The withdrawal from Basra Palace of 500 British troops is the first step towards handing over to the Iraqis responsibility for the security of the entire region in a matter of weeks and deeper cuts in the number of UK forces there early next year, defence officials said last night.
British defence sources also made clear they were resting their hopes on Iraq’s most senior army officer in Basra, General Mohan al-Fireji, and were backing his attempts to persuade Shia militias to lay down their arms.
– The Guardian
Authorities in Australia are staging the country’s biggest security operation to guard against violent protests on the first day of a visit by President Bush today.
Thousands are expected to rally against the Iraq war and global warming in Sydney, where Mr Bush is the star guest among 21 heads of state who will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Council (Apec) summit.
A vast “rabble-proof” barrier has isolated the city, where underground stations are being closed and 5,000 police and soldiers will patrol the streets in the $300 million ( GB pound 122 million) security operation.
– The Times
Scotland Yard will launch a major security operation when England face Israel at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Hundreds of police are expected to be deployed on the ground, as well as on rooftops, with plain-clothes officers mingling within the crowds for the Euro 2008 qualifying match which will attract a 90,000 crowd.
Wembley is regarded as a potential target for terrorists and, according to security experts, the authorities will have planned carefully for the visit of Israel.
– The Telegraph
The Chinese military hacked into a Pentagon computer network in June in the most successful cyber attack on the US defence department, say American -officials.
The Pentagon acknowledged shutting down part of a computer system serving the office of Robert Gates, defence secretary, but declined to say who it believed was behind the attack.
Current and former officials have told the Financial Times an internal investigation has revealed that the incursion came from the People’s Liberation Army.
– The Financial Times