Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

 
HEADLINES
  
IRAQI NEWS
·         Mosque said shelled as Sunni meeting in progress
·         Four Iraqis, Turkish driver killed in separate attacks
·         Constitutional monarchy leader says government fears elections
·         Zebari to seek support for elections at Amman conference
·         Sunni conference calls for election delay
·         Iraq's former Al-Chalabi aide plans protests in front of Iran embassy
·         Muslim cleric reported killed in Baghdad
·         President rules out attack on Mosul
·         Former local official killed in Ba'qubah
PRESS COMMENTS ON ELECTION
·         As media campaigns continue, a noticeable escalation in terrorist attacks is under way - Al-Bayan
·         Iraqi tribal chiefs called on the Iraqi people for unity and to abandon violence- Al-Da'wah
·         ``Why the upcoming elections should be postponed (Al-Pachachi) - Al-Mu'tamar
·         "Whom Should We Elect?''- Al-Adalah
·         ``Current Iraqi situation; what is next?"- Al-Adalah
·         Neither the current nor the elected government will be able to control the situation- Al-Zaman
HEADLINES AND QUOTES FROM IRAQI PRESS 4 JAN
·         Headlines: Al-Nahdhah [Baghdad, political daily newspaper]
·         Headlines: Al-Dustur [Baghdad, independent political daily newspaper]
·         Al- Qa'idah is staggering and will never be capable of bringing down any state- Al-Sharq al-Awsat
·         ``Advocates of fake agendas had better steer away from Iraq''- Al-Dustur
·         The government has failed to address the collective Iraqi psyche positively- Al-Zaman
·         Iraqis will no longer accept someone dictating to them what to do- Al-Dustur
PROGRAMME SUMMARIES, 4 JAN 05
·         Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic
·         Iraqi Al-Furat satellite TV
UPDATES FROM IRAQI KURDISH PRESS, 5 JAN 05
·         Explosion Perpetrators Arrested In Erbil
·         IEC banns KDP and PUK from Kirkuk Election
·         Five Political Parties Withdraw Candidacy lists for Kirkuk Elections
·         Iraq President Requests UN to Reconsider Election Timing
·         Kurds Condemn Baghdad Governor Assisinatin
·         Iraqi Constitution to Be Drawn by Consensus
·         US Copters Bomb Erbil for First Time
·         Iraqi News Agency Omits ``Federalism'' from Kurdistani Elections Propaganda

IRAQI NEWS
Mosque said shelled as Sunni meeting in progress

(Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 4 Jan 05): Two mortar shells fell on the Umm al-Qura Mosque, in the west of Baghdad, as the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS) was holding a meeting to discuss its position on the upcoming elections, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 4 January. An Al-Sharqiyah correspondent covering the meeting said no one was hurt, although there was material damage. The correspondent added that the association continued its meeting, and will issue a statement renewing its call for postponement of the elections.

Four Iraqis, Turkish driver killed in separate attacks

(Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 4 Jan 05; AFP 4 Jan 05): Iraqi police sources on 4 January said that four Iraqis and a Turkish truck driver had been killed in separate attacks that took place north of Baghdad. Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV said that three members of the Iraqi Army's 7th Brigade were killed when an explosive device went off as their patrol was passing through Al-Mu'tasim neighbourhood, in Samarra. Another Iraqi was killed, and five others were wounded in clashes near the city of Al-Dulu'iyah and, in Samarra, a Turkish truck driver was killed after coming under fire from gunmen in an ambush. AFP mentioned that the driver had been working under contract with the US military.

Constitutional monarchy leader says government fears elections

(Al-Dustur, Baghdad, in Arabic 30 Dec 04 p 6): Al-Sharif Ali Bin-al-Husayn, leader of Iraq's Constitutional Monarchy Movement, has said that many Iraqis suspect that the government is fomenting tension in order to have a pretext not to hold the elections. Speaking in a newspaper interview, Al-Sharif rejected the idea that the elections should be postponed and said that he expected a good response to the monarchist movement's election list because of dissatisfaction with the government. "The Iraqi nation is not pleased with the security conditions or the services' situation, and it is clear it will vote for our list," he said. He also expressed confidence about the security situation, saying: "We are confident that we will succeed in offering peaceful solutions and entering into negotiations with the resistance, and succeed in integrating them in the peaceful political equation."

Zebari to seek support for elections at Amman conference

(Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 4 Jan 05):: Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on 4 January said Iraq would seek "a clear political stand" in support of elections at the Amman conference on 6 January, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. "We are looking forward to this meeting to come up with a clear political stand to support the electoral process and the political process in Iraq, in addition to adhering to the agreed-on constants in support of the unity, sovereignty and independence of Iraq, and against interference in its internal affairs," Zebari told a news conference ahead of the conference.

Sunni conference calls for election delay

(Dar al-Salam radio, Baghdad 4 Jan 05): A conference of Sunni representatives held in Baghdad on 4 January called for the postponement of the elections, Iraqi Islamic Party radio Dar al-Salam reported. In its final statement, the conference, held in Baghdad's Umm al-Qura mosque, said elections could not be held in the "current atmosphere". It also rejected any moves encouraging sectarianism and ethnic cleansing, and condemned what it called the "horrific crimes" in Al-Fallujah and Al-Najaf. The statement urged the "occupation forces" and the Iraqi National Guard to release all prisoners and refrain from storming mosques and arresting "innocent people", and also called for former army members to be reinstated. The conference's chairman, Muhammad Adnan Salman al-Dulaymi, told the TV that Iraq's Sunnis would not allow themselves to be marginalized, adding that any attempt to sideline them would result in Iraq's "destruction".

Iraq's former Al-Chalabi aide plans protests in front of Iran embassy

(Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 4 Jan 05): Mithal al-Alusi, secretary-general of the Democratic Party of the Iraqi Nation, on 2 January lashed out at Iran and Syria over "exporting terrorism", threatening another sit-in protest in front of the Iranian embassy. In a discussion programme called "Encounter" carried by Iraq's Al-Sharqiyah TV, Al-Alusi, who was expelled in the autumn from the Ahmad al-Chalabi-led Iraqi National Congress for attending a counter-terrorism conference in Tel Aviv, called on all parties to take part in the protests his party was planning. During the interview he also reiterated that he favoured recognition of the state of Israel but stopped short of calling for outright normalization.

Muslim cleric reported killed in Baghdad

(Dar al-Salam radio, Baghdad t 4 Jan): A Muslim cleric was shot dead in Baghdad's Al-Za'faraniyah district on 4 January, Iraqi Islamic Party radio Dar al-Salam reported. The radio said Shaykh Mahdi al-Janabi, imam and preacher at the district's Al-Aqsa Mosque, was found lying near the mosque covered with blood after an armed group claiming to be members of Iraqi National Guard and police forces reportedly took Shaykh Mahdi al-Janabi to an unknown location and shot him.

President rules out attack on Mosul

(Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 4 Jan 05):: Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar has said that the military operation carried out by US-led forces in Al-Fallujah will not be repeated in Mosul, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 4 January. In remarks broadcast on the channel, Al-Yawar warned of the high death toll that would result from any such attack. "What has taken place in Al-Fallujah should not take place in Mosul. We will not allow that to take place in Mosul. What has taken place in Al-Fallujah was very painful and harsh to us in Iraq. By no means will we allow a similar thing to take place in Mosul, namely, a comprehensive battle. We do not accept a comprehensive battle being launched on Mosul because there would be many victims. The number of residents in Mosul City is more than one-and-a-half million, and they cannot be subject to aircraft and artillery bombardment. By no means can this take place," he said.

Former local official killed in Ba'qubah

(Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 4 Jan 05): Unidentified gunmen assassinated a former municipal council member in Ba'qubah on 4 January, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. Unidentified gunmen shot dead Thafir Sami as he was getting on his car in Al-Sina'i district, southwest of the city, Iraqi police sources were quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the house of Husayn al-Tikriti, a municipal council member in Baladruz district, southeast Ba'qubah, was targeted by a hand grenade attack carried out by unidentified gunmen, the TV added. A Diyala Governorate media source was quoted as saying that Al-Tikriti was not hurt, although his 10-year-old daughter 10 was slightly wounded.

PRESS COMMENTS ON ELECTION

As media campaigns continue, a noticeable escalation in terrorist attacks is under way - Al-Bayan

Al-Bayan [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]4 Jan 05: An Editorial saying that as preparations and the media campaigns of the various political forces for the upcoming elections continue, a noticeable escalation in the terrorist attacks in order to influence public participation is under way. The editorial says that successful elections are the best answer to the terrorists and will prove to the entire world that Iraqis are qualified and determined to build their new Iraq.

Iraqi tribal chiefs called on the Iraqi people for unity and to abandon violence- Al-Da'wah

Al-Da'wah [Baghdad, weekly newspaper in Arabic published by the Central Bureau of the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party] A report stating that in their meeting in Baghdad last Sunday, 2 January, a number of Iraqi tribal chiefs called on the Iraqi people for unity and to abandon violence, and affirmed that postponing the upcoming elections would increase chaos in the country. The report quotes Shaykh Humam Hammudi, member of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) as saying that "the Unified Iraqi Coalition List calls for national talks to prevent civil war and sectarian conflict." In a news conference in Baghdad, they rejected the call by Usamah Bin-Ladin for boycotting the upcoming elections in Iraq. The report quotes SCIRI leader Al-Hakim as saying: "The Iraqi people do not want others, no matter who they are, to interfere in the Iraqi affairs."

``Why the upcoming elections should be postponed (Al-Pachachi) - Al-Mu'tamar

Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Congress] carries on page 6 a 1,000-word article by Adnan Al-Pachachi, leader of the Independent Democrats Grouping, explaining why the upcoming elections should be postponed. Al-Pachachi says that as Iraq is regarded as a single electoral constituent and as the security situation in several Iraqi cities will not allow people to safely participate in the upcoming elections, the candidates of other regions will benefit. Al-Pachachi calls for postponing the upcoming elections for some time, during which the Iraqi political forces focus on national reconciliation in order to persuade all factions to participate.

"Whom Should We Elect?''- Al-Adalah

Al-Adalah [Baghdad, twice-weekly newspaper in Arabic published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)] carries on page 6 a 600-word article by Muzzafar Qasim Husayn entitled "Whom Should We Elect?". The writer comments on the upcoming Iraqi elections and gives a number of "qualities" to be used as criteria by which Iraqis can "select the best candidates".

``Current Iraqi situation; what is next?"- Al-Adalah

Al-Adalah [Baghdad, twice-weekly newspaper in Arabic published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)] publishes on page 6 a 700-word article by Ali Khulayf entitled "What is Next?" The writer comments on the current Iraqi situation and the calls to delay or boycott the upcoming elections. He says that those who call for boycotting the elections are "the Iraqi people's enemies, such as Saddam Husayn, Usamah Bin-Ladin, and Al-Zarqawi." The writer adds that the elections will be "the truth birth of the new Iraq."

Neither the current nor the elected government will be able to control the situation- Al-Zaman

Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al-Zaman] publishes on page 3 a 300-word article by Kazim al-Muqdadi saying that neither the current government nor the elected government will be able to control the situation because the social gap is has increased and reached very a high level. Al-Muqdadi adds: "Today, we need a realistic policy to be implemented by the first and third world countries - a policy that can restore our consciousness after being penetrated by everybody else. An Arab neighbouring country hosted Saddam's opposition and now it hosts Saddam's followers!"

HEADLINES AND QUOTES FROM IRAQI PRESS 4 JAN
Headlines: Al-Nahdhah [Baghdad, political daily newspaper]
·         Four killed, twenty-five wounded in suicide attack on the Iraqi National Accord Movement headquarters
·         Minister of justice hoping for formula guaranteeing nationwide participation in elections
·         First National Assembly meeting in Irbil
·         Barham Salih: Ba'th remnants behind escalation in attacks
·         Iraqi command charged with safeguarding oil facilities Al-Mulqi: Jordan has tried to have Iraqi elections postponed
Headlines: Al-Dustur [Baghdad, independent political daily newspaper]
·         US assurances of support for elections to go ahead as scheduled, Al-Naqib refrains from endorsing accusations made against Syria, Al-Shar'a confirms his country's readiness to cooperate
·         Mahdi al-Hafiz: Security biggest challenge facing Iraq Electoral Commission workers in Bayji resign en masse, Powell confident elections will be held on schedule, Islamic Party declares its rejection of constitution in advance
·         Ambassador appointed as new US Consul in Kirkuk Increased power outages attributed to fuel shortage Armitage arrives in Ankara following visit to Damascus
Al- Qa'idah is staggering and will never be capable of bringing down any state- Al-Sharq al-Awsat

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, Saudi-owned] [From commentary by Mishari al-Thydi] "Gentlemen, Al- Qa'idah is staggering and will never be capable of bringing down any state, least of all a state of the calibre of Saudi Arabia. This has become rather axiomatic. However, this fundamentalist organization has not gone down yet. More annoying, its very nature as a peculiar 'mind-set' makes it unlikely that we will be celebrating its demise very soon. This is borne out by the fact that it is still capable of shocking many with an occasional bout of violence here and there."

``Advocates of fake agendas had better steer away from Iraq''- Al-Dustur

Al-Dustur [Baghdad, daily independent newspaper in Arabic] [From editorial by Basim al-Shaykh] "Let it be known that, from now on, the average Iraqi will tolerate no mandate other than that dictated by his own conscience. Advocates of fake heavenly agendas had better steer away from Iraq and Iraqis, for we have had enough at the hands of opportunists touting bright religious and nationalist slogans. Let them seek their fortune elsewhere, for we have made a solemn vow to root out anyone stalking our beloved Iraq, regardless of their race or colour and no matter how dazzlingly bright their banners may be."

The government has failed to address the collective Iraqi psyche positively- Al-Zaman

Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al-Zaman] [From commentary by Dr Sa'd al-Ubaydi] "The government has committed a great sin by failing to address the collective Iraqi psyche positively. It has even failed to put to effective use Saddam's well-known dictum of efficient statesmanship, namely that you should be wielding a sword in your right hand even as you are dangling a dinar with your left. Alas, it has neither a sword to frighten people into hailing its policies, as Saddam was wont to do, nor a full treasury to buy allegiance among tribal chieftains whom Saddam fed to such satiety throughout the 1990s as to have them rushing to dance before him and who are rushing now to the offices of various political parties, offering their tribesmen's services to whomever is willing to pay more."

Iraqis will no longer accept someone dictating to them what to do- Al-Dustur

Al-Dustur [Baghdad, daily independent newspaper in Arabic] publishes on the front page a 200-word editorial by chief editor Basim al-Shaykh saying Iraqis will no longer accept someone dictating to them what to do. The editorial says that those who claim to have divinely projects with their Arab followers, and who are solely concerned with their narrow interests, no matter what happens to Iraq should keep away from Iraq because the Iraqis are determined to reject tyranny.

PROGRAMME SUMMARIES, 4 Jan 05
Al-Sharqiyah Satellite Channel, Baghdad, in Arabic
·         Gunmen kill Baghdad governor on way to his Baghdad home; police sources say one governor's security guard killed, four others injured.
·         Ten people killed, some 60 wounded in car booby-trapped car attack targeting police checkpoint near Baghdad's Green Zone
·         US army statement says soldier killed in Al-Anbar Governorate; three US soldiers killed north of Baghdad
·         Two mortar missiles fired at Baghdad's Umm Al-Qura mosque where Iraqi Sunni Muslim Scholars body were holding meeting to discuss position towards forthcoming elections; officials of body call for delay of elections
·         Police sources say four Iraqis, Turkish lorry driver killed in separate attacks north of Baghdad
·         Oil exports from northern Iraq frozen due to continuing attacks on oil pipelines
·         Iraqi president urges UN to study possibility of holding elections on fixed date; Iraqi president says what happened in Al-Fallujah should not happen in Mosul because city has more than 1,000.000 residents
·         New York Times says Iraqi premier telephoned US president following yesterday's explosions; The two discussed obstacles for organizing elections on 30 January
·         US Administration reiterates its desire for Iraqi elections on fixed date; while Iraqi defence minister shows readiness to delay elections if Sunnis agree to take part in process
·         Iraqi foreign minister says elections to be held on fixed date; urges international community to send observers
·         Iraqi Arab Democratic Front urges delay of university exams in Mosul because of security concerns
·         Gunmen kill former municipal councillor in Ba'qubah
·         Two National Guardsmen injured in attack on their headquarters in Ba'qubah
·         Iraqi trade sources say Iraqis to receive extra food supplies on basis of oil-for-food criteria used since 1996
·         Ministerial Council decides to release retirement rights for civil servants who are targeted by armed attacks
Iraqi Al-Furat satellite TV
·         Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih says remnant's of Saddam regime pose major threat to democratic experience in Iraq
·         SCIRI leader Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim says all Iraqi parties should share authority in Iraq
·         Iraqi Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib meets Syrian counterpart in Tunisia, two men discuss latest developments in Iraq and Syria and Syrian efforts to control shared borders
·         Iraqi government asserts elections to be held on schedule
·         Jordanian foreign minister says Jordan welcomes participation of Iran in conference of Iraq's neighbours
·         Terrorists shoot and kill Baghdad governor in Baghdad
·         Ten people killed and 60 others wounded in explosion in Al-Qadisiyah area of Baghdad
·         Iraqi security forces arrest 590 terrorists in various parts of Iraq over last three days
·         Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq begins registration of international and local election observers
·         Two people wounded in explosion in Abu-Rumanah area in Al-Amarah Governorate

Updates from Iraqi Kurdish Press, 5 Jan 05

Explosion Perpetrators Arrested In Erbil

: Today's Khabat daily and www.peyamner.com <http://www.peyamner.com> website quote an informed source from Erbil Security Department confirming the arrest of the perpetrators of the December 12, 2004 car explosion in Erbil that resulted in the injury of two citizens. The arrestees confessed their involvement for the explosion. Ansar-ul-Sunna (AS) terrorist group had announced its responsibility for the blast but it's not clear so far if the arrestees are linked to the group or not.

IEC banns KDP and PUK from Kirkuk Election

: Khabat and Kurdistani Nwe dailies cite Al-Bayan Emirate newspaper quoting the Iraqi Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) spokesperson Farid Ayar who reportedly said that the KDP and PUK were not entitled to participate in Kirkuk provincial elections as failed to submit their candidacy lists before the December 15 deadline. Kurdistani Nwe further quotes PUK politburo member Adnan Mufti as saying he contacted the IEC after the dissemination of the alleged statement and the IEC did not refer to any restrictions [regarding KDP and PUK participations]. On the failure to submit the candidacy lists o time, Mufti said the Kurds were uncertain of the implementation of Article 58 of eth Iraqi Transitional Administrative Law (TAL).

Five Political Parties Withdraw Candidacy lists for Kirkuk Elections

: Kurdistani Nwe daily reports that the Iraqi and Kurdistan Communists Parties, Kurdistan Socialists Democratic Party, Iraqi Turcoman Brotherhood Party (Akhaa Partisi) and the Movement for Liberal Civilians and Militants have jointly addressed a memo to Kirkuk Office of the IEC announcing that had decided to withdraw their candidacy lists and boycott the provincial elections in the governorate. The parties complain that nothing has been done on reversing Arabization, compensating victims of the former regimes, in addition to non-partiality of the IEC Kirkuk Office that refused to open ballot offices in many Kurdish areas like Shawan and Qarahanjeer and depriving many citizens from coupons that enable them to cast their votes.

Iraq President Requests UN to Reconsider Election Timing

: In an interview with Reuters, the Iraqi President said the elections would fail if violence continued at the same intensity until the elections time at the end of the month. President Al-Yawar held the UN responsible to determine whether the elections schedule was suitable or not, Khabat reported today.

Kurds Condemn Baghdad Governor Assisinatin

: All the Kurdish papers and websites reported the assassination of Baghdad Governor and a number of his bodyguards yesterday.

Iraqi Constitution to Be Drawn by Consensus

: Kurdistani Nwe daily highlights the PUK leader's Tuesday meeting in his Dokan HQ with a number of the Iraqi interim National Assembly. Talabani reiterated his party's support for timely conduction of the elections and said that the new Government should be a strong one and Constitution to Be Drawn by Consensus not according to majority-minority measures.

US Copters Bomb Erbil for First Time

: www.peyamner.com <http://www.peyamner.com> reports that the US military helicopters bombed a building downtown Erbil last night for the first time ever. At 11:00, a US commando unit surrounded a house quarter suspected to harbor a number of terrorists. Those onside the house (in Seidawa poor neighborhood) refused to surrender and initiated firing at the US attackers, who asked for more enhancements and 4 helicopters, according to eyewitnesses. While attempting to target the house, one of the helicopters launched a rocket at a nearby dormitory by mistake and injured 7 students while emergency hospital and security sources told the website that the only 3 students and one woman were wounded. A security source speaking on condition of anonymity complained that the Americans targeted the university dormitory without least coordination with the concerned security authorities in the city that have not witnessed any precedent like that of last night. The source further complained that the US commandos prevented medical emergency units and fire squads to reach the scene and relief the victims.

Iraqi News Agency Omits ``Federalism'' from Kurdistani Elections Propaganda

: The Official Iraqi news agency deforms the election propaganda of the Kurdistani united list for Iraqi interim national assembly. The Agency rearranged the components of the propaganda statement and omitted on purpose the term ``federalism'' that the list propagates for, www.peyamner.com <http://www.peyamner.com> regrets