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:
Afghanistan and its Elections

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

1. World

The World Bank's "2006 World Development Report" emphasizes that " Equity, defined primarily as equality of opportunities among people, should be an integral part of a successful poverty reduction strategy anywhere in the developing world" Policies that increase equality also increase economic efficiency and correct market failures. Such policies include:

Indonesia is facing a serious avian influenza outbreak. The government has imposed "extraordinary" measures, for at least 21 days that can force people to the hospital. The c zoo was closed on Monday, when exotic birds were found infected. Most seriously, there are rising numbers of human infection. As yet, the virus does not spread easily from human to human. However, immediate international action is necessary to prepare for the next pandemic and to mitigate its impact. Recent reports of emerging drug resistance and chronic shortages of hospital beds indicate the range of risk mitigation measures needed.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/influenza/2005_09_22a/en/index.html

On 19 September, there was a breakthrough in 6-party negotiations regarding North Koreas nuclear program. North Korea agreed to abandon all nuclear activities, rejoin the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), and accept UN monitoring. In return, North Korea received promised of aid and electricity and an undertaking by the US that it would not attack. North Korea has the right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy and its demand for this would be discussed at an "appropriate time". That was only one of the areas unresolved, and within a day North Korea had stated that it would not stop its nuclear program until it was given a civilian reactor. The US suggested that this is a negotiating tactic. The next round of talks is scheduled for November.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/53490.htm
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/IaeaDprk/index.shtml

Regarding Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Governing Board adopted a resolution that finds Iran's failures and breaches constitute non-compliance and calls on it to return to the negotiating process. No consensus was reached, and Iran has rejected the vote as politically manipulated by the US. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 22 to 1, with 12 abstentions. A finding of noncompliance sets in motion a procedure that could end in sanctions.

Combined to the inability to reach agreement at the NPT Review Conference or this month's UN meeting, there is a significant risk that the existing non-proliferation framework could collapse.

2. Africa

The second Regional Counter-Terrorism Conference of the Chiefs of Security and Intelligence Services was held in Sudan. East African officials and US observers discussed regional counterterrorism measures and adopted the Khartoum Declaration on Counter Terrorism:

In Algeria, a mine went off as an army patrol passed, killing two and injuring five. This and similar attacks are attributed to the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat.

Ivory Coast has been unable to end the peace process impasse. The US Security Council has sent Greek Ambassador Vassilakis to determine whether additional sanctions should be imposed. Individual travel bans and asset freezes against leaders found to block peace efforts were approved last November but have not been implemented.

Nambia's land reform program faces challenges in supporting the poor and landless to be successful farmers. Just providing land is not enough. These are among the findings in "An Analysis of the Namibian Commercial Agricultural Land Reform Process" from the Legal Assistance Center.
http://www.lac.org.na/
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=49219&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa

In Nigeria's oil-rich Delta region, separatists with the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF) have threatened to sabotage oil installations and shut down production unless their leader, Mujahid Dokubu-Asari is released from detention, where he stands charged with treason. A force of 120 guerillas seized a Chevron oil pumping station; a second station was also closed. NDPVF has told oil companies and their expatriate workforces to evacuate, or face armed attack.

Sierra Leone "has made commendable efforts towards the consolidation of constitutional order and State authority throughout the country. The effective devolution of State functions through decentralization has ensured that an administrative machinery is now in place, contributing to overall political stability in the country". The UN Secretary General's latest report also warns that stability depends on addressing root causes of conflict, including addressing poverty, youth unemployment, illiteracy, lack of basic infrastructure, and a culture that respects human rights.
http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2005/596

Somaliland officials report they captured two al Qaeda members, including an internationally known leader, who was not named for reason of security. Four others escaped during a gunfight that followed a house raid.

South Africa's Commission on Restitution of Land Rights issued its first land seizure order. Hannes Visser disputed the valuation and will contest the expropriation.

Sudan Liberation Army rebels attacked and captured the town of Sheiria in South Darfur. The heavily fortified town suffered heavy fighting, but details are not fully known. Fighting has increased since peace talks resumed last week and following the formation of a unity government.

Ugandan rebels with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), normally operating in northern Uganda and southern Sudan, have moved into a national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Sudan and Uganda are discussing joint operations. DRC previously set a deadline of 30 September for all foreign forces to disarm and depart or face the consequences. A report from Uganda's Defense Minister that Vincent Otti, deputy LRA leader, has asked for asylum in DRC was denied by DRC. A new Human Rights Watch report finds that in addition to LRA abuse, similar actions by the national army should also be investigated.
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/09/20/uganda11752.htm

In Zimbabwe, a government militia armed with automatic weapons chased a farmer off his land then moved on and attacked a white-owned coffee farm. The owner and his manager were assaulted, but were treated for injuries and returned home. This appears to be the start of forcible evictions following President Mugabe's changes to the constitution. 90 percent of white farmers have already left the country. Zimbabwe's Justice Minister said it was up to the UK to compensate white farmers for their seized property, since the British government is responsible for creating all of the economic and political problems in Zimbabwe.

3. Americas

A Bolivian court ordered redistribution of several parliamentary seats, causing presidential elections to be on hold until parliament approves and implements the changes. The interim president had promised new elections by the end of the year. Evo Morales, a leading presidential contender, plans to legalize coca cultivation.

Canada's Commission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Maher Arar has completed 127 days of testimony. A public report will likely be available next March.
http://www.ararcommission.ca/

In Toronto, Canada, an emergency exercise simulated explosion or a radioactive device in the subway and an office building.
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/wes/techservices/oem/news/emergency_exercise/index.htm

Colombia has accused France of holding unauthorized talks with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, thereby interfering in its internal affairs. France believed it had an agreement to conduct its own investigation into the kidnapping of French citizen and Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.

Ecuadorian troops destroyed a suspected FARC rebel camp near the border with Colombia.

In Guatemala, clashes between the Mara 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs at a youth detention center killed at least 12, and injured at least ten. A similar incident in a different jail killed three.

Mexican security forces rescued the Argentine coach of the first division football (soccer) Cruz Azul team, during a raid in which seven people were arrested. He had been held for two months. Mexican public security minister Ramon Martin Huerta, federal police head Tomas Valencia, and seven other people were killed in a helicopter crash. Huerta had led counter-narcotics efforts. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

In Puerto Rica, US Federal Bureau of Investigation agents raided the hideout of long-time fugitive and leader of the Puerto Rican nationalist movement the Macheteros ("Cane Cutters"), Filiberto Ojeda Rios. Ojeda Rios was convicted in absentia in 1992 for the 1983 robbery of a US bank depot, considered an act of domestic terrorism by the US, and was in hiding for 15 years. During an exchange of fire he was killed. His wife was injured and arrested. It is not clear whether he was captured or killed. In the capital, San Juan, hundreds of people protested the action.
http://sanjuan.fbi.gov/
http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/fugitive/may2005/mayrios.htm
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-ojeda0925.artsep25,0,1752473.story?coll=hc-headlines-nationworld

Large anti-war protests are underway in Washington, D.C., in support of withdrawing US troops from Iraq.

The US reports fewer detainees on hunger strike in Guantanamo Bay.

Three Government Accountability Office reports provide information on US counterterrorism efforts:

Global War on Terrorism: DOD Needs to Improve the Reliability of Cost Data and Provide Additional Guidance to Control Costs.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-882
International Affairs: Information on U.S. Agencies' Efforts to Address Islamic Extremism.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-852
Department of Homeland Security: Strategic Management of Training Important for Successful Transformation.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-888

The 9/11 Public Discourse Project issued a report citing minimal or unsatisfactory progress on 11 of 14 commission recommendations.
http://www.9-11pdp.org/press/2005-09-14_report.pdf

In Los Angeles, California, a group called Animal Liberation released a statement that the Animal Liberation Front, considered a domestic terrorist organization, was responsible for detonating smoke grenades in the home of Animal Services Department general manager Guerdon Stuckey. An investigation is under way.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-animals22sep22,1,1380902.story

Venezuela has reached agreement with Nicaragua's opposition Sandinista party to purchase oil at a 40 percent discount. The rate applied to councils governed by the Sandinistas. Venezuela announced an end to mining licenses for foreign firms.

4. Asia Pacific

Australia's opposition Labor party responded to government proposals for new counter-terrorism laws asking for published advise to explain each new power, and limits including judicial oversight and sunset clauses.

China has summoned Indonesia's charges d'affaires to protest an incident in the Arafura Sea in which an Indonesian naval warship fired on a Chinese fishing boat, killing one crew member, injuring two, and detaining ten.

In Fiji, convicted coup participant Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu was appointed to the cabinet as transport minister.

In central Sulawesi, Indonesia, a small homemade bomb injured four people. The motive is not yet known, but the town of Poso where the explosion took place had been a major battleground in Christian-Muslim fighting in 2001.

Kyrgyz gunmen shot and killed parliamentary deputy Bayaman Erkinbayev. It is the second such assassination since June. It is not yet clear whether Erkinbayev's death was politically motivated or linked to his sometimes murky business interests.

Malaysian security forces are on alert near the Thai border to prevent spillover from violence in southern Thailand that may have been designed to draw Malaysia into the conflict.

In southern Thailand, a drive-by shooting killed at least one person. Villagers accused two government marines of belonging to a government death squad responsible for the attack. The men were seized, stabbed, and bludgeoned to death. Thai authorities say it was a case of mistaken identity, but the incident reflects increased mistrust in the area. Three men were arrested. Days later, two police were killed in a bombing as they escorted teachers to a school. Another bomb injured three soldiers, and in two other incidents a Burmese construction worker and a Thai laborer were shot dead.

Uzbekistan and Russia are holding their first joint military exercises.

5. Europe

The European Commission presented a comprehensive counter-terrorism package including four initiatives:

In Belarus, a homemade bomb (a beer can packed with metal fragments) buried in a flowerbed exploded outside an outdoor cafe in Vitebsk. 46 people were injured, including four in intensive care. It was the second such attack in two weeks.

In Croatia a suspected letter bomb attack against the British embassy in Zagreb that injured one person turned out to be the work of the post office employee. Although originally deemed a terrorist attack designed to derail Croatia's EU membership, it is more likely a criminal act. Damir Rovisan admitted setting off the device and has been arrested.

German elections ended inconclusively, with the Christian Democrats/Christian Social Union holding 225 seats to the Social Democrats 222. Efforts to build a coalition government have been unsuccessful.

The Ukraine-Moldova border, which runs through Trans-Dniester, will be secured with the help of an EU monitoring team.

In the Netherlands, a new government website provides information about what to do in case of a terrorist attack and gives an assessment of the threat level, currently substantial. The four levels are minimal, limited, substantial, and critical.
http://www.nctb.nl/Terrorismebestrijding/Alerteringssysteem/index.asp

Poland is voting in a general election that is likely to end in defeat to the ruling former Communists.

Slovakia's political deadlock has ended following independent deputies giving support to Prime Minister Dzurinda that gives a 1-vote parliamentary majority, avoiding early elections.

In a Turkish Mediterranean, an explosion on a bus killed two and injured ten. The cause is under investigation.

Ukraine's parliament rejected President Yushchenko's first choice of prime minister, but supported Yuri Yekhanorov on the second attempt. A parliamentary commission has accused former President Kuchma of helping organize the abduction and murder of the prominent journalist, Georgiy Gongadze.

Britain's Liberal Democrat party has broken cross-party consensus on counterterrorism measures to insist that civil liberties must be respected and that abandoning fundamental principles of justice would be a victory for terrorists. The party plans to oppose government plans to hold terror suspects without charge for three months and to create the new offense of glorifying terrorism.

Large peace rallies are taking place in London to protest the war in Iraq.

London's Metropolitan police released new CCTV images showing three of the four 7 July suicide bombers had been on a reconnaissance mission two weeks before the attack. Al Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al Zawahri claimed the "honor" of carrying out the attacks in a videotaped message. Families of those killed will receive payments from the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund of at least GBP10,000, topping up government compensation.

The Independent Monitoring Commission's (IMC)special report on the loyalist feud in Northern Ireland finds that the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) was responsible for five murders and 15 attempted murders, while the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) carried out two attempted murders, mainly in response to UVF attacks. The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) that is linked to the UVF and the Red Hand Commando (RHC) says it cannot stop the feud, but IMC said, "No democratic political party can expect to have it both ways. It can either disassociate itself from the paramilitary group, or it must accept the consequences of its association". The report said that since July the police made 45 arrests, charged 15 people, undertaken 126 searches, and warned 146 people they could be under threat. To do this, police had to divert resources from fighting organized crime. The report said it is clear that the range of paramilitary and criminal activity should be addressed, not just ceasefire compliance.
http://www.independentmonitoringcommission.org/publications.cfm?id=26

The Vatican rejected UN prosecutor Carla del Ponte's claim that it has helped hide Croatia's most wanted war crimes suspect, General Ante Gotovina. The Vatican said she had not responded to their request for more details concerning the suspicion he is hiding in a monastery.

6. Middle East

In Gaza, Hamas held a rally and parade on Friday. During the event a truck carrying gunmen and homemade weapons blew up. At least 15 Palestinians were killed, and at least 80 were injured. Palestinian authorities said it was an accident and due to Hamas' irresponsibility in parading weapons, but Hamas blamed Israel, which denied involvement. Before this tragedy, Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel in retaliation for the death of three Islamic Jihad militants in the West Bank. In response to the strikes the Israeli army launched air strikes on Saturday against two cars holding suspected Hamas militants, killing at least three and injuring nine. Further air strikes today killed at least two Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Sharon has ordered unrestricted strikes against Palestinian militants, and a return to targeted killings.

Iran and Iraq have marked the 25th anniversary of their deadly 8-year war.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/24/newsid_3182000/3182329.stm

Iraq's draft constitution is being printed for distribution ahead of the scheduled 15 October referendum. The National Assembly has been debating anti-terrorism laws against a backdrop of continued violence, including the death of Kurdish parliamentarian Faris Hussein. Hid driver and another person were also killed and another member of parliament, Haider Qassem, was injured. Insurgents in disguise and inside Iraqi security forces pose a growing threat, as seen by several incidents last week. Journalist Fakher Haider, who worked for the New York Times, the Guardian, and National Geographic was kidnapped by men who claimed to be police officers, and later found dead in Basra.

The most serious incident occurred in Basra when Iraqi police detained two British military personnel working undercover. Rather than handing them to coalition authorities, the two men were turned over to militia forces. British troops were unsuccessful in negotiating their release and, fearing for their safety, stormed the jail to secure their release. Basra's governor said there will be no cooperation with British forces until he receives an apology and compensation for damage caused during the rescue. A Basra judge issued an arrest warrant for the two British officers following reports that an Iraqi civilian had been killed and a police officer injured. The Iraqi government has launched an inquiry into the incident. In the UK, the events have increased calls for withdrawal from the conflict.

Human Rights Watch has published a report that includes details of further incidents of routine torture and abuse of detainees at the hands of US forces.
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/09/25/usint11776.htm

In Lebanon, May Chidac, a news anchor for the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation who often hosted political programs, has been seriously injured in a car bomb, including the amputation of an arm and a leg. There has been a wave of bombings targeting political figures and civilians since former Prime Minister Hariri's death in February.

In "Saudi militants in Iraq: assessment and the kingdom's response" analysts with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) review foreign militants in Iraq, the role and size of Saudi participants, and their motives. They estimate that the foreign element comprises only 4-10 percent of the total insurgency of some 30,000. They find that ""Unlike the foreign fighters from poor countries such as Yemen and Egypt, Saudis entering Iraq often bring in money to support the cause, arriving with personal funds between $10,000-$15,000. Saudis are the most sought after militants; not only because of their cash contributions, but also because of the media attention their deaths as "martyrs" bring to the cause. This is a powerful recruiting tool. Because of the wealth of Saudi Arabia, and its well developed press, there also tends to be much more coverage of Saudi deaths in Iraq than of those from poorer countries." Regarding motivation and public support, "Sunni nationalism seems to be the strongest contributing factor fueling the unrest."
http://www.csis.org

The International Crisis Group weighs in with "The Shiite question in Saudi Arabia: new opportunity and urgency". This report says, " Saudi Arabia should act decisively to defuse rising sectarian tensions. King Abdullah, who has shown a willingness to tackle this issue in the past, has the opportunity to take the required steps. The kingdom must take action to extend rights and protections for the Shiite minority in order to prevent frustration escalating into violence. While the king has shown sympathy for the Shiite minority, reforms strengthening their rights will require a long-term investment and commitment to social and political integration."
http://www.crisisgroup.org

Syrian officials are cooperating with a UN investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Indications are that the UN will find Syrian involvement in the event, and Syrian officials are negotiating ways to address the repercussions.

In the West Bank, Israeli troops shot dead three Islamic Jihad gunmen during a raid against militant suspects.

7. South Asia

Islamic scholars from Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka gathered in Bangladesh to discuss terrorism. They agreed that Islam is a peaceful religion and suggested that ending political double standards was the best way to stop the spread of terrorism.
http://www.kavkaz.org.uk/eng/content/2005/09/23/4097.shtml

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called for a shift from military strikes in favor of political measures.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/us-afghanistan-squabble-over-resurgent-taliban/2005/09/21/1126982124591.html

There were a number of attacks in Afghanistan last week, including a Taleban ambush against police that killed four and injured three; Taleban or affiliated gunmen who killed a singer and six musicians. Australian forces in their first Afghan combat missions responded to two attacks, killing approximately ten suspected rebels.

Bangladesh and India agreed to reduce claims for water from the Teesta river, and begin fresh negotiations on sharing its resources.

India met with heads of 13 states where Maoist rebels are active or they have been affected by extremist actions. They have developed a coordinated strategy in which police coordination and poverty reduction will be used to combat the rebels, who claim to fight for the rights of indigenous people.

In Manipur state factional fighting killed six rebels, and rebels with the Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF) attacked soldiers, killing nine. In Tripura state, heavily armed rebels of the All Tripura Tiger Force attacked a Bengali settler village, killing at least seven.

Kashmiri separatists Nayeem Khan of the National Front and Ghulam Mohammad Hubbi of the People's Conference have withdrawn from the moderate alliance All Parties Hurriyat Conference because they disagree with a new position on Pakistan. The ruling People's Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti suggested peace discussions should be expanded beyond Hurriyat to include the banned militant Hizbul Mujahideen. Hizbul Muhahideen's senior commander and financial chief Masood Ahmad Nathnu was killed by Indian security forces during a gunfight.

In Nepal, 30,000 people attended a peace rally to call for an end to the Maoist insurgency.

In South Waziristan, Pakistan, one soldier was killed and for injured in a landmine explosion. In Lahore, two bicycle bombs killed six people and injured more than 30. Responsibility is unknown.

Sri Lanka has extended the state of emergency by one month. The election commission set 17 November for presidential elections.

8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

Symantec released its latest Internet Security Threat Report, identifying a shift towards targeting desktops rather than perimeters, attacks for financial gain, and increasing exposure of confidential information. Bot networks and custom code are now available for purchase or rent, and malicious code that operates in modules, adding functionality over time, is also increasing. The number of hijacked computers has doubled, many propagating through web browsers.
http://www.symantec.com/press/2005/n050919a.html

The European Commission issued a proposal for a Directive on the retention of communications traffic data, one of four new counterterrorism measures announced. The proposal "provides for harmonisation of the obligations on providers of publicly available electronic communications, or a public telecommunications network, to retain data related to mobile and fixed telephony, as well as internet communications, for a period of one year and six months respectively. It is not applicable to the actual content of the communications. It also includes a provision ensuring that the service or network providers will be reimbursed for the demonstrated additional costs they will have. The processing of data will be under the full supervisory powers of the data protection authorities established in all Member States. The European Parliament is involved on a co-decision basis.
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1167&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr

Credit reporting bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion announced a cooperative effort to adopt encryption standards, including programs that will meet the Federal Trade Commission's Safeguards Rules, regarding protection of consumer data during transmission. They will use the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES).
http://www.equifax.com/corp/pressroom/pressreleases/2005/2005_9_22.shtml

A Gartner researcher, Avivah Litan, estimates that identity theft in the US will result in $15 billion in losses from 50 million accounts.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/16/gartner_phantom_fraud/

A new Center for Information Protection is being established at Iowa State University to focus on solving security problems for private industry.
http://www.iastate.edu/~nscentral/news/2005/sep/security.shtml

9. Finance

The European Justice, adjudicating a case brought by the Al Barakaat International Foundation and two individuals, Ahmed Ali Yusuf and Yassin Abdullah Kadi, has ruled that the EU has the right to freeze assets of people on the UN list of terrorist suspects. EU member states have frozen assets of about 450 people and organizations on the UN list of those sanctioned for having or being suspected of links to al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, of the Taleban.
http://www.curia.eu.int/en/

The Council of Europe has adopted a new Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism. It extends prior anti-money laundering measures, incorporates other international instruments, particularly the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations, and ensures consistency across the EU.
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/331&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr

Banco Delta Asia SARL, Macau Special Administrative Region, China, was designated as a financial institution of primary money laundering concern, The US Treasury has now issued proposed measures to address the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network designation. The proposed rule would prohibit US financial institutions from opening or maintaining correspondent or payable-through accounts in the US for or on behalf of this bank or associated banks providing such accounts indirectly to the bank. Treasury has requested comments on the proposed rule. Meanwhile, Macau is taking legal action to fight the designation and denies having financed North Korea's weapons programs. The government has also installed two outside executives to manage the bank.
http://www.fincen.gov
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2005/fil9605.html
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6244
http://www.forbes.com/technology/feeds/ap/2005/09/18/ap2229992.html

The US Department of Treasury designated Dr. Abdul Latif Saleh as providing support to Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda, through his connections with the Al Haramain Foundation, Yasin Qadi, Egyptian Islamic Jihad, and other entities. Saleh was previously expelled from Albania on suspicion of being a member of and establishing in Albania radical Islamic groups. This designation probibits any transactions with US persons and freezes and US assets.
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js2727.htm

Britain's Financial Services Authority Chairman Callum McCarthy gave a speech in London, warning that "7 July, for all the heartbreak of more than 50 people murdered and still more maimed, was not an extreme, or even a very taxing, test of financial stability. It was neither aimed at, nor did it have a major impact on, the financial services sector. We cannot count on any future attack being of this nature. It is therefore important we learn lessons from 7 July, and apply those lessons to circumstances which can easily be envisaged and which would constitute a much more severe test."
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/Speeches/2005/0920_cm.shtml

South America's anti-money laundering and terrorist financing group, GAFISUD, has issued a report of typologies common in the region, "Tipologias Regionales-GAFISUD 2005".
http://www.gafisud.org/pdf/TIPOLOGIASREGIONALES.GAFISUD_1.pdf

India and the governing Congress Party, has angrily denied allegations in a book by former KGB operative, Vasili Mitrokhin. "The Mitrokhin Archive II: The KGB and the World" reports that the KGB penetrated Indian intelligence to fund the Communist Party of India. Extensive extracts published in the Indian Press include such claims as:

India's Home Ministry has received reports pointing to the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) supplying weapons and other support to the Communist Party of India -Maoist and other extremist groups. Maoist groups are also said to use extortion to finance their operations.
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=78749

Bank Indonesia summoned 17 non-bank foreign exchange traders that have not implemented its procedures and implementation guidelines for "Know Your Customer" requirements, a year after the regulation was implemented. If they do not immediately comply, their licenses will be revoked.
http://www.bi.go.id/ http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20050920.B09&irec=8

10. Human Rights

Reporters Without Borders has released the "Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents", providing advice on how bloggers can protect themselves from censure and recrimination, including technical advice to get around censorship and ensure email privacy.
http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=542

The US Commission on Federal Election Reform has issued its final report, "Building Confidence in US Elections". The Carter-Baker report offers 87 recommendations, for example: photo IDs for all voters, verifiable paper records for electronic voting machines, and impartial election officials.
http://www.american.edu/ia/cfer/report/report.html

China's National Population and Family Planning Commission has taken action against health workers involved in forced abortion or sterilization.
http://www.npfpc.gov.cn/en/en2005-09/enews20050919.asp

Simon Wiesenthal, noted holocaust survivor and Nazi-hunter, has died age 96. He helped bring more than 1,100 Nazi war criminals, including Adolf Eichmann and Franz Stangl, to justice.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) report " Decent Work - Safe Work" reports that on average some 5,000 men and women around the world are killed each day as the result of work-related accidents or illness. The annual toll of 2.2 million casualties represents only a fraction of the real total.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2005/36.htm

The International Day of Peace was marked on 12 September.
http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/

11. Law and Legal Issues

Milivoj Asner was a police chief in Croatia accused of concentration camp atrocities in 1941-2. Croatia has requested his extradition from Austria, where he has since become a citizen.

Mujahid Dokubu-Asari, head of the separatist Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force, has been arrested in connection with threats of to sabotage oil installations and treason.

Syaiful Bahri ("Apuy") was sentenced to ten years in prison by Indonesian court for helping making the bomb used in last year's attack on Australia's embassy in Jakarta.

Ljubisa Beara, Ljubomir Borovcanin, Drago Nikolic, Vinko Pandurevic, Vujadin Popovic, will face charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. Milan Gvero, Radivoje Miletic, and Milorad Trbic are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Zdravko Tolimir remains at large. The nine former Serb officers are standing trial together to avoid witnesses having to testify multiple times. The trial is taking place at the Hague war crimes tribunal.

Luis Echeverria, former president of Mexico, was charged with genocide and kidnapping by a special prosecutor, but the judge reviewing the case refused to issue an arrest warrant, finding the charges did not amount to genocide.

Taufik Fukrah was arrested by Israeli police when he arrived at the airport. He had been released from a Turkish prison after the determined there was insufficient evidence to try him for the attempted hijacking on an el Al flight in 2002.

Lucio Gutierrez, the ousted president of Ecuador charged with damaging security, has requested asylum in Colombia.

Gazi Abdul Hakim and 47 other alleged members of the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were arrested in Bangladesh. Hakim is suspected of masterminding the bombs used in Khulna city on 17 August. Information from JMB member Abdur Razzak provided details of how the bombs were exploded.

Hamid Hayat, already charged with lying to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation about attending a terrorist training camp in Pakistan, has been indicted on additional charges of waging jihad against the US and providing material support to terrorists.

Heshamuddin Hesam and Habibullah Jalalzoy, former Afghan military intelligence officials, are on trial in the Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including torture and execution, committed in Afghanistan during the 1980s. They had been denied asylum in the Netherlands in the 1990s.

Mustafa Kasim Arala, a suspected member of Abu Sayyaf, was captured by Philippines police in Basilan. He is implicated in several kidnappings, including the 2002 incident in which US citizens Guillermo Sobero and Martin Burham were killed.

Earl Krugel, a Jewish Defense League member, was sentenced in US court to 20 years in prison for conspiracy in helping plan to bomb a mosque and a Lebanese-American congressman's office.

Hussain Osman was extradited from Italy to London, where he was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and two explosives offences in connection with the failed July 21 London bombings.

K Chandrasekhara Rao and A Narendra, federal ministers belonging to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti party, have been charged, with 30 of their colleagues, with inciting hatred in connection with alleged commends in support of separatists. Telangana had been independent from 1948 until 1956, when it became part of Andhra Pradesh.

Damir Rovisan, a local worker at the British Embassy in Zagrab, has been arrested by Croatian police after confessing to smuggling an explosive into the embassy. He was slightly injured in the explosion last Monday, which is believed to be criminal rather than terrorist in nature.

Andrew Rowe was sentenced in British court to 15 years in prison for possessing items that could be used in terrorist attacks, including instructions on firing a mortar and a terrorism code He had been arrested in France while en route to the UK from Germany in 2003.

Ayman Sabawi, a nephew of Saddam Hussein, has been sentenced in Iraq to life in prison for funding the insurgency and making bombs.

Abbas Sayad, a Hamas leader, has been convicted in Israeli court of masterminding the 2002 suicide bombing at the Park Hotel in Netanya in which 29 were killed and many more injured. He was also found guilty of other attacks.

Joseph Serugendo was arrested in Gabon at the request of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Tanzania, where he faces five charges related to genocide in connection with his use of radio station broadcasts to incite the Rwandan genocide.

Al-Amin Uddin was captured during a gunbattle with Philippines police. His four colleagues, all suspected Abu Sayyaf members, escaped.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12. Transportation

Australian Prime Minister Howard announced further airport security measures following release of a security review known as the Wheeler Report.
http://www.aspr.gov.au
The main proposal concerns appoint of an Airport Police Commander at all 11 category-one airports. Other new initiatives include:

The European Transport Commission has set out proposals for addressing new threats to airport and airline safety and security, including EU standards for in-flight security and handling of cargo.
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1178&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

The US Transportation Security Administration will no longer include commercial databases as part of the Secure Flight program.

The Somali hijackers who seized a World Food Program (WFP) relief ship three months ago reneged on an agreement to free the ship. WFP declared its agreement with Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and community leaders null and void after new demands were made. They called for community leaders to help achieve the unconditional release of the vessel and its crew. This is the first time a WFP relief ship has been hijacked.
http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=326&k=1833

Somalia continues to be flagged as piracy alert by the International Maritime Bureau:

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released two reports related to border security issues:

13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors met to review nuclear safeguards, safety, and technology and to address the situations in Iran and North Korea.
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Statements/2005/ebsp2005n009.html
Note additional coverage in World, above.

IAEA completed its annual inspection of remaining nuclear materials in Iraq and found no diversion of material.
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/PressReleases/2005/prn200514.html

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested three illegal immigrants from Mexico that had been hired to perform maintenance work at a nuclear power plant. They had used false identity documents and were arrested on immigration charges. Although it was determined they had not been involved in terrorist activity, there have been a number of incidents involving false identities, which raises concerns over controlling access to such sensitive facilities.
http://www.ice.gov/graphics/news/newsreleases/articles/050915blair_2.htm

The 1996 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty has been signed by 176 States and ratified by 125. China, Colombia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Vietnam and the United States have not yet ratified the treaty.

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released two reports related to nuclear security and safety issues:

Scientists with the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm have developed a method to precisely determine age by measuring the amount of radiocarbon present in tooth enamel during the 1955-63 test period.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v437/n7057/abs/437333a.html

The October issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases includes two articles related to identification of biological warfare agents:

Israeli Knesset Speaker Reuvan Rivlin authorized an evaluation of the Knesset's preparedness for an unconventional attack, particularly spreading chemical or biological agents through HVAC systems.

14. Recently Published

Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin, " The Mitrokhin Archive II: The KGB and the World", Allen Lane

Jean-Charles Brisard with Damien Martinez, "Zarqawi: The New Face of Al Qaeda", Other Press

Andrew Conry-Murray and Vincent Weafer, "The Symantec Guide to Home Internet Security," (Addison-Wesley,
http://www.symantec.com/press/2005/n050913a.html

Robert Kaplan, "Imperial Grunts: The American Military on the Ground", Random House

Kevin Mitnich and William Simon, "The Art of Intrusion", John Wiley

Michael White, "The Fruits of War", Simon and Schuster

FEATURE ARTICLE: Afghanistan and its Elections

Afghanistan is an ancient country and culture strategically located along the ancient Silk Route connecting the Middle East, Central Asia, and India. It shares borders with China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

This strategic position has placed it in the center of historic power struggles, including the "Great Game" when Tsarist Russia and the British Empire competed for influence during the 19th century. Afghanistan escaped the British Raj in 1919, when it regained its independence after a third war against British forces. It was a monarchy for several decades that saw significant civil unrest leading to a constitutional monarchy that ended in 1973 with a coup. Coup leader and former prime minister Mohammed Daud declared a republic, playing off the Soviet Union against the west, a tactic that contributed to his overthrow in a leftist coup in 1978.

Leftist leaders struggled for power while ethnic leaders and conservative Islamic leaders began an armed revolt in the country. Amid this chaos the Afghan army was near collapse. The Soviet Union sent in troops and installed Babrak Karmal as leader. Resistance against this invasion grew rapidly, led by the Mujahedin, heavily armed and financed by the US, Pakistan, China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. At least half of the population was displaced by the war, and after a ten year struggle and heavy losses, the USSR left the country.

While the last Soviet troops left in 1989, the civil war continued. The Mujahedin factions formed a government in 1993, but factional fighting continued until 1996 when the Taleban seized control of Kabul and introduced fundamentalist Islamic laws and practices, controlling about 2/3 of the country. The Northern Alliance of Mujahedin warlords maintained control in the northeast.

In 1998, in conjunction with a massive and deadly earthquake, the US launched missile strikes at suspected bases of Osama bin Laden in retaliation for the African embassy bombings. The Taleban continued to shelter bin Laden despite increasing pressure from UN sanctions including an air embargo and financial sanctions. In October, the US and UK launched an air campaign against Afghanistan when it refused again to hand Osama bin Laden over, even after he took credit for the 9/11 attacks. Led by the Northern Alliance, opposition forces seized key cities and by early December the Taleban had fallen. Afghan groups reached a peace agreement with an interim government, led by Hamid Karzai, who was elected interim head of state at the Loya Jirga (grand council) in June 2002 and subsequently was elected President in October 2004.

The first democratically elected president of Afghanistan, Karzai has now led the country through national and local assembly elections held this September. Instead of political parties there was a single, non-transferable vote, open to all registered citizens over age 18.

The Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) provides these key facts about the elections:

Afghanistan has just under 30 million people occupying an area slightly smaller than Texas (647,500 sq. km) that consists almost of rugged mountains. There is almost no infrastructure, including few paved roads or communication facilities. The logistics facing the election team were formidable. Not least of the challenges were addressing the needs of the different ethnic groups: Pashtun (42 percent), Tajik (27 percent), Hazara (9 percent), Uzbek (9 percent), Aimak (4 percent), Turkmen (3 percent), Baloch (2 percent), and other (4 percent). The official languages are Afghan Persian or Dari and Pashtu, but more than 30 other languages are also spoken. With a literacy rate of only 36 percent, the ballots also included photos or icons, using the picture to invoke the candidate.

Security was another challenge. Election workers and candidates were targeted and killed before the election. On the day, about a dozen people were killed, at least 19 polling stations were fired upon, and there was a rocket attack and a roadside bombing. This scattered violence did not have a significant impact on the election. Turnout was low, at about 50 percent. (It had been nearly 70 percent in the presidential election.) The low turnout was attributed to confusion over the process and intimidation. Among the candidates, more than 200 were militia commanders, and there were many reports of intimidation and corruption, including vote buying, across the country. Not surprisingly in this extremely difficult environment, there were also logistical problems, such as inadequate voter lists.

None of this is likely to derail the election results. Counting is underway, and international observers and reporters - more than 2,800 of them - have provided feedback and suggestions for the future.

The outcome of the election will not be known for some time. Only when the parliament is assembled will we see which individuals begin to coalesce among supporters and opponents of President Karzai, how much voice the Taleban and warlords will have, and how the role of women, participating for the first time, will evolve.

The UN has deemed this the most difficult election it has ever held, and completing it is a huge accomplishment. This tiny measure of progress will only succeed if the underlying economic issues are addressed, and the security situation stabilized. Afghanistan's opium economy must be diversified into sustainable crops and new products that do not support and encourage international terrorism, political violence, and organized crime. In a country with a life expectancy of 43 years and an infant mortality rate of 163/1000, health and safety issues are critical. Unemployment and illiteracy as well as shortages of clean water and sanitation, housing, and electricity must also be addressed. Education - including voter education and police and military training - are also important.

It is also important that the US support President Karzai's efforts to control security. He has the support of a population that is strongly committed to a country that has a long history as a nation, able to defend itself from centuries of invasion, while maintaining its ancient culture and ethnic diversity.

None of this will happen by itself. Afghanistan requires - and deserves - sustained international commitment to its rebuilding.

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