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FMR 27 explores the challenges and opportunities for combating sexual violence in conflict, post-conflict and development recovery contexts. Produced in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), it builds on momentum generated by the June 2006 International Symposium on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Beyond jointly convened by UNFPA, the European Commission and the Government of Belgium. Practice-oriented submissions from 40 specialists from a wide range of humanitarian agencies highlight key issues and challenges, best practices, innovative programmes and recommendations.

In addition, there are 13 non-theme articles, including pieces on Iraq, Somalia, Kosovo, Colombia, Uganda and Western Sahara.

We are grateful for funding support from UNFPA, the European Commission, Belgian Development Cooperation, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Austrian Development Agency, Concern Worldwide, Oxfam Novib, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the World Food Programme. Thanks to their generosity we are able to significantly increase our usual print runs in order to contribute towards improving international understanding of the nature of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and how to combat it. This issue will be subsequently published in French, Arabic and Spanish.

FMR and UNFPA would appreciate help to maximise impact

If you would like to receive a hard copy for your organisation, or multiple copies for distribution to partners and policy- and decision-makers, please contact the Editors. We will need your full postal address and indication of how many copies and which language issue you require.

We encourage you to circulate or reproduce any of these articles in their entirety but please cite this url: www.fmreview.org/sexualviolence.htm

Marion Couldrey and Tim Morris, Editors, Forced Migration Review fmr@qeh.ox.ac.uk

Sadr fears for life in security crackdown

that al-Sadr has sent his family into hiding accords with other reports from Iraq. I have chosen to headline tonight’s posting with it rather than the Arabic language reports from Aswat Al Iraq.

I dread the coming bloodbath. So do the Iraqis - they know what’s coming next. It’s why the Iraqi contingent who post here [on Gorilla’s Guides, they evacuated all their women relatives, dependents, and males under 16 a week ago - markfromireland] evacuated their families once they’d confirmed the reports that American forces were sealing off Sadr city. Thank God they were on time to do that.

markfromireland

Detention of Sheikh Abdul-Hadi al-Darraji

The fall out from the American detention of Sheikh Abdul-Hadi al-Darraji continues. This report is the second update. Aswat al Iraq have published an English translation of this report. There are no significant diffences between the English and Arabic versions. The text below is from the English version a previous English language update can be found here:

U.S.-Sadr-Update 2

Sadr aide detained without Iraqi government knowledge - MP

(Adds comments by Shanshal)

Baghdad, Jan 19, (VOI) - The Iraqi government had no prior knowledge of the arrest of Sheikh Abdul-Hadi al-Darraji, a top aide of Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr by U.S. forces on Friday, a prominent Sadrist politician said.

“I called the minister of defense Abdul-Qader al-Abeidi, national security advisor Mowafaq al-Rubaii and Vice-premiere Barham Saleh but they all stressed that the government had no knowledge of the operation, legislator Falah Shanshal told the independent news agency voices of Iraq (VOI).

Earlier on Friday, the U.S. army said Iraqi forces detained the leader of an armed group, indirectly referring to Darraji.

Shanshal also said the U.S. forces killed a companion of Darraji in the raid.

He said the officials promised to make every effort to release Darraji.

“The arrest aims at dragging the Sadrist movement into a confrontation and may have been a result of its decision to return to meetings of parliament and the government on Monday,” he added.

“The Sadrist movement has previously stressed to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that it supported the new security plan as long as it is being carried out under an Iraqi command which the prime minister confirmed,” he said.

The U.S. army said in a statement: “In an Iraqi-led operation, Special Iraqi Army Forces captured a high-level, illegal armed group leader during operations with Coalition advisers Friday in eastern Baghdad.”

“Iraqi forces detained him based on credible intelligence that he is the leader of illegal armed group punishment committee activity, involving the organized kidnapping, torture and murder of Iraqi civilians,” read the statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

“The suspect is also reportedly involved in the assassination of numerous Iraqi Security Forces members and government officials. The suspect allegedly leads various illegal armed group operations and is affiliated with illegal armed group cells targeting Iraqi civilians for sectarian attacks and violence,” it added

The U.S. army said the suspect was “believed to be affiliated with Abu Dura and other Baghdad death squad commanders.”

The operation occurred in the Baladiyat area of Baghdad.

Two additional suspects were detained by Iraqi forces for further questioning, said the statement.

The original report of the Sheikh’s arrest is here a fuller report upon which all subsequent updates and translations are based is here.

Intergovernorate Security Plan to protect Ashurra pilgrims

The Maysan component of the intergovernorate security plan to protect pilgrims during the forthcoming ceremonies was announced in Maysan in a statement by the head of Public Security Committee for Maysan Governorate today.

The plan includes securing highways and the usual search and crowd control measures within towns and cities.
Other reports from Aswat Al Iraq

Maysan governorate has started a campaign to clamp down on all fuel sales other than from officlally recognised sources. [Maysan is badly affected by the fuel shortage in general and of parafin (Kerosene) used for cooking in particular - markfromireland]

The American Army of occupation in Iraq issued a statement saying that the two members of Wasit governorate council detained by them in an armed raid were suspected of being involved in weapons smuggling. They also deny that American “advisers” carried out the detention themselves. The American statement said that the two council members were:

“under arrest pending the outcome of the investigation.”

This almost identical report to the one linked to immediately previously and filed slightly later concludes by reporting on the fourth day of demonstrations in Kut protesting the American action. The report points out that the demonstrators cut off the highway to Baghdad for four hours permitting only humanitarian vehicles such as Ambulances to pass through and quotes Yusuf Hassan Faris a saying that the demonstrations would continue.

An American army of occupation patrol in north Fallujah was attacked using a roadside bomb. There are believed to be casualties. The American occupiers have mounted a publicity campaign asking residents to join the police. American occupation troops patrolled with loudspeakers calling on residents to join the police who report to the green zone government. The Aswat al Iraq report lists some of the restrictions placed upon residents by the American occupation forces which it describes as a siege. Residents movements are subjected to restrictions andchecks, they may not enter or leave their city except at designated times and through designated checkpoints, getting through those checkpoints can take several hours. All residents must carry what Aswat Al Iraq describe as special identity cards and are permitted to have a residence only in the city. [The ID cards referred to are the Biometric ID cards - markfromireland]

In Baghdad the American army of occupation issued a statement on the killing of one of its soldiers and the wounding of three others in a bomb attack yesterday. Aswat al Iraq’s report points out that 25 American soldiers in the Army of occupation have died this month alone and repeats the list of months in which American casualties were particularly high. In Hit a series of raids spanning four districts has resulted in the detention of twenty civilians. Aswat al Iraq have published an English translation of this report. There are no significant diffences between the English and Arabic versions. The English version which describes the methods used to capture the detained civilians including inter alia stun bombs can be found here.

The visit by the new American Defense Minister [the American title is “Secretary of Defense” - markfromireland] to American troops occupying Iraq has been covered by Aswat Al Iraq in various updates the latest of which at the time I started is here. Aswat al Iraq have published an English translation of that report. The English version is here. There were several attacks on British occupation bases in Basrah today. Six British occupation troops were wounded during those attacks. Two previously detained suspects were released. Raids and searches uncovered a cache of weapons including RPGs and mortar shells.

Unknown attackers killed the two guards of the Shia shrine in 60th street Dora Baghdad today. They then blew up the shrine, a third guard was wounded. Munshid Khawwaf the head of the SSB responsible for developing the Iraqi tourist industry was murdered in Ghazaliya West Baghdad by gunmen as he left his home for work this morning. In Diyala five members of one family from Mutawakil were wounded by a Katyusha attack ón their home [From where the village is at a guess they’re very small farmers or agricultural labourers - markfromireland] tacked on to the report is the information that a green zone government sweep netted five suspects.

Western Agency Reports
Mclatchy’s daily roundup:

Roundup of violence in Iraq - 19 January 2007 - 1/19/2007 02:57 PM EST
By Mohammed al Awsy, McClatchy Newspapers
The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondent Mohammed al Awsy in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.

Reuters (Alertnet first 10 only)

White House, Democrats in “sound-bite war” on Iraq
19 Jan 2007 22:40:17 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds Perino and Hagel comments, new resolution planned) By Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Intensifying a war of words over a U.S. troop buildup in Iraq, House of Representatives … Full article

Australia joins US call for bigger UN role in Iraq
19 Jan 2007 22:22:29 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Australia asked the United Nations on Friday to take a bigger role in Iraq, particularly in helping to quell sectarian violence. Foreign Minister … Full article

White House, Democrats step up words war on Iraq
19 Jan 2007 21:01:36 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Intensifying a war of words over a U.S. troop buildup in Iraq, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused President George W. Bush on … Full article

Twenty hurt in Indian protest at Saddam execution
19 Jan 2007 18:35:12 GMT
Source: Reuters
BANGALORE, India, Jan 19 (Reuters) - At least 20 people were injured in Bangalore on Friday when police clashed with thousands of demonstrators protesting against the execution of former Iraqi leader … Full article

UK general: UK troops to stay in Iraq through 2007
19 Jan 2007 16:35:47 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds details, comments throughout) By Kristin Roberts WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Britain’s senior representative in Iraq on Friday said British forces will remain in Iraq through 2007 and … Full article

FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Jan 19
19 Jan 2007 16:24:04 GMT
Source: Reuters
Jan 19 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq as of 1600 GMT on Friday: * indicates new or updated item * FALLUJA - Two former policemen were shot dead in front of their homes in … Full article

Yemen denies harbouring wanted Saddam aide
19 Jan 2007 16:17:10 GMT
Source: Reuters
SANAA, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Yemen denied on Friday that it was harbouring one of Saddam Hussein’s top aides as alleged by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Talabani told Reuters in an interview … Full article

U.S. seizes Sadr aide as Gates visits Iraq
19 Jan 2007 16:05:17 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds reported Sadr quotes) By Alastair Macdonald and Mariam Karouny BAGHDAD, Jan 19 (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi troops seized a prominent spokesman for Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Friday, … Full article

UK general: UK troops to stay in Iraq through 2007
19 Jan 2007 15:00:07 GMT
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Britain’s senior representative in Iraq said British forces will remain in Iraq through 2007 and perhaps into 2008 if the Baghdad government asks for continued help. & … Full article

FACTBOX-Military and civilian deaths in Iraq
19 Jan 2007 14:02:56 GMT
Source: Reuters
Jan 19 (Reuters) - One U.S. soldier was killed and three wounded by a roadside bomb in northwest Baghdad on Thursday, the U.S. military said. Following are the latest figures for military deaths in … Full article

AFP

Top Sadr aide held as Gates visits Iraq

19/01/2007 18h43

Iraqi security forces arrested a top aide of fiery Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in a new crackdown on militias as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates paid a visit to the strife-torn country.

1. Maysan: A Teenager and Two Children Die Scavenging For Copper
Five people were killed today by exploding ordinance from previous wars in two separate incidents.

In the first incident in West Amarah three brothers Hussein Sabri Matanch (Aged 18) and Rafael Qasim (Aged 12) and Jasim (Aged 9) were trying to dismantle a mortar shell to get at the copper inside it so that they could sell it to scrap dealers. Here’s how eyewitnesses to their deaths describe what happened:

“they were trying to dismantle a mortar shell to get at the copper to sell it to scrap dealers when it exploded in their hands and they died on the spot”

In the second incident this one 45 Km west of Amarah two people were killed extracting the contents of a mortar shell again to sell the copper inside to scrap dealers. It exploded. They died. Source: Aswat al Iraq [Arabic]

The report on Aswat al Iraq concludes by pointing out that there are many such incidents in Maysan every year. This is because it borders Iran and there’s lots and lots of unexploded ordinance littering the landscape just waiting for poverty stricken desperate people to try their luck at earning a few cents from scrap dealers.

2. Iraqi children picking garbage
Every time I’ve been to Iraq since the Americans invaded I’ve seen something I never saw before - children scavenging in garbage dumps for food. I get reports like this every week from Iraq, sometimes I get several reports a day. Most often they come from the border provinces. Erdla and myself have written here and published photographs like the one you see now time and time and again.

We’ve written about the desperate plight of the people of Iraq. We’ve written repeatedly about children living in garbage dumps scavenging for food. Every time I go to Iraq I see children risk their lives by doing what as a former felix I can tell you is one of the most difficult and dangerous things you can do - defuse, by hand, corroded ordinance. That’s why you mostly don’t try to do it by hand. You get a sharpshooter, like Declan or Anto or Smurph* to shoot the damned thing from a very safe distance and explode it that way. Only if that can’t be done do you go in and try to defuse it by hand.

3. Iraqi children sold into paedophile brothels

There is now a thriving trade of children being kidnapped, sold, and exported to paedophile brothels. My last few trips I’ve seen something that I’ve never ever ever seen before in Iraq. Children with the tell-tale red rash around their mouths. That’s not even the worst of it.

Once they arrive in her camp Maryam routinely now has to lock up some of the kids that Ali manages to talk off the streets and into one of her refugee convoys. She locks them in the Mosque basement while they undergo withdrawal symptoms. Several of them have died in convulsions because they’re simply too weakened to survive cold turkey.

I find it impossible to describe how I feel getting mails from Maryam telling me about that. I find it impossible to describe what goes through my mind and through my heart when I see a child pick up a piece of rotted food in a garbage dump and eat it. I simply have no words for how I feel when I see that.

On my son Dubhaltach’s last trip to Iraq he was approached no less than 5 times by young parents asking him to take their children. Not even selling the poor kids. They’d been driven beyond and below even that level of desperation. No, all they wanted for him to just “please take them so that they can eat.”  I find it impossible to describe how Erdla and myself felt as Dubhaltach broke down helplessly describing how he wished he could have done what they wanted. As he tried to tell us how he felt when he was approached by a recently widowed young woman offfering him her eight year old daughter and seven year old son:

“They are good children. Very beautiful.

Pause:

“They are good children. Very obedient.

Pause:

“Take them, feed them, they are very obedient. They will do anything you want

Significant Pause and then in a whisper:

“Anything…”

4. But what about Civility
“>?

When Dubhaltach tried politely and gently to describe what it was he had seen, and heard, and smelt in Iraq, on a leading so-called “liberal” American site he was told by its denizens that he was being “Shrill” and “rude” and that they didn’t like his “tone.”

This was was said to him by people who knew that he risks his life daily as a bomb disposal officer in Afghanistan. But God forbid that anyone who isn’t one of the master race puncture their self-satisfied delusion that their country is still a force for good when it manifestly has become a force for evil. 

Even under Saddam and sanctions there was enough to eat. To succeed in a three year period in behaving worse than that bloodsoaked monster, to succed in a three year period in reducing vast swathes of the population to dependency on miserably inadequate food handouts, to succeed in reducing enormous numbers to the level of hunger where their children die trying to get food to eat and where parents try to sell their children is a uniquely shameful and barbaric accomplishment.

As I repeatedly point out if you want to see the real values of a society you only have to look at how their soldiers and their police behave. Behold the new American flag. It represents the true values of the government and complacent self-satisfied citizenry of America. The true values of the country that coined the phrase: “People get the government they deserve,” the values of a people who once had a basically decent government in a basically decent republic. Not any more. America is an empire now and it can make its own reality. This flag replaces the old one and is to be displayed “with pride” in windows throughout the land.

5. A Letter to Americans

Dear Average Ordinary John and Jane Doe American Citizens:

I hope you like your new flag. I hope you enjoy your unearned sense of entitlement as you squander your inheritance of freedom and wealth. The inheritance earned for you by preceding generations who really did love their country, who really did have something to be proud of, who really did value freedom, and who really did want to see it spread. They made many mistakes but at root their intentions were benevolent and they were prepared to sacrifice and die to bring their benevolent intentions to fruition.

I hope you like your new flag. You wiped your arse with the old one right after you guzzled the “your takeout meal.” (Genesis 25:31)

Hussein Sabri Matanch (Aged 18) and his brothers Rafael Qasim (Aged 12) and Jasim (Aged 9) lived lives of misery and starvation so that you could enjoy your sense of superiority.  Their deaths today are on your country’s hands.

I hope you’re fucking proud of yourselves. Have a nice day.

Yours sincerely,

markfromireland

[Original post at Gorillas Guide]

NOTE Kinda gives a new perspective on that foolish flap about Condi not having children. She does have children. These are her children.—Lambert

Baghdad: Sadr City: American Preparations for Siege And Assault Confirmed

The reports yesterday in the Iraqi media such as the one below from WNA that American Army of occupation troops are attempting to encircle seal off Sadr city have now been confirmed by all the Gorilla’s Guides team members resident in Baghdad separately:

Eyewitnesses said that a joint American Iraqi forces imposed a security barricade on the Sadr City since early morning today, Tuesday.
The witnesses said to Iraqi National News Agency that the joint forces closed tight on the movement of incoming and outgoing of the city and demanded departures to leave their cars and to head out of the city on foot.
Joint forces did not explain the reason for these sudden measures.
The Sadr City, which is considered the stronghold of the Mahdi Army loyal to the Shiite leader Muqtada AL-Sadr, has in the past weeks witnessed a raid in search of gunmen believed to be the work of sectarian violence in Baghdad

Source: وكالة الانباء الوطنية العراقية - ونا: American Iraqi forces imposed a security barricade on Sadr City

Mohammed, Ali, Laith, and Omar all have now all confirmed this and similar reports separately by mail.

Karbala: One killed Two Wounded in Attack on Taxi

A father and son and their taxi driver came under attack by 3 gunmen who fired into the cab. 35 year old Hashim Saleh Hamad was killed instantly his son and the taxi driver [no details givem for either - mfi] were wounded . The motive for the attack is unknown.

Source: Aswat al Iraq

Mosul: Convoy of 4 Trucks Intercepted by Gunmen: Trucks Seized : Drivers Kidnapped

A convoy of 4 trucks was stopped and seized by gunmen near Mosul. The drivers all of whom are Turkish have been kidnapped.

Source: Aswat al Iraq

Hit: American Occupation Troops Attacked : Open Fire Indiscriminately 

Eyewitness reports from Hit in Al Anbar. Say that American troops occupying the town came under fire and returned fire indiscriminately.

The death among civilians from yesterday’s indiscriminate firing by American troops occupying the town has now risen to three due to the death in hospital of one of the wounded.

Link to Aswat al Iraq Basrah: Detainees Released : British Occupation Bases Attacked

Two of the eight people detained by British occupation troops amid much fanfare and boasting a “terrorist cell” being smashed in Basrah have been released.

The 3 British base underwent the usual nightly shelling - with Katyusha rockets. Last night’s total was 19.

Source: Aswat al Iraq

Kut: US Occupation Warplanes Overflights

US Occupation forces overflew Kut repeatedly at low altitude during the day.

[Kut is relatively peaceful but since when did that ever stop the flyboys from heating things up? - markfromireland]

Source: Aswat al Iraq Kut: Weapons Cache Seized

A cache of weaponry mostly light to medium firearms and some explosives have been seized during a search of the farming district north of Aziziyah.

Source: Aswat al Iraq Ramadi: American Occupation Patrol Bombed

No reports of casualties. The bombing was just south of the stadium.

Source: Aswat al Iraq

Diwaniyah: 2 Grenade Attacks

The first attack was on a private residence. The second on a hair dressing salon. No casualties in either attack.

Source: Aswat al Iraq Fallujah: Green Zone Government Base Attacked

Aswat al Iraq have published an English translation of this report. There are no significant diffences between the English and Arabic versions. The text below is from the English version:

Falluja, Jan 12, (VOI) – An Iraqi army base was attacked on Friday in the restive Anbar’s city of Falluja, a police source said.
“Gunmen attacked today afternoon an Iraqi army base in eastern Falluja,” the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The source added “the gunmen fired RPGs at the base and then engaged in a 15-minutes-long fight with the soldiers there.”
“There were casualties among the base personnel,” the source added but declined to give a specific figure

Link to English Translation on Aswat al Iraq Source: Aswat al Iraq [Arabic]

Yusufiyah: Weapons Cache Seized 3 Detained

Green zone government police seized a quantity of arms, including an anti-aircraft machine gun, some ammunition, explosives, bomb making materials, and an RPG in a raid. Of the three detainees two are being held for possession of arms. The third is believed to be a coordinator.

Link to Aswat al Iraq

Mosul : Former District Mayor Murdered

Aswat al Iraq have published an English translation of this report. There are no significant diffences between the English and Arabic versions. The text below is from the English version:

Ex-district mayor killed near Mosul
By Ibrahim Zannun
Mosul, Jan 12,(VOI) – The Iraqi police said on Friday unknown gunmen shot dead former mayor of Baaj district near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
“Gunmen shot and killed late last night former Baaj district mayor Ali Abdullah Fahd outside his house in Baaj, northwest of Mosul,” an official source at Ninewa police department told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The source added “the motive behind Fahd assassination was still unknown.”
In a separate incident, the source said, police patrols last night killed a gunman and arrested another after policemen chased and opened fire at the car the two gunmen were riding in.
“The incident occurred at al-Faysaliyah neighborhood in east of Mosul,” the source added.
“The patrols found a quantity of arms in the gunmen’s car,” he added.
Mosul is 402 km north of Baghdad.

Source: Aswat al Iraq [Arabic] Source: Aswat al Iraq [English]

markfromireland

Al Sadr Al Sadr's attempts to reach out to the Sunni continue apace and appear to be bearing fruit. Diwaniya Two Iraqi policemen were killed in Diwaniya. Falluja A bomb exploded targeting an Iraqi army patrol in al-Halabsa village west of Falluja their vehicle was destroyed there are known to be casualties. Deloiya (Salah Adin) U.S. invader forces raided several houses and took into captivity several citizens, an arms cache was discovered. Hilla Car bomb one civilian killed. Basra Gunmen "dressed in police uniform" killed Sheikh Mohsen al-Kanaan of Bani Tamim tribe and two of his escorts. Baquba Three people carrying Iranian nationality documents arrested for illegally entering Iraq. Baghdad Three U.S. invader army troops were killed and two others wounded in military operations in Anbar and Ninewa. Most Important Story:

Al-Sadr Issues Statement Favour of Istanbul Conference: Sadrists Attend Meeting Basra Great Mosque Pledge To Protect Sunnis:

This is a very big story. The story is about Muqtada al-Sadr supporting the "Iraqi People's Support Conference" in Istanbul. This was the Sunni conference held in Istanbul yesterday and the day before. Muqtada al-Sadr has issued a statement supporting it. He said that it "supports our brothers [the Ahl ul-Sunna, the Sunni people - Ali]," and that his entire concern was for the success of meetings such as this of people whose aim is: "to extricate themselves from the grasp of the occupation and of the Baathists" He went on to say: "I will not accept the intervention of any country in the affairs of Iraq, and will continue to reject the occupation." He added that he was "ready to attend conferences in support of the Ahl ul-Sunna, those in support of the Shiites, or those in support of Iraq as a whole or indeed of any Islamic country" Aswat al Iraq's reporter then reminds the readers that the green zone government spokesman issued yesterday a statement in which he (Ali al-Dabbagh) condemned the Turks for hosting such a conference which he described in these terms: "This conference currently held in a neighbouring country sends a wrong message to Iraq that is translated into acts of violence inside the country," Ali al-Dabbagh, the "government" spokesman went on to say this: "Such conferences are against the Iraqi people," and said that the neighbouring countries should refrain from holding such conferences.[You can read an English language account of this on the Aswat al Iraq English pages here - Ali] Muqtada al-Sadr also called in his statement for unity and the closing of ranks, saying that our only weapon against weapon power was that we Muslims unite.He added that he was innocent of shedding Muslim blood and that were he qualified to issue fatwahs he would "If I were a scholar qualified to issue fatwas, I would without hesitation ban the killing of our brothers [the Ahl ul-Sunna -Ali] in Iraq or outside of Iraq" and that whomsoever does that is "the enemy of God and His Prophet and his family until the Day of Judgment." The original URL of the story is here. There is a second much later story which you will find here that deals with the meeting in that was held today in the great mosque of Basra of clerics, and tribal leaders from both the Sunni and Shiite communities. The meeting was attended by a delegation representingMuqtada al-Sadr. The Sadrist delegates pledged to protect all members of the Ahl ul-Sunna. Amongst the others attending were members of:

• The Iraqi Islamic Party.
• The Association of Muslim Scholars.
• Various Sunni delegations.
• The Association of Islamic unity.

These "seized the opportunity" to reiterate their ban on belonging to takfiri and terrorist organisations, the spilling of blood, and their demand that the tombs of the Imams [in Samarra - Ali] be rebuilt. Following their issuing these fatwas Muqtada al-Sadr sent a delegation to the dialogue and today's meeting has been the result. It is important for readers to remember that al-Sadr's movement sent both weapons and fighters to Fallujah when the Americans laid waste to the city and slaughtered many of its civilian inhabitants. That al-Sadr's group were the only ones to send aid, weapons, and fighters, and this has not been forgotten. It is particularly important for American readers to remember this.

Related Story

Iraq Political Powers Conference| al-Aani | (Arabic):

The link to the Arabic version is here. The text below is from the English version. There are no substantial differences: Baghdad-Conference :: Aswat al Iraq :: Aswat al Iraq:

By Monther Hamad Zahi Baghdad, Dec 15, (VOI) - Between 200 to 250 Iraqi political figures will attend the political powers conference scheduled to be held on Saturday in Baghdad, a spokesman for the conference said on Friday. "The deteriorating security conditions were behind refusal by many figures opposing the political process going on in Iraq to attend the meeting," Nusayr al-Aani told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) by telephone. The government has granted assurances to those figures but fear is still dominating, he said. Aani noted that several workshops will be held on the sidelines of the conference to discuss different issues like getting former Iraqi army officers back to their jobs, expanding the space for political participation and the legitimacy of the Debaathification Commission. The conference resolutions, he said, would contribute to having common grounds of understandings among the Iraqi political blocs and figures outside the political process. The state ministry for national dialogue affairs had said on Sunday that December 16 will be the date for convening the conference. A statement by the Iraqi government said the gathering would be held under the aegis of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The conference raises the slogan "Iraqi political powers will be the mainstay of national unity and a guarantee for the success of the political process, reconciliation and rapprochement," it said. Last June, Maliki launched an initiative for reconciliation comprising four conferences, including Saturday's meeting of political powers. Two months ago a religious clerics' conference held in Mecca had issued the so-called Mecca Document, which urged an end to Iraqi bloodshed. The Mecca meeting was preceded by two conferences for Iraqi clans and civil society organizations.

Other Main Storys on Aswat al Iraq

Kirkuk bomb:

2 policemen injured by a bomb in central Kirkuk. Here:

Mosul 2 bombings: Police patrol attacked:

1. An American patrol was attacked by a bomber in the west of the city. One civilian injured.
2. Another patrol was was attacked by a bomber in the south east - one person injured.
3. A police patrol came under fire from a group of gunmen in a car. They returned fire no reports of injuries.

From here:

Basra British Bases Shelled:

The British occupiers carried out a raid in north Basra and claim to have seized an unspecified quantity of ammunition. The British occupiers were reminded of how the people of Basra feel about them when their bases in Basra came under rocket attack overnight. Link:

Basra: Assasination of Sheikh Mohsen Alkanaan:

An elder of the Bani Tamim tribe [The Bani Tamim are a large and powerful tribe. -Ali] and two of his security detail were shot dead by "gunmen wearing police uniforms" in central Basra today. Sheikh Mohsen Alkanaan's car was atttacked by the gunmen firing into the car in which he was travelling killing him and his companions.The URL for this story is here:

Hilla Bombing:

A civilian died in Hilla when his car was bombed. The blast completely destroyed the car and burnt the unfortunate man's body completely. The URL for this story is here:

Unprecedented Masters Awarded To Female StudentIraq:

What is unprecedented is that her supervisor was located in Taiwan and because of the distances (to say nothing of the security issues - Ali] involved the University of Mosul coordinated with her supervisor over the net. Other supervisors were in Dohuk. Everything was coordinated over the net and her masters is now awarded. It is something to do with using a technique called PCR for diagnosing brucellosis in sheep. [I have no idea what that sentence means please be gentle to my ignorance - Ali ;-)]The story quotes the Mosul university spokesman as saying that her initiative was impressive and her as saying "We have demonstrated for all time that we did not know the [meaning of]impossible" The URL for this story is here:

Diyala Three Arrested Crossing Illegaly Into Iraq:

Security forces in Diyala province have arrested three Iranian nationals who crossed into Iraq illegally The three were arrested near Mundhiriyah border crossing between Iraq and Iran in the province of Diyala, after they entered Iraqi territory illegally. The three are now being interrogated to know why they did this. [Probably businessmen or smugglers or pilgrims or people going to visit their relatives - people who live in the border zone cross "illegaly" everyday and have done so for centuries. - Ali ] The page for this story is here:

Fallujah (Halabsa Village) Bomb:

A bomb placed on the side of the road in Halabsa village (west of Fallujah) exploded as a patrol of the "Iraqi" army passed. There were casualties but their number is not known because a near by American patrol rushed to the scene and sealed it off. The vehicle that was attacked was completely destroyed the witness described the explosion as "strong and loud. " [Which in al-Fallujah and its environs means it must have been very large to be described like that - Ali] The URL for this story is here:

Diwaniyah 2 police shot dead:

2 policemen shot dead as they left home in the Iskan district of Diwaniya. Police rushed to scene but the gunmen had escaped. The page for this story is here:

Three American Invaders of Iraq Killed:

The American Invader Army released two statements one dealt with two invaders (marines) killed in Anbar the third death was in Nineweh governorate. That is 49 American invaders killed since the start of the month. The story is here:

Ad Duluiyah (Salah al-Din) American Raid:

The American invaders carried out a dawn raid in Ad Duluiyah Aldaudeh the raid involved armoured vehicles and air drops onto several houses. The American invader troops closed the bridge, cut off all the roads, and raided several houses. Five citizens were taken by the American invader troops, most from their houses and one from his car. A cache of weapons was also seized. This story is here:

3 Kidnappers Arrested Woman Freed: Kirkuk:

The gang pretended to be police. They searched homes and accused those living there of having false identity. They took away a woman pretending to do so for an investigation. The family reported this to the police. Who searched and caught the gang releasing the woman. [Some good news for a change - Ali] The report is here:

Finally my apologies for the extreme delay in posting. There was fighting last night and it was impossible for our group to make our way safely across Baghdad.

Ali

Sadr city residents seen through a hole in a wall of a house that was damaged during an Iraqi and U.S. Army joint forces raid and air strike Saturday, Dec.16, 2006.

Saturday’s Main Security Stories:

• Fallujah: Clashes erupted on Saturday between the U.S. forces and unknown gunmen after an explosive device blast damaged a Hummer within a U.S. vehicle patrol in southern Fallujah, 45 km west of Baghdad, an eyewitness said.
• Baaquba: The Iraqi police, backed by the U.S. forces, arrested in a search campaign eight suspects, including two Egyptians, in western and northern Baaquba, 60 km northeast of Baghdad, a police source said on Saturday.
• Baghdad: An green zone government army special force, backed by U.S. troops, arrested three men suspected of attacking Iraqi security forces in a raid on a mosque in Baghdad.
• Hilla: Two people, including a soldier, were killed when two explosive charges went off near an Iraqi army checkpoint on a highway northeast of Hilla, 110 km south of Baghdad, the Iraqi police said.

What’s Getting The Most Attention Saturday Night:

Kurdistan School Examinations: Aswat al Iraq:

Sheikh Hussein Sheikh Mustafa, Director-General of Education Sulaymaniyah announced a new examination grading system for schoolchildren. The system is is similar to that found in Iraqi universities. URI

Kurdistan Alliance Leader calls for Dissolution of Militias : Aswat al Iraq:

Fouad Massoum called for militias to to be dissolved and an end to double standards in politics [he also wants a pony - mfi] URI:

Mosul Arrests: Aswat al Iraq:

Coalition forces say they have arrested three members of an armed cell (including the leader) responsible for attacks against green zone government forces in the city. The statement says the leader is responsible for the deaths of several Iraqi soldiers loyal to the green zone government. URI :

Basra Curfew (Aftermath of Assassination of Tribal Leader): Aswat al Iraq:

Ali wrote about the assassination of Sheikh Mohsen Alkanaan yesterday. Today’s events are part of the aftermath of the sheikh’s murder. Following his murder a large number of tribesmen went round the city shooting into the air and vowing vengeance. Aswat al Iraq have almost identical reports in English and Arabic on the curfew imposed today as a precautionary measure. The text immediately below is from their English language service. (Note how the spokesman is very careful not to identify the tribe by name.) The interesting thing about this story is that there’s an update. Identical in all respects to what you read below in which the police hastily deny that there’s a curfew at all.- mfi:
Curfew imposed in Basra By Malik Saadon Basra, Dec 16, (VOI) -An indefinite curfew was imposed in the southern Iraqi city of Basra as announced by police vehicles roaming the city, according to eyewitnesses. “Armoured vehicles of the Iraqi army cordoned the Basra governor headquarters,” an eyewitness from Basra’s main city of al-Ashar told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). Meanwhile, a member of the Basra province council who asked not to be named told VOI that these were “precautionary measures in case some clan embark on security-destabilising actions.” The source did not name the clan.

On Friday, unidentified gunmen killed a tribal chief of the Bani Tamim clan and two escorts in an armed attack in downtown al-Cornish street. Follow+ing the attack, scores of vehicles boarded by gunmen from Bani Tamim clan wandered about the city shooting in the air and threatening the killers of their chief.

Update: The police in Basra have denied that a curfew exists. Bani Tamim is one of the largest and oldest clans in Basra. It dates back to the period preceding the Islamic conquest of Iraq. URI (Arabic): URI (English): URI (Arabic) to update in which police deny curfew exists.

Kirkuk Two Bodies Found: Aswat al Iraq:

Police have found two bodies in the Shwan area of northern Kirkuk. The victims were blindfolded, handcuffed, had been tortured, and shot repeatedly. URI :

Fallujah: American Headquarters Shelled (Mortars): Aswat al Iraq:

Headline says it all. It’s so regular an occurrence it’s surprising they even report it - mfi. URI

Fallujah: American Patrol Attacked: Aswat al Iraq:

At least two civilians were killed in crossfire between an American patrol and resistance fighters in the centre of Fallujah. The gunfight lasted about twenty minutes. The attackers used ordinary light weapons and RPGs. The report says there were American casualties as well. URI :

Hilla: Babil: Child Killed: Aswat al Iraq:

4 year old girl killed by mortar fire. The attack was on Hattin about 50km north of Hilla. URI:

Mosul: Aswat al Iraq:

Four civilians were wounded when two bombs targeting an American patrol in Mosul. Two people were killed and and a third wounded in separate attacks in the city. URI:

markfromireland

A fellow goes hunting. He sees a grizzly bear, aims, shoots, and misses. The grizzly runs after him, grabs him, fucks him in the butt, and lets him go.

The guy is mad. He goes home, grabs a machine gun, and goes looking for the grizzly. He finds the grizzly, aims, fires, and misses again. The grizzly runs after him, grabs him, and fucks him the butt again and then lets him go.

Now the guy is really mad, He goes home, grabs a rocket launcher, and resumes hunting the grizzly. He find the bear, aims, shoots, and misses again.

The grizzly runs after him, grabs him, looks him in the eye and says: “This ain’t about hunting, is it?”

Aren’t you glad that shortly to be Ex-Senator Santorum isn’t the one who got Rummy’s job?

Ayman Sabawi Ibrahim Hasan, the nephew of Saddam Hussein has escaped from prison. According to the story he was helped by a guard. He was arrested during a raid in northern Tikrit on May 4th 2005. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: here

Iraq Through To Semi-finals:

Our Soccer Olympic team won and qualified for the semi-finals in the Asian Games championship after beating the Uzbeka by two goals against their one goal in the match today in Doha. They now have to beet the winner of the game between China and Iran. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

American Invaders Killed in al Anbar:

The American army announced Saturday that two American soldiers from the Marines were killed in Anbar province. The killing of the two invaders brings the number of American invaders killed in Iraq to 37 this month. The number of American forces killed in Iraq since the invasion of my home, led by the United States in March 2003 is 2927 according to data sent to Aswat Al Iraq from the American army official. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

Mosul Suicide Car Bomb 5 killed:

Five civilians were killed in a car bomb explosion in Mosul. Brigadier Abdul Karim Mohammed Khalaf of the province of the Nineveh Police Command, told Voices of Iraq today that the suicide bomber blew himself up inside a booby-trapped car in the Yarmouk area in the south-west of Mosul. The bomber failed to target any American or Green Zone forces instead he killed five people, including two children who were burnt to death inside their car. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

Basrah Assasination Attempt Fails:

The Customs police chief in Basrah survived an assassination attempt. He was shot when he was standing at the gate of the Directorate and slightly injured in the leg and brought to hospital. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

Kirkuk Raids By Invaders: [A bomb also exploded near Rashad 40Km from Kirkuk a policeman was wounded - - Mohammed Ibn Laith]

Eight people suspected of being in the resistance were captured by Green Zone police with help from Invaders in Kirkuk today. The raids were in villages around Kirkuk. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

3 National Guard Members in Ad Duluiyah Shot By Invaders:

American invader forces killed today three members of the National Guard in the town of Ad Duluiyah. The invaders were shot at by resistance fighters who fled. The Americans then opened fire on three members of the National Guard brigade in Dhuloeya, who were on guard duty at one the new checkpoints and killed them instantly. The invaders have not made any statement or clarification of the killing of three soldiers or a justification to shoot them. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

Basrah Port Being Blocked With Mud:

The director of the port service in al Basrah complained that the Green Zone government was not making the reconstruction money available to repair the port. He complained that 129 million dollars was promised in 2004 but is still frozen. The navigation channels have huge deposits of mudslides and the port is also missing equipment for cargo loading and unloading. He complained that al Basrah was the main artery for Iraqi exports and should not be be neglected. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

Hilla: American Base Bombarded:

The American invader base in Hilla was bombarded with mortars. First five shells fired, then after three hours 20 shells were fired. Casualties if any not known. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

Fallujah Bomb:

Two civilians were wounded when a bomb exploded at an American patrol the center of the city of Fallujah. The bomb was targeting an early morning patrol of the invaders. Two people who were near the patrol were injured and were transferred to Falluja General Hospital. The hospital made a statement that one of them is very seriously injured and has seen one of his legs amputated. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

Ramadi Resistance Leader Captured:

Soldiers of the Green Zone "Iraqi" army arrested the suspected leader of one of the cells of resistance fighters in during a raid in the town of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province. They were from the seventh division the suspect is believed to lead a cell responsible for attacks bombing and coordinated attacks using light weapons and missiles aimed at invaders and Green Zone troops. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

Khalidiyah (Anbar):

A raid arrested 5 people suspected of being in the resistance. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

Baquba Explosion (Diyalah):

A bomb planted on the side of the road leading to the market northeast of Baquba injured 5 people and killed one person. عنوان هذا المقال على الانترنت: Here

News From Foreign SourcesNews From Foreign Sources

Al Jazeera English - Middle East: [The bombing is in Al-Abbas street , that street is very close to the shrine and has many shops. It would have been very crowded today. In Arabic reports it is reported that the car had government registration plates.- Mohammed Ibn Laith]

Deaths as holy city in Iraq bombed

Eight people have been killed and 36 injured after a suicide car bomb exploded in one of Iraq’s holiest Shia cities. The attack occurred on Saturday at around 10:30 local time near the al-Abbas shrine in Karbala 80km south of Baghdad.

[edit]

One witness told Reuters that people had shouted at the lorry’s driver to move the car, but seconds later it exploded. The blast devastated nearby shops and set cars ablaze.

It was the first major attack in the city since a suicide bomber killed 53 people in January.

[edit] Al Jazeera English Article In Full:

Iran ready to help US withdrawal from Iraq - Region - Middle East Times:

MANAMA — Iran is ready under certain circumstances to help the United States withdraw its troops from neighboring Iraq, foreign minister Manouchehr Mouttaki said Saturday.

“If the United States changes its attitude, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to help this administration” to withdraw its troops from Iraq, Mouttaki told a Gulf security conference in Bahrain, the home base of the US Fifth Fleet.

“The key to solve Iraq’s problems is the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq,” he said, adding that “the United States should help themselves before anybody else.” Full report - Middle East Times:

US, Iraqi forces detain aide of Shiite radical leader - Yahoo! News: [There is a big report on Aswat al Iraq on this and on the demonstration but I saw no reason to translate it - Mohammed Ibn Laith]

Sat Dec 9, 9:59 AM ET

KUT, Iraq (AFP) - US and Iraqi forces have arrested Shiite radical leader Moqtada al-Sadr’s representative in the central city of Kut and seven of his guards, security officials and a Sadr spokesman said.

Sheikh Yahya Ahmed al-Khafaji, the head of Sadr’s movement in Kut, 175 kilometres (109 miles) southeast of Baghdad, was seized in an early morning swoop on his office, an Iraqi security source said on condition of anonymity.

A Sadr spokesman in Baghdad confirmed the raid Saturday.

“We have information that US and Iraqi forces arrested the chief of our office in Kut and his seven guards early today. They also took away office equipment such as computers and other papers,” said Sheikh Saleh Hassan.

A US news release said that one militia fighter was injured in an exchange of fire with Iraqi troops, but that no one was killed during the operation.

“The suspect allegedly orders and supervises indirect fire (mortar or rocket) attacks against coalition forces and the placing of improvised explosive devices in the area,” the US military said.

“He is also suspected of ordering a recent ambush attack on an Iraqi security forces and coalition forces patrol,” it said in a statement that did not confirm the identity of the detainee but said one of Sadr’s offices was raided.

Hassan said the Sadr group was planning a protest in front of the provincial governor’s office in Kut to demand their release.

“If occupation forces are so active and capable, they should target terrorist hideouts and not escalate violence in peaceful regions like Kut,” said Hassan, who is also a member of the Iraqi parliament.

The raid was also confirmed by another Sadr aide from the cleric’s main office in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.

The US military has often targeted supporters of Sadr, whose Mahdi Army militia is accused of killing Sunni Arab civilians amid the sectarian bloodshed gripping Iraq.

In a separate operation Saturday, Iraqi special forces and coalition military advisers raided Sadr’s bastion — Sadr City in east Baghdad — and arrested the leader of an illegal punishment committee, they said.

“The suspect allegedly presides over illegal trials of kidnapped Iraqi civilians, during which they are unlawfully interrogated and tortured,” a statement said, adding that five alleged accomplices were also taken.

“Without any legitimate governmental authority, the suspect determines sentence and executes those found guilty. The murdered are dumped in various locations around Sadr City,” it added.

There was a brief exchange of fire during the raid, but no reports of casualties on either side.

16 killed in Iraq attacks, including suicide bomb at shrine - Yahoo! News:

In Baghdad, primary school headmaster Yussif Faraj al-Shimari was shot dead in the restive southern neighbourhood of Dura, while two more people died in mortar attacks on the mixed district of Adhamiyah, police said.

Reuters AlertNet - FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Dec 9:

Dec 9 (Reuters) - Following are security and other developments in Iraq as of 1400 GMT on Saturday:

* denotes new or updated item.

*FALLUJA - A U.S. Marine died on Saturday from wounds sustained in combat in western Anbar province, the U.S. military said in a statement.

FALLUJA - A U.S. Marine died on Thursday from wounds sustained in combat in Anbar province, the U.S. military said in a statement.

KERBALA - A suicide car bomber killed seven people and wounded 44 in a crowded market in the holy Shi’ite city of Kerbala, hospital sources said. Police put the death toll at six, with 44 hurt.

MOSUL - Three people were killed and three wounded in a car bomb explosion in the northern city of Mosul, police said.

BAGHDAD - Mortar rounds killed two people and wounded at least three when they landed on Baghdad’s Shi’ite district of Kadhimiya, police sources said.

MOSUL - Insurgents blew up a school under construction in the Yarmouk district of Iraq’s northern city of Mosul late on Friday, police said. The source said no one was harmed in the bombing.

RASHAD - A roadside bomb wounded a policeman when it exploded near his patrol in the town of Rashad, 40 km (25 miles) southwest of the northern city of Kirkuk, police said.

Other News

1. Khazimiyah/Kadhimiya a Shi’te area came under heavy mortar attack today. It is were the Shia 7th Imam, Imam Mousa al-Kadim,has his shrine. Two people were killed and 8 wounded including children.
2. Mohammed the son of Laith spent part of his 16th birthday helping his father translate news into English. Now he and his brother and I take our guns and leave to help guard the roadblock and the Mosque because tonight it is our turn. We embraced as is our custom and I reminded him that the name of the imam himself, Al Kadim, means “the one who endures.” Then I reminded him that we will endure the evil unleashed upon our people by the American invaders and triumph as did Imam Mousa al-Kadim.

Laith

Note to readers Laith is one of several Iraqis who post to my blog Gorilla’s Guides. He’s a clergyman, rather senior, much in demand throughout Iraq as a preacher in both Shia and Sunni mosques he travels throughout Iraq to do so. He’s also heavily in demand as a conciliator of disputes and a Sharia judge and travels a lot in that capacity too. I’ve known him for nearly quarter of a century and have a lot of time for him.

mfi

Baghdad-AmericaThe American army announced today, Saturday, that an American soldier was killed during a military operation in Al-Anbar governorate.

The killing of the soldier brings the number of American soldiers killed in Iraq according to American official data since the invasion, led by the United States against Iraq in March 2003 to 2886 troops.
Basra-security
One person killed another injured in two incidents. The dead man was shot by a British soldier. According to Karim Zeidi the dead man was shot in Karma (15 km northof Basra proper).
The road to Baghdad was blocked for 8 hours. A guard at the British compound was shot.Sulaymaniyah
The security forces arrested three people suspected of involvement in bombings. The security forces commander stated to Aswataliraq that the suspects confessed and to have found explosives.
Baquba (East of)A sweep by US and green zone government troops led to 43 people were arrested, they are suspected of being in the resistance. The green zone government spokesman claimed to Aswataliraq that some of the detainees had dual citizenship.
The Americans have announced yet another one of their “massive security sweeps” of Baquba. As usual they say it’s based on accurate intelligence. And also as usual they complain that the resistance activities “destabilise economic growth in the city. ”

This is puzzling. Are they upset that the local McDonalds franchise in the city isn’t making enough to bribe the regional Halliburton rep or what?
SulaymaniyahThe long planned athletics institute has opened. (A computer training institute opened last week -mfi)
Baghdad Bombing Casualties Toll increased.It’s now 51 dead and 90 wounded from the three bomb attack carried out earlier today.
Salah al-Din (Tikrit)Five green zone government troops travelling in an unmarked car were killed in an attack by gunmen.
Salah al-Din (Ad Duluiyah)American patrol attacked. No reports of casualties.
KirkukTwo separate bomb attacks on patrolling by green zone government (in reality pesh) in Kirkuk. No reports of casualties one police car blown up.
Khalis (near Baquba)Two civilians shot dead in their car by unknown gunmen.
Baghdad Mortar attack near Malik bin Anas Mosque
Three people killed 6 wounded all of whom were members of the same family.NB 1: At the time of the attack a conference chaired by Adnan Al-Dulaimi and attended by residents and both Sunni and Shia clergy to discuss how to protect the neighbourhood from attack and prevent ethnic cleansing was taking place in the Mosque.NB 2:Shell fragments collected from the scene bore manufacturing dates from 2006.Last month the dead man walking Nuri Al-Maliki “ordered” the “Iraqi” forces and their foreign overlords to identify the places from which missiles were fired and thus “put an end to this phenomenon which has become a source of real concern to the majority of the people of the city of Baghdad.” The man has a gift for understatement if nothing else -mfi.
MosulTwo attacks three police killed in bombing. An agricultural contractor shot and killed.

Babil
A young man (25 years old) was shot and killed as he was planting a bomb by the side of the Jarf al-Sakhr road. The body hasn’t been handed over yet according to Aswataliraq’s informant.
Baghdad-Maliki - JapanThe dead man walking Nuri Al-Maliki had a meeting with the Japanese ambassador. He praised the now long departed Japanese troops. The Japanese ambassador said Japanese firms were looking forward to lots of juicy contracts. The report doesn’t say if the dead man walking Nuri Al-Maliki asked for political asylum in Tokyo on the basis that there’s no way in hell the Syrians will give it to him again. No matter how nicely the Americans ask them when the Americans finally realise that they’d better start to make nice. To the best of my knowledge and belief the Syrian Ba’aath party aren’t a charitable organisation dedicated to providing retirement homes for people who promote American interests.
MaysanThe border crossing protection force haven’t been paid for four months. 300 of them held a “peaceful and civilised” protest by dint of barging in the governor’s office and telling him the were upset. He told them he was upset too.
Now let’s see they’re employed by interior ministry. Which is run by SCIRI which runs a lot of death squads. Which costs a lot of money. (Even if you do get it direct from the American embassy.) So there’s an entire force unpaid for four months. They and their entire extended families are now really rather annoyed. They’re ones who are responsible for trying to stop weapons coming into the country. It seems a bit stupi…….. and a bit counterprocucti ….. Oh hang on this is the American occupation we’re talking about. Ah well at least we know for sure they’ll vote Sadrist next time. - mfi

Sources: The media institutions contributing at present are:

1. Al Sabah al Jadid newspaper - Baghdad
2. Al Taakhi newspaper - Baghdad
3. Hawlati newspaper - Al Sulaimaniyah
4. Al Mannarah newspaper - Basrah
5. Radio Annas - Baghdad

There’s an English language service:

Voices of Iraq is an independent Iraqi news agency with content provided by a number of Iraqi media institutions and a network of correspondents.

It’s a bit abbreviated as Aswataliraq is a service for Iraqis but you’ll still learn more than you will from the western media.

markfromireland

The 2 big stories are:

1. The Baghdad curfew
2. The Iranian offer to treat Sadr city bombing victims.

Baghdad CurfewStarting 6a.m. tomorrow the curfew will be lifted for pedestrians only at present it is planned to lift the curfew fully on Monday morning.Iran’s Hospitalisation OfferHere’s part of the health ministry statement:

“The Iranian ambassador in Baghdad has contacted the Department of Health in the Ministry of Health and expressed his country’s readiness to treat the Sadr City wounded in hospital in Tehran.”
………
“the process of transporting the wounded will begin tomorrow, Sunday.”

[This is a very big deal indeed. They’ll be treated free. At present there’s no free treatment in Iraq for anyone. - markfromireland]

Mosul: The body of a young man was found in the Karama neighbourhood (East Mosul.) A young woman was shot in the afternoon. wounding a woman in Mosul. Source - Brigadier Abdul Karim Khalaf al-Jabouri to Voices of IraqAn army officer - Jassim Ahmed Saleh, was shot by a sniper in west Mosul. His condition is said to be serious.A police checkpoint came under mortar fire - no casualties reported. Salah al-Din: A soldier was shot in Ad Duluiyah (near Tikrit).a police officer holding the rank of major was kidnapped together with three civilians north of Samarra.BasraA barrage of six 60-mm mortar shells was fired last night in Abu al-Khasib (20 kilometers south of Basra) to four landed in the main square which injured five civilians.The British installation near Basra governorate building was mortared . Some civilian I haven’t been able to get figures. That installation is attacked with monotonous regularity. I’m surprisedit’s even being reported.Babil (Babylon)bomb explosion north of Hilla (about 50km). Two Iraqi soldiers wounded. The bombing was the signal for a gunfire attack.Aziziyah (Kut) WasitClashes occurred five p.m. Baghdad time today in the town of Aziziyah (90 km north of Kut) between Iraqi security forces and a group of unidentified gunmen. No details of casualties yet. The report says that the police in Aziziyah weren’t contactable.Al-Anbar - FallujahA Marines sniper deployed on the rooves of buildings in hand Amiriyat al-Fallujah (about 20 km south of the city) shot an elderly man who died of his wounds. There is no indication that he was anything other than an innocent civilian. A suicide car bomber attacked an American patrol, east of Fallujah today Saturday 25/11/2006 killing four civilians and wounding eight others, including children. He was targeting an American patrol that had just finished a raid on houses in east Fallujah.Al-Anbar - HitEyewitnesses reported to Aswataliraq that armed men attacked before noon today, a military bridge at the town of Hit in Anbar province. The confrontation lasted about 15 minutes. no reports of casualties. Interestingly they were armed with precision rifles as well as machine guns. There’ve been a lot of “incidents in Hit lately - mfi.Baghdad: - abductionArmed men kidnapped 12 Iraqi citizens living in Western Baghdad yesterday evening. They demanded a US$40,000 ransom for their release.

[That’s a big jump until a few weeks ago the standard ransom was US$30,000 - markfromireland ] According to witnesses some of whom were relatives of the hostages the kidnappers were traveling in government cars and wearing the uniform of the Iraqi National Guard.

[Surprise surprise - markfromireland ]Najaf - kidnap gangAccording to Aswataliraq the gang that’s been operating in Al-Ansar, Najaf, kidnapping women for sale in “neighbouring countries” suffered a major setback. Police stormed a house and arrested several of them - all the accused are from Al-Azhar. The accused include Hassan Jawad Kadhim Algelaui and his wife.Kirkuk: failed bombingTwo men were killed as they tried to plant a bomb according to Colonel Yadkar Muhammad of the police in Kirkuk.[Their colleagues who blew themselves to smithereens in Kirkuk on Monday trying the same thing still haven’t been identified chiefly because the pieces were so small. - mfi]

Sources:

• Al Sabah al Jadid newspaper - Baghdad
• Al Taakhi newspaper - Baghdad
• Hawlati newspaper - Al Sulaimaniyah
• Al Mannarah newspaper - Basrah
• Radio Annas - Baghdad

Translated by: markfromireland