enclave of Melilla, fighting between immigrants and Spanish Guardia border guards killed a 17-year old boy from Cameroon and injured several others. This border area is volatile. More than ten percent of illegal migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are admitted to Spain's asylum process through the Ceuta and Melilla enclaves. The UN High Commission for Refugees has called for all governments to ensure their immigration policies are carried out with respect for human rights.
http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=43182acc2

Afghanistan has signed the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol.
http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=431857ba4

11. Law and Legal Issues

Yevgeny Adamov, former Russian nuclear minister, has said he is willing to be extradited to Russia for prosecution but he must wait for the Swiss officials now holding him to determine whether a US extradition request has precedence. Adamov is accused in the US of fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion charges. Russia fears their nuclear secrets could be compromised if he is detained in the US.

Shayan Badraie, a 10-year old Iranian boy, has sued the Australian Immigration Department and two detention center operatives for causing catastrophic mental health problems.

Sean Hoey has been committed for trial in Northern Ireland for the murders of 29 people in the 1998 Omagh bombing committed by the Real IRA.

Kevin Lamar Jame, Levar Haney Washington, Gregory Vernon Patterson and Hammad Riaz Samana have been indicted by a US federal grand jury for conspiracy to levy war against the US through terrorism in connection planning attacks against US military facilities and synagogues in Southern California. The conspiracy was initially developed among a group of radicalized recent Islamic converts in two state prisons in Folsom, California. Prior to this indictment they had been held on other charges connected with robberies intended to finance their campaign.
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/August/05_crm_453.htm

Bilal Khazal, a former airport handler in Sydney, Australia, has pleaded not guilty to charges of collecting and making documents connected with terrorism and of inciting a terrorist act. His trial will begin on 24 April 2006.

Hrvoje Petrac, a Croation businessman sentenced in absentia for the kidnap and ransom of the son of a former Croatian deputy defense minister and wanted in connection with fugitive war crimes suspect General Ante Gotovina, has been arrested in Greece. Croatia has requested his extradition.

Marco Antonio Pinochet, son of former Chilean military ruler Augusto Pinochet, has paid $18,300 bail following 21 days in prison. He and his mother are accused of fraud.

Luis Posada Carriles, an anti-Castro militant and wanted terrorist, has withdrawn his application for asylum in the US and instead will try to prevent deportation to Venezuela, where he is wanted to face charges of planning the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner.

Yusman Roy, a Muslim cleric, was sentenced in Indonesian court to two years in prison for inspiring hatred. He was acquitted of a more serious charge of despoiling Islam by leading prayers in both Indonesian and Arabic because Islam experts could not agree that was a deviation.

Major General Jamil al-Sayyad, former head of General Security; Major General Ali Hajj, former chief of police; Brigadier General Raymond Azar, former military intelligence chief; and Mustafa Hamdan, Republican Guard commander; have been arrested in Lebanon and charged in connection with the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. An investigative judge will question them, while a separate UN investigation continues.

Jihad Schada of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Camal Abbas have been charged in Tel Aviv court with planning a suicide bombing in Israel.

Haijiri Tadja was arrested in the Philippines on suspicion of the 2000 kidnapping of 21 mostly Asian and European tourists in Malaysia's Sippadan Beach Resort. He is suspected of membership in Abu Sayyaf.

Captain Eduard Ulman and three other soldiers from an elite military unit in Chechnya fired on a van when it did not stop at a checkpoint. One teacher was killed instantly and two injured. Instructed to cover up the incident they then shot the survivors, including a pregnant woman, and set the vehicle on fire. They had been found not guilty of murder and abuse but the Russian Supreme Court has overturned the verdict, finding violations of criminal rules. A new trial will be held in a military court in the North Caucasus.

Mohammed Mohsen Yahya Zayed, arrested after an FBI sting operation, has been sentenced to a total of 45 years in prison and a $750,000 fine for conspiracy to fund al Qaeda and Hamas.
http://newyork.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel05/zayedsent.htm

12. Transportation

The US Transportation Security Administration will not allow ostomy scissors when accompanied with related supplied to be carried on planes.
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=44&content=0900051980162613

Abu Sayyaf is blamed for last Sunday's explosion of a Philippines ferry in which at least 30 people were injured.

Somali rebels seized three Taiwan tuna trawlers with 47 crewmembers on 16 August. They were allowed to communicate the attack on August 21. The ship's owner appealed to Taiwan for help on the 24th, and now has asked for help from China, which has diplomatic relations with Somalia.

The Indonesian navy, already participating in joint air patrols with Malaysia and Singapore, plans to further strengthen security in the Malacca Strait by installing radar in nine areas. Thailand has signed a regional agreement to combat piracy and may join the air patrols.

The controversy over the Strait's designation as a war zone continued. Japanese shipowners claims they were victimized by reinsurance coverage was dismissed, while other insurers are suggesting shipowners review their policies to ensure war risk coverage.

In Calcutta, India, additional security cameras have been installed at the entry and exit points of its 15 metro stations to supplement those in place and other security measures.

The US Departments of Homeland Security and State have submitted the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative proposal for public comment. The proposal requires all US citizens and citizens of Bermuda, Canada and Mexico to have a passport or other acceptable secure document when entering the US.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/08312005.xml

13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

The US has removed some export restrictions on six civilian nuclear and space facilities in India. Sensitive items will still require a special license. India, not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has hosted a visit from Iran (an NPT signatory). Ali Larijani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, has met with India's foreign minister, national security advisor, and prime minister, to bolster support for its nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that Iran has fed about four tons of uranium ore into the conversion process but has not enriched uranium. However, they report that despite intensive investigation questions remain unanswered and call for full transparency.

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANTSO) reports that two countries, not names for security reasons, have been found to contain unsecured radioactive sources. ANTSO is working with countries across Southeast Asia under the Regional Security of Radioactive Sources Project, which includes training and help to secure radioactive sources, particularly given the threat of a dirty bomb.
http://www.ansto.gov.au/info/press/2005/anstomedia024_300805.pdf

Jose Luiz Santana, former president of Centro de Informacoes Nucleares (CNEN), Brazil's nuclear commission, said in a television interview they had manufactured many components for a nuclear bomb in the 1990s, defying a 1985 presidential order.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/brazil/story/0,12462,1558873,00.html

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports on " Nuclear Nonproliferation: Better Management Controls Needed for Some DOE Projects in Russia and Other Countries".
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-828

The Ukraine and the US signed a Cooperative Threat Reduction agreement under which the US will assist Ukraine to upgrade security for biological pathogens and help improve detection, diagnosis and treatment of infectious disease outbreaks. Some facilities in Ukraine do research on pathogens such as anthrax, tularemia, brucellosis, listeriosis, diphtheria, cholera and typhoid.
http://usinfo.state.gov/eur/Archive/2005/Aug/29-726823.html?chanlid=eur

David J. Dausey, Nicole Lurie, and Alexis Diamond published " Public Health Response To Urgent Case Reports" in the 30 August issue of "Health Affairs". The report:

China, the largest consumer of tobacco products in the world, has ratified the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The US Department of Agriculture announced principles for developing a public/private partnership for animal identification.
http://www.usda.gov/nais
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2005/08/0337.xml

The US Department of State's Bureau of Verification and Compliance has released the new report "Adherence to and Compliance With Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments".
http://www.state.gov/t/vc/rls/rpt/51977.htm

The Congressional Research Service released "Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1997-2004". It finds that India was the leading buyer among developing nations, ahead of China, which came second. The US is the world's largest arms supplier, with a third of the market, ahead of Russia and the UK.
http://www.fas.org/asmp/resources/govern/109th/CRSRL33051.pdf

14. Recently Published

Council of Europe, " The fight against terrorism - Council of Europe standards (3rd edition), Council of Europe Publishing
http://book.coe.int/sysmodules/RBS_page/admin/redirect.php?id=36&lang=EN&produit_aliasid=1952

Kenneth Deffeyes, "Beyond Oil: The View From Hubbert's Peak" Hill and Wang

Sarah Helm, "A Life in Secrets: The Story of Vera Atkins and the Lost Agents of SOE", Time Warner Books/ Little Brown

Hugh Pope, "Sons of the Conquerors: The Rise of the Turkic World", Overlook/Duckworth

Sybille Steinbacker, transl. Shaun Whiteside, "Auschwitz: A History", Ecco

Tessa Stirling, Dria Nalecz and Tadeusz Dubicki, "Intelligence Co-operation Between Poland and Great Britain During World War II", Vallentine Mitchell

FEATURE ARTICLE: Beslan: One Year After the Siege

Beslan is a small town of around 40,000 people. It is located in the southern Russian republic of North Ossetia, on the edge of the Caucasus Mountains and to the north of Georgia. One year ago, the town experienced a tragedy that reverberated around the world.

The Event:
---------------

In Russia, 1 September is celebrated as the "Day of Knowledge", celebrated by parents, children and teachers as the school year begins. In the north Caucasus, families in the town of Beslan were among those celebrating the occasion. More than 1200 people had gathered in the courtyard of School Number One. As the school-opening ceremony was finishing, 32 heavily armed men and women wearing masks and bomb belts arrived and opened fire. The assailants then forced the children, their parents and teachers, into the school gym, where the attackers recorded a video of the unfolding crisis (it was later broadcast on Russian television).

The gymnasium was crowded and hot. The hostages were deprived of food and water and not allowed to leave, even for the bathrooms. Explosives were planted around the school, and on the floor and ceiling of the gym. Children were displayed at the windows as human shields. Some mothers with babies were allowed to leave, forcing mothers to choose which child to take to safety and which would be left behind. Guns were fired form time to time, to maintain a high level of terror.

The hostage-takers led by Ruslan Khuchbarov ("The Colonel") had arrived from Ingushetia in a stolen military vehicle. They demanded that two regional leaders and a familiar negotiator, Dr. Ruslan Aushev come to the school to discuss their demands to end the fighting in Chechnya. They asked for Russian troops to be withdrawn, imprisoned fighters to be released, and for Chechnya to be granted independence. Special forces surrounded the school, and the attackers said they would blow up the building if they were attacked. Later they added a threat to hill 50 hostages for each member of the group who was killed.

By early afternoon, President Putin had broken off his holiday and returned to Moscow for emergency meetings. North Ossetia's Muslim community leader, Mufti Ruslan Valgatov, attempted to establish contact but was rebuffed. Local officials' offers to stand hostage in place of the children were rebuffed.

Soon after midnight on Thursday, 2 September, talks with the attackers began, then ended nearly two hours later without agreement. In early afternoon, Russian authorities announced they had ruled out the use of force, insisting that the lives of the hostages would not be put at risk. Later in the day, 26 hostages were released but the attackers refused to allow water or food supplies into the school.

Early Friday morning, 3 September, negotiations resumed. The Chechen separatists agreed that emergency workers could remove the bodies of those killed when the school was seized. With temperatures rising and no water, the hostages took off their clothes and drank urine.

Minutes after the bodies were removed, explosions and gunfire were heard. A group of hostages managed to escape. The details of the explosions remain unclear, but after the second explosion the roof caved in and hostages began to flee. Special forces then responded by storming the school and blowing holes in the walls to help people escape. Gunfire continued, and fire from the explosions spread rapidly - it would eventually consume much of the school.

Some of the attackers died in the school, while others fled and took refuge in a nearby house, where they were killed in a gunfight. Of the 32, only one survived.

When the 3-day siege had ended, hundreds were dead, more than half children, and hundreds more injured.

The Aftermath:
------------------

The fire was so destructive that only 331 bodies, 186 of them children, were identified. Dozens remain missing or unaccounted for.

The remains of School Number 1 still stand, but two new schools have opened to replace it. The town is small enough that nearly everyone knows someone directly affected by this event. The social, psychological, and economic damage will be long lasting.

News of the disaster filtered through Russia more slowly than the horrified eyes of the rest of the world, as state media controlled the message, and only after several days was the full scale of the tragedy revealed. Many Russians and international observers warned of the end of democracy in Russia, and subsequent political changes, including re-centralization of authority, reduced voting, and punitive security measures, support these fears.

Details of the events of those three days remain confused. The survivors, particularly the mothers of the victims, blame President Putin and local officials for both failing to protect them and for not investigating the event properly, including accusations of government and military connivance. This lack of trust is shown in sympathy for the surviving alleged hostage-taker Nur-Pashi Kulayev. The prosecution's case, evidence in Kulayev's trial, and a parliamentary inquiry all failed to explain what happened during those three days.

We do know that those responsible belonged to Chechen warlord and rebel leader Shamil Basayev's group, the Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) a.k.a. Riyadh-as-Saliheen; Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Shahids (Martyrs); Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion; the Sabotage and Military Surveillance Group of the Riyadh al-Salihin Martyrs); Firqat al-Takhrib wa al-Istitla al-Askariyah li Shuhada Riyadh al-Salihin). Basayev takes credit for the 2002 Moscow theater siege as well as Beslan and many other attacks, and claims to have trained the "Black Widows" - Chechnya's female suicide bomb squad. Russian authorities had claimed the attackers were international terrorists including Arabs, Tatars, Kazakhs, Chechens, and Uzbeks.

Basayev claims claim that Russian security services allowed the gunmen safe passage and that was how they were able to bypass the border checkpoints despite traveling on a truck full of explosives. He also says that an undercover agent had been sent to persuade the rebels to carry out an attack in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia, but his confession helped them plan the alternative action in Beslan, tricking the security services. He also claimed there was another survivor, who had rejoined the rebels.

We do not know:

In the Long Run:
---------------------

We will report on the outcome of Kulayev's trial and the parliamentary inquiry as they become available. But in the long run, the simmering situation in the North Caucasus must be resolved. Chechnya, like all other separatist conflicts, will only be settled by political means. Reliance on continued military force has been a failure, and serves only to pose the threat of more Beslan's in the future.

Read TerrorismCentral's background on this long-running conflict at https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2002/110302.html#FeatureArticle and https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2002/111002.html#FeatureArticle

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