Unnamed Sources Expect Iraq To Attract Arab Fighters from Chechnya, Kashmir Beirut Al-Diyar (Internet Version-WWW) in Arabic 03 Jul 04
[Report from Paris by Al-Diyar correspondent Badra Bakhus al-Faghali: "Western sources expect Iraq to turn into a center for fundamentalists from Chechnya and Kashmir."]
Western diplomatic sources expect Iraq to turn into a center attracting fundamentalists, especially Arab fighters from Chechnya and Kashmir, who suffer military pressures imposed on them in these regions.
The same sources estimate the total number of Arab and foreign fighters who are affiliated with international fundamentalist organizations in Iraq at 1,000. These fighters came to Iraq to fight against US forces and to receive training on carrying out military operations before they return to their home countries.
Half the number of these foreign fighters are Saudi nationals. However, most of the Saudis are now looking for ways to return to Saudi Arabia to reinforce fundamentalist cells in the kingdom after they received training in Iraqi camps.
US forces are currently holding in Iraqi prisons some 500 men, mostly Kuwaitis, Saudis, Syrians, Lebanese, Egyptians, Jordanians, Yemenis, Algerians, Moroccans, and Afghans.
After assuming its sovereign responsibilities, the Iraqi Government prepares to introduce entry visas for foreigners, to be issued by Iraqi embassies abroad. Its aim is to impose a better security control over the movement of passengers and goods to ensure that terrorist elements, weapons, and explosives will not enter Iraqi territories.
This measure is also aimed at limiting the entry of journalists and businessmen from Western countries because there are no guarantees for their safety, as well as the entry of citizens of neighboring countries, which adopt policies that do not contribute to imposing peace in the country. The only exemption will be granted to military personnel of the United States and coalition countries, which have forces deployed in Iraq.
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