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BBC Monitoring Headlines, Quotes From Iraqi Press 29 Dec 05

Posted on: Thursday, 29 December 2005, 09:00 CST

The following is a selection of headlines and quotes taken from the Iraqi press published on 29 Dec:

Headlines

Al-Adalah [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)]: [SCIRI leader Abd-al-Aziz] al-Hakim, [Kurdistan President Masud] Barzani stress the need to form a coalition government with the participation of all spectrums of the Iraqi people \ [Vice- President] Adil Abd-al-Mahdi: Election results reflect wishes of the Iraqi street, tendencies \ Risaliyun List joins United Iraqi Alliance [NINA quoted] \ US ambassador to Iraq visits Saudi Arabia, UAE \ [Nation Party Leader Mithal] al-Alusi: Irregularities involving elections were natural; Electoral Commission's achievement remarkable \ International commissioner: United Nations see no justification for election rerun; Elections were credible, met international standards \ Washington welcomes Polish decision to delay Iraq troop withdrawal [BBC quoted] \ US senator criticizes Saddam trial; describes Saddam as butcher who slaughtered his people [BBC quoted] \ Defence Ministry comments on Al-Kadimiyah prison [escape] \ Political prisoners, migrants covered by social protection law [NINA quoted] \ Cabinet reduces private sector debts [NINA quoted] \ Experts expect Iraqi economic recovery in 2006

Baghdad [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Accord Movement]: Establishing national unity government remains aspired hope \ Ayn [election monitoring] network reports irregularities, violations \ Twenty prisoners killed after attempted jailbreak [AFP quoted] \ [Former US Secretary of State Colin] Powell warns of civil war in Iraq \ People suffering, asking government: Where is water, electricity and food? \ Antiquities and Heritage Commission denounces demolition of traditional buildings \ Integrity Commission discloses corruption cases in Babil

Al-Bayan [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]: Baghdad University students: Yes for naming [Ibrahim] Al-Ja'fari PM \ Electoral commission to sue parties accusing or threatening its members \ Iraqi forces take charge of security in Makhmur district [Ninawa] \ Interpol issues arrest warrant against Al-Zarqawi upon Algerian request [agencies quoted] \ Iraqi-Lebanese agreement to exchange expertise in fields of disabled, social care, unemployment \ Railway line linking Baghdad, Basra with Jordanian port of Al-Aqabah to be established \ Red Crescent distributes relief aid to residents of Abu-Ghurayb, Baghdad al-Jadidah districts \ Three billion dinars allocated to develop prisons, qualify security staff \ Health Ministry denies sending medical teams on vaccination campaigns

Al-Da'wah [Baghdad, weekly newspaper in Arabic published by the Central Bureau of the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]: United Iraqi Alliance wins vote majority; Losers clutching objection straw \ [Kurdistan President] Masud Barzani supports establishing south federalism \ A-Ja'fari announces launch of Iraq reconstruction campaign \ New Arab League envoy to Iraq appointed [agencies quoted] \ Al-Sadr City residents call for second term for Al-Ja'fari \ Electoral commission restates rejection of election fraud charges [agencies quoted] \ Two sites contaminated with radiation detected in Al-Nasiriyah [agencies quoted] \ Spain back on decision not to help coalition troops [agencies quoted] \ Search continuing for new mass graves in Karbala \ Labour Ministry holds first annual conference

Al-Dustur [Baghdad, daily published by Al-Dustur Press, Publishing and Distribution House]: Al-Hakim rejects re-vote, calls for forming Baghdad, centre, south regions \ US lawyers sue major companies involved in oil-for-food corruption \ Mass prison escape attempt foiled [agencies quoted] \ Electoral commission to cancel results in stations in Baghdad, four other provinces \ [Vice- President Ghazi] al-Yawir vetoes two draft laws \ New national anthem, emblem for new Iraqi government [agencies quoted] \ Germany writes off 80 per cent of Iraq debts [agencies quoted] \ [Mithal] al- Alusi calls on political blocs to contain crisis, build national unity \ Polish forces to stay in Iraq till end of 2006 [agencies quoted] \ Iraqi forces raid house of [religious authority Ayatollah Ahmad al-Hasani] al-Baghdadi [agencies quoted] \ Social care directorate confirms child psychological, mental illness increasing

Al-Mada [Baghdad, daily, independent newspaper published by Al- Mada Media, Culture and Arts Corporation]: Kurdistan hosts heated talks to thaw differences; United Iraqi Alliance: Forming national unity government is not a reflection of crisis; Kurdistan Alliance: Kurds part of solution not problem \ Supreme criminal court denies reports on resignation of Saddam tribunal chief judge \ Five killed out of 10 prisoners of different nationalities trying to break out of detention centre in Al-Kadimiyah \ Meeting held between US military, tribe leaders to discuss return of displaced families to their homes in Al-Mahmudiyah \ Fuel crisis easing in Ninawa, worsening in Al-Anbar

Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Congress]: [Electoral Commission member Husayn] al- Hindawi: Commission to cancel results proved to be rigged [NINA quoted] \ Conflicting news on story of Al-Kadimiyah prison escape; Seven guards martyred; 20 terrorists killed [agencies quoted] \ Al- Hakim calls for establishing regions in Baghdad, centre, south [Elaph quoted] \ Negotiations over government formation lead to rifts within parties, blocs \ German official: Berlin willing to consolidate cooperation with Iraq [agencies quoted] \ Checkpoints protecting clerics, politicians in Al-Najaf dissect city \ Ansar al- Sunnah: Will continue armed attacks [agencies quoted] \ Washington respects allies' decisions on their troops presence in Iraq [QANA quoted] \ [MP] Abbas al-Bayyati: Bets on civil war in Iraq over \ Five Iraqis wounded in roadside bomb explosion in Baghdad [Kuna quoted] \ First Iraqi woman nominee for Nobel Prize \ Education Ministry: 100m dollars from World Bank for school rehabilitation

Al-Bayan [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]: Baghdad University students: Yes for naming [Ibrahim] Al-Ja'fari PM \ Electoral Commission to sue parties accusing or threatening its members \ Iraqi forces take charge of security in Makhmur district [Ninawa] \ Interpol issues arrest warrant against Al-Zarqawi upon Algerian request [agencies quoted] \ Iraqi-Lebanese agreement to exchange expertise in fields of disabled, social care, unemployment \ Railway line linking Baghdad, Basra with Jordanian port of Al-Aqabah to be established \ Red Crescent distributes relief aid to residents of Abu-Ghurayb, Baghdad al-Jadidah districts \ Three billion dinars allocated to develop prisons, qualify security staff \ Health Ministry denies sending medical teams on vaccination campaigns

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based daily Al- Sharq al-Awsat, Saudi-owned]: US senator addressing Saddam judges: Try him in absentia if he offends you; chairman of US Senate Judiciary Committee criticizes chaotic trial \ Judge [Ra'id] Juhi: [former Deputy Premier Tariq] Aziz wanted in other cases, will not be released; Sources: Baghdad asked Amman to allow access to released former officials \ Election results to be cancelled in polling stations in Baghdad, five provinces because of irregularities; United Iraqi Alliance, Kurdistan bloc discuss broad- based government; Iraqi List conditions investigation into fraud [AFP quoted] \ Kurds pressing for solution to election crisis by forming widely represented government; Barzani supports Al-Hakim in rejecting election re-run \ Nine killed in attempted break out of Al- Kadimiyah jail [AFP quoted]; Eight Iraqis killed in attacks; US army aborts two bombings \ [Vice-President] Al-Yawir uses presidential veto against parliament draft laws \ Iraqi lawyers reject Justice Ministry decision to dissolve their union \ Philippines imposes strict penalties on companies employing nationals in Iraq

Al-Zaman [daily, independent, Baghdad edition of London-based Al- Zaman]: [Former Premier] Allawi refuses dialogue before international audit of election results; Al-Hakim objects to audit; Maram [from Arabic acronym for Conference Rejecting Rigged Elections] demonstrates in Samarra to protest vote fraud \ Attempted mass breakout of Al-Kadimiyah prison leaves eight dead including four guards; Justice Ministry: Prison includes convicts in terror crimes \ Al-Alusi suggests new elections in 2007 \ Police: Truck laden with explosives seized in Al-Amarah \ Diyala municipality director escapes assassination attempt \ US senator before meeting [Saddam trial judge] Rizgar Muhammad Amin: Judge allowed Saddam to dominate court proceedings \ Islamic Party: Interior Ministry arrests Accord Front supporters \ Nine gunmen killed while trying to attack checkpoint in Al-Mahmudiyah; Seven suspects captured including Syrian in Rabi'ah [Mosul] \ Maram: European denunciation of election rigging, support to demands for re-run \ Sixty-four per cent of Japanese in favour of withdrawing their troops from Iraq in spring \ Police: Three civilians killed in US bombing of house in Al- Dulu'iyah; Car bomb targets commando patrol in Samarra \ UN representative rejects election re-run \ Student demonstration in Baghdad warns of continuing political crisis \ Al-Karkh residents thirsty for week; Baghdad municipality said water flowing three days ago

Quotes

Al-Adalah [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)]: [From commentary by Abd-al-Mun'im al-A'sam] "President Jalal Talabani's efforts to bring the views of political factions closer are in a race against attempts by terror forces opposing democratic transformation in Iraq to snatch and distort the national victory achieved by the 15 December elections and empty it of its content \ The success of the pacification initiative launched by President Talabani can secure the proper energies and favourable climate for the transition into the most important ring in the political process, which is linked to the formation of a national unity government from the representatives of the groups that have win the majority of the new National Assembly seats \"

Al-Bayan [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Islamic Al-Da'wah Party]: [From commentary by Salim Rasul] "Most democratic regimes have opposition blocs in parliament, which are considered a strength factor and a positive element. If Maram wants to tread this line, we should all welcome its presence and clear the way for it to exercise its right. With such role, Maram can achieve many of the results it expects to get through its actions that can only be described as obstructing the political process... Maram has two options. The first is to take part in a national unity government and actively contribute, from its position in power, to supporting the political process and developing the country \ The second option, however, is for Maram to rearrange its ranks to turn into a positive opposition bloc watching government performance, and an element of support and guidance \"

Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, daily newspaper in Arabic published by the Iraqi National Congress]: [From article by Sa'id al-Hadi] "The election results will be announced after objections have been examined, and answers will then be given. Those who took part in the vote will not allow their participation to be forfeited for the sake of creating accords; the aim of which is to usurp the rights of some. We should get used to the logic of ballot boxes first, which implicitly means that we recognize other partners in this country, be they from a different nationality, religion or sect \"

Sources: as listed

Source: BBC Monitoring Newsfile

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