Sunday, 22 August 2004
I- DEFENCE /SECURITY Al-Najaf
US plane said shot down in "violent" al-Najaf clashes: A small US reconnaissance plane "used for taking footage" has been shot down by the Al-Mahdi Army in al-Najaf, Al-Arabiya TV reported on 21 August. The TV said the plane was shot down after confrontations erupted in al-Judaydah and al-Madinah Street "which is a vital street where al-Sadr fighters take up positions". (Al-Arabiya TV, 1605 gmt 21 Aug 04)
Al-Arabiya TV reports "violent confrontations" in al-Najaf's old city: Al-Arabiya TV reported on 21 August that al-Najaf was witnessing violent confrontations, especially in al-Madinah Street in the old city and in al-Judaydah area. (Al-Arabiya TV 1600 gmt 21 Aug 04)
Shi'i bureaucracy reportedly stalls shrine handover: Shaykh Ali al-Sumaysim, a senior aide to Muqtada al-Sadr, told Iranian news agency IRNA on 21 August that officials at Ayatollah al-Sistani's office in al-Najaf have refused to take control of the shrine "because a delegation for taking charge of the key to the shrine" had not been formed. He said Muqtada al-Sadr had subsequently proposed that a delegation be formed - made up of the director for Islamic guidance and the director for mosque affairs for the city of al-Najaf. The officials said that they would seek permission to do so from Ayatollah al-Sistani himself. (IRNA news agency, Tehran, in Persian 1659 gmt 21 Aug 04)
Police tracking prisoners set free by al-Mahdi Army: The Passport Department in Babil has suspended issuing passports for 10 days in an attempt to prevent escaped prioners from leaving the country, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 21 August. Capt Hadi Hasan, head of the Press Office at Babil Police Command, said his office wanted to tighten the noose around 500 prisoners said to have been let free by al-Mahdi Army gunmen from al-Hillah Prison on 19 August. In a press statement, Hasan pointed out that the governorate police had supplied the Passport Department with the names of those convicts to prevent them from fleeing Iraq. The TV said the Interior Ministry had formed checkpoints to track down and re-arrest prisoners, who fled during the latest incidents in al-Kut city. The prisoners including 180 Iraqis accused of murder, looting, robbery and kidnapping, and 50 Iranians who entered Iraq illegally, the TV added. (Al-Sharqiyah 1200 gmt 21 Aug 04)
Al-Arabiya TV reports "violent confrontations" in al-Najaf's old city: Al-Arabiya TV reported on 21 August that al-Najaf was witnessing violent confrontations, especially in al-Madinah Street in the old city and in al-Judaydah area. (Al-Arabiya TV 1600 gmt 21 Aug 04)
Shi'i bureaucracy reportedly stalls shrine handover: Shaykh Ali al-Sumaysim, a senior aide to Muqtada al-Sadr, told Iranian news agency IRNA on 21 August that officials at Ayatollah al-Sistani's office in al-Najaf have refused to take control of the shrine "because a delegation for taking charge of the key to the shrine" had not been formed. He said Muqtada al-Sadr had subsequently proposed that a delegation be formed - made up of the director for Islamic guidance and the director for mosque affairs for the city of al-Najaf. The officials said that they would seek permission to do so from Ayatollah al-Sistani himself. (IRNA news agency, Tehran, in Persian 1659 gmt 21 Aug 04)
Police tracking prisoners set free by al-Mahdi Army: The Passport Department in Babil has suspended issuing passports for 10 days in an attempt to prevent escaped prioners from leaving the country, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 21 August. Capt Hadi Hasan, head of the Press Office at Babil Police Command, said his office wanted to tighten the noose around 500 prisoners said to have been let free by al-Mahdi Army gunmen from al-Hillah Prison on 19 August. In a press statement, Hasan pointed out that the governorate police had supplied the Passport Department with the names of those convicts to prevent them from fleeing Iraq. The TV said the Interior Ministry had formed checkpoints to track down and re-arrest prisoners, who fled during the latest incidents in al-Kut city. The prisoners including 180 Iraqis accused of murder, looting, robbery and kidnapping, and 50 Iranians who entered Iraq illegally, the TV added. (Al-Sharqiyah 1200 gmt 21 Aug 04)
II-POLITICS
Iraqi VP regrets Al-Sadr issue not solved "politically": Iraqi Vice President Dr Ibrahim al-Ja'fari told Al-Arabiya TV on 21 August that a political approach to the al-Najaf crisis would have resolved the problem with Muqtada al-Sadr peacefully. He told the TV: "I think that had this issue been dealt with politically right from the start, it would have remained a political one." He reiterated calls for Al-Sadr to participate in Iraq's political process. (Al-Arabiya TV 1815 gmt 21 Aug 04)
Al-Ja'fari says not aware of Iranian support for Al-Sadr: Iraqi Vice President Ibrahim Al-Ja'fari said on 21 August that he was not aware that there was any Iranian military or financial support for Al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr, Al-Arabiya TV reported. He said in an interview with the TV: "If I knew of documents - and I say it frankly - indicating that there was armed support for Al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr or anyone else from Iran or any other state, I would undoubtedly address a responsible message, in my capacity as a government official, to that state noting that this was a red line." (Al-Arabiya TV 1815 gmt 21 Aug 04)
Al-Ja'fari says not aware of Iranian support for Al-Sadr: Iraqi Vice President Ibrahim Al-Ja'fari said on 21 August that he was not aware that there was any Iranian military or financial support for Al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr, Al-Arabiya TV reported. He said in an interview with the TV: "If I knew of documents - and I say it frankly - indicating that there was armed support for Al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr or anyone else from Iran or any other state, I would undoubtedly address a responsible message, in my capacity as a government official, to that state noting that this was a red line." (Al-Arabiya TV 1815 gmt 21 Aug 04)
III- REGIONAL
Egyptian mufti condemns US attacks on Iraq's holy sites: Egyptian Mufti Ali Jum'ah on 21 August condemned attacks by US-led occupation forces on Imam Ali Shrine and other holy sites in Iraq, MENA reported. These attacks are unjustifiable, Jum'ah said in a statement. He added: "The Fatwa House, entrusted with issuing religious edicts, can not accept any justification by the coalition forces or any others to play the same ignominious role." (MENA news agency 2005 gmt 21 Aug 04)
Jordanian airline resumes flights to Baghdad: Royal Jordanian has announced the resumption of its flights to Iraq twice a day after the reopening of Baghdad International Airport, Jordan's Al-Ghadd newspaper reported on 20 August. Royal Jordanian will operate two daily flights to Baghdad in view of the heavy demand for this flight, particularly by diplomats, members of the press, and UN staff, the paper said. (Amman Al-Ghadd 20 Aug 2004)
Jordanian airline resumes flights to Baghdad: Royal Jordanian has announced the resumption of its flights to Iraq twice a day after the reopening of Baghdad International Airport, Jordan's Al-Ghadd newspaper reported on 20 August. Royal Jordanian will operate two daily flights to Baghdad in view of the heavy demand for this flight, particularly by diplomats, members of the press, and UN staff, the paper said. (Amman Al-Ghadd 20 Aug 2004)
IV-Programme summaries
Iraqi Islamic Party Dar al-Salam radio 1000 gmt 21 Aug 04: Four explosions occurred in the Iraqi city of al-Najaf ... eyewitnesses say that Muqtada al-Sadr's followers are still in control of Imam Ali's Mausoleum ... Muqtada al-Sadr's followers in Basra destroy a British military vehicle and kill the driver. An explosion kills two Iraqis in the city of Ba'qubah and an oil pipeline is bombed ... Three US soldiers were killed in an explosion in the Iraqi city of Al-Fallujah ... Two US soldiers are killed in the city of Al-Samarra and two others are killed in Al-Anbar Governorate ... A statement posted on the Internet says that an American journalist taken hostage in Iraq will be released ... In a statement posted on the Internet, a group in Iraq says it has abducted 12 people working for a Nepalese company in Iraq ... A Turkish company decides to leave Iraq to save an employee
Al-Diyar TV Arabic 1530 gmt 21 Aug 04: Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi issues a press statement on the situation in al-Najaf ... Reuters reports four explosions in al-Najaf this morning ... The Iraqi Government says it has taken control of al-Najaf shrine, while Al-Sadr supporters deny such reports ... Iraqi National Assembly member Fu'ad Ma'sum says the assembly will hold its first session on 1 September ... An Iraqi is killed and five others are wounded in an explosion in Al-Sabtiyah area in Ba'qubah ... A landmine explodes in Mosul, killing an Iraqi and wounding three others ... In his Friday sermon, Al-Sistani's representative describes the events in al-Najaf as a real catastrophe ... Nearly 100 members of the Iraqi National Guard conclude training in Al-Muqdadiyah, east of Baghdad ... The Iraqi National Guards in Wasit arrest an Iranian, an Afghan, and a Nigerian planning to carry out bombing operations ... Royal Jordanian Airlines resumes its flights to Iraq ... The Iraqi Ministry of Environment form a committee to supervise the ministry's projects ... The Basra health directorate establishes 11 new health centres in Basra
Al-Iraqiyah TV news 1600 gmt 21 August 04: Fierce fighting breaks out between US forces and supporters of Shi'i cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Al-Kuf ... Several killed and others injured in separate attacks in Iraq ... Bomb detonated in Basra ... US soldiers come under attack in Ramadi ... Al-Ramadi criminal police chief killed by armed men ... Former interior minister, Samir al-Sumayda'i criticizes Al-Sadr after hand-over talks hit snag ... Baghdad residential area of Kharkh carries out plan to cut down on electricity consumption ... Health ministry holds forum on improvement of medical education ... Protestors call on Iraqi government to review decision to evict them from offices of former intelligence services ... Shortage of ultrasonic equipment in southern Iraq hospitals aggravates problem of patients with kidney stones ... Iraqi refugees living in Pakistan return home ... Iraq trade minister calls on al-Najaf militiamen not to attack food supply trucks ... New rail link under construction between Um Qasr and Shi'iba
Al-Diyar TV Arabic 1530 gmt 21 Aug 04: Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi issues a press statement on the situation in al-Najaf ... Reuters reports four explosions in al-Najaf this morning ... The Iraqi Government says it has taken control of al-Najaf shrine, while Al-Sadr supporters deny such reports ... Iraqi National Assembly member Fu'ad Ma'sum says the assembly will hold its first session on 1 September ... An Iraqi is killed and five others are wounded in an explosion in Al-Sabtiyah area in Ba'qubah ... A landmine explodes in Mosul, killing an Iraqi and wounding three others ... In his Friday sermon, Al-Sistani's representative describes the events in al-Najaf as a real catastrophe ... Nearly 100 members of the Iraqi National Guard conclude training in Al-Muqdadiyah, east of Baghdad ... The Iraqi National Guards in Wasit arrest an Iranian, an Afghan, and a Nigerian planning to carry out bombing operations ... Royal Jordanian Airlines resumes its flights to Iraq ... The Iraqi Ministry of Environment form a committee to supervise the ministry's projects ... The Basra health directorate establishes 11 new health centres in Basra
Al-Iraqiyah TV news 1600 gmt 21 August 04: Fierce fighting breaks out between US forces and supporters of Shi'i cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Al-Kuf ... Several killed and others injured in separate attacks in Iraq ... Bomb detonated in Basra ... US soldiers come under attack in Ramadi ... Al-Ramadi criminal police chief killed by armed men ... Former interior minister, Samir al-Sumayda'i criticizes Al-Sadr after hand-over talks hit snag ... Baghdad residential area of Kharkh carries out plan to cut down on electricity consumption ... Health ministry holds forum on improvement of medical education ... Protestors call on Iraqi government to review decision to evict them from offices of former intelligence services ... Shortage of ultrasonic equipment in southern Iraq hospitals aggravates problem of patients with kidney stones ... Iraqi refugees living in Pakistan return home ... Iraq trade minister calls on al-Najaf militiamen not to attack food supply trucks ... New rail link under construction between Um Qasr and Shi'iba
IRAQI MEDIA
London-based Al-Zaman headlines 21-22 August 2004: Al-Sadr will possibly withdraw to Syria, 400 of his supporters were arrested, negotiations under way with 600 others to hand themselves over; Al-Mahdi Army has collapsed, calm is returning to Al-Najaf; The representative of Al-Sistani receives the keys of Al-Sahn al-Haydari [Imam Ali's holy shrine in Al-Najaf, enclosing Imam Ali's mausoleum] ... Aziz al-Yasiri, the coordinator of the united forces conference, says to Al-Zaman: The National [Iraqi] Conference has adopted a quota system, government parties have monopolized the council ... A Syrian and an Algerian involved in 11 September attacks on Madrid were arrested ... Oil prices hit 50 dollars [per barrel], have decreased slightly after Al-Najaf battle had been ended ... Iran calls for holding an emergency Islamic summit on Al-Najaf ... Three Algerian parties enter into a political coalition to support Bouteflika ... Two marines killed in Al-Anbar ... Twelve Nepalese reported kidnapped in Iraq ... Al-Bashir calls on Al-Qhadafi to attend Darfur talks.
London-based Al-Zaman headlines 21-22 August 2004: Al-Sadr will possibly withdraw to Syria, 400 of his supporters were arrested, negotiations under way with 600 others to hand themselves over; Al-Mahdi Army has collapsed, calm is returning to Al-Najaf; The representative of Al-Sistani receives the keys of Al-Sahn al-Haydari [Imam Ali's holy shrine in Al-Najaf, enclosing Imam Ali's mausoleum] ... Aziz al-Yasiri, the coordinator of the united forces conference, says to Al-Zaman: The National [Iraqi] Conference has adopted a quota system, government parties have monopolized the council ... A Syrian and an Algerian involved in 11 September attacks on Madrid were arrested ... Oil prices hit 50 dollars [per barrel], have decreased slightly after Al-Najaf battle had been ended ... Iran calls for holding an emergency Islamic summit on Al-Najaf ... Three Algerian parties enter into a political coalition to support Bouteflika ... Two marines killed in Al-Anbar ... Twelve Nepalese reported kidnapped in Iraq ... Al-Bashir calls on Al-Qhadafi to attend Darfur talks.
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