Gunfire continues in Guinea capital despite curfew

In Conakry, Guinea a new curfew had been placed on residents of the area after martial law was used by president Lansana Conte to restore order in this part of West Africa. Opposition leaders and also trade unions have accused the president of violating a power sharing agreement and they demanded that he step down from his position. Atleast 27 people have been killed int he past three days from disagreements with security forces in the area. Despite the curfew many people were still out and about selling and buying things in the market.
New York Times, The Associated press.

In Philippines, U.S. making progress in war on terror

Hundreds of miles away from the war in Irag terrorists from the Islamic group have ben responsible for 16 years of bombings and also many kidnappings. This group which calls themself Abu Sayyaf have now been under attack from philipine forces and also the U.S. Special forces. They have been pushed to flee into the jungles and their leaders have almost all been wiped out. The forces have captured and killed 200 of the 400 Abu Sayyaf members, and are still working on defeating the rest.
New York Times, Paul Wiseman

Pentagon denies politics behind claims Iran supplying weapons.

In Baghdad Tuesday government officials decided to go public with allegations that Iran was supplying militant groups in Iraq with weapons. It was said that Iran is responsible for supplying these militant groups with armor piercing roadside bombs taht have caused many casualties for the american forces. The munitons and bombs have been sold to radical shiite groups from and Iranian revolutionary guard called the al-Quds Brigade. The timing of this statement has drawn criticism to the Bush administration for hyping the Iranian threat and also because of flawed intelligence that led to the invasion of Iraq
Jim Michaels New York Times

Islamist Held Trying to Flee From Somalia to Kenya

On January 17 in Mogadishu, multiple Somali Islamists malitia men and some of their leaders were arrested trying to flee into Kenya. Authorities say that they have deatained many suspects but are still havgin problems identifying them. Somali officials suspect that Kenyan soldiers may have detained the second in command of the defeated Islamic forces Sheik Shurif Sheik Ahmed. According to a Somali general Sheik's breifcase was recently found in a hide out in South Somalia, the documents were said to be top secret at a recent news conference. last week the US bombed southern Somalia where islamist leaders and terroritsts were said to be hiding. Us forces have gone into Somalia to try to identify and capture terrorists suspects.By: Jeffrey Gentleman New York Times

North Korea and US Envoys Meet in Berlin

These two countries will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday in Berlin to discuss North Korea's nuclear program. Influencing North Korea's Kim Jon-il to stop his nuclear goals has been extremely difficult and overall seems hopeless. Since October when North Korea first declared themselves a nuclear state. North Korea was open for discussion despite saying last month that they woule no longer talk with the US unless we let go of their assets. The US held on to their assets because of North Korea's history in counterfeiting US currency and drug trafficking which is one of North Korea's most valuable channels of income to support their nuclear program. Negotiations to reslve this stand off will plan to meet again next week in New York or Beijing.
By: Mark Landler and Thomas Shanker New York Times