Morning News Roundup

UK may cut Iraq force in half by mid-2007
published: 08.22.06, 14:23

Britain may cut its force in Iraq in half by the middle of next year after handing over security responsibility for the south to Iraqis within nine months, a senior British commander said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters on condition he not be identified, the commander said Britain would leave "Quite a significantly smaller force than we've got now, but probably in the region of 3,000 to 4,000 people based in a single location." (Reuters)

Iran 'fires on Romanian oil rig'
Published: 08.22.06, 14:44


A Romanian oil rig off the coast of Iran came under fire from an Iranian warship and was later occupied by Iranian troops, a company spokesman said. The Iranians first fired into the air and then fired at the Orizont rig, said GSP spokesman Radu Petrescu. Half an hour later, troops from the ship boarded and occupied the rig and the company lost contact with the 26 crew members shortly afterward. (AP)

Iran hands over reply to nuclear incentives offer
Published: 08.22.06, 16:26


Iran on Tuesday handed over its reply to an incentives package by world powers aimed at allaying Western fears that Tehran seeks to build atomic bombs, Iran's state-run Arabic-language Al-Alam television reported. Ali Larijani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, gave the response to foreign envoys representing the six co-sponsors of the package in Tehran. (Reuters)

2 Kidnapped Soldiers Alive but 'Not in Good Condition'
21:31 Aug 21, '06 / 27 Av 5766

(IsraelNN.com) The two IDF soldiers kidnapped by Hizbullah terrorists July 12 are alive but not in "great" condition, an Italian senator told Reuters News Agency Monday. The senator, Sergio de Gregario, also stated that Iran wants to negotiate the release of the two soldiers, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. He said Iran preferred that negotiations on releasing the hostages take place with Italy's intelligence agency. Iran and Italy are trade partners.
Hizbullah released a kidnapped Israeli businessman and the bodies of three soldiers two years in exchange for more than 420 Arab prisoners.

Britain Charges 8 Muslims In Airplane Bombing Plot
05:00 Aug 22, '06 / 28 Av 5766

(IsraelNN.com) Britain has officially charged eight British Muslims of Pakistani origin with plotting to blow up several airplanes headed toward the United States. Police revealed they confiscated bomb-making equipment, suicide notes and videos aimed at publicizing their being martyrs. Three others were charged with other terror-related offenses. The terror cell planned to bring liquid explosives on board and then prepare them for mid-air explosion. One of those charged was a 17-year-old man who possessed a book on home-made bombs, suicide notes, wills "with the identities of persons prepared to commit acts of terrorism" and a map of Afghanistan.

Son of Number Two Hizbullah Leader Killed in Battle
08:25 Aug 22, '06 / 28 Av 5766

(IsraelNN.com) Naim Kassam, deputy to Hizbullah terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallah, told the Arab Al Jazeera television station that his son was killed in clashes with the IDF in Lebanon. Israel estimates that it killed more than 500 Hizbullah terrorist guerillas. Nasrallah's son also fought against Israel but was not wounded. In previous clashes, another one of his sons was killed.

Italian Troops Won´t Go to Lebanon If Shooting Continues
16:23 Aug 22, '06 / 28 Av 5766

(IsraelNN.com) The Italian foreign minister stated that his country expects Israel to honor the cease-fire and not continue any firing. Minister D’Alema added that Hizbullah has to be disarmed. “We can’t send our forces if Israeli soldiers continue to put their fingers on the triggers."

Bomb scare forces Sydney-bound plane back to China
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Chinese plane bound for Australia was forced to make an emergency landing in southern China after a note was found on board warning of a bomb, an airline official said Tuesday. Authorities in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou found no trace of a bomb and later allowed the plane to resume its overnight flight to Sydney, airline officials said. Some 20 minutes after the China Southern Airlines flight departed Wednesday evening from Guangzhou, a note was found in a lavatory warning that a bomb would explode, airline spokesman Jeff Ruffolo said. The pilot turned the plane around and authorities in Guangzhou searched the Airbus A330 for two hours, but found nothing.


UNIFIL to be cleared to shoot in self-defense
Associated Press Aug. 22, 2006

UN peacekeepers in Lebanon will likely have the right to open fire to defend themselves and to protect civilians, but will be barred from actively searching for Hizbullah weapons, a French report said Tuesday. Le Monde newspaper said it had obtained a copy of a 21-page document laying out the provisional rules of engagement for the force, newly strengthened under a UN Security Council resolution. The document, not yet approved, was stamped "UN Restricted," the newspaper said. The Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to calls seeking confirmation. While the United Nations is trying to secure more troops to boost the force from 2,000 troops to up to 15,000, many European countries have been unwilling to commit peacekeepers without establishing more explicit rules of engagement. EU officials in Brussels were to meet Wednesday

Hezbollah official discusses blockade

By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer

A Hezbollah Cabinet minister on Tuesday said the government may try to break the Israeli naval and air blockade of Lebanon by calling on ships and aircraft to travel to Lebanese ports without prior Israeli approval.

Lebanon truce increasingly tenuous as UN seeks peacekeepers

AFP

A nine-day-old truce in Lebanon is appearing increasingly tenuous as the United Nations still struggled to find European countries willing to commit forces to keep the peace between Israel and Hezbollah. Despite intense negotiations since the truce came into effect on August 14 and warnings that it could unravel if more peacekeepers fail to deploy quickly, few European countries have made firm commitments.

Olmert's coalition hit by row
Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition government was jolted on Tuesday by a row over financing the war in Lebanon, a week after a shaky ceasefire with Hizbollah guerrillas took effect. Tensions flared after members of Olmert's top coalition partner, the left-leaning Labor party, balked at supporting a two billion shekel ($459 million) budget cut to cover military expenses and help northern Israel recover from the war.

Bush popularity gets a boost after terror plot
AFP
US President George W. Bush's popularity got a five percent boost after the arrest in Britain of the suspects in the terror plot to blow up US-bound passenger planes, a recent poll said.

Iran says it seeks fresh nuclear talks with West

Reuters

Iran said on Tuesday it hoped its response to an incentives package from world powers would lead to fresh negotiations on its nuclear dispute but gave no sign of heeding a key U.N. demand that it freeze uranium enrichment.