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 18, 2005
HEADLINES, Click to follow link
Four Iraqi soldiers killed at power plant
Kurdish security services to name Arbil bombers
Post claims seven marines captured in western Iraq
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES, 17 May 05
Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]:
Al-Dustur [Baghdad, independent daily newspaper]:
Baghdad [Baghdad, political daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Accord Movement]:
Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, comprehensive daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Congress]:
Al-Sharq al-Awsat [From commentary by Khalid al-Qishtayni]:
IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA HEADLINES, 17 May 05
Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV news 17 May 05:
Programme summary of Al-Iraqiyah TV news 17 May 05
UPDATES FROM THE KURDISH PERSS, 17 May 2005
Xebat, daily newspaper issued in Erbil by the KDP
Kurdistani Nwe, daily newspaper issued in Sulaymanya by the PUK
Peyamner – Kurdistan News Agency
Medya, weekly newspaper issued in Erbil by Kurdistan National Democratic Union
IRAQI NEWS, 17 May 05
Four Iraqi soldiers killed at power plant
Four Iraqi soldiers were killed in armed clashes with unknown gunmen at the Al-Musayyab power generation plant south of Baghdad at dawn on Tuesday (17 May), Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. (Al-Sharqiyah TV, Baghdad , in Arabic 17 May 05)
Kurdish security services to name Arbil bombers
The Kurdistan security services in Arbil say they have arrested a large number of people involved in terrorist acts, particularly in the 4 May attack in Arbil, a statement on the pro-KDP Peyamner website reported on 17 May. They said they intended to name perpetrators and report the circumstances of the incident soon. (Peyamner, pro-Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) website in Sorani Kurdish, 17 May 05)
Post claims seven marines captured in western Iraq
On 17 May, a brief message in large type was posted in the Baghdad al-Rashid forum by frequent contributor "Al-Khafaji Amir" claiming that seven US marines had been captured in western Iraq . The post was entitled "Urgent - Seven Captives in Matador Operation." No group was cited as having carried out the marines' capture in the message. The Baghdad al-Rashid forum at www.baghdadalrashid.com carries news, messages, and statements about and from Iraqi Sunni insurgents.
IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES, 17 May 05
Al-Sharq al-Awsat [ Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]:
- Iraq has provided bordering states with lists of names identifying their terror-implicated nationals, says Arab source
- Iraqi Sunnis welcome Rice's call to involve them in promulgating permanent constitution, warn Al-Ja'fari's government of impending sectarian war (AFP quoted)
- Iraqi source says Kharrazi to visit Baghdad today (AFP quoted)
- New single-day violence toll: twenty-five dead, forty-nine injured, car bomb explosion reported near Syrian border, rockets homing in on college in Baghdad (Agencies quoted)
- Announcing ban on incursions into universities, places of worship, Iraqi Defence Minister says terrorists living through last phase (AFP quoted)
Al-Mada [ Baghdad , independent daily newspaper published by Al-Mada Corporation for Media, Culture and Art]:
- Al-Mada reporter killed in Karbala by Latifiyah terrorists
- News of arms deals involving US soldiers, Mosul gunmen said in possession of sophisticated weaponry of US, European make
- Ninety-five suspects detained in Ninawa, including prominent member of the Abu-Talhah group
- Trade Minister sounds alarm: We are short of funds to pay for food rations
- School broken into, two teachers killed
- Sadr City put on highest alert, extreme caution observed, suspicious cars seized
- Confessions by Ramadhan, Aziz: Saddam gave away oil worth millions of dollars to buy Russian officials' support (Newsweek quoted)
- Pending decision on whether to include Al-Nakhib area, Karbala ', Babil, Kut governorates mulling formation of federal region in central Iraq ...
Al-Dustur [ Baghdad , independent daily newspaper]:
- Muqtada al-Sadr urges Shiite-Sunni self-restraint
- Labour Minister says it is essential that government departments should lay out workable three-month blueprint
- Rice's call (for greater Sunni involvement) welcomed by Head of Sunni Endowment Board
- National Assembly has not empowered government to use force against anyone, says Iraqi parliamentarian
- Senior Iraqi judge gunned down with son on leaving post-funeral gathering of mourners (Agencies quoted)
- (Saddam's wife) Sajidah, her daughters, decide to buy 55% of Al-Jazeera TV channel (Agencies quoted)
- New tax-collection mechanism to be launched at government departments ...
Al-Da'wah [ Baghdad , political daily newspaper published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party- Iraqi Bureau]:
- Interior Ministry officers disappear with CDs containing sensitive intelligence
- Al-Ja'fari: We are working to clear the way for the political process
- Terrorist attack targeting students at College of Engineering
- Contrary to cabinet's decision, Mujahideen-e-Khalq members share food ration with Iraqi citizens
- Central body to be set up to combat oil smuggling
- Balad police headquarters coming under terrorist attack
- British troops carry out incursions into residential neighbourhoods in Maysan
- Preparations underway to accommodate pilgrims to holy sites coming from Iran
- Terror not exempting poultry farmers
- Targeting Iraqi police, military tabooed by Sunni Endowment Board
Baghdad [ Baghdad , political daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Accord Movement]:
- Iraqi National Accord Movement's rank and file mulling ways of enhancing march towards democracy
- Al-Sadr bans targeting civilians, calls for self-restraint
- Shiite Endowment Board asks to be involved in drafting permanent constitution
- 182 detainees released
- 500 renowned Iranian dignitaries to boycott presidential elections (Agencies quoted)
- Sunni Endowment Board demands random detentions, incursions be stopped
- Following demonstrations calling for relations with it to be cut off, Kuwait denies intention to insult Sayyid Al-Sistani (KUNA quoted)
- British Ambassador reiterates support for new Iraq
- Citizens help identify two booby-trapped cars, university students hit by two mortar shells, fifteen students martyred, wounded (Agencies quoted)
- Commando regiment deployed in Maysan to monitor border, combat terrorism
Al-Mu'tamar [ Baghdad , comprehensive daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Congress]:
- Three Iraqi reporters killed (Agencies quoted)
- FM Zebari calls on bordering states to help Iraqi government to counter violence
- Former Allawi cabinet ministers warn against politicizing justice
- British ambassador concludes Baghdad tenure, describes present phase in Iraq as historic
- With nine more uncovered , number of dead bodies found in Mada'in now 59 (KUNA quoted)
- Iraqi government has no intention to do away with food-rationing, seeks to replicate Dubai 's economic experiment (, says Planning Minister)
- Housing Ministry: Plans drawn up for 504 housing units in Fallujah
- Ministry of Higher Education offered scholarships, research sabbaticals by Australia
- Taxes on industrial projects reduced
Al-Adalah [ Baghdad , general political daily newspaper published by the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq ]:
- Ministerial commission set up to approach movements, parties, civil society organizations with a view to securing wider involvement in constitution writing
- Leaders, Barzani, Talabani to meet to settle Kurdistan regional presidency issue (Voices of Iraq quoted) ... Biggest car-bomb rigging expert detained in Mosul (AFP quoted)
- Jordan submits draft free trade agreement to Iraq (Agencies quoted)
- During visit to Supreme Religious Authority in holy Najaf, Dr Al-Ja'fari says Iraqi people's high level of awareness sure to render terrorist acts ineffectual
- Iraq 's northern oil exports to remain halted for another ten days (Agencies quoted) ...
IRAQI PRESS QOUTES, 17 May 05
Al-Sharq al-Awsat [From commentary by Khalid al-Qishtayni]:
"Iraqis have traditionally looked up to well-bred gentlemen and down on thuggish upstarts. Yet, by bullying others, squandering its own riches and generally not knowing what to do with itself, modern Iraq seems to have done everything necessary to qualify as an upstart state. It has even had its gentlemanly former British occupiers replaced with the US military, an internationally recognized upstart to my thinking."
Al-Mada [From editorial]:
"Because we have lost count of the number of dead who are falling victim to terror on a daily basis without anyone telling us who they are or which part of the country they come from, the publicity given lately to the discovery of scattered batches of dead bodies in disparate locations can only play into the hands of the killers as it serves to regenerate and spread a general sense of terror among the public. This is further augmented by the opaqueness and secrecy with which such cases are usually handled by security departments, which gives grounds to public suspicions as to whether there are still any laws and law-enforcement bodies left in this country."
Al-Dustur [From editorial]:
"It is no exaggeration to say that, until very recently, the PM's office did not bother to read any of our local newspapers, except for those sharing his partisan views. If we are unable to get our voices heard by the president, the prime minister or the National Assembly speaker, then we'd better destroy our pens and quit our trade for good."
IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA HEADLINES, 17 May 05
Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV news 17 May 05:
- US Secretary of State Rice describes her talks with Iraqi officials during her visit to Iraq as very positive, renews her confidence in the new Iraqi government, warns against any parties withdrawing from the political process, says foreign terrorists are coming in to Iraq from Syria
- Blasts destroy two buildings in Al-Durra district in western Baghdad , dozens of people killed and injured; video report shows footage from the site of the blasts, destroyed buildings and cars, eyewitnesses describing the blasts
- Iranian foreign minister arrives in Baghdad , to meet Iraqi president and prime minister, to discuss bilateral relations, ending state of war, Iraqi officials expected to raise the issue of infiltrators from Iran
- Iraqi forces clash with armed group near power station west of Baghdad , four soldiers killed.
- Kurdish party official says they are in disagreement with other groups over who will head the constitution writing committee
- US soldier killed in blast targeting military convoy south of Tikrit
- Suicide attack targets US soldiers near the Syrian border, five killed, no information on nationality of those killed
- Armed group attacks checkpoint near Kirkuk , three police killed, US and Iraqi forces conduct raid south of Kirkuk
- Coalition forces seize large quantities of arms and munitions in southern Iraq
- Anti-corruption official assassinated in southern Baghdad
- Iraqi police foil attack on Iraqi official in northern Iraq after a one-hour battle
- US military court finds a US soldier guilty of mistreating Iraqi detainees; video shows pictures of Iraqi detainees being mistreated by US soldiers
- Kazakh defence minister says presence of Kazakh soldiers in Iraq will not be extended
- Iraqi writers and thinkers celebrate an Iraqi writer receiving a Qatari award; video report shows footage from the ceremony
- Democrats in the US Congress accuse the US administration of allowing illicit sales of Iraqi oil during the oil-for-food programme; accuse US companies of taking part in corruption in this programme
- US investigator accuses a US committee investigating corruption in the oil-for-food programme of being corrupt, resigns from committee
- Britain 's George Galloway says US allegations against him are incorrect, denies receiving money from the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Husayn; video shows Galloway speaking to reporters.
Programme summary of Al-Iraqiyah TV news 17 May 05
- President Jalal Talabani says judiciary should be independent. Video report covers ceremony of federal constitutional judges being sworn in, comments of chief judge. ( 1:52 )
- Cabinet spokesman Laith Quba says strict security laws to be announced soon. Video report covers comments on new laws. ( 3:00 )
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Hoshyar Zebari says chapter of history with Iran should be forgotten following talks with Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi in Baghdad . Video report covers Zebari comments.
- Kharrazi calls for stability and security in Iraq . Video report ( 1:43 )
- Studio interview with member of National Assembly Faysal al-Sahlani. He explains political significance of Kharazi visit. ( 4:37 )
- Minister of Defence Sa'dun al-Dulaymi meets British Secretary of State for Defence John Reid in Baghdad . (0:15)
- Russian official denies US accusation of involvement in oil-for-food programme. Video report covers comments by British MP denying US charges.
- Four Iraqi soldiers killed in clashes with insurgents; policemen killed in attack in Kirkuk ; Iraqi official killed in Baghdad . Video report covers violence. ( 2:33 )
- Iraqis mourn victims of terrorism. Video report covers ceremony held in Baghdad . ( 2:42 )
- Iraqi women praise new cabinet. Video report ( 1:34 )
- Iraqis in Duhuk want end to violence. Video report ( 2:00 )
- Islamic Al-Da'wah Movement calls for stronger national ties. Video report covers movement commemorating slain member, Izz al-Din Salim. ( 2:12 )
- African summit on Darfur concluded in Tripoli . Video report ( 2:31 )
- Over 700 killed in Uzbek riots. Video report ( 2:00 )
- Business bulletin. Wheat shipments from Turkey arrive in Basra . US Congress report says Washington ignored oil smuggling by former Iraqi regime. Duhok sees tourist and trade boom due to relative security. New plan to revamp old buildings in Iraq . Bridges and roads build in Arbil.
- Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari meets Kharrazi. Video report includes footage of meeting.
UPDATES FROM THE KURDISH PERSS, 17 May 2005
Xebat, daily newspaper issued in Erbil by the KDP
- KDP leader Massoud Barzani met with chief and executive members of the party’s 2nd and 16th branches in charge of downtown Erbil and its neighborhood. In addition to reviewing organizational matters, the participants discussed the status quo in Iraq and Kurdistan , as well as the expected opening of Kurdistan parliament, Kurdistan Region presidency and related matters. They also reiterated the need to provide better services to Erbil governorate.
- KRG-Erbil PM Nechirvan Barzani received in Erbil the Chinese Ambassador to Baghdad and his accompanying delegation Monday evening.
- The Kurdish sponsored Fraternity List that won 26 of 41 seats in Kirkuk Governorate’s Municipal Council in January 30 elections nominated current governor Abdulrahman Mustafa for the post for another term.
- The director-general of the KDP’s Kurdistan Voice Radio in Kirkuk Kawez Mala Parwez and members of his family survived an assassination attempt in his residence downtown Kirkuk at 4:30 a.m. Monday.
Kurdistani Nwe, daily newspaper issued in Sulaymanya by the PUK
- The Iraqi army must be an army for all Iraqis regardless of their athnicity, religion or sect, Iraqi president Talabani said during his reception on Monday to defense minister Saadoun al-Dlemi.
- PUK politburo member Nawshirwan Mustafa and KRG-Sulaymanya PM Omer Fattah received in Sulaymanya the Chinese ambassador to Baghdad and his accompanying delegation on Monday. Mustafa warmly welcomed the delegation and briefed them on the developing situation in Kurdistan .
- The Shiites and the Kurds contest for leadership of the constitution writing committee.
- Kurdish-sponsored fraternity list that wan majority of the seats in January elections for Kirkuk Governorate Municipal council convened a meeting Monday evening and decided to nominate current governor Abdulrahman Mustafa for the post for another term. A source from the list expected that Ahmed Askari would be elected as council chairperson in the first meeting to be held on 19 May.
- KRG-Sulaymanya human rights minister Salah Rasheed divulged increasing the monthly pension pay for the families of the victims of the former regime’s notorious Operation Anfal from ID 80,000 to 150,000 (about $100) . A ministry official told the daily that 7,762 families benefit from the increase.
- Manager of President Talabani’s office Kamaran Qaradaghi rebutted allegations by al-Safeer and al-Nahar Lebanese newspapers that claimed Talabani had met with an Israeli senior military officer recently and received a letter from PM Sharon. Qaradaghi described the allegations as groundless and said that during the Jordan visit, Talabani met wit King Abdulla and senior Jordanian officials only. The Lebanese papers had cited the report from an Israeli paper.
Peyamner – Kurdistan News Agency
- In a statement released Tuesday, the KRG-Erbil Directorate-General of Security declared that the security authorities launched an extensive campaign of raids and captured a terrorist network before the terrorist explosion of May 4th took place. After the explosion, the arrest campaigns continued and a large number of terrorists were identified and captured but the information was not disclosed for the safety of the investigations, the statement elaborates, divulging that the details would be made public immediately after the end of the investigations. All the reports that were, or would be published on the network are not credible unless coming out from the concerned security departments, the statement concludes.
- Kurdistan PM’s meet outside the parliament House. Upon an invitation of Kurdistan Islamic Union (Yakgirtu), a number of the newly elected members of Kurdistan National Assembly are due to meet at the Yakgirtu politburo HQ in Erbil to push for convening the first meeting of the parliament officially. Yakgirtu politburo member Muhammed Faraj said that MPs from all the winning lists were invited for the meeting. “We want to say in a pacific way that the parliament must convene at the soonest,” Faraj said. 20 MP’s have met in Chwar Chira Hotel unofficially in Erbil in the presence of Mahmoud Osman earlier this week but the meeting failed to reach any conclusion as some of the attendees left the venue angrily even before the start of the meeting.
Medya, weekly newspaper issued in Erbil by Kurdistan National Democratic Union
- Kurdish famous politician and member of the Iraqi parliament Mahmoud Osman said he agreed with the KDP that the serve term for the [proposed] Kurdistan Region president should be 4 years not a transitional period [of few months] like the one in Baghdad. Osman said that the KDP-PUK disagreements on the details of the Kurdistan Region presidency code were almost over and the PUK leader Jalal Talabani would visit Erbil this week to meet with his KDP counterpart and finalize the settlement. The veteran politician said that he preferred electing the president inside Kurdistan parliament “so that the parliament can pursue him.”
- Two more Turcoman senior officials of the Iraqi Turcoman Front break away.
- The Syrian intelligence service abducted a Kurdish clergyman named Muhammed Maashuq Khaznawi for his active advocacy for the national Kurdish rights. Five Syrian Kurdish political parties issued separate statements holding the government responsible for the safety of the nationalist clergy. Also, 400 Kurds staged a demonstration in front of the supreme security court demanding the government to release Khaznawi and other prisoners of opinion immediately.
***
NB: This is not an official document. The information contained therein was compiled by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq , Information Office.
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