May 2003 Security News

OLYMPIC BOMBING ARREST VOA 31 May 2003 -- man wanted in a series of bombings in the United States, including the 1996 bombing during the Olympics in Atlanta, was captured early Saturday in the state of North Carolina.
ASIA/SARS VOA 31 May 2003 -- Residents in several countries across Asia are hopeful amid indications that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in the region is on the decline. But officials in China, Taiwan and Singapore remain on guard against a recurrence of the disease.
U.S. Lowers Terrorist Threat Level Washington File 30 May 2003 -- The U.S. government has lowered the national threat level from Code Orange to Code Yellow -- from high risk of terrorist attack to "elevated" risk, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced May 30.
U.S. Official Says No Country Immune from Sex Trafficking Washington File 30 May 2003 -- A U.S. official says the United States intends to take the lead in the war against sex trafficking, which he called a demeaning form of slavery that cripples thousands of bodies and souls every year.
Wolfowitz Says Terrorists Don't Want Indonesian Democracy Washington File 30 May 2003 -- The United States wants to see Indonesia make a successful transition to a prosperous democracy, while international terrorists have made that country a target because they do not want Indonesia to succeed in that task, according to Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz.
ASIA SARS VOA 30 May 2003 -- Researchers in Hong Kong have unraveled new clues as to how and why health care workers treating SARS patients continue to get sick despite special precautions. The revelations come as Hong Kong reports a slightly higher number of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome cases.
US allegation of presence of Al-Qaeda in Iran nonsense: expert IRNA 31 May 2003 -- An Indian prominent researcher said on Saturday that America's accusation against Iraq on the presence of Al-Qaeda members in Iran is nonsense.
NEW YORK / W-T-C MEMORIAL VOA 30 May 2003 -- A record-breaking number of applicants from around the world have registered to design a memorial to the September 11th terror victims.
U-S / TERROR ALERT VOA 30 May 2003 -- The United States lowered its terrorist alert level Friday after intelligence officials concluded that the threat of an imminent attack has subsided.
SAF / PORTS VOA 30 May 2003 -- An international conference on ports and harbors has ended in South Africa. A key item on the agenda was improving security at world harbors in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States.
KENYA / TERROR THREAT VOA 30 May 2003 -- The Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya says it has closed most of its embassy to the public, for security reasons. The embassy is on edge in the wake of a threat to destroy the building that houses the embassy and the embassies of several other European countries.
SPAIN / BOMB VOA 30 May 2003 -- Two policemen have died in a car bomb explosion in Spain's northern region of Navarre. Spanish officials are blaming the attack on the Basque Separatist group ETA.
MALAYSIA / TERROR CENTERVOA 30 May 2003 -- Malaysia has announced plans this week to open a regional anti-terrorism center by the end of the year in partnership with the United States.
CAMBODIA TERRORISMVOA 30 May 2003 -- Following the arrest of three suspected terrorists, Prime Minister Hun Sen is acknowledging that Islamic militants have taken root in Cambodia.
Lockheed Martin Teams with Cogent Systems for UK's Largest Criminal Identification Technology Services Contract Lockheed Martin 29 May 2003 -- Lockheed Martin, a global information technology systems integrator, today announced a teaming agreement with current National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) technology provider Cogent Systems to pursue the UK's future integrated justice programme IDENT1.
ASIA SARS VOA 29 May 2003 -- Taiwan is reporting 50 new cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome cases, but the government says the new infections are a result of reclassification and not a fresh outbreak.
Miami Court Convicts Colombian Drug Lord of Smuggling Cocaine into U.S. Washington File 29 May 2003 -- A former Colombian drug kingpin has been found guilty by a federal jury in Miami, Florida, on charges of smuggling cocaine into the United States.
U.S. Freezes Assets of Al-Aqsa, Citing Terror Links Washington File 29 May 2003 -- The U.S. Treasury has added the Al-Aqsa Foundation to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entities, saying the organization is funneling funds -- including money donated for charitable purposes -- to the militant terrorist group Hamas.
Report Urges Passage of Comprehensive Sex Trafficking Laws Washington File 29 May 2003 -- The U.S. Department of State has released a report calling on countries to marshal their resources to interdict and punish the perpetrators of sex trafficking and to protect and restore its victims.
MEXICO/IMMIGRATION VOA 29 May 2003 -- With the numbers of Mexicans leaving home for the United States and other countries going up, the amount of money they send back home is increasing dramatically, according to Mexican banking sources. Mexicans north of the border increased their remittances by more than 26 percent in the first quarter.
CHINA - RUSSIA / XINJIANG VOA 29 May 2003 -- China, Russia, and four Central Asian nations have ended a two-day summit in Moscow, pledging to strengthen their cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism. The group, called the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, decided to set up a regional anti-terrorist center in the Kyrgyz capital. Some observers say that for China, the Central Asian group is a way to coordinate efforts to stop separatist activity in its western region of Xinjiang.
KENYA / U-S COMPENSATION VOA 29 May 2003 -- A top Kenyan official, just back in Nairobi after talks with U-S officials in Washington, says he was unable to get any promises of additional U-S monetary assistance in Kenya's fight against terrorism.
SOMALIA / TERROR VOA 29 May 2003 -- Although Somalia is considered a lawless, "ungoverned" country, it may not be as hospitable an environment for terrorists as widely suspected. Some Somalis concerned about the use of their territory by terrorists as a sanctuary are cooperating with foreign security agencies.
ASIA SARS VOA 28 May 2003 -- The World Health Organization says it is now convinced China is using accurate reporting methods on the number of cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. And the U-N agency says it will use new powers to help stem the spread of future disease outbreaks.
RUSSIA / SARS VOA 28 May 2003 -- Russia has confirmed its first case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
Sweden Implements U.S. Customs Container Security Initiative Washington File 28 May 2003 -- Sweden has started the operational phase of the Container Security Initiative (CSI) at the port of Göteborg for cargo containers destined for U.S. ports, the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced May 21.
Western Hemisphere Transportation Ministers Pledge to Combat Terrorism Washington File 28 May 2003 -- Western Hemisphere transportation ministers have pledged to work together to combat all forms of terrorism, adding that they condemn, "in the strongest terms, the misuse of any part of a country's transport system or its infrastructure for acts of terrorism."
AMNESTY REPORT VOA 28 May 2003 -- An international human rights organization says the U-S war on terrorism has aggravated a bad human rights situation in many parts of the world.
EDITORIAL: KHOBAR TOWERS NOT FORGOTTEN VOA 28 May 2003 -- People in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and other countries were shocked by the terrorist attacks on May 12th in Riyadh. The suicide bombings killed thirty-four people, including citizens of the U.S., the Philippines, Switzerland, Lebanon, and Jordan. The coordinated attacks had the earmarks of an al-Qaida operation.
US accusation on presence of Al Qaeda in Iran misinformation IRNA 28 May 2003 -- A prominent Indian expert said on Wednesday that the US accusation against Iran on the presence of Al Qaeda in that country is misinformation which is spread with a vested interest.
AMNESTY / AMERICAS II VOA 28 May 2003 -- In its annual report on human rights, Amnesty International says the war on terrorism in the Western Hemisphere has undermined civil liberites and human rights across the region. Tightening security has led to hundreds of unlawful detentions in Colombia and torutre of prisoners in a dozen other countries.
SAUDI / BLAST ARRESTS VOA 28 May 2003 -- Saudi Arabia says it has arrested five suspects in connection with the suicide bombing attacks in Riyadh earlier this month. The move comes as U-S officials are warning that more terror attacks in the kingdom may be imminent.
AL-QAIDA: DISAPPEARING DETAINEE VOA 28 May 2003 -- The latest U-S government warnings suggest East Africa remains a hotbed of terrorist activity. But progress has been made in the war on terrorism, including what may be the critical detention of an al-Qaida suspect in the region two-months ago. That suspect has effectively disappeared.
AMNESTY REPORT VOA 28 May 2003 -- An international human rights organization says the U-S war on terrorism has aggravated a bad human rights situation in many parts of the world.
INDONESIA BASHIR VOA 28 May 2003 -- Suspects in the deadly bombing on Bali have testified that Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir leads their terrorist organization.
AUSTRALIA COUNTERTERRORISM VOA 28 May 2003 -- A massive exercise is under way to test Australia's ability to cope with terrorism attacks. The drill follows a series of terrorism attacks around the world, including last year's bombing in Bali that killed dozens of Australians.
CAMBODIA / J-I ARRESTS VOA 28 May 2003 -- The Cambodian government has arrested three foreigners on charges of having links to international terrorism. It is the first such case in Cambodia and comes two weeks before a major international conference convenes in Phnom Penh.
EDITORIAL: ARABS CONDEMN TERRORIST ATTACKS VOA 28 May 2003 -- A series of terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Israel have provoked condemnation across the Middle East. The reaction was especially strong in Saudi Arabia, after three coordinated suicide bombings in Riyadh killed thirty-four people.
ASIA SARS VOA 27 May 2003 -- China's government plans to ease travel restrictions imposed to contain the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
GUUAM Ministers Release Joint Statement Following Meetings Washington File 27 May 2003 -- At a meeting on May 24 in Tbilisi, the GUUAM member countries -- Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova -- and the United States discussed joint projects designed to improve regional security and to encourage economic development.
CARAFANO-TERRORISM VOA 27 May 2003 -- With several U.S. soldiers recently losing their lives in Iraq, the U.S. presence becomes of increasing concern.
U-S DETAINEES VOA 27 May 2003 -- The Supreme Court has handed the federal government another legal victory in the war on terrorism.
EDITORIAL: OUTRAGE IN MOROCCO VOA 27 May 2003 -- Moroccan authorities have arrested three men and are seeking the arrest of four others suspected of involvement in a series of terrorist bombings in Morocco.
U.S. Concerned about Iran's Nuclear Program, Support for Terrorism Washington File 27 May 2003 -- State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters on May 27 that U.S. "policies towards Iran have not changed." Boucher was speaking at the regular State Department noon briefing May 27.
White House Calls Iran's Anti-Terror Efforts "Insufficient" Washington File 27 May 2003 -- White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said May 27 that the United States continues to have concerns about Iran developing nuclear weapons and harboring terrorists.
U-S-IRAN VOA 27 May 2003 -- The Bush administration says Iran's response to U-S calls to move against al-Qaida members is "insufficient." But officials say the United States has not severed contacts with the Iranian government over the issue.
U-S / IRAN VOA 27 May 2003 -- The Bush administration says Iran's response to U-S calls to move against al-Qaida members believed to be operating there was insufficient. But it said the United States has not severed contacts with the Iranian government.
CHINA / ARRESTS VOA 27 May 2003 -- China has detained an American and New Zealander for plotting violent terrorist activities.
ASIA SARS VOA 26 May 2003 -- Hong Kong has promised to compensate families of public health workers who lost their lives to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. And another Taiwan health official has resigned over shortcomings in infection control procedures.
MEXICO/ILLEGAL ALIENS VOA 26 May 2003 -- Authorities in Mexico's east-central state of Veracruz discovered 31 undocumented immigrants from Central America locked in a truck trailer Sunday and have detained the Mexican driver and two other companions. This was only the latest incident in which immigrants have been found in life-threatening situations.
IRAN / AL-QAIDA VOA 26 May 2003 -- Iran says it has arrested some members of the al-Qaida terrorist network who have slipped into the country, but it insists that none are ranked high in the organization.
EXPERT WARNS NATO PARLIAMENTARIANS OF NUCLEAR TERRORIST DANGER NATO Parliamentary Assembly 25 May 2003 -- A leading expert on "nuclear terrorism" called on Sunday for the United States and Russia to lead a global campaign to down blend and eliminate world stocks of highly enriched uranium (HEU) saying they posed a major security threat.
ASIA / SARS VOA 25 May 2003 -- Taiwan has refused a Chinese offer of help with the SARS outbreak, in an apparent reaction to Beijing's efforts to keep the island out of the World Health Organization.
SAUDI SECURITY VOA 25 May 2003 -- The United States reopened its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, after a four-day closure prompted by warnings that terrorist attacks could be imminent.
BUSH - IRAN VOA 25 May 2003 -- There are signs the Bush administration may be looking at ways to put more pressure on Iran as part of the war on terrorism. U-S officials remain concerned about Iranian links to the al-Qaida terrorist network.
BEIJING / SARS VOA 24 May 2003 -- Officials in Beijing have expressed hope that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is almost beaten. But Chinese authorities are not letting down their guard against a disease that has already killed 160 people in the capital city.
ASIA/SARS VOA 24 May 2003 -- Hong Kong is cheering major victories in its fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS.
U-S / POL / TERRORISM VOA 24 May 2003 -- Members of the Democratic Party in the United States have begun to criticize President Bush's handling of the war on terrorism, especially in the wake of the terrorist attacks this month in Saudi Arabia and Morocco. Some of Mr. Bush's critics are contenders in the race for the White House in 2004.
SARS SOURCE VOA 23 May 2003 -- A Hong Kong researcher says a wild animal considered a dining delicacy is the carrier of a virus that causes SARS. The finding fits earlier speculation that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome originated in wild animals. At the same time, the World Health Organization is lifting SARS-related travel advisories for Hong Kong and southern China.
W-H-O / SARS VOA 23 May 2003 -- The World Health Organization has lifted its travel warning for Hong Kong and China's Guangdong Province, indicating the spread of the disease SARS is under control in those areas. But officials say this does not mean the danger from SARS has passed.
SARS / NURSES AND DOCTORS VOA 23 May 2003 -- After weeks of caring for desperately ill SARS patients, some nurses and doctors in Beijing are getting a rest, in quarantine.
NEW YORK COAST GUARD PATROL VOA 23 May 2003 -- New York City is on high alert this week as the United States prepares for a possible terrorist attack. With thirty-five hundred sailors on nineteen ships from five countries in port for Fleet Week, the U-S Coast Guard will have extra work to do to keep New York Harbor safe.
EDITORIAL: U.S.-PHILIPPINES FIGHT TERRORISM VOA 23 May 2003 -- President George W. Bush welcomed Philippines president Gloria Arroyo to the White House. Mr. Bush praised the leader of Asia's oldest democracy and one of America's strongest allies in the war on global terror
CONGRESS/ 9-11 COMMISSION VOA 23 May 2003 -- A special commission has been hearing more about the preparedness of America's civil and military air system leading up to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
Military Commission Chief Prosecutor, Defense Counsel Introduced AFPS 23 May 2003 -- The Pentagon introduced the two military lawyers May 22 who will prosecute and defend criminals charged with violating the laws of war and terrorist activities.
CHINA DRUG ARREST VOA 23 May 2003 -- Police in China and the United States say the drug ring they recently broke up was moving 100-million dollars worth of illegal drugs into the United States over the past three years.
EAST AFRICA / SARS VOA 22 May 2003 -- Ethiopia has told its citizens to cancel all non-essential travel to Asian countries suffering from SARS. It is just one measure several east African countries have taken in recent weeks in an effort to prevent the deadly virus from gaining a foothold in the region.
WHO/SARS FUND VOA 22 May 2003 -- The World Health Organization, W-H-O, says it is starting a special fund to combat SARS, primarily in mainland China and Hong Kong. The W-H-O says it is planning to raise 100 million dollars from the business community.
TAIWAN/SARS VOA 22 May 2003 -- The number of new SARS patients in Taiwan has surged, and the World Health Organization says the new cases, many among health care workers, show that hospitals are not preventing the transmission of the disease.
DEA Says Colombian-Dominican Republic Heroin Organization is Dismantled Washington File 22 May 2003 -- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says a major heroin trafficking organization with a Colombian-Dominican Republic connection has been dismantled, resulting in the arrests of 45 suspects, and the seizure of $320,000 and about 14 kilograms of heroin.
Transcript: Briefing on Military Commissions 22 May 2003 -- Also participating: Marine Lieutenant Colonel William Lietzau, Outgoing Acting Chief Prosecutor; Air Force Colonel Will A. Gunn, Acting Chief Defense Counsel; and Air Force Major John Smith, Spokesman, Military Commissions Judge Advocate
Civil Air Patrol supports TOPOFF exercise AFPN 22 May 2003-- May 12 to 16, Civil Air Patrol volunteers supported counterterrorism exercise TOPOFF 2 in Chicago and Seattle.
AIRPORT SECURITY / RIDGE VOA 22 May 2003 -- Homeland security chief, Tom Ridge, says he will move to correct gaps in background checks of security screeners at the nation's airports. His comments came in a second day of testimony before a congressional panel which is seeking to learn how safe Americans are from terrorist threats.
PENTAGON/TRIBUNALS VOA 22 May 2003 -- The Pentagon has announced the names of two military officers who will serve as Chief Prosecutor and Chief Defense Counsel for the trials of foreign terrorist suspects.
ARABS CONFRONT TERRORISM VOA 22 May 2003 -- Al-Qaida terrorists murdered twenty-five people in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in suicide bombings. Days later, terrorists set off bombs in Casablanca, Morocco, killing twenty-nine people. The attacks have led many in Saudi Arabia, Morocco and other Arab countries to question the rationale and tolerance for terrorism. The Saudi Arabian newspaper Arab news, has denounced the terrorists and their apologists. The Riyadh attacks were "an undertaking of sheer evil," the Arab News wrote. "Those who gloat over September 11th, those who happily support suicide bombings in Israel and Russia, those who consider non-Muslims less human than Muslims and therefore somehow disposable, all bear part of the responsibility for the Riyadh bombs." Do these views reflect a significant change in Arab attitudes towards terrorism?
ALEXANDER-TERRORISM VOA 22 May 2003 -- And now joining us, Professor Yonah Alexander, Director of the International Center for Terrorism Studies at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies here in Washington.
EUROPE/AFGHAN-DRUGS VOA 22 May 2003 -- Foreign ministers and drug experts from Europe and Central Asia closed a two-day meeting in Paris vowing to strengthen cooperation in stanching the production and trade of heroine and opium from Afghanistan.
Ridge Outlines How, Why Terror Threat Level Was Raised AFPS 22 May 2003 -- Federal law enforcement organizations -- and some state and local authorities -- ramped up vigilance when the Department of Homeland Security's color-coded national terror alert level was raised May 20 from "elevated," or yellow, to "high," or orange, the top domestic anti-terrorism official said today on Capitol Hill.
OSCE: Drug Traffickers 'Better Organized' Than The Governments Fighting Them RFE/L 22 May 2003 -- Combating the production and trafficking of illicit drugs is one of the greatest challenges faced by government and law enforcement agencies around the world. Relatively little attention, however, has been paid to the economic impact of drug trafficking, which was the subject of a recent seminar in Tashkent and one of the main topics at this week's economic forum in Prague sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Text: House Expresses Condolences to Victims' Families in Morocco Washington File 22 May 2003 -- Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart (Republican of Florida) introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives May 20 condemning the May 16 terror bombing attack in Casablanca, Morocco.
Text: Coast Guard Asks for Shore Authority to Counter Terrorists Washington File 22 May 2003 -- The Bush administration has asked Congress to permit the U.S. Coast Guard to make arrests on shore to help the agency meet new terrorism-related security challenges.
BELGIUM / TERROR TRIAL VOA 22 May 2003 -- The trial of 23 suspects accused of plotting al-Qaida-related terrorist attacks in Europe has opened amid tight security in Brussels. Two of the men are also accused of involvement in the assassination of an anti-Taleban leader in Afghanistan just before the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States.
CONGRESS / TERROR COMMISSION VOA 22 May 2003 -- The independent commission probing the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11th, 2001 has opened a two-day meeting on Capitol Hill.
PRE-QUALIFICATION OF MILITARY COMMISSIONS CIVILIAN DEFENSE COUNSELS BEGINS 22 May 2003 -- The Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Defense announced today that the process of pre-qualifying civilian attorneys to serve as defense counsels has begun for possible future military commissions.
KEY MILITARY COMMISSION OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED 22 May 2003 -- The Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Defense announced the names of three key Military Commission officials. Army Colonel Fred Borch has been named as the Acting Chief Prosecutor (succeeding Marine Lieutenant Colonel William Lietzau) and Air Force Colonel Will Gunn has been named as the Acting Chief Defense Counsel. Air Force Major John Smith has been named as the Military Commissions Judge Advocate Spokesman.
THAILAND / CRIME WAR VOA 22 May 2003 -- Police in Thailand say two suspected arms dealers died during a raid aimed at ridding the country of illegal weapons. The deaths mark the first casualties in a new high-profile crackdown against organized crime in Thailand.
Northrop Grumman Upgrades Last of 15 HU-25 Falcon Surveillance Aircraft for U.S. Coast Guard Northrop Grumman 22 May 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) California Microwave Systems (CMS) business unit today delivered the last of a series of 15 upgraded HU-25 Falcon airborne surveillance aircraft to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Rumsfeld Repeats Accusation That Iran Harbors Al Qaeda Leaders Washington File 21 May 2003 -- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld says there is "no question" that senior leaders of al Qaeda are in Iran, and he adds that "they're busy."
U.S. Supports International Fight Against North Korean Narcotics Washington File 21 May 2003 -- The United States continues "to be successful in bringing together interagency capabilities and personnel to assist our allies in their fight against drugs," including initiatives to combat narcotics smuggling by North Korea, says Andre Hollis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics.
Bush: Advancing Freedom Means Concrete U.S., Allied Moves AFPS 21 May 2003 -- Since Sept. 11, 2001, President Bush has said the United States must not only defend against terrorism -- it must also address the conditions that push people toward terrorism.
President Praises Coast Guard as 'Shield of Freedom' AFPS 21 May 2003 -- President Bush congratulated the graduates of the Coast Guard Academy and thanked them for becoming the newest members of the "shield of freedom."
Bush: U.S. Will Not Relent in War Against Terrorism Washington File 21 May 2003 -- President Bush told U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduates May 21 that "America will not relent in the war against global terror."
White House Appoints New Advisor for Combating Terrorism Washington File 21 May 2003 -- The White House May 21 announced the appointment of Frances Fragos Townsend to be the Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism.
YALE / EXPLOSION VOA 21 May 2003 -- A blast, apparently caused by a bomb of some kind, went off at Yale University Law School in New Haven, Connecticut, late Wednesday. The explosion, coming just as the United States heightened its alert for a possible terrorist attack, caused no injuries.
U-S-TERROR TAPE VOA 21 May 2003 -- The United States has angrily criticized the Arab satellite T-V network al-Jazeera for carrying a taped message, purportedly by senior al-Qaida terrorist figure Ayman al-Zawahri, urging Muslims to carry out attacks against westerners. Secretary of State Colin Powell says he protested to the foreign minister of Qatar, al-Jazeera's host government.
U-S-SUDAN TALKS VOA 21 May 2003 -- The Bush administration said Wednesday it would like to remove Sudan from the U-S list of state sponsors of terrorism but that it will require more action by the Khartoum government. The comments followed a meeting between Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail.
Nations Working Together Reduce Terror Attacks AFPS 21 May 2003 -- The number of terrorist attacks in 2002 dropped to the lowest level since 1969, said U.S. Ambassador Cofer Black, the State Department's coordinator for counterterrorism.
Transcript: Bush Says U.S. Will Not Relent in War Against Terrorism Washington File 21 May 2003 -- President Bush told U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduates May 21 that "America will not relent in the war against global terror."
U.N. Says Coca Cultivation in Peru Remained Stable in 2002 Washington File 21 May 2003 -- The United Nations says coca cultivation in Peru remained "stable" in 2002, dispelling fears of a shift in coca-growing from neighboring Colombia, where a decline was recorded.
TERRORISM-TOURISM VOA 21 May 2003 -- The new heightened terrorism alert comes just as the tourism season begins in the United States. Thousands of visitors come to the United States for pleasure as well as business during the U-S summer months.
PENTAGON / TERROR VOA 21 May 2003 -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has voiced fresh charges about the presence and activities of al-Qaida terrorists in Iran.
KENYA/U-S SECURITY VOA 21 May 2003 -- The United States has formally donated to Kenya nearly one million dollars' worth of sophisticated security equipment for use in the country's three major airports. The equipment donation comes amid renewed warnings of a possible terrorist attack in the east African nation.
SAUDI/TERROR VOA 21 May 2003 -- An audiotape reported to have been made by a top official in the al-Qaida terror network is calling for Muslims to carry out more suicide attacks against Western targets.
BUSH / TERRORISM VOA 21 May 2003 -- With the nation on high alert for another terrorist attack, President Bush says the United States will continue to fight terrorism at home and abroad following recent attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.
U-S / TERROR ALERT VOA 21 May 2003 -- Federal, state and local authorities across the United States are stepping up security measures after Tuesday's decision to raise the national terror alert status to "high."
EUROPE/AFGHAN/DRUGS VOA 21 May 2003 -- Drug experts and foreign ministers from Europe and central Asia are meeting in Paris (Wednesday and Thursday) to tackle the problem of opium and heroin flooding out of Afghanistan. The meeting is the first of its kind to address a troubling, transcontinental problem.
EDITORIAL: CONDEMNING TERRORISTS VOA 21 May 2003 -- With the liberation of Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States removed regimes that were allies of al-Qaida terrorists. Despite these victories, the terrorist threat continues and no part of the world is immune.
Europe: OSCE Forum Chairman Discusses Difficulties In Fighting Traffickers RFE/L 21 May 2003 -- The Vienna-based Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe opened a three-day economic forum in Prague yesterday focusing on the fight against illegal trafficking of drugs, human beings, and weapons.
KENYA/U-S SECURITY VOA 21 May 2003 -- In Nairobi, the United States is formally handing over nearly one-million-dollars' worth of high-tech security equipment to Kenyan airport authorities. The donation is not related to the heightened terror level in the east African country.
BALI BOMBING INDICTMENT VOA 21 May 2003 -- Indonesian prosecutors have formally charged the alleged mastermind of last year's terrorist bombing on Bali - which killed 202 mostly foreign tourists. Imam Samudra is also a suspected top operative for Jemaah Islamiyah - the regional al-Qaida-linked terrorist group blamed for the Bali attack.
ETHIOPIA: Increased security after terror warnings IRIN 20 May 2003 -- Ethiopia has stepped up security in the wake of the Moroccan and Saudi Arabian terror attacks, but stated it is at no greater risk than any other country.
ASIA SARS VOA 20 May 2003 -- The Philippines says it is free of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the World Health Organization says it is safe to visit the country. A top Chinese official expressed disappointment that the U-N agency has not removed travel advisories on parts of southern China and Hong Kong.
ASIA / SARS VOA 20 May 2003 -- As new infections of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome continue to decline in China, officials say their containment measures are working. But the World Health Organization still has reservations about Beijing's reporting methods. Meanwhile, Taiwan continues to grapple with the world's fastest growing SARS outbreak.
Soldiers decon Seattle in Homeland Defense exercise Army News Service 20 May 2003-- Last week's national terrorism combative exercise, dubbed TOPOFF 2 as short for "top officials," provided decontamination training for military and civilian emergency response teams.
HOMELAND SECURITY UPDATE VOA 20 May 2003 -- Despite the raising of the terror threat level Tuesday, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, says Americans are safer than they were before the September 2001 terrorist attacks. But Mr. Ridge faced questions from members of a congressional panel about the efficiency of his department.
U-S / TERROR ALERT VOA 20 May 2003 -- The U-S government raised the national terror alert level to high on Tuesday amid fears that the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco could spread to the United States.
PENTAGON/TERROR VOA 20 May 2003 -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is hinting al-Qaida terrorists based in Iran may have had a role in the latest bloody bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia.
Counterterrorism Chief Says Terrorist Attacks Fell Sharply in 2002 Washington File 20 May 2003 -- State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism Cofer Black said the number of terrorist attacks worldwide in 2002 -- 199 -- was 44 percent lower than the preceding year and the lowest level of terrorism in more than 30 years.
U.S. Terror Alert Raised to Second Highest Level Washington File 20 May 2003 -- The Department of Homeland Security announced May 20 that following an assessment of threats reported by the intelligence community, it is raising the U.S. terrorist threat level to code "orange," which means a high risk of terrorist attack.
International Law Enforcement Cooperation Fights Narcoterror Washington File 20 May 2003 -- U.S. efforts to increase regional law enforcement cooperation have led to significant arrests and drug seizures in various parts of the world where drug traffickers and terror groups have made common cause.
Ridge Says U.S. More Secure Now Than Before September 11, 2001 Washington File 20 May 2003 -- U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said May 20 that the United States is significantly safer today than it was 20 months ago, before the coordinated suicide attacks by the international terrorist group al-Qaida.
White House Hikes Terror Alert Level From Yellow to Orange AFPS 20 May 2003 -- The national terror alert level has been hiked today from elevated "yellow" to high "orange" based on intelligence reports that al Qaeda terrorists may attempt to again strike the United States or target Americans abroad.
U-S / SAUDI TERROR VOA 20 May 2003 -- U-S diplomats say more terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia may be imminent and U-S missions in the kingdom are being closed as a result.
HOMELAND SECURITY VOA 20 May 2003 -- The head of the Department of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, says Americans are safer than they were before the September 2001 terrorist attacks. But Mr. Ridge faced questions from members of a congressional panel about the efficiency of his department.
U-S/SAUDI TERROR VOA 20 May 2003 -- The United States is closing its embassy and two consulates in Saudi Arabia for at least five days out of concern that further terrorist attacks might be staged against U-S interests in that country. The State Department says the move does not reflect dissatisfaction with Saudi security efforts in the aftermath of last week's suicide attacks in Riyadh which killed 34 people, including eight Americans.
US VISIT Will Collect Biometric Data on Foreign Visitors Washington File 19 May 2003 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is setting up a new electronic entry-exit system, called US VISIT, that will collect and share information, including biometric identifiers, on visitors to the United States, according to a department fact sheet released May 19.
Byliner: "The Blame Game," by Benjamin Collins Washington File 19 May 2003 -- This column by Benjamin Collins, who is an Army officer, a graduate of George Washington University and currently deployed in Afghanistan, was first published May 20 in The Washington Times.
NY/TERRORISM PLEA VOA 19 May 2003 -- The last of the six Yemeni-American men from the Buffalo, New York area who were accused last year of supporting terrorism, pleaded guilty on Monday. Mukhtar al-Bakri, who attended an al-Qaida terrorist training camp, made his plea in U-S federal court.
IMPACT OF SARS ON CHINA VOA 19 May 2003 -- Thousands in China have been infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS. Hundreds have died. This new infectious, flu-like disease first emerged in the Guangdong province of Southern China last November. For months, provincial and national officials denied the existence of the epidemic. They banned local media from reporting on the growing death toll. But as the disease spread, China could no longer keep the outbreak a secret. On April 17, Chinese president Hu Jintao told his government to end its cover up. But the long period of lying allowed SARS to spread far and wide in China. How is SARS affecting Chinese society, its economy and the grip of the ruling communist party? What has been its impact on the rest of Asia?
ASIA SARS VOA 19 May 2003 -- Hong Kong has reported just one new case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, bringing new confidence that the outbreak will soon fade out, and the W-H-O travel warning about the city will end. But Singapore also reports a new case, after having gone 19 days without a new patient.
W-H-O/DISEASES VOA 19 May 2003 -- The World Health Organization says Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is only the first of what experts expect will be many emerging infectious diseases this century. The W-H-O says it is particularly concerned about future pandemics of influenza.
Recent Attacks Appear To Dash Hope War On Terror Is Being Won RFE/L 19 May 2003 -- Two major terrorist attacks during the past week -- one in Saudi Arabia and one in Morocco -- have left more than 70 people dead and hundreds injured. The scale and precision of the attacks appear to dash hopes that decisive progress is being made in dispersing terrorist groups. The hand of the Al-Qaeda network is seen as being behind the latest outrages.
Saudi Arabia: Officials Vow To 'Redouble' Antiterrorist Efforts, Though Doubts Linger RFE/L 19 May 2003 -- Is Saudi Arabia doing enough to fight terrorism? After last week's attack in Riyadh killed 34 people, Saudi officials have acknowledged they need to do more to combat militants. U.S. officials appeared pleased by their remarks. But the verdict is out still out on whether the bombing will spur Saudi Arabia to action.
ALGERIA TOURISTS VOA 19 May 2003 -- Algeria has denied reports that its forces freed a second group of European tourists held hostage for the past three months in the Sahara desert.
SAUDI TERROR VOA 19 May 2003 -- The United States has closed its consulate in Dhahran, in eastern Saudi Arabia, after a lone gunman was arrested outside its gate.
AL-QAIDA THREAT VOA 19 May 2003 -- President Bush says the United States continues to dismantle al-Qaida, despite last week's terrorist attacks in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. Those suicide car bomb attacks have caused many to wonder if al-Qaida is back as a major terrorist threat. But many terrorism experts believe al-Qaida never went away.
Fact Sheet: U.S. to Provide Anti-Terrorism Aid to Philippines Washington File 19 May 2003 -- The White House released a fact sheet May 19 announcing developments related to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's visit to the United States and her meeting with President Bush.
Swedish Police takes Delivery of its 8th EC 135 EADS 19 May 2003 -- Sweden is the latest addition to the growing number of countries to have chosen the EC 135 for its police services. On May 16th, the Rikspolisen took delivery of the last of a total of eight EC 135s at Eurocopter's Donauwörth facility. The helicopters will be based in Stockholm, Ostersund, Boden, Malmö and Gothenburg. With the Swedish Rikspolisen, Eurocopter has acquired another highly experienced police customer which has operated helicopters since 1964.
Hutchinson Says New System Provides America with "Smart Border" Washington File 19 May 2003 -- A U.S. official says a new entry-exit program called US VISIT is part of a comprehensive information system that will provide the United States with a "smart border" that expedites legitimate trade and travel, but stops terrorists in their tracks.
U.S., Philippines Strong Allies in War Against Terrorism Washington File 19 May 2003 -- The Philippines and the United States are "strong allies in the war on terror," says President Bush.
Bush Cites Manila's Strong Role in War on Terrorism Washington File 19 May 2003 -- The United States and the Philippines have a historic alliance, from their stand together in World War II at Bataan and Corregidor to their present-day efforts to defeat terrorism, says President Bush.
Philippines to Become Major non-NATO Ally, Bush Says AFPS 19 May 2003 -- Following a meeting today with the Philippine president, President Bush announced the United States will designate the Philippines as a major non-NATO ally, smoothing the road to military cooperation.
BUSH-PHILIPPINES VOA 19 May 2003 -- President Bush says the United States and the Philippines are standing strong against global terrorism. He says more U-S help is on the way to the Philippines as the two meet the challenges of "a dangerous world."
BUSH/PHILIPPINES VOA 19 May 2003 -- President Bush has welcomed Philippine President Gloria Arroyo to the White House, with the ceremony of a formal state visit. The war on terrorism is expected to dominate their talks.
EDITORIAL: CHENEY ON DEFEATING TERRORISM VOA 19 May 2003 -- The terrorist bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killed thirty-four people, including citizens from the Philippines, Lebanon, Jordan, Switzerland, and the United States.
THAILAND / CRIME WAR VOA 19 May 2003 -- Security has been tightened around Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra amid reports of assassination threats. The threats come on the eve of a campaign against organized crime figures and follow a three-month war on illegal drug traffickers.
ASIA /SARS VOA 18 May 2003 -- In Taiwan, authorities have isolated a hospital in the capital, after a case of SARS was reported there. China says it wants to increase international cooperation in combating the disease.
U-S/ SAUDI BLAST VOA 18 May 2003 -- top Saudi official acknowledges his country has been too lax on extremists, and says it is now taking a stronger stand. The comments come as authorities in the Saudi capital announced the arrest of four suspects in connection with last week's bombings in Riyadh.
Text: Powell Statement on Jerusalem Bombing Washington File 18 May 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell issued the following statement on the May 18 terrorist bombing in Jerusalem
MOROCCO BOMBS VOA 18 May 2003 -- Moroccan authorities are continuing to round up suspects in Friday's suicide bombings in Casablanca. Government officials in Morocco believe the bombers may have links with the al-Qaida terror organization.
AUSTRALIA / SECURITY VOA 18 May 2003 -- Australia has decided to create a new security force made up of military reservists to help police counter terrorist threats in major cities.
O-S-C-E/SMUGGLING VOA 18 May 2003 -- The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is to begin working with Afghanistan in the fight against drug smuggling. The new partners start a three-day meeting Tuesday in Prague.
UN's top human rights official 'outraged' by terrorist attacks in Casablanca UN News Centre 17 May 2003 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today joined UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in deploring the recent terrorist attacks which rocked Casablanca.
ASIA / SARS VOA 17 May 2003 -- The outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome appears to be worsening in Taiwan, while the situation in Singapore and Hong Kong is getting significantly better.
W-H-O / SARS VOA 17 May 2003 -- Epidemiologists meeting at the World Health Organization, W-H-O, say the SARS epidemic is coming to an end in most places around the world. The big exception is mainland China. Experts from around the world participated in a two-day conference in Geneva to report on measures to combat the fatal pneumonia-like disease.
Deploring 'callous fanaticism' of Casablanca bombings, Annan urges sustained global fight against terror UN News Centre 17 May 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today condemned Friday's bomb attacks in Casablanca, which took the lives of at least 40 people and injured scores of others.
BUSH - MOROCCO VOA 17 May 2003 -- President Bush has condemned the terrorist bombings in Morroco and offered U-S help in hunting down those responsible.
Text: Bush Condemns Terrorist Bombings in Morocco Washington File 17 May 2003 -- President Bush condemned the terrorist bombings in Casablanca, Morocco, in a statement issued by the White House on May 17. Bush offered his condolences to the families of victims as well as assistance to the Moroccan authorities in bringing those responsible to justice.
Text: Powell Extends America's Sympathies to Families of Casablanca Attacks Washington File 17 May 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell, in a statement issued May 17, condemned the terrorist attacks in Casablanca and said that U.S. officials are communicating with the highest levels of the Moroccan Government to convey condolences and offer assistance.
Bush Pledges Nation to Keep Peace, Combat Terrorism Washington File 17 May 2003 -- Although the liberation of Afghanistan and Iraq are important victories, the attacks in Saudi Arabia are a stark reminder that the larger war against terrorism continues throughout the world, President Bush said in his weekly radio address to the nation on May 17.
BUSH / SAUDI BLAST VOA 17 May 2003 -- U-S officials are warning of more terrorist attacks following Friday night's bombing in Morocco, which came just days after a series of attacks in Saudi Arabia. President Bush says the fight against al-Qaida terrorists will continue until their network is broken and all are brought to justice.
MOROCCO BOMBS VOA 17 May 2003 -- A series of suicide bombings in Morocco late Friday night killed at least 40 people and injured nearly 60, throwing the city of Casablanca into chaos.
RELEASE/TRANSFER OF DETAINEES COMPLETED 16 May 2003 -- The Department of Defense announced today the release of one detainee from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the transfer of four Saudi detainees for continued detention by the Government of Saudi Arabia, on May 14, 2003.
SARS/ ADOPT VOA 16 May 2003 -- China is suspending adoptions by foreigners to help stop the spread of SARS. The move is a sharp emotional blow to families who have been waiting years to adopt Chinese children.
SWITZERLAND/G-8 VOA 17 May 2003 -- Swiss officials say they are prepared for visiting heads of state, anti-globalization protesters, and even the possibility of terrorist attacks drawn to next month's G-8 summit in nearby Evian, France. The leaders of the world's seven most industrialized countries and Russia have invited their counterparts from nearly 30 non-G-8 countries to take part in the summit, which is to focus on development.
Differing Views Of Terrorism Lead To Iran-U.S. Impasse RFE/L Press Release 17 May 2003 -- A failure to agree on what constitutes terrorism has led U.S. and Iranian officials to a diplomatic stalemate. RFE/RL senior Iran analyst A. William Samii told a briefing audience this week that the two countries hold incompatible perceptions about militant groups.
RANSOM-TERRORISM VOA 16 May 2003 -- After the terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom has been attempting to improve it's reputation in an investigation to find the perpetrators of the bombing. Joining
Riyadh Bombing Attacks VOA 16 May 2003 -- At least thirty-four people were killed in three bombing attacks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Monday. More than two-hundred people were injured in the attacks. The bombers drove vehicles carrying explosives into compounds home to Americans and other foreigners.
U-S/ CHINA/ DRUG BUST VOA 16 May 2003 -- In New York late Friday, Chinese and U-S law enforcement officials announced they have broken up one of the world's largest drug operations.
Transcript: Powell on Russian TV Discusses Chechnya, Iraq Washington File 16 May 2003 -- Terrorist organizations that kill innocent people say they are acting to achieve a political end, "but very often I think it is nothing but a criminal end," Secretary of State Colin Powell said May 14 in Moscow during an interview on Russian Television NTV.
W-T-C MEMORIAL VOA 16 May 2003 -- The competition to design a memorial to the victims of both the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks at the site of the former World Trade Center has already been dubbed the largest of its kind. But the agency in charge of developing the memorial today (Friday) launched an aggressive outreach campaign aimed at attracting even more competitors, particularly from outside the United States.
KENYA / TERROR VOA 16 May 2003 -- Kenyans are upset at the British government's decision to ban all flights to and from Nairobi because of terrorist threats. Fears seem to focus more on the economic impact of the ban than on an actual attack.
U-S / SAUDI TERROR VOA 16 May 2003 -- U-S and Saudi officials are pledging they will cooperate to find those responsible for Monday's suicide car bombings in Riyadh that killed 34 people.
SAUDI TERRORIST WARNING VOA 15 May 2003 -- Three days after a deadly terrorist bombing targeting Americans and other foreigners in Saudi Arabia, the United States is warning another terrorist attack in the country may be imminent. Americans are also being told to be on alert in Kenya, where Britain has suspended all flights in and out of the country because of what it says could be an imminent attack there.
EDITORIAL: NORTH KOREA'S DRUG CONNECTION VOA 16 May 2003 -- On April 16th, a North Korean merchant ship landed a small boat on a remote beach in southern Australia. Its cargo: nearly fifty kilograms of heroin valued at some fifty-million dollars. Australian authorities arrested the drug dealers, the ship's captain, and twenty-nine crewmen. The North Korean vessel carried no legitimate cargo. It was fitted with extra fuel tanks and other equipment used by drug smugglers.
PENTAGON/RUMSFELD VOA 15 May 2003 -- Senior U-S defense officials acknowledge more terrorist attacks like this week's bloody bombings in Saudi Arabia are possible. But the officials insist groups like al-Qaida have been severely crippled and they say the hunt is still on for al-Qaida leaders believed hiding in remote areas.
AL-QAIDA STRIKES BACK VOA 15 May 2003 -- This week's deadly bombings in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh did more than kill at least two dozen people and injure hundreds more. They also got the attention of the globe's press, which believes al-Qaida or other terrorists responsible, represent a deadly and continuing threat. And not only to United States citizens and interests.
BRITAIN-KENYA VOA 15 May 2003 -- Britain has suspended all flights to and from Kenya due to terrorist threats.
U-S/ASIA/SARS VOA 15 May 2003 -- A top U-S health official has reacted against stern new Chinese measures to punish people who deliberately spread the SARS virus. The United States has also dropped its warning against travel to Vietnam, where SARS transmission has stopped.
ASIA SARS VOA 15 May 2003 -- The World Health Organization says that an outbreak of a flu-like illness at a mental hospital in Singapore may be influenza and not Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The U-N agency says it is increasingly worried about Taiwan, where the SARS outbreak has gone island-wide.
CHINA SARS VOA 15 May 2003 -- China says it will shoot or jail people who break out of quarantine and intentionally spread the deadly SARS virus. The stern warning comes as the government also promises to rebuild its creaking rural health care system.
COLE SUSPECTS VOA 15 May 2003 -- U-S law enforcement officials have announced the indictment of two men from Yemen in connection with the al-Qaida terrorist attack on the U-S Navy destroyer Cole in 2000.
SAUDI ARABIA: BLASTS AND STIRRINGS VOA 15 May 2003 -- A series of synchronized suicide bombings Monday night blasted residential compounds in Riyadh, killing more than 30 people and injuring nearly 200, just hours before U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell was due to arrive in Saudi Arabia to meet with the Crown Prince. The blasts targeted Westerners living in the kingdom. Following the war in Iraq, the United States announced its intention to pull its troops out of Saudi Arabia, ending its military presence in the Kingdom.
KENYA TERRORISM VOA 15 May 2003 -- Security measures have been stepped up in Kenya following warnings by the Kenyan and U-S governments that a terrorist attack is likely. Kenyan authorities have released a photograph of a member of Osama bin Laden's terrorist network who they believe is planning the attack.
ALGERIA / TOURISTS VOA 15 May 2003 -- Algerian troops are urgently searching for the remaining 15 tourists who disappeared in Algeria's Sahara desert three-months ago. Seventeen other tourists were freed Tuesday and have since returned to their homes.
U.S. Indicts Two Yemeni Nationals, Al Qaeda Members in USS Cole Attack AFPS 15 May 2003 -- Two Yemeni nationals were indicted on charges for plotting the attack on the naval destroyer USS Cole in the Gulf of Aden in Yemen in 2000, officials said today.
Ashcroft Announces Indictment of Two in USS Cole Bombing Washington File 15 May 2003 -- Attorney General John Ashcroft announced May 15 that a federal grand jury in Manhattan has indicted two Yemeni fugitives for the October 2000 bombing attack on the USS Cole in the harbor of Aden, Yemen, that killed seventeen Americans and wounded more than 40 others.
"Drug Courts in the U.S.," by Carson Fox and West Huddleston Washington File 15 May 2003 -- The following article by Carson Fox and West Huddleston of the National Drug Court Institute appears in the International Information Program Electronic Journal "The Changing Face of U.S. Courts" issued in May 2003.
LEBANON/TERROR VOA 15 May 2003 -- The Lebanese army says it has cracked a terrorist network, and foiled a plot to attack a Western Embassy.
Bombings Show 'The War on Terrorism Goes On,' Rice Says AFPS 14 May 2003 -- Recent terror bombings in Saudi Arabia and Chechnya demonstrate that the war against global terrorism isn't over, the U.S. National Security Adviser said today.
Rice Says Recent Attacks Show Need for Global Anti-Terror Effort Washington File 14 May 2003 -- Recent terrorist actions have reminded the world once again that a united global effort will be needed for some time to come in the ongoing war against terrorism, says Condoleezza Rice, President Bush's national security advisor.
ASIA TERRORISM VOA 15 May 2003 -- U-S officials are warning of possible terrorist attacks in Southeast Asia two days after car bombings in Saudi Arabia killed more than 30 people. Malaysian officials have criticized the warning although some experts in the region say it is justified.
GUANTANAMO BAY VOA 14 May 2003 -- A year-and-a-half after the U-S-led coalition routed the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, more than 600 detainees still remain at a U-S Naval base in Cuba. So far, the U-S government has not charged any of those held at the camp with any crime. Human rights groups and the European Union have criticized the United States for holding the men so long. But the Bush administration says that while the men can be held as long as the war on terror continues, they want to process the detainees quickly.
U.S. Condemns Terrorist Bombing in Chechnya Washington File 14 May 2003 -- The United States has condemned the May 12 bombing in Znamenskoye, Chechnya that killed more than 50 people, saying "No political, national, or religious cause justifies the use of terrorism."
U.S. Muslim Leaders Discuss Bridging Gap Between America, Muslim World Washington File 14 May 2003 -- Three prominent American Muslim leaders said in a May 13 program that in order to bridge the widening gap between America and the Muslim world, Muslims must understand the compatibility between Islam and democracy.
SARS and US Colleges VOA 14 May 2003 -- The SARS epidemic in Asia is raising concerns for college administrators here in the United States. Educators are worried that foreign exchange students from countries still battling this infectious disease could pose a serious public health risk on campus.
SARS TREATMENT VOA 14 May 2003 -- German researchers say an experimental drug developed to treat the common cold might also help in the fight the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. But scientists warn a SARS drug might not be available to the general public for a long time.
ASIA SARS VOA 14 May 2003 -- A mental hospital in Singapore has isolated 27 people in what may be a new outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, and Taiwan continues to report large jumps in new SARS infections. But in Hong Kong scientists say the outbreak is fading fast.
SARS Need Not Close U.S. Doors to Visitors, Health Officials Say Washington File 14 May 2003 -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging American businesses and universities not to allow severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to disrupt regular commercial and academic activities involving international travelers.
CHECHNYA / BLAST VOA 14 May 2003 -- More than eight people are reported dead after another terrorist bombing in Russia's breakaway province of Chechnya. The bombing comes just days after a truck bomb killed close to 60 people in Chechnya on Monday.
Russia: Both Reeling From Suicide Bomb Explosions, Moscow and Washington Differ Over Terrorism RFE/L 14 May 2003 -- Speaking ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to Moscow today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the recent suicide bombings in Chechnya and Saudi Arabia were closely linked. Washington is skeptical of Moscow's claim that its war in Chechnya is an "antiterrorist" operation. Russia, meanwhile, fiercely opposed the war in Iraq, which the White House also justified as a campaign against terrorism. With Powell trying to bridge the gap over Iraq ahead of a crucial United Nations Security Council vote, just how far apart are the two sides on the pivotal issue of terrorism?
SECRET DETAINEES VOA 14 May 2003 -- A senior U-S military official is confirming for the first time that a number of terrorist suspects are being held at secret locations outside the United States. These secret locations are in addition to the known terrorist detention centers at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and an air base in Afghanistan.
SAUDI BOMBING INVESTIGATION VOA 14 May 2003 -- The Saudi government has linked Monday's deadly terrorist bombings in Riyadh to Osama bin-Laden's al-Qaida network and is vowing those responsible will be punished. F-B-I agents are heading to the country to investigate an attack that left eight Americans among the dead. But it's far from certain whether the real perpetrators will ever be brought to justice.
EDITORIAL: SAUDI ARABIA TERRORIST ATTACK VOA 14 May 2003 -- In Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, terrorists shot their way into three housing compounds and set off multiple suicide car bombs. More than two dozen people, including at least seven Americans, were killed. Nearly two-hundred people were wounded.
Saudis, Americans Had Worked to Prevent Riyadh Attacks AFPS 14 May 2003 -- American and Saudi intelligence and law enforcement officials had been concerned about an upcoming attack and "came close" to preventing it, the Saudi foreign minister said this morning.
World: Interpol Official Discusses Human Trafficking, Internet Pornography RFE/L 14 May 2003 -- Senior police officers and security experts from across Europe have gathered today in Noordwijk, Netherlands, for a three-day regional conference. They will discuss policing and international security issues such as terrorism, human trafficking, illegal immigration, cybercrime, and the drug trade.
U.S.: Washington Reduces Diplomatic Presence In Saudi Arabia Amidst Fears Of Terrorist Attacks RFE/L 14 May 2003 -- The United States has ordered a reduction in its diplomatic presence in Saudi Arabia as fears remain that the death toll from Monday's suicide bombings at three foreign compounds in Riyadh might rise well above the revised official figure of 25 released today by local authorities.
WALKER-SAUDI ARABIA VOA 14 May 2003 -- VOA's David Borgida speaks with Ambassador Edward Walker, president of the Middle East Institute. Ambassador Walker is a veteran diplomat, having served as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. He discusses the recent terrorist attacks in Riyadh.
HEYMAN - CHICAGO DRILL VOA 14 May 2003 -- With the five-day terrorism preparedness program, what is it that has been planned? How has it been structured?
SAUDI BOMBINGS VOA 14 May 2003 -- The American press is reacting with anger, horror, and new worry, at the well-coordinated terrorist bombings in Saudi Arabia. At least 29 people, including some terrorists, were killed and 200 or more injured.
ALGERIA / TOURISTS VOA 14 May 2003 -- Seventeen of 32 Western tourists missing since mid-February in Algeria have been found and are reported to be in good health. But the fate of the remaining 15 tourists is unclear. An Austrian government official has indicated the tourists were held hostage.
U-N TRAFFICKING VOA 14 May 2003 -- The United Nations says trafficking of human beings for prostitution and slave labor has become one of the fastest growing worldwide problems.
JAPAN CULT VOA 14 May 2003 -- Japanese police are conducting searches and seizing vehicles at a dozen sites linked to a cult that has become a media obsession in the country. The Pana Wave group has been traveling the Japanese countryside clad in white from head to toe - even swathing their vehicles in white sheets. There is growing concern about this group, which bears similarities to a cult that released poison gas in a deadly attack in the mid-1990's.
SAUDI BLASTS VOA 14 May 2003 -- Five additional victims of the suicide bombings Monday in Saudi Arabia have died, raising the death toll to at least 34. Stricter security measures are being taken in the kingdom as the search continues for those responsible for plotting the attacks.
Chechnya: Officials Say At Least 10 Killed In New Attack RFE/L 14 May 2003 -- Chechen officials say at least 10 people were killed today in a new attack in Chechnya.
W-H-O / SARS VOA 13 May 2003 -- The World Health Organization will soon be issuing new guidelines to prevent SARS from spreading. W-H-O officials say increased surveillance of those suspected of having SARS will be a key part of the new guidelines.
ASIA SARS VOA 13 May 2003 -- The World Health Organization says it might be close to canceling an advisory against travel to Hong Kong, which has been hard hit by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. While the number of new cases remains low, Hong Kong announced the loss of a second health-care worker to the disease.
CHINA/W-H-O SARS VOA 13 May 2003 -- World Health Organization officials are expressing cautious optimism about the fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in China. They are still worried that the mysterious disease could flare out of control in the vulnerable countryside.
SAUDI BLAST/AMERICAN DEAD VOA 13 May 2003 -- A leading U-S defense contractor has confirmed nine of its employees, including seven Americans, were among those killed in Monday night's terrorist bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia.
LEVITT-SAUDI ARABIA VOA 13 May 2003 -- And now joining us, Matthew Levitt, a Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
HILL-TERRORISM VOA 13 May 2003 -- Despite much anti-terrorism effort, the bombing attacks Monday in Chechnya as well as the attacks in Saudi Arabia show there is still much to be done.
SAUDI / BOMBING WRAP VOA 13 May 2003 -- A joint U-S-Saudi investigation into a series of terrorist bombings that heavily damaged several residential compounds for foreigners in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, has begun. At least 29 people, including seven Americans, are dead in what appears to be closely coordinated suicide attacks Monday night targeting westerners. Although no one has claimed responsibility, Secretary of State Colin Powell suspects the bombings may be the work of al-Qaida.
Hostile Environment Training VOA 13 May 2003 -- Today in Focus: training for a hostile environment. Fear of terrorism has slowed down many businesses, but it has also given a boost to some. A growing number of companies offer training for people traveling to unsafe or politically unstable parts of the world.
'Despicable' Saudi Bombings 'Have Fingerprints' of Al Qaeda AFPS 13 May 2003 -- Three suicide bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 12 were a "well-planned terrorist attack," Secretary of State Colin Powell said today while touring some of the damaged areas.
Cheney Assails Terrorism at Rumsfeld Award Presentation AFPS 13 May 2003 -- The only way to deal with terrorism is to destroy the terrorist networks, Vice President Richard Cheney said today.
Annan deplores 'heinous' terrorist bombings in Chechnya, Saudi Arabia UN News Centre 13 May 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today deplored the "heinous acts of terrorism" in the Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia over the past 24 hours, declaring that they were against "all decent tenets of religion, against human rights, indeed against humanity."
Powell Says Saudi Attack Will Not Deter U.S. Peace Efforts Washington File 13 May 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell condemned the terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia May 13, saying it "once again reminds us that terrorism is a global phenomenon that we all must fight."
Bombing in Riyadh Called "Well-Planned Terrorist Attack" Washington File 13 May 2003 -- State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker said the May 13 bombing in Saudi Arabia was as "a well-planned terrorist attack."
Bush Denounces Terrorist Attacks in Saudi Arabia Washington File 13 May 2003 -- President Bush denounced the terrorist attacks at three housing compounds for foreigners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the work of "killers whose only faith is hate" and said "the United States will find the killers, and they will learn the meaning of American justice."
Fact Sheet: Treasury Dept. on New $20 Bill Security Features Washington File 13 May 2003 -- The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in the Treasury Department has unveiled a new design for the $20 bill intended to better protect the U.S. currency against counterfeiting. Following is a May 13 fact sheet detailing security features of the new note
Fact Sheet: U.S. Treasury on New Dollar Notes Washington File 13 May 2003 -- A new design of the $20 bill is the first in a series U.S. efforts to counter digital techniques developed by counterfeiters to forge the U.S. currency, says the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in the Treasury Department, which unveiled the design May 13. Following is its fact sheet detailing new currency designs
Fact Sheet: U.S. Secret Service on Currency Protection Washington File 13 May 2003 -- A new design for the $20 bill unveiled May 13 will make the note harder to counterfeit and easier to check for authenticity, says the U.S. Secret Service, the agency in the Treasury Department responsible for the enforcement of laws relating to counterfeiting of obligations and securities of the United States. Following is a May 13 fact sheet on the new note and agency's efforts to fight counterfeiting of the U.S. currency
Transcript: U.S. and Saudis Pledge Cooperation to Combat Terrorism Washington File 13 May 2003 -- Speaking together in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, just hours after terrorist attacks killed an estimated ten Americans and numerous Saudi and international residents just outside Riyadh, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al Faisal bin Abdel Aziz pledged to increase their joint efforts to combat terrorism.
Text: U.S. Unveils First in New Series of Redesigned Dollar Notes Washington File 13 May 2003 -- The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in the Treasury Department has unveiled a new design for the $20 bill with upgraded security features, the first in a series of redesigned dollar notes.
Text: U.S. Redesignates Real IRA as Terrorist Organization Washington File 13 May 2003 -- Citing the activities of the Real IRA (RIRA) as a threat to the security of U.S. nationals and U.S. national security, the State Department on May 13 redesignated the group as a foreign terrorist organization under U.S. law.
Opium Poppy Cultivation in Colombia Down 25 Percent, Says ONDCP Washington File 13 May 2003 -- Opium poppy cultivation in Colombia and the production of heroin derived from that crop both decreased 25 percent in 2002, according to an estimate by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
Mexican Govt.'s Arrests of Drug Barons Disrupting Colombian Drug Networks Washington File 13 May 2003 -- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says the Mexican government's success in arresting the country's most powerful drug barons has caused "chaos" in cocaine-trafficking networks stretching from the U.S. border to drug laboratories in South American jungles.
Transcript: Powell Says Riyadh Attacks Will Not Deter U.S. Anti-terror Efforts Washington File 13 May 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says the attacks against western targets in Riyadh May 13, in which at least seven Americans were killed, "will not deter the United States" from continuing the war against terrorism.
Northrop Grumman Confirms Nine Employees Killed In Saudi Arabia Terrorist Attack Northrop Grumman 13 May 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) today confirmed that nine employees of its Vinnell Corporation subsidiary were killed Monday evening in an apparent terrorist attack on a company facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Identities of the deceased were not disclosed and the families of those employees have been notified.
CHECHNYA / BLAST VOA 13 May 2003 -- The death toll has risen to 54 following the truck bomb blast Monday on a government complex in Russia's breakaway region of Chechnya. Around 300 people were injured, many of them seriously. Questions are again being raised about security procedures at government facilities in the troubled region.
BUSH / SAUDI BLASTS VOA 13 May 2003 -- President Bush says the United States will help hunt down those responsible for Monday's suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia which killed at least 29 people, including seven Americans and nine suspected bombers.
SAUDI/BLASTS/POWELL VOA 13 May 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell got a first hand look Tuesday at the devastation caused late Monday by suicide bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The blasts targeted Westerners living in the kingdom. Saudi officials say at least 29 people were killed in the bombings, including seven Americans and nine bombers. Almost 200 others were injured.
Saudi Arabia: Suicide Blasts Target U.S., Other Foreigners Ahead Of Powell's Visit RFE/L 13 May 2003 -- series of suspected suicide car bombs rocked the Saudi capital Riyadh, last night, killing or wounding both Arabs and Western nationals. At least seven Americans were killed, but citizens from many other countries are among the casualties, including Saudis and Jordanians.
Transcript: U.S. and Saudis Pledge Cooperation to Combat Terrorism Washington File 13 May 2003 -- Speaking together in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, just hours after terrorist attacks killed at least ten Americans and numerous Saudi and international residents just outside Riyadh, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al Faisal bin Abdel Aziz pledged to increase their joint efforts to combat terrorism.
SAUDI / BLASTS VOA 13 May 2003-- Monday night's terrorist bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was the work of cowards, according to Secretary of State Colin Powell who's in the Saudi capital to discuss, among other things, combating terrorism. At least ten people are believed to have been killed and dozens of others injured in the late night suicide attacks
SAUDI / BLASTS VOA 13 May 2003-- At least ten people are believed dead and dozens others injured in a series of suicide attacks late Monday in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Secretary of State Colin Powell said the attacks, which took place in an area of the city where many Westerners lived, may have been the work of the terrorist group al-Qaida. Mr. Powell, who was in Jordan at the time of the attack, is due to arrive (has arrived) in Saudi Arabia for scheduled talks with Saudi officials
POWELL / SAUDI BOMBING VOA 13 May 2003-- U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell is (on his way to) in Saudi Arabia today where among the main issues he'll discuss with Saudi leaders will be Monday night's terrorist bomb attack against a residential compound in Riyadh, which housed foreigners. It's believed that at least 10 people were killed and at least 60 injured in the attack. Before heading to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Powell held a news conference in the Jordanian capital, Amman, where he said the attack bears the earmarks of al-Qaida
ISRAEL-ISLAMIC MOVEMENT VOA 13 May 2003 -- Israeli police have arrested 15 members of the country's Islamic Movement on charges that it has been helping to finance Palestinian terrorism. Police allege that the organization gave millions of dollars to Hamas, a group that is responsible for numerous suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks.
SAUDI/EXPLOSIONS VOA 12 May 2003 -- Four explosions rocked the capital of Saudi Arabia late Monday night, and reports say there are dozens of wounded and a number of people dead. Officials say at least some of the blasts occurred at compounds housing Westerners. The explosions came on the eve of a planned visit by U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell.
US Coast Guard acquires EADS CASA CN-235 EADS 12 May 2003 -- The US Coast Guard has decided to purchase two EADS CASA CN-235 aircraft as a first step of a multi-year, multi aircraft acquisition. The order was placed in the framework of the Deepwater programme, which is aimed at modernising and replacing the ageing surface and air fleet of the US Coast Guard.
"Law Provides Needed Tools," by Senator Orrin Hatch Washington File 12 May 2003 -- (This column by Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, was first published May 12 in USA Today.
U.S. Envoy to Russia Speaks Out on Terrorism, Non-Proliferation Washington File 12 May 2003 -- While the tools for dealing with terrorism are well understood and working, those for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are not, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow said in Moscow May 12.
TERRORISM DRILL VOA 12 May 2003 -- The first test of how well prepared the United States is for a terrorist attack -- one that could be far deadlier than the attacks of September 11th, 2001 -- is underway in Seattle, Washington. The five-day exercise will involve actors playing the role of the president and other top U-S officials during simulated terrorist attacks with biological and radioactive weapons.
FRANCE / BATASUNA VOA 12 May 2003 -- The Basque Batasuna Party is banned in Spain, for its alleged terrorist connections. Last week, it was added to a U-S list of terrorist organizations. But Batasuna remains legal -- and active -- in France.
BALI TRIAL VOA 12 May 2003-- The first person accused of involvement in last October's deadly bombing on the Indonesian island of Bali has gone on trial
ASIA SARS VOA 11 May 2003-- Hong Kong scientists have found that protein fragments used to fight the H-I-V virus may help combat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. And, Taipei will make commuters wear face masks in hope of curtailing the spread of SARS
ASIA/SARS VOA 10 May 2003 -- The World Health Organization has questioned how efficiently Beijing is dealing with the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, while the disease continues to spread in Taiwan.
Expert Commission Links Spread of SARS, China's Legal System Washington File 09 May 2003 -- The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) issued a report May 7 stating that Chinese government control of the means of publication and the lack of clear legal boundaries for free expression in China have inadvertently aided the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) by impeding the free flow of information in the country.
ASIA SARS VOA 09 May 2003-- Chinese health officials say at least 60 percent of SARS cases in Beijing cannot be traced to the source of infection - raising new concerns on how to contain the outbreak. While Taiwan Friday reported its single highest increase in patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
TRANSFER OF DETAINEES COMPLETED 09 May 2003 -- The Department of Defense announced today that thirteen (13) detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were transferred for release on May 7, 2003.
Senate Passes Bill to Ensure Air Cargo Security Washington File 09 May 2003 -- The Senate has passed a bill aimed at ensuring that all cargo transported by air is screened and inspected.
ASIA SARS / W-H-O VOA 08 May 2003 -- The World Health Organization has extended its SARS-related travel warning to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, the Chinese city of Tianjin and the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia. Lisa Schlein reports from W-H-O headquarters in Geneva that latest figures show there have more than 500 SARS-related deaths around the world, the vast majority of them in China.
RUSSIA / SARS VOA 08 May 2003 -- Health officials in Russia are investigating what they suspect may be the country's first case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Concern about SARS has led Russia to close most of its border crossings with China, where the disease has spread rapidly.
Lockheed Martin Awarded TSA's Integration and Training Services Contract Lockheed Martin 08 May 2003 -- "For job inquiries, please submit your resume through the Careers section of our web site.
ASIA SARS VOA 08 May 2003 -- The World Health Organization has advised travelers to avoid Taipei, due to the city's growing outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. And China's top leaders are admitting that SARS will cause problems for the country's economy.
SUICIDE BOMBERS VOA 08 May 2003 -- The suicide bomber, much in the news these days, is as perplexing as he is fearsome. What motivates him and occasionally her to sacrifice their lives in order to destroy a few people they do not know and who may be innocent of any crime?
World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition VOA 08 May 2003 -- Officials in New York City have announced an international competition to design a memorial to honor those who died at the World Trade Center. The memorial is part of a larger plan for the rebuilding of the area.
White House: War on Terrorism Continues Washington File 07 May 2003 -- The U.S. operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are successes in the fight against worldwide terror, but the campaign against the global threat continues, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters May 7, reminding them that "just last week" President Bush said "that the war on terrorism goes on."
ASIA SARS VOA 07 May 2003 -- Four World Health Organization doctors are visiting China's Hebei province, where cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome doubled to more than one hundred in the past week. The SARS outbreak in mainland China and Taiwan is still growing
CDC Reports SARS Containment Methods Working Washington File 07 May 2003 -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported May 6 that efforts to contain severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Singapore and Vietnam have been successful. In response, the agency is standing down from its travel advisory regarding the two nations that had suggested travelers avoid all but essential trips to those countries.
U.S., China to Increase Collaboration on Infectious Diseases Washington File 07 May 2003 -- Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tommy Thompson announced May 6 an agreement with China's Vice Premier and Health Minister Wu Yi to increase collaboration between the two nations to detect and manage infectious diseases, according to a news release from the HHS.
WHO revises estimates of fatality ratio in SARS cases UN News Centre 07 May 2003 -- The United Nations health agency today revised its initial estimates of the case fatality ratio of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), saying that the proportion of people who contract illness, and then are likely to die from it, depends on factors such as the age group affected.
RUSSIA / SARS VOA 07 May 2003 -- There are no confirmed SARS cases in Russia, but the country shares a nearly 45-hundred-kilometer border with China, and leading Russian health officials say they are not taking any chances.
Commercial mariners: key contributors to the war on terrorism Military sealift Command 07 May 2003 -- Heroism in wartime is usually associated with military soldiers serving on the frontlines. There are, however, war heroes who do not wear military uniforms or even work for the government.
WTC LAWSUIT / IRAQ VOA 07 May 2003 -- In a decision finding a thin link between Saddam Hussein's government and al-Qaida, a Federal Court judge in New York has awarded more than 100 million dollars to the families of two World Trade Center victims.
WTC/INVESTIGATION VOA 07 May 2003 -- An interim report by a federal agency investigating the collapse of the World Trade Center towers in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack indicates inadequate fireproofing on the floors may have contributed to the disaster.
U-S / SPAIN / TERRORISM VOA 07 May 2003 -- The United States is imposing anti-terrorist financial sanctions against three Spanish groups said to be front organizations for the Basque separatist guerrilla group ETA. The action was announced Wednesday only hours before a White House meeting between President Bush and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.
State Department Expands Basque Terrorist Group Designation Washington File 07 May 2003 -- Three groups associated with the Basque terrorist group ETA are being added to the list of groups named under Executive Order 13224, which blocks property and prohibits transactions with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism.
International Groups Join U.S. in Denouncing Killings by FARC in Colombia Washington File 07 May 2003 -- The international community has joined the United States in denouncing the May 5 assassinations of two Colombian political figures and eight members of the Colombian armed forces, who had been held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group.
U.S. Condemns Murders of Colombian Citizens by FARC Terrorists Washington File 07 May 2003 -- State Department spokesman Richard Boucher issued a statement May 6 condemning the May 5 murders of ten Colombian citizens, including Governor Guillermo Gaviria of Antioquia Province and former Defense Minister Gilberto Echeverri, by members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (known by the Spanish acronym FARC). The Bush Administration is "shocked and deeply saddened" by the murders, Boucher said.
Annan condemns Colombian rebel group for 'vicious' killing of hostages UN News Centre 07 May 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today strongly condemned the recent "vicious killings" of 10 hostages by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), calling the rebel group's action a "dangerous intensification of the conflict" that demanded immediate steps to stop the spiral of violence.
Preventing Terrorism on the Metro VOA 07 May 2003 -- While terrorism in the United States has primarily focused on the airline industry, Americans are becoming increasingly concerned that mass transit systems might be the next target.
LEBANON-EXPLOSION VOA 07 May 2003 -- A bomb targeting two Christian missionaries exploded outside their home in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli around midnight, killing a friend, but leaving the couple unharmed.
EDITORIAL: INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM REPORT VOA 07 May 2003 -- The overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq was a great victory in the war against terrorism. It is part of a U.S.-led campaign that began shortly after the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks on America. As the U.S. State Department's latest report on "Patterns of Global Terrorism" shows, terrorist attacks have declined sharply, from three-hundred-fifty-five in 2001 to fewer than two hundred in 2002.
Text: Air Passenger Identification System Protects Privacy, U.S. Says Washington File 06 May 2003 -- The Bush administration is confident that an upgraded system designed to confirm the identity of airline passengers will enhance aviation security while providing "solid guarantees" of privacy protection, a U.S. Homeland Security Department official says.
E-U / SARS VOA 06 May 2003 -- The head of the World Health Organization says it is too early to say whether the worldwide SARS epidemic has reached its peak. But Gro Harlem Brundtland says the disease can be contained and eliminated. Ms. Brundtland met Tuesday with European Union health ministers.
CDC Lowers SARS Travel Warnings for Singapore, Vietnam Washington File 06 May 2003 -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is downgrading its travel advisories for Vietnam and Singapore, finding that these Asian nations have successfully contained their outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
ASIA SARS VOA 06 May 2003 -- China's prime minister sees the SARS situation in Beijing as "grave," despite progress in the fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
U.S. Proposes Food Safety Record-Keeping Regulations Washington File 06 May 2003 -- The U.S. government has proposed new regulations requiring elements of the food industry to maintain records that would help officials track food in case of an emergency, including terrorism-related contamination, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced.
Colombia Praised as Strong Opponent of Terrorism, Illicit Drugs Washington File 06 May 2003 -- The United States has reiterated its appreciation to the government of Colombia for that Andean nation's strong support of the global fight against illicit drugs and terrorism.
Hong Kong Port Set to Implement Container Security Initiative Washington File 06 May 2003 -- The port of Hong Kong is about to implement the Container Security Initiative (CSI) for cargo containers destined for U.S. ports, the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security announced in a press release May 5.
U-S Livestock: Terrorist Target? VOA 06 May 2003 -- Authorities in the United States remain on high alert for a possible terrorist attack, but not just where people are direct targets. In states that raise a lot of livestock, a disease outbreak among cattle, swine or poultry could severely hurt the economy.
PENTAGON / HORN OF AFRICA VOA 06 May 2003 -- In six months of operations, the U-S military's special anti-terrorism task force in the Horn of Africa has failed to apprehend a single terrorist suspect. But that does not mean defense officials consider the effort a failure.
ALERGIA / TOURISTS VOA 06 May 2003 -- The fate of a group of missing European tourists in Algeria remains unknown Tuesday after government officials denied a state-run radio report that the tourists had been taken hostage by unknown kidnappers.
EDITORIAL: CAPTURE OF TAWFIQ ATTASH VOA 06 May 2003 -- Pakistani authorities have captured six suspected al-Qaida terrorists, including Tawfiq bin Attash [tah-feek bin AH-tash], also known as Khallad [HAH-lahd]. A citizen of Yemen, Attash is believed to have planned the terrorist bombing of the U.S. Navy ship Cole in October 2000 that killed seventeen American sailors. President George W. Bush explains why the arrest of Attash is important
TERRORISM DRILL VOA 05 May 2003 -- Just how prepared is the United States to respond to a terrorist attack involving radioactive and biological weapons? The nation could find out as soon as next week when authorities across the country take part in a five-day exercise designed to test how well emergency teams respond to an attack involving the type of weapons that U-S officials say al-Qaida, for one, is trying to acquire.
ASIA SARS VOA 05 May 2003 -- Chinese farmers attacked a government building where six people were quarantined after returning from areas infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. And in Hong Kong, the city's leader says he hopes the World Health Organization lifts its travel advisory as the number of new cases continues to fall.
U.S. Will Conduct Five-Day Simulated Terrorist Attack Exercise Washington File 05 May 2003 -- The United States will conduct a five-day, full-scale exercise and simulation -- dubbed TOPOFF 2 -- demonstrating how the nation would respond to a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) attack, the Department of Homeland Security announced.
FRANCE / G-8 VOA 05 May 2003 -- Finance and interior ministers from the Group of Eight industrialized countries meeting in Paris today (Monday) agreed to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism and other international crimes. From the French capital, The ministers are also working to develop high-tech identity papers of the future.
ALGERIA/TOURISTS VOA 05 May 2003 -- One day after the Algerian government confirmed that a group of European tourists had been kidnapped, the country's official radio station reported the captives would soon be set free.
PENTAGON/DETAINEES VOA 05 May 2003 -- Defense officials are preparing to release another batch of terrorist suspects from the special U-S detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
Radiological and Bioterror-Attack Exercise Starts May 12 AFPS 05 May 2003 -- Citizens of Chicago and Seattle shouldn't become alarmed if they see "space suit"-attired groups of people rushing around May 12.
ALGERIA / TOURISTS VOA 05 May 2003 -- Algerian officials have confirmed that a group of European tourists has been kidnapped and that negotiations are underway to secure their release.
Transcript: Powell Says U.S. Watching Syria's Anti-Terrorist Actions Washington File 04 May 2003 -- In a May 4 interview on ABC's This Week, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States will "be watching" to see whether or not Syria carries out its promises to shut down terrorist offices operating in its country and restrict the activities of terrorists in other ways.
ASIA SARS VOA 04 May 2003 -- Beijing will keep schools closed in a continued effort to curtail the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. A handful of schools in Taiwan have also been shut as Taipei cracks down on those breaking quarantine orders.
Transcript: Powell Calls Syria's Anti-Terrorist "Performance" Key Washington File 04 May 2003 -- In a May 4 interview on CBS's Face the Nation, Secretary of State Colin Powell said it was "significant" that Syria reportedly will close offices being used by terrorists in their country and restrict their activities in other ways.
ASIA/SARS WRAP VOA 03 May 2003 -- In a surprise reversal of its usual policy, Beijing has approved a visit by World Health Organization officials to Taiwan, to study the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome there.
War Against Terrorism Continues, Bush Tells Americans Washington File 03 May 2003 -- President Bush, in his weekly radio address to the nation May 3, said the campaign in Iraq is "one victory in a war on terror that still goes on." Terrorist networks remain active, he warned, and the proliferation of deadly weapons remains a serious threat. "The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we," he said.
War on Terror Moving Forward, Bush Says Washington File 02 May 2003 -- President Bush, in remarks May 2 to employees at United Defense Industries in Santa Clara, California, said the war on terror is moving forward as a result of the allied success in removing from power the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein.
SARS/WRAP VOA 02 May 2003 -- In Beijing, a medical expert says Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome will continue to spread for some time. But in Hong Kong, health officials are cautiously optimistic because the daily number of new SARS cases is consistently lower than it was.
Visa Fraud Case at U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka Leads to Nine Indictments Washington File 02 May 2003 -- After an 11-month investigation involving U.S. and Sri Lankan authorities, two former American employees of the U.S. Embassy in Colombo were indicted in Sacramento, California, on charges relating to visa fraud.
DOD Legal Officials Ready Rules for Future Military Commissions Washington File 02 May 2003 -- A senior U.S. defense official says that legal instructions are now ready for trial of potential war criminals by U.S. military commissions if President Bush decides to name individuals to be considered for prosecution.
U.S. Expands Enforcement of Maritime Cargo Security Rules Washington File 02 May 2003 -- The U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is expanding enforcement of the "24-hour rule" that requires advance cargo declarations for vessels sailing from foreign ports to the United States.
Transcript: Background Briefing on the Release of Military Commission Instructions 02 May 2003 -- "The general counsel of the Department of Defense has issued eight military commission instructions that would be necessary to conduct possible future military commissions. (...) The issuing of these instructions is another step DoD has taken towards being prepared to conduct full and fair military commissions, should the president make a determination that commissions are necessary."
DoD ISSUES MILITARY COMMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 02 May 2003 -- The General Counsel of the Department of Defense today issued eight military commission instructions that would facilitate the conduct of possible future military commissions.
SARS and Biodefense VOA 02 May 2003 -- After returning in late April from a trip to China, Senator Bill Frist, a medical doctor by training, had this to say about the new disease SARS: "With a virus like this, which knows no borders and has no geographic boundaries, the world is at risk, including Americans." But while China and other countries around the world struggle to contain the SARS virus, the United States has thus far managed to stave off outbreaks around the country. Is this due to luck or to the benefits of biodefense systems that have been put in place after September 11 and the anthrax attacks of 2001?
EDITORIAL: COMBATING TERRORISM IN ASIA VOA 02 May 2003 -- The war against terrorism is global. In November, the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations strengthened their resolve to fight terrorism. Since then, the ASEAN countries have tightened financial controls, improved border controls, and increased protection of trade routes. And, said U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, "Countries that once had reservations about intelligence sharing, are now among the strongest advocates"
PENTAGON / TRIBUNALS VOA 02 May 2003 -- Defense officials have moved another step closer to clearing the way for the first military trials of foreign-born terrorist suspects.
Number of new SARS cases in China continues to climb, UN health agency says UN News Centre 01 May 2003 -- The number of new cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in China continues to climb steadily, particularly in Beijing, with 187 new cases and 11 deaths, more than half of which were in the capital, the United Nations World Health Organization said today.
SARS/GENOME VOA 01 May 2003 -- U-S and Canadian researchers have shed some light on the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS. Scientists say the additional information should aid in the development of a treatment and vaccine to fight the pneumonia-like illness.
ASIA/SARS VOA 01 May 2003-- Emergency measures are keeping most Beijing residents at home this May Day, as China scrambles to react to the spread of atypical pneumonia
SARS/ASIA ECONOMIES VOA 01 May 2003-- A regional plan announced this week to deal with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is being seen as a possible turning point for Asian economies hit hard by the disease.
"Success in the Global War on Terrorism," by J. Cofer Black Washington File 01 May 2003 -- Following is an op-ed by Ambassador J. Cofer Black, the Department of State's Coordinator for Counterterrorism, on improvements in the global war on terrorism released May 1.
Bush Asks Senate to Ratify Changes to Customs Convention Washington File 01 May 2003 -- President Bush has asked the Senate to ratify changes in an international customs agreement called the Kyoto Convention that he says would further reduce non-tariff barriers to international trade.
Cheney Calls Ending Links Between Terrorists, Rogue States "Vital" Washington File 01 May 2003 -- Vice President Dick Cheney says ending alliances between terrorist organizations and rogue states will continue to be a vital element of U.S. strategy in the war on terrorism.
Foreign Visitor Registration Program Called "Great Success" Washington File 01 May 2003 -- Suspected terrorists, convicted felons and drug traffickers are among the 733 people arrested as a result of the U.S. National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), implemented September 11, 2002, says a U.S. Justice Department official.
U-S/TERROR LAW VOA 01 May 2003 -- With Iraq now free of Saddam Hussein, the Bush administration is expected to refocus on terrorism as the main threat to homeland security. At the same time, civil liberties groups around the country are gearing up to oppose any administration efforts to expand a sweeping set of anti-terrorism laws that they contend give the U-S government too much power to monitor its own citizens.

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May 2003 Security News