Arabic News Weekly Edition for Iraq, 1/31/2005
Weekly Edition, Iraq - Week of January 31, 2005
- Allawi's list makes progress in the elections, three American soldiers killed
Preliminary partial results of the Iraqi elections showed the lead of al-Seistani supported list by getting more than 2 million votes. The Higher commission for the Iraqi elections said on Friday in a press conference that the list of the United Iraqi Coalition collected 2.212 million votes in 10 governorates in the central and southern parts of the country against more than half a million of votes for the list of the interim prime minister Eyad Allawi. Iraq, Politics, 2/5/2005 - Two American soldiers were killed in south Baghdad, Musil
The American army announced the killing of two of its soldiers to the south of Baghdad and near Musil in the north. Iraq, Military, 2/5/2005 - Italian journalist holders want Italy out of Iraq
One official in the Iraqi interim ministry of the interior confirmed the kidnapping of the Italian journalist Juliana Saghreina who works in Iraq on Friday afternoon while making interviews in al-Jadereyah quarters near Baghdad by gunmen who were in a bus. Iraq, Local, 2/5/2005 - Annan vows prompt action on Oil-for-Food report
Declaring that he did not want a shadow to hang over the United Nations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday again pledged prompt action after an interim report by an independent panel faulted the official in charge of the UN-managed Iraqi Oil-for-Food Program for "ethically improper" conduct. Iraq-UN, Politics, 2/5/2005 - Seistani supported list advances the elections in Iraq
The Independent Higher Commission Of Elections in Iraq announced the completion of counting some 1.6 million voting cards and that the list which is sponsored by the religious clergy Ayatullah Ali al-Seisatni got 72% of these votes. Iraq, Politics, 2/4/2005 - Iran's ambassador denies any interfering in Iraq
Iran's ambassador to Syria categorically denied on Wednesday talks about Tehran's interference in Iraq and said Iran is keen on Iraq's unity. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 2/4/2005 - Italian opposition calls for withdrawal from Iraq
Italian opposition parties demanded once again on Thursday withdrawal of the Italian troops from Iraq, pointing out that the situation is still dangerous in spite of performing the Iraqi elections. Iraq-Italy, Politics, 2/4/2005 - Escalation of attacks in Iraq
Attacks renewed in Iraq eliminating thereby the state of optimism of decreased pace of attacks following the elections. Scores were killed or injured among members of the Iraqi army and police as a result of attacks targeting them. Iraq, Military, 2/4/2005 - Muslim Scholars Commission question legitimacy of Iraqi elections
The Iraqi elections votes selection process which took place on January 30 inside and outside Iraq continued on Wednesday. Iraq, Politics, 2/3/2005 - Iranian official and Iraq's sovereignty
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamidreza Assefi stressed Wednesday Iran's adherence to the Iraqi people's sovereignty over their land. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 2/3/2005 - Iraq demands lifting sanctions, halt inspection finance
Iraq has request the UN to lift all international sanctions prescribed on it and to stop payment of the country's oil revenues to compensate persons effected by the Gulf war in 1991 and salaries of UN weapons inspectors. Iraq-UN, Politics, 2/3/2005 - Nine Iraqis killed on Wednesday clashes
In another development, oil sources stressed that one oil pipeline linking Beji refinery ( 200 km to the north of Baghdad) and al-Doura refinery to the south of the capital was damaged Iraq, Military, 2/3/2005 - Elyawer for participation of all Iraqis in drawing a constitution
The Interim Iraqi President Ghazi Elyawer has stressed the need of getting all Iraqi forces involved in drawing the constitution, even sides which did not take part in the election. In a press conference he held in Baghdad, he called for a reconciliation dialogue and frankness including all, with the exclusion of those who resorted to violence. Iraq, Politics, 2/2/2005 - American army and the kidnapped soldiers in Iraq
A statement attributed to al-Mujahideen groups issued on an Internet site said they are holding an American soldier after he was kidnapped in an armed operation in Iraq. However, the American army doubted this allegation, denying that any of its soldiers to have disappeared. Iraq-USA, Military, 2/2/2005 - Allawi calls on the Iraqis for unity
Interim Iraqi prime minister has called on the Iraqi people to maintain unity, eliminate obstacles and differences of the past, saying that the Iraqis have achieved a great victory in the elections which took place on Sunday "thanks to their determination to live freely and in democracy." Iraq, Politics, 2/1/2005 - Three American soldiers killed in Iraq, group claims responsibility for downing British plane
The "Green squad", one of the groups of "the 1920s revolution", the military wing of the National Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the operation of downing the British military plane to the north west of Iraq on Sunday. Iraq, Politics, 2/1/2005 - Moussa on the Iraqi elections Regional-Iraq, Politics, 2/1/2005
- Four Iraqi prisoners killed, U.S. on the downing of British plane
One American official announced on Monday evening that the British transport plane which crashed in Iraq on Sunday might be have been exposed to fire from ground, according to preliminary indications. Iraq, Local, 2/1/2005 - Muslim Scholars commission doubts the legitimacy of the elections Iraq, Politics, 2/1/2005
- Historic election in Iraq, participation of voters varied by region
Atmospheres of prediction and caution started to overwhelm the Iraqi street waiting for the results of the Iraqi elections. The higher commission for the elections started to select the votes following the closure of the ballot centers. Iraq, Politics, 1/31/2005 - Scores were killed in attacks in the Iraqi elections day
More than 30 Iraqis were killed and other scores injured in a series of attacks that targeted the ballot centers in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities following the beginning of voting in the first multiple elections taking place in the country since 50 years. Iraq, Military, 1/31/2005 - More attacks outside the Iraqi capital
In Sameraa to the north of Baghdad three mortars shelling fell on a school including a voting center in Sameraa on Sunday. Earlier in the day, chairman of Sameraa city council said that elections will not take place in the city because of the security conditions Iraq, Military, 1/31/2005 - Some 15 British soldiers killed in a plane crash in Iraq
In the loss which is considered the greatest of its kind, 15 British soldiers were killed in a plane crash to the north of Baghdad, according to the British defense office. The reason behind the crash of the plane were not known. The plane of 130 C crashed after its take off from Baghdad. Iraq, Military, 1/31/2005