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BBC Monitoring Headlines, Quotes From Iraqi Press 15 Nov 05

Posted on: Tuesday, 15 November 2005, 09:00 CST

The following is a selection of headlines and quotes taken from the Iraqi press published on 15 Nov:

Headlines

Al-Bayyinah [Baghdad, general cultural political daily newspaper temporarily published twice-weekly by the Hezbollah Movement in Iraq]: [Egyptian mosque] Al-Azhar's top cleric: I will have the honour of visiting [Shi'i cleric Ali] Al-Sistani soon \ Iraq hub of intense international political activity, greater success for [Prime Minister Ibrahim] Al-Ja'fari's government \ Hezbollah to participate in Cairo meeting \ New pension law among other laws endorsed by National Assembly \ [former Iraqi Vice-President] Izzat al-Duri thought still alive \ Al-Rustamiyyah sewage processing station turned into graveyard for unidentified corpses

Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]: Withdrawal timetable, reinstatement of military included on national reconciliation conference agenda, with [imam of Al- Khalisiyah School in Baghdad Jawad] Al-Khalisi heading for Cairo after Institutional Conference drops decision to boycott meeting \ In address to Iraqis, Al-Azhar Shaykh, Al-Tantawi, says targeting civilians, oil infrastructure cannot be deemed resistance \ Al- Ramadi people set to stage all-out civil disobedience in a matter of days, says Islamic Party \ Joint forces launch house-search campaign in Al-Dur, as Ba'th-linked communique denies Izzat al-Duri's death [AFP quoted]

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper, Saudi-owned]: [former Defence Minister Hazim] Sha'lan highest-rated politician, Al-Ja'fari's lowest-rated government, according to British poll conducted in Iraq \ Iraqi 'counter-terrorism' law comes into effect \ With Yasin Ramadan's lawyer targeted in failed assassination attempt, having left Iraq, Saddam's trial to be resumed on 28th of the current month despite being boycotted by defence team \ With [Egyptian President] Mubarak, [Algerian President] Bouteflika, [Iraqi President] Talabani likely to attend alongside Al-Ja'fari, in addition to eight Arab ministers, Iraqi Preparatory Conference in Cairo to discuss five-item agenda amid calls to avoid too much optimism \ New armed group targeting Iraqi medics

Al-Dustur [Baghdad, independent daily newspaper]: Iraqis have stood up to terrorism, aborted bids to promote culture of sectarianism, says Al-Ja'fari \ Talabani taking part in convention on religions hosted by Austria [agencies quoted] \ [Prime Minister's adviser Haydr] Al-Abadi says Iraqi government has recalled envoy to Syria [agencies quoted] \ Deputy Mayor of Baghdad escapes assassination attempt, as 258 wanted elements netted, seven arms caches confiscated in Baghdad, Al-Fallujah [agencies quoted] \ Foreign contractors targeted in blast near Green Zone [Voices of Iraq quoted] \ Oil pipelines to be protected by Kirkuk tribesmen [agencies quoted]

Baghdad [Baghdad, political daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Accord Movement]: [former Iraqi Prime Minister] Dr. Allawi's address met with relief by academic circles \ Two car bombs detonated in Baghdad [agencies quoted] \ [Foreign Minister Hoshyar] Zebari hopes Iraq will join World Trade Organization [AFP quoted] \ Sixteen public services projects endorsed at conference of donor countries convened in Maysan

Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, comprehensive daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Congress]: Coalition no longer has faith in present government, [Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad] Al-Chalabi strongest candidate to head next cabinet, says The Daily Telegraph \ Twenty-five Al-Mahdi Army members detained in Baghdad \ Sixty-two gunmen killed, wounded yesterday in process of Operation Steel Curtain [KUNA quoted] \ Seven armed groups ready to negotiate with US [Al-Hayat quoted] \ Damascus decries Al-Dulaymi's statements [Al- Hayat quoted] \ Saudi Arabia demands extradition of Saudi infiltrators held in Iraq

Al-Mashriq [Baghdad, independent international daily newspaper]: National Assembly meeting called off for lack of quorum \ Al-Duri's alleged successor, appointed by Ba'th-posted communique, denies link to disbanded party \ [Syrian President] Al-Asad's speech prompts Al- Ja'fari to call back personal envoy to Damascus in protest \ Senior officer in former Iraqi army gunned down along with son in southern Baghdad [AFP quoted] \ Zebari to visit Moscow \ Iraqi political parties reject dialogue with Ba'thists \ Al-Chalabi demanding evidence to prove Iran is backing militants in Iraq [AFP quoted]

Quotes

Al-Bayyinah [From commentary by Muhammad Matar]: "The decision by Iraqi Sunni Arabs to part with extremist groups and join the political contest has come down like a lightening bolt on [leader of Al-Qa'idah in Iraq Abu-Mus'ab] Al-Zarqawi's head, leaving the arch terrorist reeling amid fast diminishing support, a lone fugitive flailing for safety as his bastions of terror in the western region fall one after another in quick succession under joint Iraqi-US military pressure. Now that Al-Zarqawi has lost the battle in Iraq, it seems that the only way out of his predicament is to pack up and leave for Syria, where he stands a better chance of carrying on with his fight, particularly as he is assured of a larger following in that country, which is now headed for an imminent showdown with the US \ All the Iraqi government has to do now is to let Al-Zarqawi slip away across the border and make the Syrian regime have a taste of its own medicine."

Al-Zaman [From commentary by Ali Dhiya' al-Din]: "Everyone here is a master of the lethal art of empty rhetoric, not only those of us who have always been in the habit of mounting tanks to take over the presidential palace and announce a coup, but the whole lot of professional politicians, both those in power and their rivals in the opposition, in addition to a host of clerics, orators and various other self-serving advocates of sectarianism, nationalism and patriotism \ It is really amazing how insincerity has become a hallmark of our public statements owing, perhaps, to a general assumption that, as long as he is addressing a domesticated public, an official can always say what he likes and get away with it."

Sources: as listed

Source: BBC Monitoring Newsfile

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