Double Blow in the War on Terrorism

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Double Blow in the War on Terrorism

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Two attacks in Iraq and Pakistan have been timed to coincide with John Negroponte’s visit to Pakistan and George Bush’s visit to Iraq

  A suicide bomb attack at a Pakistani army base has killed 15 elite commandos and seriously wounded several others. It was the latest in a string of attacks on the nation's military, taking place about 70km north of the capital Islamabad at the Tarbela Ghazi barracks.

The high security at this military base failed to prevent the attack. The target was the camp's mess hall, which at the time was full of dining soldiers.

JABED IKBAL, INVESTIGATING OFFICER: It was a suicide bombing, maybe at about 7:00, 7:15, somebody entered inside and it was terrorism activity.

It's just the latest in a string of attacks since Pakistani troops stormed the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad in July. It's unknown if any of the victims was involved in the raid. But officials confirmed that the soldiers had taken part in recent operations against Islamic militants. Coinciding with the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State, the timing of the attack was significant. After meeting with President Pervez Musharraf, John Negroponte praised Pakistan's efforts in the war against terror, which in recent days has claimed the lives of 70 militants in heavy fighting in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

The violence is increasing pressure on General Musharraf, who is struggling with his own political crisis. Nawaz Sharif, the premier he ousted seven years ago, was expelled on Monday after he attempted to end his exile with a self-proclaimed mission to restore democracy.

And all this comes with a backdrop of more ethnic violence in the southern city of Karachi. Six people were killed when gunmen on motorcycles threw a grenade into a bus and then opened fire. This man says he was buried under dead bodies. The victims were students and allegedly members of the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party.

But in a major setback to US efforts in Iraq, a top Sunni sheik who led the fight against al-Qaeda in the province of Anbar has been killed. Sheik Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, who led the revolt against al-Qaeda by 42 Sunni tribes, died in a roadside bomb attack near his home.

Sattar Abu Risha was killed just 10 days after meeting President Bush. The meeting was high on the President's agenda when he visited Anbar. As the leader of the Sunni tribal group cooperating with US and Iraqi forces in the province, the sheik was a key ally - and the President greeted him like on old friend.

GEORGE W. BUSH, US PRESIDENT: In the life of all free nations, there come moments that decide the direction of a country and reveal the character of its people. We are now at such a moment.

With a majority of Americans favouring a hasty exit from Iraq, President Bush attempted to regain the initiative. He says the troop surge has been a success and he pointed to places like Anbar province, which he visited earlier this year, as evidence.