ISW News Roundup - May 2, 2009

May 1, 2009 Roundup                                                                          May 4, 2009 Roundup

Iraq

LA Times  - In Baghdad, dread grows with death toll, by Liz Sly

Washington Post - U.S. Military Says Iraq Is Witholding Key Detainee, by Ernesto Londono

Associated Press - New candidate emerges among Iraq's Kurds, by Yahya Barzanji

Reuters - Iran shells Kurdish rebel position in north Iraq

Associated Press - Iraqi Shiites battered but not battling back, by Brian Murphy

Associated Press - Reclusive Iraqi cleric al-Sadr visits Turkey, by Chrisopher Torchia

Reuters - Suicide attack kills five in Iraq tourist area

Associated Press - Gunman in Iraqi army uniform kills 2 US soldiers, by Brian Murphy

Associated Press - Anatomy of an 'inside' ambush in Iraq, by Brian Murphy

Reuters - U.S. says troops may have to stay in Iraq's Mosul, by Tim Cocks

Reuters - U.S. says troops will not face trial over Iraq raid

New York Times - Babylon Ruins Reopen in Iraq, to Controversy, by Steven Lee Myers

Afghanistan

Reuters - Gates reluctant to bolser U.S. Afghan force further, by David Morgan

Reuters - Five Western soldiers killed in Afghan attack

Reuters - Security developments in Afghanistan, May 2

New York Times - Embedded at Firebase Vimoto

New York Times - A Popular Afghan Governor Leaves the Presidential Race, by Abdul Waheed and Carlotta Gall

Pakistan

Christian Science Monitor - Pakistan resumes peace talks with Taliban amid heavy offensive, by Issam Ahmed

New York Times - In Pakistan, U.S. Courts Leader of Opposition, by Helene Cooper and Mark Mazzetti

Wall Street Journal - Pakistan Pursues Two-Track Approach to Taliban, by Matthew Rosenberg and Zahid Hussain

Reuters - Pakistan sets up Islamic court for restive region, by Faris Ali

Long War Journal - Taliban storm paramilitary outpost in Dir, by Bill Roggio

Reuters - Pakistani forces kill 16 Taliban

Associated Press - Pakistan Says It Killed More Insurgents, by Asif Shahzad

New York Times - Pakistan Says It Killed 50 Taliban in a Clash, but Residents Say Civilians Died, by Carlotta Gall

Associated Press - Taliban Assault Pakistani Military

Region

Iran

Reuters - Iran to review jail sentence of U.S. -born reporter

Associated Press - Ahmadinejad opponents accuse him of faking support, by Ali Akbar Dareini

Israel

Reuters - Israeli air strikes kill 2 in Gaza tunnel, by Nidal al-Mughrabi

Russia

Reuters - Russian troops patrol rebel borders with Georgia: report

Islamists

New York Times - Ex-Spy Sits Down With Islamists and the West, by Robert F. Worth

Piracy

Reuters - Somali pirates hijack 2 ships, NATO scuppers attack, by Alison Bevege