Bangladesh finally confers award on Indira Gandhi posthumously for her COURAGOUS and huge contribution to its independence; emotion-choked Sonia

Best friend honoured

Bangladesh finally confers award on Indira Gandhi posthumously for her huge contribution to its independence; emotion-choked Sonia receives the recognition

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina present Sonia Gandhi, the head of Indian National Congress, with Bangladesh Freedom Honour conferred posthumously on the latter's mother-in-law Indira Gandhi at Bangabhaban



 JOINT BATTLE AGAINST TERRORISM     


  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ruling Indian National Congress chief Sonia Gandhi Monday declared a decision to wage a joint battle against terrorism on behalf of their respective sides. 

The decision regarding the anti-terror coalition came from a one-to-one meeting on bilateral issues between them at a city hotel Monday. Both the countries are committed to fighting against terrorism.  Sonia Gandhi, during the meeting, lauded the steps taken by the government to stop terrorism.

Citing the recent tragic attacks launched on Norway that left 90 dead, they reached a consensus that “it is not possible to root out terrorism alone.”

Possible Routes For Transit:Economic gains for Bangladesh out of it 500 crore to 4,666 crore

Transit thru' 2-3 routes for now

Bangladesh may sign protocols with India, Nepal and Bhutan to provide the countries with transit benefits through its two to three road routes.A government assigned committee has earlier identified 17 transit routes -- seven by road, seven by rail and three by waterway.

India, on the other hand, proposed in April for 15 routes, all linked to Chittagong and Mongla ports.

Transit How Bangladesh gains out of it
The gain of Bangladesh can be many folds.

1. How Bangladesh can become a regional transport hub, was described by ADB Country Director Hua Du in a seminar recently. She mentioned – “You can benefit tremendously through opening up transit and great opportunities for crossing from east to west and giving the land-locked neighbors access to the sea”.The Chittagong port can become a modern busy port like Singapore serving the SAARC countries and even China. Huge foreign investment may be attracted to Bangladesh and finally a throbbing service sector like banks, insurance, hotels, rest houses, petrol pumps etc. may develop around the Trans continental roads and railways.
2. There is an estimate of direct economic gain from transit fees. It ranges from 500 crore taka to 4,666 crore taka.
3. The last but not the least, is the mutual transit. Bangladesh, in return, will get a much shorter route to China, which already is its second largest trading partner. Unfortunately, most of the trading nowadays takes place through sea-route. The cost of import increases, as well as Bangladeshi goods loose competitiveness in Chinese market. If Bangladesh wants to access South Chinese underdeveloped market, they must go through India. This was a point of concern for the Chinese delegates during Kunming initiative in 1999, an initiative to link Chinese province of Yunan with Seven Sisters of India, Myanmar, Thailand and Bangladesh. See reference map to link Kunming in China with Bangladesh.

The potential damages Bangladesh could suffer

1. The corridor through Bangladesh could increase Indian Intelligence Service activities in Bangladesh.
2. It could lead to spreading of AIDS and could become a potential route for drug-trafficing.
3. The road and ports of Bangladesh could get overcrowded, thus resulting in poor efficiency in domestic industries.

Keeping in view the benefits, it seems the above mentioned risks are too small, from economic perspective. But, a country is not made up of its economy only, it has its political, ideological and popular faces also. To sum up the whole condition, Bangladesh currently does not allow India the transit because of non-economic reasons.

. The problem complicates when the same issue becomes a multilateral one, crops up as a part of a multilateral development program. Unfortunately, Bangladesh has refused to join Asian Highway project fearing it would allow transit to India. 

The future of the economy of a country depends on how the policies remain focused on economy overcoming the political pressure. This is a proven truth in case of China, Japan and might be India in near future. Hence, giving up economic advantages to some non-economic causes will never help a poor country in a poorest region to grow out of its poverty.
Source:The new Horizon, The Daily Star

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Combating the biggest threat to national security, namely the threat posed by nuclear terrorism- Kingston Reif, director, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

U.S. nuclear security experts blast cuts to anti-nuclear terror program: A prominent group of U.S. nuclear security experts is blasting a U.S. House plan to cut millions of U.S. dollars in funding for a program aimed at keeping nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists. The Nuclear Fissile Working Group (FMWG), a non-governmental organization in nuclear security which comprises more than 60 nuclear security experts, castigated the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee bill to cut funding from the Global Threat Reduction Initiative. The group argued that the initiative helps reduce the threat of global terrorism by converting nuclear reactors worldwide to run on non-weapons grade low enriched uranium, instead of highly enriched uranium, which can be used to make bombs. The bill was passed last week, and the group is urging the Senate, where the bill is headed next, to restore full funding to the initiative. The House cut 120 million U.S. dollars from the initiative for fiscal 2012. Of that amount, 70 million dollars was for the conversion program. But 35 million U.S. dollars were then restored by an amendment. The cut came on the heels of a 123-million-dollar cut to the initiative in the final fiscal year 2011 resolution passed by Congress in April. Preventing terrorists from getting their hands on nukes is a major focus of the Nuclear Security Summit -- a bi-annual forum began last year by U.S. President Barack Obama in which dozens of world leaders gathered in Washington in a bid to better safeguard nuclear materials worldwide. More than 125 reactors around the globe still need to be converted, many of which are in Russia, Poland, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and some with a history of lax security, according to the FMWG. The cuts also came at a time when U.S. lawmakers are under pressure to reduce spending in a bid to start lowering the country' s massive debt. "These cuts are pretty difficult to comprehend, given that the program is aimed at combating the biggest threat to national security, namely the threat posed by nuclear terrorism,"said Kingston Reif, director of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. Matthew Bunn, an associate professor at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and FMWG member, said that funding for this program directly affects the pace at which highly enriched uranium can be removed from vulnerable sites. Ken Luongo, president of the Partnership for Global Security and FMWG co-chair, referred to the cuts as "irresponsible." The U.S. Congress, however, views the situation differently. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, in a statement, applauded the House for passing the bill. He said that the bill"is proof that we can make common-sense spending reductions without damaging or impairing the programs that help keep our country safe and our citizens at work." "While providing vital funding for programs that preserve our public safety, quality of life, economic competitiveness, energy independence and national defense, this bill abides by the promise that we would cut spending where we can to get our budgets back into balance and keep us on track toward economic recovery," Rogers said. The bill's authors argued against fully funding parts of a project in which, they believe, there are no guarantees. International cooperation is required to make progress on reactors'conversion from highly enriched uranium to non-weapons grade uranium. Language in the bill, however, said there has been "limited progress to convert or shut down a total of 71 Russian research reactors." Indeed, a framework should first be hammered out with Russia to find out how many reactors that country would consider converting, according to the bill. Kingston, however, said the Russian reactors are only part of the overall initiative. "The reality is that a very small percentage of the budget request for this ... program is aimed at the conversion of reactors in Russia," he said. "Russia is certainly a part of it, but it's not the only part, " he added. Courtesy:Xinhu a

6.2-magnitude quake hits Japan's Fukushima Prefecture

TOKYO, July 25 : An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale jolted Japan's northeastern Fukushima Prefecture and its vicinity on early Monday Morning, said the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The focus of the quake, which occurred at 03:51 a.m. local time was located some 40 km under the sea off Fukushima, said the agency.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to properties, and no tsunami warning was issued. Tremors were felt in Tokyo, about 240 kilometers away from the prefecture.

There was no immediate reports of abnormalities from the quake by the operator of the crippled Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant.

Hope to draw the attention of brand names like Nike, Adidas and Li Ning to the pollution caused by their suppliers

Greenpeace campaigns against global brands for water pollution

Last week, Greenpeace released a report saying some global and Chinese clothing brands discharge toxins into rivers during their production in China. Today, Greenpeace's environmental volunteers are joined by consumers here in Beijing in appealing to these manufacturers to stop polluting China's rivers in a novel way. A group of more than 30 dancers staged a surprise performance in the busy shopping center of Scitech Premium Outlet Mall in Beijing. Their objective -- to appeal to major sportswear brands to eliminate hazardous chemicals from their supply chain and products. Environmental volunteer said "We hope to draw the attention of brand names like Nike, Adidas and Li Ning to the pollution caused by their suppliers, and push them to work out a timetable to correct the problems. We are not repelling these brands. We hope they can do a better job." Zhang Kai, Greenpeace Campaigner said "The flash mob dances, involve more than two thousand volunteers worldwide, and are staged simultaneously in 36 cities in 14 countries around the globe. Our purpose is to compel these three sportswear giants to respond to Greenpeace's call for a toxic-free future and to take the lead in a "detox" change." Greenpeace's report shows suppliers of 14 global and Chinese clothing brands discharge hazardous chemicals into Chinese rivers. The NGO says their findings provide a snapshot of the pollution caused by the textile industry in China. China's waterways rank among the world's most polluted. It's estimated 70 percent of the country's rivers and lakes are affected.

Greenpeace activists are trying to bring awareness to pollution caused by global brand names. A group of dancers gathered in Beijing and in other cities across the globe, for a flash mob event to draw public attention to water pollution.

Courtesy:Xinhua

8 killed, 20 injured in south Yemen car bomb

Soldiers inspect the site of the car bomb attack in Yemen's southern port city of Aden, July 24, 2011. At least eight soldiers were killed and 20 others injured when a booby-trapped car targeted a military patrol in Yemen's southern port city of Aden on Sunday. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

 At least eight soldiers were killed and 20 others injured when a booby-trapped car targeted a military patrol in Yemen's southern port city of Aden on Sunday, local officials and witnesses told Xinhua.

The Yemeni government intensified battles against the terrorist group and using warplanes to try to destroy al-Qaida's main hideouts in Abyan neighboring Aden since the group overran Abyan's provincial capital city of Zinjibar.

"According to initial tips, the perpetrator is a young man affiliated with al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), targeting the military convoy of Yemeni Defense Air Force base in al-Mansoura district while the soldiers were preparing to leave for al-Qaida-seized Abyan province," a provincial security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"The suicide car bomb went off and killed at least eight soldiers and wounded more than 20 others, spreading fears among the soldiers and residents," he added.

Another local military official told that "heavy gunshots and fire followed the explosion," making it clear that the army forces shot into the air. Local residents said that heavy gunshots could be heard after the a huge explosion rocked the al-Mansoura district near the Defense Air forces base.

The explosion came four days after a bomb set inside a car of a British maritime expert went off in Aden on Wednesday, engulfing the car in flame and killing the British.

The southern port city witnessed a series of bomb attacks and explosions targeting a number of government facilities and military bases as the government officials accused al-Qaida militants of masterminding and carrying out the attacks against the army forces.

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Search continues for massacre victims in Norway

Rescue workers continue the search for victims of Friday's terrorist attacks in Oslo, capital of Norway, on July 24, 2011. A number of 97 people were injured following Friday's twin attacks in Norway that killed 92 people, police said Sunday. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Money from the Pakistani ISI into the US to influence American policy makers?

Unnamed US officials have released the name of yet another ISI operative, who, working under diplomatic cover in New York, allegedly spied on Pakistani 

dissidents in America, in what some analysts suggest

may be payback for Pakistanis outing CIA operatives and 

harassing CIA assets in Pakistan.

US turns heat  onISI,says it spies on Pakistani-Americans

Kashmiri activist Syed Ghulam Nabi FaiIn further signs 


that ties between the United States and Pakistan continue to deteriorate, American interlocutors have now accused Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI of spying on the Pakistani diaspora in America and intimidating them.

  

The latest salvo, aired through leaks in the New York Times on Sunday, comes on the heels of the FBI's arrest of Kashmiri activist Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai on charges that he illegally funnelled money from the Pakistani ISI into the US to influence American policy makers.

The FBI affidavit in the Fai case also named several ISI operatives, including high-level Pakistani spook Maj Gen Mumtaz Ahmed Bajwa, who the US says handled overseas Kashmiri militants groups in the ISI's security directorate. The public outing of ISI operatives now is in stark contrast to the Headley-Rana case where the Justice Department held back from naming Pakistani spooks.

The official, identified as Mohammed Tasleem, an attache in the Pakistani consulate in New York, went so far as to pose as an FBI agent to extract information from Pakistani immigrants and threatened them if they opposed the Pakistani military's. Tasleem was spirited out of US in a "quiet resolution" of the matter after the then CIA Director Leon Panetta had a "tense conversation" with the ISI chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha on the matter, NYT said.

But in a sign that Washington may have also tried to keep a lid on the spat between law-enforcement foot soldiers of the two countries, the report said the State Department and CIA counseled against FBI arresting Fai and his associate in the Kashmir-ISI case in the past, fearing that such a move would aggravate the already frayed ties between US and Pakistan.

US policy with regards to Pakistan is difficult to discern as this moment. Publicly, officials maintain both sides are working through a "difficult" and "complicated" relationship. But lower down, or perhaps privately, officials from both sides are going eye-ball-to-eyeball, in the process aggravating the already frayed ties.

It now appears the gloves -- and all bets -- are off. After Pakistan's aggressive moves in twice outing CIA station chiefs in Islamabad and playing hardball in the Raymond Davis case, Washington seems intent in showing that two can play the game. The US has now turned the heat on ISI, with the focus on its operations in America including its divisive ties with the Pakistani diaspora.

Some analysts see the timing of Fai's arrest, including the fingering of ISI, as significant, coming as it does on the heels of the arrest of a Pakistani doctor, Shakil Afridi, who assisted the US operation in Abbottabad (targeting Osama bin Laden). Washington is said to be pressing Pakistan to release him.

"So what you have inside of Pakistan is the arrest of a Pakistani national for assisting US efforts. And now here in Washington, you have the arrest of an American citizen of Pakistani origin for his assistance [on] Pakistani efforts. The similarities here are striking, and it...leads to questions in Pakistan as to whether this arrest and this case are being brought intentionally at this time to send a message to Islamabad," says Daniel Markey, a former state department officials who is now a senior fellow at the Council for Foreign Relations.

The US move also comes amid growing fears in the Pakistani community of more arrests in the Fai case. The FBI affidavit in the case cites a dozen unnamed "straw donors" who contributed money to Fai's Kashmir American Council in the US and were reimbursed by the Pakistani government in Pakistan in a typical hawala operation. Many donors are said to be Pakistani-American physicians and businessmen.

At the same time, the latest leaks about ISI shenanigans in US also suggests Washington is concerned about Islamabad targeting Pakistani-Americans who are critical of the militarization of Pakistan and its slide into chaos.

There was further panic in the community over the weekend after Canada arrested what it called a Pakistani "war criminal" near Toronto.

Canadian authorities said they apprehended Arshad Mohammed, 42, just days after Ottawa released a list of 30 "war criminals" sought in Canada, ostensibly to offset the impression that the country is being used as a liberal safe haven by overseas terrorists and criminals. Most men on the list come from failed or failing states such as Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan etc, including two from Pakistan.

Canadian officials did not identify the war crimes Arshad Mohammed is charged with.

White European racists put Islam and Muslims immigrants in crosshairs

White European racists put Islam and Muslims immigrants in crosshairs. By Ray Moseley

Sunday, 24 July 2011

Norwegian soldiers are deployed in front of the government building in Oslo July 24, 2011. (REUTERS 

To ban people from wearing a full face veil in public Belgium the second European Union nation.

Belgium ban on face veil comes into force

Law prohibiting people from wearing anything that hides their face in public places is to be challenged by two women.

Those who violate the ban could face up to seven days in jail [EPA] France, home to Europe's biggest Muslim population, became the first EU country to ban full face veils on April 11. In France, a person who repeatedly insists on appearing veiled in public can be fined $215  and ordered to attend   re-education classes. ' Belgium has joined France as the second European Union nation to ban people from wearing a full face veil in public. The ban came into force in Belgium on Saturday, with offenders facing a fine of $197 and up to seven days in jail. The law, which prohibits people from wearing anything that hides their face in public places, was approved unanimously by parliament in April. Discriminatory measure' The law in Belgium faced an immediate court challenge from two women who wear the full face veil, who decided on Friday to challenge the ban in the country's constitutional court, the country's media reported. "We consider the law as a disproportionate intrusion into fundamental rights such as the freedom of religion and expression," Ines Wouters, the women's lawyer, was quoted as saying in the newspaper La Libre. "This measure is discriminatory," Wouters said. The Council of Europe's human rights commissioner, Thomas Hammarberg, criticised such bans this week, saying such measures threaten to exclude women rather than liberating them. "In fact, the banning may run counter to European human rights standards, in particular the right to respect for one's private life and personal identity," he said. "The way the dress of a small number of women has been portrayed as a key problem requiring urgent discussion and legislation is a sad capitulation to the prejudices of the xenophobes."

Home-grown Extremism remains a Grave Threat across the World

Twin attacks in Norway raise alarm on lone extremists

People place flowers and light candles for condolence in Oslo, capital of Norway, July 23, 2011. At least 84 people were killed when a gunman disguised as a police officer opened fire at a youth camp on Utoeya island, about 40 km west of Oslo. The shootings occurred hours after a massive explosion ripped through a high-rise building housing the prime minister's office in Oslo, killing seven people. (Xinhua/Tong Shuai)  Two deadly attacks that killed at least 91 people Friday ushered in a black weekend for Norwegians, and is a sad reminder that home-grown extremism remains a grave threat across the world.

Preliminary investigations indicate the suspect, a 32-year-old Norwegian man, has nothing to do with international terrorist groups, while local media said the horrific carnage, which deprived many families of their young children, appears to be the crazy act of a local extremist who wanted revenge on society.

Although the real motivation of the attacks remains unknown, investigators have already identified some traits of extremism, such as extreme cruelty, anti-humanism and anti-rationality, in the attacks.

The gunman, dressing as a police officer, went on a shooting rampage at the ruling Labor Party's youth camp on the island of Utoya, some 40 kilometers west of Oslo, killing at least 84 people, hours after a bomb that he allegedly planted near government offices in downtown Oslo went off and killed at least seven.
It would have been unimaginable moments before the rampage that the young people enjoying their day at the camp would die so suddenly and violently. It's also hard to imagine how their parents can bear the pain of their loss.

Witnesses on the island said the gunmen did not even spare the young people who had jumped into the sea in a desperate bid to escape.

Violent attacks by lone extremists, while not rare in history, are in most cases more difficult to trace and prevent than those organized by terrorist groups.

In recent years, some Western countries have experienced random tragedies, labelled "campus shootings", "serial killings" and other terms, which were often masterminded by a rogue extremist.

The truck bombing at a federal building in Oklahoma city in 1995 that killed 168 people was carried out by a U.S. Army veteran who held grudges against the federal government.

With the development of modern technology and advances in weaponry, terrorism is becoming more deadly. Additionally, compared with organized terrorist attacks, terrorism that originates from lone extremists is in most cases harder to predict and prevent, making it more likely to lead to mass casualty. Therefore, governments and citizens around the world have a duty to firmly resist, eliminate, prevent and fight this kind of extremism.

With further investigation underway, the murderer who caused this bloodshed will surely receive the punishment he deserves. But the wound on the heart of every Norwegian caused by the tragedy won't heal any time soon.


 As well as sharing Norway's pain in resonance, the world should also ponder how to better prevent these kinds of acts, how to never again let dark days like this occur.

Courtesy: Xinhua

A Quick assumption that Muslims were at fault proved to be Erroneous

Norway attacks: Shaken nation sees hint of Oklahoma City

View Photo Gallery — Attacks in Norway: A shooting at a youth political conference outside the capital, Oslo, killed at least 85 people, and a massive explosion in the city left at least seven dead, police said.

Updated: Sunday, July 24, 6:07 AM

OSLO — With at least 92 dead and a suspect in custody, Norwegians trying to make sense of the bombing and shooting attacks here turned repeatedly Saturday to the one example that seemed to fit: the Oklahoma City bombing.

Here, as there, a quick assumption that Muslims were at fault proved to be erroneous. Norwegians now know that a 32-year-old Christian, who railed against multiculturalism, is the principal and perhaps only suspect in the killings that occurred Friday in Oslo and at an island nearby. 

His name is Anders Behring Breivik; police say he has admitted to the shootings. A Norwegian newspaper reported that he had recently bought a large quantity of fertilizer, which can be used to make bombs — as the Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy Mc­Veigh, showed in 1995.

According to Web postings he apparently wrote, Breivik has lived on the margins of Norway’s extreme right wing, a movement that has been in decline for at least a decade. The writings denounce politicians in general for betraying the nation — but offer no hint of violence.The country of 4.5 million was plunged into grief Saturday, especially because more than 80 of the Victims were teenagers attending a Labor Party camp on the island of Utoya. Oslo was hushed, even though thousands came out on the streets, whether out of curiosity or in solidarity. As soft showers fell, the loudest sound was of workmen sweeping up broken glass.

In television interviews, survivors of the island assault described a scene of chaos and panic. The gunman, dressed as a police officer, scoured the island. Carrying two guns, he shot everyone he could in a span of 90 minutes. Police said they think some of the victims drowned while trying to swim away. Eighty-five are confirmed dead. Four are missing. They also said it is possible that two men took part in the attack there.

“This is still our city,” said Knut Aafloey,  a leader of 

the Norwegian Artists and Songwriters Association.

“People want to be close to where it happened.”

Soldiers from the King’s Guard, in body armor and carrying automatic weapons, guarded the closed-off streets at the bomb site. That was a shocking sight to residents of a city that thinks of itself as home to the Nobel Peace Prize.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg visited with survivors of the island massacre and with families of the bereaved at a hotel on the mainland. “It’s too early to say how this will change Norwegian society,” he said. He hopes, Stoltenberg said, that Norway can maintain its open and democratic society. “Those who try to scare us shall not win.”

The royal family also paid a visit. In the evening, Queen Sonja, along with her son, Crown Prince Haakon, and his family, arrived at the Domkirke, Oslo’s Lutheran cathedral. They were met by the dean while several hundred people silently watched on the sidewalk. The royal party then entered the sweltering 17th-century cathedral, where they stayed for several minutes of silent prayer. Again, when they left, the crowds were silent.

The preparation that must have gone into the bombing and the shootings was terrible to think about, said Inger Margrethe Eriksen, 71, as she stepped out of the Domkirke. “The buildings can be repaired, but the children . . . ,” her voice trailed off.

Anders Behring Breivik "confesses" to firing weapons, after 92 killed

Norway attacks suspect admits responsibility

Anders Behring Breivik "confesses" to firing weapons, after 92 killed in youth camp shooting and Oslo bomb attack.

Last Modified: 23 Jul 2011 17:54

The suspect was reportedly also a member of a Swedish neo-Nazi internet forum, a group monitoring far-right activity said on Saturday.

Police and Norway's state television named Anders Breivik as the suspect in the bombing and shooting

Nordisk, a 22,000-member web forum founded in 2007, describes itself as a portal on the theme of "the Nordic identity, culture and traditions."

In comments from 2009-2010 to other people's articles on another website, Document, which calls itself critical of Islam, Breivik criticised European policies of trying to accommodate the cultures of different ethnic groups.

"When did multi-culturalism cease to be an ideology designed to deconstruct European culture, traditions, identity and nation-states?" said one his entries, posted on February 2, 2010.

Breivik wrote he was a backer of the "Vienna School of Thought", which was against multi-culturalism and the spread of Islam.

He also wrote he admired Geert Wilders, the populist anti-Islam Dutch politician, for following that school. Wilders said in a statement on Saturday: "I despise everything he stands for and everything he did".

The man suspected of a gun and bomb attack in Norway has called his deeds atrocious yet necessary, his defence lawyer said. "He has said that he believed the actions were atrocious, but that in his head they were necessary," defence lawyer Geir Lippestad told TV2 news on Saturday. Lippestad said his client had said he was willing to explain himself in a court hearing on Monday. The court will decide at the hearing whether to keep the suspect in detention pending trial. Earlier on Saturday, officials in Norway had charged a 32-year-old Norwegian man with killing at least 92 people in a gun and bomb attack described as the worst act of violence in the country since World War II. Police confirmed to Al Jazeera on Saturday that the suspect had been named as Anders Behring Breivik. Breivik, who confessed to firing weapons during questioning on Saturday, belonged to right-wing political groups. But officials said they are not jumping to conclusions about his motives. Reports suggest he belonged to an anti-immigration party, wrote blogs attacking multi-culturalism and was a member of a neo-Nazi online forum. But Norwegian authorities said Breivik, detained by police after 85 people were gunned down at a youth camp and another 7 killed in an Oslo bomb attack on Friday, was previously unknown to them and his internet activity traced so far included no calls to violence. Breivik bought six tonnes of fertiliser before the massacre, a supplier said on Saturday, as police investigated witness accounts of a second shooter in the attack on Utoya. If convicted on terrorism charges, he would face a maximum of 21 years in jail, police have said. Norway's royal family and prime minister led the nation in mourning, visiting grieving relatives of the scores of youth gunned down at an island retreat, as the shell-shocked Nordic nation was gripped by reports that the gunman may not have acted alone. The shooting spree began just hours after a massive explosion that ripped through an Oslo high-rise building housing the prime minister's office. "This is beyond comprehension. It's a nightmare. It's a nightmare for those who have been killed, for their mothers and fathers, family and friends," Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Saturday. Though the prime minister cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the gunman's motives, both attacks were in areas connected to the left-leaning Labour Party, which leads a coalition government. The youth camp, about 35km northwest of Oslo, is organised by the party's youth wing, and the prime minister had been scheduled to speak there on Saturday. 'Christian fundamentalist' views The blond-haired Behring Breivik described himself on his Facebook page as "conservative", "Christian", and interested in hunting and computer games like World of Warcraft and Modern Warfare 2, reports say. On his Twitter account, he posted only one message, dated July 17, in English based on a quote from British philosopher John Stuart Mill: "One person with a belief is equal to a force of 100,000 who have only interests". Nina Hjerpset-Ostlie, a contributing journalist to the right-wing website, said she had met Breivik at a meeting in late 2009. "The only thing we noticed about him is that he seemed like anyone else and that he had some very high-flying, unrealistic, ideas about marketing of our website," she said. Police searched an apartment in an Oslo suburb on Friday, which neighbours said belonged to Breivik's mother. "It is the mother who lives there. She is a very polite lady, pleasant and very friendly," said Hemet Noaman, 27, an accounting consultant who lives in the same building in a wealthy part of town. "He often came to visit his mother but did not live here." Al Jazeera's Harry Smith reports from Oslo, where police say the suspect had right-wing links Oslo Deputy Police Chief Roger Andresen would not speculate on the motives for what was believed to be the deadliest attack by a lone gunman anywhere in modern times. "He has never been under surveillance and he has never been arrested," Andresen told a news conference on Saturday. Populist party member Breivik, who attended a middle class high school called Handelsgym in central Oslo, had also been a member of the Progress Party, the second-largest in parliament, the party's head of communications Fredrik Farber said. He was a member from 2004 to 2006 and in its youth party from 1997 to 2007. The Progress Party - conservative but within the political mainstream - wants far tighter restrictions on immigration, whereas the centre-left government backs multi-culturalism. The party leads some public opinion polls. A politician who met Breivik in 2002-2003, when he was apparently interested in local Oslo politics, said he did not attract attention."I got the impression that he was a modest person ... he was well dressed, it seemed like he was well educated," Joeran Kallmyr, 33, an Oslo municipality politician representing the Progress Party, told the Reuters news agency. Progress leader Siv Jensen stressed he had left the party.Breivik was also a freemason, said a spokesman for the organisation. Courtesy:Al Jazeera