10 July 2004 Saturday 21 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 CIA accused of overstating Iraq threat: US senate report on invasion WASHINGTON, July 9: US intelligence agencies overstated the threat of Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction, relied on dubious sources and ignored contrary evidence in the run-up to the invasion, a Senate committee said on Friday. ... Mystery of missing US marine deepens BEIRUT, July 9: The mystery of a US marine, who went missing in Iraq only to resurface in Lebanon 19 days later, deepened Friday after Washington announced official investigations into a case it said had been misrepresented. ... Sadr gets political BAGHDAD: After 10 weeks of fierce combat, an odd sense of normalcy has returned to this capital's most embattled neighbourhood. ... Kerry's imperial agenda HERE'S a dinner-party talking point that can run and run, certainly until November and, if the Democrats win the US presidency, for several months beyond. ... US likely to pressure Israel at UN: analysts JERUSALEM, July 9: Despite vowing to ignore a world court ruling Friday that its West Bank barrier is illegal, Israel is likely to come under major pressure from Washington to at least modify its route, analysts said. ... Palestinians foresee ghettoization Sami Shamlawi has turned out most days over the past month for the now ritual showdown with the bulldozer. On a good day, the 48-year-old school caretaker and hundreds of other Palestinians from al-Zawiya bring work ... Bush's military service files destroyed WASHINGTON, July 9: Microfilm records related to President George W. Bush's service in the Air National Guard three decades ago were accidentally destroyed when the military tried to improve its files, the Pentagon said on Friday. ... US 'defector' to N. Korea reunited with wife JAKARTA, July 9: An alleged US army defector to North Korea had an emotional reunion in Jakarta on Friday with the Japanese woman whom he married after she was abducted to Pyongyang. ... US denies reports of spy plane crash SEOUL, July 9: US Air Force authorities on Friday denied local media reports that an American U2 spy plane had crashed in South Korea. "There was no accident involving US aircraft today," Arthur Bosker, a spokesman of the 7th US Air Force based in Osan, south of Seoul, said. ... Papers say they have proof of US-Saudi swap MONTREAL, July 9: Two Canadian newspapers said on Friday they had evidence that seven western prisoners were freed by Saudi Arabia last year in exchange for five Saudi terror suspects from the US camp at Guantanamo Bay. ... IAEA says 20 firms engaged in illicit sales VIENNA, July 9: Some 20 companies across the world have illicitly sold countries nuclear technology which can be used to make weapons of mass destruction, a spokesman for the UN nuclear watchdog said here on Friday. ... Experts claim identifying Taj builders ISLAMABAD, July 9: Indian archaeologists claim to have discovered for the first time the names of some of the skilled craftsmen and masons who had built the Taj Mahal. ... 'So much is possible' for N.Korea, says Rice SEOUL, July 9: US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said on Friday North Korea would be surprised at "how much will be possible" if Pyongyong abandons its nuclear ambitions, South Korean officials said. ... Kashmiris say Indian fence depriving them of land ON THE LINE OF CONTROL: The army captain whose government is building the controversial barrier says that, when completed, it will protect his people from attacks by extremists. ...

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