Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

From the United Nations Assistance Mission For Iraq (UNAMI)

Wednesday, 01 Sep 2004

Programme summary of Al-Iraqiyah TV news, 31 Aug 04
(Al-Iraqiyah TV, Baghdad, in Arabic)

1. 0036 Iraq Prime Minister Iyad Allawi says rebuilding of Al-Sadr City part of Iraq reconstruction. Video report highlights his meeting with tribal chiefs, his comments.
2. 0322 Studio interview with Shaykh Adnan Mohsin, tribal chief. He says government received strong pledges from tribes about implementation of peace deal in Al-Sadr City.

3. 0906 Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih says from Tehran that Iraq no stage for settling of accounts between countries. Iran reaffirms readiness to cooperate with Iraq.
4. 0954 Multinational force assaults positions of supporters of Abu-Mus'ab al-Zarqawi in Fallujah. Video report.
5. 1016 Senior official killed in Kirkuk; cleric killed in Al-Najaf. Video report.
6. 1051 Armed group holding Frenchmen extends deadline for France to repeal ban on Islamic veil. Video report covers call by armed group, hostages appeal, French foreign minister's Arab tour.
7. 3347 Business bulletin. Meeting of cabinet ministers to improve oil industry. British secretary of international development visiting Iraq announces reconstruction assistance. Iraq oil exports rise. Jordan foreign debt down. International market report.

Programme summary of Iraq's Al-Diyar TV news , 31 Aug 04
(Al-Diyar TV, Baghdad, in Arabic 1530 gmt 31 Aug 04)

1. Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani calls on the Iraqi government to compensate the residents of Al-Najaf for the losses they incurred due to the recent clashes.
2. Basra witnesses negotiations between the multinational forces and the Iraqi government on one side and a delegation representing Muqtada al-Sadr on the other to end violence in the city.
3. SCIRI holds a ceremony eulogizing Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim on the first anniversary of his martyrdom.
4. An Iraqi Planning Ministry official says that a delegation will visit Egypt to discuss cooperation.
5. The Karbala Police Directorate allows foreigners visiting the city to stay for only 10 days.
6. Mamu Farham Uthman, Iraqi minister of state for civil society affairs, says that the ministry will participate in overseeing the general elections scheduled to be held at the beginning of next year.
7. The Iraqi Human Rights Ministry will inaugurate a hospital in Abu-Ghurayb prison.

Political Commentary by Voice of Mujahidin
(Voice of the Mujahidin, in Arabic, 31 Aug 04)

The crisis in the city of Al-Najaf has been resolved but is still going on in other areas of Iraq, particularly in Al-Sadr City and Basra. This is only a partial solution available for the time being to stop killing and destruction in the city of Al-Najaf. The failure of the US "occupation" forces to withdraw from cities poses a danger because Iraqi citizens do not like seeing US tanks and soldiers. The US forces failed to end Al-Sadr current's resistance despite its modest military and material capabilities. The Iraqi government can solve problems if it distances itself from the "occupation" forces.
The second commentary says: President George W. Bush, who was eager to launch a war against Iraq, is now reconsidering his administration's policies. He acknowledges that he miscalculated the circumstances but did not mention the issues he miscalculated. Among the US mistakes is its indifference to the Iraqi people's historical and cultural experiences and legitimate aspirations.

Iraqi Press Comments

(Al-Jaridah, Baghdad, General, Political dail , 31 Aug 04 ) carries on back page a 400-word article by Salam al-Shamm'a praising Ayatollah al-Sistani's initiative to end the bloodshed in Al-Najaf and urging the government to "learn" the lesson of Al-Najaf, realizing that the use of force and dependence on the "occupation forces" will not bring peace into the country.

(Al-Mutamar, Baghdad, weekly by the Iraqi National Congress, 31 Aug 04) publishes on page 6 a 2,400-word article by Salman al-Shummary discussing the security situation in Iraq and saying that the Iraqi people are divided over who is behind the current deteriorating security situation in their country. Some Iraqis hold the occupation forces responsible for the chaos in order to implement their strategic goals; others accuse neighboring countries' attempts to foil the democratic process in Iraq; a third group thinks that the alliance between the former regime remnants and other terrorist groups such as al-Zarqawi is behind the unrest, and others focus on the Israeli role.

(Al-Manar Al-Yawm, Baghdad, independent daily, 31 Aug 04) publishes on its back page a 200-word article by Mahdi Abbas saying that mortars are important weapons in wars whose main aim is to confuse the enemy's gatherings. However, says the article, the problem is that mortars are inaccurate weapons, thus, never used inside cities, and "we have never heard of any resistance movement using these weapons inside the cities in the world," except, perhaps in Iraq.

(Al-Adala, Baghdad, twice-weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq SCIRI ,31 Aug 04) - publishes on page 3 a 250-word article by Dr Maytham al-Hamami discussing and wondering whether Al-Najaf crisis has been ended, finally, or whether other crisis in Al-Najaf and other Iraqi cities may erupt in the future. The article says that the crises in Al-Najaf and other Iraqi cities represent, in fact, an ideological and civilized dialogue rather than a group of armed people challenging the Iraqi government and the "occupation" forces. As long as the ideology is there, crises are possible to erupt again, thus focus must be directed toward the ideology inherited from the decades of oppression under the former regime rule.

(Al-Bayan, Baghdad, thrice weekly by the Islamic Dawa Party, 31 Aug 04) - Al-Bayan publishes on page 3 a 700-word article by Salim Rasul discussing the kidnapping phenomenon in the country and criticizing Iraqi security forces and the Interior Ministry for their "failure" to eradicate the criminals and terrorists carrying out such criminal acts in Iraq. The article condemns the kidnapping of the two French journalists and ridicules the demands of the kidnappers, which achieve nothing but harming Islam and Muslims.

(Al-Mada, Baghdad, a daily issued by Al-Mada institution for Media, Culture, and Arts, 31 Aug 04) - publishes on page 13 a 1000-word article by As'ad al-Aquli on corruption in the political and economic life in Iraq. The writer says that corruption starts at the top and spreads into other parts of the state.

(London-based Azzaman, Political and independent daily, issued by Saad al-Bazaz, 31 Aug 04) - Al-Zaman publishes on page 4 an article by Majid Ahmad al-Samarra'i entitled: "The Lesson of Al-Najaf." The writer notes that the Iraqi people and parties expressed satisfaction with the Al-Sistani-Al-Sadr agreement. He hopes that this agreement will pave the way for political solutions in all Iraqi areas.
Al-Zaman publishes an 800-word article by Dr Ayman al-Hashimi on the spread of weapons in Iraq. He says that dismantling illegal weapons is a "basic condition" for achieving security.

(Al-Nahdhah, Baghdad, by Independent Democrats Movement, 31 Aug 04) -

The daily carries an unsigned 500-word article in which the writer relates the acts of violence taking place in Al-Najaf, Al-Kufah, and other cities to the state of abject poverty and deprivation that people of these cities suffer from. The current crisis in Al-Najaf reveals an obvious state of negligence on the part of the government about the poor, who turn to violence and terrorism as a means to convey their messages, the writer argues. Unfortunately, there are foreign parties, which take advantage of this underprivileged class of Iraqis to serve their own interests, the writer says. Therefore, the government must observe justice among the different segments and classes of the Iraqi society so that it can "contain the security dangers" and dry up the fertile ground for such criminal acts, the writer adds.

Political developments

(Al-Mutamar, Baghdad, weekly by the Iraqi National Congress, 31 Aug 04) publishes on its front page a 100-word report stating that clashes between the US forces and Al-Mahdi Army continue in Al-Sadr City in Baghdad despite the settlement of the Al-Najaf crisis last Friday. The report adds that the Political Council urged Ayatollah Al-Sistani to intervene to stop "the US forces' advance toward Al-Sadr City" and to generalize his initiative to include other cities in the country. The report adds that the religious authorities denied the recent news reports saying that, in their last meeting at Al-Sistani's house in Al-Najaf a few days ago, they expressed their rejection to the armed resistance against the US presence in the country. The report cites Al-Sadr aide Shaykh Abu-Zahra al-Nasiri as saying that Al-Sadr trend is studying a new project to hold negotiations with the Iraqi government and the US forces with regard to the situation in the other cities."

Al-Mu'tamar publishes on its front page a 250-word report stating that five Iraqi ministers have recently met with Ayatollah Al-Sistani in Al-Najaf to discuss the situation in the holy city after three weeks of fierce clashes between Al-Sadr followers and the Iraqi security and multinational forces. Al-Sistani urged the interim government to compensate the citizens who incurred damage during the clashes in accordance with the clauses of his initiative. Al-Najaf Governor Adnan al-Zarfi said that Imam Ali holy shrine would be open to visitors within 10 days. Health Minister Ala al-Din Alwan ordered the immediate rehabilitation of the hospitals in the city.

Al-Mu'tamar publishes on its front page a 300-word report on the recent survey conducted by the University Professors Association, indicating that since the fall of the former regime last year, 251 university professors have been killed, and thousands of others fled the country.

(Al-Manar Al-Yawm, Baghdad, independent daily, 31 Aug 04) - publishes on its front page a 100-word report stating that approximately 250 Iraqis staged a demonstration in front of the Iraqi Government Headquarters in the Green Zone in Baghdad, expressing their support to the peaceful settlement of the Al-Najaf crisis.

(Al-Jaridah, Baghdad, General, Political daily , 31 Aug 04 ) Al-Jaridah publishes on its front page a 500-word "exclusive" report on the reactions of a number of Iraqi political and Islamic forces and international organizations to the kidnapping of the two French journalists, urging the kidnappers to release them immediately because such acts do not serve "the Iraqi people's cause or their national resistance."

Al-Jaridah publishes on its front page a 300-word editorial by Chief Editor Qays al-Azawi condemning the kidnapping of journalists in Iraq in the wake of the recent kidnapping of two French journalists on their way to Al-Najaf. The editorial says that kidnapping journalists is a disaster because, under the current deteriorating security situation in the country, they risk their lives to convey the suffering of Iraqis to the world. The editorial adds that the "occupation and other suppression forces' utmost desire" is to evict journalists from the field in order to conceal their misconduct. In addition, linking their release to the Islamic veil issue harms Islam and embarrasses Muslim ethnic groups in the western countries.

(Al-Dustur, Baghdad, by Movement for the Hashemite Constitutional Royal Union, 31 Aug 04) publishes on its front page a 200-word editorial commenting on the Iraqi delegation's, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, visit to Iran and saying that the government is wisely dealing with the issue of the Iraq-Iran relations.

(Al-Bayan, Baghdad, thrice weekly by the Islamic Dawa Party, 31Aug 04) - publishes on its front page a 200-word editorial discussing the steps that should be taken to boost peace in Al-Najaf and other Iraqi cities in the wake of Ayatollah Al-Sistani's initiative that ended the bloodshed in the holy city. The editorial says that the focus should be on avoiding the use of force by all conflicting parties in solving their problems, not pursuing or provoking Al-Sadr's followers; and Al-Sadr trend should change its provocative political discourse against the government and other political forces that do not agree with its views.

(Al-Adala, Baghdad, twice-weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq SCIRI, 31 Aug 04) - publishes on its front page a 100-word report citing an official source at the Interior Ministry as saying that in response to Ayatollah Al-Sistani's demand to investigate and bring the criminals responsible for the attack on the crowds in Al-Najaf to justice, his ministry has instructed the concerned security parties in Al-Najaf to begin their investigation of the incident that caused the death of 74 people and the wounding of 376 others.
Al-Adalah publishes on its front page a 60-word report stating that the Justice Ministry has formed the Supreme Juridical Committee, whose duties include supervising the Higher Judicial Council's performance and the legal actions and court's decisions that would be issued against prominent political figures and following and monitoring judges' performance and integrity in order to avoid political crises, as was the case with INC leader Dr Ahmad al-Chalabi.
Al-Adalah publishes on its front page a 1,000-word editorial calling for improving the living standards of the junior public servants, and to bridge the "wide gap" between the salaries of senior and junior government employees.

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 31 Aug 04) - Al-Mashriq carries on its front page a 150-word editorial commenting on the Al-Najaf crisis and the disarming of Al-Mahdi Army. The editorial holds the US forces responsible for encouraging the looting of the former regime army's weapons and calling on the government to collect arms from the Iraqis in order to impose stability in the country.
Al-Mashriq carries on its front page a 200-word report on the statement issued by Prime Minister Allawi holding "infiltrated elements" responsible for the violation of Imam Ali holy shrine.
Al-Mashriq publishes on its front page a 120-word report citing a source close to the interim government as saying that the government intends to dismiss National Security Adviser Muwaffaq al-Rubay'i because of his inefficient performance in compliance with the government's policy.

(Al-Nahdhah, Baghdad, by Independent Democrats Movement, 31 Aug 04) carries a 300-word report quoting Mamu Farham Uthman, Iraqi minister of state for civil society affairs, as saying that "the ministry will participate in overseeing the general elections slated to be held early next year." The ministry embarked on holding training courses for this purpose in Jordan, which are financed by the German government, Uthman added. The duration of each course will be a week or two, Uthman noted.
Al-Nahdah carries a 100-word report stating that the Ministry of Human Rights has sent food aid to the residents of Al-Najaf who are experiencing extremely tough conditions in the midst of the current situation. The ministry formed a ministerial committee to assist needy Iraqi citizens throughout the country, an official source at the ministry said.
Al-Nahdah carries a 100-word report by Maymun al-Subayh saying that 200,000 immigrants out of 4 million returned to Iraq. The Department of Retirement has conducted a study about the possibility of allocating pensions to the people who left the country for political reasons, an official at the Department of Retirement said. This initiative is a bid to compensate these people for the life of "deprivation" they lived abroad.

(Al-Mada, Baghdad, a daily issued by Al-Mada institution for Media, Culture, and Arts, 31 Aug 04) - In a 400-word front-page agencies-datelined report Al-Mada cites Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on the Iraqi delegation's current visit to Iran. Allawi says that Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih has carried many files in his visit to Iran. The report cites Allawi's interview with the Al-Iraqiyah Channel within "You and the Official" program.
Al-Mada publishes a 120-word front-page report on a statement issued by the Association of Muslim Scholars calling for releasing the two French journalists held in Iraq.
Al-Mada publishes an 800-word report on page 6 surveying Iraqi citizens' opinions of Al-Sistani's initiative, which led to ending fighting in Al-Najaf. The majority of those surveyed voiced support for the initiative.

(London-based Azzaman, Political and independent daily, issued by Saad al-Bazaz, 31 Aug 04) - publishes on page 2 a 1,200-word interview with Dr Muhammad Bahr al-Ulum, member of the interim National Assembly, on his experience at the Governing Council, current government, and Shi'i-Shi'i differences.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 4 a 700-word AFP report on statements by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on relations with Iran and on the Iraqi delegation's current visit to Iran.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 3 a 400-word statement by Planning Minister Mahdi al-Hafiz on contacts with Arab countries to restore funds deposited at their banks.

(Al-Furat, comprehensive & political daily, by Al-Furat Establishment for Press,31 Aug 04) - publishes a 100-word front-page report statement made by Industry and Minerals Minister Hajim al-Hasani in which he calls for the reformation of the Iraqi Army. He says that Iraq will not rise without the reformation of its national army. He adds that the "occupation" forces cannot assume the responsibility of maintaining security. The minister says that the government's stand toward Al-Mahdi Army is that the government believes that this army should be disbanded, and that this current should play a political role.

Economic and public services

(Al-Mutamar, Baghdad, weekly by the Iraqi National Congress, 31 Aug 04) devotes all of page 5 to an interview with Al-Anbar Deputy Governor Basil Muhammad Munajid Sulayman explaining the development projects in his governorates.

(Al-Bayan, Baghdad, thrice weekly by the Islamic Dawa Party, 31 Aug 04) - Al-Bayan publishes on page 2 a 120-word report citing Housing and Construction Minister Umar Faruq al-Damaluji as saying that his ministry prepared a special law organizing investment in the housing sector.
Al-Bayan publishes on page 2 a 170-word report citing an official source at the Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministry as saying that his ministry has completed the preparations for the construction of a 50 million dollars university hospital in Baghdad.

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 31 Aug 04) - Al-Mashriq publishes on its front page a 100-word report citing Finance Minister Adil Abd-al-Mahdi as saying that his government's efforts to restore Iraq's 5 billion dollars deposited in the Arab banks continue.

(Al-Nahdhah, Baghdad, by Independent Democrats Movement, 31 Aug 04) - Al-Nahdah carries an 80-word report by Nusayr al-Ali stating that the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works has set up an expanded program in cooperation with the relevant authorities at other ministries to implement the program of "reviving" the marshlands area. The plan includes the services that can be rendered to these areas and the issue of investment by local and foreign capital in these areas and in the country as a whole, Al-Ali added.
Al-Nahdah carries a 100-word report on settling the issue of the Iraqi money deposited in Jordanian banks. Talks are under way with the relevant Jordanian authorities on this issue, an official source at the Iraqi Central Bank said.
Al-Nahdah carries a 100-word report stating that The General Department of Electricity in Baghdad-Al-Karakh has completed the installation of new electricity poles and transformers in many areas in Baghdad-Al-Karakh. Hasan Kazim, director general of the Baghdad-Al-Karakh Department, elaborates further on the numbers of transformers and electricity poles installed throughout the area.
Al-Nahdah carries a 500-word report by Fu'ad Jasim Hammudi on a meeting Iraqi Planning Minister Mahdi al-Hafiz held with Iraqi businessmen and representatives of industrial and trade organizations. At the meeting, Al-Hafiz underlined the importance of the private sector in forging the future of Iraq's economy. He said that his ministry is open to any proposals that could help develop a sound economic policy for the country. He added that the private sector's ideas will be a significant part of the strategy that his ministry is drafting now, which will be submitted to international organizations, particularly the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which will meet in Amman.
Al-Nahdah publishes an approximately 3,000-word investigative report by Suha al-Shaykhali on the adulteration of goods offered on the local market. The report says that goods that are unfit for human consumption are being sold on the market. The Central Standardization and Specifications Organization monitors the products manufactured by government-owned and other local plants. When violations are found, violators are given a date before which the violations should be remedied. If remedial action is not taken by the violators, punitive measures are taken against them. Dalali Hissu, director general of the Central Standardization and Specifications Organization, said that the current security situation prevents the organization from deploying units that monitor imports at border posts. Furthermore, the report says that the Ministry of Health should play a role in protecting consumers. Dr Imad al-Naqqash, director general of the Health Monitoring Department, called for draftin!

Al-Nahdah publishes a 400-word report by Iman Abd-al-Hasan on the reconstruction of bridges in Iraq. The report says that the Al-Tharthar intersection bridge in Al-Anbar has been rebuilt, and is now up and running. The bridge was rebuilt at a cost of 226 million dinars.

(Al-Furat, comprehensive & political daily, by Al-Furat Establishment for Press, 31Aug 04) - Al-Furat publishes a 200-word front-page report on a statement by Planning and Development Cooperation Minister Mahdi al-Hafiz in which he denies that the government plans to recruit one million workers from Egypt to compensate for the shortage of manpower in Iraq. The minister says that this figure is "inaccurate," adding that the government gives priority to Iraqi workers.
Al-Furat publishes a 70-word front-page report citing "reliable" sources at the Oil Ministry as saying that unidentified persons have managed to steal CDs and documents containing "valuable" information about all the ministry's sections.

Health and human rights issues

Al-Mu'tamar publishes on page 2 a 200-word report citing an official source at the Ministry of Health as saying that his ministry plans to build 150 modern health centers throughout Iraq, adding that a committee was formed to locate the sites on which these centers will be constructed.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 2 a 400-word report citing Hasib Ruzbayani, assistant to Kirkuk governor and official in charge of the expatriated and displaced persons in the Governorate, as saying that so far, 14,000 Kurdish families, which were expatriated under the former regime rule, have returned to Kirkuk.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 2 a 150-word report citing a UN official source as saying that 300 polluted sites have been located in Iraq.
Al-Nahdah carries a 300-word report by Fu'ad Jasim Hammudi stating that Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi opened the meetings of the first national conference on the health sector yesterday. Hammudi quotes Allawi as saying that "the government attaches importance to the health sector through the implementation of ambitious health projects."
Al-Nahdah carries a 600-word report by Nusayr al-Ali quoting a medical source at the Al-Alawiyah Educational Maternity Hospital as saying that the number of dead and deformed infants is "doubling," and that those rare diseases that did not exist in the past started to emerge. This is mainly because of the chemical materials that pregnant women are exposed to due to the latest circumstances Iraq has gone through, the administrative assistant at the hospital said. The number of patients, especially men, visiting the sterility section is also on the rise because of exposure to chemical gases and harmful radiations, he added.

Updates from Iraqi Kurdish Press
(From UNAMI - North)

31 August 2004

Khabat daily newspaper, Erbil 31 August 2004

The police in Altun Kopri town (40 km north of Kirkuk) try to destruct Kurdistan restaurant (on Kirkuk-Erbil highways) on grounds of violation on state property. The restaurant owner says police patrols harass him every two days and threaten to destroy his restaurant. It is only because I named it Kurdistan… I spoke to Kirkuk Governor but he cannot keep them off me, he says. Enticed by the Turcoman Front and some chauvinist Arabs, the Americans had put down Kurdistan flag on the restaurant and erased its logo six months ago, but Kurdish media and leadership counter-pressure restored the situation; the restaurant name Kurdistan bright and glistening and Kurdistan flag rising high on it.

A number of terrorists attacked a police patrol in the industrial suburb of Mosul city killing two policemen and injuring a civilian while in Karama quarter the terrorists shot at a Kurdish citizen and killed him
¾ A number of engineers and surveyors, as well as heads of 54 municipalities in Erbil governorate are undergoing a 6-day extensive session on modern ways of counting and classifying buildings to residential, governmental or commercial and HQs of non-governmental establishments.
¾ In an open letter, 66 families displaced from devastated Hasarokan village (near Dibaga west of Erbil) said they would rehabilitate their village and return one there is a school and water supply. They said they have already submitted their request to the Mayors of each of Dibaga and Makhmour. Another open letter from Dibaga teachers and students ask KRG education ministry to rehabilitate the two secondary schools that the regime destroyed years ago.

Kurdistani Nwe daily newspaper, Sulaymanya 30 August 2004

¾

The PUK leader Jalal Talabani 300 members of the famous Kurdish Jaf tribe and acknowledge their role in supporting the Kurdish revolutions that ``yielded the freedom prevailing in Kurdistan.'' Many representatives spoke at the gathering thanking Talabani for his invitation and forwarding their areas' needs to service projects. Talabani asked them to enlist their needs and submit it to Kurdistan Regional Government for consideration.

The KRG ministers of Health, Reconstruction and Public Works, as well as Industry and Energy separately received a delegation of the South Korean UI Company that will open its office in Sulaymanya soon. The ministers promised all possible support and facilitation for the company that won the bid for the construction of the 400-bed hospital in Sulaymanya. The Health Minster urged the company to train local health workers on usage and maintenance of the facilities and equipment that would be installed in the hospital. The Korean company will implement a number of projects in Sulaymanya area, including construction of a summer resort in Dokan and, set up of a new banking system, and search for minerals in Penjwen area.
¾         A mortar shell launched at the PUK HQ in Mosul resulted in the death of one PUK Peshmarga and two civilians, in addition to property damages and injury of another 10 Peshmargas and two civilians.
¾         In Sulaymanya, the commerce chambers of all the 18 governorates started their 2-day conference Sunday to discuss the constraints hindering the development of Iraqi economy and draft a trade code for incorporating into the permanent constitution of the country.
¾         In two separate statements issued on 27 August, the Union of Turcoman Intellectuals expressed its happiness for the return of Kurdish, Chaldo-Assyrian and Turcoman IDPs to their places of origin in Kirkuk and urged the Iraqi federal government to accelerate the IDPs return process, settlement the returnees properly and provide them will needed facilities, in addition to restoring their confiscated properties confiscated by the Arab settlers, whom the Saddam regime brought to Kirkuk to change the demographic balance against Kurds and Turcomans. The statement urged the government to send back the Arab settlers to their places of origin in central and southern Iraq, compensate them and enlighten them as victims of the regime. The Union also condemned the Iraqi Turcoman Front for supporting the stay of Arab settlers and using it a political pressure card against the interests of Turcomans and Kurds.
¾         The PUK HQ in Kirkuk hosted a meeting between Kirkuk Deputy Governor Ismael Al-Hadeedy, Kurdistani political parties and the Kurdish members of the Governorate municipal council to discuss the normalization of the situations in Kirkuk through set up of proper mechanisms for the settlement of returning IDPs and prevention of violations on state properties. The Kurdish representatives briefed the participants on the high-level meetings between KDP, PUK and other parties to that end. The meeting highly evaluated the formation of a higher committee at governorate level to deal with the IDPs issue. The meeting participants also set up a committee to acquaint the Iraqi president with the latest developments of the Kirkuk issue, wile the Kurdish parties insisted on re-attaching the detached districted and sub-districts to the current administrative structure of Kirkuk governorate and demanded practical steps for concerned parties.

Jamawar weekly newspaper, Erbil 30 August 2004

¾

A source from the security department in Penjwen town (north of Sulaymanya on Iraq-Iran border) advised that the security forces were on alert to prevent infiltrations of Ansar-ul-Islam (AI) elements into the region. The source said that the AI elements increased their activities in the area and 20 of them have crossed Shler River in the area last week. Senior AI cadres stationed in Iranian cities of Bana and Mareewan are engaged in re-organizing the group ranks, the source conformed.

The Ansar-ul-Sunna group threatens Mosul civil servants and shop keepers through telephone, letters and other means to quit their jobs and close the shops a soon as their here the sirens.
¾ The commander of an Iraqi army brigade in Kerkush between Mandeli and Baladruz towns dismissed last week a Kurdish officer on ground defaming Arabs through playing a Kurdish film. The film named Girdi Piroz (Sacred Hill) depicts a series of military operations in 1988 codenamed Anfal carried out by the former Iraqi army and other special forces and Kurdish mercenaries.

****

NB: This is not an official document. The information contained therein was compiled by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, Information Office. If you have any questions/suggestions, please contact us at (+ 962 550 -4631/4703 or Cell. + 962 77 619 731 jarrar@un.org <mailto:jarrar@un.org> or alsokhni@un.org <mailto:alsokhni@un.org>