Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

 
HEADLINES
  
IRAQI NEWS
·         Twelve Iraqi policemen killed, 15 wounded in separate incidents north of Baghdad 3 Jan
·         Police arrest man who tried to plant bomb in Baghdad park
·         Interior minister says claims of Syrian role in Al-Najaf attack "reckless"
·         Four Americans killed in a booby-trapped car near Al Qadisiyah
ELECTIONS: PAPERS COMMENTS
·         Upcoming elections will transfer Iraq from dictatorship to ballot era- Al-Bayan
·         Iraqi National Brotherhood Movement: ``Holding elections on schedule represents a stability for the country''- Al-Manar
·         Reasons behind the collective resignation of Electoral Commission in Mosul- Al-Mashriq
·         Criteria that the voters should use- Al-Bayan
·         No signs of the elections can be seen in the streets of Tikrit- Al-Mu'tamar
·         "Who is responsible for what is going on?" -Al-Dustur
·         Postponing the elections will deprive all the Iraqi institutions of any legitimization- Al-Zaman
IRAQI PRESS COMMENTS 3 JAN 05
·         ``The Syrian interference in Iraq's internal affairs is supported by international forces''-Al-Manar
·         ``Baghdad will witness the implementation of 483 projects in 2005''- Al-Manar al-Yawm
·         Reasons behind the anti-Iraqis stance regarding the Arab media- Al-Bayan
·         "Wisdom and its Opposite,"- Al-Dustur
·         "Put your people in the irises of your eyes."- Al-Ittijah al-Akhar
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES, 4 JAN 05
·         Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al-Zaman] 4 Jan:
PROGRAMME SUMMARIES, 3 JAN 05
·         Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic
KURDS NEWS & UPDATES FROM IRAQI KURDISH PRESS, 3 JAN 05
·         Kurdish official says PUK wants elections on time

IRAQI NEWS
Twelve Iraqi policemen killed, 15 wounded in separate incidents north of Baghdad 3 Jan

(Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 3 Jan 05): The Iraqi police have announced that 12 National Guardsmen were killed and 15 others were wounded in a number of incidents that took place in Al-Dujayl and Tikrit, north of Baghdad, on 3 January, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. A police captain said that a suicide bomber driving a car blew up himself in the midst of a group of guardsmen in Al-Dujayl, killing seven and wounding eight others.
A source in Tikrit police force said that two explosive charges went off in Al-Qadisiyah neighbourhood in the centre of Tikrit, killing five guardsmen and wounding seven others.

Police arrest man who tried to plant bomb in Baghdad park

(Al-Diyar TV, Baghdad, in Arabic 3 Jan 05): Iraqi police arrested a man as he was trying to plant an explosive charge in the Al-Ummah Park in the Al-Bab al-Sharqi area in central Baghdad on 3 January, Iraqi Al-Diyar TV reported. The man was being questioned by the police, it added.

Interior minister says claims of Syrian role in Al-Najaf attack "reckless"

(Radio Dijla, Baghdad, in Arabic 3 Jan 05): Iraqi Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib has rejected as "reckless" and unfounded the recent accusations made by Al-Najaf Police Commander Ghalib al-Jaza'iri, Iraqi radio reported on 3 January. Al-Jaza'iri recently said that one of the three suspects arrested in Al-Najaf confessed that Syrian intelligence had played a role in the 19 December bomb attacks, which claimed the lives of 52 people and wounded scores others. Al-Naqib was speaking at a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Ghazi Kan'an on the sidelines of a meeting of Arab interior ministers in the Tunisian capital on 2 January.

Four Americans killed in a booby-trapped car near Al Qadisiyah

Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic, 3 Jan 05: Al-Sharqiyah TV reported later that four Americans were killed in a booby-trapped car explosion that took place at an intersection connecting Al-Qadisiyah area with Baghdad International Airport road in southwestern Baghdad. An Al-Sharqiyah correspondent, who was present at the scene of the incident, reported that a suicide bomber was driving a car and hit a US four-wheel-drive car carrying four people, leading to the explosion of the two cars. The correspondent added that the US troops cordoned off the area, prevented journalists and reporters from approaching, and opened fire to disperse citizens.

ELECTIONS: Papers comments

Upcoming elections will transfer Iraq from dictatorship to ballot era- Al-Bayan

Al-Bayan [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party] an article by Adil Shakir Humadi saying that the upcoming elections will transfer Iraq from the dictatorship to the ballot era. The article says that the entire world is monitoring and is concerned about the upcoming elections in Iraq, thus the Iraqis must prove, through their mass participation, their willingness and desire for democracy. The article calls for trying and executing the former regime leaders for their crimes against the Iraqi people.

Iraqi National Brotherhood Movement: ``Holding elections on schedule represents a stability for the country''- Al-Manar

Al-Manar al-Yawm [Baghdad, daily independent newspaper in Arabic] 3 Jan:A report citing Dr Falah al-Tamimi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Iraqi National Brotherhood Movement, saying that the holding of the upcoming elections on schedule represents a turning point in the march of the new Iraq and a stability factor for the country. Al-Tamimi informed the newspaper that his movement's political platform focuses on security and stability. It is based on the teachings of Islam, respecting the minorities' rights and on dialogue as the only way to solve the problems. The movement's electoral list consists of 48 figures representing the Iraqi factions.

Reasons behind the collective resignation of Electoral Commission in Mosul- Al-Mashriq

Al-Mashriq [Baghdad, by Al- Mashriq Institution for media and cultural investments] A report citing Ali al-Dabuni, the director of the Independent Higher Commission for Elections in Iraq in Mosul, who explained that the reasons behind the collective resignation of the 24 members and 672 employees in his commission are the withdrawal of the Iraqi Islamic Party from the upcoming elections and the public and direct threats that the commission has received.

Criteria that the voters should use- Al-Bayan

Al-Bayan [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party] Editorial discussing the criteria that the voters should use in the upcoming elections. The editorial says that the practicality of the political platform of the electoral lists, the credibility and honesty of the candidates included on the list, the voters political and ideological background, and the capability of the electoral list to run the country are the main criteria.

No signs of the elections can be seen in the streets of Tikrit- Al-Mu'tamar

Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Congress] publishes on the front an unattributed report stating that although less than thirty days separate us from the upcoming elections, no signs of the elections can be seen in the streets of Tikrit. The report cites Saladdin Deputy Governor Abdullah Husayn Jibarah affirming that preparations for the upcoming elections are completed, adding that we cannot ensure large participation. The report says that so far, the Independent Higher Commission for Elections in Iraq in Tikrit has declared neither the names of its members nor the political entities running for the governorate's council and the National Assembly.

"Who is responsible for what is going on?" -Al-Dustur

Al-Dustur [Baghdad, daily independent newspaper in Arabic] The writer criticizes the "promises" that the political parties make in their electoral campaigns to make "things better if they are elected." He says that the programmes presented by all the parties are "almost similar," adding that it is "strange to hear the parties in power promising to follow certain strategies that will improve the situation in Iraq." The author wonders why these parties do no "apply these strategies now, since they are in power."

Postponing the elections will deprive all the Iraqi institutions of any legitimization- Al-Zaman

Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al-Zaman] A report on a statement by Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, SCIRI, noting that postponing the elections will deprive all the Iraqi institutions of any legitimization. Al-Hakim calls for an extra effort to render the elections a success. On the other hand, the report cites Ahmad al-Chalabi, leader of the Iraqi National Congress and member of the National Unified List that is supported by Al-Sistani, as saying that the Iranian officials expressed their support for the Iraqis' freedom to vote for their representatives. Al-Chalabi says: "We have informed the Iranian officials that the Shi'i situation in Iraq is not like in Iran because Iraq has several ethnicities and this list is for all the Iraqis."

IRAQI PRESS COMMENTS 3 JAN 05

``The Syrian interference in Iraq's internal affairs is supported by international forces''-Al-Manar

Al-Manar al-Yawm [Baghdad, daily independent newspaper in Arabic] publishes on page 4 an "exclusive" report citing Mithal al-Alusi, secretary general of the Al-Ummah al-Iraqiyah Party, informing the newspaper that the Syrian interference in Iraq's internal affairs is supported by the UAE and international forces, especially the axis attempting to protect former President Saddam Husayn represented by Russia, France, and Germany. Al-Alusi asserted that the current Iraqi government failed to protect the Iraqi citizen, who has begun comparing the current situation with the situation under Saddam, adding that Saddam managed to restore electricity, while so far, this government has failed in providing the basic services.

``Baghdad will witness the implementation of 483 projects in 2005''- Al-Manar al-Yawm

Al-Manar al-Yawm [Baghdad, daily independent newspaper in Arabic] A report citing Baghdad Governor Ali al-Haydari as saying that Baghdad will witness the implementation of 483 projects in 2005, adding that 200m dollars was allocated for 2005 budget donated by the donor countries and the US Army.

Reasons behind the anti-Iraqis stance regarding the Arab media- Al-Bayan

Al-Bayan [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party] An article by Salim Rasul discussing the reasons behind the anti-Iraqis stance regarding the Arab media. The article says that some believe that a sectarian and nationalist motive was behind the Arab media campaign against the democratic changes in Iraq; others believe that the reason is totally a trade issue, especially since the former regime used to invest huge amounts of Iraq's wealth in bribing a large number of journalists in the region and elsewhere in the world. Rasul adds that other observers believe that the Arab official system is frightened by real democracy in Iraq.

"Wisdom and its Opposite,"- Al-Dustur

Al-Dustur [Baghdad, daily independent newspaper in Arabic] An editorial by Chief Editor Basim al-Shaykh entitled "Wisdom and its Opposite," which comments on the "strongly-worded threat" that Prime Minister Iyad Allawi directed to Iraq's neighbouring countries. Al-Shaykh says that the Iraqi Government has "lost its patience, since it possesses information about these countries' support for the Iraqi opposition." He adds that the Iraqi Government is dealing "wisely" with this interference, which "causes the death and suffering of Iraqis."

"Put your people in the irises of your eyes."- Al-Ittijah al-Akhar

Al-Ittijah al-Akhar, political weekly published in The Hague, by the Iraqi Homeland Party:An article by Ihsan al-Shallal entitled "Put your people in the irises of your eyes." The writer calls on the Iraqi government to provide better services, security, and "moral guidance" to people. The writer also criticizes President George Bush and the US Administration for the "indiscriminate killing of innocent Iraqis, destroying Iraq, and the immoral behaviour of the US soldiers."

IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES, 4 Jan 05
Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al-Zaman] 4 Jan:
·         Iraqi government entrusts Egypt with mediating to convince Sunnis to participate in return for delaying elections
·         Wave of booby-trapped cars and assassinations storm Baghdad
·         Iraqi National Council discusses Kirkuk's status during a historic session in Arbil
·         Washington, Ankara, Baghdad meet to discuss expulsion of PKK fighters from Iraq
·         Financial crisis threatens to paralyse functioning of Arab League's institutions
·         Israel allows Abu-Mazin's election campaign in East Jerusalem
·         One million signatures to amend Egypt's constitution before presidential elections
·         Larijani's candidacy in Iran's presidential elections threatens Rafsanjani's hope
·         Muhsin Abd-al-Hamid discusses in Tehran situation in Iraq
·         Lebanese court accuses 30 Arabs of planning to explode coalition states' embassies in Iraq.

PROGRAMME SUMMARIES, 3 Jan 05
Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic

·         Four US nationals killed in booby-trapped car blast southwest of Baghdad
·         Iranian media sources say US fighter planes violate Iranian airspace
·         Booby-trapped car blast in Baghdad targeting office of Allawi's Iraqi National Accord leaves four dead, 25 wounded (Report over video shows scene of blast, crowds, tanks, soldiers, helicopter, police cars, bodies, injured people)
·         Iraqi National Assembly holds session at Kurdistan National Assembly's building in Arbil for first time at Kurdish leaders' request
·         Booby-trapped car blast at checkpoint near US military base north of Baghdad leaves six Iraqi National Guardsmen dead, 14 wounded
·         Iraqi finance minister recognizes right of retiring civil servants to have secure livelihood after retirement, says fair retirement arrangements are being discussed
·         Explosive charge device attached to dead body of Iraqi civilian explodes killing police officer, wounding two policemen in Tall Afar
·         Iraqi Communications Ministry to reduce service charges
·         Three Iraqis killed, five wounded in land mine explosion north of Baghdad; Salah-al-Din Governorate police finds bodies of three Iraqi contractors east of Tikrit
·         Electricity Ministry attributes increase in power cut hours to suspension of two power generation units at Al-Musayyib station and two other units at Al-Quds power station
·         Blast blows up part of Kirkuk-Bayji oil pipeline. Video shows pipeline on fire
·         Six National Guardsmen killed, others wounded in booby-trapped car blast on road leading to Dujayl north of Baghdad
·         National front of Iraq tribes reiterates appeal to Iraqi and regional organizations to secure release of its secretary-general. Video shows archive footage of rally
·         A former regime's intelligence officer assassinated by unidentified gunmen west of Baghdad
·         Iraqi airlines considers possibility of organizing regular flights to some Arab, European countries shortly
·         Two police officers shot dead in ambush by unidentified gunmen in Bayji
·         Iraqi Interior Ministry says ready to employ internal security officers of former regime not involved in killings, violations during former regime.

KURDS NEWS & Updates from Iraqi Kurdish Press, 3 Jan 05
Kurdish official says PUK wants elections on time

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, Saudi-owned] : Kamal Muhyi-al-Din, member of the Iraqi National Assembly and head of the [Public] Relations Bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan [PUK], led by Jalal Talabani, has said that his party seeks to hold the elections on schedule unless exceptional circumstances arise and the Iraqi political forces agree on a postponement, Al-Sharq al-Awsat reported on 2 January. He added that his party does not support the idea of the secession of the Iraqi Kurdistan region