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, June 08, 2005

 

HEADLINES, Click to follow link

IRAQI NEWS, 7 June 05

Eighteen said killed, 39 wounded in suicide bombs near Kirkuk

Around 900 insurgent suspects arrested in Operation Lightning

Iraqi government claims security drive success

Iraqi government says date for Saddam trial not set

Sunni leader urges more Sunni participation in drafting constitution

SCIRI leader rejects proposal to make Kirkuk part of Kurdistan

Commander of Ukrainian forces denies corruption allegations

IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES, 7 June 05

Al-Dustur [Baghdad, independent daily newspaper]:

Al-Furat [Baghdad, independent political daily newspaper]:

Baghdad [Baghdad, political daily]:

Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, Iraqi National Congress paper]:

Al-Zaman[Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily]

IRAQI PRESS QOUTES & EDITORIALS, 7 June 05

[From editorial on corruption]- Al-Dustur

“Iraqi unity”- Al-Furat

IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA, 7 June 05

Al-Iraqiyah TV broadcast polio vaccination appeal

Programme summary of Al-Sharqiyah TV news 07 Jun 05

Programme summary of Iraqi Al-Iraqiyah TV news 7 Jun 05

KURDISH MEDIA, 7 June 05

Kurdistan parliament debates regional presidency law

Kurdistan Satellite TV news summary 7 Jun 05

KurdSat TV news summary 07 Jun 05

 

 

IRAQI NEWS, 7 June 05

 

Eighteen said killed, 39 wounded in suicide bombs near Kirkuk

Eighteen Iraqis, including three soldiers, were killed and 39 others, including nine soldiers, were wounded in a string of explosions in the northern town of Al-Huwayjah , near Kirkuk , on 7 June, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. Police sources said three booby-trapped cars driven by suicide bombers exploded almost simultaneously near checkpoints at the northern, western and eastern entrances to the mainly Sunni Arab city early in the morning. The first targeted a checkpoint that leads to the US base in the city, the second targeted a checkpoint north of the city while the third targeted a checkpoint east of the city. The fourth car exploded at an Iraqi army checkpoint on the northern Kirkuk-Al-Zab road, west of Al-Huwayjah. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad , in Arabic 7 Jun 05)

AFP quoted Yarub al-Sumaidi, a medic in Hawijah's general hospital saying that the dead included five soldiers and three children. It recalled that a suicide bomber wearing a belt of explosives struck outside an army recruitment centre in Al-Huwayjah on 11 May 11, killing 32 people and wounding 28. (AFP)

Around 900 insurgent suspects arrested in Operation Lightning

US and Iraqi soldiers have arrested around 900 suspected insurgents during a series of security operations around Baghdad , which began two weeks ago, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 7 June, citing the government. The TV added that hundreds of US and Iraqi soldiers launched a "show of force" operation in the city of Tall Afar , east of Mosul , at dawn on 7th. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad , in Arabic 7 Jun 05)

Iraqi government claims security drive success

The Iraqi government spokesman Layth Kubbah said on 7 June that the crackdown on insurgents, Operation Lightning, had been a success so far. "There have been tangible improvements in the security situation in Baghdad and other cities," he said in a news conference broadcast on Al-Iraqiyah. "All predictions indicate that these networks' operations have shrunk" Kubbah said the authorities had arrested more than 800 suspected militants in the past two weeks as part of the drive to reduce attacks in Baghdad. Kubbah said the government has also unearthed 38 weapons dumps. (Al-Iraqiyah TV in Arabic, , 7 Jun 05)

Iraqi government says date for Saddam trial not set

Iraq 's government has retracted a statement that Saddam Husayn's trial would be held within weeks, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 7 June. The government spokesman, Layth Kubbah, said it was up to the independent special tribunal to set the date. "If you want to know exactly about the details of the trial, such as its date, we refer you once again to the media official of the special tribunal," Kubbah said in comments broadcast on the TV. The TV said the special tribunal had issued a statement, in which it stressed that the questioning of defendants, being carried out by Iraqi interrogators, had not yet been completed. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad , in Arabic 7 Jun 05)

Sunni leader urges more Sunni participation in drafting constitution

The leader of the Sunni religious endowment institution Waqf, Adnan Muhammad Salman, told Al-Sharqiyah TV on 7 June that around 30 Sunnis should be involved in the committee drafting Iraq 's new constitution. He said there was a meeting on 9 June to reach a decision on who would take part in the committee. "We are currently in the process of preparing a list which includes the names of legal experts to take part in drafting the constitution," Salman said. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad , in Arabic 7 Jun 05)

SCIRI leader rejects proposal to make Kirkuk part of Kurdistan

A senior member of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) has rejected Kurdish demands to annex Kirkuk to the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq , Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 7 June. "We don't accept annexing this or that governorate," Ammar al-Hakim said. He described Kirkuk as a "miniature Iraq for all Iraqis", adding: "We reject the compulsory deportation of any Iraqi from any Iraqi city." (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad , in Arabic 7 Jun 05)

Commander of Ukrainian forces denies corruption allegations

The commander of the Ukrainian troops in Iraq , Gen Koro Shinkur, has denied recent allegations in the country's media that the troops deployed in the reconstruction projects and the training of Iraqi security forces in Iraq 's Wasit province have been involved in any administrative corruption. In remarks published by the Iraqi newspaper Al-Mada, Shinkur said: "The media escalation against our forces in this aspect is mere talk that is not based on facts and is circulated by some contractors who did not manage to get some contracts assigned by our forces because their offers did not meet at all the required conditions and specifications." He added that a joint committee had been set up by representatives of the provincial administration and the Ukrainian forces to follow-up and supervise the reconstruction projects and award contracts. (Al-Mada, Baghdad , in Arabic 6 Jun 05)

 

IRAQI PRESS HEADLINES, 7 June 05

Al-Dustur [ Baghdad , independent daily newspaper]:

• Investigation into delivery of rotten corn shipments to Iraq (Agencies quoted)
• Interior Ministry sacks 2,500 Kurdish policemen, Kirkuk-based command refusing to comply (Agencies quoted)
• Al-Ja'fari meets chieftain of Iraqi Armenians (Agencies quoted)
• Parliamentarians object to Zebari's request for foreign troops in Iraq to stay longer Tehran files anti-Saddam claims (Agencies quoted)
• Terrorist networks uncovered in Arbil (Agencies quoted)
• Jordan to set up new border-crossing post on border with Iraq (Agencies quoted)
• Oil Ministry meeting demand for fuel required for power generation (Agencies quoted).

Al-Furat [ Baghdad , independent political daily newspaper]:

• Iraqi Foreign Ministry expresses surprise at lack of Arab ambassadors accredited to Baghdad
• Test results prove Australian wheat clean
• Kirkuk must remain a small model of Iraq , says Al-Hakim
• Wave of discontent among Syrian opposition following Al-Asad's speech
• Karbala to get four giant power generators donated by the [United Arab] Emirates

Baghdad [ Baghdad , political daily]:

• On EU ambassadors' initiative, Allawi meets with twelve ambassadors
• Five hundred and seventy detainees discharged
• Agreement reached to have fourteen full members added to constitutional panel
• Weapons hide-out destroyed in Al-Yusifiyah, 16 citizens, including woman, two children, killed, injured
• Mass migration resulting from lack of security, deterioration in services
• Kuwaiti-Iranian security meeting held Pensioners to get loans as of next month.

Al-Mu'tamar [ Baghdad , Iraqi National Congress paper]:

• Four thousand soldiers tracking down terrorists on Iraqi-Syrian border
• Al-Ja'fari stresses importance of consolidating security at religious places of worship (KUNA quoted)
• Zebari expecting violence to continue Military operations expected to be scaled down in June
• Al-Ja'fari's programme deemed bad, deficient by Kurds, national dialogue council (Agencies quoted)
• International unit to provide help in drafting constitution
• Kurdistan Parliament begins discussions on unification of two Kurdish governments
• Al-Hasani rejects remarks by parliamentarian involving insult to Bashar al-Asad.

Al-Zaman[ Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily]

• Kidnappings, killings and marginalization collaborating to deplete Iraq of its scientific, economic talents, with border-crossing points witnessing exodus of middle-class professionals
• Iraq downsizing Bara oil contracts, Al-Dujayli succeeding Al-Bakka' as SOMO chief executive (Reuters quoted)
• Ubiquitous use of hallucination pills divulged by Iraqi parliamentarian
• Two thousand plain clothes security men redeployed in Baghdad , says leader of Interior Ministry Commandos
• US serviceman dies after being injured in road side bomb blast in Kirkuk
• Three police commandos injured in Al-Saydiyah, four Iraqi soldiers wounded in Tikrit Wave of incursions in Bayji, thirty detained, including mosque preacher.

 

 

IRAQI PRESS QOUTES & EDITORIALS, 7 June 05

[From editorial on corruption]- Al-Dustur

 

Al-Dustur [From editorial] : "Some people are so narrow-minded as to think that there is no point trying to organization integrity where corruption reigns supreme Once, I ventured to ask one of those cynics what he thought of the current political process and the new situation it has resulted in. His reply, as sarcastic as one would expect of any confirmed cynic, was that the country has gone to the dogs, everything has been pillaged and there is ruin everywhere. When I asked him what he intended to do about it, he said coldly that he was just looking on."

 

“Iraqi unity”- Al-Furat

 

Al-Furat[From editorial]: "Can you imagine, gentlemen, that Iraqi unity has become a tertiary issue, that a divided Iraq has come to be taken for granted as the ultimate panacea for Iraq's predicament, an absolute necessity for the country's economic revival, as some would advocate?! With federalism being trumpeted as the only option open to us, one would think the average Iraqi has become a stranger in his own land, a fugitive in his birthplace unless he takes the plunge and emigrates to some other region of his own country."

 

 

 

IRAQI BROADCAST MEDIA, 7 June 05

Al-Iraqiyah TV broadcast polio vaccination appeal

Iraq 's government-backed Al-Iraqiyah TV broadcast on 7 June an appeal to all Iraqi parents to have their children vaccinated against polio. "Dear mother, dear father, you are responsible for your children's lives. Have them vaccinated against polio in the national campaign, by medical teams which will be carrying out housecalls, or at health centres for the under-fives. There will be two stages to the campaign. The first runs from 19 June 2005 , for five days. The second runs from 24 July 2005 , for five days," the broadcast said. (Al-Iraqiyah TV in Arabic, 7 Jun 05)

Programme summary of Al-Sharqiyah TV news 07 Jun 05

• The Iraqi government has withdrawn its previous statement that the trial of former President Saddam Husayn would begin soon, saying that this matter is for the independent tribunal to decide; government spokesman says the tribunal would also need to listen to the pressure from Iraqis who want to know about Husayn's trial; video shows spokesman speaking to reporters
• Special tribunal issues a statement saying investigations and interrogations are still ongoing and that the trials of former government officials will only begin once these investigations are completed
• Government spokesman says that the government's security plan is making progress and that an outright knock-out blow against the insurgency is not possible but that their defeat would be a gradual process; video shows spokesman speaking to reporters
• Association of Muslim Scholars' spokesman accuses the government of arresting people without a cause, mistreating prisoners, says problems in Iraq have to do with politics and not security; video shows cleric speaking to reporters
• Explosions in town north of Baghdad kill 19 people, car blast in Baghdad wounds three police officers and dozens of civilians; video report shows footage from blast scenes, wounded in hospitals, damaged shops and buildings
• Iraqi official says there are studies to set up a self-governing area in central Iraq which includes the town of Karbala
• US army denies that seven people were killed when the army destroyed three homes during an operation in western Iraq
• US and Iraqi forces begin operations in Tall Afar in northern Iraq against armed groups in the area
• Iraqi government announces arrest of nearly 900 people during its operations around Baghdad
• Member of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution rejects Kurdish proposal to include Kirkuk in the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq
• US army says two marines were killed in operations in the western Al-Anbar province; this brings the number of US troops killed in Iraq so far to 1,674
• Iraqi forces continue Operation Lightening around Baghdad , seize more weapons and ammunition; video shows Iraqi forces, officers speaking to reporters
• Iraqi government announces a 50,000-dollar reward for any information leading to the arrest of a senior Al-Qa'idah leader
• New head appointed for the Sumu oil company in Iraq
• Constitution writing committee continues its meetings, appoints new members; video shows committee member speaking to reporter
• A number of prisoners and guards wounded in clashes in the Abu-Ghurayb prison when some prisoners tried to escape during a sand storm
• Famous Iraqi actor Tayib al-Furati dies; video shows Al-Furati in hospital
• Relatives of an imam of a mosque in Basra say that his body was found a day after he was abducted
• Romania accuses three Iraqis of conspiring to abduct three Romanian journalists recently released in Iraq ; video shows Romanian journalists in Romania .

Programme summary of Iraqi Al-Iraqiyah TV news 7 Jun 05

• Prime Minister Dr Ibrahim al-Ja'fari discusses implementation of cabinet programme with ministers. Video report covers Al-Ja'fari's separate meetings with ministers and Greek envoy.
• Constitution committee continues dialogue with parties which did not take part in polls. Video report covers comments by committee member on participation of all parties, comments by members of public. ( 2:11 )
• Studio interview with MP Sa'ad al-Barazanchi. He says some proposals made by Sunni Arabs are under consideration, committee for writing of the constitution to be expanded.
• National Assembly discusses amendment to internal procedures. Video report covers focus of discussion.
• Cabinet spokesman says Operation Lightning successful. Video report covers Layth Kubba press conference. He notes decline in terror actions, says discovered weapons caches and arrest of hundreds of terror suspects signal success.
• Report assesses Operation Lightning in Baghdad , says hundreds of terror suspects arrested, forthcoming trial of Saddam Husayn to weaken terror networks.
• Car bomb injures 28; blasts kill 22 Iraqi soldiers in Hawija; 65 terror suspects arrested in Latifiyah and Mahmudiyah, 35 others held in Abu-Ghurayb; weapons found. Eight terror suspects held in Mosul .
• Gang arrested in Al-Najaf; new security plan carried out. Video report covers arrest of gangsters involved in forging license plates of stolen cars. ( 1:03 )
• Police academy in Karbala says it can take in hundreds of recruits. Video report covers training of police recruits, comments of commander. ( 1:45 )
• US congressman says Syria responsible for killing of ex-Lebanese premier. Syrian Vice-President Abd-al-Halim Khaddam resigns his posts at party congress. Video report.
• Two Palestinians fire rockets on Gaza settlement; two others killed by Israeli army in West Bank . Video report. ( 2:21 )
• British Prime Minister Tony Blair holds talks with US President George Bush ahead of G8 summit. Video report. ( 1:35 )
• Business bulletin. Al-Ja'fari discusses with Baghdad governor plans to solve housing crisis. Minister of housing puts budget for infrastructure and services at one billion dollars, says unemployment rate low in peaceful provinces. Minister of oil discusses with Iranian envoy building of oil pipeline.

 

KURDISH MEDIA, 7 June 05

Kurdistan parliament debates regional presidency law

The Kurdistan National Assembly debated the regional presidency law at a session on 6 June, Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) newspaper Khabat reported the following day. The MPs debated amendments to five articles. (Khabat, Arbil, in Sorani Kurdish 7 Jun 05)

Kurdistan Satellite TV news summary 7 Jun 05

• Leader of Kurdistan Democratic Party, KDP, Mas'ud Barzani, meets head of South Korean Olive military unit, thanks his forces for their participation in the reconstruction process of Kurdistan . Report over video showing the meeting in progress
• KDP leader, former US ambassador to Croatia Peter Galbraith, discuss prevailing political situation in Iraq and Kurdistan
• Members of Kurdistan National Assembly discuss the draft law of Kurdistan regional presidency
• Kurds in Iraqi National Assembly criticize Al-Ja'fari's programme
• Prominent SCIRI member opposes Kirkuk to be annexed to Kurdistan region ... Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Alawi says violence increased with the new Iraqi government
• Former Iraqi President Saddam Husayn to be tried in two months
• Poeple in Kirkuk criticize Al-Ja'fari's politics and call for implementation of Article 58 of the Transitional Administration Law. Report over video showing interviews with people in Kirkuk .

KurdSat TV news summary 07 Jun 05

• Iraqi President Talabani meets Dutch and Italian ambassadors to Baghdad , discuss relationships between EU and Iraq
• Roundup of news on President Talabani's meetings with officials in Iraq ... Kurdistan National Assembly discuss draft Kurdistan regional presidency law
• British Prime Minister Tony Blair visits US
• Eighteen killed and scores wounded in four bomb blasts in Hawijah. Report over video showing scenes of incidents
• Bomb blast in Baghdad wounds 28
• Patriotic Union of Kurdistan-led regional minister of human rights meets head of Institute of International Human Rights in Sulaymaniyah. Report over video showing the meeting in progress
• anti-insurgent operation in Baghdad continues. Report over video showing the operation in progress.

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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 jarrar@un.org or alsokhni@un.org