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IRAQI NEWS, 19 MARCH 05
·         Former policemen demonstrate in Al-Fallujah demanding jobs back
·         US troops arrest Al-Arabiya TV, AFP and AP reporters
·         Iraqi paper criticizes methods used to interrogate suspects, secure confessions
·         Iraqi labour minister discusses projects in Al-Sadr City
·         Pipeline at Kirkuk refinery damaged by planted explosive
·         Al-Zarqawi's group claims responsibility for attack on US convoy west of Mosul
·         Al-Zarqawi's group claim responsibility for clashes in Hadithah
·         Iraqi president to call for Arab help at Algiers summit
IRAQI MEDIA PROGRAMME SUMMARIES, 19 MARCH 2005
·         Programme summary of Al-Diyar TV news 19 Mar 05
·         Programme summary of Al-Iraqiyah TV news 19 Mar 05
·         Programme summary of Al-Sharqiyah TV news 19 Mar 05
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES, 19 MARCH 2005
·         Al-Dustur [Baghdad, independent general political daily newspaper]:
·         Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of independent political daily newspaper]:
IRAQI PRESS COMMENTS & QUOTES 19 MARCH 2005
·         ``Paper criticizes Al-Iraqiyah TV's confessions by "terrorists"'' - (Baghdad)
·         ``Paper accuses USA of funding militant attacks'' - (Al-Basa'ir)
·         ``Allawi's government achieved partial success'' (Al-Mu'tamar)
·         ``National Assembly have done "nothing" in the opening session''- Al-Bayan

IRAQI NEWS, 19 March 05
Former policemen demonstrate in Al-Fallujah demanding jobs back
Hundreds of former policemen and staff of the Interior Ministry staged a demonstration in the city of Al-Fallujah on 19 March, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. The demonstrators, who were expelled from their jobs last November following the US assault on the city, demanded to have their jobs back. The demonstration comes on the eve of the second anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, which took place in March 2003. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 1500 gmt 19 Mar 05)
US troops arrest Al-Arabiya TV, AFP and AP reporters
US forces on 19 March arrested several correspondents of Arab satellite channels and foreign news agencies in Al-Anbar Governorate, western Iraq, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. Khalid al-Qaraghulli, head of the Al-Anbar branch of the Iraqi Journalists' Association, told the Al-Sharqiyah TV correspondent in the city that US forces arrested Al-Arabiya correspondent Majid Hamid, AFP correspondent Ammar al-Alwani, AP correspondent Bilal Husayn, and Reuters cameraman Ali al-Mashhadani as they were reporting on the explosion of a booby-trapped car on the highway between Baghdad and Amman, west of Al-Ramadi. All of them are Iraqi nationals, he said, calling for their immediate release. (Al-Sharqiyah TV, Baghdad, in Arabic 19 Mar 05)
Iraqi paper criticizes methods used to interrogate suspects, secure confessions
An editorial in Baghdad's Dar al-Salam newspaper said that security is a central desire of all Iraqis at present because there is so little of it. "Therefore, they are enthusiastic about any sound action that will restore security to their country and punish anyone who infringes on people's properties and honor and unjustly spills their blood." Security, the paper said, can be achieved by ensuring that "the law is just and that the authorities who enforce the law are disciplined, neutral, and honest. Nevertheless, the Iraqi people see in front of them a different situation and they now recall the past era where confessions were fabricated and citizens were defamed and insulted by the leveling of false charges against them and the slandering of certain groups." The paper warns that harsh measures will turn Iraqis against the authorities and not help in the resolution of the security problem. (Dar al-Salam, Baghdad, in Arabic 17 Mar 05)
Iraqi labour minister discusses projects in Al-Sadr City
According to a report based on an interview by Baghdad's Al-Ahali newspaper, Iraqi Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Layla Abd-al-Latif Muhammad said that reconstruction work in Al-Sadr City had not yet begun due to "procedural reasons that delayed the execution of a host of services, municipal, health, educational and social projects". She reportedly told Al-Ahali that the first of these reasons is that the committee had not received the funds allocated by the interim Iraqi government, which total 90bn Iraqi dinars, until after fiscal year 2005 despite the fact that the committee was formed at the end of 2004. Answering a question on the measures the committee has taken to overcome this problem, Layla Abd-al-Latif Muhammad reportedly said: "An agreement has been reached to open an operations room at every ministry for the purpose of following up on tenders without delay..." She pointed out that the sum of 90bn Iraqi dinars had been distributed as follows: Five billion for the Ministry of Labour, 5bn for the Interior Ministry, 12bn for the Electricity Ministry, 17bn for the Education Ministry, 20bn for the Health Ministry, and 31bn for the Baghdad Municipality. (Al-Ahali, Baghdad, in Arabic 16 Mar 05)
Pipeline at Kirkuk refinery damaged by planted explosive
Fire broke out in a pipeline carrying crude oil from Kirkuk Oil Refinery to Bayji Oil Refinery, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. A source at Bayji police reportedly said that an explosive charge went off on 19 March morning under the pipe, adding that civil defence teams rushed to the site to control the flames which caused thick clouds of smoke over the area. (Al-Sharqiyah TV, Baghdad, in Arabic 19 Mar 05)
Al-Zarqawi's group claims responsibility for attack on US convoy west of Mosul
On 18 March, "Khalid al-Harbi" posted on the Islamic Renewal Organization web forum a statement issued by Abu-Mus'ab al-Zarqawi's al-Qa'idah of Jihad Organization in the Land of the Two Rivers (Tanzim Qa'idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn) in which the group claimed responsibility for an attack on a US convoy west of Mosul. The Islamic Renewal Organization at 22lajnah22.co.uk/forums is the website of the Saudi dissident group, formerly known as CDLR, based in the United Kingdom and headed by Muhammad al-Mas'ari. (www22lajnah22.co.uk/forums 18 Mar 05)
 
Al-Zarqawi's group claim responsibility for clashes in Hadithah
On 18 March, "Al-Khattab al-Iraqi", a prolific contributor to the Al-Ikhlas web forum posted a statement issued by Abu-Mus'ab al-Zarqawi's al-Qa'idah of Jihad Organization in the Land of the Two Rivers in which the group claimed responsibility for battles taking place in Hadithah. The Saudi Al-Ikhlas forum at ekhlaas.com/forum is critical of the US and Saudi Government and dropped its password requirement in late December 2004. (www ekhlaas.com/forum 18 Mar 05)
Iraqi president to call for Arab help at Algiers summit
Iraqi President Shaykh Ghazi Ajil al-Yawar will take part in the two-day Arab summit set to take place next Tuesday (22 March) in Algeria, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. Accompanied by a number of ministers and foreign ministry officials, President Al-Yawar will present a review of the political, economic and security situation in Iraq, and will invite Arab countries to participate in the construction of Iraq and to support the efforts to rebuild the armed forces and security services, the channel said. (Al-Sharqiyah TV, Baghdad, in Arabic 19 Mar 05)

IRAQI MEDIA PROGRAMME SUMMARIES, 19 March 2005

Programme summary of Al-Diyar TV news 19 Mar 05

·         A group of Iraqi Sunni forces hold a meeting in Baghdad and stress, in a statement, the need for national unity. They expressed their desire to participate in the political process
·         The Iraq news agency cites Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani saying the Iraqi National Assembly will hold its next meeting on 25 or 26 March. He says an agreement on the next government will be reached before the meeting ...
·         The United Iraqi Coalition forms a committee to follow up the issue of the Al-Mahdi Army detainees with the Iraqi government and the multinational forces ...
·         Further anti-Jordan demonstrations were staged in Babil against the background of a Jordanian family allegedly celebrating a bombing attack in Al-Hillah where hundreds of Iraqis were killed and wounded ...
·         The imam of Umm al-Qura Mosque in Baghdad says attackers of civilians do not differentiate between Sunnis and Shi'is; He says their aim is to distort the image of the "resistance" ...
·         Supporters of the Assyrian minority in Iraq urge the United Nations and the EU to pressure the Iraqi authorities to grant the Assyrians in the country more rights and a representation in the new government ...
·         The five southern Iraqi governorates hold elections to choose chiefs of governorate councils ...
·         At least five Iraqis were killed in separate attacks in Iraq in the past 24 hours ...
·         The planning minister says Iraq seeks to join the international electricity commission ...
·         The agriculture minister disburses the compensations that the cabinet has decided for those harmed by the recent bombing attack near the agriculture ministry ...
·         The Health Ministry reveals that 74 foreign companies importing drugs to Iraq failed to honour their contracts ...
·         Iraqi truck drivers complain of slow procedure and long delays on the Iraqi-Jordanian border
Programme summary of Al-Iraqiyah TV news 19 Mar 05
·         New government to be announced at next sitting of Transitional National Assembly--member of United Iraqi Alliance ...
·         Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih says talks on forming government agree on basic principles, differences to be resolved under State Administration Law ...
·         Poll-boycotting forces to participate in political process; Report covers conference held by political parties, comments by Sunni scholar calling for role for Sunni Muslims in political process ...
·         National Security Adviser Muwaffaq al-Rubay'i says Al-Sadr political force to have role in political process ...
·         Fuad Ma'sum, member of Kurdish List says talks on government have included parties which did not win election and Sunni personalities ...
·         Jordan condemns terrorism in Iraq ...
·         Sa'iyba Minda'iyn community celebrating religious festival receives message from Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi ...
·         Three policemen killed in Kirkuk bomb; army officer killed in terror attack; terror suspects arrested in Al-Anbar; weapon cache seized in Tikrit. Terror suspects arrested in Mosul ...
·         Dhiqar police detonate bombs ...
·         US President George Bush defends Iraq war decision ...
·         Ministry of Human Rights proposes new rights for disabled; Report covers workshop in Arbil on rights of disabled, highlights environmental disaster in Halabja caused by chemical gas attack by former regime
Programme summary of Al-Sharqiyah TV news 19 Mar 05
·         Kurdish party leaders approve amended text of agreement with United Iraqi Alliance...
·         Explosion rocks Baghdad. No information has been obtained about the explosion yet...
·         Iraqi leader Al-Yawar to attend Arab League summit in Algiers...
·         Armed men fired on police patrol in Baghdad wounding policeman. Reuters said US forces were the ones that fired on the patrol...
·         Clash between armed men and US forces in Al-Ramadi. Suicide attack against US convoy in Al-Ramadi today. No details about this attack yet...
·         US forces arrest journalists in Al-Ramadi...
·         Al-Arabiya correspondent in Al-Ramadi released...
·         Policemen demonstrate in Al-Fallujah...
·         Policeman killed at funeral in Kirkuk...
·         Fire breaks out at oil pipeline in Beji...
·         Report over video on lack of control of goods imported to Iraq...
·         Japanese stage march on 2nd anniversary of US invasion of Iraq...
·         UK Army general Mike Jackson said his country was able to replace Italian forces if latter pull out of Iraq...
·         US deputy commander said US forces wanted to get out of Iraq...
·         Personalities in Al-Anbar reject plan to set up new province...
·         Supporters of Assyrian sect urge EU, world community to put pressure on Baghdad to give Assyrians more humanitarian aid...
·         US soldier killed in Baghdad today. A number of suspects arrested by US forces. US sources quoted... Bush defends invasion of Iraq...
·         Lebanese president calls on opposition, pro-Syrians to hold urgent talks after explosion in Beirut today...
·         Quartet meeting in Paris called for full Syrian troops' withdrawal from Lebanon...
·         Condoleezza Rice addressed call to China on Korea. Demonstrations in Seoul against Rice's visit.

IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES, 19 March 2005
Al-Dustur [Baghdad, independent general political daily newspaper]:

National Assembly to elect Presidency Council in second session this week Al-Ja'fari meets with Sadr Persuasion delegation Musa: Arab Summit agenda endorsed without additions, amendments (Agencies- Quoted) Head of Sunni Endowments Board: Alliance offered to have us nominate experienced technocrats to ministerial posts US land forces expected to scale down troop numbers in Iraq early in 2006 (Agencies- Quoted) Dutch citizen brought to trial on charge of helping Saddam (Agencies- Quoted) Bush congratulates Kurds on the occasion of Nowruz festival (Agencies - Quoted) Danish PM on swift visit to Baghdad (Agencies- Quoted) US ambassador leaves Baghdad for home (Agencies-Quoted) Seizure of 44 relics intended for smuggling
Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of independent political daily newspaper]:
 London in consultation with Arab, European capitals on Iraq conference Three rockets home in on Al-Fallujah school Western federal region formed Al-Qu'ud says famine in Al-Anbar is like the one in Darfur British paper hinting at evidence implicating Syria in Al-Hariri assassination (AFP- Quoted) Congress decides to freeze assets of pro-Syria Lebanese officials (AFP- Quoted) Good offices to contain crisis involving Basra University students and Al-Sadr office US forces in Al-Haditha targeted by two suicide attacks (Reuters- Quoted) Three armed gunmen detained in Al-Latifiyah (AFP- Quoted)

IRAQI PRESS COMMENTS & QUOTES 19 March 2005

``Paper criticizes Al-Iraqiyah TV's confessions by "terrorists"'' - (Baghdad)
The Baghdad newspaper, Al-Basa'ir, on 16 March criticized Al-Iraqiyah TV for featuring programmes on confessions made by alleged "terrorists". The paper said that the TV channel "has made itself the subject of suspicion". It claimed that having "drastically" failed to woo audiences with its content which is "supportive of the occupation, Al-Iraqiyah, the "dwarfed offspring of the American occupation forces" has "invented investigations of so-called terrorists". According to the paper, these terrorists turned out to be an inhomogeneous blend of murderers, criminals, and simple and honest helpless people. A former employee allegedly told the paper that Al-Iraqiyah receives its orders directly from the American occupation. The paper added that a cameraman at the TV station spoke of "indescribable kinds of torture for those who refuse to utter the words previously agreed upon". These interviews are apparently supervised directly by the Americans and by security officials some of who are former militiamen. The cameraman supposedly said that one man was forced to admit to alleged crimes while a gun was next to the camera. According to the paper, a certain Qahtan Khalid al-Juli from Samara was killed after he reneged on his agreement with them. His body was reportedly delivered to his relatives three days after his death. (Baghdad Al-Basa'ir in Arabic 16 Mar 2005)
``Paper accuses USA of funding militant attacks'' - (Al-Basa'ir)
Al-Basa'ir newspaper on 16 March accused the United States of funding bombing operations by militants who are not linked to the "resistance". "We have clear evidence that the United States is funding and cooperating with some fronts to undertake bombing and killing operations in the name of the resistance and the warriors," the paper said. (Baghdad Al-Basa'ir in Arabic 16 Mar 2005)
``Allawi's government achieved partial success'' (Al-Mu'tamar)
Al-Mu'tamar publishes an article saying that Prime Minister Allawi's government achieved partial success. With regard to the security file, the writer deems that the government has achieved "some success," but reintegrating the former Ba'thists in the security agencies undermines government efforts to restore stability in the country. With regard to the economy, the writer says that the government succeeded to persuade the Paris Club to write off 80 per cent of Iraq's debts. The writer maintains that the government has failed to provide the basic services to the Iraqis during its term in office.
``National Assembly have done "nothing" in the opening session''- Al-Bayan
Al-Bayan carries an article criticizing the members of the National Assembly for having done "nothing" in their opening session but "addressing speeches, ignoring the hardships of the Iraqi people who elected them for the National Assembly."
Al-Bayan , commenting on the National Assembly's "crisis" in its first session as "it was closer to failure than to success." The writer calls on the National Assembly to resort to the State Administrative Law in solving the pending issues.