News and Analysis (5/31-6/1/08)

Algerian youth riot over state mismanagement of the economy:

• Algeria Riots Pose Risk of Wider Unrest (Reuters/Washington Post)

Basrans get a temporary reprieve from Shi’a extremists’ Taliban-like rule:

• Basra’s Wary Rebirth (Washington Post)

US list of state sponsor terror list “has become a diplomatic tool to win concessions from U.S. adversaries eager to end the stigma and sanctions that come with the designation”:

• Analysis: US Terrorism List Also a Political Tool (Associated Press/Seattle Times)

Senators question the CIA freshly positive assessment of Al-Qaeda after repeated testimony of growing threat:

• CIA Chief Criticised for Al Qa’eda Claim (AFP/The National)

Muslim scholars-in-training for counterterrorism studies in Britain get arrested after downloading Al-Qaeda manuals made available by the American DoJ:

• Download Al Qaeda Manuals From the DoJ, Go to Prison? (The Register)

Local southern California Muslims have fresh fears of government spying after recent reports over more surveillance of area mosques:

• Reports Concern Muslims (Los Angeles Times)

Alejandro

Alejandro Beutel is program assistant for the Minaret of Freedom Institute with expertise in religious freedom, democratization and security issues.