Arabic News Weekly Edition for Iraq, 12/13/2004
Weekly Edition, Iraq - Week of December 13, 2004
- The US cancels Iraqi debts
The USA has cancelled all Iraqi debts owed to it estimated at $ 4.1 billion and called on other countries to take similar steps for the need to rebuild Iraq which was destroyed by war. Iraq-USA, Economics, 12/18/2004 - Underway preparations for the Iraqi elections
The independent higher commission for elections in Iraq has announced that 107 lists including 7200 candidates from 73 parties and 25 independent candidates and nine coalition lists will compete over 275 seats dedicated for the Interim national society. Iraq, Politics, 12/18/2004 - Three westerners killed in Iraq
one armed Iraqi group calling itself "the Islamic movement for Iraq Mujahideen" announced the killing of the Italian hostage Silvatory Santor. Iraq, Military, 12/18/2004 - Elyawer expects millions of US dollars to affect the elections; occupation: Izzat al-Douri leads resistance from Syria
The Interim Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi accused Damascus of hosting "wanted elements" including half brother for the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, assuming the leadership of "terrorist operations" in Iraq, while the occupation's leadership talked about the toppled Vice President Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, which he said leads the Iraqi resistance from Syria. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 12/17/2004 - Scores killed, injured near al-Hussein shrine in Karbala
The Iraqi police said the bomb went off near the western gate of the shrine and targeted Sheikh Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalaee, the secretary of the supreme Shiite clergy in Iraq Ayatullah Ali al-Siestani. Iraq, Politics, 12/16/2004 - Three Polish soldiers killed in Iraq
the American army announced that one member of the Marines was killed on Tuesday during military operations in al-Anbar governorate. It was also announced that another soldier was also killed to the south of Baghdad. Iraq, Military, 12/16/2004 - Allawi: The trial of Saddam and his aides is after one week
The interim Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi said that the trial of the aides of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will start next week. But he did not specify a date for trying Saddam Hussein who has been held in prison since one year. Iraq, Politics, 12/15/2004 - Attacks in Iraq are expected to increase before and after the elections
Each of the chief of staff of the joint American forces lt. gen. Richard Meyers and the interim Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi expected the escalation of attacks by Iraqi fighters in Iraq before and after the elections due on January 30, 2005. Iraq, Politics, 12/15/2004 - More killing, continued clashes in Iraq
the spokesman for the higher commission of the Iraqi elections said that 70 political parties, including prominent Sunni groups that threatened to boycott the elections, proposed lists in the name of its candidates for the voting operations. Iraq, Military, 12/15/2004 - Zeibari to the Pope: Iraq will protect its Christians
The Vatican said that the Iraqi foreign minister Hoshiar Zebari said during a meeting with Pope John Paul II on Monday that religious freedom in Iraq will be ensured and Christians will enjoy protection. Iraq-Vatican, Politics, 12/14/2004 - Abdul Aziz al-Hakim news conference in Damascus
Head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) Abdul Aziz al-Hakim described as very positive his talks with President Bashar al-Assad on Monday, adding that latest developments in Iraq were discussed in details, particularly the forthcoming elections in the country. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 12/14/2004 - BBC: Elyawer warns against deteriorated conditions in Iraq
With continued explosions and attacks in Iraq, the interim Iraqi President Ghazi Elyawer criticized the USA and Britain. He told the BBC that the two countries had committed "flagrant mistake" when they desolved the Iraqi army and police immediately after the foiling of the government of Saddam Hussein. Iraq, Politics, 12/14/2004 - UN calls for increasing presence in Iraq
Both Baghdad and the USA called on the United Nations to increase its presence in Iraq with the aim to help in preparations for the next elections due on January 30th, 2005 and expressed simultaneously optimism over the success of the election process. Iraq-UN, Politics, 12/14/2004 - Continued attacks in Iraq
The US army announced in a statement that one American soldier was killed and another injured in a traffic accident near one of the American positions to the north of Baghdad. Iraq, Military, 12/14/2004 - On anniversary of Saddam's detention, his aides observe hunger strikes, calls for his release
It was announced yesterday that the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his aides started a hunger strike in protest of their detention conditions. However, the American army denied that though it had stressed that some of Saddam's aides refused food, but also denied that Saddam himself is abstaining from taking any kind of food. Iraq, Politics, 12/13/2004 - One American soldier killed, 14 injured; clashes renewed in Falluja
Violent confrontations erupted in Falluja city on Sunday between the American forces and the gunmen in the city amid an intensive American air bombardment. Iraq, Military, 12/13/2004