Government Advice: Patterns of Global Terrorism: 2003

Editor's note: The report below was compiled from information released in April 2004 by the U.S. State Department. This report is reproduced here to aid in increasing awareness of terrorism as a growing concern for citizens of all nations and to provide summary information on U.S. government programs to combat terrorism.

INTRODUCTION
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
AFRICA OVERVIEW
SOUTH ASIA OVERVIEW
EAST ASIA OVERVIEW
EURASIA OVERVIEW
EUROPE OVERVIEW
MIDDLE EAST OVERVIEW
WESTERN HEMISPHERE OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW OF STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM
CHRONOLOGY OF SIGNIFICANT
TERRORIST INCIDENTS, 2003
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON DESIGNATED FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON OTHER TERRORIST GROUPS
US PROGRAMS AND POLICY

INTRODUCTION

By Ambassador Cofer Black
Coordinator for Counterterrorism

In 2003, terrorists struck at targets around the world, even as Iraq became a central front in the global war against terrorism and the focus of so many deadly attacks against civilians. Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups made clear once again their relentless pursuit of evil in defiance of any law -- human or divine. The year saw heinous crimes against the international community, humanitarian organizations, and people dedicated to helping mankind:

• A bomb in a cement truck exploded at the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad in August, killing special UN representative Sergio Vieira de Mello and 22 other persons.
• The Baghdad International Committee for the Red Cross was bombed in October.
• The Catholic Relief Services headquarters in Nassiryah was destroyed in a bombing on 12 November.
• An explosion occurred near Save the Children USA's offices in Kabul in November; the agency has been providing education, health, and economic assistance to children and families in Afghanistan for more than 20 years.
• Churches, synagogues, and mosques were all targeted by terrorists in 2003. Among the items captured from al-Qaida terrorists last year were copies of the Koran containing bombs. Clearly, these actions show the terrorists to be enemies of all people, regardless of faith.

The world must remain united against the terrorist threat. The United States, for its part, remains committed to implementing the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism. We will:

• Defeat terrorist organizations of global reach by attacking their sanctuaries; leadership; command, control, and communications; material support; and finances.
• Deny further sponsorship, support, and sanctuary for terrorists.
• Diminish the underlying conditions that terrorists seek to exploit.
• Defend the United States, our citizens, and our interests at home and abroad.
• Use all the tools at our disposal: diplomatic, law enforcement, intelligence, financial, and military.

Diplomacy

Through diplomacy, the Department of State promotes international counterterrorism (CT) cooperation that serves our own interests as well as those of our partners. We enhance the capabilities of our allies to fight the terrorist threat and facilitate the disruption of terrorist networks and the apprehension of terrorist suspects.

During the year, nations around the world continued to increase their counterterrorism efforts and to cooperate both bilaterally and regionally to deter attacks. The OAS, the European Union, the OSCE, ASEAN, APEC, and other organizations took concrete steps to combat terrorism more effectively and to cooperate with each other in the fight. Since September 11, NATO has made great strides in transforming its military capabilities to make the Alliance more expeditionary and deployable against terrorist threats. NATO currently makes a major contribution to the global war on terrorism by leading the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Additional Alliance counterterrorism contributions include a maritime terrorism monitoring presence in the Mediterranean Sea, a Chemical-Biological-Radiological-Nuclear defense unit, and a terrorism threat intelligence unit to enhance sharing of intelligence.

At the 2003 G-8 Summit in Evian, France, leaders established a Counterterrorism Action Group of donor countries to expand and coordinate training and assistance for countries with the will -- but not the capabilities -- to combat terror, focusing on critical areas such as terrorist financing, customs and immigration controls, illegal arms trafficking, and police and law enforcement. During the fourth regular session of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE), member states agreed to a comprehensive work plan not only to strengthen border and financial controls but also to address threats to seaport and aviation security as well as cyber security. In June, President Bush announced a $100 million Eastern Africa Counterterrorism Initiative to expand and accelerate CT efforts with Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, Tanzania, and other countries.

Law Enforcement

The greatly increased law enforcement cooperation among nations that followed the 9/11 attacks continued to expand throughout 2003.

Al-Qaida is no longer the organization it once was, largely due to such cooperation. Most of the group's senior leadership is dead or in custody, its membership on the run, and its capabilities sharply degraded. More than 3,400 al-Qaida suspects have been arrested or detained worldwide. In the United States, international terrorist suspects repeatedly faced the rule of law:

In February, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment of the alleged North American leader of the Palestine Islamic Jihad, Sami Al-Arian, and seven co-conspirators. The indictment charges them with operating a racketeering enterprise that has supported numerous violent terrorist activities since 1984. Al-Arian and three others were placed under arrest.

In March, DOJ announced the indictment and arrest of three members of the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda for the brutal murder in 1999 of two American tourists in Uganda.

In May, a naturalized American citizen, Iyman Faris, pled guilty to surveilling a New York City bridge for al-Qaida, and in October he was sentenced to 20 years for providing material support to that group and conspiring to give them information about possible US targets for attack.

Also in May, the Justice Department unsealed a 50-count indictment against two Yemeni nationals for the bombing in October 2000 of the USS Cole that killed 17 American sailors and wounded more than 40.

In November, two Yemeni suspects were extradited from Germany to the United States on federal charges of conspiring to provide material support to al-Qaida and HAMAS.

Throughout the year, numerous members of terrorist cells that were disrupted in Detroit, Portland, Buffalo, and Seattle pled guilty to or were convicted of charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, including al-Qaida and the Taliban.

Intelligence

With enhanced intelligence sharing among nations, terrorists are being tracked down, and plots are being thwarted. In March, al-Qaida operational leader and mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, was captured in Pakistan and turned over to US authorities.

In August, his associate -- Riduan bin Isomuddin, or Hambali -- was arrested in Thailand and also turned over to US authorities. Hambali is believed to have been largely responsible for the terrorist attacks in Bali that killed more than 200 people.

Information gained from captured enemy combatants and imprisoned terrorist suspects continues to be exploited effectively around the world.

In January 2003, President Bush announced the creation of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center, which began operations last May. The center analyzes threat-related information collected domestically and abroad to form a comprehensive threat picture and to ensure information sharing among US agencies.

In September, Attorney General John Ashcroft, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Secretary of State Colin Powell, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet announced the creation of the Terrorist Screening Center to consolidate terrorist watch lists and provide 24/7 operational support for the thousands of federal screeners across the country and around the world.

Financial

The world community is waging an unprecedented campaign to disrupt the flow of money to terrorist networks and cripple their ability to operate on a global scale. The United States is working closely with other governments and international institutions to block terrorist assets overseas, take preventive measures to keep assets out of terrorist hands, and offer training and assistance to governments that seek to improve their institutional ability to carry out anti-money laundering strategies.

Virtually every country in the world has expressed support for the war on terrorist financing: 173 nations have issued orders to freeze terrorist assets, more than 100 countries have introduced new legislation to fight terrorist financing, and 84 countries have established financial intelligence units to share information.

The 31-member Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the world's standard setter for fighting money laundering, has adopted recommendations for countries that seek to protect their financial systems from terrorist financiers. More than 90 non-FATF countries and jurisdictions have already submitted self-assessment reports to FATF on their compliance with these recommendations.

Some 350 terrorist entities and individuals have been designated under Executive Order 13224, signed by President Bush on 23 September 2001, which freezes the assets of terrorists and their supporters and authorizes the government to identify, designate, and freeze the US-based assets of those who offer financial support to terrorist groups.

The Department of State's Counterterrorism Finance Unit and the interagency Terrorist Financing Working Group coordinate the delivery of technical assistance and training to governments around the world that seek to improve their ability to investigate, identify, and interdict the flow of money to terrorist groups.

The United States has blocked some $36 million in assets of the Taliban, al-Qaida, and other terrorist entities and supporters; approximately $26 million of this has been turned over to the Government of Afghanistan. Other nations have blocked more than $100 million in terrorist assets.

Military

In Iraq and Afghanistan, military force is being brought to bear against terrorists with real success.

The capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003 was a major defeat for the thugs and terrorists who supported him. Through Operation Iraqi Freedom, the United States and its Coalition partners defeated the Saddam regime, effectively neutralizing a state sponsor of terrorism and removing a government that had used weapons of mass destruction against its own people. Iraq could no longer be used as a sanctuary by the network run by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose relationships with senior al-Qaida leaders helped establish a poison-and-explosives training camp in northeastern Iraq.

During Operation Enduring Freedom, the United States has built a worldwide Coalition that dismantled the oppressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan and denied al-Qaida a safe haven. The Coalition remains engaged there.

(Most of the attacks that have occurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom do not meet the longstanding US definition of international terrorism because they were directed at combatants, that is, American and Coalition forces on duty. Attacks against civilians and against military personnel, who at the time of the incident were unarmed and/or not on duty, are judged as terrorist attacks.)

Conclusion

We have made significant progress in the two and one-half years since the global war on terrorism began. But the ultimate success of this global counterterrorism campaign will hinge, in large part, on two factors: sustained international political will and effective capacity building.

First, we must sustain and enhance the political will of states to fight terrorism. The key to maintaining a coalition is underscoring to its members every day that the fight is not over and that sustained effort is clearly in their long-term interests. We have made tremendous progress on that score.

I would cite Saudi Arabia as an excellent example of a nation increasingly focusing its political will to fight terrorism. Saudi Arabia has launched an aggressive, comprehensive, and unprecedented campaign to hunt down terrorists, uncover their plots, and cut off their sources of funding. The horrific bombings in Riyadh in May and November served to strengthen Saudi resolve, hasten existing counterterrorism efforts, and open new avenues of cooperation. I have made numerous trips to the Kingdom during the past year and met with the highest levels of the Saudi Government, and I have been greatly impressed with the strides they have made and their seriousness of purpose.

Second, we need to enhance the capacity of all states to fight terrorism. The United States cannot by itself investigate every lead, arrest every suspect, gather and analyze all the intelligence, effectively sanction every sponsor of terrorism, prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, or find and fight every terrorist cell.

I would cite Malaysia as a nation that is helping others increase their counterterrorism capacities while also increasing its own. Malaysia opened the Southeast Asia Regional Center for Counterterrorism in August. Participants from 15 nations from South and Southeast Asia received US-provided training at the center in ways to cut off sources of terrorist financing. Malaysia is a key partner in the war on terrorism, and its role in creating a regional center for building counterterrorism capacity and sharing information about terrorism in Asia is most welcome.

The United States shares that goal of assisting governments to become full and self-sustaining partners in the global fight against terrorism.

This fight will be of uncertain duration, but additional deadly attacks are certain.

As Secretary Powell reminded us on the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks: "Led by the United States, nations all around the globe have come together in an historic effort to wipe terrorism from the face of the Earth. Faithful friends and former foes alike have united against terror, and we are bringing every tool of statecraft to bear against it -- military, intelligence, law enforcement, financial, and most certainly diplomatic."

Note

Adverse mention in this report of individual members of any political, social, ethnic, religious, or national group is not meant to imply that all members of that group are terrorists. Indeed, terrorists represent a small minority of dedicated, often fanatical, individuals in most such groups. It is those small groups -- and their actions -- that are the subject of this report.

Furthermore, terrorist acts are part of a larger phenomenon of politically inspired violence, and at times the line between the two can become difficult to draw. To relate terrorist events to the larger context, and to give a feel for the conflicts that spawn violence, this report will discuss terrorist acts as well as other violent incidents that are not necessarily international terrorism.

Legislative Requirements

This report is submitted in compliance with Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f(a), which requires the Department of State to provide Congress a full and complete annual report on terrorism for those countries and groups meeting the criteria of Section (a)(1) and (2) of the Act. As required by legislation, the report includes detailed assessments of foreign countries where significant terrorist acts occurred and countries about which Congress was notified during the preceding five years pursuant to Section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (the so-called terrorist-list countries that have repeatedly provided state support for international terrorism). In addition, the report includes all relevant information about the previous year's activities of individuals, terrorist organizations, or umbrella groups known to be responsible for the kidnapping or death of any US citizen during the preceding five years and groups known to be financed by state sponsors of terrorism.

In 1996, Congress amended the reporting requirements contained in the above-referenced law. The amended law requires the Department of State to report on the extent to which other countries cooperate with the United States in apprehending, convicting, and punishing terrorists responsible for attacking US citizens or interests. The law also requires that this report describe the extent to which foreign governments are cooperating, or have cooperated during the previous five years, in preventing future acts of terrorism. As permitted in the amended legislation, the Department is submitting such information to Congress in a classified annex to this unclassified report.

Definitions

No one definition of terrorism has gained universal acceptance. For the purposes of this report, however, we have chosen the definition of terrorism contained in Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f(d). That statute contains the following definitions:

The term terrorism means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience. For purposes of this definition, the term noncombatant is interpreted to include, in addition to civilians, military personnel who at the time of the incident are unarmed and/or not on duty. For example, in past reports we have listed as terrorist incidents the murders of the following US military personnel: Col. James Rowe, killed in Manila in April 1989; Capt. William Nordeen, US defense attaché killed in Athens in June 1988; the two servicemen killed in the Labelle discotheque bombing in West Berlin in April 1986; and the four off-duty US Embassy Marine guards killed in a cafe in El Salvador in June 1985. We also consider as acts of terrorism attacks on military installations or on armed military personnel when a state of military hostilities does not exist at the site, such as bombings against US bases in Europe, the Philippines, or elsewhere.

The term international terrorism means terrorism involving citizens or the territory of more than one country.

The term terrorist group means any group practicing, or that has significant subgroups that practice, international terrorism.

The US Government has employed this definition of terrorism for statistical and analytical purposes since 1983.

Domestic terrorism is probably a more widespread phenomenon than international terrorism. Because international terrorism has a direct impact on US interests, it is the primary focus of this report. However, the report also describes, but does not provide statistics on, significant developments in domestic terrorism.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

There were 190 acts of international terrorism in 2003, a slight decrease from the 198 attacks that occurred in 2002, and a drop of 45 percent from the level in 2001 of 346 attacks. The figure in 2003 represents the lowest annual total of international terrorist attacks since 1969.

A total of 307 persons were killed in the attacks of 2003, far fewer than the 725 killed during 2002. A total of 1,593 persons were wounded in the attacks that occurred in 2003, down from 2,013 persons wounded the year before.

In 2003, the highest number of attacks (70) and the highest casualty count (159 persons dead and 951 wounded) occurred in Asia.

There were 82 anti-US attacks in 2003, which is up slightly from the 77 attacks the previous year, and represents a 62-percent decrease from the 219 attacks recorded in 2001.

Thirty-five American citizens died in 15 international terrorist attacks in 2003:

Michael Rene Pouliot was killed on 21 January in Kuwait when a gunman fired at his vehicle that had halted at a stoplight.

Thomas Janis was murdered by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia terrorists on 13 February in Colombia. Mr. Janis was the pilot of a plane owned by Southern Command that crashed in the jungle. He and a Colombian army officer were wounded in the crash and shot when the terrorists discovered them. Three American passengers on the plane -- Keith Stansell, Marc D. Gonsalves, and Thomas R. Howes -- were kidnapped and are still being held hostage.

William Hyde was killed on 4 March in Davao, Philippines, when a bomb hidden in a backpack exploded in a crowded airline terminal. Twenty other persons died, and 146 were wounded.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) denies any connection to the suspected bomber who claimed he was an MILF member.

Abigail Elizabeth Litle was killed on 5 March when a suicide bomber boarded a bus in Haifa, Israel, and detonated an explosive device.

Rabbi Elnatan Eli Horowitz and his wife Debra Ruth Horowitz were killed on 7 March when a Palestinian gunman opened fire on them as they were eating dinner in the settlement of Kiryat Arba.

The deadliest anti-US attack occurred in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 12 May when suicide bombers in boobytrapped cars filled with explosives drove into the Vinnell Jadewel and Al-Hamra housing compounds, killing nine US citizens. Killed at the Vinnell compound were: Obaidah Yusuf Abdullah, Todd Michael Blair, Jason Eric Bentley, James Lee Carpenter II, Herman Diaz, Alex Jackson, Quincy Lee Knox, and Clifford J. Lawson. Mohammed Atef Al Kayyaly was killed at the Al-Hamra compound.

Alan Beer and Bertin Joseph Tita were killed on 11 June in a bus bombing near Klal Center on Jaffa Road near Jerusalem.

Howard Craig Goldstein was killed in a shooting attack near the West Bank settlement of Ofra on 20 June.

Fred Bryant, a civilian contractor, was killed on 5 August in Tikrit, Iraq, when his car ran over an improvised explosive device.

Three Americans were among the victims of a deadly truck bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad's Canal Hotel on 19 August. They were Arthur Helton, Richard Hooper, and Martha Teas. UN Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello was also among the 23 fatalities.

Five Americans were killed in Jerusalem on 19 August when a suicide bomber riding on a bus detonated explosives attached to his body. They were Goldy Zarkowsky, Eli Zarkowsky, Mordechai Reinitz, Yessucher Dov Reinitz, and Tehilla Nathansen. Fifteen other persons were killed and 140 wounded in the attack.

Dr. David Applebaum and his daughter Naava Applebaum were killed on 9 September in a bombing at the Cafe Hillel in Jerusalem.

Three Americans were killed on 15 October in Gaza Strip as their US Embassy Tel Aviv motorcade was struck by an apparent roadside blast. They were John Branchizio, Mark T. Parson, and John Martin Linde, Jr. All three were security contractors.

Lt. Col. Charles H. Buehring was killed on 26 October in Baghdad during a rocket-propelled grenade attack on the Al-Rasheed Hotel. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz was staying at the hotel at the time of the attack.

Two Americans, William Carlson and Christopher Glenn Mueller, were killed in an ambush by armed militants in Shkin, Afghanistan, on 27 October. Both were US Government contract workers.

Note: Most of the attacks that have occurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom do not meet the longstanding US definition of international terrorism because they were directed at combatants, that is, US and Coalition forces on duty. Attacks against noncombatants, that is, civilians and military personnel who at the time of the incident were unarmed and/or not on duty, are judged as terrorist attacks.

AFRICA OVERVIEW

Westerners and Africans alike continued to be the victims of terrorism in Africa during 2003. Nevertheless, the cooperation of African governments in the war on terrorism improved and strengthened during the year.

East Africa, particularly Somalia, continued to pose the most serious threat to American interests due to the presence of active al-Qaida elements.

In nearby Kenya, a policeman was killed in August when a terrorist suspect detonated a hand grenade, killing the suspect and the policeman, but permitting a confederate of the suspect to escape. As a result of this and other events, Kenyan authorities reevaluated their views of terrorism. They appear to have concluded that terrorism in Kenya is not just a foreign problem and that terrorism has put down roots in Kenya too.

The US East Africa Counterterrorism Initiative (EACTI) has dedicated sizeable resources to improving police and judicial counterterrorist capabilities in the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. The EACTI also provides training and some equipment for special counterterrorism units for senior-level decision makers and for legislators who are concerned with drafting legislation on terrorist financing and money laundering. EACTI also includes a strong public diplomacy and outreach component.

During February and March, an Algerian terrorist group, the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), kidnapped some 30 European tourists in Algeria. They took their captives to Mali, whose government was instrumental in securing their release in August. Members of the GSPC continued to hide in the Sahel region, crossing difficult-to-patrol borders between Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Algeria.

The United States continued to work with the Governments of Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad on the implementation of the Pan-Sahel Initiative, a program designed to assist those nations in protecting their borders, combating terrorism, and enhancing regional stability. Components of the program are intended to encourage the participating countries to cooperate with each other against smuggling and trafficking in persons, as well as in the sharing of information.

Africans themselves have taken cooperative action against terrorism. Many nations made real efforts to sign and ratify the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism. Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Sudan have signed all 12 protocols. The African Union (AU) has designated Algiers as the location of an AU counterterrorism center. Several nations have formed national counterterrorism centers.

The Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone no longer exists as a terrorist organization, although some former members have organized a political party that has a small following. The Allied Democratic Front terrorist organization in Uganda has lost the ability to function as a group. However, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) continues to kill and plunder Ugandan civilians and villages, even though the Ugandan Government has offered amnesty (though not for all) and negotiations with the group. Sudan appears to have cut off the supplies for the LRA in large part. Sudan itself remains one of seven state sponsors of terrorism, however, and is discussed in the state sponsorship section of this report.

Angola

With a year having passed since the final peace agreement ending the Angolan civil war, Angola has made limited progress in reconstruction and national reconciliation. As a nonpermanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Angola actively supported UN antiterrorism efforts. It has publicly condemned acts of international terrorism and has worked domestically to strengthen immigration and border controls. In the past, Cabindan separatists have kidnapped Westerners, including an American citizen in 1990; however, there were no reports of terrorist incidents in Angola this year.

Djibouti

Djibouti, a staunch supporter in the global war on terrorism and a member of the Arab League, has taken a strong stand against international terrorist organizations and individuals. Djibouti hosts the only US military base in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to US forces, it hosts Coalition forces from four other countries including France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. There were no confirmed acts of domestic or transnational terrorism in Djibouti in 2003, but the Government took extraordinary measures from its limited resources to try and ensure the safety and security of Westerners posted in Djibouti. The Government also began an aggressive immigration campaign to remove illegal aliens from Djibouti in an attempt to weed out potential terrorists. The Government also has closed down terrorist-linked financial institutions and shared security information on possible terrorist activity in the region. The counterterrorism committee under President Guelleh moved to enhance coordination and action on information concerning terrorist organizations.

In October 2002, the United States established the Combined Joint Task Force -- Horn of Africa (CJTF -- HOA). Based in Djibouti, CJTF -- HOA coordinates Coalition counterterrorism operations in six East African countries and Yemen.

Djibouti is a party to three of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and signed the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism on 15 November 2001.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia has been consistently helpful in its cooperation in the global war on terrorism. Significant counterterrorism activities included political, financial, media, military, and law enforcement actions. To counter the threat from the Somalia-based Al-Ittihad al-Islami (AIAI), Ethiopia has undertaken increased military efforts to control its lengthy and porous border with Somalia. The Government also has enhanced counterterrorism coordination with the United States.

Ethiopia is a party to seven of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Kenya

Kenya remains a responsive and active partner in the war on terrorism, providing assistance with ongoing terrorist investigations and stepping up efforts to target terrorist groups operating within Kenya. In 2003, Kenya began to more vigorously address institutional weaknesses that impede its ability to pursue terrorists and respond to threats. In April of 2003, Kenya published a draft "Suppression of Terrorism" bill and is in the process of redrafting the bill to incorporate concerns from civil society leaders who fear the bill may violate human rights.

Kenya and the United States continue to share information on suspected terrorists, including those associated with or supportive of al-Qaida. It has taken the initiative in arresting terrorist suspects and disrupting terrorist operations. Kenya, for example, is an active participant in the Terrorist Interdiction Program. As one of the nations affected by the East Africa bombings in 1998, Kenya remains fully cooperative in assisting the US investigations of those attacks.

The Kenyan Government has been more outspoken on the domestic nature of Kenya's terrorist threat and the involvement of Kenyan nationals in terrorist activity, particularly after a policeman was killed while attempting to apprehend suspected terrorists in August 2003. Kenyan Cabinet ministers, some of whom had earlier downplayed the terrorist presence in Kenya, have called for communities to be vigilant in looking for terrorists working in their midst. Courageous leadership combined with success in revealing and disrupting terrorist activity has contributed to a nationwide change of attitude toward terrorism in 2003.

Kenya has ratified all 12 international counterterrorism conventions and protocols.

Mali

Mali has taken consistent and active steps to combat terrorism and has been particularly responsive on terrorist financing issues. The Government, for example, regularly distributes terrorist finance watch lists to the banking systems.

The Malian Government has been receptive to the idea of strengthening its borders and is the key recipient of the Pan-Sahel Initiative, which is primarily focused on common border-security issues with Chad, Niger, Mali, and Mauritania. There were no acts of terrorism against US interests in Mali during 2003. However, the Government was actively involved in the freeing of European tourists in northern Mali who had been kidnapped in Algeria by the Algeria-based terrorist group the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat.

Mali has ratified all 12 UN conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Nigeria

Nigeria remained committed to the global war against terrorism and has continued diplomatic efforts in both global and regional forums concerning counterterrorism issues. The President and other African heads of state founded the New Partnership for African Development -- geared toward sustainable development in Africa -- which has helped African countries combat terrorism.

Nigeria has been helping to monitor threats to US citizens living in Nigeria and has cooperated with the United States on tracking and freezing terrorists' assets. Nigeria's relatively large and complex banking sector, combined with widespread corruption, makes combating terrorism financing more difficult, however. The Government has actively shared information about the rise of radical Islam in Nigeria -- home of Africa's largest Muslim population.

Nigeria is a party to six of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, including the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Rwanda

The Rwandan Government has continued to give full support to US-led efforts to combat terrorism. The Government has been responsive to US requests to eradicate terrorism financing and has increased surveillance of airports, border controls, and hotel registrations in an effort to identify potential terrorists. Rwanda established an intergovernmental counterterrorism committee and has an antiterrorism section in its police intelligence unit.

During 2003, the Government aggressively pursued the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, formerly known as the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (ALIR), an armed rebel force composed of former soldiers and supporters of the previous government that orchestrated the genocide in 1994. The group, which operates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, employs terrorist tactics. In 1999, ALIR was responsible for the kidnapping and murder of nine persons, including two US tourists in Bwindi Park. With the assistance of Rwandan authorities in 2003, three suspects in the attack were transferred to the United States for prosecution, and other evidence was obtained through interviews with witnesses. Rwanda is a party to eight of the 12 international counterterrorism conventions and protocols.

Sierra Leone

The Government of Sierra Leone has cooperated in the struggle against terrorism. The Revolutionary United Front, essentially dismantled by the imprisonment of its leader Foday Sankoh in 2001, has disappeared as a terrorist organization, although some of its former members have organized into a political party that has attracted a small following. Allegations of West African and particularly Sierra Leonean diamonds being used by al-Qaida to finance terrorism have not been proven.

The government of Sierra Leone is a party to seven of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Somalia

Somalia's lack of a functioning central government; protracted state of violent instability; and long coastline, porous borders, and proximity to the Arabian Peninsula make it a potential location for international terrorists seeking a transit or launching point to conduct operations elsewhere. Regional efforts to bring about a national reconciliation and establish peace and stability in Somalia were ongoing in 2003. The US Government does not have official relations with any entity in Somalia. Although the ability of Somali entities to carry out counterterrorism activities is constrained, some have taken limited actions in this direction.

Members of the Somali-based AIAI have committed terrorist acts in the past, primarily in Ethiopia. AIAI was originally formed in the early 1990s with a goal of creating an Islamic state in Somalia. In recent years, AIAI has become highly factionalized, and its membership is difficult to define. Some elements of AIAI continue to pose a regional domestic threat, other factions may be targeting Western interests in the region, while still other elements are concerned with humanitarian issues. At least one faction is sympathetic to al-Qaida and has provided assistance to its members.

Somalia has signed, but has yet to become a party to, the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

South Africa

South Africa has taken a number of actions in 2003 as part of the global war on terrorism. It has declared its support for the antiterrorism Coalition and has shared financial, law-enforcement, and intelligence information with the United States. Approximately one year after President Mbeki signed into law the Financial Intelligence Center legislation, the center is focusing on suspicious transaction reports and plans to broaden its services in the coming year.

Parliament's National Assembly adopted broad antiterrorism legislation entitled Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorists and Related Activities Bill. The measure is expected to pass the bicameral legislature in early 2004. Despite initial opposition to previous versions of the bill, all South African political parties supported the final version.

Public and private statements by South Africa have been supportive of US counterterrorism efforts. President Mbeki has, on several occasions, voiced his opinion that there is no justification for terrorism.

In the past year, South Africa acceded to four United Nations antiterrorism conventions, making South Africa a party to nine of the 12 UN antiterrorism conventions.

Tanzania

Tanzania continues to be a supportive partner in the global war against terrorism. It has cooperated on several multi year programs to build law enforcement capacity, enhance border security, improve civil aviation security, and combat money laundering and terrorist finance.

Tanzanian and US authorities established a close working relationship after the bombing in 1998 of the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam and have cooperated in bringing bombing suspects to trial in New York and Dar es Salaam; one suspect stood trial in Tanzania in 2003. Although cooperative, Tanzanian law enforcement authorities still have a limited capacity to investigate terrorist suspects and bring them to justice. A comprehensive Prevention of Terrorism Act -- approved in late 2002 -- has yet to be enforced, and implementing regulations for the law have not been drafted.

Tanzania is a party to seven of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Uganda

Uganda continued its firm stance against local and international terrorism in 2003. A new anti-money laundering bill is slated to go before Parliament for adoption in early 2004. In 2002, the Government enacted the Suppression of Terrorism Act, which imposes a mandatory death penalty for terrorists and potential death penalty for their sponsors and supporters. The Act's list of terrorist organizations includes al-Qaida, the LRA, and the Allied Democratic Front (ADF).

The Ugandan military continued its successful operations against the ADF, resulting in a decrease in ADF activities in western Uganda. There were no bombings by the ADF in 2003, although there were numerous fatal attacks by the LRA against civilian targets in northern Uganda.

Uganda is a party to 10 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

SOUTH ASIA OVERVIEW

In 2003, South Asia continued to be a central theater of the global war on terrorism. The Afghan Transitional Authority convened a Loya Jirga, and representatives debated and approved a new national constitution. The first units of the Afghan National Army joined in US and Coalition operations against antigovernment forces in the south and east of the country. The national police force continued to grow as government institutions prepared for elections in 2004.

Despite this progress, security remained a concern; the Taliban, al-Qaida, and Hizb-I Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) continued to target the Coalition, noncombatant reconstruction civilians, and the Afghan Government. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) announced its intention to expand its operations outside of Kabul.

Pakistan remained a key partner in the war on terror and continued its close cooperation with the United States in law enforcement, border security, and counterterrorism training. In 2003, the Musharraf government began to increase pressure on terrorists seeking refuge along the border with Afghanistan, conducting antiterrorist operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas for the first time. As in the previous year, Pakistani security authorities made numerous arrests of suspected terrorists, including important members of the al-Qaida leadership.

India continued to be the object of attacks by foreign-based and Kashmiri groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Nevertheless, Indian counterterrorist authorities could point to significant progress in the areas of legislation, finance, and investigations. India remained an important US partner in the global war on terror, and the United States hopes to continue to strengthen this relationship.

The cease-fire in Sri Lanka between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan Government held throughout 2003, despite a political crisis within the government that has delayed the resumption of direct talks between the two sides. International aid has begun to reach Sri Lankans living in LTTE-controlled territory, addressing one of the obstacles to a negotiated settlement. In contrast, the Maoists in Nepal abrogated an eightmonth cease-fire and resumed their campaign of armed attacks, bombings, assassination, and extortion against the Government and citizens of Nepal. The Maoists have also extorted money from Western tourists and threatened US citizens and interests, as well as nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and businesses connected with the United States.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan made progress toward rebuilding the government and the country in 2003. In December, Afghanistan successfully held the Constitutional Loya Jirga or Grand Assembly, with delegates from around the country assembling in Kabul and approving a national constitution. Other achievements include: continued development of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and expanded training of the Afghan National Police, preliminary efforts to demobilize militia forces, and initial voter registration. In the coming year, Afghans will face challenges as they prepare for elections -- scheduled for June 2004 -- with a precarious security environment in parts of the country.

President Karzai and the Afghan Government remained committed to the war on terrorism. The ANA began combat operations against antigovernment elements, including the Taliban, al-Qaida, and HIG, largely in Afghanistan's south and east in support of the US-led international Coalition and the ISAF.

The Taliban, al-Qaida, and HIG targeted Afghan Transitional Administration (ATA), US, Coalition, and ISAF assets in Kabul and in eastern and southern Afghanistan in an effort to destabilize the country. These groups also hampered reconstruction efforts with attacks on nongovernmental organizations and United Nation facilities and personnel.

Al-Qaida regards Afghanistan as an important base of operations and continues its armed opposition to US presence. Al-Qaida fighters remain along the rough eastern border between Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal areas. Afghan troops conduct joint operations against antigovernment elements with US military and Coalition forces. Through a series of tripartite commission meetings, Afghanistan and Pakistan have also made significant progress in sharing information and coordinating their efforts to improve security along the border.

Afghanistan is a party to 11 of the international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

India

The Indian Government remained steadfast in its desire to combat terrorism in 2003 and has worked closely with the United States in this regard. For example, several hundred Indian law enforcement officials participated in training as part of the Antiterrorism Assistance program. During the year, the Indian Government also moved to strengthen its international cooperation in curbing terrorism financing. In January, the Parliament enacted an anti-money laundering law that provides the legal basis for establishing a financial intelligence unit to monitor suspect transactions.

In March, the Indian Government announced that 32 terrorist organizations had been listed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and, in July, informed Parliament that 702 persons had been arrested under the Act.

The Indian Government stepped up its efforts to counter the activities of various groups. In the states of Jammu and Kashmir, killings of civilians by foreign-based and Kashmiri militant groups continued and included the murder of numerous political leaders and party workers. The Indian Government asserted that Lashkar-i-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed were behind a number of high-profile attacks in the state, which included the massacre of 24 Hindu civilians in southern Kashmir in March and an attack on 17 October outside the Chief Minister's residence compound in Srinagar.

Attacks took place in other parts of the country as well. Indian police said they had captured or killed all of the individuals responsible for the twin bombings on 25 August in Mumbai that left 53 dead and 160 injured. The Indian Government asserted that the responsible individuals were associated with Lashkar-i-Tayyiba. The People's War Group -- a Maoist "Naxalite" organization -- claimed responsibility for a car-bomb attack in October that seriously injured Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.

India is a party to all 12 of the international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Nepal

The Government of Nepal in 2003 strongly supported US counterterrorism activities and was responsive to multilateral efforts to police international terrorism. On 25 April 2003, Nepal signed an agreement with the US Government to establish an antiterrorism assistance program. Nepal's primary focus, however, remained the Maoist insurgency, active in Nepal since February 1996.

The Maoist insurgency poses a continuing threat to US citizens and property in Nepal. Repeated anti-US rhetoric and actions suggest the Maoists view US support for Kathmandu as a key obstacle to their goal of establishing a doctrinaire communist dictatorship. After they unilaterally withdrew from a seven-month cease-fire on 27 August, the Maoists resumed full-scale hostilities. Since then, the Maoists have been responsible for the deaths of an estimated 259 civilians and 305 government security forces. The Government says that Nepalese security forces have arrested thousands of suspected Maoists and killed more than 1,000 during the year. As part of their program, the Maoists have threatened attacks against US-sponsored NGOs and have sought to extort money from Westerners to raise funds for their insurgency. The Maoists' public statements have criticized the United States, the United Kingdom, and India for providing security assistance to Nepal.

Limited government finances, weak border controls, and poor security infrastructure have made Nepal a convenient logistic and transit point for some outside militants and international terrorists. The country also possesses a number of relatively soft targets that make it a potentially attractive site for terrorist operations. Security remains weak at many public facilities, including the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, but the United States and others are actively working with the Government to improve this situation.

Nepal is a party to five of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a signatory to the Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings.

Pakistan

Pakistan continues to be one of the United States' most important partners in the global coalition against terrorism. President Musharraf has himself been the target of terrorist violence, narrowly escaping two assassination attempts in late 2003. US assistance supported Pakistan's efforts to establish a government presence along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and eliminate terrorist safe havens. Pakistan continued operations in the autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas, capturing and killing a number of terrorist operatives.

Pakistan's military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies are cooperating closely with the United States and other nations to identify, interdict, and eliminate terrorism both within Pakistan and abroad. To date, hundreds of suspected operatives of these groups have been successfully apprehended with the cooperation of Pakistani authorities. Among those captured in 2003 were Khalid Shaykh Muhammad -- the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks -- and Walid Bin Attash -- a prime suspect in the attack on the USS Cole in October 2002. When several militant and sectarian groups that had been banned in 2002 began operating under new aliases, the Pakistani Government banned them as well.

Pursuant to its obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions 1267, 1333, 1390, and 1455, Pakistan continues to work with the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee to freeze the assets of individuals and groups identified as terrorist entities linked to al-Qaida or the Taliban.

Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Courts continue to respond to both international and domestic cases of terrorism. In April 2003, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi convicted four defendants charged with organizing the bombing of the US Consulate in June 2002 in Karachi and, in June 2003, convicted three men charged with the bombing in May 2002 that killed 11 French naval technicians. In November 2003, the same court handed down death sentences for three members of the banned extremist groups Lashkar-i-Jhangvi for planning and committing sectarian murders.

US-Pakistan joint counterterrorism efforts have been extensive. They include cooperative efforts in border security and criminal investigations, as well as several long-term training projects. In 2002, the United States and Pakistan established the Working Group on Counterterrorism and Law-Enforcement Cooperation. The meetings provide a forum for discussing ongoing US-Pakistani efforts, as well as a means for improving capabilities and cooperation. Pakistan provides significant assistance in the investigation of international terrorism, acting on leads provided to its counterterrorism and law enforcement agencies by the United States and other nations.

Pakistan has signed 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a party to 10.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka continues to support our global efforts to combat terrorism as well as undertaking their own efforts to combat terrorism domestically. Sri Lanka has actively supported international regimes to combat terrorist financing as well.

There were no incidents of international terrorism in Sri Lanka in 2003, as the cease-fire signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and he LTTE held, despite a halt in face-to-face negotiations and a serious political crisis within the Sri Lankan Government. There were no LTTE suicide bomb attacks throughout 2003, and the group continues to pursue ways to further peace talks. The LTTE has publicly accepted the concept of internal autonomy within a federal Sri Lankan state, conceding its longstanding demand for a separate Tamil Eelam state. In support of the peace process, the US Government has made limited, working-level contact with LTTE authorities to facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid.

Despite this progress, the LTTE, one of the world's deadliest terror groups, did not renounce terrorism or disband its "Black Tiger" suicide squads. It continues to smuggle weaponry into Sri Lanka and to forcibly recruit children into its ranks.

It is too early to tell whether the Sri Lankan peace process will ultimately bear fruit or whether the LTTE will actually reform itself. Although guarded optimism continued to surround the peace process, the United States will maintain the designation of the LTTE as a Foreign Terrorist Organization until it unequivocally renounces terrorism in both word and deed.

Sri Lanka is a party to 10 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

EAST ASIA OVERVIEW

The capture by Thai authorities in August of top Jemaah Islamiya (JI) leader and al-Qaida's representative in Southeast Asia, Nurjaman Riduan bin Isomuddin (a.k.a. Hambali) was a significant victory in the global war on terrorism. Hambali, an Indonesian, was captured at an apartment complex in Ayutthaya, Thailand, and is suspected of masterminding numerous terrorist attacks in Southeast Asia, including the Christmas Eve church bombings in 2000 in Indonesia (19 dead, 47 wounded); the bombings on 30 December 2000 in metro Manila, Philippines (22 dead); the Bali attacks on 12 October 2002 (202 dead, more than 330 wounded); and possibly the J.W. Marriott Hotel bombing on 5 August 2003 in Jakarta (12 dead, over 150 wounded). Furthermore, Hambali was key in planning terrorist attacks with multiple targets in Singapore, disrupted in December 2001, and in planning Thailand attacks that were disrupted in May 2003. Hambali's capture and detention serves as a major blow to both JI and al-Qaida.

In 2003, as Hambali's capture illustrates, it became clearer that the Asia-Pacific region, primarily Southeast Asia, is an attractive theater of support and logistics for al-Qaida and a theater of operations for the regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiya, acting alone or in collaboration with indigenous extremist groups. Hambali's case -- an Indonesian national perpetrating attacks in Indonesia and the Philippines and planning attacks in Singapore and Thailand -- serves as a case in point and accurately reflects the transnational nature of the terrorist threat in Southeast Asia.

Overall, counterterrorism cooperation with Asian governments was good in 2003, and solid progress was made to close seams between jurisdictions and share information on terrorist groups and their activities. As governments in the region continued their efforts to arrest and interdict terrorists by building and improving their counterterrorism capabilities, JI and other terrorists adapted by focusing on softer Western targets in Southeast Asia. The bombing on 5 August 2003 of the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta that killed 12 marks a continuation of this trend. This attack galvanized the Indonesian Government's will to take action.

Although most indigenous terrorist and Muslim separatist groups in Indonesia, Malaysia, the southern Philippines, and Thailand share an ideology and general rejection of Western influence held by international Islamic terrorists, they are focused primarily on effecting change within their home countries. Many leaders of Southeast Asian groups fought or claim to have fought in Afghanistan in the "Jihad" and brought back critical skills and contacts -- along with burnished extremist credentials. The relationships formed in Afghanistan developed into a widening network in which local extremists were able to tap into international terrorist networks for operational support, training and/or funds, and vice versa. The net effect of the influence of such groups is to decrease the likelihood of peaceful and long-term solutions to separatist movements/ethnic conflicts, to exacerbate current regional terrorism, and to foster an environment conducive to terrorism's continued growth.

Extremists have been able to win supporters by financially supporting schools and mosques that espouse their brand of Islam and exploiting religious sympathies or discontent among Muslim populations. Muslim populations in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Cambodia are vulnerable to such radical influences.

Partners such as Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and others are working with the United States to assist governments in the region to overcome these challenges by providing training and assistance. The primary tools to build such capacity remain bilateral engagement programs, but much progress was made in working multilaterally to promote regional and transnational approaches to the challenges of counterterrorism. Building upon the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF) for Counterterrorism Workplan, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Counterterrorism Task Force, and other mechanisms, the region as a whole made advances in areas such as law enforcement, border control, transportation security, information sharing, antiterrorist financing, and the development of legal regimes.

Australia and Japan maintained their strong counterterrorism stance in 2003, both domestically and abroad. Senior officials from both countries publicly declared their firm commitment to work with the United States to combat terrorism over the long term in a meeting of the three counterterrorism ambassadors in November in Canberra. Australia and Japan continue to contribute to the war on terrorism in Afghanistan. Australia made strong contributions to the US-led Coalition in Iraq, while Japan's October passage of the Iraq Reconstruction Assistance Law, which includes provision for dispatching the Japan Self-Defense Forces to Iraq, reflects its strong commitment to assist in reconstruction and humanitarian efforts (deployment, in fact, took place in early 2004).

Australia and Japan are active in helping Asia-Pacific countries build their capacity in various international and regional forums to combat terrorism. Australia, for example, has broadened its network of bilateral counterterrorism arrangements in Southeast Asia to eight nations. The APEC Leaders' Summit in 2003 endorsed two Australian counterterrorism-related initiatives: advancement of passenger information systems and development of a regional movement-alert system. Japanese officials led seminars on immigration control, aviation security, customs cooperation, export control, law enforcement, and terrorist financing. In May, Cambodian authorities arrested one Egyptian, two Thais, and one Cambodian suspected of being members of JI. The cell was plotting to conduct terrorist attacks in Cambodia and had been operating out of an Islamic school on the outskirts of Phnom Penh run by the Saudi Arabia–based nongovernmental organization, Umm al-Qura.

China continues to take a clear stand against international terrorism and is broadly supportive of the global war on terror. China actively participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and engaged in SCO joint counterterrorism exercises in Kazakhstan and Xinjiang Province in August. The People's Bank of China is in the process of establishing an Anti-Money Laundering Bureau, which will include a Terrorist Finance Investigative Department. Beijing displays a general willingness to cooperate with international terrorism investigations and continues to assert that terrorists -- primarily based in Xinjiang Province -- operate on Chinese territory.

Indonesia continued its firm public stance against terrorism in 2003. The government, led by the Indonesian National Police, has taken effective steps to counter the threat posed by JI, arresting 109 suspected JI members -- most in 2003 -- including suspects in the Bali attacks, the Marriott attack, and other criminal acts linked to terrorism. Indonesia has adopted a comprehensive terrorism law defining various acts of terror and providing police and prosecutors with broader powers to combat terrorism -- such as extended pretrial detention periods and the use of electronic evidence in court.

Nevertheless, persistent Indonesian domestic sensitivities, political pressures, and institutional weaknesses limit the Government's effectiveness. The Government, for example, made little effort to investigate the activities and affiliations of six students suspected of terrorist involvement who were deported from Pakistan in early December 2003; two were released within days of their repatriation to Indonesia.

On 1 July, Malaysia established a Southeast Asia Regional Center for Counterterrorism (SEARCCT). SEARCCT is expected to focus on regional training, information sharing, and public awareness campaigns. In August, SEARCCT hosted a training program sponsored by the US Treasury's financial intelligence unit and Malaysia's Central Bank on combating terrorist financing. Other nations, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia, are also expected to provide trainers and training materials to the center.

Malaysia has detained more than 100 suspected terrorists under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since May 2001 and assisted Indonesian efforts to prosecute terrorist suspects by making video testimony from suspects in Malaysian custody available to Indonesian prosecutors. Malaysia has responded quickly to UN Security Council requirements to prohibit terrorist financing and freeze the assets of named entities. In September, Malaysia deposited the instruments of ratification for two international antiterrorism conventions: the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons. It has not yet become a party, however, to the critical International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

New Zealand appointed its first Ambassador for Counterterrorism in September to build upon the measures taken since the attacks of September 11 in the United States and to ensure that New Zealand has a stronger capacity to develop and implement policies on global terrorism and related security issues. New Zealand continues to support Operation Enduring Freedom. It deployed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan to participate in the reconstruction efforts and pledged to provide humanitarian aid, as well as keeping its previous commitment of sending military forces to the region.

The Philippines was the victim of a number of terrorist attacks in 2003, including the car-bomb attack adjacent to a military airfield in Cotobato, on the southern island of Mindanao on 21 February; the bombing on 4 March at the International Airport in Davao, Mindanao that killed 17 (including one US citizen); the Sasa Wharf bombing on 2 April also in Davao that killed 15; a series of bombings in Koronadal City, Mindanao, that took more than 15 civilian lives; as well as a number of kidnappings-for-ransom operations.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other Philippine officials continue to be outspoken supporters of the global Coalition against terrorism and have been swift and direct in condemnation of terrorist acts, both domestic and international. The Government of the Philippines created a multiagency counterterrorism task force chaired by the National Security Advisor and consisting of officials from 34 Philippine Government agencies representing the security, economic, and social components essential for an effective counterterrorism strategy. In October, the Philippine Government ratified the remaining six of the 12 United Nations counterterrorism conventions.

Philippine authorities made several significant arrests of suspected terrorists in 2003. In May, security forces arrested a sub-commander of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) involved in the explosion of 30 December on a Manila commuter train that killed 22 people. In October, a JI operative was arrested at a JI safehouse in Cotabato City, on the southern island of Mindanao. In December, Philippine Armed Forces captured Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader "Commander Robot," a leader of one of the main ASG factions responsible for numerous kidnappings and bombings during the last decade, including the kidnapping in April 2000 of Western tourists from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan.

Despite its overall positive record, Manila continues to face setbacks and challenges on the counterterrorism front. In July, a senior Indonesian JI operative escaped from Philippine National Police headquarters in Manila along with two suspected ASG members. All three were eventually killed or recaptured.

Singapore continued its strong public and private opposition to terrorism and maintained vigorous counterterrorism action in bilateral and multilateral contexts. There were no acts of international or domestic terrorism in Singapore in 2003, although authorities continued investigation and detentions of members of JI, which plotted to carry out attacks in Singapore in the past.

During 2003, Singapore continued its cooperation with a variety of governments, including the United States, to investigate terrorist groups, especially JI, through both intelligence and law-enforcement channels. Singapore provided Thailand information that ultimately led to the arrest in May of a Singaporean JI member in Thailand. As a result of that investigation, Thai authorities also arrested several Thai citizens believed to be members of a JI cell plotting to blow up five embassies in Bangkok, including the US Embassy. Singapore provided key information that helped Thailand track down and arrest top JI leader Hambali in August and also facilitated video testimony of three of its ISA detainees in the Indonesian trial of JI spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir in August.

Thailand's domestic and international counterterrorism efforts, which were bolstered in the wake of the deadly bombing in Bali, Indonesia, in October 2002, intensified during 2003. Prime Minster Thaksin Shinawatra publicly expressed the will of the Royal Thai Government to cooperate closely with the United States and other nations in fighting the global war on terror. In August, Thai authorities captured top JI leader with close ties to al-Qaida, Nurjaman Riduan bin Isomuddin (a.k.a. Hambali) in Ayutthaya, Thailand. In June and July, Thai authorities in southern Thailand arrested four men suspected of being either JI supporters or operatives. The four are implicated in a conspiracy to bomb a number of high-profile targets and tourist venues in Thailand including the embassies of the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, Singapore, and Australia.

In August, the King signed an emergency antiterrorist decree, giving the government powerful new legal tools to fight terrorism. There were no significant acts of terrorism in Thailand during 2003. The Thai Government's effectiveness in precluding a terrorist incident during the APEC Summit in October was considered a major success both domestically and internationally.

Australia

Australia continued its strong counterterrorism stance in 2003, both domestically and abroad. Australia continues to contribute to the global war on terror in Afghanistan. Between September 2001 and June 2004, Australia expects to have contributed more than US $46 million in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan. Australia has also made strong contributions to the US-led Coalition in Iraq, with more than 800 Australian Defence Force personnel in Iraq. Its commitment to Iraq's stabilization and development continues across humanitarian, agricultural, and other economic sectors.

Canberra further improved its domestic counterterrorism arrangements and consultative mechanisms in 2003. The National Counterterrorism Committee completed a National Counterterrorism Plan in June. The Government also created a National Security Hotline, conducted a public campaign to ensure that Australians remain alert to the possible threat of terrorism, and formed the Business-Government Task Force on Critical Infrastructure. A National Security Division was established in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to ensure a continued high level of coordination and reinforce a government-wide approach to terrorism and national security issues. Canberra also established the National Threat Assessment Centre to provide integrated assessment capability across the government.

In March, the Government created a position of Ambassador for Counterterrorism. Similar to the Coordinator for Counterterrorism in the United States, the Ambassador provides a focal point for coordinating, promoting, and intensifying Australia's international counterterrorism efforts.

Underpinning Australia's commitment to fighting terrorism is a detailed legislative response. In 2002, the Commonwealth Parliament created specific offenses for involvement in terrorist activities and terrorist organizations and designated 16 such terrorist groups as of December 2003. Parliament also provided additional powers to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation in 2003.

The Parliament passed new measures in 2002 to deny terrorists the funds on which they rely, and during 2002 and 2003 specifically listed more than 400 terrorist-related individuals, entities, and organizations, including HAMAS and Hizballah. Australia has taken action to block transactions, accounts, and assets relating to persons or organizations identified as terrorists or the sponsors of terrorism, including those listed under US Executive Order 13224. Australia has a highly developed legal regime in place to combat terrorist financing. The Australian financial intelligence unit AUSTRAC has strengthened its network by signing a further ten Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with other Financial Intelligence Units throughout the world in 2003, bringing the total to 24. AUSTRAC is also cooperating with the US counterpart, FinCEN, on financial intelligence.

Australia is helping countries in the Asia-Pacific region build their capacity to combat terrorism in areas such as law enforcement, border management, transportation security, intelligence, antiterrorist financing, and the development of legal regimes. In July, Prime Minister Howard announced a three-year $3.6 million package with the Philippines to support the building of counterterrorism capacity. Australia's $7.2 million counterterrorism package to Indonesia is in the second of its four years. Australia spent $5.38 million specifically on building counterterrorism capacity throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region and expects to spend an additional $6.12 million this year.

Australia has broadened its network of bilateral counterterrorism arrangements in Southeast Asia, signing MOUs on cooperation to combat international terrorism with the Philippines, Fiji, Cambodia, East Timor, and India during 2003, bringing Australia's network of MOUs to eight. These MOUs are umbrella arrangements that set out a framework for bilateral cooperation in law enforcement, defense, intelligence, customs, and immigration.

The MOU with the Philippines facilitated cooperation between the Australian Federal Police and the Philippine National Police, including in the investigation of the bombing in Davao City in the southern Philippines in March 2003, in which 17 were killed, including one US citizen. In Indonesia, the joint Australian and Indonesian police investigation into the Bali bombings in October 2002 that killed 202, including 88 Australians, is testimony to the successful combination of Australian and Indonesian investigative and forensic techniques -- and a model for successful international cooperation to bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice. By November 2003, 36 suspects were in Indonesian custody. Among these, 29 had been convicted and an additional four were before the courts.

In the Pacific Islands, Australia has continued working with the region's key political body -- the Pacific Islands Forum -- and with other regional entities such as the South Pacific Chiefs of Police Conference, the Oceania Customs Organization, and the Pacific Immigration Directors Conference, to reduce the possibility of countries in the region being exploited by terrorists and to combat organized crime.

The APEC Leaders' Summit in 2003 endorsed two Australian counterterrorism-related initiatives: advance passenger information systems and development of a regional alert system. Australia is working hard in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum to focus on the very real danger of terrorism and ways to counter it. In June 2003, Australia and Singapore co-hosted a seminar on managing the consequences of a major terrorist attack, which focused on practical measures that governments can take to recover from such an incident.

Australia is a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Burma

Burma maintained its solid position against international terrorism in 2003. The regime previously enacted, but has not yet implemented, an anti-money laundering law that could help block terrorist assets. The military government is fighting several low-intensity conflicts against ethnic insurgents. At least one of these groups is alleged to have ties to South Asian terrorist networks.

The junta has occasionally sought to portray insurgent attacks against infrastructure such as bridges and pipelines as terrorism, but there were no known acts of international terrorism during 2003. Dozens of improvised explosive devices exploded or were discovered in various locations throughout Burma in 2003. With the exception of two bombings of an oil pipeline claimed by the insurgent Karen National Union, there were no claims of responsibility for these acts. In March, two improvised explosive devices were found in Rangoon, one of which exploded and killed two municipal workers. The perpetrators' identities and motives are unclear, but the junta arrested a number of anti-regime activists.

Burma is a party to seven of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a signatory to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Cambodia

In May, Cambodian authorities arrested one Egyptian, two Thais, and one Cambodian suspected of being members of JI. The Government stated publicly that the group was plotting to conduct terrorist attacks in Cambodia. The group had been operating out of an Islamic school run by the Saudi Arabia-based NGO, Umm al-Qura, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. The school was allegedly being used as a front for channeling al-Qaida money into Cambodia from Saudi Arabia. In addition to the arrests of the four, who remain in custody awaiting trial, the Cambodian Government shut down two branches of the Umm al-Qura Islamic School and deported 28 foreign teachers and their dependents.

In November, Cambodian authorities arrested seven members of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, an antigovernment group that was reportedly planning a terrorist attack in the southwestern town of Koh Kong. The suspects remain in custody while the government completes its investigation.

Although there were no acts of international terrorism on Cambodian soil in 2003, Cambodia recognizes that it is not immune from the problem of international terrorism and understands that it needs to work actively to counter the threat. The information leading to the arrest of the suspected JI members in the Umm al-Qura Islamic School and subsequent knowledge that Indonesian JI terrorist leader Hambali resided temporarily in Cambodia have hardened Cambodia's attitude.

Cambodia's ability to independently investigate potential terrorist activities is limited by a lack of training and resources. In addition, Cambodia's lack of comprehensive and effective domestic legislation to combat terrorism is a serious constraint on the Government's ability to arrest and prosecute terrorists. To address these deficiencies, the Cambodian Government has requested international assistance to upgrade its counterterrorism capabilities. Beginning in 2003, the government made significant headway in instituting computerized border control systems at Phnom Penh's international airport. The Cambodian Government has also cooperated fully with US requests to monitor terrorists and terrorists entities listed as supporters of terrorist financing.

Phnom Penh has been vocal in condemning terrorist acts. Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, for example, issued a strongly worded statement condemning the bombing attack in October 2002 in Bali, Indonesia. Cambodia has actively participated in international counterterrorism forums. As ASEAN Chair from July 2002 to June 2003, Cambodia took the lead in coordinating ASEAN statements on terrorism, such as the Joint ASEAN-EU Declaration on Cooperation to Combat Terrorism and the relevant text in the Chairman's Statement of the Tenth ASEAN Regional Forum released in June.

Cambodia is a party to four of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a signatory to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

China

China continues to take a clear stand against international terrorism and is broadly supportive of the global war on terror. Chinese officials at all levels regularly denounce terrorism, and China regularly participates in discussions of counterterrorism in both international and regional forums. For example, China actively participated in the SCO, assisting in the establishment of an SCO Counterterrorism Center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, scheduled to begin operation in 2004, and engaging in SCO joint counterterrorism exercises in Kazakhstan and Xinjiang Province in August 2003.

China is supportive of diplomatic actions and efforts to block and freeze terrorist assets. China treats designations of terrorists under US Executive Order 13224 on an equal basis with those designated by the United Nations UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee. The United States and China hold regular counterterrorism consultations and expert-level consultations on curbing terrorist financing. The People's Bank of China is in the process of establishing an Anti-Money Laundering Bureau, which will include a Terrorist Finance Investigative Department.

China displays a general willingness to cooperate with international terrorism investigations. Chinese authorities actively participated in the investigation of the case of the "Portland Six" -- a group in Portland, Oregon, indicted on terrorism charges in October 2002 -- providing hotel records and other information that proved instrumental in obtaining guilty pleas from the defendants.

There were no acts of international terrorism committed in China in 2003. There were several reports, however, of bombings and bomb threats in various parts of China, although it is unclear whether these were politically motivated acts of terrorism or criminal attacks. Chinese authorities assert that terrorists, primarily based in Xinjiang Province, continue to operate on Chinese territory. On 15 December, for example, China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) issued a list of "East Turkestan" groups and individuals that the Chinese Government considers to be terrorist entities. The list includes four groups: the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the East Turkestan Liberation Organization (better known as SHAT), the World Uighur Youth Congress, and the East Turkestan Information Center.

The list also specifically names 11 individuals as terrorists, including the leaders of each of the above groups. The MPS stated that it has incontrovertible evidence that each listed group has organized and executed specific terrorist acts in Xinjiang and that these groups are all linked to each other and the al-Qaida network. Following the release of the list, the Chinese Government called for international assistance in China's fight against these organizations and individuals, requesting that the assets of the groups be frozen, that the organizations be outlawed, and that countries stop supporting and financing them. Beijing also asked the international community to assist in the investigation, apprehension, and repatriation of the designated individuals. The US Department of State has designated the ETIM as part of the Department of State's Terrorist Exclusion List and under Executive Order 13224 but has not designated the other three groups under US law.

China is a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a signatory to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Indonesia

Indonesia continued its firm public stance against terrorism in 2003. The terrorist bombings in Bali on 12 October 2002 that killed 202 -- mostly foreign tourists -- and the bombing of the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta on 5 August 2003 that killed 12 forced the Indonesian Government into action. The Government, led by the Indonesian National Police, has taken effective steps to counter the threat posed by the regional terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiya (JI), which has ties to al-Qaida. Indonesian police have arrested 109 suspected JI members -- most in 2003 -- including suspects in the Bali attacks, the Marriott attack, and other criminal acts linked to terrorism. Those arrested included numerous senior JI leaders, a number of regional and subregional commanders, most of the masterminds of the Bali attack, several key planners of the Marriott bombing, former instructors at JI training camps, and financiers of terrorist attacks.

In a case symptomatic of persistent Indonesian domestic sensitivities, political pressures, and institutional weaknesses, however, the Government made little effort to investigate the activities and affiliations of six students suspected of terrorist involvement, who were deported from Pakistan in early December 2003 and released two within days of their repatriation.

Indonesia, hampered by weak rule of law, a poorly regulated financial system, and serious internal coordination problems, has not yet frozen any terrorist assets. The Government, however, did enhance its legal framework in September by passing amendments to its anti-money laundering law, which strengthened the government's legal authority to combat terrorist finance. Indonesia has also created a financial intelligence unit with US assistance.

In March, Indonesia adopted a comprehensive antiterrorism law, defining various acts of terror and providing police and prosecutors with broader powers to combat terrorism such as extended pretrial detention periods and the use of electronic evidence in court. The Government, however, has been unwilling to ban JI, saying the organization never formally applied for recognition and thus cannot be prohibited. The absence of such a prohibition has impeded police and prosecutors in arresting and trying suspected terrorists and will most likely further hamper prosecutors' efforts to put JI leaders behind bars.

On 2 September, the Central Jakarta District Court convicted the spiritual leader of JI, Abu Bakar Bashir, on treason and immigration charges. The panel of judges stated in its decision that the prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to convince them of JI's existence, its goal of overthrowing the Government of Indonesia, and Bashir's involvement with the group. However, despite videoconference testimony from Bali bombers naming Bashir as the head of JI, judges were not convinced of his leadership role and sentenced him to only four years in prison. Both Bashir and the prosecution appealed the decision. In November, the court reduced Bashir's sentence to three years, reversing the treason charge but upholding his conviction for document fraud and immigration violations.

The Indonesian judicial system undertook the trials of approximately 63 terror suspects in 2003, including 17 for involvement in the bombing of a McDonald's restaurant and a car showroom in Makassar, South Sulawesi, in December 2002; as well as 46 members of JI for involvement in the church bombings on Christmas Eve 2000, the bombing of the Philippine Ambassador's residence in Jakarta in August 2000, and the Bali and Marriott Hotel bombings. As of 1 December 2003, Indonesian courts had convicted a total of 50 terror suspects and acquitted two. Thirty-nine of these convictions were of suspects involved in the Bali bombings on 12 October 2002. Three key planners -- Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, Abdul Ghoni (a.k.a. Mukhlas), and Abdul Aziz (a.k.a. Imam Samudra -- were all sentenced to death. Many others were given life in prison.

The numerous convictions and tough sentences handed down by the courts are a reflection of the Government's seriousness in combating terrorism and its commitment to bring to justice those implicated in terrorist attacks in Indonesia. Fifteen terrorist trials remain under way, and many suspects await trial. At year's end, Indonesian An Indonesian Muslim woman grieves at a family gathering for victims of the J.W. Marriott Hotel bombing while holding her nephew, whose father was killed in the attack on 5 August 2003.

Police continued steadily to arrest suspected JI members and were devoting considerable resources to hunting JI bomb makers Azahari Hussein and Noordin Mat Top, as well as several other known fugitives.

Indonesia is a party to four of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a signatory to two additional conventions, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Japan

Japan continued its strong counterterrorism stance in 2003. Prime Minister Koizumi and numerous other senior officials have publicly declared their firm commitment to stand by the United States to combat terrorism over the long term. Japan's significant rear-area support to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan and strong statement of support for US-led military action in Iraq bear out this commitment. In July 2003, the Japanese Diet passed the Iraq Reconstruction Assistance Law, which includes provision for dispatching the Japan Self-Defense Forces to Iraq to assist in reconstruction and humanitarian efforts. In October 2003, the Japanese Diet approved a two-year extension of the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law and another six-month basic plan, which stipulate the activities that the Japan Self-Defense Forces may perform in support of OEF. Japan provides approximately 40 percent of the fuel used by US naval forces engaged in OEF. Japan Air Self-Defense Force planes continued to provide transportation for US forces.

Japan actively participates in strengthening counterterrorism measures in various international and regional forums. In August 2003, Japan signed a mutual legal assistance treaty with the United States and plans to submit the treaty to the Diet for ratification in 2004. Once ratified, it will make cooperation in investigations and prosecution of terrorists easier. To help stem the flow of terrorist financing to al-Qaida and the Taliban, Japan designated under its asset-freezing program all entities and individuals included on the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee's consolidated list. Tokyo announced in October 2003 that Japan will join the Advanced Passenger Information System, obliging Japanese officials to share information about departing international passengers with other participating countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Japan continues to make valuable contributions to building counterterrorism capacity among Asian countries. Japanese officials have led seminars on immigration control, aviation security, customs cooperation, export control, law enforcement, and terrorist financing. Japanese National Police Agency officials were dispatched to assist the Indonesian Police investigation following the Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta in August 2003. Japan had also dispatched criminal investigators to Indonesia in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Bali in October 2002. In addition, Japan is providing technical assistance to Southeast Asian countries working to create a system for monitoring terrorist financing. For example, Japan sponsored a seminar on establishing financial intelligence units for Southeast Asian countries in October 2003.

There were no incidents of international terrorism in Japan during 2003. Trials continue of members of the Aum Shinrikyo Group, a US-designated foreign terrorist organization, accused of perpetrating the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995. The prosecution has requested the death penalty for Aum Shrinrikyo leader Matsumoto, and a ruling is expected in early 2004. Three suspects in the incident in 1995 remain at large. The Public Security Intelligence Agency is continuing its surveillance of the group through 2005, as authorized by the Public Security Commission in December 2002.

Japan is a party to all 12 international terrorism conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Laos

The Government of Laos has continued to support the global war on terrorism. Although the Government's intentions regarding counterterrorism are positive, implementation of multilateral agreements is hampered by weak enforcement procedures and lack of control of areas outside the capital. The Government cooperated bilaterally on counterterrorism issues with the United States and other nations and multilaterally with the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Since Laos lacks distinct counterterrorism laws, the Office of the Prosecutor General plans to introduce amendments to existing criminal law, under which acts of terrorism fall, to make more explicit the descriptions of and punishments for terrorism-related crimes. In September, Lao courts sentenced two active-duty soldiers to life imprisonment for orchestrating a series of bombings in Vientiane in 2000 and 2002. Laos has continued to seek the extradition of 17 Lao citizens from Thailand suspected of involvement in an armed attack against a Lao customs checkpoint in the southern part of the country in July 2000. Laos suffered many incidents of domestic terrorism in 2003, carried out by groups of unknown identity opposed to the Lao Government. Some of these terrorist incidents were ambush-style attacks against buses and private vehicles, resulting in the deaths of 34 civilians, and others targeted government officials, killing three Lao officials. A group calling itself the Free Democratic People's Government of Laos claimed credit for at least one in a series of bombings in the latter half of the year that killed one person and injured several more.

The Bank of Laos continued to search government and commercial bank holdings for possible terrorist assets, as identified by US-provided lists of terrorist organizations and individuals, and has issued freeze orders for assets of organizations and individuals named on these lists. The Bank, however, had yet to take steps to report on Government compliance with UNSCR 1373 or to require the freezing of the assets of individuals and entities associated with Usama Bin Ladin, members of al-Qaida, and members of the Taliban as included on the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee's consolidated list, as required by mandatory provisions of UN Security Council resolutions.

Laos is a party to seven of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism but has not yet become a party to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Malaysia

On 1 July, Malaysia established a Southeast Asia Regional Center for Counterterrorism (SEARCCT). SEARCCT is expected to focus on regional training, information sharing, and public awareness campaigns. In August, SEARCCT hosted a training program sponsored by the US Treasury's financial intelligence unit, FinCEN, and Malaysia's Central Bank (Bank Negara) on combating terrorist financing. Other nations, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia, are also expected to provide trainers and training materials to the center. Malaysia assisted Indonesian efforts to prosecute terrorist suspects by making video testimony from suspects in Malaysian custody available to Indonesian prosecutors.

Malaysia has detained more than 100 suspected terrorists under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since May 2001. Malaysia issued 10 and renewed 11 two-year detention orders for terrorist suspects in 2003. On 10 November, 13 Malaysian terrorist suspects were held under 60-day detention orders upon their return from Pakistani custody. Eight of these suspects have been released. In August, the Malaysian Government chose not to renew a detention order for Muhammad Iqbal (a.k.a. Abu Jibril) an Indonesian national and terrorist suspect, seeking instead to deport him to Indonesia. At years' end, Iqbal remained in Malaysian custody.

Malaysia has responded quickly to UN Security Council requirements to prohibit terrorist financing and freeze the accounts of named entities. In November, Malaysia's Parliament amended its anti-money laundering legislation of 2001 to include terrorist activity as a predicate offense. Parliament also amended the penal and criminal procedure codes to increase penalties for terrorist acts, allow for the prosecution of individuals who provide material support for terrorists, expand the use of wiretaps and other surveillance of terrorist suspects, and permit video testimony in terrorist cases.

On 24 September, Malaysia deposited the instruments of ratification for two international antiterrorism conventions: the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons. Malaysia is a party to three additional international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a signatory to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation. It has not yet become a party to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

In March, Malaysian police announced the discovery of four tons of explosive ammonium nitrate fertilizer often used in truck bombs. According to press reports, the ammonium nitrate had been purchased in September 2000 by ex-Army captain and scientist, Yazid Sufaat, who is currently under ISA detention for allegedly being involved in JI activities. The chemicals were to have been used by JI in Singapore to make truck bombs to attack foreign embassies and other Western targets.

New Zealand

New Zealand appointed its first Ambassador for Counterterrorism in September to consolidate and build upon the measures taken since the attacks of September 11 and to ensure New Zealand has a stronger capacity to develop and implement policies on global terrorism and related security issues. In October, the New Zealand Parliament passed new antiterrorism laws that will allow the Government to investigate, detect, and prosecute terrorist activities more effectively. The laws create new offenses to address terrorist threats, empower the New Zealand Police and Customs Officials to investigate and prosecute those offenses, and bring New Zealand into full compliance with its UN obligations.

New Zealand continues to support Operation Enduring Freedom. It deployed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan to participate in the reconstruction efforts and pledged to provide humanitarian aid, as well as keeping its previous commitment of sending a frigate and a P-3 Orion to the region.

New Zealand is a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a signatory to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials.

Philippines

The Philippines continues to be an outspoken supporter of the global Coalition against terrorism and has been swift and direct in condemnation of terrorist acts, both domestic and international.

The Philippines was the victim of a number of terrorist attacks in 2003, including the car-bomb attack on 21 February adjacent to a military airfield in Cotobato, on the southern island of Mindanao; the bombing on 4 March at the International Airport in Davao, Mindanao, that killed 17 (including one US citizen); the Sasa Wharf bombing on 2 April also in Davao that killed 15; a series of bombings in Koronadal City, Mindanao, which took more than 15 civilian lives; as well as a number of kidnappings-for-ransom operations.

The Philippines faces threats from internal terrorism on several fronts. The United States, for example, has listed four indigenous groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations -- the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army, Alex Boncayo Brigade, and the Pentagon Gang.

In her speech to the UN General Assembly in September, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo noted that growing international coordination and cooperation is countering the global threat of terrorism. She further emphasized that the Philippines is working with other heads of state to ensure continued cooperation in the battle to rid Southeast Asia of the terrorist threat. During the ASEAN post-ministerial conference held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in June, Philippine Foreign Secretary Ople expressed the desire of ASEAN to reinforce collaboration with its dialogue partners, highlighting the area's capacity building and training in law enforcement.

The Government of the Philippines created a multiagency counterterrorism task force chaired by the National Security Advisor and consisting of officials from 34 Philippine Government agencies representing the security, economic, and social components essential for an effective counterterrorism strategy. In October, President Arroyo appointed former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to a newly created cabinet-level position, Ambassador-at-Large for Counterterrorism. The Philippines also established a task force on protection of critical infrastructure chaired by the Undersecretary of the Presidential Office of Special Concerns.

Philippine authorities made several significant arrests of suspected terrorists in 2003. In May, security forces arrested Saifullah Yunos (a.k.a. Muklis Yunos), a subcommander of the separatist MILF. During his arraignment in July, Yunos entered a guilty plea for his involvement in the explosion on a Manila commuter train on 30 December 2000 that killed 22 people. In October, JI operative Taufek Refke was arrested at a JI safehouse in Cotabato City, on the southern island of Mindanao. Police reportedly recovered manuals on bomb making and chemical-biological warfare. In December, Philippine Armed Forces captured ASG commander Ghalib Andang (a.k.a. "Commander Robot") on the southern island of Jolo. Andang was the leader of one of the main ASG factions and is responsible for numerous kidnappings and bombings during the last decade, including the kidnapping in April 2000 of Western tourists from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan.

In February, the Philippine Armed Forces overran a base area of the separatist MILF near the town of Pikit on the southern island of Mindanao. Manila claimed that criminals, including the notorious Pentagon Gang, found refuge and protection in the area. Thousands of civilians were displaced as a result of the ensuing days of fighting.

In August, the Philippines sent 96 members of the Philippine Humanitarian Contingent to Iraq to assist in Coalition reconstruction efforts. Philippine officials remained steadfast in word and deed to contribute troops—even in the wake of the terrorist bombing of the UN compound in Baghdad that same week that killed two of their countrymen. If additional funding is available, Manila plans to send 79 additional members and extend the contingent's stay longer than the planned six months.

Despite its overall positive record, the Philippines continues to face setbacks and challenges on the counterterrorism front. In July, senior Indonesian JI operative Fathur Rahman al-Ghozi escaped from Philippine National Police headquarters in Manila along with two suspected ASG members, Omar Opik Lasal and Abdulmukim "Mukim" Idris. Originally detained in the Philippines in January 2002, al-Ghozi was serving a 17-year prison sentence. Al-Ghozi was eventually killed in a shootout with Philippine security forces in North Cotabato Province on Mindanao on 12 October. Philippine Armed Forces shot and killed Idris on 7 August in Lanao del Norte Province on Mindanao and captured Lasal on 7 October in North Cotabato Province in Mindanao.

For the second straight year, the Philippines failed to enact new antiterrorism legislation in 2003. Major evidentiary and procedural obstacles in the Philippines hinder the building of effective terrorism cases, such as the absence of a law defining and codifying terrorist acts and restrictions on gathering of evidence. Generic problems in the law enforcement and criminal justice systems also hamper bringing terrorists to justice in the Philippines. Among them: low morale, inadequate salaries, recruitment and retention difficulties, and lack of cooperation between police and prosecutors.

Tracking terrorist financing continues to pose a problem to prosecuting cases. Poor communication between Philippine law enforcement agencies and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) remains an impediment to effective implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act amended in March 2003. The amendments to the Act granted Central Bank personnel unfettered access to deposit accounts. However, the Central Bank and the AMLC face logistic challenges due to the lack of information technology platforms to collect and process covered transaction reports. Although the amendments addressed international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) concerns about the Philippines legal and regulatory framework, the Philippines remains on the FATF's list of noncooperating countries and territories (NCCT). Removal from the NCCT list awaits the adoption of an anti-money laundering implementation plan and corresponding actions.

In October, the Philippine Government ratified the remaining six of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Singapore

Singapore continued its strong public and private opposition to terrorism and maintained vigorous counterterrorism action in bilateral and multilateral contexts. There were no acts of international or domestic terrorism in Singapore in 2003, although authorities continued their investigation and detentions of members of the JI Southeast Asian regional terrorist network, which had plotted to carry out attacks in Singapore in the past.

Singapore did not announce any new domestic terrorist arrests in 2003, although four of its citizens who are terrorist suspects -- believed to be members of JI -- were repatriated. All four men are being held under the Internal Security Act, bringing the total number of JI-related detainees to 35. Singapore officials stated publicly that while JI continues to pose a threat in the rest of the region, in Singapore, the JI threat has been significantly minimized since Singapore is believed to have been successful in identifying and breaking up the JI operational cells that had been active in the city-state.

During 2003, Singapore continued its cooperation with a variety of governments, including the United States, to investigate terrorist groups, especially JI, through both intelligence and law enforcement channels. Singapore provided Thailand information that ultimately led to the arrest in May of a Singaporean JI member in Thailand, Arifin bin Ali. As a result of that investigation, Thai authorities also arrested several Thai citizens believed to be members of JI. Singapore authorities later stated that they had conveyed to Thailand information from Arifin that the JI group intended to blow up five embassies in Bangkok, including the US Embassy.

Singapore also provided key information that helped Thailand track down and arrest top JI leader Hambali in August. In February, a tipoff from Singapore led to the arrest of Singapore citizen and alleged leader of JI in Singapore, Mas Selamat Kastari, on the Indonesian island of Batam, near Singapore. Kasteri is alleged to have planned to hijack a plane and crash it into Singapore's Changi Airport. Singapore also facilitated video testimony of three of its ISA detainees in the Indonesian trial of JI spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir in August. Singapore designated both the United States and the United Kingdom in May as "prescribed" countries under the terrorist financing law of 2002. This step allows Singapore to respond to requests for information on terrorist financing.

Singapore's new export-control law, which went into effect on 1 January, represents a major step forward. Though largely aimed at preventing proliferation of weapons-of-mass-destruction (WMD) goods to governments, the new framework may also assist in preventing such materials from fallings into the hands of terrorists. In March, Singapore became the first port in Asia to begin operations under the US Container Security Initiative. Singapore officials have expressed strong concern about maritime security in nearby waters, especially the Strait of Malacca. These concerns include terrorist threats as well as pirate and other criminal attacks. Singapore has stepped up security within its own waters and also its efforts to work with other countries.

Singapore actively participated in counterterrorism efforts through various international forums, including the ASEAN Regional Forum in June, the APEC Leaders Summit in October, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in December. In addition, Singapore hosted and co-sponsored with the United States a January workshop on measures to cut off terrorist financing. Attendees at the workshop included representatives of ASEAN states and Pacific Island Forum members, the UN Counterterrorism Committee, the FATF, and the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering. During 2003, Singapore ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection. In November, Singapore passed legislation to enable it to implement the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation; at year's end, it had not signed the convention.

Singapore's port and air bases continued to be available to transiting military forces engaged in the global war on terrorism, including those of the United States. In November, a Singapore Landing Ship Tank began a deployment to assist Coalition efforts in Iraq; Singapore has also pledged a C-130. During President Bush's October visit, Singapore and the United States announced plans to conclude a "Strategic Framework Agreement" on defense and security. In addition to military-to-military cooperation, the statement noted that the agreement was expected to increase cooperation against terrorism and proliferation.

Singapore is a party to six of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Taiwan

Taiwan has supported the global war on terrorism and continues to take steps to improve its counterterrorism laws and regulations, port and container security, and terrorist finance legislation. At a ministerial meeting in June 2003 of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, Taiwan's Economic Minister voiced Taiwan's strong support for counterterrorism efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, which focused on plans to enhance security measures in airplanes, airports, ships, and harbors.

In October, the Cabinet approved a draft law that would mandate the formation of a task force to coordinate terrorism prevention measures and provide an integrated legal framework for counterterrorism efforts. The proposed legislation also would grant special powers for telecommunication surveillance, provide measures to check the identity of terrorists, inspect transportation equipment, and confiscate the property or assets of suspected terrorists.

The United States and Taiwan continued negotiations on the Department of Homeland Security's Container Security Initiative, which aims to protect containerized shipping from exploitation by terrorists. Taiwan operates one of the busiest container ports in the world and has been identified by Homeland Security as one of the top 20 foreign ports for implementation of the initiative.

Taiwan also has been working to identify financial assets controlled or utilized by international terrorists, but to date, no terrorist assets have been located in Taiwan.

Thailand

Thailand's domestic and international counterterrorism efforts, which were bolstered in the wake of the deadly bombing in Bali, Indonesia, in October 2002, intensified during 2003. Prime Minster Thaksin Shinawatra publicly expressed the will of the Royal Thai Government to cooperate closely with the United States and other nations in fighting the global war on terror. In August, Thai authorities captured top JI leader with close ties to al-Qaida, Nurjaman Riduan bin Isomuddin (a.k.a. Hambali) in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Hambali's capture serves as a major blow to both JI and al-Qaida and represents a significant victory in the war on global terror.

In June and July, Thai authorities in southern Thailand arrested four men suspected of being either JI supporters or operatives. The four are implicated in a conspiracy to bomb a number of high-profile targets and tourist venues in Thailand, including the Embassies of Australia, Israel, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Court hearings for the four began in November, although a decision is not expected until 2004.

In August, the King signed an emergency antiterrorist decree, giving the Government powerful new legal tools to fight terrorism. These measures establish the criminal offense of terrorism in the penal code and make that offense a predicate under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The executive decree was approved after nearly two years of parliamentary consideration. Although existing legislation does not cover terrorist financing, Thailand is planning to expand its Anti-Money Laundering Act to include terrorism. The Government and Thailand's central bank continued to cooperate closely with the United States on reviewing and disseminating lists of persons blocked under US Executive Order 13224. To date, Thailand has not identified any entities on the list, and no assets have been blocked or frozen.

As Thailand continues to expand its government-to government cooperation with other ASEAN states, it is becoming more difficult for members of regional terrorist organizations to move from country to country while evading national law enforcement agencies. Thailand is a participant in the new Southeast Asia Center for Counterterrorism based in Malaysia. As host of the APEC Leader's Summit in October 2003, Thailand was instrumental in persuading APEC members to adopt the "Bangkok Goals," which place security concerns on an equal footing with the economic objectives that previously dominated this forum.

Throughout most of 2003, Thailand provided 130 military engineers and medical personnel to Bagram, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Thailand has also dispatched engineers to Iraq to help with reconstruction tasks there.

Thailand is a major recipient of the US Anti-Terrorism Assistance program, with numerous Thai police and security officials participating in US-sponsored training courses since 1995. Thailand is also working closely with the United States to enhance the security of its borders by upgrading to more effective, state-of-the-art controls.

There were no significant acts of terrorism in Thailand during 2003. The Thai Government's effectiveness in precluding a terrorist incident during the APEC Summit in October was considered a major success both domestically and internationally.

Thailand is a party to four of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a signatory to the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

EURASIA OVERVIEW

Central Asia, which for years had suffered attacks from Afghanistan-based guerilla and terrorist groups, saw no mass-casualty terrorist attacks in 2003. The operations of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), a group on the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list that seeks to overthrow the Government of Uzbekistan and create an Islamic state, were seriously disrupted when some of its leaders and many of its members were killed in Afghanistan fighting with the Taliban against Coalition forces in 2001 and 2002. The IMU has been incapable of significant military operations since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), and, with the help of outside training and financing, has switched primarily to terrorism. Law enforcement and counterterrorism actions by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan disrupted IMU operations, led to arrests and prosecutions, and prevented planned attacks on US interests.

Russia, however, continued to be the target of terrorist attacks in 2003 carried out by Chechen terror groups that have adopted suicide/homicide bombing techniques, including the use of young women as bombers. The three largest such attacks resulted in more than 40 deaths each. In addition, venues in Moscow were attacked, including Red Square and a rock concert six miles from the Kremlin. The Moscow attacks killed 22 and injured several dozen as the perpetrators sought to sow terror in the capital.

States in the region continued to provide overflight and temporary basing rights; share law enforcement and intelligence information; and identify, monitor, and apprehend al-Qaida members and other terrorists. Countries in the region also took diplomatic and political steps to contribute to the international struggle against terrorism, such as becoming party to some or all of the 12 United Nations international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Enhancing regional counterterrorism cooperation has been a priority for the United States. Toward that end, the US Department of State's Coordinator for Counterterrorism, working closely with the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, hosted the Fifth Counterterrorism Conference for Eurasian states in Vienna, Austria, in June 2003. Participants included most of the countries of Eurasia, Turkey, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Delegations consisted of officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, Defense, and Interior and the intelligence services. The conference consisted of a tabletop exercise based on a bioterrorism incident (the intentional release of pneumonic plague at a major international soccer match). Exercise groups concentrated on the broad range of public health, law enforcement, political-military, socio-economic, and human rights issues, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary communication, cooperation, and advance planning. The basic structure of the conference provided participants an opportunity to describe and identify components of their national programs to respond to a bioterrorism attack and make recommendations to their head of state to deal with the situation presented in the exercise scenario.

The United States also participated in the OSCE's first Annual Security Review Conference in June 2003, bringing in Ambassador Cofer Black as a keynote speaker. Also in the context of the OSCE, the United States led the drive to adopt a Ministerial decision committing OSCE participating states to adopt International Civil Aviation Organization travel document standards by December 2005 or as soon as technologically and financially feasible.

Armenia

Armenia was a full and active participant in the global Coalition against terrorism in 2003 and is in the process of strengthening its domestic antiterror legislation. Armenian officials, including the president, issued repeated statements condemning terrorism and supporting the United States and the global Coalition against terrorism. Armenia provides no support for international terrorism or for any international terrorist group and has made no statements in support of terrorism or of a terrorism supporting country. Armenia maintains diplomatic and economic relations with two countries on the US State Sponsors of Terrorism List -- Iran and Syria. Iran and Syria have large ethnic Armenian populations.

Armenia was very cautious in public statements regarding the war with Iraq, due primarily to a substantial ethnic Armenian population in that country, but has since volunteered military units for postwar reconstruction. The Government also offered engineering and medical forces to stability operations in Iraq.

There were no actions before the Armenian judicial system in 2003 regarding international terrorism or acts of terror against US citizens or interests nor were there any new actions initiated regarding domestic terrorism. A new Armenian criminal law more clearly defining terrorist acts replaced Soviet-era legislation in 2003. Other legislation on terrorism and terrorist finance currently pending in the National Assembly should strengthen the ability of the Government to prosecute terrorist-related offenses. Five participants in the terrorist attack against the Armenian Parliament that killed Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian, Speaker Karen Demirchian, and six other Government officials on 27 October 1999 were sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2003. They will be denied amnesty under a new law signed by President Robert Kocharyan on 26 November.

The Armenian National Assembly is also considering laws establishing an intergovernmental antiterrorism center and combating terrorist financing and money laundering. The Government strongly supports the legislation. The antiterrorism center will serve as a central government body to develop a national anti-terror strategy and to coordinate the antiterrorism efforts of government ministries. The National Assembly also passed an export-control law in October 2003, which could assist efforts to monitor the export of dual-use goods. The Armenian Central Bank has acted under the authority of the new criminal code to freeze the assets of designated terrorist entities.

The Armenian Government did not extradite or request the extradition of any suspected terrorists during the year. Armenia does not have mutual legal assistance treaties with most nations, including the United States, although criminal suspects have been sent to the United States for trial on a case-by-case basis.

Armenia is a party to six of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and has signed a seventh.

Azerbaijan

Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States on counterterrorism is longstanding and has intensified since the September 11 attacks. Azerbaijan has turned over approximately 32 foreign citizens with suspected ties to terrorists, including eight to Egypt and three to Saudi Arabia, and has aggressively prosecuted members of suspected terrorist groups. It has also joined 10 European conventions on combating terrorism, and President Heydar Aliyev instructed his Government to implement UN Security Council Resolutions 1368, 1373, and 1377.

In August 2003, 150 Azerbaijani soldiers joined the peacekeeping contingent in Iraq. A platoon of Azerbaijani soldiers has been working with the Turkish peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan since November 2002. Azerbaijan maintains diplomatic relations with Iran, which is on the US State Sponsors of Terrorism List.

During the past two years, the Azerbaijan Government has stepped up its effort to combat terrorist financing, including distribution of lists of suspected terrorist groups and individuals to local banks. In May 2003, the Government created an inter-ministerial task force on money laundering and financial crimes, which will develop a government-wide strategy to combat financial crimes, including the financing of terrorism. It will also establish a financial intelligence unit. In January 2003, Azerbaijan revoked the registration of the Benevolence International Foundation, a designated financier of terrorism, after having frozen the organization's bank accounts. The Justice Ministry also revoked the registration of two other Islamic charities -- the Kuwait Fund for the Sick and the Qatar Humanitarian Organization -- for activities against the national interests of Azerbaijan.

The government also approved changes to the criminal code that increased the maximum penalty for acts of terrorism from 15 years to life imprisonment and added a provision making the financing of terrorist activities a crime under Azerbaijani law. Azerbaijan has deported numerous terrorists and persons suspected of having ties to terrorists and closed three Islamic organizations that were suspected of supporting terrorist groups. Members of Jayshullah, an indigenous terrorist group, who were arrested in 2000 and tried in 2001 for plotting to attack the US Embassy in Baku, remain in prison.

While Azerbaijan has served as a route for international mujahidin with ties to terrorist organizations seeking to move men, money, and materiel throughout the Caucasus, it has had some success in reducing their presence and hampering their activities. In May 2002, the Government convicted seven Azerbaijani citizens who, intending to fight in Chechnya, received military training in the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia. Four received suspended sentences, and the others were sentenced to four-to-five years in prison. Throughout 2003, Azerbaijan made successful and significant efforts to prevent international terrorists from transiting Azerbaijani territory.

Azerbaijan is a party to eight of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Georgia

The Georgian Government remained deeply committed to combating international and domestic terrorism and has consistently and publicly condemned acts of terror. Georgia has not engaged in any form of support for international terrorism, terrorists, or terrorist groups and has not made any public statement in support of any terrorist-supporting country. The Government frequently expresses full support for the global war on terror and expresses sympathy and support to those individuals and countries victimized by terrorist attacks. Georgia maintains diplomatic relations with Iran, which is on the US State Sponsors of Terrorism List.

Although Georgia prosecuted no acts of international or domestic terrorism in 2003, the Georgian Government is fully committed to prosecuting individuals who engage in terrorist activities. In 2003, Georgia extradited several Chechen fighters arrested in Georgia to Russia. Throughout 2003, the Georgian Government took significant strides to support US-led efforts in the war against terrorism. Specifically, the Government demonstrated its willingness to provide the United States with information related to possible terrorist activities in Georgia. In support of Georgia's counterterrorism efforts, the United States continued to fully fund and support the Georgia Train and Equip Program (GTEP). GTEP supports the training of four Georgian army battalions and a mechanized company, plus training in tactics for operations against terrorists for smaller numbers of Interior Ministry troops and border guards. Georgia is still used to a limited degree as a terrorist transit state, although much less so since the Georgian crackdown on the Pankisi Gorge in late 2002.

In August 2003, the Georgian Government sent 70 military personnel for a six-month deployment to Iraq in support of Coalition operations. In February 2004, 200 GTEP-trained servicemen will replace these personnel. Georgian law-enforcement and security authorities continued to maintain a presence in the Pankisi Gorge throughout 2003.

Georgia is a party to six of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Kazakhstan

The Government of Kazakhstan has been publicly outspoken in support for the fight against terrorism and categorically denounces acts of terrorism. Kazakhstan is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization along with China, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Kazakhstan maintains diplomatic relations with Cuba, North Korea, Libya, the Palestinian Authority, Sudan, and Iran.

Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding of 2002, Kazakhstan allows Coalition forces the use of Almaty International Airport for emergency flight diversion in support of OEF. Since December 2001, Kazakhstan has also allowed more than 1,100 overflights in support of OEF at no cost. In the summer of 2003, Kazakhstan sent a 27-member military engineering and ordnance-disposal contingent to Iraq. In 2003, representatives of Kazakhstan successfully completed an introductory two-year program consisting of 14 courses offered by the antiterrorism training assistance office of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

Kazakhstan is a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan in 2003 remained a dependable and outspoken ally in the global war on terrorism, hosting Coalition forces engaged in OEF and taking political, legislative, and law enforcement initiatives to disrupt and deter terrorism. President Akayev has staunchly defended the US presence within Kyrgyzstani borders. In 2001, the Kyrgyzstani Government authorized the construction of a Coalition base adjacent to the existing Manas airport near the nation's capital of Bishkek, in support of OEF. The base currently hosts approximately 1,100 Coalition forces. In 2003, this included soldiers from the United States, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Spain. The base is used for combat support, transport, refueling, tanker and cargo shipments, and ground operations in Afghanistan.

President Akayev proclaims that antiterrorism efforts are of extremely high priority for Kyrgyzstan and noted that terrorism is not only a threat to Kyrgyzstan but to regional and international security as well. In September 2003, a Russian airbase was opened near the village of Kant, approximately 20 miles from Bishkek. The base was constructed under the auspices of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and is used for security and antiterrorism efforts for CSTO members Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The SCO voted to create an antiterrorism center in Bishkek in 2003. Although the location of this center was later changed to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan has provided logistic support for its creation.

Kyrgyzstan suffered one deadly act of terrorism in 2003. In May, militants from the IMU bombed a currency exchange in Osh, killing one man.

An attack in March on a bus traveling between Kyrgyzstan and China killed 21 people, including 19 Chinese citizens. This incident is still under investigation and may have been terrorism or crime related.

Kyrgyzstan's courts in February sentenced Sherali Akbotoyev, a captured Kyrgyzstani member of the IMU, to 25 years in prison for violating six articles of the Kyrgyzstani criminal code, including his involvement in armed attacks against Kyrgyzstani military forces during the IMU incursions of 1999 and 2000. In November, the Kyrgyzstani Supreme Court banned four groups, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, enabling the state to lawfully seize its property.

Security forces in Kyrgyzstan played a major role in combating terrorism in 2003, successfully disrupting terrorist operations reportedly aimed at US interests. Security authorities in May detained five IMU operatives whom they later determined had conducted the terrorist bombing in December 2002 at the Oberon Market in Bishkek that killed seven people and the Osh currency-exchange bombing in May 2003. Kyrgyzstani authorities worked closely with Uzbekistani authorities to disrupt the cell and provided information that helped Uzbekistan capture one of the cell's members in Andijan, Uzbekistan. In November, Kyrgyzstani authorities announced that they had detained three suspects who had been planning an attack on US interests.

Kyrgyzstan's military and internal forces worked to improve their counterterrorism capabilities and to expand their cooperation with regional partners in 2003. In March, Kyrgyzstan's Interior Ministry conducted counterterrorism exercises in the southern part of the country and, in July, seized a cache of hidden weapons in the Batken region. Bishkek also moved to bolster the security of the nation's borders from terrorists, announcing in March it would increase the number of border checkpoints and in September that border troops, working jointly with border forces from neighboring Tajikistan, would operate together to identify mountain paths used by terrorists. Kyrgyzstan is party to nine of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Russia

Russia pursued several major domestic and global counterterrorism initiatives in 2003, sustaining its key role in the global war on terrorism. Russian political, legislative, and law enforcement efforts supported international cooperative efforts and a number of successful domestic terrorist prosecutions. Russian attitudes toward terrorism, however, continue to be influenced by the ongoing war in Chechnya. Local insurgents in the North Caucasus remained the greatest terrorist threat to Russia and were responsible for the murder of hundreds of Russian citizens, civilians as well as military. There is evidence of a foreign terrorist presence in Chechnya, although much of the actual terrorist activity there is homegrown and linked to the Chechen separatist movement.

Russia passed several new antiterrorism laws, began implementing previously passed legislation, and facilitated effective interdiction of terrorist finance flows by becoming a full member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). In February, the Russian Supreme Court issued an official Government list of 15 terrorist organizations, the first of its kind in Russia and an important step toward implementation of counterterrorism statutes. Following the promulgation of the list, the 15 organizations were prohibited from engaging in any financial activities.

Some proposed Russian counterterrorism legislation has stirred controversy. Duma-drafted amendments to the 1991 "Law on Mass Media," designed to restrict the dissemination of information that could be useful to terrorists, were vetoed by President Putin in November 2002 following criticisms that they unduly restricted freedom of the press. A long-promised redrafting of the media law, prompted by Kremlin criticism of the role played by some media outlets during the Dubrovka Theater hostage crisis of October 2002, has yet to occur.

Examples of noteworthy law enforcement and judicial actions undertaken by Russia in 2003 include:

Zaurbek Talkhigov was sentenced to eight and a half years incarceration in June for tipping off terrorists about police attempts to rescue hostages during the siege of the Dubrovka Theater in 2002.

Failed suicide bomber Zarema Muzhikhoyeva was arrested after attempting to detonate a bomb in a Moscow cafe. An explosives ordnance disposal officer was killed trying to disarm the explosives she had been carrying.

Ayyub Katayev and Magomed Gakayev were convicted of banditry and possession of illegal weapons in connection with their participation in a terrorist attack in January 2001 on a Doctors Without Borders convoy in Chechnya. The two were also charged with kidnapping US citizen Kenneth Gluck, the head of Doctors Without Borders, but were later acquitted.

Sergei Chochiyev was convicted and sentenced to 15 years incarceration in October for kidnapping a United Nations aid worker in 1998 on behalf of Chechen insurgents.

Russia's international efforts have focused on building multilateral support for counterterrorist actions and strengthening the international legal basis for such cooperation.

At the United Nations, Russia cosponsored a draft General Assembly resolution on human rights and terrorism in November 2003. Russia also submitted the names of Chechen rebels Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev and Shamil Basayev, in June and August respectively, for inclusion on the UNSC resolution 1267 Sanctions Committee list of designated terrorists for their links to al-Qaida. The United States joined Russia in submitting Grandmother and sister of Yelena Kosenko, a victim of a suicide terrorist attack at a rock concert outside Moscow on 5 July 2003, cry while holding her photograph during her funeral. Basayev's name to the sanctions committee, and Secretary Powell designated both as foreign terrorists under Executive Order 13224.

After Secretary of State Powell designated The Islamic International Brigade, the Special Purpose Islamic Regiment, and the Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs as terrorist organizations in February 2003, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with Spain and Germany, jointly submitted the names of the three Chechen groups to the 1267 Sanctions Committee -- the first time that the permanent members made such a joint submission on a terrorist designation.

Russia used its leadership in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the CSTO to push for expanded counterterrorist operations. It also sought the establishment of a counterterrorism center in Central Asia. Russia also worked through the SCO to support creation of a joint antiterrorism center in Tashkent in 2004.

Russian policymakers continue to believe that the NATO-Russia Council can play a role in counterterrorism cooperation and the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Russia hosted the first-ever Moscow meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in May 2003, which focused on developing concrete joint antiterrorism training projects and operations.

Russia maintains diplomatic relations and historically good ties with all the states on the US State Sponsors of Terrorism List. For example, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov paid a working visit to Syria in July 2003, and Hassan Rohani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, visited Moscow in November 2003. Although Russia has never condoned Palestinian terrorist acts, Russian officials do not necessarily view all Palestinian actions as inherently terrorist in nature and sometimes argue that armed resistance is justified against an Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory. Nevertheless, the Government of Russia firmly opposes state-sponsored terrorism and supports international initiatives to combat it. The Russian Government maintains that its relationships with states on the US terrorism list serve as a positive influence that has -- or may have -- moderated or diminished these governments' support for terrorist groups.

Cooperative effort in the global war on terrorism remains a key pillar of Russia's strategic partnership with the United States. Regular meetings of the Working Group on Counterterrorism, co-chaired by US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov, continue to facilitate counterterrorism cooperation between the two nations. The Working Group has encouraged expanded direct agency-to-agency contacts and specific antiterrorism projects. Russia has established similar bilateral working groups on terrorism with a number of other countries, including the United Kingdom, India, France, and Germany.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regularly exchanged operational counterterrorism information in 2003. Russian authorities provided the United States Department of Homeland Security and FBI with evidence leading to the prosecution of an individual in the United States for fund-raising activities associated with terrorism. The FSB also assisted the FBI in several important international terrorism investigations during 2003. Unprecedented cooperation between the FBI and FSB was essential to the FBI's arrest in New Jersey in August 2003 of Hermant Lahkani for attempting to sell a shoulder-fired missile to an undercover operative posing as an al-Qaida terrorist. Lahkani was indicted on 18 December 2003.

A mutual legal assistance treaty is in force and has been used effectively in some cases.

According to the Russian General Procuracy, 90 percent of terrorist acts in Russia during 2003 were committed within Chechnya and its surrounding areas. Some were directed against military or internal security forces, while others targeted specific civilians. The terrorists' strategic use of women to conduct increasingly random, indiscriminate, and sensational suicide attacks emerged as a key development in 2003. Major terrorist acts perpetrated against Russia during 2003, in chronological order:

• 15 April: Sixteen civilians die when a bomb explodes on a bus near Khankala.
• 9 May: Victory Day bombing at the Dynamo Stadium in Groznyy, the Chechen capital, injures three.
• 12 May: Two women and a man detonated an explosive-laden truck inside an administrative complex in Znamenskoye in northern Chechnya, killing 60 and wounding more than 250.
• 14 May: Groznyy resident Larisa Musalayeva detonated an explosive belt at a crowded Muslim religious festival east of Groznyy, killing herself and 18 others and wounding 46, in a probable attempt to assassinate Chechen administrator Akhmad Kadyrov.
• 5 June: Samara resident Lidiya Khaldykhoroyeva detonated an explosive belt beside a bus filled with federal air force personnel near Mozdok, a major staging area for Russian troops serving in Chechnya, killing herself and 18 others.
• 20 June: A man and a woman detonated a truck bomb in the vicinity of an Internal Ministry building in Groznyy, killing themselves and wounding 36.
• 5 July: Twenty-year-old Kurchaloy resident Zulikhan Alikhadzhiyeva and a female accomplice each detonated explosive belts at a crowded rock concert in the Moscow suburbs, killing themselves and 16 others and wounding more than 50.
• 9 July: Twenty-three-year-old Bamut resident Zarema Muzhikhoyeva was apprehended after trying unsuccessfully to detonate an explosive within her handbag while seated at a table in the Mon cafe on Moscow's Tverskaya street.
• 1 August: A suicide truck bomber completely destroyed a military hospital in Mozdok near Chechnya, killing himself and 52 others and injuring more than 80.
• 3 September: Six people are killed in an explosion onboard a commuter train near the Northern Caucasus spa town of Pyatigorsk.
• 16 September: Two suicide bombers drive a truck laden with explosives into a government security services building near Chechnya, killing three and wounding 25.
• 5 December: A suicide bomber detonated a bomb on a morning commuter train near Yessentuki in the Stavropol region north of Chechnya, killing 44 and wounding more than 150.
• 9 December: A female suicide bomber detonated a bomb near Moscow's Red Square, killing herself, five others, and wounding 14. The woman and an accomplice had asked passersby for directions to the state Duma moments before the detonation.
• Russia is a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism. Ratification of the Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection is expected in 2004.

Tajikistan

The Government of Tajikistan continues to be a staunch supporter of the United States in the global war on terrorism. Tajikistan does not support any terrorist groups or activities and allows its territory and air space to be used for counterterrorist actions. President Emomali Rahmonov reiterated Tajikistan's adamant opposition to terrorism and terrorist activities to the United Nations General Assembly in 2003.

On the national level, the Government continues to develop national counterterrorism legislation to supplement the Antiterrorist Law of the Republic of Tajikistan of 1999, the State Program on Strengthening the Fight against Terrorism of 2000, and the Tajik criminal code, which allows harsh punishments for acts of terrorism, including the death penalty. The Tajikistani Government closely monitors terrorist groups operating within its borders such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. In addition, Tajikistan has taken steps to combat terrorist financing by distributing lists of designated terrorist groups and individuals to local banks and other financial institutions.

On the international level, Tajikistan participates in anti-terrorist initiatives advanced by the SCO and the CIS Antiterrorist Center. On 14 November 2003, Tajikistan and India created a bilateral counterterrorist working group and agreed to create an antiterrorist framework. In his address to the UN General Assembly in 2003, President Rahmonov focused on issues related to the struggle against international terrorism and ways to eradicate it. He expressed an interest in the role of narcotics trafficking in financing terrorism and called for establishing a global partnership for countering the dangers of drugs.

The United States currently provides technical aid to the antiterrorist units of the Tajikistani Government. With the assistance of the United States and other foreign countries, Tajikistan's law enforcement personnel receive training in such areas as crisis management, bomb detection, and post-blast investigation. Tajikistan and Russia are joined in a bilateral effort that employs the Russian 201st Motorized Rifle Division and the Russian Border Guard Service in a counterterrorism role.

Tajikistan has not had a domestic terrorist incident since 2001. The Tajikistani Government made no requests for extradition nor extradited any suspected terrorists in 2003.

Tajikistan is a party to eight and signatory to nine of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Turkmenistan

The Government of Turkmenistan has been a member of the international Coalition against terrorism, taking action to seal its border with Afghanistan, identifying and freezing any financial assets used to support terrorism, and instituting new airport security measures. Turkmenistan is officially a neutral country and assists the Coalition in nonmilitary initiatives such as allowing the overflight of US aircraft and small "gas and go" operations in support of humanitarian relief missions in Afghanistan. The Government also participated in "Six plus Two" meetings on forming a new Afghan Government and in international donor meetings on Afghan reconstruction. Turkmen officials have made no statements in support of a terrorist-supporting country on a terrorism issue.

Turkmenistan courts carried out no prosecutions on charges of international terrorism in 2003. On 25 November 2002, an armed attack was carried out on President Niyazov's motorcade. This attack is considered by the Government to have been a case of domestic terrorism. Trials of those implicated in the plot were held in January and February 2003; international observers were not allowed to attend, and there were serious concerns about the due process accorded to defendants. All of those convicted for the attack received lengthy jail sentences.

There has been a significant change in the Government's attitude toward terrorism, specifically domestic terrorism, following the attack on President Niyazov. Measures adopted in the wake of the attack in November 2002 are ostensibly designed to "strengthen" Turkmenistan's security; however, in its implementation of the new strictures, the Government has further infringed on civil liberties and violated human rights.

Turkmenistan is a party to nine of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Ukraine

The fight against terrorism is a priority for the Government of Ukraine. The president, cabinet of ministers, and foreign ministry publicly condemned acts of international terrorism on several occasions. Ukraine supported both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003. Ukraine is one of the largest Coalition troop providers in Iraq. Kiev does, however, maintain trade relations with several countries listed by the United States as State Sponsors of Terrorism.

Ukraine supported the Coalition in Iraq by sending a 450-member Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical remediation unit to Kuwait; elements of this group later joined the current deployment to Iraq. A 1,650-member Ukrainian brigade is now serving in the Polish-led Multinational Division. Ukraine also grants overflight rights to support counterterrorist efforts in Afghanistan, allowing approximately 2,000 overflights in 2003. Air bases in Ukraine have also been identified for emergency use by the OEF Coalition.

Significant Ukrainian legislative developments during 2003 in the fight against terrorism included adoption by the Parliament of an omnibus "Law on Combating Terrorism," adoption of a new criminal code containing Article 258 that explicitly defines terrorism, and adoption of the "Program of National Antiterrorist Measures for 2003-2005." The Parliament also passed additional legislation, including amendments that bring the law on money laundering into line with FATF requirements.

In 2003, the Government reports that Ukrainian courts carried out no prosecutions on charges of international terrorism and prosecuted only two domestic cases in which terrorism charges were filed. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies exchanged information with the Anti-Terrorism Center of the CIS and law enforcement agencies of the United States, France, Israel, Turkey, Portugal, Germany, Malaysia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and others.

Although Article 25 of the Ukrainian constitution prohibits the extradition of Ukrainian citizens, the criminal code provides for extradition of foreigners and persons without citizenship who are not permanent residents of Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities deported several persons with suspected or alleged ties to terrorism in 2003, including several transient Chechens.

Control over the procedures for entry, departure, and stay in Ukraine for representatives of Islamic organizations and centers, including those from the Caucasus region, has been tightened. These measures include shortening the period of stay in Ukraine, expelling individuals from the country, and banning entry. The Interior Ministry is developing a database to document and register (including automated fingerprinting) persons detained for illegally crossing Ukraine's state border and/or staying illegally in Ukraine.

Pursuant to UN Security Council resolutions 1333, 1390, and 1455, Ukraine is taking measures to block the funds and other financial resources of Usama Bin Ladin and his supporters. Thus far, none have been identified. The Ministry of Finance is charged with collecting, processing, and analyzing financial transactions subject to obligatory financial monitoring. There have been problems with implementation of these provisions.

Ukraine is a full party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan was among the first states to support US efforts in the global war on terrorism. President Islom Karimov consistently stresses the importance of Uzbekistani counterterrorism cooperation in both public and private venues. Uzbekistan continues to host US military forces within its borders and views the US base at Karshi-Khanabad as fundamental to Uzbekistan's support for the war on terror and central to stability in Central Asia.

Uzbekistan has played an important role in multilateral regional efforts to combat terrorism. Uzbekistan has recently engaged with Kazakhstan 40 and Kyrgyzstan on antiterrorist issues, especially those related to the IMU. In August 2003, Tashkent was designated as the location for a Shanghai Cooperation Organization Regional Anti-Terrorism Center. Uzbekistan publicly condemns state sponsors of terrorism, despite the presence of Iranian and North Korean diplomatic missions in Tashkent.

The Karimov regime is concerned with the threat posed by the IMU, presently operating primarily outside its borders. The Government of Kazakhstan recently extradited two IMU members to Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan continues to make countering terrorism and antiregime threats a high priority. Tashkent mounted robust efforts in 2003 to limit the destabilizing effects of militant Islam by further securing its borders, identifying extremists, and conducting arrests of suspected radicals and terrorists. Uzbekistani prosecutors obtained more than 100 convictions in 2003 for actions that fell under the Uzbekistani criminal code for terrorist or extremist activity, as well as more than 600 other prosecutions under a less stringent Uzbekistani administrative code that, nevertheless, allows for detention of up to three years. The Government of Uzbekistan did not adopt any new antiterrorism laws in 2003. One high-profile prosecution is the recent sentencing of IMU member Azizbek Karimov, who admitted to planning attacks against the US Embassy in neighboring Kyrgyzstan.

Uzbekistan is signatory to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

EUROPE OVERVIEW

"Terrorism is the chief threat which our societies face. It is a threat which we must combat with force, determination and the collaboration of all nations."

- Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, 11 September 2003

European nations worked in close partnership with the United States in the global counterterrorism campaign and have continued to strengthen their legal and administrative ability to take action against terrorists and their supporters, including freezing their assets. The contributions of European countries in sharing intelligence, arresting members of terrorist cells, and interdicting terrorist financing and logistics continued to be vital elements in the war on terrorism. Allies such as France and the United Kingdom were particularly responsive during periods of heightened security, cooperating with United States officials to monitor airline flights of concern.

The European Union (EU) has been a reliable partner in the war on terrorism and has significantly strengthened its legal and administrative ability, and that of EU member states, to take action against terrorists and their supporters -- including freezing their assets -- in the past several years. International judicial cooperation advanced in 2003, as EU members changed domestic legislation to incorporate provision of the European Arrest Warrant, which was scheduled to come into effect in early 2004. The EU and United States signed new Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties at the G-8 Summit in June 2003 that will expand law enforcement and judicial cooperation. Significant deficiencies remained, however, and some countries have legal impediments to taking firm judicial action against known terrorists, often stemming from asylum laws, inadequate counterterrorism legislation, or high standards of evidence that afford loopholes and limit the ability of authorities to hold suspects. The EU as a whole was reluctant to take steps to block the assets of charities associated with HAMAS and Hizballah.

The United Kingdom continued its longstanding close partnership with the United States, providing the second-largest contingent of forces for the liberation of Iraq, arresting extremists in the United Kingdom on terrorism-related charges, and stepping up efforts to disrupt and prosecute terrorists. The United Kingdom aggressively moved to freeze the assets of organizations and persons with terrorist links and to proscribe terrorist groups. UK overseas interests were attacked in November when suicide bombers struck the British Consulate and a British bank in Istanbul, killing 25 people. The United Kingdom provided significant counterterrorism assistance and training to foreign governments around the world.

Italy continued its exemplary work against terrorism, deploying forces to Afghanistan and Iraq. Nineteen Italian citizens were killed in a terrorist attack on Italian Carabinieri in Iraq. Italian authorities continued to disrupt suspected terrorist cells linked to al-Qaida and, for the first time, expelled suspects believed to pose a terrorist threat. Members of the Red Brigades-Communist Combatant Party staged a shootout with police, leading to the arrest of the group's leader and subsequent significant progress in dismantling it.

Spain's vigorous investigation of extremist groups continued, with Spanish authorities indicting Usama Bin Ladin and 34 others for complicity in the September 11 attacks. Substantial progress was made against the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorist organization; more than 100 persons connected to ETA were arrested, and several operational ETA cells were dismantled.

France made many significant terrorism-related arrests, including suspects linked to persons who assisted the September 11 hijackers. Investigations continued into the activities of terrorist cells connected to plots against the US Embassy in Paris. French authorities, working with their Spanish counterparts, put intensive pressure on ETA, arresting top leaders of the Basque terrorist group's military wing in December. France continued to engage numerous non-EU countries in dialogue on counterterrorism issues.

Cooperation among European law-enforcement authorities was a feature of many successes during the past year. For example, France and Spain became the first countries to create "multi-national police investigation teams" under the terms of an EU agreement of 2002.

Germany contributed significantly to international forces in Afghanistan and took a lead role in that country's reconstruction. In February, a German court became the first to convict a terrorist linked to the September 11 attacks. German authorities continued extensive investigations into Islamic extremist-based terrorism and arrested a number 42 of suspects. In November, Germany extradited suspected al-Qaida financier Sheik Mohammed ali Hasan al Moayad and an associate to the United States.

In Turkey, two separate -- but probably coordinated -- attacks by suicide bombers on British and Jewish targets in Istanbul in November killed 61 people. Turkey and the United States continued to discuss cooperation against Kongra-Gel (KADEK -- the former Kurdistan Workers Party), which, for its part, continued to launch attacks against Turkish targets. Despite progress by Turkish police against the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party (DHKP/C), that group continued its attacks as well.

In December 2003, a Greek court convicted 15 members of Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17N) of hundreds of crimes, sentencing five 17N leaders to multiple life terms and imposing sentences of up to 244 years on others. Four suspects were acquitted.

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, and Norway contributed forces and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan and Iraq. Sweden and Finland also have peacekeepers in Afghanistan and are active in reconstruction in both nations. Norwegian authorities continued to investigate suspected Ansar al-Islam leader (and Norway resident) Mullah Krekar and froze an account linked to that organization.

Despite limited resources, the countries of southeast Europe have actively supported the international Coalition against terrorism. Albania, Serbia-Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Bulgaria cooperated to combat organized crime and various forms of trafficking, enhance border security, and improve training for border security personnel.

The United States and the EU signed extradition and mutual legal assistance agreements in June that, as US Attorney General John Ashcroft noted, will provide "additional tools to combat terrorism, organized crime, and other serious forms of criminality." The EU and its member states have made significant contributions to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Albania

Despite limited resources, Albania has provided considerable support to US and international counterterrorism initiatives. Albania continues to implement its National Action Plan against Terrorism, originally approved in 2002.

The government has frozen the assets of a notorious terrorist financier, curtailed the activities of suspect Islamic NGOs, and detained or expelled individuals suspected of having links to terrorism or attempting to foment religious intolerance. In June 2003, Parliament passed a strong money-laundering law that included antiterrorist financing provisions, bringing Albania's legislation into compliance with international standards. The Bank of Albania has also established a task force to monitor all financial activities of secondary banks and their compliance with client verification. Legislation is pending that would define what constitutes a terrorist act, identify the antiterrorism responsibilities of specific Government agencies, and create an interministerial National Coordinating Committee for the Fight Against Terrorist Acts. Albania continues to cooperate extremely closely with the United States and other governments in sharing information and investigating terrorist-related groups and activities. Albania has also started cracking down on ethnic Albanian extremists, recently convicting a key leader of the ultranationalist Albanian National Army on charges of inciting national and religious hatred and using falsified documents.

Albania has ratified all 12 UN international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Belgium

The Belgian Government continues to participate in the global war on terrorism and cooperates with its European neighbors and the US Government on multiple levels. Brussels remains active in sharing information with the United States regarding terrorist threats to US interests or persons.

The Belgian judicial system effectively applied the rule of law to terrorist conspirators in 2003 when it prosecuted Europe's largest terrorism trial since 11 September 2001. Among the 23 defendants was Nizar Trabelsi, a Tunisian national and al-Qaida 43 associate arrested by Belgian authorities in September 2001 for plotting against various targets, including an Antwerp synagogue, the Kleine Brogel military air base, and the US Embassy in Paris. Trabelsi was sentenced to 10 years in prison -- the maximum permitted under Belgian law at the time of trial. Also sentenced was Tarek Maaroufi, a Tunisian-born Belgian national arrested in December 2001 for providing forged travel documents to the two assassins of Afghan Northern Alliance leader Ahmad Shah Massoud. Maaroufi was sentenced to six years in prison. Despite the absence of terrorism-specific legislation at the time of trial, the Belgian court was able to convict 18 of the other 21 defendants with sentences ranging from two to five years in jail.

In January 2003, Belgium enacted a bill granting law enforcement authorities the power to take "special investigative measures" such as wiretapping and infiltration for the investigation of terrorism and other serious crimes. In December 2003, the Belgian Parliament passed legislation implementing the EU's Framework Decision of June 2002 on combating terrorism, as well as the European Arrest Warrant. (The King was to sign the legislation into law in January 2004.) The legislation implementing the EU Framework Decision criminalized terrorism and financial contributions to those who commit terrorist acts. The European Arrest Warrant should streamline the process of arresting and extraditing terrorists within the EU.

Belgium has participated in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since early 2003; 250 Belgian troops under ISAF currently provide security at Kabul International Airport. Belgium sent 5.5 million euros of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in 2003.

Belgium has signed 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism but has ratified only six. In December 2003, two more conventions appeared on the way to ratification in early 2004. The Belgian Senate approved a bill providing for ratification of the UN Conventionon the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, and the lower house of Parliament -- the Chamber of Deputies -- was expected to pass it quickly as well. The Conventionon the Punishment and Prevention of Crime against Internationally Protected Persons was presented to Parliament on 8 December. Its signature and ratification was also expected in early 2004.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has continued to condemn acts of international terrorism. Combating terrorism in BiH remains difficult because of the country's ethnic divisions and the lack of strong central institutions, such as a state-level intelligence agency and law-enforcement authorities with both executive powers and national jurisdiction. BiH also lacks established procedures for dealing with such issues as denaturalization, extradition, deportation, and preventive detention.

The Bosnian Government introduced measures to address some of the administrative and legal challenges it faces in combating terrorism. A state-level intelligence and security agency, as well as an internal security service with significant counterterrorism responsibilities, are planned for 2004. In 2002, the Parliament passed a law creating the State Information and Protection Agency whose mission includes combating terrorism, illegal trafficking, organized crime, and smuggling of weapons of mass destruction. To shore up this agency's authority and resources, an amended law will be submitted for Parliament's approval in 2004. Although BiH lacks a financial intelligence unit, comprehensive money-laundering and terrorist-financing laws, and legislation dealing with forfeiture of assets, this amended law is designed to address these weaknesses.

The BiH Government's commitment to the fight against terrorism and its decisive action in apprehending suspects and shutting down NGOs and bank accounts tied to terrorist organizations slowed with the change of government in October 2002, which brought nationalist parties to power. Moreover, foreign Islamic extremists, who entered Bosnia during the war in 1992-95, remain in the country. Nonetheless, the Federation Financial Police continued to shut down NGOs with terrorist links, and Federation banking authorities continued to freeze accounts of suspected terrorist supporters. In particular, the Government disrupted the operations of the Benevolence International 44 Foundation (BIF), Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation (including its successor, Vazir), and the Global Relief Fund, which have direct links to al-Qaida and Usama Bin Ladin. Documents seized from the offices of the BIF link its leader directly to Usama Bin Ladin. BIF leader Enaam Arnaout, who -- among other things -- was charged in US courts with concealing his relationship to al-Qaida, received a 15-year prison sentence.

The Government's investigative proceedings into the role of six former Bosnian Federation officials suspected of operating a terrorist-training camp in BiH with Iran in the mid-1990s concluded at the end of 2003, and indictments -- if issued -- are expected in 2004.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, ratifying five in 2003.

Bulgaria

In February 2003 to aid in the fight against terrorist financing, the Government of Bulgaria enacted the Law on Measures Against the Financing of Terrorism, which links existing laws against terrorism with the financing of those crimes. The law was drafted in accordance with the Financial Action Task Force's Eight Special Recommendations Against the Financing of Terrorism. The Bulgarian Financial Intelligence Agency has full authority to obtain information without a court order, to share information freely with law-enforcement agencies, and to process and act on allegations of terrorist financing.

In the past year, Bulgarian Ministry of Interior and Customs training has begun to include nuclear, biological, and chemical detection and handling. Customs officers have begun using the TRACKER licensing system as their primary permit-screening tool.

In December 2003, Bulgaria joined the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. Sofia is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a stalwart ally in the war against terror and is providing assistance both domestically and abroad. In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Czechs posted a nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) unit to Camp Doha and a military field hospital to Basra, where it treated more than 10,000 civilians and military personnel. Although both returned home at the end of 2003, a Czech Civilian-Military Cooperation Team, 80 military police, and 13 Czech experts serving in the Coalition Provisional Authority are still in the theater. Per commitments made in Madrid, the Czech Republic provided 10 experts to train Iraqi police in Jordan. In Afghanistan, the Government of the Czech Republic provided its NBC unit and military hospital before sending them to Iraq, and is currently considering a deployment of up to 150 special forces troops.

There were no cases of international terrorism within the Czech Republic in 2003, but Czech authorities addressed several domestic cases of extortion involving the use of explosives or poison. Neither bombs nor poison were ever found, but the Czech police made arrests and are prosecuting the cases appropriately.

The Czech Republic is a party to nine of 12 conventions and protocols relating to terrorism. Its main goal in combating terrorism is to ratify the UN Convention on the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism and the amendment of the Measures against Legalization of Proceeds of Criminal Activity. The latter is currently before Parliament.

Denmark

Denmark has actively supported the global war on terrorism. In 2003, the Danish Government froze the assets of the Danish branch of al-Aqsa and arrested a Danish citizen originally from Morocco with alleged ties to al-Qaida and pressed still-pending weapons charges against him.

The Danish Government contributed naval assets to Operation Iraqi Freedom and has more than 500 military personnel deployed in southern Iraq assisting with security and reconstruction efforts. Denmark contributed 50 military personnel to the ISAF in Afghanistan in 2003, in addition to Danish officers deployed with NATO. In December 2003, the Parliament authorized deployment of 40 additional personnel to provide communications and information support to ISAF.

Denmark is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Estonia

Estonia has been fully supportive of the war against terrorism. Estonia contributed a demining team in support of the ISAF in Afghanistan. In Iraq, Estonia is contributing a cargo-handling team and 24-man infantry platoon under US command, as well as providing humanitarian assistance.

Estonia is a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Finland

In 2003, Finland implemented regulations that allow it to freeze terrorist assets without EU or UN approval in cases when another government presents a legal request for action or the individual or organization is suspected of having committed an offense within Finland's borders. Finland also amended its criminal code to make it possible to sentence leaders of terrorist groups to 15 years in jail, although the group has to have actually committed acts of terrorism in Finland before investigation and prosecution can begin. If the charge also includes murder, the maximum sentence could be life imprisonment. In January 2004, the Finnish Security Police also created a special unit concentrating solely on fighting terrorism, the first of its kind in Finland.

Approximately 50 Finnish Civil-Military Cooperation troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan in support of ISAF. In 2003, Afghanistan was the single-largest country recipient of Finland's foreign aid (10 million euros each year), which included support for the Afghan army and police force.

Finland is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and implemented EU legislation against terrorism.

France

France remains an active and engaged participant in the war against terrorism, exemplified by an aggressive police force and judiciary. French authorities work closely with US and other foreign counterparts to investigate and prosecute terrorist operatives. France is currently changing its domestic legislation to incorporate the provisions of the European Arrest Warrant and to strengthen its procedures for international judicial cooperation. (The Arrest Warrant is expected to enter into force on 1 January 2004 in France and the other 14 EU member states.)

Throughout 2003, France continued to take rapid action in support of US requests under Executive Order 13224 to freeze Taliban, al-Qaida, and other terrorist financial assets. The Ministry of Finance's terrorism financing coordination cell, FINTER, maintains direct coordination with the US Treasury Department's Financial Terrorism Task Force and Office of Foreign Asset Controls.

The year 2003 saw many significant terrorism-related arrests in France. In June, French authorities arrested Moroccan national Karim Mehdi at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport. Mehdi is suspected of having ties to the al-Qaida cell in Hamburg whose members aided the hijackers of September 11 and for plotting against tourist facilities on Reunion Island. Arrested at the airport several days later was a German convert to extremist Islam, Christian Ganczarski, implicated in the al-Qaida attack on the synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia, and closely associated with al-Qaida in Germany. Both arrested extremists are residents of Germany.

French judicial authorities continued their investigation into the activities of suspected terrorist Djamal Beghal, the leader of an al-Qaida–associated cell in France, for plotting to attack the US Embassy in Paris. Several additional suspects remain in custody in France on charges relating to this conspiracy. One member of Beghal's cell, Algerian national Kamel Daoudi, was sentenced on 4 November to six months in prison for his criminal association with a terrorist network plotting attacks in France.

France has also made significant progress against non-Islamic indigenous terrorist groups, including ETA, the Real IRA, and the Corsican Separatists. In October 2003, a Paris court sentenced presumed ETA militant Alberto Rey-Domecq to six and a half years in prison for participating in a criminal association with terrorist aims. On 4 November 2003, French authorities arrested five French nationals who were suspected of providing support to the Real IRA, a dissident faction of the Irish Republican Army. In late June, French judicial authorities convicted eight Corsican nationalists for the assassination in 1998 of the Corsican Prefect Claude Erignac. Four of the conspirators were given life in prison, and the remaining four received lesser sentences.

France continues to cooperate with its neighbors to combat terrorism, for example, building upon last year's protocol with Spain to include new provisions such as joint investigation teams. This agreement provides the teams with authority to conduct police investigations in each other's countries, subject to the judicial authorities of the country in which they act.

In addition, France has joined numerous other non-EU countries in dialogue on counterterrorism issues, including Turkey, Pakistan, Singapore, and India. France has engaged other European, Mediterranean, and North African countries in dialogue to create an area of security in the Western Mediterranean that will focus on combating Islamic terrorism. US and French authorities enjoyed exemplary cooperation in providing enhanced security for airline flights of concern during a period of heightened threat around the Christmas holidays and beyond.

France has designated as terrorist groups those that appear on the EU list of terrorist organizations. In 2002, France designated HAMAS as a terrorist organization but has yet to designate the related charities. France, along with its EU partners, has not yet designated Lebanese Hizballah as a terrorist organization.

The plot to attack tourist facilities of French overseas department Reunion Island in a manner similar to the Bali nightclub bombings of October 2002 best signifies the continued threat to French citizens or interests posed by Islamic extremist terrorists in 2003, reinforcing the notion that France is both a short- and medium-term target for al-Qaida and associated groups.

This year, France became a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism by ratifying the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Internationally Protected Persons.

Germany

Germany continues to be a prominent participant in the global Coalition against terrorism, reflecting many German security officials' assessments that Germany is a terrorist target and an important al-Qaida logistic hub. Germany also is an active supporter of the counterterrorism campaign in international forums, including the EU, UN, NATO, OSCE, and the G-8.

Germany continues to contribute significantly to international forces in Afghanistan with approximately 2,700 soldiers deployed on missions in support of the ISAF, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Active Endeavor in the Mediterranean. Germany and the Netherlands were lead nations for ISAF from February until August, when NATO assumed command. In October, the German Parliament extended authorization for Germany's participation in ISAF for another year. German naval forces continue to be a major participant in the antiterrorism naval task forces off the Horn of Africa and in the Mediterranean that are tasked with ensuring the security of shipping routes and cutting off the supply and escape routes used by terrorists.

Germany has taken a lead role in Afghanistan's reconstruction through humanitarian and development assistance. German personnel continue to train and equip a new Afghan police force, and Germany has committed to spend approximately 320 million euros in Afghanistan by 2006.

German bilateral assistance with Iraq's reconstruction has been modest, with aid largely limited to humanitarian assistance, demining, and restoration of the water system, as well as offers to help in training the country's reestablished police force. Berlin's multilateral assistance for Iraq includes 25 percent of the European Commission's 200 million euro pledge for reconstruction.

Germany was the first country to convict a terrorist linked to the attacks of September 11. In February, the Hamburg Higher Regional Court sentenced Moroccan national Mounir el Motassadeq to 15 years in prison -- the maximum sentence allowable under German law -- for accessory to murder and membership in a terrorist organization. A trial on similar charges against a second suspected terrorist of September 11, Moroccan Abdelghani Mzoudi, took place in Hamburg and ended with his acquittal in February 2004. Germany is still seeking Hamburg cell suspects Said Bahaji, Ramzi Binalshibh, and Zakariya Essabar under international arrest warrants. German federal and state criminal offices are conducting 177 preindictment investigations into Islamic extremist–based terrorism, and several terrorists have been sentenced to prison. Four members of the Meliani Group were sentenced to 10-to-12 years in prison for plotting an attack on the Strasbourg Christmas market in December 2000. A member of the German "al-Tawhid" cell, which has close ties with al-Qaida, was sentenced to serve four years for passport forgery and membership in a terrorist organization, and charges have been brought against four other al-Tawhid members. A Turkish citizen was sentenced to 18 months in prison for illegal possession of explosives and drug charges, but the prosecution failed in its attempt to convict him of charges of planning a terrorist attack on the US Army's European Headquarters in Heidelberg.

Notable arrests and indictments include the arrest of several extremists affiliated with Berlin's al-Nur Mosque, who were plotting to carry out a suicide operation during anti-Iraq war demonstrations in Berlin, and a suspected former leader in the DHKP-C—a Turkish left extremist organization with cells in Germany that was banned in August 1998. Germany also agreed in November to extradite to the United States two Yemeni nationals who were wanted for material support to terrorism, after receiving assurances that they would not be tried before a US military commission.

German authorities, however, have failed in some efforts to bring indictments against several prominent al-Qaida suspects, including German national Christian Ganczarski -- a contact of the hijackers of September 11 and a suspect in the Djerba bombing in April 2002 in which several German citizens were killed. He and his associate Karim Medhi -- who confessed to helping plan a terrorist attack in Reunion Island last spring -- were arrested by French authorities in June and are being held in France for prosecution.

Germany has adopted antiterrorism reforms that should enhance its ability to fight terrorism. New and stronger provisions in the German law on associations have been used to ban several foreign extremist organizations in Germany. The Interior Ministry has banned the extremist Islamic association Hizb ut-Tahrir -- based outside Germany -- from any activity within the country and has seized the association's assets in Germany. The Federal Constitutional Court in October upheld the ban against the Islamic extremist group "Caliphate State," which has now exhausted all appeals. The court has temporarily lifted the ban against the Al-Aqsa Foundation, which is accused of providing financial support to HAMAS, pending a final ruling, but authorities continue to monitor the members' activities.

Germany signed in October a bilateral Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the United States in criminal matters -- the result of nine rounds of negotiations conducted during the past 20 years. This treaty should streamline and expedite the process of mutual legal assistance between the United States and Germany.

Of the 12 existing UN conventions and protocols relating to combating terrorism, Germany has signed all -- and ratified eleven -- of the conventions. The UN Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism is still in the process of ratification.

Greece

Greece continues to make progress in the fight against terrorism, particularly against domestic groups. The Greek Ministry of Justice announced in November that it would seek to enact new counterterrorism legislation to comply with a decision made by the European Council in 2002. This law will for the first time in Greek jurisprudence define terrorism as a crime. The law also increases the statute of limitations on terrorist-related killings from 20 to 30 years and increases prison terms for terrorist leaders.

Greece has participated in the ISAF in Afghanistan since 2002. Currently, more than 130 individuals from the Greek Corps of Engineers and other support elements are deployed in Kabul. A Greek navy frigate was stationed in the Arabian Sea until July, and two Greek C-130 aircraft are operating in the Afghan theater.

In December, a Greek court concluded a nine-month trial of 19 accused members of the 17N terrorist group, which was responsible for the deaths of 23 individuals, including five US Embassy employees. A special three-member judiciary panel convicted 15 of the 17N terrorists of hundreds of crimes -- five of the terrorists were given multiple life terms, and four were acquitted because of a lack of evidence. The Greek Chief of Police has stated that additional members of the group are at large, and investigations are continuing.

Greek authorities in the spring arrested five members of the Revolutionary People's Struggle (ELA -- the country's oldest, although lesser-known terrorist group -- marking Athens's first-ever arrests against the group. The five members were charged with killing a police officer and other crimes, and the trial against them began in February 2004 and is ongoing. ELA has not conducted an attack since 1995, but Revolutionary Nuclei (RN)—widely believed to be the successor to or offshoot of ELA—may be responsible for attacks in July against an insurance company and bank in Athens, on the basis of forensic evidence. RN's few communiqués show strong similarities in rhetoric, tone, and theme to ELA proclamations. RN's last confirmed attack was in November 2000.

Anarchists and leftwing terrorists continued to conduct arson attacks and some low-level bombings against an array of perceived establishment and so-called imperialist targets, such as banks, courts, and personal vehicles. Between September and late December, more than 50 anarchist attacks took place -- mainly conducted in solidarity with imprisoned anarchists and 17N trial defendants. Overall, there were 10 low-level attacks against US businesses and vehicles in 2003, compared to a total of eight such attacks the previous year. Anarchists also were responsible for a "barrage" of low-level bombings of banks in November on the eve of the visit of FBI Director Mueller and claimed them as a "warm welcome" to the US official. These attacks only caused property damage but underscore the lingering nature of leftwing terrorism in Greece.

Athens is enhancing security preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games. The Olympic Security Advisory Group -- a seven-state group -- is a key forum for assisting this effort. Greece plans to spend $750 million to counter potential terrorist and other security threats during the Games.

Greece has signed all -- and ratified 11 -- of the UN conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Hungary

Hungary has been fully supportive of the war against terrorism and US initiatives against al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations both within its borders and abroad. Throughout 2003, Hungary maintained consistent political support for the war on terror, actively promoting the US position in NATO and the UN and giving high-level endorsement to US policies.

In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Hungary developed a package of excess weapons, ammunition, and equipment for the Georgia Train and Equip Program and the Afghan National Army training project.

The total amount donated for Afghanistan was 437 tons, valued at $3.7 million. The Georgia program comprised 8 tons, valued at $25,000. In 2003, the Hungarian Parliament approved the sending of up to 50 troops to the ISAF in Afghanistan. Also in 2003, Hungary contributed a military medical unit as part of the ISAF. The medical unit was deployed there from March to September. The Government delivered $1 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in 2003.

Hungary passed a law in December 2001 on money laundering and terrorist financing that brought it into full compliance with EU and Financial Action Task Force norms. Now, however, the Government has put before its Parliament additional legislation that would go well beyond that of most countries in reporting requirements for financial transactions.

Cooperation with US and regional officials on export and border controls continues to be outstanding. In several cases, Hungarian officials have aggressively pursued and developed leads and provided extensive cooperation to US officers that have stopped the transshipment of hazardous goods. Hungary is actively improving its technical ability to track and control dangerous materials, and its imminent accession into the EU is accelerating this process.

Hungary is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Iceland

Despite having no indigenous military forces, Iceland has contributed to the war on terrorism efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Building on its experience from running Pristina airport in Kosovo on behalf of the Alliance, Iceland is due to take sole responsibility for the operation of the Kabul airport on 1 June 2004. The Government decided in February 2004 to provide chartered airlift for Dutch military assets en route to Afghanistan. Other supportive actions include the deployment during 2003-04 of two bomb disposal experts with Danish forces in southern Iraq and earlier airlift contributions for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Iceland is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Italy

Italy has been a staunch ally in the war against terror and has made significant contributions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Italy deployed a 1,000-troop task force in Afghanistan, its first major combat deployment since World War II. The Italian Government also maintains approximately 3,000 troops, civilian personnel, and paramilitary Carabinieri in Iraq. Despite the terrorist bombing of 2 November of the Italian Carabinieri headquarters in Nasiriyah, Iraq, which killed 19 Italian citizens, Italy remains one of the four largest contributors of troops and personnel to ongoing stabilization operations in Iraq.

Italy's law enforcement authorities maintained an ongoing and largely effective initiative against Italy-based terrorist suspects, including investigation, detentions, prosecutions, and expulsions. According to Ministry of Interior data, Italian authorities in 2003 arrested 71 individuals suspected of planning or providing support to terrorist activity. Many of those arrested were suspected al-Qaida operatives and recruiters or facilitators for Ansar al-Islam and other al-Qaida–linked extremist organizations.

In November, Italy's Minister of Interior for the first time exercised ministerial authority to expel seven terrorist suspects who he assessed posed 50 a serious terrorist threat to Italy's national security. The Italian Government declared that, while there may have been insufficient evidence to arrest the suspects, lengthy investigation had compiled compelling evidence that the seven were Islamic extremists who posed a threat to the national security.

Preventing terrorism financing has also been a key goal of the Italian Government as a part of its war against terrorism. To date, Italy has fully complied with the asset-freezing requirements imposed by UN Security Council Resolutions and EU mechanisms. In January, Italy ratified and brought into effect the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and adopted a number of provisions to adjust Italian legislation accordingly. Under the ratification law, penalties for the crimes of money laundering -- if committed during banking or professional activities -- are now extended to terrorism financing crimes. The Government of Italy in 2003 also submitted 30 names of individuals suspected of links to al-Qaida to the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee for listing on its consolidated list of individuals and/or entities associated with al-Qaida, the Taliban, or Usama Bin Ladin, making them subject to sanctions. The Italian Government froze their assets in Italy.

The domestic leftwing terrorist group, the new Red Brigades–Communist Combatant Party (BRCCP), also presents an ongoing terrorist threat to Italian national security. Italian authorities continue their efforts to dismantle and prevent terrorist acts by the BR-CCP, which has used assassination of government officials as a tool of terror during the last several years. In March, two BRCCP activists engaged police officers in a shootout on a train. One of the group's leaders was arrested and remains in detention; another member was killed. Subsequently, Italian authorities in October arrested several suspected BR-CCP activists using evidence seized from the detained leader, and they assess that they have made significant progress in dismantling the terrorist group.

Italy is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Latvia

Latvia has been fully supportive of the war against terrorism. Latvia contributed a medical team in support of the ISAF in Afghanistan. In Iraq, Latvia contributed a 103-man infantry company under Polish command, undertaking patrols, assisting in maintaining public order, and helping efforts to rebuild and reconstruct Iraq; it also deployed cargo-handling and bomb disposal specialists. The Government has offered technical assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq.

The Government takes its terrorist financing responsibilities seriously and has been very responsive in those instances when the United States has shared information on terrorist financing. Drawing on US and other sources, Latvia has compiled a terrorist-financing database that it shares with local banks.

Latvia is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Lithuania

Lithuania has been fully supportive of the war against terrorism. Lithuania is implementing the National Security Strategy of May 2002 and the National Counter Terrorism Program of January 2002. These plans include: participation in the international fight against terrorism; expanding and sharing resources; defending possible targets and infrastructure; identifying terrorists, their groups, and supporters; identifying and cutting off sources of terrorist finances; clarifying the procedures for investigating terrorist cases; strengthening rapid reaction and crisis management capabilities; strengthening of counterterrorist intelligence; and strengthening of internal economic and social security in general.

Lithuania has also sent troops and other military personnel to Afghanistan and Iraq. Since November 2002, Lithuanian Special Operation Forces have participated in Operation Enduring 51 Freedom in Afghanistan. About 100 Lithuanian troops and logistic specialists are operating in Iraq. In October, Parliament voted to extend the missions to Afghanistan and Iraq until the end of 2004. The Government also pledged modest financial assistance to Iraqi reconstruction.

In September, Lithuania and the US Government cooperated in moving 140 kg of irradiated beryllium -- a strategic material --to a safe storage facility. Lithuania is a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. The Government has been very cooperative in investigating and detecting potential terrorist finances.

Netherlands

The Dutch have responded to the global terrorist threat with leadership and energy in the areas of border and shipping security, terrorist financing, and Alliance efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, the Dutch continue to struggle with successfully prosecuting terrorists.

In 2003, the Netherlands assumed joint command over the ISAF with Germany and pledged $15 million during three years to the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund. The Netherlands contributed a frigate, fighter aircraft, and reconnaissance planes to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan but drew down these forces on 1 October. The Netherlands continues to participate with two frigates and one maritime patrol aircraft in the NATO-led naval anti-terrorism campaign, Operation Active Endeavor, in the Mediterranean. The Dutch have had a contingent of 1,100 troops in Iraq since summer 2003 (scheduled to remain until summer 2004) and have pledged 21 million euros for reconstruction. In addition, the Netherlands has pledged 300,000 euros to establish the Iraqi Bureau of Missing Persons.

The Dutch have not successfully prosecuted a terrorist case since September 11, 2001. Recent unsuccessful prosecutorial efforts against suspected terrorists, including four men suspected of plotting to bomb the US Embassy in Paris and 12 alleged Muslim extremists suspected of recruiting for jihad, have highlighted weaknesses in the Dutch legal infrastructure.

Pending changes to Dutch counterterrorism laws from July 2002 would address some of these deficiencies and bring the Netherlands in line with EU-mandated sentences for leading and participating in a terrorist group -- and even go beyond EU minimums when a crime was committed with "terrorist intent." In August 2003, amendments were proposed to the counterterrorism legislation criminalizing recruitment for jihad violence and also conspiracy to commit terrorist crimes. The Second Chamber of Parliament on 9 December approved the Government's bill of July 2002 on terrorist crimes and the amendments of August 2003. The bill will be considered by the First Chamber and is expected to come into force in mid-2004.

In April 2003, The Second Chamber also authorized the use of "criminal civilian" infiltrators in exceptional situations in terrorism cases. For national security purposes, the Dutch Government agreed in October 2003 to investigate the feasibility of introducing a systemized file comparison between the information from the immigration department and the security agencies.

Dutch officials remain committed to establishing financial protocols to combat terrorism and have cooperated with the United States in freezing the assets of known terrorist organizations. Using national sanctions authority, the Dutch blocked the accounts and financial transactions of a HAMAS fundraiser, the al-Aqsa Foundation, and al-Qaida-affiliated Benevolence International Nederland. Neither the Dutch nor their EU partners, however, have designated Lebanese Hizballah as a terrorist group.

In 2003, the Netherlands continued its commitment to shipping and port security by increasing cooperation with the United States. The first meeting of the bilateral Aviation Security Working Group was held in April, and the inaugural meeting of the Port and Maritime Security Working Group was held in May. In addition, radiological monitors in the port of Rotterdam were expected to be installed and operational by 2004.

There were no international terrorist attacks in the Netherlands in 2003.

The Netherlands has signed and ratified all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Norway

Norway has been a solid ally in the war on terrorism. Norwegian authorities continue to investigate suspected Ansar al-Islam leader (and Norway resident) Mullah Krekar and have frozen an account linked to that organization. The Norwegian Government has provided Special Operations Forces and Explosive Ordinance Disposal units on a rotating basis to Operation Enduring Freedom and ISAF in Afghanistan since October 2001. Elements of a Mechanized Infantry Company of 180 personnel, the Telemark Task Force, deployed to Afghanistan in December 2003. The unit provided security for the Loya Jirga proceedings and is now conducting security missions in and around Kabul as part of the ISAF. Norway contributed more than $46 million to Afghan reconstruction in 2002 and $53 million in 2003. In 2003, Norway designated Afghanistan a priority-assistance country, making a longterm commitment to development and reconstruction there. The Royal Norwegian Navy has maintained a near-continuous presence in Operation Active Endeavor with frigates, submarines, or torpedo boats.

Although Norway did not participate in the Coalition to liberate Iraq, they have contributed a 150-man engineering contingent operating with the United Kingdom and six staff officers operating with the Poles to the reconstruction effort in southern Iraq. In 2003, Norway contributed $42 million to the reconstruction and stabilization effort in Iraq, and at Madrid it pledged more than $11 million per year through 2006 for this effort.

Norway is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Poland

Poland continues to play an important regional role in advancing the war against terrorism, both as a NATO ally and in the broader coalition against terrorism. Members of Poland's special forces took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and on 3 September a Polish-led multinational division assumed control of the Central-South security zone in Iraq. More than 2,000 Polish soldiers currently are serving in Iraq, and the Government of Poland has also offered to assist in training the new Iraqi police force. In Afghanistan, some 100 Polish military personnel are involved in mine clearing operations at Bagram Air Base, and the Polish Government recently conveyed $100,000 worth of weapons and ammunition to the new Afghan National Army. Poland is providing most humanitarian assistance on an as-available basis.

Poland agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to facilitate information sharing on terrorist financing. The Government of Poland implemented stopgap measures to freeze terrorist assets.

In September, Polish law enforcement officials arrested an Algerian citizen wanted in Algeria on terrorist charges, and Polish officials cooperated with US law enforcement in the investigation of other terrorist cases.

Poland is a party to 9 of the 12 conventions and protocols relating to terrorism. The Polish Government has actively promoted the war on terrorism in bilateral and multilateral forums, and Poland continued to make progress in ratifying outstanding antiterrorism conventions. It ratified the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing, passed legislation authorizing signature of the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Bombing, and approved measures to attack the sources of terrorist finances, including amendments to broaden an anti-money laundering law.

Romania

Romania is a staunch ally of the United States in the global war against terrorism, providing full public and diplomatic support for US goals to counter terrorism. In 2003, about 1,200 Romanian troops served at the same time in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Romania has promised to maintain its commitment of troops in 2004. Romania suffered its first casualties in the war against terror in November 2003 when two Romanians were fatally shot in an ambush in Afghanistan. Romania has made its airspace, ground infrastructure, and naval facilities available to US and NATO forces engaged in the global war against terrorism.

The Romanian Government has established internal mechanisms to combat terrorism, including adoption of a "National Anti-Terrorism Strategy" and guidelines to prevent the use of the Romanian financial and banking system for the purpose of financing terrorist acts. In 2003, Romania adopted a law establishing a new regime for the control of dual-use items and technologies. Bucharest is the site of the Southeast European Cooperation Initiative, a regional center that provides law enforcement training and intelligence sharing on transborder criminal activities, including terrorism, for 12 member countries in Southeastern and Central Europe.

Romania has signed all 12 counterterrorism conventions and ratified all but the Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings.

Slovakia

Slovakia has acted as a staunch ally in the global war against terrorism and has made significant contributions in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as in peacekeeping missions in the Balkans and elsewhere. The Slovaks sent a 75-person NBC contingent to Iraq, integrated into the Czech NBC unit. The Slovak unit was later replaced by an 82-person military engineering unit deployed to the Polish sector. The Parliament in February 2004 approved sending an additional 23 troops to Iraq. Slovakia sent a 40-person engineering unit to Afghanistan, which they have extended twice at the request of the United States. There is a proposal expected to pass Parliament to send an additional 16-person demining unit to Afghanistan to serve under the ISAF.

Slovakia has one of the largest per capita peacekeeping contingents, with more than 800 troops deployed worldwide. Approximately 100 Slovaks are deployed in the joint Czech-Slovak mechanized battalion assigned to the NATO Kosovo Force. Since 1998, the Slovak military has had five officers operating within the command structures of the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Slovak troops also participate in UN peacekeeping missions in the Golan Heights, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Cyprus, and East Timor.

Shortly after September 11, 2001, terrorism was criminalized in Slovakia. Officials regularly make public statements denouncing terrorism after international events and on anniversaries such as September 11. There is an antiterror police unit within the Organized Crime Bureau, and the expulsion of a group of Real IRA members from Slovakia two years ago is a promising precedent for future cooperation if more such cases arise. Slovakia cooperates fully with US requests to freeze terrorist assets, and joint US-Slovak projects on export and border controls have been extremely successful.

Slovakia is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Slovenia

There were no terrorist acts in Slovenia in 2003. Slovenia is planning to deploy special forces to Afghanistan in March 2004 and has made modest humanitarian contributions to Iraq. Slovenia has stepped up its efforts to mentor its non-EU neighbors on border security and enforcement against financial crimes. A very active Slovene NGO, the TOGETHER Center, is working to bring hope to children in the Balkans and in Iraq to prevent them from becoming a disaffected youth, and thus targets for recruitment by terrorists.

Slovenia is a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Spain

Spain is a firm ally in the global war against terrorism. Spain has authorized the use of Spanish military bases at Rota and Moron in support of military operations in Afghanistan, provided materiel support to Operation Enduring Freedom, and supported the reconstruction of Afghanistan with humanitarian and developmental assistance. In August, Spain deployed 1,300 troops to southern Iraq.

Spain has arrested and indicted dozens of individuals with possible links to al-Qaida since 54 September 11. In January, a Spanish judge indicted Usama Bin Ladin and 34 others for complicity in the attacks of September 11; 15 of these individuals are now in Spanish custody. Spain has had some success in prosecuting terrorism cases. Sixteen North African nationals with suspected ties to al-Qaida operatives in the United Kingdom and France were released after their arrest in January. On 7 March, Spanish national police in Valencia arrested four Spaniards and one Pakistani. They were accused of belonging to a financial network involved in laundering money that was then sent to al-Qaida operatives. The Spanish Ministry of Interior also linked these suspects to a terrorist attack that took place in April 2002 in Yerba, Tunisia, in which 19 people were killed. On 12 March 2003, a Spanish judge ordered two of these suspects remanded to prison pending further investigation of the case. The other three suspects were released. In October, a judge cited health reasons for releasing on bail an Al-Jazeera television network journalist with alleged ties to the Spain-based al-Qaida network of Eddin Barakat Yarkas.

Spain made extensive progress in its decades-old campaign to eliminate domestic terrorist groups, including the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) organization -- a radical terrorist group. Spanish police arrested 126 individuals in 2003 for association with or membership in ETA and dismantled several ETA operational terrorist cells, dealing a blow to ETA's logistic, recruitment, and operational capabilities. In December, French police arrested top leaders of ETA's military wing, who were allegedly planning attacks in Spain to coincide with the Christmas season. There are now more than 500 ETA members in Spanish jails and another 100 imprisoned in France.

In March, Spain's Supreme Court upheld a ban passed in 2002 on Batasuna, the political wing of ETA. The ban freezes Batasuna's funds and prohibits ETA supporters from serving on local and regional government seats. These steps have dampened the group's political clout and cut off a major source of financing by depriving ETA members of the benefits of being able to channel funds from local government into pro-ETA activities. The number of ETA attacks and casualties also remained low.

Spanish and French authorities also made joint advances against the domestic terrorist group First of October Anti-Fascist Resistance Group, all but eliminating the group.

Spain is one of the primary advocates within the EU for enhancing mechanisms to fight terrorism. Spain led the effort in the EU to approve the EU-wide common arrest and detention order, which the EU approved in late 2001.

Spain and France are the first two countries to create "multi-national police investigation teams" under terms of the EU agreement reached in 2002. The agreement allows Spanish and French police forces to work in each other's country investigating cases related to the ETA, Islamic terrorism, and other crimes.

Spain is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and currently chairs the UN Counterterrorism Committee and co-chairs with the United States the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Terrorism Finance Working Group. Spain is pressing to become a standing member of the G-8's Counterterrorism Action Group on the basis of its high level of technical counterterrorism assistance to third countries.

Sweden

Sweden has provided good cooperation and support in the fight against terrorism in 2003. In July, it adopted legislation implementing the EU framework decision on terrorism. The new legislation defines acts of terrorism and imposes penalties beyond those for traditional criminal acts. The Swedish Government has been responsive to US requests for security measures to protect diplomatic and official installations and personnel in response to heightened threats. Sweden has participated in ISAF since its inception with a 45-person rotating unit that has included Special Forces and engineering personnel. In 2004, Sweden assumed chairmanship of the Financial Action Task Force. Sweden also decided on 19 February 2004 to contribute 16 persons to the ISAF in Kabul. This group will consist of staff officers and one domestic logistic unit. Sweden is studying the possibility of contributing to a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan.

Sweden is a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Turkey

The Turkish Government is a strong, long-term counterterrorism partner. In addition to dealing with major terrorist attacks on its soil this year, Turkey also combated several domestic terrorist groups that continue to threaten Turkish and US interests.

In November, four suicide bombers attacked Jewish and British targets in Istanbul in two separate but probably coordinated attacks that killed at least 61 people, including the British Consul General. On 15 November, Turkish operatives exploded truck bombs outside the Beth Israel and Neve Shalom synagogues, followed on 20 November by a second wave of attacks against the British Consulate and HSBC Bank.

Turkey maintained support for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003. From June 2002 through February 2003, Turkey assumed leadership of the ISAF in Afghanistan. As part of this effort, Turkey provided approximately 1,400 peacekeepers to the mission and continues to have a military contingent in Afghanistan of 140 troops. Turkey also continued to permit Incirlik Airbase to be used for refueling for planes flying into Afghanistan.

The United States and Turkey met several times to discuss cooperation against the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK), and in October,

Secretary Powell reiterated the US commitment to assist Turkey in eliminating this threat. In October, KADEK -- formerly known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK -- made yet another name change to the Kurdistan People's Congress (KHK or Kongra-Gel) in an effort to masquerade as a political party. KHK launched several attacks, which it claimed were in retaliation for losses the group suffered from Turkish counterinsurgency operations, and periodically threatened to increase its attacks against Turkish targets.

Turkish police arrested several members of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party (DHKP/C) during the course of the year. The DHKP/C -- a virulently anti-US group that killed two US defense contractors and wounded a US Air Force officer during the Gulf war -- continued to launch attacks in Turkey. In May, a DHKP/C female suicide bomber prematurely detonated her explosive belt in Istanbul, killing herself and wounding another. The group struck in June, attacking a bus carrying Turkish prosecutors in Istanbul with a remote controlled bomb, and it launched several other bombings against official Turkish interests in August.

Turkey has signed and ratified all 12 international conventions and protocols concerning terrorism.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has been and remains one of the United States' strongest allies in the global fight against terrorism. It continues to take important political, financial, and law enforcement steps to advance international counterterrorism efforts. The British Government was also a staunch ally in the international effort to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1441 in Iraq. The British contributed more than 40,000 troops to the Iraqi conflict and continue to play a critical role in the Coalition's efforts to construct a democratic, market-oriented Iraq that is a model for the region rather than a threat to its neighbors and global security.

Islamist terrorism poses a significant threat to the United Kingdom at home and to its interests overseas. The most dramatic and tragic evidence of this in 2003 came on 20 November when suicide bombers attacked the British Consulate and the offices of the British bank HSBC in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 33 people, including the British Consul General. A UK citizen was also killed in the suicide bomb attacks on 12 May on three residential compounds in Saudi Arabia.

In February, the British Government stepped up security in and around London in response to a terrorist threat. Her Majesty's Government increased police presence around government buildings and London's financial district, but security changes were most visible at Heathrow Airport where the British Government deployed soldiers and additional policemen. Security returned to normal after the threat window passed. British Airways briefly suspended all flights to Kenya in May and to Saudi Arabia in August due to other reports of terrorist threats in those regions. UK authorities cooperated closely with the United States to provide enhanced security for airline flights of concern during a period of heightened threat around the Christmas holidays.

In June, the British Government established the Joint Terrorism Analysis Center (JTAC), which is responsible for assessing and disseminating information about the terrorist threat to UK domestic and overseas interests. JTAC, an interagency body that includes both intelligence producers and consumers, works closely with the US Terrorist Threat Integration Center. The United States and United Kingdom are also planning to conduct a major joint counterterrorism exercise in 2005.

Since the attacks of September 11, British authorities have stepped up their investigative and intelligence collection efforts against Islamic extremists in the United Kingdom. A key objective is to reduce the threat of terrorism by stopping and 57 disrupting it. Between September 11 and the end of 2003, the police have arrested 537 individuals under the Terrorism Act of 2000. Of these, 94 were charged with terrorism-related offenses under the act, 71 were charged with offenses under other legislation, and 263 were released without charge.

In January 2003, the British Government uncovered a North African network involved in the production and importation of toxins, including ricin, in the United Kingdom. Nine individuals associated with the ricin threat were charged with conspiracy to murder and other related charges, and their trials are slated to begin in May and September 2004.

Between October 2002 and October 2003, more than 50 new terrorism-related cases have been brought to the Crown Prosecution Service.

British prosecutors also enjoyed some successful terrorism-related convictions, including 11-year sentences for two al-Qaida fundraisers -- the latter marking the first conviction of an al-Qaida member in the United Kingdom. In addition, Islamic extremist Abdullah e-Faisal was convicted for "inciting racial hatred and incitement to murder" and sentenced to a nine-year jail term.

The United Kingdom and United States completed negotiations on a new extradition treaty in 2003 that will streamline the extradition process, but neither country has ratified the new treaty. The United Kingdom continues to assist in extraditing four individuals charged with terrorist acts in the United States or against US citizens, including a key suspect in the African bombings of 1998 and an Algerian suspected of involvement in the "Millennium Conspiracy" to blow up Los Angeles airport in 2000. Although all four individuals have lost appeals with Britain's highest court, they have all exercised their right to make representations against their surrender to the United States to the Home Secretary, who has the final decision over their extradition. The Home Office is still awaiting a response to some of the queries on these cases it has since sent to the United States.

Training and financial assistance have been in the forefront of the United Kingdom's bilateral counterterrorism relationships. The United Kingdom launched a new assistance program in 2003 aimed at increasing international capacity to counter terrorism and other threats in support of its bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism policy objectives. The United Kingdom anticipated spending £3.24 million in UK fiscal year 2003/04 on operational counterterrorism assistance aimed at counterterrorism experts in foreign governments, assistance to support the UN's counterterrorism committee, and wider capacity-building initiatives.

The United Kingdom continued its vigorous efforts against terrorism in Northern Ireland in 2003. Security officials disrupted terrorist planning for attacks, defusing numerous bombs -- including one in June larger than the explosive that went off in the Omagh bombing in 1998. During the course of the year, one suspect was arrested and charged in connection with Omagh. UK officials assisted with the Dublin prosecution of Real IRA (RIRA) leader Michael McKevitt, who was convicted of directing terrorism, and the Blair government decided to help fund a civil case brought by the families of the victims of Omagh. In April, five RIRA members were sentenced to a total of 100 years for a series of car bombings in 2001. Sectarian violence persists, but marching season in 2003 was one of the quietest in decades, with only a few reports of violence.

The United Kingdom is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism. The United Kingdom actively campaigned in the EU, G-8, NATO, and UN for coordinated counterterrorism efforts and routinely lobbied UN members to become parties to the 12 antiterrorism conventions and protocols. It supported the G-8's initiative in 2003 to create the Counter Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) and is an active CTAG participant.

MIDDLE EAST OVERVIEW

The Middle East continued to be the region of greatest concern in the global war on terrorism. Major terrorist attacks occurred in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Israel during 2003, highlighting the damage that terrorism can wreak on innocent people. Terrorist groups and their state sponsors continued terrorist activities and planning throughout 2003. Active groups included al-Qaida, Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS), Hizballah, Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Ansar al-Islam (AI), and the remnants of the Zarqawi network, among others. Despite these discouraging indicators, significant counterterrorism cooperation continued on the part of almost all countries in the region. Furthermore, the regime of Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein was ousted from power by a US-led Coalition conducting Operation Iraqi Freedom, marking an important advance for the global war on terrorism.

Across the region, governments demonstrated the political will to tackle the threat of terrorism on their soil and lent their weight to bilateral and multilateral efforts to fight terror. Terrorist assets were targeted, as most Middle East governments froze al-Qaida financial assets pursuant to UN Security Council Resolutions 1373, 1267, 1333, 1390, and 1455. Many countries provided essential support to Coalition military activities in the liberation of Iraq and have continued vital support to ongoing operations in Afghanistan. Several countries signed or became parties to the international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism. Every country hosting an American diplomatic and/or military presence responded to US requests to provide enhanced security, particularly during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The United States provided training throughout the region to augment the capacity of our allies in the fight against terrorism.

Saudi Arabia suffered two major, horrific terrorist attacks during 2003 and responded with an aggressive campaign against the al-Qaida network in the Kingdom. Saudi cooperation with the United States improved markedly in 2003, particularly in the sharing of threat information and well-publicized steps to combat terrorist financing. Using its unique position in the Muslim world, Saudi Arabia also initiated an ideological campaign against Islamist terrorist organizations with the objective of denying extremists the use of Islam to justify terrorism. The Saudi Government has also widely publicized a rewards program for the capture of the Kingdom's most-wanted terrorist suspects. Saudi security forces arrested more than 600 individuals on counterterrorism charges following the attacks on 12 May. In addition, Saudi and Yemeni officials have met to develop joint approaches to better secure their shared land border to check the influx of weapons into Saudi Arabia from Yemen.

There were no reported terrorist attacks against Western targets in Yemen in 2003. The Government of Yemen made a number of key al-Qaida-related arrests in 2003, but it raised concerns with its release of extremists without full disclosure of information and its inability to recapture escaped USS Cole suspects. The United States and Yemen continue joint counterterrorism training and cooperation, and there has been significant progress on standing up the Yemen Coast Guard.

The other states of the Arabian Peninsula also made important progress, particularly in locating and blocking terrorist finances, sharing information and intelligence on terrorists and terrorist groups, and strengthening law enforcement cooperation.

Morocco stepped-up its already robust counterterrorism actions following the tragic suicide bombings in Casablanca on 16 May. Taking swift action to identify the culprits, Moroccan authorities uncovered the involvement of several deadly terrorist groups and took decisive legal actions to address the threat. Egypt continued to be a leader in the counterterrorism fight and increased its dialogue with the United States on this issue. Algeria also remained at the forefront of regional counterterrorism cooperation, supporting Coalition efforts against al-Qaida while acting decisively against indigenous terror groups. Tunisia ratified the International Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism in February 2003, making Tunisia a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Jordan took decisive legal steps against terror, indicting 11 individuals for the murder of USAID officer Laurence Foley, and also brought charges against possible al-Qaida and Ansar al-Islam members suspected of planning attacks against tourists and foreigners. Israel maintained its 59 resolute stand against terrorism, weathering numerous casualties in terrorist attacks against civilians. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority (PA) continued to take insufficient steps to stop terrorist operations. Lebanon also remained problematic, as it continued to host numerous terrorist groups and refused to take actions against certain terrorist elements in the country.

Iran, Iraq, Libya, and Syria -- which have been designated as state sponsors of terrorism -- are discussed in the state sponsorship section of this report.

Algeria

Algeria continued to be a proactive and aggressive regional leader in the global Coalition against terrorism. Algeria's support of US counterterrorism efforts on a case-by-case basis demonstrated its strong overall support of Coalition efforts against al-Qaida. In May 2003, Algerian security forces secured the release of 17 of the 32 European hostages kidnapped by a faction of the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) in February and March. The GSPC is believed to be under the new leadership of Nabil Sahraoui (a.k.a. Abu Ibrahim Mustapha). On 11 September 2003, the GSPC issued a statement declaring allegiance to several jihadist causes and leaders, including al-Qaida and Usama Bin Ladin. Algerian law enforcement and security forces continued to pursue GSPC terrorist operatives, disrupting their activities and capturing or killing several of them. Algeria participated in a pan-Sahel regional counterterrorism seminar in Bamako, Mali, in October.

Algerian officials have stated that the number of active terrorists within the country has fallen from more than 25,000 in 1992 down to a few hundred today, due in large part to a series of successful offensives undertaken by Algerian security forces. Algeria has, in fact, made great strides toward eliminating terrorism in most parts of the country.

The Algerian Government has focused much of its counterterrorism efforts on the international level toward creating international consensus for an international convention against terrorism. This would include defining what constitutes an act of terror as distinct from an act of "national liberation." To this end, Algeria hosted a summit in September 2002 of the African Union (formerly the Organization of African Unity —OAU) aimed at ensuring the implementation of the OAU's 1999 Convention on the Prevention and Combating Terrorism. Algeria has strongly condemned acts of international terrorism.

With regard to enforcement and international agreements, Algeria has ratified all but one of the international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism. Algeria is gradually implementing, in its domestic legislative and regulatory systems, the requirements of these instruments, which may result -- among other changes -- in the extradition of wanted terrorists.

Algeria was among the first states to criminalize the financing of terrorism. The Finance Act of 2003 expanded these efforts by lifting banking secrecy regulations and formalizing procedures that banks and insurance companies must follow in reporting suspicious transactions to the Government's Financial Information Processing Unit -- which turns over actionable information to the courts. In addition, Algeria is seeking an extradition treaty with the United States, and President Bouteflika has proposed an international treaty, under UN auspices, that would replace the need for individual bilateral extradition treaties.

Algeria is a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Bahrain

Bahrain is providing important support to our counterterrorism efforts, particularly efforts to block the financing of terror groups. Bahrain has continued to respond positively to requests for assistance to combat terror financing; it has frozen about $18 million in terrorist-linked funds. Bahrain also continued to provide intelligence cooperation and made some significant arrests.

In February, the Government of Bahrain arrested five Bahrainis suspected of plotting terrorist attacks in Bahrain. In May, the Government released three of the five, claiming to have insufficient evidence to support a trial. In June and July, the other two were convicted -- one by a civilian criminal court and one by court martial, for illegal gun 60 possession. In December, the King reduced the sentence of the civilian from three years to two.

In April, Bahrain expelled an Iraqi diplomat for involvement in setting off an explosive device near the entrance of the headquarters of the US Navy Fifth Fleet on 24 March. The Government also arrested the bomber -- an Iraqi Intelligence Service major -- tried him in open court, and sentenced him to three years in prison.

Bahrain's lack of a domestic conspiracy law hampers its ability to intervene against suspected extremist plots. This could encourage terrorists to value Bahrain as a potential logistic haven.

Bahrain is a party to five of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a signatory to the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Egypt

The Egyptian and US Governments continued to deepen their already close cooperation on a broad range of counterterrorism and law-enforcement issues in 2003. The first US-Egypt Counterterrorism Joint Working Group meeting was held in Washington in July 2003. The United States continues to closely coordinate with Egyptian authorities on law enforcement and judicial matters involving terrorism. The Egyptian Government has agreed to provide assistance in an important terrorist trial scheduled to take place in New York in May 2004. Egyptian authorities, particularly the Central Bank, have tightened their assets-freezing regime, consistent with requirements under UNSC Resolutions 1373, 1267, 1333, 1390, and 1455 and E.O. 13224. Demonstrating Egypt's commitment to stanch the flow of funds to terrorist organizations, Egypt passed strong anti-money laundering legislation in 2002, enabling it to establish an anti-money laundering financial intelligence unit in March 2003. Egypt has significant antiterrorism legislation in place and did not see the need to enact new laws this year.

The Egyptian Government continued to place high priority on protecting US persons, facilities, and interests before and continuing after the Iraq war.

There is a high state of security for Americans and facilities and for American forces both stationed in Egypt and transiting the country to the Gulf, by air or through the Suez Canal. Both government and religious officials continued to make statements supporting the war on terrorism and condemning terrorist actions around the world. Egypt has maintained its strengthened airport security measures and has instituted more stringent port security measures.

Itself a victim of terrorism in the past, Egypt is actively monitoring and rooting out old and new cells of groups with violent tendencies. In January 2003, 43 members of a jihad group known as Gund Allah (Soldiers of God) were arrested for planning attacks against US and Israeli interests. They will be tried in the Military Tribunal in 2004. The "zero tolerance" policy toward extremism has resulted in the arrest in October 2003 of 12 alleged members of Al-Takfir wa Al-Hijrah, in the continuing arrests of Al-Gama'at Al-Islamiyya (IG) members who do not agree with the historic leadership's new policy of nonviolence, and in the discovery and arrest of extremist cells and nascent groups. A verdict is due in the spring of 2004 in the trial of 26 members (including three Britons) of the Islamic Liberation Party (Hizb Al Tahrir Al Islami), begun in October 2002. The prosecution has requested 25-year sentences for the defendants, charged with reviving an illegal, violent organization.

In October 2003, Egypt completed the release from prison of the historic leadership and as many as 1,000 members and supporters of the IG. This release, begun a year before, was based on what the Government considered to be a conversion in thought and religious values by the IG leadership, who authored several books and gave lengthy public interviews on their new nonviolent philosophy. This conversion has not been accepted by all IG members in Egypt and elsewhere and has given rise to reports in Egyptian media of new IG splinter cells who refuse to accept nonviolence.

The Egyptian judiciary is tough on terrorism. There is no plea bargaining in the Egyptian judicial system, and terrorists have historically been prosecuted to the full extent of the law. They are tried in Military Tribunals or in Emergency Courts, neither of which affords a right of appeal. There have been no terrorist cases tried in these courts this year. Press reports indicate that Egypt is actively involved with other nations to extradite Egyptian extremists from abroad. Egypt actively participates in a variety of bilateral counterterrorism and law-enforcement training opportunities. Egypt is also preparing to become a regional counterterrorism training hub for other Middle Eastern and North African nations.

Egypt is a party to nine of the international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a signatory to an additional two, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza

Israel maintained staunch support for US-led counterterrorism operations as Palestinian terrorist groups conducted a large number of attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip in 2003. HAMAS, the PIJ, and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades -- all of which the United States has designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations pursuant to Executive Order 13224 -- were responsible for most of the attacks, which included suicide bombings, shootings, and mortar firings against civilian and military targets. Terrorist attacks in 2003 killed almost 200 people (mostly Israelis, as well as a number of foreigners, including 16 US citizens), a decrease from the more than 350 people killed in 2002.

On 15 October, Palestinian militants attacked a US diplomatic convoy in Gaza with an improvised explosive device, killing three Americans. To date, this was the most lethal attack ever to directly target US interests in Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza. The Popular Resistance Committee (PRC), a loose association of Palestinians with ties to various Palestinian militant organizations such as HAMAS, PIJ, and Fatah, claimed responsibility. Although that claim was later rescinded, and official investigations continue, the PRC remains the primary suspect in the attacks. At the end of the year, the Palestinian Authority (PA) had yet to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Israeli authorities arrested individuals claiming allegiance to al-Qaida, although the group does not appear to have an operational presence in Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza. Palestinian terrorist groups in these areas continue to focus their attention on attacking Israel and Israeli interests within Israel and the Palestinian territories, rather than engaging in operations worldwide.

Israel employed a variety of military operations in its counterterror efforts. Israeli forces launched frequent raids throughout the West Bank and Gaza, conducted targeted killings of suspected Palestinian terrorists, destroyed homes -- including those of families of suicide bombers -- imposed strict and widespread closures and curfews in Palestinian areas, and continued construction of an extensive security barrier. Israel expelled more than 12 alleged terrorists from the West Bank to Gaza in the fall of 2003. Israeli counterterrorism measures appear to have reduced the frequency of attacks; continuing attacks, however, show that the groups remained potent.

HAMAS was particularly active, carrying out more than 150 attacks, including shootings, suicide bombings, and standoff mortar-and-rocket attacks against civilian and military targets. The group was responsible for one of the deadliest attacks of the year -- the suicide bombing in June on a Jerusalem bus that killed 17 people and wounded 84.

Although HAMAS continues to focus on conducting anti-Israeli attacks, it also claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing at a restaurant adjacent to the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, demonstrating its willingness to attack targets in areas frequented by foreigners.

The PIJ remained active in 2003, conducting several deadly attacks against Israeli targets, and began using women as suicide bombers. The PIJ claimed responsibility for one of the deadliest suicide bombings of 2003 -- a suicide bombing in October at a Haifa restaurant that killed 21 people and wounded at least 50. The PIJ also claimed responsibility for the joint attack in January with the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade for a double-suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, which killed 23 people and wounded more than 100 - the deadliest suicide bombing of the year.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade conducted numerous shooting attacks and suicide bombings in 2003. In August, a suicide bombing claimed by al-Aqsa in Rosh Ha'ayin killed two people and wounded at least 10. Al-Aqsa used at least three female suicide bombers in operations.

Hizballah remained a serious threat to the security of the region, continuing its call for the destruction of Israel and using Lebanese territory as a staging ground for terrorist operations. Hizballah was also involved in providing material support to Palestinian terrorist groups to augment their capacity and lethality in conducting attacks against Israel.

Israel arrested several Jewish extremists in 2003 who were planning terrorist attacks against various Palestinian targets. Several prominent Jewish extremists were sentenced to prison for planning to detonate a bomb near a girls' school in East Jerusalem in 2002.

The PA's efforts to thwart terrorist operations were minimal in 2003. The PA security services remained fragmented and ineffective. The services were also hobbled by corruption, infighting, and poor leadership. There are indications that some personnel in the security services, including several senior officers, have continued to assist terrorist operations.

Israel has signed all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a party to eight, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Jordan

The Jordanian Government continued to strongly support global counterterrorism efforts while remaining vigilant against the threat of terrorism at home. Jordan was highly responsive to the security needs of US citizens in the country.

In 2003, Jordan pursued several terrorism-related cases, some of which involved attempts at weapons smuggling and border infiltration. Jordan indicted 11 individuals in May 2003 for the murder in 2002 of USAID officer Laurence Foley, and several are currently standing trial for his murder. In September, the State Security Court charged 13 Jordanians -- allegedly affiliated with al-Qaida and Ansar al-Islam -- with conspiring to carry out attacks against tourists and foreigners. Jordanian authorities requested that Norway extradite Mullah Krekar -- the spiritual leader of Ansar al-Islam -- for involvement in a terrorist plot.

Suspected terrorists continued attempts to exploit Jordanian territory to transport weapons to and from groups in neighboring states or to use Jordanian territory to facilitate terrorist attacks. Jordanian authorities have successfully intercepted weapons shipments and personnel transiting the country at virtually all of its borders. Although largely responsive to US requests on terrorist-related issues, the Jordanian Government has shied away from measures that would be unpopular with Jordan's pro-Palestinian population. The Central Bank of Jordan rescinded instructions to commercial banks to freeze assets belonging to HAMAS-affiliated individuals in the face of harsh criticism from the public and Parliament, although the organization has not been active in Jordan since its leaders were expelled in 1999.

Jordan has signed 10 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a party to eight, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Kuwait

Kuwait continued to act in concert with the US Government and with its neighbors against a number of domestic threats to Kuwaiti and foreign interests and also provided significant support to US efforts to stem terror financing. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Usama Bin Ladin and a previously unknown domestic group, the Kuwaiti HAMAS movement, threatened to continue carrying out attacks against Kuwait for aiding Coalition forces. The four terror attacks carried out against Coalition forces between October 2002 and December 2003 -- which resulted in the death of one US Marine and a US defense contractor -- have mobilized domestic counterterrorism efforts, but the potential for further attacks remains a concern. The Kuwaiti Government has taken significant measures to bolster force protection, and it also reacted swiftly and forcefully to detain and prosecute the perpetrators. However, some judges released suspects on bail pending trial and also commuted the sentences of others convicted in the attacks of 2002-03.

Kuwaiti officials and clerics also implemented preventative measures in the wake of terrorist bombings of Western housing compounds in Saudi Arabia in May and November. Soon after the May attacks, Kuwaiti security forces heightened alert levels. Kuwaiti officials and clerics also launched a vocal public campaign to denounce terrorism. In November, Kuwaiti clerics publicly applauded the recantation by extremist Saudi clerics of fatwas that encouraged violence and also discouraged their countrymen from engaging in jihad or harming Coalition forces based in Kuwait.

Kuwaiti officials have also heightened security along their border with Iraq to prevent militant infiltration and have also worked with Syria and Iran to develop procedures to increase intelligence sharing and enhance customs and border-monitoring cooperation. Kuwait also continued to implement every US-ordered terrorist-fund freeze. In August, the Government froze the assets of HAMAS over the objections of conservative elements of the Kuwaiti population.

Kuwait is a party to nine of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Lebanon

Despite a decrease from the previous year in anti-US terror attacks in Lebanon and the introduction of counterterrorism legislation, Lebanon remains host to numerous US-designated terrorist groups. At the same time, a number of legislative, legal, and operational initiatives showed some promise in Lebanon's counterterrorism efforts. However, Beirut continues to demonstrate an unwillingness to take steps against Lebanese Hizballah, the PIJ, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command (PFLP-GC), the Abu Nidal organization (ANO), and HAMAS.

The Lebanese Government recognizes as legitimate resistance groups those organizations that target Israel and permits them to maintain offices in Beirut. Beirut goes further by exempting what it terms "legal resistance" groups -- including Hizballah -- from money-laundering and terrorism-financing laws. Lebanese leaders, including President Emile Lahud, reject assessments of Hizballah's global reach, instead concentrating on the group's political wing and asserting that it is an integral part of Lebanese society and politics. In addition, Syrian and Iranian support for Hizballah activities in southern Lebanon, as well as training and assistance to Palestinian rejectionist groups, help promote an environment where terrorist elements flourish. Hizballah conducted multiple attacks in the Shab'a Farms region during 2003, including firing antitank rockets.

The Lebanese security forces remain unable or unwilling to enter Palestinian refugee camps -- the operational nodes of terrorist groups such as 'Asbat al-Ansar and the Palestinian rejectionists -- and to deploy forces to much of the Beka'a Valley, southern Beirut, and the south of the country bordering Israel. Furthermore, Syria's predominant role in Lebanon facilitates the Hizballah and Palestinian rejectionist presence in portions of Lebanon.

The Lebanese Government acknowledges the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee's consolidated list but does not acknowledge groups identified by only the US Government: Beirut will not take action against groups designated solely by the United States. In addition, constitutional provisions prohibit the extradition of Lebanese nationals to a third country. Lebanese authorities further maintain that the Government's provision of amnesty to Lebanese individuals involved in acts of violence during the civil war prevents Beirut from prosecuting many cases of concern to the United States -- including the hijacking in 1985 of TWA 847 and the murder of a US Navy diver on the flight -- and the abduction, torture, and murder of US hostages from 1984 to 1991. US courts have brought indictments against Hizballah operatives responsible for a number of those crimes, and some of these defendants remain prominent terrorist figures.

The Lebanese Government has insisted that "Imad Mugniyah" -- wanted in connection with the TWA hijacking and other terrorist acts, who was placed on the FBI's list of most-wanted terrorists in 2001 -- is no longer in Lebanon. The Government's legal system also has failed to hold a hearing on the prosecutor's appeal in the case of Tawfiz Muhammad Farroukh, who -- despite the evidence against him -- was found not guilty of murder for his role in the killings of US Ambassador Francis Meloy and two others in 1976.

In October, the Lebanese National Assembly passed two bills strengthening existing legislation against money laundering and terrorist financing. Law 547 -- while differentiating between terrorism and what Lebanon calls the "legal resistance" of Hizballah and Palestinian rejectionists -- expands existing legislation on money laundering, making illicit any funds resulting from terrorism. Law 553 stipulates penalties for persons who financially support terrorist acts or organizations. A Special Investigations Commission in 2003 investigated 245 cases involving allegations of money laundering, including 22 related to terrorist financing. No accounts used for financing terrorism -- as defined by Beirut -- were discovered in Lebanese financial institutions. Signifying the difficulty Lebanon will have in enforcing the new legislation, the Central Bank in September asked Lebanese financial institutions to identify accounts held by six HAMAS leaders whose assets are the target of a US freeze. The inquiry sparked a public uproar and caused the Central Bank to end the investigation.

Lebanon has taken other counterterrorism measures in 2003, primarily directed against Sunni extremists, including those affiliated with al-Qaida. For instance:

• In May, a military tribunal convicted eight individuals of attempting to establish an al-Qaida cell in Lebanon.
• In July, Lebanese security forces began a series of arrests in connection with the bombing in April of a McDonald's, part of a series of bombings of Western food outlets during 2002-03.
• In September, military tribunals commenced hearing the cases of more than 40 individuals charged with

planning or executing the series of restaurant attacks and planning to assassinate the US Ambassador to Lebanon and bomb the US Embassy in Beirut.

• In October, the Lebanese Government arrested three men and indicted 18 others in absentia on charges of preparing to carry out terrorist attacks and forging documents and passports.
• The Lebanese Government continued to cooperate with US officials in the investigation of the murder in November 2002 of a US citizen in Sidon.
• In December, Lebanese forces personnel cooperated with US Embassy security when a Lebanese man approached the Embassy carrying a bag containing TNT, nitroglycerin, and a detonator.
• In late December, a military tribunal sentenced 25 members of a terrorist group accused of targeting US official and commercial targets to prison terms ranging from six months to life.

Lebanon is a party to 10 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Morocco

The Government of Morocco has remained a steadfast ally in the war on terror in the face of unprecedented terrorist activity in the Kingdom in 2003. King Muhammad VI has unambiguously condemned those who espouse or conduct terrorism, has been a consistent voice for tolerance and moderation, and has worked to keep Rabat firmly on the side of the United States against extremists. Domestically, Morocco's historical record of vigilance against terrorist activity remained uninterrupted in 2003.

Despite these efforts, on 16 May, suicide bombers simultaneously detonated bombs at restaurants, hotels, and a Jewish cultural center in the seaside city of Casablanca, killing 42 -- including many of the bombers -- and wounding approximately 100 others. Moroccan authorities quickly identified the bombers as local adherents of the "Salafiya Jihadiya" movement. In the following months, investigators learned that many of those involved in orchestrating the attacks were Moroccan extremists who had trained in Afghanistan and had links to North African extremist groups -- mainly the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, and al-Qaida.

The attacks underscored the danger of terrorism from domestic extremists and their international allies, and Moroccan authorities reacted swiftly to reduce the threat. Days after the attacks, the Moroccan legislature passed a law that broadened the definition of terrorism, proposed heavy sentences for inciting terrorism, expanded the power of authorities to investigate suspected terrorists, and facilitated prosecution of terrorist cases. Throughout the summer and fall, authorities arrested hundreds of terrorist suspects and sentenced dozens to lengthy prison terms and, in some cases, execution. Courts tried in absentia extremists located overseas who were suspected of facilitating the attacks in Casablanca and issued warrants for their arrest. The King also took measures to facilitate greater information sharing between the country's security services and national police force.

Morocco is a party to 10 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Oman

Oman continued to provide public statements of support for the global war on terrorism and has been responsive to requests for Coalition military and civilian support. During the last two years, the Government has implemented a tight anti-money laundering regime, including surveillance systems designed to identify unusual transactions. Omani financial authorities have committed to freezing the assets of any UN-listed individual found in Oman. There were no incidents of terrorist activity in Oman in 2003.

Oman has become a party to 10 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism but has not yet acceded to the other two, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

Qatar

The Government of Qatar provided the United States with significant counterterrorism support during 2003, building on the bilateral cooperation it has maintained since September 11. Qatar provides ongoing support for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and is a key regional ally. Amir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has pledged his Government's full support to the global war on terrorism. When requested, Doha has provided additional security for US installations and facilities.

Doha has had some success in disrupting terrorist activity, although the security services traditionally have monitored extremists passively rather than attempting to penetrate or pursue them. Members of transnational terrorist groups and state sponsors of terrorism are present in Qatar. The security services' limited capabilities make it difficult for them to warn against or disrupt a terrorist attack by al-Qaida or affiliated groups.

Qatar remains cautious about taking any action that would cause embarrassment or public scrutiny when Gulf Cooperation Council nationals are involved.

Doha acceded to a number of international agreements during 2003. It also promulgated a revised version of its anti-money laundering law and drafted a criminal law to address terroristfinancing crimes. This law broadened the definition of money laundering to include any activities related to terrorist financing. It authorizes the Central Bank to freeze suspicious accounts. Doha participated in three anti-money laundering training courses organized by the US Government. Legislation provides for a financial intelligence unit, although it has not yet been effectively established.

Qatar is a party to seven of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Saudi Arabia

The terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia on 12 May and 9 November galvanized Riyadh into launching a sustained crackdown against al-Qaida's presence in the Kingdom and spurred an unprecedented level of cooperation with the United States. Riyadh has aggressively attacked al-Qaida's operational and support network in Saudi Arabia and detained or killed a number of prominent operatives and financial facilitators.

The attack of 9 November, which resulted in the deaths of a number of Muslims and Arabs during the holy month of Ramadan, transformed Saudi public acceptance of the widespread nature of the threat in the Kingdom. This acceptance has facilitated increased security and counterterrorism efforts by the Saudi Government, including stepped up security at a variety of locations throughout the country, such as residential facilities.

The attacks also led Riyadh to implement a variety of programs aimed at directly combating terrorist activity. In early May 2003, the Saudis began to publicize their counterterrorist efforts, including naming 19 individuals most wanted by the security services for involvement in terrorist activities. In early December, Riyadh announced the names of 26 individuals -- including the seven remaining fugitives from the list of 19 -- wanted for terrorist-related activities and provided background information on the suspects to help the public to identify them. Soon thereafter, Saudi security forces killed operative Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Abdallah al-Rayyis, a terrorist named on the list. Also in early December, Saudi authorities announced a rewards program -- ranging from $270,000 to $1.87 million -- for information leading to the arrest of suspects or the disruption of terrorist attacks and have used local newspapers to publish pleas from operatives' family members to turn themselves in to authorities.

Since May, Riyadh has arrested more than 600 individuals during counterterrorism operations and continues investigating the Riyadh attacks. Saudi security forces have suffered significant casualties while conducting counterterrorism operations and raids. Raids in Mecca, Riyadh, and Medina led to arrests and document seizures and netted large quantities of explosives and a variety of weapons. In July alone, security services seized more than 20 tons of explosive-making materials in Qassim. In November, the authorities seized a truck bomb at a reported al-Qaida safehouse in Riyadh. Meanwhile, Saudi officials met several times with their Yemeni counterparts in an effort to stanch the flow of weapons into Saudi Arabia from Yemen.

During the past year, Riyadh expanded its cooperation with the United States in combating terrorist financing. The Government prohibited the collection of cash donations at mosques or commercial establishments, and in May the central bank issued a banking circular prohibiting charities from depositing or withdrawing cash or transferring funds abroad. In August 2003, Saudi Arabia adopted a new anti-money laundering and antiterrorist financing law, which criminalized money laundering and terrorist financing. The law also established a single financial intelligence unit, as required by the Financial Action Task Force, to collect against and analyze suspicious financial transactions and placed stringent "know your customer" requirements in the banking system. The Kingdom also established with the United States a Joint Task Force on Terrorist Financing to facilitate law-enforcement cooperation at the operational level. On 22 December, the United States and Saudi Arabia publicly announced their request to the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee to add the names of two organizations and one individual to its consolidated list.

On both the domestic and international fronts, Saudi Arabia initiated an ideological campaign against Islamist terrorist organizations, using its unique credentials as the custodian of Islam's two holiest shrines. Senior Saudi Government and religious officials espouse a consistent message of moderation and tolerance, explaining that Islam and terrorism are incompatible. Notably, in October speeches at the Organization of Islamic Conference Summit in Malaysia and later in Pakistan, Crown Prince Abdullah recommended to a broader audience concrete steps to counter extremism and improve relations between Muslims and non-Muslims.

For its part, Saudi Arabia has expressed its commitment to undertake internal political, social, and economic reforms aimed at combating the underlying causes of terrorism, and authorities have worked to delegitimize or correct those who would use Islam to justify terrorist acts. In early December, jailed cleric Ahmed al-Khalidi renounced his previous endorsement of violent jihad. Khalidi's statement followed similar public renunciations by extremist clerics Shaykh Ali bin Ali al-Khudayr and Nasir al-Fahd.

Saudi Arabia provided essential support to Operation Iraqi Freedom and continues to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Saudi Arabia has signed nine of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a party to six.

Tunisia

The Government of Tunisia has publicly supported the international Coalition against terrorism and has responded to US requests for information and assistance in blocking financial assets. Tunis's active stance against terrorism has been reinforced by its own recent experience with international terrorism. In April 2002, a suicide truck bomb detonated outside the el-Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba, killing more than 20.

In response to terrorism, the Government of Tunisia has taken steps to strengthen its laws and international agreements. The Tunisian legislature in December 2003 passed a comprehensive law to "support the international effort to combat terrorism and money laundering."

On the enforcement front, in March, Tunis issued a warrant for the arrest of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed for his role in the suicide truck bombing of the el-Ghriba synagogue in 2002. In addition, Belgacem Nawar, an uncle of Djerba suicide bomber Nizar Nawar, remains in Tunisian custody and is charged with complicity in the attack.

Tunis has consistently emphasized the threat that terrorism poses to security and stability in the region. Further, it has encouraged Libya to abandon terrorism and, in particular, to reach an agreement with France on additional compensation for the UTA airliner bombing of 1989. Domestically, the Tunisian Government has prohibited the formation of Islamist groups, which it believes pose a terrorist threat.

After the terrorist bombing of the UN compound in Baghdad, Tunis expressed its deep concern over the bombing and stated that it "firmly rejects any action aimed at undermining UN efforts to help Iraq and its brotherly people to recover security and stability and to complete the country's reconstruction process."

Since September 11, 2001, Tunis has each year called for an international conference to address the root causes of terrorism.

Tunisia ratified the International Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism in February 2003, making it a party to 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

United Arab Emirates

In 2003, the United Arab Emirates continued to provide outstanding counterterrorism assistance and cooperation. The UAE Government publicly condemned acts of terrorism, including the attack in August against UN headquarters in Baghdad and the attack in November against a housing compound in Riyadh. In September, the UAE successfully hosted the annual International Monetary Fund/World Bank meetings, an event marked by close cooperation between the Dubai police and UAE armed forces.

In suppressing terrorist financing, the UAE Central Bank continued to aggressively enforce anti-money laundering regulations. Tightened oversight and reporting requirements for domestic financial markets resulted in a stronger legal and regulatory framework to deter abuse of the UAE financial system. The Central Bank has provided training programs to financial institutions on money laundering and terrorist financing.

It has also investigated financial transactions and frozen accounts in response to UN resolutions and internal investigations, as well as begun registering hawala dealers. The UAE has frozen the accounts of terrorist entities designated by the UN, and the US Government has provided the UAE with antiterrorism and anti-money laundering training, as well as technical assistance for bankers, prosecutors, judges, and police.

The UAE has provided assistance in several terrorist investigations. In early 2003, the UAE became a party to the 1973 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons.

The UAE is a party to eight of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Yemen

There were no reported terrorist attacks against or kidnappings of Westerners in Yemen in 2003.

The Republic of Yemen Government continued to cooperate with US law enforcement and to take action against al-Qaida and local extremists in 2003, including arresting several al-Qaida-associated individuals, disrupting an al-Qaida-affiliated cell targeting Western interests, and prosecuting and convicting the perpetrators of the shootings of three Americans in Jibla on 30 December 2002. Abed Abdulrazak al-Kamel, the shooter, and Ali Ahmed Mohamed Jarallah, the planner, were tried, convicted, and sentenced to death in separate trials in 2003. On 1 December 2003, a three-judge panel affirmed the death sentence of al-Kamel, who will appeal the decision to the Yemen Supreme Court. Court officials expect that the conviction will be upheld and passed to President Saleh, who is likely to sign off on the order to carry out the sentence. Post representatives attended al-Kamel's trial and appeal proceedings, which were relatively transparent and openly reported in the local media.

Yemen publicly expressed its support for the global war on terrorism. In meetings with senior US officials, President Saleh underscored Yemen's determination to be an active counterterrorism partner.

However, there is still more work to be done to improve counterterrorism capabilities, including implementing a Maritime Security Strategy and increasing border security. Ongoing US-Yemeni cooperation includes counterterrorism training for Yemeni military forces, establishment of Yemeni Coast Guard capabilities (including seven 44-foot US-manufactured patrol boats arriving February 2004), and equipment and training for Yemen's Terrorist Interdiction Program.

Yemeni authorities arrested several high-profile al-Qaida associates in 2003. In late November, authorities arrested Muhammad Hamdi al-Ahdal (a.k.a. Abu Asim al-Makki -- the senior-most extremist in Yemen -- who has supported mujahedin and terrorist operations throughout the Middle East and in Chechnya. In late September, Yemeni authorities arrested several members of an al-Qaida-affiliated cell planning attacks against a variety of targets in the country. Following the attack in mid-June on a medical assistance convoy in the Abyan Governorate, US- and UK-trained Yemeni Central Security Forces (CSF) raided a facility used by the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army (AAIA -- the local extremist group suspected of orchestrating and conducting the attack -- and made a number of arrests. Consistent, but unconfirmed, reports from the press and other sources put the number of extremists killed or captured at between 20 and 30. CSF also indicated that a large amount of explosives and weapons were seized.

In October 2003, despite repeated statements that AAIA leader Khalid Abd-al-Nabi was dead, Yemeni officials revealed that he was not killed in the confrontations between the hardline Islamic group and a Yemeni army antiterrorism unit. Instead, al-Nabi surrendered to the Yemeni authorities, was released from custody, and is not facing charges for any of his activities. Earlier in 2003, authorities arrested al-Qaida operative Fawaz al-Rabi'I
(a.k.a. Furqan) and al-Qaida associate Hadi Dulqum.

Land border security, particularly the long frontier with Saudi Arabia, is a major concern for Yemen. In the aftermath of the Riyadh bomb attacks in May 2003, the Government has improved cooperation with its Saudi neighbors. Representatives of both countries met several times in 2003 to discuss border security and ways to impede the flow of weapons from Yemen to Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of the Interior has an ambitious plan to establish 18 districts along the Yemeni-Saudi border to provide antismuggling defenses. In keeping with a bilateral security agreement, Sanaa and Riyadh have exchanged prisoners and terror suspects, including an operative from the Saudis most-wanted list.

The escape of 10 prisoners -- including several suspects in the USS Cole bombing of October 2000 -- from an Aden jail in April was a setback to bilateral counterterrorism efforts. Although Sanaa responded quickly, dismissing two senior security officers and several prison guards, eight of the escapees have not yet been apprehended.

Following the model of other Arab countries, including Egypt, an Islamic scholarly commission formed in August 2002 continued its dialogue with detainees arrested in connection with extremism and/or terrorist attacks, which reportedly include Yemeni returnees from Afghanistan and members of the Al Jihad organization. Before being released, the detainees are screened by Yemen's Political Security Organization and commit to uphold the Yemeni constitution and laws, the rights of non-Muslims, and the inviolability of foreign interests. Ninety-two detainees were released post-Ramadan in 2003.

In the latter part of 2003, senior government officials, including President Saleh, publicly announced the detainees' release -- some of whom may have ties to al-Qaida and other extremist groups -- because they reportedly had renounced violence. The public announcement of the releases preceded the sharing of information with the US Government, which has now identified specific concerns with several of the individuals released and is working with the Government on the issue.

Several terrorist organizations continued to maintain a presence in Yemen throughout 2003. HAMAS and PIJ are recognized as legal organizations -- and HAMAS maintains offices in Yemen -- but neither has engaged in terrorist activities, and PIJ does not have any known actual or operational presence. Al-Qaida is attempting to reconstitute an operational presence in Yemen. Other international terrorist groups with a presence in Yemen include remnants of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya.

Yemen is a party to eight of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

WESTERN HEMISPHERE OVERVIEW

The international terrorism threat in the Western Hemisphere remained low during 2003 compared to other world regions. Even so, the region is by no means exempt from exploitation by groups that would use it to seek safe haven, financing, illegal travel documentation, or access to the United States via long-established narcotics and migrant-smuggling routes. The domestic terrorist threat remained high in Colombia and to a lesser extent in Peru.

Political will to combat terrorism remained steady in the Western Hemisphere during 2003, although efforts to updat eessential counterterrorism legislation were uneven. In addition, operational counterterrorism capacity and expertise remains lacking in many states in the hemisphere. Nevertheless, countries in the region actively continued efforts to fortify hemispheric border and financial controls to prevent or disrupt terrorism-related activities on their territories to the greatest extent possible.

The Organization of American States (OAS) Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE, Spanish-language acronym) -- a body under the Organization of American States -- continues to set the standard among regional institutions through its effort to institutionalize the long-term international campaign against terrorism, according to the chair of the United Nations Counterterrorism Committee in March 2003. During a very active year under strong Salvadoran leadership, CICTE convened the first meeting of its National Points of Contact in Washington in July with the aim of fostering working-level contact and information sharing throughout the year. In July 2003, the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism entered into force after six countries deposited their instruments of ratification (Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru). As 2004 commenced, another two states -- Panama and Venezuela -- ratified the convention. During its successful Fourth Regular Session in Montevideo, OAS member states agreed to enhance CICTE's mandate to effectively address threats to seaport and aviation security, as well as cybersecurity.

Money flowing to Islamic terrorist organizations continued to be a primary counterterrorism focus. To strengthen the efforts of friends in the region to disrupt potential terrorism fundraising activity, the United States continued to actively support the development of the "Three Plus One" (3+1) Counterterrorism Dialogue with partners Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Meetings in Brasilia and Asuncion during 2003 led to new agreements on mutual capacity building in the areas of border security and financial controls. The United States looks forward to participating in 3+1–sponsored programs during 2004 and to hosting the next senior-level meeting in Washington in the fall.

Governments throughout the Southern Cone were active on the legal front against suspected terrorist activity. Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil took action to convict or extradite suspected international terrorists, either on terrorism or on criminal charges. The Argentine investigating judge in the suspected Hizballah bombing of the Argentine-Jewish cultural center in 1994, which killed 86 people, issued international arrest warrants for several Iranian Government officials who were assigned to Buenos Aires at the time, as well as the head of Hizballah's terrorist wing. Efforts to extradite the former Iranian ambassador to Argentina failed for a lack of evidence, and by the end of the year, the investigating judge had been replaced by order of an Argentine court. The trial, which began in 2001 against 20 Argentines believed to form the local connection in the bombing, continued into 2004.

Colombia continued to experience terrorist violence as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and other narcoterrorist groups sought to respond to an increasingly aggressive Colombian military posture with wanton terrorist attacks against civilians in Colombia's urban areas. The El Nogal Club car bomb in February that killed 36 innocent civilians drew a swift condemnation from the OAS. Also in February, the FARC murdered American civilian contractor Thomas Janis and Colombian soldier Luis Alcides Cruz, whose plane had made an emergency crash landing in southern Colombia while conducting a counter-drug mission. Three other American aircraft crew members were taken hostage by FARC elements in the incident and at publication press time remained in FARC hands, along with many others, mostly Colombian hostages.

Under President Uribe, the Colombian military, police, and intelligence forces scored significant victories in 2003 against the FARC, National Liberation Army (ELN), and United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) terrorist groups. They began to strike hard at the FARC's leadership ranks with targeted operations, spurred a sharp increase in desertions from the terrorist ranks, initiated peace talks and a pilot demobilization program with large elements of the AUC, invigorated antikidnapping efforts, and eradicated record levels of coca and poppy cultivation to cut off sources of funding for narcoterrorists.

The United States continued a long-term cooperative relationship with Canada by hosting another session of the Bilateral Consultative Group on Terrorism. Canada also was an active participant in the second Top Officials terrorist incident response exercise in May, and both countries are committed to supporting the capacity-building work of the Counterterrorism Action Group assistance donor countries, created by the G-8 countries in 2003.

The United States worked closely with several countries in the region, particularly Mexico, to respond in a coordinated, prudent fashion to emerging aviation security threats affecting American and foreign citizens. The US Government also has worked cooperatively with Mexico to implement a security program on its border with the United States.

Cuba, one of the seven state sponsors of terrorism, is discussed in the state sponsorship portion of this report.

Bolivia

There were no significant acts of international terrorism in Bolivia in 2003. The Government signed the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism in 2002, but it has not yet been ratified. Bolivia's financial investigations unit actively collaborated with the US Embassy to share information about possible terrorist-linked financial transactions, prevent the abuse of Bolivian financial institutions by terrorists, and enhance the monitoring and enforcement of financial networks.

Despite many resource constraints, corruption, political tampering, and lack of expertise in handling sophisticated international investigations, the Government made progress in several -- mostly domestic -- terrorist-related cases. Most significantly, suspected National Liberation Army–Bolivia organizer Colombian Francisco Cortes and two Bolivian radical members of the Movement Towards Socialism party were arrested in 2003 and charged with espionage, terrorism, and subversion after they were found with weapons and organizational materials about guerrilla networks and plans to instigate violent revolution in Bolivia.

On 15 August, the Government of Bolivia signed the Asuncion Declaration in which several South American nations committed themselves to support Colombia in its ongoing struggle against terrorism and drug trafficking.

Bolivia's Government maintained the policy of forcibly eradicating illegal coca plants to help ensure that Bolivia does not revert to its former status as a major source of cocaine, which is the major economic underpinning of terrorism in the Andes. Militant illegal coca growers (cocaleros) are thought to be responsible for various domestic terrorism events, and there is concern that they may have foreign help to make their attacks more deadly. On 12 November, eight counternarcotics agents were kidnapped and beaten in the Yungas region. Similarly, in the Chapare region five members of the security forces were killed and 25 wounded through November by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that exploded during coca eradication operations. Cocaleros are suspected of planting devices that have become increasingly sophisticated and may indicate outside technical assistance. Three cocaleros have been indicted for planting IEDs; others are suspected of sniper ambushes of security forces. Likewise, in the Chapare, in 2003 prosecutors made progress in the case of torture, rape, and murder of policeman David Andrade and his wife in 2000, and several cocaleros have been indicted or implicated in the crimes.

Bolivia is party to all 12 United Nations conventions and protocols related to terrorism and to one OAS counterterrorism convention.

Chile

The Government of Chile is a consistent and active supporter of US counterterrorism efforts and has taken an active interest in the activities of Islamic extremists connected to the Triborder area of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay and their potential links to the Free Trade Zone in Iquique, Chile. Chile continued its active support of US counterterrorism efforts in various international forums. Chile holds the chair of the UN's al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions committee and worked to improve the effectiveness of the sanctions. With Chile hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2004, President Ricardo Lagos listed security as the first of four points on which Chile would focus -- in particular, security of trade and travel. In the Asuncion Declaration signed 15 August, President Lagos joined other South American leaders in condemning terrorism and drug trafficking. The declaration also expressed solidarity with Colombia in its domestic fight against terrorism. Similarly, Chile's UN Ambassador noted current UN sanctions were only partially enforced in many countries, and some were reluctant to submit terrorists' names to the UN. The Foreign Minister added that Chile was "a country willing to assume challenges and responsibilities."

Chilean law enforcement agencies were consistently cooperative in investigating links to international terrorism. The ability to conduct counterterrorist activities is hampered by a requirement that any investigation be directly related to prosecutable criminal offenses. The plainclothes investigations police (PICH -- roughly equivalent to the FBI) continued to investigate several terrorism-related cases, but no prosecutions were developed.

The Chilean Congress passed a new money-laundering statute in September 2003 to cover terrorist finances and expand the Government's ability to freeze and seize assets. The new provisions have yet to be applied in a criminal case, and it remains unclear how the statute will operate in practice or how swiftly Chile will be able to react against terrorist assets identified by other governments or international institutions. The same legislation created a Financial Analysis Unit (UAF) to investigate suspicious transactions reported by financial institutions, but the Constitutional Tribunal ruled some of the UAF provisions to be unconstitutional. The Government is working to restore the UAF's ability to operate effectively and constitutionally. The current extradition treaty between Chile and the United States is more than 100 years old and has never been updated. Efforts are under way to explore negotiation of a new and viable extradition treaty.

Although no incidents of explicit terrorism occurred in Chile in 2003, terrorist-like tactics were employed in several cases, particularly in protest to the US-led invasion of Iraq. For example, a protester threw a Molotov cocktail at the US Embassy perimeter wall in March to protest policy on Iraq. Carabineros (uniformed police) guarding the embassy quickly arrested the perpetrator. Although two suspicious letters containing white powder delivered to the embassy and a telephonic bomb threat were all determined to be hoaxes, the Carabineros supplied HAZMAT teams and bomb-sniffing dogs in short order. In March, small bombs targeted Bank of Boston branches in Santiago and a BellSouth office in Concepcion. A similar bomb exploded at the Court of Appeals in Temuco. There were no injuries, no claim of responsibility, and no arrests made in any of the blasts. In March and April, the Chilean-American Binational Centers were subject to violent protests, some vandalism, and bomb threats by Chileans opposed to US policy in Iraq.

In August 2002, Chile requested the extradition from Brazil of former Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Front leader Mauricio Hernandez Norambuena to finish his sentence for the murder of rightwing Chilean Senator Jaime Guzman in 1991. Hernandez escaped prison in 1996. The Brazilian Attorney General ruled that Hernandez should be extradited to Chile, but the Brazilian Supreme Court must approve the decision -- a process said to be in the final stages and likely to result in extradition in the near term.

Chile is a party to all of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Colombia

Colombia fully comprehends the devastation caused by terrorism as it has faced large-scale domestic terrorism for several decades. From the day the Uribe Administration assumed office in August 2002, it has demonstrated a firm resolve to combat terrorists of all stripes. The Government of Colombia is supportive of US Government efforts to combat terrorist acts, target terrorist finances, and cooperate with extradition requests. Colombia continued to speak out forcefully and often against terrorist organizations throughout the year.

Colombia continued its struggle against the country's three main terrorist groups -- the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC -- all of which were redesignated by the United States as Foreign Terrorist Organizations in 2003. In June, the United States also designated the FARC and the AUC as significant foreign narcotics traffickers under the Kingpin Act.

Colombia suffered many large and small domestic terrorist attacks throughout 2003. Car bombs, kidnapping, political murders, the indiscriminant use of landmines, and economic sabotage were common occurrences. Some of the more noteworthy examples included the FARC's car bombing in February of Bogota's El Nogal Club killing 34 and wounding more than 160; the FARC hostage taking of three US contractors and killing of another American and a Colombian when their plane crashed near Florencia, Caqueta Department (the three Americans remain hostages) in February; a "house bomb" in February in Neiva that killed 16 and wounded more than 40; an ELN kidnapping in September of eight foreign tourists visiting archaeological ruins (one escaped, two were released in November, and five were freed in December); a grenade attack in November by the FARC that wounded Americans in Bogota's restaurant district; and attacks in November and December utilizing antitank rockets. Both FARC and the ELN continued attacks against the country's infrastructure and oil pipelines in 2003, albeit at reduced levels. Many more attacks were thwarted nationwide through excellent intelligence and security work.

In 2003, President Uribe increased military pressure on illegal armed groups and implemented an ambitious national security strategy including securing passage of antiterrorism legislation, promoting the desertion and reintegration of former illegal armed militants, and engaging the AUC in demobilization negotiations. President Uribe submitted to Congress two important draft laws with significant public security implications -- the Antiterrorism Bill and a Conditional Parole Bill. The Anti-Terrorism Bill was approved by Congress on 10 December and allows the Government to conduct wiretaps, search residences, and detain suspects more easily. The conditional parole legislation is connected to the broader peace process and would provide the Government the means to waive prison sentences in exchange for demobilization. Through legislation and with possible US assistance, the Government of Colombia expected the voluntary surrender of more than 4,000 illegal armed militants in 2003 (an increase of 84 percent over 2002) and the demobilization in December of some 1,000 paramilitaries with more planned for 2004.

Overall, Colombia's ambitious security strategy produced substantial achievements in 2003. Murders decreased by 16 percent, assassinations of trade unionists were down 68 percent, and kidnappings were 30 percent lower in 2003. The military completed the early phases of its national defense plan with significant successes, including the killing of at least five midlevel FARC commanders in Cundinamarca Department near Bogota. In January 2004, the most senior FARC official ever to be captured was detained by Ecuadorian National Police in Quito and deported to Colombia. Another major accomplishment was the restoration of a Government presence in every one of the country's 1,098 municipalities (county seats) by the end of 2003.

Colombia cooperated fully in blocking terrorist assets. A Colombian Financial Information and Analysis Unit, created in 2001 following the model of the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Unit (FinCEN), collaborated closely with the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. US Anti-Terrorist Assistance in August inaugurated a school for Colombian military and police who specialize in anti-kidnapping. Kidnappings are sources of revenue for the FARC and the ELN and a means to influence the political process. The Governmental so took steps at self-improvement by expanding an antiterrorism unit in the Prosecutor General's Office. Lessons learned in the counternarcotics fight have led to better prosecutions of those who attack the nation's infrastructure, particularly in oil-producing areas.

Colombia made significant strides in combating narcotrafficking, a primary source of revenue for terrorist organizations. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that coca cultivation could be reduced by aerial eradication as much as 50 percent in 2003. Eradication programs targeting coca and opium poppies continued throughout the year. In August, the United States resumed the Air Bridge Denial Program that assists Colombia in intercepting aircraft trafficking in narcotics and illegal weapons.

Colombia was particularly cooperative in cases and investigations involving Americans, such as the hostage taking of Defense Department civilian contractors in February and the grenade attack in Bogota in December. The US-Colombia extradition relationship continues to be one of the most successful in the world; Colombia extradited 67 persons to the United States in 2003. In May 2003, Colombia extradited Nelson Vargas Rueda, the first FARC member to be extradited to the United States. Vargas is accused of the kidnapping and murder of three American NGO activists working with Colombian indigenous groups in northern Colombia in 1999. Colombia also extradited Gerardo Herrera Iles, accused of kidnapping foreign and US oil workers, to the United States in 2003.

Colombia has signed eight of the international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a party to six.

Ecuador

The Government of Ecuador supports the war on terrorism in all international and bilateral forums. Quito signed the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism but has not yet ratified it. President Gutierrez, during a visit in February to the United States, expressed his intent to make Ecuador a solid ally in the war on terrorism. Nevertheless, resource constraints, a lack of training, and sometimes-corrupt governmental organizations impede progress in the battle against both international and regional terrorism. Ecuador's judicial system, which is susceptible to outside pressure and corruption, adjudicated no terrorist cases in 2003.

At the working level, the National Police (ENP) supported US counterterrorism initiatives throughout 2003 and into 2004. In January 2004, the most senior FARC official ever to be captured was detained by Ecuadorian National Police in Quito and deported to Colombia in a concrete example of Ecuador's will to defeat the narcoterrorist threat in the region. In March, the ENP arrested an Ecuadorian citizen who detonated two bombs at a Government office in Guayaquil. A string of weapons seizures in Ecuador demonstrated the arms trade in Ecuador supporting Colombian narcoterrorists. In August 2003, the police broke up an arms smuggling operation supplying Colombian narcoterrorists. In September, an Army captain was arrested and accused of providing operational information to the Colombian FARC. In addition, a DEA-trained counter-drug policeman apprehended an Italian citizen trying to board Continental Airlines in Quito with explosives and a firearm in November.

Although no terrorist-related incidents were launched from Ecuador, its porous borders, endemic corruption, and well-established illegal migrant networks make it an attractive entry point for would-be terrorists. Ecuador has been historically lax in securing the northern border from Colombian illegal armed groups. Only in recent years has the Government recognized the threat from Colombia and undertaken serious efforts to impose control along the border. Ecuador's security forces disrupted several Colombian narcoterrorist encampments in Ecuador from late 2002 through October 2003. Although the FARC still operates in the area, it realizes now that Ecuador is less hospitable than before.

The Government of Ecuador banking superintendency acts swiftly to include suspect individuals and groups into bank lookout databases upon receipt of terrorism finance information. In 2003, Ecuador ordered two pharmacies closed because of information from the United States that proved ties to Colombian drug-trafficking organizations. Unfortunately, due to ineffective enforcement, the companies were still operating at the end of the year.

Ecuador is party to 10 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Peru

Peru continued to take many actions against both international and domestic terrorism in 2003. President Toledo made combating terrorism one of the keynotes in his annual state-of-the-nation speech in July, pledging increased funding for security forces and social development projects in areas where the domestic Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso-SL) operates. The Foreign and Defense Ministers consistently condemned terrorism and implemented counterterrorism actions. On 15 August, the Government of Peru signed the Asuncion Declaration in which several South American nations committed themselves to support the Government of Colombia in its ongoing struggle against terrorism and drug trafficking. Peru ratified the Inter-American Convention against Terrorism in June 2003.

A director for the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), established in 2002, was named in April 2003. He expanded the staff and began receiving reports of suspicious activity from banks. The US Embassy worked closely with the FIU to provide a technical advisor and funding for the acquisition of hardware and software.

The Peruvian Congress created a national security system designed to improve intergovernmental cooperation and strengthen prosecutors. Meanwhile, the National Police (PNP) Directorate of Counterterrorism continued its strong cooperation with the Embassy in counterterrorism activities. The United States did not make any extradition requests to Peru for terrorists in 2003.

Peru has aggressively prosecuted terrorist suspects. In January, the Constitutional Tribunal overturned numerous provisions in Fujimori-era decree laws on terrorism, in conformance with decisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Military court convictions in approximately 2,000 cases were vacated and reviewed for retrial. President Toledo issued decree legislation revising Peru's antiterrorism legislation in line with the Constitutional Tribunal decision and established the procedures for reviewing and retrying terrorism cases. Some were dropped because sentences are nearing completion, and some 750 cases are sufficiently strong to be retried beginning in 2004.

In September, four Chilean defendants were retried and convicted of membership in the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement and participation in an attack on the Peru-North American Cultural Institute and a kidnapping-murder in 1993.

Eight members of SL remain in custody awaiting trial. They were arrested for complicity in the bombing in March 2002 across the street from the US Embassy that killed 10 people. Peru successfully sought the extradition from Spain of Adolfo Hector Olaechea, a suspected SL official, in 2003. He was released from custody but ordered to remain in Peru while the public prosecutor prepares the case for trial.

The most serious SL event in 2003 was the kidnapping of 68 workers and three police guards in June at a Camisea gas pipeline project in Toccate, Ayacucho Department. The SL abandoned the hostages two days after the kidnapping and a rapid military response; a ransom may or may not have been paid to the SL. The PNP also broke up many SL camps and captured many members and leaders in 2003. More than 200 indigenous people held in virtual slavery by the SL were released in the process. Terrorist incidents fell to 96 by late October, projecting an annual rate of 115 or a 15- percent drop from the 134 kidnappings and armed attacks in 2002. Six military and three self-defense personnel were killed in 2003, while six SL militants were killed and 209 captured.

Peru is a party to all 12 of the conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Triborder Area (Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay)

The Triborder area (TBA -- where Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay converge -- has long been characterized as a regional hub for Hizballah and HAMAS fundraising activities, but it is also used for arms and drug trafficking, contraband smuggling, document and currency fraud, money laundering, and the manufacture and movement of pirated goods. Although there continued to be reports in 2003 of an al-Qaida presence in the TBA, these reports remained uncorroborated by intelligence and law-enforcement officials.

In December, a high-level interagency delegation from the United States attended a special meeting in Asuncion, Paraguay, of the Tripartite Commission of the Triple Frontier, a security mechanism established by the three TBA countries in 1998. This "Three Plus One" meeting (the three TBA countries plus the United States) serves as a continuing forum for counterterrorism cooperation and prevention among all four countries. At the December talks, the four countries exchanged current views on terrorism prevention in the region and on measures to enhance cooperation, including proposals to establish a joint regional intelligence center, convene a conference of "Three Plus One" partner financial intelligence units in the first half of 2004, deepen border security cooperation, and increase dialogue among national prosecutors responsible for counterterrorism cases. The parties concluded that available information did not substantiate reports of operational activities by terrorists in the TBA. However, international terrorist financing and money laundering in the area remained an area of primary concern. A concerted effort will be made to develop legitimate economic activity in the TBA.

Argentina continued to express strong support for the global war on terrorism and worked closely with the United Nations, the OAS, the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR -- Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and associate members Bolivia and Chile), and the United States to ensure full implementation of existing agreements. The Argentine Government, executive branch officials, and the Central Bank were extremely cooperative and responded quickly and effectively to ensure the assets of terrorist groups identified by the United States or UN would be blocked if detected in Argentine financial institutions. Though no leads were found in 2003, the Government of Argentina continually expressed its willingness to freeze assets in compliance with international agreements.

Diplomatically, Argentina cooperated fully in 2003 with all significant international counterterrorism efforts in the UN, the OAS, and the "Three Plus One" Counterterrorism Dialogue to strengthen security and search for terrorist support networks, especially in the Triborder area. Argentina worked within existing regional and international forums to elicit strong condemnations of terrorism and support to organizations combating terror. Argentina maintains an active role in the OAS CICTE, established in response to an Argentine initiative in the 1990s. Multilateral Meetings -- including high-level US officials with counterterrorism responsibilities -- were held in Brasilia in May 2003 and Asuncion in December to focus on the Triborder.

On 15 August, the Government of Argentina signed the Asuncion Declaration in which several South American nations committed themselves to support the Government of Colombia in its ongoing struggle against terrorism and drug trafficking.

Although there were no acts of international terrorism in Argentina in 2003, investigations into the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in 1992, in which 29 persons were killed, and the bombing in 1994 of the Argentina-Israeli Community Center (AMIA), in which 86 persons were killed, continued. The trials of 20 suspects in the AMIA bombing -- of whom 15 are former police officers -- continued throughout 2003 and appeared to be nearing a close. The judge in the AMIA case indicted 12 Iranian officials, including diplomats stationed in Buenos Aires in 1994 and one Lebanese official believed to head Hizballah's terrorist wing. Although no countries requested terror-related extraditions from Argentina, Argentina requested the extradition of the former Iranian ambassador to Argentina from the United Kingdom, indicted in the AMIA case. The request was denied due to a lack of evidence presented by Argentina.

Proposed antiterrorism legislation has long provoked an active debate over the balance between civil rights and the need to address potential terrorism. As a result, there has been little progress toward the passage of new comprehensive antiterrorism legislation. Nevertheless, the Government strongly and consistently deplored terrorist acts when they occurred. In 2003, both ex-President Duhalde and his successor, Nestor Kirchner, publicly condemned terrorism and reiterated Argentina's support for the war on terrorism. Despite the lack of new legislation, Argentina continued to improve intragovernmental coordination on counterterrorism to enhance the framework within which better international cooperation can occur.

Argentina has signed all of the 12 conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a party to 10.

Brazil has extended practical, effective support to US counterterrorism actions. The Government of Brazil has been cooperative in checking records provided by US intelligence, law enforcement, and financial agencies regarding hundreds of terrorist suspects. For example, Brazilian authorities actively followed up on press reports in March 2003 that al-Qaida operative Khalid Sheikh Mohammed visited the Triborder area in 1995.

Although the Government of Brazil is politically committed to the fight against terrorism, lack of resources and training sometimes hamper its response. The United States continues to work with Brazil in several bilateral, multilateral, and international forums to identify groups and individuals suspected of possible ties to terrorist activity. Brazil hosted a working group meeting under the 3+1 Counterterrorism Dialogue in May, which focused on technical cooperation related to the fight against terrorism financing. Technical specialists from the United States are fully engaged with elements of the Brazilian Government responsible for combating terrorism, including the Federal Police. Brazil is willing and increasingly capable of monitoring domestic financial operations and has effectively utilized its Financial Activities Oversight Council (COAF). Bilateral assistance and training of the COAF began in 1998 and emphasized upgrades to its database in 2003.

Since taking office in January 2003, President Lula da Silva has vigorously condemned terrorism and called the attack on the UN building in Baghdad "the insanity of perpetrators of terrorism." In January, Brazil backed the CICTE with a financial contribution. In July 2003, Brazil approved legislation criminalizing the financing of terrorist activities. On 15 August, the Government of Brazil signed the Asuncion Declaration in which several South American nations committed themselves to support Colombia in its ongoing struggle against terrorism and drug trafficking.

In addition, the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies passed a bill on cyber crime -- to prevent terrorist hack attacks -- that awaits Senate consideration.

There are no significant impediments to the prosecution or extradition of suspected terrorists by Brazil. The Brazilian extradition law prohibits the extradition of Brazilian citizens but allows very measured and careful consideration for the extradition of naturalized citizens (for previous crimes and drug trafficking only) and foreigners (not for ideological or political crimes). In November 2003, Brazil extradited Assad Ahmad Barakat to Paraguay. Barakat was arrested in June 2002 by Brazilian authorities in Foz do Iguacu, Parana, in the TBA acting on a Paraguayan extradition request related to criminal charges. Barakat is a naturalized Paraguayan of Lebanese origin who lived in the TBA for approximately seven years and was known to have been involved in political and financial activities supporting Hizballah organizations.

In February 2003, Brazil declined a request from Colombia to designate the FARC as a terrorist organization. Brazil stated it did not maintain a formal list of terrorist groups but condemns specific terrorist actions taken by the FARC and other groups. Brazilian security forces continued to investigate possible links between domestic criminal groups -- especially drug traffickers and those with no discernible political agenda -- that sometimes employed terrorist tactics. In 2003, organized crime groups at times shut down Rio de Janeiro tourist and business areas and systematically attacked police stations in Sao Paulo to weaken Government resolve to combat them. At the end of 2003, Brazil had increased it readiness to confront domestic groups and reinforce against FARC incursions in northwestern Brazil. The Brazilian Army augmented its Special Forces Capabilities -- including counterterrorism -- and began compiling data on global terrorist threats to enhance its ability to respond.

Brazil signed all of the 12 UN conventions on terrorism and is a party to nine.

Paraguay has aided the global Coalition against terrorism by ratifying a number of international treaties and conventions and actively supporting counterterrorism at the UN and the OAS. On 15 August, Paraguay signed the Asuncion Declaration in which several South American nations committed themselves to support the Government of Colombia in its ongoing struggle against terrorism and drug trafficking.

On 30 October, Congress ratified the CICTE. Paraguay is also strengthening its domestic legal framework to deal more effectively with terrorism and ancillary support activities. Paraguay hosted the successful third meeting of the 3+1 Counterterrorism Dialogue in December 2003.

Paraguay has determined that there is a domestic problem with fundraising that might support terrorist causes. It looks to assistance from other governments -- including the United States -- to help it fight the problem. The primary impediment to the prosecution of suspected terrorists is the absence of an antiterrorist law. Without such a law, the Government is forced to prosecute suspected terrorist fundraisers for tax evasion or illegal financial activities. Paraguay is drafting new legislation to strengthen its anti-money laundering regime, as well as a specific antiterrorism bill. Both bills are fully backed by the Duarte Administration and expected to go before Congress in 2004.

Despite the lack of specific antiterrorist statutes, Paraguay actively prosecuted known terrorist fundraisers. Two prominent Hizballah fundraisers, Sobhi Fayad and Ali Nizar Dahroug, were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in November 2002 and August 2003, respectively. Paraguay's antiterrorist police continued to provide excellent support for the arrest and prosecution of terrorists. A major accomplishment in 2003 was the successful extradition request for Hizballah fundraiser Assad Ahmad Barakat from Brazil on charges of tax evasion. Additional charges of bank fraud are being considered but will require Brazil's acquiescence under the terms for extradition.

Paraguay is a party to six of the international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a signatory to an additional five.

Uruguay

The Government of Uruguay is supportive of international terrorist measures undertaken in a variety of international forums and cooperates fully with the United States. Uruguayan officials routinely condemned terrorism and specific terrorist acts. Although Uruguay is supportive of the global Coalition against terrorism, it lacks the resources to play a significant role. However, it does provide troops to international peacekeeping forces in Africa and the Middle East.

Uruguay is active in the OAS CICTE and has seconded personnel to its Executive Secretariat. Uruguay hosted the annual CICTE meeting in Montevideo in January 2004 and assumed the CICTE chairmanship through 2004. Uruguay is a member of a MERCOSUR permanent working group on terrorism along with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Bolivia. The group facilitates cooperation and information sharing among countries fighting terrorism and places special emphasis on the Triborder area and the Uruguay- Brazil border. Uruguay is, likewise, active in counterterrorism groups in the Rio Group and in the OAS.

On 15 August, the Government of Uruguay signed the Asuncion Declaration in which several South American nations committed themselves to support the Government of Colombia in its ongoing struggle against terrorism and drug trafficking.

In 2003, Uruguay ratified the International Conventions for Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. The Government of Uruguay faces some challenges in fully implementing UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1456, especially in curtailing terrorist financing activities. This might have more to do with the Government's uncertainty about its ability to effectively track money laundering and terrorist financing -- in spite of the creation of a unit for financial analysis in the central bank.

Uruguayan law enforcement authorities assisted with international investigations of the movement and activities of suspected terrorists in 2003, but Uruguay was not directly involved in terrorist events. At present, there are no known terrorist operatives in Uruguay, and Uruguayan banking and law enforcement officials have discovered no terrorist assets in Uruguayan financial institutions. Banking and law enforcement agencies cooperated with US counterterrorism efforts by pledging to search for bank accounts, individuals, and groups with links to terrorism. Uruguay is assisting in the investigation of potential terrorist support emanating from the Triborder area and along Uruguay's northern frontier with Brazil.

Uruguay has no significant impediments to the prosecution or extradition of suspected terrorists. The judicial system is independent of external influences, but, as elsewhere, the judges' personal political leanings can influence the outcome of some cases. In July 2003, Uruguay extradited Al Said Hassan Mokhles to Egypt. Egypt requested the extradition of the member of al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, possible associate of al-Qaida, in 2002. Egyptian authorities tied Mokhles to a terrorist attack in Luxor, Egypt, that killed 58 foreign tourists in 1997. He was arrested in Uruguay on charges of document fraud in 1999 after attempting to enter the country with a false passport. Uruguayan authorities released him to Egypt under the conditions that he not be subjected to the death penalty, permanent imprisonment, or charged for document fraud (for which he already served four years).

Uruguay has signed and ratified all 12 UN terrorism conventions and protocols.

Venezuela

Venezuelan cooperation in the international campaign against terrorism was inconsistent in 2003. Public recriminations against US counterterrorism policies by President Chavez and his close supporters continued to overshadow and detract from the limited cooperation that exists between specialists and technicians of the two nations.

President Chavez's stated ideological affinity with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN) limits Venezuelan cooperation with Colombia in combating terrorism. Venezuela is unwilling or unable to systematically police the Venezuela-Colombia 1,400-mile border. The FARC and the ELN often use the area for cross-border incursions and regard Venezuelan territory near the border as a safe haven. In addition, weapons and ammunition—some from official Venezuelan stocks and facilities—continued flowing from Venezuelan suppliers into the hands of Colombian terrorist organizations. It is unclear to what extent the Government of Venezuela approves of or condones material support to Colombian terrorists and at what level. Efforts by Venezuelan security forces to control their sides of the border and to interdict arms flows to these groups are ineffective.

Current Venezuelan law does not specifically mention crimes of terrorism, although the UN Convention on Terrorist Bombings of 1997 and the UN Convention on Terrorism Financing of 1999 became law in Venezuela on 8 July 2003. An organized crime bill pending in the National Assembly would define terrorist activities, establish punishments, and facilitate the prosecution and asset forfeiture of terrorism financiers. Venezuela signed the OAS Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism in June 2002 and ratified it in January 2004.

Terrorist tactics were employed throughout 2003 by unidentified domestic groups attempting to influence the tenuous political situation, particularly in Caracas. A series of small bombs and threats throughout the year were variously blamed on supporters of President Chavez or the Government's political opponents.

Venezuela extradited one member of the terrorist organization Basque Fatherland and Liberty to Spain and arrested another. Unconfirmed press accounts continued to allege the presence of radical Islamic operatives in Venezuela -- especially on Margarita Island. In February 2003, a Venezuelan national managed to fly from Venezuela to London with a hand grenade in his checked luggage, but his intent remains unclear.

Venezuela is a party to six of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Canada

The Government of Canada remained steadfast in its condemnation of international and domestic terrorism and has been a helpful and strong supporter of the United States in the fight against international terror. Though there have been differences, overall antiterrorism cooperation with Canada remains excellent and serves as a model for bilateral cooperation. Day-to-day cooperation between US and Canadian law-enforcement agencies is close and continuous. Canadian Armed Forces participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, and Canada currently has some 1,900 soldiers in Afghanistan where they will lead the International Security Assistance Force in 2004. Canada has pledged $230 million to reconstruction efforts; participated in a Justice Department–led international assessment of Iraq's police, prisons, and court sectors; and is currently involved in training the Iraqi police force.

Canada's 2001 Anti-Terrorism Act created measures to identify, deter, disable, prosecute, convict, and punish terrorist groups. It also provides investigative tools for Canadian law enforcement agencies while providing substantial safeguards to privacy and due process. As of November 2003, there were 34 organizations listed under the statute as entities engaging in terrorist activities. Although they are subject to prosecution under the Criminal Code of Canada, the law is untested since no prosecutions have taken place. Canada cooperates closely with the United States on investigations, and there is a heavy volume of extradition requests between the two countries. Canadian privacy laws, limited resources, and criminal procedures more favorable to the defendant than in the United States sometimes inhibit a more full and timely exchange of information and exclude some potential supporters of terrorism.

Canada was the first country to ratify the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism in December 2002. Canada implements terrorist finance listings in compliance with UN requirements and coordinates closely with the United States on plans to freeze assets. Efforts to counter terrorist financing include implementing UNSCR 1373, promoting the Special Recommendations on Terrorist Financing of the Financial Action Task Force, and actively participating in the G-7, G-8, and G-20.

Canada and the United States take part in a number of joint counterterrorism forums. In October 2003, they participated in a new round of talks under the auspices of the Bilateral Consultative Group on Counterterrorism Cooperation (BCG, established in 1988). The BCG is tasked to review international terrorist trends and to plan ways to intensify joint counterterrorism efforts. Canada will host the next BCG meetings in 2004. In May 2003, Canada and the United States participated in the second Top Officials simulation to test local, state/province, and federal disaster responses to a terrorist attack against civilian populations. The US Attorney General and Canadian Solicitor General coordinated policy at the US-Canada Cross-Border Crime Forum. The forum met in West Virginia in 2003 and established a counterterrorism subgroup to enhance cooperation in law enforcement and prosecutions. Future efforts include continued implementation of provisions of the Smart Border Accord and the further integration of border enforcement teams that are operating in 12 regions.

Canada has signed and ratified all 12 UN conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, under which Canada has listed and frozen the assets of more than 420 entities.

Mexico

The Government of Mexico remained a strong international and bilateral partner in counterterrorism efforts throughout 2003. Mexico accepted a new methodology of evaluating and regulating money laundering and terrorism financing adopted by the IMF, the World Bank, and the FATF.

Among the many bilateral initiatives undertaken, Mexico cooperated fully with the United States in continuing to implement the US-Mexico Smart Border Accord -- a 22-point border action plan signed in 2002 that aims to improve border infrastructure, expedite the secure flow of people, and facilitate the secure flow of goods across the US-Mexico border. Exchanges such as the Senior Law Enforcement Plenary, the Binational Commission, and the Mexico-US Committee on Transborder Critical Infrastructure Protection helped improve cooperation, trust, and confidence. Routine training, education, and technical assistance at various levels took place throughout 2003.

Mexico's Federal Investigative Agency arrested six Spanish citizens and three Mexicans at locations throughout Mexico on 18 July and alleged they had ties to the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA). In public statements, Mexican officials said the suspects were laundering money to fund ETA terrorism and forging documents to support ETA members.

A continuing issue of strategic concern to US-Mexico counterterrorism efforts is the existence and continued exploitation of longstanding smuggling channels traversing the US-Mexico border. These routes have existed for many years to facilitate movement across the border while avoiding US and Mexican authorities. Despite active and prolonged cooperation by the Mexican Government to address these smuggling routes, many smugglers have avoided prosecution.

Mexico has ratified all 12 international conventions and protocols against terrorism.

OVERVIEW OF STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM

Although several of the seven designated state sponsors of Terrorism -- most notably Libya and Sudan -- took significant steps to cooperate in the global war on terrorism -- and the liberation of Iraq removed a regime that had long supported terrorist groups. Nevertheless, the other state sponsors -- Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria -- did not take all the necessary actions to disassociate themselves fully from their ties to terrorism in 2003. Although some in this latter group have improved their performances in some areas, most have also continued the very actions that led them to be declared state sponsors.

The ousting of Saddam Hussein's regime by Coalition forces removed a longstanding sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East region. The President, therefore, suspended on 7 May 2003, all sanctions against Iraq applicable to state sponsors of terrorism, which had the practical effect of putting Iraq on a par with nonterrorist states. However, Iraq became a central front in the global war on terrorism as Coalition and Iraqi authorities faced numerous attacks by a disparate mix of former regime elements, criminals, and some foreign fighters -- including Islamic extremists linked to Ansar al-Islam, al-Qaida, and Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi. Increasingly, the line between insurgency and terrorism has been blurred by anti-Coalition attacks that have included suicide car bombings at police stations, an Italian military police base, and the headquarters of the International Red Cross. Members of the foreign terrorist group Mujahedine- Khalq (MEK) maintained an active presence in Iraq but were in US custody by the end of the year. The Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK, now renamed the Kurdistan People's Congress) continued to attack Turkish targets despite claiming a commitment to nonviolence.

In 2003, the Libyan Government reiterated assurances to the UN Security Council that it had renounced terrorism, undertook to share intelligence on terrorist organizations with Western intelligence services, and took steps to resolve matters related to its past support of terrorism. In September 2003, Libya addressed the requirements of the United Nations relating to the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, accepting responsibility for the actions of its officials and agreeing to a compensation package for the victims' families. As a result, UN sanctions, Sponsor: Implications suspended since 1999, were lifted. Libya also appeared to be trying to resolve a number of the other claims outstanding for Tripoli-sponsored attacks in the 1980s. On 19 December 2003, Colonel Qadhafi made a historic decision to eliminate Libya's weapons of mass destruction programs and missiles covered by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR); and he took significant steps to implement this public commitment with the assistance of the United States, United Kingdom, and relevant international organizations.

Sudan's cooperation and information sharing improved markedly, although areas of concern remained. Khartoum sought to deter terrorists from operating from Sudan and took steps to strengthen its legal instruments for fighting terrorism.

The performances of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria showed little change from previous years. Cuba remained opposed to the US-led Coalition prosecuting the global war on terrorism and continued to provide support to designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations and to host several terrorists and dozens of fugitives from US state and federal justice. Cuba allowed Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) members to reside in the country and provided support and safe haven to members of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN). Iran remained the most active state sponsor of terrorism in 2003: Islamic Revolutionary Guard and Ministry of Intelligence and Security personnel were involved in planning and support for terrorist acts. Although Iran detained al-Qaida operatives in 2003, it refused to identify senior members in custody. Tehran continued to encourage anti-Israel activities, both operationally and rhetorically, providing logistic support and training to Lebanese Hizballah and a variety of Palestinian rejectionist groups. North Korea announced it planned to sign several antiterrorism conventions but did not take any substantive steps to cooperate in efforts to combat terrorism. Syria continued to provide support to Palestinian rejectionist groups and allowed them to operate out of Syria, albeit with a lower profile after May 2003. Syria also served as a transshipment point for Iranian supply of Hizballah in Lebanon, and although Syrian officials have publicly condemned terrorism, they continue to distinguish between terrorism and what they view as legitimate resistance against Israel. Nonetheless, Syria has cooperated with the United States against al-Qaida and other extremist Islamic terrorist groups and has made efforts to limit the movement of anti-Coalition fighters into Iraq.

State sponsors of terrorism impede the efforts of the United States and the international community to fight terrorism. These countries provide a critical foundation for terrorist groups. Without state sponsors, terrorist groups would have a much more difficult time obtaining the funds, weapons, materials, and secure areas they require to plan and conduct operations. The United States will continue to insist that these countries end the support they give to terrorist groups.

Cuba

Cuba remained opposed to the US-led Coalition prosecuting the global war on terrorism and actively condemned many associated US policies and actions throughout 2003. Government-controlled press reporting about US-led military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan were consistently critical of the United States and frequently and baselessly alleged US involvement in violations of human rights. Government propaganda claimed that those fighting for self-determination or against foreign occupation are exercising internationally recognized rights and cannot be accused of terrorism. Cuba's delegate to the UN said terrorism cannot be defined as including acts by legitimate national liberation movements -- even though many such groups clearly employ tactics that intentionally target innocent civilians to advance their political, religious, or social agendas. In referring to US policy toward Cuba, the delegate asserted, "acts by states to destabilize other states is a form of terrorism."

The Cuban Government did not extradite nor request the extradition of suspected terrorists in 2003. Cuba continued to provide support to designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations, as well as to host several terrorists and dozens of fugitives from US justice. The Government refuses to return suspected terrorists to countries when it alleges that a receiving government could not provide a fair trial because the charges against the accused are "political." Cuba has publicly used this argument with respect to a number of fugitives from US justice, including Joanne Chesimard, wanted for the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper in 1973. Havana permitted up to 20 ETA members to reside in Cuba and provided some degree of safe haven and support to members of FARC and the ELN. Bogota was aware of the arrangement and apparently acquiesced; it has publicly indicated that it seeks Cuba's continued mediation with ELN agents in Cuba. A declaration issued by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May 2003 maintained that the presence of ETA members in Cuba arose from a request for assistance by Spain and Panama and that the issue is a bilateral matter between Cuba and Spain. The declaration similarly defended its assistance to the FARC and the ELN as contributing to a negotiated solution in Colombia.

Dozens of fugitives from US justice have taken refuge on the island. In a few cases, the Cuban Government has rendered fugitives from US justice to US authorities. The salient feature of Cuba's behavior in this arena, however, is its refusal to render to US justice any fugitive whose crime is judged by Cuba to be "political."

With respect to domestic terrorism, the Government in April 2003 executed three Cubans who attempted to hijack a ferry to the United States. The three were executed under Cuba's 2001 "Law Against Acts of Terrorism."

Cuba became a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism in 2001.

Iran

Iran remained the most active state sponsor of terrorism in 2003. Its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of Intelligence and Security were involved in the planning of and support for terrorist acts and continued to exhort a variety of groups that use terrorism to pursue their goals.

Iran's record against al-Qaida remains mixed. After the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, some al-Qaida members fled to Iran where they have found virtual safe haven. Iranian officials have acknowledged that Tehran detained al-Qaida operatives during 2003, including senior members. Iran's publicized presentation of a list to the United Nations of deportees, however, was accompanied by a refusal to publicly identify senior members in Iranian custody on the grounds of "security." Iran has resisted calls to transfer custody of its al-Qaida detainees to their countries of origin or third countries for further interrogation and trial.

During 2003, Iran maintained a high-profile role in encouraging anti-Israeli activity, both rhetorically and operationally. Supreme Leader Khamenei praised Palestinian resistance operations, and President Khatami reiterated Iran's support for the "wronged people of Palestine" and their struggles. Matching this rhetoric with action, Iran provided Lebanese Hizballah and Palestinian rejectionist groups -- notably HAMAS, the Palestine Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command -- with funding, safe haven, training, and weapons. Iran hosted a conference in August 2003 on the Palestinian intifadah, at which an Iranian official suggested that the continued success of the Palestinian resistance depended on suicide operations.

Iran pursued a variety of policies in Iraq aimed at securing Tehran's perceived interests there, some of which ran counter to those of the Coalition. Iran has indicated support for the Iraqi Governing Council and promised to help Iraqi reconstruction.

Shortly after the fall of Saddam Hussein, individuals with ties to the Revolutionary Guard may have attempted to infiltrate southern Iraq, and elements of the Iranian Government have helped members of Ansar al-Islam transit and find safe haven in Iran. In a Friday Prayers sermon in Tehran in May, Guardian Council member Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati publicly encouraged Iraqis to follow the Palestinian model and participate in suicide operations against Coalition forces.

Iran is a party to five of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Iraq

(Note: Most of the attacks that have occurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom do not meet the longstanding US definition of international terrorism because they were directed at combatants, that is, American and Coalition forces on duty.

Attacks against civilians and against military personnel who at the time of the incident were unarmed and/or not on duty are judged as terrorist attacks.)

On 7 May 2003, President Bush suspended, with respect to Iraq, all sanctions applicable to state sponsors of terrorism, which had the practical effect of putting Iraq on a par with nonterrorist states. Although Iraq is still technically a designated state sponsor of terrorism, its name can be removed from the state sponsors list when the Secretary of State determines that it has fulfilled applicable statutory requirements, which include having a government in place that pledges not to support acts of terrorism in the future.

In 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom removed Saddam Hussein and his Ba'athist regime from power and liberated Iraq. Since then, however, Iraq has become a central battleground in the global war on terrorism. Former regime elements, who have been conducting insurgent attacks against Coalition forces, have increasingly allied themselves tactically and operationally with foreign fighters and Islamic extremists, including some linked to Ansar al-Islam, al-Qaida, and Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi. The line between insurgency and terrorism has become increasingly blurred as attacks on civilian targets have become more common. By end of the year, Coalition forces had detained more than 300 suspected foreign fighters.

Extremists associated with al-Qaida claimed credit for several suicide car bombings, including attacks in October against the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross and three Baghdad police stations and an attack in November against an Italian military police base in Nasiriyah. Al-Qaida associate Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi -- accused of working with Ansar al-Islam -- emerged as a key suspect in the deadly bombing of Jordan's Baghdad embassy in August.

After Coalition strikes destroyed Ansar al-Islam's base in northern Iraq in late March, Ansar al-Islam members fled across the border and regrouped in Iran. Counterterrorist operations suggest many of those fighters have since reentered Iraq and are active in anti-Coalition activities. In September, suspected members of Ansar al-Islam were arrested in Kirkuk carrying 1,200 kilograms of TNT.

In November, Coalition forces killed two unidentified, high-ranking members of Ansar al-Islam during a raid on a terrorist hideout in Baghdad.

Other terrorist groups maintained a presence in Iraq. Members of the foreign terrorist organization Mujahedine-Khalq -- which had received military support from the regime of Saddam Hussein -- were stripped of their weapons and placed under US military detention. The terrorist group KADEK -- renamed the Kurdistan People's Congress (KHK) in the fall -- continued to proclaim its commitment to nonviolence, while launching several attacks against Turkish targets inside Turkey. The presence of several thousand KHK members in northern Iraq underscores the group's ability to carry out terrorist operations. The KHK periodically threatens to heighten its attacks against Turkey.

Iraq has signed eight of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a party to five.

Libya

In 2003, Libya held to its practice in recent years of curtailing support for international terrorism, although Tripoli continues to maintain contact with some past terrorist clients. Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi and other Libyan officials continued their efforts to identify Tripoli with the international community in the war on terrorism. During an interview in January, Qadhafi stated that Libyan intelligence had been sharing information on al-Qaida and other Islamic extremists with Western intelligence services and characterized such cooperation as "irrevocable." In a speech marking the 34th anniversary of his revolution, he declared that Libya and the United States had a common interest in fighting al-Qaida and Islamic extremism.

Regarding its own terrorist past, Libya took long-awaited steps in 2003 to address the UN requirements arising out of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 but remained embroiled in efforts to settle international political and legal disputes stemming from other terrorist attacks Tripoli conducted during the 1980s.

In August, as required by the UN Security Council, the Libyan Government officially notified the UN Security Council that it accepted responsibility for the actions of its officials in connection with Pan Am Flight 103 (Abdel Basset Ali al-Meghrahi, a Libyan intelligence agent, was convicted by a Scottish court in 2001 for his role in the bombing). Libya further confirmed that it had made arrangements for the payment of appropriate compensation to the families of the victims: a total of up to $2.7 billion or $10 million for each victim. Further, Libya renounced terrorism and affirmed its adherence to a number of UN declarations and international conventions and protocols that the Libyan Government had signed in the past. Libya also pledged to cooperate in good faith with any further requests for information in connection with the Pan Am Flight 103 investigation. In response, the Security Council voted on 12 September to permanently lift sanctions that it had imposed against Libya in 1992 and suspended in 1999.

In August, the Qadhafi Foundation pledged to compensate victims wounded in the bombing in 1986 of La Belle Discotheque, a Berlin nightclub, after a German court issued its written opinion finding that the Libyan intelligence service had orchestrated the attack. The original trial had concluded in 2001 with the conviction of four individuals for carrying out the attack, in which two US servicemen and a Turkish woman were killed and 229 persons wounded. Leaders of the Qadhafi Foundation indicated, however, that their compensation was a humanitarian gesture that did not constitute Libyan acceptance of responsibility. In September, the German Government indicated that it was engaged in talks with Libyan representatives, but at the end of the year, no announcement had yet been made regarding a final compensation deal.

On 19 December, Colonel Qadhafi announced that Libya would eliminate its weapons of mass destruction programs and MTCR-class missiles and took immediate steps to implement this public commitment with the assistance of the United States, United Kingdom, and relevant international organizations. The Libyan decision to reveal its programs to the international community shed important light on the international network of proliferators intent on subverting nonproliferation regimes.

Libya is a party to all 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

North Korea

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is not known to have sponsored any terrorist acts since the bombing of a Korean Airlines flight in 1987.

Following the attacks of September 11, Pyongyang began laying the groundwork for a new position on terrorism by framing the issue as one of "protecting the people" and replaying language from the Joint US-DPRK Statement on International Terrorism of October 2000. It also announced to a visiting EU delegation that it planned to sign the international conventions against terrorist financing and the taking of hostages and would consider acceding to other antiterrorism agreements.

At a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi in Pyongyang in September 2002, National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il acknowledged the involvement of DPRK "special institutions" in the kidnapping of Japanese citizens and said that those responsible had already been punished. Pyongyang has allowed the return to Tokyo of five surviving abductees and is negotiating with Tokyo over the repatriation of their family members remaining in North Korea. The DPRK also has been trying to resolve the issue of harboring Japanese Red Army members involved in a jet hijacking in 1970 -- allowing the repatriation of several family members of the hijackers to Japan.

Although it is a party to six international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, Pyongyang has not taken substantial steps to cooperate in efforts to combat international terrorism.

Sudan

Sudan in 2003 deepened its cooperation with the US Government to investigate and apprehend extremists suspected of involvement in terrorist activities. Overall, Sudan's cooperation and information sharing has improved markedly, producing significant progress in combating terrorist activity, but areas of concern remain.

Domestically, Khartoum stepped up efforts to disrupt extremist activities and deter terrorists from operating in Sudan. In May, Sudanese authorities raided a probable terrorist training camp in Kurdufan State, arresting more than a dozen extremists and seizing illegal weapons. The majority of the trainees captured were Saudi citizens and were extradited to Saudi Arabia to face charges in accordance with a bilateral agreement. In June, the Sudanese Government detained several individuals linked to the publication of an alleged "hit list" attributed to the terrorist group al-Takfir wa al-Hijra. The list called for the killing of 11 prominent Sudanese Christian and leftist politicians, jurists, journalists, and others. In September, a Sudanese court convicted a Syrian engineer and two Sudanese nationals of training a group of Saudis, Palestinians, and others to carry out attacks in Iraq, Eritrea, Sudan, and Israel. A court statement said the Syrian was training others to carry out attacks against US forces in Iraq.

There were no international terrorist attacks in Sudan during 2003. Khartoum throughout the year placed a high priority on the protection of US citizens and facilities in Sudan. In November, the authorities stepped up their efforts to protect the US Embassy, which temporarily suspended operations in response to a terrorist threat that was deemed credible. Earlier in the year, Sudanese authorities closed a major Khartoum thoroughfare to enhance the Embassy's security and further upgraded security measures during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Sudanese Government also took steps in 2003 to strengthen its legislative and bureaucratic instruments for fighting terrorism by ratifying the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. Sudan also ratified the African Union's Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism and the Convention of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on Combating Terrorism. In June, Sudanese Minister of Justice Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin issued a decree establishing an office for combating terrorism. In 2003, Sudan signed a counterterrorism cooperation agreement with the Algerian Government, which during the 1990s accused Sudan of harboring wanted Algerian terrorists. Sudan also signed a counterterrorism agreement with Yemen and Ethiopia.

In response to ongoing US concern over the presence in Sudan of the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) and the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail in June said the Sudanese Government would limit HAMAS to conducting political activities. Visiting Sudanese peace talks in Kenya in October, Secretary Powell said Sudan had yet to shut down the Khartoum offices of HAMAS and the PIJ.

President Umar al-Bashir in an interview with Al-Arabiyah television maintained that the Sudanese Government could not expel HAMAS because it has a political relationship with the group and stated there was no PIJ office in Sudan. Responding to press reports that its Sudan office had closed, HAMAS officials in Khartoum and Gaza in November said that the office remained open but that the main representative had been replaced.

Sudan also has participated in regional efforts to end its long-running civil war -- a US policy priority that complements the US goal of denying terrorists safe haven in Sudan.

Sudan is a party to all 12 of the international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

Syria

The Syrian Government in 2003 continued to provide political and material support to Palestinian rejectionist groups. HAMAS, the PIJ, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine operate from Syria, although they have lowered their public profiles since May, when Damascus announced that the groups had voluntarily closed their offices. Many of these groups claimed responsibility for anti-Israeli terrorist acts in 2003; the Syrian Government insists that their Damascus offices undertake only political and informational activities. Syria also continued to permit Iran to use Damascus as a transshipment point for resupplying Hizballah in Lebanon.

Syrian officials have publicly condemned international terrorism but continue to make a distinction between terrorism and what they consider to be the legitimate armed resistance of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories and of Lebanese Hizballah. The Syrian Government has not been implicated directly in an act of terrorism since 1986.

During the past five years, there have been no acts of terrorism against US citizens in Syria. Despite tensions between the United States and Syria about the war in Iraq and Syrian support for terrorism, Damascus has repeatedly assured the United States that it will take every possible measure to protect US citizens and facilities. Damascus has cooperated with the United States and other foreign governments against al-Qaida, the Taliban, and other terrorist organizations and individuals; it also has discouraged signs of public support for al-Qaida, including in the media and at mosques.

In 2003, Syria was instrumental in returning a sought-after terrorist planner to US custody. Since the end of the war in Iraq, Syria has made efforts to tighten its borders with Iraq to limit the movement of anti-Coalition foreign fighters into Iraq, a move that has not been completely successful.

Syria is a party to seven of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.

CHRONOLOGY OF SIGNIFICANT

TERRORIST INCIDENTS, 2003

Note: The incidents listed have met the US Government's Incident Review Panel criteria. An International Terrorist Incident is judged significant if it results in loss of life or serious injury to persons, major property damage, and/or is an act or attempted act that could reasonably be expected to create the conditions noted.

January

5 India

In Kulgam, Kashmir, a hand grenade exploded at a bus station injuring 40 persons: 36 private citizens and four security personnel, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility

5 Pakistan

In Peshawar, armed terrorists fired on the residence of an Afghan diplomat, injuring a guard, according to press reports. The diplomat was not in his residence at the time of the incident. No one claimed responsibility.

5 Israel

In Tel Aviv, two suicide bombers attacked simultaneously, killing 23 persons including: 15 Israelis, two Romanians, one Ghanaian, one Bulgarian, three Chinese, and one Ukrainian and wounding 107 others—nationalities not specified—according to press reports. The attack took place in the vicinity of the old central bus station where foreign national workers live. The detonations took place within seconds of each other and were approximately 600 feet apart, in a pedestrian mall and in front of a bus stop. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade was responsible.

12 Pakistan

In Hyderabad, authorities safely defused a bomb placed in a toilet of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant, according to press reports. Two bomb explosions in Hyderabad in recent months have killed a total of four persons and injured 33 others, all Pakistanis. No one has claimed responsibility.

21 Kuwait

In Kuwait City, a gunman ambushed a vehicle at the intersection of al-Judayliyat and Adu Dhabi, killing one US citizen and wounding another US citizen. The victims were civilian contractors working for the US military. The incident took place close to Camp Doha, an installation housing approximately 17,000 US troops. On 23-24 January, a 20-year-old Kuwaiti civil servant, Samial-Mutayri, was apprehended attempting to cross the border from Kuwait to Saudi Arabia. Al-Mutayri confessed to the attack and stated that he embraces al-Qaida ideology and implements Usama Bin Ladin's instructions although there is no evidence of an organizational link. The assailant acted alone but had assistance in planning the ambush. No group has claimed responsibility.

22 Colombia

In Arauquita, military officials reported either the National Liberation Army (ELN) or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorists bombed a section of the Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline, causing an unknown amount of damage. The pipeline is owned by US and Colombian oil companies.

24 Colombia

In Tame, rebels kidnapped two journalists working for the Los Angeles Times, one was a British reporter and the other a US photographer. The ELN is responsible. The two journalists were released unharmed on 1 February 2003.

27 Afghanistan

In Nangarhar, two security officers escorting several United Nations vehicles were killed when armed terrorists attacked their convoy, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

31 India

In Srinagar, Kashmir, armed terrorists killed a local journalist when they entered his office, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility

February

1 Turkey

In Istanbul, press reports stated that a time bomb had been discovered in a McDonald's restaurant. The cleaning man spotted the explosive device by identifying the timer and cables attached to the box located under a table. The authorities were notified immediately, and police experts defused it. No casualties were reported, and no one claimed responsibility.

5 Saudi Arabia

In Riyadh, television reports stated that three gunmen fired on a UK citizen as he was traveling from work to home. Five bullets were fired at the vehicle, but the employee of British Airways was not injured except for possible superficial wounds from broken glass. No one claimed responsibility.

6 Colombia

In Arauquita, military officials reported either ELN or FARC terrorists bombed a section of the Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline, causing an unknown amount of oil to spill. The pipeline is owned by US and Colombian oil companies

13 Colombia

In Bogota, a Southern Command–owned airplane carrying five crew and five passengers—four US citizens and one Colombian—crashed in the jungle. All five passengers survived the crash—two of the crewmembers were injured. Terrorists later killed a Colombian army officer and a US citizen, while three other US citizens are missing, according to press reports. FARC claims they are holding the three missing persons. On 31 March, press reports stated that the three missing US citizens were still captives of FARC. There are upward of 4,500 individuals involved in nonstop, US-financed search efforts. On 22 April, press reports identified the three missing US citizens: Keith Stansell, Marc D. Gonsalves, and Thomas R. Howes—civilians doing drug surveillance for the Department of Defense.

13 United Kingdom

In London, press reports stated that a person arriving on a British Airways flight was arrested for concealing a live hand grenade in his luggage. The man, a Venezuelan of Bangladeshi origin, was arrested under the Terrorism Act by officers from Sussex Police and later charged by authorities. The flight BA 2048 from Bogota, Colombia, with a stop in Caracas, Venezuela, landed at Gatwick Airport. The discovery caused the closure of the North Terminal for approximately two hours. No one claimed responsibility.

15 Colombia

In Saravena, military officials reported either ELN or FARC terrorists bombed a section of the Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline, causing an unknown amount of damage. The pipeline is owned by US and Colombian oil companies.

20 India

In Varmul, Kashmir, a landmine planted near a busy marketplace exploded, killing six persons and injuring three others, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility

20 Algeria

In the Sahara Desert, four Swiss citizens went missing while touring in a small group without a guide, according to Swiss Embassy and press reports. The tourists were later confirmed kidnapped by terrorist members of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). From mid-February to mid-May, the GSPC kidnapped a total of 32 European tourists—17 of whom were freed by Algerian forces in a rescue operation on 13 May. The Swiss tourists are still being held hostage.

20 Saudi Arabia

In Riyadh, a gunman ambushed a car at a stoplight, killing one person—a UK citizen employed by British Aerospace Engineering, according to press reports. The gunman—a Yemen-born naturalized Saudi who had recently traveled to Pakistan and named his youngest son Osama—was arrested by Saudi police. No group claimed responsibility.

22 Algeria

In the Sahara Desert, four German citizens went missing while touring in a small group without a guide, according to German Embassy and press reporting. The tourists were later confirmed kidnapped by the GSPC. On 18 August in Gao, Mali, the last of the 14 hostages were released unharmed after German authorities paid $5 million ransom for their release to the GSPC leader.

22 Turkey

In Istanbul, press reports stated that two unidentified persons threw a bomb into a British Airways office shattering windows. No casualties were reported, and no one claimed responsibility.

25 Saudi Arabia

In al-Dammam, an incendiary bomb was thrown at a McDonald's restaurant, according to press reports. Two persons in a car approached the business; the passenger got out and hurled the bomb, which failed to explode. The passenger attempted—without success—to re-ignite the canister before he fled. The police arrested a person whose clothes contained the same substance as in the bomb and who was later identified by witnesses. No group claimed responsibility.

25 Venezuela

In Caracas, two bombs exploded within minutes of each other, injuring four persons—one Colombian and three Venezuelans—and damaging the Spanish and Colombian Embassies and other buildings nearby. No one claimed responsibility.

March

2 Venezuela

In Maracaibo, a car bomb exploded damaging surrounding buildings, including a local office of the US oil company Chevron Texaco, according to press reports. The car bomb was composed of C-4 semtex, similar to that used in the detonations at the Spanish and Colombian Embassies the previous week. The explosion occurred outside the home of controversial cattle livestock producer, Antonio Melian. Mr. Melian is a leading activist in Zulia State, and he has been the center of opposition-government debate in the wake of the two-month nationwide labor-management stoppage that failed to bring down the Chavez Frias government. No one claimed responsibility.

4 Philippines

In Davao, a bomb hidden in a backpack exploded in a crowded airline terminal killing 21 persons—including one US citizen—and injuring 146 others (including three US citizens), according to press reports. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) claimed responsibility.

5 Israel

In Haifa, a suicide bomber boarded a bus on Moriya Boulevard in the Karmel neighborhood and detonated an explosive device, killing 15 persons—including one US citizen—and wounding 40 others, according to press and US Embassy reports. The Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) claimed responsibility.

7 Israel

Two US citizens were killed when a Palestinian gunman opened fire on them as they were eating dinner in the settlement of Kiryat Arba.

9 India

In Doda District, Kashmir, armed terrorists kidnapped and killed a private citizen, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

In Sogam, Kashmir, a bomb injured a student, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

11 India

In Rajouri, Kashmir, a bomb exploded in a candy store, killing two persons and injuring four others, according to press reports. No group has claimed responsibility.

13 India

In Rajouri, Kashmir, a bomb exploded on a bus parked at a terminal, killing four persons, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

16 India

In Indh, Kashmir, armed terrorists attacked a police installation, killing nine police officers and two civilians and wounding eight police officers and one civilian, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

20 Greece

In Kholargos, terrorists placed four gas canisters at the entrance to the Citibank and then set them on fire, causing minor damage. No one claimed responsibility.

21 Norway

In Oslo, antiwar protesters threw a Molotov cocktail into a McDonald's restaurant before opening time, causing limited damage. No one was hurt in the attack.

22 Greece

In Koropi, a makeshift incendiary device exploded in an ATM outside a Citibank branch. The explosion and subsequent fire caused severe damage to the ATM. No one claimed responsibility.

22 Iraq

In Sayed Sadiq, an Australian journalist/cameraman died instantly when a taxi raced up beside him and exploded. The journalist's colleague, also an Australian on assignment for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, suffered shrapnel wounds. At least eight other persons were injured in the bombing. Ansar al-Islam is believed to be responsible.

23 Ecuador

In Guayaquil, a bomb exploded at the British Consulate. Although it did not cause serious damage or personal injury, the explosion left a hole in the ground, destroyed two windows and a bathroom, and damaged the building's electrical control board. The People's Revolutionary Militias group (MRP) sent an e-mail claiming responsibility for the attack.

24 India

In Nadi Marg, Kashmir, armed terrorists dressed in military uniforms entered a village and killed 24 persons, according to press reports. No group claimed responsibility.

25 Italy

During 25-26 March in Vicenza, terrorists firebombed three cars belonging to US service members. The Anti-Imperialist Territorial Nuclei (NTA), an extremist group believed to be close to the new Red Brigades, claimed responsibility for the attacks.

25 Lebanon

In Beirut, an explosive device weighing approximately 400 grams exploded on the US Embassy wall. No casualties were reported, but the building sustained light damage. No one claimed responsibility.

26 India

In Narwal, Kashmir, a bomb placed inside the engine of an empty oil tanker parked outside a fuel storage area exploded and caught fire, killing one person and injuring six others, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

27 Chile

In Santiago, antiwar protesters exploded a small bomb at a branch of the Usbased Bank of Boston. The bomb smashed windows, destroyed an ATM, and caused minor damage to two adjacent stores. Police found a pamphlet at the site that said "death to the empire," which they took as a reference to the United States. No one claimed responsibility.

28 Afghanistan

In Tirin Kot, armed terrorists killed an El Salvadorian Red Cross worker while he was traveling with Afghan colleagues to check on water supplies, according to press reports. Although no one has claimed responsibility, the attack involved a group of 60-armed men, and the leader was instructed via telephone to kill only the Westerner in the captured group.

28 Italy

In Rome, unknown radicals firebombed a Ford-Jaguar dealership—the two brands taken as symbols of the US-UK Coalition that is fighting in Iraq. Approximately a dozen Fords were burned and another 10 damaged. A five-pointed star—a symbol of the Red Brigades, a group not known to plan firebomb attacks—was found at the site. No one has claimed responsibility.

29 Greece

In Athens, an unknown assailant threw a hand grenade at a McDonald's restaurant, causing significant material damage. Police stated that it was a British "mills" hand grenade. No one has claimed responsibility.

30 Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Sarajevo, Islamic terrorists placed a hand grenade with an anti-US message near a local Coca-Cola company. No one claimed responsibility.

30 India

In Punch, Kashmir, a bomb exploded in a field where a cricket match was being played, killing one person and injuring two others, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

31 Cuba

In Havana, a man armed with two hand grenades hijacked a domestic airliner with 46 passengers and crew onboard in an attempt to reach the United States. After an emergency landing at Havana airport due to insufficient fuel, the plane remained on the runway all night. On 1 April, more than 20 passengers left the aircraft apparently unharmed. With at least 25 passengers on board, the hijacked plane departed Havana airport and safely landed in Key West, Florida.

31 Italy

In Bologna, IBM employees found an explosive device in a large bag and notified the police. The bomb squad found a "dangerous, though rudimentary" bomb. Antiterrorism investigators established a link between the modus operandi of this incident and an earlier bombing incident that took place in July 2001 in Bologna. An investigation is currently under way. No one has claimed responsibility.

31 Cyprus

In Nicosia, a 26-year-old man hurled a Molotov cocktail against the outside wall of the US Embassy. No damages were reported. Police arrested the man.

April

2 Philippines

In Davao, a bomb exploded on a crowded passenger wharf, killing 16 persons and injuring 55 others, according to press reports. The attack may have been carried out by two Indonesian members of Jemaah Islamiya (JI), a regional terrorist group with links to al-Qaida. Two individuals were arrested for this attack: Ismael Acmad (a.k.a. Toto), the alleged planner, and an accomplice, Tahome Urong (a.k.a. Sermin Tohami)—members of the MILF. They told investigators they also were involved in the Davao Airport bombing, and JI provided funds. The ammonium nitrate explosive used in the wharf attack is similar to that purchased by JI operative, Father Rohman Ghozi, and seized by police in January 2002 shortly after Ghozi's arrest by Philippine police. Several Indonesian members of JI have been spotted in terrorist training camps on the southern island of Mindanao.

3 Turkey

In Istanbul, a "high pressure resonance bomb" detonated near a United Parcel Service (UPS) building, smashing the windows of a nearby pharmacy and olive-seller's shop. The explosion caused minor damage to the wall surrounding the UPS building, as well as a transformer near the wall. No one claimed responsibility.

3 Turkey

In Istanbul, a bomb exploded at the British Consulate General causing considerable damage to the consulate and also blowing out windows of an adjacent hotel, leaving one Turkish hotel guest with minor cuts. Turkish police believe the bomb was a resonant device (sound bomb) of relatively crude construction. The terrorist group Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLK-P) is suspected although no one has claimed responsibility.

3 Algeria

In the Sahara Desert, eight Austrian tourists were kidnapped by terrorists while traveling in that region, according to press reports. The GSPC is probably responsible for the abduction. (See entry for 22 February for additional details.)

4 Algeria

In the Sahara Desert, terrorists kidnapped 11 German tourists traveling in small groups without guides, bringing the total number of Germans abducted (up to this point) to 15. GSPC is believed responsible. (See entry for 22 February for additional details.)

5 Lebanon

In Dowra, TNT placed in the trash receptacle of a McDonald's restaurant men's room exploded, wounding 10 persons and causing considerable damage to the restaurant, which is located 7 to 10 kilometers south of the US Embassy. Five to 10 seconds later, there was a minor explosion in a car adjacent to the restaurant building. The explosions were a partial detonation of a three-stage improvised explosive device of TNT, an unidentified quantity of C-4, and three gas-filled containers. No one claimed responsibility.

8 Algeria

In the Sahara Desert, one Swede and one Dutch citizen were kidnapped, according to press reports. The GSPC is responsible. (See entry for 22 February for additional details.)

8 Jordan

In Amman, a US official with the diplomatic corps was slightly wounded when terrorists fired at him, according to press reports. The official had exited his hotel to use his cell phone when a car carrying three persons fired a shot barely missing the official, leaving only a superficial wound. No one claimed responsibility.

8 Turkey

In Izmir, concussion hand grenades placed before the Bornova Court, Citibank, and the British Consulate exploded, causing material damage. No one was hurt in these attacks. The MLK-P was probably responsible for the attacks.

10 India

In Kashmir, a bomb exploded in the famous Mughal Garden causing no damage, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

10 Germany

In Hamburg, unknown perpetrators set fire to a party bus for children in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant and then set fire to a McDonald's billboard. At both sites, fliers of a leftwing extremist group were found. The extent of material damage is not known. An investigation is under way.

11 Algeria

In the Sahara Desert, two mountaineers disappeared, according to the Austrian Foreign Ministry. Approximately 30 individuals were abducted or disappeared in the same general area during a three-month period. The GSPC was believed responsible. Subsequently, everyone was released unharmed after a ransom was paid.

12 Venezuela

In Caracas, a bomb made of C-4 exploded in the Organization of American States office. No one was injured, although the basement was significantly damaged. No one has claimed responsibility.

12 India

In Kulgam, terrorists threw a hand grenade at a police patrol and missed, injuring two private citizens standing near by, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

12 India

In Qazigund, terrorists threw a hand grenade at an army patrol, injuring two soldiers and 21 private citizens standing near by, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

12 India

In Qazigund-Anantnag, Kashmir, terrorists threw a hand grenade into a bus station, killing one person and injuring 20 others, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

13 Philippines

In Siasi, armed terrorists kidnapped a Filipino-Chinese businesswoman on her way to the local mosque, according to press reports. She was last seen being taken to the island of Jolo, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

13 Pakistan

Near Charman, armed terrorists shot and killed two relatives of the governor of Kandahar, Afghanistan, and wounded one other as they were traveling by car to a local bazaar, according to press reports. The attacker was later caught by authorities and identified as a member of Fazlur Rahman's Jui (Jamiat Ulema-e Islami).

14 Afghanistan

In Yakatut, a missile fired at the US Embassy landed four kilometers away, failing to explode and causing no damage or injures, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

14 France

In Sergy, terrorists set fire to a car parked outside the rear entrance of a McDonald's restaurant. The resulting fire partially destroyed the restaurant. No one has claimed responsibility.

15 Turkey

In Istanbul, terrorists bombed two McDonald's restaurants, partially collapsing a wall that injured a pedestrian. The Revolutionary People's Liberation Front (DHKP-C) later claimed responsibility.

16 Afghanistan

In Jalalabad, a bomb destroyed the UNICEF building, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

22 India

In Gulshanpora Batagund, Kashmir, a bomb exploded in a dairy yard, killing six persons, injuring 12 others, and killing several cows, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

22 Argentina

In Avellaneda, a homemade bomb exploded in front of a McDonald's restaurant on Mitre Avenue and Berutti Street. Security officials found an iron tank about 30 centimeters long, as well as evidence of gunpowder. The explosion shattered the windows but did no interior damage. No injuries were reported, and no one claimed responsibility.

24 Israel

In Kefar Saba, a security guard—a dual Israeli-Russian citizen—was killed and 11 others wounded when a lone suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance to a busy train station, according to press reports. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility.

25 India

In Patan, Kashmir, a bomb exploded on the lawn of a courthouse, killing three persons and injuring 34 others, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

26 India

In Kashmir, a landmine exploded near a site being inspected by the Finance Minister, injuring 11 persons, according to press reports. The Finance Minister was not injured. No one claimed responsibility.

30 Israel

In Tel Aviv, two suicide bombers approached the entrance to a pub, Mike's Place. One bomber successfully activated his bomb, killing three Israeli citizens and injuring 64 others—including one US citizen—according to press reports. The second bomber fled, unable to activate his bomb. His body was later found washed up on a Tel Aviv beach. The pub is located a few hundred yards from the US Embassy and is popular with foreigners. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility.

May

4 Turkey

During the night in Adana, a series of five sound bombs exploded, resulting in minor material damage, but no casualties. A UPS office, Tommy Hilfiger store, local Turkish bank, the US Consulate, and the Nationalist Turkish Political Party headquarters were all targeted. No one claimed responsibility.

5 India

In Duderhama, Kashmir, terrorists threw a hand grenade at a National Conference leader's car, injuring the leader, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

5 India

In Doda, Kashmir, a bomb exploded at a bus stand, killing one person and injuring 25 others, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

6 Colombia

German national Heiner Hansen was freed by his kidnappers—presumed to be FARC terrorists—according to press reports. Mr. Hansen was kidnapped near Buenaventura on 31 December 2002.

12 Algeria

In the Sahara Desert, terrorists kidnapped a German tourist—16 Germans have been abducted recently— according to press reports. The kidnapping possibly took place in April or early May. The GSPC is probably responsible for the abduction. (See entry for 22 February for additional details.)

12 Saudi Arabia

In Riyadh, suicide bombers driving cars booby trapped with explosives drove into the guarded Vinnnell housing complex, killing eight US citizens and one Saudi, according to press reports. Al-Qaida is probably responsible.

12 Saudi Arabia

In Riyadh, suicide bombers driving cars booby trapped with explosives drove into the Al-Hamra complex, killing one US citizen, two Jordanians, four Saudis, two Filipinos, one Lebanese, and one Swiss, and injuring 194 others, according to press reports. Al-Qaida is probably responsible.

12 Saudi Arabia

In Riyadh, suicide bombers driving cars booby trapped with explosives drove into the guarded Jedawal compound housing international workers, killing two Saudis, according to press reports. Al-Qaida is probably responsible.

15 Pakistan

In Karachi, 19 small bombs exploded at Shell stations; an Anglo-Dutch–owned company; and at two Caltex petrol stations, a subsidiary of US giant Caltex, injuring seven persons, according to press reports. The small bombs—firecrackers fitted with timing devices—were packed into boxes placed in garbage bins and appeared aimed to scare. The group Muslim United Army claimed responsibility in a faxed letter to the newspaper, Dawn.

16 Morocco

In Casablanca, one of five near-simultaneous bombs exploded in the street outside the Belgium Consulate and next to a Jewish-owned restaurant, killing two police officers and injuring another, according to press reports. The restaurant, Positano, could have been the target. A Positano employee said a colleague stopped three suspects as they entered the restaurant. One of the suspects fled, and the other two died in the blasts. Belgian security cameras showed the bombers tried but failed to enter the restaurant. Belgian officials, including Foreign Minister Louis Michel, said the restaurant was probably the target. According to press reports, about 14 persons (ages 18-22) took part in the five attacks, killing a total of 42 persons and injuring at least 100. Several of those arrested were cooperating with police. According to press reports, the group al-Sirat al Mustaqi m—with possible links to al-Qaida—is responsible.

In Casablanca, one of five near-simultaneous bombs exploded at the Casa De Espana restaurant nightclub, killing approximately 42 persons, including three Spaniards and one Italian, according to press reports. (See above entry for details.)

19 India

In Rajauri, Kashmir, armed terrorists fired into a private residence, killing six persons, according to press reports. No group claimed responsibility.

In Srinagar, Kashmir, two bombs exploded at Kashmir's busiest bus terminal, injuring 14 persons, according to press reports. No group claimed responsibility.

19 Israel

In the French Hill Intersection, Northern Jerusalem, a suicide bomber dressed as an Orthodox Jew and wearing a prayer shawl boarded a commuter bus, detonated the bombs attached to himself, and killed seven persons and injured 26 others, according to press reports. One of those injured was a US citizen. Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of HAMAS, claimed responsibility.

24 Afghanistan

In Haska Meyna, three persons working for a nongovernmental organization (NGO) were injured when their vehicle hit a remote-controlled landmine, according to press reports. No group claimed responsibility.

27 Colombia

In Guamalito, military officials reported either ELN or FARC terrorists bombed a section of the Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline, spilling 7,000 barrels of crude oil into the Cimitarra creek, a major source of drinking water for more than 5,000 people and causing extensive environmental damage. The pipeline is owned by Colombian and US oil companies.

30 Colombia

In Guamalito, terrorists attacked a section of the Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline, spilling nearly 7,000 barrels of crude oil and leaving about 4,700 families without drinking water. This pipeline is jointly owned by Ecopetrol of Colombia and a consortium of US and West European companies. No group claimed responsibility, although both FARC and ELN terrorists have attacked this pipeline previously.

31 India

In Khudwani, Kashmir, a hand grenade exploded, injuring 11 persons and two police officers, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

June

1 India

In Jammu, Kashmir, terrorists set fire to a private residence and exchanged gunfire with police while leaving the scene, killing four persons in the crossfire, according to press reports. The terrorists escaped. No one claimed responsibility.

1 Afghanistan

In Kandahar, a bomb exploded at a German NGO office, Deutsche Fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit, causing minor damage to the building, according to press reports. The building was closed on the weekend so there were no injuries. Al-Qaida possibly is responsible.

4 Belgium

In Brussels, letters containing the nerve agent adamsite were sent to the US, British, and Saudi Embassies; the government of Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt; the Court of Brussels; a Belgian ministry; the Oostende airport; and the Antwerp port authority, according to press reports. After exposure to the substance, at least two postal workers and five policemen were hospitalized with skin irritation, eye irritation, and breathing difficulty. In Oostende, three persons exposed to the tainted letter were hospitalized. Belgium police suspected a 45-year-old Iraqi political refugee opposed to the US war in Iraq. On 5 June, police searched his residence and confiscated a document and a plastic bag containing some powder. The antiterrorism investigators also suffered skin irritation, eye irritation, and breathing difficulty. The Iraqi was charged with premeditated assault.

7 Afghanistan

In Kabul, a taxi rigged with explosives rammed into a bus carrying German peacekeepers of the International Security Assistance Force, killing five German peacekeepers and injuring 29 others, according to press reports. The US-funded police school located about 300 feet from the explosion lost 13 windows. No one claimed responsibility, but authorities blame al-Qaida.

8 Somalia

In Mogadishu, an armed militia group fired on a car carrying a US freelance journalist, his driver, and his interpreter, slightly wounding the journalist, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

9 Peru

In Lima, approximately 60 Shining Path terrorists kidnapped 71 workers employed by Techint Group, an Argentine company building a natural gas pipeline in southeastern Peru. The kidnapped group consisted of 64 Peruvians, four Colombians, two Argentines, and a Chilean. A rescue operation freed all the hostages on 11 June, but the terrorists escaped.

11 Israel

Near Jerusalem, two US citizens were killed in a bus bombing near Klal Center on Jaffa Road.

11 Turkey

In Adana, 33-year-old Cumali Kizilgoca threw two hand grenades into the US Consulate garden and was detained. One of the hand grenades did not explode and was later detonated by the police. No one was injured. Kizilgoca attacked the consulate in retaliation for the recent assassination attempt by Israel on a HAMAS leader, according to press reports.

12 Greece

In Thessalonika, unidentified culprits entered the front lobby of the US-owned Citibank, doused the ATM in a flammable liquid, placed a gas canister in it, and set it on fire, according to press reports. The explosion destroyed the ATM and caused extensive damage to the lobby and office equipment.

17 Italy

In Rome, a bomb exploded in front of the Spanish school Cervantes, damaging the school and a few cars within a 20-meter radius. Authorities speculate that the device contained approximately 500 grams of chlorite and nitratebased explosives. No one claimed responsibility, but investigators believe whoever placed the device was experienced with explosives and was probably connected to an Italian anarchist group aligned with Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA). Similar devices have been used in past attacks and have been linked to Italian anarchists supporting the ETA.

17 India

In Shopian, Kashmir, a bomb exploded outside a store selling chickens, injuring five persons, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

In Kashmir, armed terrorists entered a private residence, killing the son of a Muslim politician, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

18 France

In Yvelines, members of the Corsican National Liberation Front activated explosive charges during the early morning hours, seriously damaging two French villas and a British housing company, according to press reports. The houses were unoccupied, and nobody was injured.

20 West Bank

One US citizen was killed in a shooting attack near the settlement of Ofra.

20 India

In Srinagar, Kashmir, a bomb exploded at a crowded market, injuring 16 persons, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

In Charar-i-Sharif, Kashmir, a hand grenade hurled at a police station injured two officers inside, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

23 India

In Pulwama, Kashmir, a hand grenade thrown at a military vehicle missed its intended target, killing two persons and wounding 48 others standing near by, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

27 Kenya

In Mandera, armed terrorists using hand grenades killed one person and seriously injured four others, including a doctor from the Netherlands working with "Doctors Without Frontiers," according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

28 Gaza Strip

In Bayt Lahiyah, several bombs exploded near a US Embassy car, according to press reports. The bombs were apparently aimed at a diplomatic-plated vehicle belonging to the US Consulate since the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were not operating in the area.

30 Israel

In Yabed, Northern Israel, a Bulgarian construction worker was killed when his truck came under fire, according to press reports. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility.

July

3 Colombia

In Caldono, armed terrorists kidnapped five persons, including a Swiss citizen working for the NGO, Hands of Colombia Foundation, according to press reports. FARC claimed responsibility.

3 Iraq

In Baghdad, terrorists killed a British journalist outside the Iraq National Museum, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

4 India

In Larnu, Kashmir, terrorists killed two persons—a school teacher and a private citizen—and wounded 20 others, including the rural development minister of Jammu-Kashmir, two government officials, two police officers, and 15 others when they opened fired and threw several hand grenades into a meeting between the minister and health officials, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

8 Afghanistan

In Kabul, terrorists attacked the Pakistani Embassy, destroying computers and telephones, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

9 India

In Aram Mohalla Shopian, Kashmir, terrorists threw a hand grenade toward a security patrol party. The hand grenade missed its intended target and exploded on the roadside, injuring three persons, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

11 Greece

In Athens, authorities safely dismantled a bomb in an office building near a branch of the American Life Insurance Company, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility, but the device was similar to others produced by the Revolutionary Nuclei and Revolutionary People's Struggle (ELA) terrorists groups.

13 Greece

In Athens, three Molotov cocktails were thrown at a branch office of the Eurobank, causing minor damage, according to US Embassy reporting. No one claimed responsibility.

14 Afghanistan

In Jalalabad, a bomb exploded near the offices of the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), causing major damage to two buildings, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

16 Colombia

In La Pesquera, military officials reported either ELN or FARC terrorists bombed a section of the Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline at the KM 07 and 02N intersection, causing an unknown amount of damage. The pipeline is owned by US and Colombian oil companies.

In La Pesquera, military officials reported either ELN or FARC terrorists bombed a section of the Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline at the KM 71 and 26 W intersection, causing an unknown amount of damage. The pipeline is owned by US and Colombian oil companies.

21 India

In Jammu, Kashmir, two hand grenades exploded at a crowded community kitchen, killing seven persons and injuring 42 others, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

23 Sri Lanka

In Valachchenai, terrorists stoned a vehicle carrying two Scandinavians working as truce monitors, according to press reports. The truce monitors were not injured, but the car was damaged. No one claimed responsibility.

August

2 Iraq

In Baghdad, a vehicle bomb exploded in front of the Jordanian Embassy, killing 19 persons, injuring 50 others, and damaging the outside facade of the embassy, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

4 India

In Mahore Tehsil, Kashmir, armed terrorists shot and killed an educator attending a marriage function, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility

5 India

In Katjidhok, Kashmir, armed terrorists shot and killed one person, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

5 Iraq

In Tikrit, a US contractor for Kellogg Brown and Root was killed when his car ran over an improvised explosive device, according to press reports. He was under military escort when the explosion occurred. No group claimed responsibility.

5 Indonesia

In Jakarta, a car bomb exploded in the front of the Marriott Hotel during lunchtime rush hour, killing 13 persons and injuring 149 others, according to press reports. The adjoining office block was set on fire, with several cars burning in the hotel's front driveway and hotel windows shattered up to the 21st floor. Al-Qaida claimed responsibility.

10 Eritrea

In Adobha, armed terrorists attacked a vehicle carrying Eritrean passengers working for the US charity, Mercy Corps, killing two persons and injuring three others, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

13 India

In Bandipora, Kashmir, a bomb attached to a bicycle exploded outside the State Bank of India, injuring 31 persons, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

15 India

In Pakherpora, Kashmir, a hand grenade thrown at a police patrol missed its target, landing in a crowd of bystanders and exploded, injuring 18 persons, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

19 Iraq

In Baghdad, a truck entered the driveway of the Marriott Hotel, the headquarters of the UNHCR, and was stopped by a security guard. The truck exploded, killing 23 persons—including the director of the UNHCR and three US citizens—injuring 100 others, and badly damaging several stories of the Marriott Hotel and other buildings almost a mile away, according to press reports. The arrested suspects admitted that the bomb was to have been detonated in the hotel lobby by a suicide bomber where a meeting of US officials was taking place. Al-Qaida is probably responsible.

19 Israel

In Jerusalem, a suicide bomber riding a bus detonated his explosives, killing 20 persons—five of whom were US citizens—and injuring 140 others, according to press report. HAMAS claimed responsibility.

19 Serbia

In Bujanova, unidentified persons threw two hand grenades into the courtyard of a house belonging to Ramiz Ramizi—an ethnic Albanian—wounding his 8-year old grandson and four other members of his family, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

September

6 India

In Srinagar, Kashmir, a bomb exploded in a busy marketplace, killing six persons and injuring 37 others, including an Indian army officer, according to press reports. Police believe the intended target of the blast was the army officer. No one claimed responsibility

8 Afghanistan

Near Moqor, armed terrorists killed four Danish members working for the NGO Danish Committee For Aid To Afghan Refugees assisting local Afghanis on an irrigation project, according to press reports. The Taliban is probably responsible.

9 Israel

In Jerusalem, eight persons were killed—including two US citizens—and 30 others wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up on the hitchhiking stop near the Asaf Harofe Hospital, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

9 India

In Sopat, Kashmir, armed terrorists shot and killed a former state forest minister, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

9 Iran

In Tehran, armed terrorists fired three to four shots at the British Embassy, causing no damage or injuries, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

11 India

In Srinagar, Kashmir, a hand grenade was thrown at a military bunker house, missing its target, killing one private citizen and injuring 14 others standing near by, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

14 Colombia

In Tayrona National Park, armed terrorists attacked several cabins, kidnapping eight foreign nationals—four Israelis, two Britons, a German, and a Spaniard—according to press reports. On 25 September, one of the two Britons escaped safely from the kidnappers. ELN has claimed responsibility for this attack. On 24 November, the German and Spanish nationals were released.

15 Iran

In Tehran, shots were fired at the British Embassy, causing no injuries, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

19 Afghanistan

In Ghazni, four rockets were fired at a facility housing Turkish road workers and equipment, causing no injuries or damage, according to press reports. The Taliban is probably responsible.

22 Iraq

In Baghdad, a vehicle bomb exploded near the UN Headquarters, killing a guard and injuring 18 others; the building was not damaged, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

25 Iraq

In Baghdad, a bomb exploded at the news bureau of US broadcaster NBC, killing one person and injuring one other, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

30 India

In Gagran, Kashmir, a hand grenade thrown at a police patrol exploded, injuring six police officers and 14 civilians, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

October

2 Malaysia

In Sabah, armed terrorists kidnapped six persons—three Indonesians, two Filipinos, and a Malaysian—from a resort area; one escaped and five were found executed on 29 October in Languyan, Philippines, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility. ASG is probably responsible.

5 Afghanistan

In Kabul, a bomb exploded next to the offices of the international aid agencies, Oxfam and Save the Children, causing no casualties, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

5 Somalia

In Borama, armed terrorists shot and killed an Italian missionary in her private residence, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

9 Iraq

In Baghdad, armed terrorists shot and killed a Spanish military attaché at his private residence, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

14 Iraq

In Baghdad, a suicide car bomb detonated near the Turkish Embassy, wounding one Turkish and one Iraqi employee, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

15 India

In Lolab, Kashmir, a landmine triggered by rebels exploded in a forested area, injuring nine persons, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

15 Gaza Strip

In Gaza Strip, a US Embassy Tel Aviv motorcade was struck by an apparent roadside charge on Saladin Street, according to press reports. The blast destroyed the second car in the convoy, killing three persons and wounding one, all US citizens and contractors providing security for the United States in Israel and Middle East. The Palestinian Revolutionary Committee initially claimed responsibility but later recanted its statement.

20 India

In Doda, Kashmir, armed terrorists shot and killed two persons, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

In Anantnag, Kashmir, a hand grenade thrown at a security patrol missed its target and exploded in a busy market, killing one person and injuring seven others, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

26 India

In Gagal, Kashmir, armed terrorists dressed in army uniforms hijacked a car, killing two of the occupants and injuring four others, according to press reports. No one has claimed responsibility.

In Samba, Kashmir, a bomb exploded in the toilet of a coach car, causing no injuries but derailing five cars, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

In Bijbehara, Kashmir, a hand grenade thrown at a military convoy missed its target and exploded on the road, injuring 12 persons, including one police officer and an individual who worked in the office of the Indo-Tibetan border police, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

26 Iraq

In Baghdad, rockets were fired at the al-Rashid hotel housing the US and Coalition forces, killing one US citizen, injuring 15 persons, and damaging the hotel, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

27 Afghanistan

In Shkin, two US Government contract workers were killed in an ambush by armed terrorists, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

27 Iraq

In Baghdad, a car bomb exploded inside the compound of the International Committee of the Red Cross headquarters, killing 12 persons and injuring 22 others, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

28 India

In Lal Chowk, Kashmir, a bomb exploded at the customer billing counter in a telegraph office building, injuring 36 persons, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

29 India

In Anatnag, Kashmir, a hand grenade thrown at a police patrol missed its target and exploded in a busy market, injuring 13 persons, according to press reports. No one claimed responsibility.

November

11 Afghanistan

In Kandahar, a vehicle bomb exploded outside the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan offices, killing one person, injuring one other, and causing major material damage to the building, according to press reports. The Taliban or al-Qaida may be responsible.

11 Greece

In Athens, authorities neutralized an explosive device detected outside Athens Citibank Branch. An unidentified person phoned the Athens newspaper and announced a bomb was going to explode at the bank, according to press reports. The Organization Khristos Kassimis is probably responsible.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON DESIGNATED FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)

a.k.a. Fatah—the Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Brigades, Black September, and Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims

Description: International terrorist organization founded by Sabri al-Banna (a.k.a. Abu Nidal). Split from PLO in 1974. Made up of various functional committees, including political, military, and financial. In November 2002, Abu Nidal died in Baghdad; the new leadership of the organization is unclear. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Has carried out terrorist attacks in 20 countries, killing or injuring almost 900 persons. Targets include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Israel, moderate Palestinians, the PLO, and various Arab countries. Major attacks included the Rome and Vienna airports in December 1985, the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul and the Pan Am Flight 73 hijacking in Karachi in September 1986, and the City of Poros day-excursion ship attack in Greece in July 1988. Suspected of assassinating PLO deputy chief Abu Iyad and PLO security chief Abu Hul in Tunis in January 1991. ANO assassinated a Jordanian diplomat in Lebanon in January 1994 and has been linked to the killing of the PLO representative there. Has not staged a major attack against Western targets since the late 1980s.

Strength: Few hundred plus limited overseas support structure.

Location/Area of Operation: Al-Banna relocated to Iraq in December 1998 where the group maintains a presence. Has an operational presence in Lebanon including in several Palestinian refugee camps. Authorities shut down the ANO's operations in Libya and Egypt in 1999. Has demonstrated ability to operate over wide area, including the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Financial problems and internal disorganization have reduced the group's activities and capabilities.

External Aid: Has received considerable support, including safe haven, training, logistic assistance, and financial aid from Iraq, Libya, and Syria (until 1987), in addition to close support for selected operations.

Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)

Description: The ASG is a small, brutally violent Muslim separatist group operating in the southern Philippines. Some ASG leaders allegedly fought in Afghanistan during the Soviet war and are students and proponents of radical Islamic teachings. The group split from the much larger Moro National Liberation Front in the early 1990s under the leadership of Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, who was killed in a clash with Philippine police on 18 December 1998. His younger brother, Khadaffy Janjalani, has replaced him as the nominal leader of the group, which is composed of several semiautonomous factions. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Engages in kidnappings for ransom, bombings, beheadings, assassinations, and extortion. Although from time to time it claims that its motivation is to promote an independent Islamic state in western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago—areas in the southern Philippines heavily populated by Muslims—the ASG has primarily used terror for financial profit. Recent bombings may herald a return to a more radical, politicized agenda, at least among the factions. The group's first large-scale action was a raid on the town of Ipil in Mindanao in April 1995. In April of 2000, an ASG faction kidnapped 21 persons—including 10 Western tourists—from a resort in Malaysia. Separately in 2000, the group briefly abducted several foreign journalists, three Malaysians, and a US citizen. On 27 May 2001, the ASG kidnapped three US citizens and 17 Filipinos from a tourist resort in Palawan, Philippines. Several of the hostages, including one US citizen, were murdered. During a Philippine military hostage rescue operation on 7 June 2002, US hostage Gracia Burnham was wounded but rescued, and her husband Martin Burnham and Filipina Deborah Yap were killed during the operation. Philippine authorities say that the ASG had a role in the bombing near a Philippine military base in Zamboanga on 2 October that killed three Filipinos and one US serviceman and wounded 20 others. It is unclear what role ASG has played in subsequent bombing attacks in Mindanao.

Strength: Estimated to have 200 to 500 members.

Location/Area of Operation: The ASG was founded in Basilan Province and operates there and in the neighboring provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the Sulu Archipelago. It also operates in the Zamboanga peninsula, and members occasionally travel to Manila. In mid-2003, the group started operating in the major city of Cotobato and on the coast of Sultan Kudarat on Mindanao. The group expanded its operational reach to Malaysia in 2000 when it abducted foreigners from a tourist resort.

External Aid: Largely self-financing through ransom and extortion; may receive support from Islamic extremists in the Middle East and South Asia. Libya publicly paid millions of dollars for the release of the foreign hostages seized from Malaysia in 2000.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (al-Aqsa)

Description: The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades consists of an unknown number of small cells of Fatah-affiliated terrorists that emerged at the outset of the current intifadah to attack Israeli targets. It aims to drive the Israeli military and settlers from the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem and to establish a Palestinian state. First designated in March 2002.

Activities: Al-Aqsa has carried out shootings and suicide operations against Israeli civilians and military personnel and has killed Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel. At least five US citizens—four of them dual US-Israeli citizens—were killed in al-Aqsa's attacks. In January 2002, al-Aqsa claimed responsibility for the first suicide bombing carried out by a female.

Strength: Unknown.

Location/Area of Operation: Al Aqsa operates in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip and has claimed attacks inside all three areas. It may have followers in Palestinian refugee camps in southern Lebanon.

External Aid: Unknown.

Ansar al-Islam (AI)

a.k.a. Partisans of Islam, Helpers of Islam, Supporters of Islam, Jund al-Islam, Jaish Ansar al-Sunna)

Description: Ansar al-Islam is a radical Islamist group of Iraqi Kurds and Arabs who have vowed to establish an independent Islamic state in Iraq. It was formed in December 2001 and is closely allied with al-Qaida. Some of its members trained in al-Qaida camps in Afghanistan, and the group provided safe haven to al-Qaida fighters before Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Since OIF, it has been one of the leading groups engaged in anti-Coalition attacks. (Ansar al-Islam was designated on 20 February 2003, under E.O. 13224. The UNSCR 1267 Committee designated Ansar al-Islam pursuant to UNSCRs 1267, 1390, and 1455 on 27 February 2003.) First designated in March 2004.

Activities: The group has primarily fought against one of the two main Kurdish political factions—the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)—and has mounted ambushes and attacks in PUK areas. AI members have been implicated in assassinations and assassination attempts against PUK officials and work closely with both al-Qaida operatives and associates in Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi's network. Before OIF, some AI members claimed to have produced cyanide-based toxins, ricin, and alfatoxin.

Strength: Approximately 700 to 1000 members.

Location/Area of Operation: Central and northern Iraq.

External Aid: The group receives funding, training, equipment, and combat support from al-Qaida and other international jihadist backers.

Armed Islamic Group (GIA)

Description: An Islamic extremist group, the GIA aims to overthrow the secular Algerian regime and replace it with an Islamic state. The GIA began its violent activity in 1992 after the military government suspended legislative elections in anticipation of an overwhelming victory by the Islamic Salvation Front, the largest Islamic opposition party. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Frequent attacks against civilians and government workers. Since 1992, the GIA has conducted a terrorist campaign of civilian massacres, sometimes wiping out entire villages in its area of operation, although the group's dwindling numbers have caused a decrease in the number of attacks. Since announcing its campaign against foreigners living in Algeria in 1993, the GIA has killed more than 100 expatriate men and women—mostly Europeans—in the country. The group uses assassinations and bombings, including car bombs, and it is known to favor kidnapping victims. The GIA highjacked an Air France flight to Algiers in December 1994. In 2002, a French court sentenced two GIA members to life in prison for conducting a series of bombings in France in 1995.

Strength: Precise numbers unknown; probably fewer than 100.

Location/Area of Operation: Algeria and Europe.

External Aid: None known.

'Asbat al-Ansar

Description: 'Asbat al-Ansar—the League of the Followers or Partisans' League—is a Lebanon-based, Sunni extremist group, composed primarily of Palestinians and associated with Usama Bin Ladin's al-Qaida organization. The group follows an extremist interpretation of Islam that justifies violence against civilian targets to achieve political ends. Some of those goals include overthrowing the Lebanese Government and thwarting perceived anti-Islamic and pro-Western influences in the country. First designated in March 2002.

Activities: 'Asbat al-Ansar has carried out multiple terrorist attacks in Lebanon since it first emerged in the early 1990s. The group assassinated Lebanese religious leaders and bombed nightclubs, theaters, and liquor stores in the mid-1990s. The group raised its operational profile in 2000 with two attacks against Lebanese and international targets. It was involved in clashes in northern Lebanon in December 1999 and carried out a rocket-propelled grenade attack on the Russian Embassy in Beirut in January 2000. 'Asbat al-Ansar's leader, Abu Muhjin, remains at large despite being sentenced to death in absentia for the murder in 1994 of a Muslim cleric.

In 2003, suspected 'Asbat al-Ansar elements were responsible for the attempt in April to use a car bomb against a McDonald's in a Beirut suburb. By October, Lebanese security forces arrested Ibn al-Shahid, who is believed to be associated with 'Asbat al-Ansar, and charged him with masterminding the bombing of three fast food restaurants in 2002 and the attempted attack in April 2003 on the McDonald's. 'Asbat forces were involved in other violence in Lebanon in 2003, including clashes with members of Yassir Arafat's Fatah movement in the 'Ayn al-Hilwah refugee camp and a rocket attack in June on the Future TV building in Beirut.

Strength: The group commands about 300 fighters in Lebanon.

Location/Area of Operation: The group's primary base of operations is the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in southern Lebanon.

External Aid: Probably receives money through international Sunni extremist networks and Usama Bin Ladin's al-Qaida network.

Aum Supreme Truth (Aum)

a.k.a. Aum Shinrikyo, Aleph

Description: A cult established in 1987 by Shoko Asahara, the Aum aimed to take over Japan and then the world. Approved as a religious entity in 1989 under Japanese law, the group ran candidates in a Japanese parliamentary election in 1990. Over time, the cult began to emphasize the imminence of the end of the world and stated that the United States would initiate Armageddon by starting World War III with Japan. The Japanese Government revoked its recognition of the Aum as a religious organization in October 1995, but in 1997, a government panel decided not to invoke the Anti-Subversive Law against the group, which would have outlawed the cult. A 1999 law gave the Japanese Government authorization to continue police surveillance of the group due to concerns that the Aum might launch future terrorist attacks. Under the leadership of Fumihiro Joyu, the Aum changed its name to Aleph in January 2000 and claimed to have rejected the violent and apocalyptic teachings of its founder. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: On 20 March 1995, Aum members simultaneously released the chemical nerve agent sarin on several Tokyo subway trains, killing 12 persons and injuring up to 6,000. The group was responsible for other mysterious chemical accidents in Japan in 1994. Its efforts to conduct attacks using biological agents have been unsuccessful. Japanese police arrested Asahara in May 1995. Asahara was sentenced in February 2004 and received the death sentence for his role in the attacks of 1995. Since 1997, the cult continued to recruit new members, engage in commercial enterprise, and acquire property, although it scaled back these activities significantly in 2001 in response to public outcry. The cult maintains an Internet home page. In July 2001, Russian authorities arrested a group of Russian Aum followers who had planned to set off bombs near the Imperial Palace in Tokyo as part of an operation to free Asahara from jail and then smuggle him to Russia.

Strength: The Aum's current membership is estimated to be less than 1,000 persons. At the time of the Tokyo subway attack, the group claimed to have 9,000 members in Japan and as many as 40,000 worldwide.

Location/Area of Operation: The Aum's principal membership is located only in Japan, but a residual branch

comprising perhaps a few hundred followers has surfaced in Russia.

External Aid: None.

Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)

a.k.a. Euzkadi Ta Askatasuna, Batasuna

Description: Founded in 1959 with the aim of establishing an independent homeland based on Marxist principles encompassing the Spanish Basque provinces of Vizcaya, Guipuzcoa, Alava, as well as the autonomous region of Navarra, and the southwestern French Departments of Labourd, Basse-Navarra, and Soule. Recent Spanish counterterrorism initiatives are hampering the group's operational capabilities. Spanish police arrested 125 ETA members and accomplices in 2003; French authorities arrested 46, including the group's top leadership; several other members were arrested in Latin America, Germany, and the Netherlands. In March 2003, a Spanish Supreme Court ruling banned ETA's political wing, Batasuna. Spain currently holds 572 ETA members in prison, while France holds 124. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Primarily involved in bombings and assassinations of Spanish Government officials, security and military forces, politicians, and judicial figures. During the summer of 2003, ETA targeted Spanish tourist areas. In 2003, ETA killed three persons, a similar figure to 2002's death toll of five, and wounded dozens more. The group has killed more than 850 persons and injured hundreds of others since it began lethal attacks in the early 1960s. ETA finances its activities primarily through extortion and robbery.

Strength: Unknown; hundreds of members plus supporters.

Location/Area of Operation: Operates primarily in the Basque autonomous regions of northern Spain and southwestern France but also has attacked Spanish and French interests elsewhere.

External Aid: Has received training at various times in the past in Libya, Lebanon, and Nicaragua. Some ETA members allegedly have received sanctuary in Cuba while others reside in South America.

Communist Party of Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA)

Description: The military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the NPA is a Maoist group formed in March 1969 with the aim of overthrowing the government through protracted guerrilla warfare. The chairman of the CPP's Central Committee and the NPA's founder, Jose Maria Sison, reportedly directs CPP and NPA activity from the Netherlands, where he lives in selfimposed exile. Fellow Central Committee member and director of the CPP's overt political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF), Luis Jalandoni also lives in the Netherlands and has become a Dutch citizen. Although primarily a rural-based guerrilla group, the NPA has an active urban infrastructure to conduct terrorism and uses city-based assassination squads. Derives most of its funding from contributions of supporters in the Philippines, Europe, and elsewhere and from so-called revolutionary taxes extorted from local businesses and politicians. First designated in August 2002. Designations by the United States and the European Union may have had an impact on funding.

Activities: The NPA primarily targets Philippine security forces, politicians, judges, government informers, former rebels who wish to leave the NPA, rival splinter groups, and alleged criminals. Opposes any US military presence in the Philippines and attacked US military interests, killing several US service personnel, before the US base closures in 1992. Press reports in 1999 and in late 2001 indicated that the NPA is again targeting US troops participating in joint military exercises as well as US Embassy personnel. The NPA claimed responsibility for the assassination of two congressmen from Quezon in May 2001 and Cagayan in June 2001 and many other killings. In January 2002, the NPA publicly expressed its intent to target US personnel if discovered in NPA operating areas.

Strength: Slowly growing; estimated at more than 10,000. This number is significantly lower than its peak strength of around 25,000 in the 1980s.

Location/Area of Operations: Operates in rural Luzon, Visayas, and parts of Mindanao. Has cells in Manila and other metropolitan centers.

External Aid: Unknown.

Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group, IG)

Description: Egypt's largest militant group, active since the late 1970s, appears to be loosely organized. Has an external wing with supporters in several countries worldwide. The group issued a cease-fire in March 1999, but its spiritual leader, Shaykh Umar Abd al - Rahman—sentenced to life in prison in January 1996 for his involvement in the World Trade Center bombing of 1993 and incarcerated in the United States—rescinded his support for the cease-fire in June 2000. The IG has not conducted an attack inside Egypt since August 1998. Senior member signed Usama Bin Ladin's fatwa in February 1998 calling for attacks against the United States.

Unofficially split in two factions: one that supports the cease-fire led by Mustafa Hamza, and one led by Rifa'i Taha Musa, calling for a return to armed operations. Taha Musa in early 2001 published a book in which he attempted to justify terrorist attacks that would cause mass casualties. Musa disappeared several months thereafter, and there are conflicting reports as to his current whereabouts. In March 2002, members of the group's historic leadership in Egypt declared use of violence misguided and renounced its future use, prompting denunciations by much of the leadership abroad. In 2003, the Egyptian Government released more than 900 former IG members from prison.

For members still dedicated to violent jihad, the primary goal is to overthrow the Egyptian Government and replace it with an Islamic state. Disaffected IG members, such as those potentially inspired by Taha Musa or Abd al-Rahman, may be interested in carrying out attacks against US interests. First designated October 1997.

Activities: Group conducted armed attacks against Egyptian security and other government officials, Coptic Christians, and Egyptian opponents of Islamic extremism before the cease-fire. From 1993 until the cease-fire, IG launched attacks on tourists in Egypt—most notably the attack in November 1997 at Luxor that killed 58 foreign tourists. Also claimed responsibility for the attempt in June 1995 to assassinate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The IG never has specifically attacked a US citizen or facility but has threatened US interests.

Strength: Unknown. At its peak the IG probably commanded several thousand hard-core members and a like number of sympathizers. The cease-fire of 1999 and security crackdowns following the attack in Luxor in 1997 and, more recently, security efforts following September 11, probably have resulted in a substantial decrease in the group's numbers.

Location/Area of Operation: Operates mainly in the Al-Minya, Asyut, Qina, and Sohaj Governorates of southern Egypt. Also appears to have support in Cairo, Alexandria, and other urban locations, particularly among unemployed graduates and students. Has a worldwide presence, including in the United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Yemen, and various locations in Europe.

External Aid: Unknown. The Egyptian Government believes that Iran, Usama Bin Ladin, and Afghan militant groups support the organization. Also may obtain some funding through various Islamic nongovernmental organizations.

HAMAS

a.k.a. Islamic Resistance Movement

Description: Formed in late 1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Various HAMAS elements have used both violent and political means—including terrorism—to pursue the goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in Israel. Loosely structured, with some elements working clandestinely and others openly through mosques and social service institutions to recruit members, raise money, organize activities, and distribute propaganda. HAMAS's strength is concentrated in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: HAMAS terrorists, especially those in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, have conducted many attacks—including large-scale suicide bombings—against Israeli civilian and military targets. HAMAS maintained the pace of its operational activity during 2002-03, claiming numerous attacks against Israeli interests. HAMAS has not yet directly targeted US interests, although the group makes little or no effort to avoid targets frequented by foreigners. HAMAS continues to confine its attacks to Israel and the territories.

Strength: Unknown number of official members; tens of thousands of supporters and sympathizers.

Location/Area of Operation: HAMAS currently limits its terrorist operations to Israeli military and civilian targets in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Israel. The group's leadership is dispersed throughout the Gaza Strip and West Bank, with a few senior leaders residing in Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and the Gulf States.

External Aid: Receives some funding from Iran but primarily relies on donations from Palestinian expatriates around the world and private benefactors, particularly in Western Europe, North America, and the Persian Gulf region.

Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM)

Movement of Holy Warriors

Description: The HUM is an Islamic militant group based in Pakistan that operates primarily in Kashmir. It is politically aligned with the radical political party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazlur Rehman faction (JUI-F). Longtime leader of the group, Fazlur Rehman Khalil, in mid-February 2000 stepped down as HUM emir, turning the reins over to the popular Kashmiri commander and his second in command, Farooq Kashmiri. Khalil, who has been linked to Usama Bin Ladin and signed his fatwa in February 1998 calling for attacks on US and Western interests, assumed the position of HUM Secretary General. HUM operated terrorist training camps in eastern Afghanistan until Coalition air strikes destroyed them during fall 2001. In 2003, HUM began using the name Jamiat ul-Ansar (JUA), and Pakistan banned the successor JUA in November 2003. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Has conducted a number of operations against Indian troops and civilian targets in Kashmir. Linked to the Kashmiri militant group al-Faran that kidnapped five Western tourists in Kashmir in July 1995; one was killed in August 1995, and the other four reportedly were killed in December of the same year. The HUM is responsible for the hijacking of an Indian airliner on 24 December 1999, which resulted in the release of Masood Azhar—an important leader in the former Harakat ul-Ansar imprisoned by the Indians in 1994—and Ahmed Omar Sheik, who was convicted of the abduction/murder in January-February 2002 of US journalist Daniel Pearl.

Strength: Has several hundred armed supporters located in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, and India's southern Kashmir and Doda regions and in the Kashmir valley. Supporters are mostly Pakistanis and Kashmiris and also include Afghans and Arab veterans of the Afghan war. Uses light and heavy machineguns, assault rifles, mortars, explosives, and rockets. HUM lost a significant share of its membership in defections to the Jaish-i-Mohammed (JIM) in 2000.

Location/Area of Operation: Based in Muzaffarabad, Rawalpindi, and several other towns in Pakistan, but members conduct insurgent and terrorist activities primarily in Kashmir. The HUM trained its militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

External Aid: Collects donations from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf and Islamic states and from Pakistanis and Kashmiris. The HUM's financial collection methods also include soliciting donations from magazine ads and pamphlets. The sources and amount of HUM's military funding are unknown. In anticipation of asset seizures in 2001 by the Pakistani Government, the HUM withdrew funds from bank accounts and invested in legal businesses, such as commodity trading, real estate, and production of consumer goods. Its fundraising in Pakistan has been constrained since the government clampdown on extremist groups and freezing of terrorist assets. The United States announced the addition of HUM to the Foreign Terrorist Organization list in 1997.

Hizballah (Party of God)

a.k.a. Islamic Jihad, Revolutionary Justice Organization, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, and Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine

Description: Also known as Lebanese Hizballah, this group was formed in 1982 in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, this Lebanon-based radical Shi'a group takes its ideological inspiration from the Iranian revolution and the teachings of the late Ayatollah Khomeini. The Majlis al-Shura, or Consultative Council, is the group's highest governing body and is led by Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. Hizballah is dedicated to liberating Jerusalem and eliminating Israel and has formally advocated ultimate establishment of Islamic rule in Lebanon. Nonetheless, Hizballah has actively participated in Lebanon's political system since 1992. Hizballah is closely allied with, and often directed by, Iran but has the capability and willingness to act alone. Although Hizballah does not share the Syrian regime's secular orientation, the group has been a strong ally in helping Syria advance its political objectives in the region. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Known or suspected to have been involved in numerous anti-US and anti-Israeli terrorist attacks, including the suicide truck bombings of the US Embassy and US Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 and the US Embassy annex in Beirut in September 1984. Three members of Hizballah—'Imad Mughniyah, Hasan Izz-al-Din, and Ali Atwa—are on the FBI's list of 22 Most-Wanted Terrorists for the hijacking in 1985 of TWA Flight 847 during which a US Navy diver was murdered. Elements of the group were responsible for the kidnapping and detention of US and other Westerners in Lebanon in the 1980s. Hizballah also attacked the Israeli Embassy in Argentina in 1992 and the Israeli cultural center in Buenos Aires in 1994. In fall 2000, Hizballah operatives captured three Israeli soldiers in the Shab'a Farms and kidnapped an Israeli noncombatant whom may have been lured to Lebanon under false pretenses.

In 2003, Hizballah appeared to have established a presence in Iraq, but for the moment its activities there are limited. Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah stated in speeches that "we are heading... toward the end and elimination of Israel from the region" and that the group's "slogan is and will continue to be death to America." Hizballah's television station, al-Manar, continued to use inflammatory images and reporting in an effort to encourage the intifadah and promote Palestinian suicide operations.

Strength: Several thousand supporters and a few hundred terrorist operatives.

Location/Area of Operation: Operates in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon. Has established cells in Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and Asia.

External Aid: Receives financial, training, weapons, explosives, political, diplomatic, and organizational aid from Iran and diplomatic, political, and logistic support from Syria. Receives financial support from sympathetic business interests and individuals worldwide, largely through the Lebanese diaspora.

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)

Description: Coalition of Islamic militants from Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states. The IMU is closely affiliated with al-Qaida and, under the leadership of Tohir Yoldashev, has embraced Usama Bin Ladin's anti-US, anti-Western agenda. The IMU also remains committed to its original goals of overthrowing Uzbekistani President Islom Karimov and establishing an Islamic state in Uzbekistan. First designated in September 2000.

Activities: The IMU in recent years has participated in attacks on US and Coalition soldiers in Afghanistan and plotted attacks on US diplomatic facilities in Central Asia. In May 2003, Kyrgyzstani security forces disrupted an IMU cell that was seeking to bomb the US Embassy and a nearby hotel in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The IMU primarily targeted Uzbekistani interests before October 2001 and is believed to have been responsible for five car bombs in Tashkent in February 1999. Militants also took foreigners hostage in 1999 and 2000, including four US citizens who were mountain climbing in August 2000 and four Japanese geologists and eight Kyrgyzstani soldiers in August 1999.

Strength: Probably fewer than 700 militants.

Location/Area of Operation: Militants are scattered throughout South Asia, Tajikistan, and Iran. Area of operations includes Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

External Aid: Support from other Islamic extremist groups and patrons in the Middle East and Central and South Asia.

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM)

Army of Mohammed, a.k.a. Tehrik ul-Furqaah, Khuddamul-Islam

Description: The Jaish-e-Mohammed is an Islamic extremist group based in Pakistan that was formed by Masood Azhar upon his release from prison in India in early 2000. The group's aim is to unite Kashmir with Pakistan. It is politically aligned with the radical political party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazlur Rehman faction (JUIF). The United States announced the addition of JEM to the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) list—which includes organizations that are believed to support terrorist groups and have assets in US jurisdiction that can be frozen or controlled—in October 2001 and the Foreign Terrorist Organization list in December 2001. By 2003, JEM had splintered into Khuddam ul-Islam (KUI) and Jamaat ul-Furqan (JUF). Pakistan banned KUA and JUF in November 2003. First designated in December 2001.

Activities: The JEM's leader, Masood Azhar, was released from Indian imprisonment in December 1999 in exchange for 155 hijacked Indian Airlines hostages. The HUA kidnappings in 1994 by Omar Sheik of US and British nationals in New Delhi and the HUA/al-Faran kidnappings in July 1995 of Westerners in Kashmir were two of several previous HUA efforts to free Azhar. The JEM on 1 October 2001 claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly building in Srinagar that killed at least 31 persons but later denied the claim. The Indian Government has publicly implicated the JEM—along with Lashkar-i-Tayyiba—for the attack on 13 December 2001 on the Indian Parliament that killed nine and injured 18. Pakistani authorities suspect that perpetrators of fatal anti-Christian attacks in Islamabad, Murree, and Taxila during 2002 were affiliated with the JEM.

Strength: Has several hundred armed supporters located in Pakistan and in India's southern Kashmir and Doda regions and in the Kashmir valley, including a large cadre of former HUM members. Supporters are mostly Pakistanis and Kashmiris and also include Afghans and Arab veterans of the Afghan war. Uses light and heavy machineguns, assault rifles, mortars, improvised explosive devices, and rocket grenades.

Location/Area of Operation: Pakistan. The JEM maintained training camps in Afghanistan until the fall of 2001.

External Aid: Most of the JEM's cadre and material resources have been drawn from the militant groups Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI) and the Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM). The JEM had close ties to Afghan Arabs and the Taliban. Usama Bin Ladin is suspected of giving funding to the JEM. The JEM also collects funds through donation requests in magazines and pamphlets. In anticipation of asset seizures by the Pakistani Government, the JEM withdrew funds from bank accounts and invested in legal businesses, such as commodity trading, real estate, and production of consumer goods.

Jemaah Islamiya (JI)

Description: Jemaah Islamiya is a Southeast Asian–based terrorist network with links to al-Qaida. The network recruited and trained extremists in the late 1990s, following the stated goal of creating an Islamic state comprising Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the southern Philippines, and southern Thailand. First designated in October 2002.

Activities: JI was responsible for the bombing of the J. W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta on 5 August 2003, the Bali bombings on 12 October 2002, and an attack against the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia in August 2000. The Bali plot, which left more than 200 dead, was reportedly the final outcome of meetings in early 2002 in Thailand, where attacks against Singapore and soft targets such as tourist spots in the region were also considered. In December 2001, Singapore authorities uncovered a JI plot to attack the US and Israeli Embassies and British and Australian diplomatic buildings in Singapore, and in June 2003, Thai authorities disrupted a JI plan to attack several Western embassies and tourist sites there. Investigations also linked the JI to bombings in December 2000 where dozens of bombs were detonated in Indonesia and the Philippines, killing 22 in the Philippines and 15 in Indonesia.

The capture in August of Indonesian Riduan bin Isomoddin (a.k.a. Hambali), JI leader and al-Qaida Southeast Asia operations chief, damaged the JI, but the group maintains its ability to target Western interests in the region and to recruit new members through a network of radical Islamic schools based primarily in Indonesia.

Strength: Exact numbers are currently unknown, and Southeast Asian authorities continue to uncover and arrest additional JI elements. Elements of total JI members vary widely from the hundreds to the thousands.

Location/Area of Operation: JI is believed to have cells spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, southern Thailand, and Pakistan and may have some presence in neighboring countries.

External Aid: Investigations indicate that, in addition to raising its own funds, JI receives money and logistic assistance from Middle Eastern and South Asian contacts, nongovernmental organizations, and other groups—including al-Qaida.

Al-Jihad

a.k.a. Jihad Group, Egyptian Islamic Jihad [EIJ]

Description: This Egyptian Islamic extremist group merged with Usama Bin Ladin's al-Qaida organization in June 2001. Active since the 1970s, the EIJ's primary goals traditionally have been to overthrow the Egyptian Government and replace it with an Islamic state and to attack US and Israeli interests in Egypt and abroad. EIJ members who didn't join al-Qaida retain the capability to conduct independent operations. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Historically specialized in armed attacks against high-level Egyptian Government personnel, including cabinet ministers, and car bombings against official US and Egyptian facilities. The original Jihad was responsible for the assassination in 1981 of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Claimed responsibility for the attempted assassinations of Interior Minister Hassan al-Alfi in August 1993 and Prime Minister Atef Sedky in November 1993. Has not conducted an attack inside Egypt since 1993 and has never successfully targeted foreign tourists there. Responsible for Egyptian Embassy bombing in Islamabad in 1995, and in 1998 an attack against US Embassy in Albania was thwarted.

Strength: Unknown, but probably has several hundred hard-core members.

Location/Area of Operation: Historically operated in the Cairo area, but most of its network is outside Egypt, including Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom, and its activities have been centered outside Egypt for several years.

External Aid: Unknown. The Egyptian Government claims that Iran supports the Jihad. Received most of its funding from al-Qaida after early 1998—close ties that culminated in the eventual merger of the two groups. Some funding may come from various Islamic nongovernmental organizations, cover businesses, and criminal acts.

Kahane Chai

a.k.a. Kach

Description: Stated goal is to restore the biblical state of Israel. Kach (founded by radical Israeli- American rabbi Meir Kahane) and its offshoot Kahane Chai, which means "Kahane Lives," (founded by Meir Kahane's son Binyamin following his father's assassination in the United States) were declared terrorist organizations in March 1994 by the Israeli Cabinet under the 1948 Terrorism Law. This followed the groups' statements in support of Dr. Baruch Goldstein's attack in February 1994 on the al-Ibrahimi Mosque—Goldstein was affiliated with Kach—and their verbal attacks on the Israeli Government. Palestinian gunmen killed Binyamin Kahane and his wife in a drive-by shooting in December 2000 in the West Bank. Kahane Chai and Kach were first designated separately in October 1997.

Activities: The group has organized protests against the Israeli Government. Kach has harassed and threatened Arabs, Palestinians, and Israeli Government officials. Has vowed revenge for the deaths of Binyamin Kahane and his wife. Suspected of involvement in a number of low-level attacks since the start of the al-Aqsa intifadah.

Strength: Unknown.

Location/Area of Operation: Israel and West Bank settlements, particularly Qiryat Arba' in Hebron.

External Aid: Receives support from sympathizers in the United States and Europe.

Kongra-Gel (KGK)

Kurdistan Workers' Party, PKK, KADEK, Kurdistan People's Congress, Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK), Freedom and Democracy Congress of Kurdistan

Description: Founded in 1978 as a Marxist-Leninist insurgent group primarily composed of Turkish Kurds. The group's goal has been to establish an independent, democratic Kurdish state in the Middle East. In the early 1990s, the PKK moved beyond rural-based insurgent activities to include urban terrorism. Turkish authorities captured Chairman Abdullah Ocalan in Kenya in early 1999; the Turkish State Security Court subsequently sentenced him to death. In August 1999, Ocalan announced a "peace initiative," ordering members to refrain from violence and requesting dialogue with Ankara on Kurdish issues. At a PKK Congress in January 2000, members supported Ocalan's initiative and claimed the group now would use only political means to achieve its public goal of improved rights for Kurds in Turkey. In April 2002 at its 8th Party Congress, the PKK changed its name to the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK) and proclaimed a commitment to nonviolent activities in support of Kurdish rights. Despite this pledge, a PKK/KADEK spokesman stated that its armed wing, The People's Defense Force, would not disband or surrender its weapons for reasons of self-defense. In late 2003, the group sought to engineer another political face-lift, renaming the group Kongra-Gel (KGK) and brandishing its "peaceful" intentions, while continuing to commit attacks and refuse disarmament. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Primary targets have been Turkish Government security forces in Turkey, local Turkish officials, and villagers who oppose the organization in Turkey. Conducted attacks on Turkish diplomatic and commercial facilities in dozens of West European cities in 1993 and again in spring 1995. In an attempt to damage Turkey's tourist industry, the then PKK bombed tourist sites and hotels and kidnapped foreign tourists in the early-to-mid 1990s. KGK continued to engage in violent acts—including at least one terrorist attack—against the Turkish state in 2003. Several members were arrested in Istanbul in late 2003 in possession of explosive materials.

Strength: Approximately 4,000 to 5,000, most of whom currently are located in northern Iraq. Has thousands of sympathizers in Turkey and Europe.

Location/Area of Operation: Operates primarily in Turkey, Europe, and the Middle East.

External Aid: Has received safe haven and modest aid from Syria, Iraq, and Iran. Syria and Iran appear to cooperate with Turkey against KGK in a limited fashion when it serves their immediate interests. KGK uses Europe for fundraising and conducting political propaganda.

Lashkar–Tayyiba (LT)

(Army of the Righteous)

Description: The LT is the armed wing of the Pakistan-based religious organization, Markaz-ud- Dawa-wal-Irshad (MDI)—a Sunni anti-US missionary organization formed in 1989. The LT is led by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and is one of the three-largest and best trained groups fighting in Kashmir against India; it is not connected to a political party. The United States in October 2001 announced the addition of the LT to the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) list—which includes organizations that are believed to support terrorist groups and have assets in US jurisdiction that can be frozen or controlled. The group was banned, and the Pakistani Government froze its assets in January 2002. The LT is also known by the name of its associated organization, Jamaat ud-Dawa (JUD). Musharraf placed JUD on a watch list in November 2003. First designated in December 2001.

Activities: The LT has conducted a number of operations against Indian troops and civilian targets in Jammu and Kashmir since 1993. The LT claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in 2001, including an attack in January on Srinagar airport that killed five Indians along with six militants; an attack on a police station in Srinagar that killed at least eight officers and wounded several others; and an attack in April against Indian border-security forces that left at least four dead. The Indian Government publicly implicated the LT—along with JEM—for the attack on 13 December 2001 on the Indian Parliament building, although concrete evidence is lacking. The LT is also suspected of involvement in the attack on 14 May 2002 on an Indian Army base in Kaluchak that left 36 dead. Senior al-Qaida lieutenant Abu Zubaydah was captured at an LT safehouse in Faisalabad in March 2002, suggesting some members are facilitating the movement of al-Qaida members in Pakistan.

Strength: Has several thousand members in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, and in southern Jammu and Kashmir and Doda regions and in the Kashmir valley. Almost all LT cadres are Pakistanis from madrassas across Pakistan and Afghan veterans of the Afghan wars. Uses assault rifles, light and heavy machineguns, mortars, explosives, and rocket-propelled grenades.

Location/Area of Operation: Based in Muridke (near Lahore) and Muzaffarabad.

External Aid: Collects donations from the Pakistani community in the Persian Gulf and United Kingdom, Islamic NGOs, and Pakistani and other Kashmiri business people. The LT also maintains a Website (under the name of its associated organization Jamaat ud-Daawa), through which it solicits funds and provides information on the group's activities. The amount of LT funding is unknown. The LT maintains ties to religious/military groups around the world, ranging from the Philippines to the Middle East and Chechnya through the fraternal network of its parent organization Jamaat ud-Dawa (formerly Markaz Dawa ul-Irshad). In anticipation of asset seizures by the Pakistani Government, the LT withdrew funds from bank accounts and invested in legal businesses, such as commodity trading, real estate, and production of consumer goods.

Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ)

(Army of Jhangvi)

Description: Lashkar I Jhangvi (LJ) is the militant offshoot of the Sunni sectarian group Sipah-i- Sahaba Pakistan (SSP). The group focuses primarily on anti-Shia attacks and was banned by Pakistani President Musharraf in August 2001 as part of an effort to rein in sectarian violence. Many of its members then sought refuge with the Taliban in Afghanistan, with whom they had existing ties. After the collapse of the Taliban, LJ members became active in aiding other terrorists with safehouses, false identities, and protection in Pakistani cities, including Karachi, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi. In January 2003, the United States added LJ to the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. First designated in January 2003.

Activities: LJ specializes in armed attacks and bombings. The group attempted to assassinate former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shabaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab Province, in January 1999. Pakistani authorities have publicly linked LJ members to the kidnap and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl in early 2002. Police officials initially suspected LJ members were involved in the two suicide car-bombings in Karachi in 2002—against a French shuttle bus in May and the US Consulate in June—but their subsequent investigations have not led to any LJ members being charged in the attacks. Similarly, press reports have linked LJ to attacks on Christian targets in Pakistan, including a grenade assault on the Protestant International Church in Islamabad in March 2002 that killed two US citizens, but no formal charges have been filed against the group. Pakistani authorities believe LJ was responsible for the bombing in July 2003 of a Shiite mosque in Quetta, Pakistan.

Strength: Probably fewer than 100.

Location/Area of Operation: LJ is active primarily in Punjab and Karachi. Some members travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

External Aid: Unknown.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

Other known front organizations: World Tamil Association (WTA), World Tamil Movement (WTM), the Federation of Associations of Canadian Tamils (FACT), the El lalan Force, and the Sangilian Force.

Description: Founded in 1976, the LTTE is the most powerful Tamil group in Sri Lanka and uses overt and illegal methods to raise funds, acquire weapons, and publicize its cause of establishing an independent Tamil state. The LTTE began its armed conflict with the Sri Lankan Government in 1983 and has relied on a guerrilla strategy that includes the use of terrorist tactics. The LTTE is currently observing a cease-fire agreement with the Sri Lankan Government. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: The Tigers have integrated a battlefield insurgent strategy with a terrorist program that targets not only key personnel in the countryside but also senior Sri Lankan political and military leaders in Colombo and other urban centers. The Tigers are most notorious for their cadre of suicide bombers, the Black Tigers. Political assassinations and bombings are commonplace.

Strength: Exact strength is unknown, but the LTTE is estimated to have 8,000 to 10,000 armed combatants in Sri Lanka, with a core of trained fighters of approximately 3,000 to 6,000. The LTTE also has a significant overseas support structure for fundraising, weapons procurement, and propaganda activities.

Location/Area of Operations: The Tigers control most of the northern and eastern coastal areas of Sri Lanka but have conducted operations throughout the island. Headquartered in northern Sri Lanka, LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has established an extensive network of checkpoints and informants to keep track of any outsiders who enter the group's area of control.

External Aid: The LTTE's overt organizations support Tamil separatism by lobbying foreign governments and the United Nations. The LTTE also uses its international contacts to procure weapons, communications, and any other equipment and supplies it needs. The LTTE exploits large Tamil communities in North America, Europe, and Asia to obtain funds and supplies for its fighters in Sri Lanka.

Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK or MKO)

a.k.a. The National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA, the militant wing of the MEK), the

People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI), National Council of Resistance (NCR), the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Muslim Iranian Student's Society (front organization used to garner financial support)

Description: The MEK philosophy mixes Marxism and Islam. Formed in the 1960s, the organization was expelled from Iran after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and its primary support came from the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein since the late 1980s. The MEK's history is filled with anti-Western attacks as well as terrorist attacks on the interests of the clerical regime in Iran and abroad. The MEK now advocates the overthrow of the Iranian regime and its replacement with the group's own leadership. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: The group's worldwide campaign against the Iranian Government stresses propaganda and occasionally uses terrorism. During the 1970s, the MEK killed US military personnel and US civilians working on defense projects in Tehran and supported the takeover in 1979 of the US Embassy in Tehran. In 1981, the MEK detonated bombs in the head office of the Islamic Republic Party and the Premier's office, killing some 70 high-ranking Iranian officials, including chief Justice Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti, President Mohammad-Ali Rajaei, and Premier Mohammad-Javad Bahonar. Near the end of the war with Iran during 1980-88, Baghdad armed the MEK with military equipment and sent it into action against Iranian forces. In 1991, it assisted the Government of Iraq in suppressing the Shia and Kurdish uprisings in southern Iraq and the Kurdish uprisings in the north. In April 1992, the MEK conducted near-simultaneous attacks on Iranian Embassies and installations in 13 countries, demonstrating the group's ability to mount large-scale operations overseas. In April 1999, the MEK targeted key military officers and assassinated the deputy chief of the Armed Forces General Staff. In April 2000, the MEK attempted to assassinate the commander of the Nasr Headquarters—Tehran's interagency board responsible for coordinating policies on Iraq. The normal pace of anti-Iranian operations increased during the "Operation Great Bahman" in February 2000, when the group launched a dozen attacks against Iran. In 2000 and 2001, the MEK was involved regularly in mortar attacks and hit-and run raids on Iranian military and law-enforcement units and government buildings near the Iran-Iraq border, although MEK terrorism in Iran declined throughout the remainder of 2001. In February 2000, for example, the MEK launched a mortar attack against the leadership complex in Tehran that houses the offices of the Supreme Leader and the President. Coalition aircraft bombed MEK bases during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Coalition forced the MEK forces to surrender in May 2003. The future of the MEK forces remains undetermined with Coalition forces.

Strength: Some 3,800 members are confined to Camp Ashraf, the MEK's main compound near Baghdad, where they remain under Coalition control. As a condition of the cease-fire agreement, the group relinquished its weapons, including tanks, armored vehicles, and heavy artillery.

Location/Area of Operation: In the 1980s, the MEK's leaders were forced by Iranian security forces to flee to France. On resettling in Iraq in 1987, almost all of its armed units were stationed in fortified bases near the border with Iran. Since Operation Iraqi Freedom, the bulk of the group is limited to Camp Ashraf though an overseas support structure remains with associates and supporters scattered throughout Europe and North America.

External Aid: Before Operation Iraqi Freedom, the group received all of its military assistance, and most of its financial support, from the former Iraqi regime. The MEK also has used front organizations to solicit contributions from expatriate Iranian communities.

National Liberation Army (ELN)–Colombia

Description: Marxist insurgent group formed in 1965 by urban intellectuals inspired by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. In October 2003, the Colombian Government released top ELN leader Felipe Torres from prison, hoping to spur the ELN to accept government demands to declare a cease-fire and come back to the negotiating table, but by year's end peace talks had not commenced. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Kidnapping, hijacking, bombing, and extortion. Minimal conventional military capability. Annually conducts hundreds of kidnappings for ransom, often targeting foreign employees of large corporations, especially in the petroleum industry. Derives some revenue from taxation of the illegal narcotics industry. Frequently assaults energy infrastructure and has inflicted major damage on pipelines and the electric distribution network. In September, the ELN kidnapped eight foreign tourists, but they have all since either escaped or been released.

Strength: Approximately 3,000 armed combatants and an unknown number of active supporters.

Location/Area of Operation: Mostly in rural and mountainous areas of north, northeast, and southwest Colombia and Venezuela border regions.

External Aid: Cuba provides some degree of safe haven, medical care, and political consultation. Reports persist that ELN members are often able to obtain safe haven inside Venezuelan territory near the Colombian border.

The Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

Description: Originated among militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the 1970s. Committed to the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state and the destruction of Israel through holy war. Also opposes moderate Arab governments that it believes have been tainted by Western secularism. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: PIJ activists have conducted many attacks including large-scale suicide bombings against Israeli civilian and military targets. The group decreased its operational activity in 2003 but still claimed numerous attacks against Israeli interests. The group has not yet targeted US interests and continues to confine its attacks to Israelis inside Israel and the territories. US citizens have died in attacks mounted by the PIJ.

Strength: Unknown.

Location/Area of Operation: Primarily Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip. The group's leadership resides in Syria and Lebanon, as well as other parts of the Middle East.

External Aid: Receives financial assistance from Iran and limited logistic support assistance from Syria.

Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)

Description: Broke away from the PFLP-GC in the late 1970's. Later, split again into pro-PLO, pro- Syrian, and pro-Libyan factions. Pro-PLO faction led by Muhammad Abbas (a.k.a. Abu Abbas) had been based in Baghdad. Abbas himself was detained by Coalition Forces in April 2003 and subsequently died in custody of natural causes in March 2004. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: The Abu Abbas–led faction is known for aerial attacks against Israel. Abbas's group also was responsible for the attack in 1985 on the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro and the murder of US citizen Leon Klinghoffer. Has become more active since the start of the al-Aqsa intifadah, and several PLF members have been arrested by Israeli authorities for planning attacks in Israel and the West Bank.

Strength: Unknown.

Location/Area of Operation: Based in Iraq since 1990 and has a presence in Lebanon and the West Bank.

External Aid: Had received support mainly from Iraq. Has received support from Libya in the past.

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)

Description: Marxist-Leninist group founded in 1967 by George Habash—as a member of the PLO—when it broke away from the Arab Nationalist Movement. The PFLP does not view the Palestinian struggle as a religious one, seeing it instead as a broader revolution against Western imperialism. The group earned a reputation for spectacular international attacks, including airline hijackings that have killed at least 20 US citizens. The PFLP is opposed to the Oslo process. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Committed numerous international terrorist attacks during the 1970s. Since 1978 has conducted attacks against Israeli or moderate Arab targets, including killing a settler and her son in December 1996. The PFLP has stepped up its operational activity since the start of the current intifadah highlighted by its assassination of the Israeli Tourism Minster in October 2001 to avenge Israel's killing of the PFLP Secretary General earlier that year.

Strength: Unknown.

Location/Area of Operation: Syria, Lebanon, Israel, West Bank, and Gaza Strip.

External Aid: Receives safe haven and some logistic assistance from Syria.

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command (PFLP-GC)

Description: Split from the PFLP in 1968, claiming it wanted to focus more on fighting and less on politics. Violently opposed to Arafat's PLO. Led by Ahmad Jabril, a former captain in the Syrian Army. Jabril's son, Jihad, was killed by a car bomb in May 2002. Closely tied to both Syria and Iran. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Carried out dozens of attacks in Europe and the Middle East during the 1970s and 1980s. Known for cross-border terrorist attacks into Israel using unusual means, such as hot air balloons and motorized hang gliders. Primary focus now on guerrilla operations in southern Lebanon and small-scale attacks in Israel, West Bank, and Gaza Strip.

Strength: Several hundred.

Location/Area of Operation: Headquartered in Damascus with bases in Lebanon.

External Aid: Receives logistic and military support from Syria and financial support from Iran.

Al-Qaida

a.k.a. Qa'idat al-Jihad

Description: Established by Usama Bin Ladin in the late 1980s to bring together Arabs who fought in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union. Helped finance, recruit, transport, and train Sunni Islamic extremists for the Afghan resistance. Current goal is to establish a pan- Islamic Caliphate throughout the world by working with allied Islamic extremist groups to overthrow regimes it deems "non-Islamic" and expelling Westerners and non-Muslims from Muslim countries—particularly Saudi Arabia. Issued statement under banner of "the World Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and Crusaders" in February 1998, saying it was the duty of all Muslims to kill US citizens—civilian or military—and their allies everywhere. Merged with Egyptian Islamic Jihad (Al-Jihad) in June 2001. First designated in October 1999.

Activities: In 2003, carried out the assault and bombing on 12 May of three expatriate housing complexes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that killed 20 and injured 139. Assisted in carrying out the bombings on 16 May in Casablanca, Morocco, of a Jewish center, restaurant, nightclub, and hotel that killed 41 and injured 101. Probably supported the bombing of the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 5 August that killed 17 and injured 137. Responsible for the assault and bombing on 9 November of a housing complex in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that killed 17 and injured 100. Conducted the bombings of two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, on 15 November that killed 23 and injured 200 and the bombings in Istanbul of the British Consulate and HSBC Bank on 20 November that resulted in 27 dead and 455 injured. Has been involved in some attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2002, carried out bombing on 28 November of hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, killing 15 and injuring 40. Probably supported a nightclub bombing in Bali, Indonesia, on 12 October that killed about 180. Responsible for an attack on US military personnel in Kuwait, on 8 October, that killed one US soldier and injured another. Directed a suicide attack on the MV Limburg off the coast of Yemen, on 6 October that killed one and injured four. Carried out a firebombing of a synagogue in Tunisia on 11 April that killed 19 and injured 22. On 11 September 2001, 19 al-Qaida suicide attackers hijacked and crashed four US commercial jets—two into the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon near Washington, DC, and a fourth into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, leaving about 3,000 individuals dead or missing. Directed the attack on the USS Cole in the port of Aden, Yemen, on 12 October 2000 killing 17 US Navy members and injuring another 39.

Conducted the bombings in August 1998 of the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dares Salaam, Tanzania, that killed at least 301 individuals and injured more than 5,000 others. Claims to have shot down US helicopters and killed US servicemen in Somalia in 1993 and to have conducted three bombings that targeted US troops in Aden, Yemen, in December 1992.

Al-Qaida is linked to the following plans that were disrupted or not carried out: to assassinate Pope John Paul II during his visit to Manila in late 1994, to kill President Clinton during a visit to the Philippines in early 1995, to bomb in midair a dozen US transpacific flights in 1995, and to set off a bomb at Los Angeles International Airport in 1999. Also plotted to carry out terrorist operations against US and Israeli tourists visiting Jordan for millennial celebrations in late 1999. (Jordanian authorities thwarted the planned attacks and put 28 suspects on trial.) In December 2001, suspected al-Qaida associate Richard Colvin Reid attempted to ignite a shoe bomb on a transatlantic flight from Paris to Miami. Attempted to shoot down an Israeli chartered plane with a surface-to-air missile as it departed the Mombasa airport in November 2002.

Strength: Al-Qaida probably has several thousand members and associates. The arrests of senior-level al-Qaida operatives have interrupted some terrorist plots. Also serves as a focal point or umbrella organization for a worldwide network that includes many Sunni Islamic extremist groups, some members of al-Gama' a al-Islamiyya, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the Harakat ul-Mujahidin.

Location/Area of Operation: Al-Qaida has cells worldwide and is reinforced by its ties to Sunni extremist networks. Was based in Afghanistan until Coalition forces removed the Taliban from power in late 2001. Al-Qaida has dispersed in small groups across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East and probably will attempt to carry out future attacks against US interests.

External Aid: Al-Qaida maintains moneymaking front businesses, solicits donations from likeminded supporters, and illicitly siphons funds from donations to Muslim charitable organizations. US and international efforts to block al-Qaida funding has hampered the group's ability to obtain money.

Real IRA (RIRA)

a.k.a. 32 County Sovereignty Committee

Description: Formed in early 1998 as the clandestine armed wing of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement, a "political pressure group" dedicated to removing British forces from Northern Ireland and unifying Ireland. RIRA also seeks to disrupt the Northern Ireland peace process. The 32-County Sovereignty Movement opposed Sinn Fein's adoption in September 1997 of the Mitchell principles of democracy and nonviolence and opposed the amendment in December 1999 of Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Constitution, which laid claim to Northern Ireland. Despite internal rifts and calls by some jailed members—including the group's founder Michael "Mickey" McKevitt—for a ceasefire and the group's disbandment, the group pledged additional violence in October 2002 and continued to conduct attacks. First designated in May 2001.

Activities: Bombings, assassinations, and robberies. Many Real IRA members are former Provisional IRA members who left that organization following the Provisional IRA cease-fire and bring to RIRA a wealth of experience in terrorist tactics and bomb making. Targets have included civilians (most notoriously in the Omagh bombing in August 1998), the British military, the police in Northern Ireland, and Northern Ireland Protestant communities. Since October 1999, RIRA has carried out more than 80 terrorist attacks. RIRA's most recent fatal attack was in August 2002 at a London Army Base that killed a construction worker. In June 2003 raids, Irish national police interdicted two large-scale vehicle-born improvised explosive devices, each weighing more than 1,000 lbs. Five RIRA members and a senior Continuity Irish Republican Army member (CIRA) also were arrested during the raids.

Strength: 100 to 200 activists plus possible limited support from IRA hardliners dissatisfied with the IRA ceasefire and other republican sympathizers. Approximately 40 RIRA members are in Irish jails.

Location/Area of Operation: Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, and Irish Republic.

External Aid: Suspected of receiving funds from sympathizers in the United States and of attempting to buy weapons from US gun dealers. RIRA also is reported to have purchased sophisticated weapons from the Balkans. In May 2002, three Irish nationals associated with RIRA pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to cause an explosion and trying to obtain weapons following their extradition from Slovenia to the United Kingdom.

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)

Description: Growing out of the turmoil and fighting in the 1950s between liberal and conservative militias, the FARC was established in 1964 by the Colombian Communist Party to defend what were then autonomous Communist-controlled rural areas. The FARC is Latin America's oldest, largest, most capable, and best-equipped insurgency of Marxist origin. Although only nominally fighting in support of Marxist goals today, the FARC is governed by a general secretariat led by longtime leader Manuel Marulanda (a.k.a. "Tirofi jo") and six others, including senior military commander Jorge Briceno (a.k.a. "Mono Jojoy"). It is organized along military lines and includes several units that operate mostly in key urban areas such as Bogota. In 2003, the FARC conducted several high profile terrorist attacks, including a February car-bombing of a Bogota nightclub that killed more than 30 persons and wounded more than 160, as well as a November grenade attack in Bogota's restaurant district that wounded three Americans. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Bombings, murder, mortar attacks, narcotrafficking, kidnapping, extortion, hijacking, as well as guerrilla and conventional military action against Colombian political, military, and economic targets. In March 1999, the FARC executed three US Indian rights activists on Venezuelan territory after it kidnapped them in Colombia. In February 2003, the FARC captured and continues to hold three US contractors and killed one other American and a Colombian when their plane crashed in Florencia.

Foreign citizens often are targets of FARC kidnapping for ransom. The FARC has well-documented ties to the full range of narcotics trafficking activities, including taxation, cultivation, and distribution.

Strength: Approximately 9,000 to 12,000 armed combatants and several thousand more supporters, mostly in rural areas.

Location/Area of Operation: Primarily in Colombia, with some activities—extortion, kidnapping, weapons sourcing, logistics, and R&R—in neighboring Brazil, Venezuela, Panama, and Ecuador.

External Aid: Cuba provides some medical care and political consultation. A trial is currently underway in Bogota to determine whether three members of the Irish Republican Army—arrested in Colombia in 2001 upon exiting the FARC-controlled demilitarized zone (despeje)—provided advanced explosives training to the FARC. The FARC and the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN) often use the border area for crossborder incursions and use Venezuelan territory near the border as a safe haven.

Revolutionary Nuclei (RN)

a.k.a. Revolutionary Cells

Description: Revolutionary Nuclei (RN) emerged from a broad range of antiestablishment and anti- US/NATO/EU leftist groups active in Greece between 1995 and 1998. The group is believed to be the successor to or offshoot of Greece's most prolific terrorist group, Revolutionary People's Struggle (ELA), which has not claimed an attack since January 1995. Indeed, RN appeared to fill the void left by ELA, particularly as lesser groups faded from the scene. RN's few communiqués show strong similarities in rhetoric, tone, and theme to ELA proclamations. RN has not claimed an attack since November 2000 nor has it announced its disbandment. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Since it began operations in January 1995, the group has claimed responsibility for some two-dozen arson attacks and low-level bombings targeting a range of US, Greek, and other European targets in Greece. In its most infamous and lethal attack to date, the group claimed responsibility for a bomb it detonated at the Intercontinental Hotel in April 1999 that resulted in the death of a Greek woman and injured a Greek man. Its modus operandi includes warning calls of impending attacks, attacks targeting property vice individuals, use of rudimentary timing devices, and strikes during the late evening–to–early morning hours. RN may have been responsible for two attacks in July against a US insurance company and a local bank in Athens. RN's last confirmed attack against US interests in Greece was in November 2000 with two separate bombings against the Athens offices of Citigroup and the studio of a Greek/American sculptor. Greek targets have included judicial and other government office buildings, private vehicles, and the offices of Greek firms involved in NATO-related defense contracts in Greece. Similarly, the group has attacked European interests in Athens, including Barclays Bank in December 1998 and November 2000.

Strength: Group membership is believed to be small, probably drawing from the Greek militant leftist or anarchist milieu.

Location/Area of Operation: Primary area of operation is in the Athens metropolitan area.

External Aid: Unknown but believed to be self-sustaining.

Revolutionary Organization 17 November

a.k.a. 17 November

Description: Radical leftist group established in 1975 and named for the student uprising in Greece in November 1973 that protested the ruling military junta. Anti-Greek establishment, anti-United States, anti-Turkey, and anti-NATO group that seeks the ouster of US bases from Greece, the removal of Turkish military forces from Cyprus, and the severing of Greece's ties to NATO and the European Union (EU). First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Initially conducted assassinations of senior US officials and Greek public figures. Added bombings in the 1980s. Since 1990 has expanded its targets to include EU facilities and foreign firms investing in Greece and has added improvised rocket attacks to its methods. Supports itself largely through bank robberies. A failed 17 November bombing attempt in June 2002 at the Port of Piraeus in Athens coupled with robust detective work led to the first-ever arrests of this group. In December 2003, a Greek court convicted 15 members—five of whom were given multiple life terms—of hundreds of crimes. Four other alleged members were acquitted because of a lack of evidence.

Strength: Unknown but presumed to be small. Police arrested 19 suspected members of the group in 2002.

Location/Area of Operation: Athens, Greece.

External Aid: Unknown.

Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)

a.k.a. Devrimci Sol, Revolutionary Left, Dev Sol

Description: Originally formed in 1978 as Devrimci Sol, or Dev Sol, a splinter faction of Dev Genc (Revolutionary Youth). Renamed in 1994 after factional infighting; "Party" refers to the group's political activities, while "Front" is a reference to the group's militant operations. The group espouses a Marxist-Leninist ideology and is virulently anti-US, anti-NATO, and anti-Turkish establishment. It finances its activities chiefly through donations and extortion. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Since the late 1980s, the group has targeted primarily current and retired Turkish security and military officials. It began a new campaign against foreign interests in 1990, which included attacks against US military and diplomatic personnel and facilities. To protest perceived US imperialism during the Gulf war, the DHKP/C assassinated two US military contractors; wounded an Air Force officer; and bombed more than 20 US and NATO military, commercial, and cultural facilities. In its first significant terrorist act as DHKP/C in 1996, it assassinated a prominent Turkish businessman and two others. DHKP/C added suicide bombings to its repertoire in 2001, with successful attacks against Turkish police in January and September. Security operations in Turkey and elsewhere have weakened the group, however. DHKP/C did not conduct any major terrorist attacks in 2003, although a DHKP/C operative prematurely detonated her explosive belt in May.

Strength: Probably several dozen terrorist operatives inside Turkey, with a large support network throughout Europe.

Location/Area of Operation: Turkey, primarily Istanbul. Raises funds in Europe.

External Aid: Unknown.

Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC)

Description: The Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), an outgrowth of the GIA, appears to have eclipsed the GIA since approximately 1998 and is currently the most effective armed group inside Algeria. In contrast to the GIA, the GSPC has gained some popular support through its pledge to avoid civilian attacks inside Algeria. Its adherents abroad appear to have largely co-opted the external networks of the GIA and are particularly active throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. First designated in March 2002.

Activities: The GSPC continues to conduct operations aimed at government and military targets, primarily in rural areas, although civilians are sometimes killed. A faction within the GSPC held 31 European tourists hostage in 2003 to collect ransom for their release. According to press reporting, some GSPC members in Europe maintain contacts with other North African extremists sympathetic to al-Qaida. In late 2003, the new GSPC leader issued a communiqué declaring the group's allegiance to a number of jihadist causes and movements, including al-Qaida.

Strength: Unknown; probably several hundred fighters with an unknown number of support networks inside Algeria.

Location/Area of Operation: Algeria, Northern Mali, Northern Mauritania, and Northern Niger.

External Aid: Algerian expatriates and GSPC members abroad, many residing in Western Europe, provide financial and logistic support. In addition, the Algerian Government has accused Iran and Sudan of supporting Algerian extremists in years past.

Sendero Luminoso

(Shining Path or SL)

Description: Former university professor Abimael Guzman formed SL in Peru in the late 1960s, and his teachings created the foundation of SL's militant Maoist doctrine. In the 1980s, SL became one of the most ruthless terrorist groups in the Western Hemisphere approximately 30,000 persons have died since Shining Path took up arms in 1980. The Peruvian Government made dramatic gains against SL during the 1990s, but reports of recent SL involvement in narcotrafficking and kidnapping for ransom indicate it may have a new source of funding with which to sustain a resurgence. Its stated goal is to destroy existing Peruvian institutions and replace them with a communist peasant revolutionary regime. It also opposes any influence by foreign governments. In January 2003, Peruvian courts granted approximately 1,900 members the right to request retrials in a civilian court, including the imprisoned top leadership. Counterterrorist operations targeted pockets of terrorist activity in the Upper Huallaga River Valley and the Apurimac/Ene River Valley, where SL columns continued to conduct periodic attacks. Peruvian authorities captured several SL members in 2003. First designated in October 1997.

Activities: Conducted indiscriminate bombing campaigns and selective assassinations. In June 2003, an SL column kidnapped 71 Peruvian and foreign employees working on the Camisea gas line in Ayacucho Department.

Strength: Membership is unknown but currently estimated to be 400 to 500 armed militants.

Location/Area of Operation: Peru, with most activity in rural areas.

External Aid: None.

United Self-Defense Forces/Group of Colombia

a.k.a. AUC–Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia

Description: The AUC—commonly referred to as the paramilitaries—is a loose umbrella organization formed in April 1997 to consolidate most local and regional self-defense groups each with the mission to protect economic interests and combat FARC and ELN insurgents locally. The AUC is supported by economic elites, drug traffickers, and local communities lacking effective government security and claims its primary objective is to protect its sponsors from insurgents. Some elements under the AUC umbrella, under its political leader Carlos Castano's influence, have voluntarily agreed to a unilateral cease-fire though violations of the cease-fire do occur. Parts of the AUC loyal to Castano currently are in negotiations with the Government of Colombia to demobilize. To date, approximately 1,000 AUC fighters have demobilized. First designated in September 2001.

Activities: AUC operations vary from assassinating suspected insurgent supporters to engaging FARC and ELN combat units. Castano has publicly claimed that 70 percent of the AUC's operational costs are financed with drugrelated earnings, the rest from "donations" from its sponsors. The AUC generally avoids actions against US personnel or interests.

Strength: Estimated 8,000 to 11,000 and an unknown number of active supporters.

Location/Areas of Operation: AUC forces are strongest in the northwest in Antioquia, Cordoba, Sucre, and Bolivar Departments. Since 1999, the group demonstrated a growing presence in other northern and southwestern department s. Clashes between the AUC and the FARC insurgents in Putumayo in 2000 demonstrated the range of the AUC to contest insurgents throughout Colombia.

External Aid: None.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON OTHER TERRORIST GROUPS

Al-Badhr Mujahidin (al-Badr)

Description: Split from Hizb ul-Mujahidin (HM) in 1998. Traces its origins to 1971 when a group of the same name attacked Bengalis in East Pakistan. Later operated as part of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Hizb-I-Islami (HIG) in Afghanistan and from 1990 as a unit of HM in Kashmir.

Activities: Has conducted a number of operations against Indian military targets in Jammu and Kashmir.

Strength: Perhaps several hundred.

Location/Area of Operation: Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

External Aid: Unknown.

Al-Ittihad al-Islami (AIAI)

Description: AIAI rose to power in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Siad Barre regime. Some members of AIAI maintain ties to al-Qaida.

Activities: The group is believed to be responsible for a series of bomb attacks in public places in Addis Ababa in 1996 and 1997 as well as the kidnapping of several relief workers in 1998. AIAI sponsors Islamic social programs, such as orphanages and schools, and provides pockets of security in Somalia.

Strength: Estimated membership is roughly 2,000 persons, of which a small percentage is considered militant. During the 1990s, AIAI sustained significant losses at the hands of the Ethiopian military, from which the group never fully recovered. Members now operate in small cells or groups.

Location/Area of Operations: Primarily in Somalia, with limited presence in Ethiopia and Kenya.

External Aid: Receives funds from Middle East financiers and Western diaspora remittances and suspected of receiving training in Afghanistan in the past. Past weapons deliveries via Sudan and Eritrea.

Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB)

Description: The ABB, the breakaway urban hit squad of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army, was formed in the mid-1980s. The ABB was added to the Terrorist Exclusion list in December 2001.

Activities: Responsible for more than 100 murders, including the murder in 1989 of US Army Col. James Rowe in the Philippines. In March 1997, the group announced it had formed an alliance with another armed group, the Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA). In March 2000, the group claimed credit for a rifle grenade attack against the Department of Energy building in Manila and strafed Shell Oil offices in the central Philippines to protest rising oil prices.

Strength: Approximately 500.

Location/Area of Operation: The largest RPA/ABB groups are on the Philippine islands of Luzon, Negros, and the Visayas.

External Aid: Unknown.

Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (ALIR)

a.k.a. Ex-FAR/Interahamwe, (formerly Armed Forces of Rwanda)

Description: The Armed Forces of Rwanda (FAR) was the army of the ethnic Hutu-dominated Rwandan regime that carried out the genocide of 500,000 or more Tutsis and regime opponents in 1994. The Interahamwe was the civilian militia force that carried out much of the killing. The groups merged and recruited additional fighters after they were forced from Rwanda into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC; then Zaire) in 1994. They became known as the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (ALIR), which is the armed branch of the PALIR or Party for the Liberation of Rwanda. In 2001, ALIR—while not formally disbanded—was supplanted by the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). Though directly descended from those who organized and carried out the genocide, identified FDLR leaders are not thought to have played a role in the killing. They have worked to build bridges to other opponents of the Kigali regime, including ethnic Tutsis.

Activities: ALIR sought to topple Rwanda's Tutsi-dominated government, reinstitute Hutu domination, and, possibly, complete the genocide. In 1996, a message—allegedly from the ALIR—threatened to kill the US ambassador to Rwanda and other US citizens. In 1999, ALIR guerrillas critical of alleged US-UK support for the Rwandan regime kidnapped and killed eight foreign tourists, including two US citizens, in a game park on the Democratic Republic of Congo-Uganda border. In the 1998-2002 Congolese war, the ALIR/FDLR was allied with Kinshasa against the Rwandan invaders. FDLR's political wing has mainly sought to topple the Kigali regime via alliance with Tutsi regime opponents. They established the ADRN Igihango alliance in 2002, but it has not resonated politically in Rwanda.

Strength: Exact strength is unknown, but several thousand FDLR guerrillas operate in eastern DRC close to the Rwandan border. In 2003, the United Nations, with Rwandan assistance, repatriated close to 1,500 FDLR combatants from the DRC. The senior FDLR military commander returned to Rwanda in November 2003 and has been working with Kigali to encourage the return of his comrades.

Location/Area of Operation: Mostly eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

External Support: The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo provided training, arms, and supplies to ALIR forces to combat Rwandan armed forces that invaded the DRC in 1998 but halted that support in 2002.

Anti-Imperialist Territorial Nuclei (NTA)

a.k.a. Anti-Imperialist Territorial Units

Description: Clandestine leftist extremist group that first appeared in the Friuli region in Italy in 1995. Adopted the class-struggle ideology of the Red Brigades of the 1970s and 1980s and a similar logo—an encircled five-point star—for their declarations. Seeks the formation of an "anti-imperialist fighting front" with other Italian leftist terrorist groups including Revolutionary Proletarian Initiative Nuclei and the New Red Brigades. Opposes what it perceives as US and NATO imperialism and condemns Italy's foreign and labor polices. Identified experts in four Italian Government sectors—federalism, privatizations, justice reform, and jobs and pensions—as potential targets in a leaflet dated January 2002.

Activities: To date, the group has conducted attacks against property rather than persons. This pattern continued in 2003 when NTA claimed responsibility for the arson attacks against three vehicles belonging to US troops serving at the Ederle and Aviano bases in Italy. In January 2002, police thwarted an attempt by four NTA members to enter the Rivolto Military Air Base. It claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in September 2000 against the Central European Initiative office in Trieste and a bomb attack in August 2001 against the Venice Tribunal building. During the NATO intervention in Kosovo, NTA members threw gasoline bombs at the Venice and Rome headquarters of the then-ruling party, Democrats of the Left.

Strength: Approximately 20 members. In 2003, no NTA members were arrested and prosecuted.

Location/Area of Operation: Primarily northeastern Italy.

External Aid: None evident.

Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF)

a.k.a. Cholana Kangtoap Serei Cheat Kampouchea

Description: The Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF) emerged in November 1998 in the wake of political violence that saw many influential Cambodian leaders flee and the Cambodian People's Party assume power. With an avowed aim of overthrowing the Government, the US-based group is led by a Cambodian-American, a former member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party. The CFF's membership reportedly includes Cambodian- Americans based in Thailand and the United States and former soldiers from the Khmer Rouge, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and various political factions.

Activities: The Cambodian Government arrested seven CFF members who were reportedly planning an unspecified terrorist attack in southwestern Cambodia in late 2003, but there were no successful CFF attacks in 2003. Cambodian courts in February and March 2002 prosecuted 38 CFF members suspected of staging an attack in Cambodia in 2000. The courts convicted 19 members, including one US citizen, of "terrorism" and/or "membership in an armed group" and sentenced them to terms of five years to life imprisonment. The group claimed responsibility for an attack in late November 2000 on several government installations that killed at least eight persons and wounded more than a dozen. In April 1999, five CFF members were arrested for plotting to blow up a fuel depot outside Phnom Penh with antitank weapons.

Strength: Exact strength is unknown, but totals probably never have exceeded 100-armed fighters.

Location/Area of Operation: Northeastern Cambodia near the Thai border and the United States.

External Aid: US-based leadership collects funds from the Cambodian-American community.

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)/United People's Front

Description: The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) insurgency grew out of the increasing radicalization and fragmentation of leftwing parties following the emergence of democracy in 1990. The United People's Front—a coalition of leftwing parties—participated in the elections of 1991, but the Maoist wing failed to win the minimum three percent of the vote leading to their exclusion from voter lists in the elections of 1994. In response, they abandoned electoral politics and in 1996 launched the insurgency. The Maoists' ultimate objective is the takeover of the government and the transformation of society, probably including the elimination of the present elite, nationalization of the private sector, and collectivization of agriculture. In 2003, the United States designated Nepal's Maoists under Executive Order (EO) 13224 as a supporter of terrorist activity.

Activities: The Maoists have utilized traditional guerrilla war tactics aimed at ultimately overthrowing the Nepalese Government in favor of a single-party Communist state. In line with these efforts, the Maoists continue to use murder, torture, arson, sabotage, extortion, child conscription, kidnapping, threats of physical violence, bombings, and assassinations to intimidate and coerce the populace. In 2002, Maoists claimed responsibility for assassinating two Nepalese US Embassy guards, citing anti-Maoist spying, and in a press statement threatened foreign embassy missions—including the US mission—to deter foreign support for the Nepalese Government.

Strength: Probably several thousand full-time cadres.

Location: Operations are conducted throughout Nepal. Press reports indicate Maoist leaders reside in India.

External Aid: None.

Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA)

Description: Terrorist splinter group formed in 1994 as the clandestine armed wing of Republican Sinn Fein (RSF), which split from Sinn Fein in 1986. "Continuity" refers to the group's belief that it is carrying on the original IRA goal of forcing the British out of Northern Ireland. Cooperates with the larger Real IRA. Designated under Executive Order 13224 in December 2001.

Activities: CIRA has been active in Belfast and the border areas of Northern Ireland where it has carried out bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, extortion, and robberies. On occasion, it has provided advance warning to police of its attacks. Targets include British military, Northern Ireland security targets, and loyalist paramilitary groups. Unlike the Provisional IRA, CIRA is not observing a cease-fire. CIRA continued its bombing campaign in 2003 with a string of low-level improvised explosive device attacks. A senior CIRA member was arrested, and two powerful RIRA bombs were seized in a June 2003 raid.

Strength: Fewer than 50 hard-core activists. Eleven CIRA members have been convicted of criminal charges, and others are awaiting trial. Police counterterrorist operations have reduced the group's strength, but CIRA has been able to reconstitute its membership through active recruiting efforts.

Location/Area of Operation: Northern Ireland, Irish Republic. Does not have an established presence on the UK mainland.

External Aid: Suspected of receiving funds and arms from sympathizers in the United States. May have acquired arms and materiel from the Balkans in cooperation with the Real IRA.

Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM)

Description: The Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a small Islamic extremist group based in China's western Xinjiang Province, is the most militant of the ethnic Uighur separatist groups pursuing an independent "Eastern Turkistan," an area that would include Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Xinjiang. ETIM is linked to al-Qaida and the international mujahidin movement. Designated under EO 13224 in September 2002.

Activities: ETIM militants fought alongside al-Qaida and Taliban forces in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. In October 2003, Pakistani soldiers killed ETIM leader Hassan Makhsum during raids on al-Qaida–associated compounds in western Pakistan. US and Chinese Government information suggests ETIM is responsible for various terrorist acts inside and outside China. In May 2002, two ETIM members were deported to China from Kyrgyzstan for plotting to attack the US Embassy in Kyrgyzstan as well as other US interests abroad.

Strength: Unknown. Only a small minority of ethnic Uighurs supports the Xinjiang independence movement or the formation of an East Turkistan.

Location/Area of Operation: Xinjiang Province and neighboring countries in the region.

External Aid: ETIM has received training and financial assistance from al-Qaida.

First of October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO)

Grupo de Resistencia Anti-Fascista Primero de Octubre

Description: Formed in 1975 as the armed wing of the illegal Communist Party of Spain during the Franco era. Advocates the overthrow of the Spanish Government and its replacement with a Marxist-Leninist regime. GRAPO is vehemently anti-United States, seeks the removal of all US military forces from Spanish territory, and has conducted and attempted several attacks against US targets since 1977. The group issued a communiqué following the attacks of 11 September in the United States, expressing its satisfaction that "symbols of imperialist power" were decimated and affirming that "the war" has only just begun. Designated under EO 13224 in December 2001.

Activities: GRAPO did not mount a successful terrorist attack in 2003, marking the second consecutive year without an attack. The group suffered several major setbacks as well. In March, the group's political wing—the Reconstituted Communist Party of Spain (PCE/R)—was outlawed, marking the first time in the organization's 28-year history that the Spanish judicial system ruled that GRAPO and the PCE/R comprised a single organization. In June, seven GRAPO members—including four leaders—were sentenced to various prison terms in France. Early in 2003, GRAPO committed a series of bank robberies, ostensibly to fund its operations. GRAPO has killed more than 90 persons and injured more than 200 since its formation. The group's operations traditionally have been designed to cause material damage and gain publicity rather than inflict casualties, but the terrorists have conducted lethal bombings and close range assassinations. In May 2000, the group killed two security guards during a botched armed robbery attempt of an armored truck carrying an estimated $2 million, and in November 2000, members assassinated a Spanish policeman in a possible reprisal for the arrest that month of several GRAPO leaders in France.

Strength: Fewer than two-dozen activists remaining. Police have made periodic large-scale arrests of GRAPO members, crippling the organization and forcing it into lengthy rebuilding periods. In 2002, Spanish and French authorities arrested 22 suspected members, including some of the group's reconstituted leadership. Three more members were arrested in December 2003.

Location/Area of Operation: Spain.

External Aid: None.

Great East Islamic Raiders–Front (IBDA-C)

Description: The Islamic Great Eastern Raiders–Front (IBDA-C) is a Sunni Salafist group that supports Islamic rule in Turkey and believes that Turkey's present secular leadership is "illegal." It has been known to cooperate with various opposition elements in Turkey in attempts to destabilize the country's political structure. The group supports the establishment of a "pure Islamic" state, to replace the present "corrupt" Turkish regime that is cooperating with the West. Its primary goal is the establishment of the Federative Islamic State, a goal backed by armed terrorist attacks primarily against civilian targets. It has been active since the mid-1970s.

Activities: The IBDA-C has engaged in activities that minimize personal risk, such as bombings, throwing Molotov cocktails and sabotage. The group has announced its actions and targets in publications to its members, who are free to launch independent attacks. The IBDA-C typically has attacked civilian targets, including: churches, charities, minority-affiliated targets, television transmitters, newspapers, prosecular journalists, Ataturk statues, taverns, banks, clubs, and tobacco shops. One of the IBDA-C's more renowned attacks was the killing of 37 people in a firebomb attack in July 1993 on a hotel in Sivas. The group claimed responsibility for a quadruple bomb attack in Istanbul in February 2002. In 1994, the IBDA-C was tied to an attempt to assassinate a Jewish businessman and an attack on the Greek Orthodox Church in Istanbul. In 1992, the group had unconfirmed involvement in an attack on an Istanbul synagogue. Turkish police believe that the IBDA-C has also claimed responsibilities for attacks carried out by other groups to elevate its image.

Strength: Unknown.

Location/Area of Operation: Turkey.

External Aid: Specific sources of external aid are unknown.

Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI)

Movement of Islamic Holy War

Description: HUJI, a Sunni extremist group that follows the Deobandi tradition of Islam, was founded in 1980 in Afghanistan to fight in the jihad against the Soviets. It also is affiliated with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazlur Rehman Jalili faction (JUI-F) and the Deobandi school of Sunni Islam. The group, led by Qari Saifullah Akhtar and chief commander Amin Rabbani, is made up primarily of Pakistanis and foreign Islamists who are fighting for the liberation of Jammu and Kashmir and its accession to Pakistan.

Activities: Has conducted a number of operations against Indian military targets in Jammu and Kashmir. Linked to the Kashmiri militant group al-Faran that kidnapped five Western tourists in Jammu and Kashmir in July 1995; one was killed in August 1995, and the other four reportedly were killed in December of the same year.

Strength: Exact numbers are unknown, but there may be several hundred members in Kashmir.

Location/Area of Operation: Pakistan and Kashmir. Trained members in Afghanistan until fall of 2001.

External Aid: Specific sources of external aid are unknown.

Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B)

Movement of Islamic Holy War

Description: The mission of HUJI-B, led by Shauqat Osman, is to establish Islamic rule in Bangladesh. HUJI-B has connections to the Pakistani militant groups Harakat ul-Jihadi-Islami (HUJI) and Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM), who advocate similar objectives in Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir.

Activities: HUJI-B was accused of stabbing a senior Bangladeshi journalist in November 2000 for

making a documentary on the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh. HUJI-B was suspected in

the assassination attempt in July 2000 of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Strength: HUJI-B has an estimated cadre strength of more than several thousand members.

Location/Area of Operation: Operates and trains members in Bangladesh, where it maintains at least six camps.

External Aid: Funding of the HUJI-B comes primarily from madrassas in Bangladesh. The group also has ties to militants in Pakistan that may provide another funding source.

Hizb-I Islami Gulbuddin (HIG)

Description: Gulbuddin Hikmatyar founded Hizb-I Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) as a faction of the Hizb-I Islami party in 1977, and it was one of the major mujahedin groups in the war against the Soviets. HIG has long-established ties with Usama Bin Ladin. In the early 1990s, Hikmatyar ran several terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and was a pioneer in sending mercenary fighters to other Islamic conflicts. Hikmatyar offered to shelter Bin Ladin after the latter fled Sudan in 1996.

Activities: HIG has staged small attacks in its attempt to force US troops to withdraw from Afghanistan, overthrow the Afghan Transitional Administration, and establish a fundamentalist state.

Strength: HIG possibly could have hundreds of veteran fighters on which to call.

Location/Area of Operation: Eastern Afghanistan (particularly Konar and Nurestan Provinces) and adjacent areas of Pakistan's tribal areas.

External Aid: Unknown.

Hizbul-Mujahidin (HM)

Description: Hizbul-Mujahidin, the largest Kashmiri militant group, was founded in 1989 and officially supports the liberation of Jammu and Kashmir and its accession to Pakistan, although some cadres are proindependence. The group is the militant wing of Pakistan's largest Islamic political party, the Jamaat-i-Islami. It currently is focused on Indian security forces and politicians in Jammu and Kashmir and has conducted operations jointly with other Kashmiri militants. It reportedly operated in Afghanistan through the mid-1990s and trained alongside the Afghan Hizb-I-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) in Afghanistan until the Taliban takeover. The group, led by Syed Salahuddin, is made up primarily of ethnic Kashmiris.

Activities: Has conducted a number of operations against Indian military targets in Jammu and Kashmir. The group also occasionally strikes at civilian targets in Jammu and Kashmir but has not engaged in terrorist acts elsewhere.

Strength: Exact numbers are unknown, but there may be several hundred members in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan.

Location/Area of Operation: Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. Trained members in Afghanistan until the Taliban takeover.

External Aid: Specific sources of external aid are unknown.

Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)

Description: Terrorist group formed in 1975 as the military wing of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), which split from the Official IRA (OIRA) because of OIRA's cease-fire in 1972. Responsible for some of the most notorious killings of "the Troubles," including the bombing of a Ballykelly pub that killed 17 people in 1982, bloody internal feuding has repeatedly torn the INLA. The INLA announced a cease-fire in August 1998 but continues to carry out occasional attacks and punishment beatings.

Activities: The INLA has been active in Belfast and the border areas of Northern Ireland where it has carried out bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, extortion, and robberies. On occasion, it has provided advance warning to police of its attacks. Targets include British military, Northern Ireland security targets, and loyalist paramilitary groups. The INLA continues to observe a cease-fire as—in the words of its leadership in 2003—a return to the armed struggle is "not a viable option at this time."

Strength: Unclear, but probably fewer than 50 hard-core activists. Police counterterrorist operations and internal feuding have reduced the group's strength and capabilities.

Location/Area of Operation: Northern Ireland, Irish Republic. Does not have a significant established presence on the UK mainland.

External Aid: Suspected in the past of receiving funds and arms from sympathizers in the United States.

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

a.k.a. Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA), the Provos (sometimes referred to as the PIRA to distinguish it from RIRA and CIRA.)

Description: Dissension within the IRA over support for the Northern Ireland peace process resulted in the formation of two more radical splinter groups: Continuity IRA in 1995 and the Real IRA in 1997. Until its cease-fire in July 1997, the Provisional IRA had sought to remove British forces from Northern Ireland and unify Ireland by force. In July 2002, the IRA reiterated its commitment to the peace process and apologized to the families of what it called "non-combatants" who had been killed or injured by the IRA. The IRA is organized into small, tightly knit cells under the leadership of the Army Council.

Activities: IRA traditional activities have included bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, punishment beatings, extortion, smuggling, and robberies. Before the cease-fire in 1997, bombing campaigns had been conducted on various targets in Northern Ireland and Great Britain and included senior British Government officials, civilians, police, and British military targets. In October 2003, the IRA conducted a third act of arms decommissioning that the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) called "considerably larger" than the previous IRA move. The group disposed of light, medium, and heavy weapons, ammunition, and explosives. The IRA retains the ability to conduct paramilitary operations. The IRA's extensive criminal activities reportedly provide the organizations with millions of dollars each year.

Strength: Several hundred members plus several thousand sympathizers—despite the defection of some members to RIRA and CIRA.

Local/Area of Operation: Northern Ireland, Irish Republic, Great Britain, and Europe.

External Aid: In the past, has received aid from a variety of groups and countries and considerable training and arms from Libya and the PLO. Is suspected of receiving funds, arms, and other terrorist-related materiel from sympathizers in the United States. Similarities in operations suggest links to ETA and the FARC. In August 2002, three suspected IRA members were arrested in Colombia on charges of assisting the FARC to improve its explosives capabilities.

Islamic Army of Aden (IAA)

a.k.a. Aden-Abyan Islamic Army (AAIA)

Description: The Islamic Army of Aden (IAA) emerged publicly in mid-1998 when the group released a series of communiqués that expressed support for Usama Bin Ladin, appealed for the overthrow of the Yemeni Government, and called for operations against US and other Western interests in Yemen. Designated under EO 13224 in September 2001.

Activities: Engages in bombings and kidnappings to promote its goals. The group reportedly was behind an attack in June 2003 against a medical assistance convoy in the Abyan Governorate. Yemeni authorities responded with a raid on a suspected IAA facility, killing several individuals and capturing others, including Khalid al-Nabi al-Yazidi, the group's leader.

Before that attack, the group had not conducted operations since the bombing of the British Embassy in Sanaa in October 2000. In 2001, Sanaa found an IAA member and three associates responsible for that attack. In December 1998, the group kidnapped 16 British, American, and Australian tourists near Mudiyah in southern Yemen.

Although Yemeni officials previously have claimed that the group is operationally defunct, their recent attribution of the attack in 2003 against the medical convoy and reports that al-Yazidi was released from prison in mid-October 2003 suggest that the IAA, or at least elements of the group, have resumed activity.

Strength: Not known.

Location/Area of Operation: Operates in the southern governorates of Yemen—primarily Aden and Abyan.

External Aid: Not known.

Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade (IIPB)

Description: One of three terrorist groups affiliated with Chechen guerrillas that furnished personnel to carry out the seizure of the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow on 23 October 2002. The suicide attackers took more than 800 hostages, whom they threatened to kill if the Russian Government did not meet their demands, including the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya. Chechen extremist leader Shamil Basayev—who claimed responsibility for ordering the seizure—established the IIPB in 1998, which he led with Saudi-born mujahidin leader Ibn al-Khattab until the latter's death in March 2002. Arab mujahidin leader Abu al-Walid has since taken over Khattab's leadership role in the IIPB, which consists of Chechens, Arabs, and other foreign fighters. Designated under EO 13224 in February 2003.

Activities: Primarily guerrilla operations against Russian forces.

Strength: Up to 400 fighters, including as many as 100 Arabs and other foreign fighters.

Location/Area of Operation: Primarily in Russia and adjacent areas of the north Caucasus, but major logistic activities also occur in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.

External Aid: The IIPB and its Arab leaders appear to be a primary conduit for Islamic funding for the Chechen guerrillas, in part, through links to al-Qaida–related financiers on the Arabian Peninsula.

Jamiat ul-Mujahidin (JUM)

Description: Small pro-Pakistan militant group formed in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990. Followers are mostly Kashmiris, but the group includes some Pakistanis.

Activities: Has conducted a number of operations against Indian military targets in Jammu and Kashmir.

Strength: Unknown.

Location/Area of Operation: Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan.

External Aid: Unknown.

Japanese Red Army (JRA)

a.k.a. Anti-Imperialist International Brigade

Description: An international terrorist group formed around 1970 after breaking away from the Japanese Communist League–Red Army Faction. The JRA's historical goal has been to overthrow the Japanese Government and monarchy and to help foment world revolution. JRA's leader, Fusako Shigenobu, claimed that the forefront of the battle against international imperialism was in Palestine, so in the early 1970s, she led her small group to the Middle East to support the Palestinian struggle against Israel and the West. After her arrest in November 2000, Shigenobu announced she intended to pursue her goals using a legitimate political party rather than revolutionary violence, and the group announced it would disband in April 2001.

Activities: During the 1970s, JRA carried out a series of attacks around the world, including the massacre in 1972 at Lod Airport in Israel, two Japanese airliner hijackings, and an attempted takeover of the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. During the late 1980s, JRA began to single out American targets and used car bombs and rockets in attempted attacks on US Embassies in Jakarta, Rome, and Madrid. In April 1988, JRA operative Yu Kikumura was arrested with explosives on the New Jersey Turnpike, apparently planning an attack to coincide with the bombing of a USO club in Naples, a suspected JRA operation that killed five, including a US servicewoman. He was convicted of the charges and is serving a lengthy prison sentence in the United States. Tsutomu Shirosaki, captured in 1996, is also jailed in the United States. In 2000, Lebanon deported to Japan four members it arrested in 1997 but granted a fifth operative, Kozo Okamoto, political asylum. Longtime leader Shigenobu was arrested in November 2000 and faces charges of terrorism and passport fraud.

Strength: About six hard-core members; undetermined number of sympathizers. At its peak, the group claimed to have 30 to 40 members.

Location/Area of Operation: Location unknown, but possibly in Asia and/or Syrian-controlled areas of Lebanon.

External Aid: Unknown.

Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM)

Description: Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM) favors the overthrow of the Malaysian Government and the creation of an Islamic state comprising Malaysia, Indonesia, and the southern Philippines. Malaysian authorities believe an extremist wing of the KMM has engaged in terrorist acts and has close ties to the regional terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Key JI leaders, including the group's spiritual head, Abu Bakar Bashir and JI operational leader Hambali, reportedly had great influence over KMM members. The Government of Singapore asserts that a Singapore JI member assisted the KMM in buying a boat to support jihad activities in Indonesia.

Activities: Malaysia is holding scores of KMM members under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for activities deemed threatening to Malaysia's national security, including planning to wage jihad, possession of weaponry, bombings and robberies, the murder of a former state assemblyman, and planning attacks on foreigners—including US citizens. The alleged leader of KMM, Nik Adli Nik Abdul Aziz, had his detention under the ISA extended for another two years in September 2003. A number of those detained are also believed to be members of JI. Several of the arrested KMM militants have reportedly undergone military training in Afghanistan, and some fought with the Afghan mujahidin during the war against the former Soviet Union, as did a significant number of JI members. Some members are alleged to have ties to Islamic extremist organizations in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Strength: KMM's current membership is unknown.

Location/Area of Operation: The KMM is reported to have networks in the Malaysian states of Perak, Johor, Kedah, Selangor, Terengganu, and Kelantan. They also operate in Kuala Lumpur. According to press reports, the KMM has ties to radical Indonesian Islamic groups and has sent members to Ambon, Indonesia, to fight against Christians and to the southern Philippines for operational training.

External Aid: Largely unknown, probably self-financing.

Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG)

a.k.a. Al-Jam'a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah, Fighting Islamic Group, Libyan Fighting Group, Libyan Islamic Group

Description: Emerged in 1995 among Libyans who had fought against Soviet forces in Afghanistan. Declared the government of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi un-Islamic and pledged to overthrow it. Some members maintain a strictly anti-Qadhafi focus and organize against Libyan Government interests, but others are aligned with Usama Bin Ladin's al-Qaida organization or are active in the international mujahidin network. The group was designated for asset freeze under EO 13224 and UNSCR 1333 in September 2001.

Activities: Libyans associated with the LIFG are part of the support network of the broader international jihadist movement. LIFG is one of the groups believed to be involved in planning the Casablanca suicide bombings of May 2003. Claimed responsibility for a failed assassination attempt against Qadhafi in 1996 and engaged Libyan security forces in armed clashes during the mid-to-late 1990s. Continues to target Libyan interests and may engage in sporadic clashes with Libyan security forces.

Strength: Not known but probably has several hundred active members or supporters.

Location/Area of Operation: Probably maintains a clandestine presence in Libya, but since the late 1990s, many members have fled to various Asian, Middle Eastern, and European countries.

External Aid: Not known. May obtain some funding through private donations, various Islamic nongovernmental organizations, and criminal acts.

Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)

Description: The LRA was founded in 1986 as the successor to the ethnic Acholi-dominated Holy Spirit Movement. LRA leader Joseph Kony has called for the overthrow of the Ugandan Government and its replacement with a regime run on the basis of the Ten Commandments. More frequently, however, he has spoken of the liberation and honor of the Acholi people who he sees as oppressed by the "foreign" government of Ugandan President Museveni. Kony is the LRA's undisputed leader. He claims to have supernatural powers and to receive messages from spirits, which he uses to formulate the LRA's strategy.

Activities: Since the early 1990's, the LRA has kidnapped 20,000 Ugandan children, mostly ethnic Acholi, to replenish its ranks. Kony despises Acholi elders for having given up the fight against Museveni and relies on abducted children who can be manipulated to fight for the LRA cause. The LRA forces kidnapped children and adult civilians to become soldiers, porters, and "wives" for LRA leaders. The LRA prefers to attack internally displaced persons camps and other civilian targets, avoiding direct engagement with the Ugandan military. Victims of LRA attacks sometimes have their hands, fingers, ears, noses, or other extremities cut off. LRA has stepped up its activities since early 2002 when the Ugandan army, with the Sudanese Government's permission, attacked LRA positions inside Sudan. Since then, the number of internally displaced has doubled to 1.4 million, and the LRA has pushed deep into non-Acholi areas where it had never previously operated.

Strength: Estimated at between 1,000 and 1,500 fighters, 85% of whom are abducted children and civilians.

Location/Area of Operation: Northern Uganda and southern Sudan.

External Aid: Although the LRA has been supported by the Government of Sudan in the past, the Sudanese now appear to be cooperating with the Government of Uganda in a campaign to eliminate LRA sanctuaries in Sudan.

Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF)

Description: An extreme loyalist group formed in 1996 as a faction of the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) but did not emerge publicly until 1997. Composed largely of UVF hardliners who have sought to prevent a political settlement with Irish nationalists in Northern Ireland by attacking Catholic politicians, civilians, and Protestant politicians who endorse the Northern Ireland peace process. LVF occasionally uses the Red Hand Defenders as a cover name for its actions but in February called for the group's disbandment. In October 2001, the British Government ruled that the LVF had broken the cease-fire it declared in 1998 after linking the group to the murder of a journalist.

According to the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, the LVF

decommissioned a small amount of weapons in December 1998, but it has not repeated this gesture. Designated under EO 13224 in December 2001.

Activities: Bombings, kidnappings, and close-quarter shooting attacks. Finances its activities with drug money and other criminal activities. LVF bombs often have contained Powergel commercial explosives, typical of many loyalist groups. LVF attacks have been particularly vicious: the group has murdered numerous Catholic civilians with no political or paramilitary affiliations, including an 18-year-old Catholic girl in July 1997 because she had a Protestant boyfriend. The terrorists also have conducted successful attacks against Irish targets in Irish border towns. From 2000 to 2003, the LVF has been engaged in a violent feud with other loyalists, which has left several men dead. In February 2003, the LVF was the chief suspect behind a bomb attack against a Catholic home in Northern Ireland; no injuries occurred in this attack.

Strength: 300 members, half of whom are active.

Location/Area of Operation: Northern Ireland and Ireland.

External Aid: None.

Maoist Communist Center of India (MCCI)

a.k.a. the Maoist Communist Center [MCC] and Naxalites

Description: MCCI was founded in the early 1970s in Bahragora (now part of Jharkhand), near the borders of West Bengal and Orissa. Its "Naxalite" goals are peasant revolution, abolition of class hierarchies, and expansion of "liberated zones." Like its ideological partner, the People's War, the MCCI has significant numbers of women cadre. The MCCI frequently restructures its organization and leadership portfolios to complicate police action against it. Pramod Mishra is now believed to head the MCCI, and other important leaders are Uma Shankar and P. N. G (alias Nathu Mistry, arrested by Jharkhand police in 2003).

Activities: The MCCI runs a virtual parallel government in remote areas where state and central government control are weak. It collects "tax" from the villagers and, in turn, completes small projects such as building hospitals, schools, and hand water pumps. It also runs a parallel court system wherein allegedly corrupt block development officials have been punished by amputation and even death. Landlords are a frequent MCCI target, and they are believed to kill an average of 100 civilians a year.

Strength: Although difficult to assess with any accuracy, media reports suggest the MCCI's membership may be as high as 30,000.

Location/Area of Operations: The MCCI operates in the Indian states of Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, and parts of West Bengal. It has a presence on the Bihar-Nepal border.

External Aid: The MCCI is a founding member of the Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organizations of South Asia. Police have recovered foreign-made arms and Nepalese currency in raids against the MCCI suggesting links to the Maoist organization active in Nepal.

Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM)

Description: The goals of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM) include establishing an Islamic State in Morocco and supporting al-Qaida's jihad against the West. The group appears to have emerged in the late 1990s and comprises Moroccan recruits who trained in armed camps in Afghanistan. GICM members interact with other North African extremists, particularly in Europe. On 22 November 2002, the United States designated the GICM for asset freeze under EO 13224 following the group's submission to the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee. Designated under EO 13224 in November 2002.

Activities: Moroccans associated with the GICM are part of the support network of the broader international jihadist movement. GICM is one of the groups believed to be involved in planning the Casablanca suicide bombings in May 2003. Members work with other North African extremists engaging in trafficking falsified documents and possibly arms smuggling. The group in the past has issued communiqués and statements against the Moroccan Government.

Strength: Unknown.

Location/Area of Operation: Western Europe, Afghanistan, and Morocco.

External Aid: Unknown.

New Red Brigades/Communist Combatant Party (BR/PCC)

a.k.a. Brigate Rosse/Partito Comunista Combattente

Description: This Marxist-Leninist group is a successor to the Red Brigades, active in the 1970s and 1980s. In addition to ideology, both groups share the same symbol, a five-pointed star inside a circle. The group is opposed to Italy's foreign and labor policies and NATO.

Activities: In 2003, Italian authorities captured at least seven members of the BR/PCC, one in March and six in October, dealing the terrorist group a severe blow to its future operational effectiveness. Some of those arrested are suspects in the assassination in 1999 of Labor Ministry adviser Massimo D'Antona, and authorities are hoping to link them to the assassination in 2002 of Labor Ministry advisor Marco Biagi. The arrests in October came on the heels of a clash in March 2003 involving Italian Railway Police and two BR/PCC members, which resulted in the death of one of the members of the group and the death of an Italian security officer. Italian officials believe they have netted key BR/PCC operatives. Remaining BR/PCC members may conduct a retaliatory attack at some point, if only to prove their continued viability. Has financed its activities through armed robberies.

Strength: With the arrest of at least seven members and the death of one, its strength has been estimated at fewer than 20.

Location/Area of Operation: Italy.

External Aid: Has obtained weapons from abroad.

People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD)

Description: PAGAD and its ally Qibla view the South African Government as a threat to Islamic values. The two groups work to promote a greater political voice for South African Muslims. PAGAD sometime uses front names such as Muslims Against Global Oppression and Muslims Against Illegitimate Leaders when launching anti-Western protests and campaigns.

Activities: PAGAD's activities have been severely curtailed since 2001 by law-enforcement and prosecutorial efforts against leading members of the organization. Between 1996 and 2000, however, they conducted a total of 189 bomb attacks, including nine bombings in the Western Cape that caused serious injuries. PAGAD's previous bombing targets have included South African authorities, moderate Muslims, synagogues, gay nightclubs, tourist attractions, and Western-associated restaurants. PAGAD is believed to have masterminded the bombing on 25 August 1998 of the Cape Town Planet Hollywood.

Strength: Current operational strength is unknown, but previous estimates were several hundred members.

Location/Area of Operation: Operates mainly in the Cape Town area.

External Aid: May have ties to international Islamic extremists.

Peoples War

a.k.a. Peoples War Group (PWG) and Naxalites

Description: Kondapally Sitaramaiah (a.k.a. Kondapalli Seetharamiah) founded the Andhra Pradesh branch of the PWG in 1980 with the aim of creating an independent "Maoist" state stretching from rural Andhra Pradesh through Orissa and Bihar. Sitaramaiah cited the need for land reform as cause to rebel. Local press often refer to PWG cadres as "Naxalites" after the West Bengal village thought to have originally spawned the organization.

Activities: Peoples War continues a low-intensity insurgency that local police report kills about a dozen police officers, 60 PWG rebels, and as many innocent civilians each year. PWG activities have included: attempted (but failed) political assassination, theft of weapons from police stations, kidnapping police officers, assaulting civilians, extorting money from construction firms, and vandalizing the property of multinational corporations. On 1 October 2003, the PWG ambushed the motorcade of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu using several roadside improvised explosive devices. The attack killed no one but injured a senior state government official.

Strength: Local police estimate Peoples War can muster 800 to 1,000 armed members and enjoys the support of 3,000 to 4,000 sympathizers.

Location/Area of Operations: The PWG operates in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, and Bihar.

External Aid: Peoples War claims to belong to a "Confederation of Maoist Parties of South Asia" but has not otherwise demonstrated international links.

Red Hand Defenders (RHD)

Description: Extremist terrorist group formed in 1998 and composed largely of Protestant hardliners from loyalist groups observing a cease-fire. RHD seeks to prevent a political settlement with Irish nationalists by attacking Catholic civilian interests in Northern Ireland. In January 2002, the group announced all staff at Catholic schools in Belfast and Catholic postal workers were legitimate targets. Despite calls in February 2002 by the Ulster Defense Association (UDA), Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), and Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) to announce its disbandment, RHD continued to make threats and issue claims of responsibility. RHD is a cover name often used by elements of the banned UDA and LVF. Designated under EO 13224 in December 2001.

Activities: In early 2003, the RHD claimed responsibility for killing two UDA members as a result of what is described as loyalist internecine warfare. They also claimed responsibility for a bomb that was left in the offices of Republican Sinn Fein in West Belfast, though the device was defused, and no one was injured. In recent years, the group has carried out numerous pipe bombings and arson attacks against "soft" civilian targets such as homes, churches, and private businesses. In January 2002, the group bombed the home of a prison official in North Belfast. Twice in 2002 the group claimed responsibility for attacks—the murder of a Catholic postman and Catholic teenager—that were later claimed by the UDA-UFF, further blurring distinctions between the groups. In 2001, RHD claimed responsibility for killing five persons.

Strength: Up to 20 members, some of whom have experience in terrorist tactics and bomb making. Police arrested one member in June 2001 for making a hoax bomb threat.

Location/Area of Operation: Northern Ireland.

External Aid: None.

Revolutionary Proletarian Initiative Nuclei (NIPR)

Description: Clandestine leftist extremist group that appeared in Rome in 2000. Adopted the logo of the Red Brigades of the 1970s and 1980s—an encircled five-point star—for its declarations. Opposes Italy's foreign and labor polices. Has targeted property interests rather than personnel in its attacks.

Activities: Did not claim responsibility for any attacks in 2002. Claimed responsibility for bomb attack in April 2001 on building housing a US-Italian relations association and an international affairs institute in Rome's historic center. Claimed to have carried out explosion in May 2000 in Rome at oversight committee facility for implementation of the law on strikes in public services. Claimed responsibility for explosion in February 2002 on Via Palermo adjacent to Interior Ministry in Rome.

Strength: Possibly 12 members.

Location/Area of Operation: Mainly in Rome, Milan, Lazio, and Tuscany.

External Aid: None evident.

Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM)

Description: One of three terrorist groups affiliated with Chechen guerrillas that furnished personnel to carry out the seizure of the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow on 23 October 2002. The suicide attackers took more than 800 hostages, whom they threatened to kill if the Russian Government did not meet their demands, including the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya. The RSRSBCM—whose name translates into English as "Requirements for Getting into Paradise"—was not known to Western observers before the seizure. Chechen extremist leader Shamil Basayev, who claimed responsibility for ordering the seizure, continues to lead the RSRSBCM. Designated under EO 13224 in February 2003.

Activities: Primarily guerrilla operations against Russian forces.

Strength: Probably no more than 50 fighters at any given time.

Location/Area of Operations: Primarily Russia.

External Aid: May receive some external assistance from foreign mujahidin.

Sipah-i-Sahaba/Pakistan (SSP)

Description: The Sipah-I-Sahaba/Pakistan (SSP) is a Sunni sectarian group that follows the Deobandi school. Violently anti-Shia, the SSP emerged in central Punjab in the mid-1980s as a response to the Iranian Revolution. Pakistani President Musharraf banned the SSP in January 2002. In August 2002, the SSP renamed itself Millat-i-Islami, and Musharraf re-banned the group in November 2003.

Activities: The group's activities range from organizing political rallies calling for Shia to be declared non-Muslims to assassinating prominent Shia leaders.

Strength: Unknown.

Location/Area of Operation: Pakistan.

External Aid: Unknown.

Special Purpose Islamic Regiment (SPIR)

Description: One of three terrorist groups affiliated with Chechen guerrillas that furnished personnel to carry out the seizure of the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow on 23 October 2002. The suicide attackers took more than 800 hostages, whom they threatened to kill if the Russian Government did not meet their demands, including the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya. Movzar Barayev commanded the SPIR until he was killed in the October seizure, which he led. The SPIR has continued to carry out guerrilla operations in Chechnya under the leadership of another Chechen leader, Khamzat, whose true identity is not known. Designated under EO 13224 in February 2003.

Activities: Primarily guerrilla operations against Russian forces. Has also been involved in various hostage and ransom operations, as well as the execution of ethnic Chechens who have collaborated with Russian authorities.

Strength: Probably no more than 100 fighters at any given time.

Location/Area of Operations: Primarily Russia.

External Aid: May receive some external assistance from foreign mujahidin.

The Tunisian Combatant Group (TCG)

Description: The Tunisian Combatant Group (TCG), also known as the Jama'a Combattante Tunisienne, seeks to establish an Islamic regime in Tunisia and has targeted US and Western interests. Founded around 2000 by Tarek Maaroufi and Saifallah Ben Hassine, the loosely organized group is associated with al-Qaida and North African extremist networks implicated in terrorist plots during the past two years. The group was designated for sanctions under UNSCR 1333 in December 2000. Belgian authorities sentenced Maaroufi to six years in 2003. Designated under EO 13224 in October 2002.

Activities: Tunisians associated with the TCG are part of the support network of the broader international jihadist movement. According to European press reports, TCG members or affiliates in the past have engaged in trafficking falsified documents and recruiting for terror training camps in Afghanistan. Some TCG associates are suspected of planning an attack against the US, Algerian, and Tunisian diplomatic missions in Rome in April 2001. Some members reportedly maintain ties to the Algerian Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat.

Strength: Unknown.

Location/Area of Operation: Western Europe and Afghanistan

External Aid: Unknown.

Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA)

Description: Traditional Marxist-Leninist revolutionary movement formed in 1983 from remnants of the Movement of the Revolutionary Left, a Peruvian insurgent group active in the 1960s. Aims to establish a Marxist regime and to rid Peru of all imperialist elements (primarily US and Japanese influence). Peru's counterterrorist program has diminished the group's ability to carry out terrorist attacks, and the MRTA has suffered from infighting, the imprisonment or deaths of senior leaders, and loss of leftist support. In 2003, several MRTA members remained imprisoned in Bolivia.

Activities: Previously conducted bombings, kidnappings, ambushes, and assassinations, but recent activity has fallen drastically. In December 1996, 14 MRTA members occupied the Japanese Ambassador's residence in Lima and held 72 hostages for more than four months. Peruvian forces stormed the residence in April 1997 rescuing all but one of the remaining hostages and killing all 14 group members, including the remaining leaders. The group has not conducted a significant terrorist operation since and appears more focused on obtaining the release of imprisoned MRTA members.

Strength: Believed to be no more than 100 members, consisting largely of young fighters who lack leadership skills and experience.

Location/Area of Operation: Peru with supporters throughout Latin America and Western Europe. Controls no territory.

External Aid: None.

Turkish Hizballah

Description: Turkish Hizballah is a Kurdish Islamic (Sunni) extremist organization that arose in the early 1980s in response to Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) atrocities against Muslims in southeastern Turkey, where Turkish Hizballah seeks to establish an independent Islamic state.

Activities: Beginning in the mid-1990s, Turkish Hizballah, which is unrelated to Lebanese Hizballah, expanded its target base and modus operandi from killing PKK militants to conducting low-level bombings against liquor stores, bordellos, and other establishments that the organization considered "anti-Islamic." In January 2000, Turkish security forces killed Huseyin Velioglu, the leader of Turkish Hizballah, in a shootout at a safehouse in Istanbul. The incident sparked a yearlong series of counterterrorist operations against the group that resulted in the detention of some 2,000 individuals; authorities arrested several hundred of those on criminal charges. At the same time, police recovered nearly 70 bodies of Turkish and Kurdish businessmen and journalists that Turkish Hizballah had tortured and brutally murdered during the mid-tolate 1990s. The group began targeting official Turkish interests in January 2001, when its operatives assassinated the Diyarbakir police chief in the group's most sophisticated operation to date. Turkish Hizballah did not conduct a major operation in 2003 but is probably attempting to reorganize.

Strength: Possibly a few hundred members and several thousand supporters.

Location/Area of Operation: Turkey, primarily the Diyarbakir region of southeastern Turkey.

External Aid: Unknown.

Ulster Defense Association/Ulster Freedom Fighters (UDA/UFF)

Description: The Ulster Defense Association (UDA), the largest loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland, was formed in 1971 as an umbrella organization for loyalist paramilitary groups such as the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF). Today, the UFF constitutes almost the entire UDA membership. The UDA/UFF declared a series of cease-fires between 1994 and 1998. In September 2001, the UDA/UFF's Inner Council withdrew its support for Northern Ireland's Good Friday Agreement. The

following month, after a series of murders, bombings, and street violence, the British Government ruled the UDA/UFF's cease-fire defunct. The dissolution of the organization's political wing, the Ulster Democratic Party, soon followed. In January 2002, however, the UDA created the Ulster Political Research Group to serve in a similar capacity. Designated under EO 13224 in December 2001.

Activities: The UDA/UFF has evolved into a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking and other moneymaking criminal activities. In February of 2003, the UDA/UFF declared a 12-month cease-fire but refused to decommission its weapons arsenal until Republican groups did likewise and emphasized its continued disagreement with the Good Friday accords. Even though numerous attacks on Catholics were blamed on the group, the UDA/UFF did not claim credit for any attacks and in August reiterated its intention to remain militarily inactive. The group has been involved in an internecine war with other loyalist groups for the past several years, which has lead to the deaths of numerous members of the organization. In January 2002, the UDA/UFF called for

an end to sectarian violence; in the preceding months, the UDA had been blamed for more than 300 bombings and shootings against Catholics in Belfast. Nevertheless, the UDA/UFF continued its attacks against Catholics, as well as those seen as a threat to its criminal enterprises. The UDA/UFF admitted responsibility for the murder of a Catholic postman in January 2002, an attack also claimed by the Red Hand Defenders, a group used as a cover name by some UDA/UFF elements. The UDA also was blamed for a drive-by shooting that wounded three Catholics in September. Johnny Adair, the only person ever convicted of directing terrorism in Northern Ireland, was a leading UDA member until September 2002 when he was expelled from the group because of his growing ties to the LVF.

Strength: Estimates vary from 2,000 to 5,000 members, with several hundred active in paramilitary operations.

Location/Area of Operation: Northern Ireland.

External Aid: Probably obtains weapons from abroad.

Ulster Defense Force (UVP)

Description: Loyalist terrorist group formed in 1966 to oppose liberal reforms in Northern Ireland that members feared would lead to unification of Ireland. The group adopted the name of an earlier organization formed in 1912 to combat Home Rule for Ireland. The UVF's goal is to maintain Northern Ireland's status as part of the UK; to that end it has killed some 550 persons since 1966. The UVF and its offshoots have been responsible for some of the most vicious attacks of "the Troubles" including horrific sectarian killings like those perpetrated in the 1970s by the UVF-affiliated "Shankill Butchers." In October 1994, the Combined Loyalist Military Command, which included the UVF, declared a cease-fire, and the UVF's political wing—the Progressive Unionist Party—has played an active role in the peace process. Despite the cease-fire, the organization has been involved in a series of bloody feuds with other Loyalist paramilitary organizations.

Activities: The UVF has been active in Belfast and the border areas of Northern Ireland where it has carried out bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, extortion, and robberies. On occasion, it has provided advance warning to police of its attacks. Targets include nationalist civilians, republican paramilitary groups and, on occasion, rival loyalist paramilitary groups. The UVF continues to observe a cease-fire.

Strength: Unclear, but probably several hundred supporters, with a smaller number of hard-core activists. Police counterterrorist operations and internal feuding have reduced the group's strength and capabilities.

Location/Area of Operation: Northern Ireland. Some support on the UK mainland.

External Aid: Suspected in the past of receiving funds and arms from sympathizers overseas.

US PROGRAMS AND POLICY

Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) Program

Antiterrorism Assistance Program Congress authorized the Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) Program in 1983 as part of a major initiative against international terrorism. Since that time, ATA has provided training for more than 36,000 students from 142 countries. The ATA Program provides training and related assistance to law enforcement and security services of selected friendly foreign governments. Assistance to the qualified countries focuses on the following objectives:

• Enhancing the antiterrorism skills of friendly countries by providing training and
• equipment to deter and counter the threats of terrorism.
• Strengthening the bilateral ties of the United States with friendly, foreign
• governments by offering concrete assistance in areas of mutual concern.
• Increasing respect for human rights by sharing with civilian authorities modern,
• humane, and effective antiterrorism techniques.

ATA courses are developed and customized in response to terrorism trends and patterns. The training can be categorized into four functional areas: Crisis Prevention, Crisis Management, Crisis Resolution, and Investigation. Countries needing assistance are identified on the basis of the threat or actual level of terrorist activity they face.

Antiterrorism assistance and training may be conducted either in-country or within the United States. This arrangement provides flexibility to maximize the effectiveness of the program for countries of strategic importance in the global war on terrorism.

ATA programs may take the form of advisory assistance, such as police administration and management of police departments, how to train police instructors or develop a police academy, and modern interview and investigative techniques. This approach enables the program to provide a narrow focus to solutions for country-specific problems that are not resolved in the classroom-training environment. Equipment or explosive-detection trained dogs may also be included in the assistance package.

The ability of the United States to assist friendly governments to master the detection and prevention of terrorist activities will clearly enhance the mutual security of all the participating nations. Detecting and eliminating terrorist cells at the root before their violence can cross borders and oceans will ensure a safer world for all nations.

ATA continues its efforts to familiarize ambassadors, regional security officers, and other US officials with the program offerings. The success of these efforts is evidenced by the fact that every frontline nation has requested antiterrorist assistance in some form. US diplomats report that the ability of the United States to offer immediate, specific, and intensive training, along with technical tools and equipment, has succeeded in breaking down barriers and building trust.

ATA is responding to the growing demand for training and services not only by expanding course selection but also by pursuing development of the Center for Antiterrorism and Security Training. ATA is already offering training at a variety of venues, to include other government agencies and state and local facilities—both within and outside the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

Rewards for Justice Program

The Rewards for Justice Program is one of the most valuable US Government assets in the fight against international terrorism. Established by the 1984 Act To Combat International Terrorism—Public Law 98-533—the Program is administered by the US Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

Under the Program, The Secretary of State may offer rewards of up to $5 million for information that prevents or favorably resolves acts of international terrorism against US persons or property worldwide. Rewards may also be paid for information leading to the arrest or conviction of terrorists attempting, committing, and conspiring to commit—or aiding and abetting in the commission of—such acts.

The USA Patriot Act of 2001 authorizes the Secretary to offer or pay rewards of greater that $5 million if he determines that a greater amount is necessary to combat terrorism or to defend the United States against terrorist acts. Secretary Powell has authorized a reward of up to $25 million for the information leading to the capture of Usama Bin Ladin and other key al-Qaida leaders.

In November 2002, the State and Treasury Departments announced a $5 million rewards program that will pay for information leading to the disruption of any terrorism financing operation.

Diplomatic Security has fully supported the efforts of the private business sector and citizens to establish a Rewards for Justice fund, a nongovernmental, nonprofit 501 C (3) charitable organization administered by a group of private US citizens. One hundred percent of all donated funds will be used to supplement reward payments only. Diplomatic Security has forged a strong relationship with the private business and US citizen representatives of the Rewards for Justice Fund. Diplomatic Security has embarked on a much closer relationship with the US public and private businesses? in the US Government's continuing efforts to bring those individuals responsible for the planning of the September 11 attacks to justice and to prevent future international terrorist attacks against the Untied States at home or abroad.

Since its inception, the Rewards for Justice Program has been very effective. In the past seven years, the Secretary of State has authorized payments for more than $52 million to 33 people who provided credible information that put terrorists behind bars or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide. The program played a significant role in the arrest of international terrorist Ramzi Yousef, who was convicted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and most recently in the efforts to locate Uday and Qusay Hussein.

International Terrorism: US Hostages and US Government Policy

The US Government will make no concessions to individuals or groups holding official or private US citizens hostage. The United States will use every appropriate resource to gain the safe return of US citizens who are held hostage. At the same time, it is US Government policy to deny hostage takers the benefits of ransom, prisoner releases, policy changes, or other acts of concession.

Basic Premises

It is internationally accepted that governments are responsible for the safety and welfare of persons within the borders of their nations. Aware of both the hostage threat and public security shortcomings in many parts of the world, the United States has developed enhanced physical and personal security programs for US personnel and established cooperative arrangements with the US private sector. It has also established bilateral assistance programs and close intelligence and law enforcement relationships with many nations to prevent hostage-taking incidents or resolve them in a manner that will deny the perpetrators benefits from their actions. The United States also seeks effective judicial prosecution and punishment for hostage takers victimizing the US Government or its citizens and will use all legal methods to these ends, including extradition. US policy and goals are clear, and the US Government actively pursues them alone and in cooperation with other governments.

US Government Responsibilities When Private US Citizens Are Taken Hostage

On the basis of past experience, the US Government concluded that making concessions that benefit hostage takers in exchange for the release of hostages increased the danger that others will be taken hostage. US Government policy is, therefore, to deny hostage takers the benefits of ransom, prisoner releases, policy changes, or other acts of concession. At the same time, the US Government will make every effort—including contact with representatives of the captors—to obtain the release of hostages without making concessions to the hostage takers.

Consequently, the United States strongly urges US companies and private citizens not to accede to hostage-taker demands. It believes that good security practices, relatively modest security expenditures, and continual close cooperation with Embassy and local authorities can lower the risk to US citizens living in high-threat environments.

The US Government is concerned for the welfare of its citizens but cannot support requests that host governments violate their own laws or abdicate their normal enforcement responsibilities.

If the employing organization or company works closely with local authorities and follows US policy, US Foreign Service posts can be involved actively in efforts to bring the incident to a safe conclusion. This includes providing reasonable administrative services and, if desired by local authorities and the US entity, full participation in strategy sessions. Requests for US Government technical assistance or expertise will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The full extent of US Government participation must await an analysis of each specific set of circumstances.

The host government and the US private organizations or citizen must understand that if they wish to follow a hostage-resolution path different from that of US Government policy, they do so without US Government approval. In the event a hostage-taking incident is resolved through concessions, US policy remains steadfastly to pursue investigation leading to the apprehension and prosecution of hostage takers who victimize US citizens.

Legal Caution

Under current US law, 18 USC 1203 (Act for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Hostage-Taking, enacted October 1984 in implementation of the UN convention on hostage taking), seizure of a US citizen as a hostage anywhere in the world is a crime, as is any hostage-taking action in which the US Government is a target or the hostage taker is a US national. Such acts are, therefore, subject to investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to prosecution by US authorities. Actions by private persons or entities that have the effect of aiding or abetting the hostage taking, concealing knowledge of it from the authorities, or obstructing its investigation may themselves be in violation of US law.

US Terrorism Lists: Prevention, Punishment, and Pressure

The US Government has established four primary counterterrorism lists to serve as tools in the fight against terrorism: The State Sponsors of Terrorism, Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO), Executive Order 13224, and the Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL). Each list has its individual mechanisms, but they all serve to prevent terrorism, punish terrorists and their supporters, and pressure changes in the behavior of designated states and groups.

Because these lists are a means to fight terrorism rather than an end in themselves, they are not designed or intended to be immutable. The US Government encourages states and organizations to take the necessary actions to get out of the terrorism business. The bar for a state or group being removed from a terrorism list is and must be high—it must end all involvement in any facet of terrorism, including passive support, and satisfy all US Government counterterrorism concerns.

State Sponsors of Terrorism

The Secretary of State is authorized to designate a government as a state sponsor of terrorism if that government "has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism." United States law requires the imposition of various sanctions on a state so designated. A number of US laws and sanctions affect countries whose governments have been designated as state sponsors of terrorism. The four main categories of sanctions include a ban on arms-related exports and sales; restrictions on exports of dual use items; prohibitions on official US Government economic assistance (except humanitarian assistance), including a requirement that the US Government oppose multilateral bank assistance; and imposition of miscellaneous trade and other restrictions, including a prohibition on imports and liability in US courts for officials of that country that engage in terrorist activity. Inclusion on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list also targets a country for other sanctions laws that penalize persons and countries engaging in certain trade with state sponsors. Currently, there are seven countries on the list: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. (Although Iraq remains a designated state sponsor, sanctions against Iraq have been suspended. Iraq can be removed from the list once it has a government in place that pledges not to support acts of terrorism.)

Foreign Terrorist Organizations

The Secretary of State is authorized to designate as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) groups that conduct terrorism and threaten the interests of the United States. Designation allows the US Government to block designees' assets in US financial institutions, criminalize witting provision of material support to designated groups, and block visas for members of FTOs without having to show that the individual was involved in specific terrorist activities. FTO designation also sends a strong signal that any group that engages in terrorism—regardless of its purported goals—will be condemned and penalized for its actions. (The list of FTOs can be found in Appendix B.)

Executive Order 13224: Terrorist Financing

President Bush signed Executive Order 13224 on 23 September 2001, giving the US Government a strong tool for eliminating the financial supporters and networks of terrorism. EO 13224 enables the US Government to block designees' assets in any financial institution in the United States or held by any US person. It also expands government authority to permit the designation of individuals and organizations that provide support or financial or other services to, or associate with, designated terrorists. EO 13224 designations have allowed the USG, as well as Coalition partners acting in concert, to block tens of millions of dollars intended to bankroll the murderous activities of al-Qaida and other terrorist groups.

Patriot USA Act: Terrorist Exclusion List On 26 October 2001, President Bush signed into law a comprehensive counterterrorism bill (Public Law 107-56, also known as USA PATRIOT). The new law strengthened enforcement tools and made improvements to the last major terrorism bill, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. The USA Patriot Act also created a Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL) with immigration consequences for groups named therein. Designation on the TEL allows the US Government to exclude or deport aliens who provide material assistance to, or solicit it for, designated organizations, giving the Department of State and US law enforcement agencies a critical tool for bolstering homeland security.

Terrorist Exclusion List Designees:

As of 5 December 2001, the TEL designees are as follows:

• al-Ittihad al-Islami (AIAI) al-Wafa al-Igatha al-Islamia
• 'Asbat al-Ansar
• Darkazanli Company
• Salafist Group for Preaching (Call) and Combat (GSPC)
• Islamic Army of Aden
• Libyan Islamic Fighting Group
• Maktab al-Khidamat
• al-Hamati Sweets Bakeries
• al-Nur Honey Center
• al-Rashid Trust
• al-Shifa Honey Press for Industry and Commerce
• Jaish-e-Mohammed
• Jamiat al-Ta'awun al-Islamiyya
• Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB)
• Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (ALIR)–a.k.a. Interahamwe, Former Armed Forces (EX-FAR)
• First of October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO)–a.k.a. Grupo de
• Resistencia Anti-Fascista Premero de Octubre
• Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LT)–a.k.a. Army of the Righteous
• Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA)–a.k.a. Continuity Army Council
• Orange Volunteers (OV)
• Red Hand Defenders (RHD)
• New People's Army (NPA)
• People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD)
• Revolutionary United Front (RUF)
• al-Ma'unah
• Jayshullah
• Black Star
• Anarchist Faction for Overthrow
• Red Brigades-Combatant Communist Party (BR-PCC)
• Revolutionary Proletarian Nucleus
• Turkish Hizballah
• Jerusalem Warriors
• Islamic Renewal and Reform Organization
• The Pentagon Gang
• Japanese Red Army (JRA)
• Jamiat ul-Mujahidin (JUM)
• Harakat ul-Jihad-I-Islami (HUJI)
• Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)
• Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)

Designated on 6 November 2002

• Al Taqwa Trade, Property and Industry Company Ltd.
• Bank Al Taqwa Ltd.
• Nada Management Organization
• Youssef M. Nada & Co. Gesellschaft M.B.H.
• Ummah Tameer E-Nau (UTN)
• Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF)
• Ulster Defense Association
• Afghan Support Committee
• Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (Pakistan and Afghanistan
• offices—Kuwait office not designated)

Summary of the US Military Counterterrorism Campaign in 2003

Operation Iraqi Freedom

On 19 March 2003, US and Coalition forces launched Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Along with freeing the Iraqi people of a vicious dictator, OIF also shut down the Salman Pak training camp, where members of al-Qaida had trained, and disrupted the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi network, which had established a poison and explosives training camp in northeastern Iraq. OIF removed the prospective threat to the international community posed by the combination of an aggressive Iraqi regime, weapons of mass destruction capabilities, and terrorists. Iraq is now the central front for the global war on terrorism.

Since the end of major combat operations, Coalition forces from 33 nations have been engaged in stability operations in Iraq, primarily against regime loyalists, remnants of Ansar al-Islam, and a number of foreign terrorists. This resistance has been responsible for such acts as the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August, the attack of 12 November on the Italian military police at Nasiriyah, and the coordinated attack on Bulgarian and Thai troops at Karbala on 27 December. Former regime loyalists and foreign terrorists have proved adept at adjusting their tactics to maintain attacks on Coalition forces, particularly with the use of vehicle-borne, improvised explosive devices. Coalition forces continue offensive action against these forces and, on 13 December, captured the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in Operation Red Dawn. By the end of 2003, Coalition forces had killed, captured, or taken into custody 42 of the 55 most-wanted members of the former regime of Saddam Hussein.

Coalition forces in Iraq also are training and equipping the new components of Iraq's security services, which include police, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, border police, the Iraqi Facility Protection Service, and a new Iraqi army. The Coalition's goal is to build the Iraqi security services to approximately 225,000 members. With the transfer of governing authority from the Coalition Provisional Authority to the Iraqi Transitional National Assembly in 2004, Iraqi security services will play an increasing role in creating a stable and united Iraq, as well as preventing foreign terrorists from establishing operations in Iraq.

Operation Enduring Freedom

US military forces continued to operate in the mountains of southern Afghanistan against al-Qaida terrorists, anti-Coalition militias, and Taliban insurgents throughout 2003. Anti-government activity targeting Afghan security forces, civic leaders, and international aid workers continues to destabilize the southern regions of the country. These attacks resulted in the United Nations suspending operations in the southern provinces of Helmand, Oruzgan, Khandahar, and Zabol in 2003. The frequency of attacks rose steadily throughout the year, reaching peaks in September and early November and tapering off with the onset of winter.

Nevertheless, Afghanistan continued to make slow but steady progress back from 25 years of civil war and Taliban misrule. A Grand Assembly, or Loya Jirga, was formed of 502 members from around the country—including 100 women—to debate the proposed new national constitution in December. Despite efforts by anti-government forces to disrupt the proceedings, the event was successful, paving the way for UN-mandated elections in June 2004.

President Hamid Karzai worked throughout the year to replace unresponsive provincial governors and security chiefs and to centralize collection of customs revenues and taxes. Aid continued to flow into Afghanistan from around the world in 2003, funding the completion of hundreds of clinics and schools and hundreds of kilometers of irrigation projects. The United States will probably provide more than $2 billion in aid in fiscal year 2004, the largest single pledge by any government.

NATO formally assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force in August 2003, and the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) planned or fielded rose to 13, including new teams to begin work in early 2004. A large German PRT took over operations in Konduz, and Great Britain and New Zealand led PRTs in Mazar-i-Sharif and Bamian, respectively. The PRTs are effective catalysts for reconstruction activity and regional security. Afghan police training is picking up speed, but efforts to build a new Afghan National Army have been hampered by problems with recruiting and retention. Approximately 5,600 men were ready for duty in the Afghan National Army at the end of 2003, including a battalion of T-62 tanks.

Afghanistan remains a security challenge. Relying on the Pashtun-dominated and largely autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Area in Pakistan as a refuge, the Taliban regrouped in 2003 and conducted a classic insurgency in the remote rural areas of the southern Pashtun tribes, using clan and family ties, propaganda, violence, and intimidation to maintain a foothold in several districts of Zabol and Oruzgan Provinces. Militant Islamic political parties openly supportive of the Taliban won landslide victories in legislative elections in 2003 in Pakistan's Baluchistan and Northwest Frontier provinces bordering Afghanistan, signaling a protracted counterinsurgency to eliminate the Taliban and other antigovernment elements.

Countering Terrorism on the Economic Front

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the US Government has taken a number of steps to block terrorist funding.

On 23 September 2001, for example, the President signed Executive Order (EO) 13224. In general terms, the EO provides a means to disrupt the financial-support network for terrorists and terrorist organizations. It authorizes the US Government to designate and block the assets of foreign individuals and entities that commit, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism. In addition, because of the pervasiveness and expansiveness of the financial foundations of foreign terrorists, the order authorizes the US Government to block the assets of individuals and entities that provide support—financial or other services—or assistance to, or otherwise associate with, designated terrorists and terrorist organizations. The EO also covers their subsidiaries, front organizations, agents, and associates.

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, has continued to designate foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. Among other consequences of such a designation, it is unlawful for US persons or any persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to provide funds or material support to a designated FTO. US financial institutions are also required to retain the funds of designated FTOs.

A few 2003 highlights follow:

• On 9 January, the United States designated Lajnat al-Daawa al Islamiyya, a Kuwaiti-based charity with links to al Qaida, after France submitted this charity's name to the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee (Sanctions Committee) for worldwide asset freezing.
• On 24 January, the United States designated two key members of Jemaah Islamiyah, Nurjaman Riduan Isamuddin (a.k.a. Hambali) and Mohamad Iqbal Abdurrahman (a.k.a. Abu Jibril). Both names were also listed by the Sanctions Committee.
• On 30 January, under the authority of both the EO and the FTO, the United States designated Lashkar I Jhangvi, which was involved in the killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. The Sanctions Committee also included this group on its consolidated list.
• On 20 February, the United States designated Ansar al-Islam—a terrorist group operating in northeastern Iraq with close links to and support from al-Qaida. The group was added to the Sanctions Committee list four days later.
• On 29 May, the United States designated the Al Aqsa Foundation, a major fund-raiser for HAMAS.
• On 22 August, the United States designated six top HAMAS leaders (Sheik Ahmed Ismail Yassin, Imad Khalil al-Alami, Usama Hamdan, Khalid Mishaal, Musa Abu Marzouk, and Abdel Azia Rantisi) and five HAMAS-supporting 172 charities (Comite de Bienfaisance et de Secours aux Palestinians, Association De Secours Palestinien (ASP), Palestinian Association of Austria (PVOE), Palestinian Relief and Development Fund (Interpal), and Sanibil Association for Relief and Development).
• On 19 September, the United States designated Abu Musa'ab al-Zarqawi, a terrorist with ties to al-Qaida, Asbat al-Ansar, Ansar al-Islam, and Hizballah who provided financial and material support for the assassination of a US diplomat and was cited in the international press as a suspect in the bombing of the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad. Germany and the United States submitted his name jointly to the Sanctions Committee.
• As of 18 December 2003, the total number of individuals and entities designated under EO 13224 is 344. The US Government has blocked more than $36.5 million in assets of the Taliban, al-Qaida, and other terrorist entities and supporters. Other nations have blocked more than $100.3 million in assets.