Sudan Unrest Continues

On 27 August 2006, protesters mobbed the vehicle of U.S. diplomat Jendayi Frazer as she arrived in Khartoum. Protesters surrounded the convoy, carrying signs stating, "Go back home" and "We need peace." Frazer met with government officials in an attempt to convince the Sudanese to accept a possible U.N. force to assist the African Union in Darfur. However, Sudan is ignoring pressure from the United States and the United Kingdom, while Sudanese Islamist leaders claim they will take up arms to expel any U.N. forces in Darfur, even if the government were to accept the international troops.

Meanwhile, Sudan is reportedly building up its military in the Darfur region despite the May 2006 peace deal. On 28 August, the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to discuss a proposal to deploy 20,000 U.N. troops and police officers, despite rejection by the Sudanese government.

Turkish Resort Explosion

Emerging reports indicate that an explosion occurred in the Turkish resort of Antalya on 28 August 2006, killing one person and injuring five others. No further information about the incident has been released. On 27 August, three simultaneous explosions injured more than 20 people in the southwestern coastal resort town of Marmaris. The explosions in the Bagcilar district injured 10 British tourists and at least 11 Turkish citizens. One of the three bombs detonated below a seat on a minibus. Officials suspected the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) was responsible for the bombings. Another explosion also occurred in Istanbul's central district the same day, injuring six people, three seriously. It is not known if the bombings are related.

On 25 August, two small bombs exploded in the Kucuksaat area in central Adana, injuring four people and shattering windows near the sites of the explosions. The first bomb detonated outside of a bank at approximately 1630 local time (1330 UTC), while the second exploded approximately five minutes later near the local offices of the Human Rights Association. Although no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, Kurdish militants are suspected of carrying out the attack.