Since this book was written, Jean-Pierre Bemba, the explosive Congolese opposition leader, has been arrested in Belgium and sent to face war crimes charges before the International Criminal Court.
He also charged that some politicians were carrying explosives, and accused opposition congressional leader Henry Ramos of being involved in the plot.
A hotel in the Syrian city of Aleppo used by government troops as a headquarters was destroyed in a huge explosion this morning when opposition groups detonated explosives in tunnels underneath the building.
American troops and allies are conducting a seminar on the use of explosive devices by the opposition forces in Iraq.
Venezuela, which controls the world's largest reserves of crude oil, is in the throes of a potentially explosive political stalemate after opposition parties gained a majority in the national congress in elections late last year.
The official media also said that "terrorists," their generic label for any government opposition, planted explosives that went off under the vehicle outside the Iranian Culture Center.
State television reported that it was carried out by a suicide bomber, while the main armed opposition group said explosive devices were detonated remotely.
The Seals were given "absolute authority to kill the guy", the official was quoted as saying, even if they only "suspected he might have some means of opposition, like an explosive vest under his robe".
The London-born wing, nicknamed 'Chariots' after the film Chariots of Fire, frightened the opposition with his explosive pace and was known for his showmanship, which was not universally appreciated.
Asked whether having American hardware, technology and intelligence to counter the roadside bombs, called I.E.D.'s for improvised explosive devices, might soften some countries' opposition to increasing troop contributions, Mr. Rasmussen replied: "I think so.
