From the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)
This document is provided as a service by UNAMI. The material is drawn from non-UN sources and does not reflect the opinions of the United Nations, nor can the UN vouch for its accuracy
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
HEADLINES, Click to follow link
Bomb found near Al-Sistani office in Al-Najaf
Fire breaks out after blast targets Kirkuk-Bayji oil pipeline
Ministerial task force discusses measures to tighten security
US forces release 13 National Dialogue Council members
Kurdish MPs lament slow start to regional parliament
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES, 10 May 05
Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of Saudi-owned, London-based independent daily newspaper]:
Al-Dustur [Baghdad, independent daily newspaper]:
Al-Bayan [Baghdad, general political daily newspaper published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]:
Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, comprehensive daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Congress]:
IRAQI PRESS QOUTES & EDITORIALS, 10 May 05
“Success or failure of Iraqi government measured by ability to restore security”- Al-Sharq al-Awsat
"Iraq will stay united because of its good-hearted people”- Al-Dustur
“Iraqi government:a national belonging and patriotic responsibility” - Al-Bayan
IRAQI PRESS & BROADCAST MEDIA, 10 May 05
Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah news summary 10 May 05
Iraqi Al-Iraqiyah news summary 10 May 05
UPDATES FROM THE KURDISH PERSS, 10 MAY 05
Kurdistani New, daily newspaper issued in Sulaymanya by the PUK
Xebat, daily newspaper issued in Erbil by the KDP
Aso, weekly newspaper issued in Sulaymanya by Xandan Publishing House
IRAQI NEWS, 10 May 05
Bomb found near Al-Sistani office in Al-Najaf
Experts defused a bomb planted near the office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Al-Najaf late on 9 May, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 10th. Police Capt Hadi Najm said that police units found a container with four kilograms of the highly-explosive TNT material which was connected to a number of hand grenades and an amount of petrol. The investigators could not verify whether Al-Sistani's office in the Al-Buraq district, where the explosive charge was planted, or another party was the target of the operation. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad , in Arabic 10 May 05)
Fire breaks out after blast targets Kirkuk-Bayji oil pipeline
A fire broke out on 10 May at a pipeline that carries crude oil from Kirkuk oil fields to Bayji refineries north of Baghdad , Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 10 May. The TV quoted a source in Bayji police as saying that a blast targeting the pipeline had caused a huge fire which spread smoke over the city. According to the report, there were fears that the fire might expand due to the fire brigades' inability to control it. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad , in Arabic 10 May 05)
Ministerial task force discusses measures to tighten security
Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari on 10 May chaired a meeting of the ministerial group in charge of security affairs, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. According to "a well-placed source", the limited cabinet meeting reviewed the security situation and an upsurge in violence since the instalment of the new government. The source added that the ministerial group took a number of measures and procedures to deal with this escalation, but he declined to give any details. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad , in Arabic 10 May 05)
US forces release 13 National Dialogue Council members
The US forces on 10 May released 13 members of the Iraqi National Dialogue Council arrested during a raid at the council's headquarters in Baghdad the previous day, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. Council member Abd-al-Nasir al-Janabi told Al-Sharqiyah TV that the interrogation focused on whether any of them were involved in armed attacks. He said the US forces released the detainees after they ascertained that they had no connection with gunmen. The TV added that council member Hasan Zaydan, his son and five of his guards remained under arrest after US forces stormed Zaydan's house in Baghdad on 9th. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad , in Arabic 10 May 05)
Kurdish MPs lament slow start to regional parliament
A number of Kurdish MPs and prominent figures in an interview with Kurdish newspaper Hawlati on 10 May lamented the delay in the opening of the regional parliament, almost three months after the declaration of the election results. Nuri Talabani, an independent MP put it down to disagreements between the two ruling parties and said parliament should make the final decision on all contentious issues. Khaman Zrar, a woman MP from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan [PUK] list accused the two ruling parties of acting in an "illegitimate" way by "ignoring" the will of the parliament. Dr Muhammad Mahwi, a professor at the University of Sulaymaniyah , said the duties of the regional parliament were greater than those of the national assembly "because the destiny of the Kurds and the destiny of this stage are tied to it". Artist Ari Baban said the delay "deals a blow to the Kurdish question." Chnar Sa'ad Abdallah, an MP from the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) list likened the conduct of the main party leaders to that of authoritarian parents. "That is why they consider it shameful for them to consult the members of lesser ranks and return to the will of the people," he said. Viyan Dizayi, another MP from the PUK list said: "Is all their procrastination and delay in convening the parliament session not enough? Let them make some reciprocal concessions for the sake of a great cause which is the Kurdish cause. After all, there is no shame in concessions, it is rather greatness and tolerance." (Hawlati, Al-Sulaymaniyah, in Sorani Kurdish 10 May 05)
Mass grave found in Arbil
A mass grave containing the remains of scores of human skulls has been discovered in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil , Iraqi newspaper Al-Ittihad reported 10 May. The mass grave, located near the headquarters of former Iraqi Kurdistan Islamic Movement, was uncovered by engineers working on a sewage project. The remains are now being investigated by forensic experts. Some of the victims are believed to be aged between 15 and 30. (Al-Ittihad, Baghdad , in Arabic 10 May 05)
UK consul ends duty in Kirkuk
British Consul in Kirkuk Noel Guckian has ended his tenure in Iraq , Kurdish newspaper Kurdistani Nuwe, affiliated to the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), reported on 9 May. The paper said the head of the PUK-led Kurdistan regional government, Umar Fattah, received Mr Guckian at the Council of Ministers on 8th and thanked him for his cooperation during his tenure in Kirkuk . (Kurdistani Nuwe, Al-Sulaymaniyah, in Sorani Kurdish 9 May 05)
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES, 10 May 05
Al-Sharq al-Awsat [ Baghdad edition of Saudi-owned, London-based independent daily newspaper]:
- Jordanian government sources say agreement reached on settlement of the Chalabi case, Iraqi deputy PM to make partial payment of disputed sum in return for having charges against him dropped
- Prompted by Kurdish objections to having mention of federalism dropped from original text of oath, Al-Ja'fari cabinet members sworn in again (AFP quoted)
- Following drop in operations by Saddam loyalists, US military command focusing on foreign infiltrators accusing them of using hospital patients as human shields, with seventy-five gunmen, including foreign fighters, killed in western Iraq, another forty 'terrorists' wounded, including one 'dangerous operative' (Agencies quoted)
- Dubbing its critics as 'well-known elements seeing commission's work as threat to their political future', De-Ba'thification Commission says physical liquidation of Ba'thists not an aim, but Saddam's legacy is virus that must be eradicated
- New raid on Iraqi National Dialogue Council's Baghdad office,
- Islamic Party says Al-Ja'fari still has a chance to do away with injustices.
Al-Dustur [ Baghdad , independent daily newspaper]:
- Al-Ja'fari cabinet pledges commitment to federal democracy as it re-takes oath (Agencies quoted)
- Health Minister vows to expose officials behind corruption in health institutions
- Al-Sistani, addressing the Wolf Brigade: You are the guardians of our people Wolf Brigade detains leading terrorist among others in Al- Dawrah, Al-Qahirah and Al-Sha'b districts
- Al-Bayyinah weekly newspaper sued by media delegation members
- Zebari lashes out at Arab League for weak representation in Baghdad
- Allawi nominated to head constitution-writing committee (Agencies quoted)
- Member of Muslim Scholars Association arrested by Iraqi security forces (Agencies quoted)
- Government declares commencement of anti-corruption inquiries, measures to have corrupt officials replaced.
Al-Bayan [ Baghdad , general political daily newspaper published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]:
- Iraqi government sworn in full formation Capital punishment re-applied at Iraqi courts (Agencies quoted)
- Ownership of unlicensed arms punishable by two-year prison term 300,000 families to be covered by social security scheme this year
- Charter on proper civil service conduct issued to stem administrative corruption New power plants to be built, supply lines to be renovated, pending allocation of funds Investigators of Oil-for-Food programme irregularities reveal names of foreigners implicated in scandal (Agencies quoted)
- Oil Ministry signs contract with Shell.
Al-Mu'tamar [ Baghdad , comprehensive daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Congress]:
- Talabani says Saddam could be executed
- Karbala asks Al-Ja'fari to put an end to its crises, raising slogan 'Flour more important than any ministerial seat'
- (Al-Rafidayn quoted) Iraqi Central Bank to have US Federal Reserve account opened
- Interior Ministry implementing novel security measures to contain terrorist activities
- 108 detainees released from prisons run by multinational forces
- Sectarianism, terrorism decried by Al-Najafi's son
- Al-Saydiyah car bombing leaves six dead, nine wounded (KUNA quoted).
Al-Adalah [ Baghdad , general political daily newspaper published by the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq ]:
- President Talabani: We need Coalition Forces to deter foreign intervention, Saddam's execution a possibility (Agencies quoted)
- Interior minister visits Sayyid Al-Sistani, announces arrest of forty terrorists, including a dangerous one Bodies of eight belonging to one family found shot execution-style south of Baghdad (AFP quoted)
- Islamic Party: Terrorist acts targeting Iraqi people amount to gross atrocities (AFP quoted)
- Australia 's top Muslim cleric flies to Iraq to help release Australian hostage, Douglas Hurd (KUNA quoted)
- Jordan affirms desire to conclude free trade treaty with Iraq (Agencies quoted)
- Differences persist over Kurdistan regional government, its presidency powers (Agencies quoted)
- EU topping list of exporters to Iraqi market (Voices of Iraq quoted)
- Human skeletons dug out not far from headquarters formerly used by Saddam security operatives (AFP quoted).
IRAQI PRESS QOUTES & EDITORIALS, 10 May 05
“Success or failure of Iraqi government measured by ability to restore security”- Al-Sharq al-Awsat
Al-Sharq al-Awsat [From commentary by Ahmad al-Rub'i]:
"The success or failure of the new Iraqi government will be measured by its ability to restore security and put an end to the chaotic instability being fomented by the infamous alliance of international terrorists and remnants of Saddam Husayn's repressive organs, with huge financial backing from certain Arab capitals hosting former regime thugs and clansmen who fled the country after Saddam's ouster, carrying away billions of dollars."
" Iraq will stay united because of its good-hearted people”- Al-Dustur
Al-Dustur [From editorial]:
"Iraq will stay united not because of the wisdom of its politicians, but because of the innate egalitarianism of its good-hearted people, for it is this that makes the average Iraqi cherish his neighbour as he would his own brother, without caring to ask if he is a Shiite or a Sunni."
“Iraqi government:a national belonging and patriotic responsibility” - Al-Bayan
Al-Bayan [From editorial]:
"In the new Iraqi government, no minister is to regard his position as a vantage point for winning privileges for themselves, their sect or their ethnic group, but rather to look at it as a matter of national belonging and patriotic responsibility towards the Iraqi citizenship, who have sacrificed so much to see their first elected government installed and have waited so long to savour the fruit of their sacrifices."
IRAQI PRESS & BROADCAST MEDIA, 10 May 05
Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah news summary 10 May 05
- Strong explosion in Baghdad kills seven people, blast aimed at US military convoy, second blast near police base in Baghdad ; video report shows footage from the scene, rescue workers moving the injured, fighting the flames
- Iraqi prime minister heads cabinet committee dealing with the issue of security
- Bomb experts defuse bomb placed near headquarters of Ayatollah Al-Sistani
- Clashes between US forces and armed groups continue for third day in north-western Iraq , US forces preparing to storm town of Al-Qa'im
- Blast destroys pipeline in northern Iraq , fire-fighters battling the blaze; video shows footage from the scene
- National assembly forms committee to write new constitution; video report shows footage from assembly session, lawmakers talking about the constitutional process
- US army says two marines killed in clashes west of Baghdad , near Al-Fallujah , US death toll in Iraq rises to 1,603
- Mortar attack on marketplace in Al-Hillah kills two
- Celebration held in Baghdad to commemorate legacy of late actor Ja'far al-Sa'di
- UN continues probes into corruption in the oil-for-food programme, investigator not to name witnesses
- Japanese government says it will do all it can to secure the release of abducted Japanese citizen in Iraq ; video shows Japanese officials speaking to reporters
- Australian government says it does not have information about the fate of its abducted citizen after the expiration of the deadline set by his abductors; video shows excerpts from video released by abductors
Iraqi Al-Iraqiyah news summary 10 May 05
- President Jalal Talabani attends Arab-South-American summit in Brazil
- Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari says punishing "terrorists" necessary in meeting with kin of terror victims
- National Assembly approves members of committee for writing constitution
- Seven killed, 23 injured in suicide bombing in Baghdad ; another bombing kills three
- Anti-terror protest staged in Karbala
- Conference on terrorism expresses support for government
- Muslim clerics denounce terror acts, killing of policemen, call on youths to join police and army
- New Defence Minister Sa'dun al-Dulaymi takes office
- Army patrols carry out anti-terror campaign in Basra
- Northern oil pipeline damaged in terror attack being repaired
- Power supply plant under construction in south of Iraq
UPDATES FROM THE KURDISH PERSS, 10 MAY 05
peyamner.com
- The Iraqi national assembly approved in its Tuesday session the composition of a 55-member committee that will draft a permanent constitution for the country. The Kurdistani Bloc at the assembly has 15 members in the committee that is mandated to draft a constitution in about 10 week’s time to be put for a referendum throughout Iraq later. According to the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) that serves as a temporary constitution, the rejection of draft by two-thirds in any three of Iraq ’s 18 governorates will veto the draft.
- In a statement released on 9 May, the Fraternity List that wan vast majority in Kirkuk governorate’s January elections announced it will set up a new administration for the governorate unilaterally if the Turcoman Front and the Republican Gathering lists (running second and third in Kirkuk elections) refused to join by 12 May. The statement said that the Fraternity List had 22 bilateral and multilateral meetings with the other lists from 26 February to 29 March but they never made their positions clear.
- A member of the Iraqi parliament on the Shiite list demanded in an official session to expel all non-Iraqi Arabs from the country within 15 days to improve the deteriorated security situation.
- The Iraqi minister of Higher Education threatens to resign if the university campuses were not cleared from armed personnel.
- Iraq and Jordan agreed to close the Chalabi case for good. The issue was on of the serious topics on the agenda of president Talabani’s discussions with the Jordanian top officials. Deputy Pm Ahmed Chalabi was indicted in Jordan in bank bankruptcy scandal many years back.
Kurdistani New, daily newspaper issued in Sulaymanya by the PUK
- “The advancement of the country is not only payment of salaries. All aspects of life should be taken care of,” KRG-Sulaymanya PM Omer Fattah said Monday during his reception to representatives of a number of vocational unions and syndicates. KRG Finance Minister was also present at the meeting and said that it was not possible to amend the salary scale without coordination with the federal government in Baghdad .
- A delegation of the Chinese Communist Party was due to arrive in Kurdistan Region to meet with the PUK politburo and discuss enhancement of bilateral relations.
- A mass grave was found downtown Erbil in front of the former HQ of the Baath regime’s ?emergency security department’. The site that was discovered on Sunday during excavations for a service project is believed to date back to mid-1980s.
Xebat, daily newspaper issued in Erbil by the KDP
- Labors excavating the ground for a power project downtown Erbil found mass grave found in Erbil in a place that was part of the garden of the former regime’s emergency security department.
- KDP leader Massoud Barzani received an acknowledgement letter from Kurdistan Islamic Group (KIG) leader for his [Barzani’s] advocacy that resulted in releasing the Emir Ali Bapeer.
- KRG-Erbil PM Nechirvan Barzani received in his office the commander of the South Korean troops in Erbil .
- Ex-PM Allawi is one of the candidates to head the constitution drafting committee.
- The Coordinator of the US consulate in Kirkuk met with representatives of 16 media channels, including Xebat and briefed them on the latest developments in Iraq and the US activities in Kirkuk . Xebat representatives at the meeting asked for serious action to decrease the attacks on journalists in the city.
- KRG ministers of interior at both Erbil and Sulaymanya administrations and their associates met in Erbil on Monday to coordinate their counter-terrorism efforts. A number of joint committees were set up to facilitate coordination with the Iraqi federal ministry of interior.
Aso, weekly newspaper issued in Sulaymanya by Xandan Publishing House
- Jaafari removed federalism and democracy from the oath of office to test the Kurds, Kurdish famous politician and member of the Iraqi parliament Mahmoud Osman said in a special statement to the paper. Osman added that the expression removal meant that the Shiite Alliance did not believe in federalism and democracy truly. “They may have said ?let us remove them and see what the Kurds will do’” Osman elaborated. If the Kurdish reactions were weak, they would have removed them forever, the Kurdish politician elaborated. He concluded that the oath change would have negative impacts on the Shiite-Kurd relations and the Kurdish faith in Jaafari’s cabinet.
- Where were the Iraqis? (Summarized editorial): It is now clear that federalism and democracy terms were missing in Jaafari cabinet’s oath of office, but other important concepts crucial to any democratic system suffered the same fate. According to the original text of the oath, the ministers should pronounce their commitment to preserve public and individual liberties, as well as independence of the judiciary system. Are we bound to go back to the dictatorship era when the public and individual liberties, as well as independence of the judiciary system were disrespected? If defending federalism is the job of the Kurds and the Arabs are reluctant, so why did not they fight for their public and individual liberties at least? How long the Kurds will have to fight alone for those principles on behalf of all the Iraqis?
KurdistanObserver.com
What? A Kurdish President for Arab Iraq ? You must be joking
By Hadi Elis May 9,2005
Jalal Talabani, or as known amongst the Kurdish people, Mam Jalal (Uncle Jalal) has become the first elected Kurdish president for Un-deserved-to- survive-Iraq (UDS-Iraq).
Mr. Talabani is also known for his gaffes, for speaking his mind without thinking, saying conflicting statements like he isn’t the one said them a minute or a day ago. For the people old enough to remember mid sixties Jalal Talabani is not known with good credits, around the time of second Kurdish-Iraqi war, when he switched side from Mustafa Barzani to Iraqi State , or as known the 66 incident.
Around late seventies he established his own party and attaching three more political parties to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or YNK in Kurdish. Since then he has been dealing with the great powers and regional powers in an unbelievable ability of twisting and maneuvering around daily made decisions, so much so that no one knows when he is lying or when he is telling the truth. Great Kurdish writer Musa Anter once called him Mr. Lambada, who dances to the every tune (Lambada was a very popular Latin song at that time).
Although he has been a Kurdish leader, his interests never been Kurdish due to his interests never been openly and clearly declared to the Kurdish people. His involvement in Kurdistan-under-Turkish occupation and Kurdistan-under-Persian occupation is so dirty that one can not hold his thought back about his involvement in killings of Kurdish politicians from mentioned regions, specially the case of Dr. A. Ghassemlou’s assassination in Vienna in July1989. He was the one convincing Dr. A Ghassemloo to go to the negotiations with the Persian State officials in Vienna . Without his involvement Persian State was not able to get Dr. Ghassemloo over there and assassinate him so cowardly.
Through his relations with the Turkish State he has been the main reason behind the Murdering of Brothers’ war (Brakuji in Kurdish) from the North Kurdistan , most particularly the PKK’s guerrillas since 1984.
His very disturbing conflicting statements on Kirkuk is also another issue bothering the Kurdish people, and I am afraid of that it will be during his Presidency that Kirkuk will be lost permanently.
When I have heard the news that Mr. Talabani has become the President of Iraq, I have said to myself that USA is betrayed the Kurdish people once more. Mr. Talabani is the worst choice for the path-in-making for a sovereign Kurdish nation-state in the un-solvable issues with the Arab Iraq, and the Racist neighbor of Turkish, Syrian, and Persian States .
While he was very fresh President he said he is an Iraqi first then Kurdish, apologetically spoke Kurdish in the USD-Iraq’s parliament’s opening ceremony. What else could be expected from Mam Jalal? According to the TAL he signed in Nov. 2004, he will be President for another 10 months, then leaving the post to someone else (most probably to a Sunni Arab). However 10 months is long enough for him to do un-reversible damages to the both Kurdish causes in USD-Iraq and greater Kurdistan .
No one knows why he is Iraqi first in an artificial state that failed so badly that un-deserve to survive, the country that did almost every single thing mentioned in the Handbook of Kurdish Genocide to the Kurdish people. I am sick’n tired of the news on mass graves.
I have seen many good news and optimist opinions about his election to the office of President of Iraq, however I could not hold my mind on bad possible things waiting to be happen, and I was scared from the possibility of losing the Kirkuk for once and for all during his Presidency. Already Dr. Ibrahim Jaffary said the Oath different then how it supposed to be during the swearing in to the Cabinet. The section on Federal status of USD-Iraq in the Oath either changed or skipped, and I do not believe that this done without his knowledge, and even it was done, then this means Arabs do not care for his Presidency, so why should he ?
I wish he never candid himself to the position, stayed in Kurdistan , and work for an independent Kurdistan . That was, and is the right thing to do for him. After forty years of being in the struggle, experiencing the loosing of many great friends, experiencing Halabja – ANFAL and Genocide, he must resisted to the re-making of Iraq, and stop the future Kurdish-Iraqi war from happening (just couple days ago a suicide bomber killed 50 people and wounded another 150 people in Hewler).
The only thing must come out positive from his mistake of being president of Iraq that Mr. Massud Barzani is left the only leader to do the job, and possibly becoming the single leader of Southern Kurdistan . Mr. Massud Barzani is giving signs of hope that he is more open to the idea of independent Kurdistan .
I sincerely apologize from my friends in PUK, and I believe Mam Jalal doesn’t deserve to stay as leader of PUK anymore. He should forced to leave the post to a new leader to be elected amongst the PUK leadership.
As a progressive, secular, democratic, and pan-Kurdish party PUK has a lot to contribute to the political solutions to the all parts of Kurdistan . Mam Jalal does not have anything left he can do for Kurdistan and the Kurdish people.
I am praying that he will prove me wrong, and I will be honored if I see that.
**
NB: This is not an official document. The information contained therein was compiled by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq , Information Office. If you have any questions/suggestions, please contact us at (+ 962 550 -4631/4632 or Cell. + 962 77 619 731 [email protected] or [email protected]
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