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IRAQI NEWS, 13 FEB 05
·         Scientist dies in shoot-out, gang captured
·         Holiday to be observed on 30 January
·         "Over 60,000" Iranians, Afghans cross into Iraq - TV
·         Election officials announce poll results
·         Kurdish parties win provincial polls in north
·         Two Iraqi officers, one civilian killed in Al-Kazimiyah
·         US forces begin security handover to Iraqis in Baghdad
·         Roadside bomb misses US patrol, kills civilian
·         Headmaster arrested after road-side bomb blast
·         Diyala border chief says 60,000 infiltrated from Iran
·         Over 50 Baghdad bakery attack suspects arrested
·         SCIRI leader meets Al-Sadr envoys
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES 13 FEB 05
·         Al-Nahdah [Baghdad, political daily newspaper]:
·         Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]:
IRAQI PRESS QUOTES 13 FEB 05
·         ``Reclaiming rights usurped for centuries'' Al-Bayyinah
·         A False Accusations on Election Results, - Al-Sharq al-Awsat
·         Terrorists Started Hitting Under the Belt-Al-Mada
·         ``Iraqis are civilized and peace seekers''- Al-Mu'tamar
·         "Expected changes in most of the Iraqi ministries,"- Al-Mashriq
·         ``Iraqi and Afghani people foiled calls for boycotting elections''- Al-Mu'tamar
IRAQI MEDIA PROGRAMME SUMMARIES, 13 FEB 05
·         Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV News Summary 13 February:
·         Al-Diyar TV News Summary 13 Feb 05
·         Al-Iraqiyah TV News Summary 13 February 05
UPDATES FROM THE IRAQI KURDISH PRESS, 13 FEB 05
·         www.peyamner.com
·         Khabat daily issued by KDP in Erbil:
·         Kurdistani Nwe daily issued by PUK in Sulaymanya:

IRAQI NEWS, 13 Feb 05

Scientist dies in shoot-out, gang captured

An Iraqi scientist died in a shoot-out between gunmen and police in Al-Karkh as the police tried to rescue him from a gang of kidnappers, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 13 February. The Interior Ministry said the gunmen were later arrested and were found to members of a gang specialized in abducting and assassinating Iraqi scientists and university professors. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 13 Feb 05)

Holiday to be observed on 30 January

The Iraqi government has announced that 30 January will be observed as a national day for Iraqis, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 13 February. The date marks the "first democratic process practised by the Iraqi people for the time in approximately half a century," the TV said. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 13 Feb 05)

"Over 60,000" Iranians, Afghans cross into Iraq - TV

More than 60,000 Iranian and Afghan infiltrators have crossed the borders from Iran into Iraq, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 13 February quoting the Diyala governorate border director. Brig-Gen Nazim Muhammad Sharif accused the Iranian side of failing to cooperate. He said this infiltration took place despite the fact that the forces deployed on the Iranian side of the borders are from the Revolutionary Guard, "the best Iranian units". (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 13 Feb 05)

Election officials announce poll results

The final election results were read out by Farid Ayar, the spokesman for the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) and Adil al-Lami, head of administration at the IECI, at a news conference carried live by Baghdad Al-Sharqiyah Television. Ayar described the election as the "new birth of Iraq". He praised the elections and said the delay in announcing the results was because the IECI wanted to give accurate results. Ayar then presented what he termed the "uncertified results" of the elections.
According to the results of elections to the Interim National Assembly, the Kurdistan Coalition List received 2,175,551 votes; the United Iraqi Assembly, which is backed by Ali al-Sistani, received 4,075,295 votes; the Constitutional Monarchy Movement, whose leader is Al-Sharif Ali Bin-al-Husayn, received 13,740 votes; the Iraqiyun (Iraqis) list, headed by President Ghazi al-Yawar, received 150,680 votes; the Iraqi List, headed by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, received 1,168,943 votes.
Al-Lami said the total number of ballots for the Iraqi National Assembly was 8,456,266 and the number of invalid ballots 94,305. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad 13 Feb)

Kurdish parties win provincial polls in north

Kurdish parties won a clear majority in the Kurdish-dominated northern governorates, according to the results of elections to the provincial assemblies read out by IECI spokesman Farid Ayar and IECI administration chief Adil al-Lami on 13 February.
In Ninawa Governorate, the Kurdistan National Democratic list - jointly backed by the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) - won 109,295 votes out of a total of 165,934 votes. In Arbil, the PUK obtained 244,343 votes, while the Democratic Voice of Kurdistan got 347,772 votes. In Kirkuk, the Kurdish-led Kirkuk Brotherhood list received 237,303 votes out of a total of 400,892 votes. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad 13 Feb)

Two Iraqi officers, one civilian killed in Al-Kazimiyah

Two Iraqi Army officers and a civilian were killed early on 13 February in the Al-Kazimiyah area north of Baghdad when gunmen opened fire on their car, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad 13 Feb)

US forces begin security handover to Iraqis in Baghdad

Iraqi forces have begun replacing US units in Baghdad as part of a plan to hand over security to the Iraqis throughout the capital, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV on 13 February quoted an Iraqi commander as saying. Maj-Gen Muzhir al-Mawla said US forces had started gradually withdrawing from positions in the capital, such as Hayfa Street and Al-A'zamiyah, and handing their positions over to Iraqi units. He added that the handover in Baghdad is expected to be completed by August, and its results will assessed to decide whether the change is feasible in other parts of Iraq. However, Al-Mawla stressed the need for US troops to be kept in the environs of Baghdad. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad 13 Feb)

Roadside bomb misses US patrol, kills civilian

One person was killed when his car was destroyed by a road-side bomb targeting a US patrol in the area of Zaynunah, east of Baghdad, on 13 February, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. The patrol passed the bomb safely and was not harmed. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad 13 Feb)

Headmaster arrested after road-side bomb blast

US troops in Samarra on 12 February arrested a primary school headmaster suspected of being responsible for the detonation of a road-side bomb as a US patrol was passing in the city centre, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. Awwad Ahmad Salih, the headmaster of Al-Anfal Primary School principal, after the device went off near the school in the central Al-Sikak area. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad 13 Feb)

Diyala border chief says 60,000 infiltrated from Iran

The chief of border police in Diyala Governorate said on 13 February that over 60,000 Iranian and Afghan infiltrators have crossed from Iran to Iraq recently, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. Brig-Gen Nazim Muhammad Sharif said most of the families infiltrating from Iran came through his governorate, and accused Iran of not cooperating with his forces. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad 13 Feb)

Over 50 Baghdad bakery attack suspects arrested

Iraqi police on 13 February arrested 52 persons suspected of being involved in simultaneous attacks on three bakeries in Baghdad on the 11th, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. A Baghdad police source was quoted as saying that over 100 policemen took part in the operation in Al-Amn neighbourhood, east of Baghdad. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 13 Feb)

SCIRI leader meets Al-Sadr envoys

The leader of one of the main Shi'i parties, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), on 11 February met representatives of radical Shi'i cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, a SCIRI statement published on 13 February said. During the meeting, the envoys, Shaykh Salah al-Ubaydi and Dr Jalil al-Shammari, told SCIRI leader Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim that Al-Sadr wanted "to continue on the path of building new Iraq under the religious authority and to cooperate with all the faithful and righteous parties of the Iraqi people", according to the statement. Al-Hakim was quoted as saying that Iraq required needed "unity, cohesion, and solidarity, especially with the forces that have offered great sacrifices to save Iraq from the dictatorship". He also praised Al-Sadr for "rallying behind the religious authority Grand Ayatollah Al-Sayyid Ali al-Sistani", and stressed the importance of Al-Sadr having an important role in determining Iraq's political future, adding that he should not be marginalized or excluded. (The Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq www-Text 13 Feb)

IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES 13 Feb 05
Al-Nahdah [Baghdad, political daily newspaper]:
·         Nominees expected to be assigned to key new government posts according to political package deal (AFP quoted)
·         Al-Ja'fari stressing compromise as guiding principle in nominations for presidency and cabinet posts (Agencies quoted)
·         Media worker killed by unidentified gunmen in Al-Kut (Kuna quoted)
·         Seventeen killed in car bomb attack in Al-Musayyab (AFP quoted)
·         Senior Ba'th party boss arrested in Ba'qubah Memorandum signed with Britain to build giant Iraqi seaport (Kuna quoted)
·         Iraq facing daunting challenges, says Negroponte Basra judge assassinated (AFP quoted)
·         Bodies of six Iraqi military discovered in Mosul (Kuna quoted).
Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]:
·         Association of Muslim Scholars denies having participated in meeting called for by Al-Hakim
·         Democratic Senator urges Bush to involve international community in building Iraq
·         3000 jobs created in four sectors of Basra Municipality
·         Baghdad to be covered by 150 round-the-clock patrols, says Defence Ministry
·         Four killed, woman wounded in Bayji,
·         Karbala to be sealed off as of tomorrow.
IRAQI PRESS QUOTES 13 Feb 05
``Reclaiming rights usurped for centuries'' Al-Bayyinah

Al-Bayyna is a weekly paper issued by the Hezbollah movement in Iraq, From Editorial, 13Feb 05:
"With the elections now over and the representatives of the long-alienated and downtrodden majority emerging victorious, having reaped the most votes, we have come face to face with those rushing at us from all sides with bare knives, intent on slaughtering us like helpless hens for daring to reclaim rights that have been usurped for centuries.
"Some Arabs have even gone so far as to label us renegades, discrediting us for having agreed to elections being held under American spears, as if they themselves had the privilege of a truly independent political decision, had not been brought to power by western embassies and did not compromise their free will by hosting foreign bases on their own soil."

A False Accusations on Election Results, - Al-Sharq al-Awsat

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, Saudi-owned] [From commentary by Jabir Habib Jabir] 13 Feb 05:
"Many well-intentioned people were convinced that the mere sight of Iraqis going to the polls in such great numbers despite terrorist threats would be enough to silence sceptical anti-election forces.
"Yet, these forces have chosen to defy logic and refuse to acknowledge undeniable facts by insisting that people were prodded to the ballots by coercive force, though I do not see what coercion could have dwarfed the chilling fear voters were apt to feel at the prospect of being blown up to bits if they ever ventured to vote. They also claim that election results have been rigged.
"To refute this false accusation, I would like to refer them to two simple facts: first, the elections were closely monitored by 79000 observers representing all the political parties and entities involved as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations; second, the elections were held under a government whose slate of candidates has come third among the winning slates, an unprecedented feat in our part of the world, where government-backed candidates never stand to lose in any election."

Terrorists Started Hitting Under the Belt-Al-Mada

Al-Mada [Baghdad, daily, independent newspaper published by Al-Mada Media, Culture and Arts Corporation] [From editorial]13 Feb 05:
"Enraged by the results of the last election, the terrorists have started hitting under the belt. Knowing them to have been former American agents themselves, we are no longer fooled by the platitudinous claim that their primary aim is to drive the Americans out of this country. What they really want is to wreak havoc in Iraq, to break the will of its citizens and to obstruct their march towards democracy. How else is one to interpret the gruesome killing of bakers, or the random shooting of simple garbage collectors working on the streets?"

``Iraqis are civilized and peace seekers''- Al-Mu'tamar

Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Congress] 13 Feb 05: Al-Mu'tamar publishes an article by Dr Awni al-Dawudi saying that the success of the 30 January elections indicated that despite their long suffering, The Iraqis are civilized and peace seekers. It has become crystal clear that the so-called Iraqi resistance is nothing but organized terrorism. The article urges the Iraqi Government, embassies, and organizations to legally pursue those promoting violence in Iraq, such as Nuri al-Muradi, a former Communist living in Sweden.

"Expected changes in most of the Iraqi ministries,"- Al-Mashriq

Al-Mashriq [Baghdad, by Al- Mashriq Institution for media and cultural investments] Editorial ( 13 Feb 05): carries an article by Hamid Abdallah, in which the writer comments on the "expected changes in most of the Iraqi ministries," saying that it is "harmful for the country and for the people when any new minister destroys what his predecessor built and dismisses many officials just because they belonged to the former minister's party, city, or tribe." (13 Feb)

``Iraqi and Afghani people foiled calls for boycotting elections''- Al-Mu'tamar
Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Congress] 13 Feb 05: publishes an article saying that prior to the Afghani elections, Al-Qa'idah issued a statement warning the Afghani people not to participate in the elections. The article adds that the same scenario was repeated prior to the Iraqi elections by Al-Zarqawi's group however both, the Iraqi and Afghani people foiled these calls. The article criticizes those who boycotted the elections on the grounds that they were held under occupation.
``A lot of political wrangling going on''- Al-Manarah
Al-Manarah[Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic]13 Feb 05:

An editorial by Khalaf al-Munshidi in which he says that the slow process of counting and recounting ballots and the withholding of the election results indicate that there is a lot of political wrangling going on. Allawi's modest performance in the elections means that, for him to maintain his position, he will need the support of other electoral lists such as the Kurdish list, says the author, and that will involve a lot of concessions.

Violence has escalated after the Iraqi elections- Al-Sabah al-Jadid
Al-Sabah al-Jadid[Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic]13 Feb 05: carries an editorial by Chief Editor Isma'il Zayir, in which the writer criticizes the "violence" that is targeting Iraqis. Zayir says that this violence has escalated after the Iraqi elections, as though it is a kind of "punishment for Iraqis because they chose the political way to put an end to the abnormal situation in Iraq."


IRAQI MEDIA PROGRAMME SUMMARIES, 13 Feb 05
Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV News Summary 13 February:
·         Results of Iraqi elections announced; Unified Iraqi Alliance wins over 47 per cent, Kurdish alliance more than 25 per cent and Allawi's list more than 13 per cent...
·         Iraqi government holds last meeting, declares 30 January national holiday...
·         Booby-trapped car explodes near Iraqi checkpoint between Babil and Karbala, south of Baghdad... Fourteen bodies found in Mosul...
·         UN Kofi Annan says UN not ready to assume responsibility for security in Iraq...
·         Iraqi police and US forces diffuse two bombs near Baghdad...
·         Iraqi military forces deployed in areas under US forces' control in Baghdad, says Iraqi officer...
·         Traffic police deployed in Al-Fallujah...
·         US forces raid home of Shaykh Abd-al-Sattar al-Janabi, fail to arrest him, arrest his sons instead...
·         Interior Ministry patrols arrest gang in Al-Karkh specializing in kidnapping religious leaders and university lecturers...
·         Iraqi interior minister holds talks with Jordanian director of general security...
·         Explosive device targeted yesterday US patrol in Samarra; US forces arrest school headmaster...
·         Members of US convoy escape bomb explosion in Zayyunah, east of Baghdad, Iraqi taxi driver killed...


·         Two Iraqi officers, one civilian killed in attack in Al-Kazimiyah...
·         Over 60,000 Iranian and Afghan infiltrators have entered Iraq from Iran...
·         Jordanian government ready to facilitate the crossing of Iranian Kurds stranded on the Jordanian-Iraqi border, but will not be allowed to settle in Jordan

Al-Diyar TV News Summary 13 Feb 05
·         The final results of the Iraqi elections have been announced. The Unified Iraqi Alliance came in first, the Kurdish Alliance second, and the Iraqi List third ...
·         Prime Minister Allawi says after a meeting with Kurdish leader Talabani that he supports giving the Kurds one of the sovereign posts in the next government ...
·         Iraqi Vice President Shawes says the Kurds support Allawi remaining as prime minister ...
·         Adnan Pachachi says there is still no final alliance between the Kurds and Allawi
·         The candidates on the Unified Iraqi Alliance agree to nominate Ibrahim al-Ja'fari as the next prime minister ...
·         The assistant secretary general of the Association of Muslim Scholars says the AMS respects the choice of the Iraqi people in the election. The AMS denounces bombings against mosques and places of worship, saying they seek to sow sectarian sedition ...
·         The UN secretary general calls on the world to display solidarity with Iraq through the United Nations ...
·         Seventeen Iraqis were killed in a car-bomb attack in Al-Musayyab ...
·         Five Iraqis from the same family were wounded in a bomb blast in Al-Huwayjah west of Kirkuk ...
·         Three Saudis who entered Iraq illegally are being questioned, according to a police source in Karbala. A government statement says the security forces arrested a senior Ba'thist in January suspected of involvement in bombings and assassinations ...
·         A group of five armed people in possession of an amount of drugs was arrested in Basra ...
·         Report on poor business in a popular Baghdad market as shoppers fear bombings and attacks ...
·         Defence Ministry says allowances for military personnel and their families and war victims will be disbursed on 20 February ...
·         The government decides to dissolve the current Iraqi Journalists Association Council and to set up a committee to run the association pending a conference to elect a legitimate council representing all Iraqi journalists. The council was accused of abusing the association funds ...
·         Iraqi Airways resumes commercial flights between Baghdad and Basra ...
·         Al-Nasiriyah Governorate Council signs agreements with Italy and Saudi Arabia, two donor states, to implement a number of projects in the governorate
Al-Iraqiyah TV News Summary 13 February 05
·         Independent Electoral Commission announces poll result; United Iraqi Alliance wins polls followed by Kurdish parties then Iraqi List led by Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi ...
·         Interim Cabinet announces poll day national day ...
·         Vice-President Ibrahim al-Ja'fari says Iraqi people have won election ...
·         Minister of Finance--member of United Iraqi Alliance- Adil Abd-al Mahdi tells Al-Iraqiyah all parties should take part in political process to strengthen national unity ... Political parties say election has been fair ...
·         Iraqis pleased with poll result, hope government to fulfil their wishes ...
·         Report highlights Iraqis greeting poll result. Man saying result reflects public will, another questioning whether future government to solve security problem, man saying freedom and security important ...
·         In an interview Chairman of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim, of the United Iraqi Alliance recalls martyrdom of Imam Al-Husayn, says he will strive to fulfil noble goals, especially justice, in line with principles of Imam Al-Husayn ...
·         He thanks Iraqis for voting despite security situation, says votes of Iraqis are much appreciated, alliance will strive to serve people and fulfil their aspirations ...
·         Independent Electoral Commission announces final poll resul; United Iraqi Alliance wins 47.6 percent of vote ...
·         Back to interview with Al-Hakim. He says poll result very good, praises high turnout. He says Iraqis have special relations with Shi'a marja, which explains why they voted for United Iraqi Alliance. He says ongoing consultations among political parties to continue, alliance to co-operate with all of them, traditional good relations with Kurdish parties and alliance to be maintained ...
·         Abd-al-Hadi al-Daraji, spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr, says call for participation in political process being examined; Al-Sadr to co-operate with future government if it serves people; he says Al-Sadr ready to co-operate with all groupings serving the country, condemns former regime atrocities against all ethnic groups ...
·         UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw hails poll result ...
·         Iraqi killed in car bomb; 52 terror suspects arrested; 14 bodies of slain Iraqis found in Mosul ... Terror suspects arrested in Tikrit ...
·         Further security measures taken in Karbala ahead of religious ceremony of Ashura ...
·         Basra police tighten security ahead of Ashura ...
·         Al-Najaf police raise preparedness ahead of Ashura ...
·         Basra police arrest drug smugglers, seize weapons ....
·         Report on irrigation projects in Kirkuk


Updates from the Iraqi Kurdish Press, 13 Feb 05

www.peyamner.com
¾        

After days of postponement, Erbil city hosted today the first anniversary of February 1^st massacre in the presence of senior KDP and PUK officials, as well as Talabani's representative. The KDP leader Massoud Barzani was present at today's sad ceremony for commemoration of about 100 Kurds participating in last year's Eid Al-Fitr congratulatory ceremonies at both KDP and PUK HQs in Erbil were killed in two simultaneous suicide explosions. A number of KRG ministers, Senior KDP and PUK leaders, and politburo members were amongst the deaths. Barzani could stop himself from crying for the memory of some of his best friends and comrades of gun. KRG-Erbil Prime Minster Nechirvan Barzani was also present at the commemoration festival and gave a speech on the current post-election political developments. The PM said that the Kurds would form an alliance only with those parties who would submit to the Kurdish condition. Federalism, implementation of Article 58 of the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL), resolving Kirkuk issue, allocating fair share of the Kurds from the country's revenues and natural resources, as well as recognizing Kurdistan Peshmarga force as an official force for defending Kurdistan and Iraq were amongst the main conditions that Nechirvan Barzani mentioned in his statement. He further said the Kurds were pacific but had a long and bitter history with [unfulfilled] promises therefore; they (Kurds) would not abandon their Peshmarga forces.
¾         Kirkuk police announced days ago that eyewitnesses advised that they have saw Al-Zarqawi in a white car around Kirkuk. Reuters quoted Kirkuk Police once again that Al-Zarqawi was still inside Kirkuk city and could not leave as the Police has been taking serious measures and launching a series of hunt operations.
Khabat daily issued by KDP in Erbil:
¾         Kurdistan festival for Short Films continues in Erbil for the fourth successive day.
¾         Terrorists killed 7 Kurdish youths in Mosul. One of the victims (aged 13) passed away in his house in result of a mortar shell on his residence in Karama quarter. Three were gunned down in Salam district while they were heading to Baghdad for work. The other three were burnt alive inside their car.
¾         Kurdistan Journalists' Union morns the death of journalist Dlear Ali Karam. Karam, a member of the preparatory committee for the Union's Baghdad Branch, was wounded seriously on Baghdad-Baquba highway on 10 February.
¾         The electricity crisis in Akre town (southeast Dahuk) could be resolved with installation of 12 power generators of 250 KVA, the Mayor says addressing the ``concerned parties.''
¾         The Iraqi ministry disbanded the executive council of the Iraqi Journalists Union for its administrative corruption and financial mismanagement. A new committee was formed to run the daily affairs of the union and prepare for the next conference that will elect a new body under judicial supervision.
¾         Texas State administration rewards a number of American Kurds for their dedication and advocacy for the Iraqi elections.
Kurdistani Nwe daily issued by PUK in Sulaymanya:
¾         The PUK leader Jalal Talabani received the incumbent Iraqi PM Saturday. The KRG-Sulaymanya PM Omer Fattah also attended the reception. The discussions focused on the post-election Iraq, possible alliance between the Kurds and Allawi's Bloc. Talabani said in a joint press conference with Allawi that there was concord between being a Kurd and an Iraqi at the same time rather than contradiction. Commenting on the Kurdish demand for Iraq presidency, Allawi said he would support the Kurds for achieving whatever top positions in Iraq.
¾         KRG-Sulaymanya PM Omer Fattah received the South Korean Consular in Iraq and his delegation. The PM expressed happiness for South Korean companies' investment in Kurdistan.
¾         The Iraqi Military Chief of Staff Babakir Zebari inspected the Military Academy in Qalachwalan Saturday and reiterated commitment to meet al the needs of Kurdistan Region Peshmarga Ministry.
¾         The Iraqi government announced Saturday the arrest of a senior official of Saddam's defunct Baath Party in Baquba city, Dyala governorate. The arrestee was involved in many terror acts, including launching mortar rounds at civilian and military locations, as well as threatening candidates in the before and during of the election campaigns.
¾         The Iraqi government disbanded the executive council of Iraqi journalists' union for its mismanagement and financial corruption. A temporary committee was formed to run the daily affairs of the union and prepare for a next election.
¾         Hamoon Organization for Youths Activities convened its second conference in Sulaymanya Saturday in the presence of PM Omer Fattah, who divulged he would instruct the establishment of a special body to organize the relationship between the youths and the political authority.