Terror Group Warns Italy to Pull Troops

CAIRO, Egypt -- Al-Qaida-linked Islamic militants on Monday threatened to "shake the earth" everywhere in Italy if Rome does not withdraw troops from Iraq.

The Internet statement attributed to the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, the second such threat against the government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in two weeks, was post on a Web site known from carrying materials from Islamic militants.

"This is a warning and a threat to the Italian government, which devoted itself to serving the criminal American crusade, to follow suit with those who preceded you and leave the land of Iraq," the statement said. "Otherwise, we will change our correspondence into words of blood and shake the earth everywhere in your (lands)."

"To the despicable Italian prime minister: If you have not heard this threat, then we will make you hear it in Rome, in every place and under the feet of your people, with Allah's will. We give you, Berlusconi, a few days only, then you will see things that displease you," it said.

The Italian government had no immediate comment. In the past, it has ignored such threats. There was no way to verify the authenticity of the statement.

Police Investigate Parachute Reports On DNC Eve

BOSTON -- State police are still investigating reports that parachutists landed near the FleetCenter Sunday night, but there is little information about what may have been only a security drill.

The FleetCenter is the site of the Democratic National Convention, which begins Monday night.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that military police called in reports just after midnight that two parachutists had landed in the yard of the Charles River Park condominium complex. Additional reports indicated there were also parachutists on the top of the Tip O'Neill Federal Building located next door to the FleetCenter.

Before police helicopters arrived, officers on the ground covered the area, sending officers to the roofs of the buildings. SWAT teams went to the top of the federal building. All available state and local officers responded, some with K9 units. Nothing was found and state police said no one was arrested.

Iran threatens to wipe Israel off map

Iran on Monday repeated its threat to "wipe Israel off the map" if Israel attacked the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites.

"The United States is showing off by threatening to use its wild dog, Israel," Revolutionary Guards Commander Seyed Masood Jazayeri was quoted as saying by the Iranian student news agency ISNA.

"They will not hesitate to strike Iran if they are capable of it. However, their threats to attack Iran's nuclear facilities cannot be realized. They are aware Tehran's reaction will be so harsh that Israel will be wiped off the face of the earth and US interests will be easily damaged," he warned.

EU to push for sanctions on Sudan

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- European Union foreign ministers are to join the U.S. and push for United Nations sanctions against Sudan if its government does not move to end the bloodshed in the troubled Darfur region.

The EU ministers, in a draft statement, said they would take "appropriate further steps" if Sudan does not take action to end the fighting and resume peace talks with rebels.

An attempt by the African Union to host talks between rebels and the Sudanese government was suspended earlier this month when rebels walked out after Khartoum rejected some of their preconditions.

While not using the word sanctions, EU officials said the 25-member bloc would push for such a move by the U.N. Security Council if Sudan did not cooperate with efforts to end violence that has killed 30,000 in Darfur and caused 1 million to flee.

Some 2.2 million are in urgent need of food or medical attention, aid groups estimate.

"What is most important is to continue pressure on the Sudanese government," Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, told Reuters.

Abductions Surge in Iraq

BAGHDAD – In the past week, car bombings and other insurgent attacks against US and Iraqi forces have returned to pre-June 28 handover levels. But kidnapping, too, is emerging as one of the most effective weapons for eroding confidence in the interim Iraqi government and slowing reconstruction.
The low-cost and low-risk tactic is being used to barter lives for political goals.

"People here are demanding improvements in basic services, water, and electricity, not to mention jobs,'' says Wamidh Nadhmi, a political science professor at Baghdad University. "They're not seeing any improvements, so the prospects for instability and violence go up."

It's a simple, ugly cycle that neither the US nor its Iraqi partners have been able to break.

Carefully targeted violence disrupts contracting work, slowing the pace of reconstruction and driving up costs. As the restoration of basic services like power and water is stalled, the pool of dissatisfied Iraqis willing to participate in the insurgency grows.