Powell says massive explosion in North Korea Thursday will be investigated. Officials in Washington, Seoul and London have played down suggestion that Pyongyang may have staged its first nuclear test on its national day, despite the 4-km mushroom cloud over the blast area, which also contains large missile arsenal.
More than 60,000 pro-settlement demonstrators rallied peacefully in Jerusalem’s Zionist Square Sunday night to denounce Sharon’s disengagement-evacuation plan. Banners said plan to withdraw from Gaza was sundering nation and called Sharon dictator.
At start of Sunday cabinet meeting, Sharon accused settlement leaders of stirring up civil strife, demanded that security forces be left out of controversy
DEBKAfile’s political sources: Fresh public controversy erupts over Gaza evacuations and their perils sparked by unpublished decision by finance minister Netanyahu to challenge Sharon for PM candidacy at next Likud primary.
Four US soldiers injured were among casualties of violent clashes in central Baghdad Sunday in which 28 Iraqis were killed, 13 in Haifa Street known as rebel stronghold when mob torched US Bradley disabled by roadside bomb. Green Zone government HQ suffered one of its heaviest mortar-rocket barrages.
Also Sunday, car bomber attempted to crash Abu Ghraib prison gates and was shot dead. Iraqi police officers attacked in other parts of capital.
Ongoing US force offensive against terrorist targets in rebel strongholds of Fallujah, Tel Afar on road to Syria, and Baghdad’s Shiite district, extended to Sunni town of Ramadi west of Baghdad, Latifya and Mahmudia further south.
DEBKAfile confirms scheduled US-Iraqi autumn anti-insurgency, anti-al Qaeda campaign is underway. Iraqi PM Allawi is again threatened in Internet message purportedly from terrorist Zarqawi who promises “the traitor will get his due.”
Six armed Egyptian students detained two weeks ago at Nitzana border. They had spent three years plotting to kidnap Israeli soldiers, seize tank and stage terror attack in Mitzpe Ramon, southern Israel.
Large manhunt mounted by Kfar Saba police Sunday for three Palestinians who snatched security chief’s M16 rifle at Sdeh Warburg. One made off on foot, two in white Honda Civic
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