Sunday, 17 Oct 2004
DEFENCE/SECURITY
Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 16 Oct 04: Skirmishes using light weapons took place for 10 minutes on 16 October between gunmen and the US troops in the eastern part of Al-Fallujah, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. The TV added that US troops had opened the northern and western entrances to Al-Fallujah for citizens to leave the city or enter it.
Jihadist web site
Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 16 Oct 04: Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has denied the arrest of Shaykh Khalid al-Jumayli [head of the negotiating delegation of Al-Fallujah residents] and said that no arrest warrant was issued against him.
Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 16 Oct 04: Iraqi Police forces this afternoon detonated a booby-trapped GMC car that was loaded with explosives in the centre of Baghdad.
Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 16 Oct 04:The US forces, backed by the Iraqi police and National Guard members, today laid siege to the town of Al-Mahmudiyah, south of the capital Baghdad. Eyewitnesses said that 35 US military vehicles, backed by helicopters, participated in the campaign, during which explosions were heard throughout the city. The eyewitnesses added that a number of Iraqis, Iranians, and Syrians were arrested and three hideouts were discovered during the campaign which is still under way.
Al-Mada [Baghdad, daily, independent newspaper published by Al-Mada Media, Culture and Arts Corporation, 16 Oct 04: A group of 85 policemen, called the "elections group," have graduated after finishing a six-day period of training, as a part of government efforts to provide security during the upcoming elections, Iraqi newspaper Al-Mada reported on 16 October. The programme involved training in security issues, the role of the police in democracy, crowd control, officers' security, and intervention in disputes. The training also included the local regulations of elections, criminal laws, and the regulations of electoral districts for the upcoming elections. Another 32 police officers finished an advanced course designed to train the police officers on robbery, burglary, arson, sexual harassment, and criminal interrogation methods. The trainees will use these skills in searching crime scenes and conducting criminal interrogation.
Al - Dustur, independent daily published by former journalist Basim al-Sheikh, 14 Oct 04: Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has announced that there is an "ambitious" plan for the reconstruction of Samarra, Al-Dustur newspaper reported on 14 October. Allawi said a committee headed by the minister of housing and construction has already been formed for this purpose.
Al-Furat, comprehensive & political daily, by Al-Furat Establishment for Press, 16 Oct 04: Dr Durayd Dirgham, director-general of the Syrian Commercial Bank, has said that frozen Iraqi assets held at the bank, which amount to 162m dollars, are the property of the Iraqi government, Iraqi newspaper Al-Furat reported on 16 October. In a meeting on the fringes of the Arab Conference for Banks and Investments, which ended on 13 October in Beirut, Dirgham also denied that any of the assets belonged to Saddam-era Iraqi officials. He told a group of journalists that the US viewed the Iraqi assets held by the bank as problematic. But he maintained that the return of the assets was the natural right of the Iraqi government, although there were outstanding claims by the Syrian public and private sectors resulting from contracts predating the war.
Al-Mada [Baghdad, daily, independent newspaper published by Al-Mada Media, Culture and Arts Corporation, 16 Oct 04: Iraqi Air Force Squadron 70 in Basra will receive next December the first two SAMA CH2000 light surveillance aircraft, as part of eight or perhaps 16 aircraft it expects to receive by March, 2005. Air Force Commander Major General Kamal al- Barzani said: "This is the second step in building the Iraqi Air Force." The first step was taken in Basra a month ago with separate flights using two Australian SB7L-360 Seeker reconnaissance aircraft. The new aircraft will enhance the ability of the Iraqi Air Force to cover the whole country and protect borders and facilities.
SCIRI's Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic,Iran, 16 Oct 04: Iraqi National Congress leader Ahmad al-Chalabi has accused General Muhammad al-Shahwani, chief of the Iraqi intelligence service, of harbouring followers of deposed President Saddam, stirring sectarianism, and failing to protect Iraqis from terrorism, Voice of the Mujahidin reported on 16 October. Al-Chalabi added that Al-Shahwai was violating the interim State Administration Law and the laws of the intelligence service, which prohibit spying on Iraqi citizens, the radio said.
Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 16 Oct 04:The Iraqi government has extended until Sunday 17 October the deadline it set for members of Al-Mahdi Army in Al-Sadr City, formerly known as Al-Thawrah area, to hand over their weapons. The original deadline was set for Friday 15 October and was extended until 17 October, thus postponing a house-to-house search campaign that was scheduled for today.
SCIRI's Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic,Iran, 16 Oct 04: The office of Martyr Al-Sadr in Al-Najaf which has been closed since August reopened on 16 October after agreement between the Iraqi government and Shaykh Ali Sumaysim, official in charge of public relations at Al-Sadr's office, Voice of Mujahidin reported. The TV said the reopening would allow the Al-Sadr's trend to participate more fully in the elections.
Al-Furat, comprehensive & political daily, by Al-Furat Establishment for Press, 16 Oct 04:: The Jordanian government has agreed to grant permanent residence in the country to Sa'dun Hammadi, at one time speaker of the Iraqi National Assembly during the Saddam era, Iraqi newspaper Al-Furat reported on 16 October. The 74-year-old Hammadi had arrived in Amman in March 2004 after being released by US forces in Iraq, and had subsequently filed a request for residence rights to be granted. Jordan granted him a three-month stay to receive medical treatment for heart problems and diabetes, after which he went to Germany for further treatment, subsequently returning to Jordan for a further three-month stay. The paper said that Hammadi "is suffering from political and social isolation" in Jordan, and is banned from conducting any political activities or meeting any former Iraqi officials or Ba'thists. He is also banned from meeting any Jordanian politicians or making any press statements.
Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Congress] 17 Oct 04 Al-Mu'tamar newspaper commented on the stance of Arabs towards terrorism, saying that they condemn terrorism in their countries but support it in Iraq as their religious. The paper said Arab political and media institutions promote terrorist acts which mislead people by urging jihad in the country. The commentator gave as an example, the banners of the Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper issued after the recent terrorist attack in Taba were: "Al-Azhar Shaykh: Terrorism is a religious disaster, governorates of Egypt bid farewell to the victims of explosions by condemning terrorism," the Egyptian Fatwa House: Enough bloodshed and chaos". However, we have not heard any condemnation from these figures and establishments as to the explosions that have killed thousands of Iraqis, the paper said.
Al-Adalah [Baghdad, twice-weekly newspaper in Arabic published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)]16 Oct 04: published a commentary by Dr Ali Khulayf discussing national reconciliation. The commentator said that the government should, before thinking of national reconciliation, improve the standard livings of the poor and oppressed people from the former regime to the level of those who benefited from the former regime.
Al-Mada [Baghdad, daily, independent newspaper published by Al-Mada Media, Culture and Arts Corporation]16 Oct 04 :puplished an editorial wondering why the Prime Minister used a threatening tone while attempting to reach a peace agreement in Al-Fallujah. The editorial said the people in Al-Fallujah want peace and to kick out foreign fighters of their city. The editorial called for giving enough time for dialogue to solve the crisis.
Khabat , Iraqi KDP newspaper ,15 Oct 04: The Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, the Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party and the Democratic Popular Movement of Kurdistan issued a statement at the end of a joint meeting of their branch offices in Mosul, Iraqi KDP newspaper Khabat reported on 15 October. The statement dealt with the following points: an anti-corruption campaign in the police force; the creation of an organization for peace and security in coordination with the police, in which the Kurds would be represented according to their ratio in the province; and the appointment of Kurds in the provincial governorate and other government departments in Mosul.
(KDP) satellite .Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party TV, 16 October 04: In the course of his tour abroad, [Kurdistan Democratic Party, KDP] leader Mas'ud Barzani held a meeting with King Abdallah II of Jordan in Amman. the meeting was attended by Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan al-Mu'ashir.
Leader Barzani had a meeting earlier with Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan al-Mu'ashir. They discussed developments in Iraq, bilateral cooperation and the Iraqi elections.
KurdSat TV, Al-Sulaymaniyah, in Sorani, Kurdish Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan satellite TV on 16 October: Terrorist groups and the remnants of the entombed Ba'thist regime killed Al-Hurriyah TV [of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, based in Baghdad] correspondent Dina Muhamamd Hasan while she was going to work at the TV building in Baghdad, in a treacherous attempt to stop the progress of the Iraqis towards the consolidation democracy, freedom of speech and press, which the new Iraq has now after the ousting of the entombed regime.
KurdSat TV, Al-Sulaymaniyah, in Sorani, Kurdish Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan satellite TV on 16 October: quoting medical sources in the city, KurdSat TV correspondent reported from Kirkuk that armed terrorist elements fired on the vehicle of the Turkomaneli Party leadership member, Ghafur Abu-Bakr Hakim, while driving in Al-Tis'in area. The incident led to the death of the party's leadership member.
KurdSat TV, Al-Sulaymaniyah, in Sorani, Kurdish Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan satellite TV on 16 October: A committee responsible for allocating land for housing to displaced people has supervised the distribution of 220 plots of land and purpose-built tents at the Khalid camp in central Kirkuk to a number of Turkoman families who have returned to the city in the last few months, KurdSat TV reported on 16 October.
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TV reports skirmishes in Al-Fallujah, opening of entry points- Al-Sharqiyah
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Al-Zarqawi group claims raid on Baghdad governorate HQs- Jihadist web site
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Iraqi premier denies head of Al-Fallujah's negotiating delegation arrested - Al-Sharqiyah
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Iraqi Police forces said to have detonated booby-trapped car in Baghdad - Al-Sharqiyah TV
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US, Iraqi troops reportedly arrest Iranians, Syrians near Baghdad - Al-Sharqiyah TV
ELECTIONS,RECONSTRUCTION
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Police officers end election training programme- Al-Mada
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Allawi announces "ambitious" plan to rebuild Samarra- Al-Dustur
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Syrian bank chief says Iraq has right to frozen assets- Al-Furat
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Air force to receive new aircraft- Al-Mada
POLITICS
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Al-Chalabi accuses intelligence chief of "spying on factions"- Voice of the Mujahidin
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Deadline for Al-Mahdi Army to hand over arms extended to 17 Oct - Al-Sharqiyah
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Al-Sadr office in Al-Najaf re-opens- Voice of the Mujahidin
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Iraqi ex-speaker granted residence in Jordan- Al-Furat
IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA SUMMARIES, 16 OCT. 04
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Al-Iraqiah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic,
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Dar Al-Salam Radio, Iraqi Islamic Party-affiliated
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Al-Diyar Satellite Channel In Arabic, Baghdad
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SCIRI's Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic,Iran,
IRAQI PRESS QUOTES AND COMMENTS, 16 OCT 04
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The stance of Arabs towards terrorism- Al-Mu'tamar
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Iraqi national reconciliation- Al-Adalah
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Al-Fallujah wants peace- Al-Mada
KURDS NEWS , 16 OCT 04
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Five Kurdistani political parties issue statement on security, appointments- Khabat
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Kurdish leader Barzani, King Abdallah discuss Iraq security, polls
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Al-Huriyah TV reporter killed in Baghdad
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Iraqi Turkoman leader killed in Kirkuk
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Turkoman families given land on return to Kirkuk
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Programme summary of KurdSat TV news 15 Oct 04
At a news conference, Allawi stressed that talks and not negotiations were held with Al-Fallujah residents. Allawi said that Al-Fallujah's residents asked for help from the Iraqi government because of the failure to drive out terrorists from Al-Fallujah. Therefore, Allawi added, the Iraqi government and the multinational troops would attack certain hideouts and not the entire city.
In a related development, a member of the negotiating delegation of Al-Fallujah said today that the delegation was ready to resume conditional talks with the Iraqi government. Shaykh Abd-al-Hamid Jaddu said: The resumption of dialogue hinges on the US troops suspension of their raids [on Al-Fallujah] and the release of Shaykh Khalid Humud al-Jumayli. Jaddu added: We presented these demands to the Iraqi government through the media and we are waiting for its reply.
The Al-Sharqiyah correspondent said that the car was seized near Bilal al-Habashi Mosque in Al-Qadisiyah neighbourhood. Specialized units in the Iraqi Police managed to detonate the car and tow it from the scene.
A medical source in Al-Mahmudiyah Hospital said that it received six corpses and 14 wounded people today.
Dirgham explained that the Syrian Commercial Bank had the right to freeze the assets in the aftermath of the war on the ground that there was no official authority to return the assets to and the bank was waiting for an interim Iraqi government delegation to visit and make an audit based on documents held by both sides.
This extension, which was announced yesterday by Qasim Dawud, Iraqi minister of state for security affairs, aims at drawing a broad public response. Al-Sadr followers had flocked into the three collection centres to hand over thousands of weapons of various types and calibre. Congestion in the hand-over process occurred when the three centres were replaced by one centre, which was set up in the Al-Sina'a Club stadium on the outskirts of the city. Those waiting to hand over their weapons exchanged rumours about bargains and deals being made on the former army's weapons and a decrease in the prices the Interior Ministry had announced it was paying for the weapons.
Iraqi forces are expected to launch a meticulous house-to-house search campaign in the city which, according to Dawud, aims at verifying that weapons were indeed handed over and that the area is clean of weapons so that the remaining points of the agreement reached by Al-Sayyid Al-Sadr and the government can be addressed. Such points include releasing Al-Sadr detained followers, not hunting down members of Al-Mahdi Army, clearing the city of gunmen and armed confrontations, turning over security to Iraqi forces, and launching development and construction projects in the city.
A big change was reported in the inclinations of Al-Sadr trend from rejecting any participation in the political process and insisting on carrying weapons and fighting the occupying forces to completely accepting the government's demands and expressing willingness to join the political process in return for releasing Al-Sadr's aides and holding free and honest elections for a government with true independence and sovereignty.
It appears that Al-Sadr trend is heading for real participation in the upcoming elections, particularly after the reopening of Al-Sadr's office, which, along with the issue of prisoners, constituted an obstacle to the participation of Al-Sadr followers [in the elections] early next year.
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Al-Najaf police chief says his forces recently arrested Arab member of Al-Qa'idah
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Rocket attack near Baghdad hospital leaves one dead and nine injured. Video report covers violence, hotel coming under attack, bomb blast in Ba'qubah.
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Mortar attack in border town of Qa'im leaves four dead and 30 injured. Three American soldiers and translator killed and another soldier injured in suicide bombing in Qa'im.
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Police and National Guard encircle city of Mahmudiyah, search for "terrorists".
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Bomb blasts near five Baghdad churches. Video report covers attacks on churches causing material damages comments by priest.
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Recorded interview with Shaykh Abd-al-Satar Abd-al-Jabbar, a member of the Muslim Ulema Council. He says Islam is against attacking Christians.
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Over 80 per cent of Iraqis in favour of holding election on time--opinion poll.
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US includes Abu-Mus'ab al-Zarqawi group on list of terrorist organisations. Video report
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Ministry of Agriculture marks international food day. Video report
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Basra police chief says security forces ready to create suitable climate for next election. Video report covers statement.
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Highway linking Baghdad to Amman and Damascus is not safe. Video report looks at security problems on highway, eyewitness accounts of crimes on it.
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US considers tightening sanctions on Syria--official.
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Israeli army re-deploys in Gaza Strip, pulls out of northern area. Video report
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UN General Assembly elects five non-permanent members of Security Council. Video report
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American President George Bush and his Democratic challenger John Kerry neck to neck in presidential race--opinion poll. Video report
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World Food Programme highlights plight of millions of hungry people in the world. Video report
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India Congress Party wins election in key state. Video report
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Former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet mentally unfit to stand trial--doctor. Video report
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Zimbabwe Supreme Court clears opposition leader from conspiracy charges. Video report
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Business bulletin. Over 400m dollars to be granted for Iraq reconstruction--World Bank. Iraqi assets in Syrian banks over 260m dollars. Germany to help Libya join World Trade Organization.
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The US "occupation" warplanes raided the Iraqi city of Al-Fallujah last night, and US sources say the air raids will go on unless the followers of Al-Zarqawi are handed over.
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Sources at the US "occupation" forces deny the arrest of Khalid al-Jumayli, member of Al-Fallujah city's negotiating delegation. A radio correspondent reports the situation in the city.
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Mosque imams in the Iraqi city of Al-Fallujah urge Muslim ulema and humanitarian organizations to take a unified stand if the US "occupation" forces use force against the city.
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The US "occupation" forces say one of their soldiers was killed when an explosive charge went off near a US military convoy in the city of Mosul, and unidentified gunmen assassinate an education official in Kirkuk.
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British media sources say the British forces in Iraq may transfer more than 600 soldiers to Baghdad from Basra to replace a US force, which will be used for other purposes.
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Pentagon officials say that a number of US soldiers in Iraq rejected orders to accompany a convoy tasked with supplying relief aid to US forces.
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An armed group in Iraq calling itself the Secret Islamic Army urges the Italian government to withdraw its forces and companies in Iraq.
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The "Zionist" forces began redeploying north of the Gaza Strip after killing more than 100 Palestinians in northern Gaza Strip and destroying scores of buildings, and two "Zionist" soldiers are wounded by Palestinian resistance men near Rafah.
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The "Zionist" authorities tighten security measures in Jerusalem and prevent many Palestinians from performing prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
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A Bush Administration official says the administration is considering renewing the economic sanctions against Syria to get it to withdraw from Lebanon.
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The African Union says it will deploy 4,000 additional soldiers in the Darfur region.
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John Kerry says the US Administration should have declared Jama'at al-Tawhid wa al-Jihad a "terrorist" organization a long time ago.)
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Mortar shells and bombs targeted a hospital and a number of churches in Baghdad today, killing one and wounding seven others. TV correspondent reports the situation. video shows damaged buildings, as well as Iraqi citizens reporting the incidents)
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correspondent in the Iraqi governorate of Diyala says an explosive charge went off in a named area yesterday, killing three Iraqi citizens.
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TV correspondent in the Karbala Governorate says the police arrested three people, who had stolen 360,000 dollars from a state bank in Baghdad.
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Amman hosts the Iraqi ministers of interior, defence, and higher education, as well as Mas'ud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. A large number of Iraqi Army personnel graduated in Amman ahead of the first session of the joint high committee.
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Shaykh Sadr-al-Din al-Qabanji delivered the Friday sermon in Al-Najaf Governorate in which he discussed a number of issues, including the upcoming elections.
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A correspondent in Al-Muthanna Governorate says the governor visited Japan for talks on relations and the reconstruction of Iraq.
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Iraqi official sources say that the Iraqi Human Rights Ministry is exerting every effort to get 100 prisoners released during the month of Ramadan. video shows freed prisoners)
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At the end of their conference in Tokyo, donor countries agreed to back the Iraqi parliamentary elections in January and to contribute to the reconstruction of the country.
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During his meeting with the French president, the Canadian prime minister says his country will not send new troops to Iraq.
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Russia urges the United States and the Iraqi government to allow the return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq.
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The Jordanian government grants a residence permit to former Iraqi National Assembly Speaker Sa'dun Hammadi.
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Health Ministry sources say that 157 Iraqis have been afflicted with AIDS.
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15. Announcer-read report: The Education Ministry has decided to adopt the anthem "Mawtini" (my homeland) in all Iraqi schools and institutes. (Und 1 min)
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The Iraqi Civil Defence director says his directorate will give lectures at schools on how to lessen damage resulting from fires and explosions.
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The General Directorate for Operating water projects continues to clean Iraqi rivers and canals( video shows the director general explaining the directorate's plans)
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The African Union has decided to deploy armed forces in the Darfur region by the end of this week.
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The new Somali elect-president was sworn in Nairobi today as president of Somalia.
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In his Friday sermon, Lebanon's Shi'i cleric Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah attacked groups kill people in the name of Islam and blamed the UN Security Council for what is going on in Iraq and Palestine.
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Speaking in Baghdad, a British official says that armed men killed a British security officer in Iraq early this week.
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The Polish prime minister says his country will reduce the number of its troops in Iraq beginning January 2005.
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US warplanes raided "alleged" centres of Abu-Mus'ab al-Zarqawi in the Iraqi city of Al-Fallujah last night. Yesterday morning's raids on the city killed eight people and wounded 16 others.
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The US forces deny that the current bombing of the Iraqi city of Al-Fallujah is a prelude to a "large-scale" offensive against the city.
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Iraqi police sources say that the "occupation" forces have arrested Khalid al-Jumayli, head of Al-Fallujah's negotiating delegation, but the US Marines deny the report
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A statement by the US media centre says that a car bomb kills or injures a number of Iraqis south of Baghdad.
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The Russian Foreign Ministry urges the United States and the Iraqi government to allow UN weapons inspectors to return to Iraq.
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The Australian foreign minister urges the United Nations to increase the number of its employees in Iraq and to play a major role in the Iraqi elections.
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Mas'ud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, arrived in Damascus yesterday for talks on relations between the Iraqi and Syrian peoples, as well as the issue of the city of Kirkuk
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The "Zionist occupation" forces isolated Jerusalem yesterday, preventing thousands of worshippers from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque
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The Pakistani forces are chasing an Al-Qa'idah member, which is accused of masterminding the abduction of two Chinese engineers.
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An Egyptian Presidential Office source says that a mini African summit will be held in Libya to discuss Darfur
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The US president and his democratic challenger continue their presidential election campaigns.
The meeting dealt with the situation in Iraq and the [Middle East] region, the security situation in Iraq, Iraqi-Jordanian bilateral relations and the elections scheduled for the beginning of next year.
Sources said that the security and police forces have initiated an urgent search for the perpetrators of the terrorist crime.
Terrorist groups and remnants of the entombed chauvinist regime endeavour to create sedition and sectarian strife in Kirkuk and suburbs by attacking leading members and activists of various nationalist political parties.
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The leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, PUK, Jalal Talabani, meets a delegation from the Ezidi religious sect and praises the contribution of the Ezidis to the Kurdish national struggle. Report over video showing the meeting in progress.
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The leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, PUK, Jalal Talabani, meets in Sulaymaniyah the Italian Ambassador to Iraq and thanks the Italian people and government for their support in overthrowing the former regime. Report over video showing the meeting in progress.
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Donor countries conference in Japan discusses aid Iraq and the general elections in the country. Report over video showing still picture of the Iraqi deputy prime minister Dr Barham Ahmad Salih.
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The Iraqi and multi-national forces launch new attacks against insurgents in the restive city of Fallujah. Five people killed and 15 wounded in the attacks. Report over video showing destroyed houses in the city.
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International news: Earthquake hits Taiwan; Pakistani forces free one Chinese hostage and kill five kidnappers, Russian president Putin arrives in China.
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