Report says war on terror is fuelling al Qaeda
Six years after the September 11 attacks in the United States, the “war on terror” is failing and instead fuelling an increase in support for extremist Islamist movements, a British think-tank said on Monday. A report by the Oxford Research Group (ORG) said a “fundamental re-think is required” if the global terrorist network is to be rendered ineffective.

Blackwater Shootings ‘Murder,’ Iraq Says
The Iraqi prime minister’s office said Sunday that an inquiry found that Blackwater guards who shot Iraqi civilians three weeks ago were unprovoked.

Rival Shiite leaders bury the hatchet in peace deal
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Two rival Shiite leaders signed an agreement Saturday to end months of rancor and fighting between the two powerful movements they command, a representative of one of the men said… The deal has three main points: stopping the fighting between Iraqis, urging print and electronic media to engender a spirit of friendship and forgiveness, and establishing commissions in each of Iraq’s 18 provinces to oversee the peace initiative.

Accounts Differ Sharply on U.S. Attack in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Oct. 5 — American troops backed by aircraft attacked a Shiite town north of Baghdad at dawn on Friday, killing at least 25 Iraqis the military described as criminals who were involved in the transport of weapons. But Iraqis at the scene said the dead were civilians, though some were armed.

Iran has 43 cholera cases mainly near Iraq-report
TEHRAN, Oct 6 (Reuters) – Iran said on Saturday it had 43 cholera cases, four times more than previously announced, and added they were mostly near Iraq where there has been an outbreak of the disease, an Iranian news agency reported.

Violence erupts in northern Sinai
EL-ARISH, Egypt – Egyptian police fired tear gas Saturday to disperse several thousand protesters who burned tires and blocked roads in anger over an attack by Bedouins in the Sinai peninsula, officials said.

6 years later, US expands Afghan base
Six years after the first U.S. bombs began falling on Afghanistan’s Taliban government and its al-Qaida guests, America is planning for a long stay. Originally envisioned as a temporary home for invading U.S. forces, the sprawling American base at Bagram, a former Soviet outpost in the shadow of the towering Hindu Kush mountains, is growing in size by nearly a third.

U.S. Renews Bid to Destroy Opium Poppies in Afghanistan
American officials have found some supporters within President Hamid Karzai’s administration of their push to spray herbicide on opium poppies, officials said.

Pakistan Supreme Court weighs election
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Gen. Pervez Musharraf won an overwhemingly majority in a presidential election boycotted by nearly the entire opposition Saturday, and attention shifted to Supreme Court deliberations on whether he can claim victory.
The suspense is killing me.

Junta: Weapons Seized From Monasteries
Myanmar’s military leaders stepped up pressure on monks who spearheaded pro-democracy rallies, saying that weapons had been seized from Buddhist monasteries and threatening to punish all violators of the law. More than 1,000 people are imprisoned.
Weapons.  In monasteries.  Uh huh.

Japan Likely To Scale Back Afghan Support
Japan would scale back its support of the U.S. in Afghanistan by ending naval assistance to vessels involved in ground missions there under a ruling party proposal that officials predicted would gain parliament’s approval.

Australia PM lacks trust, vision as election looms: poll
CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australia‘s Prime Minister John Howard, tipped to ask voters for a fifth term within days, faces an election drubbing, with voters ranking his opponent as more trustworthy and visionary, a new poll showed on Monday.

US ‘concerned’ by arrest in Nigeria of US peace activist
LAGOS (AFP) – The US embassy in Nigeria said Sunday it was “deeply concerned” at the detention of a US peace activist arrested last month along with two Germans and a Nigerian.
YOU can’t arrest our peace activists, only WE can do that (video).

Darfur town razed after peacekeeper raid
KHARTOUM, Sudan – A Darfur town under the control of Sudanese troops has been razed, the U.N. said Sunday. The destruction of the town was in apparent retaliation for a suspected rebel attack on a nearby African Union peacekeeping base.