Thursday, May 17, 2007
INM daily summary – 17 May 2007
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- It is now possible to argue that Iraq is on the verge of being a failed state which faces the distinct possibility of collapse and fragmentation. These are some of the key findings of Accepting Realities in Iraq a new Briefing Paper written by Dr Gareth Stansfield and published today by Chatham House.
- NEW LINK: Documents - Accepting Realities in Iraq by Gareth Stansfield, Chatham House and University of Exeter, MAY 2007.
- The US military has offered rewards of up to $200,000 (£100,000) for information leading to the return of three of its soldiers missing in Iraq.
- The military career of Prince Harry was left in doubt on Thursday after commanders decided Iraq was too dangerous a mission for the third in line to the British throne.
- Iraqi police say suspected insurgents set off a bomb near a bridge in southeastern Baghdad today, killing at least two civilians.
- U.S.-Iranian talks about Iraq's security will begin on May 28, Iran's foreign minister said Thursday.
- Mortar rounds hammered the U.S.-controlled Green Zone for a second day Wednesday, killing at least two people, wounding about 10 more and raising new fears for the safety of workers at the nerve center of the American mission in Iraq.
- The so far relatively secure area of Kurdistan is now facing threats from several fronts following large scale attacks and threats.
- The constitutional reform committee has agreed to pass its draft to parliament next Tuesday -- albeit with some passages unresolved.
- Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Wednesday and met with top Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
- The Iraqi Parliament has postponed the assignment of seven new Ministers who will replace the six Sadr Movement Ministers and the Minister of Justice.
- Prime Miniter Nour al-Maliki has given Iran preferential treatment in winning contracts in southern Iraq.
- Insurgents destroyed a US military helicopter and damaged nine others in a mortar attack on a US airfield north of Baghdad, a US defense official said Wednesday.
- Unknown gunmen on Wednesday evening blew up a bridging linking the northern Iraqi city of Mosul to Kurdistan Arbil, a police source said.
- Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Wednesday rejected a Pakistani proposal for a Muslim peacekeeping force, saying more foreign troops were not welcome in Iraq.
- An American diplomatic source has told the Egyptian daily Al Masry Al Youm that Saudi Arabia is threatening to intervene in Iraq to support Sunni allies.
- An Al Qaeda leader accused of orchestrating 800 to 900 bombings in and around Baghdad will be tried by an Iraqi court, the US military said Wednesday.
