28 September 2004 Tuesday 12 Shaban 1425 Pakistan-based militants behind most attacks: US KABUL, Sept 27: The Taliban may try to disrupt voting during the Oct 9 presidential election, the US military said on Monday. A spokesman for the military also said there had been an increase in the number of attacks on US troops .... Shorter combat duty for US troops WASHINGTON, Sept 27: The US Army is considering shortening yearlong combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan amid concerns the long and perilous duty is making it hard to attract new soldiers and keep current ones, officials said on Monday. ... Iranian hostage released in Iraq BAGHDAD, Sept 27: An Iranian diplomat taken hostage in Iraq last month was released by his captors on Monday but the fate of at least 11 other foreigners, including a Briton threatened with beheading, remained unclear. ... Iraq too unsafe for polls, says Abdullah PARIS, Sept 27: Iraq is far too unsafe to hold elections as scheduled in January and extremists would do well in the poll if Baghdad tried to hold it, Jordan's King Abdullah said in an interview to be published on Tuesday. ... Jail abuse: US woman to face court martial WASHINGTON, Sept 27: A military policewoman photographed holding a naked prisoner by a leash at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison was ordered on Monday to face trial by court martial on charges of conspiracy to mistreat prisoners, assault and indecent acts. ... A potential threat to Iraq elections BAGHDAD: Excluding certain rebellious towns from Iraq's parliamentary elections might not seriously damage the credibility of the vote, but a broad boycott by Sunni Muslims is a potentially grave threat to the process ... Florida poll will again be flawed, fears Carter WASHINGTON, Sept 27: Former US president Jimmy Carter, who has monitored elections throughout the developing world, predicted on Monday the US presidential vote in Florida would be as flawed as the 2000 poll there. ... Arab state may have helped Israel: Hamas: Killing in Damascus AL YARMOUK CAMP, Sept 27: The Hamas group said on Monday an Arab country might have helped Israel assassinate one of its leaders in Damascus, an act it called "treason". ... CNN worker abducted GAZA, Sept 27: Armed Palestinians seized an Israeli Arab producer for the CNN television network from a car in Gaza City on Monday after asking for him by name. ... Sharon: from 'king of Israel' to 'traitor' AL-QUDS: Once hailed by fellow right-wingers as the "king of Israel", Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is increasingly branded a "traitor" for wanting to rid the occupied Gaza Strip of its Jewish settler presence. ... A weakened Syria BEIRUT: The suspected Israeli killing of a Palestinian militant in Damascus shows the transformation of Syria from the champion of the "Arab cause" to a lightweight regional force barely able to respond to pressure from its foes. ... Israel incited US into Iraq invasion: Syria UNITED NATIONS, Sept 27: Syria on Monday charged that Israel prodded the United States into invading Iraq to sway attention from its actions in occupied Palestinian lands. ... Historians say Taj Mahal's 350th anniversary a decade too late AGRA, Sept 27: As India prepared to launch celebrations marking the 350th anniversary of the Taj Mahal on Monday, historians say the festivities are up to a decade too late. ... Living with a volcano STROMBOLI: It's like living on a powder keg. Perching on the slopes of Stromboli, Pasquale Giuffre eats, sleeps and breathes in the shadow of the volcano which is constantly spitting red fountains of lava and clouds of smoke. ...

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