2 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, October 23, 2001 NATION/WORLD 0 U.S. Embassy in Paris was target NEWS IN BRIEF LONDON The Washington Post PARIS - As 19 hijackers around the United States prepared this summer for a deadly day in September, authorities say a related but decidedly different Islamic network was plotting an attack on an American symbol in the heart of Europe: the U.S. Embassy in Paris. The European network also allegedly took orders from Osama bin Laden and may have had ties to the Sept. 11 hijackers. But the apparent plot to blow up the embassy by early next year was foiled when police recently dismantled the group in raids in four countries. The story of the European network offers a frightening look at who the terrorists are and how they are recruited and indoctrinated. It also under- scores the increasing focus of investigators on the activities in Europe of bin Laden's Al-Qaida orga- nization, especially several Sept. 11 hijackers who lived in Germany and moved around the continent. For the most part, the suspects in the alleged Paris conspiracy do not resemble members of the state-sponsored groups that waged past terror cam- paigns in Europe. The half-dozen key suspects didn't have to concoct fake identities or make risky cross-border journeys; they were already home. The central figures are upwardly mobile young men of North African descent who seemed to fit the European model of immigrant integration. Europeans have worried for years about the potent appeal of Islamic extremism to the millions of Muslims in the continent s increasingly large and violent slums, where youths defiantly chant bin Laden's name and scrawl it on housing project walls. But the alleged terrorists were strivers from solid families. Some had university backgrounds, and two even had jobs in municipal government' One of them counseled troubled young immigrants. None of the young men was particularly religious at first, investigators say, but each followed a clan- destine path that has attracted dozens of French Muslims and turned th'em into terrorist "sleepers." The recruits went to London and frequented mosques that are allegedly academies for al-Qaida and gateways to training camps in Afghanistan, authorities say, where the men hardened themselves for holy war. They allegedly returned as undercover soldiers, plotting the attack in Paris while conceal- ing a conversion to terror that now shocks their families. The portrait of the suspects emerges from inter- views with relatives, friends, associates and law enforcement and government officials in Europe. Sinn Fein leader urges disarmament Israel demands release of immigrants JERUSALEM (AP) - Standing firm on tough conditions, Israeli Prime Min- ister Ariel Sharon said yesterday his troops would not release their hold on six West Bank towns until the Palestini- ans turn over the militants who assassi- nated an Israeli Cabinet minister. The U.S. government, meanwhile, issued its strongest denunciation of the Israeli operation yesterday, demanding that Israel pull out immediately and make no further incursions. In Jerusalem, thousands of Israeli demonstrators demanded that Sharon expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and bring down his Palestinian Authority. Israeli tanks rumbled deeper into Palestinian towns, setting off street battles for a fifth day. In Tulkarem, a 65-year-old Palestinian man was killed, Palestinians said. A leaflet issued in Bethlehem by Arafat's Fatah faction warned that if Israeli tanks did not withdraw from the biblical town, "Our bullets will fall Sparking expectations of a breakthrough, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams urged the Irish Republican Army yesterday to begin disarming to save Northern Ireland's peace process. Adams' call came within days of the likely' collapse of Northern Ireland's power- sharing government, created as part of the Good Friday peace agreement of 1998 but hobbled repeatedly by the disarmament issue. As in 1997, when the IRA announced a cease-fire a day after Adams publicly recommended it, his speech raised expectations of a quick IRA gesture. British and Irish officials welcomed the words, but skeptical Protestants demanded action. Leaders of the Ulster Unionist Party, whose support is essential to the survival of Northern Ireland's government, resigned their posts last week hoping to force an IRA move. They have said they would return to the government if the IRA began to disarm. Using the same formula as in 1997, Adams said he and his deputy Martin McGuin- ness, the reputed former IRA commander, were urging the IRA to take the initiative. "Martin McGuinness and I have also held discussions with the IRA, and we have put to the IRA leadership the view that if it could make a groundbreaking move on the arms issue that this could save the peace process from collapse and transform the situation," Adams said. WASHINGTON Few election reforms likely for 2002 races Despite a flurry of legislation, lawsuits and task force reports, the U.S. election system remains largely as it was a year ago and is unlikely to be changed signifi- cantly before the 2002 midterm elections, an election reform research organization said yesterday. In its first report on the election overhaul efforts stemming from the disputed 2000 presidential election, the Election Reform Information Project said that when most American voters return to the polls next year "their ballots will look the same and will likely be counted in the same manner" as in 2000. But the report also said there are "broad points of agreement" on several aspects of election reform that "could form the basis for eventual federal legisla- tion now being considered on Capitol Hill." It said the points of agreement included maintaining local control of elections, establishment of centralized voter registration files by the states, providing for "provisional voting" to allow voters whose names do not appear on registration lists to cast a ballot that would be counted if their registration was later verified, and the purchase of voting machines that give voters a chance to correct mistakes on their ballots. 6 0 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships for sophomores and juniors in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Application deadline: November 15 For information, email ecrown@umich.edu www.lsa.umich.edu/honors - click "Scholarships" like the rain on Gilo." Gilo is a Jewish neighborhood built on disputed land on Jerusalem's south- ern fringe, and gunfire there set off the incursion early Friday. In the Aida refugee camp outside Bethlehem, a heavy gunbattle erupted as tanks rolled in. In Ramallah, tanks fired shells as they moved forward, and were met by Palestinian fire. One Palestinian was wounded, doctors said. Overnight, Israeli army bulldozers destroyed the headquarters of Force 17, one of the Palestinian security ser- vices, in Ramallah. Israel said Force 17 members were suspected of having killed 10 Israelis in shooting attacks. In Nablus, one Palestinian was killed and a second injured in a blast in a car, Palestinians said, claiming the dead man was a senior Hamas bomb- maker on Israel's wanted list. The Palestinians charged Israel was behind the explosion. The Israeli army refused to comment. A 19-year-old Palestinian policeman from Bethlehem died yesterday from wounds suffered two days earlier, doc- tors said. Since the current round of violence began in September 2000, 704 people have been killed on the Palestinian side and 186 on the Israeli side. Speaking to party activists in Tel Aviv, Sharon repeated his main demand, already rejected by the Palestinians, that militants who gunned down Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi on Wednesday be handed over to Israel. "We are not willing to make any compromises concerning ... a com- plete halt of terrorism, the dismantling of terror groups acting against us and the extradition of the killers of minis- ter Zeevi and those who sent them," Sharon said. In Washington, State Department spokesman Philip Reeker gave the harshest criticism yet of the incursions and the deaths of civilians. "Israel Defense Forces should be withdrawn immediately from all Palestinian-con- trolled areas, and no further such incur- sions should be made," Reeker said. Israeli media report a deep rift between Israel and the United States over the incursion, reflecting U.S. con- cern that Mideast violence could sabo- tage efforts to bring moderate Arab states into its anti-terrorism coalition. t I Take it to the extreme ... with a career at Quicken Loans! Dynamic, cutting-edge, revolutionizing the industry ... is this the kind of company you want to work for? Interested in working for the nation's leading online lender? -How about the "True to Life" probability of earning $50,000-$100,000 in your first year? You'll learn from the best in the business and have unlimited growth opportunities! WASHINGTON Rumsfeld condemns leaks to news media Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld denounced the person who revealed to news media information about special forces operations in Afghanistan as a law- breaker who showed "disregard for the lives of the people involved in that operation." "I just think that the idea of someone in this building providing information to the public and to the al-Qaida and to the Tal- iban when U.S. special forces are engaged in an operation is not a good idea, besides being a violation of federal criminal law," Rumsfeld said yesterday at a Pentagon news conference. News of Friday's overnight raid leaked as 100 Army Rangers and other special forces were inside Afghanistan. The troops attacked an airfield near Kandahar and a residence of Mullah Mohammed Omar, the Taliban leader; destroyed a cache of weapons; killed Taliban fighters; and took documents and other evidence to try to find terrorist leaders. LOS ANGELES Fan mail scrutinized due to anthrax scares Fan mail - that old barometer of an entertainer's popularity - has become off-limits for many in Hollywood since the anthrax mail attacks in New York City, Washington and Florida. Studios, networks and publicists say thousands of letters have been returned or just set aside. Some celebrities have signed up with services that open fan- mail for them; others have simply stopped opening mail. "For the time being, we are just not opening fan mail. Just to be care- ful, we are putting it off for now," said publicist Pat Kingsley, who rep- resents actor Tom Cruise, among others. Thousands of unsolicited letters pour in to celebrities every week. Although most are simple declarations of admiration, precautions have long been taken to check for suspicious let- ters and packages. MODESTO, Calif. Condit has second challenge to seat A California lawmaker said yester- day that he is running for Rep. Gary Condit's seat in a public split between longtime friends and political allies. Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza of Atwater becomes the second Democ- rat to challenge the embattled con- gressman, saying he would formally launch his campaign today.. As Condit's protege, Cardoza had long said he would not run unless his @ former boss retired. But with Condit on the ropes following the Chandra Levy scandal and little word on his future plans, Cardoza decided to enter the race. "I don't think he can win," Cardoza said. "I also don't believe he can be as effective as he was in the past:' While Condit hasn't formally announced his plans, he is collecting signatures to run for re-election, indi- cating the two could face each other in the Democratic primary for the seat. - Compiled from Daily wire reports. i 1 We're Quicken Loans, powered by Intuit, maker of Quicken,,), and TurboTax software. Our people are the best ... our technology is top-of-the-line ... our work environment is second-to-none (where else can you wear jeans every day?) Not to mention our "can't be beat" benefits package- hefty stock options, profit-sharing, bonuses, 401 k, medical and dental, the list goes on. A Taste of Wall Street in Livonia, West Bloomfield and Auburn Hills! Send your resume today!J T- . 1 I Quicken Loans * 20555 Victor Parkway - Livonia, MI 48152 Email: intuitiobs@intuit.com . Fax: (734) 805-7052 - www.quickenloans.com It took you 18 years to get into college. It'll take about 18 minutes to pay for it. Your next study break could pay for your education. That is, if you use it to log on to our Web site and find out how easy getting financial support can be. Because joining the Air Force ROTC can provide you with up to 100 percent of your tuition, fees and book costs - plus up to $400 of additional spending money every month. And money is only the beginning. You'll gain skills you'll use your entire career - like leadership, team-building and physical fitness. To find out how, visit AFROTC.COM or call 1-800-522-0033, ext. 2091. The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $105. Winter term (January through April) is $110, yearlong (September through April) is $190. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and The Associated Collegiate Press. ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily. 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327. 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