Iraqis agree on an interim constitution After marathon talks to settle ethnic and religious disputes an agreement was reached. The council missed the Feb 28 deadline. The document will be officially signed on March 3.
America's Al-Qaeda spy Canadian Abdurahman Khadr, just recently released by America from Guantanamo Bay, admitted on CBC television that his family had links to Al Qaeda. He said after being captured by the Americans in Afghanistan, he was recruited to work for the CIA, the FBI and the U.S. military, then later as a spy at the U.S. prison facility in Guantanamo Bay. He claims he was then sent to Sarajevo to try to penetrate Al-Qaeda as a US spy.
Iraqi Constitution signing delayed The signing was delayed after the March 2 bombings, and again today after five Shiite members of Iraq's Governing Council refused to sign the new interim constitution. They were upset about concessions made to Kurds and the makeup of the presidency.
Sharon to delay Gaza pullout Israel will delay the pullout until after the U.S. presidential election in November 2004, according to a security official. Sharon's popularity rating is at an all-time low, with a majority of Israelis believing he should resign.
Iraqi secret policeman 'was paid by al-Qa'eda to bomb civilians' Mohammed Hanoun Hamoud al-Mozani, a former Iraqi intelligence officer captured by police after the March 2 bombings in Baghdad and Karbala reveals that he was paid by al-Qa'eda to carry out attacks on civilians.
Terrorist bombs kill nearly 200 people on trains in rush-hour attack in Madrid Spain A number of bombs hidden in backpacks exploded in quick succession destroying four commuter trains. At least 198 people killed, 1400 injured. Spain blamed Basque separatists, but a shadowy group claimed responsibility in the name of al-Qaida. This was the worst terrorist attack in Spain's history.
IAEA puts the heat on Tehran The US and other European countries drafted a tough statement that comes close to accusing Tehran of pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program. They were alarmed by the continuous stream of new revelations concerning Iran's nuclear activities despite its claims that all had been revealed. For it's part, Iran, angered by the statement, served notice that it planned to restart uranium enrichment.
Spain's Zapatero, a Bush ally, loses election The first of Bush's Iraq war allies has fallen; Spanish voters have swept Jose Maria Aznar and his centre-right government from power in the shadow of the March 11 train bombings. Socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is the new Prime Minister.
Attack on Hotel in Baghdad At least 17 people killed, 45 injured, most of them Iraqis. The US military said the explosion was caused by a 450kg car bomb packed with artillery ordnance.
No proof of Iranian nuclear weapons Mohammed ElBaradei, President of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency told US congressional lawmakers that he has no "specific proof" that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
Israel Assassinates Sheik Yassin The blind quadriplegic was hit by Helicopter fired missles as he was pushed in his wheelchair home from morning prayers. Sheik Yassin is the founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, blamed by Israel for inspiring hundreds of suicide bombings. Hamas has declared open war, saying there will not be 1 response, but many.
RIchard Clark's book "Against all Enemies" released In the book, Clarke writes that Bush and his Cabinet failed to recognize the al-Qaida threat before Sept. 11, 2001. In a curious move, even as they try to defend the Bush Administration against claims of lax anti-terrorism efforts, Senior cabinet members such has Dick Cheney and Condolezza Rice have claimed the former Chief Anti-Terrorism Coordinator wasn't in the loop.
Britain's MI5 fooled by Al-Qaeda double agent As friendly European governments repeatedly called for his arrest, Britain ignored the warnings about Abu Qatada's links to terrorist groups and refused to take action. They were hoping to use the cleric as an informer against Islamic militants in Britain. Abu Qatada convinced MI5 he could prevent terrorist attacks in Britain and expose dangerous extremists arriving in the country. But they not reveal that he was all along setting up a safe haven for terrorists in Britain.
Sadr's newspaper is closed by US forces The Al-Hawza newspaper is closed for allegedly inciting violence against coalition troops. The move sparked large demonstrations outside the U.S. headquarters in Baghdad.
Philippine President says Madrid-level bombing averted President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said a major terrorist attack has been averted in Manila with the arrests of four Abu Sayyaf members and the confiscation of 80 pounds of TNT. It is believed the explosives were to have been used to bomb trains and shopping malls. Arroyo said one of the men arrested claimed responsibility for a Feb. 27 explosion on a ferry that killed more than 100 people.
8 suspected terrorists arrested in London British Police arrested the men and seized a 1/2 ton of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer compound that can be used to make bombs.
Iraqis hang contractors' burnt bodies from a bridge Four American security contractors were attacked and killed, their bodies mutilated as Iraqi civilians cheered.
