Monday, February 12, 2007
Iraqi media round-up
Talabani Thanks Sadrists
(Al-Mada) President Jalal Talabani held a meeting with the Sadrist movement parliamentary deputy Salam al-Maliki to discuss latest political developments and efforts to maintain security and stability in Iraq. Talabani expressed his appreciation of the Sadrists support for the security plan and their efforts to enhance and strengthen the government. Talabani also met Ahmad al-Chalabi to talk about the practicalities of the plan. (Al-Mada is issued daily by the Al-Mada Institution for Media, Culture, and Arts.)
Anger at Kirkuk Arab Resettlement Plan
(Azzaman) Arabs and Turkmen in Kirkuk have dismissed a decision by local authorities to return Arabs there to central and southern parts of Iraq. Hundreds of Shia and Sunni Arabs and Turkmen demonstrated against the move, carrying slogans rejecting what they see as efforts to divide the country. Head of the Sadr office in Kirkuk Raad al-Sarkhi said that his movement was opposed to the removal of Shia Arabs who had lived there for three decades. He added that the Sadrists were against any moves to destroy national unity. Meanwhile, the head of the supreme commission for refugees said that the displacement of four million Iraqis, forced to leave their home because of the escalation in sectarian violence, constituted a real humanitarian disaster. (London-based Azzaman is issued daily by Saad al-Bazaz.)
Government Transparency
(Al-Taakhi) Kurdistan Alliance parliamentary deputy Abdullah Salih Abdullah called for greater government transparency, in particular the disclosure of all documents that did not deal with Iraqi national security issues. He urged the authorities to mobilise the public against any country that tried to worsen the situation here, accusing Syria in particular of backing the opposition. He called for the closure of the Syrian border with the start of the Baghdad security plan. (Al-Taakhi is issued daily by the Kurdistan Democratic Party.)
Baghdad Database to Assist Security Plan
(Tareek al-Shaab) The Baghdad provincial council's security committee held a meeting to discuss the implementation of the new security plan and the role of the council in making it a success. Council member Majid al-Shuwaili said the security committee possessed a database about Baghdad that might help the security forces to successfully carry out the plan. (Tareek al-Shaab is issued by the Iraqi Communist Party.)
