American Passports Found on Bodies of Al Qaeda Fighters in

Somalia
Al QAEDA/SOMALIA
American Passports Found on Bodies of Al Qaeda Fighters in Somalia
A senior official in the Somali government's new Ministry of the Interior told ABC News government
forces had recovered "dozens of foreign passports," including several American passports, on the
bodies of al Qaeda fighters killed in combat between forces affiliated with the Union of Islamic
Courts (UIC) and Ethiopian forces in Somalia. (ABC News)
Al Qaeda's No. 2 Gets an Early Start in 2007
Al Qaeda's No. 2, Ayman al Zawahri, is starting off the new year with a statement entitled, "Rise Up
to Bring Victory to Your Brothers in Somalia," according to an extremist Website. (ABC News)
IRAQ NEWS
U.S. Civilian Contractor Said Kidnapped In Iraq
An American civilian contractor and two Iraqi translators have been taken hostage near the southern
Iraqi city of Basra, Iraqi officials in Basra said on Friday. (Reuters)
U.S. Team In Charge Of Iraq Is Reshuffled
President George W. Bush has revamped the team leading U.S. military and diplomatic efforts in
Iraq while still mulling over changes in actual policy promised for next week. (BBC)
Iranians 'Up To No Good' In Iraq
Five Iranians arrested by US troops in Baghdad last month were on a covert mission to influence
Iraq's government, British officials have told the BBC. (BBC)
2006 LONDON PLOT
Pakistan Court Remands London Plot Suspect in Custody
A Pakistani judge ordered on Friday that a Pakistani-British man suspected of involvement in an al
Qaeda plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliners be remanded in custody. (Reuters)
NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR
North Korea Prepping Nuclear Weapons Test
North Korea appears to have made preparations for another nuclear test, according to U.S. defense
officials. (ABC News)
AFGHANISTAN
Fifteen Taliban Killed In Afghan Clash: Police
NATO and Afghan government troops killed 15 Taliban fighters in a clash in a restive southern
province, police said on Friday. (Reuters)
LITVINENKO INVESTIGATION
Polonium-210 Found In Restaurant
The radioactive element believed to have killed ex-Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko has been
detected in another central London restaurant. (BBC)
AUSTRALIA
Weapons Link to Australian 'Plot'
Australian police have arrested a man they suspect of involvement in the theft of military rocket
launchers and their alleged sale to a terror suspect. (BBC)
THAILAND
More Coup Rumours Rattle Bangkok
The New Year bombs that killed three people in the Thai capital were part of a concerted bid to
undermine the post-coup government, the army chief said on Friday after rumours of another
military putsch swept the jittery city. (Reuters)
News Analysis: Thailand A Country in Commotion
By Seth Mydans
A string of lethal bombs that disrupted New Year's celebrations here has brought into the open a
simmering confrontation between the ruling military junta and the opponents it unseated in a coup
three months ago. (International herald Tribune)
SPAIN
Police Find More Explosives in Basque Country
Police found another stash of explosives in the Basque Country on Friday as rescue workers tried to
uncover the body of a second man killed by a huge ETA car bomb at Madrid airport last Saturday.
(Reuters)
BIRD FLU
Vietnam Warned On Bird Flu Threat
Vietnam's latest outbreak of bird flu poses a huge threat to public health, the head of the World
Health Organization (WHO) in the country says. (BBC)
DUKE LACROSS INVESTIGATION
Lacrosse Player Sues Duke