'Truth' commission launched
By REBECCA TORR
AN independent commission that aims to document the accounts of victims of alleged gross human rights violations was launched at National Democratic Action Society (NDAS) last night.

The Truth Commission has been set up by a coalition of political and human rights societies to help bring justice and reconciliation to victims of abuse, particularly former inmates who allegedly suffered while in prison.

Terror alert won't include Bahrain
By MANDEEP SINGH and NOOR TOORANI

US diplomats say a security warning to Americans in Kuwait is not being extended to Bahrain. The US State Department warned on Tuesday that Westerners in Kuwait could become targets following the arrest of an alleged Al Qaeda-linked terror cell. It urged Americans in Kuwait to be vigilant and take steps to increase their own security, warning that extremists could be conducting surveillance of Westerners - particularly at hotels, residential areas and rental car facilities.

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New order in murder trial
By NOOR TOORANI
FIVE key witnesses will be summoned in the trial of a man who allegedly murdered a hotel guest, following orders by the High Criminal Court.

The Bangladeshi allegedly killed his 68-year-old Kuwaiti victim while robbing him in his room at a Manama hotel in March.

Prosecutors claim he entered the room, hit his victim in the head with a bottle as he slept and then suffocated him with a pillow.

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New twist in murder trial

A NEW suspect has been added to a list of seven men accused of murdering a Pakistani man when his car was firebombed, it emerged yesterday. The eight Bahrainis are accused of murdering Shaikh Mohammed Riaz when his pick up was attacked in Ma'ameer. They will appear before the High Criminal Court for the first time today since blood money negotiations were suspended.

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Bahraini 'terror suspect' moved into detention
By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
A PARDONED Bahraini terror suspect held in Syria was yesterday moved to a detention facility.

Shaikh Mohammed Habib Al Muqdad was arrested at the Damascus airport as he tried to return home on Wednesday.

Immigration officials took him to the National Security Agency earlier in the day, before shifting him to the facility.

The Al Zahraa Orphans' Support Society president had arrived in Syria five days ago.

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Terror threat fears denied
By MANDEEP SINGH
US Navy officials yesterday played down security fears after an alleged terrorist plot to target ships and sailors came to light.

A spokeswoman said the decision to allow the families of US servicemen back to Bahrain after a five-year gap would not be affected by an ongoing case at the High Criminal Court.

Two Bahrainis have been accused of smuggling weapons into the country and planning to attack US ships and personnel at Mina Salman.

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Pardoned man arrested in Syria
By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
A PARDONED Bahraini terror suspect was last night still in Syrian police custody after being arrested as he tried to leave for home.

Shaikh Mohammed Habib Al Muqdad entered Syria four days ago, but was arrested at Damascus airport as he was about to fly out early yesterday.

His name apparently showed up on a list of people banned from travelling, on an immigration desk computer.

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Court protest over murder trial
By NOOR TOORANI
DOZENS of protesters gathered outside the Justice and Islamic Affairs Ministry yesterday to demonstrate against the continuing trial of 19 men accused of murdering a policeman.

The streets surrounding the complex echoed to the chants of relatives, who stood in the sun for two hours, holding placards demanding they be released, after being denied entry.

Trafficking battle call
By BEGENA P PRADEEP

BAHRAIN must step up the battle against human trafficking, according to a new US State Department report.

The country remains on a special watchlist of nations being monitored for what action they are taking to combat the problem, despite issuing new guidelines on the employment conditions of migrant workers.

Bahrain was one of 170 nations included in the ninth annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP), which said it did little to improve its services to protect victims of trafficking.

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Bahrain rights drive expanded
By SOMAN BABY
BAHRAIN's efforts to eliminate human trafficking will come under the spotlight at the UN next week.

Chairman of the national committee for combating human trafficking, Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, has been invited to make a presentation at the thematic meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.