Wednesday, 25 August 2004
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
I-DEFENCE & SECURITYAl-Najaf
Al-Najaf said under "violent" bombardment: The old town of Al-Najaf came under violent air and artillery bombardment on the evening of 24 August, Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV reported as "breaking news". (Al-Jazeera 1900 gmt 24 Aug 04)
US shelling targeting Iraqi soldiers, militia in Al-Najaf - Al-Sadr aide: Muqtada al-Sadr spokesman Ahmad Al-Shaybani said on 24 August that US shelling was targeting Iraqi soldiers and Al-Mahdi Army militia during clashes on the outskirts of Al-Najaf's old city, Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV reported as "breaking news". (Al-Jazeera 1625 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Al-Sadr ready to negotiate - aide: Ali Sumaysim, spokesman for Shi'i cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, has stressed the need to stop the bloodshed and emphasized the inviolability of holy Al-Najaf, Dubai-based news channel Al-Arabiya TV reported on 24 August. Sumaysim expressed Al-Sadr's readiness to negotiate to end this crisis. "We stress again that we are support stopping the bloodshed and the inviolability of holy Al-Najaf. We are ready to negotiate with the representative of the interim government in accordance with the initiative of the National Conference in a way that guarantees the sanctity and dignity of the sacred [Al-Sadr] current to end this crisis and the suffering of our oppressed people," Sumaysim told the channel's correspondent. (Al-Arabiya 1507 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Al-Sadr aide confirms readiness for talks: The head of Muqtada al-Sadr's office in Al-Nasiriyah, Aws al-Khafaji, has dismissed Iraqi Defence Minister Hazim Sha'lan's threat that the cleric would face "death or prison" if he continued his resistance as "garbage", in an interview for Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 24 August. He said Al-Sadr was still in Al-Najaf and was still ready for talks. (Al-Jazeera 1708 gmt 24 Aug 04)
SCIRI urges consideration of Al-Najaf's "unique nature": The Iraqi newspaper Al-Adalah published an article on 24 August by Al-Sayyid Muhammad al-Haydari, SCIRI official in charge of the Cultural and Information Bureau, calling on both the Iraqi government and Muqtada al-Sadr to take into consideration the unique nature of Al-Najaf and "to deal transparently with the crisis". This, he added, required evicted foreign forces from the city to improve the chances of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis. (Al-Adalah 24 Aug 04)
US shelling targeting Iraqi soldiers, militia in Al-Najaf - Al-Sadr aide: Muqtada al-Sadr spokesman Ahmad Al-Shaybani said on 24 August that US shelling was targeting Iraqi soldiers and Al-Mahdi Army militia during clashes on the outskirts of Al-Najaf's old city, Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV reported as "breaking news". (Al-Jazeera 1625 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Al-Sadr ready to negotiate - aide: Ali Sumaysim, spokesman for Shi'i cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, has stressed the need to stop the bloodshed and emphasized the inviolability of holy Al-Najaf, Dubai-based news channel Al-Arabiya TV reported on 24 August. Sumaysim expressed Al-Sadr's readiness to negotiate to end this crisis. "We stress again that we are support stopping the bloodshed and the inviolability of holy Al-Najaf. We are ready to negotiate with the representative of the interim government in accordance with the initiative of the National Conference in a way that guarantees the sanctity and dignity of the sacred [Al-Sadr] current to end this crisis and the suffering of our oppressed people," Sumaysim told the channel's correspondent. (Al-Arabiya 1507 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Al-Sadr aide confirms readiness for talks: The head of Muqtada al-Sadr's office in Al-Nasiriyah, Aws al-Khafaji, has dismissed Iraqi Defence Minister Hazim Sha'lan's threat that the cleric would face "death or prison" if he continued his resistance as "garbage", in an interview for Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 24 August. He said Al-Sadr was still in Al-Najaf and was still ready for talks. (Al-Jazeera 1708 gmt 24 Aug 04)
SCIRI urges consideration of Al-Najaf's "unique nature": The Iraqi newspaper Al-Adalah published an article on 24 August by Al-Sayyid Muhammad al-Haydari, SCIRI official in charge of the Cultural and Information Bureau, calling on both the Iraqi government and Muqtada al-Sadr to take into consideration the unique nature of Al-Najaf and "to deal transparently with the crisis". This, he added, required evicted foreign forces from the city to improve the chances of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis. (Al-Adalah 24 Aug 04)
Elsewhere
At least five Iraqis said killed by US bombs in Baghdad suburb: At least five Iraqis were killed and seven others wounded in a US air raid on Baghdad's Al-Sadr City on 24 August, Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV reported. Medical sources in the Martyr Al-Sadr hospital in Baghdad quoted some of the injured as saying that the US forces opened fire on them indiscriminately. (Al-Jazeera 1103 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Twelve Iraqis killed, 54 wounded in Al-Amarah clashes: An Iraqi source has confirmed that 12 Iraqis were killed and 54 others sustained various wounds during armed clashes and mortar shelling in one of the residential quarters of Al-Amarah, Lebanese TV reported on 24 August. A doctor at Al-Zahrawi Hospital said most of the wounded were children and women and that the mortar shelling resulted in the scorching of a number of civilian cars. The headquarters of the UK forces in the Al-Risalah quarter in the middle of Al-Amarah was targeted by mortar shelling. Afterwards, an exchange of fire took place between UK forces and Al-Mahdi Army militia. (Hezbollah TV Al-Manar 1739 gmt 24 Aug 04)
French news agency AFP also quoted hospital sources as it reported a death toll of 12 Iraqis following the clashes in Al-Amarah. (AFP 1726 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Al-Sadr aide says militia killed seven British soldiers in Basra: A spokesman for Muqtada Al-Sadr's office in Basra, As'ad al-Basri, told Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 24 August that Al-Mahdi Army militia had destroyed four vehicles and killed seven British soldiers during clashes in Basra. He said there were "clear indications and reports" that the British were "getting ready for a confrontation". He also sent the following message to the Iraqi government, which, he said, was "raised on the lap of the Americans": "We will not allow these attacks". He predicted that the impact of Muqtada al-Sadr becoming a martyr would be like "a nuclear bomb that would affect all of Iraq and destroy their palaces and seats". (Al-Jazeera 1608 gmt 24 Aug 04)
No Al-Mahdi army involvement in pipeline sabotage - company head: Abd-al-Jabbar Ala'ybi, director general of the South Oil Company, has rejected reports that the Al-Mahdi Army was involved in recent acts of sabotage against his company, Iraqi newspaper Al-Mu'tamar reported on 24 August. (Al-Mu'tamar 24 Aug 04)
Lebanese TV reported that an Iraqi had been killed and six others wounded during the raid. The TV said that the city's residential areas were targeted by US tank fire. (Hezbollah TV Al-Manar 1738 gmt 24 Aug 04)
US soldier killed in road accident near Al-Fallujah: A US soldier died in a road accident on 24 August near Al-Fallujah, French news agency AFP quoted the US military as saying. The soldier was killed when his army vehicle flipped over at around 0200 Tuesday morning local time (2200 gmt 23 August), a statement said without elaborating. (AFP 2002 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Officials blame shoddy work on poor security - paper: An article in Al-Bayan on 24 August said civil servants were using the unstable security situation in Baghdad and southern Iraq to neglect their work and justify their poor performance. It added that such behaviour was making the crisis worse. (Al- Bayan 24 Aug 04)
Twelve Iraqis killed, 54 wounded in Al-Amarah clashes: An Iraqi source has confirmed that 12 Iraqis were killed and 54 others sustained various wounds during armed clashes and mortar shelling in one of the residential quarters of Al-Amarah, Lebanese TV reported on 24 August. A doctor at Al-Zahrawi Hospital said most of the wounded were children and women and that the mortar shelling resulted in the scorching of a number of civilian cars. The headquarters of the UK forces in the Al-Risalah quarter in the middle of Al-Amarah was targeted by mortar shelling. Afterwards, an exchange of fire took place between UK forces and Al-Mahdi Army militia. (Hezbollah TV Al-Manar 1739 gmt 24 Aug 04)
French news agency AFP also quoted hospital sources as it reported a death toll of 12 Iraqis following the clashes in Al-Amarah. (AFP 1726 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Al-Sadr aide says militia killed seven British soldiers in Basra: A spokesman for Muqtada Al-Sadr's office in Basra, As'ad al-Basri, told Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 24 August that Al-Mahdi Army militia had destroyed four vehicles and killed seven British soldiers during clashes in Basra. He said there were "clear indications and reports" that the British were "getting ready for a confrontation". He also sent the following message to the Iraqi government, which, he said, was "raised on the lap of the Americans": "We will not allow these attacks". He predicted that the impact of Muqtada al-Sadr becoming a martyr would be like "a nuclear bomb that would affect all of Iraq and destroy their palaces and seats". (Al-Jazeera 1608 gmt 24 Aug 04)
No Al-Mahdi army involvement in pipeline sabotage - company head: Abd-al-Jabbar Ala'ybi, director general of the South Oil Company, has rejected reports that the Al-Mahdi Army was involved in recent acts of sabotage against his company, Iraqi newspaper Al-Mu'tamar reported on 24 August. (Al-Mu'tamar 24 Aug 04)
Lebanese TV reported that an Iraqi had been killed and six others wounded during the raid. The TV said that the city's residential areas were targeted by US tank fire. (Hezbollah TV Al-Manar 1738 gmt 24 Aug 04)
US soldier killed in road accident near Al-Fallujah: A US soldier died in a road accident on 24 August near Al-Fallujah, French news agency AFP quoted the US military as saying. The soldier was killed when his army vehicle flipped over at around 0200 Tuesday morning local time (2200 gmt 23 August), a statement said without elaborating. (AFP 2002 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Officials blame shoddy work on poor security - paper: An article in Al-Bayan on 24 August said civil servants were using the unstable security situation in Baghdad and southern Iraq to neglect their work and justify their poor performance. It added that such behaviour was making the crisis worse. (Al- Bayan 24 Aug 04)
II-HOSTAGES
Jordanian embassy in Iraq to follow up on abduction: A spokesperson for the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, Ali Ayyid, has said that the family of Jordanian citizen Talib Kanani had informed the ministry of his kidnapping by an armed group in Iraq, Jordanian news agency Petra reported on its web site on 24 August. Ayyid stressed that the ministry was directly coordinating with the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad to follow up on the issue and gather further details. (Petra web site 24 Aug 04)
Shi'i group denies three clerics kidnapped in Al-Najaf: The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) has denied reports that clerics have been kidnapped in Al-Najaf, saying these claims are absolutely groundless, Egyptian news agency MENA reported on 24 August. Saad Jarad, media officer at the council's bureau in Baghdad, in a press release published here on Tuesday [24 Aug], said he is in contact with Al-Najaf around the clock and has not received any information in this regard. There had been reports in some media that unidentified gunmen had kidnapped and beaten up Mahdi al-Khorasani, Reda al-Daash and Hojatulislam Mahdi al-Hakim on 23 August. (MENA 0839 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Journalists now number one target for kidnappers in Iraq, fears watchdog: The news that two French journalists, George Malbrunot working for Le Figaro newspaper and Christian Chesnot of Radio France Internationale, have not been heard of since 19 August, and that the interpreter working for missing Italian reporter Enzo Baldoni has been found dead, has raised fears that journalists are now the number one target of kidnappers in Iraq the International Federation of Journalists said in a 23 August press release. A fourth western journalist, French-American Micah Garen, who was held hostage with his interpreter and shown on television and threatened by kidnappers, was released on 23 August after aides to the militant Shi'i cleric Muqtada al-Sadr had worked to secure his release. "The numbers of foreign journalists missing is rising and we fear that journalists are now becoming the number one target of armed militants," said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary. "This is a troubling development. Killing and threatening to murder unarmed civilians are acts of inhumanity that provide shocking evidence of the continuing security crisis in Iraq." "There is a real fear of kidnapping here, and the killing of the interpreter adds to our concerns," said White. (International Federation of Journalists press release 23 Aug 04)
III- RECONSTRUCTION
Iraq shipping oil from southern ports "at maximum rates"- TV: Iraq's oil exports via ITS southern ports continue to flow in full swing and at maximum rates, Iraqi TV channel Al-Sharqiyah reported on 24 August. Shipping agents and oil officials have said that tankers are being loaded with Basra light crude from Basra port and the Khawr al-Amaya port at a rate of 2m barrels a day, a rate rarely reached in the past. Shipping agents have said that two tankers are being loaded at a rate of 70,000 barrels an hour from Basra port, while another tanker is being loaded at a rate of 41,000 barrels an hour from the smaller Khawr al-Amaya port. Iraq is also seeking to sell quantities of Kirkuk northern crude stored in tanks in the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The northern oil pipeline has been operating since the start of this week at a rate of 504,000 barrels a day. (Al-Sharqiyah 1210 gmt 24 Aug 04)
First Iraqi plane lands in Baghdad: The first aeroplane of the Iraqi Airline Company arriving from Amman landed at Baghdad airport on the afternoon of 23 August, announcing a resumption of flights after a 14-year suspension, Iraqi newspaper Al-Ittihad reported on 24 August. On board the plane were Ministry of Transport engineer Lu'ay al-Ars and a number of the ministry's directors. (Al-Ittihad 24 Aug 04)
Baghdad shopping centre contract put out to tender - paper: The Iraqi Ministry of Commerce has decided to turn Baghdad's Al-Mansur shopping centre into a large business centre with a huge five-star hotel which bears comparison with top-class international hotels, Iraqi newspaper Al-Ittihad reported on 24 August. An official source at the ministry said that preliminary estimates for the cost of the project stood at 500m dollars. He added that the project would be implemented based on offers to be submitted by international, Iraqi and Arab companies directly under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce and the multinational forces command. The source indicated that the ministry had received 37 different offers submitted by international investment companies, and that the door was still open for other companies to enter the tender, the last deadline of which would be by the end of this coming November. He said that the ministry specified a period of two years for the completion of the project after reaching an agreement on the company that would meet the conditions of the tender. (Al-Ittihad 24 Aug 04)
Basra port project to begin next year: Iraqi Transport Minister Lu'ay Hatim al-Irs has said that his ministry will start work on the first stage of construction of the Great Iraqi Port project in Basra governorate early next year, Al-Bayan reported on 24 August. The first stage of the project, which will be constructed in Al-Faw District, includes 40 decks; a number of commercial, industrial, and tourist projects; a residential complex; and customs and other offices, the minister added. (Al-Bayan 24 Aug 04)
Paper skeptical about new humanitarian organization: Iraqi newspaper Al-Adalah on 24 August cited Planning Ministry records as showing that more than 4,000 humanitarian organizations and associations had been formed in Iraq since the ouster of Saddam Husayn. The report categorized them as belonging to three major groups; those with humanitarian objectives; those which seek to take advantage of needy people for personal gain; and those formed by local and foreign political forces for political reasons. (Al-Adalah 24 Aug 04)
IV-CRIME
Car thefts said increasing: The number of cars being stolen in Iraq is increasing, Al-Hadath reported on 24 August. It said the number of car thefts had earlier fallen following police raids after the handover of power in June. The report quoted an Iraqi whose car was stolen recently as saying that most stolen cars in Baghdad are smuggled to the Kurdistan region. (Al-Hadath 24 Aug 04)
V-IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA
Iraqi Islamic Party Dar al-Salam radio 1000 gmt 24 Aug 04:
Two Iraqi ministers escape assassination attempts in Baghdad, six bodyguards killed Iraqi "resistance" men in Al-Saji destroy two trucks, seize three others carrying spare parts for US military vehicles US soldier killed, two others wounded by "resistance" men in Baghdad US "occupation" forces attacked industrial zone of Al-Fallujah last night US forces kill five Iraqis in Al-Sadr City, clashes resumed in Al-Najaf last night Iraqi interior minister says government sticking to its conditions to end crisis in Al-Najaf US soldier accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners at Abu-Ghurayb prison on trial in Germany
Al-Diyar TV news 1530 gmt 24 Aug 04:
Iraqi education minister escapes assassination attempt as explosive charge hits motorcade, blast kills one bodyguard, injures two others Iraqi environment minister also escapes assassination attempt when booby-trapped car explodes near her motorcade, four bodyguards killed and three others wounded Areas surrounding Imam Ali mosque in Al-Najaf came under heavy bombardment by US warplanes yesterday, Muqtada al-Sadr aide Ahmad Al-Shaybani says US warplanes began bombarding Al-Mahdi Army's positions in area surrounding mosque Basra Governorate building comes under mortar attack, two mortar shells fired, no reports of casualties Demonstration staged in Al-Anbar in protest at arrest of director of Al-Anbar police department by multinational forces on charges of administrative corruption Iraqi health minister says ministry has sent 25-member group to Cairo to participate in training courses organized by Japan Iraqi minister of construction and housing says ministry plans to establish housing fund to help citizens build their own houses Official at Ministry of Water Resources says 70bn Iraqi dinars allocated to improve condition of rivers in Basra Official at Ministry of Higher Education says ministry has issued new law regulating establishment of universities in Baghdad and other governorates Union of Women's Organizations and Societies holds conference on ways of activating Iraqi women's role in promoting democracy Babil Communications Department prepares plan to install new telephone line network in various districts of Iraq Group of Polish companies will carry out three water projects to provide drinking water in Babil Governorate Karbala court sentences three Iranians convicted of drug trafficking to five years in prison Dr Abd-al-Haqq al-A'ni, director of the Child Victims of War Society, says Iraq and Kuwait are polluted by radioactive substances Nepalese government says 13 Nepalese workers kidnapped in Iraq
Al-Iraqiyah TV news 1600 gmt 24 Aug 04:
Iraqi Minister of State Qassim Dawud says Iraqi troops control key parts of old city of Al-Najaf Iraqi troops move closer to Imam Ali shrine Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says government to continue peace talks to end Al-Najaf crisis, says final decision to be taken by Iraq Education and environment ministers escape separate assassination attempts in Baghdad Multinational forces bomb alleged Abu-Mus'ab al-Zarqawi positions in Al-Fallujah Basra city council headquarters comes under mortar attack Studio interview with Iraqi Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Wa'il Abd-al-Latif, who says government will go ahead with military operation to end standoff in Al-Najaf if peace talks fail American journalist released in Iraq thanks everyone who helped to secure his release US soldier appears in military court in Germany on charges of abusing Iraqi prisoners Coastguard patrols Iraq maritime border, foils attempt to smuggle oil Reconstruction continues in Diyala province despite security situation Police demonstrate in Al-Anbar for release of police chief held by multinational forces
Voice of Iraq radio increases output, adds Turkoman programming: The Voice of Iraq radio station was checked during the period 22-24 August and found to be carrying the same type of programming as before, consisting of Shi'i religious programming and songs, newscasts, local news, discussions with politicians and clergymen, field investigations tackling various "topics of interest to the Iraqi citizen", discussions on various issues, a press review, reports on "martyrs" killed by the Saddam regime, religious lectures, educational programmes and family programmes on a variety of topics. The station continues to be moderate in tone, and news reporting continues to be generally factual, implicitly supporting the interim government and calling for stability in Iraq. The station has also been observed to increase its output by two hours. The radio now operates for 14 hours a day, from 0300 to 1700 gmt. In addition to its English-language programme from 1100-1200 gmt, it now carries a 30-minute broadcast for Turkomans from 1400-1430 gmt. (BBC Monitoring 24 Aug 04)
Shi'i group denies three clerics kidnapped in Al-Najaf: The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) has denied reports that clerics have been kidnapped in Al-Najaf, saying these claims are absolutely groundless, Egyptian news agency MENA reported on 24 August. Saad Jarad, media officer at the council's bureau in Baghdad, in a press release published here on Tuesday [24 Aug], said he is in contact with Al-Najaf around the clock and has not received any information in this regard. There had been reports in some media that unidentified gunmen had kidnapped and beaten up Mahdi al-Khorasani, Reda al-Daash and Hojatulislam Mahdi al-Hakim on 23 August. (MENA 0839 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Journalists now number one target for kidnappers in Iraq, fears watchdog: The news that two French journalists, George Malbrunot working for Le Figaro newspaper and Christian Chesnot of Radio France Internationale, have not been heard of since 19 August, and that the interpreter working for missing Italian reporter Enzo Baldoni has been found dead, has raised fears that journalists are now the number one target of kidnappers in Iraq the International Federation of Journalists said in a 23 August press release. A fourth western journalist, French-American Micah Garen, who was held hostage with his interpreter and shown on television and threatened by kidnappers, was released on 23 August after aides to the militant Shi'i cleric Muqtada al-Sadr had worked to secure his release. "The numbers of foreign journalists missing is rising and we fear that journalists are now becoming the number one target of armed militants," said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary. "This is a troubling development. Killing and threatening to murder unarmed civilians are acts of inhumanity that provide shocking evidence of the continuing security crisis in Iraq." "There is a real fear of kidnapping here, and the killing of the interpreter adds to our concerns," said White. (International Federation of Journalists press release 23 Aug 04)
III- RECONSTRUCTION
Iraq shipping oil from southern ports "at maximum rates"- TV: Iraq's oil exports via ITS southern ports continue to flow in full swing and at maximum rates, Iraqi TV channel Al-Sharqiyah reported on 24 August. Shipping agents and oil officials have said that tankers are being loaded with Basra light crude from Basra port and the Khawr al-Amaya port at a rate of 2m barrels a day, a rate rarely reached in the past. Shipping agents have said that two tankers are being loaded at a rate of 70,000 barrels an hour from Basra port, while another tanker is being loaded at a rate of 41,000 barrels an hour from the smaller Khawr al-Amaya port. Iraq is also seeking to sell quantities of Kirkuk northern crude stored in tanks in the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The northern oil pipeline has been operating since the start of this week at a rate of 504,000 barrels a day. (Al-Sharqiyah 1210 gmt 24 Aug 04)
First Iraqi plane lands in Baghdad: The first aeroplane of the Iraqi Airline Company arriving from Amman landed at Baghdad airport on the afternoon of 23 August, announcing a resumption of flights after a 14-year suspension, Iraqi newspaper Al-Ittihad reported on 24 August. On board the plane were Ministry of Transport engineer Lu'ay al-Ars and a number of the ministry's directors. (Al-Ittihad 24 Aug 04)
Baghdad shopping centre contract put out to tender - paper: The Iraqi Ministry of Commerce has decided to turn Baghdad's Al-Mansur shopping centre into a large business centre with a huge five-star hotel which bears comparison with top-class international hotels, Iraqi newspaper Al-Ittihad reported on 24 August. An official source at the ministry said that preliminary estimates for the cost of the project stood at 500m dollars. He added that the project would be implemented based on offers to be submitted by international, Iraqi and Arab companies directly under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce and the multinational forces command. The source indicated that the ministry had received 37 different offers submitted by international investment companies, and that the door was still open for other companies to enter the tender, the last deadline of which would be by the end of this coming November. He said that the ministry specified a period of two years for the completion of the project after reaching an agreement on the company that would meet the conditions of the tender. (Al-Ittihad 24 Aug 04)
Basra port project to begin next year: Iraqi Transport Minister Lu'ay Hatim al-Irs has said that his ministry will start work on the first stage of construction of the Great Iraqi Port project in Basra governorate early next year, Al-Bayan reported on 24 August. The first stage of the project, which will be constructed in Al-Faw District, includes 40 decks; a number of commercial, industrial, and tourist projects; a residential complex; and customs and other offices, the minister added. (Al-Bayan 24 Aug 04)
Paper skeptical about new humanitarian organization: Iraqi newspaper Al-Adalah on 24 August cited Planning Ministry records as showing that more than 4,000 humanitarian organizations and associations had been formed in Iraq since the ouster of Saddam Husayn. The report categorized them as belonging to three major groups; those with humanitarian objectives; those which seek to take advantage of needy people for personal gain; and those formed by local and foreign political forces for political reasons. (Al-Adalah 24 Aug 04)
IV-CRIME
Car thefts said increasing: The number of cars being stolen in Iraq is increasing, Al-Hadath reported on 24 August. It said the number of car thefts had earlier fallen following police raids after the handover of power in June. The report quoted an Iraqi whose car was stolen recently as saying that most stolen cars in Baghdad are smuggled to the Kurdistan region. (Al-Hadath 24 Aug 04)
V-IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA
Iraqi Islamic Party Dar al-Salam radio 1000 gmt 24 Aug 04:
Two Iraqi ministers escape assassination attempts in Baghdad, six bodyguards killed Iraqi "resistance" men in Al-Saji destroy two trucks, seize three others carrying spare parts for US military vehicles US soldier killed, two others wounded by "resistance" men in Baghdad US "occupation" forces attacked industrial zone of Al-Fallujah last night US forces kill five Iraqis in Al-Sadr City, clashes resumed in Al-Najaf last night Iraqi interior minister says government sticking to its conditions to end crisis in Al-Najaf US soldier accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners at Abu-Ghurayb prison on trial in Germany
Al-Diyar TV news 1530 gmt 24 Aug 04:
Iraqi education minister escapes assassination attempt as explosive charge hits motorcade, blast kills one bodyguard, injures two others Iraqi environment minister also escapes assassination attempt when booby-trapped car explodes near her motorcade, four bodyguards killed and three others wounded Areas surrounding Imam Ali mosque in Al-Najaf came under heavy bombardment by US warplanes yesterday, Muqtada al-Sadr aide Ahmad Al-Shaybani says US warplanes began bombarding Al-Mahdi Army's positions in area surrounding mosque Basra Governorate building comes under mortar attack, two mortar shells fired, no reports of casualties Demonstration staged in Al-Anbar in protest at arrest of director of Al-Anbar police department by multinational forces on charges of administrative corruption Iraqi health minister says ministry has sent 25-member group to Cairo to participate in training courses organized by Japan Iraqi minister of construction and housing says ministry plans to establish housing fund to help citizens build their own houses Official at Ministry of Water Resources says 70bn Iraqi dinars allocated to improve condition of rivers in Basra Official at Ministry of Higher Education says ministry has issued new law regulating establishment of universities in Baghdad and other governorates Union of Women's Organizations and Societies holds conference on ways of activating Iraqi women's role in promoting democracy Babil Communications Department prepares plan to install new telephone line network in various districts of Iraq Group of Polish companies will carry out three water projects to provide drinking water in Babil Governorate Karbala court sentences three Iranians convicted of drug trafficking to five years in prison Dr Abd-al-Haqq al-A'ni, director of the Child Victims of War Society, says Iraq and Kuwait are polluted by radioactive substances Nepalese government says 13 Nepalese workers kidnapped in Iraq
Al-Iraqiyah TV news 1600 gmt 24 Aug 04:
Iraqi Minister of State Qassim Dawud says Iraqi troops control key parts of old city of Al-Najaf Iraqi troops move closer to Imam Ali shrine Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says government to continue peace talks to end Al-Najaf crisis, says final decision to be taken by Iraq Education and environment ministers escape separate assassination attempts in Baghdad Multinational forces bomb alleged Abu-Mus'ab al-Zarqawi positions in Al-Fallujah Basra city council headquarters comes under mortar attack Studio interview with Iraqi Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Wa'il Abd-al-Latif, who says government will go ahead with military operation to end standoff in Al-Najaf if peace talks fail American journalist released in Iraq thanks everyone who helped to secure his release US soldier appears in military court in Germany on charges of abusing Iraqi prisoners Coastguard patrols Iraq maritime border, foils attempt to smuggle oil Reconstruction continues in Diyala province despite security situation Police demonstrate in Al-Anbar for release of police chief held by multinational forces
Voice of Iraq radio increases output, adds Turkoman programming: The Voice of Iraq radio station was checked during the period 22-24 August and found to be carrying the same type of programming as before, consisting of Shi'i religious programming and songs, newscasts, local news, discussions with politicians and clergymen, field investigations tackling various "topics of interest to the Iraqi citizen", discussions on various issues, a press review, reports on "martyrs" killed by the Saddam regime, religious lectures, educational programmes and family programmes on a variety of topics. The station continues to be moderate in tone, and news reporting continues to be generally factual, implicitly supporting the interim government and calling for stability in Iraq. The station has also been observed to increase its output by two hours. The radio now operates for 14 hours a day, from 0300 to 1700 gmt. In addition to its English-language programme from 1100-1200 gmt, it now carries a 30-minute broadcast for Turkomans from 1400-1430 gmt. (BBC Monitoring 24 Aug 04)
VI-REGIONAL MEDIA COMMENT
Egyptian radio commentator says Iraq going "from bad to worse": A commentary on Egyptian radio on 24 August said that the situation in Iraq was moving from "bad to worse", after violent clashes near the shrine of Imam Ali in Al-Najaf. The commentator consequently questioned the ability of the Iraqi interim government to hold general elections next January. (Arab Republic of Egypt Radio, Cairo, in Arabic 1144 gmt 24 Aug 04)
Iranian commentator demands "day of support" for Al-Najaf: An unattributed commentary in the 24 August edition of Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami said that 29 August, the birthday of Imam Ali, should be celebrated as "a day of support" for the Iraqi city of Al-Najaf, where the fate of the Imam Ali shrine remains uncertain. The commentary said that the Muslim world was ready to launch an uprising against US "occupiers" for four reasons: the Muslim world's hatred for the US government, the "desecration" of the Imam Ali shrine, the "aggression" of US forces in Al-Najaf and the suffering of Palestinian hunger strikers in Israeli jails. (Jomhuri-ye Eslami 24 Aug 04)
Iranian editorial calls on Muslims to act against US in Iraq: In an editorial in the 24 August edition of the English-language Iranian newspaper Keyhan International, S Nawabzadeh said that "the time for action" had come in response to the "sacrilege" committed by the US in Al-Najaf. Branding the US a "superterrorist", Nawabzadeh called for "coordinated Muslim action" against US forces in Iraq, and invited readers to consider what the Western response might be if the Vatican or the Church of the Sepulchre in Bethlehem were to come under attack in the same away as the Imam Ali shrine in Al-Najaf. (Keyhan International 24 Aug 04)
Iranian commentator demands "day of support" for Al-Najaf: An unattributed commentary in the 24 August edition of Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami said that 29 August, the birthday of Imam Ali, should be celebrated as "a day of support" for the Iraqi city of Al-Najaf, where the fate of the Imam Ali shrine remains uncertain. The commentary said that the Muslim world was ready to launch an uprising against US "occupiers" for four reasons: the Muslim world's hatred for the US government, the "desecration" of the Imam Ali shrine, the "aggression" of US forces in Al-Najaf and the suffering of Palestinian hunger strikers in Israeli jails. (Jomhuri-ye Eslami 24 Aug 04)
Iranian editorial calls on Muslims to act against US in Iraq: In an editorial in the 24 August edition of the English-language Iranian newspaper Keyhan International, S Nawabzadeh said that "the time for action" had come in response to the "sacrilege" committed by the US in Al-Najaf. Branding the US a "superterrorist", Nawabzadeh called for "coordinated Muslim action" against US forces in Iraq, and invited readers to consider what the Western response might be if the Vatican or the Church of the Sepulchre in Bethlehem were to come under attack in the same away as the Imam Ali shrine in Al-Najaf. (Keyhan International 24 Aug 04)
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