Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Iraqi media round-up
Millions of Landmines Remain
(Azzaman) The Iraqi presidential council has agreed to sign Iraq up to an international treaty banning the use, storage and transportation of anti-personnel mines. According to official statistics, there are more than 25 million uncleared mines and UXOs in Iraq, especially in the southern, eastern and northern parts of the country. Mines were laid by the former Iraqi regime during wars in the Eighties and Nineties and many Iraqis fell victim to them. (London-based Azzaman is issued daily by Saad al-Bazaz.)
Cleric: Islamic Law From State
(Awene) Ali Bapeer, the head of an Islamic party in the Kurdish parliament, told Awene that Islamic law should play a key in the running of the country. He said that some Muslims wrongly think that their religion is like the Christian faith which can be separated from politics. He warned that secularists have exploited this misunderstanding and deceived Muslims. (Awene is a Sulaimaniyah-based independent newspaper issued weekly.)
Iraqi PM to Visit Turkey
(Kuridstani Nwe) Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is to visit Turkey on Wednesday for talks on bilateral relations between the two countries. Al-Maliki will be accompanied by the foreign and water resources ministers. Firyad Rawanduzi, an Iraqi MP, said issues such water supplies, commercial relations and the joint Turkish, Iraqi and American committee to solve the PKK problem will be addressed in Al-Maliki's visit. It is expected that Iraqi Kurdistan government and the normalisation of Kirkuk will also be discussed. Recently, Turkey has expressed concern about article 140 of the constitution which attempts to address the Kirkuk issue, calling for the process to be delayed. (Kurdistani Nwe is a political daily issued by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.)
Coalition Forces Urged to Keep Low Profile
(Asharq al-Awsat) National Security Advisor, Mwafaq al-Rubaiyee, has called on Coalition Forces to reduce their presence in cities and accelerate the arming of Iraqi forces. Meanwhile, Adnan Al-Dulaimy, head of the Iraqi Accord Front, the main Sunni block in parliament, has accused the government of covering up the "organised killing of Sunnis". (London-based Asharq al-Awsat, a pro-Saudi paper, is issued daily.)
