International Roundup

FBI Director Robert Mueller, in his two-day visit to Athens, Greece, the host city of next year’s Olympics, is expected to address U.S. concerns over the flow of illegal immigrants into Greece from Balkan neighbors and the Turkish coast.  Some fear that terrorists with Olympic targets could possibly use the secret routes into the country.

 

Greek officials say the security plan for Athens is comprehensive and is being fine-tuned with the help of a seven-nation advisory group, which includes the United States and Israel.  The officials hope Mueller’s trip will allay U.S. concerns about Greece’s failure to fully eliminate domestic terrorism.

 

 

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A 25-year-old Algerian man, who was detained for several months in an Irish prison for immigration offences, has been arrested on suspicion of having links to al-Qaeda after police found him to be in possession of information relating to possible terrorism targets in the United Kingdom.

 

Police say that last year, they began an investigation into the idea that al-Qaeda could use Northern Ireland as a gateway into Britain.  The unnamed suspect was under surveillance for some time as part of this investigation, and he is thought to have been working with other Islamic terrorist organizations.

 

 

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A group of Afghani illegal immigrant squatters were found in an abandoned building. The Afghans have refused an order to leave Belgium, but with insufficient detention centers available to house the group, officials have been trying to obtain short-term accommodation for the men. Within the past three months, 1,650 illegal aliens have been arrested in Zeebrugge, Belgium and are awaiting deportation.  60% of those discovered were attempting to reach the UK.

 

 

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The Rabiah border between Iraq and Syria is the final checkpoint for those entering the Iraq.  Over 400 people pass through a dilapidated office at the checkpoint everyday. After capturing one attacker who had a Syrian passport, the border has increased its security since US military officials blamed foreign fighters for a wave of suicide bombings in Baghdad.

 

 

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On August 28, 2003 and on September 4, 2003, a TV program on Korea’s Hyundai Home Shopping Network offered “immigration packages” to Manitoba, a province in western Canada with fewer immigration requirements than the federal government of Canada.  During the 80 and 90 minute-programs, nearly 4,000 viewers called to order the package.  Hyundai’s immigration package program described Manitoba as heaven, where parents can be free from worrying over their children’s education, and informed viewers that they could elude mandatory military service by immigrating.

 

The excitement about immigration to Manitoba came to the attention of the Korean Broadcasting Commission, which regulates television stations. On September 30, the commission announced that it would take measures against Hyundai’s show.  On October 2, the commission issued Hyundai a warning, which they claim slowed the potential flood of immigration package programming by the station.

 

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