Saddam Hussein praises Shiite call for armed struggle, UN vote on governing council

Oil started yesterday to flow to the Turkish port of Jeihan, for the first time since the beginning of the American war against Iraq, while the transitional governing council announced it has founded so far 23 ministries and that discussions are still continuous on the names of figures that will preside over these ministries.

Meantime, diplomats at the UN said that the US yesterday proposed to the UN security council yesterday a new draft resolution stated to welcome "the foundation of the transitional governing council in Iraq on July 13, 2003, as an important step towards founding an internationally recognized Iraqi government at the choice of the Iraqi people" to support the humanitarian efforts in the country and to work initially for 12 months. The draft resolutions also stressed the "key role" by the UN in Iraq and to preserve the sovereignty and independence of the Iraqi people.

The diplomats added that the US ambassador at the UN, John Negroponte, called on the UN security council to vote today for the draft resolution.

Meantime, the Turkish ministry of energy announced that Karkouk oil pipelines in northern Iraq started yesterday oil pumping to Jeihan port in Southern Turkey. This line has been blocked since the beginning of the US war on Iraq.

On the other hand, the toppled Iraqi president Saddam Hussein has praised, in a message he sent yesterday to the Qatari al-Jazeera TV station stances advocated by the Shiite clergy Ayatullah Ali al Seistani, calling on the Shiite to declare Jihad against the occupation forces.

In this message Saddam Hussein answered questions put by a journalist about al-Jafaari Seistani. Saddam Hussein commented al-Seistani who issued a Fatwa opposing the formation of a new constitution by a society appointed by the occupation forces, concerning the governing council, noting that "al-Seistani wins our appreciation."