FP morning brief 8/6

U.S. charges 14 with supporting Somali terror group

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Top story: The U.S. has unsealed terrorism indictments against 14 people charged with aiding Somalia's al Shabaab rebels. Attorney General Eric Holder said the indictments "shed further light on a deadly pipeline that has routed funding and fighters to al Shabaab from cities across the United States."
Two women were arrested on Thursday in Minnesota and charged with soliciting donations door-to-door for al Shabaab, which, in addition to its activities inside Somalia, is believed to have carried out the bombing in Uganda last month which killed 76 people. The other 12 suspects named in the indictment are either in Somalia or otherwise at large.
The indictments include two Americans who have emerged as senior al Shabaab figures. Omar Hammami, a native of Alabama, is a key player in the group's efforts to recruit supporters in the United States and has been compared to the American cleric Anwar al Awlaki in Yemen. Jehad Mostafa, a former native of San Diego, is believed to have risen to the senior levels of Shabaab leadership.
Russia burning: Moscow has been shrouded by dense fog from nearby fires, diverting air traffic. Because of its worst drought in 40 years, the Russian government has also imposed a temporary ban on grain exports.

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Asia Bad weather has grounded flood-relief flights in Pakistan. Flash floods also killed dozens of people in Kashmir. Japan marked the 65th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, which the U.S. ambassador to Japan participated in for the first time. Gen. David Petraeus has issued stricter rules of engagement for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Middle East Investigators in the U.A.E. say an explosive-laden dinghy attacked a Japanese oil tanker in the Persian Gulf last week. Israel has released the Turkish ship involved in the botched flotilla raid two months ago. Saudi Arabia is rolling out a ban on the use of Blackberry phones. Europe Bronislaw Komorowski was sworn in as the new president of Poland. Poland will extradite an alleged Israeli spy to Germany. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi reportedly plans to seek a confidence vote in parliament in September. Africa South Africa recalled its ambassador to Rwanda following a diplomatic dispute over the killing of an exiled Rwandan general in Johannesburg. Somali pirates hijacked a cargo ship with 22, mostly Syrian, crew on board. Official results show strong support for Kenya's new constitution. Americas The U.S. Senate confirmed Elena Kagan as the 112th justice to the Supreme Court. Cuba is protesting its inclusion on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. President Hugo Chavez says he will probably not accept the U.S. nominee for ambassador to Venezuela because of comments he has made about the Venezuelan government.   -By Joshua Keating

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