|
Bali attack blamed on Al Qaida
Indonesia's government has accused Al Qaida of being behind the most deadly terrorist attack since September 11th. Investigators from the archipelago, Australia, the US and UK have begun a probe into exactly who was behind the explosion in Bali which killed nearly 190 mainly young tourists. More than three hundred locals and visiting backpackers and surfers were injured. Witnesses have reported seeing a car blocking a street near the nightclubs. Once the explosives were detonated, a fire swept through Kuta Beach destroying building after building. National press accuses President Megawati Sukarnoputri of failing to crackdown on Islamic extremists who may have links to Al Qaida, such as Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the presumed head of Jemaah Islamyah. Sukarnoputri has in the past argued that everyone has a right to their opinion, but the Foreign Minister now admits the country faces a serious threat from terrorism. Indonesia's military threat
As the world's largest Muslim nation, many commentators have long warned that Indonesia risks becoming a hotbed for Islamic militants. The country has traditionally been tolerant of religious differences, but since September 11th, its scattered militant factions are believed to have been mobilised by more sophisticated groups, such as Osama Ben Laden's Al-Qaeda. However, until now, Indonesian authorities have been slow to react to threats of terrorism, partly because the government relies on the support of Islamic political parties. Jakarta's even been warned by Malaysia and Singapore that unless it cracks down on militants, groups such as Jemaah Islamayah, could jeopardise stability across the whole region. It allegedly wants to create a Muslim super-state. Rohan Gunaratna, who wrote a book on Al-Qaeda, believes they carried out the Bali bombing. "There is no other group in Indonesia with the intention and the capability to conduct an attack of this magnitude." Abou Bakar Ba'asyir, is believed to be the spiritual leader of the Jemaah Islamyah. He's regularly expressed admiration for Ben Laden and is wanted by Malaysian and Singapore authorities over terrorism inquiries. Nevertheless he remains at large despite calls for his arrest. Recently he accused the United States of orchestrating a global campaign to "make it look as if there are terrorists in Indonesia, so they can come over and intervene" The Bali bombing is the latest in a series of terrorist actions across the region. In 1995, police in the Philippines discovered material linked to those who carried out the New York World Trade Centre bombing two years earlier. Earlier this month elsewhere in the Philippines, a US solider was killed in another explosion. The country is also home to Abou Sayyaf guerrillas and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, two other groups suspected of having links with al-Qaeda. In Malaysia, authorities say some of those behind the September 11th attacks regularly held meetings. And traces of the militant network have also been found in Singapore where police claim to have smashed a terrorist ring planning to attack British and US targets. One of the world's most popular tourist resorts transformed into a morgue
The remaining foreigners in Bali following Saturday's attack have gathered at a Crisis Centre pinning up names and photographs of loved ones and friends still missing after the explosion. Only thirty-nine bodies have been identified. Many victims were blown into pieces or incinerated in the bombing. Among the injured, many are in a critical condition in hospital. Australia bore the brunt of the casualties with thirteen confirmed dead and over two hundred unaccounted for. Britain also suffered with around eighteen of its nationals killed. Ice is being flown in from abroad as the bodies of Indonesians, US, Swedish, Dutch, French, German and South Korean victims pile up. Britons tell of horror in Bali
British tourists have been arriving home from Bali. Many of them have cut short their holidays following the nightclub bombing. Dozens of Britons were caught up in the carnage; many burst into tears as they were reunited with relieved relatives. One woman recounted how she and her friends had reacted when the bomb went off: "The walls came in on us...I opened the back door, I heard screaming, my boyfriend said get dressed, get to the beach, everyone was running and screaming they were covered in blood. We sat on the beach together in a circle, just talking, it was horrible." Prime Minister Tony Blair is to make a statement to parliament tomorrow but he has already promised co-ordinated action against terrorists. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street he said the attack in Bali was proof of the appalling depths to which extremists would sink: "It is also important now that we consider what further action we can take at an international level to make sure that these groups are dealt with and dealt with properly before many more innocent lives are lost." Britain's Foreign Minister says the explosions in Bali will not weaken a US-British drive against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Britain suspends Northern Ireland's devolved assembly
London has seized back control of Northern Ireland from the power-sharing government. Britain's Minister for the province, John Reid, said he hoped direct rule would be short-lived: "Recent difficulties stem from a loss of confidence and trust on both sides of the community. In particular, it is essential that concerns about the commitment to exclusively democratic and non-violent means are removed. " Hardline unionist leader Ian Paisley welcomed London's move: "It's a very good thing- we've got rid of a rotten thing. There have been more killings and bombings under this regime than there were before it came into being. This is a very good day for Northern Ireland because we are coming back to the grassroots and they are going to be heard." At the other end of the spectrum is Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Fein, political allies of the Irish Republican Army. Adams accused Britain of pandering to opponents of devolved government: "It is a crisis, it's a serious crisis but it needs to be sorted and Sinn Fein is in the business of sorting it out." After claims of an IRA spy ring in the heart of the Stormont government, the main unionist party had threatened to quit the executive unless London expelled Sinn Fein. Chavez hits out at critics
President Hugo Chavez has promised that his self-styled "revolution" will continue. He was speaking at a huge demonstration in the Venezuelan capital Caracas. Chavez claimed 2 million turned out to support him yesterday. Although no independent estimate was available, there were more than the estimated one million who protested against the left-wing former paratrooper on Thursday, calling for his resignation. Yesterday's rally came exactly six months after Chavez was restored to office by loyal troops after a failed coup attempt by disgruntled army officers. Chavez scoffed at an opposition ultimatum to call a national strike if he did not resign and call early elections by Wednesday. Serbian Presidential elections flop due to low turn-out
The results of Presidential elections in Serbia were read out, but they will not stand due to insufficient voter turnout. Instead they will have to be held all over again. In the meantime the Balkan republic faces a period of political uncertainty and possible paralysis. This second round of voting was a run off between two veterans of the alliance that toppled Slobodan Milosevic. Vojislav Kostunica, the current Yugoslav President and Miroljub Labus a liberal economist. Kosutnica who is a moderate nationalist got the vast majority of votes : 66.4 per cent. But only 45.9 per cent of Serbia's population turned out, well short of the legal minimum of 50 per cent. Western diplomats fear politicians will now focus on the re-run rather than push on with the economic and political reforms. Voters stayed away from the run-off out of disappointment at negative campaigning and the economic situation Berlusconi pushes Fiat to keep factories open
Summoned to see the Prime Minister, Fiat's management have held high-level talks with Silvio Berlusconi over the future of the struggling Italian car giant. The company said last week it wants to close some of its factories in an effort to save money. Berlusconi has said he wants them kept open, and his government will help by finding other ways to strengthen the market. If Fiat's executives agree then it could be good news for the thousands of workers who face the threat of redundancy. Last week many took to the streets in protest over the company's plans. Fiat had said it planned to axe 8100 jobs, that is around 20 percent of its entire workforce, in an effort to cut capacity amid a sales slump. In a statement released to the press, Berlusconi said, "The Italian government is exploring various hypotheses for a strategic strengthening of the auto sector". There has been no word of what these hypotheses are though or whether or not Fiat's management are in agreement. Assasination of Palestinian militant sparks fears of revenge attacks.
One of the heads of the armed Palestinian group the Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade has been killed in an explosion in telephone booth in Bethlehem. The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction has blamed the Israeli government. The incident has raised the spectre of revenge attacks in the region. The killing came just hours after two Palestinians, one a toddler were killed and more than 30 were injured in the Gaza Strip when Israeli troops raided a crowded refugee camp to demolish houses it claims covered tunnels used for arms smuggling. The raid coincided with US criticism of Israel for failing to ease the difficult living conditions of ordinary Palestinians. The Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is due to leave for the United States tonight to meet the President George W. Bush. Talks are expected to focus on the conflict with the Palestinians and how that is affecting Bush's support for his so-called war on terror. |
