Tuesday, 25 January 2005
IRAQI NEWS, 24 JAN 05
· Iraqi PM Allawi rules out civil war after elections
· Diyala official escapes assassination attempt
· Allawi denies knowledge of gov funds used for election ads
· Allawi pledges to cut unemployment by quarter million
· Iraq's Diyala official escapes assassination bid
· "Full recording" of news conference by Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi- Al-Sharqiyah TV
· Iraq's Allawi pledges to cut unemployment
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES 24 JAN 05
· Al-Bayan [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]:
· Al-Mada [Baghdad, daily, independent newspaper published by Al-Mada Media, Culture and Arts Corporation]:
· Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, Saudi-owned]:
· Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al-Zaman]:
IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA NEWS SUMMARIES, 24 JAN. 05
· Programme summary of Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV news 24 Jan 05
UPDATES FROM THE IRAQI KURDISH PRESS, 24 JAN 05
· Iraqi Kurdish PUK calls for effective participation in polls
· KRG to Close Kurdistan Intl. Borders, Restrict Inter-City Movements Before, During Elections:
· 4-year Terms for Provincial Councils not 11 Months, Barham Salih Says:
· Kirkuk Fraternity List Claims It Represents, Serves All Ethncitis:
· IECI Canceles Position of Spokesperson:
· Elections Requirements Arrived in Erbil, Sulaymanya:
· Barzani Meets Separately with Turcomans, Christians and Ezidians:
· Iraqi Turcomans in Turkey Not Keen to Register for Elections, Paper Says:
· Kirkuki Kurds Aproach Registration Centers eagerly:
IRAQI NEWS, 24 Jan 05
Iraqi PM Allawi rules out civil war after elections
In an news conference on 24 January carried by Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV on 24 January, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi ruled out the possibility of a civil war in Iraq following the 30 January elections, describing it as "impossible". He stressed the need for optimism and highlighted the fact that Iraq had "the beginnings of an army" as well as an air force and navy". (Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 24 Jan 05)
Diyala official escapes assassination attempt Diyala Deputy Governor Ghassan al-Khadran on 24 January escaped an assassination attempt, reported Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV. According to the report, an explosive charge targeted his motorcade in the Al-Aswad village in the Diyala governorate. The explosion wounded a number of the deputy governor's bodyguards. (Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 24 Jan 05)
Allawi denies knowledge of gov funds used for election ads
Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV on 24 January denied any knowledge of alleged misuse of government funds for election propaganda. In response to a reporter's question alleging such actions in the Defence Ministry, Allawi said: "I have not received anything official from any side complaining that a government department is engaging in operations outside the norms and provisions of the electoral commission. (Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 24 Jan 05)
Allawi pledges to cut unemployment by quarter million Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has pledged to reduce unemployment and to create more job opportunities if he stays in office after the 30 January elections, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. "I made a promise to secure more than 250,000 job opportunities by the end of this year. Based on this, I today announce my 10-point plan that deals with providing job opportunities, reducing unemployment, and strengthening the economy," the prime minister said. (Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 24 Jan 05)
Iraq's Diyala official escapes assassination bid
Diyala Deputy Governor Ghassan al-Khadran escaped this morning an assassination attempt by an explosive charge targeting his motorcade in the Al-Aswad village in the Diyala Governorate, northeast of Baghdad.
Al-Sharqiyah correspondent in Diyala said that the explosion of the explosive charge, which was planted on a road leading to Ba'qubah, the largest city in the Diyala Governorate, wounded a number of the deputy governor's bodyguards. It is worth mentioning that the Diyala Governorate witnessed several bombing and assassination operations that caused the death of a number of Diyala Governorate officials and members of political parties. (Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 24 Jan 05)
"Full recording" of news conference by Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi- Al-Sharqiyah TV
[Reporter] Certain departments, including the Defence Ministry, which is an army, must keep out of politics and political opinions and inclinations. The army must confine itself to protecting the people's security and sovereignty. We have seen and heard also about the use of government resources for election propaganda. I personally saw in the Defence Ministry whole piles of propaganda material for the "Iraqiyun list" as well. What is your comment on that?
[Allawi] I really don't know anything about this issue. The ministries must avoid using government resources for election propaganda. This is impermissible. I have not been aware, actually, of the points you raised. I believe that the parties concerned can submit their complaint on any violation to the Higher Electoral Commission, because it is the legal side that can decide on the exploitation of such factors. It will then be our duty to execute and follow up on any recommendations by the Electoral Commission.
We heard about charges, mutual incriminations, and exploitation of influence, names, personalities, and posts. But, I, as prime minister, have not received anything official from any side complaining that a government department is engaging in operations outside the norms and provisions of the electoral commission. Thank you.
Iraq's Allawi pledges to cut unemploymentWe heard about charges, mutual incriminations, and exploitation of influence, names, personalities, and posts. But, I, as prime minister, have not received anything official from any side complaining that a government department is engaging in operations outside the norms and provisions of the electoral commission. Thank you.
Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has pledged to reduce unemployment and to create more job opportunities if he stays in office after the 30 January elections.
At a news conference on 24 January broadcast by Iraq's Al-Sharqiyah TV, Allawi said: "Six days from now, Iraq will hold its first democratic elections, God willing. After 30 years of tyranny and enslavement, our long-awaited dream will finally come true."
"I understand that we need to create more job opportunities, and that the unemployment rate is still high. Therefore, I made a promise to secure more than 250,000 job opportunities by the end of this year. Based on this, I today announce my 10-point plan that deals with providing job opportunities, reducing unemployment, and strengthening the economy," the prime minister said.After reading his 10-point plan, Allawi urged Iraqis to vote for his list.
Further as available.
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES 24 JAN 05
Al-Bayan [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]:
·
Voter registration extended in 74 centres for Iraqi expats;
·
opinion poll: 80 per cent of Iraqis plan to vote Association of Muslim Scholars,
· Iraqi Islamic Party in Diyala to take part in elections
· First man convicted of oil-for-food programme violations (News agencies quoted)
· De-mining campaign launched in Basra
· Filipino workers refuse to leave Iraq despite warnings (News agencies quoted)
· Twenty-two million [US] dollars to dig Umm-Qasr canal
· Environment Ministry facing challenges of fifty years of negligence
· Defence Ministry strikes deal to purchase
· 20m dollars worth of arms from Poland
· Forty-one million dollars allocated to school meals in Iraq
· New South Korean grant to higher education in Iraq
· Britain reinforces military presence in Basra
· Iraq signs cooperation agreements with Italian oil companies.
Al-Mada [Baghdad, daily, independent newspaper published by Al-Mada Media, Culture and Arts Corporation]: · Iraqi Islamic Party in Diyala to take part in elections
· First man convicted of oil-for-food programme violations (News agencies quoted)
· De-mining campaign launched in Basra
· Filipino workers refuse to leave Iraq despite warnings (News agencies quoted)
· Twenty-two million [US] dollars to dig Umm-Qasr canal
· Environment Ministry facing challenges of fifty years of negligence
· Defence Ministry strikes deal to purchase
· 20m dollars worth of arms from Poland
· Forty-one million dollars allocated to school meals in Iraq
· New South Korean grant to higher education in Iraq
· Britain reinforces military presence in Basra
· Iraq signs cooperation agreements with Italian oil companies.
·
Curfew to be imposed on certain areas during elections; holiday for three days announced; polling stations to remain secret until last minute
·
Damage to water pipelines in Baghdad repaired (AFP quoted)
· In US post-election plan: Former army members to be returned;
· Iraqis to be pushed to the forefront
· No electricity in Baghdad; Ministry gives no explanation
· Eighteen killed, dozens wounded in hospital fire in Al-Nasiriyah
· Director of Iraq Institute for Development and Democracy: Decision not to postpone elections taken in Washington;
· US Administration considers delay a tactical victory for terrorism
· Over 1,000 schools rehabilitated in Duhok
· In Dhi-Qar: Seventy-five million dollars earmarked for water, sewerage, electricity projects
Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, Saudi-owned]: · In US post-election plan: Former army members to be returned;
· Iraqis to be pushed to the forefront
· No electricity in Baghdad; Ministry gives no explanation
· Eighteen killed, dozens wounded in hospital fire in Al-Nasiriyah
· Director of Iraq Institute for Development and Democracy: Decision not to postpone elections taken in Washington;
· US Administration considers delay a tactical victory for terrorism
· Over 1,000 schools rehabilitated in Duhok
· In Dhi-Qar: Seventy-five million dollars earmarked for water, sewerage, electricity projects
·
Allawi: Elections will curb violence
·
US generals: Iraqi forces could be trained to take charge of security in months
· The Washington Post: Rumsfeld heads secret intelligence agency active in Iraq for two years
· After defence minister's threat to arrest INC leader, Al-Chalabi responds to Al-Sha'lan: Defence minister knows nothing about law, cannot arrest anybody
· Twelve thousand monitors for Iraq elections, including 128 international observers
· Al-Zarqawi group claims responsibility for killing politburo chief of National Accord Movement; string
· Al-Zarqawi declares war on Iraq poll, considers democracy infidelity
· Beijing embassy receives eight Chinese hostages;
· France mobilized to free kidnapped reporter
· The Washington Post: Rumsfeld heads secret intelligence agency active in Iraq for two years
· After defence minister's threat to arrest INC leader, Al-Chalabi responds to Al-Sha'lan: Defence minister knows nothing about law, cannot arrest anybody
· Twelve thousand monitors for Iraq elections, including 128 international observers
· Al-Zarqawi group claims responsibility for killing politburo chief of National Accord Movement; string
· Al-Zarqawi declares war on Iraq poll, considers democracy infidelity
· Beijing embassy receives eight Chinese hostages;
· France mobilized to free kidnapped reporter
