Arabic News Weekly Edition for Iraq, 12/15/2003
Weekly Edition, Iraq - Week of December 15, 2003
- UN Security Council confirms killing of Kuwaiti missing in Iraq
The U.N. security council on Thursday confirmed the killing of 605 persons that Kuwait says had been missing since the Iraqi invasion of its land in 1990. Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 12/20/2003 - Baghdad favorably welcomes Morocco's participation in Iraq's reconstruction
Iraqi foreign minister has said that his country welcomes favorably Morocco and other Arab states' participation in reconstruction efforts in this war-torn country. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 12/20/2003 - Iraqi court releases al-Jazeera photographer
The investigation court of the Iraqi criminal central court sentenced the release of al-Jazeera photographer in Baqouba, Salah Hassan, because evidence against him was insufficient. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 12/19/2003 - Saddam Hussein portait as begging to meet with Chalabi
The Iraqis yesterday hurried to buy al-Mu'tamar (the conference) paper, mouthpiece of the Iraqi National Congress led by Ahmed Chalabi, in which the paper frontpaged his picture with the former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein with a title saying "Saddam begs his jailors to meet with Chalabi." Iraq, Politics, 12/19/2003 - Five Iraqis, American soldiers killed, revenge assassination raises fears of sectarianism
The American occupation army in Iraq considered that number of attacks against the Iraqi policeto have increased in December while the level of the occupation forces remains the same. Iraq-USA, Politics, 12/19/2003 - Arab League dispatches a delegation to visit Iraq
News reports in Cairo said that a delegation representing the Arab League will head today to Iraq via Syria in a visit, which is the first of its kind for an Arab delegation, since the occupation of Iraq. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 12/19/2003 - An explosion in the Higher Council For Islamic Revolution in Baghdad
News reports in Baghdad said that one woman was killed, and two other persons injured, in a large explosion in the Islamic Dawa ( information) house which belongs to the Higher Council For Islamic Revolution in Iraq, today morning. Iraq, Politics, 12/19/2003 - Text: U.S. to Fund "Redirection Training" for Former WMD Scientists in Iraq
The State Department December 18 announced a 2-year program to support the peaceful, civilian employment of Iraqi scientists, technicians and engineers formerly working on weapons of mass destruction programs and to discourage emigration of this community from Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 12/19/2003 - Iraqi foreign minister arrives in Morocco Iraq-Morocco, Politics, 12/19/2003
- Scores killed, wounded in Baghdad explosion, 3 US soldiers wounded
Three American soldiers were wounded yesterday evening in two separate attacks that took place in Musil, to the north of Iraq, according to the Iraqi police and witnesses. Iraq-USA, Military, 12/18/2003 - Al-Assad refuses to comment on Saddam's capture Syria-Iraq, Politics, 12/18/2003
- Syrian oil byproducts for Iraqi oil and fuel
It was announced officially that Syria and Iraq signed yesterday an agreement to exchange Syrian oil byproducts for Iraqi crude oil and fuel. Syria-Iraq, Economics, 12/17/2003 - Iraqi refugees in Lebanon start to return back home
An official source announced that Lebanon announced yesterday releasing some 273 Iraqis, who were in the Lebanese jails, because of their illegal entry to the Lebanese territories before the collapse of the Iraqi regime. Iraq-Lebanon, Politics, 12/17/2003 - Iraqi Council forms a reconciliation committee; prepares to try Saddam
News reports in Iraq said that the Interim Governing Council decided to form a committee under the name of "facts finding and national reconciliation" that aims at what it called closing the file of hatred created because of 35 years under the rule of the Baath party. Iraq, Politics, 12/17/2003 - Demonstrators denounce Saddam's capture; Bush: situation is difficult
The American forces yesterday killed some 11 Iraqis while trying to implant an ambush against U.S. soldiers in Sameraa town to the north of Baghdad. This is at a time when the American president admitted that the occupation forces will continue to face difficulties in Iraq, even after the arrest of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Iraq-USA, Politics, 12/17/2003 - Amnesty International for a just trial for Saddam Hussein
In its reaction to Saddam Hussein's capture, Amnesty International welcomed the capturing of Saddam and said that he is accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. It stressed his right to International Law guarantees, including his right not to be mistreated or tortured, and his right to a just trial. Iraq, Politics, 12/16/2003 - Mubarak blames Iraqi intransigence for current conditions
President Mubarak said in an exclusive statements to Ibrahim Nafie, the editor of AL Ahram in a comment on the capture of the ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein he hopes that this step would provide a good chance for transferring the authority to the Iraqi people. He said he hopes that such a transfer would take place according to a timetable so that Iraqis may govern themselves. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 12/16/2003 - Saddam Hussein proposed negotiations, denied existence of mass destruction weapons
Commander of the combat first brigade at the 4th infantry division, Brian Reed, said that the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein requested negotiations when his forces arrested Hussein in al-Dawr area near Tikrit. It was not clear what Saddam wanted to negotiate about. Iraq-USA, Politics, 12/16/2003 - Baath party announces capture of its secretary general by biological effects
In a statement published on the Internet site, the Baath Arab Socialist Party announces that its Secretary General, Saddam Hussein, was held captive in the hands of the American occupation forces with the help "of traitors," stressing "continued" resistance against occupation. Iraq, Politics, 12/16/2003 - Arab league delegation in Iraq tomorrow
An Arab diplomatic source announced yesterday that a delegation representing the Arab League will head tomorrow toIraq, for the first time since the collapse of the Iraqi regime in April, in order to hold talks with various political forces and religious leaders. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 12/16/2003 - Tehran prepares international complaint against Saddam Hussein
Ramadan Zada said "we want an international court to consider the crimes of this dictator, and this court should tell who armed this dictator, so as he was able to be behind three major crises in the region." Iraq-Iran, Politics, 12/16/2003 - Security reinforcement in Baghdad, demonstrations in Tikrit
Baghdad has been witnessing strong security measures in an atmosphere of extreme caution. The Iraqi police is carrying out a full inspection campaign of cars, and installed check points on various roads. These measures are a precaution against any attack or demonstration that may take place after the announcement of the capture of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein near Tikrit on Sunday. Iraq, Politics, 12/16/2003 - American forces shave the beard of Saddam Hussein
The American forces yesterday displayed a video tape depicting the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein after his capture near his birthplace in Tikrit. A matter which put an end to a search campaign that had lasted more than 8 months. Iraq-USA, Politics, 12/15/2003 - Syrian information minister statement on capturing Saddam
Syria's Information Minister Ahmad al-Hasan, commenting on the capture of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, said Sunday that Syria's opinion regarding Iraq wouldn't be expressed through individuals. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 12/15/2003 - 17 Iraqi policemen killed in booby trapped car explosion; American soldier killed
Three explosions took place on Sunday evening in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. A police source announced that one of the explosions was a result of a truck loaded with fuel barrels rather than explosives. Iraq-USA, Military, 12/15/2003 - UAE will hand over al-Sahaf under Iraqi request
The charge de affairs of the United Arab Emirates UAE embassy in Iraq, Ali Seif al-Kaabi, said that his country will hand over the former Iraqi minister of information, Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf, to the Iraqi judiciary in case Iraq asks for that. United Arab Emirates-Iraq, Politics, 12/15/2003