Police say they have arrested a Spanish soldier and his girlfriend for making and distributing videos promoting 'jihad,' or holy war, and calling for attacks in Spain. A police statement said the couple detained Tuesday in the southern city of Granada have placed at least 11 videos on the Internet. The clips have been viewed some 2,000 times. The statement identified the man as Christian Peso Ruiz Coello and his Russian girlfriend as Maria Choubina, both aged 24. The statement added that...

Venezuela on Monday congratulated Iran on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution that toppled the US-backed shah, saying Caracas shares Tehran's "ideals of independence and sovereignty." "We joyfully celebrate the memorable, popular uprising against the Shah in February 1979, a historic date... in fanning the revolutionary hopes of all the people of the world struggling for emancipation," a foreign ministry statement said. President Hugo Chavez "feels...

CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 7 -- Jewish leaders said it had never before happened in Venezuela: a break-in with anti-Jewish intent at one of the city's most prominent synagogues. A dozen armed men overpowered guards, spray-painted office walls with anti-Semitic insults, desecrated historic Torah scrolls and made off with computers containing personal information on congregants. President Hugo Chávez condemned the Jan. 30 attack, which has shaken the country's political establishment. But...

CARACAS, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Seven Venezuelan police agents and four civilians have been arrested in connection with an attack on a synagogue that sparked international condemnation, investigators said on Sunday. President Hugo Chavez, whom Jewish groups accuse of encouraging anti-Semitism, referred to the arrests and said the attack was led by a police officer who had worked closely with the rabbi at the synagogue. "What a coincidence, the gang leader is a metropolitan police officer...

CARACAS, Venezuela -- As President Hugo Chavez intensifies his anti-Israel campaign, some Venezuelans have taken action, threatening Jews in the street and vandalizing the largest synagogue in Caracas _ where they stole a database of names and addresses. Now many in Venezuela's Jewish community fear the worst is yet to come. Chavez has personally taken care not to criticize Israelis or Jews while accusing Israel's government of genocide against the Palestinians. He vehemently denies inciting...

The United States is stepping up scrutiny of Iranian security and military personnel in the Lebanese communities of Latin America, even as its proxy, Hezbollah, gains new momentum and strength there, U.S. officials said. Part of Hezbollah's alarming expansion is being fueled by narco-dollars coming from Latin American drug cartels, and American concern stems from the possibility that al-Qaida and Hezbollah, both of which have contacts with wealthy and powerful Latin American drug...

CALI, Colombia - Colombia's FARC rebels on Thursday freed a former lawmaker held captive for nearly seven years in jungle camps in the last of three hostage releases this week by Latin America's oldest insurgency. His two sons sprinted across the tarmac to hug Sigifredo Lopez after a Red Cross team ferried him by helicopter from the jungle to Cali, where he was kidnapped in 2002 in a brazen rebel raid on a provincial assembly. Lopez was the last politician the FARC was holding for prisoner...

The first institute for the training of imams and preachers in all of Latin America is set to open its doors beginning in March 2009. The Latin American Institute for Islamic Studies is located in the city of Maringa in the northern state of Parana, will not simply be the first of its kind in Brazil, but a first for Latin American Muslims. The institute will focus on teaching Islamic studies, training imams, and have a 12-member teaching stuff. It is expected to enroll some 150-250 high...

Madrid - The Spanish police have arrested at least 11 people in Barcelona and Valencia suspected of forging documents for al Qaeda, the Spanish media reported on Tuesday, citing police sources. The investigation was still open and could be extended to other parts of Spain, although it was still unclear whether all of the detainees were connected to the Islamic militant group, the media said. Police in Barcelona were not immediately able to confirm the reports. Spain suffered Europe`s...

Armed men forced their way into a Caracas synagogue, defacing its administrative offices with anti-Semitic graffiti and vandalizing an interior room where the Torah is kept, officials said. Vandals smashed items in an interior room where the Torah is kept, officials said. About 15 men forced their way into the Mariperez Synagogue in Venezuela’s capital about 10 p.m. Friday, staying until about 3 a.m., police said. They tied up a security guard at the synagogue before vandalizing the...