BBC Monitoring Iraqi Headlines, Quotes for 26 October
The following is a selection of headlines and quotes taken from the Iraqi press published on 26 October
Headlines
Al-Adalah: [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)]: Over 78 per cent voted in favour of draft constitution \ [President] Talabani discusses security file with multinational command delegation (Iraq Voices quoted) \ At meeting with FM Hoshyar Zebari, EU confirms 200m euros in Iraq aid (AFP quoted) \ Cabinet approves 2007 census plan \ [British MP George] Galloway [words omitted] oil- for-food scandal (AFP quoted) \ Polish president ready to extend Iraq troop mission \ Bush: Washington task to encourage Iraq people to take part in electoral process (AFP quoted) \ Multinational forces: 376 foreign terrorists arrested in Iraq this year (KUNA quoted) \ Egyptian FM stresses need for concerted effort to establish Iraq security, stability (KUNA quoted) \ Ousted president’s defence team to meet in Amman to prepare for next session; Washington: Iraq people want to see Saddam tried for his crimes \ With referendum results announced, [National Dialogue Council spokesman Salih] al-Mutlaq accuses Islamic Party of dividing Sunnis into two fronts (news agencies quoted) \ Student demonstrations against return of Ba’thist leaders to Nursing College \ Five smugglers captured in Al-Najaf with 135 artefacts in their possession \ International companies to build giant dams in Iraq \ Iraqi Airways resumes flights to Lebanon, Iran, Bulgaria, UK after 24-year suspension (news agencies quoted)
Baghdad [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Accord Movement]: [Former Premier Iyad] Allawi in an interview to Al-Arabiya Channel: I will be a fortified dam against any interference harming Iraq interest \ National unity conference calls for end to sectarian policies \ Car bombs explode in different parts of Iraq \ Multinational forces release 565 prisoners (AFP quoted) \ New draft constitution adopted; Over nine million voters took part \ Culture Ministry denounces Baghdad statue bombing \ Chaos prevailing in Mosul after bridge closures \ TB control experts, doctors: WHO should review TB morbidity rate in Iraq compared to present condition \ Thousands visit Imam Ali shrine on imam martyrdom anniversary \
Al-Bayan [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]: [Premier Ibrahim] al-Ja’fari congratulates Iraqi people on referendum success, approval \ People exhilarated over constitution approval by 78.59 per cent \ EU delegation reiterates support for Iraq people, government \ Terrorists captured in raids by Scorpion Forces in Al-Musayyab \ Former intelligence officer’s testimony over Al-Dujayl massacre recorded \ Al-Firdus Square bombings target journalists in Iraq (Reuters quoted) \ Cabinet adjusts oil product prices \ PM receives student union delegations \ Iraqis observe Imam Ali martyrdom \ Iraq signs cooperation agreements with China \ Baghdad local council sets plan to employ jobless people \
Al-Dustur [Baghdad, daily published by Al-Dustur Press, Publishing and Distribution House]: Iraqis approve draft constitution by 78.59 per cent \ Al-Ja’fari praises [Arab League Secretary-General Amr] Musa’s stands for serving united Arab house \ Iraq parliament prevents Al-Arabiya correspondent from entering convention centre \ US, Iraq urges Tokyo to extend troop mandate in Iraq (news agencies quoted) \ Interior minister calls for end to tribal, party assassinations (news agencies quoted) \ Saddam defence team demands international protection (news agencies quoted) \ Iraqi national accord conference in Cairo to exclude Ba’thists, gunmen; Conference to discuss multinational troop withdrawal \ US forces build orphanage in Al-Najaf \ Iraq budget deficit estimated at seven trillion dinars
Al-Hawzah [Baghdad, weekly religious newspaper in Arabic published by the Al-Shahid Office Media Centre (describes itself as the mouthpiece of the Shi'i seminary)]: Occupation troops, Iraqi forces carry out large-scale raids, arrests against Al-Hawzah members \ Occupation forces plan to storm an Al-Sadr office in Baghdad \ Al-Hawzah student assassinated in Baladruz \ Arab League chief meets religious, political authorities \ Preliminary map for political alliances for next elections \ US military equipment worth 600m dollars disappear in Iraq \ International intelligence plan to assassinate Iraqi official figures \ Demonstration in Al-Amarah to demand police chief resignation \ Basra exposes British conspiracy cards \ National reconciliation the Arab League way \ Constitution between clerics, politicians \
Ishraqat al-Sadr [Baghdad, weekly newspaper in Arabic published by the Sadrist Movement]: Muqtada al-Sadr is a source of danger, concern to occupation forces \ [Ali] al-Dabbagh forms new political entity to run in election \ Lists issued with information on 15,000 Iraqi prisoners \ Sadrists win international Koran contest in Tehran \ Proceedings of first session of ousted dictator trial \ Association of Muslim Scholars sets disbanding militia as condition for reconciliation \ [US Secretary of State Condoleezza] Rice presents Congress with new US Iraq strategy \ Former Al-Najaf governor banned from travel \ Amr Musa visits Al-Sistani in Al- Najaf \
Al-Mada [Baghdad, daily, independent newspaper published by Al- Mada Media, Culture and Arts Corporation]: Draft constitution approved by 78 per cent; Preparations for December elections begin; Referendum surpassed past election in turnout, security, number of international observers \ Galloway accused of false testimony over oil-for-food programme (AFP quoted) \ Three car bomb explosions in Al-Sulaymaniyah; [Patriotic Union of Kurdistan] PUK official escapes assassination; Eight peshmergas killed \ Justice minister: Tribal dispute, former regime members behind assassination of [Saddam aide] Al-Bandar’s lawyer [Sa'dun al-Janabi] \ Gunmen attack radio, TV compound in Mosul; Suicide bomber targets US army convoy \ Suicide bomber blows himself up inside civilian car; Body of Ba’qubah police officer found \ Two martyred, 16 wounded in bomb attack on wedding in Al-Najaf \ Most dangerous terror hideout discovered in Bab al- Sharqi [Baghdad] \ EU offers 200m-euro grant to Iraq \ Ambulance drivers on strike in Ninawa \ Trade Ministry to pay compensations for food ration shortages \ Iraqi prisoner monument removed from Al- Mustansiriyah Square \ Fifty projects implemented at al-Qadisiyah University \
Al-Mu’tamar [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Congress]: Ninawa opens prospects for unified future for Iraqis; 9,852,251 Iraqis took part in referendum; 79 per cent said ‘yes’ \ [Description omitted] Mun’im al-Kubaysi captured \ Kurdistan Alliance: Last-minute amendment weakened vote \ Split within Sunni bloc; Alliance expected between Al-Sadr, [SCIRI leader] Al-Hakim \ International organization demands safety guarantees for lawyers defending Saddam, his aides \ [US President George W.] Bush: Saddam to get fair trial in Iraq (Reuters quoted) \ Nine people killed in three car bomb blasts in Al-Sulaymaniyah (KUNA quoted) \ US envoy: Malaysian coalition could be example for Iraq to follow (Reuters quoted) \ Migration minister denies call for deporting Palestinians \ Central Euphrates provincial council demands separate budget for each province \
Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based daily Al- Sharq al-Awsat, Saudi-owned]: Ninawa decided constitution fate by not aborting charter \ Bombing campaign extending to “quiet” Al- Sulaymaniyah; Attacks in Baghdad, Ba’qubah, Al-Hawijah \ Zebari: Accord conference proposed by Musa to be held in Baghdad after preparatory meeting in Cairo \ Migration Ministry dismisses any call by minister for deporting Palestinians; Islamic Party: Government party adopts project in cooperation with cabinet \ Saddam lawyer in Amman to prepare defence plan; Lawyers Union calls for strike today in protest at Al-Janabi’s murder \ Operation rooms to follow up birds migrating to Iraqi marshes \ Kurdish minister dismissed for rejecting constitution \ US senator charges Galloway with profiting from oil-for-food programme; British MP challenges USA to try him \
Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al- Zaman]: Three car bomb explosions shake Al-Sulaymaniyah; Fear of renewed bloody attacks restricts movement in city streets \ Finally, electoral commission announces constitution’s passage; Security measures in Ninawa to prevent reactions to referendum results \ Cairo: Amr Musa optimistic after Iraq trip; Egyptian FM meets top Arab League official to discuss reconciliation conference \ Congress: [Words omitted on] Galloway [words omitted] oil coupon scandal (Reuters quoted) \ Bush calls for fair trial for Saddam; [British Foreign Secretary Jack] Straw: Constitution success important step towards developing stable, democratic Iraq \ Multinational forces investigate suicide bomber infiltrations near Al-Firdus Square \ Tall Afar administrator: Villages, communities could not vote in Sinjar; [Ninawa governor] Kashmulah admits mistakes accompanying referendum \ Kirkuk police abort car bomb attack near checkpoint; Interior Ministry official found dead in Al- Khalis [Diyala] \ Polish soldiers tried for taking bribes in Iraq (AFP quoted) \ US interpreter forges ID to win Iraq post (UPI quoted) \ Oil exports resumed through Umm Qasr port \ Labour minister winds up China visit; Cooperation consolidated with Beijing in scientific, water fields \ Al-Najaf governor: 4,700 policemen appointed \ Preventive measures against bird flu in Al-Nasiriyah; Agriculture minister: Iraq clean of avian flu \
Quotes
Al-Adalah [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)]:
[From commentary by Ali Khlayf] “Yesterday, the Independent Electoral Commission announced not only the referendum results, but also the victory of the Iraqi people over terrorists who felt despair, frustration and defeat when they saw people heading in droves for ballot boxes, defying their threats… The success of the constitutional process has dealt a telling blow to terror… The Iraqi government, political entities and national and Islamic forces that fought dictatorship should prepare for the forthcoming elections that represent an essential link in the political process whose success will open a larger gate for different spectrums to enter the political process and join the next parliament…”
Al-Bayan [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]:
[From editorial] “Iraq has embarked on a new important stage of its history with the approval of the permanent constitution in a democratic process whose fairness is confirmed by all, near and far… Iraqis in different provinces cast their ballots and expressed their opinions… It did not matter whether the vote was a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on the constitution. However, what matters is that all have resorted to ballot boxes and trusted the results, out of faith in the need for the political process to go on…”
Al-Mada [Baghdad, daily, independent newspaper published by Al- Mada Media, Culture and Arts Corporation]:
[From editorial] “Finally, the majority of people have approved the draft of the first Iraqi constitution put to referendum in the history of Iraq. Far from any talk about the advantages and disadvantages of this constitution, the important thing now is to turn to the way all will deal with the situation that will follow the adoption of the constitution… What is important in the referendum experience is that people’s convictions chosen to vote and express their opinions through ballot boxes… All forces, be they government or opposition, are required to respect and develop people’s democratic options in a way as to establish a democratic life to be reckoned with…”
Al-Mu’tamar [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Congress]:
[From article by Ali Sabir Muhammad] “The majority of Iraqis believe in supporting the political process and approving the constitution drafted by people’s representatives despite its shortcomings and failure to meet some demands. This stems from their faith in the right step they have made and their conviction in their love for life and peace and renunciation of violence… Those who stand in the face of the political process and put spokes in the wheel of the country’s progress are nothing but a simple minority who have got used to making mistakes…”
Sources: As listed