Friday, August 17, 2007
Ansar al-Sunnah post video on internet of Defense Ministry official's execution
Insurgency
(Stratfor) - Iraqi insurgent group Ansar al-Sunnah on Aug. 17 posted a video on the Internet that purportedly shows the execution of an Iraqi Defense Ministry official accused of working with U.S. forces. The video also shows the kidnappers holding up an identification card that allowed the victim access to Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone. The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified.
Labels: Ansar al-Sunnah, execution, Iraqi Defense Ministry official
Zarqawi Brigade, Islamic State of Iraq threaten coalition with increased attacks
Insurgency
(MEMRI) - Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi Brigade Threatens "Quality Attack"in Next Few Days
On August 13, 2007, Islamic websites posted an announcement by the Sheik Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi Brigade warning of a "quality attack" in the next few days, aimed at "causing numerous fatalities among the enemy." Following are excerpts: "We have already completed all the logistical preparations, and are about to complete the technical preparations, so the attack is imminent. We call on all the brothers and urge them to prepare well, and to make themselves fully available, for the attack, whenever it comes, in order to cause numerous fatalities among the enemy and cast the leaders of the infidels into the dust... This will be a quality attack [that will be publicized] in the jihadi media... The attack will be for the sake of the victory of the Islamic State."
ISI Commander Threatens Coalition Forces: "In the Coming [Month of] Ramadan... We Will Grind You Under Our Feet like Rats"
In a message posted August 12, 2007 on Islamist websites, ISI commander Sheikh Abu 'Ubaida threatens the Coalition forces, saying that the coming month of Ramadan (which begins September 13, 2007) will be "a month of death and screams" in which they will be struck without mercy.
On August 13, 2007, Islamic websites posted an announcement by the Sheik Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi Brigade warning of a "quality attack" in the next few days, aimed at "causing numerous fatalities among the enemy." Following are excerpts: "We have already completed all the logistical preparations, and are about to complete the technical preparations, so the attack is imminent. We call on all the brothers and urge them to prepare well, and to make themselves fully available, for the attack, whenever it comes, in order to cause numerous fatalities among the enemy and cast the leaders of the infidels into the dust... This will be a quality attack [that will be publicized] in the jihadi media... The attack will be for the sake of the victory of the Islamic State."
ISI Commander Threatens Coalition Forces: "In the Coming [Month of] Ramadan... We Will Grind You Under Our Feet like Rats"
In a message posted August 12, 2007 on Islamist websites, ISI commander Sheikh Abu 'Ubaida threatens the Coalition forces, saying that the coming month of Ramadan (which begins September 13, 2007) will be "a month of death and screams" in which they will be struck without mercy.
Following are excerpts:
"To all the soldiers and commanders of the Crusader army... The Muslim month of martyrdom and jihad is drawing near, and what are you doing? We have prepared for you dozens of brave men in dozens of car bombs, by means of which we will kill you without mercy - in Baghdad, Al-Anbar, Mosul, Diyala, Kirkuk, and Basra, in the North and in the South...
"Our month of fasting is drawing near, and for you, the month of death and screams is drawing near. It is only a few weeks away... We have prepared for you [all kinds of] strange deaths in the streets of Baghdad, and we swear to turn this month into a momentous occasion of which nations will speak for generations. We swear that we will grind you under our feet like rats...
"We repeat the call of the heroic martyred sheikh Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi, who humiliated you in the past, [and say to you] that the Sunni mosques are open to anyone who wishes to surrender and throw down his arms. Regard this as a last warning from a fighter in the field whose hands are stained with [the blood of] dozens of your comrades [who were killed] in Baghdad and in Salah Al-Din... We swear that we will [spill] your blood everywhere, and you will receive the heads of [your] apostate [allies] by the [sackfull].
"As for the Sunnis... [we ask you] to be patient... Victory is near and your enemy is drawing his last breaths... Keep the women and children away from the places frequented by the American and Iranian enemy, and heed the instructions of the ISI commanders in you area."
"To all the soldiers and commanders of the Crusader army... The Muslim month of martyrdom and jihad is drawing near, and what are you doing? We have prepared for you dozens of brave men in dozens of car bombs, by means of which we will kill you without mercy - in Baghdad, Al-Anbar, Mosul, Diyala, Kirkuk, and Basra, in the North and in the South...
"Our month of fasting is drawing near, and for you, the month of death and screams is drawing near. It is only a few weeks away... We have prepared for you [all kinds of] strange deaths in the streets of Baghdad, and we swear to turn this month into a momentous occasion of which nations will speak for generations. We swear that we will grind you under our feet like rats...
"We repeat the call of the heroic martyred sheikh Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi, who humiliated you in the past, [and say to you] that the Sunni mosques are open to anyone who wishes to surrender and throw down his arms. Regard this as a last warning from a fighter in the field whose hands are stained with [the blood of] dozens of your comrades [who were killed] in Baghdad and in Salah Al-Din... We swear that we will [spill] your blood everywhere, and you will receive the heads of [your] apostate [allies] by the [sackfull].
"As for the Sunnis... [we ask you] to be patient... Victory is near and your enemy is drawing his last breaths... Keep the women and children away from the places frequented by the American and Iranian enemy, and heed the instructions of the ISI commanders in you area."
Labels: Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi Brigade, coalition forces, Islamic State of Iraq, Ramadan, Sheikh Abu 'Ubaida, threat
Iraq sells three mobile phone licences for $3.75 bn.
Telecommunications
(Reuters) - Iraq has sold three mobile phone licences for $3.75 billion to Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Co (MTC), AsiaCell and Iraq's Korek Telecom, the Iraqi Finance Minister Bayan Jabor said on Friday. The three firms, which already run networks in the war-torn country, made the highest bids in an auction in the Jordanian capital that began on Thursday.
TurkCell and Egypt's Orascom had also bid for licences but dropped out of the race for one of the few sectors to thrive amid Iraq's instability and crumbling infrastructure. The fixed-line network was hit by sanctions after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and by bombing during the US-led invasion in 2003. Less than 4 per cent of Iraqis have landlines. "To get the best return from the auction in such circumstances is a great vote of confidence in the Iraqi economy," Jabor told reporters in Amman.
Orascom's withdrawal appeared to be a major upset as the operator was the first to provide a full mobile phone service in Baghdad after the 2003 invasion, through Iraqna. "Since they were first to establish in Iraq, we were surprised by Iraqna's pullout from the auction after bidding reached $1.25 billion," Jabor said. The 15-year licences replace three short-term contracts awarded soon after the invasion. Iraqi mobile use rose to 8 million out of a population of 26 million at the end of 2006, from virtually nothing three years earlier, according to officials.
Labels: (MTC), Asiacell, Bayan Jabor, Iraqna, Korek Telecom, mobile phone licences, Mobile Telecommunications Co, Orascom, Turkcell
Oil official abducted in sophisticated raid
(Al Bayyna Al Jadidah Newspaper) - 16 AUG - The Oil Ministry spokesman, Assim Jihad, said that on Tuesday tens of gunmen attacked the “Marketing Commission’s Complex.” They kidnapped the senior Deputy Minister, Abd Al Jabbar Al Wakka and other officials. Jihad added that the incident occurred after official hours, and he pointed out that the complex is near the Oil Ministry. The attackers used official vehicles and were wearing official uniforms. Jihad confirmed that the security organizations are investigating to discover the names of those who have been kidnapped and to learn who kidnapped them.
Jihad blamed armed gangs for the incident but he did not name them. He continued, “These gangs want to create a more unstable situation.” An unnamed MOI spokesman told the AP that five guards were wounded. According to the AP, there were 50 gunmen that attacked the Oil Ministry complex in 17 official vehicles that may have been stolen.
Regarding the same subject, on Tuesday, the Oil Minister, Hussain Al Shahristani said that the kidnapping which targeted the senior deputy, Abd Al Jabbar Al Wakka and others, was carried out by those who want to hinder the government and prevent the ministries from providing good services to the citizens. Al Shahristani announced that his ministry is assisting the security organizations to discover who carried out these kidnappings.
Oil Ministry spokesman Assim Jihad said, “There were about 100 kidnappers and this operation happened at around 3:30 PM Tuesday afternoon. The number of those kidnapped is still unknown. It may be four or five people.” He added that the ministry is trying to determine the exact number and that the kidnappers used a variety of vehicles. He said that the kidnappers took the vehicles and weapons of the Oil Protection forces at Somo Oil Complex.
Jihad blamed armed gangs for the incident but he did not name them. He continued, “These gangs want to create a more unstable situation.” An unnamed MOI spokesman told the AP that five guards were wounded. According to the AP, there were 50 gunmen that attacked the Oil Ministry complex in 17 official vehicles that may have been stolen.
Regarding the same subject, on Tuesday, the Oil Minister, Hussain Al Shahristani said that the kidnapping which targeted the senior deputy, Abd Al Jabbar Al Wakka and others, was carried out by those who want to hinder the government and prevent the ministries from providing good services to the citizens. Al Shahristani announced that his ministry is assisting the security organizations to discover who carried out these kidnappings.
Oil Ministry spokesman Assim Jihad said, “There were about 100 kidnappers and this operation happened at around 3:30 PM Tuesday afternoon. The number of those kidnapped is still unknown. It may be four or five people.” He added that the ministry is trying to determine the exact number and that the kidnappers used a variety of vehicles. He said that the kidnappers took the vehicles and weapons of the Oil Protection forces at Somo Oil Complex.
Hussein al Shahristani said the men were carrying "sophisticated" weapons. They drove government vehicles and spoke in English as they convinced guards to let them enter in what he described as a serious breach of security committed by "enemies of Iraq." He said security forces had some indication of where the kidnapped men might be held. "The rescue operations are continuing day and night," Al Shahristani said.
Labels: Abd Al Jabbar Al Wakka, Assim Jihad, Hussain al-Shahristani
Al Rubaie Gives Jordanians Option Of Kirkuk’s Or Basrah’s Oil
Regional
(Al Mowaten Newspaper) - 16 AUG - Yesterday, National Security Advisor, Dr. Muwaffaq Al Rubaie, held a press conference in Amman to explain the results of his visit to Jordan. At the beginning of the conference, Al Rubaie confirmed that his visit was serious and frank. He added that he discussed the reasons behind the violence and said, “The violence in Iraq is because regional interests [conflicts] are being dealt with in Iraq. There is no sectarian war in Iraq but it is a war between extremists of all sects. Both countries have agreed that they are in one boat to fight Al Qaida, extremists and sectarianism. The threats to Iraq’s national security are threats to Jordan’s national security as well. Jordan supports Iraq’s political process and [Al Maliki’s] government.”
Regarding Iraq’s delay in implementing the agreement that was approved during the Jordanian PM’s visit to Iraq a year ago concerning providing Jordan with 50,000 barrels of oil a day at special prices, Al Rubaie said, “The security situation is the reason for delaying this agreement and the oil pipe line to Jordan has been sabotaged. We have presented two options to the Jordanians. These are to receive oil from either Basrah’s or Kirkuk’s oil fields. Basrah’s oil contains ingredients that are not compatible with Jordan’s refineries. We have been promised by the Jordanians that they will respond to us after studying the two options.” Al Rubaie concluded his statement saying, “The brothers in Jordan offered to support us and have promised that they will offer as much as they can to the Iraqis who are living in Jordan.”
Regarding Iraq’s delay in implementing the agreement that was approved during the Jordanian PM’s visit to Iraq a year ago concerning providing Jordan with 50,000 barrels of oil a day at special prices, Al Rubaie said, “The security situation is the reason for delaying this agreement and the oil pipe line to Jordan has been sabotaged. We have presented two options to the Jordanians. These are to receive oil from either Basrah’s or Kirkuk’s oil fields. Basrah’s oil contains ingredients that are not compatible with Jordan’s refineries. We have been promised by the Jordanians that they will respond to us after studying the two options.” Al Rubaie concluded his statement saying, “The brothers in Jordan offered to support us and have promised that they will offer as much as they can to the Iraqis who are living in Jordan.”
Labels: Basrah, Jordan, Kirkuk, Muwaffaq al-Rubay'i, oil, oilfields
Kurdish Guarantees For Accord Front To Return To The Government
Politics
(Badr Newspaper) - 16 AUG - President Talabani said that he is ready to meet the Accord front’s demands and to convince PM Al Maliki despite his initial reservations regarding some of these demands. In return, the Accord Front should show some flexibility on some demands that are difficult to implement because of the situation. Additionally, the Accord Front should show its full support of the political process once their demands are met.
A Kurdish Parliament member added, “The Kurdistan region President’s [Massoud Al Barzani] visit to Baghdad is coordinated with Talabani’s efforts to motivate the political process through meetings with the Accord Front which may lead to a joint understanding with the other entities in order to establish a “joint national understanding government.” Meanwhile, President Talabani and the Kurdistan region President have shown some acceptance of the Accord Front’s demands which may give the Front a larger role in Al Maliki’s government.
A Kurdish Parliament member added, “The Kurdistan region President’s [Massoud Al Barzani] visit to Baghdad is coordinated with Talabani’s efforts to motivate the political process through meetings with the Accord Front which may lead to a joint understanding with the other entities in order to establish a “joint national understanding government.” Meanwhile, President Talabani and the Kurdistan region President have shown some acceptance of the Accord Front’s demands which may give the Front a larger role in Al Maliki’s government.
Labels: Iraqi Accord Front, Jalal Talabani
Gunmen kidnap 10 civilians at fake checkpoint
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - Unknown gunmen forced ten civilians at gunpoint to unknown place on Thursday after they positioned a fake checkpoint north of Baghdad, eyewitnesses said. "Unknown gunmen positioned a fake checkpoint, this afternoon, on the road linking Hibhib town and Jidiydat al-Shat district, 55 km north of Baghdad, and forced ten civilians at gunpoint to unknown place," an eyewitness told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). Another eyewitness said "the gunmen intercepted civilian cars at the fake checkpoint and forced ten civilians out of their cars at gunpoint to unknown destination." Police could not be immediately reached to confirm the incident.
Labels: abduction, Baqouba, fake checkpoint, gunmen
Peshmerga sent to Sinjar to restore security
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - A 340-strong Kurdish Peshmerga force was sent to northwestern Iraq's district of Sinjar to restore security and provide protection to the afflicted community, an official Peshmerga source said on Thursday. "The force will remain in the district until the security situation is secure," Peshmerga Commander Maj. Gen. Aziz Waizy told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Four truck bombs were detonated on Tuesday evening in Kar Izir area, 35 km south of Sinjar, and at the Siba Sheikh Khidr housing compound, killing and injuring more than 500 people. In the aftermath of the attacks, Iraq's Kurdistan President Massoud al-Barazani called on Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Ministry of Interior to provide protection for Kurdish minorities and accused a number of countries in the region of being behind the attacks
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced on Thursday a day of mourning for the victims of the blasts. Sinjar district, 120 km to the northwest of Mosul, is inhabited by the Yazidis, a religious sect whose followers are generally situated in northern Iraq. Some 350,000 Yazidis live in villages around Mosul, 405 km north of Baghdad.
Yazidis are primarily ethnic Kurds and most live near Mosul, with smaller communities in Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Russia, Syria, and Turkey. They number around 500,000 individuals in total, but estimates of their population size vary, partially due to the Yazidi tradition of secrecy about their religious beliefs.
Four truck bombs were detonated on Tuesday evening in Kar Izir area, 35 km south of Sinjar, and at the Siba Sheikh Khidr housing compound, killing and injuring more than 500 people. In the aftermath of the attacks, Iraq's Kurdistan President Massoud al-Barazani called on Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Ministry of Interior to provide protection for Kurdish minorities and accused a number of countries in the region of being behind the attacks
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced on Thursday a day of mourning for the victims of the blasts. Sinjar district, 120 km to the northwest of Mosul, is inhabited by the Yazidis, a religious sect whose followers are generally situated in northern Iraq. Some 350,000 Yazidis live in villages around Mosul, 405 km north of Baghdad.
Yazidis are primarily ethnic Kurds and most live near Mosul, with smaller communities in Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Russia, Syria, and Turkey. They number around 500,000 individuals in total, but estimates of their population size vary, partially due to the Yazidi tradition of secrecy about their religious beliefs.
Labels: Maj. Gen. Aziz Waizy, Peshmerga, Sinjar, Yazidis
Four major political parties sign agreement to revive Iraqi political process as Sunni party leader warns of setting up "counter coalitions"
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - A leading figure from the Sunni Islamic Party expressed on Thursday reservation over a new Kurdish-Shiite alliance that announced earlier today in Baghdad, warning of setting up what he described as "counter coalitions." "We, the Islamic Party, express our reservation on the new alliance and we see that it is too early to confirm whether it will work out or not," Omar Abdul Sattar told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) by telephone.
The politician said "yesterday (Wednesday) we had a meeting with the two Kurdish parties (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Party) to discuss the political situation and the possible means to rescue the country from the current impasse and we told them the time is premature to form such an alliance."
The leading figure whose party is a main component of the Sunni Accordance Front said "We were in need of many steps to take and more common visions to share before we could reach the compromise of a six-way alliance that would also include (former Iraqi PM) Allawi's Iraqi National List and the Islamic party, but the differences caused the alliance to be announced by four components only."
"The new alliance may lead to the formation of new counter-coalitions, which I expect will cause more deterioration in the country," said Abdul Sattar noting that "we could not correct a mistake by committing another one." Abdul Sattar, who declined to reply to a question by VOI as to whether the new alliance was meant to declare a parliamentary majority's government if Accordance ministers who quit the cabinet refused to return, commented "it is a step towards prolonging the life of al-Maliki's government."
The politician said "yesterday (Wednesday) we had a meeting with the two Kurdish parties (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Party) to discuss the political situation and the possible means to rescue the country from the current impasse and we told them the time is premature to form such an alliance."
The leading figure whose party is a main component of the Sunni Accordance Front said "We were in need of many steps to take and more common visions to share before we could reach the compromise of a six-way alliance that would also include (former Iraqi PM) Allawi's Iraqi National List and the Islamic party, but the differences caused the alliance to be announced by four components only."
"The new alliance may lead to the formation of new counter-coalitions, which I expect will cause more deterioration in the country," said Abdul Sattar noting that "we could not correct a mistake by committing another one." Abdul Sattar, who declined to reply to a question by VOI as to whether the new alliance was meant to declare a parliamentary majority's government if Accordance ministers who quit the cabinet refused to return, commented "it is a step towards prolonging the life of al-Maliki's government."
Four major Iraqi political parties signed on Thursday an agreement, aired by al-Iraqiya satellite television, to revive the political process in Iraq. The agreement was signed by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Islamic Daawa party and the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC). The four parties were represented by President Jalal Talabani, President of Kurdistan region Massoud Barazani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi.
President Talabani refused to use the word “quartet” or “moderates’ bloc,” noting that they had signed an initiative to revive the political process. “We cannot call it a bloc, but rather an agreement between four parties committed to former agreements for reviving the political process,” Talabani said in a press conference attended by Nouri al-Maliki, Barazani and Abdul Mahdi.
“We tried to made contact with the Iraqi Islamic Party in an attempt to involve it in the agreement, but it said that the circumstances were not appropriate,” he added. “The bloc consists of four parties now but it is open for all parties to take part in it,” Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said. “We will try to revive the stagnant political process; we will not accept it to be hampered. The agreement is not a replacement of the political blocs, the door is open for all to participate,” the premier explained.
President Talabani refused to use the word “quartet” or “moderates’ bloc,” noting that they had signed an initiative to revive the political process. “We cannot call it a bloc, but rather an agreement between four parties committed to former agreements for reviving the political process,” Talabani said in a press conference attended by Nouri al-Maliki, Barazani and Abdul Mahdi.
“We tried to made contact with the Iraqi Islamic Party in an attempt to involve it in the agreement, but it said that the circumstances were not appropriate,” he added. “The bloc consists of four parties now but it is open for all parties to take part in it,” Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said. “We will try to revive the stagnant political process; we will not accept it to be hampered. The agreement is not a replacement of the political blocs, the door is open for all to participate,” the premier explained.
Labels: Dawa party, Iraqi Islamic Party, KDP, Omar Abdul Sattar, PUK, SIIC
Indefinate curfew in Diwaniyah as new governor is chosen
Security, Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Local authorities in Diwaniya city imposed an indefinite curfew on the Shiite city from Thursday evening as the provincial council is expected to select a new governor for the province on Friday. "It is decided that a curfew be imposed on Diwaniya city as of Thursday 7:00 pm till further notice in preparations for the selection of a new governor for the province on Friday," acting governor Dhia Shubbar said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Diwaniya Provincial Council accepted nominations for the post of the governor after the former governor Khalil Jalil Hamza was killed in a blast on Saturday. A source from the Provincial Council told VOI "seven persons were nominated for the post and the 41-member-council is expected to name the new governor by voting on Friday." SICI member, Sheikh Hussain Al Badari, the chief of the council’s security committee; Dawa Party member, Laith Ali Motar; Diwaniya Governorate Council member and SICI member, Sheikh Ghanim Abid Dahish; and Accord Front member, Muslim Al Ghazi are among the nominees for the governor position.
Diwaniya is 180 km south of Baghdad.
Diwaniya Provincial Council accepted nominations for the post of the governor after the former governor Khalil Jalil Hamza was killed in a blast on Saturday. A source from the Provincial Council told VOI "seven persons were nominated for the post and the 41-member-council is expected to name the new governor by voting on Friday." SICI member, Sheikh Hussain Al Badari, the chief of the council’s security committee; Dawa Party member, Laith Ali Motar; Diwaniya Governorate Council member and SICI member, Sheikh Ghanim Abid Dahish; and Accord Front member, Muslim Al Ghazi are among the nominees for the governor position.
Diwaniya is 180 km south of Baghdad.
Labels: curfew, Dhia Shubbar, Diwaniya, Khalil Jalil Hamzah
Yezidi leader blames Iraq, Iran for attack
Security
(Al-Sharqiyah television) - Yezidi leader Anwar Mu'awiyah al-Umawi has accused the Iraqi government and Iran of responsibility for the August 15 attacks. He told Al-Sharqiyah television in an August 15 interview from Germany: "We received direct reports from informed sources in the area that the Iraqi government played a role [in the attacks]. Gangs affiliated with Iran are known to carry out such attacks. We should not forget that Iraq is not only under U.S. occupation. Iraq is under both U.S. and Iranian occupation.
These operations are meant to harm the Iraqis rather than a certain sect." Al-Umawi said his people have no one to turn to for support. "Iraq is now run by the traitors, while patriotic Iraqi figures, prominent leaders, and secular trends are abroad. So, who is there to complain to? Shall we complain to the Iranians, who are the enemies of Iraq? Shall we complain to the Americans, who are occupying the country? We have only God to complain to."
The Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council blamed "criminal gangs" for the Sinjar attack in an August 16 press release posted to the Shi'ite party's website. Though it did not accuse any party of carrying out the attack, the party's statement implied that Sunni Arabs are to blame. The statement called on Iraqi tribes and "popular forces" to work with Iraqi security services to "rid the Iraqi people of their killers."
In an August 15 statement, President Talabani called the bombings another episode of genocide carried out by "takfiri" (Muslims who consider other Muslims to be infidels) terrorists against all segments of the Iraqi people, Al-Iraqiyah television reported. Kurdistan regional President Barzani accused the intelligence agencies of unidentified regional countries of carrying out the attacks, Al-Sharqiyah television reported.
Meanwhile, the Sunni Arab Muslim Scholars Association said it holds the Iraqi government and coalition forces responsible for the attacks. The statement also implied Iran was behind the bombings. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the bombings a "horrific crime," and stressed "the urgent need for all Iraqi leaders, regardless of their political or religious affiliations, to work together to protect civilian lives and to dedicate themselves towards a meaningful dialogue aimed at ending the violence and achieving lasting national reconciliation," according to a UN press release. The U.S. military has said the bombings bore the hallmark of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Kurdistan regional government Heath Minister Abd al-Rahman Yunis said the Kurdistan regional government and the Iraqi Red Crescent have begun to deliver relief supplies, food, and medicine to the villages.
Labels: Al Qaeda, AMS, Anwar Mu'awiyah al-Umawi, Iran, Iraqi government, Iraqi Red Crescent, KRG, SICI, Sinjar, Yezidis
Iraqi Yazidis speak out
Security
(BBC) -- The bomb attacks in northern Iraq on Tuesday targeted the Yazidi sect - a vulnerable religious minority. People in the area are due to vote on whether to come under the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government later this year. Two Yazidis reflect on the bombings and why they happened.
Khidir Domle, 39, Yazidi Journalist, Dohuk: "The attacks were not totally unexpected, because the security situation in the area had been getting worse every day. Several of our relatives were hit. Two of them are dead, six are wounded and three others from one single family are still missing and we don't know where they are.
We don't know if they have been moved to hospitals in Talafar, a town near Mosul, or not. I think the motives for the attacks are ethnic - those people were Kurdish - as well as religious. Even neighbouring Arab villages had been threatening Yazidis, trying to stop them voting for Kurdistan in forthcoming polls. Over the past two weeks, the threat from extremist groups like al-Qaeda had also increased.
Yazidis constitute the majority in the area that was targeted; the attacks were aimed at intimidating people. Iraqi government security forces are in charge there, because it is close to the Syrian border. Those forces are not able to control the borders. Kurdish security forces have little influence there. A few weeks ago dozens of local security and police forces quit their jobs because of threats by terrorists.
Such bombings may encourage people even more to vote to become part of Kurdistan in a referendum. But what will encourage them most is the promise of better services for people in the area."
Elias Baba Sheikh, 51: Elias is a local official of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, one of the two main Kurdish political parties. "None of my close relatives was affected by the attack, but I consider all Yazidis to be my relatives. Dozens of houses have been reduced to rubble. The exact number of the casualties is not clear yet. In the Azadi hospital of Dohuk, I saw many injured lying on beds, many of them in a critical condition. The major motive behind the attacks was obviously political, because the people targeted had already shown their tendency to join areas administered by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
There were also religious motives. These people even kill Muslims, so why wouldn't they kill Yazidis? The impact of these bombings is that it will strengthen people's resolve to hold a referendum and carry out article 140 of the constitution. [Article 140 calls for a referendum in areas claimed by both Kurds and Arabs on whether they should come under Kurdish government control.] A statement by Yazidi religious and political leaders called on the Kurdish Regional Government to send Kurdish forces to the area to protect them."
Khidir Domle, 39, Yazidi Journalist, Dohuk: "The attacks were not totally unexpected, because the security situation in the area had been getting worse every day. Several of our relatives were hit. Two of them are dead, six are wounded and three others from one single family are still missing and we don't know where they are.
We don't know if they have been moved to hospitals in Talafar, a town near Mosul, or not. I think the motives for the attacks are ethnic - those people were Kurdish - as well as religious. Even neighbouring Arab villages had been threatening Yazidis, trying to stop them voting for Kurdistan in forthcoming polls. Over the past two weeks, the threat from extremist groups like al-Qaeda had also increased.
Yazidis constitute the majority in the area that was targeted; the attacks were aimed at intimidating people. Iraqi government security forces are in charge there, because it is close to the Syrian border. Those forces are not able to control the borders. Kurdish security forces have little influence there. A few weeks ago dozens of local security and police forces quit their jobs because of threats by terrorists.
Such bombings may encourage people even more to vote to become part of Kurdistan in a referendum. But what will encourage them most is the promise of better services for people in the area."
Elias Baba Sheikh, 51: Elias is a local official of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, one of the two main Kurdish political parties. "None of my close relatives was affected by the attack, but I consider all Yazidis to be my relatives. Dozens of houses have been reduced to rubble. The exact number of the casualties is not clear yet. In the Azadi hospital of Dohuk, I saw many injured lying on beds, many of them in a critical condition. The major motive behind the attacks was obviously political, because the people targeted had already shown their tendency to join areas administered by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
There were also religious motives. These people even kill Muslims, so why wouldn't they kill Yazidis? The impact of these bombings is that it will strengthen people's resolve to hold a referendum and carry out article 140 of the constitution. [Article 140 calls for a referendum in areas claimed by both Kurds and Arabs on whether they should come under Kurdish government control.] A statement by Yazidi religious and political leaders called on the Kurdish Regional Government to send Kurdish forces to the area to protect them."
Labels: Article 140, Iraqi Yazidis, KRG, referendum
Relatives of Danish soldiers receive threatening phone calls
Security
(AP) -- Denmark's military intelligence agency is investigating whether Iraqi insurgents have used mobile phone records to track down and threaten relatives of Danish soldiers deployed in Iraq, officials said Thursday. Family members of several soldiers have told Danish media that they received threatening phone calls from unidentified callers in Iraq.
The Iraqi callers may have tracked down the numbers by monitoring private phone calls made by the soldiers to their relatives in Denmark, according to the Danish Defense Intelligence Service. "Right now, we're mapping the extent (of the threats), after which we will consider whether our guidelines to our staff and their families regarding the use of cell phones and e-mails should be revised," agency spokeswoman Mette Noehr said. "To our knowledge, we're talking about a limited number of cases."
Noehr said the agency was not sure whether insurgents were behind the calls. "It could also be hoodlums but one thing is sure, we're taking this very seriously," she said. Denmark withdrew its 460-strong contingent from the southern city of Basra last month and replaced it with a small helicopter unit. Seven Danes have been killed in Iraq.
Pvt. Ralf Clemmesen, who served in Iraq in the first half of 2007, told Denmark's TV2 News that his father and girlfriend had received threatening phone calls from Iraq in February. "Someone yelled in broken English and it was not nice things," Clemmesen said in a live television interview. "I couldn't do anything. I was locked in Iraq. It didn't improve my concentration."
The relatives of at least 10 Danish soldiers had received similar calls, Clemmesen said. Army Col. Henrik Sommer, who is in charge of foreign operations, said there were no plans to bar Danish soldiers from bringing their private cell phones on foreign assignments. The military isn't sure how the phone numbers were obtained, but one explanation could be that someone got ahold of the soldiers' calling records from local telecom operators, Sommer said.
The Iraqi callers may have tracked down the numbers by monitoring private phone calls made by the soldiers to their relatives in Denmark, according to the Danish Defense Intelligence Service. "Right now, we're mapping the extent (of the threats), after which we will consider whether our guidelines to our staff and their families regarding the use of cell phones and e-mails should be revised," agency spokeswoman Mette Noehr said. "To our knowledge, we're talking about a limited number of cases."
Noehr said the agency was not sure whether insurgents were behind the calls. "It could also be hoodlums but one thing is sure, we're taking this very seriously," she said. Denmark withdrew its 460-strong contingent from the southern city of Basra last month and replaced it with a small helicopter unit. Seven Danes have been killed in Iraq.
Pvt. Ralf Clemmesen, who served in Iraq in the first half of 2007, told Denmark's TV2 News that his father and girlfriend had received threatening phone calls from Iraq in February. "Someone yelled in broken English and it was not nice things," Clemmesen said in a live television interview. "I couldn't do anything. I was locked in Iraq. It didn't improve my concentration."
The relatives of at least 10 Danish soldiers had received similar calls, Clemmesen said. Army Col. Henrik Sommer, who is in charge of foreign operations, said there were no plans to bar Danish soldiers from bringing their private cell phones on foreign assignments. The military isn't sure how the phone numbers were obtained, but one explanation could be that someone got ahold of the soldiers' calling records from local telecom operators, Sommer said.
Labels: Army Col. Henrik Sommer, Danish Defense Intelligence Service, Danish troops, Denmark, Mette Noehr, mobile phones
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Triple Canopy receives $5.6 mn. internal security services contract
Contracts
Security contractor Triple Canopy in Herndon, VA received a sole source a $5.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for internal security services in Iraq. The contract will be complete by Aug. 1, 2008, and was initiated on July 25, 2007 by The Joint Contracting Command in Baghdad, Iraq (W91GDW-07-A-4003).
Labels: internal security services, Iraq contracts, Triple Canopy
WesternZagros to drill first oil well in Kurdistan in 2008
Oil, Kurdistan
(Financial Times) - WesternZagros, the startup that is being carved out from oil sands developer Western Oil Sands Inc. to explore for oil in Kurdistan autonomous region (Southern Kurdistan), will drill its first well in early 2008, Western said in a statement Tuesday. WesternZagros estimates that its lands, located in the Southern Kurdistani autonomous region of Kurdistan, could contain up to 1.8 billion barrels of oil.
The new company plans to seek a listing on a Canadian stock exchange after it's spun off from Western as a result of the oil sands company's recently announced $6.5-billion sale to Marathon Oil Corp. WesternZagros said it will be capitalized with approximately $134-million, including $82.5-million in cash from Western, $10-million from a private placement of shares to management and directors, $41-million from the exercise of warrants.
Under the sale to Marathon, Western shareholders will receive one share of WesternZagros and one tenth of a warrant to purchase additional common shares. Some of Western's directors and executives will move to similar jobs at the new company. David Boone, Fred Dyment, Randall Oliphant and John Frangos will sit on the board. Jim Houck and David Dyck, Western's current CEO and CFO, will continue in those roles at WesternZagros.
Labels: David Dyck, Jim Houck, Marathon Oil Corp, oil well, southern Kurdistan, Western Oil Sands Inc., WesternZagros
Allawi's party to attend summit if officially invited
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - The Iraqi National List (INL) said on Wednesday that it would accept the demands of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and the President of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barazani to take part in the political leaders’ meetings only if it receives an official invitation. “We are ready to participate in the meetings if we receive an official invitation from the government,” INL member of parliament Iyad Jamal el-Din told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) on Wednesday.
“We appreciate the positions of President Talabani and Barazani and their calls for the importance of the INL’s participation in the summit because of its political and ethical weight in the Iraqi political arena,” he added. “There is a need to create an atmosphere of harmony among all politicians to solve political problems,” he also said. “The INL has to be part of these meetings to save the country from repeated crises and its demands must be studied as they are not factional national demands,” the lawmaker explained.
The parliamentary bloc ordered its five ministers last week to boycott cabinet sessions because of the government's failure to implement its program. The ministers of science and technology did not comply with he decision. Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's INL has 24 seats out of the 275-seat parliament.
“We appreciate the positions of President Talabani and Barazani and their calls for the importance of the INL’s participation in the summit because of its political and ethical weight in the Iraqi political arena,” he added. “There is a need to create an atmosphere of harmony among all politicians to solve political problems,” he also said. “The INL has to be part of these meetings to save the country from repeated crises and its demands must be studied as they are not factional national demands,” the lawmaker explained.
The parliamentary bloc ordered its five ministers last week to boycott cabinet sessions because of the government's failure to implement its program. The ministers of science and technology did not comply with he decision. Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's INL has 24 seats out of the 275-seat parliament.
Labels: Iraqi National List, Iyad Allawi, Iyad Jamal el-Din
Sadrists demonstrate in Najaf
Security, Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Hundreds of the Sadrist bloc’s supporters in Najaf staged a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday, calling for an end to arrest campaigns and the release of detainees from the Sadrist bloc, while the spokesman for the bloc said that Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is in Iraq. “The protesters began the demonstration at 10:00 am on Wednesday from Sahet al-Sadreen (Sadrists' square) in eastern Najaf and ended it at Sahet al-Thawrat al-Eishreen at the eastern exit of the city.
The angry protesters called on the Iraqi government and U.S. forces to release detainees and for the immediate stop to arrest campaigns, which they described as being carried out randomly. “This demonstration aims to call on authorities to stop the recent arrest campaigns by U.S. forces against Sadrists,” the official spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr, Sheikh Ahmed al-Shebani, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) during the demonstration.
A joint Iraqi and U.S. force last Monday arrested Emad al-Hasnawi, an activist from the Sadrist bloc, from his house in Missan neighborhood in Kufa. U.S. forces also arrested Sheikh Fuad al-Tarafi, a senior aide for Muqtada al-Sadr, last Sunday from his house in the neighborhood. “U.S. forces recently launched a new military operation dubbed “Phantom Strike” throughout Iraq, which mainly aims to crack down on Sadrists and elements of the Mahdi Army,” the sheikh also said.
“Muqtada al-Sadr is in Iraq,” al-Sebani also affirmed. U.S. reports recently asserted that the Shiite cleric is in Iran. “We still adhere to the political process. We withdrew from the government but still have members in the parliament,” he noted. The Sadrist bloc is one of the main components of the Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) and has 30 seats out of the 275-seat parliament.
The angry protesters called on the Iraqi government and U.S. forces to release detainees and for the immediate stop to arrest campaigns, which they described as being carried out randomly. “This demonstration aims to call on authorities to stop the recent arrest campaigns by U.S. forces against Sadrists,” the official spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr, Sheikh Ahmed al-Shebani, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) during the demonstration.
A joint Iraqi and U.S. force last Monday arrested Emad al-Hasnawi, an activist from the Sadrist bloc, from his house in Missan neighborhood in Kufa. U.S. forces also arrested Sheikh Fuad al-Tarafi, a senior aide for Muqtada al-Sadr, last Sunday from his house in the neighborhood. “U.S. forces recently launched a new military operation dubbed “Phantom Strike” throughout Iraq, which mainly aims to crack down on Sadrists and elements of the Mahdi Army,” the sheikh also said.
“Muqtada al-Sadr is in Iraq,” al-Sebani also affirmed. U.S. reports recently asserted that the Shiite cleric is in Iran. “We still adhere to the political process. We withdrew from the government but still have members in the parliament,” he noted. The Sadrist bloc is one of the main components of the Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) and has 30 seats out of the 275-seat parliament.
Labels: demonstration, Emad al-Hasnawi, Najaf, Sadrist bloc, Sheikh Ahmed al-Shebani, Sheikh Fuad al-Tarafi
Iran - Iraq trade on the rise
Trade
(Press TV) - 97 percent of the $2 billion worth of bilateral trade with Iraq consists of Iranian exports to that country, Iran's envoy to Baghdad says. Iran has a significant potential to participate in Iraq's reconstruction, the Iranian ambassador, Hassan Kazemi Qomi said, adding that presently the contracts to build Baghdad's 300 Megawatt power plant and 2 pipelines to transfer 350 thousand barrels of crude oil per day from Basra to Abadan are also underway.
The 400 Megawatt electricity power transmission line from Abadan to Al-Hares is among the most important projects being implemented by Iran, Kazemi Qomi said. Iran's ambassador to Iraq noted that Iran's Pars Wagon Company has adequate capabilities to have a positive role in development of Iraq's rail network.
Signing 65 other technical cooperation documents for the expansion of Iraq's railroad is among the future cooperation in this field. The Iranian envoy referred to these projects as a clear sign of Iran's willingness to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction, mentioning that Iranian pilgrims visit to Iraq by train is another important issue.
The 400 Megawatt electricity power transmission line from Abadan to Al-Hares is among the most important projects being implemented by Iran, Kazemi Qomi said. Iran's ambassador to Iraq noted that Iran's Pars Wagon Company has adequate capabilities to have a positive role in development of Iraq's rail network.
Signing 65 other technical cooperation documents for the expansion of Iraq's railroad is among the future cooperation in this field. The Iranian envoy referred to these projects as a clear sign of Iran's willingness to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction, mentioning that Iranian pilgrims visit to Iraq by train is another important issue.
Labels: crude oil, electricity, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran, Iraq, Pars Wagon Company, rail links, trade
U.S. forces launch air assault south of Baghdad
Military
(Reuters) - U.S. forces launched an airborne assault on a desert compound south of Baghdad on Thursday, the first air strike in a major new offensive. A company of airborne infantry struck villas in search of Sunni Arab militants. The assault was a first part of operation Marne Husky, itself part of a countrywide push announced this week against both Sunni Arab and Shi'ite militants.
Major-General Rick Lynch, commander of U.S. forces south of Baghdad, told Reuters on Wednesday that about 4,000 of his men would be involved in the operation and would use air strikes and air-mobile infantry units to attack insurgents in the Tigris River valley south of the Iraqi capital.Pointing on a map to the palm groves south of Baghdad in an area known as Arab Jabour, he said his troops had already pushed out many Sunni Arab militants in the past month and now planned to strike those who escaped southwards.
Washington sent an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq this year and has pushed them from big bases into neighborhood outposts in an effort to reduce sectarian violence and defeat both Sunni Arab insurgents and hostile Shi'ite militia. Operation Marne Husky involves sending infantry into territory where U.S. forces had not had a presence in the past, in an area south of Baghdad U.S. troops call the "Triangle of Death."
"Tonight it's going to be the first time in about a year they've seen coalition forces. They've had aircraft flying overhead. But they can't hide from infantry kicking down the doors," Lynch said. The U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, is due to report to Congress next month on the success of his strategy. This week U.S. forces announced the launch of a countrywide offensive, operation Phantom Strike.
On Tuesday they announced the first part of Phantom Strike, known as operation Lightning Hammer, which began with an airborne assault on the Diyala River valley north of the capital. A spokesman for the unit said the soldiers were airlifted out before dawn having captured five suspected militants, destroyed homemade explosives and uncovered a cache of weapons.
Major-General Rick Lynch, commander of U.S. forces south of Baghdad, told Reuters on Wednesday that about 4,000 of his men would be involved in the operation and would use air strikes and air-mobile infantry units to attack insurgents in the Tigris River valley south of the Iraqi capital.Pointing on a map to the palm groves south of Baghdad in an area known as Arab Jabour, he said his troops had already pushed out many Sunni Arab militants in the past month and now planned to strike those who escaped southwards.
Washington sent an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq this year and has pushed them from big bases into neighborhood outposts in an effort to reduce sectarian violence and defeat both Sunni Arab insurgents and hostile Shi'ite militia. Operation Marne Husky involves sending infantry into territory where U.S. forces had not had a presence in the past, in an area south of Baghdad U.S. troops call the "Triangle of Death."
"Tonight it's going to be the first time in about a year they've seen coalition forces. They've had aircraft flying overhead. But they can't hide from infantry kicking down the doors," Lynch said. The U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, is due to report to Congress next month on the success of his strategy. This week U.S. forces announced the launch of a countrywide offensive, operation Phantom Strike.
On Tuesday they announced the first part of Phantom Strike, known as operation Lightning Hammer, which began with an airborne assault on the Diyala River valley north of the capital. A spokesman for the unit said the soldiers were airlifted out before dawn having captured five suspected militants, destroyed homemade explosives and uncovered a cache of weapons.
Labels: air assault, Arab Jabour, Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, Marne Husky, Operation Lightning Hammer, Operation Phantom Strike, Shiite militias, Sunni militants, U.S. forces
Five companies bid for Iraq's mobile phone market
Telecommunications
(AFP) - Five companies began bidding in Amman Thursday for a share of Iraq's lucrative mobile telephone market, one of the few sectors of the war-ravaged economy still producing revenues, officials said. The five include the three existing licence holders -- Orascom, MTC and Asiacell, Iraqi Finance Minister Bayan Jabr Solagh told reporters before the bidding process got underway in the Jordanian capital.
The chief of the National Communications and Media Commission, Siyamend Othman, said the other two companies in the running are Turkcell and Korek, but Solagh would not confirm that. Turkcell is Turkey's largest mobile phone operator and Korek is a regional operator headquartered in northern Iraq's relatively stable Kurdish area.
"There were initially fourteen companies, but five pulled out because of security concerns," Solagh said. "We excluded another four after carefully studying their backgrounds," he added, without elaborating. Solagh said bids would start at 300 million dollars and that the top three tenders would be awarded the contracts.
Egypt's telecom giant Orascom controls Iraq's central region. The south is covered by Atheer, a branch of the Kuwaiti firm MTC, and the north is in the hands of Asiacell, a consortium of Iraqi and Gulf firms. They boast a total of around nine million subscribers. The licences expire at the end of August, and they have been pushing for a speedy issuing of new ones.
The results are expected to be announced on Friday or Saturday. Iraq has limited fixed-line infrastructure, and cellular phones are the main means of communication in the war-torn country. Mobile telephony is one of the few sectors besides oil attracting foreign investment as attacks on telecoms infrastructure are rare.
The chief of the National Communications and Media Commission, Siyamend Othman, said the other two companies in the running are Turkcell and Korek, but Solagh would not confirm that. Turkcell is Turkey's largest mobile phone operator and Korek is a regional operator headquartered in northern Iraq's relatively stable Kurdish area.
"There were initially fourteen companies, but five pulled out because of security concerns," Solagh said. "We excluded another four after carefully studying their backgrounds," he added, without elaborating. Solagh said bids would start at 300 million dollars and that the top three tenders would be awarded the contracts.
Egypt's telecom giant Orascom controls Iraq's central region. The south is covered by Atheer, a branch of the Kuwaiti firm MTC, and the north is in the hands of Asiacell, a consortium of Iraqi and Gulf firms. They boast a total of around nine million subscribers. The licences expire at the end of August, and they have been pushing for a speedy issuing of new ones.
The results are expected to be announced on Friday or Saturday. Iraq has limited fixed-line infrastructure, and cellular phones are the main means of communication in the war-torn country. Mobile telephony is one of the few sectors besides oil attracting foreign investment as attacks on telecoms infrastructure are rare.
The cell phone network companies licensed by the Iraqi government should seek a permit from the region's government to work within the borders of Kurdistan region, Omid Mohammed Saleh, from Iraq's Kurdistan Telecommunication Ministry said on Wednesday. The media spokesman for Kurdistan Telecommunications Ministry also told VOI that his ministry imposes a tax reaching up to $1.75 per subscriber a year.
Labels: Amman, Asiacell, Atheer, Bayan Jabr Solagh, Iraq, Korek, Kurdistan, mobile phone network, MTC, Omid Mohammed Saleh, Orascom, Siyamend Othman, Turkcell
Death toll doubles in northern Iraq
Security
(CNN) -- The death toll in this week's suicide bombings in northern Iraq has risen to at least 500, local officials in Nineveh province said Wednesday. A girl wounded in the Tuesday attacks in northern Iraq arrives at a hospital in Duhouk, Iraq, on Wednesday. Iraqi Army and Mosul police sources earlier put the number at 260, but said it was likely to rise; 320 were reported wounded.
The Tuesday truck bombs that targeted the villages of Qahtaniya, al-Jazeera and Tal Uzair, in northern Iraq near the border with Syria, were a "trademark al Qaeda event" designed to sway U.S. public opinion against the war, a U.S. general said Wednesday. The attacks, targeting Kurdish villages of the Yazidi religious minority, were attempts to "break the will" of the American people and show that the U.S. troop escalation -- the "surge" -- is failing, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon said.
The bombings highlight the kind of sectarian tensions the troop surge was designed to stop. In another blast Thursday morning, a bomb in a parked car exploded at a busy shopping center in central Baghdad, killing at least nine people and wounding 17, Iraq's Ministry of Information said. Al Qaeda in Iraq is predominantly Sunni, and Mixon said members of the Yazidi religious minority have received threatening letters, called "night letters," telling them "to leave because they are infidels."
"This is an act of ethnic cleansing, if you will -- almost genocide when you consider the fact the target they attacked and the fact that these Yazidis, out in a very remote part of Nineveh province, where there is very little security and really no security required to this point," Mixon said. Sunni militants, including members of al Qaeda in Iraq, have targeted Yazidis in the area before.
Brig. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf, an Interior Ministry spokesman, said there were three suicide trucks carrying two tons of explosives. At least 30 houses and other buildings were destroyed. Khalaf said the carnage looks like the aftermath of a "mini-nuclear explosion." More bodies are expected to be found. The U.S. military said there were five bombings -- four at a crowded bus station in Qahtaniya and a fifth in al-Jazeera. The massacre comes ahead of next month's report to Congress by Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker on progress in Iraq.
The Tuesday truck bombs that targeted the villages of Qahtaniya, al-Jazeera and Tal Uzair, in northern Iraq near the border with Syria, were a "trademark al Qaeda event" designed to sway U.S. public opinion against the war, a U.S. general said Wednesday. The attacks, targeting Kurdish villages of the Yazidi religious minority, were attempts to "break the will" of the American people and show that the U.S. troop escalation -- the "surge" -- is failing, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon said.
The bombings highlight the kind of sectarian tensions the troop surge was designed to stop. In another blast Thursday morning, a bomb in a parked car exploded at a busy shopping center in central Baghdad, killing at least nine people and wounding 17, Iraq's Ministry of Information said. Al Qaeda in Iraq is predominantly Sunni, and Mixon said members of the Yazidi religious minority have received threatening letters, called "night letters," telling them "to leave because they are infidels."
"This is an act of ethnic cleansing, if you will -- almost genocide when you consider the fact the target they attacked and the fact that these Yazidis, out in a very remote part of Nineveh province, where there is very little security and really no security required to this point," Mixon said. Sunni militants, including members of al Qaeda in Iraq, have targeted Yazidis in the area before.
Brig. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf, an Interior Ministry spokesman, said there were three suicide trucks carrying two tons of explosives. At least 30 houses and other buildings were destroyed. Khalaf said the carnage looks like the aftermath of a "mini-nuclear explosion." More bodies are expected to be found. The U.S. military said there were five bombings -- four at a crowded bus station in Qahtaniya and a fifth in al-Jazeera. The massacre comes ahead of next month's report to Congress by Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker on progress in Iraq.
The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki blamed Sunni extremists for the "monstrous crime." He said a committee has been formed to investigate. Ashraf Qazi, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative for Iraq, called the attack an "abominable crime aimed at widening the sectarian and ethnic divide in Iraq." Qazi urged Iraqi authorities to bolster their efforts to protect minorities.
The Yazidi sect is a mainly Kurdish minority, an ancient group that worships seven angels, in the form of peacocks, who are subordinate to the supreme god who created the universe. A couple of related incidents in the spring highlighted the tensions between Sunnis and Yazidis. In April, a Kurdish Yazidi teenage girl was brutally beaten, kicked and stoned to death in northern Iraq by other Yazidis in what authorities said was an "honor killing" after she was seen with a Sunni Muslim man. Although she had not married him or converted, her attackers believed she had.
The Yazidis condemn mixing with people of another faith. That killing is said to have spurred the killings of about two dozen Yazidi men by Sunni Muslims in the Mosul area two weeks later. Attackers affiliated with al Qaeda pulled 24 Yazidi men out of a bus and slaughtered them, according to a provincial official.
The Yazidi sect is a mainly Kurdish minority, an ancient group that worships seven angels, in the form of peacocks, who are subordinate to the supreme god who created the universe. A couple of related incidents in the spring highlighted the tensions between Sunnis and Yazidis. In April, a Kurdish Yazidi teenage girl was brutally beaten, kicked and stoned to death in northern Iraq by other Yazidis in what authorities said was an "honor killing" after she was seen with a Sunni Muslim man. Although she had not married him or converted, her attackers believed she had.
The Yazidis condemn mixing with people of another faith. That killing is said to have spurred the killings of about two dozen Yazidi men by Sunni Muslims in the Mosul area two weeks later. Attackers affiliated with al Qaeda pulled 24 Yazidi men out of a bus and slaughtered them, according to a provincial official.
Labels: Al Qaeda in Iraq, al-Jazeera, Brig. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, Qahtaniya, suicide trucks, Tal Uzair, Yezidis
Accord Front: Anbar Salvation Council’s Ministers (Nominees) Will NOT Represent Us
Politics, Tribal
(Badr Newspaper) - 15 AUG - Accord Front spokesman, Salim Abid Al Jabouri stated, “The Anbar Salvation Council’s nominees who are intended to replace Accord Front’s Ministers (who withdrew from Al Maliki’s Administration) do not represent the sect (all Sunnis), they only represent themselves.” On the other hand, Iraq’s Vice President Tariq Al Hashimi has made the following demand: all of the political blocs must attend the upcoming “meeting of top-level political leaders”. Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki has called for all of Iraq’s political leaders to participate in this meeting.
Ali Al Barrak, a spokesman for the Vice President’s (Al Hashimi’s) office, said: Al Hashimi has accepted the invitation to attend this conference of top-level political leadership, however, he made the following condition: all of Iraq’s political leaders must take part in this meeting! On another hand, Ayad Al Samaraie, the Accord Front’s Chief (in Iraq’s Parliament) emphasized the necessity of the government’s fulfilling the Constitution. He continued: Iraq is witnessing a political crisis; because, the leaders have abandoned the political programs. They abandoned the goals which all the sides participating in the political process had agreed on. Al Samaraie told the press, “Abandonment of the Constitution is the reason for Iraq’s political crisis.”
Recently, Al Maliki said that this (top-level political leaders) meeting will discuss: the political blocs’ demands, and which of these demands that we can accomplis but, only on the condition that the political blocs accept the need to: approve key legislation in the Parliament, and hold a confirmation vote (concerning the Sadr Movement’s six) Ministers who resigned. It has been a month since he (Al Maliki) submitted a list of replacement Ministers to Parliament.
It is expected that this top-level meeting will include many individuals, such as: the (Iraqi) Republic’s President – Jalal Talabani, plus Iraq’s two Vice Presidents – Adil Abd Al Mahdi and Tariq Al Hashimi, (Prime Minister) Al Maliki, Kurdistan’s Regional President – Massoud Barzani, and other leaders of (Iraq’s) political blocs.
Ali Al Barrak, a spokesman for the Vice President’s (Al Hashimi’s) office, said: Al Hashimi has accepted the invitation to attend this conference of top-level political leadership, however, he made the following condition: all of Iraq’s political leaders must take part in this meeting! On another hand, Ayad Al Samaraie, the Accord Front’s Chief (in Iraq’s Parliament) emphasized the necessity of the government’s fulfilling the Constitution. He continued: Iraq is witnessing a political crisis; because, the leaders have abandoned the political programs. They abandoned the goals which all the sides participating in the political process had agreed on. Al Samaraie told the press, “Abandonment of the Constitution is the reason for Iraq’s political crisis.”
Recently, Al Maliki said that this (top-level political leaders) meeting will discuss: the political blocs’ demands, and which of these demands that we can accomplis but, only on the condition that the political blocs accept the need to: approve key legislation in the Parliament, and hold a confirmation vote (concerning the Sadr Movement’s six) Ministers who resigned. It has been a month since he (Al Maliki) submitted a list of replacement Ministers to Parliament.
It is expected that this top-level meeting will include many individuals, such as: the (Iraqi) Republic’s President – Jalal Talabani, plus Iraq’s two Vice Presidents – Adil Abd Al Mahdi and Tariq Al Hashimi, (Prime Minister) Al Maliki, Kurdistan’s Regional President – Massoud Barzani, and other leaders of (Iraq’s) political blocs.
Labels: Anbar Salvation Council, Ayad Al Samaraie, constitution, Iraqi Accordance Front, Salim Abid Al Jabouri, Tariq Al Hashemi
Dulaim Tribal Sheikhs And Anbar Salvation Council Submit Nominees To Replace Accord Front’s Ministers
Politics, Tribal
(Badr Newspaper) - 15 AUG - Prime Minister, Nuri Al Maliki, met with the Dulaim Tribal Chiefs and some members of the Anbar Salvation Council. The Dulaim Tribe has submitted a list of nominees to replace the Accord Front’s Ministers (who have withdrawn from Al Maliki’s Cabinet). The list consists of ten names; most of them are from the Anbar Salvation Council.
Sheikh Ali Al Hatim, a Dulaim Tribal Chief, during a press conference, said, “During our meeting with the Prime Minister we discussed this list of nominees who were selected by us in order to replace the Accord Front’s Ministers.” He clarified: in reality, the Accord Front has failed to achieve any success; therefore, the Accord Front does not have the right to lead the people. The Accord Front has come to an impasse in the government.
Sheikh Al Hatim also mentioned: this list of nominees, whom we presented as (possible) replacements for the Accord’s Ministers, is based on the successful accomplishments which have occurred in Anbar Province where the government’s security forces and US forces had been unable to accomplish anything. Al Hatim said, “Our meeting with Al Maliki was positive. He (Al Maliki) was responsive to our demands.” However, Al Hatim added: Al Maliki wants to give the Accord Front another chance to reconsider its demands and maybe they will return to the government.
Regarding the subject of Anbar Salvation Council member – Hamid Al Hayis who wants to become the minister of one of Iraq’s “security ministries”, Al Hatim said, “Al Hayis can not nominate himself to fill any position. Subjects such as these should first be studied by the Anbar Salvation Council members before they are approved. Therefore, the reports about this subject are incorrect.”
Sheikh Ali Al Hatim, a Dulaim Tribal Chief, during a press conference, said, “During our meeting with the Prime Minister we discussed this list of nominees who were selected by us in order to replace the Accord Front’s Ministers.” He clarified: in reality, the Accord Front has failed to achieve any success; therefore, the Accord Front does not have the right to lead the people. The Accord Front has come to an impasse in the government.
Sheikh Al Hatim also mentioned: this list of nominees, whom we presented as (possible) replacements for the Accord’s Ministers, is based on the successful accomplishments which have occurred in Anbar Province where the government’s security forces and US forces had been unable to accomplish anything. Al Hatim said, “Our meeting with Al Maliki was positive. He (Al Maliki) was responsive to our demands.” However, Al Hatim added: Al Maliki wants to give the Accord Front another chance to reconsider its demands and maybe they will return to the government.
Regarding the subject of Anbar Salvation Council member – Hamid Al Hayis who wants to become the minister of one of Iraq’s “security ministries”, Al Hatim said, “Al Hayis can not nominate himself to fill any position. Subjects such as these should first be studied by the Anbar Salvation Council members before they are approved. Therefore, the reports about this subject are incorrect.”
Karim Al Bukhati, the Prime Minister’s Advisor for Tribal Affairs, emphasized that he has no knowledge about the meeting of Al Maliki and Sheikh Al Hatim. It’s clear that this meeting was intended to be secret; (therefore) I have no knowledge about Al Maliki’s meeting with Sheikh Al Hatim. Al Bukhati continued: often important political developments are not preceded by announcements. He specified that Al Hatim had come in order to submit the Anbar Salvation Council’s list of nominees to replace the Accord Front’s Ministers.
Labels: Anbar Salvation Council, Dulaim Tribal Chiefs, Hamid Al Hayis, Iraqi Accordance Front, Karim Al Bukhati, Nouri Al-Maliki, Sheikh Ali Al Hatim
Sunnis shun Maliki's new alliance of Kurds and Shiites
Politics
(Gulf News) - The Iraqi prime minister and president on Thursday announced a new alliance of moderate Shiites and Kurds, saying Sunni moderates refused to join but the door remained open to them. Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki said the agreement was the first step to unblock political stagnation that has gripped his Shiite-led government since it first took power in May2006.
Pressure has been mounting against Al Maliki who has been criticised for having a Shiite bias and failing to stop the sectarian violence, which persists in Iraq despite the presence of tens of thousands of extra US troops. The announcement of the political accord after three days of intense negotiations in the capital was disappointing because it did not include Iraq's Sunni Vice President Tariq Al Hashemi and his moderate Iraqi Islamic Party.
President Jalal Talabani and Al Maliki were flanked by the leader of the northern autonomous Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani, and Shiite Vice President Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi at a news conference. The four men signed a three-page agreement that they said ensures them a majority in the 275-member parliament that would allow movement of critical US-demanded legislation.
Talabani, a Kurd, said Al Hashemi refused the invitation to join in the new political grouping but "the door is still open to them and they are welcome at any time." Al Maliki also called on the Sunni Accordance Front, which includes Al Hashemi's party, to return to the government, to heal a rift that opened when the bloc's five Cabinet ministers quit the government.
The four-party agreement was unveiled four weeks before the top US commander in Iraq Gen. David Petraeus and US Ambassador Ryan Crocker are to deliver a progress report on Iraq to Congress. "We have relegated efforts to topple the government to the past. We are now in a new stage," said Al Maliki's adviser, Yassin Majeed. "We will keep working to bring the Accordance Front back, but if they insist we will have a majority in parliament and bring in new ministers."
Omar Abdul-Sattar, a lawmaker with the Iraqi Islamic Party, said Kurdish representatives issued the invitaton on Wednesday and it was refused. "We said we are not ready tojoin this alliance at the current time," he said.
Pressure has been mounting against Al Maliki who has been criticised for having a Shiite bias and failing to stop the sectarian violence, which persists in Iraq despite the presence of tens of thousands of extra US troops. The announcement of the political accord after three days of intense negotiations in the capital was disappointing because it did not include Iraq's Sunni Vice President Tariq Al Hashemi and his moderate Iraqi Islamic Party.
President Jalal Talabani and Al Maliki were flanked by the leader of the northern autonomous Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani, and Shiite Vice President Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi at a news conference. The four men signed a three-page agreement that they said ensures them a majority in the 275-member parliament that would allow movement of critical US-demanded legislation.
Talabani, a Kurd, said Al Hashemi refused the invitation to join in the new political grouping but "the door is still open to them and they are welcome at any time." Al Maliki also called on the Sunni Accordance Front, which includes Al Hashemi's party, to return to the government, to heal a rift that opened when the bloc's five Cabinet ministers quit the government.
The four-party agreement was unveiled four weeks before the top US commander in Iraq Gen. David Petraeus and US Ambassador Ryan Crocker are to deliver a progress report on Iraq to Congress. "We have relegated efforts to topple the government to the past. We are now in a new stage," said Al Maliki's adviser, Yassin Majeed. "We will keep working to bring the Accordance Front back, but if they insist we will have a majority in parliament and bring in new ministers."
Omar Abdul-Sattar, a lawmaker with the Iraqi Islamic Party, said Kurdish representatives issued the invitaton on Wednesday and it was refused. "We said we are not ready tojoin this alliance at the current time," he said.
Labels: Iraqi Accordance Front, Iraqi Islamic Party, Jalal Talabani, Massoud Barzani, Nouri Al-Maliki, Tariq Al Hashemi
Kidnapped deputy oil minister was in charge of Iraq's oil exploration and production
Kidnapping
(UPI) -- The Iraqi oil official kidnapped with four others Tuesday was in charge of Iraq’s exploration and production, a key role especially for a Sunni, and a stark reminder that even the most needed aspect of Iraq’s economy -- oil and the wealth it brings in -- is not immune from the horror of today’s Iraq. Abdel-Jabar al-Wagaa, a deputy minister and top assistant to the oil minister, was taken by a group of men in official uniforms and vehicles.
There is no confirmation on the assailants, including whether these were from any Iraqi security force or militias dressed up. Militias carried out a similar raid earlier this year at the Iraqi Finance Ministry. Tuesday’s raid occurred in the afternoon, taken from their neighboring apartments in a housing complex of the State Oil Marketing Organization, where the other officials worked.
Former Oil Minister Issam al-Chalabi told UPI Wagaa, named deputy minister in 2004, may be a target because of his position, because he’s a Sunni and not a Shiite Arab, or because of the tribe he hailed from, the Jibouri tribe from Mosul. “Nobody can tell but it could be a combination of all these reasons,” Chalabi said. “This is really bad,” a U.S. official familiar with Iraq oil issues told UPI on condition of anonymity. “This is a blow to the Oil Ministry. He was one of the few remaining Western-educated technocrats.”
As a Sunni, Wagaa was in the minority in the new Shiite-dominated government in Iraq. Shiites make up the majority population in the country but were deprived of respective leadership roles under Saddam Hussein, a Sunni. Sunnis have been routed out and excluded from the government, despite their expertise in technical issues, especially oil.
Wagaa’s position in the ministry was of heavy importance. The senior deputy minister in charge of upstream, all production, exploration, drilling and the North and South Oil Cos. were under his watch. He also had a role in the ongoing training sessions of oil officials and workers with international oil companies. Iraq has 115 billion barrels of proven oil reserves -- much of which are not being pumped -- and experts believe nearly as much to be discovered.
At least three of the four others kidnapped held high-level roles in the Iraqi company that sells the crude, the SOMO. Iraq sent an average 1.6 million barrels per day of oil to international market last year, bringing in more than $31 billion, which filled more than 90 percent of the federal budget. Mahdi al-Naqib was in charge of researching what type of crude was available and who it should be sold to; Salah Abdul Qadar was the director general for selling oil to Europe; and Kamel al-Ob’eidy was a top-level SOMO public relations official. UPI could not determine the identity of the fourth abductee.
No one has officially taken responsibility for the act. Media accounts and officials are hinting at blaming the Mahdi Army, or rogue factions of it, which are led by Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr. The incident took place near Sadr City, a poor Baghdad neighborhood of millions. But it could be a cross sect hit, by Sunnis, or any number of actors in the violent power struggle unfolding in Iraq and other parts of the country. Details remain sketchy still. The uniforms may be police or Interior Ministry forces, both of which are infiltrated by loyalists to Shiite militias of the Badr Corps, the armed wing of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, one of the most powerful political parties in Baghdad and partner to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Dawa Party.
Considering the high profile of those captured, it likely was not a random snatch. The perpetrators could have been allowed into the compound because they appeared to be official, or bribed their way in. Less than three months ago armed men in police uniforms took five Britons from a Finance Ministry building, which is near the SOMO compound. They’re still missing, as are many taken in a mass kidnapping Nov. 14, when the Mahdi Army was blamed for donning Interior Ministry garb and invading the Ministry of Higher Education. Wagaa’s kidnapping is the highest-profile job since last year, when in two separate instances the directors general of both the North Oil Co. and State Oil Projects Co. were kidnapped. Neither has been found.
Labels: Abdel-Jabar al-Wagaa, Badr Corps, Deputy Oil Minister, Issam al-Chalabi, Jibouri tribe, Kamel al-Ob’eidy, Mahdi al-Naqib, Mahdi Army, Salah Abdul Qadar, SOMO, State Oil Marketing Organization
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Army to reopen bidding on $4.6 bn. Iraq translation services contract
Contracts
(Washington Business Journal) - The Army will reopen the bidding process on a five-year translation services contract awarded to DynCorp International Inc. last year for work in Iraq. The contract is worth more than $4.6 billion. L-3 Communications Holdings Inc., which had the contract before DynCorp, protested the bidding process. The General Accounting Office sided with L-3 Communications in March and ordered the Army to rebid the contract.
Global Linguist Services, a joint venture of Falls Church-based DynCorp and McNeil Technologies Inc., was awarded the contract Dec. 18. L-3 has continued to do the work under an extension granted in March for its original contract. "We are pleased that this procurement is moving forward in a serious manner that will address the concerns raised by the GAO [Government Accountability Office] and ensure a timely decision," DynCorp chief executive Herbert Lanese said in a statement. "We look forward to an expedited conclusion of this procurement."
The rebidding process will consider both companies' experience and ability to provide personnel on a timely basis. DynCorp had agreed to hire up to 6,000 local translators in Iraq and provide up to 1,000 more American linguists. DynCorp (NYSE: DCP) and L-3 (NYSE: LLL) have until Aug. 24 to resubmit bids.
Global Linguist Services, a joint venture of Falls Church-based DynCorp and McNeil Technologies Inc., was awarded the contract Dec. 18. L-3 has continued to do the work under an extension granted in March for its original contract. "We are pleased that this procurement is moving forward in a serious manner that will address the concerns raised by the GAO [Government Accountability Office] and ensure a timely decision," DynCorp chief executive Herbert Lanese said in a statement. "We look forward to an expedited conclusion of this procurement."
The rebidding process will consider both companies' experience and ability to provide personnel on a timely basis. DynCorp had agreed to hire up to 6,000 local translators in Iraq and provide up to 1,000 more American linguists. DynCorp (NYSE: DCP) and L-3 (NYSE: LLL) have until Aug. 24 to resubmit bids.
Labels: DynCorp International, GAO, Global Linguist Services, L-3 Communications Holdings Inc., McNeil Technologies Inc.
Shalash Does Not Accept Presidency Of Southern Iraq
Politics
(Addustour Newspaper) - 14 AUG - There was almost a split inside the Free Iraqi Society Party which is led by Dr. Abd Al Muhsin Shalash Al Sarai because some people in southern Iraq have nominated the party leader to be the President of Southern Iraq’s government. The party leader [Shalash] announced that he will not accept the position. He also said that Iraqi is full of politicians who may accept this position. He added that the nomination came at an inappropriate time.
COMMENT: More than 50 southern tribal sheikhs agreed to establish a self-governing body in southern Iraq. They issued a declaration of this government on July 24th and nominated Dr. Abd Al Muhsin Shalash Al Sarai to lead it. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Dr. Abd Al Muhsin Shalash Al Sarai, Free Iraqi Society Party, presidency, southern Iraq
Judicial Procedures Begin Against Mujahadin Khalq
Government
(Al Mada Newspaper) - 14 AUG - Judge Jaffar Al Musawi, the General Prosecutor of the Supreme Criminal Court, stated that legal procedures have begun regarding the case of the Iranian Mujahadin Khalq organization. In his press release, Al Musawi added, “The charges of wasting Iraq’s money and killing Iraqis have been filed against the Mujahadin Khalq after special evidence was collected which condemns this organization. The US forces cannot protect this organization from the Iraqi judicial system which will conduct a trial against them. The Iraqi judicial system is not under the Americans or anyone else. It is independent and no one in the entire world can give immunity to the killers of the Iraqi people.”
Some Iraqi sides are working to end the Khalq’s presence in Iraq because they accuse them of assassinating Iraqi opposition members [prior to 2003] and also of suppressing the southern uprising against the former regime in 1991.
Labels: Iran, Judge Jaffar Al Musawi, MEK, Mujahadin Khalq
U.S. forces hand over Fallujah to Iraqi police
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - U.S. forces handed over the security file of the city of Falluja, Anbar province, to local police forces, Falluja police chief said on Tuesday. "The city's security file was transferred on Tuesday morning from the Marines to police forces, which will become fully responsible for maintaining security and stability in the city," Chief of the Falluja police department Faisal al-Zawbaei told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
According to the hand over agreement, U.S. troops will support police forces only outside the city in the first stage, followed by full withdrawal from all posts outside the city when security condition improves. "The hand over came as police forces became capable of boosting security and stability and hunting down militants," the chief of the police said.
The city has witnessed since this morning tight security measures by police forces, which spread leaflets urging citizens to cooperate with the police to foster security. "The security situation will improve in Falluja and the police will concentrate on providing all services to citizens and starting reconstruction operations of the infrastructure which was severely damaged because of the military operations," a police source said.
According to the hand over agreement, U.S. troops will support police forces only outside the city in the first stage, followed by full withdrawal from all posts outside the city when security condition improves. "The hand over came as police forces became capable of boosting security and stability and hunting down militants," the chief of the police said.
The city has witnessed since this morning tight security measures by police forces, which spread leaflets urging citizens to cooperate with the police to foster security. "The security situation will improve in Falluja and the police will concentrate on providing all services to citizens and starting reconstruction operations of the infrastructure which was severely damaged because of the military operations," a police source said.
Labels: Fallujah, Iraqi police, U.S. marines
In brazen attack, gunmen in military uniform kidnap deputy oil minister
Security
(AFP) - Gunmen dressed in Iraqi security uniforms kidnapped Deputy Oil Minister Abdel Jabar al-Wagaa from the compound of the state oil marketing company in Baghdad on Tuesday, an official said. "A gang of armed men dressed in Iraqi security uniforms broke into the compound of the State Oil Marketing Organisation and kidnapped several people, including Deputy Oil Minister Wagaa," oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said.
Jihad said the daylight raid on the company's compound which also houses residential quarters for its employees took place soon after the closing of the offices. Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani told state-run television that an investigation had been launched and some hostages were even "freed." "At 4:00 pm, a gang wearing Iraqi security uniforms broke into the compound and kidnapped five employees, including Wagaa," the minister said.
"We have marshalled all our forces and are carrying out raids on various hideouts and some of the hostages have been freed," he said without specifying the identity of the rescued victims. Insurgents dressed in security uniforms have often carried out raids on government buildings and abducted employees, many of whom are later found dead.
Jihad said the daylight raid on the company's compound which also houses residential quarters for its employees took place soon after the closing of the offices. Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani told state-run television that an investigation had been launched and some hostages were even "freed." "At 4:00 pm, a gang wearing Iraqi security uniforms broke into the compound and kidnapped five employees, including Wagaa," the minister said.
"We have marshalled all our forces and are carrying out raids on various hideouts and some of the hostages have been freed," he said without specifying the identity of the rescued victims. Insurgents dressed in security uniforms have often carried out raids on government buildings and abducted employees, many of whom are later found dead.
It was the highest profile kidnapping in Baghdad since five Britons were snatched from the Iraqi finance ministry when men wearing police uniforms stormed the building on May 29. The Britons have still not been released.
Labels: Abdel Jabar al-Wagaa, abduction, Deputy Oil Minister, State Oil Marketing Organisation
Political meetings to start on Wednesday
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said on Tuesday that the political leaders' meetings will start on Wednesday, noting that they will hold four-way and five-way meetings, mainly for the blocs that withdrew from the government. This came in a press statement released after a lunch banquet Talabani held in honor of Iraq's Kurdistan President Massoud Barazani and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The banquet was also attended by Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, representatives of all political blocs and a large number of ministers and lawmakers. "Today's meeting was a good opportunity to create an appropriate atmosphere for holding the political meetings which will start tomorrow, mainly the blocs that withdrew from the government," the statement said.
The Iraqi government is facing an aggravated political crisis after the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front and Iraqi National List announced the withdrawal of their ministers, while the Sadrists quit the cabinet months ago. The president also announced that four-way and five-way meetings will be held for leaders of political and parliamentary blocs participating in the political process string from Wednesday.
For his part, Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi said "we are optimistic as bilateral talks and meetings between all political leaders were made in an attempt to reach a common understanding." Iraq's Kurdistan President Massoud Barazani described today's meeting as preliminary for the upcoming meetings, while the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that the tomorrow's meeting will discuss means to solve problems that hamper the political process.
"There are several demands need to be accomplished as soon as possible, including laws related to the parliament's work, oil and gas law and the provinces' law," the premier also said. "There are some issues related to the government including appointing new ministers to replace those who withdrew and other issues within the constitution," he added. For his part, leader of the IAF, Adnan al-Dulaimi expressed hope that "this meeting will solve all disputes."
The banquet was also attended by Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, representatives of all political blocs and a large number of ministers and lawmakers. "Today's meeting was a good opportunity to create an appropriate atmosphere for holding the political meetings which will start tomorrow, mainly the blocs that withdrew from the government," the statement said.
The Iraqi government is facing an aggravated political crisis after the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front and Iraqi National List announced the withdrawal of their ministers, while the Sadrists quit the cabinet months ago. The president also announced that four-way and five-way meetings will be held for leaders of political and parliamentary blocs participating in the political process string from Wednesday.
For his part, Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi said "we are optimistic as bilateral talks and meetings between all political leaders were made in an attempt to reach a common understanding." Iraq's Kurdistan President Massoud Barazani described today's meeting as preliminary for the upcoming meetings, while the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that the tomorrow's meeting will discuss means to solve problems that hamper the political process.
"There are several demands need to be accomplished as soon as possible, including laws related to the parliament's work, oil and gas law and the provinces' law," the premier also said. "There are some issues related to the government including appointing new ministers to replace those who withdrew and other issues within the constitution," he added. For his part, leader of the IAF, Adnan al-Dulaimi expressed hope that "this meeting will solve all disputes."
Labels: emergency political summit, Iraq, Jalal Talabani
Rehabilitation of major southern oil field will lead to further production
Oil
(United Press International) - Increased rehabilitation in a key Iraqi oil field has been completed, setting the stage for more production and drilling of new wells. "The rehabilitation of the Sayed Nour oil field, eastern Amara, will immensely contribute to sustaining the overall production capacity of al-Bazarkan oil complex, which already reaches 120,000 barrels per day," a spokesman told the Voices of Iraq news agency.
Iraq produces 2 million bpd from the world's third-largest reserves of oil, which could sustain higher production numbers. The goal of increased production has been hampered by a long list of repairs to a sector mismanaged by Saddam Hussein and held back by U.N. sanctions. It has also been hit hard in the past four plus years by operating in a war zone and with a government unable to spend the necessary capital.
Each of the five Sayed Nour field's wells has a production capacity of 15,000 bpd. There are also plans to drill new wells in the oil province of Missan, in Bazarkan, Hilfaya and Fakka, which will take two years to complete and boost capacity by 100,000 bpd, the source said.
Iraq produces 2 million bpd from the world's third-largest reserves of oil, which could sustain higher production numbers. The goal of increased production has been hampered by a long list of repairs to a sector mismanaged by Saddam Hussein and held back by U.N. sanctions. It has also been hit hard in the past four plus years by operating in a war zone and with a government unable to spend the necessary capital.
Each of the five Sayed Nour field's wells has a production capacity of 15,000 bpd. There are also plans to drill new wells in the oil province of Missan, in Bazarkan, Hilfaya and Fakka, which will take two years to complete and boost capacity by 100,000 bpd, the source said.
Labels: al-Bazarkan oil complex, Amarah, Bazarkan, Fakka, Hilfaya, Missan, Sayed Nour oil field
In Iraq, sex is traded for survival
Humanitarian
(Al Jazeera) - Prior to the US invasion, Iraqi widows, particularly those who lost husbands during the Iran-Iraq war, were provided with compensation and free education for their children. In some cases, they were provided with free homes. However, no such safety nets currently exist and widows have few resources at their disposal.
According to the non-governmental organisation Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), 15 per cent of Iraqi women widowed by the war have been desperately searching for temporary marriages or prostitution, either for financial support or protection in the midst of sectarian war. Nuha Salim, the spokesperson for OWFI, told Al Jazeera: "Widows are one of our priorities but their situation is worsening and we are feeling ineffective to cope with this significant problem. Hundreds of women are searching for an easy way to support their loved ones as employers refuse to hire them for fear of extremists' reprisals."
She said the NGO has documented the disappearance of some 4000 women, 20 per cent of whom are under 18, since the March 2003 invasion. OWFI believes most of the missing women were kidnapped and sold into prostitution outside Iraq. Although few reliable statistics are available on the total number of widows in Iraq, the ministry of women's affairs says that there are at least 350,000 in Baghdad alone, with more than eight million throughout the country.
As Iraqi families continue to fall on hard times, some have been forced to make the most painful of decisions – selling their daughters. Abu Ahmed, a handicapped father of five who is himself a widower, sold his daughter Lina to an Iraqi man who came to Iraq to "shop" for sex workers. Abu Ahmed said he could not afford to buy food for his other children.
He told Al Jazeera: "I'm sure that whatever she is, at least she is having food to eat. I have three other girls and a son and what they paid me for Lina is enough to raise the remaining ones." Abu Ahmed had been initially approached by Shada, the alias of a woman living in Baghdad, who sought young women for Iraqi gangs running prostitution rackets in neighbouring Arab countries.
She told Al Jazeera that her role was to convince young women from impoverished families that a better life awaited them beyond the country's borders. She said: "Families don't want them and we are helping the girls to survive. We offer them food and housing and about $10 a day if they have had at least two clients. Our priority is virgin girls; they can be sold at very expensive prices to Arab millionaires." Shada said she sleeps in a different house every few nights as armed groups have marked her for trial and assassination.
OWFI's Salim says cases like Lina's have become very common as poverty is increasing in Iraq and desperate families sometimes sell their daughters for less than $500 to traffickers. But increasingly, young Iraqi women arrive in neighbouring capitals to find that prostitution carries a heavy and dangerous price.
Suha Muhammad, 17, was sold to an Iraqi gang by her mother, herself a prostitute, after her father was killed.
When she arrived in Jordan, she was gang-raped by four men who told her they were teaching her the tricks of the trade. She told Al Jazeera she had been sold to a gang that caters to VIPs in Syria and was often shuttled to Amman, the Jordanian capital, for high-profile clients.
After six months, she escaped: "I ran away and an Iraqi family helped me by driving me to the immigration department where they helped me get a passport to return to Iraq. "My aunt is now taking care of me in Baghdad. She never imagined that my mother could sell me, but unfortunately women in Iraq are not important and respected."
Mayada Zuhair, a spokesperson for the Baghdad-based Women's Rights Association (WRA), said Iraqi and Arab NGOs are trying to monitor the trafficking of young women from the war-ravaged country to neighbouring destinations. She told Al Jazeera: "We are trying to find out the fate of many widows and teenager girls who were trafficked. Unfortunately it is not an easy process and without international support, funding, and resources, we fear more young Iraqi women will be taken abroad to work in the sex trade."
In the meantime, however, prostitution remains the only option for Nirmeen Lattif, a 27-year-old widow who lost her husband in an attack on Shia pilgrims south of Baghdad. When she turned to her husband's relatives for financial support, they could not afford to help her. She says she tries not to think of the gravity of what she does or the dishonour it carries in conservative Muslim society. "I think of my children, only my children; without money we starve in the streets."
According to the non-governmental organisation Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), 15 per cent of Iraqi women widowed by the war have been desperately searching for temporary marriages or prostitution, either for financial support or protection in the midst of sectarian war. Nuha Salim, the spokesperson for OWFI, told Al Jazeera: "Widows are one of our priorities but their situation is worsening and we are feeling ineffective to cope with this significant problem. Hundreds of women are searching for an easy way to support their loved ones as employers refuse to hire them for fear of extremists' reprisals."
She said the NGO has documented the disappearance of some 4000 women, 20 per cent of whom are under 18, since the March 2003 invasion. OWFI believes most of the missing women were kidnapped and sold into prostitution outside Iraq. Although few reliable statistics are available on the total number of widows in Iraq, the ministry of women's affairs says that there are at least 350,000 in Baghdad alone, with more than eight million throughout the country.
As Iraqi families continue to fall on hard times, some have been forced to make the most painful of decisions – selling their daughters. Abu Ahmed, a handicapped father of five who is himself a widower, sold his daughter Lina to an Iraqi man who came to Iraq to "shop" for sex workers. Abu Ahmed said he could not afford to buy food for his other children.
He told Al Jazeera: "I'm sure that whatever she is, at least she is having food to eat. I have three other girls and a son and what they paid me for Lina is enough to raise the remaining ones." Abu Ahmed had been initially approached by Shada, the alias of a woman living in Baghdad, who sought young women for Iraqi gangs running prostitution rackets in neighbouring Arab countries.
She told Al Jazeera that her role was to convince young women from impoverished families that a better life awaited them beyond the country's borders. She said: "Families don't want them and we are helping the girls to survive. We offer them food and housing and about $10 a day if they have had at least two clients. Our priority is virgin girls; they can be sold at very expensive prices to Arab millionaires." Shada said she sleeps in a different house every few nights as armed groups have marked her for trial and assassination.
OWFI's Salim says cases like Lina's have become very common as poverty is increasing in Iraq and desperate families sometimes sell their daughters for less than $500 to traffickers. But increasingly, young Iraqi women arrive in neighbouring capitals to find that prostitution carries a heavy and dangerous price.
Suha Muhammad, 17, was sold to an Iraqi gang by her mother, herself a prostitute, after her father was killed.
When she arrived in Jordan, she was gang-raped by four men who told her they were teaching her the tricks of the trade. She told Al Jazeera she had been sold to a gang that caters to VIPs in Syria and was often shuttled to Amman, the Jordanian capital, for high-profile clients.
After six months, she escaped: "I ran away and an Iraqi family helped me by driving me to the immigration department where they helped me get a passport to return to Iraq. "My aunt is now taking care of me in Baghdad. She never imagined that my mother could sell me, but unfortunately women in Iraq are not important and respected."
Mayada Zuhair, a spokesperson for the Baghdad-based Women's Rights Association (WRA), said Iraqi and Arab NGOs are trying to monitor the trafficking of young women from the war-ravaged country to neighbouring destinations. She told Al Jazeera: "We are trying to find out the fate of many widows and teenager girls who were trafficked. Unfortunately it is not an easy process and without international support, funding, and resources, we fear more young Iraqi women will be taken abroad to work in the sex trade."
In the meantime, however, prostitution remains the only option for Nirmeen Lattif, a 27-year-old widow who lost her husband in an attack on Shia pilgrims south of Baghdad. When she turned to her husband's relatives for financial support, they could not afford to help her. She says she tries not to think of the gravity of what she does or the dishonour it carries in conservative Muslim society. "I think of my children, only my children; without money we starve in the streets."
Labels: Iraqi widows, Mayada Zuhair, prostitution, prostitution rackets, sex slaves, sex trade, Women's Freedom in Iraq, Women's Rights Association
U.S. launches new offensive in Iraq
Security
(Reuters) -- U.S. forces launched a big offensive in Iraq with an overnight airborne assault targeting al Qaeda guerrillas on Tuesday, part of a major new countrywide push. The Americans also raided Baghdad's Shi'ite slum of Sadr City targeting militants they said are linked to Iran. Relatives said a 5-year-old girl was among four killed in the raid.
The military said 16,000 U.S. and Iraqi troops were involved in Operation Lightning Hammer against Sunni Islamist al Qaeda militants in the fertile crescent of the Diyala River which flows from the north into the Tigris near Baghdad. U.S. and Iraqi soldiers started the operation with a late-night air assault. Its focus was militants who fled an earlier crackdown in the provincial capital Baquba.
"Our main goal with Lightning Hammer is to eliminate the terrorist organisations ... and show them that they truly have no safe haven -- especially in Diyala," Major-General Benjamin Mixon, U.S. commander in northern Iraq, said in a statement. The operation was described as part of a larger countrywide Operation Phantom Strike, which U.S. forces announced on Monday.
They have so far given few details of Phantom Strike. But U.S. military offensives over recent months have been under way in the Tigris and Diyala valleys north of Baghdad and in the Euphrates valley south of the capital. Diyala province is a sectarian patchwork and has seen some of Iraq's worst violence. Police in the Diyala town of Khalis said they found 15 corpses identified as Sunni Arabs, executed by gun shots and dumped on the highway linking Baghdad and Kirkuk.
The United States has sent an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq this year and moved them from large bases into small neighbourhood outposts in an effort to reduce sectarian violence in the capital and surrounding provinces. U.S. forces say they have had success, especially against Sunni Arab militants who were their main enemies for the first three years after the fall of President Saddam Hussein in 2003. But they have faced increasing violence from Shi'ite militia, who they say have ties to Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim neighbour Iran.
The military said 16,000 U.S. and Iraqi troops were involved in Operation Lightning Hammer against Sunni Islamist al Qaeda militants in the fertile crescent of the Diyala River which flows from the north into the Tigris near Baghdad. U.S. and Iraqi soldiers started the operation with a late-night air assault. Its focus was militants who fled an earlier crackdown in the provincial capital Baquba.
"Our main goal with Lightning Hammer is to eliminate the terrorist organisations ... and show them that they truly have no safe haven -- especially in Diyala," Major-General Benjamin Mixon, U.S. commander in northern Iraq, said in a statement. The operation was described as part of a larger countrywide Operation Phantom Strike, which U.S. forces announced on Monday.
They have so far given few details of Phantom Strike. But U.S. military offensives over recent months have been under way in the Tigris and Diyala valleys north of Baghdad and in the Euphrates valley south of the capital. Diyala province is a sectarian patchwork and has seen some of Iraq's worst violence. Police in the Diyala town of Khalis said they found 15 corpses identified as Sunni Arabs, executed by gun shots and dumped on the highway linking Baghdad and Kirkuk.
The United States has sent an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq this year and moved them from large bases into small neighbourhood outposts in an effort to reduce sectarian violence in the capital and surrounding provinces. U.S. forces say they have had success, especially against Sunni Arab militants who were their main enemies for the first three years after the fall of President Saddam Hussein in 2003. But they have faced increasing violence from Shi'ite militia, who they say have ties to Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim neighbour Iran.
Labels: Al Qaeda, Diyala, Iraq, Major-General Benjamin Mixon, offensive, Operation Lightning Hammer, Operation Phantom Strike, Shiite militias, U.S. forces
U.N. to hold talks with armed groups
U.N.
(Azzaman) - The United Nations intends to include all parties and factions in the talks it is going to hold to bring about national reconciliation in the country, Iraq U.N. spokesman said. Saaeed Arikat said the talks will involve armed groups currently fighting U.S. troops and the Iraqi government.
He did not reveal whether U.N.’s desire to conduct comprehensive talks with the political factions represented in parliament and those opposing the government would include groups with links to al-Qaeda organization. Iraq-linked Qaeda is better organized and equipped than any other group fighting U.S. occupation troops in Iraq. U.S. tactics to mobilize tribes to oust it from their areas have so far failed in containing its influence. Al Qaeda is responsible for most suicide bombings and attacks targeting U.S. invaders and Iraqi troops and security forces.
The Security Council unanimously approved a resolution on August 10 expanding the U.N.’s role in Iraq in a move aimed at reconciling the country’s rival groups, winning support from neighboring countries and tackling Iraq’s humanitarian crisis. The resolution authorizes the U.N. at the request of the Iraqi government to promote political talks among the country’s ethnic and religious groups and a regional dialogue on issues including border security, energy and refugees.
Arikat said the world body would seek to reach out to all the forces which could play a role in reconciling and rebuilding the country. “The U.N. is not concerned with what America wants from the resolution. We as an international organization will work to fulfill Iraqi ambitions and cooperate with the government,” he said.
Asked whether the U.N. will negotiate with the country’s armed groups, he said: “The U.N. will get in touch with political formations in the hope of reaching joint political agreements bringing the country’s disparate groups together.” The U.N., like the U.S. and Iraqi government, currently operates from the heavily fortified Green Zone but has two other offices in the country one in Arbil in the north and the other in Basra in the south.
Arikat said the U.N. had not forgotten Iraq despite the difficulties involved in operating there. “The U.N. has offered big sacrifices to help the Iraqi people,” he said. Former Secretary General Kofi Annan pull all U.N. international staff out of Iraq after the top U.N. envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and 21 other people died in a huge explosion at the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad in 2003.
The new resolution points out the importance of armed protection by mainly U.S. forces for an enhanced U.N. team on the ground but analysts warn the presence of U.S. troops may complicate U.N. operations and make the staff an easy target for anti-U.S. rebels.
He did not reveal whether U.N.’s desire to conduct comprehensive talks with the political factions represented in parliament and those opposing the government would include groups with links to al-Qaeda organization. Iraq-linked Qaeda is better organized and equipped than any other group fighting U.S. occupation troops in Iraq. U.S. tactics to mobilize tribes to oust it from their areas have so far failed in containing its influence. Al Qaeda is responsible for most suicide bombings and attacks targeting U.S. invaders and Iraqi troops and security forces.
The Security Council unanimously approved a resolution on August 10 expanding the U.N.’s role in Iraq in a move aimed at reconciling the country’s rival groups, winning support from neighboring countries and tackling Iraq’s humanitarian crisis. The resolution authorizes the U.N. at the request of the Iraqi government to promote political talks among the country’s ethnic and religious groups and a regional dialogue on issues including border security, energy and refugees.
Arikat said the world body would seek to reach out to all the forces which could play a role in reconciling and rebuilding the country. “The U.N. is not concerned with what America wants from the resolution. We as an international organization will work to fulfill Iraqi ambitions and cooperate with the government,” he said.
Asked whether the U.N. will negotiate with the country’s armed groups, he said: “The U.N. will get in touch with political formations in the hope of reaching joint political agreements bringing the country’s disparate groups together.” The U.N., like the U.S. and Iraqi government, currently operates from the heavily fortified Green Zone but has two other offices in the country one in Arbil in the north and the other in Basra in the south.
Arikat said the U.N. had not forgotten Iraq despite the difficulties involved in operating there. “The U.N. has offered big sacrifices to help the Iraqi people,” he said. Former Secretary General Kofi Annan pull all U.N. international staff out of Iraq after the top U.N. envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and 21 other people died in a huge explosion at the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad in 2003.
The new resolution points out the importance of armed protection by mainly U.S. forces for an enhanced U.N. team on the ground but analysts warn the presence of U.S. troops may complicate U.N. operations and make the staff an easy target for anti-U.S. rebels.
Labels: armed groups, Iraq, Saaeed Arikat, U.N.
U.S. - "major" political changes to follow political summit
Politics
(Gulf News) - Under pressure from the Congress, Arab states and Sunni Iraqi leaders, the US administration on Tuesday set the stage for "major" political changes in Iraq. The changes will be in "the structure, nature and direction of the Iraqi state," a senior American official in Baghdad was quoted by AP as saying. He did not give out details, but the plan is expected to be high on the agenda of a 'crisis summit' which would be attended by key Iraqi leaders who seek to save the crumbling national unity government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki.
About 50 political leaders had "a friendly meeting" over lunch yesterday at the Baghdad residence of President Jalal Talabani, but the meeting was overshadowed by a suicide attack which killed 10 people in the Iraqi capital. Also, a key player and one of the most senior Sunni Arabs in the government, Vice-President Tariq Al Hashemi, failed to attend Talabani's luncheon. Al Hashemi, a critic of Al Maliki's alleged sectarian bias, said members of his Iraqi Islamic Party, part of the Sunni political bloc that quit the government, would hold meetings with leaders from regional Kurdish parties today before the summit, which will be held later this week.
The summit had been in question until a last-minute push from US Ambassador Ryan Crocker who called on Al Hashemi. Sunni leaders and some Arab countries have reportedly accused Al Maliki of sectarian bias and harbouring close ties with Iran.
About 50 political leaders had "a friendly meeting" over lunch yesterday at the Baghdad residence of President Jalal Talabani, but the meeting was overshadowed by a suicide attack which killed 10 people in the Iraqi capital. Also, a key player and one of the most senior Sunni Arabs in the government, Vice-President Tariq Al Hashemi, failed to attend Talabani's luncheon. Al Hashemi, a critic of Al Maliki's alleged sectarian bias, said members of his Iraqi Islamic Party, part of the Sunni political bloc that quit the government, would hold meetings with leaders from regional Kurdish parties today before the summit, which will be held later this week.
The summit had been in question until a last-minute push from US Ambassador Ryan Crocker who called on Al Hashemi. Sunni leaders and some Arab countries have reportedly accused Al Maliki of sectarian bias and harbouring close ties with Iran.
Labels: emergency political summit, Iraq, Jalal Talabani, Nouri Al-Maliki, politics, Ryan Crocker, Tariq Al Hashemi
Information on Yezidis
Religion
Yezidis worship one God but no prophets. They recognize and respect both Jesus and Mohammed, but as men of faith, not prophets. Yezidi beliefs are a complicated mixture of Islamic and Zoroastrian beliefs, with Gnostic, Jewish, and Shamanistic elements. Worship centers around seven Angels (Malek is from the Arabic word for 'angel'), the most important of which is named Melek Taus, or the "Peacock Angel," also known as Lucifer.
Lucifer plays a different role in Yezidism, where he is considered the chief Archangel, and the creator of the material world. In Yezidi belief, Lucifer is not a fallen angel, or the enemy of God. They are forbidden from referring to him as Satan. The Yezidi have long been accused of "Devil worship" due to misunderstandings of their religious doctrine. In the Yezidi religion, Lucifer is a beneficient deity, long since reconciled with the Creator.
In this religion, God created Adam, but no Eve, and therefore all men came from Adam alone. The Yezidis were first born among all men, and consider themselves to be “the chosen people.” The Yezidis are strictly forbidden to marry outside the Yezidi, and must marry within their caste. While Kurds say the Yezidis are Kurds, the Yezidis claim to be neither Arab nor Kurd, simply Yezidis or, perhaps, Yezidi first and Kurd second.
The designation “Yezidi” applies to both a set of religious beliefs and a genetic or tribal identity. Because Yezidis keep to themselves, it is easy for others to misunderstand, or deliberately mis-project, the Yezidi religion. This can have dire consequences. One must now be born Yezidi, and converts are not accepted. There is no specific Yezidi Holy text, but important information about Yezidi practices is contained in the Mes'haf i Resh, or "black book", and the Jilwa, or "book of revelation." The Yezidi religion places taboos on the eating of fish or the meat of gazelles; the wearing of blue clothing is forbidden. Many Yazidi rituals center on Sheik Adi, a Sufi Arab who lived in northern Iraq in the 12th century and is considered the religion's chief saint. Pilgrims hold festivals near his tomb, north of Mosul.
Yazidis are primarily ethnic Kurds, and most live in Sinjar district, 120 km to the northwest of Mosul. Some 100,000 - 350,000 (estimates vary) Yazidis are living in villages around Mosul, 405 km north of Baghdad. There are smaller communities in Armenia (some 40,000 according to 2001 census), Georgia, Iran, Russia (31,273 as per 2002 census), Syria, and Turkey (some 80,000 in 1970; 23,000 in 1985 and 377 people in 2007). They number around 500,000 individuals in total, but estimates vary on their population size, partially due to the Yazidi tradition of secrecy when asked about one's religious beliefs.
Labels: Jilwa, Melek Taus, Mes'haf i Resh, Mosul, Peacock Angel, Sheik Adi, Yezidis
Yezidis targeted in simultaneous suicide bombings, 175 dead
Security
(Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Wednesday al Qaeda was the "prime suspect" in suicide bombings overnight on an ancient minority sect that Iraqi officials said killed more than 175 people in northern Iraq. Rescue workers searched for bodies in the rubble of dozens of buildings destroyed in up to five simultaneous car bomb attacks.
The attackers, driving fuel tankers, struck densely populated residential areas west of the city of Mosul that are home to members of the Yazidi sect, whose followers are considered infidels by Sunni Islamist militant groups. The fuel tanker attacks occurred about 8pm local time [1700 GMT]. The U.S. military said it was too early to say who was responsible, but the scale and apparently coordinated nature meant the attack carried the hallmarks of Sunni Islamist al Qaeda. The United States has condemned the attack as barbaric.
In the aftermath of the blast, authorities imposed a total curfew in the Sinjar area, which is close to the Syrian border where the U.S. military has been battling al Qaeda in Iraq. It's also one of the transit points for fighters coming into the country from Syria. Sinjar district mayor Dakheel Qassim Hasoun said only people and vehicles involved in rescue efforts would be allowed to move through the area. He said it would be impossible to establish a final death toll any time soon because many bodies were still buried in the rubble of up to 30 houses destroyed in the blasts.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Donnelly, U.S. military spokesman for northern Iraq, said U.S. forces were assisting Iraqi emergency agencies as they sifted through the rubble and were providing logistical, security and medical support. Iraqi army captain Mohammad al-Jaad put the death from the attack by at least three suicide bombers driving fuel tankers at 175, with 200 wounded. Hasoun said the death toll could go as high as 200. Dhakil Qassim, a mayor in the town of Sinjar near the attacks who blamed Al Qaida in Iraq, said four trucks approached Qahataniya from dirt roads and they all explodedwithin minutes of each other.
Iraqi authorities said the death toll was so high because most of the destroyed houses, all tightly packed in three Yazidi residential compounds, were made of mud that were shattered by the force of the attack. "It is going to be difficult to get a full death toll because of the nature of the buildings," Garver said.
The U.S. military said five vehicle-borne bombs had been detonated in Yazidi residential compounds in the villages of Kahtaniya and al-Jazeera. Jaad said the village of Tal Uzair was also hit. The Islamic State in Iraq, an Al Qaida front group, distributed leaflets a week ago warning residents near the scene of Tuesday's bombings that an attack was imminent because Yazidis are "anti-Islamic."
Yazidis are members of a pre-Islamic Kurdish sect who live in northern Iraq and Syria. Sunni militants have targeted Yazidis in recent months by kidnapping and killing them. Yazidis in Iraq say they have often faced discrimination because Melek Taus, the chief angel they venerate as a manifestation of God is often identified as the fallen angel Satan in biblical terminology.
Some members stoned a Yazidi teenager to death in April. She had converted to Islam and fled her family with a Muslim boyfriend. Police said 18-year-old Duaa Khalil Aswad was killed by relatives who disapproved of the match. The incident appears to have sparked an increase in attacks on Yazidis. The bodies of two Yazidi men who had been stoned to death were also found in the northern city of Kirkuk on Tuesday, police said.
The attackers, driving fuel tankers, struck densely populated residential areas west of the city of Mosul that are home to members of the Yazidi sect, whose followers are considered infidels by Sunni Islamist militant groups. The fuel tanker attacks occurred about 8pm local time [1700 GMT]. The U.S. military said it was too early to say who was responsible, but the scale and apparently coordinated nature meant the attack carried the hallmarks of Sunni Islamist al Qaeda. The United States has condemned the attack as barbaric.
In the aftermath of the blast, authorities imposed a total curfew in the Sinjar area, which is close to the Syrian border where the U.S. military has been battling al Qaeda in Iraq. It's also one of the transit points for fighters coming into the country from Syria. Sinjar district mayor Dakheel Qassim Hasoun said only people and vehicles involved in rescue efforts would be allowed to move through the area. He said it would be impossible to establish a final death toll any time soon because many bodies were still buried in the rubble of up to 30 houses destroyed in the blasts.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Donnelly, U.S. military spokesman for northern Iraq, said U.S. forces were assisting Iraqi emergency agencies as they sifted through the rubble and were providing logistical, security and medical support. Iraqi army captain Mohammad al-Jaad put the death from the attack by at least three suicide bombers driving fuel tankers at 175, with 200 wounded. Hasoun said the death toll could go as high as 200. Dhakil Qassim, a mayor in the town of Sinjar near the attacks who blamed Al Qaida in Iraq, said four trucks approached Qahataniya from dirt roads and they all explodedwithin minutes of each other.
Iraqi authorities said the death toll was so high because most of the destroyed houses, all tightly packed in three Yazidi residential compounds, were made of mud that were shattered by the force of the attack. "It is going to be difficult to get a full death toll because of the nature of the buildings," Garver said.
The U.S. military said five vehicle-borne bombs had been detonated in Yazidi residential compounds in the villages of Kahtaniya and al-Jazeera. Jaad said the village of Tal Uzair was also hit. The Islamic State in Iraq, an Al Qaida front group, distributed leaflets a week ago warning residents near the scene of Tuesday's bombings that an attack was imminent because Yazidis are "anti-Islamic."
Yazidis are members of a pre-Islamic Kurdish sect who live in northern Iraq and Syria. Sunni militants have targeted Yazidis in recent months by kidnapping and killing them. Yazidis in Iraq say they have often faced discrimination because Melek Taus, the chief angel they venerate as a manifestation of God is often identified as the fallen angel Satan in biblical terminology.
Some members stoned a Yazidi teenager to death in April. She had converted to Islam and fled her family with a Muslim boyfriend. Police said 18-year-old Duaa Khalil Aswad was killed by relatives who disapproved of the match. The incident appears to have sparked an increase in attacks on Yazidis. The bodies of two Yazidi men who had been stoned to death were also found in the northern city of Kirkuk on Tuesday, police said.
Labels: Al Qaeda in Iraq, al-Jazeera, Duaa Khalil Aswad, fuel tankers, Islamic State in Iraq, Kahtaniya, Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Donnelly, Melek Taus, Qahataniya, Sinjar, suicide bombings, Tal Uzair, Yezidis
Tribal chiefs assassinated
Security, Tribal
(Al-Sharqiyah) - Unidentified gunmen killed a chieftain from the Al-Jubur tribe in Kirkuk on August 13, Al-Sharqiyah television reported. Sheikh Muhsin Abdallah Hasan al-Sabil al-Juburi was killed in the attack, while his daughter and brother were injured. Al-Juburi was reportedly killed because of his close ties to the U.S. military.
Meanwhile, a chieftain from the Al-Dulaym tribe was killed outside his home in Al-Fallujah on August 13. Security sources told Al-Sharqiyah that Sheikh Fawwaz Saddah Sarih, chieftain of the Albu Khalifah tribe, was attacked and killed by masked gunmen. Tribal leaders from the Al-Ghazalat tribe in Al-Najaf announced that they have formed an armed force to fight Al-Qaeda in the Al-Nukhayb district of Al-Najaf, after four tribesmen were abducted there in recent days, "Al-Zaman" reported on August 13.
Labels: Al-Dulaym tribe, Al-Ghazalat tribe, Al-Jubur tribe, Albu Khalifah tribe, Fallujah, Kirkuk, Najaf, Sheikh Fawwaz Saddah Sarih, Sheikh Muhsin Abdallah Hasan al-Sabil al-Juburi
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Kidnappers use doves to collect ransoms
Security
(Al Bayyna Newspaper) - 13 AUG - The kidnappers of hostages in Iraq are using doves to collect the ransoms in order to avoid the Iraqi security forces. British sources have announced that IPs watched many repeated incident in which the kidnappers placed the doves near the hostages’ families’ houses carrying instructions demanding that they should tie the ransom to the dove’s legs. The dove will then transfer the ransom to the gang’s hideout.
A hostage’s family tied $10,000 to the legs of five doves when they found the doves in a cage near their house. Dr. Ziad Al Fatlawi said that this is the method used for the return of his son after he was kidnapped by a gang. The “newspaper” reported that Lieutenant Sa’ad Al Jilawi, from the MOI said, “The kidnapping gangs started using doves because the IPs have arrested many of them while they were collecting the ransom. These gangs realize that we have new devices that we use to track the doves to their hideouts.”
Labels: doves, hostages, Iraq, kidnappers, Lieutenant Sa’ad Al Jilawi, ransoms
Strategic bridge north of Baghdad blown up
Security
(AP) - A suicide truck bomber struck a strategic bridge north of Baghdad on Tuesday, sending cars plunging into the river and killing at least 10 people, police said. The attack occurred about noon on the Thiraa Dijla bridge in Taji, a town near a U.S. air base some 12 miles north of the capital, police said, giving the casualty toll. The bridge lies on the main highway that links Baghdad with the northern city of Mosul.
Labels: suicide truck bomber, Taji, Thiraa Dijla bridge
Iraqi List Suggests Political Commission To Run The Country
Politics
(Azzaman Newspaper) - 13 AUG - The Iraqi National List has suggested forming a political commission that will include all the parties in the government in order to run the country. They pointed out that this commission will not take the place of the leaders. The list has denied reports about its withdrawal from the political process or of it trying to destabilize the Al Maliki government.
Iraqi List Parliament member, Izzat Al Shabandar, announced yesterday that there is now a project to form a political commission from the main political entities. This commission will look like a front, but this front will not take the place of the leader. It will just say to him, do not be autocratic with political decisions which are connected with the present and the future of the country. Al Shabandar also said that the Al Maliki government can not continue under these circumstances.
He added, “Al Maliki will not continue with this government; it is impossible and we do not care who takes his place as long as the next leader is chosen is a nationalist and is away from sectarianism and religion. The Communist Party, which is part of the Iraqi List, announced that it has created a project to save the country from the recent crisis. The Communist Party Central Committee Secretary and a Parliament member, Hamid Majid Moussa, confirmed that negotiations between his party and other political powers are continuing to solve the crisis.
Iraqi List leader, Ayad Allawi, has told his list’s ministers to continue with their duties, but do not attend the cabinet meetings as a first step before their withdrawal. The Sadr Movement confirmed that their movement is still in the political process. The Movement also confirmed that Ahmed Al Sharifi does not represent the Movement or the political council. Ahmed Al Massoudi (Sadr Movement) has denied what Al Sharifi announced during his press conference Saturday, that there will be changes in the Sadr Movement.
Iraqi List Parliament member, Izzat Al Shabandar, announced yesterday that there is now a project to form a political commission from the main political entities. This commission will look like a front, but this front will not take the place of the leader. It will just say to him, do not be autocratic with political decisions which are connected with the present and the future of the country. Al Shabandar also said that the Al Maliki government can not continue under these circumstances.
He added, “Al Maliki will not continue with this government; it is impossible and we do not care who takes his place as long as the next leader is chosen is a nationalist and is away from sectarianism and religion. The Communist Party, which is part of the Iraqi List, announced that it has created a project to save the country from the recent crisis. The Communist Party Central Committee Secretary and a Parliament member, Hamid Majid Moussa, confirmed that negotiations between his party and other political powers are continuing to solve the crisis.
Iraqi List leader, Ayad Allawi, has told his list’s ministers to continue with their duties, but do not attend the cabinet meetings as a first step before their withdrawal. The Sadr Movement confirmed that their movement is still in the political process. The Movement also confirmed that Ahmed Al Sharifi does not represent the Movement or the political council. Ahmed Al Massoudi (Sadr Movement) has denied what Al Sharifi announced during his press conference Saturday, that there will be changes in the Sadr Movement.
Labels: Ahmed Al Massoudi, Ahmed Al Sharifi, Hamid Majid Moussa, Iraqi Communist Party, Iraqi National List, Iyad Allawi, Izzat Al Shabandar, political commission, Sadr movement
Sadrists deny reports of withdrawing from government
Politics
(Al-Sharqiyah television) - Lawmakers affiliated with Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr denied reports that they intend to withdraw from the Iraqi government, Al-Sharqiyah television reported on August 12. Some confusion over the lawmakers' stance arose after an aide to al-Sadr, Ahmad al-Sharifi, called a press conference on August 11 claiming that politicians affiliated with al-Sadr decided to boycott the political process.
Al-Sharifi also said that the members of parliament loyal to al-Sadr are illegitimate representatives of the al-Sadr movement. He then announced the formation of a political council that he claimed would represent the al-Sadr movement. Later the same day, several of the al-Sadr lawmakers called a press conference in Baghdad to deny al-Sharifi's claims. Lawmaker Falah Hasan Shanshal told reporters that al-Sadr continues to support the original political council, adding that the cleric did not give al-Sharifi the go-ahead to form a new council.
Political council member Abd al-Mahdi al-Mutayri told reporters that the lawmakers are the sole representatives of the al-Sadr movement in the Iraqi political arena, and that they have no intention of withdrawing their participation in the government. Six al-Sadr loyalists resigned from cabinet positions earlier this year. Aides to the Shi'ite cleric have said they plan to attend the political summit in Baghdad this week.
Labels: Abd al-Mahdi al-Mutayri, Ahmad al-Sharifi, al-Sadr movement, Falah Hasan Shanshal, Sadrists
Allawi won't attend political summit
Politics
(Al-Arabiyah television) - Salim al-Juburi, a spokesman for the Iraqi Accordance Front, told Al-Arabiyah television in an August 12 interview that leaders from the front will likely attend the meeting convened by Prime Minister al-Maliki. Al-Juburi said a number of preparatory meetings have already been held in order to set the agenda for the political summit.
"We feel the meeting is important and it is a step for political reform," al-Juburi said. He added that even if some of its demands are met, that doesn't necessarily mean the front's members will return to their cabinet posts.
Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi will not attend the political summit, Al-Sharqiyah television reported on August 12. The news channel quoted Allawi as saying he will not be able to accept an invitation to attend. It also quoted an unidentified member of Allawi's media office as saying Allawi never received an invitation to attend the meeting.
Meanwhile, Iraqi media reported on August 12 that Kurdistan regional President Mas'ud Barzani has arrived in Baghdad to attend the political summit. Barzani reportedly met on August 12 with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and aides to al-Maliki.
Labels: emergency political summit, Iraqi Accordance Front, Iyad Allawi, Salim al-Juburi
Sweden suspends Iraq flights
Kurdistan
(AP) -- Sweden has suspended commercial flights to and from Iraq after an apparent rocket attack against a passenger jet as it took off from the northern city of Sulaimaniyah, the Nordic country's aviation authority said Tuesday. In the incident last Wednesday, pilots of the Nordic Airways plane carrying 130 passengers noticed a trail of light arching over the aircraft just after takeoff, Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Anders Lundblad said.
The McDonnell Douglas MD83 plane was not hit, and arrived safely in Stockholm. Lundblad said the incident was being investigated, but that preliminary information suggested "some kind of rocket" was fired at the plane. The authority suspended all commercial airline traffic between Sweden and Iraq last week pending a review of the security situation in northern Iraq.
It is rare for such violence to occur in Sulaimaniyah, a city in Iraq's relatively peaceful autonomous Kurdish region, 160 miles northeast of Baghdad. The Swedish decision affected two small airlines: Nordic Airways, which flies once a week between Stockholm and Sulaimaniyah, and Viking Airlines, which operates four flights a week between Stockholm and Irbil, also in northern Iraq.
Nordic Airways had rebooked passengers departing from Iraq on other airlines, while some 3,000 people booked on Viking Airlines flights were stranded in Iraq, the aviation authority said. Sweden is home to more than 70,000 Iraqi immigrants, many of whom come from the Kurdish areas in northern Iraq.
Mikael Wangdahl, Chief Executive of Nordic Airways said the incident was immediately reported to air traffic controllers and the U.S. military. The pilots then were advised to continue the flight, but to take a shorter route. Passengers and cabin crew did not notice what happened, Wangdahl said, but crew members were briefed about it after the plane landed in Stockholm. Kurdish authorities have denied there was an attack.
The McDonnell Douglas MD83 plane was not hit, and arrived safely in Stockholm. Lundblad said the incident was being investigated, but that preliminary information suggested "some kind of rocket" was fired at the plane. The authority suspended all commercial airline traffic between Sweden and Iraq last week pending a review of the security situation in northern Iraq.
It is rare for such violence to occur in Sulaimaniyah, a city in Iraq's relatively peaceful autonomous Kurdish region, 160 miles northeast of Baghdad. The Swedish decision affected two small airlines: Nordic Airways, which flies once a week between Stockholm and Sulaimaniyah, and Viking Airlines, which operates four flights a week between Stockholm and Irbil, also in northern Iraq.
Nordic Airways had rebooked passengers departing from Iraq on other airlines, while some 3,000 people booked on Viking Airlines flights were stranded in Iraq, the aviation authority said. Sweden is home to more than 70,000 Iraqi immigrants, many of whom come from the Kurdish areas in northern Iraq.
Mikael Wangdahl, Chief Executive of Nordic Airways said the incident was immediately reported to air traffic controllers and the U.S. military. The pilots then were advised to continue the flight, but to take a shorter route. Passengers and cabin crew did not notice what happened, Wangdahl said, but crew members were briefed about it after the plane landed in Stockholm. Kurdish authorities have denied there was an attack.
Labels: Anders Lundblad, Kurdistan, Mikael Wangdahl, Nordic Airways, Sulaimaniyah, Sweden, Viking Airlines
Iraq, U.S. forces detain 12 "rogue" members of Mahdi Army
Security
(AFP) - Iraqi and US forces have detained 12 "rogue" members of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Shiite militia allegedly behind bomb attacks and assassinations of Sunni Arabs, the US military said Tuesday. The 12 were detained on Monday in a series of coordinated raids across Baghdad, a military statement said. "Iraqi Special Operations Forces, with US Special Forces as advisors, conducted synchronised intelligence driven operations that detained 12 rogue Jaish al-Mahdi insurgents ... in Baghdad," it said.
"The detainees include eight high-level leaders linked to JAM (Jaish al-Mahdi) special groups that carry out attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces," it added. The US military accuses JAM, widely known as the Mahdi Army, of being behind unrelenting sectarian attacks against minority Sunni Arabs since vicious communal bloodletting broke out last year.
"The suspects include a brigade commander, battalion commander, two company commanders and one leader of an extra-judicial killing cell," the military said. The forces also captured several JAM cell members suspected of carrying out murders and bomb attacks, it added. The military said the brigade commander was responsible for five groups under his control and transported bombs from Iran into Iraq.
He recently ordered a bomb attack "that caused the death of two US soldiers," the military said. "The suspect also reportedly ordered his JAM members to set up illegal checkpoints to hunt down and assassinate Sunni citizens."
"The detainees include eight high-level leaders linked to JAM (Jaish al-Mahdi) special groups that carry out attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces," it added. The US military accuses JAM, widely known as the Mahdi Army, of being behind unrelenting sectarian attacks against minority Sunni Arabs since vicious communal bloodletting broke out last year.
"The suspects include a brigade commander, battalion commander, two company commanders and one leader of an extra-judicial killing cell," the military said. The forces also captured several JAM cell members suspected of carrying out murders and bomb attacks, it added. The military said the brigade commander was responsible for five groups under his control and transported bombs from Iran into Iraq.
He recently ordered a bomb attack "that caused the death of two US soldiers," the military said. "The suspect also reportedly ordered his JAM members to set up illegal checkpoints to hunt down and assassinate Sunni citizens."
Labels: Jaish al-Mahdi, JAM, Mahdi Army
Militias fight for control of Basra
Security
(Azzaman) - The most powerful authority in Basra is not the British garrison where more than 5,000 British troops have withdrawn behind barbed wire and cement blocks. It is the Iranian consulate where major decisions regarding the city are taken. And it is not difficult to see who is in control of the city’s thoroughfares and residential quarters. The roundabouts, major squares and even some small streets and neighborhoods are decorated with portraits of Iranian religious and political leaders.
Basra is perhaps Iraq’s most important province from which most of the country’s oil production and exports originate. Within Basra’s provincial borders, the country’s most prolific oil fields are to be found. When bombs fall on the British garrison in the city or a British armored vehicle is knocked out, many of Basra residents celebrate with gunfire and shouts of joy.
The Brits have left a huge power vacuum in southern Iraq in the aftermath of their miscalculated adventure. Their influence does not exceed the few square miles of their only base in Basra. And the militias have rushed to fill in the vacuum, spreading their control over key establishments including oil installations and dividing the city into separate zones of influence.
The country’s three most influential Shiite factions have their own heavily armed militias. Though in bitter rivalry, they are almost unanimous in their tactics to inflict a humiliating defeat on Britain by forcing it to withdraw its troops. Many of Basra intellectuals and members of its once thriving religious minorities – such as Christians and Mandeans – have fled the city. The militias have their own rules and systems of governing which they impose on their subjects and areas.
Hameed Hussain who fled the city recently says the Iraqi police and army are not in control of the city. “Practically, the militias have the city under their sway.” An oil engineer, Ali Hatroush, who also fled the city in the past few weeks, says the British troops no longer have the power or capacity to “to rein in the militias.” “The fundamentalists are the ones who run the city. They have devised their own means and ways of how to control the people and the resources and liquidate those opposing them,” he said.
Abdulkareem Saleh, who used to work at Basra port, said he was sad to see how young people were lured to join the political factions advocating militancy. “The factions rely on religious slogans and high-ranking clergy to deceive the population. It is really disappointing to see how young Iraqis are being coaxed to join their murderous militias,” he said.
The rival factions are represented in the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Nonetheless they are the ones undermining official authority. For example, the Fadhila party which controls the administrations has 15 deputies in the parliament but has refused to disband its militias. Other groups like the Sadr bloc has 30 deputies and seven ministers in the cabinet but has strongly rejected calls to disarm its powerful military wing, the Mahdi Army. The other influential group the Supreme Council, a major partner in Maliki’s coalition government, is reported to have one the most heavily armed militias in the country.
Basra is perhaps Iraq’s most important province from which most of the country’s oil production and exports originate. Within Basra’s provincial borders, the country’s most prolific oil fields are to be found. When bombs fall on the British garrison in the city or a British armored vehicle is knocked out, many of Basra residents celebrate with gunfire and shouts of joy.
The Brits have left a huge power vacuum in southern Iraq in the aftermath of their miscalculated adventure. Their influence does not exceed the few square miles of their only base in Basra. And the militias have rushed to fill in the vacuum, spreading their control over key establishments including oil installations and dividing the city into separate zones of influence.
The country’s three most influential Shiite factions have their own heavily armed militias. Though in bitter rivalry, they are almost unanimous in their tactics to inflict a humiliating defeat on Britain by forcing it to withdraw its troops. Many of Basra intellectuals and members of its once thriving religious minorities – such as Christians and Mandeans – have fled the city. The militias have their own rules and systems of governing which they impose on their subjects and areas.
Hameed Hussain who fled the city recently says the Iraqi police and army are not in control of the city. “Practically, the militias have the city under their sway.” An oil engineer, Ali Hatroush, who also fled the city in the past few weeks, says the British troops no longer have the power or capacity to “to rein in the militias.” “The fundamentalists are the ones who run the city. They have devised their own means and ways of how to control the people and the resources and liquidate those opposing them,” he said.
Abdulkareem Saleh, who used to work at Basra port, said he was sad to see how young people were lured to join the political factions advocating militancy. “The factions rely on religious slogans and high-ranking clergy to deceive the population. It is really disappointing to see how young Iraqis are being coaxed to join their murderous militias,” he said.
The rival factions are represented in the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Nonetheless they are the ones undermining official authority. For example, the Fadhila party which controls the administrations has 15 deputies in the parliament but has refused to disband its militias. Other groups like the Sadr bloc has 30 deputies and seven ministers in the cabinet but has strongly rejected calls to disarm its powerful military wing, the Mahdi Army. The other influential group the Supreme Council, a major partner in Maliki’s coalition government, is reported to have one the most heavily armed militias in the country.
Labels: Basra, British troops, Fadhela party, Iranian consulate, Mahdi Army, militias, Sadr bloc, SIIC
Saboteurs mount more attacks on national grid
Security
(Azzaman) - The country’s power generating systems have come under fresh attacks putting more stations and units out of order. The attacks come as the national grid is passing through its worst period since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
Despite allocations of hundreds of millions of dollars the grid has been deteriorating and currently the power generating capacity is less than the nearly 4500 megawatts it produced in the months leading to the overthrow of former leader Saddam Hussein.
The generating capacity is now less than half the country’s needs. As a result major cities like Baghdad and Mosul may go without electricity for several days in a row. An Electricity Ministry source said saboteurs last week blew up power pylons disrupting supplies from six generating units servicing the capital Baghdad.
High voltage lines linking the Doura power plant with feeder stations in Baghdad were also attacked. Doura is a major plant built specifically to serve Baghdad. The source said the ministry’s has asked the armed forces and security personnel to accompany its repair teams trying to redress the damage.
Despite allocations of hundreds of millions of dollars the grid has been deteriorating and currently the power generating capacity is less than the nearly 4500 megawatts it produced in the months leading to the overthrow of former leader Saddam Hussein.
The generating capacity is now less than half the country’s needs. As a result major cities like Baghdad and Mosul may go without electricity for several days in a row. An Electricity Ministry source said saboteurs last week blew up power pylons disrupting supplies from six generating units servicing the capital Baghdad.
High voltage lines linking the Doura power plant with feeder stations in Baghdad were also attacked. Doura is a major plant built specifically to serve Baghdad. The source said the ministry’s has asked the armed forces and security personnel to accompany its repair teams trying to redress the damage.
Labels: Doura power plant, electricity, Iraq, national grid
