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# Security briefs
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/sbriefs231106/
- Published: 2007-05-23T15:05:57.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-17T11:43:16.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 19:37, #ImagesUploaded

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23 November, 2006

Over a hundred people were killed in Baghdad when a series of car bombs went off in the predominantly *Shia* neighbourhood of Sadr City. [Today's attack](http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/85912983-F83C-490F-8FFF-E216EA942249.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net) ranks as one of the bloodiest since the 2003 invasion.

Mourning these days is rarely a quiet act in the middle east. Two hundred thousand poured into Beirut today to pay tribute the slain anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayel, demonstrating in the process against Syria and its Lebanese allies Hizbullah, says Israeli daily [Haaretz](http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/791854.html?ref=opendemocracy.net). (Paige Austin [reports](https://www.opendemocracy.net/articles/lebanon231106) on the deflated spirit of the demonstration today in M11) Gemayel's killing has puzzled many, not least the [Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/syria/story/0,,1954784,00.html?ref=opendemocracy.net), which attempts to parse through the shadows behind the assassination.

Less murky are the ties that bind the Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf to the drug trade. [Radio Australia](http://australianetwork.com/news/stories/asiapacific%5Fstories%5F1794232.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net) reports that the southern Philippine radicals have incorporated trafficking narcotics into their fundraising activities. Meanwhile, [The Economist](http://www.economist.com/world/la/displaystory.cfm?story%5Fid=8173450&ref=opendemocracy.net) explores the illicit connections between Colombian politicians and brutal right-wing paramilitary groups.

The bulk of Indonesia's 850-strong contingent of peace-keepers is due to arrive in southern Lebanon by the end of the week. According to [The Jakarta Post](http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20061123193957&irec=0&ref=opendemocracy.net), Lt. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyon, the son of the Indonesian president, travels with them.

Security agents also peacefully cross borders as Tokyo's Narita Airport becomes the first Asian terminal to accept a detachment of US counterterrorism agents, according to the [Japan Times](http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20061123a5.html?ref=opendemocracy.net).

Soldiers are on a less peaceful mission in Sri Lanka, where according to [Al Jazeera](http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/684B36A5-10DA-45F8-86BA-B89CCE679E11.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net), the army is launching an emboldened offensive the against the Tamil Tiger rebels (read more about Sri Lanka's predicament in [openDemocracy](http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-protest/srilanka%5Fstate%5F4105.jsp)).

Tempers rise in the Horn of Africa, as Ethiopia and Somali Islamists are poised for war. The [BBC](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6175976.stm?ref=opendemocracy.net) reports that imminent conflict may also include Ethiopia's unfriendly neighbours Eritrea, who back Somalia's Islamist faction (read more about the troubles in Somalia in [openDemocracy](http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-africa%5Fdemocracy/somaliland%5F4114.jsp)).

In a widely anticipated move, the Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency removed discussion of aiding Iran's development of a nuclear reactor from its agenda. Yet as [IRNA](http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-236/0611230978151344.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net), Iran's state-run news agency, points out, the move did not stop the IAEA's technical committee from discussing the reactor project.

*by Kanishk Tharoor*