Anwar al Awlaki’s family condemned the US’s killing of his son, Abdulrahman, in an airstrike last week. The family said Abdulrahman was a 16-year-old American citizen and was searching his father, not to wage jihad. The family also denied Anwar was a terrorist and said he was not a member of al Qaeda.
Iran acknowledged that the American accusation of an Iranian plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in Washington might not be a total fabrication. The UN Secretary-General sent the case to Security Council.
The fighting in the country’s northwest suggests that the seven-month-old uprising against President Assad is becoming increasingly militarized. The Arab League stopped short of suspending Syria and instead agreed to create a committee to oversee the situation in Syria. President Assad formed a committee to change Syria’s constitution.
US troops seal Afghan border with Pakistani North Waziristan
Karzai Seeks NATO Report On Night Raid Deaths
Kenya sent a large number of troops into southern Somalia to battle Shabaab; a Kenyan helicopter crashed during the operation. The Somali government denied Kenya entered the south. Shabaab said it would carry out suicide attacks inside Kenya.
Why is a CIA clandestine operative working at the NYPD?
In Cairo Quarter, Islamists Try to Profit From Revolution
The Gaddafi stronghold of Bani Walid fell after a six-week siege, leaving only parts of Sirte still defended by loyalists. The US sent American contractors to Libya to track down and destroy heat-seeking antiaircraft missiles looted from government stockpiles.
Iran-US tension rising ahead of elections
Pakistan leans toward talks with Taliban
Huge Role of Tiny Kingdom of Qatar in Libya Draws Concern
Cross-Border Fire Frustrates Troops in Afghanistan
A large number of Kenyan troops have crossed into southern Somalia to take on Shabaab forces.
Hafiz Gul Bahadar created the Saif-ul-Furqan after his last death squad, the Lashkar-e-Khorasan, has gotten out of control.
Afghan police killed three Taliban suicide bombers who attempted to storm the governor’s compound in Paktia; a policeman and a civilian were also killed. The Taliban launched a radio station in Ghazni and banned travel at night in Nangarhar. Security forces killed and captured several Taliban fighters in Khost, Wardak, Nangarhar, and Baghlan.
President Obama is pressing United Nations nuclear inspectors to release classified intelligence information showing that Iran is designing and experimenting with nuclear weapons technology. Saudi Arabia has taken a first step to have Iran reported to the UNSC over allegations it plotted to kill a Saudi ambassador.
Pakistan and America: To the bitter end
In an emergency meeting in Cairo, the Arab League will consider suspending Syria from the organization. The British foreign office rebuked Syria’s ambassador over the intimidation of dissidents in Britain. A US citizen was arrested in Virginia for passing sensitive information on anti-Assad protesters in US to Damascus. Arms smuggling into Syria flourishes.
Shabaab forces withdrew from the southern city of Afamadow after fighting government forces and a militia in a nearby village. Shabaab closed schools in Marka after administrators refused to provide recruits.
Security forces entered southern Somalia to pursue Shabaab fighters who have kidnapped aid workers from Kenya. The UNHCR has scaled back operations in Kenya after the kidnapping of foreign aid workers.
Four people were killed in a bombing at a police station in the state of Gombe in northern Nigeria. Boko Haram is suspected of carrying out the attack.
Media played up Pakistan attacks: Karzai
Isaf Investigates Rocket Attacks from Pakistan
Afghan parliament clears hurdle to IMF aid
Egypt’s Reform Leader Criticizes Ruling Council
Taliban bomber responsible for the deaths of seven British soldiers captured
Gilad Shalit swap: Israel names Palestinian prisoners
Ahmed Omar Abdul Rahman, the son of the Blind Sheikh, may have been killed in the Oct. 14 strike in a village under the control of the Haqqani Network. Egyptians have been killed in the village in the past.
NATO Assessment Says Taliban Attacks Are Down