Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

News agencies reported that President Ghazi Al-Yawar appointed Parliament member Samir Al-Sumaidayee as Iraq's representative at the United Nations. Kurdistan and Iraq status quo, the political process and the Iraqi interim government's duties and a complete resolution for the Kirkuk issue were the main issues discussed between the KDP leader Massoud Barzani and a number of the US military commanders visiting him. Barzani said the situation in Kirkuk was the outcome of the wrong policies of eth former regime and the oppressed victims must regain their rights.
The Acting Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Erbil Administration received the British Consular in Kirkuk and his delegation for discussion over the prevailing political and security situation in Kurdistan, as well economic exchange and the return of Kurdish refugees from the UK. On the latter issue, the Acting PM asserted that the return should be optional taking into consideration the refugee's political, social and economic situations. The KRG Minister of Humanitarian Aid and Cooperation and his deputy also received the same delegation for debate on the UK government's decision that stipulates sending back to Kurdistan Region the asylum seekers whose refugee applications were not accepted. The Minster said forceful return of asylum seekers to Iraq was a delectate and complex issue, despite Kurdistan Region's relative security. KRG expressed willingness for optional returns and rejected forceful deportations insisting on the NHCR involvement in any return process and calling for practical solutions at Europe level.
The preacher of Al-Risala Mosque in Mosul issued a fatwa (Islamic obligatory opinion) in his latest Friday prayer calling for Jihad (religious war) against the Kurds and the Americans. Preacher Mulla Qasim also announce a $100 reward for anyone registering himself for Jihad saying that there was no difference between civilian and non-civilian Kurds. The Mosque was constructed and Qaism appointed as preacher upon Saddam's special directives. After Saddam's fall, eth mosque has become the stronghold of Mosul hardliners and a terror hideout.
A police commander in Kirkuk announced that a joint operation between the police and the Iraqi National Guards in Al-Khathra Quarter yesterday morning resulted in the arrest of 38 Arab terrorists, most of them Arab settlers. Four of the arrestees were policemen.
Monday's Kirkuk Governorate Municipality Council (KMC) 66th regular meeting was postponed as a number of Arab and Turcoman chauvinist members refused to attend. The Arabs and the Turcoman Front (TF) affiliates at the Council withdrew from the meeting after they saw that the agenda included Kirkuk reconstruction projects and the rehabilitation of Shuraw Kurdish devastated village, a source announced on condition of anonymity. The TF affiliates and Arab chauvinists always try to hinder the reconstruction of Kirkuk's devastated villages.

                  Kurdistani Nwe, PUK mouthpiece, Sulaymanya 6 September 2004

During his reception to a delegation of Kirkuk's Chaldo-Assyrians, the PUK leader expressed readiness to support all the Chaldo-Assyrians who approach Kurdistan from central and southern Iraq. The PUK leader directed ``concerned parties'' for the implementation of a number of projects for the Christians in Kirkuk, including construction of a cultural center, rehabilitation of churches and provision of guards, as well as providing bodyguards for eth Chaldo-Assyrian KMC members. Recalling the historic friendly relations between the Kurds and Chaldo-Assyrians, Talabani stressed on Kurdistaniness of Kirkuk according to all historic evidences.
(Editorial) The Anniversary of announcing the end of Saddam's Operation Anfal elapsed days ago. Large numbers of bereaved mothers and sisters were amongst the survivals of the former regime's genocide campaigns against Kurdistan codenamed Anfal. The KRG has supported the families of victims to a large extent despite limited resources. With the elapse of more that a year since the regime fall, the Iraqi new government is called to reconstruct the country on human rights and democracy basis. This reconstruction will not be balanced if the humanitarian aspect is not prioritized and the victims of Anfal and their areas constitute a broad sector that require government's a serious consideration.
A source from the PUK foreign Relations Bureau announced the return of 11 Iraqi Kurdish refugee families returned home from Iran via Parwezkhan border point Sunday. Another 18 families have returned from the same rout the day earlier. More refugees register themselves at the PUK office in Iranian Kermashan city for returning home. The KRG Human Rights, IDPs and Refugees Ministry provides them with financial support and residential units in their places of origin.