MIDDLE EAST

PALESTINIAN TERRORIST FACTIONS AGREE TO CEASE-FIRE UNTIL YEAR-END

Palestinian Arab terrorist groups agreed yesterday to a truce with Israel until the end of this year on condition that Israel halts violence against Palestinian Arabs and frees prisoners, participants at a meeting in Cairo said.

Prime Minister Sharon called the statement by Palestinian Arabs “a positive first step.” A statement from Mr. Sharon’s office said he made the remarks to President Mubarak, who called Mr. Sharon to fill him in on the talks between the Palestinian Arab factions. “At the same time the prime minister emphasized that this is only an interim step, and in order for there to be progress in peace efforts, terrorist organizations cannot continue to exist as armed groups, and certainly not as terror organizations,” the statement said.

Palestinian Arab leader Mahmoud Abbas agreed to a de facto cease-fire at a February 8 summit with Mr. Sharon. Terrorist attacks have dropped considerably since – but a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv in late February prompted Israel to back off some of its promises, and Mr. Abbas was eager to get terrorists on board with a truce to push forward the fragile peace process.

– Associated Press

ISRAELI NUCLEAR WHISTLEBLOWER INDICTED

JERUSALEM, Israel – Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu was indicted yesterday for violating the terms of his release from prison, the Israeli Justice Ministry said.

Mr. Vanunu was freed from an Israeli prison in April after completing an 18-year sentence for revealing secrets of Israel’s atomic program to the Sunday Times newspaper in London. Under the terms of his release, the former technician at the Israeli nuclear facility in the Negev desert town of Dimona was barred from leaving Israeli territory and contacting foreigners. The restrictions were in force for a year and their extension was expected to come up for consideration in coming weeks.

The Justice Ministry said Mr. Vanunu was being indicted for 21 cases of violating the release restrictions and one instance of attempting to leave Israel.

“It emerges that since his release Vanunu has violated [the terms of his release] imposed by the head of the Home Front Command in a systematic fashion in that he exchanged information with foreigners and foreign residents with no prior authorization,” the ministry statement said.

– Associated Press

PURPORTED QAEDA TAPE PROMISES TO SEND FIGHTERS TO IRAQ

An audiotape appearing on an Islamic Web site yesterday claimed to represent the new Al Qaeda leader in Saudi Arabia, and he promised to dispatch fighters to join the Iraqi insurgency. It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the tape, posted on an Islamic Web site run by Mohammed al-Masaari, head of a Saudi opposition group called the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights in Saudi Arabia.The tape purported to contain the voice of Saleh al-Aoofi, a fugitive who is high on Saudi Arabia’s list of wanted terrorists. It appears to be a response to a statement posted Monday on the Internet in which Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the head of Al Qaeda in Iraq, urged Saudi rebels to help him, either by sending men to join the Iraqi insurgency or by fighting the Americans in Saudi Arabia.

The authenticity of that tape also could not be verified. In yesterday’s tape, the speaker identified as Mr. al-Aoofi addressed Mr. al-Zarqawi and fighters in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. “We will not let the crusaders stay in the land of the Prophet Muhammad to plan attacks against you,” the speaker said.

– Associated Press

CENTRAL ASIA

BLAST KILLS FIVE IN AFGHANISTAN; ELECTIONS DELAYED

A bomb killed five people and President Karzai announced a delay in parliamentary elections yesterday, underlining the challenges for Afghanistan more than three years after the fall of the Taliban.

The developments came as visiting Secretary of State Rice pledged sustained support for Afghanistan’s democratic transition, though she said Washington has yet to decide whether to keep long-term military bases.

The bomb exploded on the side of a street in the southern city of Kandahar, killing at least five people and wounding 32. Police blamed Taliban-led rebels for the attack, which hit a passing taxi carrying women and children, a roadside restaurant, and other people. A purported Taliban spokesman denied responsibility for the attack, which took place while Ms. Rice was in the capital, Kabul, 150 miles to the northeast. The bombing happened 10 days after a British consultant to the Afghan government was assassinated in Kabul, casting doubt on assertions by Mr. Karzai and the American military that the country is becoming secure.

– Associated Press