Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Iraqi media round-up
Iraq Conferences To Be Held At Home
(Al-Ittihad) The government has decided to hold conferences and work out contracts and agreements relating to Iraq in Baghdad rather than in neighbouring states. This change coincided with the launch of the new security plan to make Iraq a safer place to host such activities. Syria, Jordan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Turkey have hosted previous events relating to Iraq. (Al-Ittihad is published daily by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.)
Al-Hashimi: Declare Mahdi Army A Terrorist Group
(Tareek al-Shaab) Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi said that the United Stated should label the al-Mahdi army led by Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as a terrorist group. Sunni leaders accuse death squads related to the Mahdi army of responsibility for much of the recent violence. (Tareek al-Shaab is issued by the Iraqi Communist Party.)
Talabani Meets Rice
(Al-Mada) In a meeting with US foreign minister Condoleezza Rice attended by American ambassador Zalmai Khalilzad, President Jalal Talabani stressed the need to make the national reconciliation process a success and improve security and stability in Iraq. Talabani said meetings are underway between Iraq’s political blocs and the presidential and ministerial councils to achieve true political participation of the various parties in government. (Al-Mada is issued daily by Al-Mada institution for Media, Culture and Arts.)
Citizens Hit Streets And Markets
(Al-Sabah) Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki expressed optimism about the success of the new security plan, noting that many Iraqis took to the streets and markets on Saturday, despite it being a holiday. (Al-Sabah is a daily independent publicly owned newspaper.)
