Monday, October 08, 2007
Basra police chief steps up to militia challenge
Security
The Iraqi government, along with political forces, are following with concern the situation in Basra province, with the withdrawal of the British military continuing in the forthcoming months until a full withdrawal is implemented. General Abdul Jalil Khalaf, Basra police chief, told Gulf News: "The task is very difficult and conditions are extremely dangerous because each party believes that it represents the law, and each element thinks of himself as a state hero. The city includes tens or even hundreds of militias and I am ready for the task."
Statistics at the University of Basra indicates that there are about 250,000 individuals involved in the armed militias and around 144 militia groups.
There are the militias of the Dawa party headed by Nouri Al Maliki, the Badr Brigades headed by Hadi Al Ameri affiliated to Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, the Mahdi Army of Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr, the Hezbollah movement militia led by Hassan Sari, Hezbollah affiliated to Abdul Kareem Al Muhamadawi, the Fadhila party militias belong to Mohammad Al Yacoubi and other small resistance militias in the south as Imam Ali rebels, Hassan and Hussain rebels and Al Ridha followers.
The oil-rich city consists of 40 to 55 private militia who specialise in oil smuggling to Iran and stealing copper wires from electric grids. Abdul Hadi, an Iraqi army officer in Basra, told Gulf News: "The most dangerous militia is the police and security forces' militias because they have weapons and work in the name of the law. These are groups that consist of between 40 to 90 members who agree to implement kidnapping and blackmail operations or condone gang activities for major financial commissions."
Basra, especially Faw and Majnoon Islands, includes the richest oil fields in the region as well as bunches of palm orchards which yield the best types of dates in the world.
Fadhil Al Jamaly, an economic researcher, told Gulf News: "The issue of oil is the essence of conflict between armed militias, whether these are affiliated to political parties or smuggling gangs. I believe fighting will break out between the outlaw armed groups because of the weakness of state security forces and also the penetration of these militias in these forces, besides seizing land and dates palms is no less important than oil for the armed groups."
Recently, the dispute settlement body in Basra reported that armed militias affiliated to political parties, gangs and powerful individuals seized thousands of houses and real estate.
Statistics at the University of Basra indicates that there are about 250,000 individuals involved in the armed militias and around 144 militia groups.
There are the militias of the Dawa party headed by Nouri Al Maliki, the Badr Brigades headed by Hadi Al Ameri affiliated to Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, the Mahdi Army of Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr, the Hezbollah movement militia led by Hassan Sari, Hezbollah affiliated to Abdul Kareem Al Muhamadawi, the Fadhila party militias belong to Mohammad Al Yacoubi and other small resistance militias in the south as Imam Ali rebels, Hassan and Hussain rebels and Al Ridha followers.
The oil-rich city consists of 40 to 55 private militia who specialise in oil smuggling to Iran and stealing copper wires from electric grids. Abdul Hadi, an Iraqi army officer in Basra, told Gulf News: "The most dangerous militia is the police and security forces' militias because they have weapons and work in the name of the law. These are groups that consist of between 40 to 90 members who agree to implement kidnapping and blackmail operations or condone gang activities for major financial commissions."
Basra, especially Faw and Majnoon Islands, includes the richest oil fields in the region as well as bunches of palm orchards which yield the best types of dates in the world.
Fadhil Al Jamaly, an economic researcher, told Gulf News: "The issue of oil is the essence of conflict between armed militias, whether these are affiliated to political parties or smuggling gangs. I believe fighting will break out between the outlaw armed groups because of the weakness of state security forces and also the penetration of these militias in these forces, besides seizing land and dates palms is no less important than oil for the armed groups."
Recently, the dispute settlement body in Basra reported that armed militias affiliated to political parties, gangs and powerful individuals seized thousands of houses and real estate.
Labels: Al Ridha followers, Badr Brigade, Basra, Dawa party, Fadhila Party, General Abdul Jalil Khalaf, Hassan and Hussain rebels, Hezbollah, Imam Ali rebels, Mahdi Army, militias
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Quartet alliance want Fadhela Party
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - A member of parliament from the Islamic Fadhlia (Virtue) party said on Monday that senior Iraqi officials have voiced “desire” for the party to enter the four-way alliance, while some Shiite officials are trying to convince the party to return to the Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC). “The Quartet coalition has a desire for us to join, but we have not received an official invitation in this regard so far,” Basem Sharief told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The Islamic Daawa Party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), and the two main Kurdish parties formed a four-way alliance in mid-August that they claim aims at backing the current Iraqi government following the withdrawal of some political blocs from the cabinet.
Regarding the withdrawal of the Sadrist bloc and the Fadhila party of the UIC, the parliamentarian said “The two have the desire to continue negotiations to agree on a project that serves the national interest.” The spokesman for the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's movement announced on Saturday the withdrawal of the Sadrist parliamentary bloc from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition. Six months ago, the Shiite Fadhila (Virtue) party, which holds 15 seats in the parliament, withdrew from the UIC.
The Islamic Daawa Party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), and the two main Kurdish parties formed a four-way alliance in mid-August that they claim aims at backing the current Iraqi government following the withdrawal of some political blocs from the cabinet.
Regarding the withdrawal of the Sadrist bloc and the Fadhila party of the UIC, the parliamentarian said “The two have the desire to continue negotiations to agree on a project that serves the national interest.” The spokesman for the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's movement announced on Saturday the withdrawal of the Sadrist parliamentary bloc from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition. Six months ago, the Shiite Fadhila (Virtue) party, which holds 15 seats in the parliament, withdrew from the UIC.
Labels: Basem Sharief, Dawa party, Fadhila Party, Kurdistan Coalition, SIIC, UIC
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Iraqi security official denies militia infiltration in Basra oil industry
Oil, Politics
(UPI) -- A top Iraqi security official disagrees with allegations Basra’s political leadership’s militia has infiltrated the Basra Oil Protection Force. Issa Jaffar Jabir, director general of the Ministry of National Security Affairs, said at an Iraq energy conference there is no proof militias have infiltrated the force at the behest of the government in Basra.
Jabir, at the Iraq Oil, Gas, Petrochemical and Electricity Summit organized by the London-based Iraq Development Program, told reporters the “accusations” were “not fair.” The Fadhila Party is currently in control of Basra, Iraq’s oil capital, where most of Iraq’s 115 billion barrels of oil reserves are and nearly all the 1.6 million barrels per day are exported.
Since winning government in provincial elections the governor, Mohammed Waili, has been accused of stacking key leadership roles with his party members, including the police and the Oil Protection Force, which guards the oil infrastructure.“It’s true that the governor of Basra belongs to this party, but we cannot accuse an Iraqi official randomly,” Jabir said. He admitted some political parties, not just Fadhila, have been able to “penetrate” ministries of interior and defense, the security apparatus and facilities guards. “We started strongly to purge forces regardless of their parties and names,” he said.
Labels: Basra, Basra Oil Protection Force, Fadhila Party, Gas, Iraq Oil, Issa Jaffar Jabir, Mohammed Waili, oil, Petrochemical and Electricity Summit
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Iraqi List: Signs Of An Agreement Soon Between Allawi And The Sadr Movement
Politics
(Azzaman Newspaper) - 4 SEP - Iraqi List Parliament member, Hussam Al Azzawi said that Iraqi List leader, Ayad Allawi is continuing his negotiations with important blocs and Parliament members. Al Azawi added that these negotiations are with the Accord Front, the Iraqi National Dialogue Front, The Fadhila Party and the Sadr Movement.
Al Azzawi pointed out that there are some agreements with the Sadr Movement, but recent problems between the Sadr Movement and the government as well as with the American forces are making these conversations difficult. He also said the Iraqi List has been in contact with prominent people in the Shiite Alliance and many of them have shown cooperation and support for the national project of the Iraqi List.
About the Iraqi List’s leaders visit to Kurdistan, Al Azzawi said it was a successful visit with positive negotiations that will solve the political crisis in the country. Al Azzawi added, “The Iraqi List’s project to solve the current crisis, which Allawi has introduced to the Kurdish parties, was welcomed by these parties.” He said, “The two Kurdish Parties are an important side in the political domain and they are a number you cannot ignore, and in the end, they are close to the patriotic liberal national project.
On Saturday, Allawi ended his visit to Sulaymaniya where he met with President Jalal Talabani and other Kurdish officials. About the Iraqi List’s vision to solve the crisis Al Azzawi said, “The solution is in the patriotic conversations between the political blocs and to participate in decisions, and not to put aside others.”
He added, “The Iraqi List is not an enemy of the Prime Minister, Nuri Al Maliki. We have some notes on the nature and performance of the government which have led the country into more fighting and disputes.” About their withdrawal from the government, Al Azzawi said, “Our position is unwavering on our withdrawal because there are many reasons and disagreements.” Al Azzawi believes that the crisis will not end because the government is continuing in its ignoring of other’s opinions. The Iraqi List has suspended its ministers, but they have given them time to run their ministries.
Al Azzawi pointed out that there are some agreements with the Sadr Movement, but recent problems between the Sadr Movement and the government as well as with the American forces are making these conversations difficult. He also said the Iraqi List has been in contact with prominent people in the Shiite Alliance and many of them have shown cooperation and support for the national project of the Iraqi List.
About the Iraqi List’s leaders visit to Kurdistan, Al Azzawi said it was a successful visit with positive negotiations that will solve the political crisis in the country. Al Azzawi added, “The Iraqi List’s project to solve the current crisis, which Allawi has introduced to the Kurdish parties, was welcomed by these parties.” He said, “The two Kurdish Parties are an important side in the political domain and they are a number you cannot ignore, and in the end, they are close to the patriotic liberal national project.
On Saturday, Allawi ended his visit to Sulaymaniya where he met with President Jalal Talabani and other Kurdish officials. About the Iraqi List’s vision to solve the crisis Al Azzawi said, “The solution is in the patriotic conversations between the political blocs and to participate in decisions, and not to put aside others.”
He added, “The Iraqi List is not an enemy of the Prime Minister, Nuri Al Maliki. We have some notes on the nature and performance of the government which have led the country into more fighting and disputes.” About their withdrawal from the government, Al Azzawi said, “Our position is unwavering on our withdrawal because there are many reasons and disagreements.” Al Azzawi believes that the crisis will not end because the government is continuing in its ignoring of other’s opinions. The Iraqi List has suspended its ministers, but they have given them time to run their ministries.
Labels: Accord Front, Ayad Allawi, Fadhila Party, Hussam Al Azzawi, Iraqi List, Iraqi National Dialogue Front, Jalal Talabani, Sadr movement
