Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Thursday, 08 July 2004

I.       Political developments and comments

a.       Press comments

(Al-Manar Al-Yawm, Baghdad, independent daily, 07 July 2004) - Carries an article by Sa'dun Abud al-Zubaydi saying that Iraqis were hoping that after the downfall of the former regime, equality and justice would characterize their society. However, deems the article, their suffering has been increased, thus far, while high ranking officials are paying all of their attention to how to remain in power and to benefit themselves and relatives while still in power, forgetting about the poor Iraqi people.

(Al-Mutamar, Baghdad, weekly by the Iraqi National Congress, 07 July 2004) - Publishes an article by Salman al-Shammari wondering who is benefiting from the destruction of Iraq and the killing of Iraqis. The article says that three main parties are accused of committing terrorism in Iraq: the remnants of the former regime and Al-Zarqawi group, a number of Arab and Islamic countries, and Israel. The report says that if "our brother Arabs and Muslims" are concerned about the well being of Iraq and Iraqis, they should stop supporting terrorists and help us identify Israel's agents who are carrying out terrorism in Iraq.

(Al-Mutamar, Baghdad, weekly by the Iraqi National Congress, 07 July 2004) - Publishes an article by Dawud al-Basri discussing the Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations and criticizing the new Iraqi government for not mentioning Kuwait's role in toppling the former regime. The article says that the relations between the two countries have been unstable for the last half century and need open minds and hearts to be normalized to serve the mutual interests.

(Al-Mutamar, Baghdad, weekly by the Iraqi National Congress, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report on the letter sent to Prime Minister from the Faylian [Shi'i] Kurds demanding to add Saddam regime's crime of expatriating 750,000 of their nationals to Iran in 1980 to the list of the charges against him. The letter is signed by Dr Aziz al-Hajj from Paris, Abd-al-Samad Asad in Baghdad and Dr Najam Ghaylan from London and dated on 3 July 2004.

(Al-Dustur, Baghdad, by Movement for the Hashimite Constitutional Royal Union, 07 July 2004) - Publishes an article by Najam al-Rubay'i discussing Saddam's trial saying that although Saddam is a criminal that humanity has never seen alike before, his trial is a test of the humanity of Iraqis, thus he should get a fair and honest trial to give our children a good example of democracy.

 (Al-Adala, Baghdad, twice-weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq SCIRI, 07 July 2004) - Publishes an article about Saddam's trial by Al-Sayyid Muhammad al-Haydari, Imam of Al-Khulani Mosque and official in charge of the Cultural and Information Bureau in the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq [SCIRI] discussing the charges against Saddam and his 11 aides. The report says that the trial will reveal how Saddam used to run Iraq and it will serve as an example for all tyrants in the world.

b.       Political developments
 

(Al-Mutamar, Baghdad, weekly by the Iraqi National Congress, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing "well informed" sources in Al-Najaf as saying that Muqtada al-Sadr has not been seen in Al-Najaf for the last three weeks. Reports circulated in the city suggest that he has gone to Lebanon to meet with the Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah.

(Al-Mutamar, Baghdad, weekly by the Iraqi National Congress, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report commenting and discussing "Saddam's crimes" against the Iraqi people. The report says Saddam's lawyers think that they can save Saddam from the seven charges pending against him in the Iraqi Special Criminal Court on "lack of evidence" basis. The report adds that there are 24 tons of documents included orders of killing, raiding villages and cities, and committing executions in addition to a large quantity of tapes recording Saddam and his aides while killing and executing people.

(Al-Manar Al-Yawm, Baghdad, independent daily, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing Fu'ad Ma'sum, chairman of the Higher Preparatory Committee responsible for the holding of the expanded National Conference saying, in a press conference, that the progress in the preparation for the conference is significant and all Iraqi religious and ethnic communities are represented in the committee and will be represented in the conference. Ma'sum added that the conference will elect 80 new members to the interim national council which comprises 100 members including the 20 former IGC members who were not appointed in the new government.

(Al-Manar Al-Yawm, Baghdad, independent daily, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing an official source in the Iraqi cabinet as saying that the National Safety Law will be issued tomorrow morning, 8 July.

(Al-Manar Al-Yawm, Baghdad, independent daily, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing General Mark Kimmitt, spokesman for the multinational forces in Iraq saying in a press conference that the UNSC Resolution 1546 authorizes his forces to carry out "very sensitive" military operations without consulting the Iraqi Government because of time constraints in conducting the operations.

(Al-Manar Al-Yawm, Baghdad, independent daily, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report quoting an official source at the Planning Ministry affirming that his ministry is ready to prepare lists of voters of the early next year's elections.

(Al-Manar Al-Yawm, Baghdad, independent daily, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report stating that the Iraqi Government issued orders to evict the families that took state offices as residence after the downfall of the former regime last year. The report carries a picture showing a policeman helping a family moving its furniture out of a state-owned building.

(Al-Manar Al-Yawm, Baghdad, independent daily, 07 July 2004) - Publishes an interview with Aziz al-Yasiri, general coordinator of the Iraqi Democratic Trend, discussing the political process and developments in Iraq. Al-Yasiri says that the formation of the Higher Preparatory Committee responsible for the holding of the expanded National Conference is "unsuitable and does not correspond to the nature of the Iraqi people's components."

(Al-Adala, Baghdad, twice-weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq SCIRI, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim saying in an interview with a French newspaper that there is no risk of civil war in Iraq, adding that France can help Iraq through the UN and by contributing to the reconstruction of the country.

(Al-Adala, Baghdad, twice-weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq SCIRI, 07 July 2004) - Publishes on its front page an editorial discussing Iraq's relations with its neighbors. The article says that "some of our neighbors have problems with the super powers" but these problems surface in these countries' relations with Iraq. The article urges Iraq's neighboring countries to establish sound relations with Iraq "because no one can change the geography."

(Al-Adala, Baghdad, twice-weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq SCIRI, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing Salim Chalabi, head of the Special Criminal Court responsible for trying former regime's leaders saying that coordination with the Iranian Government is under way to include Saddam's war against Iran in the list of charges against him.

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report on the statement made to the newspaper by Mithal al-Alusi, director general of the Deba'thification Committee criticizing Ambassador Bremer for "illegally" dissolving the committee one night before the end of his mission in Iraq. Al-Alusi accused Russia of being involved in the terrorist operations in Iraq adding that "the Iraqi National Congress Party has documents that confirm, without any doubts, the involvement of Russia in supporting the terrorist operations in Iraq."

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 07 July 2004) - Publishes on its front page a report citing Iraqi Justice Minister Malik Duhan al-Hasan as saying that if no lawyer proposes to defend Saddam, the court will appoint a Ba'thist lawyer to defend him.

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 07 July 2004) - Publishes on its front page a report citing an Al-Sadr aide saying that the statement issued recently by Al-Sadr in which he threatened to resume hostilities against the US forces "until full sovereignty is achieved and fair elections are held," refer to a peaceful resistance rather than a call for an armed confrontation.

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report stating that an Iranian web site claimed that the Kurdish Leader Jalal Talabani has informed a number of Turkish officials about his great desire to have Iraq's Kurdistan Region join Turkey and become a federal region within Turkey.

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 07 July 2004) - Publishes an editorial saying that the downfall of the former regime and the arrest and trial of Saddam Husayn is an unprecedented event in history. The article says that the US can repeat what it did in Iraq anywhere else in the world when it feels that its interests dictate to do so.

(Al-Dustur, Baghdad, by Movement for the Hashimite Constitutional Royal Union, 07 July 2004) - Publishes an editorial criticizing a number of democratic steps that took place recently in Iraq because they are characterized by being bureaucratic.


(Al-Dustur, Baghdad, by Movement for the Hashimite Constitutional Royal Union, 07 July 2004) - Publishes an interview with Aziz al-Ha, an Iraqi scholar, writer and political figure discussing the political developments in Iraq and his views on the political process.

(Al-Ahali, independent weekly, 07 July 2004) - Publishes an editorial saying that "we should not judge the interim government at present time but rather wait and see its performance." The editorial urges the Iraqi people to support the government to enable it to carry out its programmes.

(Al-Ahali, independent weekly, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing Ghalib Shallal al-Rikabi, secretary general of the Iraqi Tribes Democratic Grouping as saying that his organization will effectively participate in the upcoming elections.

(Al-Ahali, independent weekly, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing Sadiq al-Musawi, official in charge in the Constitutional Monarchy Movements accusing, in a statement to the newspaper, infiltrators from Saudi of being responsible for the terrorist attacks in Iraq.

(Al-Ahali, independent weekly, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report stating that approximately 3,000 people staged a demonstration in Tikrit on Sunday, 4 July, protesting against Saddam's trial.

(Al-Sa'ah, Baghdad, political biweekly, the Unified National Movement led by Sunni cleric Ahmad al-Kubaysi, 07 July 2004) - Publishes an editorial saying that the Iraqi interim government ignored all Iraq's serious problems focusing on Saddam's trial to achieve individual goals that are, perhaps, related to the US elections and applying Saddam's own style of diverting attention from the most important issues to minor ones. The article calls for a fair and public trial in order for the people to know who destroyed their country and who the "agents of Israel and the US are."

(Al-Sa'ah, Baghdad, political biweekly, the Unified National Movement led by Sunni cleric Ahmad al-Kubaysi, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing reactions of Iraqi citizens to Saddam's Trial. Judge Ibrahim Malik al-Hindawi said that Saddam should be tried by an elected government and under permanent constitution.

(Al-Manar Al-Yawm, Baghdad, independent daily, 07 July 2004) - Publishes an article entitled Iran's agents by Dawud al-Janabi. The article discusses the Iranian intervention in Iraq's domestic affairs. The report says that the goal of the Iranians is to replicate their regime in Iraq.

II.      Security and military developments

(Al-Manar Al-Yawm, Baghdad, independent daily, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing the reactions of a number of Iraqi people to the possibility of imposing martial law in Iraq. Most of the people interviewed agreed that martial law in this stage will enhance the political process and improve the security and stability of Iraq.

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report on the latest security developments in Iraq. The report cites a police source as saying that more than 14 people were killed and many others were injured in a booby-trapped car explosion in Al-Khalis district 60 km north east of Baghdad yesterday, 6 July. The report cites eyewitnesses as saying that a man was shot yesterday by the US forces near a hotel in Baghdad because they suspected of intending to attack them.

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report stating that US vehicle carrying ammunition was burned after a roadside bomb explosion in Abu-Ghurayb district west of Baghdad yesterday, 6 July. The report cites police sources in Basra as saying that a British base came under a rocket attack yesterday. In Al-Sulaymaniyah, a security source said that his forces killed yesterday a man trying to explode a booby-trapped car in front of a hotel in the city.

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing eyewitnesses as saying that a former security officer was killed two days after his kidnapping in front of his house in Al-Khadra district in Baghdad. The eyewitnesses said that yesterday, 6 July, a group of unidentified gunmen took former Major Ali al-Khalqani and executed him.

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing eyewitnesses as saying that six people were injured when an explosive charge was detonated in Al-Za'faraniyah district two days ago, 5 July. Another roadside bomb exploded when a US patrol passed by in Al-Bayy'a district in Baghdad yesterday according to eyewitnesses.

(Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report stating that an explosive charge was detonated when a Bulgarian patrol was passing by in Karbala two days ago, 5 July. The report says that the Bulgarian forces opened fire randomly injuring a nearby Iraqi civilian.

(Al-Dustur, Baghdad, by Movement for the Hashimite Constitutional Royal Union, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report stating that 12 people were killed and five others were injured in a US raid on a house in Al-Fallujah believed to shelter Al-Zarqawi on Monday night, 5 July.

(Al-Dustur, Baghdad, by Movement for the Hashimite Constitutional Royal Union, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report citing Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi as saying that his government was consulted prior to the recent US raid on Al-Fallujah. Allawi justified the raid arguing that it was carried based on "clear and convincing intelligent information" suggesting that Al-Zarqawi was in the bombed house.

 (Al-Adala, Baghdad, twice-weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq SCIRI, 07 July 2004) - Publishes on its front page a report citing an official security source in Arbil as saying that security forces have intensified their campaign against Ansar al-Islam and other terrorist elements in the Kurdistan region.

(Al-Adala, Baghdad, twice-weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq SCIRI, 07 July 2004) - Publishes on its front page a report citing an official source at the Defence ministry as saying that his ministry has gained full control on the three major recruitment centres in Iraq recently.

(Al-Adala, Baghdad, twice-weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq SCIRI, 07 July 2004) - Publishes a report stating that the newspaper has learned that "the formation of the new National Security Agency that will be in charge of performing dangerous tasks related to the security and safety of the citizens" will be announced in the next two days.




(Al-Adala, Baghdad, twice-weekly by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq SCIRI, 07 July 2004) - Publishes on its front page a report citing an official source in the Transport Ministry as saying that an Iraqi delegation is negotiating with the concerned Jordanian authorities to restore 40 Iraqi buses stolen from Iraq which are currently being used in Jordan.