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IRAQI NEWS, 10 APRIL 05
·         Paper urges inclusive political process
·         Armed men assassinate imam south of Baghdad
·         One dead, two wounded in blast targeting Iraqi patrol in north
·         Iraqi TV airs more insurgent confessions
·         New Iraqi president Talabani takes office
·         Cabinet posts to be distributed based on parliamentary blocs - Zebari
·         Iraqi police arrest 29 suspected militants northeast of Baghdad
·         Iraqi police arrest 29 "terrorists" northeast of Baghdad
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES 10 APRIL
·         Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper, Saudi-owned]:
·         Al-Bayyinah [Baghdad, general cultural, political weekly newspaper published by the Hezbullah Movement in Iraq]:
·         Al-Siyadah [Baghdad, daily newspaper]:
·         Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]:
IRAQI PRESS COMMENTS &EDITORIALS, 10 APRIL 05
·         ``The new leadership''- Al-Bayyinah
·         ``A strong sense of Iraqism'' - Al-Siyadah
·         ``A new Iraqi political scene''- Al-Zaman
IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA, 10 APRIL 05
·         Programme summary of Al-Iraqiyah TV news 10 Apr 05
·         Programme summary of Al-Sharqiyah TV news 10 Apr 05

IRAQI NEWS, 10 April 05
Paper urges inclusive political process
The Baghdad Dar al-Salam argued on 9 April that the recent impasse in the transitional National Assembly was due to the absence from the assembly of an important and essential Iraqi segment which boycotted the 30 January elections, resulting in an imbalance in Iraq's current political process. The paper said that despite claims that the current political authorities are only practicing democracy, the method they have chosen to "impose their domination over the political field" in the country under current circumstances is dangerous. The "marginalization policy", it warned, will not succeed and all political forces should be involved in the political process. "We urge the Sunnis to take their role and responsibility in the next stage," the paper said, "because building a new state in Iraq cannot be accomplished without their involvement. In addition, the occupation cannot be ended without their participation in the political process." (Baghdad Dar al-Salam in Arabic 09 Apr 05)

Armed men assassinate imam south of Baghdad
Unknown armed men on 10 April assassinated Shaykh Mujahid Muhammad Taha al-Samarra'i, imam and preacher of Al-Taysir Mosque in Al-Mahmudiyah City, south of Baghdad, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. A source at the Sunni Waqf Office said that Al-Samarra'i was killed as he was leaving his house near Al-Mahmudiyah City's hospital. According to the report, more than 50 mosque imams and preachers have been killed since the fall of the former regime on 9 April 2003. (Al-Sharqiyah TV 10 Apr 05)
One dead, two wounded in blast targeting Iraqi patrol in north
An Iraqi soldier was killed and three others wounded in an explosion on 10 April on the road connecting Baghdad and the Kirkuk Governorate, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported police sources as saying. A bomb was reported to have exploded as their patrol was passing by near the Farhadah checkpoint, 110 km to the north of Baghdad. Police Capt Muhammad Abdallah said that two of those wounded were in critical condition, adding that an exchange of fire erupted after the explosion. Three gunmen were arrested. (Al-Sharqiyah TV 10 Apr 05)
Iraqi TV airs more insurgent confessions
Iraqi Al-Iraqiyah television late on 10 April broadcast live confessions made by detained insurgents in Iraq. During the programme, one detainee confessed that he had belonged to the Ansar al-Sunnah militant group, another said that he had received money for killing people, while one further detainee said that he had stolen money from a doctor. (Al-Iraqiyah TV 10 April 05)
New Iraqi president Talabani takes office
New Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on 10 April officially assumed his duties as the country's head of state. Speaking at a news conference, Talabani said that outgoing President Ghazi al-Yawar had shown him and Vice-President Adil Abd-al-Mahdi their offices. He said that the new leadership would work together in the interests of the Iraqi people and a "new unified, plural, federal, democratic, and independent Iraq". Talabani hailed the 30 January general elections as the first free elections in Iraq and also announced the formal resignation of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who will continue running the affairs of state until a new government is formed. (Al-Sharqiyah 10 Apr 05)
Cabinet posts to be distributed based on parliamentary blocs - Zebari
Outgoing Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Sunday (10 April) that the size of the parliamentary representation of political blocs in the Iraqi National Assembly would be the main criterion for forming the forthcoming interim government, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. According to the report, Zebari - who is expected to remain in the foreign ministry - said that the process of forming the government was not over yet but was in its final stages. (Al-Sharqiyah 10 Apr 05)

Iraqi police arrest 29 suspected militants northeast of Baghdad
As part of an effort to arrest insurgents and remnants of the deposed Ba'th regime, police forces of Jalawla sub-district in Diyala Governorate, in cooperation with the National Guard, arrested 29 suspects in the areas of Shaykh Bawa and Islah village, Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) satellite TV reported on 10 April. According to Kurdistan Satellite TV, an official police source said that the crimes of those arrested would be revealed through the media soon after investigations had been carried out. In Kirkuk, two suspected militants detained by police admitted to setting off a number of time bombs on the routes of the multinational and Iraqi forces in the city of Kirkuk and its surrounding areas, as well as to shelling Kirkuk airport. (Kurdistan Satellite TV 10 Apr 05)
Iraqi police arrest 29 "terrorists" northeast of Baghdad
As part of an effort to search for and arrest terrorists and remnants of the deposed Ba'th regime, police forces of [the Administrative Sub-District of] Jalawla [in Diyala Governorate, northeast of Baghdad], in cooperation with the Iraqi National Guard, have arrested 29 terrorists in the areas of Shaykh Bawa and Islah [village]. An official source of the police forces said that the crimes of those arrested would be revealed through the media soon after investigations had been carried out.
In the city of Kirkuk, Ibrahim Abd-al-Wahid and Ryad Hasan Ubayd, the terrorists who have been arrested by Al-Urubah Police in Kirkuk, have admitted to setting off a number of time bombs on the routes of the multinational and Iraqi forces in the city of Kirkuk and its surrounding areas, as well as to shelling Kirkuk airport. [Video shows the 29 suspects, Abd-al-Wahid and Ubayd] A report by Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) satellite TV on 10 April


IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES 10 APRIL
Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper, Saudi-owned]:
·         Talabani to Al-Sharq al-Awsat: I have no right to pardon Saddam ...
·         Iraqis mark second anniversary of Saddam's fall by demonstrating against US occupation ...
·         Thirty Iraqis, including 16 soldiers, killed in 'Triangle of Death' ...
·         Hinting at intention to introduce new concept of security, probe scheduling withdrawal of forces, Al-Ja'fari says security of individual citizen before that of ruler ...
Al-Bayyinah [Baghdad, general cultural, political weekly newspaper published by the Hezbullah Movement in Iraq]:
·         Allawi's list crumbling as 24 members drop out, leaving only Ba'thists in ...
·         Distancing itself from US Green detention Zone, National Assembly wrests sovereignty, comes closer to Iraqi street pulse ...
·         Will Chalabi have Bremer brought to trial in Baghdad? ...
·         Electricity minister meets Raghad Saddam aboard plane ...
·         US in possession of documents incriminating thieves ...
·         Bayan Jabr tells Al-Bayyinah no Arab or foreign national will be allowed to enter Iraq without Interior Minister's permission ...
·         Commander of Commando Forces tells Al-Bayyinah: We will purge Baghdad districts of terror very soon ...
·         In Baghdad, Israeli commando unit tasked with assassinating 500 Iraqi scientists
·         Some 33 terrorists released in response to government pressure ...
Al-Siyadah [Baghdad, daily newspaper]:
·         Initial steps taken towards forming government, cabinet line-up expected to be announced Wednesday, INA says ...
·         Iraqi Islamic Party describes 09 April as black day in Iraqi history ...
·         Study scholarships offered by Australia ...
·         Anbar students demonstrate against occupation ...
·         Health Ministry report puts number of maimed at over a million ...
·         Three Samarra Municipal Council members detained ...
·         Gunmen kill 15 Iraqi soldiers south of Baghdad ...
·         US CBS News cameraman detained in Mosul, says Reuters ...
·         90,000 teaching jobs created for new recruits, offered back to formerly-sacked teachers, 20,000 schools rehabilitated by Education Ministry ...
Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]:
·         Sadr aide killed on his way from Karbala to join Saturday's demonstration in Baghdad ...
·         Twenty Trade Ministry trucks targeted in armed attack, says Reuters ...
·         Some 13 youths indicted by Tunisian court for recruiting fighters to join the fight in Iraq ...
·         One civilian killed, twelve wounded in Mosul car bombing ...
·         Eight suspects apprehended in Tarmiyyah, Mosul ...
·         Five killed or injured, four wanted people arrested in Tikrit, Kirkuk ...
·         Rights organizations voice reservations over Pentagon rules for dealing with detainees, says Reuters ...

IRAQI PRESS COMMENTS &EDITORIALS, 10 APRIL 05
 
``The new leadership''- Al-Bayyinah
 Al-Bayyinah [From editorial]:
"Instead of going about cap in hand, currying political favour with regimes guilty of fomenting strife in our country, the new government ought to make these regimes pay reparation for the damage we have sustained as a result of their constant conspiracies. Anything short of this will only show the new leadership of Mr Jalal [Talabani] and Al-Ja'fari to be as lenient as the incumbent has proved to be when it comes to claiming our rights and redeeming our sacrifices."
``A strong sense of Iraqism'' - Al-Siyadah
Al-Siyadah [From editorial by Sa'd Assim Al-Janabi]:
"May the election of Mr Jalal Talabani usher in a new era in which ethnic and sectarian differences are superseded by a strong sense of Iraqism. Let the seeds we sow be Iraqi rather than Shiite, Sunni, Kurdish or anything else, with all due respect for all such denominations, so that we may steer away from anything that is divisive or contentious."
``A new Iraqi political scene''- Al-Zaman
Al-Zaman [From commentary by Fatih Abd al-Salam]:
"Now that it has become common practice for television to air the various aspects of openness characteristic of the new Iraqi political scene, offering viewers an assortment of statements and counter-statements, assertions and denials, strong expressions of approval and equally strong words of condemnation, there remains a missing link that cannot escape notice: no National Assembly session has so far been aired on TV despite the fact that, ultimately, Iraqis can hardly be made to appreciate the merits of democracy unless they are allowed to see it in action in their own parliament."

IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA, 10 April 05
Programme summary of Al-Iraqiyah TV news 10 Apr 05

·         President Jalal Talabani calls for amnesty for misled Iraqis, says new Iraq model for Middle East ...
·         Speaker of National Assembly Hachim al-Hasani calls on government to ease security measures during parliament sittings, comments by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hoshyar Zebari calling for speedy formation of government ... Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and cabinet resign ...
·         Outgoing Minister of State for National Security Affairs Qasim Dawud denies his resignation from Iraqi List. Member of United Iraqi Alliance says cabinet to be made up of 31 ministerial posts. Allawi spokesman says Iraqi List to participate in new government ...
·         Analysts call on new government to focus on public problems ...
·         Pakistan says Baghdad embassy employee missing ...
·         Wanted Ba'thist captured. Terror suspects arrested in Mada'in; weapon cache found. Thirteen terror suspects arrested in Mosul ...
·         Kin of Saddam victims ask for compensation, condemn former regime atrocities
·         Victims of former regime want government help. Video report covers landmines and military equipment of former army found on farm in Shatt al-Arab ...
·         Kurds happy with naming of Talabani as president ...
·         Arts exhibition held by Baghdad schools ...
·         Some reconstruction projects to be scrapped - US Department of State. Basra security force seizes smuggled fuel. Projects worth 34m dollars to improve services and infrastructure in Ziqar.
Programme summary of Al-Sharqiyah TV news 10 Apr 05
·         Talabani inaugurated, accepts resignation of PM Allawi - video report shows meeting with former president al-Yawar, Talabani speaking to reporters ...
·         Vice-President al-Yawar holds talks with members of Muslims Clerics Association on current political process in Iraq - vcideo report ...
·         Head of the Muslim Clerics Association Harith al-Dari says association will support political process that is free of foreign interference, priority should be withdrawal of foreign troops ...
·         Iraqi national assembly meets to discuss domestic affairs, setting of internal assembly guidelines - video report ...
·         Foreign Minister Zebari says committees in assembly will form core for new Iraqi ministries ...
·         Pakistani foreign minister says abducted Pakistani is not the consul and does not have diplomatic status ...
·         Human rights minister says thousands of Iraqis detained in contradiction to international humanitarian laws ...
·         Sunni association warns against arresting women to pressure wanted men into surrendering ...
·         Unknown group assassinated imam of mosque in Mahmudiyah south of Baghdad
·         International human rights activists warn US practices with detainees in Iraq go against recognized humanitarian law ...
·         Iraqi soldier killed in blast north of Baghdad, other developments in Iraq ...
·         Head of IAEA warns of dangers WMD getting into hands of Al-Qa'idah ...
·         Italy says it will give Iraq trucks and other military equipment