Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Tuesday, 7 Dec 2004

IRAQI NEWS FOR 6 DEC 2004
·         Deputy PM warns neighbours against meddling in Iraq- Dar Al-Salam
·         Two Iraqis killed as Diyala police chief escapes assassination bid - Al-Sharqiyah
·         US forces end nine-hour siege on Red Crescent in Baghdad- Al-Sharqiyah TV
·         Al-Ramadi police chief appeals for public support to restore order- Al-Sharqiyah
·         ``Danger of rumours in Iraq''- Al-Nahdah
·         Planning Ministry and World Bank signed an agreement for new four projects -Al-Mashriq
ELECTIONS
·         Statement urging vote delay signed by 68 groups-Al-Zaman
IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA PROGRAMME SUMMARIES, 6 DEC 04
·         Al-Sharqiyah TV news
·         Al-Iraqiyah TV news
·         Dar al-Salam Radio in Arabic
·         Al-Diyar TV in Arabic
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES 6 DEC 04
·         Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al-Zaman]:
·         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]:
IRAQI PRESS QUOTES AND COMMENTS 6 DEC 04
·         ``Iraqi Government referred the task of protecting prisons to the "occupation" forces''- Al-Mashriq
·         "Those speaking of delaying the election represent a minority.''- Al-Adalah
·         "Delaying punishment of detained criminals will encourage the terrorist actions.''- Baghdad
KURDISH NEWS
·         Local officals urge delaying Kirkuk Council election- Khabat
·         Two pro-election clerics killed near Kirkuk- Jamawar

IRAQI NEWS FOR 6 Dec 2004

Deputy PM warns neighbours against meddling in Iraq- Dar Al-Salam

Dar Al-Salam Radio, Iraqi Islamic Party-affiliated, 6 Dec 04: Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih has warned Iraq's neighbouring countries against interfering in the country's security affairs, Dar al-Salam radio reported on 6 December. He urged them to mind their own business and said the international community would deal firmly with these countries, the radio added.

Two Iraqis killed as Diyala police chief escapes assassination bid - Al-Sharqiyah

Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 6 Dec 04: Diyala Governorate police chief Col Abd-al-Jalil Ibrahim has escaped an assassination attempt which left a child and an Iraqi civilian dead, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 6 December. A policeman said Ibrahim and his driver sustained wounds when unidentified gunmen attacked him while he was leaving his home in Al-Ummal neighbourhood in Ba'qubah. The TV did not say when the attack took place.

US forces end nine-hour siege on Red Crescent in Baghdad- Al-Sharqiyah TV

Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 6 Dec 04: US army armoured vehicles withdrew from the periphery of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society building in central Baghdad on 6 December after besieging it for over nine hours, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. A spokeswoman for the society told the TV that the commander of the US force that besieged the building in Al-Mansur neighbourhood told her that the measure was taken for "security reasons" but he gave no further details.

Al-Ramadi police chief appeals for public support to restore order- Al-Sharqiyah

Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 6 Dec 04: : The newly appointed police chief of Al-Ramadi has urged residents of the city to help security services in Al-Anbar Governorate to restore law and public order. In remarks broadcast by Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV on 6 December, Brig-Gen Fawaz Armut urged tribes, shaykhs, clerics, "the educated and all the sons of the governorate" to support his forces' work there.

``Danger of rumours in Iraq''- Al-Nahdah

Al-Nahdah [Baghdad, daily political newspaper,by Adnan al-Pachachi, 6 Dec 04:carried a report discussing the danger of rumours. The report focuses on two recent rumours, which were widely spread in Iraq. The first alleged that the Shi'i people were killed in the so-called triangle of death, and the second was circulated in Mosul and northern Iraq saying that the citizens of Mosul were killing Kurds.

Planning Ministry and World Bank signed an agreement for new four projects -Al-Mashriq

Al-Mashriq [Baghdad, by Al- Mashriq Institution for media and cultural investments] 6 Dec 04: published a report citing an official source at the Planning Ministry as saying that his ministry and the World Bank signed an agreement for the implementation of four projects in Amman two days ago. The source informed the newspaper that the projects are a project for the promoting and development of investment in Iraq, a project to boost the Social and Economic Development Fund responsible for granting loans for the small private projects, a project to support the Iraqi Export Fund, and a project for the development of industrial areas in the country.

ELECTIONS
Statement urging vote delay signed by 68 groups-Al-Zaman

Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al-Zaman]6 Dec 04 : A joint statement was issued by 68 Iraqi political groups on 6 December proclaiming a united stand in calling for the postponement of elections, Quds Press web news agency reported. The statement said the 68 groups believe the elections should be postponed by not less than six months for security reasons. The group also denounced media statements saying postponement calls were being made on sectarian grounds. It called on neighbouring countries not to exploit the division "that unfortunately took place due to a dispute on the date of the elections". The statement was signed by the following political groups:

1.       The Iraqi Islamic Party.
2.       The Reconciliation and Liberation Bloc.
3.       The Iraqi National Movement.
4.       The Grouping for Iraq.
5.       The Arab Socialist Movement.
6.       Prince Ahmad Taha Ahmad Yasin Mahmud.
7.       The Islamic Kurdistani Union.
8.       The Unity Party.
9.       The National Salvation Party.
10.      The National Front for the Unity of Iraq.
11.      The Al-Ummah Party.
12.      The Iraqi National Grouping.
13.      The Arab Democratic Front.
14.      The Iraqi National Liberation Movement.
15.      The Democratic Iraqi Current.
16.      The Joint Action Front.
17.      The Iraqi National Coalition.
18.      The Tribes of Al Bu-Sultan.
19.      The Turkoman Nationality in Iraq.
20.      The Independent National Front.
21.      The National Front for the Tribes of Iraq.
22.      The National Front of Independents.
23.      The Iraqi National Bloc.
24.      The Democratic Centre.
25.      The General Secretariat of United Iraq.
26.      The Armenian Democratic Grouping.
27.      The National Forum of the Sons of Iraq.
28.      The Iraqi People Grouping.
29.      The Al-Fudul Party of the Tribes.
30.      The Tribes of Iraq Coalition.
31.      The Council of the Al-Jubur Tribe.
32.      The Iraqi Elections Organization.
33.      The institutions of civic society.
34.      The General Federation of Labour Unions.
35.      The National Liberation Movement.
36.      The Leadership of the Tribes of Iraq Rally.
37.      The esteemed council members and elders of the Al-Harbah tribe.
38.      The council of the tribal shaykhs of Al-Ubaydi/Al-Shuhada/Al-Shamma'iyah.
39.      The esteemed council members and tribal shaykhs of Sab-al-Bur.
40.      The Union of Honourables (Al-Fallujah).
41.      The Central Council of the shaykhs and elders of the Al-Zahra Tribes.
42.      The Constitutional Movement for the Monarchial Coalition.
43.      The United Council of shaykhs and elders of Iraq's Tribes (Al-Sha'b).
44.      The League of the Al-Ahwar Tribes.
45.      The Al-Mandani Al-Sa'ibah sect.
46.      The Central Council of Elders of Iraqi and Arab Tribes.
47.      The General Federation of Farmers and Peasants.
48.      The League of the Medical Staff in the Al-Tib [Medical] City.
49.      The Youth Freedom Organization.
50.      The Diyala Federation of Teachers in Diyala.
51.      The National Union of Iraqi Students.
52.      The National Council of Iraq's Tribes.
53.      The Society of Iraqi Parliamentarians.
54.      The Democratic Popular Front.
55.      The Bara'im al-Iraq Organization.
56.      The National Alliance of Political Forces.
57.      The Islamic Union for Sufism.
58.      The Society of Independent Women (Mosul).
59.      The Council of the Arab Tribes Coalition (Mosul).
60.      The Federation of Farmers, Diyala Branch.
61.      The Union of Teachers in Mandali.
62.      The Shams al-Duha Society.
63.      The Welfare Society of the retired.
64.      The Central United Alliance of the Tribes of Iraq.
65.      The Al-Sadah al-Ulwiyyah Society in Iraq.
66.      The League of Turkoman Tribes (The Independent Democratic Grouping).
67.      The General Federation of Iraqi Women.
68.      The Union for Iraq.

IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA Programme summaries, 6 Dec 04

Al-Sharqiyah TV news
·         US armed vehicles leave the area around Iraqi Red Crescent building in Baghdad district; Iraqi Red Crescent leave Al-Fallujah for security reasons
·         US forces announce three soldiers killed in two separate attacks in western Iraq on 5th; two more killed on 3 December, in Al-Anbar ...
·         Three National Guard members killed, 11 injured in an explosive attack on their convoy south of Baghdad ...
·         Samarra police chief survives assassination attempt on 5th ...
·         Unknown attackers blow up oil pipe south of Samarra ...
·         Independent elections commission in Iraq announces that elections will take place on time; political powers, parties discuss postponement of elections for six months at a meeting in Baghdad ...
·         Al-Sistani's office threatens severe measures against US forces who arrested aide in charge of preparing elections unified list ...
·         Diyala police official survives assassination attempt which resulted in death of young girl and another civilian ...
·         Armed men attack police station in Al-Anbar province, kidnap and kill police officer ...
·         Iraqi health minister estimates Iraq needs four years for the health service to recover ...
·         Al-Ramadi police chief urges public to cooperate with police officers in Al-Anbar Province ...
·         Two armed men killed in fight with US forces in western Iraq; three US military vehicles destroyed in same attack ...
·         Iraq has asked the Australian government to help train intelligence officers
·         Japanese defence minister hints that Japan may extend its forces duty in Iraq ...
·         Annan rejects idea of resigning because of the Iraq oil for food programme scandal
Al-Iraqiyah TV news
·         President Ghazi al-Yawar says polls to be held on time ... Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to hold talks in Moscow ...
·         Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih visits Al-Fallujah to asses reconstruction needs ...
·         Minister of Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says government does not underestimate security threats to polls ...
·         Interim National Assembly discusses corruption and transparency ...
·         Multinational force and police seize car bomb in Baghdad; another car bomb detonated in the city ...
·         Women arts festival held in Baghdad ...
·         Media centre opens in Kirkuk ...
·         Graduation ceremony at University of Mustansiriyah ...
·         Locals use dinghies to cross river in Diyala after main bridge was damaged ...
·         Life back to normal in Al-Ramadi following weeks of violence ...
·         Forum in Basra on election; participants say political process bound to pull Iraq out of crisis ...
·         Prime Minister Iyad Allawi holds economic talks in Moscow ...
·         Minister of Electricity discusses joint ventures in Moscow

Dar al-Salam Radio in Arabic
·         The secretary general of the Iraqi Islamic Party addresses a conference of Iraqi political and national forces, which call for postponing the elections ...
·         A member of the general secretariat of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq says he will take part in the elections if the security situation improves ...
·         Speaking in the United States, Iraq's Al-Yawir says that postponing the elections will only further Iraqis' plight ...
·         Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih warns Iraq's neighbouring countries against interfering in Iraq's security, and the Interior Ministry under secretary says terrorists are moving between Iraq and its neighbours ...
·         A source in Shi'i cleric Al-Sistani's office in Al-Najaf says the US forces arrested the coordinator of the six-way committee tasked with preparing an electoral list ...
·         US General John Abizaid doubts the ability of the Iraqi security forces to deal with attacks that may precede the election of an Iraqi national assembly ...
·         Armed men attack a bus carrying Iraqi workers in the city of Tikrit, killing at least 20 people, and other incidents take place in the cities of Bayji and Baghdad ... A police officer was seriously wounded when armed men opened fire on him in the city of Ba'qubah ...
·         Hundreds of Iraqis displaced from the city of Al-Fallujah stage a demonstration in Al-Habbaniyah city ...
·         The Iraqi Red Crescent withdrew from the city of Al-Fallujah under the orders of the US forces
Al-Diyar TV in Arabic
·         President Al-Yawir reiterates support for holding elections on schedule. Speaking ahead of a meeting with President Bush in the White House, he says he hopes the American forces will withdraw within a year or so ...
·         Prime Minister Allawi arrives in Moscow on a working visit to Russia ...
·         The Iraqi National Council will hold a session to discuss various issues ...
·         The German authorities release a Lebanese national who was arrested on suspicion of involvement in a plan to attack Iyad Allawi during his visit to Germany ...
·         The minister of state for national security welcomes the plan to increase the number of American forces in Iraq and stresses that elections will be held on 30 January as scheduled ...
·         The justice minister says that there is no harm delaying the election for six months ...
·         The chairman of the Iraqi electoral commission says the political climate for the election is improving. He says the parties that called for the postponement of the election are now more amenable to holding the election on the scheduled date ...
·         Report on preparations for elections in the governorate of Karbala ... The National Council approves new grant for retirees ...
·         American forces arrest Muhammad Hashim Al Yahya, a close aide of Al-Sistani and the man entrusted to follow up election affairs. Many parties have demanded his release ...
·         Iraqi and multinational forces say they arrested 64 suspects in connection with anti-Iraq activities in Mosul ...
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES 6 Dec 04

Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al-Zaman]:
·         Iraq close to complete debt forgiveness, ready for compensation battle; 95 per cent of debts likely to be written off;
·         US expected to repay five per cent of debts
·         Thirty killed, wounded in armed attack near Tikrit; gunmen attack Samarra police commander's house
·         Armed network caught in Karbala;
·         US forces, national guards close Al-Mahmudiyah-Baghdad road
·         Al-Sistani persuades Muqtada al-Sadr to participate in election
·         US forces detain five Jordanian drivers (AFP quoted)
·         Oil, Interior Ministries apply new mechanism in petrol stations, ignore cooking gas, heating fuel
·         Forty political parties, movements call for delaying election, holding national conference
·         Seven National Guard men reported killed in Mosul;
·         Two mortar bombs land in Nabi Shit, Bab Lakash areas
·         Electricity partially restored to Al-Anbar
·         One hundred activists living in European states boycott election;
·         Iraqi women to vote, nominate themselves to ensure their role in writing constitution
·         Multinational forces: Fast preparations to rebuild Al-Fallujah
·         Spate of assassinations, kidnappings targets civilians in Al-Latifiyah
·         Al-Zaman opens file of 400 Iraqis injected with HIV virus; documents, testimonies unveil crime whose victims were children; heroes were former regime, French companies.

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

·         SCIRI slams calls for elections delay
·         National Assembly economic and financial committee discusses debt issue with finance minister,
·         Central Bank governor Report on oil-for-food scandals reveals UN involvement
·         Iranian president informs SCIRI leader of Tehran's readiness to support elections (news agencies quoted)
·         Terrorists kill 17 Iraqis working in arms dump (Reuters quoted)
·         Justice minister: Iraqi prisoners moved to US custody (news agencies quoted)
·         Elections commission: 601 candidates applied so far to run for election
·         Security committee chief reveals causes of police collapse in Mosul
·         Details of measures taken by Oil, Interior Ministries to regulate fuel distribution in filling stations
·         Gen Abizaid: Situation on Iraqi border better than a month ago (news agencies quoted)
·         French investigation into leak of Iraq documents (news agencies quoted)
·         Iraq receives 145m [US] dollar grant from World Bank (news agencies quoted)
·         Health minister responds to international report on deteriorating health situation in Iraq
·         Eleven oil wells rehabilitated in west Al-Qurnah oilfield.

Baghdad [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Accord Movement]:
·         Lakhdar Brahimi casts doubt over possibility of elections;
·         National Security Minister Qasim Dawud reaffirms timetable
·         Black Watch regiment returns to Basra (AFP quoted)
·         Abizaid accuses former regime followers living in Syria of funding terrorist attacks (AFP quoted)
·         US army probes new photos of Iraqi prisoners (AFP quoted)
·         Jordanian king in Riyadh to discuss situation in Iraq,Palestinian issue (AFP quoted)
·         Fourth man of Lebanese origin arrested in connection with plot to attack PM in Germany
·         Voter registration office opened at election commission's headquarters
·         Iraqi National Accord Movement continues meetings to prepare for participation in election
·         Ten killed in assassinations, shooting incidents in Baghdad Three Iraqis wounded in mortar bomb explosion at Baghdad printing house
·         Police officer wounded by US gunfire in Baghdad Study conducted to set up human rights commission in central Euphrates area.

Al-Dustur [Baghdad, daily independent newspaper in Arabic]:
·         Gunmen return to Al-Latifiyah
·         US forces face new torture scandal
·         US embassy rules out civil war in Iraq even if election fails
·         Al-Sistani calls on Muqtada al-Sadr to run for election (News agencies quoted)
·         Armed group detained in Al-Ramadi (News agencies quoted)
·         National Guard commander killed in Bayji; 17 Iraqis shot dead in Tikrit; nine bodies found in Mosul
·         Health minister denies statements on child malnutrition
·         Water Resources Ministry to participate in training courses in Egypt,
·         Japan Migration minister calls for not forcing Iraqi refugees to return home now
·         Basra police seizes five tonnes of stolen drugs.

IRAQI PRESS QUOTES AND COMMENTS 6 Dec 04
 ``Iraqi Government referred the task of protecting prisons to the "occupation" forces''- Al-Mashriq

Al-Mashriq [Baghdad, by Al- Mashriq Institution for media and cultural investments] 6 Dec 04: published an editorial by Dr Hamid Abdallah commenting on the statement by the Iraqi Justice Minister Malik Duhan al-Hasan, who announced that the Iraqi Government has referred the task of protecting the prisons to the "occupation" forces, a matter that reminds us of the misconduct that the Iraqi prisons had witnessed in the near past. The editorial says that this is a confession that the Iraqi Government failed to achieve security and even to provide protection to their security forces. The editorial says that the problem is not in the number of police forces but in their poor qualifications.

"Those speaking of delaying the election represent a minority.''- Al-Adalah

Al-Adalah [Baghdad, twice-weekly newspaper in Arabic published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)] [From editorial] "Those speaking of delaying the election represent a minority. They are in fact political entities acting within an ideological framework with no popular background We fear that parties demanding a postponement are only trying to create a new situation taking Iraq back to square one, to the question of interim rule on a proportional basis Raising such a call at this particular time is nothing but ... borrowed time intended to piece the terrorist drive together so that it can strike again We wonder if it is a call for delaying or booby-trapping the election? Iraqis certainly know better."

"Delaying punishment of detained criminals will encourage the terrorist actions.''- Baghdad

Baghdad [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Accord Movement] [From commentary by Abd-al-Khaliq Husayn] "Delaying the punishment of detained criminals or leaving them with impunity will only encourage the terrorist remnants of the deposed regime to go further in their terrorist actions. Besides, it would demoralize the police forces and national guards and underestimate their efforts and sacrifices Being tolerant with the Ba'thist beasts on the pretext of democracy is a suicidal policy of serious dimensions which will have dire consequences for the people of Iraq and their future Our new rulers should know that democracy has iron teeth far from the rule of lawlessness and chaos Leniency towards those who confiscate the people's will the brute force has nothing to do with democracy."

Kurdish news

Local officals urge delaying Kirkuk Council election- Khabat

Khabat, Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) newspaper, 6 Dec 04: Kirkuk representatives have held a meeting calling for a delay to the Kirkuk Governorate Council elections until the situation in the city stabilizes, the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) newspaper Khabat reported on 6 December. The meeting was held at the Governorate offices in the presence of Kirkuk Governor Abd-al-Rhamn Mustafa, governorate council member Kamal Kirkuki, Turkoman representative Irfan Kirkuki, the governor's deputies and representatives of political parties and public and professional organizations in Kirkuk. The proposal is expected to be discussed at the governorate council's regular meeting on 6, the paper said.

Two pro-election clerics killed near Kirkuk- Jamawar

Jamawar, independent Iraqi Kurdish newspaper, 6 Dec 04: Unidentified gunmen killed two mullahs near Hawijah in Kirkuk Governorate on 30 November, the independent Iraqi Kurdish newspaper Jamawar reported on 6 December, quoting an "informed source". Hasan Ibrahim Salih and Husayn Ibrahim Salih were killed after urging people at Friday prayers to take part in the elections.