Arabic News Weekly Edition for Iraq, 8/16/2004
Weekly Edition, Iraq - Week of August 16, 2004
- On development in al-Najaf
News reports in Najaf said that the American forces withdrew today ( Saturday) morning from certain areas it had besieged while artillery bombardment were heard from al-Salam cemetery where fighters of al-Mahdi army of the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader are fortifying. Iraq, Politics, 8/21/2004 - Al-Sader supporters hand over keys of al-Haidari courtyard to the Shiite authority
Representatives for the Shiite Clergy Muqtada al-Sader handed over the keys of the Haidari courtyard and the tomb of Imam Ali in al-Najaf to the representatives if the higher authority of the Shiite in Najaf, Ali al-Seistani, in a step observers find as an indicator of the nearby end for the bloody crisis in the city which left behind scores of killed persons. Iraq, Politics, 8/21/2004 - Cautious calm in Najaf; clashes in Basra, bombardment in Falluja
The Iraqi ministry of health said yesterday that at least 77 Iraqis were killed and other 70 injured in the clashes that took place between al-Mahdi army and the American forces during the past 24 hours in Najaf. Iraq, Politics, 8/21/2004 - Three American soldiers, one Polish killed in attacks near Baghdad
In a statement, the American army said that three American soldiers were killed and other five injured in two separate attacks near Baghdad during the past 24 hours. Iraq-USA, Military, 8/21/2004 - Keftaro condemns the US attacks on Najaf Syria-Iraq, Politics, 8/21/2004
- Azhar demonstration condemns events in Najaf Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 8/21/2004
- Violent fighting in Najaf, al-Sader rejects conditions of the government
A spokesman for the Shiite clergy Muqtada al-Sader announced his rejection to demands set by the interim Iraqi government to end the fighting in Najaf. Ahmad al-Sheibani, said in statements to pressmen at Imam Ali shrine in Najaf that the fighters of al-Mahdi army reject the demands of the government. Iraq, Politics, 8/20/2004 - American forces bombard Najaf, Falluja; al-Sader handed over Imam Ali Shrine keys to Shiite clergy
The American forces continued their air and land bombardment against Najaf city to the south of Iraq following the final warning voiced by the Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi to al-Mahdi army to drop the weapons and evacuate the shrine of Imam Ali. Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/20/2004 - American forces break into al-Sader city in Baghdad
Masoum stressed that the 81 elected members on Wednesday represent all Iraqi people social strata and secular, Islamic and liberal parties in addition to independent figures and heads of tribes and also al-Sader trend. Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/20/2004 - Assaults on al-Najaf condemned
Iranian Speaker of the Shoura Council ( Parliament ) Gholamali Haddad Adel Thursday in Tehran expressed "regret over the inhuman practices and violations of the US occupation troops against the holy places in the Iraqi city of Najaf" which claimed the lives of scores of innocent people. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 8/20/2004 - al-Rai: Jordan denies providing American forces with ammunition
Jordan denied yesterday that it has supplied the American forces in Jordan with ammunition, noting that the US is not in need of any military aid. Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 8/20/2004 - Al-Seisnatini leaves the hospital in London
Iraq's Ayatullah al-Ozma Ali al-Seistani left Cromwell hospital in the UK where he is receiving medical treatment after he underwent heart surgery. Iraq-UK, Politics, 8/20/2004 - Syria's statement on Najaf incidents Syria-Iraq, Politics, 8/20/2004
- Washington doubts al-Sader's acceptance of the mediation conditions, two American soldiers killed
The US administration has doubted the news which talked about the acceptance of the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader for a peace plan to end the violent fighting in Najaf. Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/19/2004 - Iraqi defense minister threatens of a critical battle in Najaf
Iraq's defense minister Hazem al-Shaalan gave a grace period to the fighters of al-Mahdi army of the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader in Najaf for hours in order to hand over their weapons and abide by the will of the government. Iraq, Politics, 8/19/2004 - One Turkish hostage released in Iraq
The Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gull yesterday announced that one of the two Turkish truck drivers who were kidnapped on Saturday in Iraq was released, noting that he is now on his way back to Turkey. Iraq, Local, 8/19/2004 - Fighting renewed in Iraq, withdrawals from the congress party
Two mortar shelling fell at the building of the ministry of the interior in Baghdad but no damages were reported. Another shelling fell at the building of the foreign ministry near the Green Zone, also no casualties were reported. Iraq, Politics, 8/19/2004 - Two Iraqis killed in Abu Ghreib prison Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/19/2004
- Kuwait launches a campaign to rehabilitate youths coming back from Iraq
A Kuwaiti official said that Kuwait is intending to launch an " orientation" campaign" to correct any wrong ideas juvenile coming back from Iraq have," where they had gone to resist the American forces. Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 8/18/2004 - Scores killed in mortars attacks in the center of Baghdad; threats to enter holy site
Seven Iraqis were killed and other 40 injured when mortars shelling fell near the headquarters of the police in al-Rasheed street in the downtown of Baghdad yesterday. The explosion resulted in a violent explosion in Baghdad and smoke columns were seen in the skies while two helicopters were seen over the place. Iraq, Military, 8/18/2004 - Iraq continues closure of its main oil line, its exports recede
A spokesman for the Iraqi South Oil company stressed on Tuesday continued closure of one of the two main oil pipelines in southern Iraq for security reasons. Iraq, Economics, 8/18/2004 - Khaddam confers with Iraqi delegation Syria-Iraq, Politics, 8/18/2004
- The Pope proposes to mediate to rescue al-Najaf
The state secretary in the Vatican, Cardinal Angelo Sudano, said yesterday that the Pope has announced readiness to mediate in order to rescue the city of Najaf from conflict. Iraq-Vatican, Politics, 8/17/2004 - Iraq's president in Turkey
The Interim Iraqi President Ghazi Elyawer said that his talks with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Cezer were of positive spirit. Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 8/17/2004 - Al-Sader agrees to receive two delegations for mediation
The Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader agreed to receive the UN delegation led by the representative of the UN secretary general in Iraq, Ashraf Qadi, and the delegation of the Iraqi national congress in order to discuss means of ending the clashes in Najaf city. Iraq, Politics, 8/17/2004 - Saudi Arabia concerned over the bloodshed in Iraq
The Saudi Arabian government yesterday expressed its strong " regret " over the deteriorated conditions in certain Iraqi areas, and called on the UN to play a greater role for halting the drastic deterioration in certain Iraqi areas and in order to stop blood shed. Saudi Arabia-Iraq, Politics, 8/17/2004 - Allawi: the need to accelerate the trial of Saddam Hussein and his aides
The Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi yesterday urged the Iraqi judges to accelerate efforts to try the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his aides. Iraq, Politics, 8/17/2004 - A commander in the national guards killed; kidnappings
The commander of the Iraqi national guard in Sameraa city to the north of Baghdad and his aide were killed by the bullets of unidentified gunmen. Iraq, Military, 8/17/2004 - Fighting renewed in Najaf
Following a phase of relative calm, armed confrontations in Najaf on Monday evening between the American forces and the national guards forces, on the one hand and the supporters of the Shiite Clergy Muqtada al-Sader, on the other. Witnesses said that several mortars shelling fell near the headquarters of the police in the city. Iraq, Military, 8/17/2004 - Brent oil price effected by fire in an oil well in al-Amara to the south of Iraq
An Iraqi source announced yesterday, Monday, that armed Shiite set fire in an oil well to the south of Iraq. Iraq-Regional, Economics, 8/17/2004 - Withdrawals from the Iraqi national Congress after the renewal of fighting in Najaf
The Iraqi National Congress was exposed to a strong setback upon its inauguration after a large number of participants left the hall where the conference was convened because of the eruption of fighting in Najaf al-Ashraf city. Iraq, Politics, 8/16/2004 - The defendant committee for Saddam Hussein before the Iraqi courts
The defendant committee in defense of Saddam Hussein said on Saturday that the Iraqi bar association agreed to its request to that they defend in the Iraqi courts the toppled Iraqi President, stressing persistence that a medical team from its side to visit him. Iraq, Politics, 8/16/2004 - Nearby bombardment expected on Najaf, bombarding Falluja
The Iraqi ministry of the Interior announced that the American forces at the support of the Iraqi forces will shortly launch a large attack against the militias of the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader in order to end the fighting in Najaf. Iraq, Politics, 8/16/2004 - Iraq closes one main oil exporting pipelines following threats
One Iraqi oil official said yesterday that the main oil pipeline which carried exportation oil in al-Basra city to the south of Iraq was blocked after intelligent information said that Shiite gunmen might attack the basic infrastructure for oil industry. Iraq, Economics, 8/16/2004 - Drastic benzene shortage in Iraq after one pipeline bombardment
One Iraqi oil official said that the Benzene shortage crisis has increased in Baghdad after attackers assaulted an oil pipeline to the south of the city on Saturday and this increased the shortage in fuel especially with the continued acts of unrest in the southern cities because of the fighting between al-Sader followers and the American forces. Iraq, Economics, 8/16/2004 - On the Jordanian firms working in Iraq
The General Manager of a Jordanian firm working in Iraq stressed that Israeli firms exploited their strong relations with American counterparts to win deals that facilitate the implementation of projects and export of goods to Iraqi markets via Jordanian and Turkish lands. Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 8/16/2004