Sunday, 03 Oct 2004
· Security forces raid Al-Mahdi hideout in Al-Najaf- Radio Dijla
· Police storm "saboteurs" hideout, seize weapons- Al-Diyar TV
HOSTAGES
· Report anticipates demand for Lebanese companies to pull out of Iraq- Al-Sharq al-Awsat
POLITICS, ELECTION
· Al-Sadr aide : US trying to exclude Al-Sadr City from elections- Radio Dijla
· Allawi plays down reports of southern districts' secession plans- Al-Diyar TV
· New pension law to be issued in advent 2005- Al- Sabah
RECONSTRUCTION
· Iraqi Government Allocates US$ 1.4 Billion for Implementing 16 Water Giant Projects- Al- Sabah
· Import of Reconstruction Materials Increased - Al- Sabah
IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA SUMMARIES, 02 OCT. 04
· SCIRI's Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic, Iran
· Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic
· Al-Iraqiah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic,
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES, 02 OCT. 04
· Baghdad [Baghdad, political daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Accord Movement]
· Al-Shira [Baghdad, independent political daily newspaper]
IRAQI PRESS QUOTES, 02 OCT. 04
· Forces of Democracy should take control of the state apparatus in Iraq- Al- Zaman
· It is clear that innocent Iraqis are practically being battered - Al - Dustur,
· Islamists being drawn into the habit of lying is a sorry-Al-Shira
· France lurks in the shadows- Al-Bayan
UPDATES FROM IRAQI KURDISH MEDIA , 02 OCT. 04
· Kurdish movement urges referendum- Kurdistan Satellite
Radio Dijla - Iraq's first independent talk radio station, Radio Dijla (Tigris Radio), 2 Oct 04 : Iraqi security forces have raided an Al-Mahdi Army hideout in Al-Najaf, Radio Dijla reported on 2 October. The station said the security forces found weapons inside the hideout, which it said was in violation of the peace agreement signed earlier between Shi'i leaders Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and Al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr to stop the bloodshed in the city.
Al-Diyar Satellite Channel In Arabic, Baghdad, 2 Oct 04: Iraqi police forces in Basra had stormed a hideout of "saboteurs" in the Al-Qurnah subdistrict. He said police seized a large quantity of rockets and various weapons that were apparently to be used in sabotage operations. It added the the armed group managed to escape, however.
Al-Sharq al-Awsat, web site [Baghdad edition of London-based daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat] 2 Oct 04: London-based newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat on 2 October cited sources as saying that attempts to contact the kidnappers of five Lebanese hostages held in Iraq were becoming increasingly difficult. The sources said that the Islamic Army group was about to issue a statement demanding that Lebanese companies operating in Iraq, including Al-Jubayli Generators Company for which two of the abducted Lebanese work, do not deal with the US. The sources said two other hostages worked for a Lebanese company whose name has not been divulged and the fifth was of Iraqi origin and had been kidnapped in Baghdad. The sources also expressed optimism "about the success of the efforts to save them", the paper said.
Radio Dijla - Iraq's first independent talk radio station, Radio Dijla (Tigris Radio), 2 Oct 04 : An aide to Shi'i cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Shaykh Abd-al-Hadi al-Darraji, has said the US bombardment of Al-Sadr city is aimed at disrupting the city's security and stability, to exclude it from the upcoming elections, Radio Dijla reported on 2 October.
Al-Diyar Satellite Channel In Arabic, Baghdad, 2 Oct 04: Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has said he does not believe reports that three oil-rich southern governorates are considering breaking away from the country to set up an autonomous region, Al-Diyar TV reported. The station quoted Allawi as saying Iraq would remain united and that national unity would prevail. He added that elections would strengthen relations between the Iraqi people.
Al-Sabah, Baghdad, by the Iraqi Media Network, 02 Oct 04: Well acquainted source said that the pension salaries for the final part of the year will witness grand increase.Mr. Aziz Ali al- Ubaidi the chief human pension society said that the Ministry of Finance will pay the differences of the pension salaries until implementing the new pension law scheduled in the advent of the 2005.He added that the new law will be unified for all the old and the new pensioners, clarifying that the minister of finance Adel Abdul Mahdi has agreed on the proposal of the society stipulates the participation of one of its members in the proceedings of the financial committee.He indicated to the meetings with the minister of finance, saying that the outcomes of both meetings were fruitful and positive.Notably, the minister of finance confirmed that the sums of the pension salaries and the differences will be announced in the current week.
Al-Sabah, Baghdad, by the Iraqi Media Network, 02 Oct 04: The ministry of municipalities and labor has allocated about one billion and 400 millions dollars or equivalent to more than 2 trillions Iraqi dinars for implementing 16 water giant projects all over Iraq from the US donation allocated for Iraq.Eng. Mahmoud Ali Ahmed the director general of the water department at the ministry said that the implementation of these projects comes within the strategic long-term plan of the ministry, adding that these projects include establishing water purification stations in addition to other projects.He clarified that the plan concentrated on the implementation of 16 central water projects besides installing 70 water complexes 1,000,000 gallon capacity a day in different parts of Iraq under financial allocations 152 billions dinars for the current year."Most of these projects will be carried out within two years until 2006", he said , adding that the ministry has detailed plan for the coming years to implement large numbers of the water central projects , modernizing the networks besides implementing long-term water pipelines within the budget of the ministry to realize the desired objective .
Al-Sabah, Baghdad, by the Iraqi Media Network, 02 Oct 04: The Ministry of Trade seeks to increase volume of contracts specialized to import constructional materials to contribute in reconstructing the country and alleviating suffering of Iraqi citizens during the reconstruction of their houses.An official source at the ministry said "in addition to that the ministry is seeking to renew the suspended contracts signed before April 9, 2003 with number of world countries to provide materials especially they witnessed increasing in prices because its shortages in the market". The source indicated that several fund violations and unjust actions have been discovered in the distribution a matter that necessitates the ministry to dismiss the company's director and supervised it directly; adding that the ministry didn't receive the contracted materials from the neighboring countries despite the ministry call the registers to receive them. Notably, the State Company of Constructive Materials Trading is halt to provide citizens with ceramic, doors, floor tiles and other constructional materials since April 9.
· US air raids kill five Iraqi civilians and wound seven others in Al-Fallujah last night;
· US forces say they killed 109 armed men in Samarra yesterday morning...
· In a "desperate" attempt to justify US "crimes" in Samarra, a US military statement alleges that the operation was backed by the Iraqi government and inhabitants of the city.
· US Democratic Senate member criticizes Bush yesterday after The Washington Post accused the US government of helping prepare Iyad Allawi's speech to Congress last week
· Friday prayers performed in Karbala yesterday; Imam Ahmad al-Safi urges Iraqis to take part in the elections.
· French deputy says the two French hostages in Iraq have been released, but their convoy came under US shelling.
· US officials say the Bush administration pressing some countries to contribute to Iraq reconstruction
· Pentagon statistics show that at least 76 US soldiers killed in Iraq in September
· Spanish prime minister urges UN to resolve Iraq "crisis"
· NATO source says argument under way over number of NATO military personnel going to train Iraqi forces
· US air raid on neighbourhood in northern Al-Fallujah kills seven, wounds 13.
· Iraqi police and US forces break up oil smuggling network, confiscate trucks loaded with crude oil
· US fighter jets continue to bombard Al-Sadr City in Baghdad;
· Al-Sharqiyah correspondent says gunmen attacked US military vehicle and set it ablaze.
· Teams from Iraqi Health Ministry scheduled to launch second phase of campaign to vaccinate those under five against Polio.
· US snipers take up positions on rooftops of government buildings in Samarra and shoot at anything that moves
· US fighter jets renew bombardment of Samarra, killing five and wounding 20; US military statement places death toll of yesterday's clashes at one US soldier and 109 gunmen
· Iraqi Finance Minister Adil Abd-al-Mahdi tells delegation of Iraqi Pensioners Society there will be a significant rise in pensions during winter
· National Guardsmen arrest oil smugglers in Wasit Governorate
· French Deputy Didier Julia accuses US forces of obstructing release of two French hostages
· US Army says soldier in Baghdad Force gunned down last night, 1 Oct.
· US Secretary Of State Powell admits his country did not obtain sound information regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction
· Al-Amin Humanitarian Organization in Iraq issues temporary land ownership deeds to 650 members of Iraq Journalists Union; organization says it is acting with approval of multinational forces and the lands it distributed were owned the former Iraqi Defence Ministry.
· Studio interview with head of civil council for population of Samarra, Mazin al-Samarai; he says local tribal chiefs asked government to save the city, which fell prey to armed groups
· Five soldiers from multinational forces killed in Mosul, Al-Sadr City and Samarra
· Interim government approves compensation payment to victims of blast in Al-Amil district in Baghdad; locals mourn victims killed by blast.
· Indonesian president appeals for release of two Indonesian women held hostage in Iraq; abductors reportedly made their release conditional on release of jailed Indonesian radical cleric, Abu-Baqr Ba'ashir
· Explosives seized in hideout allegedly used for plotting terror acts in Qorna.
· Immigration Minister holds meeting with Iraqi expatriates in Sweden.
· Campaign to improve health and education services in rural areas
· New school year begins.
· Private schools licensed in Basra .
· Electricity Ministry calls on people to pay bills; video report shows people complaining about unpaid bills, ministry threatening to levy fine.
· Report highlights health and environmental problems in Twaisa, situated near nuclear power research centre.
· US President George Bush says use of military force in defence of country needs no international mandate; report highlights his criticism of presidential challenger John Kerry
· Iraq debt write-off not forthcoming - Paris club president.
· Jordanian firm to make reconnaissance planes for Iraq air force.
· National Guard, Coalition forces pound terrorist positions in Al-Samarra', regain control of many locations
· Iraqi tribes pledge to crush Al-Fallujah terror hotbeds
· Iraq calls for fair division of the Euphrates waters Travel ban on adult women lifted
· Damascus notified by Allawi Iraq could send men and explosives into Syria in retaliation for Syrian-sponsored terrorism in Iraq
· Al-Samarra' militarily subjugated, government bracing for Al-Fallujah battle
· Renowned Iraqi geologist, Isam Sa'id Abd-al- Halim, assassinated
· Turkey sets up buffer zone inside Iraq
· Orascom's deal with terrorists: 120 Egyptian personnel to return to Cairo in return for release of hostages
· Huge housing complexes to be built in 15 Iraqi governorates
· Iraqi debt payment deferred until end of 2005