Britain: British ISIS deserters stranded in Turkey

About 100 Britons who deserted the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria are stranded in Turkey because they fear to return to the United Kingdom, The Sunday Times newspaper reported, quoting an official.

“We understand there’s around 100 British jihadists who are waiting in limbo in Turkey before they can make their way to countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh and Algeria – countries where their parents were born and where they have the family support they need to settle in,” the daily quoted a Whitehall official as saying.

“The choices for these jihadists have become very limited — they don’t want to return to Syria because they would most likely be killed for defecting and they can’t come back to Britain without the prospect of being locked up,” the official said.

The paper said some of the fighters of North African and Arabic backgrounds were trying to leave Turkey for countries including Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen and Libya.

Read more: British ISIS deserters stranded in Turkey: report - Al Arabiya News

The EU Energy Dilemma : EU must become energy self sufficient: before trade deal talks with US continue

Shawn Donnan writes in the Financial Times: "Ask anyone in European business what the most daunting longer-term issues confronting them are and it is unlikely to take much time before they site energy costs.
Even before Vladimir Putin’s Russia turned into the EU’s most belligerent neighbor, the reality was that Europe is facing a long-term energy crisis."

"The shale oil and gas have radically lowered the cost of energy in the US and given American manufacturing a competitive boost. That has caused more than a measure of angst among European businesses as they fret over their long-term international competitiveness. One solution to many in Europe seems obvious. "

"With a vast new trade pact – the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership being negotiated with the US, there is a strong case for making sure the deal helps guarantee access to that same cheap energy. "

"Moreover, as officials on both sides of the Atlantic have argued publicly, the ultimate goal of the exercise is knitting two ageing economies together as part of a strategic response to the rise of China and other emerging giants. "

"Removing the barriers to trade for a key economic ingredient surely makes sense. Mr Putin has, of course, been doing his best to help that argument in recent months via his hardening stand on Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea."

"A massive natural gas deal with China sent a signal that Russia intended to reduce its reliance on European customers. This month’s downing of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, seemingly by pro-Moscow rebels, will also undoubtedly rekindle the argument."

"The truth, however, is that a year after negotiations began, EU officials are becoming increasingly frustrated with the US over the energy component of TTIP. With good reason – discussions around one of the biggest potential prizes of the transatlantic deal are proceeding slowly."

"At the sixth round of negotiations in Brussels this month, EU officials were again pressing their case for the TTIP to include a separate “energy and raw materials” chapter. The US side, meanwhile, was again politely deferring the question.  "

The above shows once again that the present US proposals on the trade deal with the EU are self serving  and that the EU must put these talks on the back burner while they solve their energy crises by seriously developing their own alternative energy sources and finding new partners to supply oil and gas requirements.

EU-Digest

Mali: French troops push Mali offensive to Algerian border

French combat troops, guided by Malian soldiers, arrived Friday to the town of Tessalit near the Malian border with Algeria as they continue to track retreating Islamist fighters hiding in the vast desert region.

French forces on Friday arrived in the town of Tessalit, a town deep in northern Mali near the border with Algeria, and one of the last strongholds of Islamist rebels who wielded unchecked power in the region less than a month ago.

Tessalit’s airport has now become the most distant combat outposts in the joint French-Malian effort to re-establish total control of northern Mali.

With a base of operation now established in Tessalit, French soldiers are now busy setting up a vast surveillance operation to track Islamist fighters who are still hiding in this expansive and harsh region.

Read more: French troops push Mali offensive to Algerian border - FRANCE 24 EXCLUSIVE - FRANCE 24

Algeria hostage crisis may be the undoing of jihadi cause in north Africa - by Peter Beaumont

How do you judge the success of a terrorist spectacular? A decade ago, it would have been enough for an organization like al-Qaida to simply carry out an attack like 9/11.

Such an attack would have established not only that they exist, and that they are potent and dangerous, but to present their calling card to would-be recruits.

So how should one regard the attack on the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria – as a success, or as an overwhelming failure?

In the final analysis it seems likely that In Amenas will make it more difficult for jihadi groups in the region to operate rather than easier.

Read more: Algeria hostage crisis may be the undoing of jihadi cause in north Africa| Peter Beaumont | World news | guardian.co.uk

Algeria: 18 terrorists, 12 Algerian and foreign workers killed at gas plant: report

The bloody three-day hostage standoff at a Sahara natural gas plant took a dramatic turn Friday as Algeria’s state news service reported that nearly 100 of the 132 foreign workers kidnapped by Islamic militants had been freed. Also, the agency cited a source reporting that twelve hostages have been killed since the army launched its operation against the militants at the remote gas complex.

“As well as the 18 terrorists who were killed, 12 Algerian and foreign workers died,” said the source, cited by Algeria’s APS news agency, without giving any more details about the nationality or number of foreign casualties.

That number of hostages at the remote desert facility was significantly higher than any previous report, and still meant that the fate of over 30 foreign energy workers was unclear. Yet it could indicate a potential breakthrough in the confrontation that began when the militants seized the plant early Wednesday.

The militants, meanwhile, offered to trade two captive American workers for two terror figures jailed in the United States, according to a statement received by a Mauritanian news site that often reports news from North African extremists.

Read more: 18 terrorists, 12 Algerian and foreign workers killed at gas plant: report - The Globe and Mail

Algeria: Several hostages killed

Turkish Radio reports indicate 34 hostages and 15 terrorists were killed when Algerian security forces went into Gas refinery compound where hostages were held.

EU-Digest

Algeria: Dozens of hostages reportedly escape Islamist captors in Algeria - by Jeffrey Fleishman

The Algerian news agency reported Thursday that as many as 45 hostages, including Americans, had escaped from a natural gas complex a day after Islamic militants seized the installation in retaliation for French airstrikes against Islamist rebels in neighboring Mali.  

The Algerian report said 30 Algerians and 15 foreigners had fled the compound Thursday. The report could not be independently confirmed. The Associated Press, quoting an unnamed Algerian official, said 20 foreigners, including Americans, had escaped.

If news of an escape is true -– no details are yet known -– it would mark a stunning twist in a drama that has raised fears of a long siege and highlighted the dangerous Islamist extremism stretching from Mali across the mountains and lawless deserts of North Africa. 

The militants had reportedly threatened to blow up the gas facility at In Amenas near the Libyan border if government commandos attempted to free the hostages. France 24 television reported that a male captive said in a telephone interview that attackers forced some hostages to strap on belts laden with explosives. It could not be confirmed if the man was a hostage.

Read more: Dozens of hostages reportedly escape Islamist captors in Algeria - latimes.com

French troops surround desert village in Mali and hostages are taken in Algeria by jihadists

French troops surrounded the desert village of Diabaly in central Mali on Wednesday, the first direct engagement since France launched a military assault last week to oust radical Islamists who have advanced to within 250 miles of the capital.

The escalation set the stage for a perilous ground conflict. In waging ground combat, France is entering the comfort zone of the rebels, who know the desert terrain and are veterans of guerrilla warfare. They have blended into the local population, occupied houses and are hiding in mango groves to stage ambushes, residents said in telephone interviews.

Islamic terrorists linked to al-Qaeda attacked an Algerian natural gas facility Wednesday, killing one British and one French worker and taking numerous hostages, possibly including seven Americans.

A spokesman for the group, Qatiba, which translates as Those Who Sign with Their Blood, told Mauritanian news website Sahara Media Agency that jihadists seized the gas facility at In Mounas in eastern Algeria and took hostages.

The group said the attack was in retaliation for Algeria's decision to allow French aircraft to use its airspace in its military intervention in Mali that began last week. 

Norwegian oil company Statoil and British company BP confirmed their facilities at In Amenas in southeastern Algerian came under attack at 5 a.m. local time Wednesday.
"Contact with the site is extremely difficult, but we understand that armed individuals are still occupying the operations site," said BP spokesman Robert Wine.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said U.S. officials were in touch with Algeria about the attack. "The best information we have at this time is that U.S. citizens are among the hostages," Nuland said.

The French and British governments confirmed that two citizens from their countries had been killed. Japan said some of their citizens were involved as well. A Norwegian woman said her husband called her saying he had been taken hostage.

Ireland's Foreign Ministry said one of its citizens was being held hostage also and the person to be released.

Read more: French troops surround desert village in Mali - The Washington Post

Are British Special forces hunting for Gaddafi ?

British TV station ITV reported that a large number of British Special Air Service officers are in Libya hunting for Muammar Gaddafi, who they believe is still in the country.

The British Ministry of Defense refused to confirm or deny the report, adding that it was government policy not to comment on special forces operations.

Since neighboring Algeria has denied Muammar Gaddafi entry and didn’t even envisage granting him asylum. All this adds to the assumption that Col Gaddafi must still be in Libya.

EU-Digest

Libya leader gives Gaddafi loyalists surrender deadline

Libya’s interim leader on Tuesday gave forces loyal to deposed ruler Muammar Gaddafi a four-day deadline to surrender towns still under their control or face military force. A spokesman for the National Transitional Council said it would seek to extradite Gaddafi’s relatives from Algeria, which is alone among Libya’s neighbors in not recognizing the NTC.

Nearly 60 countries have acknowledged the NTC as Libya’s legitimate authority. Algeria, Russia, China, India, South Africa, Venezuela, and Brazil are among those which have so far withheld recognition.

For more: Libya leader gives Gaddafi loyalists surrender deadline | News | National Post

Libya: Has Gaddafi fled to Algeria?

Egyptian state news agency MENA quoted a rebel source as claiming that a motorcade of armored cars accompanied by loyalist forces had been seen crossing into Algeria. It is believed that the six vehicles that entered the Algerian town of Ghadames could have been carrying officials from the former regime - or even Gaddafi himself.

Earlier Libyan rebel forces captured a border post to Tunisia thought to be a possible escape route for fugitive leader Moammar Gaddafi late on Friday. A Tunisian official said that pro-Gadhafi loyalists had fled as more than 100 rebels arrived and raised their flag over the frontier post.

EU-Digest

Middle East unrest as it happens

Libya, Bahrain, Iraq,Yemen, Algeria, Jordan and Iran are the latest countries to be hit by popular protests inspired by the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. Follow the BBC minute-by-minute coverage of all the latest events from across the Middle East and North Africa, where several regimes are facing huge challenges from their people.

For more: BBC News - Middle East unrest as it happened

Egyptians, Inspired by Tunisia, Use Facebook to Set Up Protest March Today

On Facebook, more than 85,000 people have pledged to attend a nationwide antigovernment protest planned for today Jan. 25, in Egypt.

The Middle East is walking into an anxious week after a busy weekend, one that saw authoritarian regimes from Algeria to Yemen experience the ripple effect of the fall of Tunisia's President, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.

Large antigovernment demonstrations broke out in Jordan, Yemen and Algeria, while more men —
particularly in Egypt and Algeria — have joined the ranks of self-immolators inspired by Mohammed Bouazizi, the Tunisian whose suicide sparked that country's revolution. "What is very important about what happened in Tunisia, regardless of whether it spreads, is that it certainly raised a lot of hope among Egyptians and among other Arab people in different countries," explains Hassan Nafaa, a political-science professor at Cairo University and a vocal critic of the regime of President Hosni Mubarak.

Beyond the wave of protests, that hope has found a voice in independent newspapers across the region and in new, audacious political demands made by opposition groups. In Jordan and Yemen, analysts say, verbal attacks by opposition groups show an unprecedented confidence and ferocity, including calls by Jordanian opposition members to have an elected Prime Minister and turn King Abdullah of Jordan's nominally constitutional monarchy into a real one.


For more: Egyptians, Inspired by Tunisia, Use Facebook to Set Up Protest March - TIME

Kenya Today: Algerian youth risk lives seeking better life in Europe - by LAEED ZAGHLAMI

For the complete report from Kenya Today click on this link

Algerian youth risk lives seeking better life in Europe - by LAEED ZAGHLAMI

For a long time, nobody took their plight seriously. In the 1970s, the public contemptuously dismissed them as idlers or dealers in contraband goods while the government acted as if they did not exist. But now, the number of young people risking their lives to leave Algeria in search of a better life in Europe, or ‘harraga’ as they are known locally, has reached alarming levels and can no longer be ignored. Many risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea in all sorts of ill-equipped vessels, determined to reach European shores. Some make it, others get arrested before they reach and are repatriated, yet others perish at sea.

“The authorities should act immediately to stop the ‘youth drain,’” says a parent whose son disappeared after leaving for Europe from Beni Saf on the west coast.

NIS News Bulletin: Netherlands Signs Investment Agreement With Algeria

For the complete report from the NIS Bulletin click on this link

Netherlands Signs Investment Agreement With Algeria

Economic Affairs State Secretary Frank Heemskerk signed an investment protection agreement (IBO) yesterday with the Algerian Ambassador, Benchaa Dani. Gas supplies will play an important role. "This IBO is a bilateral treaty between the Netherlands and Algeria under which both countries sign up to treating mutual investments well" and that "creates legal security for mutual investors," according to the economic affairs ministry. The treaty "enables a further intensification of mutual trade relations. This is important for Dutch investors because the Algerian market is attractive for sectors such as energy and agriculture."

Algeria is "potentially an important supplier of LNG (liquid natural gas)" to the LNG landing terminals that are planned in the Netherlands.