Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Al-Anwar, a Shi'i Islamic satellite TV channel which started test transmissions in September 2004, on 13 December carried statements by prominent Shi'i religious authorities urging Iraqis to take part in January's national elections. The statements were attributed to Grand Ayatollah al-Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, Grand Ayatollah al-Sayyid Sadiq al-Husayni and Ayatollah al-Sayyid Muhammad Taqiy al-Mudarissi.

Shi'i seminary critical of Jordanian king

Al-Najaf News Network web site 13 Dec 04: The Al-Hawzah al-Ilmiyah Shi'i seminary in Al-Najaf on 12 December released a statement criticizing remarks made by Jordanian King Abdallah II to the Washington Post, in which he accused Iran of meddling in Iraq and opening up a split between Sunnis and Shi'is. The statement, published by the Al-Najaf News Network on its web site on 13 December, said that the seminary, along with "all segments of the Iraqi people", was "shocked" by the Jordanian king's comments. It also urged Abdallah to apologize to Shi'is throughout the Middle East and to their religious authorities.

Minister rejects nomination of Saddam's daughters- Al-Sharq al-Awsat

Al-Sharq al-Awsat web site, London, in Arabic 14 Dec 04: Minister of Women's Affairs Narmin Uthman has rejected the possible nomination of any of Saddam Hussein's daughters in the forthcoming elections saying that, in her personal view, "just the mere thought of such a nomination represents an insult to Iraqi society and human rights". In an interview with Al-Sharq al-Awsat during her first visit to Egypt last week, Uthman alleged that Saddam's daughters had "participated in the crimes committed during his era, and particularly in the mass massacres committed by the former dictator against the Kurds in the north and the Shi'is in the south." Uthman added that "random samples" had shown that the percentage of women who will vote in the polls will exceed 70 per cent. Uthman said no opposition women were being detained in Iraqi prisons "and I challenge anyone to prove otherwise". "This government respects human rights, and thus, there will not be a single opposition female in jail who pursues the principle of peaceful opposition and respect of others," she said. "Those who are described as being part of the resistance are only terrorists and have no rights whatsoever with us, and if it is proven that a single political opposition activist has been subjected to torture, she will have her rights restored and the door of grievances is open [to her]."

Allawi :''Fallujah problems must be sorted out before residents can return'' -Al-Sharqiyah

Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 14 Dec 04: Iraq's interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi, said in remarks broadcast by Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV on 14 Dec that a number of problems remain to be resolved before residents can return to the city of Al-Fallujah. "There are a number of problems. First, we want to make sure that the city is empty of explosives. Second, we want to provide the city with basic services. We want the citizen, when he returns to the city, to find water and electricity," he said. He was responding after residents appealed to the government to help them go back to the city and return to normal life.

Interior minister outlines plans to upgrade police- Al-Zaman

Al-Zaman, Baghdad, in Arabic 13 Dec 04: Iraqi Interior Minister Falah Hasan al-Naqib has said a comprehensive programme is nearing completion which involves upgrading the performance of the Iraqi police and providing them with weapons and equipment. He was speaking in an interview published by Iraqi independent newspaper Al-Zaman on 13 Dec. Al-Naqib said the number of security forces operating under the Interior Ministry's jurisdiction had reached 120,000, 60 per cent of whom were drawn from the former police force and the dissolved Iraqi army. These former troops and policemen had been used to establish new border guard units, he said. He said that Special Forces had been established within the framework of the Interior Ministry's commando forces to intervene promptly to settle crises and control volatile areas.

'Unified election list' predicted- Iraq for All

Iraq For All News Network www in Arabic 14 Dec 04: The Iraq For All News Network reported on 14th that an agreement to announce a "unified election list comprising the National Accord Movement led by interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, the Iraqiun [Iraqis] grouping led by interim Iraqi President Al-Yawir, Minister Qasim Dawud's group, chieftains, religious leaders and other independent figures" has been reported. "The list is expected to be announced within the next few hours," it said.

Iraq asks for more UN personnel, UN Rights Commission meets on Iraq- Dar al-Salam radio

Dar al-Salam radio, Baghdad, in Arabic 14 Dec 04: The interim Iraqi Government has asked the UN Security Council for more UN experts to help Iraq prepare for the 30 January elections, Iraqi Islamic Party radio Dar al-Salam reported on 14 Dec. The request was made by Samir al-Sumayda'i, Iraq's ambassador to the UN. In another development, the UN Human Rights Commission has held a closed-door conference in Geneva to discuss Iraq's needs in the human rights field. The conference was attended by an Iraqi delegation comprising the Iraqi justice and human rights ministers, who have submitted 40 projects for developing and rehabilitating the Iraqi Government in the human rights area.