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BBC Monitoring Headlines, Quotes From Iraqi Press 11 Mar 06

Posted on: Saturday, 11 March 2006, 06:01 CST

The following is a selection of headlines and quotes taken from the Iraqi press published on 11 Mar:

Headlines

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper, Saudi-owned]: Khalilzad calls for meeting outside Baghdad, or outside Iraq, to find way out of crisis ... Proposing to have power turned over to liberal nationals, certain Iraqi leaders demand international resolution to have national salvation government installed for a year ... Ba'thist-dominated armed faction calls for targeting Iraqi oil; "Al-Mujahideen Unified Command" vows to strike at "government's weak points" (AFP quoted) ... Pentagon decides to evacuate Abu-Ghurayb Prison amid suggestions to have facility converted into museum, or pulled down, replaced with housing compound ... Arab nationals' dossier comes under discussion amid calls to have them expelled, with Palestinians complaining of abuse despite long stay in Iraq

Al-Zaman [Baghdad edition of London-based independent daily newspaper]: Conference to expedite government formation envisioned after PM nomination approved, with Rumsfeld promising Congress to block civil war ... Iraqi [National] List willing to endorse Al- Ja'fari within framework of national unity government ... Car bomb deactivated in Al-Dawrah market, as Iraqi human rights organization chief kidnapped by gunmen ... Barzani proposes way out of government formation crisis, invites parliamentary bloc leaders to convene in Kurdistan ... [Arab League Secretary-General's envoy, Mustafa Uthman] Ismail: Conference to mull launching Arab fund for Iraq reconstruction

Al-Mashriq [Baghdad, independent international daily newspaper]: Al-Sadr orders postponement of demonstration he previously called for (AFP quoted) ... Al-Ja'fari convinced he is people's choice; parliament to convene on 19 March ... Khalilzad willing to invite Iraqi parties to confer on means of overcoming political crisis ... Two Iraqis, including small girl, killed, two policemen wounded in two suicide attacks in Baghdad, Al-Fallujah ... Amman to host conference on Iraqi religious sects ... German ambassador says no Iraqi refugee will be forcibly deported

Al-Dustur [Baghdad, independent daily newspaper]: Inauguration of Council of Representatives postponed to 19 March, opening session to be chaired by Al-Pachachi ... US forces to close down Abu-Ghurayb Prison in three months' time (Agencies quoted) ... Traffic unusually sparse in Baghdad streets despite curfew lift (Voices of Iraq quoted) ... Rumsfeld's call for quick formation of national unity government in Iraq seen by [Iraqi List member, MP Ibrahim] Al- Janabi as a warning ... Two Syrians sentenced to six-year prison terms, 13 terrorists executed in Iraq ... New Iraqi passports to be issued next April (agencies quoted)

Al-Mada [Baghdad, independent daily newspaper published by Al- Mada Corporation for Media, Culture and Art]: Friday preachers urge politicians to hasten government formation to extricate nation from chaos ... One week for deciding differences over PM nominee, government programme ... Rumsfeld's statements on civil war draw mixed reactions from political factions ... US military announces capture of terror ring leader ... Sweden decides to slash 80 per cent of Iraq's debts

Al-Mu'tamar [Baghdad, comprehensive daily newspaper published by the Iraqi National Congress]: Open-ended ban imposed on Iraq's imports of poultry, eggs ... Pentagon: No plans to close down Abu- Ghurayb detention facility (KUNA quoted) ... [Governor As'ad Sultan] Abu-Gulal proposes Al-Najaf as capital of central federal region (Al- Hayat quoted) ... 182 Iraqi academics assassinated since 2003 ... Maj-Gen Mubdir Al-Dulaymi's assassination executed in puzzling manner; death squads demonstrating sophisticated operational tactics, superior intelligence capabilities

Al-Adalah [Baghdad, general political daily newspaper published by the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq]: Following extensive deliberations, inauguration of Council of Representatives put off to 19 March, as requested by [United Iraqi] Alliance ... Education Ministry eases enrolment conditions to enable children of displaced families to rejoin school (NINA quoted) ... Iraqna telecommunications company has towers blown up in western region ... New security plan to be implemented in Kirkuk (KUNA quoted) ... Justice Ministry announces it has no intention of sending more prisoners to Abu-Ghurayb (Voices of Iraq quoted)

Quotes

Al-Sharq al-Awsat [From commentary by Sa'd bin Tiflah]: "Iraqi politicians today will tirelessly go about their personal sacrifices and those of their families, clans, parties or sects in the long struggle against Saddam's dictatorship. Although such claims are largely justified, is it not odd that these same politicians are now utterly incapable of sacrificing a coveted ministerial seat here or a government post there instead of recounting past sacrifices to justify their quest for power when the very future of the country is in the balance?"

Al-Zaman [From commentary by Fatih Abd al-Salam]: "The rancorous polemics our politicians, both veteran and novice, are now indulged in attest to some ruthless behind-the-scene manoeuvring in which the players are showing a reckless willingness to gamble with the very future of Iraq to further conflicting foreign agendas. The crux of the matter is that if these agendas can no longer be completely hidden, they cannot be fully exposed at this point either, a fact that has given various players involved an ideal atmosphere of haziness to cover up their dangerous game."

Al-Mashriq [From editorial]: "For most Iraqis, the problem at hand is a government crisis and they hardly need a crisis government to resolve it."

Sources: as listed

Source: BBC Monitoring Newsfile

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