Belgian police arrest 'al Qaeda legend' (2)

"Most Muslims love Osama. It was he who helped the oppressed. It was he who stood up against the biggest enemy in the world, the United States. We love him for that," she told CNN then.
Gazing into CNN's cameras she said, "It's the pinnacle in Islam to be the widow of a martyr. For a woman it's extraordinary."
"Most of those arrested" Thursday had Belgian passports, the police source said. All 14 are of Moroccan descentThree of the suspects had traveled to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region to participate in fighting or training camps, and were in contact with an unnamed suspect who had direct links to important al-Qaeda figures, police said.
Two of those three returned to Belgium several months ago and started surveillance operations, and the third returned to Belgium a week ago, police said. Intelligence showed that third person was ready to carry out a suicide attack, police said.
Information showed the suspect who was to carry out the attack had received the green light to execute the operation, police said. Investigators noted the suspect had said goodbye to his family "because he wanted to go to paradise with a clear conscience," police said.
Authorities also found a video meant for the suspect's family, which police said was probably a farewell tape. They did not find any explosives, the police said in a statement.
The 14 suspects were arrested after police carried out 16 search warrants in Brussels and one in the western Belgian city of Liege. During those searches, police seized computer equipment and documents and the 14 people, including the three who traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan and 11 others suspected of having given them logistical and material support.
Police said their investigation has been under way intensively since the end of 2007. (CNN)

Belgian police arrest 'al Qaeda legend'

Belgian police Thursday arrested a woman they called an "al-Qaeda living legend" as part of an operation to thwart a terror attack being planned to coincide with an EU summit in Brussels, a Belgian police source told CNN.
Malika El-Aroud is the widow of one of the men who killed Afghan anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Shah Massoud.
Police seized 14 people, one of whom was planning to carry out a suicide attack in Belgium, the source said. They had contacts at the "highest levels of al-Qaeda," the source said.
The police source said officers "had only 24 hours to act."
The leaders of the European Union's 27 member states are meeting in Brussels Thursday and Friday. It is not clear that the heads of state and government themselves were the target of the planned attack.
The federal prosecutor's office in Belgium identified one of the suspects as Malika El-Aroud, the widow of one of the men who assassinated a key opponent of the Taliban in Afghanistan two days before September 11, 2001.
El-Aroud's late husband was one of two men who killed Ahmed Shah Massoud, a leader of the Northern Alliance, in a suicide mission ordered by Osama Bin Laden.
Belgian police aimed to prevent El-Aroud, whom the police source called an "al-Qaeda living legend," from moving to Afghanistan to play a role in the fight against the coalition forces there, the source said.
She is thought to be a recruiter for the anti-Western network, rather than a fighter, the source said.
El-Aroud described the "love" she and her late husband felt for Osama bin Laden in a 2006 interview with CNN.(CNN)

Obama Wins Electoral Vote in Nebraska

Alone among all other states, Nebraska and Maine use a tiered system for awarding electoral votes, in which a single elector is awarded based on votes within each Congressional district and two electors are awarded to the winner of the statewide popular vote. Yesterday, the Omaha World-Herald announced:

For the first time ever, a blue circle will appear in Nebraska on national electoral maps.

Democrat Barack Obama won the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District on Friday, scooping up one of the state's five electoral votes.

... "We always knew we could do it, but it would be an uphill climb. It's great to see a little corner of Nebraska turn blue," said John Berge, state director for the Obama campaign.

Berge said the victory was a tribute to all the work done by staffers and the hundreds of Obama volunteers who manned telephones and walked neighborhoods in the Omaha metropolitan area.

Tuesday's election is the first time since 1964 that Nebraska has awarded an electoral vote to a Democrat.

The Nebraska results give Obama 365 electoral votes to John McCain's 162. Only Missouri and its 11 electoral votes remain undecided.(Christopher Hass)

Condition of the Bali bombing victims now

Denpasar - Victims of Bali bombing in 2002 that many experienced permanent disability, such as burns. They request the assistance of health to be routine treatment to the hospital to the government.

The one of the victims of 2002 Bali bomb Chusnul Chotimah said, "We hope the government less concerned with the victims of a permanent disability such as this." she said it in her home in Tuban, Kuta, on Thursday (6/11/2008).

Chusnul is one of the victims of the Bali bomb survivors. She was the victim of explosion at Paddy's, which burns in the entire body and face. Burns in the face until now still have results.

However, the request of Chusnul not get a response from the local government. She also request the assistance of health to President with send a letter.

"Dear Mr. President, please also a little concerned with the fate of Bali bomb victim 2002 with Askeskin provide assistance so that we can be treated regularly to the hospital," said Chusnul the contents of a letter sent in early August 2008.

In addition to the request of health assistance, in her letter Chusnul also ask the government to immediately executing Amrozi and friends.

The following extract the contents of a letter to President SBY :

Dear Mr. President personally as victims of Bali bombing of 2002, please you immediately executing Amrozi and friends as soon as possible and I wish you not delay the execution again.

Five years feel the pain and suffering caused by their deeds. As a small people only ask what country this legal position. Please you to fight terrorism network radical.

However, the application of health aid is not getting a response from President SBY. "I will send another letter to Mr. president," said Chusnul who is now living with his children.(detik.com)

Demonstration for amrozi and friends evaluation of execution

Jakarta - Some 40 people joined in the Forum of Muslims (FUI) office of Attorney General (Kejagung). They urged Kejagung to review the implementation of the execution procedure against Amrozi and friends.

"We come to re-evaluate the prosecutors demanded execution procedures Amrozi to death. If not, that they do the same slaughter or murder," said Chairman Kaderisasi FUI Mursalin in front of the building of Attorney General, Jl Sultan Hassanuddin, Jakarta Selatan, Thursday (6 / 11/2008).

The participants also took action flag Islamic Reform Movement (line) and the Islamic Youth Movement flag.

Together with them , also present some members of Muslim Lawyer Team (MDGs) as Achmad Michdan, Mahendradatta, and Adnan Wirawan. Members of the legal adviser Amrozi and friends, they rejection the execution of their clients.

Oration disorderly conduct, they ask to meet with Kapuspenkum Kejagung M Jasman Panjaitan. However, this is not allowed by security officials because it has not been able to contact Jasman.

After waiting long enough, eventually they dissolve themselves. They promised similar action will be tomorrow at the House of Representatives to demand the same thing. After that, they will perform prayers together at the headquarters GPI. (source from detik.com)