• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

BBC Monitoring Headlines, Quotes From Iraqi Press 23 Aug 05

Posted on: Tuesday, 23 August 2005, 06:00 CDT

The following is a selection of headlines and quotes taken from the Iraqi press published on 23 August:

Headlines

Al-Bayyinah [Baghdad, general cultural political daily newspaper temporarily published twice-weekly by the Hezbollah Movement in Iraq]: Bankrupt of the potential for further killings and bombings, terrorists resort to fomenting unrest through psychological warfare \ Syrian, Jordanian and Saudi intelligence apparatuses join efforts, coordinate with Allawi to undermine Al-Ja'fari's government \ Government employees to get 25% salary increase, one million job opportunities to be created following constitutional referendum \ Humam Hammudi threatens to unveil facts, secrets incriminating those involved in slaughtering Iraqis \ Electricity Minister fired for inefficiency \ Foreign Ministry has the words 'God is Great' erased from Iraqi flag.

Al-Mada [Baghdad, independent daily newspaper published by Al- Mada Corporation for Media, Culture and Art]: Constitutional labour pangs, with meetings, dialogue continuing till midnight \ Unification of two Kurdistan regional administrations to be declared soon, says Irbil governor \ Ministry of Higher Education guaranteeing teaching jobs to all repatriated faculty members \ Southern oil exports halted by act of sabotage (Agencies quoted) \ First international airliner, coming from Dubai, lands at Basra Airport \

Al-Sabah [Baghdad, general political daily newspaper published by the Iraqi Media Network]: After long labour, cautious optimism, National Assembly postpones vote on constitution for three days \ Al- Sabah publishes text of draft constitution submitted to National Assembly last night \ Electricity Ministry security adviser sacked as act of sabotage disrupts power supply nationwide \ Assassination of Adhamiyyah municipal council member denounced by Sunni Endowment \ Resumption of oil exports via Basra, water supply pumping in Baghdad, both disrupted by power shutdown \ Syria opens all ports, other transport facilities to facilitate flow of Iraqi imports.

Al-Dustur [Baghdad, independent daily newspaper]: Consensus blocks delay, places draft constitution under National Assembly trusteeship \ Clashes inside the Haydari Shrine in Al-Najaf (Agencies quoted) \ Al-Sadr invites Iraqis to stage silent demonstrations \ Iran sells Iraq 600 power generators (Agencies quoted) \ Iraqi government defends its decision to reinstate capital punishment (Agencies quoted) \ Release of Pakistani workers held hostage in Iraq (Agencies quoted).

Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]: Power grid down and out after back-breaking struggle involving influential groups at the Electricity Ministry, leaving Iraq without water, electricity, oil exports \ Fourteen fall dead, injured as street battles erupt in Ramadi, Ba'qubah \ Two killed, another two wounded in Baghdad car bombing \ Attacks in Al-Durah, Tarmiyyah claim toll of twelve policemen; eleven suspects, including Egyptian, Somali, detained in Baghdad \ Uthman says political leaders' discussions succeeded in settling pending issues \ Going clandestine, an option mulled by Communist Party.

Al-Adalah [Baghdad, general political daily newspaper published by the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq]: After Marathon dialogues, political blocs reach consensus on common denominators in connection with constitution drafting \ Iraqi families flee Tala'far as a result of terrorist operations (AFP quoted) \ Bahr al-Ulum: We have filed proposal for passing laws to regulate investment in oil \ In aftermath of Al-Aqaba blasts, Jordan to ease restrictions on Iraqis \ Situation in Iraq to be discussed at ordinary session of council of Arab foreign ministers (KUNA quoted).

Al-Ta'akhi [Baghdad, daily newspaper published by Atta'akhi Publishing and Printing House]: Draft constitution handed over to National Assembly, pending issues to be tackled in coming three days \ German official supportive of US forces staying in Iraq (KUNA quoted) \ Rift reported in Turkoman Front \ Three US soldiers killed in two separate incidents in Iraq (KUNA quoted) \ Three Iraqis killed, ten others wounded in car bomb blast in Kadhimiyyah \ Iraqi officer in charge of counter-terrorism department in Kirkuk martyred, along with his wife (AFP quoted) \ Dangerous gangs arrested by Thulfiqar forces in Najaf.

Quotes

Al-Bayyinah [From editorial]: "Why is it, may we ask, that we, the inhabitants of the richest land in the world, should always be the hen that lays golden eggs for others, the underdog that must continue to be not only sidelined, humiliated and severely impoverished, but even dumped into mass graves which have turned the soil red with blood across the vast southern region? Why is it that we, who have fought to the death in defence of the unity of Iraq, should be denied the right to an autonomous federal region when the same right is readily granted to secession-prone Kurdistan?"

Al-Mada [From commentary by Falih Abd al-Jabbar]: "Although there is no mention of an official state religion in the constitutions of most countries of the world, Islam is commonly endorsed, as a matter of course, in the constitutions of Arab and Muslim countries as the official religion of the state. Since 1925, no Iraqi constitution has contained any reference to sources of legislation, except for that of the Second Republic (under Abd al-Salam Arif in 1964), the third item of which refers to Islam as 'the religion of the state and the basis of its constitution". And we all know that according to that republic, Iraq was defined as a democratic (without elections, though), socialist country (ruled by the military). What we also know is that it was the most fanatically sectarian republic we have ever had despite its excessive Islamist moralizing."

Al-Sabah [From editorial]: "Until late last night, Iraqis held their breath in anticipation of the birth of their constitution after the long and difficult discussions they had been following up for weeks. Vast sections of the public in Al-Najaf, Diwaniyyah and Irbil, to mention just a few of the provinces in question, were so overwhelmed by excitement that they took to the streets in mass celebrations, cheering, chanting and dancing with absolute bliss even before the delivery of the constitution was officially announced at the National Assembly. They, along with the rest of our Iraqi people, deserve the good news they got last night. Their long patience, perseverance and resilience in the face of untold trials and tribulations have been rewarded at last."

Sources: As listed

Source: BBC Monitoring Newsfile

More News in this Category