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BBC Monitoring Headlines, Quotes From Iraqi Press on 22 Oct 05

Posted on: Saturday, 22 October 2005, 06:00 CDT

HEADLINES

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper, Saudi-owned]: Al-Asad's brother-in-law seen by Mehlis report as mastermind behind blowing up former Lebanese premier's convoy, Syria implicated in assassination of Rafiq al- Hariri, with Washington demanding 'firm' international move (Agencies quoted) \ Saddam trial: Defence moves towards boycotting court after Al-Bandar's lawyer killed; eye-witnesses: Al-Janabi kidnapped from office by unidentified elements claiming to be Interior Ministry operatives \ (Amr) Musa receives six conditions for "national reconciliation" set by Muslim Scholars Association; Arab League to host preparatory convention on Iraqi national accord in mid! -November \ Freed Irish reporter: I was abducted by Shi'is who wanted to put pressure for release of detained Al-Sadr followers (AFP quoted)

Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]: Al-Mutlaq: National reconciliation conference to be held in Cairo, attended by Arab ministers; Musa in Kurdistan to meet with Talabani, Barzani \ Association of Muslim Scholars expounds own vision of reconciliation \ Fallujah preachers call on Fallujah residents to end insurrection, as US forces release Karimah Al- Jumayli \ Al-Sadr current denies involvement in Irish reporter kidnapping \ Al-Asad's brother-in-law likely to stand trial, with Damascus awaiting international sanctions in wake of Mehlis report

Al-Mada [Baghdad, independent daily newspaper published by Al- Mada Corporation for Media, Culture and Art]: Amr Musa: I am in Baghdad in the name of all Arabs, not as representative of a movement or a party \ News of imminent unification of two Kurdistan regional administrations \ Aide to the "emir of Hadithah" detained in Mahawil \ Project to hold 2007 census gets cabinet endorsement

Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, comprehensive daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Congress]: Al-Chalabi receives official invitation to visit US \ After attending Saddam trial, Al-Chalabi: It is a sorry thing that such scum were to rule Iraq for 35 years. We have to elect a government capable of ending foreign presence so we can commence construction \ Referendum results to appear in a day or two (Reuters quoted) \ Provisional referendum turnout figures announced by Electoral Commission (Kuna quoted) \ Basra paediatric hospital inauguration ceremony to be attended by Laura Bush, Rice

Al-Adalah [Baghdad, general political daily newspaper published by the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq]: Meeting Musa, Al-Hakim attributes dissatisfaction with Arab League to latter's failure to take clear stand against terrorist acts in Iraq \ Al-Rubay'i confirms Yasir Sab'awi's involvement in financing terrorist operations \ Special tribunal to hear bed-ridden witness in case he dies before scheduled session (AFP quoted) \ Three Iraqis, including little girl, martyred as mortar shell strikes inside school

Al-Sabah al-Jadid [Baghdad, independent political daily newspaper]: Iraqi Army detains terrorists said to have fled from Talla'far into "Triangle of Death" \ Amr Musa continues series of meetings in Iraq \ Observers see constitution likely to get final yes

Al-Mashriq [Baghdad, independent international daily newspaper]: Musa says to Al-Dhari: Pray for our success, Shaykh. Don't just put conditions! \ Basrah police uncover elaborate camouflage operation to cover up oil smuggling \ French judge sees Iraq as black hole sucking in extremists (AFP quoted) \ Removal of central Baghdad monument featuring history of the disbanded Ba'th \ Publicized list of foreigners detained in Iraq made up mainly of Egyptians, Syrians includes an Israeli

QUOTES

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [From commentary by Adil Darwish]: "The new Iraqi layman should not descend, out of savage vengefulness, into the lowliness of gloating at the sight of foes being slain, as Saddam and his cronies were wont to do. Rather, he should set an example of civilized ethical conduct by having capital punishment repealed simply because it is a violation of human rights. After all, Iraqis would do well to let Saddam and his gang spend the rest of their lives cleaning prison toilets as convicts, for this would be more commensurate with the concept of justice in a new, free and serene Iraq, at peace with itself and with its neighbours."

Al-Zaman [From commentary by Fatih Abd al-Salam]: "How come the court was unable to get a single witness, probably the only one, to testify in the Saddam trial to the one atrocity the defendant was being tried for? How can such a failure be explained to millions of Iraqis whose eyes were riveted to their television sets as the court proceedings unfolded? \ Had Al-Dujayl victims not been affiliated, or, more precisely, made to seem affiliated, to a particular political party now holding the reins of power, Saddam's trial would not have had such a calculatedly eclectic opening \ The trial seemed a shaky spectacle to see and there were moments when the court panel was clearly on the defensive. Outside the court, other people may have found themselves on the defensive, too, perhaps without realizing it."

Sources: As listed

Source: BBC Monitoring Newsfile

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