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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 19 Jul 2006 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• CENTAF releases air power summary AFPN 19 Jul 2006 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 19.
• Combat Airmen keep convoy routes open AFPN 19 Jul 2006 -- Fifty-eight Air Force engineers filling a shortage of Soldiers in Iraq have completed more than a dozen construction projects, often under fire, throughout a 10,000-square-mile zone for the Army's 1st Brigade Combat Team.
• Iraqi, Coalition Forces Kill Two Terrorists, Detain 19 AFPS 19 Jul 2006 -- In several incidents July 16 and 17 and yesterday, Iraqi soldiers, police, and coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 19, military officials reported.
• Gunmen Kidnap Employees of Iraqi Sunni Mosque Endowment VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- Gunmen in Iraq have kidnapped employees of a Sunni Muslim group that takes care of mosques and shrines.
• US-Led Forces Recapture Southern Afghan Towns from Taleban Insurgents VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- U.S. officials in Afghanistan say coalition forces have reclaimed both towns in southern Afghanistan that had been overrun by the Taleban this past week.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Enter Southern Villages AFPS 19 Jul 2006 -- Afghan and coalition forces reasserted authority in two villages reported to be under Taliban control in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, military officials reported.
• Extremists Use Holy Sites For Attacks, Hit Civilian Targets AFPS 19 Jul 2006 -- Extremists in Afghanistan attacked coalition forces from a religious site yesterday, and targeted several civilian areas this week, including a bridge, a school and a wedding party, military officials in Afghanistan reported.
• Coalition Troops Reclaim Southern Afghan Town RFE/RL 19 Jul 2006 -- An Afghan army commander says coalition soldiers have reclaimed a second southern town from Taliban control.
• Afghanistan: EU Envoy Predicts Autumn Test For Southern Insurgency RFE/RL 19 Jul 2006 -- The European Union's special representative in Afghanistan, the veteran Spanish diplomat Francesc Vendrell, says the true test of the strength of the insurgency in Afghanistan's south will come in the autumn.
• Airmen helping transport people from Lebanon AFPN 19 Jul 2006 -- Three Air Force MH-53 Pave Low helicopters are part of the forces helping transport American citizens from Lebanon to Cyprus.
• Evacuation Extremely Complicated Maneuver, Officials Say AFPS 19 Jul 2006 -- Evacuating thousands of Americans from Lebanon is an extremely complicated undertaking, but one that servicemembers train to accomplish, Defense Department officials said here today.
• Evacuation Capacity to Keep Doubling Over Next Few Days AFPS 19 Jul 2006 -- U.S. evacuation capacity in Lebanon will double each day for the next few days, a senior defense official said here today.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Destroyer Squadron 40 Completes SIFOREX in Eastern Pacific Navy NewsStand 19 Jul 2006 -- Ships assigned to Destroyer Squadron 40 completed a highly successful multinational submarine and surface ship exercise with the Peruvian and Spanish navies in Peruvian coastal waters, July 12-14.
• HSM Weapons School Holds First Change of Command Navy NewsStand 19 Jul 2006 -- Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) Weapons School Pacific held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Noth Island, Calif., July 13.
• COMPACFLT Talks to Sailors in Korea About Direction of the Navy Navy NewsStand 19 Jul 2006 -- During his three-day visit to the Republic of Korea, Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Adm. Gary Roughead, spoke with Sailors stationed at the only naval base on the peninsula, Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC) July 11.
• East Coast-Based EOD Group Passes Baton Navy NewsStand 19 Jul 2006 -- Capt. Frank A. Morneau relieved Capt. Jeffrey A. Trumbore as commanding officer of Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group 2, during a change of command ceremony July 18 at Drexler Manor Conference Center, Naval Amphibious Base, Norfolk, Va.
• USS John L. Hall Provides Assistance to Panamanian Orphanage Navy NewsStand 19 Jul 2006 -- Sailors from USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) volunteered their time and talent June 13 at Hogar Malambo, an orphanage which cares for children through their teen years and has been operating here since 1890.
• GW Hosts Training Air Wings 1 and 2 Navy NewsStand 19 Jul 2006 -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) hosted 23 naval aviation students from Carrier Training Wings 1 and 2 for training command carrier qualifications (TCQ), July 16-19.
• BHR Launches Marine Air Raid Exercise for RIMPAC Navy NewsStand 19 Jul 2006 -- USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Sailors and Special Marine Air/Ground Task Force Marines from southern California and Hawaii-based units conducted a helicopter raid exercise July 16.
• USS Alabama Holds Change of Command in Deterrent Park Navy NewsStand 19 Jul 2006 -- Cmdr. Todd Massidda relieved Cmdr. Melvin Lee as commanding officer of USS Alabama (SSBN 731) July 13, in a change of command ceremony held in Deterrent Park at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor.
• Moyer Turns Over Command of Trident Training Facility, Bangor Navy NewsStand 19 Jul 2006 -- In a traditional change of command ceremony at Deterrent Park on Naval Base Kitsap, Capt. Richard Moyer turned over command of Trident Training Facility (TTF) Bangor to Capt. Daniel Prince July 14.
• Army Continues Prudent Budget Constraints in 2006, Prepares for 2007 Army News Release 19 Jul 2006 -- Faced with the high costs of war, the Army currently plans to continue most of the spending restrictions it imposed prior to the Fiscal Year 2006 supplemental, which passed three weeks ago.
• Two refuelers, one squadron can handle any situation AFPN 19 Jul 2006 -- The only Air Force squadron that consists of both the KC-10 Extender and the KC-135 Stratotanker is supporting operations throughout Southwest Asia.
• Rocket technology testing reaches 100-percent operation AFPN 19 Jul 2006 -- America's only staged combustion liquid booster rocket engine now in development marked an important milestone July 12 at NASA's Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss.
• Army Moving Toward More Joint, Capable Aircraft AFPS 19 Jul 2006 -- The idea of the services operating jointly with fewer aircraft platforms that share common features is the key to the modernization effort taking place throughout the military aviation community, the Army Aviation director said here yesterday.
• Press Briefing by Tony Snow The White House 19 Jul 2006
• Daily Press Briefing US Department of State 19 Jul 2006

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 19, 2006
• BAE Systems receives letter of intent for two frigates from government of Malaysia - International collaborative partnership in Navy sector BAE Systems 19 Jul 2006 -- BAE Systems has received a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the Government of Malaysia for the procurement of two frigates for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). The project represents a highly significant industrial partnership between the Malaysian and British maritime industries.
• Boeing Announces C-130 Total Life Extension Program Boeing 19 Jul 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced a new program that will extend the service life of C-130 aircraft up to 30 years.
• Boeing and QinetiQ Expand Network-enabled Capabilities in U.K. and U.S. Boeing 19 Jul 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and QinetiQ officials today announced that they are establishing a state-of-the-art network-enabled center for collaboration and experimentation at QinetiQ's Cody Technology Park site in Farnborough, England.
• CACI Awarded $32 Million Contract With Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency CACI 19 Jul 2006 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CAI) announced today that it has been awarded a prime contract estimated at approximately $32 million by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The contract will provide support for the implementation of the Enterprise Environmental Safety and Occupational Health Management Information System (EESOH-MIS) for the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
• ‘Team CW’ Welcomes Minister’s Statement On Complex Weapons. EADS 19 Jul 2006 -- Leading members of the UK’s Complex Weapons (CW) industry welcomed the announcement today by Lord Drayson, UK Minister for Defence Procurement, of a package of measures aimed at securing sovereign capability in the sector for the UK’s Armed Forces. The package, which includes a number of key enabling contracts, is expected to lead in the longer term to full-scale development and manufacturing contracts. The most significant item within this package is the announcement to change to a sole source procurement policy for the Loitering Munition Development & Manufacture Programme to the MBDA-led Team CW.
• EADS supplies the German Armed Forces with a new type of ground surveillance radar EADS 19 Jul 2006 -- EADS will equip the German Armed Forces with a new kind of ground surveillance radar (BÜR – Bodenüberwachungsradar) for reliably detecting movements both on the ground and in the air close to the ground. The BÜR is specially designed for recognising asymmetric threats. As the company announced on Wednesday, the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement BWB has placed an order in the double digit million range with EADS for the delivery of initially two system demonstrators by the end of 2009.
• EADS and INDRA join forces in Identification Systems EADS 19 Jul 2006 -- EADS Defence Electronics, and the leading Spanish IT and Defence company Indra, Madrid, join forces to offer a common portfolio products based on the latest technologies suited for reliable identification of air, ground and sea vehicles in a multi-national or asymmetric environment.
• GE's T700 Engines To Power Korean Helicopter Program (KHP) GE Aviation 19 Jul 2006 -- General Electric Company (GE) and Samsung Techwin, Co. LTD (STW) have signed a contract to develop the T700 turboshaft engine for the Korean Helicopter Program (KHP).
• Northrop Grumman Delivers Network-Centric Technology for U.S. Army SATCOM On-the-Move Northrop Grumman 19 Jul 2006 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered an advanced and compact power amplifier for the U.S. Army that is capable of enabling the transformation of battlefield communications for its network-centric Future Force.
• Lockheed Martin Receives $36 Million for Production of Unitary Army Tactical Missiles Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received $36 million from the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command for Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Unitary Product Improvement missiles.
• BAE SYSTEMS AND LOCKHEED MARTIN SIGN AGREEMENT FOR UK LIFETIME SUPPORT OF F-35 LIGHTNING II Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2006 -- BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that they have signed an agreement that defines how F-35 support services will be provided in the UK through the life of the F-35 Lightning II program. Bob Stevens, Lockheed Martin chairman, president and chief executive officer, and Mike Turner, BAE Systems chief executive officer, ratified an extension to their existing Teaming Agreement during the Farnborough International Air Show in Farnborough, England.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN ADDS IBM UK TO TEAM PURSUING UPGRADE OF ROYAL AIR FORCE NIMROD R Mk1 FLEET Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today announced that IBM UK Limited has joined its team competing for Project Helix, a reconnaissance upgrade to the Royal Air Force’s fleet of Nimrod R Mk1 aircraft. IBM will bring their real-time middleware services, content and knowledge management to assist the Lockheed Martin-led team in developing UK- specific elements for the Helix system architecture. This multi-year acquisition programme is worth up to £400M ($700m) to the winning contractor.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN FIFTH GENERATION STEALTH FIGHTER, F-22 RAPTOR SECURES THE SKIES WITH OVERWHELMING PERFORMANCE Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2006 -- Only six months after reaching Initial Operational Capability (IOC), the Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] F-22 Raptor continues to perform with overwhelmingly effective results.
• Northrop Grumman Brings BACN to California Disaster-Recovery Exercise Northrop Grumman 19 Jul 2006 -- A system developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is providing critical voice communications and real-time video surveillance and imagery to the U.S. Marine Corps and Los Angeles public safety agencies participating in a disaster-response exercise underway at Los Alamitos.
• Northrop Grumman Delivers Key F-35 Lightning II Subsystem Ahead of Schedule Northrop Grumman 19 Jul 2006 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has successfully delivered its first F-35 Lightning II integrated communications, navigation and identification (CNI) system ahead of schedule.
• Raytheon Delivers Common Aviation Command and Control System to Marines Raytheon 19 Jul 2006 -- Raytheon Company completed delivery of the CAC2S (Common Aviation Command and Control System) to the Marine Corps, celebrating the significant milestone at a product acceptance ceremony in San Diego.
• Raytheon Company and U.S. Air Force Conduct 100th Launch of AIM-9X Sidewinder Raytheon 19 Jul 2006 -- Raytheon Company's Missile Systems in partnership with the U.S. Air Force 40th Test Squadron successfully conducted the 100th live fire of an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
• Thales and Antonov strenghten their cooperation Thales 19 Jul 2006 -- Farnborough Air Show - July 19 2006 - Thales and Antonov have signed an Agreement with the objective to increase their cooperation on new Antonov aircraft as well as on modernization of the existing Antonov fleet. The scope of this cooperation concerns the integration of Topdeck® avionics system as well as Amascos® Airborne surveillance mission systems.
• Thales reaches major milestone in first flight readiness for CP140 Aurora Thales 19 Jul 2006 -- The $110M CMS contract awarded to Thales Canada, involves the design, manufacturing, integration, test, qualification, installation, certification, and delivery of the new CMS for the Aurora fleet and the ground support facilities at CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia. The work includes modification and/or replacement of various types of radios and antennas, a new intercom system, interfaces to the navigation and flight instruments, software control of the radios, a new direction finder, and a new directional command-activated sonobuoy system transmitter.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN'S SKUNK WORKS REVEALS HIGH ALTITUDE UNMANNED SYSTEM Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today unveiled the existence of a new high altitude, unmanned aerial demonstrator to reporters attending the Farnborough International Air Show. The announcement was part of a review of several Skunk Works projects highlighting technologies the company is exploring to enable technology for the future.
• India, Russia sign contract for 3 warships IRNA 19 Jul 2006 -- Russia will build three stealth warships for India under a Rs 5114-crore contract.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN JOINS PROMINENT BIOMETRICS RESEARCH CENTER TO DEVELOP ADVANCED HOMELAND SECURITY SOLUTIONS Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has joined the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR), a distinguished academic center at West Virginia University devoted to advancing biometrics through leading edge research. The Corporation will leverage its membership to develop and apply biometrics technologies to critical homeland security requirements.
• Northrop Grumman Proposes Skyguard High-Energy Laser System For Layered Commercial Aircraft Counter-MANPADs Protection Northrop Grumman 19 Jul 2006 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) formally proposed a ground-based, high-energy laser system, Skyguard, as part of a layered airport defense against the man-portable air defense systems (MANPADs) threat to commercial aviation.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 19 Jul 2006
• Diplomacy Intensifies on Lebanon Crisis Washington File 19 Jul 2006 -- Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting in southern Lebanon and help the Lebanese government gain control of its territory are increasing in anticipation of meetings scheduled at U.N. headquarters July 20.
• US Continues to Resist Joining Calls for Mideast Ceasefire VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- The Bush administration says it stands with the international community in wanting an end to bloodshed along the Israeli-Lebanese border, but only when the groundwork for a lasting cessation of hostilities has been laid.
• US Lawmakers Consider Resolution Supporting Israel VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- The House of Representatives, following similar action by the Senate, is expected to unanimously approve a strong resolution supporting Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah and Hamas.
• Red Cross Concerned About Civilians in Lebanon VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross says it is very concerned about the civilian population in Lebanon, which is bearing the brunt of the armed conflict
• Rice, Annan To Meet as Middle East Diplomacy Intensifies VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- The pace of Middle East diplomacy is quickening at the United Nations as the toll of war mounts in Israel and Lebanon
• Civilian Death Toll in Lebanon Passes 300 VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- On the eighth day of Israel's military campaign in Lebanon Wednesday, the Lebanese death toll passed 300, almost all civilians
• At Least 9 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Attacks in Gaza, West Bank VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- Palestinian officials say Israeli troops have killed at least nine Palestinians during attacks on a Gaza refugee camp Wednesday.
• LEBANON: Thousands of southerners flee to Chouf Mountains IRIN 19 Jul 2006 -- For a moment there was panic in the school in Aley, the main city in the predominantly Druze-controlled Chouf Mountains, 17 kilometres south-east of Beirut. Packed with some 400 displaced people from the south of Lebanon, the cause for concern was just one man and his story of intense horror.
• LEBANON: Hundreds of migrant workers seek evacuation assistance IRIN 19 Jul 2006 -- With mass evacuations ongoing in Lebanon as a result of escalating Israeli attacks, a number of governments have requested assistance from the International Organization of Migration (IOM) in getting their migrant workers out of the country. Some don't have the means or even the documents needed to leave.
• UN agencies express 'serious concern' over civilian casualties in Lebanon and Israel UN News Centre 19 Jul 2006 -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) today expressed "serious concern" about civilian casualties and new risks to health from escalating violence in Lebanon and Israel, warning of the serious psychological impact of the conflict and stressing the need for unobstructed access for humanitarian assistance.
• Annan's deputy says saving civilian lives should be priority in Lebanon UN News Centre 19 Jul 2006 -- In anticipation of tomorrow's arrival of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, his Lebanon envoy team and other high officials in New York, where they will meet as part of efforts to end the spiralling Middle East violence, Mr. Annan's deputy said that a permanent solution to the crisis is needed but that saving innocent life is an obvious priority.
• No Russian peacekeepers in Mideast before UN decision -FM Lavrov RIA Novosti 19 Jul 2006 -- Russia will only consider sending peacekeepers to the Lebanese-Israeli conflict zone if the United Nations Security Council approves a mandate for such forces, the foreign minister said Wednesday.
• Most Russians to be evacuated from Beirut July 19 - FM Lavrov RIA Novosti 19 Jul 2006 -- Russia's foreign minister said the largest group of Russian citizens will be evacuated from Beirut Wednesday as the conflict in Lebanon entered its second week.
• Russia continues evacuation from Lebanon RIA Novosti 19 Jul 2006 -- A Russian plane landed in a Syrian international airport Wednesday to pick up citizens of Russia and other CIS countries evacuated from Lebanon, emergency services said.
• More Countries Call for Emergency Arab Summit on Middle East Crisis VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- There were more calls in Cairo Tuesday, for an Arab summit on the growing crisis in the region
• Humanitarian Fears Grow as Fighting Continues in Mideast VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- Israel carried out more air strikes in Lebanon, killing dozens of civilians while Hezbollah rockets hit the northern Israel
• France Proposes Humanitarian Truce in Lebanon VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- French President Jacques Chirac has proposed what he calls a humanitarian truce in Lebanon to allow foreigners to evacuate and Lebanese civilians to flee Israeli bombardments.
• Lebanese Officials Say 40 Killed in Wednesday's Israeli Air Strikes VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- Lebanese security officials say Israeli air strikes have killed more than 40 civilians and wounded many more in Wednesday's attacks in the south and east of the country.
• Bush Accuses Iran, Syria Over Hizballah Attacks RFE/RL 19 Jul 2006 -- U.S. President George W. Bush has accused Iran and Syria of "inspiring" Hizballah attacks on Israel, and says Syria appears to be using the current crisis to reestablish its hold over Lebanon.
• Analysis: Iran and Syria Exploit Crisis cfr.org 19 Jul 2006 -- As Lebanon suffers under continuing rounds of Israeli air strikes, attention is turning to Iran and Syria and the role they are playing in the recent Mideast conflict.
• LEBANON: Security Council delays, awaits high-level UN team IRIN 19 Jul 2006 -- The United Nations Security Council met Monday to discuss the current volatile situation on the ground in Lebanon, but the majority of council members have decided to delay any sort of reaction to the Israeli shelling of Lebanon and the Hezbollah rocket launches, until the UN high-level team reports back to the UN Secretary-General mid-week.
• Mass Evacuation From Lebanon Continues RFE/RL 19 Jul 2006 -- As Israeli missiles and bombs continue to hit Lebanon, tens of thousands of people are fleeing to neighboring Syria and Cyprus.
• Middle East: How The Conflict Unfolded RFE/RL 19 Jul 2006 -- For three weeks now, the Israeli military has maintained a two-front offensive that, according to Lebanon's prime minister, has thrown open "the gates of hell" in the region.
• Middle East: U.S. Disengagement Contributed To Crisis RFE/RL 19 Jul 2006 -- Aggressive acts like the ones Hizballah and Hamas have perpetrated against Israel in recent weeks are rare against a country that has the strongest military in the region and the world's only military superpower as its chief sponsor.
• Iran: Journalist Discusses Iranian Opinions On Mideast Crisis RFE/RL 19 Jul 2006 -- Iranian journalist Mashaollah Shamsolvaezin says Iran could play a role in ending the current conflict between Israel and Hizballah.
• More Foreigners Leave Lebanon VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- Israel launched fewer air strikes on Beirut Tuesday as foreign countries ferried their citizens out of Lebanon
• Wrap: Russia-Georgia peacekeeping dispute gains momentum RIA Novosti 19 Jul 2006 -- Georgia and Russia continued to trade accusations Wednesday after the Caucasus state's parliament demanded the pullout of Russian peacekeepers from conflict zones in its territory.
• Georgia brands Russia's view on peacekeeping vote insulting RIA Novosti 19 Jul 2006 -- A senior Georgian official said Wednesday Russia's condemnation of a Georgian parliament resolution on the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from its conflict zones as "provocative" and "irresponsible" was an insult.
• Abkhazia against replacing Russian peacekeepers, warns of war RIA Novosti 19 Jul 2006 -- Abkhazia will not allow Russian peacekeepers to be replaced with an international contingent because it fears new bloodshed, the speaker of the self-proclaimed republic in Georgia said Wednesday.
• SUDAN: Tension in southern town after soldiers rampage IRIN 19 Jul 2006 -- Four soldiers and seven civilians were killed in the southern Sudanese town of Rubkona after soldiers of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the southern Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) opened fire in the middle of town, according to residents.
• SUDAN: Donors pledge to boost African force in Darfur IRIN 19 Jul 2006 -- Aid donors meeting in the Belgian capital have pledged about US $220 million in additional funding to the African Union (AU) force struggling to keep the peace in Sudan's western region of Darfur.
• Islamists Move Closer to Seat of Somali Transitional Government VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- Somalia's transitional government says its troops are on high alert after Islamic militiamen deployed near the government's base of Baidoa, Wednesday.
• SOMALIA-DJIBOUTI: Troop deployment premature, Djibouti Gov't says IRIN 19 Jul 2006 -- Deployment of foreign peacekeepers in Somalia - proposed by the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development - was premature and could make matters worse, Djibouti's Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, said.
• Uganda Says it Will Return to Talks with Rebels VOA 19 Jul 2006 -- The Ugandan government says it will return to peace talks with the rebel Lord's Resistance Army.
• UGANDA: Gov't rules out truce with LRA before final peace deal IRIN 19 Jul 2006 -- The Ugandan government on Wednesday ruled out a ceasefire with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) until a comprehensive peace pact with the rebels had been signed, saying the group had not respected previous truces.
• Chechen president offers amnesty to militants until 2007 RIA Novosti 19 Jul 2006 -- Chechnya's president proposed Wednesday offering an amnesty to members of illegal armed groups in the republic until January 1, 2007.
• Timor-Leste needs 'long term commitment' from international community: UN envoy UN News Centre 19 Jul 2006 -- Following the recent deadly violence in Timor-Leste, in which 155,000 people were forced to flee their homes, it is important for the international community to realize that the tiny nation needs a sustained, long-term commitment, a United Nations envoy said today after briefing the Security Council on his recent assessment mission to the country.
• Security Council 'fully prepared' to use sanctions on those blocking peace in Côte d'Ivoire UN News Centre 19 Jul 2006 -- Endorsing commitments made by regional leaders to advance the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire earlier this month, the United Nations Security Council today said it was "fully prepared" to impose sanctions against those who block that effort.
• BURUNDI: Rebels attack civilians as ceasefire talks continue IRIN 19 Jul 2006 -- The Forces nationales de libération (FNL), Burundi's remaining active rebel group, has continued to attack civilians even as it continues ceasefire negotiations with the government in Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital of Tanzania.
• Georgia: Issue Of Russian Peacekeepers Heats Up RFE/RL 19 Jul 2006 -- The Georgian parliament passed on July 18 by 144 votes (of a total of 235, and in the absence of opposition deputies) a resolution calling on the government to take immediate measures to expedite the withdrawal from South Ossetia and Abkhazia of the Russian peacekeeping contingents that have been deployed there since 1992 and 1994 respectively.

News Reports

• World: Oil Markets Respond To Middle East Violence RFE/RL 19 Jul 2006 -- World oil prices slowed their rapid rise of last week, finishing just below $74 on July 18, after rising to $78.40 on July 14