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BBC Monitoring Headlines, Quotes From Iraqi Press 13 Aug 05

Posted on: Saturday, 13 August 2005, 06:00 CDT

The following is a selection of headlines and quotes taken from the Iraqi press published on 13 August:

Headlines

Al-Bayyinah [Baghdad, general cultural political daily newspaper temporarily published twice-weekly by the Hezbollah Movement in Iraq]: Let Al-Ja'fari's government be informed: Terror groups bracing to sweep through Baghdad as planned by Syrian Intelligence \ Anti-Shi'i diplomatic drive spearheaded by Iraq's representative at the UN \ Alliance, Sunnis tell Kurds they can break away, but will have to bear consequences \ US team calls for release of Dr Anthrax \ Iraqi police, military penetrated by Al-Qa'idah \ Political sources predict Foreign Ministry to be assigned to Arabs at next stage.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper, Saudi-owned]: Iraq a "federal state", with Islam as a source of legislation, agreement reached on role of religion, official name of state, Peshmerga status and the Kirkuk issue in new constitution \ Amid Sunni fears of southern region turning into backyard dominated by alien state, Shi'is divided, Sunnis shocked and Kurds taken by surprise as Al-Hakim calls for federal region in southern, central parts of Iraq (Agencies quoted) \ Affirming Baghdad's failure to produce substantial evidence, as requested by Damascus, Syrian source rejects Zebari's statements, confirms Syria's willingness to cooperate in security matters \ Three Al- Zarqawi lieutenants, including ring leader, killed by secret police in Mosul, US Apache chopper destroyed in crash, seven Iraqis killed in various attacks (Agencies quoted) \ Sadrist persuasion: Four hostages freed by Al-Mahdi Army, captives identified as two Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi Kurd (AFP quoted) \ Ousted Mayor of Baghdad says Iraq being ruled by the gun, with Al-Ja'fari's consent (Reuters quoted) \ Ain-Kawah: Sanctuary for violence-fleeing Christians, springboard for those wishing to flee Iraq (Reuters quoted).

Al-Mada [Baghdad, independent daily newspaper published by Al- Mada corporation for media, culture and art]: president continues deliberations with political bloc leaders \ UN secretary-general extends UN mission's tour of duty for another year, urges Iraqi leaders to agree on new constitution \ Poll conducted by 76 civil society organizations shows 87 per cent of Iraqis prefer federal system to centralized one \ Al-Sistani rejects attempts to utilize Marji'yyah (supreme Shi'i religious authority) as propaganda tool in coming elections (agencies quoted) \ Tariq Aziz gets telephone call from family as Saddam's trial draws near (Reuters quoted) \ New supply mechanism to facilitate access to gasoline at petrol stations \ Cabinet rules all students, faculty members assassinated be treated as martyrs, all students' dormitories be vacated.

Al-Bayan [Baghdad, general political daily newspaper published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]: Dr Al-Ja'fari reiterates firm commitment to Iraq's territorial integrity, as draft constitution predicted to be ready for endorsement by National Assembly tomorrow \ Announcement of Gulf initiative in support of Iraq \ Three hundred and eighty Salvadoran troops heading for Babil operation zone \ Minister for woman's affairs' brother escapes assassination attempt \ Thousands of business firms implicated in cases of fraud, bribery linked to oil-for-food scandal (Agencies quoted) \ Cabinet endorses project to have 10 housing complexes built in ten governorates.

Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, comprehensive daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Congress]: Talabani playing constructive role towards building Iraqi national consensus \ US pressure serving to accelerate compromise between (Shi'i-led) Alliance, Kurdistan Coalition as draft constitution expected to be delivered for discussion at National Assembly tomorrow (Al-Hayat quoted) \ Abu- Turab, cell members under arrest, says deputy governor of Mosul (Al- Hayat quoted) \ General Congress of Sunnis deeming participation in constitutional referendum as binding religious duty (Al-Hayat quoted) \ Trade in children as sex slaves booming in Iraq (CNN monitored).

Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]: Disputed issues deferred till after coming elections \ Thirty-six fall dead, wounded in US shelling during Friday prayer in Al-Ramadi \ Uneasy caution dominates atmosphere in Samawah as new governor resumes work, with Japanese contingent worried security conditions might deteriorate \ Sadrist persuasion's plan to stage protest marches delayed by government's pledge to improve services, with public poll results revealing most Iraqis dissatisfied with government's performance \ Apache gunship crashes down in Kirkuk amid mounting fears wreck of reconnaissance plane downed in Mosul might be hidden away.

Al-Adalah [Baghdad, general political daily newspaper published by the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq]: Cabinet orders Commission on Integrity to interrogate Baghdad mayor \ Sayyid Al-Hakim calls for regional governments to maintain political equilibrium in Iraq \ Al-Bayati: We are now working on wording the preamble to the new constitution (Agencies quoted) \ Voicing dissatisfaction with encroachments made in Basra, Thi-Qar, Al-Anbar and Babil Governorates, electricity minister says provinces to be covered by three-hours-on-three-hours-off power supply rationing scheme \ Investigation launched into illusory contract worth 6m dollars (Elaph quoted) \ Group of terrorists caught in possession of guns, explosives north of Al-Hillah.

Quotes

Al-Bayyinah [From editorial]: "A true patriot is he who would help the government wisely and honestly to right its wrongs, not one who would go out of his way to find fault with the government, slander it for no reason and shoot it in the back with treacherous arrows so that our enemies, both domestic and foreign, may gloat while we, Iraqis, let yet another opportunity slip away, only to wring our hands with sorrow afterwards, as has always been our wont."

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [From commentary by Ahmad al-Rub'i]: "Since the ousting of Saddam, we have never feared that Iraq might buckle under the burden of black terrorism or domestic political disputes. Yet, we do fear for the future of Iraq now that suicidal blueprints for dismembering the country have come to be proclaimed so loudly and clearly. We wish Sayyid Al-Hakim as well as other politicians of sectarian persuasions would hasten to retract such dangerous calls."

Source: BBC Monitoring Newsfile

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