Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Thursday, 02 Dec 2004

IRAQI NEWS FOR 30 NOV 2004
·         Iraqi PM Allawi launches drive to get expatriates to vote- Al-Sharqiyah TV
·         Iraqi killed in roadside blast near Ba'qubah: Iraq's Al-Sharqiyah TV
·         One killed in Tuesday's blast on Baghdad airport road-Al-Sharqiyah
·         Report says rabies spreading in Iraq's Maysan Governorate- Al-Mashriq
·         Oil Ministry forms 2000-strong force to protect oil installations- Voice of the Mujahidin
·         Relatives of Sunni cleric arrested for "harbouring gunmen- Voice of the Mujahidin
·         Sunnis accuse US of sowing sectarian sedition- Voice of the Mujahidin
ELECTIONS
·         Iraqi Shi'is expected to publish electoral list- Voice of the Mujahidin
·         Constitutional Monarchy Movement urges full participation in elections-Al-Sharqiyah
IRAQ PRESS HEADLINES 01 DEC. 2004
·         Al-Adalah [Baghdad, twice-weekly newspaper in Arabic published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)]
·         Baghdad [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Accord Movement]
·         Al-Dustur [Baghdad, daily independent newspaper in Arabic] 1 Dec:
·         Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al-Zaman] 1 Dec:
IRAQ PRESS QUOTES 01 DEC. 2004
·         "Who can guarantee that after six months Iraq will be more secure to hold elections?- Ishraqat al-Sadr
·         Iraqis should take part in elections to select those they want as future rulers- Al-Manarah
IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA SUMMARIES, 01 DEC. 2004
·         Voice of Mujahidin radio news summary 1 Dec 04:
·         Programme summary of Al-Iraqiyah TV news 1600 gmt 1 Dec 04
KURDISH NEWS, 01 DEC 04
·         Iraq's Kurdish parties agree joint list for elections- Kurdistan TV
UPDATES FROM IRAQI KURDISH PRESS 01 DEC. 2004
·         www.peyamner.com 1 December 2004
·         Aso weekly, issued in Sulaymanya by Khandan Publishing House, 30 November 2004

IRAQI NEWS FOR 30 Nov 2004

Iraqi PM Allawi launches drive to get expatriates to vote- Al-Sharqiyah TV

Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic,01 Dec. 2004: Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi launched today a campaign from Amman to call on Iraqis living abroad to participate in the presidential elections slated for 30 January 2005. Allawi held a series of unofficial meetings with Iraqi figures residing abroad to convince the vast majority of the need to participate in the elections and to stress on the priority to have a national unity amongst Iraqis.
Tha'ir al-Naqib, spokesman for the Iraqi Government, said that the prime minister intends to meet tribal, political, and academic personalities not only in Amman, but also all over the Arab countries he is planning to visit. He explained that the Iraqi government allocated 90m dollars to organize the elections outside Iraq.
Meanwhile, the meeting between Allawi and Jordan's King Abdallah II was a key part of the Iraqi prime minister's visit to the kingdom, which he will conclude tomorrow [2 December] heading for Germany and Russia, where he will also hold meetings with the Iraqi communities there.

Iraqi killed in roadside blast near Ba'qubah: Iraq's Al-Sharqiyah TV

Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic,01 Dec. 2004: An explosive device targeting a US convoy went off in Ba'qubah's Al-Mafraq on 1 December. It quoted eyewitnesses saying the device blew up at 0700 [0400 gmt] in Ba'qubah's Al-Mafraq neighbourhood, killing an Iraqi man, whose body was later transferred to the city's General Hospital. There were no US casualties, the witnesses said.

One killed in Tuesday's blast on Baghdad airport road-Al-Sharqiyah
Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 01 Dec. 2004:: A man was killed when a roadside bomb he was planning to plant west of Baghdad on 30 November went off, Iraqi TV reported. A dismembered body, covered with newspapers, was seen on the side of a road leading to Baghdad Airport. A resident in the area said he believed the dead man was planning to plant the bomb on the path of US soldiers who regularly use the airport road.

Report says rabies spreading in Iraq's Maysan Governorate- Al-Mashriq
Al-Mashriq, Baghdad, in Arabic 1 Dec 04: Seventeen people have died of and 40 others have been infected with rabies, which has spread all over Maysan Governorate, Iraqi newspaper Al-Mashriq reported on 30 November. A local health official said the affected people - mostly children - had contracted disease from stray dogs. He said the disease was aggravated due to the limited capabilities of the local veterinary unit.
Oil Ministry forms 2000-strong force to protect oil installations- Voice of the Mujahidin
SCIRI's Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic, 1 Dec 2004: The Oil Ministry has formed a 2000-strong force tasked with protecting oil pipelines and fields, Voice of the Mujahidin reported on 1 December. A ministry official said that this force was equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, technology and weapons.
Relatives of Sunni cleric arrested for "harbouring gunmen- Voice of the Mujahidin

SCIRI's Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic, 1 Dec 2004:: National Guard forces have arrested some relatives of Shaykh Harith al-Dari, secretary general of the Association of Muslim Scholars, for harbouring and abetting gunmen, Voice of Mujahidin reported on 1 December. They arrest was made in the Abu-Ghurayb area, where they launched a raid-and-search campaign involving a number of houses.
Sunnis accuse US of sowing sectarian sedition- Voice of the Mujahidin
SCIRI's Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic, 1 Dec 2004: The Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS) has issued a statement, accusing the United States of creating confusion in Iraq in order to marginalize national unity and incite fighting between Iraq's religious sects, Voice of the Mujahidin reported on 1 December. The association's official spokesman said that the spate of assassinations and liquidations will not deter Iraqis from their unity. Neither will they create rifts and divisions between them, or spread sedition among them.

ELECTIONS

Iraqi Shi'is expected to publish electoral list- Voice of the Mujahidin

SCIRI's Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic, 1 Dec 2004: Iraqi Shi'is were on 1 December expected to publish an electoral list, including some 200 candidates and backed by supreme authority Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraqi Shi'i group's Iran-based radio station Voice of the Mujahidin reported, quoting Shi'i political sources.

Constitutional Monarchy Movement urges full participation in elections-Al-Sharqiyah

Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 01 Dec. 2004:: Al-Sharif Ali Bin-al-Husayn, leader of the Iraqi Constitutional Monarchy Movement, said in remarks broadcast on 30 November that elections were a "political necessity" and that Iraqis should "seize this historic opportunity". In a recorded interview on Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV, Bin-al-Husayn criticized the interim government, saying that they did not want the elections to take place "because they know that they will lose and fail in them". He said many Iraqis believed the government was stoking the security situation in order to postpone the elections and he accused the government of waging a "military campaign" against the Iraqi people. He said there was no guarantee that the security situation would get any better if the elections were postponed - rather he said he expected it to deteriorate. On the foreign forces in the country, Bin-al-Husayn said there would be no need for them once the elections had been held, and a legitimate government was in place. The Constitutional Monarchy Movement leader denounced parties who called for a boycott of the elections, saying that the results would be recognized internationally anyway, so as many people as possible should take part. He also complained that many Iraqis still did not know the details of the election process and called on the media to do more to make people aware.

Shi'i cleric issues fatwa telling Iraqis to vote

SCIRI's Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic, 1 Dec 2004: Grand Ayatollah Al-Sayyid Kazim al-Ha'iri, has issued a fatwa underlining the need for all Iraqis to participate in the elections provided that they are capable of doing so, Voice of the Mujahidin reported on 1 December. Al-Ha'iri issued this fatwa before a large crowd of Iraqi citizens who were seeking a fatwa on the general legislative elections, the radio said. Al-Ha'iri also noted the high level of public awareness of the elections and the satisfactory supervision process. He said flagrant US intervention in the elections was unacceptable.

Monarchists team up with tribal chiefs to run in elections- Al-Diyar TV

Al-Diyar Satellite Channel In Arabic, Baghdad, 1 Dec 04: Ali Bin-al-Husayn, leader of the Constitutional Monarchy, said his movement will participate in the forthcoming elections through alliance with non-political social forces, such as tribal chiefs and civil society organizations, Al-Diyar TV reported on 1 December.

IRAQ PRESS Headlines 01 Dec. 2004

Al-Adalah [Baghdad, twice-weekly newspaper in Arabic published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)]
·        

Deputy PM: Tracking foreign funds leads to terrorists (Reuters quoted)

·        

Allawi to visit Russia this month (news agencies quoted)
·         Electoral commission diverts 25m dollars to organize elections abroad Electoral commission spokesman: Failure to hold elections on time will throw country in constitutional vacuum
·         Investigation into 100 corruption cases in four ministries
·         Annan disappointed over son's involvement in oil-for-food scandal (news agencies quoted)
·         Canada not to send troops to Iraq (news agencies quoted)
·         Amendments made to contracts signed with tribal leaders to protect power lines Oil minister: Joint committee formed with Qatar to develop oil industry
·         Iraqi Red Crescent sets up first relief centre in Al-Fallujah (news agencies quoted)
·         Iraqi Airways to appeal against fine verdict issued in favour of Kuwaiti Airways US company, French banks obstruct Iraqi oil probe (news agencies quoted)
·         Curfew hours changed in Baghdad, suburbs.

Baghdad [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Accord Movement]
·        

Allawi: Political process progress will positively affect security; Government prepare for return of Al-Fallujah residents (news agencies quoted)

·        

Iran hosts conference for interior ministers of Iraq, its neighbours (AFP quoted)
·         Prime minister in Amman to meet Iraqi exiles (AFP quoted)
·         After talks with Iraqi deputy PM, Blair: Vast majority of Iraqis want free elections (news agencies quoted)
·         Turkey discusses with Iraq, US truck drivers security (news agencies quoted)
·         [National Assembly member] Sayyid Husayn al-Sadr: Forthcoming election is pressing national need Municipalities Ministry signs memorandum of agreement with UN Development Fund for Women
·         Authorities deport Iranian infiltrators Four killed in separate incidents in Baghdad
·         SCIRI official killed in Baghdad Former senior Defence Ministry officer assassinated in Baghdad.

Al-Dustur [Baghdad, daily independent newspaper in Arabic] 1 Dec:
·        

Border security, terrorism, stability in Iraq top agenda of interior ministers' conference of Iraq neighbours

·        

Allawi meets in Amman independent Iraqi figures, tribal leaders to discuss their participation in political process Imam of Grand Mosque arrested in Al-Amiriyyah, al-Fallujah Forty people drown in Tigris accident
·         Saudi Arabia stresses commitment to major Iraqi debt forgiveness
·         Iraqi parties fear low turnout in forthcoming elections
·         Shi'i list with 200 candidates to be announced today, backed by Al-Sistani
·         US soldier killed in roadside bomb explosion Four Iraqis killed, 19 wounded in car bomb blast north of Baghdad
·         Iraqi officer resigns with 30 staff in response to Sunni fatwa
·         Stolen antiquities found in Ur Combined Italian,
·         Iraqi force aborts attempt to blow up Al-Nasiriyah bridge.

Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al-Zaman] 1 Dec:

·        

Delay on agenda of interim government meeting;

·        

Fears of national rift ahead of elections Islamic Party threatens to boycott elections if they are not postponed
·         London denies intention to send extra troops; Blair:
·         Calm reported in Al-Latifiyah;
·         Relief over measures taken to purge south Baghdad of armed elements
·         News of change in oil sector administration against background of fuel crisis
·         fifty-six suspects arrested in Mosul, Al-Hillah
·         Two wounded in mortar bomb attack in Al-Amiriyah.

IRAQ PRESS Quotes 01 Dec. 2004

"Who can guarantee that after six months Iraq will be more secure to hold elections?- Ishraqat al-Sadr

Ishraqat al-Sadr [Baghdad, weekly newspaper in Arabic published by the Sadrist Movement] [From commentary by Nasir al-Sa'idi],1 Dec 04: "Who can guarantee that after six months Iraq will be more secure to hold elections? The security situation is moving from bad to worse, with Rumsfeld again predicting more terrorist attacks in Iraq in the coming months However, there are undeclared reasons behind demands for delaying elections They are the Gulf forces in particular and the official Arab forces in general, all of which seek election postponement Sectarian Gulf rulers as well as most Arab regimes do not want free, fair and democratic elections in Iraq. They do not want to see a legitimate national government elected with the will of Iraqi majority, afraid that this government might be Shi'i. Therefore, we have to make it clearly to the supreme religious authority that no miracle is expected to happen if elections are delayed".

Iraqis should take part in elections to select those they want as future rulers- Al-Manarah

Al-Manarah [Basra, daily independent newspaper in Arabic published by the Voice of the South Press, Printing and Publishing Corporation] [From editorial by Khalaf al-Munshidi] 1 Dec 04: "The only advice that can be offered to Iraqi people today is that they should take part in the elections and select those they wants as future rulers They should make their choice freely and far from any pressure or threat. They should consult their own conscience and think well about their own future and the future of their children and then decide which colour to choose from the voting cards to put in the ballot box Iraqis should fear no one but God and their conscience, the witnesses who never sleep and give their vote for whoever they want".

 
IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA SUMMARIES, 01 Dec. 2004

Voice of Mujahidin radio news summary 1 Dec 04:

·        

Addressing a meeting of Iraq's neighbours in Tehran, Vice President Ibrahim al-Ja'fari says acts of terrorism in Iraq are threatening regional security. In a statement to journalists, he says Iraq wants a separate security treaty with Iran ...

·        

Iraqi Shi'is are expected to declare a list of 200 candidates for elections, and the Islamic Party believes that elections should be a political option to liberate the country ...
·         The Saudi interior minister says the Tehran meeting should reflect Iraqi neighbour's responsibility for improving the security situation in Iraq ...
·         The Iraqi prime minister arrived in Amman yesterday to meet Iraqi figures living in Jordan ...
·         A radio correspondent says Iraq suffers from a fuel shortage ...
·         At a news conference with Jack Straw in London, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih says that the election should be held on time to prove that the region is not a cradle for dictators ...
·         US Army sources say that about 100 US soldiers were killed in Iraq in November ... The US forces arrested 180 armed men and seized weapons during their operation north of the Iraqi city of Babil ...
·         One US solider is killed and five others wounded north of Baghdad and two US soldiers are wounded in an explosion in the city of Bayji ...
·         The US forces continue operations in the Iraqi city of Al-Fallujah ...
·         The Dutch defence minister says the Japanese force in Iraq is able to defend itself after the Dutch forces withdraw from the area next year ...
·         The Iraqi trade minister will lead Iraq's delegation to an economic cooperation meeting in Turkey ....

Programme summary of Al-Iraqiyah TV news 1600 gmt 1 Dec 04

·        

President Ghazi al-Yawar announces establishment of political group, Iraqyiun. Video report highlights announcement.

·        

Spokesman for Prime Minister says Iyad Allawi to ask Jordan to encourage Iraqi community to vote in election; Allawi holds talks in Amman.
·         Vice President Ibrahim al-Ja'fari calls on Iran to stop infiltrators from crossing border. Video report covers meeting of Iraq neighbouring countries in Tehran, Al-Ja'fari comments, Iran interior minister statement.
·         Independent electoral commission extends deadline for registration of political groups in some areas. Video report covers statement by commission member.
·         Iraqis in Al-Najaf call for holding election on time. Video report covers polls preparations. Iraqis in Basra want election to be held on schedule. Video report highlights calls by Shi'i clerics and priests for holding polls on time.
·         Studio interview with politician, Uday Abu-Tibikh. He says election is safety valve for Iraq.
·         UN Security Council approves fund for protection of UN staff in Iraq. Video report
·         Seven injured in car bomb in Al-Latifiyah; multinational force arrests 200 terror suspects in the city. Video report covers violence.
·         Al-Najaf judge issues warrant arrest of security official on charges of attempting to form militia. Video report covers comments by judge.
·         Basra dignitaries discuss election and other issues with representatives of British force. Video report covers meeting, focus of discussion.
·         Families displaced by former regime call for settlement to their problem. Video report highlights problem of Marsh population.
·         Ministry of Health marks World AIDS Day. Video report
·         Basra schools mark day of hygiene and health awareness. Video report
·         Fatah official killed in West Bank; Israeli incursion in Ramallah. Video report
·         Socialists have narrow lead in Romania election; claims about polls fraud. Video report
·         WHO declares 1 December AIDS Day; Asian states mark day. Video report
·         Over 300 killed and others missing in floods in The Philippines. Video report
·         At least 31 killed in plane crash in Indonesia. Video report
·         Business bulletin. Iraq bid to reduce its debts to Paris Club successful. Iraq share market report. Iraq set to restore position as reliable oil exporter - official. Report on growing demand for computers in Iraq. Qatar concerned over falling dollar

KURDISH NEWS, 01 Dec 04

Iraq's Kurdish parties agree joint list for elections- Kurdistan TV

Kurdistan Satellite TV, Salah-al-Din, in Sorani Kurdish, 1 Dec 04: The two main Kurdish political parties - Masoud Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) - have agreed to run in the forthcoming election on a joint list of candidates that will include "other allied forces", Kurdish TV reported on 1 December. Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Mas'ud Barzani briefed the media on a meeting held between the political bureaus of the two parties at the KDP headquarters in Salah-al-Din, in Arbil: "Today, with a great privilege and honour, we, his honourable Mam [honorific] Jalal and myself, and the two political bureaus of the KDP and PUK, have reached a historic agreement, and have signed the agreement a few minutes ago. So that, together and side by side, continue our joint struggle until all the legitimate rights of the people of Kurdistan have implemented and guaranteed. Because the constitution issue has yet to be determined, the issue of Kirkuk and the other Arabized areas have to date not been settled. Hence, we have decided to enter both the elections in Iraq and the elections in Kurdistan on a joint list, in which our other allied forces will also take part, which means, to enter on a broad national list that includes all the forces, not only the KDP and the PUK."

Updates from Iraqi Kurdish Press 01 Dec. 2004

www.peyamner.com <http://www.peyamner.com> 1 December 2004
·        

The KDP and PUK have reached a final agreement to run on joint lists in both national and regional elections in January, a KDP source said on condition of anonymity. The two parties have also decided that PUK leader Jalal Talabani accordingly runs for president in Iraq and the KDP leader Massoud Barzani will run in Iraqi Kurdistan Region presidency without PUK rivalry.

·        

The joint list electoral list that the KDP and PUK leaders finalized today includes all Kurdistani political parties except Kurdistan Islamic Movement (led by Ali Abdulaziz) and Kurdistan Islamic Group (led by Ali Bapeer, who has been in the US custody inside Iraq since June 2003). The twp major parties have proportioned the 111 seats of the KNA as following: 9 for Yakgirtu (Kurdistan Islamic Union), 5 for the Christians (including the Assyrians, Chaldeans and Armanis), 4 for the Turcomans, 3 for the Kurdistan Communist Party (KCP), each for Kurdistan Toilers Party (KTP) and Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party (KSDP), 42 for the KDP and another 42 for the PUK while the remaining 4 seats would be for independent personalities who would join the list. According to the latest information available this evening, Yakgirtu accepted the deal and KTP rejected its demanding 2 seats while other parties are yet to declare their stances.
·         Iraq plans to build an oil refinery in Zakho town near the borders with Turkey and Syria on a pipeline that pumps Iraqi oil to Turkey, KRG-Erbil Prime Minster Nechirvan Barzani said. A specialist American company will build the refinery, Barzani added. A source in Iraq's state-owned North Oil Company (NOC) said that plans for the refinery had been in the works for around six months. Both Barzani and the NOC declined to name the US firm or say how much the project would cost. It was also not clear when construction would begin or what the capacity of the new refinery would be. There are at least eight oil refineries in Iraq, which has capacity to refine 350,000 bpd, but none are situated in the Kurdish north, which relies on the rest of Iraq and Turkey for refined oil products.

Aso weekly, issued in Sulaymanya by Khandan Publishing House, 30 November 2004
·        

The Iraqi National Congress (INC) leader Ahmed Chalabi's electoral program does not mention Kurdistan federalism and the type of federation he mentions is closer to administrative federation rather than one based on recognition of different regions as mentioned in the Administrative Law for the State of Iraqi in the Transitional Period (TAL). Also, Chalabi proposes vague solutions to [the former regimes'] ``displacement policy'' without clearly mentioning Arabization of Kirkuk.

·        

In a seminar with a number of selected dignitaries and intellectuals in Erbil Friday, Noori Talabani, chief of the Kurdistan Region Independent Electoral Commission (KRIEC) said the Kurdistan National Assembly will have 111 seats, 25% of them would be designated for women. The KRIEC chief also said the KNA session would be transitional as areas like Kirkuk, Khanaqeen, Badra, Jassan, Makhmour, Sinjar, Shekhan, and others that constitute about 40% of Kurdistan territory is outside the Kurdish control and almost one third of Kurds are deprived from voting for the KNA.